An Alien Encounter

By Jorge Perez-Jara

Major Myles Webb is an American Federated States Space Marine with a degree in Xeno-Biology who goes from teaching at the Military Academy to landing smack dab in the middle of the most important event in Earth's history. In an unexpected turn of events, Major Webb receives orders to report to the Special Operations Group located on Space Station Freedom in Earth orbit. Upon arrival, he is immediately whisked away to perform Top Secret research, which is being conducted on Mars.
Major Webb soon finds out why a Marine with a degree in Xeno-Biology is the only person qualified for this assignment. An assignment that will involve First Contact with Alien beings, prove to him just how primitive Humans are on the evolutionary ladder, and find the answer of mans oldest question. Are we truly alone?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jorge Perez-Jara
• Release date: Sep 26, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466175099

Jorge Perez-Jara

Jorge L. Perez-Jara graduated from Mesa High School in Mesa, Arizona in 1986. After graduation, he attended Arizona State University and joined the United States Air Force shortly afterwards. He is a military Veteran who served during the 1990-91’ Gulf War “Desert Shield/Desert Storm” in the Middle East. He has traveled to many parts of the world, while he served in the U.S. Air Force and has experienced and done many things. While he served on Active Duty, he had the opportunity to interact with different people and cultures. He was Honorably Discharged and now enjoys spending his time writing and researching ancient cultures. His writings consist of personal experiences as well as Science Fiction.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Being assigned to escort duty is a complete waste of my time and extensive military and combat experience, Bakuu’Taa thought bitterly to himself as he half-heartily read through the latest reports. He was the current Shee’Marr commander assigned to Battle Group 117 by Command, which as of recently had been on patrol prior to receiving his new assignment. He had been recalled from frontline patrol duty to escort two of their newly constructed research ships. That was something that was usually handled by the Hee’Umana civilian sector, but for some reason Command had been ordered to provide an experienced commander to safeguard the upcoming trials. The research ships, the Murr’Yrra and Uba’Jaffa, were part of a highly classified experimental program, which was being performed by the Ministry of Science.

Battle Group 117 consisted of only four Command ships and the two research vessels at the moment. Normally, it would have included over twenty Command ships to actually be considered or called a battle group, but the bulk of Battle Group 117 had been reassigned to other duties. His flagship and the three remaining ships under his command had been assigned to provided escort duty. And even though, he had vehemently protested his new assignment, in the end, he had been left with no other choice but to comply with his new orders. He thought of this assignment as something beneath him, but he was Shee’Marr and he would carry out his orders as he had been instructed. Still, Bakuu’Taa told himself, the Battle Group is greatly under strength and vulnerable.

The Command ship he was presently commanding was a Korri’Marr-class dreadnaught warship and Battle Group 117’s flagship. The Ko’Da carried a complement of two thousand Shee’Marr crew members and five hundred Crra’Tyrr-class heavy-fighters, which consisted of five fighter squadrons with one hundred craft within each of them.

The second most powerful Command ship assigned to Battle Group 117 was the Ree’Darr. It was classified as a Plarri’Marr-class heavy destroyer with one thousand five hundred Shee’Marr crew members onboard and carried three hundred Crra’Tyrr-class heavy-fighters. Its three squadrons were made up of one hundred spacecraft each as well, but the heavy-fighters weren’t its only defensive and offensive weapons, it was also well armed.

The two other Command ships within Battle Group 117 were Khayya’Marr-class battle cruisers. They were manned by a Shee’Marr crew of six hundred personnel. This was all the ships Bakuu’Taa had at his disposal, in the event that they encountered the enemy.

In Bakuu’Taa’s opinion, Battle Group 117 wasn’t much of a Fleet, since it was merely at a quarter of its normal strength, but it was sufficient to fulfill his present assignment and the outlined parameters of his main mission. Something, he told himself, that any junior grade commander could do without difficulty or much thought. But instead, Command had regulated him to escort duty.

He really didn’t care, if the Murr’Yrra and Uba’Jaffa were the latest models in research ships, which had just recently been introduced into service. As far as he was concerned, they were merely plasma fodder to any unforeseen enemy they could potentially encounter out in the void given that they were civilian-class spaceships. And as such, they were unarmed and defenseless in any future military engagement. Therefore, he and a great many others among the Shee’Marr within Command deemed them worthless to any combat fleet and maybe even a serious liability as well. He subconsciously acknowledged the fact that they served a purpose within their social hierarchy, as far as research and development was concerned. And if the hypothesis and mechanics behind this newly developed antimatter reaction drive was successful, its implementation would be of great value in interstellar travel. Whether, it was utilized for civilian purposes or militarily.

He also acknowledged that if their initial trials were successful, these new drives would be a considerable improvement over their existing propulsion systems. But as the current commander of Battle Group 117, Bakuu’Taa couldn’t think of a single reason for his reassignment at the moment. He had been genetically bred and trained for war, so being attached to this type of duty was, in his Shee’Marr mindset, a slap in the face. From the beginning, he had attempted to convince Command that his vast combat and command experience could’ve been put to better use elsewhere, than that of overseeing testing of this new drive system.

He also knew, there was other duties he could be performing at the moment, so this debate within his head would have to wait for another time. Therefore, he pushed the last thoughts out of his head, let out a small growl, and turned his attention to his immediate surroundings. Some of the Shee’Marr within the command deck with him heard his displeasure with their assignment, but respectfully ignored his internal grumblings. They were at their assigned stations and fully engrossed in their own duties, so his dark mood was simply dismissed. Even though, they all felt the same ‘dishonor’ about their present assignment, but it wasn’t for them to display dissatisfaction with it. They left that to Battle Group 117’s commander, since he was the one responsible for all the ships currently attached to it.

Now that the crew were aware that Bakuu’Taa had stirred from his reflections, they quietly went about their duties. Bakuu’Taa had work of his own to perform, so he tossed his thoughts aside and mentally reached out with his neural net link and retrieved the latest reports from the Ko’Da’s AI computer.

Instantly, all the necessary information he required in order to command Battle Group 117 and their personnel was made readily available to him. Their present coordinates in space, their current posture, the status of each ship, and the number of crew members assigned to each within their reinforced carbon-ceramic hulls. All of the information necessary to coordinate and protect Battle Group 117 under his command was instantly made available to him with just a single thought. The latest data being collected on the new antimatter drive system was also being provided to him in real-time, while the testing was being carried out.

Battle Group 117 was currently two hundred light-years from their home world, which the Ministry of Science had designated these coordinates as ideal in order to avoid interruptions. Their present enemy the Cheeb’Arr, an insect-like species, had been discovered by mere chance, while they had been in their migration phase. A cycle that lasted one hundred years or until they had found or subjugated enough planets to accommodate their growing numbers.

During this migratory phase of their expansion, the Cheeb’Arr had stumbled upon the Hee’Umana by mere chance. And while doing so, they had almost devastated Bakuu’Taa’s home world during this chance encounter, but Command and the medium Shee’Marr force that compromised it at that time defeated them. It was a near thing, but the Shee’Marr had fought with fanatical enthusiasm and had defeated their previously unknown foe.

When the battle was finally over and Command was able to study one of the Cheeb’Arr ships and the wreckage left behind, they discovered that they had been fortunate in what they had faced. The ships that had entered their system, which they had initially perceived as an armada wasn’t an enemy fleet at all, but merely a small collection of ships for colonization purposes. With this new knowledge in hand, Command expanded the ranks of the Shee’Marr and the size of the Hee’Umana Battle Group Fleet. They also dispatched thousands of early warning and detection drones in an attempt of discovering the origins of their new adversaries.

That initial contact and confrontation had taken place almost a thousand years ago, before Bakuu’Taa had been alive. And yet, they still search for their foes and fought, whenever they encountered them.

The Cheeb’Arr home world had yet to be discovered or any of its controlled planetary systems, let alone from which sector of the galaxy they had appeared from. Their furthest reaching early warning and detection drone had yet to discover the enemy or its sphere of influence, even after all these years. It was as if they had materialized from thin air, when they had been detected entering the vicinity of their home world.

That was a long time ago, Bakuu’Taa told himself, as he once again cleared his head of unnecessary thoughts. He turned his attention back once more to the information suspended within the holotank before him. As he studied the latest data related to the antimatter drives, he simply shook his head. The drives were powered by an antimatter reactor core that folded the fabric of space-time in order to create an artificial wormhole. Thereby, connecting two points in space and bringing them together to minimize the distances traveled between them, which they had previously transverse utilizing hyperspace drives. A method they had employed for over two hundred years now.

This was why, these new experimental drives were of great interest to the Hee’Umana Ministry of Science. It was also the reason Command had ordered Battle Groups 117 to ensure that the trials were safeguarded against an enemy presence. Anything that would give them an advantage in fighting the Cheeb’Arr or an unknown adversary was of great interest to them. This was also the reason all the ships within Battle Group 117 were equipped with these new drives. But the research ships Murr’Yrra and Uba’Jaffa would be the only ones utilizing them during this phase off their experiment, while the accompanying Command ships stood by as sentries to provide them protection.

The four Command ships within Battle Group 117 were there to provide protection and a secure environment as the Murr’Yrra and Uba’Jaffa conducted their crucial trails. And since their immediate objective had been achieved, the Command ships had now been regulated to escort duty and as observers. But their primary function was to provide a safe test corridor for their trials. Therefore, Bakuu’Taa had disbursed the three other Command ships into a triangle formation at one light-hour distance and had ordered two of his Crra’Tyrr-class heavy-fighter squadrons out to a fifteen light-minute distance. From there, the picket line of fighters could intercept any intruder and provide them with a quick reaction force in the event that an unforeseen danger presented itself.

While the Murr’Yrra and Uba’Jaffa were busy with the testing and evaluation of the antimatter drives, Bakuu’Taa waited patiently within the command deck of the Ko’Da for the results. He ordered the current accumulated data to be downloaded to the ship’s AI computer. The Ko’Da had been designated the main depository point of the data, while it shadowed the Murr’Yrra and Uba’Jaffa as they conducted their experiments.

The other Command ships silently monitored the space around them with their long range sensors, while the experiment took place. But for the moment, there was nothing that required their attention. Battle Group 117’s present coordinates were optimal in responding to any enemy incursion, therefore, Bakuu’Taa was confident that they could deal with any unknowns while the testing was being carried out. He didn’t anticipate an enemy presence here, but they still had to follow battle doctrine and do their duty.

"Commander, our Crra’Tyrr heavy-fighters have done an extensive sensor scan of our immediate surroundings and report no enemy presence," First Officer Mo’Taa announced as he studied the holotank before him. He scrutinized the main holographic display closely as Battle Group 117’s ships and their current status scrolled within it.

Bakuu’Taa knew this already, of course, since his neural net link fed him all available reports on Battle Group 117’s status on a continuous bases. Is Head-Scholar Ser’Voo ready to proceed with his secondary trials? he asked in acknowledgement.

He has indicated as such, Commander, Mo’Taa replied as he retrieved and reviewed the latest information given to him by the Ko’Da’s AI computer through the connection via his own neural net link. The Head-Scholar has been patiently waiting for your permission to proceed, he added.

He may begin, whenever he is ready.

I comply.

Commander, Ser’Voo, the senior scholar on the Murr’Yrra greeted Bakuu’Taa, when his holographic avatar appeared before him. The antimatter reaction drives are functioning within the predicted parameters and they are currently online. We do not anticipate any complications with its operation, but it is still early in the trials.

That is good to hear, but why the delay in initiating the secondary trials? Bakuu’Taa questioned. You have stated that the drives are online and ready for further testing. Yet, you delay in carrying out and performing your trials.

What do you mean, Commander?

I may not understand the physics behind these new drives, Head-Scholar, but I am fully aware that they are green across the board and operational. And it has been so, since our arrival here days ago. So I will ask once more, why the delay in conducting your trials?

Commander, within the last few minutes, we have detected a slight anomaly within the antimatter reaction core, Ser’Voo offered in response. He knew, he couldn’t withhold the new information from Bakuu’Taa, since he was privy to all reports concerning the present trials, therefore, he begrudgingly disclosed that their diagnostics had detected a problem with the drives. We currently are unable to locate the cause for this irregularity, but we are confident that it is not a problem with the antimatter core itself. It may only be a slight error in our own calculations, but we must be cautious either way before we can proceed with the secondary phase of the antimatter drive trials. There are simply too many unknowns to proceed without due diligence on our part.

Without waiting for further explanations from the senior scholar, Bakuu’Taa mentally reached out for the data himself. He performed a quick review of it and found the mentioned irregularity within the data stream. He noted that the reactor was indeed operating within acceptable tolerances in accordance to the latest information available, but it also hinted at a slight fluctuation within the antimatter core matrix. There’s something very familiar within the present data stream, Bakuu’Taa told himself. I’ve seen this before, but where?.

The more Bakuu’Taa sifted through the data and the unusual gravity distortions it was producing, the more confident he became of what he was looking at. Danger is close by, he told himself. We must prepare to defense ourselves. "Mo’Taa, sound the alarm, activate shields, and have all Shee’Marr report to their Battle Stations immediately. He quickly instructed as the realization of what the distortion was finally came to him in a quick, but clear flash of knowledge. Also, prepare to launch all of our remaining Crra’Tyrr heavy-fighters!

Instruct the rest of the Battle Group to go to Battle Stations and to prepare for imminent contact with the enemy. He studied the holotank and clenched his jaw as he anticipated the appearance of Cheeb’Arr ships within sensor range anytime.

I comply, Mo’Taa quickly acknowledged as he issued the necessary orders through his own neural net link. He glanced in Bakuu’Taa’s direction with a puzzled expression, when he was done and said. "Commander, Battle Group 117 reports all Battle Stations manned and ready. Also, all remaining Crra’Tyrr heavy-fighters are prepped and ready for immediate launch.

What is wrong, Commander? Why are we going to Battle Stations? he asked. "Our sensors have not detected a threat and our Crra’Tyrr heavy-fighters on the picket line have not reported anything unusual either."

I think, we may have company very soon, Bakuu’Taa answered Mo’Taa as he opened a communications link with the Ree’Darr, Turr’Vurr, and Aurr’Mirr. Sub-Commanders, prepare for imminent action. He studied the holotank attentively before him for a moment longer. There was still no visional or sensors detection to confirm his intuition, but he knew his instincts weren’t mistaken. He had seen this type of distortion in space before, when ship’s that possessed faster than light capabilities dropped out of hyperspace. We may have visitors very soon.

Our long range sensors are not detecting any threats to Battle Group 117, Commander, Hee’Taa said from the command deck of the Ree’Darr.

Sub-Commander Curr’Taa and Rarr’Taa, have your sensors detected anything out of the ordinary? Bakuu’Taa asked.

Negative, Commander, Curr’Taa replied from the command deck of the Turr’Vurr.

I also have nothing to report, Commander, Rarr’Taa confirmed on the command deck of the Aurr’Mirr.

I expected the threat to appear at any moment now, Bakuu’Taa offered. He knew he had to warn the Murr’Yrra and Uba’Jaffa from the impending danger as well, so he opened another communications link. "Head-Scholar, abort the current trials and prepare your personnel for immediate withdrawal from our present coordinates. If my instincts are correct, we may require the Murr’Yrra and Uba’Jaffa to make a jump to a safer location."

Why are we halting the trials, Commander? Ser’Voo asked as he reluctantly gave the order to pause the testing and to prepare to jump. "I am prepared to commence the secondary trials.

Commander, the antimatter drives are currently at full power and ready, therefore, we cannot simply power them down without—

Just do as you have been instructed! Bakuu’Taa barked at him in a heavy tone. I do not need to explain my actions to the likes of you!

Of course, I will comply, immediately, Ser’Voo quickly acknowledged, but I do so with great reservations, Commander.

Duly noted. Now stop speaking and prepare to receive additional instructions momentarily, Bakuu’Taa said as he broke the connection between them. He mentally reached out to the accompanying Command ships and began to issue additional instructions. "Sub-Commanders, I have ordered my two squadrons of Crra’Tyrr heavy-fighters to protect the Murr’Yrra and Uba’Jaffa. I will keep my remaining squadrons as reserves, but I have a feeling I will be launching them very soon." He knew they had to protect the research ships, since they were obligated to return the data on the antimatter reaction drives to the Ministry of Science and Command. "I will do my best in protecting the Murr’Yrra and Uba’Jaffa on my own."

Their sensors hadn’t detected it yet, but Bakuu’Taa knew it was somewhere out there, in the dark vastness of space. A Cheeb’Arr Colony Hive ship and he also knew, it was always accompanied by one of their Super-Freighters. Their combined firepower was more than they could defend against at the moment, but they had to do their best in protecting the more vulnerable research ships. The data they possessed on the antimatter drives was all that mattered.

Chapter 2

The Drone Queen watched her tactical view screen closely as they prepared to initiate their next jump utilizing their hyperspace drives. It was a long and tedious process to prepare the drives for their next jump, but the worker drones were becoming more proficient as they continued to utilize this new technology. They didn’t completely understand the calculations involved with this newly acquired technology, but they knew enough to move themselves across space in incremental hops.

The Hive had always attempt to salvage their enemy’s spacecraft during any given battle and incorporate all new discoveries into their own technological base. This was how they had acquired this new method of travel across the void of space. Of course, no one within the Hive knew how it operated and their limited cognitive method of thinking couldn’t provide them with any insights as to its inner workings either. But that wasn’t important to her at the moment, since no others within the Hive possessed it. What did matter was that she had been the only one within the Hive ‘honored’ to have had it incorporated into her Colonization Fleet. And she planned to take full advantage of it, even if her current course of action was outside her primary mandate.

Even though, the drive’s inner workings and the technology that had created it was a complete mystery to the Hive and herself, it worked well enough. Though, in the beginning, they hadn’t expected it to, since they had been forced to experiment with it by simply manipulating the drives control systems and learned by trial and error. Therefore, from the onset, it had been hit and misses, while they toiled to incorporate their technology to interface with the drive’s alien computer systems and programming.

There recent jump was an example of the drive’s usefulness, but there was only one drawback to its utilization. Since no one within the Hive understood the method or science behind it, they were only able to move themselves small distances at a time. But just because they had captured and now possessed a working hyper drive and had learned how to use it, there was a major disappointment with it as well.

Since they couldn’t comprehend how it functioned or understood the alien technology behind it, they weren’t able to back-engineer it, therefore, they weren’t able to build their own drives. Most technologies they had ever acquired through combat or salvage, they had been able to duplicate and integrate into the ships of the Hive. But everything about these drives was beyond what they could understand. But someday, we will understand its inner workings, the Drone Queen told herself. Someday soon, we will indeed understand it and produce it in great numbers to benefit my Queen and the Hive.

So, for the moment, her Colonization Fleet was the only one who possessed such a propulsion system, which made her the envy of her drone sisters. But enough of that, she told herself, there’s work to be done. Drone Sister, how much longer before we are ready to make our next jump? she asked the Sub-Queen on the accompanying Cheeb’Arr Super-Freighter.

"We are ready now, Drone Sister, the Sub-Queen replied as she interlocked her AI computer and its coordinates to the Drone Queen’s ship. Jump capabilities are at your disposal."

"Good. Prepare to jump, the Drone Queen announced as she sat back into her harness webbing. There was no need to pause their jump any longer than necessary. She noted that all their sensors were green across the view screen, so she instructed. Initiate jump."

"Initiating, our hyperspace drives…now, Drone Sister," the Sub-Queen answered.

As they both stared at their individual tactical view screens, they both witness the screens burst with light as their ships entered hyperspace and disappeared from normal space.

Has anyone detected anything within sensor range of our vicinity? Bakuu’Taa asked as he searched the holotank before him, but space all around them appeared devoid of any other ships besides Battle Group 117. That worried him deeply, since the distortion was becoming stronger within the holotank.

No. Not at the moment. Hee’Taa replied as he glanced at the holotank before him within the Ree’Darr’s command deck. The other accompanying Command ships reported nothing within their sensors as well. All scans are clear of any enemy presence, Commander.

Bakuu’Taa continued his search for any indications of a Cheeb’Arr presence within the Ko’Da’s sensor range as well, but the ship’s electronic sweep of space around them still hadn’t detected anything. A Cheeb’Arr Colony Hive ship was always problematic due to its immense size, but what was especially lethal was its accompanying escort. A ship only half its size, but dangerous nevertheless due to its armament and a complement of one thousand fighters.

The Cheeb’Arr Colony Hive ship required an armed escort whenever it deployed, since it was merely a colonization ship and was lightly armed and vulnerable. But the accompanying escort was more than sufficient to deter any adversary willing to engage it. And Bakuu’Taa was certain that the accompanying Super-Freighter was going to appear within their sensors at any moment now, since it was becoming obvious to him that they now possessed faster than light capabilities. But no one was reporting an enemy presence and that concerned him, since it hinted that the Cheeb’Arr had, in all probability, had also developed their own electronic counter measures. And if that was the case, it would create havoc among Battle Group 117, since Command had no reliable means of tracking a ship’s emergence from hyperspace. Where will they make their appearance next? he asked himself. But just as he had asked the question, his neural net link broke into his thoughts.

"Commander, we have detected a Cheeb’Arr Colony Hive ship dropping out of hyperspace. The accompanying Super-Freighter with it has made transit as well and its preparing to launch its complement of fighters!" Curr’Taa announced quickly as the two Cheeb’Arr ships appeared as small red dots within the main holotank of the Turr’Vurr’s command deck. "Our sensors are currently reading a massive energy spike coming from the Cheeb’Arr’s Super-Freighter’s interior, which would indicate that they are power up their weapons."

Understood, Bakuu’Taa replied as he studied the holotank even closer.

Once the Cheeb’Arr colony Hive ship and the Super-Freighter dropped out of hyperspace, their tactical view screen’s disruption dissipated. And as soon as their sensors came back online, their proximity alarms began to wail.

The Drone Queen sat up and turned her attention toward the view screen before her. Within seconds, enemy icons began to appear within it. On the first sweep of the space around them, their sensors only detected a single enemy ship, but as the seconds passed more began to appear within the tactical view screen before her. Drone Sister, prepare to do battle with the enemy, the Drone Queen spoke in a level tone. There is no need to sound alarmed by the unexpected enemy presence, she told herself. Even though, she had been surprised by their presence here, especially since she knew it was just a lucky break. They had no capability of actually plotting their course with the newly acquired drives, so this turn of events was indeed a favorable one. Prepare to launch all Stinger fighter craft, she added.

"I can launch them now, Drone Sister," the Sub-Queen replied within the Super-Freighter. She was about to give the order, when she was cut off.

"Wait! the Drone Queen snapped as her sensors detected three enemy ships within range of her weapons. There were three other ships, but they were on the opposite end of the system, therefore, they weren’t an immediate threat to her Colonization Fleet. The enemy appears to have dispersed its Fleet, Drone Sister. We will take advantage of their mistake."

"Drone Sister, the enemy has fighter craft at their disposal, the Sub-Queen said as her sensors picked up additional, smaller ships accompanying the three larger ones at the opposite end of the system. Shall I order our Stinger craft to intercept?"

"No. There is no need for that. We will concentrate on the three ships within range of our weapons, the Drone Queen said as she reviewed the latest report on the enemy ships. She knew from previous encounters that only two of the enemy ships carried fighters and even then, there numbers were few. Fire at will!

"Order our Stinger fighter craft to concentrate their attack on the two smaller ships accompanying the third. We will bring our weapons to bare on the solitary warship accompanying them."

Within seconds of the Drone Queen’s orders, the Super-Freighter ordered all of its one thousand fighters forward and into the breach of coming battle. The massive ship also began to launch a salvo of nuclear missiles from its external launchers, while the colony Hive ship’s energy weapons began to reach out as well. The bolts of pure plasma and lasers from their turrets weren’t as strong as the missiles, but they served a different purpose altogether.

Unlike missiles that ignored energized shields and pulverized armor and bulkheads upon impact, the Cheeb’Arr energy weapons stripped away the layers of the enemy’s shields. They were also used to destroy electronics and internal systems. Therefore, the enemy’s electronic countermeasures were their primary targets.

As Bakuu’Taa kept a sharp eye on the holotank in front of him, additional ships began appearing in close proximity to them, but their electronic signatures were smaller in comparison. The Super-Freighter has launched all of its complement of fighters and they are on course to intercept us, he said in a clam voice.

Commander, we have detected multiple missiles headed in our direction! Mo’Taa exclaimed as the Ko’Da’s proximity alarms blared in the background. He immediately activated their shields and point defense pods. "Shields are up and PDP’s are tracking the inbound missiles.

"The current plot of their fighters indicates that they are headed in the direction of the Murr’Yrra and Uba’Jaffa, Commander, Mo’Taa announced. He knew the research ships had no chance of survival without their combined assistance, so he asked. What are your orders?"

Bakuu’Taa studied the Ko’Da’s holotank closely. He was amazed by the Cheeb’Arr’s close proximity to the Battle Group. Command hadn’t been aware that the Cheeb’Arr possessed any type of jump capabilities, yet they had just dropped out of hyperspace almost on top of them. This is something new, he told himself. It confirms my previous question. They’ve finally achieved light-speed capabilities.

He noted that once all the Cheeb’Arr fighters had been launched from the Hive Super-Freighter, they immediately proceeded to make their way toward the unarmed research ships. He also knew that the Murr’Yrra and Uba’Jaffa wouldn’t be able to survive the confrontation without the support from his accompanying Command ships.

Once the Cheeb’Arr fighters were within firing range of the defenseless research ships, they began to openly target and swarm them immediately. They had done so without so much as giving Bakuu’Taa’s Command ship a second thought, even though they were the largest target within the vicinity. "Move the Ko’Da and the rest of the Battle Line immediately and provide the Murr’Yrra and Uba’Jaffa whatever protection we can offer them, he instructed calmly. We will require the combined firepower of all of our Command ships, if we are to see that they survive this engagement. Also, launch all of our remaining Crra’Tyrr fighters and have them engage the Cheeb’Arr harassing the Murr’Yrra and Uba’Jaffa."

I comply.

I comply, Commander.

I comply, Commander. We’re maneuvering now, the replies came in unison from the accompanying Command ships within Battle Group 117.

Within seconds of each other, the Ree’Darr, Turr’Vurr, and Aurr’Mirr made their micro-jumps and immediately reappeared alongside the Ko’Da and the rest of the Battle Group. But in doing so, their micro-jumps had also placed them in the middle of the swarming Cheeb’Arr fighters. Therefore, they were immediately pounced on and engaged as well. They in turn began to launch their complement of fighters.

"What is the ETA on the Crra’Tyrr