First Contact

Posted on Fri Mar 17th, 2023 @ 2:28pm by T'Ryllia Ll'Shiaray'Neruil & Commander Daynah Ral & Commander Rhupert Tyree & Lieutenant Jayden Meran

1,905 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Prelude to War
Location: Mira Sector Federation Border
Timeline: Current

[ON]

The TRSS Ministers Pride, a Trelan battle frigate, the ship dwarfed any known ship that the UFP had, the ship had arrived at the point in the Mira Sector just outside the boarders where that tiny ship was seen over a standard month ago they had gotten here two weeks shy of the next visit, so now they sit there cloaked in the location that would put them directly in front of them, but they remained cloaked after all this was the first time one of their ships had been outside their system.

Duties of TRSS Ministers Pride continued on as normal when one day the proximity alert on the ship sounded making the crew rush to their stations Shiara arrived on the bridge and looked at the Captain "what is it, Captain?" She asked.

He looked at her "It is a ship its profile and colours match that of the ship we were sent to meet them, Ambassador" he answered.

She thought for a moment as she put a helmet on, protocol after all upon meeting a new species they were not to show their faces until initial agreements had been made, the rest of the crew put them on, and she stepped in front of the holographic view-screen "open a hailing channel Captain" she said and a moment later there was a beep indicating they had opened a channel, now she had to remember to speak Federation Standard.

* * * *

Aboard the USS Valiant, Rhu semi-lounged in his command seat. The ship felt and sounded right and that was what mattered most to him right now as he reviewed plans for the upcoming weapons updates that Valiant was (at some point) due to getting.

More and more automation was coming to the Fleet and he wasn't sure he approved. Shrugging he was alerted to an incoming Com's signal. Glancing up, he cast an eye toward the officer standing Tactical watch and they shrugged. "Nothing on the sensors," Captain, the woman reported. "That's a direct signal. No relay tags or indications it's bounced around."

"Cloaked then," Rhu said, standing. "Yellow Alert."

As Valiant and her crew began spooling up from the semi-dormancy he straightened his dress tunic and glanced over at tactical. "Alright. Open hailing frequencies.

Turning to the view screen, he clasped his hands behind his back and said into the pickups, "This is Commander Rhupert Tyree of the USS Valiant to an unknown ship. Please identify yourself."

The View-screen came to life but the ship remained cloaked, and Shiara got a good look at the compact bridge in heavily accented Federation Standard with her voice sounding mechanized due to the helmet =/\= Greetings Commander Rhupert Tyree of the USS Valiant, you may address me as Ambassador T'Rilla Ll'Shiarai'Neruil, but if you have trouble speaking the full name you have my permission to refer to me as Ambassador Shiara, you are somewhat late, our recon stealth probes have been watching this area of space, but no matter you are here and negotiations can begin, first off you have shown me your ship it is only right I show you mine =/\= she said.

If anyone was watching they would see a spot directly in front of the Defiant class ship shimmer, a very large shimmer as the currently largest vessel in the sector decloaked, it was big but had smooth lines and it bristled with Firepower, it was Red and White in colour, all Shiara could do now is wait for the response.

Rhu watched the alien ship de-cloak and bridled slightly at the Ambassador's tone.

Posturing. Waving tech around. This was a job for a capital ship and probably an Admiral.

He had real work to do.

"Greetings on behalf of Dimitri Turgenev, President of the United Federation of Planets, Ambassador T'Rilla Ll'Shiarai'Neruil." Rhu sounded out the Ambassador's name, trying it as he continued. "Out of respect for your races preferred, at least up until now, seclusion. The President dispatched the Valiant to answer your request and me and her crew instead of a full diplomatic mission."

Smiling slightly as he kept calm eyes on the view screen, he asked, "So. What's on your mind, Ambassador? How may we accommodate you?"

=/\=Captain, my people have been isolated for centuries, and I must warn you we are telepathic and some of your crew have concerns about our cloaking. So I will say this to put yourselves into our shoes, you have decided to come out of your isolation after centuries and sensors can only tell you so much, so you send out a scout ship with a cloaking device and it is used to make sure that unwanted contact is avoided. As for how you can accommodate me, I have been tasked with opening up a trade negotiation, which may one day lead to an Alliance, but before that, both our peoples need to get to know each other" she paused "so Captain are you authorized to start negotiations?=/\= she asked, her helmet making her face unreadable.

Daynah stood to the Captain's right the place where tradition dictated her to be in situations like this. If it were not for the memories of Alaryc Ral, Daynah's face would have betrayed her thoughts. She had a bad taste in her mouth of sorts for these Trelan. In her opinion, you don't approach a mission of peace and first contact under a cloak. However, despite those thoughts, her face remained genial and all smiles. For the moment she was more than contented to keep her thoughts to herself and her mouth closed.

Rhu maintained his field rest position as he gazed at the view screen and took a few beats to formulate his reply. He'd felt the alien thoughts probing at them before they'd uncloaked and knew others among the crew likely had as well. "Intent is a major stumbling point in any First Contact, Ambassador. Just as your people have concerns, so do mine. We however have a duty to perform. That duty is to welcome you and convey you and your delegation to the Sol system where the President and select members of his cabinet would do the bulk of negotiations."

Taking a breath and keeping his tone light, he continued. "To answer your question: Yes. I have authority as Master and Commander of this Vessel to Negotiate some things on behalf of the President and the Federation, pending ratification. We have a space prepared and welcome you aboard so we can start to get to know one another."

=/\=Excellent Captain, I assure you that we do not intrude on other species' thoughts, so your secrets are your own, when not actively using our telepathy we are natural Empaths, I thought I would say this, in the hopes of putting your crew's minds at rest. As for the invitation I accept, your ship seems a bit too small in height for me, is there a place we can meet on your ship?=/\= Shiara asked.

Rhu made sure his mind was shrouded and tried to keep his irritation from showing. He'd just said that? Smiling, he said, "Yes Ambassador, as it happens we hosted a Federation Ambassador not all that long ago and converted a shuttle bay that we hope you will find more than adequate. With this meeting in mind, we made some additional changes."

Glancing at his chrono, he said, "I'm having the space set for a small gathering of my officers, yourself and entourage in two hours if that's acceptable?"

As Daynah stood there and observed the exchange, the talk of telepathy and empathy reminded her to allow all of Ral's emotions and the symbiote's memories to flood her mind. Normally she would control what came to the forefront and when it came as part of the joining process. However, years ago Trill discovered that by allowing the symbiote to flood the host's brain they could not be read by telepaths or empaths. Said telepath or empath could not decipher what was a memory or what was real. Daynah employed this method now she did not trust these newcomers at least not at the moment and would make sure that they got nothing from her.

Shiara tilted her head to the right as she studied the two officers "You still appear uncomfortable, you have no need Captain, what you think and such we will not intrude " she said assuringly, then moved on to another subject "how soon can you have this area you speak of ready Captain?" She asked.

Jayden got up. "If we consider the height of our guests, might I suggest the shuttle bay? I believe it is still set for our last diplomatic encounter. It's spacious enough. I can work with ops to set everything up there." He turned to the screen and looked at Shiara. "Is there something we should keep in mind for your arrival? Dietary needs? Also, I think it would make my colleagues at ease if we would approach this as non-telepaths. Despite our being open, it is in our nature to be cautious. Not everyone we encountered has been so forthcoming. I do hope you understand, for a species that has always been in isolation."

=/\=I can whole-heartedly agree to approach it as non-telepaths, as for the dietary needs, we can eat what we can, for the most part, and the location is acceptable I would offer my ship for the meeting, but my chef has no experience on the foods you have in the Federation, how long do you need to set things up, Captain?=/\= Shiara asked.

"Two hours should be satisfactory," Rhu stated again. "When. you're ready, Ambassador. My officers and I will be happy to receive you."

She nodded once =/\=two standard hours it is Captain Tyree, I will transport myself over to your ship at that time as our shuttles are bigger than what you could fit in your ship, but until then Captain=/\= Shiara said and signed off.

Rhu let the link close then pinched the bridge of his nose. "Alright folks. Let's get this show on the road. XO, Jayden. Please compare notes and let's try to get our best foot forward. I have a feeling we are in interesting times..."

"Norah Ral, one of my previous hosts the diplomat. He was famous for saying that diplomacy was the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way that they ask for directions. I believe we can achieve just such a goal here." Dyanah smiled broadly. She could tell that not many of the crew would enjoy this diplomatic mission, the least of which was the Captain.

"My Aunt always said, diplomacy is always a way of getting the best parts for our side. I can only imagine how she would have looked at that ship outside, knowing that that was the smallest ship in their fleet," Jayden smirked. "Anyways, let's see what they have to say. Escort them. For now, I do believe they need us to achieve their goal, otherwise, they wouldn't have suggested meeting on our ship. At the moment I rather have this played out in our home court. I rather not be stuck on their ship.


[OFF]

Ambassador T'Rilla Ll'Shiarai'Neruil
TRSS Ministers Pride

Commander Daynah Ral
Executive Officer
USS Valiant

Commander Rupert Tyree
Master and Commander
USS Valiant

Lieutenant Jayden Meran
Chief Counselor and Second Officer
USS Valiant.

 

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