Distant Relatives

The USS Serenity arrived to find a scene of devastation. A massive T-shaped vessel loomed ahead, its cannon-like front and missile-laden sides unleashing destruction. The thriving colony below was reduced to a fiery ruin—ashes and rubble scattered across a lifeless wasteland. Steele stood; his eyes wide in shock.

“I don’t believe it…”

Noble scanned the planet and its surrounding area.

“Scanners are picking up 1 unidentified vessel. I’m detecting no life signs on the planet.”

Noble paused, letting the weight of the situation sink in.

“There used to be 3 million people on Harmonia.”

His voice was heavy with sadness and regret. Steele, burdened by the weight of guilt, slumped back into his chair, his expression a mix of despair and anger.

“The Federation hasn’t seen this kind of loss since the Great Federation-Daemius War.”

He glanced at Qamiwat, her body trembling as she sobbed uncontrollably, arms wrapped tightly around herself in a desperate attempt to hold it together. The sight of the barren planet stirred something deep within her—a painful reminder of the devastation that had once befallen her own homeworld.

“This... this is madness. Who could have done this? And why now? Why target us like this?”

Steele's confusion mirrored that of everyone else on the bridge.

Suddenly, the unidentified vessel unleashed a torrent of fire directed at the Serenity.

“Sir, the vessel is firing at us! Brace for impact!”

Countless nuclear warheads struck the Serenity, causing a barrage of explosions that rocked the ship.

The attack halted.

“Damage report.”

“Shields are holding, no damage to the hull, sir.”

To Steele's right, Deon rose from his seat to capture his attention.

“Captain, if I may interject. I have identified the missiles. They appear to originate from 21st-century Earth. They are nuclear warheads, exhibiting a 75.52% similarity to the models used by the major powers of that era.”

Steele’s eyes widened.

“Deon, are you certain?”

“Yes, sir.”

“What are you suggesting?”

“There is a high probability that these attackers are humans originating from Earth.”

The entire bridge fell deathly silent. Every crew member turned to Steele, their faces a mix of puzzlement and confusion. Was it possible that there were other humans out there, beyond Earth and the Federation?

“Commander Noble, open up a channel.”

“Aye sir.”

Quickly, Noble activated a frequency broadcasting a transmission to the vessel.

“This is Captain Steele of the USS Serenity. I demand that you cease this attack and identify yourselves! Explain this aggression at once!”

A couple seconds of silence passed.

“No response, sir.”

Steele turned to Qamiwat, who was still trembling. Gently, he took her hand, grounding her and bringing her back to the present. She wiped her tears and squeezed his hand in return, nodding to show she was all right.

“What are your thoughts on this, Commander Qamiwat?”

“It’s strange, sir. I don’t understand why there would be human-on-human aggression. I thought conflicts among humans were a thing of the past.”

“You’re correct, Commander. The last significant war between human civilizations was World War III, and that was three centuries ago…”

“What they did to that colony is unredeemable. We should return fire, sir.”

Qamiwat advised unwaveringly.

Deon hesitated, then added thoughtfully,

“I recommend we attempt to establish communications first, sir. If there’s a chance to understand their motives, I believe it is worth taking.”

Qamiwat’s lip curled in disapproval.

“We just tried that, Deon! Are your circuits malfunctioning? They clearly want to destroy us—we need to retaliate now!”

Steele rested his thumb and index finger on his chin, deep in thought as he considered his options.

“If they fire at us again, we’ll return fire. Until then, Noble, keep repeating my last transmission. Let’s see if they’ll respond.”

Barely a second passed as another alert echoed from the tactical station.

“They’re firing at us again, sir!”

“Use gamma lasers to take out those missiles. Avoid hitting their vessel directly.”

Lasers swiftly shot from the Serenity, intercepting and destroying the incoming nuclear warheads just moments before they could impact the ship once more.

“All nuclear warheads were destroyed, sir.”

Deon shook his head in confusion.

“Perhaps diplomatic reasoning is not the answer at the moment.”

“You think?!”

Qamiwat remarked sarcastically.

Steele noticed a shift in his first officer's demeanor—Qamiwat’s hostility was growing, driven by a desire for revenge. The colony's destruction had struck a personal chord, but her emotions were beginning to cloud her judgment.

The alert echoed throughout the bridge again.

“Another volley of missiles are aimed straight at us, sir.”

“Fire the gamma lasers to intercept those missiles, then target the vessel directly.”

Once again, lasers from the Serenity swiftly destroyed the incoming missiles before redirecting toward the vessel, visibly weakening the energy field surrounding it.

“Their shields are down, sir.”

“Fire dark matter torpedoes. Target their missile compartments.”

A barrage of projectiles erupted from the Serenity’s main cannon, each round slicing through space with deadly precision. They struck the hostile vessel, triggering an explosion along its right side and leaving visible damage in their wake.

“Direct hit, sir. Their starboard missile compartments are destroyed.”

Qamiwat was visibly grinning at the sight of the enemy's destruction. To Steele, it was the least of his concerns for now, but he knew it was something that would need to be addressed about her demeanor eventually.

“We’re being hailed.”

Steele, Qamiwat, and Deon exchanged a look of concern. Would their questions about this mysterious vessel finally be answered?

“On screen.”

Steele shot up from his chair, his legs unsteady as he struggled to remain on his feet, overwhelmed by the sight before him. To the astonishment of the entire crew, a woman with tightly tied blonde hair, with dark blue eyes, in a gray camouflage uniform, appeared on the main screen. Her presence was unmistakably human, and the realization sent a wave of disbelief through the bridge, as they grappled with the implications of encountering another faction of humanity in such a hostile context.

Steele took a deep breath, regaining his composure as he focused on the woman on the screen.

“This is Captain Steele representing the Unified Federation of Star Systems. You are committing outrageous acts of war-“

“I am Colonel Nora Malinov of the IWS Infinite. I feel no obligation to explain our actions. All you need to know is this: your kind is inferior, and I demand you submit to His Majesty, Imperator Titan, ruler of the Galactic Command of Man. Refusing would be foolish.”

Her voice filled with disdain. Steele remained vigilant, unshaken by the hostile response.

“Why didn’t you respond to our transmission?”

Malinov chuckled, a cold, dismissive sound.

“Why would we want to speak with you? I believe our intentions were crystal clear considering we wiped out your planet. Diplomacy is futile. Surrender now, and I’ll consider sparing your crew.”

Her arrogance was impossible to ignore. Steele clenched his jaw, anger bubbling beneath the surface as he struggled to contain his outrage.

“You’re in no position to make demands. That explosion must have caused significant damage. Or would you like us to send a few more torpedoes your way?”

Steele pressed defiantly. Malinov responded with an offensive, defiant gesture toward Steele and the crew on the bridge, raising her middle finger.

“Do your worst. There is no greater honor than to die for the Imperator.”

“There has to be a way we can find a diplomatic solution. We never knew another human civilization existed outside the Federation. We have much to learn from each other.”

Steele pleaded, his voice firm and resolute.

“We’re not here to discuss peace. We have our orders.”

“What orders could justify the massacre of innocent life on a planet?”

Steele countered.

“Innocent? You disgust me."

Malinov spat, her contempt dripping from every word.

"What’s even more disgusting are those things sitting next to you.”

Malinov pointed disdainfully at Steele's left and right, her finger jabbing in Qamiwat and Deon’s direction.

"I don't know what vile abominations those are, but they're unbearably grotesque. I'll need to scrub my eyes with soap after this."

“Captain.”

Deon interjected, his tone even but with a hint of eagerness.

“May I attempt to retaliate with an insult? I’ve been analyzing human humor and comedic exchanges, and I believe it could enhance my understanding of human interactions.”

“Not now, Deon.”

Steele glanced to his left and noticed Qamiwat fuming with rage, her fists clenched tightly at her sides. Her expression was a storm of emotions, and he felt a surge of concern.

He turned back to Malinov.

“You’re human, aren’t you?”

Malinov scoffed.

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“We’re human too, why are you so hostile against us?”

“Because you’re inferior.”

“Humanity has been at peace with itself for three centuries. How did your civilization come about?”

Malinov crossed her arms, irritation etched across her face. Her patience was wearing thin as she glared at the viewscreen, the audacity of Steele's alien inquiries fueled her anger.

“Please, I’m begging you, there has to be a reason for all of this!”

Steele pleaded desperately, searching for any reasonable justification for this unprovoked attack.

Irritated, Malinov begrudgingly decided to explain.

“I will only tell you this once. In the 21st century, as Earth grew increasingly inhospitable, global powers scrambled for solutions to the mounting crisis. With the planet deemed a lost cause, a bold expedition was launched to ensure humanity's survival. In 2027, eighty colony ships departed, but an engineering failure caused their engines to malfunction, leaving them adrift in the void. Against all odds, only one ship survived. My people found refuge on a barely habitable planet, endured, and adapted. We emerged stronger than ever, shaped by our struggle. Abandoned by Earth’s governments in our darkest hour, we hold them accountable. From our survival, a new civilization rose, united by a single vow: to seek retribution.”

Steele couldn't believe what he was hearing.

“I’m deeply sorry to hear your people suffered, Malinov.”

Steele said, his voice tinged with compassion.

“But those governments that once ruled Earth are gone! Each colony ship was a collective effort from various nations, carrying people from every corner of the globe. When you all disappeared, they turned on each other, blaming one another for the tragedy. This ignited humanity’s final war—World War III—leaving Earth a desolate wasteland. But you should see it now, Malinov! Our planet is beautiful again. The terraforming took immense effort and dedication, but humanity emerged stronger and united as one. We learned from our past mistakes. Can you do the same?”

Steele’s voice brimmed with passion, his conviction echoing across the bridge. Qamiwat rolled her eyes, a hint of jealousy of humanity’s recovery.

“Enough! I need no lectures from an inferior.”

Malinov spat, her voice laced with contempt.

“Please listen to me! Your fight is meaningless! As I have just told you, the people who sent you out no longer exist!”

“All inferiors are direct descendants of the governments of Earth! Your attempt to manipulate me has failed! Prepare for battle!”

Her fury boiled over, eyes narrowing as she glared at Steele through the screen, a fierce defiance radiating from her.

The transmission was abruptly severed.

“Captain, they’re firing at us again! This time, it looks like they’re powering up the main cannon at the front of their vessel.”

Noble reported, urgency crackling in his tone.

Suddenly, white beams of light gathered at the front of the Infinite, growing larger and more intense before unleashing a powerful energy beam that struck the Serenity. Countless nuclear warheads followed, slamming into the ship and causing it to shudder under the relentless barrage. The bridge was filled with blaring alarms and frantic shouts as the lights flickered.

“Damage report, Commander Noble.”

Steele requested, gripping the edge of his seat.

“Our shields are depleted! Moderate damage to the frontal hull! We can’t withstand another barrage of those missiles, sir. Our shields need time to recover. We’re at risk of being completely destroyed!”

Noble reported, his voice steady despite the chaos unfolding around them.

Deon analyzed the situation.

“The white energy beam appears to have depleted our shields. The missiles had minimal effect initially, which suggests they may have identified this weakness. By using the cannon to disable our shields, they allowed the missiles to begin inflicting damage on the Serenity, sir.“

He calmly explained.

Enraged, Qamiwat turned to Steele, her fist clenched in anger.

“We should fire all remaining dark matter torpedoes at them! Destroy them before they destroy us!”

Steele placed a hand on her shoulder, a physical gesture and a clear sign of disapproval.

“Calm down, Commander Qamiwat.”

She turned away; her expression heavy with disappointment.

“Return fire, Commander Noble. Disable that cannon with our gamma lasers, then launch dark matter torpedoes to disable their remaining missiles compartments. Let’s force them into surrender.”

The Serenity unleashed a burst of dark matter torpedoes, hitting the missile compartments with pinpoint accuracy, while the gamma lasers struck the cannon, triggering another explosion.

The Infinite went dark, with orange flames flickering where it had been struck. The damage was a clear sign of the destruction caused by the torpedoes.

“Sir, we are being hailed.”

Noble reported.

Steele exhaled deeply, steeling himself for what was to come, then gestured toward the screen.

The scene on Malinov's bridge was pure chaos. The screen flickered wildly, casting distorted images, while erratic lights threw eerie shadows across the room. Sparks flew from damaged consoles, briefly illuminating the destruction. Rubble now covered the floor where control panels had once been, and thick smoke hung in the air, deepening the sense of impending doom. The panicked screams of the crew echoed through the space, a stark reminder of their growing sense of defeat.

Malinov was covered in dust, her uniform in disarray, with blood dripping from a gash on her right cheek and streaking down her face as she fought to maintain her composure amid the chaos.

Qamiwat smiled darkly, relishing the sight of their suffering.

“Enough of this! You win today! Ach, the shame of it!”

“Captain Malinov, I hereby place you and your remaining crew under arrest in the name of the Federation. Prepare to be boarded.”

Malinov hung her low head in defeat, the transmission abruptly cut off.

“Commander Noble, take your best tactical team and arrest the survivors.”

“Aye, sir.”

Noble hurried out of the bridge.

Steele let out a sigh of relief as he sank into his chair, resting his head on his hand. The tension of the battle had finally dissipated, and a wave of exhaustion washed over him. It was over—for now.

*

In the brig of the Serenity, Malinov sat in her cell, a force field surrounding her, her eyes cold and defiant as she awaited her fate. The air was thick with tension as Steele entered, his gaze steady and inquisitive as he stood before her cell. For a long, silent moment, their eyes locked—each sizing up the other, neither willing to show a flicker of vulnerability.

“I see my chief medical officer was able to treat your wounds, though that scar may take some time to heal.”

“You’re uglier up close.”

Malinov spat.

“Tell me this—what gives you the right to take lives simply because we live differently from you?”

“You are inferior.”

Malinov sneered, her voice dripping with disdain.

Steele shook his head, unimpressed.

“Yes, I know. You’ve said that more than a hundred times now.”

“The Galactic Command of Man is the true and superior human regime. Your outdated civilization clings to weakness, while we strive for perfection. That is how we’ve survived so long without you.”

Steele’s gaze softened, a mixture of pity and frustration in his eyes.

“Humanity on Earth has changed in the past 300 years. We’re not the same savage species we once were. I’m not saying we are perfect; we are still learning. Please, try to understand that.”

Malinov spat again, a bitter retort on the tip of her tongue.

Steele lowered himself to her level, his voice steady but filled with weight.

“But it seems to me your kind hasn’t changed at all—you still cling to these fanatical, unethical justifications for destruction, hate, and war. Just like humanity did back on Earth, centuries ago.”

He let his words hang in the air, hoping they’d pierce her armored mindset.

“I fear you still have a lot to learn—and catch up on.”

Malinov remained silent.

Steele shook his head in disappointment. He left her to her own twisted beliefs, the cell once again shrouded in an uncomfortable silence.