The Penitent Spear zoomed larger on the central display, its hull gliding in the vast space. It doesn't seem to aim any weapons at them. But they were definitely watching. Probably scanning... and likely confused.
Then came the chime.
**INCOMING TRANSMISSION – Origin: Penitent Spear, Kethari Trade Guild Border guards**
**Issue: Unclassified Biohazard Alert**
Kael sat up,straightening his captain's jacket. The screen flickered to life, revealing a futuristic control room aboard the Kethari vessel. A tall, thin figure in silver armor and a tinted visor stood in front of the camera, with a dignified aura.
"Unidentified salvage vessel. This is the *Penitent Spear*, operating under Guild Code 147b of the Az'rath Trade Accord. We have detected unregulated biological anomalies aboard your ship. Your signal carries spore traces, and... unusually high levels of low-frequency shouting. Please state your situation"
Kael resisted the urge to slam his head against the console. They didn't even see their destination but they're already blocked by guards. But atleast they aren't under hostile threat.
"I apologize for the... disturbance. This is Captain Kael. We're dealing with a minor environmental malfunction and some organic overgrowth."
The Kethari tilted his head slightly but then Bossboot peeked into frame and grinned.
"Oi, boss! Da squigs are fightin' da toilet again! Should I let 'em—"
Kael palmed him out of view and smiled at the alien as if nothing happened .
"Your overgrowth appears semi-sentient."
Kael coughed. "Bit of both."
"Our records don't recognize the xenoforms inside your ship human. Our xenobiologists suspect a Class-4 parasitic bloom. Possibly infectious. Possibly aggressive."
Bossboot took that as his cue to start stomping in a circle and shouting "BLOOD FOOT WAAAGH TIME."
Kael turned off the mic and hissed, "Stop that or I swear I'll throw you out the airlock!"
The Kethari spoke again, calm but wary.
"We are requesting that your vessel halt its current trajectory. You are approaching Az'rath Station and pose... significant uncertainty."
"We're just here to resupply," Kael said. "Minimal port time. We'll stay docked to a quarantine ring if needed."
"Sorry but we... were unaware of such... species. Our crew has voted against boarding or direct contact until your biomass has been properly catalogued."
A pause. Then he added:
"We do not mean any harm but it is our duty to prevent anything possibly harmful or uncontrollable to enter the neutral trade zone's premises. We regret to say, but we cannot directly allow you to land"
"...That's fair," Kael admitted.
"Dont worry as a major trade hub of the solani sector we aim to cater to alk species regardless of origin, we will escort you to the quarantine station at a safe distance. But only you may enter the trade zone. If you wish to include sime crew members you may buy some specialized gear to keep your spores... contained."
Kael saluted with a grimace. "Understood." He knew that once ork spores landed on the space station it would result in more and more orks appearing. Something that will definitely be seen and a treath or attack by others.
The line went dead.
Kael leaned back in his chair. A piece of the ceiling creaked. Somewhere in the ventilation, something snarled and giggled.
Bossboot leaned over the side of the console. "Dey don't know wot Orks iz, do dey?"
Kael shook his head. "Nope. And I'd like to keep it that way."
"They think we's flowers or fungus or sumfink!"
"Technically, you are fungus."
Bossboot looked offended. "We'z MEN."
--------
The *Penitent Spear* moved into escort position, sleek and proper, a perfect contrast to Kael's lumbering, scrap-covered hulk of a ship trailing spores and smoke behind it. Several automated drones buzzed around, scanning for leaks and firing off containment foam every time spores emerged from the hull.
Far ahead, the outline of Az'rath Station rose into view, A massive, layered, disk like space station the size of a continent with thousands of different vessels converging. A hub of trade and other services. And Kael's last chance at real edible supplies before he will be forced to eat ork fungus.
He exhaled.
"Alright, boys," Kael muttered, "Let's try to act civilized."
A distant explosion rang out behind him.
"DA SQUIG ATE DA TOILET!" someone shouted."
[A/N: any mistake so far regarding the ork lore and stuff? I may have made mistake in some of their abilities.]