by Doug Farren
Stricklen thought about this for a moment then said, "Display the symbols."
In response to the command, the monitor showed twelve symbols with their assumed meanings. The symbols stood for the numbers zero through eleven. Humans had a base ten number system with distinct symbols for the numbers zero through nine.
Stricklen looked at the symbols and asked, "Can you establish a language translation with these people if given the opportunity?"
"Yes. I have first-contact language generation programming available," replied the machine.
"Very well. Load the program and standby."
Stricklen reestablished contact with his XO. "Doug, I'm authorizing the computer to establish a link with the alien transmission. Go ahead and allow it."
"Understood — Doug out."
Stricklen then turned his attention back to the ship's computer. "Dragon, establish a communications link with the originators of this signal and initiate a language translation. Report your progress to me."
"Acknowledged. Opening return communications channel … Sending reply … Reply received … Initiating dialog … Based upon response times and message content the originator is most likely an automated system … increasing speed … Speed has been increased to the limit of this communications channel."
Stricklen followed this monologue with keen interest. He was witnessing the beginnings of a process that would eventually allow two species that had never had contact before to communicate with each other. He thought there was nothing much more that could be done except to wait but that assumption was proven wrong a few seconds later when Doug called him back to report a new development.
"Sir, the frequency bandwidth of the signal has increased and the computer is requesting additional communications resources. Looks like they're trying to boost their communications rate."
"Go ahead and allow the computer to use as much bandwidth as necessary. The sooner we get this translation out of the way the faster we will find out who we're dealing with."
"Acknowledged." The link clicked closed.
In the early days of Human exploration, before space travel existed, when two peoples met that spoke different languages, many months would pass before the two could effectively speak to each other. Much time was required for one to learn and understand the other's language. As time progressed, computers eventually reached the point of complexity where the entire process could be automated. At the phenomenal speed at which modern computers operated, a complete language translation would take only a few hours at most.
The soft chime from the computer startled Stricklen. He had dozed off in his chair without realizing it. "Report," he instructed the computer as he sat up straight and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
"A mutual language translation sufficient to allow basic communication has been achieved," the machine reported. "Several vocoders are currently being programmed and will be available in ten minutes."
Stricklen stood up and stretched as he replied, "How long did it take? What time is it?"
"The current time is 2337. The translation process required one hour eighteen minutes, however, additional translation dialog is still taking place."
"Is there a non-machine entity that is willing to speak to us?"
The computer's response had a noticeable delay. "Yes. Five individuals have been released from stasis."
"Do you have any information concerning our people inside — are they all right?"
"Falnath and Keefer are both unharmed," the ship's computer replied almost instantly. "McCallister, however, has apparently hit his head hard enough to knock him unconscious for about ten minutes but he is now awake and ambulatory."
"Can you contact them?"
"No. Direct communications with the two researchers is being blocked. The Kyrra computer has informed me that communications will be established once the safety of the Kyrra has been assured."
"Kyrra? Is that what they call themselves?"
"Yes. Their race is known as the Kyrra."
Ken sat in thought for a moment. This was a first contact situation. Although it was something he had been trained for, it was an event that should not be taken lightly. He was also worried about McCallister. Coming to a decision he said, "Tell the Kyrra that I need to speak to one of them immediately."
"Stand by." There was a short delay then, "You will be speaking to a Kyrra named Trel'mara. You may proceed."
Stricklen was nervous and chose his words carefully, "My name is Ken Stricklen. My people are called Humans. We found your stasis device in a ship drifting in space. I have been informed that a member of the science team now trapped inside your force field has been injured. I would like to find a way to have him returned to us so he may receive medical care."
"I am Trel'mara," came the reply. The Dragon's computer had chosen a voice that apparently approximated that of the speaker. It sounded like the voice of a young Human male. "We are called Kyrra. We are a non-violent people. The person who is injured appears to be at rest and is being attended to by another of your kind."
"Based upon the description of his condition," Stricklen explained, "I believe he has suffered a concussion. If left untreated by a medical professional this injury could lead to irreversible brain damage or even death. I can give you my personal word of honor that we mean you no harm. If you lower your shield I promise to send only two unarmed individuals into the chamber to retrieve the injured person. I am sure you would not want to be responsible for the death of a respected scientist."
"I will discuss this with the others," Trel'mara replied. There followed a period of silence then, "We have learned that other races will not tell the truth if doing so helps them to obtain a desired goal. Your words, however, have caused us to become worried and we have no wish to be responsible for the death of one of your people. We have devised a solution."
"I'm listening."
"The stasis chamber is powered by a matter/anti-matter reactor. We will instruct our computer to bypass the safety systems and drop the anti-matter containment field if we are harmed. The resulting explosion will be sufficient to destroy everything within a considerable distance. Once this is done, we shall drop the force field. We will allow your people to leave. No one is to attempt to enter the stasis module. Is this agreeable?"
"I agree to your proposal. I would like to reestablish communications with you in a short period of time once I have assembled my command staff. We can then discuss establishing peaceful relations between our two cultures."
There was a short delay then, "We are in agreement then. The force field will be dropped shortly."
Stricklen was quite happy. Using his wrist-com he contacted his chief of security. "Commander, the force field is going to be dropped in a few minutes. The science team will be exiting. Please ensure they are taken directly to medical. Nobody is to approach the stasis chamber. Is this clear?"
"Perfectly clear sir," came the quick reply.
Next, Stricklen contacted medical and put them on standby. Turning once again to his computer terminal he said, "Dragon, do you have any information concerning the Kyrra species?"
"I have sufficient information to generate a good overview of the species including several pictures."
They're going to love me for this, Stricklen thought. Standing up and stretching, he said, "Dragon, call all senior staff to an emergency meeting to begin in fifteen minutes. Prepare a short presentation concerning the Kyrra for the meeting."
As Stricklen exited his stateroom the bridge called to inform him that the force field had been dropped. Since Ken's stateroom was only a few doors down from the conference room it took him only moments to walk to the still empty room. He grabbed himself a cup of coffee from the dispenser on the wall and took his seat at the head of the table.
As he raised his cup to take his first sip of coffee the computer interface in front of him came to life. A single word was displayed on the screen, "Captain?" Stricklen took a sip then said aloud, "Dragon, go ah
ead."
The ship's computer always knew the whereabouts of her captain. It had decided to use the terminal in front of Ken to initiate a conversation instead of using the internal communications system. "The Kyrra computer is requesting access to historical data concerning the Alliance. Is this allowed?"
Stricklen considered this for a moment. If he refused, the Kyrra might think the Alliance was hiding something. Full disclosure and open communication was the best policy in his mind. "Authorization is granted to all publicly available information. Ask the Kyrra computer to reciprocate and see if you can't build a short history for the meeting."
"Acknowledged," the machine replied then blanked the screen.
Shortly thereafter the room began to fill up.
* * * * *
Falnath, Keefer, and McCallister watched the Kyrra as they worked at the various instruments within the stasis chamber. A lot of activity was now occurring near the computer. All five of the Kyrra had gathered near the machine and appeared to be listening intently as the computer talked.
"What do you think they are doing?" Keefer had asked after watching the Kyrra for about fifteen minutes.
"I'm not certain," Falnath replied. "Maybe I can find out."
The Rouldian walked over to where the Kyrra were standing. As she approached, one of the Kyrra took a few steps away from the others and said something in its native language. Falnath stopped as soon as she realized her intentions had become known and made several gestures which the Kyrra apparently understood.
"We learn your language," the person standing before Falnath said in a clear, slow voice.
Falnath was shocked. "You understand?" she asked.
The Kyrra gestured toward the computer and said, "Teaching. I return," and went back to listening to the computer.
Falnath returned to where Keefer was sitting on the floor and said, "Amazing! These Kyrra must be capable of learning at an incredible rate. It looks like their computer is teaching them Galactic Standard almost as fast as it is learning it from our computer."
"If they can understand us," McCallister interjected, "then we should talk to them about getting out of here. You know, negotiate with them."
Falnath glanced at the Kyrra gathered around the computer then back at McCallister. She seemed to be considering her reply with considerable deliberation. "Their computer is obviously in contact with the ship's computer. How else would they be learning our language? This implies that the captain is aware of our situation and I am confident that he will do everything in his power to negotiate our freedom."
"The captain?" McCallister practically sneered. "He's not trapped inside a force field with a group of aliens. We are here with the Kyrra. They are learning our language. I think we should talk to them."
"I agree with Falnath," Keefer spoke up. "If the captain is talking to them then we should wait and let him do the talking. He is trained in first contact protocol whereas we are not."
"Very well," McCallister finally agreed. "But I won't wait forever."
About a half-hour later the computer stopped talking for a moment. There then followed a conversation between one of the Kyrra and the computer. After a few minutes of this one of them turned and approached Falnath. "You all leave soon. Understand?"
With a deliberate effort at speaking slowly, Falnath replied, "I understand. Thank you."
A few minutes later the same Kyrra approached and pointed toward the door. "You must leave now. Please go."
Keefer helped McCallister to his feet and together the three left the stasis chamber. They were met by several marines who insisted they report to medical for a full examination.
* * * * *
As soon as everyone was in attendance, Stricklen began the meeting. "As you are all aware, the Dragon's computer has been engaged in establishing a language translation with an alien computer. A short time ago the bulk of that translation was completed. I have been informed that five members of a race known as the Kyrra have been released from stasis.
"I have briefly spoken to one of them named Trel'mara and have convinced them to shutdown the force field and allow our people to leave. I decided to postpone any further talks with the Kyrra until the senior staff could be present. Before doing so we should know who we are dealing with. Dragon, begin your presentation."
In response to the command, the computer displayed a three-dimensional image of a Kyrra to the assembly. A chorus of muffled comments briefly filled the room. A Human stood next to the image for comparison purposes.
"This is a Kyrra," the computer lectured. "Unlike most species, an individual Kyrra's sexual orientation is not fixed. Throughout most of their life they are sexually neutral. Each individual may at any time choose to either serve as either a male or a female."
The meeting was briefly interrupted as Falnath and Keefer entered the room. Before they had settled in several people were trying to gain their attention. Stricklen exercised his command authority and got their attention. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in sickbay."
Keefer jerked a thumb toward Falnath and replied, "A couple minutes after arriving in sickbay we heard about this meeting. She managed to convince the doctor that we were okay. They are looking after McCallister right now."
"We did promise to return as soon as this meeting is over," Falnath added.
"Very well, Dragon, please continue."
"The Kyrra are exceptionally long lived and reproduce very slowly," the computer continued its interrupted presentation. "If an individual Kyrra chooses to become female, then she allows herself to be impregnated and will carry a single child. This individual will then remain female until the child no longer requires careful supervision."
The image of the Human vanished as the image of the Kyrra continued to slowly rotate so everyone could view the new species from every angle. The computer continued its monologue, "The Kyrra are a unique species which evolved into a space-capable civilization many thousands of years ago. This particular group of Kyrra have been in stasis for a period of 44,881 standard years.
"The Kyrra have a recorded history which, as of the time they went into stasis, spanned a period of roughly 33,000 years. They are unique in that their evolutionary path has been very different from that all other intelligent species with whom the Kyrra have ever come into contact.
"According to the Kyrra, evolution is capable of taking two different paths in the formation of life. The most common is the survival-of-the-fittest or the aggressive evolutionary path. The second (of which the Kyrra are the only known intelligent example) is the cooperative evolutionary path. During the course of cooperative evolution, a planetary ecosystem is established where virtually all life works in cooperation with each other. Competition between different species is almost non-existent.
"The Kyrra, according to the records provided by their computer, are absolutely non-violent and do not pose a threat to Alliance security. On the other hand, because of their evolutionary background, they are ill-equipped to deal with other species and they have attempted to remain isolated. They would be unable to adapt to our society if they were to attempt to do so."
After the computer had completed its summary Stricklen said, "The Kyrra are waiting to speak to us. I wanted the entire senior staff to be witness to this first-contact meeting between the Alliance and the Kyrra. Are there any questions before I open the communications channel?"
"What is McCallister's condition?" Commander Kovalesky, the security officer, asked.
Lieutenant Commander Steve Storvitch, the ship's chief medical officer, glanced down at the computer screen in front of him. He had been keeping a close watch on McCallister's progress ever since arriving. "The diagnostic scans came back a few minutes ago. There is no indication of any serious brain damage. The injury to his forehead was minor and required no stitches. He will back to his old self in a short time."
"What's your impression of the Kyrra," Scarboro directed his question towards Falnath who had positioned he
rself in a corner of the room.
"It's hard to say at this point," she replied. "I saw no weapons. They appeared to be relatively calm and seemed to work well together. I believe they are incredibly intelligent given the fact that they appeared to be able to learn Galactic Standard at an astounding rate."
"They speak Standard?" Kovalesky practically blurt it out.
"Not fluently, but well enough to speak to me."
"Incredible!" Skip Bucannon remarked.
"Where did this information come from?" Commander Storvitch asked. "I can't even begin to conceive of the sort of ecosystem that could develop from a cooperative evolutionary process. Sounds like something they made up to me."
Stricklen passed the question off to the ship's computer. "The information was obtained during the data interchange between myself and the Kyrra computer while a language translation was being developed. The information is highly consistent, however, there is a very remote possibility that the data was manipulated to present a false image of the Kyrra. I am unable to present any additional information to either confirm or disprove what has been learned."
"We will proceed for the time being with the thought in mind that the Kyrra could be as competitive in nature as we are," Stricklen said. "Dragon, open a channel to the Kyrra."
"The Kyrra have opened a video channel," the machine replied and an image of the inside of the stasis chamber appeared on each staff member's private monitor. The five Kyrra were standing together as a group.
