Human Federation, Northern Border Defense Headquarters.
Deep within layers of security, inside the central medical facility—
With a hiss of escaping pressure, a row of heavy, sarcophagus-like pods opened their armored doors, thick enough to withstand a railgun shell.
From within, figures slowly sat upright, groggy and dazed, as though waking from a long dream.
These were the officers and crew of the Federation fleet that had only moments ago been annihilated by the Aeldari recon group.
Their memories ended at the instant of death. None of them truly understood what had happened.
But thanks to the soul transmission channels, their consciousness had been instantly retrieved the moment their bodies were destroyed, and then restored here in freshly grown vessels.
Even the cyborgs and artificial intelligences of their fleet had been backed up and reconstructed through long-distance data transfer.
In truth, the Federation's only real loss was just over a hundred starships—expensive, yes, but hardly crippling.
Of course, the matter did not end there.
The moment Commander Colt's fleet was destroyed, another Federation flotilla, which had been waiting on standby near the battlefield, immediately advanced toward the Aeldari.
Not to seek revenge.
But to offer apologies.
To present, on behalf of the Federation, an official explanation—framing the incident as a regrettable misunderstanding.
---
Earth.
In a cavernous chamber of reinforced alloy, the President of the Federation reviewed the battle footage transmitted via quantum comms.
For a long while he stared, bewildered, before murmuring:
"All of our ships destroyed at the exact same moment… does this mean their earlier misses were deliberate? That they were simply… toying with us?"
He had felt a flicker of pride when the Federation's warships had danced unscathed through the first barrages.
But when the entire fleet was wiped out in a single instant, that pride curdled into humiliation.
The gulf between them and the Aeldari was still as vast as ever—an impassable chasm.
The chamber's overseeing AI, its tone calm and analytical, replied:
"Perhaps. Or perhaps not. The available data is too limited to draw conclusions. Our knowledge of the Aeldari—a species with tens of millions of years of history—remains shallow. Still, this engagement has revealed tactics and technologies we had not seen before. Even this much is valuable. If we could observe more battles…"
To the machine, even this costly loss was worthwhile. Their development was slowing; too many bottlenecks lay ahead.
Not even AIs or cybernetic hybrids could solve everything. They had limits.
The Aeldari, however, represented a path already traveled. By studying their methods, humanity could anticipate the shape of future obstacles.
Already, this clash had shown them that electromagnetic weaponry still had untapped potential—its ceiling far higher than previously believed.
But the President cut the AI short with a sharp wave of his hand:
"Forget it. Once may be dismissed as an accident. Twice—or more—and we risk drawing unwanted attention. The Federation is not ready to stand beneath the full gaze of the Aeldari!"
The AI sighed—an oddly human expression of disappointment.
"A shame. Most disappointing indeed."
Its tone was so lifelike, it was indistinguishable from a real person.
---
Meanwhile, aboard the Aeldari fleet.
After crushing their opponents, the commander was preparing her next move when new contacts appeared on the scanners—another Federation fleet approaching.
"?"
Brows furrowing, she muttered:
"So fast? Did we drop right in the middle of their territory?"
Without hesitation, she ordered her ships to rearm and target the newcomers.
But before weapons could be fired, a transmission arrived.
It was… an apology.
"To the esteemed, unknown commander of the Aeldari: I am Vice-President Glen Nebuka of the Human Federation. On behalf of my people, I offer our sincerest regrets for the regrettable incident that just transpired…"
The message was polite, deferential, and offered generous reparations in resources.
The Aeldari commander blinked in surprise.
Submission to the Aeldari was not unusual. In fact, it was expected.
What puzzled her was the speed.
The battle had ended mere moments ago. Yet here was a diplomatic envoy, already present with a prepared apology.
It was as if they had been waiting in the wings for this outcome all along.
The thought unsettled her.
Had the Federation anticipated this confrontation?
'If so—why? What did they hope to gain?'
She could not say.
After a brief deliberation, she decided not to dwell on it. With an amused smile, she accepted their apology—and the wealth of rare resources that came with it.
Whatever game the humans were playing, it cost her nothing.
Thus concluded the second, unofficial contact between the Human Federation and the Aeldari.
The Federation lost over a hundred state-of-the-art warships.
The Aeldari? Untouched, untroubled, as effortlessly superior as ever.
The gap had narrowed somewhat since their first encounter.
But it remained a one-sided affair.
....
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