++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
<Squadrons 2 through 4 are approaching engagement window, matching dispersion.>
<Heat spikes detected, mapping to sensor readout.>
<Attack vectors confirmed.>
Six minutes until contact. You noticed - with a certain sense of satisfaction - that the formation of approaching salvage ships had grown ragged after your transmission. While no ship had broken trajectory yet, it was obvious that some of the sub-vessels had fallen behind - relinquishing their place in the vanguard in favor of more enthusiastic comrades. You doubted that it would improve their survival much. Your close-range scans had confirmed what you had suspected: the salvage ships were primitive, their armor was nearly nonexistent, and their weaponry was - at best - hastily retrofitted. You knew that their casualties would be horrific. Perhaps they had begun to realize it too.
Of course - the grey-collared man in the transmission had attempted to cut soothe their fears. He had interrupted you after your last transmission, making some nonspecific threats of his own before transmitting a stream of nominally generous salvage bounties to his indentured salvage-crews. But he was human, and like must humans, he was quite poor at masking his fear. Out of the many hundreds of human emotions, perhaps that was the only one you could reliably identify from past experience. A certain constant written the faces you would see, molded into your memories after conducting suppression campaign after suppression campaign.
Hibiscus watches the tactical indicator with suppressed concern, tracing the inrush of approaching vessels. Her face is perfectly calm, but her heartbeat begins to tally fast.
<An act of unprovoked hostility warrants no other response,> you say, almost to yourself. <The empire does not recognize surrender in a defensive act.>
"They don't understand," whispers Hibiscus. "Their leaders, perhaps, but not the crew..."
>YOU. Attempt to address the incoming salvage crews personally. [ROLL] [THREATEN]>HIBISCUS. Ask Hibiscus to address the incoming salvage crews. [ROLL] [REASON]>KAI-99. Ask KAI-99 to address the incoming salvage crews. [ROLL] [RISK/REWARD] 