“Everyone ready?” asked Wek as he held his pulse rifle up and let the capacitor charge. The weapon’s hum filled the back of the small tactical military transport as they moved through the space station’s atmosphere.
“We’re going up against humans, right?” asked Nilnet one of the newer members of the tactical assault team.
Wek shifted his skin blue in confirmation, “we are.”
“The same species that spearheaded the Ronhin liberation invasion?” he asked tentatively.
Several of the other members of the assault team who had been calmly checking their weapons and going over other details of the planned operation looked up at that frowning. Few had bothered to check the species listing for this assignment, instead choosing to go over the details of the fortifications and armament that might be present during the assault.
“They are the one’s whom own the establishment yes, that is why we broke out the heavy armaments.”
Wek gestured with a claw back towards the aft of the compartment.
The single Ronhin in the company was seated, the massive kinetic weapon they favored as a species hanging under his torso held aloft by the two massive manipulating appendages.
The Ronhin gurgled acknowledgement, “You are right to be scared newling,” the Ronhin fell silent for a moment apparently collecting his thoughts.
“I was in the camps when the Human’s broke through the fortifications and freed me and my own. They are terrifying creatures, some are strong, some are fast, some are intelligent, some less so.”
He hefted his weapon up, “They are all insane though. In a way that is perhaps unique to their species. It is something that cannot be easily described. Suffice to say that their insanity more than anything else allows them to succeed where so many others fail.”
Reaching up with a smaller appendage the Ronhin pulled something hanging from a chain out from under its armor showing it to Nilnet.
The young alien leaned forward looking at it curious. Crudely welded to one link on the chain was an odd piece of metal with two small pieces of glass or some other transparent material on it. Nilnet would have said it was some piece of art, a sculpture perhaps were it not for the fact that it was well worn. Like the butt of the rifle of Wek and several of the other older members of the tactical group it was an object that had suffered stress.
“What is that?” asked Nilnet still looking at the sculpture.
“A human insanity, some are born deformed and with imperfect sight. Rather than remain behind when fighting though those deformed Humans place these over their optics compensating for the weakness so they might fight along those whom are not deformed.”
Nilnet frowned, “What happens if they lose them?”
“They cannot see, but still they will fight just as bravely. I was given these as a child when a human warrior died in front of me. Young and having lived in the camps my entire life, these ‘glasses’ were the first clear thing I had ever seen. I plucked them from the face of the dead human and his companions told me to keep them. Apparently my fascination with them was endearing to them.”
Nilnet looked at the Ronhin, “The warriors didn’t care you looted a body of a comrade?”
The Ronhin swung his arms and the heavy weapon he was holding, “I was young, and even the warrior humans have parental instinct. They did not see the curiosity of a child, even an alien one as a disgrace to their fallen comrade. Like I said they are strange.”
“Which is the only thing that can explain the reports that came in several hours ago,” growled Wek, “We didn’t want to release it with the mission tactical reports but we have visuals of what they’re doing in their compound.”
He looked around at his men for a moment, “You’ve all heard of the stories about what Humans can do. Still even with that prowess we cannot let this injustice continue.”
He waved his hand at the side of the transport and several images quickly flashed onto the screen.
“This is the entrance to the compound, they have apparently tried to disguise the operation inside of a business district. A confused Gunril looking for a breeding shop mistakenly stumbled across the operation. He did manage to capture images with his optics.”
Wek moved through the images more quickly, and the view slowly and choppily jumped forwards towards the entrance of the ship. When the reflection of the Gunril informant was visible in the reflection of the glass in front of the operation it also became apparent to Nilnet what was going on inside the human establishment.
Figures, which looked human were strapped to operating tables, around them on hundreds of displays were vicious and disturbing images. On tables and other surfaces needles and vials of hundreds of varieties were stored.
The humans in the chairs restrained or unable to move were clearly in pain, as l other humans over them were sticking needles and instruments of pain in them.
“We’ve consulted with our medical experts, they’ve confirmed that whatever this is it’s not a human medical procedure,” said Wek.
It took the members of the tactical squad several moments to collect themselves.
“They’re doing this to themselves?” asked Nilnet horrified.
“They are,” confirmed Wek.
“Humans are insane, and not always the good kind,” grumbled the Ronhin.
The transport shook and Nilnet felt it slow and the engines rotate killing their forward velocity. He swallowed nervously and checking his weapon. The capacitor was charged and his claws were sharp. He had sharpened them yesterday in preparation for his first week with the tactical unit. Still he hadn’t expected he would be facing humans on his first day!
The Ronhin one of the largest species in the Union feared them. The Tilk, widely considered the most intelligent species in the quadrant lauded their scientific efforts. The Minn praised their art, Nilnet’s own species respected them for their absolute loyalty to one another.
The humans could do no wrong, but still Nilnet knew that within every species there were those who were evil. To lump the entirety of a species together was foolish. The idea of insanely dangerous humans deriving pleasure from the torture of their own species, it was a frightening thought. What they could do to other species? Nilnet didn’t even want to consider that.
“We’re going into a heavily civilian populated area; support teams are on standby several blocks away but they will be under radio silence. Humans can see most ambushes coming, so we’re going to be performing an aerial drop.” Said Wek.
Nilnet looked up stunned, “Inside a station sir?” asked the young man. He had trained to jump, but that had been something only ever used planet side. The airspace inside of most stations was so limited that no one considered performing them.
“Inside a station. It’s the only way that tactical analysis believes we’ll be able to retain any amount of surprise.”
Turning Wek picked an antigravity belt off of the rack and strapped it over his chest synching it into place and wincing as it tightened constricting him slightly.
Trying to allay his own fears Nilnet grabbed his own antigravity belt and strapped it on over his armor. He barely felt the pain as it tightened down.
The Ronhin muttered several curses under his breath, “The humans also have an uncanny ability to inspire insanity in others.”
“Everyone up!” shouted Wek.
The team quickly got to their feet, tentacles, and in the case of the Minn agent dexterous feathers.
“We are not looking to start a firefight in a population center, do not fire unless provoked!” shouted Wek as he hit the cargo door release.
Their was no familiar whipping of wind and air as it slid open, which only made the experience all the more odd. Jumps were usually performed at heights where atmospheres clawed at and tore at anything inside the cabin of a ship.
“Two second intervals!” said Wek as he strode forwards leveled his weapon glanced back at the other members of the tactical squad and fell off of the back of the ship.
The Ronhin moved behind him to go second, “Follow me newling.” Growled the larger creature as it stepped up to the edge glancing back at Nilnet.
Eyes widening and skin turning purple in distress and thanks Nilnet glanced at the other members of the tactical squad and feeling like a fool and a hero at the same time stepped forwards to follow the Ronhin. Looking down at the streets of the station barely 200 meters below Nilnet braced himself and jumped.
The air rushed past and he flinched away from it even as the belt began to slow his fall.
The humans had been the ones to introduce the tactic they now used, and it was an emphasis on how insane they were as a species. They had apparently been doing this long before the discovery of antigravity, using folded cloth to slow their falls.
Nilnet winced as he slowly alighted on the road in front of the torture establishment.
Rushing forward following the Ronhin Nilnet looked in on the humans of the establishment.
“Freeze!” he shouted.
The human who was wielding the torture device dropped it and quickly raised his hands.
“Whoa!” he shouted.
Lunging forward Nilnet slammed the butt of his gun into the Human’s chest intending on knocking him down to the ground where he could be more easily restrained. Instead Nilnet impacted the solid mass that was the Human and felt his bones shake.
The Human looked down at him a bemused expression on his face.
“Down!” shouted Nilnet.
“Down, got it.”
Slowly the Human knelt on the ground and laying on his stomach laced his fingers behind his head. Pouncing on him Nilnet quickly threaded restraints over the Humans upper and lower limbs. They were designed to restrain creatures even more brutish than the Humans and were not likely to break.
Turning to the bench where the other Human was being tortured Nilnet blinked, surprised that the restrains were already undone. Had the Human broken them?
“You forget to pay your electrical bill Jon?” asked the Human as it stood up, addressing the Human who had been torturing it.
“I have no idea,” said the Human on the floor.
Nilnet looked between the two for a moment, his eyes flicking back and forth.
“What?” he asked.
“You restrained him?” asked Wek stepping in from the back door of the establishment.
“He didn’t fight.”
Wek frowned and leaning down slammed his gun into the back of the restrained Human.
“Hey!” shouted the one who had been on the torture table, he reached out and almost casually tossed Wek to the side.
“Henry!”
The torture victim pushed Wek aside, “What the hell!?” asked the Human.
Wek blinked and raised his weapon pointing it somewhat hesitantly at the human.
“He can no longer hurt you, you need not defend him!” said Wek.
The Human victim’s lips drew together, “hurt me?”
“This!” said Wek, and he pointed at the pile of equipment on the trays next to the torture table.
The human looked at Wek for a moment and then the torture instruments.
“What?”
“Well this is going to be fun,” muttered the Human on the ground.
“Shut up!” shouted Wek.
“I asked him to poke me with the needles, it’s a human custom!”
Nilnet watched as the human pulled up a sleeve of his clothing and pointed at a discoloration on his skin.
“They’re tattoos, pieces of art that we place on our skin!” said the victim.
Wek looked at the discoloration for a moment and then back down at the human on the ground.
“Henry is an artist, or he likes to think he is at least. Truth be told the only torture he inflicts is his prices.”
“No more loyal customer discount for you,” muttered the Human on the ground.
Nilnet looked down at him and then leaning forwards looked at the discoloration on the humans’ limb. It looked like a human woman, although she wasn’t wearing clothing and her proportions seemed odd in some areas. The chest in particular was larger than anything Nilnet had seen in humans.
“He’s not torturing you?” asked Wek slowly.
“No, it hurts like hell but I paid him to do it!” said the Human.
Nilnet glanced at his superior and then down at the human on the ground.
“We’re still going to need to take you in, the embassy will confirm this?” asked Nilnet.
The human on the floor chuckled, “Ask the ambassador to show you his ass. It wasn’t the best canvas but I still think it’s one of my better works.”
Nilnet opened his mouth to say something but then snapped it shut. He wasn’t really sure what response was appropriate for that, or how he was supposed to diplomatically make such a request.