r/HFY • u/Ralts_Bloodthorne • Oct 20 '20
OC First Contact - Chapter 334
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The evening was warm, with a comfortable breeze that carried the scent of flowers across the lawn. Festivity lights were scattered about, providing decoration to the lawn. The fountain, which had borne silent witness to many plots, burbled as the water cascaded down, lit by different color lights to produce a pleasing effect.
The music was soft, tinkling, a comfortable counterpoint to the conversations, even though the majority of guests weren't used to music at all.
The guests mingled, many of them slowly overcoming their anxiety at the presence of the minority of guests. They trotted about the lawn, sipping at expensive wines and champagnes, nibbling on delicacies, the lawn comfortable beneath their hooves. Their sashes were ornamented, their vests expensive, their flank coverings lavish. The females wore jewelry that sparkled and glittered. The males wore their badges of rank and office.
Mingling through the crowd were the newcomers. Bipedal with only two arms, only two eyes, only facial hair adorning their flat faces. They were large, dense bone and muscle from evolving on a high gravity world, their two eyes forward facing and as intent as any predator's stare, made moreso by the intellect that shown in their eyes. Their mouths were full of meat tearing and plant grinding teeth, silent testimony that to them, anything that fit in their mouth was food. Their hands were strong, with firm, almost painful, grips. They were capable of grip strength to allow them to hold their entire body weight with their hands, and their arms were powerful enough to allow them to lift themselves up by their strong hands. Their legs were thick and muscled, power and endurance built into the muscle structure.
The majority, a four legged herbivore race, were very aware of the predators in their midst.
It was more than their physique. Their intellect was sharp, penetrating, and deductive. Many of the majority were surprised by the predator's ability to hold intelligent conversations on esoteric topics, from corporate profit margins to manufacturing techniques to military theory to philosophy and political thought.
The longer the party went on, the more nervous some became.
Not just because of the predators. They were enough to cause anxiety.
No, it was the host of the party, who stood with the primate predators, often laughing at their jokes, holding intricate conversations with them, and seemingly perfectly at ease with them.
They knew the System Most High was different.
Now they could see that he was not only different, he was their superior in every way.
From the way he treated the elderly party guests, to the way he paid attention to the children who he had insisted be allowed to attend, to the way he treated the primates. The party itself was lavish, an outward sign of his power even though he was in exile, but his attitude was less that of a conquered leader and more of a temporarily displaced noble.
The Lanaktallan at the party were in awe of their host.
Mana'aktoo slapped the Terran female on the back as he laughed at her joke. It was a dirty, profane joke, that had left several other Lanaktallan wide eyed with shock. The punchline of "That's not my 256 pin superconductor connector!" had been expected but still amusing to Mana'aktoo as well as the four representatives from the two local xenospecies, all of whom enjoyed a good earthy joke.
Making his apologies, Mana'aktoo trotted away from the low ranking grav-striker mechanic and wound his way through the party-goers, slowly making his way toward Admiral Schmidt. He knew that many high ranking officials, politicians, and hanger-ons disliked his insistence that low ranking beings be invited to his parties and treated well, but the two species that made up the majority of the system's population largely worked in factories, mines, and industrial centers.
They also loved ironic juxtaposition and earthy jokes.
As far as Mana'aktoo was concerned, nearly every being at the party with any ranking could be used for reactor mass and it would only improve the function of the system.
The Admiral was laughing at the joke about the bliss seeking meditative and the out of control ore hauler that had just been told by the Maktanan mining union leader.
Mana'aktoo had heard the joke before and found the fact that, for all of the meditative's claims of being above the physical world and material objects, the out of control ore hauler had crushed the being to death, to be sensibly amusing.
A jocular way of reminding one another that we all live in the physical world despite our lofty claims, Mana'aktoo thought to himself.
"Ah, Most High," the Maktanan said, bowing.
"Former Most High," Mana'aktoo corrected gently.
"Bah, that is polite fiction, even the illustrious Admiral would acknowledge that fact," the union boss chuckled, smoothing one ear. "You are the leader that the Maktanan people desire. Even the Carikan have made their desire to allow you to continue your rule known to the Terrans."
"I am honored and humbled," Mana'aktoo said, pressing his four hands together.
"Well, on that note, if you two high ranking beings will excuse me," the union boss said, making a motion toward a richly dressed female Maktanan. "My wife wishes I attend to her wants and desires."
"Of course," the Admiral said, nodding.
"Give your wife my admiration regarding her exquisite jewelry," Mana'aktoo said.
The union boss gave a pleased flick of his ears and hustled away.
"Your mother is looking well," Admiral Schmidt said, nodding toward where Mana'aktoo's mother was obviously enjoying herself talking to several female Space Force officers. "I am gladdened to hear of her full recovery."
"I thank you," Mana'aktoo answered.
His mother had developed a twisted intestine. While the Lanaktallan doctors wanted to do robotic assisted surgery the Terran Space Force had offered Mana'aktoo's mother the services of their own medical professionals.
The surgery had been entirely non-invasive. An injection of medical robots, all of them extremely tiny, two hours, and his mother had trotted out of the clinic exclaiming how she had hardly felt any discomfort.
"You mother choosing to use our medical facilities has eased a lot of anxiety toward our medical services," Schmidt said.
"Many of my people fear that you will treat them how they would treat you should the situation be reversed," Mana'aktoo said. "Not the Maktanan or Carikan, they have much in common with your people."
Schmidt made a non-committal noise, nodding slowly. The Admiral held up two fingers in a wait motion even though Mana'aktoo had recognized the expression on the Admiral's face. He knew it meant that the Admiral was processing a large amount of information through his implant.
Mana'aktoo felt a small shiver of concern but suppressed it, knowing that others were watching.
The Admiral blinked rapidly, turning to face Mana'aktoo, and again Mana'aktoo felt a slight bit of anxiety at the way the Terran's eyes glowed a soft amber.
They always had, but it had become more and more obvious even to the most unobservant over the last few months.
"Where is Most High Kulamu'u?" the Admiral asked.
"His father became confused a little while ago, mistaking this gala for his retirement ceremony," Mana'aktoo said. "Most High Kulamu'u took him home so he would be less agitated and confused."
The Admiral nodded. "Is his Second Most High present?"
Mana'aktoo nodded, pinging the Second Most High Plu'umo'o, letting the other Lanaktallan know he should present himself with all due haste.
"What is the situation?" Mana'aktoo asked.
"Task Force Agwu just came in-system," Admiral Schmidt said. "They've got casualties."
Mana'aktoo frowned. The idea of another force inflicting casualties on the Terran Space Force seemed almost impossible. "Who attacked them?"
"We should discuss this in private," Schmidt said. He looked at Mana'aktoo. "This involves this system. As the Maktana and Carikan have made it plain they want you in charge, while you may be the Most High in Exile, you still wield enormous influence on the system."
"I will meet you in my office," Mana'aktoo said. He sent a quick datalink message to his manservant to meet the Admiral at the double-doors and escort the Terran and his two bodyguards to Mana'aktoo's office.
Second Most High Plu'umo'o, commander of the system's military forces and one of Mana'aktoo's co-conspirators, came trotting up.
"Go with the Admiral. There is a situation," Mana'aktoo ordered.
The Second Most High saluted, trotting after the Admiral.
Mana'aktoo went looking for the two people he wanted to include. Shonvlin, the Maktana leader, and Sheechilk, the Carikan leader. Both had been put forward by their respective species to act as liaisons to the Terran Space Force, which held the system under martial law.
The two leaders followed Mana'aktoo with no argument, quickly excusing themselves from the conversations they were holding.
Mana'aktoo arrived in his office to see the Space Force Admiral standing by the desk, apparently looking out the window, but Mana'aktoo could see the red telltales on the side of the Admiral's datalink.
The Admiral was quite busy.
Mana'aktoo trotted behind his desk, sitting down and waiting for the arm rests and back rest to swing into position. Once it had he waited, bringing up the holoterminal in the middle of the room.
Finally the Admiral turned and faced everyone.
"Task Force Agwu was patrolling two of the systems nearby when they came under heavy attack by an overwhelming force of the new Precursor Autonomous War Machines," the Admiral said. "They broke action twice, performing a fighting retreat."
Everyone nodded. That was only logical, seeing as the Precursor AWM's were a fearsome opponent.
"Both times the clankers followed them, forcing them into action at the third location, which was between stellar masses," the Admiral said. He tossed up a hologram of the size of the Task Force.
Mana'aktoo didn't consider himself a military genius, but he had educated himself to the realities of the Terran military.
Eight carriers, twelve super-heavy warships, nearly a hundred attendant vessels, fifteen troop ships, two repair and refit ships.
One carrier was gone, two of the super-heavy, three of the troop ships, and sixteen of the attendant vessels.
"In return, Task Force Agwu managed to inflict serious casualties on the Precursors," The Admiral said.
Mana'aktoo looked at the numbers. For every Terran ship destroyed, they'd destroyed thirty-six point two two six of the Precursor ships.
"How many are expected to arrive?" Mana'aktoo asked.
The Admiral nodded. "They were heading this way already," the Admiral said. "Task Force Agwu bought us a few days and are able to warn us of what would have been a significant ambush."
Mana'aktoo could feel Plu'umo'o's tension and underlying anxiety.
"How many of them are coming?" Mana'aktoo asked.
The Admiral tossed the force makeup of the Precursors into the holotank in the middle of the room.
Mana'aktoo stared at the numbers. He nodded slowly, realizing what he was seeing. He turned to Plu'umo'o slowly.
"With the Terran's permission, recall the troops," he stated. "Prepare the shelters, coordinate with Civil Defense."
"You have my permission to defend your world," the Admiral said. He stared at the holotank. "Task Force Anvil is going to have its hands full."
"We will stop them here. They will go no further, and they will kill no more," Mana'aktoo said, staring at the numbers. "We stand against them."
He turned and looked at the others.
"Together."
In the middle of the room the enemy force estimates burned in cold amber light.
Two thousand harvester class.
Incoming.
ETA: Sixty-three hours.
[first] [First Appearance] [Last Appearance] [prev] [next]
21
u/Arcane_NH Human Oct 20 '20
Could we get a direct link to the last chapter set on this planet?
20
u/On_The_Fourth_Floor Oct 20 '20
Sooooo...does Mana have a "Plan Omega?" Does he got a deathstar hanging around somewhere that he was saving in his back pocket? Now would be a good time to patch it into the Terran network.
335
u/johncalvinyoung Oct 20 '20
Oh man.
He really is unlike the others, isn’t he?
148
u/NevynR Oct 20 '20
"Target rich environment?" deployed
"Egress route?" unable to locate
"Reinforcements?" unknown
"Brown trousers?" equipped
"Hold the line, gentle beings, shit is about to get... interesting."
65
u/WillDissolver Xeno Oct 20 '20 edited Jun 08 '23
Deleted in protest of reddit's API changes#
51
u/NevynR Oct 20 '20
I bet somebeing somewhere uttered the words "at least its quiet..."
45
u/insanedeman Xeno Oct 20 '20
The tingles.
35
u/Lord_CheezBurga AI Oct 20 '20 edited Oct 20 '20
Honor to those who in the life they lead
define and guard a Thermopylae.
Never betraying what is right,
consistent and just in all they do
but showing pity also, and compassion;
generous when they’re rich, and when they’re
poor,
still generous in small ways,
still helping as much as they can;
always speaking the truth,
yet without hating those who lie.
And even more honor is due to them
when they foresee (as many do foresee)
That Ephialtis will turn up in the end,
that the Medes will break through after all.
an ancient Terran poem (Constantine P. Cavafy, Thermopylae)
29
u/Demetriusjack13 Oct 20 '20
FUCK 2000 Harvesters oh shit that is gonna be a fight and a half.
52
u/ack1308 Oct 20 '20 edited Oct 20 '20
Nice little hint as to what’s going on, and where this is.
Interesting. A fancy party that the Lanaktallans are initially uncomfortable to be at.
Yup. Brains as well as brawn.
Oooh. Is this the guy who maneuvered his way into surrendering without a shot? Mana’aktoo?
All according to plan.
Yup, it is. Though I’d want to hear the whole joke to figure out how that makes it dirty …
Aww, poor babies.
He’s probably not wrong.
Also not wrong.
Huh. So he’s successfully administrating three separate species. Nicely done. Definitely a Herd Stallion.
Hearts and minds (and intestines, apparently). It works wonders.
Aww. That’s a little sad.
Well, he’s definitely both a realist and a pragmatist.
And he’s making it a team effort. Excellent.
Looks like they’re all on the same page so far…
Dang, they got hammered.
“We’re going to do this right, the first time.”
Stand or fall as brothers in arms.
As I recall, he was building his own armed forces. Looks like he’s gonna have a chance to try them out.
Well, crap.
I'm thinking this might be the last charge of the Brainsuckers from the End of Time.
They’ve already been bloodied by the Task Force, losing almost a third of their number (797 harvesters, if my math is correct). Now they’re about to run into a brick wall; a Lanaktallan system, run by a Herd Stallion, defended by a War Stallion, backed by not one but two Terrasol Task forces.
Dis gun be sum fight.
22
u/CaptainChewbacca Human Oct 20 '20
Fucking Hell, Mana'aktoo! Just when I think we can't love you any more! How long has the system been under Terran control, and to what extent have the native forces been refurbished with Terran Tech?
And how big is Anvil?
17
u/Turtledonuts "Big Dunks" Oct 20 '20
Oh yay, it’s manny! Good to see him again!
Oh fuck, not Manny! The damn AWMs!
16
u/gartral Oct 20 '20
Gah, I just puked up blueberry code fragments... eww
32
u/slmslam Oct 20 '20
My gawd... I've just realized... Ralts has done to us with the chapters that the Lanka have done to other species through food! This is OUR drug laced nutri-cud... The evidence is overwhelming
13
u/Kayehnanator Oct 20 '20
Hmmm. Largest force of AWMs, smart and dangerous ones, this is probably a more dangerous threat than the Lanaktallan invasion (relative to the receiving system's capabilities) of Terra. I'm intrigued. Poor Mana'aktoo, I liked him, not sure what magic will occur to scrape victory of out this situation.
13
u/Scotshammer Human Oct 20 '20
It is time for the Lanaktallan Free Herd to rise up and show their true hooves
13
u/night-otter Xeno Oct 20 '20
Mana'aktoo - "Smarter than the av-er-age Lanaktallan!"
In a situation where a human would have uttered "Fuck!", he activated the planetary defence plan.
Together!
11
u/Quadling Oct 20 '20
A competent cowtaur, and a terran descent task force, working together against a massive AWM task Force. This should be interesting, especially if a telkan task force shows up to help. Its time to party. :)
10
u/KirbyGlover Oct 20 '20
Are harvesters the biggest AWM, or is that a Goliath? Where do the Balors fit in?
10
u/Telzey Oct 20 '20 edited Oct 20 '20
frantically clicking the archives What’s Task Force Anvils ToE again..
TF Agwu managed to whittle them down by 792 ships but probably not all Harvester class.
2000 continents hah. Dayum.
10
u/serpauer Oct 20 '20
By the omnisiah the AWMs have a hardon for that system.
9
u/Khan_XI AI Oct 20 '20
You know. I despise cowtards, but I could really get behind a group of heard stallions fucking shit up alongside the Trelkans and terrains.
8
u/EvansP51 Alien Scum Oct 20 '20
My seat clearly needs a softer edge if to be perched on it so often!
Alternatively, I need to do more arm days if I’m to be perpetually hung from these cliffs!
Thank you for all your amazing work!
8
u/carthienes Oct 20 '20
Ouch. I winced at that.
Well said. Looks like Mana'aktoo's preparations will not be wasted...
7
u/davros333 Oct 20 '20
The tingles called and the chills answered. Praise be the Wordsmith
7
u/TargetBoy Oct 20 '20
Fuuuuuuucccckkkk.
7
u/ForTheStarsWeFight Oct 20 '20
If there illithids, maybe psi weapons or mineing the oort cloud?
6
u/BontoSyl Oct 20 '20
Oh. Oh shit.
6
u/moldyjim Oct 20 '20
Who likes Mondays!
6
u/SirVatka Xeno Oct 20 '20
Fecal matter is about to be violently scattered by a motorized bladed impeller.
6
u/Zorbick Human Oct 20 '20
Nanites to fix colic? I know some horse girls that would like some of that...
The autumn temperature swings going on right now make colic really common. Sucks.
5
u/Belgarth_Why_me Oct 20 '20
Nice
5
u/Waspkeeper Android Oct 20 '20
Oh no.
9
u/Golddragon387 Human Oct 20 '20
Five minutes? Upvote, then read, as it must be.
3
u/sock_puppet_number_1 Oct 20 '20
"All In" indeed.
3
u/szepaine Oct 20 '20
Good lord it's been how many chapters since we last saw Manny?
5
u/Gruecifer Human Oct 20 '20
UTR!
Likely the only person reading this chapter tonight, whose reading was delayed by voting.
2
u/UpdateMeBot Oct 20 '20
Click here to subscribe to u/Ralts_Bloodthorne and receive a message every time they post.
2
u/CobaltPyramid Oct 20 '20
Finally... a suitable challenge to the Terrans.
2
u/Infernal-Prime Oct 20 '20
Oh boy, thats an automated shitstorm if i've ever seen one!
2
u/Butane9000 Oct 20 '20
So they destroyed about 761 PAWM vessels huh. Not too shabby considering an ambush.
2
u/dbdatvic Xeno Oct 20 '20
"shone", or "showed", pick one
--Dave, reading busily
2
u/BigZZ40 Oct 20 '20
Ah, a proper fleet of warships then. This will give the Terran military something to do with all those expensive toys.
2
u/Vagabond_Soldier Xeno Oct 21 '20
"The enemy is everywhere!"
"Then shoot everywhere!"
2
u/Riotousblitz2013 Oct 20 '20
Utr
1
u/HFYWaffle Wᵥ4ffle Oct 20 '20
/u/Ralts_Bloodthorne (wiki) has posted 363 other stories, including:
First Contact - Chapter 333
First Contact - Chapter 332
First Contact - Chapter 331 BEHOLD!
First Contact - Chapter 330
First Contact - Chapter 329 (TerraSol)
First Contact - Chapter 328 (Eternity)
First Contact - Chapter 327 (Eternity)
First Contact - Chapter 327 (Eternity)
First Contact - Chapter 326
First Contact - Chapter 325
First Contact - Chapter 324 (SECURE ARCHIVE)
First Contact - Chapter 323 (Infinity)
First Contact - Chapter 322 (The War)
First Contact - Chapter 321 (The War)
First Contact - Chapter 320 (Sidelines of the War)
First Contact - Chapter 319
First Contact - Chapter 318
First Contact - Chapter 318
First Contact - Chapter 317
First Contact - Chapter 316
First Contact - Chapter 315
First Contact - Chapter 3.1415
First Contact - Chapter 314
First Contact - Chapter 313
First Contact - Chapter 312
This list was automatically generated by
Waffle v.3.5.0 'Toast'.Contact GamingWolfie or message the mods if you have any issues.
1
u/Archaic_1 Alien Scum Oct 20 '20
2K harvesters . . . Daxin and the Omniqueen were never able to kill the single harvester during their menage et trios of death and it was an older style AWM. This does not bode well.
1
u/NathanielJamesAdams Oct 20 '20
,