Drew's Trouble with Cats and Roaches Pt. 20

'I am El, Cat Intelligence officer in charge of contacting and negotiating a 'peaceful' resolution to this conflict. "The term 'peaceful' came out of her mouth like she had just eaten a moldy slug.

One of the Damned came out of his lounge and stood by the apparent captain of the ship. They could pick up parts of the conversation. Comments such as 'buy, eat, slave and several other terms drifted between the two ships. The captain clouted the other Dragon across his snout and demand he return to his station.

The apparent Captain of the ship finally stepped forward, "It seems my first mate is quite agitated that a slave he bought, turns out to be a spy."

"My apologies Captain, but he was quite useful in gathering intelligence. He has quite the open mind both sexually and with his knowledge while under the influences of a more manipulative mind." She just smiled knowing she had signed his death warrant. She had zero sympathies after he had damaged both her wings in his clumsy but aggressive sexual play. It had taken days in the Med tank to repair them.

"Admiral, you and I need to discuss your apparent aggressive actions into this region. I want to be very plain on why this is bad for your species and give you alternate reasons for creating a working relationship. Are you willing to listen?"

"Talk away, you feathered creature. You are very exquisite slave. You will look good trussed and served for a banquet, in honor of our victory." The admiral replied. El just rolled her eyes, she hated this threat and counter threat type of diplomacy. It was just such a waste of time.

"First, let us all understand what is at stake. We wish to protect Earth and all the habitable planetary systems currently under our control. To do this we will take all actions necessary to protect our beings from slaughter." El paused.

"Do we understand one another? The seriousness of your invasion force and the threat to all the multiple species that are part of our society?" El questioned.

"You are wasting my time with this drivel, get to your point or we will just crush you where you hang."

"Oh Admiral, I assure you I am getting to the point, but I promised to make my point for all of those that are listening on Earth and other planets. So, to carry on to my points of interest, there are only two." Drew was wondering how much acting experience El because she sure seemed to like the dramatic pauses.

"First point is the survival of the %&*$%#$. This is a two-part explanation. We know of the genetic anomaly that has affected your race. The original genetic manipulation that was done when you splintered from the Dragon race..."

"Do not talk of that blasphemous species. We have nothing to do with them and are not part of them in any way," the admiral shouted.

"As I was saying, you have genetic corruption due to previous genetic manipulation and we are willing to help you correct that corruption." She paused, expecting more blow back, but the other ship was silent.

"And second, we have taken control of your two breeding ships you hid behind the dying giant star of Aldebaran. If you do not concede, we will destroy them and your race, as a whole." El commented.

All pandemonium had broken loose on the other ship when she stated the facts.

She leaned forward, smiled, spread her wings, and deepened the threat, "We will kill every female, every youngling and every egg, leaving you to perish as a race for all time."

"You would violate every ethical code of your soft collection of lesser beings?" the Admiral growled back.

"You are speaking to the being you want to serve up for dinner. So yes, I would gladly slaughter every one of you, egg to elder, to protect those I have been made responsible for."

"While you contemplate the destruction of your race, we must provide reason 2, for you to capitulate to our help."

The admiral, acting more Dagon like at every moment finally spoke, "And that is?"

"You are out gunned and out maneuvered," and with a wave of her hand and a flutter of her outstretched wings, the three huge Cat cruisers, Artemis, Aphrodite, and Harmonia became visible. They hung in space precisely 120 degrees apart in a circle pointed at the 7 Damned ships. Multiple smaller ships, from all of Earths nations continued to pop into space surrounding the 7 Damned ships.

A Bug main hive ship popped into space behind the 7 ships and a swarm of bug bombers arched out and then held station. Drew had told all the participants that there were going to be surprises and to hold fire, but a Roach hive, in system, shook many captains to the core.

Last but not least, directly behind the Royal Cat, two Dreadnaughts suddenly appeared. They looked like something from the beginning of Earths Sci-fi movies. Two monstrous flying Godzilla's popped into space 'much too close for comfort' thought Drew. Drew was never told where these ships had been stored. Just from the look of them, they harkened back to a day where they were made for their aesthetics, not their function.

El smiled malevolently at the Admiral, "We reverse engineered your poor version of cloaking and made it...better. Now, we ask you to please sit down with your brethren, make peace and let us help. Or power up your weapons and vanish from the universe in a ball of flame, your choice, you have 10 seconds. Starting now."

Drew smiled as the seconds counted down and the Damned powered down all weapons.

***

"How old are you?" asked Biani.

"Old enough. You have my papers Commander. They are from Special Division are they not?" responded Aya.

Biani kept looking at her pad. They were all in order, but this youngster looked 14. Tall, athletic but just too damn young looking to go where they were going.

"You do understand what we are up to? What our mission is?" Biani kept questioning.

"I have been briefed Commander. We are to make our way through the contested space and try and contact the Cats, known as the 'Marauders.' If contact is not possible, or they no longer exist. We are to investigate the existing conditions and provide data for further action. Is that synopsis acceptable?"

"Yes navigator, your explanation is acceptable. Take us through the transfer point and let us see how good you really are," commented Biani.

"Aye, aye, Commander," Aya responded.

After the second transition in the little scout shuttle, Aya was bent over breathing deeply with her head between her knees. She heard chuckling coming from the front seat.

"You can take drugs for that little human. You don't need to suffer through transit like you have," commented Biani.

"Oh fuck ff. I can handle it. The drugs make me useless in case we pop into something where we need 'all hands." It's my fathers' fault, he does not handle transition well. I was hoping my mixed species would help.

Biani was chuckling about this upstart youngster and her balls for putting up with the sickness. And then what Aya said struck her.

"What do you mean mixed species? There are only three that I know of. Who the fuck are your parents?" Biani demanded and she wrenched herself around in the acceleration couch to look at Aya.

"My full name is Aya Scott, of the house of Lord Drew Scott, Lord protector of the Pride and all Cat space. I am the daughter of Elsa Anderson, Cat ambassador to the Earth's UN." She was saying all this, still bent over trying to shake the nausea while doing flourishes with her hands like she was formally bowing as part of an elaborate Vid.

She straightened herself up looking at the wide fox eyes in the seat in front of her, "and I am here for an adventure."

"You little shit. You plot a course back to the space station right now. FUCK! They will skin me alive!" screamed Biani.

Aya just chuckled looking at here screens. She smiled knowing she had delayed things just enough.

"Too late! We have contact, 2 o'clock, starboard quarter."

***

The UN shuttle landed on private pad by the Castle living quarters. Lady Target and Drew were there to meet the newest ambassador to Cat space. The ramp slid down and the hatch slid open. A living, breathing, 2-meter cockroach exited the hatch and skittered down the Ramp. It was only the second one Drew had ever laid eyes on, not counting armored ones trying to kill him.

On top of its head was a '10 gallon' cowboy hat.

"Your idea?" Drew heard from Target.

"I was hoping it would make it easier," he said with a shrug.

Drew felt two sharp claws grab his earlobe and pull his head down to her lips.

"Fuck you my Mate...fuck you. It does not help." Target quietly whispered in his ear.

He just smiled and stepped forward to bow. "Welcome Ambassador, to the Cat home planet."

"Fuck!" was heard coming from Target behind him. He spun thinking it was about the Ambassador.

Target looked up from her pad. "Aya has vanished. She left a note saying she was going on an adventure!"

Drew closed his eyes for a moment and then turned back to the ambassador and bowed again. 'It seems Ambassador I have a family issue to deal with." He heard a series of klicks and low frequency whistles.

"It would not have anything to do with that small shuttle dancing...yes that is a good word...dancing through space on the way to the 'lost' Cat colony?" the bug translator spit out.

Both Target and Drew were speechless.

End of Chapter 19