Superior technology did not necessarily equate to a higher sense of morality.

“Ground Control, this is Demeter One.” The voice came from Lieutenant Commander Walter Garrit. He’d been helming his particular ship since the first test run. “We are nearing the object now. Still no response to our presence.”

Meyers leaned close to his microphone. “Maintain course and heading.” He checked their feed from the satellites. No signals left the object. Nothing changed from the moment they detected it to the approach of their two vessels. “Are you picking anything up on your scanners?” Their sensors were minimal, meant for maneuvering more than anything else so he didn’t expect much.

“Negative. No radiation or anything else.”

Meyers saw it long before they did. He turned his attention to the cameras again, eyes wide. The larger vessel seemed to throb at the center, the globe bulging. It expanded, smaller parts breaking free from the whole. Dozens of them, perhaps a hundred, flew free and began a descent toward Earth. “Demeter One, are you seeing this?”

“Affirmative, Ground Control,” Garrit said. “Please advise.”

Meyers didn’t know what to do, or exactly how to proceed. Attacking them seemed out of place. They didn’t know if they were hostile. Then the decision was made for him.

A beam of energy lanced out from the larger vessel, striking Demeter Two. The ship throbbed twice, lights flickering before they went out completely.

“We have been attacked!” Garrit called. “We are engaging.”

“Wait!” Meyers shouted, but it was too late. Demeter One opened fire, blasting away at the enemy ship. A translucent, green octagon stuttered into existence. It faded away after the last of the projectiles made contact.

Demeter One veered off, hitting their thrusters to buy some distance. Another energy beam burst from the larger vessel, narrowly missing their target. Meyers shouted for them to hurry, to get away from the alien craft but something must have been wrong with their communicator. Garrit swung the ship around and made another attack run.

Again, the strange octagonal energy appeared and faded but this time, the energy beam fired again. It caught Demeter One dead center. Electricity danced over the hull, crackling like a weather vortex before fading away along with the power on the ship. Communications went down and the two ships began to drift.

“My God …” Meyers stood up, staring at the screen. “Contact Colonel Jacks.