Flattering the Flame: A Great Ship novelette

The Great Ship is a world-sized vessel. Ruled by humans, the Ship is following a circuitous route around the Milky Way. Eventually they come to an alien species occupying an intriguing solar system. Known as the Flame, the creatures are born warriors, proud and bold. War is their natural state. The humans decide to pass through their home space, and all that is required is the Great Ship's complete surrender -- a ceremonial surrender, they can hope.

The ritual began. Streakships opened hatches, and out came a wonder of color. Every piece of armor was bright and intricately decorated, yet functional enough to protect eyes and the vital organs. Ceremonial weapons included sabers and pistol-sized railguns, firebombs and gloves with knifed fingers. And there were plasma guns too, which was vital. Plasmas with sufficient heat and focus would incinerate everything in their path, including a bioceramic mind. But unleashing any of these weapons would be suicide. A single flash would likely cook and kill the first hundred ranks of soldiers. Yet the Flame saw this power as essential, and delicious, and the closest faces were full of contagious joy.

Robert Reed is the author of several hundred published stories and a small platoon of novels. He won the Hugo Award in 2007 for his novella, "A Billion Eves." But Reed is best known for his Great Ship stories.