Desperate Measures.

They were underway in minutes, but the lull in the wait of hyperspace gave time for the crew to voice disbelief, those, anyway, that did not know the truth.

To them the black fleet was a myth, a fairy tale - a bonafide ghost story told to scare those of the dangers of the uncharted sectors of space and the nightmares that lurked within.

Ripley knew different, so did her brother - and so did Thire after circumstances had led to it.

So when some of the crew had voiced doubts, she had simply looked up from her crossed arms and said with steel in her voice

“They exist

And I know, because I was one of them”

That had silenced them and then they’d all looked at her with equal parts awe and slight apprehension, the latter more from those new to her crew roster - for what else did one expect when one essentially announced they were a demon in the flesh? Six snorted at them and waved them away, told them to get ready and tried not to let any sudden discomfort get to her

She was still their captain after all, no matter what she was.

When they’d dispersed and Thire had left with a firm nod of his head, Killian had come up to her, bumping her shoulder with his

“Penny for your thoughts?” 

She snorted “I’m fine Kill”

He hummed “not so sure of that Ripley, but then none of us are at our best…not after this news” his shoulders slumped, 

it had been a blow to Killian who’d been somewhat more generous to SAC’s reasonings beforehand to find out such a dark secret, it had soured him on the organisation if anything.

Sanctioned genocide would do that to a person, wouldn’t it?

She sighed and raked a clawed hand through her hair, leaning back in the captains chair “this is a mess Kill” he didn’t say anything to counter that and she rubbed her eyes

“I’m not even sure what reception we’ll get from the fleet either” she paused with slow dawning horror “and god, what I’d they don’t even know the news yet? They’re so far out it might not have reached them yet”

here they were coming to seek their aid and yet, Was she the one to have to tell them? Tell him?

Killian said nothing and she knew, she was right.

She rested her head in her hands and tried valiantly not to break down, the first time in years she went back and she had to be the one to tell the story, Ripley fisted her hair in her hands, this was going to break him.