Commander Retos was furious. His silver hair shimmered in the bright red sun as he crossed the spaceport's landing field toward the Hume ship.  He should go directly to the Purist authorities, but he wanted to settle the matter with the human Commander first.  He reached the elevator to their main dock. A yellow skinned human stood guard.
It still appalled the Commander that this race was so similar to his own.  Though they were separated by thousands of worlds and untold miles the two races were almost identical.  Even the various skin shades and facial types were similar.
To The Mellenian Empire this was the greatest insult of all....that the race that had brought them to their knees after fifty years of war was so very like them except for their insane beliefs in the right of individuals and races to find their own destinies.
The guard saluted and spoke nearly perfect Imperial.
"I wish to see your captain immediately!"  the Commander announced.  "It is a matter of most urgency concerning an attack on one of my officers by one of his.  I demand an explanation!"
The guard nodded, gave a sharp "Yes sir!" and picked up his communicator.  "Post Number One," he called, "There is an Imperial Commander here demanding to see the Captain."
"Stand by, Post One," a voice answered.  A few minutes later the communicator buzzed.
"Post Number One!"  the guard announced.
"Number Two coming down, Post One," the communicator answered.  "Stand by!"
"Understood, control,"' the guard replied.  "The second officer will be here in a few minutes," the guard told the Commander.
"Very well," the Commander announced, and stood at ease, waiting. In a few minutes a tall, dark skinned human like himself appeared.
"Second Officer David Young at your service, sir!"  the Hume announced.
"Warlock Polley is busy at the moment, but has ordered me to take you to his quarters and entertain you until he can answer your inquiries.  This way, sir."
The Commander was led through the ship's corridors to a door over which hung a placquette reading "Warlock Ship's Captain Gerald A. Polley."
The Commander was ushered inside.  "What is the proper title for your commander?" he asked.
"Warlock is the usual, sir," the Number Two answered.  "May I offer you a drink?  The Captain is under a vow of purity, himself, but keeps a small stock for visitors.  There is Imperial rum and ale."
The Commander licked his lips.  He had been out six months.  Their stores were just about depleted.  Real Imperial ale would be a luxurious treat!  It was great difficulty for him to refuse. "No thank you," he said.  "I would do nothing in another officer's quarters he could not do himself."
There was a framed display on the wall showing several medals and the Commander examined them.
"These are your Commander's?" he asked.
"Yes, sir!"  the Number Two told him.
"Impressive!"  the Commander announced.  "Do you mind me asking is your Commander a hard man to serve under?"
"He's a disciplinarian, sir," the Second  Officer announced, "and a real Surock, but there's not one of the crew that wouldn't die for him.  See this medal here?  We went down on a primitive world, eighty of us survived the crash.  A reserve ship was on its way but the natives got in to us first, killed three and took nine of us captive.
The Captain got the rest to safety then had eight pistols strapped to his back and single handedly fought his way into the native village, opened the stockade and let us out.  The natives were so impressed they thought he was a god, offered him brides and treasure to stay."
The Commander nodded.  "Impressive, story!" he exclaimed. "Tell me, what is a Surock?  I'm not familiar with the term."
"Oh," the Second Officer replied, "it's a creature from my home world, New Texas, where most of us come from.  It's a big lizard about four feet long, really ferocious, and, determined.  Once it takes ahold of you there's only two ways of making it let go; staying absolutely still to make it realize you're not an enemy, or kill it, cut off its head and break its jaws!"
"A creature I would not enjoy meeting!"  the Commander acknowledged.
The door opened.  A tallish light skinned Hume entered, who looked very tired.  "You are excused, Number Two," he snapped.  "Thank you."
"Yes sir," the Second Officer answered.  "Shall I bring something to eat, sir?  You haven't had lunch."
"Only if the Commander will join me," the Warlock answered.
Commander Retos hesitated.  This was not a social visit.  But it would also be very impolite to keep the officer from his meal. He had not eaten either, and there was a Hume delicacy that he rather enjoyed.