Shipping mishaps Chapter 7

Several minutes before the destruction of the LHUIVTRMYUK, Fleet of Protectors headquarters.

“Admiral! We finally found it!” First Lieutenant Yujcxv, a barely adult Lsvrt Lethui, shouted with much enthusiasm and wing waiving.

“Lieutenant. Land, now.” Grand Admiral of the fleet, Czuoi-xp, a very old and venerable Lsvrt Lethui, said to his idiot great great grand nephew. '

Lt. Yujcxv slowed down and landed. He took a deep breath and continued, “ *The Death of Fleets* has been found! We received a priority emergency message from it 6 hours ago!”

“That ship and it's supposed cargo is a legend stemming from the Dirtball incident. There is no way that we could have received any such thing.” Czuoi-xp stated. That's the official party line. Anyway, if that ship is still around, it's a flying war crime. The 17 help us all.

“If I may speak freely, Grand Admiral Czuoi-xp?” Yujcxv asked.

“Feel free, nephew.” Said Czuoi. Oh dear. This may be bad. Very bad.

“Uncle? Do you really think so poorly of my intelligence? I have spent the last several hours chasing down rumors, ancient decryption codes, archaic books, and old invoices.” Began Lt. Yujcxv, “I have looked up every commission report, decommission report, and sales report. At this point, I can prove that *The Death of Fleets*, beyond a shadow of a doubt, was real, that it took part in the Dirtball incident, and that it was, sorry is, the carrier of the ONLY Dirt-rockian recovered.”

“WAIT. IS? As in there IS one on board?!?” Czuoi-xp almost yelled.

“Oh, it is much worse than that, oh Uncle, My Admiral, It is now full owner of said vessel. Transferred to it from Trans-Union Galactic Shipping, the previous owner. May I add that the ship was sold to Trans-Union for 1500 credits, from Fleet's own De-com office? The ship was purchased a few minutes ago by a Trans-Union employee, and then almost immediately transferred to the Dirt-rockian. Trans-Union also approved a shipping contract with them moments after the transfer.” Yujcxy explained. “Oh, I have also received a report that the ship's name has been renamed to the Nautilus.”

Grand Admiral Czuoi-xp had gone very pale, “How many know the whole story on this, or even part of the story?”

“You and I, obviously; at least one senior staff member from Trans-Union, probably several at this point; the captain of the interceptor ship, the cruiser LHUIVTRMYUK; and the command staff of the Outer Territories Battle Group.” A very excited Yujcxy said.

“Too many, much too many, this is going to be a disaster,” said the Admiral. “Get me my full dress uniform. I need to be present at the first contact so that nothing can blow up.”

A look of terror crossing his face, Yujcxy spoke, “Um, uncle? It's too late for that. I just got a ping from the LHUIVTRMYUK, it has been destroyed, all hands presumed lost.”

*-*-*

Admiral Luktruk, commanding officer of the Outer Territories Battle Group, and an extra grumpy Jarsnarg missing a good chunk of his tail and part of one ear (thanks to a bar fight in his younger years), was not having a good day. Not only had he had to get up early to chase a nonexistent threat from a ghost story, he had now received news that the idiot in command of the LHUIVTRMYUK had gotten his ship blown up. “Idiots! Why do I have to deal with a fleet full of idiots!” He shouted at the walls of his ready room. Sighing, he stepped out onto the bridge. Only to see his worst nightmare made manifest.

“G...Grand Admiral of the Fleet! Wh... To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?” Admiral Luktruk stammered, staring at the dreaded Grand Admiral, leader of many successful campaigns, killer of incompetents, unrivaled, unassailable, and assassin proof (as the guild would no longer take commissions to attempt the deed), leader of the Fleet of Protectors (and probably of the League, if he had wanted the job).

“If I was going to have you killed, I would be there in person, Admiral Luktruk. No, this is a different form of trouble. I will make this easy for you. That bit in officers' basics? About the Dirt-rockians? NOT MADE UP. I repeat, IT WAS ALL REAL. If you understand, just nod your head.”

Luktruk, throat having gone dry, just nodded. So did all of the beings on the bridge. “Ok, Sir? Why did I need to know that bit of awful news?” He finally choked out.

“Because, *The Death of Fleets* has been found, And you are heading right for it.”

*-*-*

The Outer Territories Battle Group dropped into real space two light seconds from where the LHUIVTRMYUK had last been positioned. They could see the debris cloud slowly expanding. What they didn't want to see was also there. *The Death of Fleets*.

It floated in space, looking almost dead. The faint light of its station keeping drives, and some movement around one of it's several port launch bays betraying the life it still contained. It's massive size dwarfing the largest ships of the battle group. If you were to look even closer, you would also see the sliver cannons it used for point defense tracking the battle group. The same sliver cannons that most Fleet vessels used as main weapons.

“Comms, give me a link to *The Death of Fleets*. Sensors, give me a deep scan, we need to know what we are going to be up against.” Admiral Luktruk ordered.

“Yes sir” was the immediate response.

Moments later sensor technician Mazx; one of the overly happy Fellinid; spoke up, “The third tier weapons systems seem to be stuck at 43%, point defense systems are active, and shields are at 53%. Life signs are present on the bridge, and port flight deck. The rest of the ship seems dead. Sir.”

'I can't believe some idiot automated that beast and didn't strip out all the contraband parts' Luktruk thought to himself before responding, “Do we have a link to the vessel?”

“It is taking a bit, sir.” Communications officer Zliubvy, an Ovdsmj, said. “Ah, someone is coming on now.”

“Um, hello?” a Gurgmisk slug said, mouth tentacles waving in worry, “How can we help you?”

*-*-*

Grug was in trouble, and he knew it. Whomever was on the other end of the comm was probably in charge of the fleet that had just jumped into the area. “If you would like to speak to the Captain, I can try to patch you through”, Grug said, “or maybe the Admiral?”

*-*-*

The holo-link opened up on as strange a scene as Admiral Luktruk had seen. A light brown, fur-less Goggig had its legs wrapped around the midsection of a large blue furred Brnul*in*ESWVnul*i, kicking in its heels to drive out the air; simultaneously the Goggig had an arm wrapped around the larger sentient’s throat, choking off her air supply. The comms audio finally kicked in. “That's what you get for calling Mr. Teddy whatever it was you said!” The Goggig thing bit the ear of the Brnul*, then opened its mouth again, “If you promise to take it back, I wont have you stuffed and mounted on my wall as a reminder to others that you don't insult MY crew. Shake your head if you understand.”

The Brnul*, having dropped to her knees, shook her head. The Goggig thing jumped off, and turned to face the Holo. “Now who are you, and why am I looking at an oversized,” the translation program hiccuped, “ 'mammalian pest species?' I mean you are cute, and big enough that I could hold you and pet you. Maybe you would like to come and join my crew? I'm sure I could find you some alfalfa pellets to eat.”

Luktruk's jaw dropped. Whatever this thing was, it wasn't a Goggig. It also had a very definitely evil grasp of the language. “I am Admiral Luktruk of the Fleet of Protectors, commander of the Outer Territories Battle Group. I am a Jarsnarg, not whatever you called me.”

“I'm sorry for calling you 'small mammal kept in cage and fed to reptiles'. I just think you look very cute.” The creature said.

*-*-*

Geo was more than a bit flummoxed. What was wrong with the large mouse-like creature on the holo? Was there a translation glitch or something? Well, whatever, she had stuff to do, and needed a nap. Soon.

“So, Admiral Luktruk, what can I do for you?” she asked, ignoring making another mouse reference. Maybe I should call it a rat? “As you can see, I am very busy defending my crew from nasty name calling aliens.” She jerked her thumb over shoulder at the 6' Brnul*in*ESWVnul*i who was finally starting to regain her feet with the help of a mottled brown and black furred Brnul*.

“Well, Admiral Geo, I was tasked with being the point of first contact with you. Unfortunately, my upstart subordinate seems to have beaten me to it, and failed spectacularly in the process.” Luktruk stated, taking in the rest of the beings behind Geo. “Do you think we could take this conversation somewhere more private?”

“Um, no.” Geo stated, cocking her head to one side, “Dad always said that having more witnesses was a good thing, if you want to keep things above board.”

“Your father must have been a good man, handing out that kind of advice.” Luktruk replied, feeling more than a bit surprised. “But what we need to discuss, is, well, very secretive knowledge.”

“I don't know how good he is, he's a lawyer.” Geo shot back, cracking a smile, “Anyway, my people will probably keep their gobs shut. Out with it.”

A bit taken aback by the feral show of teeth; even if they were the more dull omnivore teeth, the blood on the ear of the Brnul* behind it proved their ability to cause damage; in a clear and very steady tone of voice, Luktruk spoke, “Very well, Admiral. You have been in cryo-stasis for just over 12,000 years. With my understanding of your Dirt-rockian species, everyone you knew and loved is long dead.”

Geo's mouth dropped open, her eyes bulged, and a cold dread spread through her heart.