First Contact

Posted on 12 Dec 2022 @ 9:56pm by Captain Bane Plase

1,733 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Outbreak
Location: Tashi Private Chambers
Timeline: Moments after "The Council of Elders"

ON

Nilani Oormani rushed back into her Private Chambers inside the Capitol Building, her page, Hadrea, struggling to keep up. "So, what is a cygnus, Youngling? What is a United Federation of Planets," she asked again, the answer not coming.

"I...I do not know, Tashi," Hadrea said again. She was not used to not having answers for Oromani, and in absence of answers, the ability to find the answers the leader of their planet needed. She was at a complete loss for the first time in her career.

"Are they a new faction on the Northern Plains," Oromani worried. "I thought we had finally solved those differences!" She was reaching for her chalice when a sort of whine, sort of buzz, sort of squeal permeated the room. Both Nilani and Hadrea put their hands to their ears. As quickly as it started, it ended. "What was that," she asked, turning to Hadrea.

As she placed her eyes on her page, she had her answer. Several paces behind Hadrea stood a strange creature that she had never even dreamed of, let alone seen before. Several things caught her attention, other than the creatures appearance. First and foremost, the creature was bipedal, just like she was. No other creature on their planet was bipedal. Second, the creature was short, nearly a third shorter than she was. Only younglings were that small on the entire planet, and even then, for not long as they matured. Third, it stood there, in strange garments, its hands outwards, seemingly as a gesture of its benevolent intent, though who knew what this thing truly wanted. It also had what she assumed was a smile on its face, again, something only the Antiocians were capable of on their planet. Literally no other creature anywhere was so closely resembling an Antiocian resided on Antioch III.

Hadrea, to her credit, realized that the Tashi was not looking at her, but almost through her, to something behind her. Alarmed, she spun around and saw the creature that the Tashi had seen. The creature was so different, the skin tone of it so light and so different and so...alien, that it was to her credit that she didn't scream and run away. Instead, she slowly and deliberately moved directly between the creature and the Tashi, shielding Oromani with her body. Beyond being her page, it was her sacred and solemn duty to protect the Tashi, up to and including with her own life, if necessary. As she backed up to be closer to the Tashi, she sized up the creature. It was much smaller than she was, appeared to not have much muscle mass, and looked far more frail than either she or Oromani were. If it came to it, she thought she would be able to fight off this interloper. Still, fear and alarm were prevalent in her face and in her body language. Unfortunately, the emergency call button was too far away for them to call for security.

"I mean you no harm," the creature said in perfect Antiocian. "My name is Bane Plase. As you can tell, I do not look anything like you or your people. I am not an Antiocian."

Oromani was the first to speak. "What are you? Where did you come from? How did you get past security? And what was that noise?"

Plase lowered his hands slowly, ensuring to keep the smile on his face. He knew that Lieutenant Commander Larsen, Lieutenant Seitha and the rest of the Bridge Crew on the Cygnus were listening closely and ready to beam him out as the first sign of trouble. "All excellent questions," he said, keeping his voice level, but friendly. No matter what species, the tone of voice and body language were near-universal. "I am a person, just like you, just not from here, from your planet. I am a Bajoran. I come from a starship in high orbit above your planet, and that comes from an organization of planets called the United Federation of Planets. To answer how I got past your security, well, that is a bit more difficult to explain," he said, his smile widening on his face. "In short, I beamed in. I suspect the noise you are referring to is the beaming process."

Both Nilani and Hadrea blinked at this Bane Plase for several moments, nothing what he was saying making much sense at all. Hadrea broke the momentary silence. "You are from a different world?"

Plase smiled again, keeping still. He knew what they were experiencing was something that would completely upend their entire worldview of, well, everything. "Yes," he said simply.

"I need to sit down," Oromani said, her knees threatening to give out.

"So do I," Hadrea said, her knees equally threatening to give way.

As Oromani sat down, she looked to Bane again. "This is impossible." She said it weakly, though. Almost like she were trying to convince herself rather than make a statement of fact.

"It isn't, though," Bane said. "May I come sit down with you?" He pointed at the outrageously large chair for his frame.

"I think you should stay right where you are, Bane Plase," Hadrea said, her voice decisive and sure.

"Very well," Bane said and smiled again. "Whatever makes you the most comfortable right now.

Oromani then asked probably the most important question so far. "How did you find us in such a vast and huge universe?"

"That is an extremely valid question, thank you for asking," Bane said, responding. It was a good sign she was attempting to understand, and an excellent sign that maybe First Contact could continue. "We have been listening to your planetary and space communications for many years. We have subspace stations set up just outside of your solar system so we could learn about you, and be prepared for the day we made contact, to make it as easy and as comfortable as possible. In a way, we found you because you started talking to us, so we started listening."

"So you have been listening for a very long time, then," the Tashi stated. "Why make yourselves known now? Surely someone that can travel from other planets has the means to come in and conquer our planet long before we knew what was happening. Or conversely, you could have come in and helped us when we were having so many difficult challenges in our society."

"Also very valid points, Tashi Oromani," he said, using her title and name for the first time. He noted the shock on her face, but continued. "We detected your warp drive experiments. Attaining faster-than-light travel is the benchmark that our society uses to reach out to civilizations joining the galactic community. It shows that you have risen above your planetary struggles and obviously not wiped each other out, which unfortunately does happen, more often than not. The interplanetary government which I represent and am a part of, the United Federation of Planets, is a peaceful cooperation of more than 150 member planets. We would never conquer you. It is also our Prime Directive that we do not interfere in the natural progression of your society..."

"Not interfere?! This is about as big an interference as I could imagine," Oromani stated. "And how did you know my name?"

"As I mentioned," Bane said, "We have been listening for a long time and know much about you and your society. And let's think about it clearly for a moment. I am the only non-Antocian on this planet, and have revealed myself to you and you only...well, you and your Page," he said, gesturing to Hadrea. "If you are not ready for us to be here, then only you and your assistant will know. You could hide this whole meeting and pretend it never happened, and your society would never know about us or the larger community out there," he said, pointing up figuratively to the stars.

"So, you will leave if we ask you to?"

"Yes, we will," Bane said, his smile faltering a little.

"And you would never return, if we asked you to stay away?"

"Yes, we will." Bane felt the First Contact suddenly starting to go bad.

"That is a relief," Oromani stated. "Not that I would want that. This is...a thrill! We aren't alone in the cosmos!" The realization of what was happening was finally starting to sink in.

Bane smiled, his hope of a successful First Contact renewed. "No, you aren't. There are several million civilizations in this galaxy alone. You are part of a huge community now."

For several moments, the room was silent. Oromani broke the silence. "So, what now?"

Bane nodded. "Good question. That is up to you, really. I know you were in the middle of a meeting with The Council of Elders. Would you want to introduce us there, or do you want to take it slower? I could have several of my officers beam down..."

"What is this 'beaming' you keep speaking of," Hadrea asked.

"Page, please," Oromani stated. "It's rude to interrupt.

Bane responded. "It is quite alright, and expected, Tashi." He looked to Hadrea. "It is a mode of travel. We are able to move, nearly instantly, from one point to another, anywhere on your world, and anywhere in orbit. It is called teleportation, or beaming, in slang."

"Wow! Our scientists are only just beginning to theorize about that technology," exclaimed Oromani. "It seems you have perfected it."

Bane nodded. "We have. May I have permission to have more of my delegation beam down? I know you have a lot of questions, and they are prepared to answer them as best we can. We are also prepared to meet any, or all, of your government, as you see fit."

Oromani and Hadrea looked at each other for several moments, then turned back to Bane. "Permission granted."

Bane nodded his head. "Thank you." He tapped his commbadge. "Bane to Cygnus, please have Bast, Spangler, Elodin and Kin'Fuji beam down for First Contact protocol on my location."

=/\=Aye, Captain,=/\= came the immediate response.


OFF

Bane Plase, Captain
USS Cygnus, Commanding


Tag to Bast, Spangler, Elodin and Kin'Fuji to come to the planet for First Contact.
Tag to Larsen, Seitha, Hartley, Morak, Winters and Lisald on the ship to assist in First Contact with the Away Team.

 

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