[b]CEGSS ONARMORIAN[/b]
Alarms blared and the bridge flashed into red light in response to the sudden appearance of a much closer ship; the captain looked at all the red alarms and swore before his first officer shouted, “Incoming! Brace for kinetic impact!” The round never hit though, rather it sailed past the bow of the Onarmorian.

The captain shouted his commands “Open all missile bays! Acquire target on the nearest ship and pump up the missile triggers on 1-4 so those idiots know we are carrying nukes!” The captain inputted a series of commands as his second officer did as he ordered, the alarms turned off and the bridge came back into normal light, save for four small red blinking light indicating that warheads 1-4 were armed. The captain who had calmed a bit then continued much calmer, “Ok, now redirect communications from the main fleet and try to hail that ship that appeared behind us… Bastards must have a stealth ship, didn’t even show up on sensors before they raised full shields… Actually belay that last order, cut the general hail and broadcast on all frequencies including laser, still toward that nearest stealth ship, this message.” The captain paused for a moment until the click of the open comm, he stated, “Do not fire, we are not hostile unless provoked, do not fire.” 

The first officer waited in silence for a time then asked, “What do you think they will do? I doubt they can even hear us.”

The Captain thought on it and responded, “You’re right, we need to be prepared for this to get ugly, signal Colonial security and report the situation on standard laser comms. If we can get a cruiser here from planetary orbit fast enough we might be able to stand a chance should things get ugly. If only this old bird had those new toys.” 

From then on the bridge sat silent, and the ship sat with four missile bay doors open and armed ever desperately trying to contact the ship that had fired on them. It seemed as though the very void has become tense, two people unaware of each other’s existence before a mere few hours ago were on the verge of war, and the Captain presumed that both sides were trying to avoid that.

[b]Central Command, Home system of Herans. ((Exposition for a plotline that will come after I am done with Hounder))[/b]
Natong opened the old wooden hinge door to the darkened council chambers. Within the scarcely lit room a round table sat, an antique rotating clock set in the center of the table with dials indicating the time in every place on the planet. The table itself was abandoned save for one soul that could only be made out by the red glow of an old cigarette and the wisps of smoke that were illuminated by the light coming from outside the chamber. The figure at the table spoke calmly, “Natong, close the door and leave the lights as they are.” Natong did as he was commanded and walked toward the dark table and figure, seating himself opposite of them. The figure continued, “You know how we barely have control of the people anymore Natong, this world is headed to war. We all know that.”

Natong looked saddened but nodded in agreement, his artificial hand came to his head before he responded, “I know my people are growing restless, it does not help they are a majority on both colonies. 

The figure leaned forward, the cigarette resting in their moth and now illuminating their face as they inhaled and it brightened. They continued, “Yes… We face billions dying Natong… However there is a way to stop that, a way I and the other council members agreed to long ago. Still we need your approval, it has to be unanimous.”

Natrong was surprised and lowered his hand before asking, “I can’t approve what I don’t know, but you have deactivated the logs in the chamber and left it dark, so I can only assume that that the cost for preventing war will be great.” 

The figure leaned back again and disappeared into the darkness once more, save for the ever glowing cigarette perched between their lips. They asked, “Natrong did you ever think the cost would be low? There are few say to say this but to save billions millions must die. You are new to the council, your predecessor agreed though.” There was a long silence before the figure continued, “There is life out there Natong, and we spotted it some fifteen years ago, biological in nature. Savage by every measure.”

Natong stood up and asked harshly, “You kept this from the people!?” 

The figure remained calm before stating, “Some things are best not spoken of, and these creatures are killers. Five years ago we made a plan to use that for our gain Natong. We dispatched a ship into a route we have seen them often take. It will arrive anywhere between a week and a month from now. It’s mission is to attack the aliens.”

Natong sat in disbelief, “Why?”

The figure continued again, “These creatures are killers Natong, we can use that for our own gain. We intend to draw them to the small colony, Arez. They will destroy it and though millions will die our people will be galvanized, united in anger. We will have saved billions.”

Natong sat there with reality sinking in and said, “And my predecessor agreed? I guess he was wise, he could see beyond the madness to the logic. So 600 million die, and we avoid losing everything that we would in a civil war. I don’t like it but, I can’t see another way.” Natong sulked into his chair.

The figure responded, “We all have our vices, you were elected as a representative of the largest southern nation and yours is the decision to steer your people away from war or not. If you think like your predecessor Natong I need to know if you’re willing to go all the way with this.”

Natong replied, “Is there any other way? No, you all agreed to this. I am ready to go all the way.”

The figure stood up and extinguished the cigarette on their hardened scaly wrist. They replied, “Good, then things will proceed as they must.”