STGOD2k6 Diplomacy

[Spyder]

Welcome the the Pheonix Star Cluster. A globular cluster poised in one of the outer arms of a spiral galaxy.

"Heed me, young explorers, for I am the once great explorer Iron Phoenix, who opened the Northeast Passage and found the great cache at Drasib. I will tell you how the universe came to be the way it is.

In the beginning was the Age Of Stone. All beings lived on their worlds of stone, the Cradles, where they came to be. The worlds nutured them, let them grow fat and happy like a prosperous village's children. They fought, yes, but beings always fight. It is our way. The Cradles let them grow stronger, climbing their own paths to the stars.

Next, came the Age of Iron, for the beings of the stars had found the ways of metal and science, and strode out into the stars on vast, cold ships. So brave were they! Enduring generations asleep for a chance at a new Cradle. Into the night billions journeyed, and new worlds were settled, new species found as Cradles sent their journeyers to the same stars. It was a cold, dark time, like the void itself. No faster-than-light technology meant no words home or to other colonies. Each world was it's own, and they ecked out lives as best they could.

When the barrier of Light was finally breached, it ushered in a new Age as each star was interconnected. Trade of goods, money, and knowledge went from a few droplets to a roaring ocean. Prosperity again dominated, and new worlds were founded, new species found. Some new species were even made, such were the wonders of the Age of Silver, the magics the old ones had.

Yet, did I not say it is the nature of all beings to war? I did. Remember that, explorers, for you will find battles out there. Silver could not last forever. We do not know who began the great war, but does it matter? The nations then are gone, destroyed in their own fires. The only links one could make now are those of species, and who is so arrogant as to do that? The Age of Steel was one which destroyed, not created. The universe became cold and dark for a long time.

Now? We do not know this Age's name yet. The wise men after us will decide such. But we see the signs. Other nations crawl from the rubble to set forth again. There are no empires as there once were, but in a year, ten years, a hundred years? No sage is that wise.

Now, observe, while I show you how to speak to your craft, so they will carry you across the void.."

-Unknown,
Hekartes Tribes

------------------

Small uninhabited system, near the center of the Phoenix Cluster.

"I've just picked up another marker. That makes four distinct signals."
"Looks like it's a party. I wonder when they were planning on inviting us, signitures?"
"Let's see, I'm showing one Pfhor, one Cetaryn, one from the Freehold and you guessed it, the Crobuzon."
"Have we been spotted?"
"I'd say so."
"I suppose we'd better say hi. Open a channel."

The comm' unit let out a rythmic bleep.
"This is Concord vessel Ganymede to all ships within range," the officer paused for a moment and looked to his crew for inspiration, they returned empty glances as he shrugged his shoulders, "how's it going?"

[Duckie]

Space twisted upon itself and vomited forth a tresspasser in the Sepsryqo back into normal reality. The traveller in the void was, among other things, called the LKLR Syshtyar Nedjev-Oeq-Eshdagnia, and by a stunning coincidence its patrol route had diverted to the nearby system for reconnaissance.

"Tert eqroftalp py utlartop senider-"
//Rewind//
//Eqilonyt/-/Translator/-/Active//

"Sire, there is someone in this system. Four someones."
"The NGC must be wrong here. Fortituous we arrived just now or we'd never have known. Four intruders? Prepare to reverse course and translate into the Dryu-Niab-Eqdryu (?Hyperspace) immediately."
"Wait, My Lord Captain... that's odd... one of these vessels reads as Phfor. I can't make out the other three. Ready to reverse course and translate upon your orders."
"Phfor? We're in the center of the cluster! That can't be right. Cancel reverse course and prepare me a Sepsryqo transmission immediately."
"As you will it, my Lord."

The captain cleared his throat, and depressed the button.

"Attention unidentified vessels. This is the LKLR Righteous Vengeance of Our Holy Empress, Imperial Khar Navy Vessel.

Unusually, your vessels do not broadcast in Standard Khar Communications Protocols, and have therefore been deemed to be Nevaryutib (?Unknowing Ones).

We offer supplications for unknowningly infringing upon your nest and territories if that is the case and inquire as to your purpose within the Sendkradselpiz (?Parts Between Worlds). To risk a breach of formality, for which I apologize, what exactly is going on here?"

[Spyder]

"...and there's another one. ID confirmed, it's from the Khar alright."
"They sound about as confused as we are."

"This is a little too coincidental. Open a channel."
"Channel open."

"This is the Ganymede to all ships, who's system is this?"

[Nephtys]

GNCL Emberwind, Firelance-class Light Cruiser coasting silent beyond the fringe of Gaian Space.

The sound of a gelsole boot tapping quickly against steel floors was not a noise most would call loud, but it was enough today. Shutting out the noise with a toss of her head against the material of her padded pod, Makina Northbloom found only momentary solice. Her door banged intensely.

"Commander Northbloom! Commander Northbloom!" a muffled voice from beyond called.

"Go away. It's half moon-rise right now." Northbloom squwked, trying to shift herself in the half-cylindindrical sleeping pod. She brought a pillow over her head soon after.

"Commander Northbloom!" the voice refused to relent, "We've detected multiple wide-band comm signals in our immediate region that seem very different. Shipmind's running analysis right n---"

Makina's door swung to the side, sliding up into the wall along it's upper circular hinge. She stood there, already straightening her hair and duty bodysuit.

"Contacts...?" she slowly begins to murmur. "Don't fire the main drive yet, leave us in low emission ops. And get me a copy of what Shipmind thinks they're saying..." Makina says quickly, jogging to the cruiser's bridge. "Wake up the Avatar and have her inform Corefleet." she barked quickly, vanishing down the pearly white hallway, leaving the midshipman alone in the corridor.

She sighed softly, rubbing her eyes with softly suited hands as she ran. First contact, or another rediscovery? Or perhaps many rediscovories? Either case, now wasn't a time to certainly waste thinking about something as fleeting as sleep.

[Companion Cube]

Internal communique
origin: Rear Admiral Tfenn (Command)
destin: Mediator J'wro
ref: foreign signals received
stamp: contact

Embark upon picket vessel Khrve within the (?hour) and make best speed towards source of initial comm signals.

Shipboard communique
origin: Mediator J'wro (Complected)
destin: Commander Hllrz (Tacted)
ref: diplomatic transmission
stamp: request

You are commanded to broadcast the following message:

//Language: Galstandard West//Standard contact-scenario message follows

We are a peaceful race(?people) and desire communication/trade between our peers throughout the universe. We have for too long existed without the knowledge of other species, and welcome the opportunity for contact.

//Standard contact-scenario message ends

Shipboard communique
origin: Commander Hllrz (Tacted)
destin: Mediator J'wro (Complected)
ref: transmission
stamp: acknowledgment

Message sent, awaiting response. Without being forward, I hope the translator worked.

[Dahak]

FCAFSS Thunder, CLoud-class Battlecruiser, exploration duty

The Thunder slithered out of Netherspace in a sparkle of exotic particles, re-establishing itself in the here and now. It's sensors preened out and the sentient ship was surprised to find other ships in the area. It did not expect that. It was only supposed to be an uninhabitated system according to the maps of old.
Air-Mage Drif'ayn, House Del'Chu looked up from his repeater as the ship whispered the information into his mind. Most ship designs were mostly unknown, but somehow familiar, so it might be a rediscovery after all the time.
"Very well then," Drif'yan mused in Sylfen, their native tongue, "this is surprising, but not unsuspected. Mage-Lieutenant, move us in, slowly. "
The ships magical drives activated, moving the ship slowly onward. The matte-black hull of the prolate ellipsoid that was the ship was perfect, not marred by any protrusions or other things disturbing the impression.
"Prepare Status Amber and open channel," the Air-Mage ordered. SHield generators were brought on stand-by, target sensors brought online, and weapons brought on standby. No Falau'un ship ever would go near another ship with at least a minimum of readiness. It was common practise among Falau'un to lure other ships in and attack them without warning, so readiness was standard procedure.
"Amber enacted and channel opened, sir!"
"Thanks," he answered and turned his receivers live.
"This is the Battlecruiser Thunder of the Falau'un Council Aerial Fleet (Space), and we greet you in friendship, unidentified ships. What brings you here?" he said in an ancient dialect of what was considered former galactic standard.

[DesertFly]

Master Chief Spy Remendez smiled as he sat at the controls of his Furtive-class prowler. Arrayed before him, improbably, were ships from several empires. It was if some unheard signal had called them all here, as if some greater power had decided that the time was right to renew the galaxy, to once more bring conflict and growth to the species spread across the stars. Remendez was pleased. The report he was transcribing would surely bring him to the attention of his superiors, and might finally get him the promotion he deserved. He closed his eyes for an instant as the thought of Operative Ramirez tickled his fancy. He was abruptly jerked out of his daydream by the blaring of proximity alarms as another ship appeared, almost on top of him. He quickly activated his gravitic beam and pushed away from the Khar ship that had nearly run his ship over. This was getting more interesting by the second. He activated his message beacon and surreptitiously launched it. He smiled again. He knew that this report would make it all the way to the desk of the Visionary.

[Spyder]

"New ships keep arriving and transmitting generic welcome messages. Do we respond to each one?"

"I've got a better idea."

..."All vessels, Captains and Commanders. You are cordially invited to dinner this evening onboard the Concord vessel Ganymede. Enclosed is a schedule and further docking instructions. We hope to see you soon, Ganymede out." ...End transmission.

"Boss, don't take this the wrong way but, do you have any idea what you're doing?"

"Being in Concord is all about meeting new challenges. I know this is a little outside our normal operations but you know the office wouldn't pass up an opportunity to expand its clientel."

[Dahak]

FCAFSS Thunder, CLoud-class Battlecruiser

"What you make of it, Eris?" his second-in-command asked.
"Well," he mused, "better than have all and everyone shout to and fro using communications. I always liked direct approach."
"But you remember the Battle of Friii'jad valley? The inviting Air-Mage poisoned all of his guests in an invitation like this?"
"No risk, no fun, Krad," he chuckled. "Docking instructions... I guess we'll use the shuttle. They don't seem to be gifted." He said the last word with slight disgust."
He opened a channel to the calling vessel. "Ganymede, The Falau'un will attend. Thunder out."

[Glimmervoid]

Ignore this post – I real should not be there and since no one has talked about me yet just pretend this post never happened.

The Blaze class Cruiser Pride of Light sailed through the swirling mists of ORC covering the distances between stars at breath taking speeds. Captain Crevling had received orders last on patrol that he was to proceed at full speed to The Grater Library, to replace the guard ship currently on station which had suffered an as yet unexplained systems fault. This was an important task, with out its guard The Grater Library could be looted by anyone, the home of his ancestors desecrated. In light of this he had decided to take the shortest root straight through the core rather than the much safer arced path. His current trajectory brought him dangerously close to several other empires space but, Crevling was not scared, if he died he died, The Grater Library survival was more important than his.

as the ship was passing through the core, “Captain” the Sensor officer shouted “I am detecting a large number of ships directly in out path, I recommend be drop out of ORC a safe distance from these ships and take more acreate readings”.

The Captains response came quickly “I don’t see what a gathering of ships has to do with us, our mission is one of the most important in the Flame, and I will not jeopardize it for a gaggle of ships”

“But sir you don’t understand these ships are all fly different flag beacons, there are empires hear from all over the cluster. I believe it is vital that we find out why such a large group of empires are meeting in hear of all places”.

“Hem, I see your point, Helmsman take us out of ORC near something that will hide us at least for a while, engineering enter the ship in the black mode and Sensor Officer start passive scans of the entire system”

Some time later the Com Officer called the Caption over to his station, “Captain the Captain of a ship which seems to be called the Ganymede, has just invited the others to dinner. They seem to be at just as confused as to why people are here as us”.

“Maybe its time we make our selves,” Said the Captain “Engineering start a full power up sequence, Com officer send out a message that we would like to take up that Dinning invitation if it is open to us”.

[Companion Cube]

Shipboard communique
origin: Mediator J'wro (Tacted)
destin: general crew compartment 3
ref: transmission
stamp: command

Diplomatic Cryptography/Linguistics Team 1'rt to accompany me on first contact mission aboard alien starship "Ganymede". All personnel must be hard vacuum-enabled.

Outbound transmission
origin: LPGNN Khrve
destin: Concord Vessel "Ganymede"
ref: dinner
stamp: acceptance

We are embarking a diplomatic team onboard an unarmed shuttle.

[Duckie]

//Eqilonyt/-/Translator/-/Active//

Transmitter: NGC Crds Not Fnd LKLR Syshtar Nedjev-Oeq-Eshdagnia
Transmitter: Lord Captain Uqlutik Uneq'Rykrizib
Reciever: NGC-1338X52B III Monau-Ra, Pinpoint Loc Undeterm
Reciever: Pinpoint Loc Undeterm
Subject: Contact Established With FTL-Capable Nevaryutibiz

My Most Beneficient Lord,

Contact has been established with Nevaryutibiz of a Class IV variety. We are entering diplomatic procedures.

In such a case as this, protocol demands that I remind you that it is recommended you refer to both your own superiors for orders.

Your Humble Servant,
Lord-Captain Uqlutik Uneq'Rykrizib Oeq-Tertn-Nirtnal Na Lybonnam

The Captain paused, and hesitated over the next message. He was not comfortable boarding a Nevaryutib vessel at all, let alone unarmed as a member of a diplomatic party.

However, he was just a Destroyer Captain. Starting a war by bringing a security detachment or guns would likely not reflect well on his career summation report, to say the least.

"Syituiba?" he said, turning to his executive and steeling himself against doubts. "Prepare a party of 2 other officers."

"Where are we going?" she asked, cocking her head slightly.

"We're going to go eat," replied the captain, and replayed the "Ganimid"'s broadcast on public to the bridge.

"Kahalk (?Profanity). Hopefully they've lowered the artgrav to tolerable levels or the first thing to greet them at the dinner will be my lunch."

"That'd be an interesting one for the scribes to record as the start of interstellar warfare."

The female's smaller wing-stubs dipped in a grimace. "It hardly calls for levity. Come on, Ulut, Let's get this over with."

Transmitter: NGC Crds Not Fnd LKLR Syshtar Nedjev-Oeq-Eshdagnia
Transmitter: Lady Commander Syituiba Uneq'Laiqnairiau
Reciever: NGC Crds Not Fnd Unknown Foreign Vessel Ganimid
Reciever: Pinpoint Loc Undeterm
Subject: Acceptance Of A Gracious Offer

The Khar will be attending with a party of four on an unarmed shuttle shortly.

Graciously,
Lady Commander Syituiba Uneq'Laiqnairiau Oeq-Tertn-Nirtnal Na Eshlybonnamia

[Thirdfain]

Corewards Rim, Holdings of The Silver Flame

Space is vast and empty, a yawning gulf from which only the best prepared ever return. Against the unbelieveable distances and obscene emptiness, the light and fury of civilization seems almost insignificant. It seems easy for life to disappear against the radiation-tinged silence of the interstellar void.

However, civilization has it's little tell-tales. The wise, those trained in ancient arts or blessed with the creativity to design clever new devices, can resolve signals in the blackness, discovering the minute clues and homing in on other intelligent life across mind-numbing distances.

It was partially luck, which brought the inhabited planet to the attention of communicatrices, sonomancers, and radio-men of the ICS Stropworth Wanderer. The vessel's psonographs had gone off, setting off alarms and waking hibernating crewmen as a stray intention, borne on some random gust of FTL radio waves and sentient hopes and dreams, struck a glyph-etched reciever array.

The Stropworth Wanderer was one of fifteen pioneer ships of the Salácus Street Northwest Company's newly-commissioned fleet. Lightly armed, her 1000-meter long composite ceramic hull was studded with the huge rivets indicative of a cheaply-built, mass produced Aetherclipper. psonar recievers, radio telescopes, and diviners seemed to be placed almost randomly across her hull, the chaotically shoddy exterior interrupted only by an imposing superstructure and a lone 5cm autocannon in a naval-grade turret.

Her stern bore the colours of New Crobuzon and the Parliamentary Empire, alongside the company blazon of the Salácus Street corporate family. The paint was already marred and pitted by the oily backblast from the quintet of roaring chymical torchdrives.

The Exploration and Colonization BIll had ensured juicy government grants for those companies best-connected to the Fat Sun party, placing those like the Salacus Street club at the forefront of the new expansion. That union of bloated plutocrats had secured total rights on all expansion rimwards from Bas-Lag thanks to their grand network of patronage. Now, that investment would begin to pay itself back. The exploration ships had found their first inhabited world.

On the most corewards of the five small colonies ringing the Great Library, Quelectin technicians scurried too and fro, summoning their superiors with the news. A vessel of completely unknown design, radiating on bands which their sensors could barely track, had entered the system.

Radio signals had began from the approaching object almost as soon as the system defense sensors had commenced tracking-
1. 3. 5. 7. 11. 13. 17....

The prime number string continued, and the object's trajectory to the inhabited world did not deviate.

[Nephtys]

GNCL Emberwind, Firelance-class Light Cruiser still in low emissions operation...

Northbloom stepped through the archway onto her command bridge, deep within the bowels of the cruiser. She moved straight onto her railed off command platform, a few feet above the numerous consoles and crew below, stretching forward another thirty feet in a linear configuration. Large displays projected along the far walls, and at her station in flat holographic panels.

As her eyes danced across her displays to read first hand what was happening out there in otherwise uninteresting space, the electronics officer interupted. "Commander, Shipmind's finished decoding intercepted transmissions." she reported with a professional, neutral tone. "Preliminary translation indicates diplomatic messages from the 'Khar Imperium, Falau'un Council, Pfhor, Benefactor and Concord vessels'."

"Meeting by chance?" snapped Northbloom.
"Unknown, Commander." she replied after a brief pause.
"Hrmph. Keep monitoring."

Turning now to descend from her platform, Northbloom's fingertips touch along the edge of a pearlescent sphere. With barely a sound, the shell slides back, revealing the form of the shipboard Avatar entwined within a web of Gaiamoss. Pulsating behind her, the light green mass almost radiated onto the shell casing.

"Good morning." Northbloom began. "I understand that you---"
"Yes, Commander." intoned the serene voice of the Avatar, her eyes opening to gaze upwards. "Corefleet has instructed us to open contact peacefully. We will remain lucid and tell them of the response..."

Turning slowly away, Makina Northbloom nods. "...Right. Prepare to fire a communications beacon. Maintain low-emis. Record the following..."

Code: Select all

To all ships in the immediate area. I represent the interests and Government of the Gaian Compact, on deep patrol in this region. Many of you... are known to us. Some are not. 

To all involved, we wish to extend a hand of friendsihp... and to... ask a simple question. What ARE you all doing here??"

[Dahak]

FCAFSS Thunder, CLoud-class Battlecruiser

The ship's communication station picked up the new signal, normal and targetting sensors touched for its origin. Air-Mage Drif'ayn looked at the sensor readings and gestured his communication officer to open a channel.
"Battlecruiser Thunder of the Falau'un Council Aerial Fleet (Space) to Gaian ship. We also extend a hand of friendship, always interested in friendly relations with other species. As for the purpose, we are on a exploratory mission. As for the others, we cannot know. Thunder out".

[Glimmervoid]

Corewards Rim, Holdings of The Silver Flame

OOC: Minor note my capital planet is the Lesser Library not the Great Library, the Greater Library was destroyed in the age of silver and is on the other side of the Star Cluster.

Alarms sounded on the colony of Shearwater, sensors had just detected a large incoming ship or at least that, thought Marshal General Coldrock was what the technician was trying to tell him as they hurried through corridors.

As the pair smashed open the door of the Planetary Defense Coordination Room a technician was shouting out a list of numbers “7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41 …”

“What is that you are saying” snapped the Marshal General

“A list of numbers being transmitted by the alien ship, they appear to all be Prime numbers sir” replied the startled technician, he was not at all use to being addressed by a Military Official,

“Dose any one have a theory why” the General Asks after a few moments of silence he added “Anyone”.

“If I had to gees, Sir” said the same technician, whom quite against his will seemed to have become the unofficial spokesperson “I would say that they are trying to show they are intelligent and possibly determine if we are as well”.

“Don’t you think the fact that they are flying a Kilometer long starship and we are transmitting ORC singles in to space would have told them that” Asked Coldrock quietly so no other than is second in command who had taken the seat beside him could hear and then said out load for everyone “Any suggestions as to what we do”

”I recommend we jump a few numbers ahead of them and start transmitting our self, that would show we are intelligent and then we could attempt to contact using are langue data base” said the technician after it became clear that he was the only willing to talk.

The second in command added “We should also send a call to add to the Lesser Library, this is all being transmitted as standard of course but the admiralty at home could just start blasting as soon as there ships get here, with out understanding the situation. I would recommend we have the fleet stay out system but with in there sensory range and have the second guard mobilized to be deployed for combat landings.”

“Very well said Marshal General, send the singles to alien ship and to home world”.

[Spyder]

The Concord uniforms weren't traditionally militaristic, but they were professional. A group were standing in line near the Ganymede's docking corridor, a hallway joining the various airlocks where the guests would be arriving. The Captain stood at the end, ready to greet the new guests.

"The first arrival has successfully docked."

[Dahak]

FCAFSS Thunder, CLoud-class Battlecruiser

When it was time, the Air-Mage, his second-in-command, and communications officer got aboard a shuttle. They'd have prefered to teleport, but they used the shuttles to not raise any suspicion ina first contact situation.

The shuttle left the battlecruiser and approached the Concord ship, waiting to dock. When they finally docked, they got up and strode to greet the Concord officials waiting for them.
Nearly two meters tall, the three Falau'un looked impressive in their uniforms. Falau'un uniforms were coloured black and blood-red. The traditional cloak was made of black leather and had blood-red ornaments. The high cloak collar flared out from the neck and went up to cheek-level of the wearer.All in all, Air-Mage Drif'ayn and his colleagues looked fiercely militaristic and seemed to exude a innate self-confidence.
"Thank you for the invitation, Captain," he said in only slightly accented standard. "We are looking forward to this evening."

[Nephtys]

GNCL Emberwind, Firelance-class Light Cruiser twiddling it's thumbs nearby...

Makina Northbloom read her reply from the Falau'un with a smirk. "A diplomatic gathering of races... I'd assume from the lack of violence ensuing..." her hands folded behind her back, white polymer-suited gloves clasping each other.

"That is what we believe." the melodious voice of her ship's Avatar says in reply, the form of the woman entwined in the gaiamoss looking towards her peacefully. "Corefleet has been informed. We are being instructed to explore.To learn. To probe... into their identities and motivations."

As her command team worked to continue hiding their ship, Makina twists her neck, stretching momentarilly to loosen the joint. "We aren't equipped with any diplomats. How will---" she was interupted yet again.

"You are their chosen, Commander. Corefleet and We agree that sending a small diplomatic team of your officers is the best course of action. Please heed our wishes..."

Makina cursed softly beneath her breath, not wishing the Avatar to hear. She steps and brushes the edge of her hand through her hair. "Bring up Midshipwoman Maedi and Ship's Lieutenant Morrownoon, and warm Pinnace One's reactor." she snaps towards one of her officers. To another, she pauses for a moment. "Insert core in six forward torpedos, and set MCB batteries to standby in case we have trouble returning."

With a twist in her step, the Commander begins to make her way off the ship. What a day this was. Deprived of sleep, and now ready to talk diplomacy with upwards of a half dozen foreign nations. Gaia had better know what she was doing...

***

Docking soon after aboard what seemed to be the meeting place, the small pinnace clamped along side of the alien vessel, it's hatches unsealing. Clad within their single-peice white skinsuits, the three officers of the Gaian Compact stepped out, with thin helmets sealed atop their uniforms. With heads high, the trio disembarks cautiously onto the primitive vessel that had welcomed them.

It was alien. Built of metals and designs that they had never seen before. Makina manages to overcome her reactions long enough to greet her host with a nod. Human. Or nearly so. A flat paneled screen pops up before her face, indicating the atmosphere was safe. She carefully unseals a helmet, brushing back her shortly cut hair and smiling.

"What a lovely... ship... you have." Northboom begins in the most diplomatic tone she can muster. "I'll take this time to say... the Compact extends it's open welcome of all political entities bordering her space." she smiles politely. Planethell, this was going to be an awful night.

[Spyder]

"It is indeed an honor to have you with us." The Captain spoke to the Air-Mage before he was approached by the Gain approached.The Captain was a man of average height (for a human), solid build and was clean shaven with short black hair.

"We do our best. Although if I had known that we were to receive someone as charming as yourself I would have brought something of a more appropriate grandeur."

The Air-Mage caught sight of the woman standing next to the captain rolling her eyes. The touch of yellow betrayed her nature as being not quite human. If anyone mistook the silver skinned male humanoid with no ears, nose or mouth standing to the right of the Captain as human, they'd be blind.

"My appologies, where are my manners. My name is Captain Jonas Treia and welcome aboard the Ganymede."

[Dahak]

The Air-Mage was good looking, just a few centimeters over 2 meters tall, his head engulfed in a mane of midnight-black hair, his pointed ears just poking out a bit of it. He looked young for his 120 years (like a healthy 20-something in less long-living species). A pleasant smile adorned his beautiful face.
"Air-Mage Eris Drif'ayn, House Del'Chu," he slightly bowed. "Do we wait for the other guests?"

[Companion Cube]

OOC: Apologies for being late; blame it on shoddy Pfhor sublight drives.

The spherical shuttle carrying Mediator J'wro bumped gently to a halt against the flank of the Ganymede, the malmetal airlock reconfiguring to provide a seal. Following a hiss of equalizing atmospheres, the ad hoc diplomatic team stepped into a the airlock corridor. Further within lay a collection of alien figures.

J'wro recognised these. Most seemed to be derivatives of a bipedal mammal species which had expanded across the galaxy some millennia previously, a foot or so shorter than the skeletal Pfhor. Over the suit radios, the specialist beside J'wro spoke:

"Atmosphere checks as normal; gravity at 1.3PG. Microbial analysis comes up clean, there's nothing lethal here." Here came an awkward moment: Which of these aliens was the captain? J'wro was leaning towards greeting the closest of the taller ones, when the Ganymede's captain spoke.

[Lancer]

ooc: Establishing contact with my neighbors on my east & south-east. Those to my north and north-east can feel free to jump in as well.

Avalonian League heavy destroyer Celeritas, in subspace en transit to Chaya, eastern Avalonian space.

"Captain, Eastern FleetCom has sent us new orders. Long range sensors on Chaya have detected a group of energy emissions four lightyears out from Chaya, on the edge of Avalonian space. They are consistent with starships, but match no Avalonian profiles. We are divert from our patrol to investigate."
"Confirmed. Helm, adjust our course. Take us out of hyperdrive a light-second from the closest emission source."
"Aye Captain. Laying in the new heading, ETA twenty seconds at our current velocity."

In a brillant flash of blue-tinted light, the Celeritas dropped out of hyperdrive, its iridescent blue hull shimmering as light from the transition out of subspace reflected off of forcefield-reinforced armor. The Celeritas, like all light Avalonian warships, looked decievingly like a crystalline work of art rather than the rugged warship it really was.

"Comm, prepare the standard first-contact translation matrix."
"Aye Captain."

The Captain of the Celeritas placed his hand on a panel in his chair and with a thought, hailed the alien vessels on all standard channels.

"Alien vessels, you are in Avalonian League space. Identify yourselves and state your purpose."

[Pablo Sanchez]

"Concord vessel Ganymede, this is the Freehold armored cruiser Seeker, we request permission to send an emissary to your ship."

[Spyder]

"Permission granted Seeker, we await your arrival."