Star Force: Evacuation (SF50) by Aer-ki Jyr Page A

many of you are there, where is the fighting currently taking place, how many enemy
ships, etc.”
    “We will tell you what you require. At present there
are 800 billion Elarioni spread across 8 worlds. We believe that all will be
under assault in the near future, which was why we have come now to ask for
assistance.”
    “How many can you transport on your own ships?”
    “Only a small fraction, I’m afraid. We have lived in
seclusion for so long we do not have many starships, but we do have warships
and we will fight both the Nestafar and Skarrons in order to get free. We
simply do not have the numbers or transports to do this alone, and we will not
leave people behind to die. We ask that you help us evacuate everyone, and in
exchange we will use our abilities, knowledge, and strength to become part of
your Alliance and fight both the Cajdital and the Skarrons. We had hoped the
latter would be honorable, but their conduct thus far has shown otherwise.”
    “How did you get this ship out through their fleets?”
    “It wasn’t difficult. Their technology is vastly
inferior to ours and as you well know orbit isn’t something that can be locked
down easily. We ran through their lines and jumped away from our world without
major inconvenience, but they also didn’t know we were coming. An evacuation is
quite another matter.”
    “As I well know?”
    “We are well aware of who you are, Paul-024, even
before you agreed to this meeting.”
    Looks like your
famous , Riona commented telepathically.
    “And who am I?”
    “A skilled naval tactician and a
bold and powerful fighter. We have seen the recordings of many of your
battles, including the raid you made against the Scionate den.”
    Guess I am
famous , Paul answered her. “Then you know what I’m capable of, including
sizing up our opposition. Getting your people out will be very difficult, but
there is a plan in the works. Before that can begin to take place we need
data…and an understanding. Have you reviewed the message?”
    “Yes. Our sister has described the world in question
and we are willing to take her at her word. We also thank you for rescuing her.
I would ask, on a personal note, how have you preserved her so long? She is
more than twice the age of the oldest known Elarioni.”
    “A little thing called self-sufficiency.”
    “A drug?”
    “No, it’s a state of maintaining a positive healing to
attrition ratio, accomplished primarily through training. She learned to do it
and as a result doesn’t physically age, though she does grow wiser with time
and experience.”
    “We have no knowledge of such things.”
    “We can teach you, or she can.”
    “And there is much we can teach you, in exchange for
your assistance.”
    Paul smiled, tapping into her mind for a bit of a
read. “You’re not sure she’s telling the truth.”
    “We have no reason to doubt the word of our sister.”
    “You doubt whether she is real or a fabrication we
have concocted. You don’t think it’s actually possible to live that long.”
    The Elarioni was silent for a moment. “I do wonder why
you did not bring her with you.”
    “Time,” Paul stated simply. “If we’re going to
evacuate your people the longer we wait the more the war between the Nestafar
and Skarrons will escalate, which will make a difficult extraction even more
so. At present Ariel is in transit. She will not be coming outside the ADZ, but
I’ve arranged a meeting on a world near the border.”
    “What do you require of us, in addition to
information?”
    “If we are going to go to the effort necessary to pull
your people out, it’s not going to be so you can sit in the ADZ and watch the
rest of us fight. You will have to become invested in the defense as well…and
not just in an advisory role.”
    “Agreed.”
    “What are your combat capabilities?”
    “Nothing that would be of use to you on land, but our
ships are superior to yours. Given time to build more
we will be able to defend