* * *
“Orion, set coordinates for another hellhole, Ross 154. I'll make the preparations for superlightspeed.”
“Ross 154, fu----n.”
“Wait, there are some unidentified ships coming in the radar. OH SHIT, it is a Tau Ceti attack.”
Tau Ceti are a race of aliens that populated the star system of Tau Ceti. They are technologically inferior to the NoE, but they were able to learn a lot of the art of spacecraft building from both NoE Free Knowledge Society television broadcasts, as well as from several failed scouting missions to the area. Still, compared to the NoE, many relegate them to barbarians. Especially after war tore their world apart, and their greatest architectural achievements were lost. The NoE decided it would be less risky to take Alpha Centauri first, and in turn the Ceti Tau's learned what would happen to them. Many of them surrendered on Ceti Tau 2, but majority of them fled the system and found several inhabitable planets that were in more remote less desirable star systems, so they could wage guerrilla warfare against the NoE. None of them have entered into slavery as they are very intelligent and look much like humans, with only a few differences- such as their purple skin. They claim that they are equal to humans, being in the same image as the God of earthling religions. As a side note, the discovery of extraterrestial life, especially that of the Ceti Tau's, has reignited religion to where atheism is fairly uncommon, but many scientists maintain that their similarity is pure coincidence.
“They are probably after that Smithfield Freighter. I wonder how they knew about it.”
“Beats me, lets not stay long enough to find out, the defense force will handle it.”
“What about Gean? She said something about Smithfield. She was very cordial to us. What if she's on board?”
“Orion, you save me yesterday, now you are going to get me killed. Get in the turret.” Adelaide turned the ship around and went straight for the first wave of four Tau Ceti fighters. They were going straight for the freighter as Orion predicted. “We can't let them get close enough to fire virus missiles, it will shut down the freighter's computer systems.”
As the vessels came in range, Orion aimed his sights at the lead fighter and fired. A brilliant fire erupted from the cockpit and the ship careened out of the fight. Orion moved to the next one, and got a direct hit and moved his fire right onto the third. As the third exploded, the fourth shot a virus missile right before the Independence defense force got in range to shoot down the fourth ship.
The freighter was hit, and larger raiding ships were inbound to dock with it, and they had escorts. The defense force moved in to intercept.
What they were not ready for were the Tau Ceti ships coming out of superlightspeed behind them. The fighters quickly moved in on the defense forces and annihilated them.
“We're fucked,” Orion proclaimed. Then he was knocked out of his seat.
“Navigation system disabled,” the computer announced.
“Not fucked, boarded.”
* * *
But they were not immediately boarded. First they were towed to the Tau Ceti rendezvous point where they must have planned the ambush. Right outside of the system. It was a good spot.
Two Moons came led his Tau Ceti force onto the ship.
“Where is the shipment?” he asked Adelaide and Orion, helpless to defend themselves.
“We aren't carrying any shipments, Adelaide replied.
“Sir, we found a big crate, can we open it?”
“Yes.” He turned to Adelaide, “No shipments! We will. . .”
A roar erupted from the other end of the ship. Orion started to shake. Two Moons and the rest of his men went over to see what was wrong.
“Hlopek kill, Hlopek kill!”
The centaur flung two, Ceti Tau warriors against the wall with such force that their bones shattered instantly. He charged another than gave a front leg kick and sent him on top of Adelaide. The Ceti Tau's fired their guns, but their bullets did no harm. Pretty soon it came to the point of Two Moons being the only one left. He took out a long electrical spear and declared, “I will die fighting a great beast!”
“Hey you big ugly bastard, over here!” Orion shouted.
It turned to him and said in English, “You! I killing you for 15 years, die!”
Orion's heart sank. He was ready to die and join his comrades that Hlopek killed.
“Catch you fucking Titan, fucking kill him!” Adelaide yelled and slid him a Smithfield Mark 3 rifle.
A large burst of energy came from the rifle and turned the Centaur's chest into green goo that splattered all over Orion. One second later, the legs and hind of the Centaur knocked Orion over.
Adelaide went pushed the unconscious Ceti Tau off of herself and went to aid Orion. “Looks like your nightmares will be over.”
“Never have two humans treated me so honorably,” Two Moons said. “You could have let me die.” We will allow you to leave.”
* * *
“Message from Chief Randolf received” Adelaide's minicomp announced.
“Play.”
“Captain Mu, officer Smittan is wanted for murder of an Internal Security Agency, the man who attempted to question you on Sunday. He is also wanted for treason against the NoE in conspiracy and Ceti Tau sympathizing. Bring him back to Barnard's star immediately.”
“Well, Orion, it looks like we aren't cops anymore.” Adelaide said and laughed.
“Good, I didn't like that job anyways,” Orion smiled.