Treecuu Star Empire
Thoov Mandate
Near the national border

Captain Vaac of the RFS Acteel, a mammalian, initiated another diagnosis program on his view screen. Because surely it must have been a glitch. The alien ships that were about to cross the Treecuu border seemed to be flashing like the fireworks on Imperial Day. And what was that noise being broadcasted on broadband? He looked up from his screen and saw that his Comms officer looked as baffled as he must have looked.

"It's music, captain. And what an abomination" the officer remarked.

"Indeed?" Vaac raised an eyebrow.

"Are they mocking us, or is it a trap?"

"We shall soon find out" answered the captain smirking. "Comm, advise Command that we are initiating Protocol 5."

"Aye, sir."

The captain looked on his view screen again. He dragged a circular marker from a virtual toolbox, which immediately started following the lead alien ship. He then rotated the circle, browsing through a few symbols that appeared around its circumference. The option he selected prompted the circle to narrow on the stern of the ship. He had instructed the his ship's weapons targetting system to lock on to the engines of the alien ship.

He leaned to his right.

"Fire control, I have a target for you. Disable. Fire when ready."

He then leaned back, assuming a casual posture.

To the Zeltrex on the ship it first seemed like a spontaneous total breakdown of the drive system, but as soon as the white cigar-shaped ship materialised on their starboard they realised they had been fire upon. But Uilodova, Mogul of the Moonlight Dancers' nomadic fleet, had in fact expected it. Those border buoys suggested no other response. Nothing an extra transaction fee couldn't fix, she thought to herself. And typically people who imposed borders like that were often the best customers, even if they themselves didn't realise it.

She stood up from her bed where she had monitored the situation casually. She put on a light, short bathrobe. Before leaving her lavish quarters, she turned towards the bed.

"Oh, and boys. Fun's over for tonight" she teased before closing the door behind her.

Business before pleasure, before pleasure. That was her motto, she reminded herself, walking towards the bridge of her luxury cruiser. She had a particularly good feeling about these Treecuu.