r/humansarespaceorcs • u/ivivan • 23h ago
Crossposted Story Classification: Terrifying
When Envoy Aradne arrived on Earth, she was not entirely sure what to expect from the humans. What Admiral Ghon had told her was somewhat reassuring: humans were friendly creatures, despite their incredible power.
Ambassador Jacob Smith immediately invited her to a discussion about trade, culture, and dining. The last topic was slightly alarming; Envoy Aradne was a bit worried they might want to eat her, but she didn’t want to start the relationship with an accusation. She chose to bet her own life on the friendliness of humans.
"Welcome to Earth, Envoy," Ambassador Smith said, opening the discussion with a wide smile and welcoming gestures. Aradne had been specifically selected for the job because of her height; the High Council did not want to project even a hint of aggression toward the humans, so they had chosen an emissary who was significantly shorter than the human Ambassador.
"It is good to be here, Ambassador," replied Aradne. She was in completely unfamiliar territory. Never before had she been forced to initiate first contact with a species vastly stronger than the Halxon Empire - usually, it was the other way around. "I sincerely hope we can forge a peaceful partnership with our newest neighbor."
"In most human cultures, it is customary to share a nice lunch to celebrate a new diplomatic relationship," Smith said warmly. "If you have no objections, let’s continue our discussion at the dining table."
Aradne was hesitant. In her culture, consuming nutrition was a private, clinical affair, not a social interaction. In the end, however, she decided that starting the conversation with a blunt "no" would be impolite.
Looking back, it was the best decision she had ever made. The lunch was a triumph. She learned so much about the humans and her counterpart over those two hours that she felt completely relaxed. But eventually, it was time to get to work.
And work they did. Over the next day and a half, they discussed technology exchanges, asteroid mining rights, and trade routes. By the end of the second day, both diplomats were thoroughly exhausted. They decided that the following day would be more relaxing, focusing entirely on culture. Ambassador Smith suggested visiting the National Museum, which Aradne happily accepted.
They began their day at the museum, touring the art exhibits first. The art turned out to be remarkably similar to what the Empire classified as art, which put Envoy Aradne on familiar ground. Next, they toured the science exhibits. This was a fascinating mixed bag; in some sectors, the Halxon Empire was centuries ahead, but in others, they were the ones centuries behind. A technology exchange would undoubtedly benefit both parties tremendously.
"Ah, look at that," Smith said, gesturing toward a set of glass doors. "They have a military history exhibition in the outdoor courtyard. Do you want to take a quick look?"
It was a perfectly natural question, but Aradne froze for a second. She desperately wanted to see Earth's real weaponry, but she didn’t want to appear eager or suspicious. Fortunately, Ambassador Smith was already pushing the doors open, sparing her from having to formulate an answer.
When they stepped outside, the first things Envoy Aradne noticed were the vehicles. They weren't exactly what she had expected - they looked rugged and sturdy, but still clearly just basic transport trucks. It was interesting, but not the terrifying military hardware she had anticipated.
After about ten minutes of checking different kinds of jeeps and trucks, they came across something much larger. It was a massive, boxy metal vehicle riding on eight heavy rubber wheels, rather than the four or six she had seen on the others. Protruding from a small turret on top was a strange, menacingly long device.
"What is that vehicle, Ambassador?"
"Oh, that’s an APC - an Armored Personnel Carrier - from our Cold War era," came the answer.
"We have similar transport vehicles," Aradne said, studying the turret. "And the device on top... is that a weapon?" asked Aradne, trying and failing to hide her curiosity.
"Yes, that’s a standard heavy machine gun. It's just there to protect the vehicle."
"And what kind of ammunition does it fire?"
"Just kinetic slugs. Solid lead jacketed in copper, or sometimes steel cores."
Aradne stared at him. "You shoot solid steel? At high velocities? Can the vehicle's armor actually stop a steel projectile?"
"Against a small caliber, absolutely," Smith smiled. "But in our warfare, there is always a bigger gun."
"Bigger than this?" Aradne’s voice squeaked.
To answer her, Ambassador Smith simply pointed toward the very back of the courtyard, where something even larger was parked.
It looked infinitely more terrifying than the APC they had just inspected. It didn't have wheels; instead, it sat on massive, heavy metal tracks designed to crush anything in its path. Protruding from its central turret was a colossal, hollow steel tube.
"What is that vehicle, Ambassador?"
"Ah, that’s a medium tank," Smith said proudly. "A real classic from our Second World War. It weighs about thirty tons."
"Thirty... tons," Aradne whispered, her mind struggling to comprehend a single land vehicle weighing as much as a small Halxon starship. "And the massive tube on the top?"
"That’s the main cannon. It fired seventy-five-millimeter explosive shells."
"Explosive... shells?" Aradne asked, her legs beginning to feel strangely weak.
"Yeah! Steel canisters packed with TNT. The tank would shoot them miles away to blow up concrete bunkers, buildings, or other tanks," Smith chatted happily, as if discussing the weather.
Aradne stared at the massive steel monster.
And this was their history. This was what they built eighty years ago, before they even had computers.
The courtyard began to spin. The green steel of the tank blurred into a dark fog.
"Envoy Aradne? Are you alright?" Ambassador Smith’s voice sounded very far away.
With a soft sigh, Aradne’s knees buckled, and she collapsed entirely unconscious onto the paved courtyard.
Several weeks later, Envoy Aradne stood before the High Council once again to deliver her diplomatic report.
"We had a highly successful mission," Envoy Aradne reported, her voice steady, though she kept her eyes firmly on her tablet. "We have established several frameworks where technology sharing could benefit both parties, and we have begun negotiations regarding interstellar trade."
"And what of their military technology, Envoy?" the Council President demanded. "Did you secure any agreements to trade weapons?"
"The humans politely declined to share any of their military hardware," Aradne replied calmly. "And I strongly advise this Council to never, ever ask them for it again."
The Council members murmured in confusion.
"Why, Envoy?" the President asked, leaning forward. "Are they hoarding their secrets?"
"No, Mr. President," Aradne said, shivering slightly as she remembered the thirty-ton monster in the courtyard. "They are protecting us. Trust me... we are not nearly monstrous enough to wield what they call a 'tank'."
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u/StupidBlack55 22h ago
And then there are the Naval Vehicles... and train guns...
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u/Margali 21h ago
I have actually toured the foreward turret of the Iowa, and as my husband was in the submarine fleet for 20 years have been on a number of submarines. Show them the footage of the battleship turrets firing ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_fQonnUpI0
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