My feet pattered across the metal floor, this time with shoes, thanks to the poor machines who stitched them together nonstop in some warehouse orbiting Mars. I was heading into the bridge to see what the hell was going on.

Sucker’s voice was strained and that was never a good thing. She must have found some more of that signal, maybe. Meowlith Prime was a rather Anthro friendly, and heavily populated, moon of Saturn. A little further out of Earth space, but that was probably a good thing for the anthros below. It was tiny moon that used to be called Enceladus before a large number of Anthro-Cats escaped their servitude on Earth and made it their very own paradise.

Of fucking course, the Corpos made sure that wouldn’t last. No one could have a peaceful life without them slithering their slimy, weaselly bodies into every society and scraping every last crypto from our pockets, and that’s demeaning to Weasels. Soon that beautiful, small, terraformed planet made for cats was bombarded with immigrants and invaded by corporations with no laws but their own. The place was a sore spot on your eye now, enough so to make your stomach churn and your bowels evacuate at the same time.

I hated setting foot planet side these days. It always left a bad feeling in me that took a week to shake. I couldn’t stomach all the poverty and headache that accompanied the colonies, or even Earth. The lack of government keeping people safe, and the constant urge of corporations to exploit everyone to gain the most crypto they could from any living thing. It left everywhere looking like a bleeding scab. It was sickening.

I emerged onto the bridge, Mama was there, along with Captain Uwu and Sucker. Speck was sulking in the corner. He was probably pissed at the berating he received from the Captain. Speck never did like authority too much, but he seemed to lack any ambition to lead anything. It made for a nasty combo that kept getting him in trouble.

Specks eyes immediately followed me as I stepped onto the bridge. I ran my hand along one of the workstations currently empty as I strode up to the Captain. I glanced at the half-chewed piece of wood placed on the desk’s surface. Redwood was probably still out patrolling the ship for any damage the sensors didn’t pick up. That Beaver really was dedicated to Engineering at any cost.

I ignored Speck’s lustful gaze and stood next to Mama. Captain Uwu was hunched over, talking with Speck. I think the Anthro-Gecko was about three feet tall, max. She was little, but feisty. I glanced up to Mama, who seemed to be staring off into space. Her ears twitched a little now and then and could tell she was eavesdropping on whatever the Captain was saying.

The Anthros on board had caught me more than enough times saying things under my breath that I had stopped speaking out entirely. Everything in my head was still safe, thankfully.

“So, what’s going on?” I nudged Mama with my elbow waiting for her response. She still stared ahead, not moving. I glanced over at Speck and my eyes met his. I quickly looked away. The creeper was still watching me, even now. I nudged Mama again. “Hey.” I whispered aloud as to not disturb the Captain, but Mama still ignored me, even now.

I stepped out in front of her and put my hands on my hips. “Ahem! Vixie to Mama, do you read?” I smiled as she finally snapped out of her haze and looked down at me.

She held up one claw to me, “Shh, the Captain’s busy.” Mama pointed behind me and I turned to see both Uwu and Sucker looking at me.

I held my hands up, “Sorry, sorry.” I slunk back down next to Mama and whispered to her. “You know what’s going on?”

Mama shook her head, “I got something else on my mind.” She shifted about a little. If there was one thing that my Human ass knew more than the Anthros though, it was how to read people in social situations. At least I had that on them.

“What’s up, Mama. You can talk to me.” I put my arm around her, at least I tried to. I only could get part of the way around her massive, hairy, brown body, but I leaned into her and gave her a side hug.

Mama smiled down at me; her eyes were teary. “Well,” she leaned down a little to whisper back at me, “It’s my son’s birthday today.”

“Oh!” I was surprised, to be sure. Mama usually didn’t open up about her family much. Most of what I knew was that her husband and two sons were still back on Earth. Something happened to Mama and she had to bail for whatever reason, and I didn’t think it was for something simple. She had to of pissed off some powerful people, or robbed a Cryptovault. I didn’t think it polite to pry into her business too much. Her family was a touchy subject.

“Well, happy birthday to him.” I patted her on her huge back, “I hope he has a nice day.” I gave a carefree smile to her.

“Once we get on Meowlith, I was going to give him a call. Can’t do it on the ship because…” Mama went quiet for a moment, catching her words before she said too much to me. “Because…”

“Alright! Attention!” Captain Uwu stole the conversation and strode up in front of those of us present. His chest was puffed and his head high. “We’re about to exit FTL and Sucker has picked up traces of the Gellical Collective’s new, secret signal. This means that there are most likely Gellicals on or near Meowlith Prime. If so, we need to move fast, contact our client quickly, and deliver the goods.” Uwu jerked his head over to Speck, “Without incident.” He turned back to Mama and I, “So let’s keep a low profile. Please.”

We all nodded in unison as the Captain began to speak up again, “I will head out with Speck to meet the client and figure out where to deliver the goods next. Mama.”

The large Anthro-Grizzly snapped to attention, saluting Captain Uwu.

“I want you to take Vixie and Echo out to scout out Carpetree. The city is bound to be full of Gellicals, or some sly Corpos, or even a street gang that somehow dug up some info on our shipment. See if you can dig up anything and report back. I don’t need some third party stepping in and screwing up our payday.”

“Aye, Aye, Captain.” Mama saluted. I just nodded along. No need for so much formality on a delivery freighter, even if we were still smugglers.

“Echo should be getting your gear ready for the departure. Meet him in the cargo bay. And good luck.” Captain Uwu nodded at us, “And go in street clothes please. No need to look professional now. We’ve got no more inspections from here on out. Dismissed.”

Mama turned to leave, and I followed suit until I was grabbed by the sleeve. I turned to see Captain Uwu behind me. “And Vixie, stay safe.” He smiled, but I could see some fear behind his loving eyes. Everyone got nervous when we were about to complete a mission. Flying through empty space was one thing, but actually setting down planet side and delivering black market goods was downright scary, nerve-wracking, and dangerous. Anything could happen at any time, and I’d be lying if I wasn’t scared as well.

I smiled at Uwu and patted his hand, “You bet your ass I’ll stay safe. Plus, I got Mama with me.” I raised his hand to my mouth and kissed it. My eyes veered off to the corner that Speck was in. His eyes were full of lust and anger now. His mouth twitched a few times, almost snarling. I looked back at Uwu, “Make sure you’re safe out there.” I pulled him in close and hugged him, whispering into his ear, “I don’t trust you out there with Speck.”

“Same, which is why I’m keeping him close.” Uwu pulled back and grabbed my shoulders, “You wearing the purple one today?”

I grinned like a school girl crushing on her favorite classmate, “Does the Turtle-Pope shit in his hat?”

Uwu stammered as he tried to comprehend what I said.

“Of course, I am, you sexy goof. Purple’s my favorite.”

“Mine too.”

“Get a room! Geez, it’s like a bad soap opera in here.” Sucker’s high-pitched voice came from her command desk as she typed about the computer. “We’re almost out of FTL too. Time to hurry.”

“See you soon!” I took one last look at Uwu as the ship lurched forward slightly. The deep hum of the ship’s engines kicked in and the space outside of the deck’s viewport shifted from blurry shapes and colors into the defined cosmos it was supposed to be.

Captain Uwu turned to look out the window. Ahead of all of us was the massive planet of Saturn with its rings glowing pink, gray, and brown from the distant sunlight. I couldn’t help but smile as the gas giant sat peacefully, suspended in the vast cosmos without any other contender to berate it. Orange-brown hues lit up across the planet in front of me. It was beautiful. It wasn’t the first time I’ve seen planets up close, but for some reason, they always amazed me. I couldn’t get enough of them, even in the age of space travel.

“And there…” Uwu pointed to a small, pearly white moon, covered in grey blobs, “is our destination.”

The Yiffin II glid peacefully towards the shiny, bright white moon and towards biggest grey blob on the small moon. I could see the formations of the city ahead that pockmarked the otherwise unravaged beauty of the small satellite of Saturn.

“Welcome to Meowlith Prime.” Uwu put his hands on his hips, and I could tell he was enjoying the view as much as I was.

“Sir! Coming around the far side of the moon!” Sucker squeaked out. “The signal is coming back strong!” A small screen popped up on the viewport window. The image on the screen zoomed onto the far side of Meowlith Prime and a large, grey ship was emerging from the dark side of the moon. It wasn’t just any ship either, it was one that all of us aboard knew too well but never wanted to see. One that drove fear into the hearts of any space faring humanoids and spoke doom on the highest mount.

“A Gellical Ascension ship.” I glanced over at Speck as he finally spoke for the first time during the meeting. “This far into the Sol system. This isn’t good. Where the fuck are Earth government, or even Corpo security?” He stepped forward from his corner perch, “I’m going to load up my biggest guns. We’re going to need them.” He stopped on his way out, whispering to me, “If you see any Gellys, you know what to do.”

I swallowed the massive lump in my throat as I gazed at the image of the ship rounding the moon. Ascension ships were the biggest ships in the Gellical Collective’s fleet. Housing thousands of men, women, and children ready to do their depraved leader’s bidding. I couldn’t help but think of all the Strikers nestled inside, ready to pounce on any ship unaware of their new cloaking tech, not to mention all the Missionaries inside, all suited up and ready to wage a crusade. It sent chills down my spine.

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse.

“Sir, we’re getting a signal from the ship.” Sucker slowly turned around and looked at the Captain. Her wide eyes were even wider than usual.

“Put it through.” Uwu straightened his uniform and let out a small cough.

The ding sounded out and the always monotone voice of a Gellical sounded out into the bridge, “Cease engine functions now or be destroyed.”

“They’re targeting us, Captain.” Sucker sounded more stressed than usual.

I closed my eyes. There was no way this was going to end up good.