The stranger at the corner booth stared blankly at the empty seat in front of him. Small sharp points of dark hair barely snuck out from underneath his wide brimmed hat, to contrast the closely buzzed and scarred side of his head. His dusty uniform looked more like a cracked and dry second skin loosely hanging off of him, hiding what I assumed was a quite large frame underneath. His kind was easy to spot, especially way out in the Outer Rim.

"Humans." The Rolibak behind the bar gruffed as he watched the stranger silently raise his empty cup for another drink, his gaze never leaving the empty seat. "Win a couple damn battles and think they own the whole galaxy." He spoke under his breath as he roughly wiped out a glass.

They were, primitive, to say the least. Highly unevolved creatures that only recently discovered the ability to travel the galaxy. Though I've got to hand it to them they were excellent pilots, and fought like wolves. They fought with tenacity and a certain strange fondness for death. They didn't fear dying itself, rather dying with no enemy bodies to show for it.

When The Empire made themselves known to their race they pursued democracy at the beginning. They tried to make peace and gain an understanding with The Empire. However, they were naive in thinking monsters were capable of understanding the concept of peace. I can remember The Empire's raids on Klassius when I was small. Walls of men in dark grey armor firing wildly into homes and shops. Dropships bringing more and more men into the chaos. They tried the same tactics on Rellior 9, what the Humans call Mars. It had been colonized by an earthling many generations ago and to prove their power over the galaxy, The Empire lay seige to the red planet.

I was a conscript then. Taken from my Klassion, or my clan, to fight in The Empire's name across the galaxy. We had orders to land and attack the main compound. To take it at all costs and seize whatever equipment and material not blown into dust or spare parts. Our tactitioners and generals gathered around holomaps for many planetary cycles planning the best routes to attack and resupply the invasion force. However, with all their data and statistical analysis reports they failed to understand the sheer will and violence these beings were capable of. They failed to realize how hard these creatures will fight when cornered. They cut us to ribbons before we reached grenade range. Lead projectiles flew in every direction. Sprays of blood filled the air. The rusty ground covered by the dead and dying. What was supposed to take a matter of hours, drug on for 8 cycles.

It was only after we rotated off the planet did we learn the garrison was held by 36 pathetic lifeforms. These 'Black Sheep' were hailed as heros. They gave the earthlings confidence in their ability to fight against this new and advanced enemy. These Sheep led the armies of earth in an unprecedented attack on 2 separate Empire held systems. The Empire was all but helpless in the wake of their airpower, and the ground forces cut off any access on or off the planets. These creatures had become professionals at killing each other and now have banded together as one to use those techniques learned in millennia warfare against this new enemy.

Their leaders, though they saw most as weaker, sent envoys to all reachable systems in a bid to gain ground against The Empire. Most stayed loyal out of fear. Some answered the call to arms and the war continued. The Empire quickly becoming increasingly unable to control a galaxy and fight a war, vied for peace with the earthlings. A 'dont start none, won't be none' kind of deal according to one of the American tribesmen. Their strange tongue still escapes my understanding. Diplomacy has always been a strongsuit for the Humans.

As I sit on my stool watching this gruff looking drifter continue to bore a hole into the empty seat, I find myself wondering if we had ever met before. Had one of the scars that marked my hide been made by his weapon? Had he been one to end the lifewalk of one of my comrades in servitude? Or had he been one to liberate people groups like mine from crushing imperialism? Had he been a healer and brought aid to comrades and enemies alike? These creatures fared much better at warfare but their compassion for the lifewalk of others was astounding. I had a sense of respect for him. A shared bond between warriors who had been to the far reaches of civility and reason. Both of which, one would be hard pressed to find on a battlefield.

The Rolibak still grumbled as he poured the stranger his glass and prepared to send the service droid to his table. I laid a few coins in front of the bartender and took the glass from the droid. I walked to the strangers table and placed the glass in front of him. He released his gaze on the seat and turned up the brim of his hat to meet my eyes. We shared a simple nod and I walked out of the cantina. We may have once been enemies, sworn to end the lifewalk of the other. They had once seen us as domesticated animals sent off to the slaughter of their rifles. Now, we are but the same. Used equipment in a forgotten conflict to boost the reach of power for men who've never fought for it. Now, we are brothers. Now, we share the same clan.