by D. J. Holmes
“Just how much of an acceleration advantage do they have on our heavy cruisers then?” Scott queried.
“Twenty-two percent the computer estimates,” Miyamoto answered.
“That still pretty impressive,” James commented. “Keep updating us as you get a closer look at them. See if you can identify any weapons emplacements or other recognizable features.”
Miyamoto nodded. “Aye Admiral.”
As Golden Hind approached the large alien fleet, James could feel the muscles in his shoulders tightening. Not knowing what was going to happen was getting to him. At least in a battle he knew that it would eventually begin. The waiting was tough, but the end was always known. As things were, every beep from one of the command consoles or update from the bridge officers almost made him jump. Any moment he was expecting a report that the enemy fleet had opened fire. Though he had requested Miyamoto to keep him updated, the constant reports on the alien fleet were also increasing his tension. Despite being small, they were all heavily armed with what were unmistakably missile ports and energy weapon emplacements. Given their impressive propulsion technologies, it stood to reason that the alien fleet would have a greater powered missile range than Golden Hind’s missiles. Potentially, the alien’s energy weapons could also out range Golden Hind’s.
“We’ve just entered our own missile range,” Lieutenant Commander Ivanov reported. “Still no sign of any tracking radar or any other attempt to target us.”
“Thank you Commander,” James responded.
“We’ll be in two-way communication range in five minutes,” Emilie said. “Perhaps they are waiting to talk to us face to face.”
“Let’s hope so,” Miyamoto replied. “I wouldn’t want to do any other kind of talking with so many missile tubes targeted at us. I just hope we don’t accidentally insult them.”
James couldn’t help but let out a loud breath. “Now there’s an encouraging thought. I think the situation is edgy enough without predictions of just how badly we could mess up.”
“Sorry Admiral,” Miyamoto replied as he shot a grin towards Emilie. “I’ll keep my doomsday scenarios to myself.”
“They are slowing and turning,” Golden Hind’s sensor officer reported moments later in a higher voice than normal.
James felt his heart jump into his mouth. Slowing was strange but turning usually meant one thing. A ship was maneuvering to present its full missile salvo towards a target. As the display of the alien fleet on Golden Hind’s main holo projector changed, he forced himself to sit still and wait. He needed to be sure it was a hostile act before he reacted.
“I think they are just moving onto a trajectory where they can keep us in two-way communication range,” Scott said moments later.
“Match their course and speed,” James ordered having come to the same conclusion. He took a couple of slow deep breaths to settle his heart. Their maneuver was a good sign. It wasn’t hostile after all. Unless they’re trying to trick us, James thought. Before he could consider that option, Emilie broke his train of thought.
“We have a COM message coming from one of the larger alien ships. It’s pretty complicated, but the translation technology the Kulreans gave us is working on it.” A few seconds later she looked round at James. “The computer has got it. It’s audio and visual link.”
“Put it on the main holo projector,” James requested. “Everyone, do your best to keep a straight face. Let’s put our best foot forward.” He hoped his crew knew what he meant. He didn’t want any looks of revulsion or fear from his officers. Given that no one knew what to expect from these aliens, it was very likely their appearance could stir up such feelings.
When an image of a completely new species did appear in front of him, James had to follow his own instructions. Not because the alien was hideous or completely foreign to his sensibilities, but because the alien almost looked familiar. The person staring at him had two eyes, two arms and a torso that, though it was as wide as it was long, was also Human like. The alien was seated in a command chair that gave off the impression it was roughly the same size as a Human as well. Of course, mentally James recognized that the command chair could be two or three times the size of his own, or indeed half the size, but the impression the image gave was someone who, though strange, could pass for a Human.
As James studied the alien’s face more closely, that feeling only increased. It had a nose and mouth that though strangely shaped, were still clearly identifiable for what they were. The only thing missing was ears. Its skin was a bright orange and long purple hair flowed down the alien’s back from a knot tied above its head. Back on Earth, James had seen more than one Human woman who had died her skin orange or her hair purple, so even that wasn’t too surprising.
Then the alien opened its mouth. Involuntarily James flinched. The similarities had put him at ease. He hadn’t been ready for the alien’s teeth. They were all razor sharp, similar to a shark from Earth. Also, they were spaced out quite wide and behind the first row there were others further back down the alien’s throat. Quickly getting his emotions under control James forced himself to focus on what the alien was saying as the Kulrean software translated its voice.
“Unknown species, I demand that you identify yourself immediately or we will open fire. You are trespassing in a system that is not yours and we will defend ourselves with extreme force. You have one minute to reply.”
James shared a look with Becket and Scott, then he intentionally overemphasized swallowing. The alien’s tone was more than a little concerning. Especially as they had already introduced themselves with the standard UN greeting message they had sent. It obviously wasn’t to the alien’s liking. He motioned for Emilie to record him. He didn’t want to keep them waiting.
“Greetings,” he began as cheerfully as he could. “My name is Vice Admiral James Somerville of the United Nations Navy. We did not realize we were trespassing. Our fleet has been patrolling this system and others in order to defend our borders from attack. Another species who we know as the Flex-aor attacked our worlds six years ago. Since then we have patrolled this area of space to make sure they cannot launch another attack. We are happy to meet another species and I hope we can form a friendship. However, I am tasked with defending the worlds of my people and am prepared to use force to do that.”
When he finished speaking, James spent another glance towards Scott to get her reaction. He was trying to sound friendly and stern at the same time. Scott shrugged. He understood, there was no way to tell how the aliens would interpret his words.
“You know the Flex-aor?” the alien replied immediately as it sat forward. “How do I know that you aren’t in some kind of Alliance with them? Your technology is clearly advanced. Perhaps you are the ones who provided them with the ability to build spaceships and attack other species. What species are you? There are not supposed to be any spacefaring species in this sector of space. Where is your homeworld?”
James could feel Scott’s excitement bubbling away. Clearly these aliens did know the Flex-aor and, for whatever reason, they suspected the Flex-aor hadn’t developed their own technology. He knew Scott would be disappointed as he replied but he didn’t make an issue out of that just yet. “I do not think it would be wise to reveal our homeworld to you when we have just met. From our perspective, you have just entered one of our systems with a large war fleet. As to our relationship with the Flex-aor. We just fought a large battle with one of their fleets a couple of weeks ago in a nearby system. We destroyed more than three hundred Flex-aor warships. We have data recordings of the battle we could send you and we have debris on board my flagship that we gathered for analysis. Before we share such information however, perhaps you could tell us something about your species and why you are in this system?”
The alien put its hands together in a very Human like gesture and then sat back in its chair. There were several seconds of silence before it replied. When it did, it spoke more slowly, but its tone hadn’t changed. “Perh
aps we have got off on the wrong foot James Somerville. My name is Ya’sia. I am an Admiral in the Crian Navy. Two months ago a Flex-aor fleet invaded several systems of one of our neighbors. They intended to wipe out all sentient life in the systems they were trying to invade. After destroying the native defense fleet, the Flex-aor fleet was almost successful in bombarding one of our neighbor’s colonies. However, a fleet from my species arrived in time to drive the Flex-aor off. I was sent to pursue what remains of the Flex-aor fleet and to make sure they cannot build another one. If you had any part to play in the Flex-aor attacks you will receive swift justice as well.”
James managed to keep his face straight, but only just. Ya’sia had just told him that there was at least one alien species out there, probably more. She had said one of our neighbors. “I’m sorry to hear about the Flex-aor attack. I assure you, we had nothing to do with it. My species has never met your species or one of your neighbors before. On the contrary, it seems we are on the same side. The Flex-aor fleet you were pursuing was probably the one we destroyed. I have never heard of the Crian before but I am glad to meet you. If you know where the Flex-aor homeworld is, I would also very much like to aid you in paying the Flex-aor a visit. If you are willing, I would be happy to invite you aboard my flagship to have formal discussions face to face.”
“My mission to the Flex-aor homeworld is important. I am not sure that I have time to enter into negotiations with you. Especially when you remain a potential threat in my eyes. Perhaps you could appease some of my concerns if you told me the name of your species.”
“We call ourselves Humans,” James answered. “Though I don’t understand how that would mean anything to you.”
“We have access to extensive survey data on this sector of the galaxy,” Ya’sia explained. “That includes how most species refer to themselves.”
That sent James’ mind racing. How could anyone know about his race unless they had met them before? That was just the first of a number of questions that sprang to mind. He didn’t get a chance to ask any of them though for his answer had caused a similar flurry of activity on Ya’sia’s flagship. A couple of voices from off screen were clearly audible. Then Ya’sia turned to face whoever was speaking. “Impossible,” she was clearly heard to say. Then she turned back to James. Her tone drove all of James’ questions out of his mind. He hadn’t thought it could have got any more serious and threatening, he had been wrong. “How did you get your weapons technologies? Your species is not meant to have the capability to leave your home system. Who is your patron? I demand to know. Answer or we will cripple your ship and board you.”
Chapter 6
These days first contact is always handled by a specially trained diplomatic team, too many border skirmishes and even wars have been started by naval officers not knowing what they are doing.
-Excerpt from Empire Rising, 3002 AD.
UNS Golden Hind, X-40 system.
James swallowed deeply again, this time involuntarily. Then he spoke as slowly and as clearly as he could. Given Ya’sia’s tone he decided he needed to take a leap of faith. He hoped Scott’s theory was correct. “I don’t know what historical data you have on my species, nor how you obtained it. However, we have no patrons when it comes to our technologies. At least, for most of them. We have made contact with a species called the Vestarians and another called the Kulreans. When we first met the Vestarians, they were hostile like the Flex-aor. It is my suspicion that both they and the Flex-aor were given weapons technologies by another species. Now the Vesterians are our friends and we have traded some technologies with them. We’ve also befriended the Kulreans, though as they are much more advanced than my species, they have been slow to trade technologies. The shift drive that we use to travel between systems and the propulsion and weapons systems on board our ships were all developed by Human scientists and engineers. I assure you; we have no contact with whoever is giving weapon technologies to hostile species.”
Ya’sia shook her head vigorously. “It is impossible. Your species was surveyed six hundred years ago. You were nowhere near the point where you could leave your planet’s atmosphere, never mind colonize your home system or travel to other systems. You must have been given help.”
“It may not seem possible to you,” James replied slowly. “I assure you however, it is. I confess, my species has no other example of how long it might take for a species to develop spacefaring technologies. To us though, our process of technological advance has seemed natural. There are no points where alien technologies have been introduced into our culture. We only met the Vestarians and Kulreans within the last decade. How long did it take your species to develop the technological capability to leave your homeworld and your home system?”
“That is not comparable,” Ya’sia answered. “We had help from our benefactors. You have not had help from them and the most logical conclusion is that you, like the Flex-aor, have found another source of advanced technologies. One that appears to have hostile intentions towards my species.”
“If there is such a species out there, then they have hostile intentions towards my species as well,” James countered. “When the Flex-aor attacked a number of our worlds six years ago they bombarded them with nuclear missiles. They wiped out one world in its entirety. Millions of lives were lost. I assure you that if there is a species orchestrating things from behind the scenes, they are our enemies as much as yours.”
“Perhaps this other alien species gave both you and the Flex-aor technologies in the hope that you would destroy one another and draw others into your war. That seems a more likely explanation,” Ya’sia countered. “You will power down your weapons and prepare to be boarded. I will have my engineers assess your technologies and then we will get to the bottom of this.”
James shook his head. “I cannot allow that. You have done very little to persuade me of your friendly intentions towards my species. I cannot simply hand over all of our technological secrets to you. However, I am willing to compromise. There are some more basic technologies on board my ship I would be happy to let your engineers examine. I’ve already offered the invitation to visit my flagship, I would be happy to extend that invitation to some of your engineers. On the other hand, I warn you, if you try and use force against my ship, I and my fleet will be forced to react. My species has zero desire to enter into an interspecies conflict. Yet we will not be walked over either.”
Ya’sia folded her arms across the front of her wide torso. She stared at James for several seconds. “Very well,” she finally said. “I will come and meet you in person. I will bring engineers to confirm the Flex-aor debris you claim to have and to examine some of your technologies. If your story checks out, then I will apologize for the tone I have taken with you. If it does not, then our friendly relationship will quickly come to an end.” As she finished speaking she nodded and her image disappeared.
No one spoke. The only sounds were the small beeps and other noises from the bridge’s command consoles. Most of the bridge officers were still staring at the spot where Ya’sia had been, or they were looking at James. “Wwweeeeelllll,” he said to break the tension. “I suppose that could have gone worse.” A few officers smiled, though most didn’t react. James didn’t blame them.
Scott picked up on what he was trying to do. “If that conversation was Ya’sia’s idea of having a friendly relationship, I don’t want to see what it would be like if it comes to an end,” she replied.
One or two more officers cracked a small smile, but for the most part, everyone looked concerned. “Cheer up,” James said lightly as he stood. “We haven’t started a war yet. That’s something. Now come on, all of you. We have some new guests to meet and arrangements to make. Scott, you and Becket figure out what technologies we can show these engineers. Yue, most of the Flex-aor debris is stored in hangar bay two, head down there and make sure there’s nothing else in the hangar we wouldn’t want our new friends seeing if we bring engineers down there. Come on people,
we have jobs to do.” It took a couple of seconds for his words to sink in, but when they did, most officers turned back to their consoles or left the bridge to carry out his orders.
“A small ship has just exited one of the alien heavy cruisers,” Miyamoto reported. “It’s heading our way. I imagine it is Ya’sia’s shuttle. I estimate it will be here in five minutes.”
“Direct them to shuttle bay one,” James ordered. “Prepare a small welcoming committee, I don’t want too much fanfare, we don’t know what these Crians might expect. I’m going to put on my dress uniform. I may as well try and make a good first impression.”
“Aye Admiral,” Miyamoto replied.
James nodded and turned to his niece. “Send a report to Sato and Gupta, let them know what is going on. Tell them we will keep them updated.” He spun around and left the bridge. He suspected Fox would already have his dress uniform ready but even then it would be a stretch to change and get down to the hangar bay in time to meet his new guest.
