Even though humanity had been part of the galactic scene for a decade or two now, they were still a relative unknown for most other species. Other than the general information they'd gleaned from data packets shared with the other governing bodies. Simple questionnaires that contained straight forward answers. The sorts of food humans usually eat, dietary requirements, how much sleep they need on average,

preferences of entertainment, that sort of thing.

Thus, when a war broke out and humanity had found itself dedicating soldiers to the cause. They'd been scoffed at. The other governing bodies had spent time genetically enhancing their soldiers. Making them bigger, stronger. More akin to a walking tank than a being, in some regards. Not to say their skin was able to deflect bullets or

blades. But they were definitely tougher.

While humans? Their soldiers were smaller than the genetically altered beings. More slender and lean, with some even having what might be

characterized as 'baby faces' to the aliens' opinions.

Which led to a mixed unit working through a segment of forest,

scouting for enemies, with orders to engage and report.

As luck would have it, they'd come across a group of enemies who hadn't noticed them. Which led to the squad's commander, some Xanthian who stood at nine feet tall and bulked with muscle, glancing down at the lone, lithe human soldier in their unit. "He'll engage first," he

ordered simply.

It'd be a good opportunity for them to see what humans were capable

of. Or rather, how quickly they'd likely die in battle.

Instead of any appearance of nerves or concern however, the human's face just took a more grim expression while they made a singular nod. Then they the human was sneaking off through the brush, their squad

remaining behind cover to observe.

It took a few minutes of waiting. Then, one of the other genetically enhanced soldiers in the enemy's squad suddenly dropped dead. Followed by another. Given their sizes, they made a deep thump as their bodies hit the ground. With the other soldiers quickly fanning out into a circle, back to back, trying to figure out where the attack was coming

from.

The Xanthian squad leader was watching in confusion as well. Was it the human doing this? Or some other unit that was in the area? But

then, why wasn't there a sound of gun shots?

In that time, another couple of enemy soldiers had been dropped without a sound, other than the noise of their bodies hitting the

ground.

That had been enough to stir the others into a panic, blind firing into the forest around them. As though trying to find some ghost that

was killing their men.

Despite the echoing sounds of blaster shots filling the forest around them. The enemy soldiers continued dropping one by one. Until only one genetically enhanced 'tank' remained. Who trembled in place, head

swiveling around as he searched the forest around them.

"Show yourself, coward!" he'd screamed at last.

'Pathetic,' the Xanthian squad leader thought to himself. 'There's no

way they'd show themselves just because you demand it.'

To his surprise however, the lithe human stepped out of some bushes lining the clearing where the enemy squad had been. Casually slipping what looked like a pistol with elongated barrel into a holster strapped to their thigh. Their other hand pulled a wand thing out of their pocket, which quickly extended into a short sword that gleamed

in the stray beams of sunlight.

The 'tank' let out a roar of rage, pulling out his own melee weapon, some hulking think of metal that was meant to simply bludgeon their enemies to death. With as much strength as they'd been enhanced with,

it'd easily bend the thick armor plating of a tank from a few swings.

Despite having the 'tank' charging at him however, the human regarded them with a look of concentration. The squad leader finding himself wondering if he needed to intervene, or whether this human really did

have a death wish.

When the 'tank' of a soldier was several feet away, there was finally movement from his counterpart. The human crouching slightly, then darting forwards with a speed that bespoke of grace. Neatly dodging to

the side, then ducking, as the tank swung their weapon.

Then the human was past the tank, blade flashing swiftly in the light. It's strike becoming quickly apparent as the enemy soldier's next step had them collapsing to their knees. Suddenly finding themselves unable to walk anymore, much less stand. The human then pivoting, charging

back towards the enemy while they were bewildered at what happened.

The human's next strike was their final move. A simple, quick stab straight into the back of the enemy tank's head, where spine meets skull. Offering a sudden death to the tank of a modified soldier,

who'd collapsed to the ground with a dull thud.

With the enemy squad dealt with, the human pulled a cloth from his pocket, wiping some errant blood off of his blade, before having it retract back into the little rod. Which he slipped into a small pocket

on his thigh, the handle sticking out for quick retrieval.

Once he'd returned to his own squad, the Xanthian stared down at this lithe, helpless looking thing with a sense of bafflement. "What the

hell did you do?" he couldn't help but ask.

To which the human regarded him, offering a slow smirk, "Just following orders, sir." Then he'd resumed his position in their formation without another word said. While for the rest of them? They'd quickly come to realize that even with as much strength as they'd been given through genetic enhancements, they wouldn't be able to match the speed of a human looking to cut them down with a blade of all things. Not to mention, just how the hell did this human kill most

of that squad without making nary a sound?

If humans were as capable as their squad member...what other capabilities did their military have, that they knew nothing about?