Empyrean Iris Story Collection

Un-Human

"Kill the bastards."

"Steal him back."

"Kill them with fire!"

"Start a riot."

"Go to their planet and make sure that none of them can get anything done."

"Burn their fucking planet to the ground!."

"Tell the GA if they don't give him back we will start a rebellion."

Commander Vir sat at the head of the conference table hands clasped lightly on the table before him He may have seemed calm on the outside, but on the inside he was seething with a rage that threatened to rip through his body and level the entire building. Everything his crew was saying, every suggestion of violence and every urging to go out and do something insane made his insides thrill with eager emotion.

He wanted to do what they suggested, he wanted to rain hell down upon the bastards that had taken Krill. He wanted to sweep down upon them like a destroying angel with all the power to turn cities to salt, and rivers to blood.

Every bone in his body ached to descend upon them with all the fury of humanity at his back.

"No...."

"What do you mean no!" Maverick demanded, "They took Krill, now they have to pay." Her anger caused a chorus of agreement, especially from the other marines, who were so riled up they could barely maintain their seats.

"Yeah, Maverick is right." Ramirez had jumped from his seat

The other marines continued to chorus their agreement.

Then the entire room erupted, and could not be silenced until Commander Vir slammed his hand on the table "THAT'S ENOUGH.". The marines and rest of the bridge crew went silent Heads turning in shock and surprise.. Commander Vir was standing partially from his seat hand in a fist atop the table, "I-said-no. Now all of you SIT-your-asses-down."
Wide eyes and glances were exchanged about the room, but the marines slowly took to their seats shuffling into position the fire in them partially dampened by surprise. Commander Vir stood at the head of the table leaning over the cold metal two hands bracing himself against the cold metal. He stared down for a long moment quietly waiting for the marines to calm down and take their seats looking at his distorted reflection in the face of the metal.

When he looked back up, it was only cold calculation that they saw in his single eye.

The marines shifted in their seats in surprise.

The bridge crew glanced between each other.

"We will not be doing any of that." The man said quietly looking around at each of the marines, "I don't think I have to remind you what kind of political backlash any one of those options might cause to us. Do I want to go in and reign hellfire? Yes, but we have to think about the long term consequences." He stood back up and turned around clasping one wrist behind his back,

"You aren't suggesting we just abandon him, are you?"

Commander Vir turned his head to the side slightly, "I never said anything about abandoning our friend, but I am suggesting that we push our more baser instincts back where they belong." He turned back away from them his head low, "If we do what we all want to, it could potentially result in a galaxy wide war at most and extreme political unrest at least.... We need.... We need to do what Krill would do."

"Scream profanities and write a rant about how stupid humans are."

A small smile tugged at the corner of the man's mouth, "We need to be surgical...."

***

The Vrul Official floated just in front of the entrance to his ship staring out at the alien horizon on an alien planet. He did not bother to hide the fact that he wished for nothing more than to go home. Traveling through space was a delicate matter that required a great deal of risk. The fact that he was willing to captain a ship had nearly ostracized him from much of society that knew of his job.