Tevun-Krus #84 - Best of 2020

Brave New World - @elveloy - LGBTQ+ SF

Brave New World

An LGBTQ+ SF story by elveloy

When humanity finally ventured into deep space after they discovered the Quantum Drive, the last thing they expected was to encounter a millennium-old space station in orbit around Centauri. And moreover, one that was occupied.  

Perhaps fortunately for everyone, the Terran ship had been crewed by people whose titular military rank was only surpassed by their scientific qualifications. Curiosity triumphed over fear and peaceful communication between the species was established.

The Nebulans explained that they were visitors, too. The original creators of the station had vanished long ago, and they proposed a treaty. The station would be held in trust as neutral territory between Nebulans and Terrans, divided between them.

As time passed, Centauri developed into a waystation for ships from both species and became an important trading post. Relations between the two species though, remained formal, if cordial enough.

Captain Lia Asaro thought Centauri was the most wondrous place she had ever visited, when she first arrived with her ship, Arcus. Not so much for the construction, which after all, was mostly a collection of rooms and corridors—if oddly shaped—but for the fact that she would be sharing it with her first-ever alien species. After a week, however, the excitement had dimmed somewhat.

Instead of the wonderfully exotic creatures she had hoped for, the Nebulans proved to look just like humans, clones almost, all apparently male and wearing neat grey uniforms.

And the other wormhole in her sky was the presence of Imperial, largest of the Terran ships and her major competitor.

As if her thoughts had conjured him up, the stocky, muscular figure of First Officer Joseph Bilenti appeared out of a side corridor in front of her. He stopped, with that patronising smile on his face she had always disliked. 

"Ah, Lia, have you heard the news? The Nebulans have finally agreed to let us visit one of their colonies!"

Lia came to an abrupt halt, resisting the urge to correct him once again. It was Captain Asaro now.

She could sense the excitement thrumming behind the words, despite his attempts to look as if this was no big deal.

"Is that true?" she asked, cautiously. After all, rumours tended to fly around the Centauri waystation faster than comets.

He nodded.

"They say they'll give permission for two Terran ships to travel to their Astorian colony. I heard Ambassador Tiang wanted to send a fleet from Earth, full of officials, but the Nebulan Commander Sqialon said 'no'. They want this to be a preliminary expedition, before anything formal. They've asked for volunteers from ships that are already here at Centauri. He's called for expressions of interest. Captain Stasi has applied on behalf of the Imperial, but I can't see us being turned down, not with our record."

Absently, he straightened the cuffs of his uniform, and added with a smile of smug satisfaction, "I bet you wish you'd stayed with us now, don't you?"

Lia shook her head. "And give up being Captain of my own ship? Never, in a million years. I shall register our interest too, after all, they want two ships don't they?"

Bilenti laughed. "You can't be serious? They'll never accept your crowd of misfits! They want the best, not a collection of 'equal opportunity' wannabes."