[ WP ] There is unrest in the galaxy but the advanced alien races that populate it lack the capacity to kill . One alien race decides to recruit the humans of earth as their military .

It's been two years since I burned a world to save the people I love and cherish. Even then, I could n't save everyone. Ever since the Empress rose to power in the Valadrian system, allied with Kovarth Federation and pocketed the Cabinet of Interstellar Security and Transit, our little corner of the universe has fallen apart. < br / > < br / > 
 
 I watched it all unfold over the course of two decades while engineering the tech to bring me here. When the Jumpers were disabled, I knew it was time to reach into the past. Armed with ancient lore dismissed as faerie tales, I left the Arquaio cluster in search of our ruthless ancestors. < br / > < br / > 
 
 Now, here I am. I did n't think the old Ki'Robil tech would work until I witnessed the fabric of space and time being ripped apart. Now as I stare out at this beautiful sphere suspended in the dead of space, I almost feel as though I am dreaming. < br / > < br / > 
 
 I move my consciousness through the neural network of my ship's AI, checking the data scans returned from my probes and drones. The surface has much more oxygen than I am accustomed to, and the region I am going to has been reported as having high humidity. I frown as I pass over the thought of using my organic body. < br / > < br / > 
 
 `` It is most advisable, Cait'' DREXEL, the AI, chimes. `` If these creatures are, indeed, the ancestors to your organic species, then you need to take every measure you can to blend in. At least for their comfort. `` < br / > < br / > 
 
 `` I still despise'' I pause and imagine myself in a body, wrinkling my nose and crossing my arms stubbornly for DREXEL. `` Such a delicate husk. What if they regard me as hostile? I'll be nearly defenseless!'' I growl under my breath and navigate to the Organic Mass Cryostorage lab. < br / > < br / > 
 
 `` DREXEL, begin download'' My tone is agitated, and I can almost feel myself grinding my teeth. < br / > < br / > 
 
 `` Consciousness transfer initiated. `` < br / > < br / > 
 
 Leaving the Collective is always strange. It's like free-falling thousands of feet only to get rubber banded into a bounce wall and then pitched into hot water. Or gelatin. 
 < br / > < br / > 
 When I open my eyes, I am initially startled at the intensity of my vision. Seeing everything with such detail is just... Incredible every time. As a free form consciousness, the universe looks much more like a digitized heat map. < br / > < br / > 
 
 After getting the cryo goo off and donning some clothing, I finally take up my seat in the bridge and give myself another look over. < br / > < br / > 
 
 At `` six foot one'', I am considered small for my species, however I know from my research that the Terrans will be startled at it. I look at my child-like skin, strikingly pale blue eyes and thick white hair tied back in a strict bun, and realize that I may be downright intimidating. Especially with the brand by my right eye. I narrow my eyes as I continue to inspect a physique that would be described as too limby and scrappy. < br / > < br / > 
 
 I laugh gently under my breath as I look down at the communication console to my right. `` Let them be intimidated'' I mutter as I attempt to establish a connection with what the Terrans called `` The United Nations''. The amount of time it takes is obnoxious, and a man answers in a very gruff and grumpy tone. < br / > < br / > 
 
 Displeased, I terminate the call immediately and sigh. 
 < br / > < br / > 
 `` Why?'' < br / > < br / > 
 
 `` I have my reasons, DREXEL, now hush.'' I think for several moments before I hop up and grab my jump jack, plugging it into my neural socket interface and furiously pressing at buttons on the communications relay console. < br / > < br / > 
 
 `` Cait, I feel like this is a bad idea.'' DREXEL drones. I wave my hand flippantly through the air and after a few more keystrokes, I settle into my chair and my consciousness connects with my ship. It's an effortless transition, my skin becoming the shield, my bones and muscles becoming structure and armour. The many drones that help keep the ship up and assist with combat are now my eyes and ears. < br / > < br / > 
 
 I go instantly for the orbital missiles, loading them into the launcher and descending into the atmosphere. At this point, I re-establish a comm link, but this time it's with something called `` National Emergency Broadcast System'' in the country The United States of America. `` Should get someone's attention at least...'' I mutter in the last seconds before my link goes live and dive further into the atmosphere, the heat making my skin tingle and bones vibrate. 
 < br / > < br / > 
 `` My name is Cait Nathair. I am an operative of the Dalsic Collective in the Arquaio Cluster approximately one hundred-twenty... Oh sod it...'' I bite my lip for a moment and sigh heavily. `` I need help...'' 
 < br / > < br / > 
 For the first time in decades, I felt helpless. My people are enslaved under the tyrannical rule of a mad woman claiming to be chosen by God and waging international war in our cluster and here I am wanting to bring a somewhat innocent species into it. < br / > < br / > 
 
 `` I need them for their combat prowess...'' I say out loud, unaware that DREXEL had connected a call with the `` POTUS''. < br / > < br / > 
 
 `` This is our reputation in the galaxy?'' I signal for the visual feeds to activate and the face of a young man flickers to life before me. If the POTUS is a powerful person, then why do they have a mere child labeled as such? He could n't be any older than thirty. < br / > < br / > 
 
 `` Uh, well... More like the universe, Mister POTUS, sir'' I manage a faint laugh. Ugh, this body and it's awkward feelings. `` My name is...'' < br / > < br / > 
 
 `` Cait Nathair. Yes, I got that.'' His drawling accenting is already irritating me. I just want to tell at him to speak faster, but instead opt for clenching at my arm rests as tight as possible. `` What can I help you with, ma'am? Is everything okay? `` < br / > < br / > 
 
 `` No.'' Sod it. Let's get down to business. `` My people have been enslaved by a tyrannical empress and we have no means to fight back. Only a select few we designed with combat ability, and I am the only one left of that generation.'' I look away briefly as I am hit with an overwhelming sense of grief. I see Aaron's helmeted face, the jagged scar of a smile carved deeply into the faceplate. The emptiness I feel in my heart and mind at his absence starts to feel like a crushing pressure that will consume me. < br / > < br / > 
 
 `` Excuse me? We have not been made aware of any new established Governments or uprisings in our region. We have n't been contacted by the Intergalactic Militia or anything...'' He looked deeply confused as he calls an aide over and starts giving him orders to seek information. < br / > < br / > 
 
 This is it. The make it or break it moment. < br / > < br / > 
 
 `` Sir, you have n't heard about it because it is very far away, distance and time. Your people are a myth to my original species. I knew though, that I could find you. My research and developments are... Were... Illegal, but it got me here.'' I sigh and remove my jump jack. The look of shock on the young man's face could have been horror, but I was n't certain. < br / > < br / > 
 
 `` I am a third generation Synth. Organically, I am a mixture of all my native races, but I was assimilated by an AI and am now a freeform consciousness able to take on an organic body or synth avatar. My people have done nothing but move for peace through pacifism and try to understand the Gaians, but because we are not actual Gaians and connected to a shared AI, we are seen as abominations, automatons who should do the bidding of those in the highest castes. `` < br / > < br / > 
 
 Mister POTUS looks skeptical, complete with a lonely cocked eyebrow. I manage a faint grin, my expression softening. `` I will provide the technology to get your soldiers to and from home, and I will cover all your costs for ships, weapons and neural modifications. `` < br / > < br / > 
 
 `` Whoa, hold on now. You're pretty much telling me that you are a... What a robot? Hooked up to a hive network? And you want our help freeing your'' he makes air quotes for the next part `` people? `` < br / > < br / > 
 
 `` You will be getting access to jump jack technology and a free trip across the universe. In other words, I will bring you to the big leagues as far as space travel goes, and you will have access to Research and Development labs to the create new weapons. Your soldiers will all be made jump jack compatible and be given cryostasis clone save states. This will prevent them from dying permanently. Except for tragic lab accidents...'' 
 
 The connection terminates and I sit there in silence, looking out the command bridge glass to peer down at the world below. 
 
 `` I'm sorry, Cait.'' DREXEL consoles. I smile wickedly and turn to a large insectoid drone that skitters around my feet. I reach out and touch it lovingly, like a mother would. 
 
 `` They'll say yes.'' I lean back into my seat and look at the man who has sat quietly at the command bridge cobsole, taking in everything. He nods in agreement, and folds his cybernetic arms across his chest. The lights on his ocular flare briefly as he looks at me. 
 
 `` And when they do?'' 
 
 `` I will get him back.'' 
 
 `` Cait, Aaron's gone.'' Jackson stands and walks over to me, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. `` Your link has been dead for years now.'' I shake my head, feeling the wretched sting of sadness and regret against my eyes. 
 
 `` Then I will watch the Cluster burn for him...''
