-Your majesty, I want to thank you once again for saving my sister.
The captain of the frigate came to Andrew while he was awaiting the arrival of the last batch of slaves.
-Don't mention it, this is what I should be doing for my citizens.
Andrew answered.
-By the way, how is she?
-Doctors say that she will need to spend a few days in the regeneration tank, but they are certain that her spine can be fully healed and she will be able to walk again.
She also asked me to apologize in her name once more for what she said back then.
-That's nothing, she was scared and confused.
He said, knowing full well the feeling of being afraid and powerless.
After a few more minutes of conversation, the captain excused herself, as she needed to get back to her ship and rejoin the fleet.
Not long after the final ship arrived, carrying thirty-two slaves on board.
This batch was dominated by humans, as there were over a dozen of them among the other species.
The merchant quickly took care of the formalities and left without any small talk or anything.
Andrew, however, didn't mind, knowing that some beings preferred to deal with their work quickly and efficiently.
As soon as the merchant ship left the dock, Andrew followed the new arrivals to the med-bay; however, what he saw there shocked him to the core.
The humans brought with this group took down the battle droids guarding them and took the medical staff as hostages, while Iliana and two other Adurians were still trying to take down the humans attacking them.
-Vulcan, disable the droid weapons.
Andrew said while charging in and greeting the first human with a punch to the face that sent him to the floor.
-Drop your weapons, they are disabled anyway.
Andrew turned to the rest of the humans.
-Surrender now, or I will force you to do so.
He said coldly.
At the same time, there were three thuds followed by groans, coming from the direction where Iliana and two other doctors were fighting with the other humans.
Taking advantage of the momentary distraction when Andrew arrived, they managed to take down their opponents.
The humans, however, didn't want to surrender; they pointed their captured weapons and pressed the triggers, but nothing happened.
-This installation's AI disabled these weapons, so I suggest that you drop them and surrender while I'm still asking nicely.
Andrew said and took off his helmet.
-Or do you wish to end up like him?
He pointed at the man he had just knocked out.
The other humans hesitated, seeing that he was also a human, and considering that their weapons no longer worked, which made them powerless against a power armored opponent, they dropped the weapons and raised their hands.
-So what are you going to do with us now?
The only woman in the whole group asked.
-First, we will tend to the wounded and clear out the battle droids you destroyed, then we will have a little chat.
He said, relaxing slightly, when it was all over and another group of battle droids arrived.
Thankfully, this little rebellion didn't cause any fatalities, and the only wounds were some scratches and bruises, with the worst being the man Andrew punched.
The guy ended up with a broken nose and a concussion, but nothing more serious, since Andrew held back a lot.
-Are you alright?
Andrew asked Iliana while the doctors got to work on the wounded.
-I'm fine, but I'm getting tired of my madical facilities becoming a fricking war zone all the time.
She complained.
-I think I can fix that for you, or at least minimize the chances of this repeating in the future.
He assured her.
-That would be nice.
Ilia agreed without even asking about his idea before she joined the other doctors in treating the wounded.
Andrew, on the other hand, took the uninjured humans to the conference room for a little chat.
-What were you even thinking, trying something like this?
Do you have a death wish?
He started as they all took their seats.
-Since we were supposed to become lab rats again, we decided to take our chances.
One of the men answered.
-Yeah, really clever, and what was the plan after you took over the med bay?
Andrew asked.
This time, there was no answer.
-Enough, it's clear that you don't intend to kill us, nor use us as lab rats, so maybe you should tell us who the hell you are and where the hell we are right now?
The woman finally snapped, having had enough of being scolded by a guy who didn't even look to be 18 years old.
-My name I Andrew Eagle, founder and Emperor of The Lantean Star Empire.
You are currently in my main system in the Andromeda galaxy.
Andrew introduced himself, and to his surprise, all the humans started to laugh.
-What's so funny?
He asked, a bit irritated.
-You want to tell us that you are the Emperor of a star empire?
One of the men asked while laughing.
-So, how big is this empire, two systems, three?
The other man asked mockingly, while the others laughed even harder.
-Try over 350 with space stations and over three thousand with helium 3 collectors, spanning six hundred light years in this galaxy and another five hundred in the Milky Way.
Additionally, I also control the Sol system.
Andrew said coldly.
-I was only able to buy you idiots because the merchant guild recognized my empire as a star nation and allowed me access to their market.
This statement shut them up.
-Are you serious?
The woman asked, no longer laughing, but seriously studying Andrew's face, trying to determine if he was bluffing.
-I'm dead serious.
Vulcan, display the map of the empire on the main screen.
A moment later, the main screen came to life with a map outlining the territory and its neighbors.
The humans' eyes went wide as their jaws hit the floor.
-Since you now know who I am, maybe you could tell me who you are?
Andrew broke the silence a few seconds later, bringing them all back to reality.
-I apologize for my rude behavior and that of my men.
I am Lieutenant Jenifer Miller, U.S Marines.
The others are also military, but we are all from different countries, and I hold the highest rank.
She stood at attention and reported like she would to any higher-ranking officer back on earth.
-At ease, Lieutenant, I can't exactly blame you for not believing that a seventeen-year-old is an emperor of a star empire.
Thinking about it now, if I were in your place, my reaction might have been the same as yours, especially since the empire was established only a few weeks ago.
Also, you can drop the whole U.S Marines thing, there is no U.S anymore. Or at least there is none on Earth.
-To be precise, there are no Humans on Earth anymore, so there can be no countries either.
In this whole empire, there are twenty humans, including you all.
He explained, and let it sink in for a while.
-Wait, since you were able to buy us, then why didn't you buy others as well?
I know for a fact that there were dozens of humans for sale in the place they held us in.
-The simple answer is that I can't buy too many slaves at the moment, or I will risk being banned from the market, which will effectively end any chances of buying more humans.
He explained.
-You will get the full briefing after you are treated, fed, and rested, and this time don't try to take over the med bay.
I would also recommend apologizing to Iliana and her staff for the mess you caused earlier.
-The droids will escort you back. I have other things to deal with right now.
With these words, Andrew left the room, leaving the humans behind.