Earth standard time 2841.08.08
Since the Hand of Fire's last encounter with the alien, things have slowly returned to normal. It has only been two days but onboard a military ship that sees conflict on a regular basis this was not new. Loss was not common, but the galaxy would not stop because of it. The engines would not wait for cooling patiently because of those deaths. It was a cruel way to think about things, but a necessary one.
Rudolf had a daily regimen of alternating between a physical exercise and mental one. Every other day he would wake up, prepare himself, eat, and immediately head out to his office to look over documents and educate himself on the latest news from the Autarchy. That could be anything from new weapons testing, ship designs, and criminal activities on his world or those nearby.
An individual in his station could never rest, and knowledge was power.
Alternatively the mornings he wasn't brushing up on current events he would exercise his body. He would occasionally meet other officers doing the same.
This morning he went a bit earlier than usual. Although his left arm was veritably useless, the rest of his body wasn't… yet.
"Captain, i realize this is a moot point by now but should you be exercising only two days after your…. incident?" Lieutenant Minhaj would act as Rudolf trainer.
The Lieutenant was a very well built individual. This helped Rudolf's confidence that what he was being told to do was actual proper exercise.
At first glance anyone would think that Hasan Minhaj was a muscle head. Incapable of any finer movements, but those people tended to be the ones who ended up with their necks snapped on a battlefield in a still unnamed world. Rudolf knew from experience that Hasan was as nimble as a ballerina. Sometimes he would stretch and bend for nearly an hour to warm himself up. With twists and turns that made Rudolf wonder if the man had bones at all!
After warming up, they went for a light jog using the treadmills. Thanks to synthetic environmental stimulus and VR technology it looked and felt like they were running on a sunny meadow. The wind through their hair and the smell of sunshine and grass all around them. Truth be told it was quite calming, until they stopped and realized they were back in a giant battleship flying through the void of space. Just as they were finishing up their jog someone else had joined them.
"Damn, look at you a brown tall glass of HOT!" Lieutenant Miranda Aron made quite the entrance thought Rudolf.
Whistling and everything. I wonder if Hasan is embarrassed?
Rudolf glanced over towards Hasan who was quickly putting his shirt back on.
He was embarrassed.
"Captain, i believe that was a textbook case of sexual harassment." Hasan reported.
Rudolf sighed, his precious morning was ruined. He was sure of it.
"Ohh c'mon Hasan I didn't mean anything by it." Miranda laughed and came closer.
That's when Rudolf and Hasan realized that she was wearing her usual workout clothes. She wore very short shorts, basically underwear, thought Rudolf. At least she wore a tank top, no she was taking it off.
Rudolf could see Hasan glaring at him. But what was he supposed to do? Restrict her wardrobe, he tried that once and it did not end well for him!
"What the hells do you think you're doing?"
That voice. Rudolf felt a shiver come down his spine, he knew that voice. Glancing over he saw the Kolsey couple walking through the double doors.
"Hello doctor, I was just stretching my body nothing more." Rudolf didn't expect them here today. He even asked Edward who informed him that they wouldn't be going to the gym today!
"Hasan?" Elizabeth commanded.
"He wanted the usual routine." Hasan quickly folded like origami.
Rudolf was hurt, that traitor!
Rudolf would have his revenge, and this time it wouldn't be cold like the last time. "Miranda, for one hour you have free reign over Lieutenant Minhaj."
Miranda's eyes glistened over as she chased down the running man. Hasan was quick, almost like he saw that coming. Unfortunately for him Miranda was much quicker, and far more dangerous.
"C'mere hot stuff, gimme a smooch!" Miranda screamed while chasing Hasan down. Rudolf thought it looked more like hunting.
Rudolf would have liked to enjoy his moment of triumph over the traitor's misery but he had his own concerns.
"Captain, this isn't your first injury, is it?" Edward had tried to make his own escape but was held back by Elizabeth's vice-like grip. Both men wondered where that monstrous strength came from. Then they remembered how she had given birth to twins without anesthesia, in the middle of a battle, while treating the wounded.
Rudolf wondered if it was all women or just the ones onboard the Hand of Fire, but he always thought that women were truly frightening individuals.
"No." From experience he knew that excuses would only make things worse.
"Then why are you here, Captain?" Elizabeth smiled.
"I was just leaving to go rest."
"If i catch you here again before your recovery.. Well you know the consequences of ignoring your doctors orders, don't you?"
Rudolf looked at Edward pleading for some assistance only to be betrayed once again. Edward had looked away a long time ago, apologizing with his gaze against a wall.
"Yes doctor."
"That's First Lieutenant Kolsey for now Captain. I will also accept Chief Medical Officer."
Damn she was pissed.
Rudolf quickly made his escape before it was too late, maybe he could go to his office and read up on those new energy weapons being developed by the Duchy of Londo in his office? No, Elizabeth would know that he went to his office. She was crafty that way, always knowing things somehow.
Rudolf made his way to the showers where he caught Miranda and Hasan embracing each other. He always wondered why they tried to hide their relationship? It's not like it was against any rules, and they had even reported it to Primus Kolsey so it was on the record.
He decided it was best to clean up in his cabin and not ruin their mood. Even though Hasan spotted him the second he nearly walked into the room, but oh well.
After walking to his cabin and taking a sanitation steam he noticed he had received a missive from his Chief Biologist Miguel Rendon. It seems they were ready to give their report of the bodies found from the wreckage.
The doctor couldn't get mad at him for just doing his job right? Wondered Rudolf before quickly coming up with the answer. Yes, yes she could but that never stopped him before.
Rudolf informed the Biologist that he was on his way, prepared himself, and left his cabin.
Before making his way to the laboratory Rudolf stopped by the medical ward. Everyday he would discreetly check up on the patients there. Survivors of the battle two days prior. After ensuring that they were being treated properly and the medical team had everything they needed to ensure the survivors were well taken care of he left.
While on his way to the lower decks where most of the lab's were located, Rudolf had some time to contemplate his life. He tended to gravitate towards strong women, he liked them. It was comfortable not to have to worry about them. Although he got his a*s kicked, sometimes metaphorically… and sometimes physically it was worth it to have people he could depend on. He also felt kind of bad for Edward. He had it rough, but Rudolf also knew that Edward was blessed.
It took quite some time for Rudolf to make it to the Biologists office. Every time Rudolf came down here he was reminded how massive this ship was. Even with the elevators that zig zagged throughout the ship at high speeds it still took him a good thirty minutes.
The labs were separated by massive walls, security checkpoints, armed guards, and much much more. Rudolf saw sterilization teams shuffling back and forth from room to room. Everyone had a solemn expression like something was about to go horribly wrong and when they saw Rudolf their expressions just got worse.
The biology department was one of the most difficult departments to get to. Rudolf counted twelve checkpoints and several automated defense turrets on his way. Not to mention the safety measures put in place in case anything got loose.
"Captain, it's a pleasure to finally have you down here after all this time." Chief Biologist Miguel Rendon was a tall man standing at six feet. He looked quite normal with auburn hair, and eyes that sat on the darker side of the color brown. Rudolf, and many others would always notice that Chief Biologist Rendon would always have a serious expression with sharp eyes, a strong chin, a professionally combed back hair style, but a kind smile. He always treated others amicably as well.
"It's my pleasure Chief Biologist." Rudolf likes the Chief Biologist. He was dependable and trustworthy. Most importantly he never made his life harder.
"Captain, please call me Miguel if you would. Titles make our conversations quite lengthy." Miguel chuckled.
Rudolf glanced down toward Miguels arms and noticed that the man had never stopped working.
Rudolf nodded appreciating the Chief Biologists work ethic. "Could you show me what you've discovered Miguel?" Calling him Miguel was indeed easier, but he would stick with being called "Captain" himself.
Miguel didn't seem to care. "Of course, please follow me."
Rudolf followed Miguel even deeper into the laboratory. Crossing another checkpoint and several automated defense and security measures to get there. The room was large and perfectly sterile with two large tanks standing in the center. There were a few other people in the room working dutifully. They all wore the emblems and uniforms of the Biological Sciences Division.
"Captain, these aliens are truly fascinating." Miguel picked up a data slate and began to scroll through his team's notes clearly looking for something specific.
"Can you elaborate Miguel?"
"Yes, yes i can. What makes them fascinating is their immune systems."
Rudolf starred at the tanks and the aliens within. "Go on."
"They have none captain, at least none that we have been able to find. I have seen many life forms and have studied even more during my time onboard the Hand of Fire. Never have I seen such a creature that has no immune function to speak of." Miguel had found what he was looking for and showed it to Rudolf.
"As you can see Captain every creature in the known galaxy that we have ever seen has always had some sort of immune system. Weak or strong it doesn't matter, there was always something there."
Rudolf looked towards the aliens once more. They were humanoids with a very slender and tall build. At least seven feet tall, guessed Rudolf. They had very feminine characteristics but Rudolf had just read that they were males as defined by human standards.
"Why only two Miguel?"
"Well we had four but one died during our experiments." Miguel picked up a new data slate once again looking for something.
"The other woke up screaming when we thought she was dead. One breath of our not perfectly filtered air and she died peacefully once we put her under."
"Our air should have no harmful bacteria for humans."
"Your hypothesis is correct Captain, even harmless or beneficial bacteria for humans seems to be a deadly force to them."
So we can just kill them by infecting their ships with a bit of our bacteria? No they would have filters and who knows what else on their ships. But their worlds?
Rudolf's thoughts were interrupted once Miguel found what he was looking for.
"Their physiology also differs slightly from ours in the sense that they have two small hearts rather than one larger one. Other than that it's mostly the same when it comes to the major organs."
Rudolf and Miguel traded data slates. Rudolf read through the biology team's notes looking for more weaknesses.
"Any other weakness we should know of?"
Miguel shrugged. "Well they don't have a gallbladder so fatty foods probably don't sit well with them."
That was not as helpful but at least it was informative, thought Rudolf.
Rudolf walked closer to the tanks to better examine his new enemy. "Anything about their eyes, ears, or other senses?"
"None, their eyes and ears are almost identical to ours. They are mammals as far as we can tell."
"Please keep researching Chief Biologist Rendon. We only need one alive and he only needs to be able to recall information and speak."
"Of course Captain." Miguel smiled wide. Rudolf could tell he was happy to continue his work with the Captain's approval.
Rudolf didn't leave, instead he took a walk around the lab with Miguel. Asking more questions about the aliens anatomy. He also saw the two dead aliens being autopsied in the side room. The woman looked almost identical to the males, only slightly shorter and just a bit thinner. She had small breasts and slightly wider hips, both traits he would expect to find in female mammals. But Rudolf was certain that it was due to his ignorance that he couldn't tell their facial features apart very well.