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[color=ed1c24][h2]The Undefeated[/h2][/color][/center]

Kelsie left the room, nodding on the two guards to follow her outside. As soon as the doors closed behind them, stoic expressions disappeared from their faces. “What the hell was that THING?” Janice gritted her teeth, trying to keep her voice low. “And that guy’s eyes?! Jesus fuckin Christ!”

“SSSHH,” Kelsie hissed at her. “We don’t know how good their hearing is,” she whispered. “I know they are creepy, but we need to keep a friendly face on.”

“Creepy? Girl, they aren’t even [i]human[/i] anymore.”

“We can think what we want, but we have our orders, Sergeant Springer. You two stay here and make sure they don’t leave the room. We don’t want them wandering around the ship.”

They both saluted her and took positions at each side of the door. Kelsie walked around the corner and then stopped, taking a moment to catch her breath. Leaning her forehead against the cold metallic wall, she closed her eyes and wished to be back home. Or even back on the front. In combat, getting surrounded by enemies. Anywhere but here. But wishes don’t magically come true. 

She ran into Harding's assistant on her way to the bridge. “Miss Petrova! Could I ask you a huge favor?”

The girl stopped, looking shocked that someone like Kelsie started talking to her. “S-sure. I mean, yes ma’am,” she stuttered.

“I know it is stupid to ask this of someone with your level of education, but could you possibly go through our supplies, pick out the best bits, arrange it on some plate and bring it to the conference room? I don’t want to send more military personnel there.”

Petrova stared at her for a moment, surprised. “You want me to go in there?”

“If it is a problem…”

“No, no, I’m just surprised that you would want someone like me around our esteemed guests.” A slight bitter tone was noticeable as she spoke. 

Kelsie wasn’t surprised that the girl acted this way. Most citizens, especially those with higher ranks, considered the Rejected trash and treated them accordingly. But Kelsie (for private reasons she didn’t want to share with anyone) wasn’t one of those people. “Someone like a brilliant scientist, who perfected the modular fusion reactor design? I know why Harding brought you with him. I don’t care what you are, as long as you do your part and follow orders. So get going. Oh, and don’t be surprised. They are a bit… creepy, to say the least.”

The girl ran off and Kelsie finally made her way to the bridge. Parker was nervously looking at the screens. “The other ship hasn’t moved or responded yet. What about our guests?”

“Creepy half-androids,” Kelsie didn’t have time for more words. Parker seemed like he wanted to ask some more, but she waved him off and activated the comlink. “This is Guardian Blackwood from the Undefeated nation to the Earth Cultural Union vessel. We are happy to see representatives of another surviving colony. We currently have the representatives of the Zeta system on board of The Revenant. Perhaps you would like to send your delegation to join us?” She stopped the transmission. “Let me know what they respond. Send them the airlock coordinates if they agree and get Mesalla and Angstrom to gear up and escort them to the conference room,” she told Parker and then sighed. “I will have to go back into the fray.”

[@Tortoise]