"Imperator,"
Alex who finally couldn't take It spoke up his tone cautious.
"I and my battle brothers are confused why aren't we conquering the planet like we always did?"
Alex asked, hearing this I couldn't help but sigh he and every other crew member were NPCs programmed by me to be the perfect soldiers.
They didn't fear death, they followed orders to the letter, and all they knew from the moment they were made was war, so peace and diplomacy was a completely foreign thing to them.
I felt silent for a moment as I tried to form an answer In my mind.
"The Thraens aren't like us, they're not used to violence and war, they've been at peace for too long, that's why I decided to use a different approach"
"And the facts have proved that I'm right, a single shot from one of our mass accelerator canons was enough to horrify them"
"So my stand won't change we will assimilate them through mostly nonviolent methods"
"But you know me better than anyone I'm not a f*cking pushover, If needed I'm fully prepared to return to our usual mode of operation"
I explained as I did my marines nodded In acknowledgment.
"I see.."
Alex muttered under his breath as he went Into deep thinking mode causing the dropship to fall Into silence once again.
The dropship continued its journey back to the TIS Einherjar, slicing through the vacuum of space.
The quiet hum of the engines and the occasional chatter over the comms provided a backdrop to my contemplations.
The successful mission against Humanity First was a significant step in maintaining the Imperium's grip on Thrae, yet it was also a reminder of the continuous struggles that lay ahead.
The balance between order and chaos was delicate, and it was my duty to uphold that balance, no matter the cost.
As we approached the TIS Einherjar, the massive warship loomed into view, a symbol of the Terranum Imperium's might and technological prowess.
Its presence in space was both reassuring and awe-inspiring, a testament to the power I wielded.
"Prepare for docking procedures,"
The pilot announced, guiding the dropship into the hangar bay of the TIS Einherjar.
The Marines readied themselves, securing their gear for disembarkation.
As the dropship landed and the ramp lowered, I stepped out, feeling the familiar pull of the ship's artificial gravity.
The hangar bay was bustling with activity, crew members attending to their duties, yet all paused to acknowledge our return.
Walking through the hangar bay, I reflected on the mission's success and the importance of continuing our vigilance against any threats to the Imperium.
Each victory, each conquest, was a step towards a future where the Terranum Imperium's ideals reigned supreme.
For now, the galaxy remained a chessboard, and I was its most formidable player.
...
As Isabella's space fighter tore through the fabric of subspace and emerged into the unfamiliar solar system, she was greeted by a panoramic vista of twinkling stars and swirling nebulas, unlike anything she'd seen in her life so far.
The fighter's engines hummed softly, a constant reminder of her sole companionship in the vastness of space.
The cockpit holographic screens flickered to life, overlaying the star-studded backdrop with digital readouts and sensor data.
Isabella's purple eyes with a tinge of red darted across the holographic displays, searching for something familiar, a star or planet she might recognize from her memory.
But this part of space was alien to her, each celestial body a stranger.
"Well, f*ck Im stuck,"
Isabella cursed after seeing the subspace drive's cooldown count which was saying that she wasn't going anywhere anytime soon after jumping nonstop for the past week causing her subspace drive to enter a cooldown period because It could no longer take It, her frustration was evident.
She was hungry, tired, and In dire need of a bath but despite her predicament, she maintained a cool composure, a trait honed from years of dealing with the unexpected.
Her fingers danced over the control panel with practiced ease, coaxing the ship's advanced sensors to scour the system for signs of life or civilization.
The holographic console responded with a series of beeps and whirrs, its screens displaying data at a rapid pace.
As she analyzed the information, a small blip caught her attention—an artificial structure in orbit around a nearby barren planet.
It was a space station, seemingly insignificant against the backdrop of the galaxy but a beacon of hope in her current situation.
"Looks like that's my best shot,"
Isabella decided, her voice a mix of determination and caution. She wasn't thrilled about approaching a potentially unknown faction, but options were limited.
Gently manipulating the thrusters, she set a course towards the space station.
As her ship approached, the station grew from a mere speck to a sizable structure, sprawling with docks, antennae, and blinking lights.
It was a hub of activity, a crossroads for travelers and traders from across the stars.
Isabella's mind raced with possibilities and plans. Who controlled this station? Would they be friendly, or would she need to make a quick escape? She couldn't afford to let her guard down, not when she was so close to freedom.
Her ship's comm system crackled to life, breaking her train of thought.
"Unidentified vessel, you are entering controlled space. Please identify yourself and state your business,"
A stern voice demanded over the channel.
Isabella leaned towards the microphone, her voice steady but imbued with a hint of charm. "This is..."
Isabella paused as she tried to come up with an alternate name for herself only to state her true Identity In the end after all the space fighter that she stole was already a big give away so announcing her Identity wouldn't change her current situation.
... Isabella Tepesh Dracuela, seeking permission to dock for rest and resupply. I mean no harm."
There was a brief pause, the tension palpable even through the static of the comm channel, then, the voice returned, slightly warmer this time.
"Acknowledged, Isabella Tepesh Dracuela. You are cleared for docking at Bay 47. Welcome to Station Halcyon."
A sense of relief washed over Isabella as she guided her fighter towards the designated bay, station Halcyon, she thought, a name that promised a temporary respite from her troubles.
As her spacecraft nestled into the docking bay, the fighter's AI took over control and Initiated docking procedures.
Making the fighter's magnetic clamps secure themselves to the helipad smoothly.
As Isabella took a deep breath, she unstrapped herself, feeling the gravity of the station take hold as she stood up.
Her heart raced with a mix of excitement and caution as she prepared to disembark.
Exiting her spacecraft without a second thought even though she was wearing nothing but a black bra and panties, she was immediately struck by the bustling energy of Station Halcyon.
The bay was a hive of activity, with various species moving about, engaged in trade, conversation, or maintenance tasks.
The air was filled with a cacophony of alien languages that automatically got translated by one of her black ring earrings adorning her long and pointy ear which was actually a high tech universal language translator containing all the milky ways galaxies known races to the galactic council languages, the scent of exotic spices, and the clanging of metal.
"Hey there girl, why don't you join me and my brothers for some fun?"
A two-armed red-skinned humanoid that could only be described as a demon because of his black horns sticking out from his forehead and a red arrowhead pointed tail.
Stood a 13 centimeters taller than Isabella said out loud as his two lust-filled golden eyes never left Isabella's body while his goons of the same race surrounded Isabella, making sure that she had no path of escape.
Isabela looked at the scarred from head-to-toe male proudly flexing his muscles In front of her with a lewd grin splattered on his face.
A merc huh?
Isabella thought as she activated her hypnotic ability that only pure-blood descendants possessed and only awakened at the age of 1000 years to Its Infancy and had to spend thousands of years.