Carpathia IV: Episode 20 - First Contact
Space, Centaurus Void, NCCS Shadowdancer
Tension built throughout the bridge quickly and speculation ran rampant with everyone starting to consider everything that could possibly go wrong with only the sixth first contact situation in Carpathia's history. Everything from what the new civilization might look like to more dire considerations regarding whether or not they might be aggressive had to be considered. Fortunately, the time it would take to close the gap between them gave them an opportunity to prepare. With so little experience, some improvising would be necessary.
Adell: Should we go to condition yellow?
Aire tapped his fingers together, as he was already considering the question.
Aire: Condition yellow might come across as confrontational depending on how well they're able to scan us. Instead, we can raise the secondary shields to protect against a surprise attack and put people into position to arm the weapons instantly if necessary. That way, we can be prepared for the worst while not being provocative.
Adell nodded.
Adell: Let's make that happen. Bugs, put up the secondary shields as soon as we re-enter normal space. Teren, arrange your staff according to Aire's suggestion.
Teren: Yes, Captain.
The bridge went silent again with each inside their own thoughts, Adell included, going over in his mind the five previous first contact situations in which Carpathia had involvement. Each had been been unique and none followed any sort of predictable pattern.
Adell: Thoughts, Commander?
Aire breathed deeply and crossed his legs.
Aire: Lots of things, really. It would be interesting if they're elves like me. The elves on my planet don't know where we come from, having been brought over by a malfunctioning wormhole generator. It's one of the reasons why I've always dreamed of space exploration. I was also thinking about the other first contacts. They're all quite different. The dragon one was strange. Rumor is that a group of schoolkids stumbled across one of the dragons for the first time.
Adell smirked, barely stifling a giggle.
Adell: Yeah, that was me.
The bridge went silent again, but it was a different sort of silence this time, as now suddenly every eyeball in the room was directed at Adell. Aire scanned Adell's face for a hint, any indication at all, that he was joking. He found none as he watched Adell stare out of the windows.
Aire: I'm sorry, what?
Adell: The dragon in question was Ryuu, in fact. A friend of mine accidentally stepped on his tail. We should definitely have Ryuu up here for this. Kit, have Ryuu report to the bridge right away, please.
Kit: Yes, Captain.
Kit went about his business while Adell completed his musings on the dragon first contact.
Adell: It went well enough under the circumstances. Ryuu was an enthusiastic first contact partner, to say the least. We became good friends, which is why he's here.
Adell was not joking, about this Aire was sure. His earlier suspicions about his new captain were coming into further light as it was now clear that Adell was a man of unusual secrets.
Aire: I guessed when we first met that there was more about you than you were letting on.
Adell: I'd tell you everything if I could, but most of it is classified.
This explained some of the evasiveness, Aire thought, but it wasn't something worth thinking about now. It was at least a little comforting to know that Adell had some personal first contact experience, but he also wondered if there could be more.
Aire: Has Command conducted any sort of first contact training for captains?
Adell grimaced, which Aire did not take as a good sign.
Adell: They have, but the problem is that first contact isn't like the old TV shows, where they seem to meet a new alien every week. We just don't have that much experience to go on. I attended a seminar on first contact once where Admiral Tartakovsky played the role of the new alien species, but all she did was scratch her ass and fart a lot.
This time, it was Aire's turn to grimace.
Aire: She already does that all the time anyway.
Adell: I know. It was not a very useful seminar.
Interrupting the conversation was the doors behind them sliding open and the telltale click-clack of Ryuu's claws on the bridge deck. Adell and Aire both turned and gave him a glance of acknowledgement.
Adell: Ryuu, come join us.
Ryuu trotted around the security console and sat down next to the command chairs, swishing his tail back and forth.
Ryuu: You wanted to see me?
Adell: It seems we have a first contact situation. Anything you can tell us?
Ryuu's tail suddenly stopped cold and his eyes widened.
Ryuu: Exciting! Yes, I'll help as much as I can, but it might not be much. Until recently, you know, dragons haven't been traveling in space for thousands of years. A lot has surely changed since then. What do we know?
Adell: Now is a good time for an update. Bugs?
Nalma tapped at his console and examined his data before responding.
Nalma: The mystery ship is moving at about Q9. Still do not have a visual. Outer dimensions are roughly 30% bigger than the Shadowdancer. Power source is unknown, but it seems to involve a gravity displacement of some sort. No active shields or weapons that I can detect at this time.
Ryuu tapped his claw on the deck
Ryuu: Hmmm... Not much to go on. I'll just stay here and learn as you do.
Adell: That would be fine. By the way, I just told them how we met.
Ryuu's ears suddenly popped up on his head as he brushed his foot across the deck.
Ryuu: Oh! Um... You didn't tell them about how I went rooting around in Mitani's pants, did you?
Once again, all the eyeballs on the ship turned and were directed at Ryuu this time and included some prodigious giggling while Adell rubbed his forehead.
Adell: No, but you just did.
Ryuu's ears went flat while he made several embarrassed grimaces.
Ryuu: Oops...
Commissioned art in this episode from:
Jenova87
Zelbunnii
Less_End
Thatwildmary
Colourbrand
All city pictures from SimCity 4
