of wreckage approximately twenty lignas away. We estimate it contains the remnants of fifteen Verrsuan trading vessels.”
“Any idea what happened?” Zamek asked, already on his way to the bridge. His people had a close relationship with the Verrsuans and were obligated to investigate such a tragedy, as well as help any survivors.
“Our scans show a Bexxanian warbird recently passed through the area and fired weapons.”
Zamek cursed under his breath. “Set course for the wreckage field and immediately start scanning for any sign of survivors. I am on my way.”
He reached the bridge and found his crew working fast to gather more information about the situation. A screen showed three blinking dots amidst the floating wreckage, evidence of three surviving Verrsuans.
No Bexxanian warbirds could be found within the Tammusha’s scanning range, but Zamek ordered his crew to continually scan for the aliens. Any enemy of the Verrsuans was an enemy of the Kall, and any Bexxanian ship they came across would be destroyed on sight, no questions asked.
It was well known the Bexxanians had attacked several Verrsuan trading vessels recently. If the Bexxanians didn’t cease the attacks, war would likely break out.
At the prospect of war, a rush of anticipation and power spread through Zamek. He’d been born to fight. As soon as he was old enough to walk, he’d begun sparring with his cousins and training to become a warrior. He’d become a Kall warrior at a young age, before he was even considered an adult among his people, and he had fought—and won—more battles than most warriors.
He’d always been driven by the fierce need to protect the Kall homeworld and his people’s trusted allies. Hand-to-hand combat was his preferred method of fighting. On the battlefield, he’d killed thousands of alien enemies, including humans. But in deep space, far from any habitable planet, any battle waged would be mostly fought with his warship’s advanced weaponry.
He frowned at the thought, but his spirits rose at the prospect of boarding a Bexxanian warbird. His muscles tensed at the promise of an impending battle.
Once they reached the debris field, the three surviving Verrsuans were rescued and brought to the Tammusha’s medical bay. Zamek hurried to the medical bay to greet them and to his relief found they hadn’t sustained life-threatening injuries.
“What can you tell us about the attack?” he asked the highest ranking among them, a Verrsuan male named Amorrga.
“We were on our way to Xernnal,” the male replied, referring to a well-known tourist planet, “when a Bexxanian warbird chased us down and began firing on our trading vessels. We surrendered—our ships, even fifteen of them, are no match for a Bexxanian warbird—and they boarded our vessels and stole our cargo.”
“And even though you surrendered, they still destroyed all your ships after they took your cargo?”
“Yes,” Amorrga said with a sorrowful look. He glanced around the medical bay. “I can’t believe they killed all but three of us. I’d heard the Bexxanians were deadly, but I never imagined they might level such a brutal attack against us.” He shook his bloodied head, and the doctor treating him paused for a moment until the Verrsuan once again grew still. “I thought if we surrendered…” His voice trailed off.
“The Bexxanians are without honor,” Zamek said. “I promise your crew will be avenged. We will find this warbird and destroy it. If you’ll excuse me, I must contact the High Council on my homeworld. They must be made aware of the escalating situation with the Bexxanians.”
Amorrga caught Zamek’s arm. “Will there be a war?”
“I suspect so. The Bexxanians must be driven from this sector.”
“If there’s a war,” Amorrga said, “then I wish to fight.”
Zamek looked at the tiny Verrsuan male with surprise. He was no larger than an average-size human male. “Have you had warrior training of any kind?” The Verrsuan army was small, but they were experts in trade and possessed fast, large ships that had easily helped them dominate the interstellar trade markets. But unfortunately, Bexxanian warbirds were among the few alien ships that could outrun them.
“No, I have not had warrior training,” Amorrga admitted, “but I still managed to kill two Bexxanians who boarded us.” Bloodlust gleamed in his purple eyes. “I want to kill more of them. I need to kill more of them.”
Zamek didn’t have to ask to know Amorrga hadn’t just lost crew members to the Bexxanians, but he’d likely lost dear friends and possibly some family members as well. He recognized the level of bloodlust in the Verrsuan’s eyes.