Chapter 19: Ch-17 The unknown
Kallus paused, allowing his words to sink in. The Void Fleet representatives remained stoic, but the tension among the Star Fleet delegation was palpable. Bai Zongqi's eyes narrowed slightly as he scrutinized Kallus, his thoughts undoubtedly racing.
"As for your arrival here," Kallus said, leaning forward slightly, "it is no secret to us that it was unintended—a fortuitous accident, if you will. Finding you, Chancellor Bai, was also serendipitous. However, let me assure you, we did not intrude upon your ship or violate your sanctity to gather this information. Our insights come from our own research and observations. The disturbances in space that accompanied your arrival did not go unnoticed by us."
A ripple of shock passed through the Star Fleet delegation. Bai Zongqi's composed exterior faltered for a brief moment, his eyes widening in surprise. Admiral Yu Tong exchanged a sharp glance with one of his advisors, who appeared equally unsettled.
Kallus's voice softened slightly, though his gaze remained intense. "This is not a threat, nor an attempt to intimidate. It is simply a demonstration of what we know and how we operate. Transparency is a cornerstone of diplomacy, Chancellor, and I believe it is the foundation upon which trust can be built."
The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of Kallus's revelations pressing heavily upon the Star Fleet delegation. Bai Zongqi straightened in his chair, his composure returning as he met Kallus's gaze.
"You are well-informed, Imperial Commander," Bai said, his voice measured. "I must admit, your understanding of our initiatives and circumstances is impressive—and unexpected. I appreciate your assurance regarding the integrity of our vessel."
Meanwhile, his advisors were perplexed by the depth of knowledge their opposing party possessed. Despite their own efforts to learn everything possible about their counterparts, the opposing group remained an enigma, cloaked in secrecy. Still, they collectively sighed in thought, consoling themselves with one simple truth: at least they are human—and friendly.
Kallus inclined his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "I see great potential in this meeting, Chancellor. Let us use it to establish a dialogue that benefits us both. The galaxy is vast, and challenges abound. Together, we can address them far more effectively than we ever could alone."
The Star Fleet delegation exchanged uncertain glances, their minds clearly grappling with the implications of Kallus's words. The atmosphere in the virtual chamber was charged with a mix of tension, curiosity, and the faint glimmer of possibility.
While the representatives of the Void Fleet and Star Fleet engaged in a tense and strategic virtual conference, discussing the foundational aspects of their alliance, an unknown fleet of ominous origin silently approached their position.
Not far from the Epsilon Eridani star system, located almost 11 light-years away from Earth.
In the vast, empty expanse of space, not far from the Solar System, a ragtag fleet of 150 ships drifted through the void. It was a chaotic collection, of frigates and cruisers, . Frigates flitted like predators around their larger kin, cruisers lumbered with patchwork armor, and at the heart of the fleet loomed the Krug 'tar, a battlecruiser with a jagged silhouette that screamed menace.
Towering above them all, however, was the Hulking Maw, a public-class mega-ship stretching over 20 kilometers in length. Its rusted, malformed exterior loomed like a floating city of chaos, riddled with jagged spires, crude reinforcements, and mismatched modules salvaged from countless conquests. The size of this monstrosity dwarfed the rest of the fleet, solidifying its role as the Orcs' mobile fortress and the heart of their war-driven society.
Inside the Hulking Maw, millions of Orcs lived in grim, densely packed conditions. Endless rows of crude metal barracks and makeshift chambers filled the ship's colossal interior, each teeming with the constant noise of brawls, feasting, and the clanging of weapons being forged or repaired. Orcs thrived in this chaos, their bloodlust and brutal nature driving them to survive and dominate one another even within their own ranks. Disputes were settled with fists or blades, and the hierarchy was a constant struggle for dominance, with the strong rising above the weak.
The air was thick with smoke, sweat, and the metallic tang of crude forges. The ship's corridors were labyrinthine, poorly lit by flickering lights scavenged from countless conquests, while its infrastructure groaned under the strain of the teeming masses. Every inch of the Hulking Maw screamed of functionality over elegance, built and rebuilt with whatever the Orcs could scavenge.
The Hulking Maw was more than a ship—it was a symbol of the Orcs' resilience and ferocity, a moving testament to their endless hunger for conquest.
This was an Orc fleet—a notorious scourge of the galaxy. Known for their unquenchable thirst for war and bloodshed, Orcs were one of the most common and populous species across the stars. Their presence spread like wildfire, consuming everything in their path. However, they were not builders of empires or masters of intricate strategy. They lacked the intellect for sophisticated tactics and the engineering prowess to craft their own marvels. Instead, they relied on overwhelming numbers and brute strength, attacking and pillaging any unfortunate race that crossed their path.
Their ships, much like their society, were a chaotic patchwork of stolen technology and salvaged wreckage. Battle scars, welded patches, and mismatched components covered the fleet's hulls, each piece a trophy from a prior conquest. Their so-called "war strategy"—if it could even be called that—was simple: ram their ships into enemy vessels, board them in vast numbers, and slaughter anyone aboard. The survivors' ships were either stripped for parts or crudely patched up and added to the Orc fleet.
Occasionally, they came across derelict vessels floating in the void, abandoned due to misfortune or the mysterious death of their original crews. These ships, too, were claimed, reanimated as part of the Orc armada. Each addition to their fleet further emphasized the Orcs' chaotic and brutal nature.
Now, this fleet of savages unknowingly approached the Solar System. Their primitive navigation systems didn't register Earth as anything more than a distant, promising blip—a potential target rich in resources and life. Traveling at their current speed, they would reach the edge of the Solar System in three to four months.
What the Orcs didn't realize, however, was that their intended prey was not the weak and struggling civilization they assumed it to be. While humanity within the Milky Way had not yet taken major steps in space exploration, fate had other plans. By an anomaly of cosmic proportions—or perhaps sheer chance—two fleets had arrived in the Solar System from entirely different universes. These fleets, separated by months in their arrival, shared one astonishing commonality: both were of human origin.
Two powerful human fleets, each belonging to different factions, had recently arrived in the Solar System
The Orcs, unaware of the impending clash, marched forward with their usual confidence, oblivious to the fact that this time, they might not face an easy conquest, but what awaited them was their swift and utter destruction. For once, they were not the predators but the prey.
As the Krug'tar and the Hulking Maw led their fleet closer to Earth, the question loomed: would the Orcs' overwhelming numbers and sheer brutality be enough to overcome the might of two human fleets, or would this be the beginning of their downfall?
The stars watched silently, holding the promise of a brutal, chaotic battle that would shape the fate of Earth and the Orcs alike.
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