C6 The Schoking Discovery, Well Not So Much I Guess :)

Meanwhile, John who had been in a different module, witnessed the intrusion through the security cameras. His heart raced as he quickly grabbed the communication headset.

"Mission Control, this is the ISS. We are being boarded by unknown armed forces. I repeat, we are being boarded!"

He reported, his voice a mix of urgency and disbelief.

John waited for a response, but before Mission Control could reply, one of the marines appeared behind him.

With a swift motion, the marine struck John, and the world went black. The last thing John saw before losing consciousness was the marine reaching for the communication headset.

Back on Thrae, in Mission Control, there was a flurry of activity and confusion.

The communication from John had come through loud and clear, but it was so outlandish, so beyond the realm of what was considered possible, that the controllers were momentarily stunned.

"Did he say they're being boarded?"

One of the controllers asked, disbelief in his voice.

But before they could formulate a response or action plan, the line went dead. The screen showing the live feed from the ISS went static for a moment before turning black.

In the control room, faces paled as the reality of the situation set in.

Something unprecedented was happening aboard the ISS – something potentially catastrophic.

The controllers scrambled to re-establish communication, to understand the situation, but they were met with silence.

A heavy sense of dread filled the room. The ISS, a symbol of international cooperation and peaceful scientific exploration, was now the stage for an unknown and hostile invasion, the implications of which were as terrifying as they were incomprehensible.

...

The mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) had proceeded with precision and efficiency, characteristic of the highly trained crew of the TIS Einherjar.

Once the astronauts were secured, Alex promptly reported the successful mission to the bridge.

"Mission accomplished, XO,"

Alex's voice crackled through the comms.

"All targets acquired. Returning to Einherjar."

Wolf, the Executive Officer, acknowledged the report with a nod.

"Good work. Bring them in, and make sure they're handled with care. We need them in optimal condition for interrogation and study."

The marines, moving with the discipline and swiftness ingrained in them, quickly loaded the unconscious astronauts onto the dropship. The return to the TIS Einherjar was swift, the dropship landing smoothly in one of the dropship hangars of the battleship.

As the dropship carrying the astronauts from the ISS touched down in the TIS Einherjar's hangar, the atmosphere was thick with a mix of anticipation and curiosity.

The hangar, usually echoing with the sounds of machinery and the bustle of crew members, fell into a hushed silence as the dropship's ramp descended.

The medical team, headed by Chief Medical Officer Major Jameson, moved with precision.

Each soldier was clad in black space uniforms with NCOs and officers wearing their service uniforms, the red cross insignias prominently displayed on their shoulders.

Their faces, set in expressions of professional focus, betrayed an undercurrent of fascination.

The marines escorting the stretchers maintained a perimeter, their armor making soft clanking sounds as they moved in unison.

Their presence was a reminder of the militaristic discipline that governed life aboard the Einherjar.

Without waisting time the medical staff put the unconscious astronauts on the stretchers, once done they quickly walked back to the med bay with the marines providing escort detail.

In the medical bay, a state-of-the-art facility equipped with the latest in medical technology, the astronauts were carefully placed on diagnostic beds.

The medical team began the methodical process of removing the astronauts' suits.

They used specialized equipment to gently cut through the suits' material, ensuring no harm came to the unconscious occupants.

Major Jameson observed his team, noting their efficiency.

"Let's get full vitals on each one,"

He instructed.

"I want a complete metabolic panel, CBC, and tox screen. Scan for any unknown pathogens. Be thorough."

As the suits were removed, revealing the astronauts in their standard-issue flight suits beneath, murmurs of surprise rippled through the medical staff.

The resemblance to themselves was uncanny – from their physical features to their stature.

It was as if they were looking into a mirror that reflected a slightly different version of their own reality the only difference they had was their vast height, build difference, and the fact that every member of Einherjar was a different degree, Albino.

And the reason for that was that their base genetic material came from Dracula.

One of the medical officers, a young man named Captain Liam Chen, glanced at the nearest astronaut, a woman with auburn hair.

"They're like us... almost exactly like us,"

He remarked, his voice tinged with wonder.

MajorJameson snapped his attention back to the task at hand.

"Focus on the medical assessments,"

He reminded his team, though he shared their sense of wonder.

"Record everything. Blood types, DNA sequencing, brain activity, everything. We don't know when we'll get another opportunity like this."

The medical bay buzzed with activity as the team conducted their tests.

Blood was drawn for analysis, and the astronauts were hooked up to advanced neural imaging equipment.

Screens around the beds displayed a flurry of data – heart rates, brain waves, blood oxygen levels – all being recorded for further study.

Meanwhile, the marines stood guard, their faces impassive behind their fully enclosed helmets visors.

They were soldiers, trained to deal with uncertainty and potential threats, but this situation was unlike any they had encountered before.

...

In the secure and undisclosed meeting location, the world leaders of Thrae and their top advisors reconvened, now grappling with the unfolding crisis in orbit.

The distress signals from the International Space Station (ISS), recently seized by forces from an unknown warship had intensified the urgency of their discussions.

Earlier efforts to communicate with the warship had been futile.

Every standard communication protocol had been employed, yet there was only silence from the warship.

"Our attempts at hailing them on all known frequencies have been met with silence,"

Reported the chief communications officer, his tone laced with a mix of frustration and concern.

"It's as if they're deliberately choosing not to respond, or their communication technology is beyond our understanding."

The leaders, each grappling with the weight of the crisis, considered their next course of action.

"We mustn't rule out any possibilities,"

Suggested one.

"Their silence could be strategic, or perhaps our methods are simply incompatible with their technology."

Another leader chimed in, underscoring the broader implications of the situation.

"This crisis transcends the immediate danger to our astronauts. The presence of the warship represents an unknown variable in space – a potential new threat we must be prepared to face."

Military advisors at the table stressed the importance of defensive readiness while advocating for a cautious approach.

"Our defense systems must be on high alert, but let's avoid any actions that could escalate the situation. Our primary objective remains the safe recovery of the ISS crew,"

Advised a senior military strategist.

Experts from Thrae's space agency continued to analyze the limited data available on the Einherjar.

"The technology displayed by this warship is unlike anything in our records. We must continue our surveillance efforts and gather as much intelligence as possible,"

Stated the head of the agency.

As the meeting unfolded, a multi-faceted response plan began to take shape.

It included persistent attempts to establish communication with the Einherjar, increased surveillance and readiness across their global defense networks, and the drafting of contingency plans for potential rescue or intervention operations.

The situation underscored the fragile nature of international space relations, a domain that until now had been marked by peaceful exploration and collaboration.

The sudden appearance and subsequent actions of the TIS Einherjar not only constituted an immediate and grave crisis but also marked a critical juncture in the history of space exploration and international diplomacy for the people of Thrae.