Escalation of Hostility Part 1

Phaelen Imperial Command had already briefed the advanced scout ship Daeran on the mission specifics.  Contact was lost with one of the praetorian spies, located on a world designated Landau, in the system known as PX9001.  The spy was on a non-infiltration mission to observe cultural dynamics in order to determine subversion susceptibility of the local population.

The orders to proceed were given.  "Scout ship Daeran, proceed to PX9001.  Do not engage any forces.  Scan the planet for the personal beacon and return at once."

"As you command.  Initiating phase jump."

 
With huge amounts of energy focused on one location in front of the scout ship, like stacking the deck of quantum probability, small disruptions in space-time grew exponentially...

... and sucked the scout ship into itself. 

The pilot stabbed the on-board recorder.  "Scout log date, second cycle of Haraen in the year of Ualaen.  Just left Ogaera and am now in transit to PX9001.  Scan is set to activate once I drop out of phased space in... three, two, one."

As if empty space could shudder the scout vessel dropped out of phased space as planned.  "Initiating scan for beacon.  Detecting several alien vessels approaching on multiple vectors."

The human ships patrolling PX9001 were on the scout instantly, their response much faster than expected.  The pilot of the imperial scout ship tapped nervously on the console, waiting for the scan to return something of value.  The communication computer started working, receiving signals and translating them into Phaelen Common.

 
"This is Captain Nogutu of the Arn Consortium.  Shut down your active scans immediately or we will fire upon you.  This is the only warning you will get."

The pilot was anxious.  The scan was taking too long to find the signal.  He was certain, however, that only a few more seconds were needed.

The communications computer came to life again.  "Your choice, asshole."  Just as one of the human ships fired, the confirmed signal from the spy's personal beacon was detected.  With skill the pilot dodged the shot and came about to initiate the return phase jump.

Another shot was fired just as the vortex opened up and sucked the scout ship inside.  When the pilot returned to Ogaera he sent the can data to Imperial Command.  "Scout ship Daeran to Imperial Command, scan data from PX9001, planet Landau, is on it's way to you."

[To be continued in part two...]