222? Turn off that annoying sound.
Yes captain.
The matulian hybrid touched her console and the alarms went silent at once. The only noise on the bridge was the one made by the officers as they moved to their stations to find out what they had collided with. Through the hive mind the Koos hybrid, could feel their growing nervousness. Lorana as usual, separated her consciousness from the rest of her sisters and analyzed coldly her current situation.
It was impossible that they were human. Humans had not developed their own cloaking device. Then, who? The Vagabond Fleet? It was impossible. Our fleet would have encountered traces of their passage on the journey from the border outpost to Earth.
That left her with only one problematic option.
Lorana sighed and closed her one big eye. Trying to regain her inner peace. A difficult task if her suspicions were confirmed.
In the territory of The Hive, Lorana 103-C had been her whole life, an example to follow in the fleet of The Hive. She was considered a trusted person by the Queen Mother herself and as one of Lindtex-9729's supporters, she had been assigned the important task of tracking down the distress signal from her sisters imprisoned on Earth and bringing them back to the heart of The Hive.
But now, despite her centuries of loyal service, Lorana found herself in an eventuality that could surpass her and her crew if they did not take control of it, immediately.
Ma’am
She recognized every mental voice of every member of her crew.
Sana 1003-Q, her officer specialized in xeno-technology.
More bad news surely. She could feel it thought the hive mind. She was all anguish and anxiety.
Ma’am captain? We just identified the alien object.
Don't tell me.
Ma’am?
Please don't tell me...
Ma’am the object with which we have hit has just been identified by the computers. It is a Martian ship.
Sigh … Of course it is.
She could feel how an headache was forming in her forehead.
Have they tried to communicate or send a distress signal?
No. resured the officer with confidence in her inner voice . Their communication system has been absorbed into our hull. Their communications are currently disabled.
Good. She extended her conscious to be heard by all her crew. I will contact the Queen Mother immediately to inform her about this event. In the meantime, Put the ship in high alert and be prepared for a possible boarding party.
The amused voice of Mo 200-r sounded into her head.
Are Those slimy squids really that dangerous?
The moody captain opened her eye and looked directly at the most recent addition of her crew.
Those 'slimy squids' have kicked our asses in one out of every three alternate timelines. We are not risking a full scale war with then. Secure all the possible entrances to our ship from theirs.
Yes captain. Replied every member of her crew throughout the hive mind.