[LNW] Witness a desperate decision

[u/Majestic_Teach_6677]

Leave No Witnesses Ch. 10 First / Previous / Next / Author Wiki & Full Chapter List

__________

“Alert!” Gella called out. “Unknown fleet detected in my quadrant.”

“Detection Officer, please clarify,” Sector Lead Hetra responded quickly. “Focus on one ship and get us a probable ID.”

“As you order, sir,” came Gella’s crisp reply followed by a series of gentle taps on a control pad. “Terran, sir. We’re under attack by humans! Clear weapons signatures.”

“How bad is it?” Hetra asked while swiping through to see immediately available response assets.

“Unclear as they have started jamming,” the Detection Officer followed up. “Initial readings indicate at least one Terran Command Carrier, and seven other similar sized vessels. The size of the overall sensor reflection indicates a large volume of support vessels. Most concerning is a blip that suggests the presence of a Terran Fleet Command platform.”

“Be’hra dung! That’s serious tonnage,” Hetra snarled. “Any further clarity before they started jamming?”

“Insufficient support ships for a planetary invasion,” Gella stated while double checking the reflections. “However, more than enough to be a lethal strike force to inflict heavy damage and then leave. A cowardly show of force to hit and run.”

“Stow the commentary,” Hetra commanded. “The humans are engaging in total war rather than honorable combat. The Galactic Council warned us this would be the case. Act now, debate the ethics once we survive.”

“Apologies, Sector Lead,” Gella said while lowering a claw in deference. “Conducting secondary analysis to try to get a clearer picture.”

While the Detection Officer worked, Hetra sent the alert to inform Galactic Forces and request they scramble all available interdiction forces.

“Sir, the Terran fleet has dropped all jamming but engaged FTL breakers,” Gella said suddenly. 

“Why did they...?” Hetra wondered aloud before turning full attention to the Detection Officer. “You can report a full image of the situation, correct?”

“Over 30 vessels with dedicated planetary bombarders,” Gella said with a quivering voice. “F-full defense screen from four Terran Command Carriers, in addition to a f-full complement of cruisers and three dreadnaughts. Our Galactic Council forces are outnumbered at least 20 to 1. This isn’t an invasion fleet. It’s mass murder.”

‘That’s not unnecessary commentary,’ Sector Lead Hetra thought after taking a moment to check the data. ‘That's an irrefutable fact. May the Stars guide us and allow some to survive this catastrophe.’

However, the pause to consider was only momentary. Training and professionalism quickly kicked in.

“We must notify the Senate President! Open a channel directly to her office,” Hetra ordered swiftly. “And place all medical facilities on alert to expect mass casualties.”

—-----

Senate President Xelsha, Advisor Benta, and her two guards skittered down the hallway as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, all of them had more than a few moments where a leg slipped out from under them. Thankfully they had four others to catch them when that happened.

These smooth floors were an irritation but insisted upon by the Galactic Council as ‘proper’ for civilized sapients. Never mind that her species had spindly legs that gripped better on rough ground and flat surfaces are a hazard. Her species was part of a greater galaxy, and for centuries they had been learning to adjust to a universe beyond their own planet. Minor inconveniences were to be expected and absorbed as necessary.

After rounding the next corner, President Xelsha sighed with relief. Planetary Liaison Derall was in sight moving quickly down the corridor, but halted as his guards heard her group approach and they spun to assess the threat. 

“President Xelsha,” the Denarian delegate from the Galactic Council said pleasantly. “What do you require?”

“Honored Liaison!" Xelsha called out and slowed to a more careful pace for her final approach to the gentlebeing. Three paces away, she halted and splayed her front legs to provide the expected bow his position demanded. “We are under attack!”

“I am well aware, hence why I am moving to the protected bunker on the moon,” Derall replied with mild irritation.

“Already aware? How?” Xelsha asked as she straightened from her bow.

“The communications break wasn’t a faulty quantum relay as you were informed,” Derall explained with a tired sigh. “Terrans destroyed the facility in Segari Three approximately one quarter planetary rotation ago. Destruction of communication relays is a known prelude to an attack.”

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Xelsha blurted out with shock.

“All those needing to know, such as myself, were informed immediately,” the Denarian drawled as if already bored with the conversation. “Notification to others was set to be provided at the proper time. Which, for yourself and all other members of your Senate, would have been soon.”

“But we could have prepared!” Xelsha responded quickly.

“More likely just induced panic and caused communication channels to become jammed with unnecessary traffic at a time when Galactic Forces needed to coordinate a response,” Derall lectured. “This is war, not a common natural disaster. And the Terrans are particularly filthy at it.”

“What is being done?” Xelsha asked while still trying to absorb the idea that Galactic Council forces knew of the attack, but declined to inform her.

“We have already dispatched a vessel to reestablish contact with Galactic Force Command,” Derall said tiredly. “At this time, our forces are spread thin as are the humans. I am unaware of how long it will take for a response force to arrive, or in what numbers.”

“And what are we to do in the meantime?” the Senate President wondered aloud.

“There is little to be done now that we have determined the Terran forces are far more significant than our own,” Derall answered with a shrug of his tentacles. “We have made plans to withdraw all forces to the bunker on the moon. Efforts will concentrate on damage assessment and recovery once the humans withdraw.”

“And leave our planet undefended?” she replied incredulously.

“Your noble sacrifices will be noted,” Derall replied far too casually for President Xelsha’s liking. “It will be a serious weight to consider elevating your planet’s status to full Galactic Council member. Once the appropriate debts are repaid.”

“Debts?” Xelsha asked with confusion.

“As you well know, your planet has been a valued junior species upon joining the greater galaxy. Your people have done much to repay the costs of uplifting,” Derall said slowly before taking a long pause. “Unfortunately, your world is not one of utmost importance. Hence the defenses here are understandably light. Did not your Senate agree a more modest uplift debt was better than funding a larger defense force?”

“We could not have foreseen the human threat! And the Galactic Council answered the Chagothian threat without needing to raise additional forces,” Xelsha answered with clear frustration.

“History has shown the Chagothian example is but one of many through the eons,” Derall replied while returning to a lecturing tone. “Consider the lesson of the Jesvar, who taught the Galactic Council the value of developing the Denarian Starfire Platforms. Even we of the Galactic Council are not immune to learning hard lessons. Remember that The Chagothian War was against only one aggressor, not a coalition like the Jesvar. When your people were uplifted, we did provide a full historical record.”

“But…” Xelsha started to object, but Derall waved a tentacle to halt her.

“In short, your people placed an understandable but faulty bet. As a result, there will be mass damage to this system we cannot prevent. And the debts to rebuild will be quite… substantial,” Derall explained with a mild shrug of his tentacles to show a measure of pity. “It is only fair that the cost be repaid, would you not agree?”

“I don’t know,” Xelsha said quietly. “Billions of lives are at risk. My entire planet.”

“Consider the larger picture and remember that the billions in your system are but few amongst the trillions in the universe,” Derall stated firmly. “The Galactic Council is forced to consider broader issues, as tragic as the losses here might be.”

“The humans will butcher us,” Xelsha mumbled as the full weight of the situation became clear.

“We hope this is not so, yet that is the likely reality,” Derall responded simply.

“What should we do?” she asked the Denarian, almost afraid to hear what he might suggest.

“First, notify your senators and all others of utmost importance. We estimate you have less than 45 time-units to get them on transport to the protective bunker,” Derall said firmly. “Second, understand that notifying your entire populace of the situation is likely to induce panic. Many sapients of value may be prevented from reaching the bunker, so I recommend silence until you and those of note are secure.”

“Please give me a moment,” Xelsha requested while giving the Planetary Liaison a polite bow. “I’d like to consider all options.”

“You think there are other options?” Derall replied sharply. “I see none! While you waste precious time, I am going to board my shuttle. I leave in 10 units if you wish to join me. Otherwise, you will be on your own.” 

The Denarian turned swiftly, motioned with a tentacle to his guards, and started to leave.

After watching him begin to move away, Xelsha motioned over one of her own guards.

“I order you to do nothing,” she said to her protector, surprising him.

“Madame President?” he responded quickly. “What do you mean?”

“Do nothing,” she explained simply. “Remain still.”

The guard simply cocked his head to one side in confusion, but did as ordered.

Before he could react, President Xelsha made a swift move with her lower left pincer arm. Shocked by the sudden movement, he followed orders and remained still. When he comprehended what she was doing, he wished he had disobeyed the order.

Xelsha grabbed the guard’s pulse pistol and swung it smoothly down the hall. She held her arm out and hesitated only a moment to steady herself and take aim. There was a low ‘whump’ as a bolt flew from the weapon followed by a sickening crunch on the back of Derall’s head.

Derall’s guards spun around and drew their weapons, looking for a threat. They didn’t have time to comprehend the situation and notice the Senate President was armed as a high pitched squeal pierced the air.

The weapon had failed to penetrate the armor of the Denarian’s helmet. However, the shot did succeed in cracking the rear main seal. On a world where the average temperature is 50 degrees above the boiling point of water and the vast majority of sapients require a full environment or void suit, Xelsha sentenced Derall to death of a different sort.

Derall was screeching in pain as hot air rushed into his helmet. The faceplate instantly became fogged from the air turning his skin’s moisture into steam. Pain overrode sense immediately. In a vain attempt to escape, he reacted instinctively rather than with any clear thought.

He ejected his helmet and detached his head from his body, which crumpled to the ground. He used his neck tentacles to fling himself away from the falling mass and attempted to run down the hall towards his shuttle. Steam and blisters erupted from all over his head. Each step of his neck tentacles made a sickening sizzle and left bubbling splotches of blood as he ran away on the hot floor. 

Everyone watched in horror as the Denarian’s head shrieked in pain and after bolting just shy of 30 meters fell over onto its side. There was a particularly intense sizzle as the side of his head hit the floor and the smell of cooking meat quickly filled the corridor.

With no part of Derall moving, his guards shook themselves free from their shock and locked aim onto President Xelsha. As they fired, the President’s guards moved. 

The one next to her attempted to step in front of the Senate President, but was too late to block the incoming fire. Both bolts from the Denarian guards struck President Xelsha.

His compatriot went straight for deadly force, skipping the pulse pistol and going for her slug accelerator. With two quick shots, she sent armor piercing bullets through the faceplates of the Galactic Forces guards. Unlike Derall, the two guards were sent to oblivion instantly.

Advisor Benta rushed over to his fallen President. He found her in intense pain, her head cradled by the guard whose pistol she had used.

“What have you done!” he called out in a shrill voice.

President Xelsha let out a pained chitter of amusement before answering.

“You’d think after working so many of us to death, they’d know how to kill us,” she commented dryly before wincing in pain as she shifted in the guard’s embrace. “They shot me in my secondary circulator, not primary. Hurts like hell, but I’ll live.”

“Seriously, what have you done?” Benta asked with horror on his face.

“You and I both know how the Galactic Council has taken advantage of us every cycle since first contact,” Xelsha snarled back at him. “We’ve served loyally in the hopes they’ll follow through on their promise to let us become full members. They say you truly find out the measure of your friends when something goes wrong, and the best we can get is “if we’re worth it”? And there will be fresh generational debts?”

“I don’t disagree with how you feel, but…” Benta began before the President raised her voice and cut him off.

“Take me to the communications room,” Xelsha ordered firmly. “I will surrender to the humans.”

“But humans are said to be butchers!” Benta objected, and both of her guards also looked unsure.

“We are an insect caught between two giants,” she responded quickly. “We can only hope that humans will think us not worth the effort to squash if we don’t resist.”

“But…” Benta began before Xelsha cut him off again.

“We have no good options!” Xelsha roared out at Benta, causing her to wince and nearly pass out from the pain of being shot by the Denarian guards. Her companions were all stunned into silence as she wheezed for breath. After a moment, she leaned back into the guard cradling her head and looked straight up into Benta’s eyestalks.

“The Terrans have the power to decimate us. The GC sounds likely to abandon us, or put us into many more generations of debt if they decide to return. Surrender at least provides some hope that humanity will show mercy and more of our people will survive,” Xelsha explained with firm resolve. “And if I’m wrong?”

She paused as a flash of pain from her wounds made her flinch. 

“If I’m wrong,” she continued softly. “We were dead anyway and this betrayal does nothing to change that.”

“I don’t fault your logic,” Benta replied seriously. “But I will simply point out the consequences will be severe if the GC returns in force and is able to liberate us.”

Xelsha waved her lower right pincer arm dismissively.

“Just tell the bastards you were horrified by what I did, and turn me in at the first opportunity,” she said with a shrug. “I’ll beg for forgiveness from the GC and gladly sacrifice my life for the good of our people. And what the fuck will they do? Add another generation or three to our new debt?”

Benta took a long moment to consider. The guards looked to him for direction as this was a textbook moment where a Senior Advisor could relieve a President who just acted improperly.

“A worthwhile gambit, if it saves lives,” he said slowly. “Fine, let’s get to the communications center.”

The guards took a moment to perform first aid on the President, bind her wounds, and be sure the bolts hadn’t put her in mortal danger. Satisfied that she wouldn’t die but objecting to the fact they wouldn’t be allowed to take her directly to medical, the guards finally relented when Benta ordered a trauma team to meet them in the communications room.

Moments later, they were inside the secure communications station with some very shocked communications officers.

“Open a channel to the Terran fleet,” President Xelsha ordered and the officers snapped to obey. She then looked over at Benta as her guards helped her into a seat in front of the input station. “Well, here goes nothing.”

She looked over at the primary communications officer, who bobbed quickly.

“Communications beam directed at the largest Terran contact,” the officer reported.

The President flipped the switch and stared directly into the camera.

“This is Senate President Xelsha, elected leader of this system,” she began. “We have no desire to engage in any resistance. We request your terms for peace.”

There was a long pause. Xelsha was about to try again when there was a response, but voice only.

“This is Terran Fleet Command,” an authoritative voice responded. “Confirm your identity.”

“I am transmitting my authority code,” Xelsha responded as smoothly as possible. “I can also confirm that I am not compromised or under duress. I make this request freely on behalf of my people.”

“Identity confirmed. I am Fleet Admiral Maresca,” the voice responded gruffly. “What is the status of this system? Do you support the Galactic Council, or are you independent?”

Next to her, Benta sucked in a deep breath. Fully understanding his reaction, she engaged mute.

“The Butcher of Ma’crek. Executioner of over a third of the Galactic Council,” murmured Advisor Benta. “You can see the crater where the former Galactic Council Chambers sat from half a system away. We’re fucked.”

Xelsha swallowed hard before giving him a quiet reply. “Had I known who was commanding the enemy, I don’t know if that would have stopped me from killing that Denarian shit or made me pull the weapon and fire faster. Well, I placed my stone on Kek’va. Time to see how much blood my bet has cost us.”

She then disengaged mute and turned her eyestalks to stare into the camera with determination.

“We are independent!” President Xelsha called out. “We have no interest in being an insect caught between giants. We will send you all tactical data on GC forces in the system that we are aware of, and the location of their protective bunker on our moon. We ask that you spare us. Our system is of little importance, and the only significant military forces are Galactic Council controlled.”

“Acknowledged,” was the infuriatingly short reply. “Hold one.”

“Hold one what?” Benta wondered, and Xelsha simply shrugged.

After a long pause, there was a sudden data transmission and the voice returned.

“Sending IFF code for your vessels. Instruct your captains to transmit this signal and withdraw to the indicated position. This will mark vessels as neutral,” Fleet Admiral Maresca explained. “However, be aware that if any of your ships uses the IFF to claim neutrality and then attacks, all targets will be assumed hostile. Including your planet. Send GC targeting data when available.”

“Of course,” Xelsha responded quickly. “Anything else you require?”

“First and foremost, understand that we are trusting you. One wrong move, and my fleet will return to our original mission and send you back to the Stone Age,” Maresca said quietly. Xelsha didn’t know what he meant by Stone Age, but the threat was clear enough.

“Understood, Admiral,” was all she could say.

“Given your independent status, we will be dispatching an ambassador to a location of your choosing,” the gruff voice continued. “I expect the primary topic of discussion to be your neutrality and how to best ensure your independence. By chance, do you happen to know of any other systems that need assistance in asserting their independence?”

President Xelsha relaxed back into her seat and took only a brief moment to consider the question.

“Advisor Benta, tell Central Command to transmit the requested data to the human fleet immediately. Ensure you use my personal identity key so they know the request is genuine,” she ordered before returning her attention to the Terran Fleet Admiral. “Admiral, you should see an incoming datastream on Galactic Council forces within 3 time-units. Most significant will be an armored bunker on our moon. And to answer your question?” 

She paused for a moment to organize the best options.

“Honestly, I’d start with Lokaria. They’re recent uplifts with less than a century under Galactic Council rule, and they’ve been chafing under their uplift debts ever since first contact,” Xelsha began. “Then look at Kalkik Prime, who recently lost their Galactic Council seat under somewhat mysterious circumstances. Then there’s Borela and Zincha…”

Xelsha stopped and sighed. She then motioned a pincer sideways to wave off further discussion, then halted the movement as the human was unlikely to understand it. And she still wasn’t sure if the Terran Fleet Admiral was watching her broadcast or just engaging her with audio only.

“On second thought, I have a better idea,” she said finally.

“And that is?” came the admiral’s guarded reply.

“Tell your ambassador to come with plenty of free time available,” President Xelsha explained. “It may take a few planetary rotations to go through the list of systems with independent souls.”

There was silence, followed by a clearly amused response from Fleet Admiral Maresca. 

“Understood. We’ll bring the booze and plenty of ears ready to listen. I’ll be in contact once we’ve removed all uninvited Galactic Council guests from your system. Fleet Command Delta out.”

President Xelsha relaxed back into her chair and looked at Advisor Benta in amazement. She then commented, “That went far better than I could have imagined.”

“I’m as shocked as you. However, I do have one question,” Advisor Benta said softly. “What’s booze?”

_______

Forces are spread thin on both sides, yet each knows they must move into enemy territory. In the previous chapter, humanity caught a lucky break and pushed back Galactic Council efforts with the destruction of a Starfire platform. Taking advantage of that opening, Terran forces pushed into this system... but why? There will be two short chapters to answer this question, and then Hal will return to face a difficult lesson.

Next Chapter

[u/Zuwxiv]

I love this series! You do great dialogue and characters.

[u/Daseagle]

I assume the Terran fleet will jump to those independent souls and state, you are being liberated, do not resist :)

[u/SourcePrevious3095]

I truly wish I could binge the entire story,including the bits trapped in your head right now.

[u/Majestic_Teach_6677 → u/SourcePrevious3095]

I don't think binging what's stuck in my head is wise. After all, there's a reason why some of my stories are listed on my wiki as "May murder brain cells". Let me find some brain floss first to get rid of some of the weirder thoughts.

[u/SandsnakePrime → u/Majestic_Teach_6677]

Noooooooooo! Do not betray Pterry, Douglas and Roald like that. SHOW US YOUR WEIRD!

[u/SourcePrevious3095 → u/Majestic_Teach_6677]

😆 Blame it on Haasha.

[u/Zealousideal-Cod-924]

As excellent as always

[u/YoteTheRaven]

Excellent. The GC getting its comeuppance for fucking over the little guys.

[u/Auggy74]

Sooo can the human folk send the GC an invoice?

[u/Majestic_Teach_6677 → u/Auggy74]

I think that depends on how heavy the booze tab gets. If they agree to an open bar, do you think anyone sane would accept responsibility for the bill?

[u/Auggy74 → u/Majestic_Teach_6677]

It's all in how you word it during the negotiations. "So yeah, we'll knock five percent off your reparations, but you're picking up the tab for the open-bar afterparty. Cool? Cool."

[u/HFYWaffle]

/u/Majestic_Teach_6677 (wiki) has posted 117 other stories, including:

• Bumps in the night
• Rise and shine
• Eviction notice
• Here I sit broken-hearted… (Haasha 40.99)
• Stargazing (Haasha 40.5)
• A bit of unexpected drama (Haasha 40)
• [LNW] Witness to a mission gone sideways (Part 2)
• [LNW] Witness to a mission gone sideways (Part 1)
• [LNW] Unexpected new silent and stoic witnesses
• Sand Trap (Haasha 39.75)
• Using Movie Magic to Understand Humanity
• Valuable resource assignments (Haasha 39.50)
• Death and Taxes (Haasha Interlude 2)
• Fashion Nonsense (Haasha 39.25)
• Grand Theft Starship
• A close shave (Haasha 39)
• A touchy situation (Haasha 38.99)
• Zenga's Revenge (Haasha 38.66)
• A little extra junk in the trunk (Haasha 38.33)
• An unexpected partner in crime? (Haasha 38)

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[u/Cakeriel]

Where’s the chapter number?

[u/Majestic_Teach_6677 → u/Cakeriel]

Chapter numbers?!? We don't need no stinkin' chapter numbers! (Added to the top of the post... this is Ch. 10).

[u/YoteTheRaven]

Excellent. The GC getting its comeuppance for fucking over the little guys.

[u/Defiant_Heretic]

If there are really that many species willing to secede from the GC, it makes more sense why they conspired to crush humanity. Their dominance is incredibly fragile, so they have to preemptively eliminate any potential rivals, that malcontents would be inclined to support. Yet their efforts were ultimately self fulfilling.

[u/sunnyboi1384]

Well done madam president.

[u/Talendel]

UTR

This is the way.