What is War?

Since the UPFS Lockbox was now in a parking orbit around Laco while they waited for clearance to land, its Captain, Kynthicakuk Xxizt made his way to the galley. Being an experienced spacer he found he made the trip faster in zero-g then if they had been under thrust. Still, he was not surprised to see two of his crew already there getting third meal together. His wife and their pilot, Zyblict, had warned him and everyone this would probably happen.

Moving to the table and slipping his eight feet into the holding straps, the Captain hit the comm button on the wall and announced. “Everyone except for Boom Boom report to the galley as soon as you secure your stations. We will have a crew meeting and then third meal.”

Killing the comm he started to get his thoughts together on what to tell the crew when they arrived. It was company policy, and his own, to keep everyone informed as much as possible. It looked like the Pan Galactic officials would not have the star port secured enough for them to land for at least two days. The Lockbox might be an armed and armored merchant transport but he wasn’t going to let any stray round injure his ship or crew. Besides, while the supplies they carried were necessary, they were not vital at the moment.

Looking across the cabin he watched his two crewmembers that were now acting as cooks. The yazirian, Marine Nabu Boon, was grasping the ceiling rungs and keeping an eye on the enclosed water boiler while the human, Laser Gunner William Telrog, was stirring something by shaking an enclosed bowl. He was doing a pretty good job considering he only had his Velcro shoes holding him down.

Wild Will, as the crew usually called William, noticed his captain looking at him and said, "Sir how long are we gonna be stuck up here before we can head back?"

The Captain said, “I will cover that at the crew meeting but it will be a couple days before we can land.”

Trapper, as the crew usually called Nuba, said, “A couple of days with almost no risk since they don’t shoot at ships of non-participant companies should be fun.”

The Captain said, “We won’t be taking chances so you, Wild Will, and Boom Boom will be on duty and on call the whole time we are orbiting.  You, Trapper, and Mouck will be ready for any boarding attempts. That is once you two finish third meal.”

Wild Will chuckled a little and said, “Oh well, I guess War is Hell.”

At this Xxizt wondered. Being an armed merchant meant he was a usually assigned cargo heading into danger zones. He had heard that saying before from humans but was not sure what it meant. Well now might be a good time to learn. He asked Wild Will, “What is this Hell you compare war to.”

Wild Will stopped shaking and said, “Well Captain, Hell is the place someone who has done evil in their life is sent to when they die. It is a place of never ending torment and grief. A place without hope. Humans compare war to Hell since both are so horrible.”

At this Trapper let out a laugh. When he finished he said, “That is not what we yazirians say. We say War is Glory. It is only in battle that a yazirian can defeat their life enemy and win a place of honor.”

Captain Xxict clicked his mandibles together as he thought about what his crew had said.

Realizing they were both looking at him, he answered their unasked question, “To the vrusk, War is Profit.”

Both of the crewmembers looked at him incredulously. He just continued, “When two groups fight they both need many things. Many things they would not normally buy or buy on a large scale. After the battles are done they must rebuild that which was lost and they buy more things. During all this a vrusk can make much profit for their company.”

Both of the gunners were a little shocked at this but not totally surprised. After all they did work for the vrusk company The Safe Delivery Service. They knew the vrusk liked to make credits but did not realize how far that went. It was the loud voice from the door which brought them out of it.

“Now that is just a silly idea, we dralasites know the true meaning of war,” came from Chief Engineer Bocuo, who in his Zero-G form looked like a ball with four limbs set at even points around him and his eye clusters in the middle.  Some of the crew thought he looked silly but as Bocuo said, it was the best way to move in zero-g.

The Captain twisted his head toward his friend and said, “Then please go on and tell us what does war mean to the dralasites?”

Swinging and almost bouncing himself into a seat at the table, Bocuo waited a moment and then said, “war is another form of debate but with a bad ending for the losers.”

Now the vrusk, human and yazirian stared at the dralasite. They had all known

dralasites had had wars in their history but like most never thought of why they fought. Finding out it was their debates getting out of hand was unnerving.

The rest of the crew began to arrive and as greetings were said the little exchange ended.

As they seated themselves one final thought would not leave Captain Xxict’s mind. “What did the sathar think of war?”