Read Another Star :: Chapter 6 - Initial Contacts - Part 1

I’m not at all surprised when we hear nothing from either side by the end of the day. Our government structures are pretty loose, relying heavily on the AI members of our administration to mostly just sort things out amongst themselves, but I can see that whatever these two groups decide will need to be measured and discussed within their respective governments.

Even having heard nothing by the time I’m ready to go to bed isn’t all that concerning. The northern faction has already scored a single point from me for setting up a transmission on a given frequency and broadcasting directly at the Manannan. Okay, so it just says ‘please stand by’, but even that is a start.

I’m happy to give Minerva my permission for yet another night of Nexima therapy. I’d spent enough time on Verus in my youth to have a fair grasp of that particular language even before I was old enough to get my implant, but it was always the first thing that any regular visitor to that particular world had done. This session is a top-up that will improve my understanding and vocabulary for both languages as our knowledge has progressed. It’s routine but still needs official permission.

We don’t expect those we are contacting to be able to do anything even slightly similar to this, so the onus is on us to make ourselves understood and to be able to understand. Watching the morning news reports from both sides while I eat some breakfast is a good way to check that my secondary lessons have worked as expected. Not that I ever doubted their efficacy.

I don’t get to finish my breakfast, receiving an incoming message from Minerva to tell me that we are being contacted. I barely have time to confirm that I’m on my way before dashing out of my apartment and towards the main administration building just a short distance away.

Melina and Rob meet me in the main corridor, ushering me towards the same lecture room that was full for yesterday’s broadcast.

“The AIs handled the initial contact, just sending and receiving plain text messages to confirm our willingness to talk and establishing the parameters for a video conference between us and them,” she tells me.

“Which side?” Rob asks.

“The north. I understand that the south has also set up a carrier, although there has been no formal contact from them just yet. Much of their territory is a couple of hours or so behind, based on the sunrise terminator.”

“So, do we have a script or am I supposed to wing this?” I ask worriedly.

“Yes and no,” Melina says. “When we start, Axios and Romulus will join us and link through your Nexima. They will remain off-camera, but they’ll follow the whole thing and make it look like you have full authority – which you actually do – to speak on our behalf. This is also where Rob comes in.”

Rob actually stops in confusion, before realizing that we’ve carried on into the room without him. He quickly catches up. “What do I need to do then?”

“The arrangement for contact specifically specified the president and their aides. We’re not sure what that actually means, but we’d like you to put on a uniform jacket and stand just behind Darren. Can you manage to look like a military attaché or some sort of bodyguard?”

“I don’t need to speak?”

“No, but feel free to make it clear that you understand what’s being said. That’s really important if they say anything obviously dumb.”

“Yes, I can do that,” Rob agrees. He moves off to one side and takes a look at a selection of military uniforms on a rack by the door. They seem a little anachronistic to me, but I’m sure they’ll have the desired effect.

I wasn’t expecting a woman and it throws me off my planned greeting for just a moment. She is sitting in what is clearly an important office and there are several others – both men and women – standing behind her. I manage to catch myself quickly, however and take a quick breath before I begin.

“Welcome. My name is Darren Quilliam. It is our convention to have a personal name and a family name, giving the family name second. I am happy for you to call me by my given name.”

“I did not expect to be able to speak to you directly,” the woman begins, slightly bemused by my obvious ability to speak their language fluently. “My name is Hadar. I am the elected President of Nimheld. Our personal naming conventions are similar to your own, but our family names are long and complicated and usually omitted.”

“Convention here tells me to call you Madame President. I have no formal designation, having been chosen as a spokesperson because I am familiar with our exploration programme.”

“Well, your arrival has certainly caused considerable activity on our world. I feel I should apologise for the delay in speaking with you, but we have had to liaise considerably with our enemies in the south.”

“I trust that we have not caused any difficulties?” I ask carefully.

“No, on the contrary. We wished to agree a cease-fire for a short period, at least until both sides have had a chance to speak with you,” Hadar tells me.

<They’re ready to speak right after this call,> Axios tells me through my implant. <We’ve told them you are busy for a few minutes.>

“I understand they are waiting to speak to me shortly,” I tell my present audience. “We’re happy to speak to you or your people at length, but this initial contact must be brief to avoid any appearance of favouritism. We really don’t want to get involved in your internal conflicts.”

“I understand, Darren. Now that contact has been formally established, I’d like to welcome you to our planetary system. Maybe we can speak again shortly?” She makes my name sound a little strange, a long rolling ‘r’ in the middle being a bit disconcerting.

“Yes, Madame President. Thank you for your call.”

“Can I have five minutes before the next one Axios?” I ask with a glance at his avatar.

<Doesn’t look like the southerners are going to be quite as easy-going,> Romulus adds. <They already sound quite annoyed at being second, even if it’s of their own making. The early bird and all that.>

“Great. Just bloody great,” I groan before gathering myself back together. “Whatever. Ready when you are.”

This time, the focus of attention is male, sitting behind a grand desk and in a military-looking uniform with some sort of collection of awards or medals down one sleeve. He is surrounded by others, all male and similarly dressed. Well, not much I can do other than begin in exactly the same way as I did for the President.

“Welcome. My name is Darren Quilliam. It is our convention to have a personal name and a family name, giving the family name second. I am happy for you to call me by my given name.”

“How…” the man begins before checking himself and starting again. “And you speak for the invaders?”

Yeah, it’s going to go like that then. I shouldn’t really be surprised. “I do speak for Earth and her allied worlds. It is considered polite to at least give me your name before making accusations as to our intentions.”

I get the faintest impression of Rob, just a few feet behind my shoulder, making a part step forward and coming to attention. If they want to play tough, then I’m now more than happy to go along. After all, what can they do to me; I’m two dozen light years away. I raise one hand ever so slightly, indicating that Rob is to stand down. He’s more than smart enough to do just that, stepping back and relaxing slightly.

“I… I am General Hudrin. I am the supreme commander of the Stenheld Republic.”

“I am pleased to meet you, General. Now, what can we do for you and your people?”

“Stop speaking to those rebels from the north. We are happy to speak with you, but you must have nothing to do with that scum.”

“I’m afraid we form our own opinions, General. For the time being, we will keep our own counsel and make our own minds up. We have a desire to stop and learn more about your people – all the people of your world – but still have time to change course and leave you to fight to the end.”

“An end where we will be victorious,” the General tells me with only a hint of a sneer.

“We learned many centuries ago that there are no winners in planetary conflict, General. It took us many years to recover and thrive. I don’t believe that your world has the resources to do so, but I’m prepared to wish you luck.”

“What do you know of our resources? Spies?”

“They are not needed. We can intercept your electronic transmissions at will and have gathered a comprehensive picture of your world. You lack the technology to recycle and switch to renewable energy quickly enough to make the transition. This holds true whether you beat your enemies or not.”

“Nonsense. We will win and we will be the stronger for our victory.”

“I’m afraid your information is less comprehensive than ours, then. We’re still happy to speak further, but we won’t be bullied. There’s nothing you can do to harm us. Good day, General.”

Axios has the whole thing under control and cuts the link before the general can say anything else. <What an obnoxious little man,> he manages once the line has dropped.

“Yes,” Rob agrees. “Still, he’s surely not as stupid as he just appeared. I’m pretty sure they’ll be back on the line soon enough.”

“So am I,” I agree. “I’m assuming that the plan is we give them a day or two before we ask for formal permission to come into orbit?”

<That’s what we would prefer,> Romulus agrees. <What we said in the initial broadcast still applies. If one side or the other doesn’t want us to stop, then we don’t stop. Nexi is ready to boost out at any time. We have four days or so before we have to make a final decision. Beyond that, we’ll have to make a very close approach at the very least. It’ll look like an orbital insertion until it doesn’t and that will be dangerous.>

“At least we can now see what both sides are really like,” Rob suggests. “I know who I prefer so far, but that’s really not what this is all about right now.”

“No,” I agree. “What we now need is some agreement on a definitive position from this end. Do we try to be mediators or do we just stay as observers. I’m with you, Rob. I know which side I’d like to deal with, but we really can’t take sides, no matter what we decide to do going forward. We can’t judge a whole country by their leader.”

<Well, if nothing else, it confirms that we were right to hide the existence of the AIs,> Romulus tells us. <It would clearly be far too much for them to be dealing with. The shock at our – sorry, Darren, your – linguistic abilities looks like it was more than enough for a starter.>

“It didn’t go unnoticed,” I agree. “Wait until they realize that dozens of us can speak with them. The General is going to freak out.”

<Well, for the time being, you are our primary spokesperson, whether you like it or not. We will quickly introduce specialists for them to talk to, but you’re at the point of the spear.>

“That’s just great!” I manage to groan. “In the meantime, can we start to see what we can offer in exchange for them allowing us to enter orbit or even land the ship?”

“What do I do while this is all going on?” Rob asks.

<Well, I think the role of bodyguard/advisor works well. You can help with whatever you like behind the scenes, but we would like you to pay particular attention to their weapons technology and whatever you can find out about their actual military capabilities. There is no way that the AIs or any living members of the administration will allow anyone to land without knowing just how dangerous it might be.>

“Not exactly what I signed up for, but I see why we need to put on the act. Just a couple of things before I’m on camera again though.”

“Well, firstly, I need to get a proper uniform. I have an earth-force dress uniform at home, but I’ll have to pop back to Cambridge to get it.”

<That’s not an issue. The other thing?>

“I want to be armed, even here on Earth for video calls. Everyone from Stenheld appeared to be armed and I don’t want them to think that we lack even basic sidearms.”

<It’s a fair point. I don’t think we have a problem with it, but I’ll confirm before you go onscreen again.>