This ongoing sci-fi series will contain non-consensual elements.
*****
"This is Captain Emrah Jackson, of the United Earth Navy. Onboard the starship Calypso, please answer our hail." I said, as I paced along the length of our bridge. Our ship's engine hummed idly in the background.
"Still no answer, Ma'am." Talia, our communications officer said, shaking her head.
It was late by our ship's time. I was asleep when I got the call that we had encountered an automated distress call from a stricken vessel. Most of our five hundred crew were still in their quarters.
"Keep trying." I said to Talia. She was a Junior officer. Very new, in her early twenties. There weren't many women in officer positions in the United Earth Navy, especially not on combat vessels like the Calypso. I didn't get to choose my officers, she wasn't someone I would have picked to serve under me. Non-the-less I had taken her under my wing.
It had taken me twenty years to get my captaincy. Far too much politics for my liking. Things could have gone a lot quicker had I played by the rules. As one Admiral put it, playing by the rules meant visiting him while his wife was away.
I kept my dignity for the most part. There were of course things I had to deal with. Much more direct advances. Wandering hands, suggestive remarks. Nothing I couldn't handle. I was certain on my old ship my Captain had a secret camera in my quarters. Nothing I could ever prove. It was better not to complain. I guess that was playing by the rules too.
As I looked to the distressed ship on our monitor I thought about the rules, or at least the correct procedure for dealing with such an encounter. They stated that without proper communications, we had to send over a shuttle to investigate further. My blood ran cold at the thought.
While we were in a safe area of space, I couldn't be sure what dangers would lie aboard. Perhaps the ship was so damaged it was about to explode.
"Move the ship back, two clicks." I ordered.
The Calypso was a frigate, which was a large ship, all things considered. It didn't mean that I wouldn't be cautious about taking damage from so close, though.
"Yes, Ma'am."
I felt the vibrations of the engines whirring into life thought my feet.
We were in a lifeless system. Just a single white star that was orbited by a few lifeless planets and moons. It could be a trading ship that had stopped for repairs. There would be no other reason for them to be here.
The UEN controlled thousands of star systems. Most of them were like this. Either waiting for humanity to find a resource to exploit or long since abandoned.
We were the largest power in the Galaxy. There were a few smaller empires that claimed large swathes of the galaxy, but non that matched our power.
There was only five of us on the bridge. A skeleton crew. During our day cycle it was a lot busier. It seemed eerie now. The more experienced officers were off duty.
My eyes were drawn to Talia. It was something I tried to curtail. There was always gossip aboard a ship. I wondered if there was gossip about us.
I thought back to all the senior officers who tried to sleep with me and how they would call me a hypocrite if they knew how eagerly I had taken Talia into my bed. It was totally against regulations. Something that I could be punished severely for. I just couldn't resist.
She had shoulder-length wavy blonde hair that she wore loose. It wasn't regulations, but I allowed my female crew that small luxury. Mine was dark brown which I wore tight to my scalp. I had to keep the appearance of authority.
Talia was very much to opposite of me in other ways too. She was shorter, and much more curvy. I could only see the back of her head, but I knew how her uniform contoured over every curve. How her ample breasts pressed against the dark blue fabric, just willing to be let out.
Maybe the men didn't notice, maybe they couldn't keep their eyes off her either. I had heard a rumor there was a bet going to see who could bed her first. No doubt if she had a male Captain, he would be lusting over her too.
"Should we send a shuttle over, Ma'am?" Someone asked.
I thought about for a few seconds.
"No, not yet."
If there had been some communication I would have done. There wasn't even a way to know how long it had been here.
"We will wait till morning." I said. It was better to have more experienced crew. Waking them now seemed pointless, they needed to be fresh, and so did I.
"Inform me if they answer our call." I said, leaving the bridge.