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Chapter Five

The square room outfitted with a dark wooden bar in the left corner, stocked up with various alcohols and drinks, both Human and Pelzigan, and several wooden tables laid about the grey metal room with a single window that showed the stars outside as they passed by. Osman stood at the window, a drink in her left paw, a Pelzigan alcoholic beverage filling the cup with a strange orange color. She allowed herself a small smirk as she sipped from it, the taste of oranges and alcohol going down her throat. Her brown colored fur was smooth and she was wearing a white uniform with armor padding along her chest, stomach, and covering her shoulders, elbows, and knees with grey boots strapped on and a small pistol attached to her side. It was a rather elegant looking sidearm with a curve from the back of the weapon to the front and a small grip. It had Pelzigan markings etched along its sides and down the handle. She enjoyed the taste, licking her lips and smiling as she took another drink. She was onboard the Retaliation, a moderate sized Class B Warship that resembled a large rifle bristling with weapons and only two hangar bays on the sides of the ship. She was en route to the Triniro System where a planet was wanting to submit a resignation from the UGSM. As per the rules and regulations, planets were allowed to leave the UGSM as long as they followed proper channels, submitted the proper paperwork, and got approved to leave, they could. The planet in question was Triniro Three, the third planet in a system of seven planets. It was one of the older Pelzigan Colonies that didn’t like the direction the UGSM was heading in and wanted to jump ship. Well, she thought, they are free to leave however they won’t have the assistance they use to have from the UGSM. Normally, as long as a planet remained a part of the UGSM, they would receive supplies for free to an extent to prosper as well as armed personnel to help as acting police forces on the planet and acting in the planet's defense. Once a planet had submitted for resignation from the UGSM, and it was granted, the UGSM would send a fleet to accommodate all the UGSM personnel stationed on the planet along with a portion of the equipment sent with those personnel. Now, yes they were going to remove equipment, the defense stations in orbit above the planet, along with its planetary shields and Anti-Air defenses would remain. They’d be left with a selection of armaments for its own Defense forces as well as a beacon they could activate if help was needed. Granted the UGSM wouldn’t respond with a full fleet immediately, they’d deploy a scout ship to see what was going on and judge the situation then the Admiralty would decide on whether or not to send a full fleet.

In a way, the planet would be left on it’s own to defend itself, however the UGSM wouldn’t completely abandon the planet. She chuckled to herself, they’d still be able to ask for help however it wouldn’t be as fast a response that they would receive if they where part of the UGSM itself. The planet’s leadership also always have the ability to reapply for membership. They were free to do trading with any and all planets within the UGSM at the same costs and the like, but if there was civil unrest the planets leadership would only have the planetary forces they gathered as a response and wouldn’t receive help so easily by the UGSM. This was usually granted to planets that had proven they could handle their own and they were always left alone. However during this war with the Lothians, rotten bastards, the UGSM has been less likely to approve a planets withdrawal if only for the resources that planet offered as well as to protect it. This planet however, Triniro Three, had metal alloys needed to build ships and they had mustered up quite a fleet to defend itself with and had shown the UGSM Council they where able to handle themselves. However what helped them was the fact that they where still willing to trade for the UGSM, granted at a higher cost, and they had bartered with the Council to allow them to withdraw. Some of the planets inhabitants didn’t like what the leadership was doing and have requested to be allowed to leave the planet and head to another UGSM held world. That’s where the Retaliation and her fleet come in. They’d pick up their equipment, personnel, and all people they could fit and take them over to another UGSM held world.

She let out a small sigh as the stars warped back to normal and one by one, the fleet of ten ships appeared in space hovering over the planet, and her eyes widened at the scene. Trails of ships were beginning their ascent through the atmosphere, all in a disorganized, panicked formation. Beneath them, it appeared that portions of the planet where on fire with the orbital stations beginning to fire at the surface. She took a second to gather herself, put her drink on the table, and calmly to the door and headed out to the nearest elevator. Once she arrived at the bridge, a moderately sized triangular shaped bridge with the Captains station at the center of the room, Helm in front, Tactical to the right side, and Communication stations off to the left. The bridge crew of ten were busy, Tactical attempting to get more information, Helm maneuvering the ship to a safer distance as one of the stations in front of the ship opened fire, launching a white blue stream towards the surface, and the officer at the Communications Station attempting to get a read on the planet’s surface as well as sorting through various channels and frequencies. The individual at Helm was a grey furred Rat wearing the standard grey uniform, somewhere in his twenties, Tactical was a Female Human, black hair wrapped in a bun and her dark skin with several scars running down her arms and her green eyes staring intently at the monitor in front of her. Communications was being ran by a younger looking Timber Wolf, his black, brown, and white fur bristling up at the excitement. The Captain, a man in his younger twenties, with blonde hair and green eyes, pale skin wearing a grey UGSM uniform, sat watching the situation, gathering all information.

“Captain Harper, what’s going on?” Osman asked as she walked next to him.

Captain Harper shook his head, “Wish I knew the full details, however it seems there was an outbreak on the planet. However I find it hard to believe that an outbreak would need this kind of action.” He explained.

Osman shook her head, her first thought being the Parasite the S.T.A.T. forces were sent to deal with. That was in another system entirely. “Can we get any visual feeds on the surface? Any more details on this outbreak?” She asked.

The Communications Officer looked up from his screen and over at Osman shaking her head, “Nothing so far ma’am.” he said, then looked at her monitor and nodded to it, “Wait, we’re now getting feed on the planets surface.”

“Put it through Lieutenant.” Captain Harper ordered.

“Aye sir.” he responded, he motioned his paw over the controls then made a grabbing motion and seemed to toss a thing of light towards the viewscreen. Multiple feeds began to pop up, showing one of the major cities. The streets were chaos, vehicles and buildings on fire with Human and Pelzigan people running in different directions as Security forces and Troops moved in and began to fire at a group that was stumbling around, making grabbing motions to the nearest person. There were screams coming in from the feed with the sound of plasma weapons being fired. The stumbling beings took multiple shots and then collapsed to the ground still trying to move.

“No…” Osman muttered to herself. “Lieutenant, bring up feed twenty-four and rewind by five seconds.” She ordered.

“Yes Ma’am.” He responded as the feed she pointed out froze and took up the viewscreen and rewinded five seconds. On the screen, there could be no mistaking it, was a Pelzigan Rabbit with a black mass starting to stick out of the base of the skull. The Lieutenant let out a small gasp as the feed began to play showing the mass squirming.

“Gods damn it!” Osman said.

Captain Harper looked up at her, “What IS that thing?” He asked.

Osman shook her head in disgust at the site, then said “Artificial Intelligence Omicron, report now. Authorization Osman Tango-Alpha-One.”

Next to the Captain, a Human Male dressed in a UGSM Admiral outfit, appeared and saluted Osman and the Captain. “Jackson reporting ma’am.” He said, his voice soft and elegant.

“Enact order Bravo dash three dash four Immediately.” Osman ordered.

Captain Harper stood up from his chair and looked Osman in the eye. He was a full foot and a half taller than her. “Miss Osman, Admiral Taolin said you could come along for this mission, however I do not approve you giving orders here like this. We are in an emergency situation and I will ask you to leave the bridge.” He said.

Osman chuckled and shook her head, “Captain Harper, please understand that the Admiral didn’t allow me to come along this mission, more or rather I told him I was accompanying this mission. Underneath Article Six, Section ten, Paragraph four through eight, as a member of Overwatch, I am assuming full command of this vessel for this situation.”

Captain Harper snarled at Osman, “I do not recognize the authority of Overwatch on my damn ship miss.”

Jackson shimmered then the blast shields lowered over viewscreen and the bridge sealed itself off. “Order confirmed Miss Osman. Powering up weapons.”

“Delay that order!” Shouted Captain Harper as he pointed a finger at the A.I.

“I’m sorry sir, but under Overwatch Section Two, with the orders given to me by Osman, I must oblige and perform my duties.” Jackson responded.

Captain Harper glared at Osman, gritted his teeth, then asked “What the hell are doing here Osman? What is going on?”

Osman shook her head and stared at the image of the Rabbit, her once white fur now covered in red blood, and took a deep breath. “Captain Harper, understand that the information I am about to reveal to you will not be permitted to leave this bridge under the penalty of treason. What you are about to hear is classified however, given our circumstances and the events unfolding on the planets surface, I will divulge this information. That goes for any bridge crew that hear this. Clear?” She said. The room had gone cold, and the bridge crew nodded as Captain Harper staired Osman down. “My clearance level is zero, and the only reason I’m divulging this information to any of you is so you can understand fully what’s going on. Two years ago, there was incident that caused the Aura Station to be destroyed. What you see on the screen is the cause. We classify them as a Parasitic Organism that only the Admiralty and the council know of. The most recent directive, Directive Gamma One, was put in place in the event that an outbreak occurred involving these parasites. Now, we need to act fast before the Parasites form a fully functional hive mind and attempt to escape the planet.” She examined the room, Captain Harper examining her closely. “I’m sorry Captain, but as of this moment there is a full quarantine on that planet entirely. We need to stop all ships from Jumping and make sure there is no risk of infection on any of them. You know what needs to be done Harper.”

Captain Harper looked at the floor, his eyes partially closed and he nodded. “This is a full Directive Gamma isn’t it?” He asked.

Osman nodded, all Captains and Commanders were notified about the new Directive Gamma One and it was implemented only a few months after the Aura Station Incident commonly referred to as the ASI. “It is Captain. Underneath Overwatch and Special Tactics and Assault Teams organization are to assume full control. I’m a high ranking member of Overwatch therefore I’m assuming command for this time. Now, please do as your told.” She explained.

Captain Harper nodded to his communications and Tactical Officers who began to send out signals ordering all ships to corral all incoming vessels and implement a Mass Lock to ensure no vessels could escape. “Lieutenant, open a communication to all vessels incoming to our position and to the planetary defense force.” Harper ordered. There was an acknowledgement followed by a quiet whistle. “Attention all ships, this is a Directive Gamma One situation. All incoming civilian ships are to stop immediately and prepare for inspection. Any ship attempting to leave past the orbital stations will be destroyed immediately. Repeat, all incoming ships are to stop immediately, this is a Directive Gamma One Situation. No ship is to attempt to dock with any stations or other ships without our approval.” Harper said, he made a cutting motion with his hand and the link was cut. “Communications, relay to the nearest station we will need additional ships sent here immediately under Directive Gamma One. Jump Drives are authorized for use immediately.” He ordered.

“Aye Captain.” The Wolf responded as he began to relay the information.

“Sir!” Said the Tactical Officer, “Two ships are attempting to run past us. Orders?”

Captain Harper closed his eyes for a split second, opened them then said “Lock all weapons on the two vessels, fire across their hull and send them the signal to stop. If they keep going, target their engines and disable them. May whatever God or Gods out there forgive us for what we are about to do.”