《New Horizons》Ch.3 Meetings

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As the 'Human' told its story, Captain Saule gathered the crew to the side of the habitat, away from the comms, "What is everyone's opinion on this, this digital Persona, whatever that is, can we trust it?" He whispered to the crew, looking each of them in the eyes.

Naytani responded quietly, her eyes down and dim in thought. "I think I know what it means by digital persona, and I'm not sure if we have a choice but to trust it right now."

"I think we can, it's had multiple chances to destroy us. It's been incredibly patient and fair so far,," Wensly added, his voice and eyes bright.

Stuhkey rebutted, a note of alarm in his voice, glancing at the Captain, "Yes but we haven't had a chance to send a transmission back to Y.S.A. yet, saying we found an alien probe and oh hey it wants to arrange a meeting between species. It still has every chance to kill us, and take anything it wants from our ship."

"But what do we have that it wants? It obviously has the capacity to make what it requires from local sources, it came from somewhere not here, so obviously better engines, and it even managed to tap into our ships systems from afar..." Naytani drifted off, as she looked down at the inter-ship comm bands they all wore on their arms.

At that, all their radios beeped and the voice of the Human came through, deep but with a palpable smile in it.

"Took you guys long enough to figure that out. If I really wanted to be all nefarious and sinister, I'd have just sent a broadcast to the entire planet saying you were now part of the Glorious Imperium of Man, demanding tribute of rare metals, threatening to crack your planet, etc. "

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"All I really want is for our two peoples to become friends or be able to share the galaxy together without [Error].... Umm, without competition."

The Captain asked, a loaded look towards Stuhkey, "When do you need to hear our response? It may take some time for our government to make a decision and make any, nessecary preparations."

The radio responded, "They haven't even gotten the message yet, I'd guess you've got about, hmmm, [three weeks] before a ship could get here, if they decide to immediately send a ship. Or [one week] if they decide to have me act as the intermediary, so about that long."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, then realising they were still huddled on one side of the hab, returned to their seats. As he slid into the main terminal seat, Saule asked, "What if our government doesn't want to meet at all?"

A few moments passed while Naytani and Wensly chatted about the future, Stuhkey hurriedly sent a transmission back home detailing what was happening, still doubtful of the alien. Saule checked a few inconsequential systems as he waited for the human's response.

Quietly, the human responded through Saule's radio, "Then I guess we'll leave your people alone for as long as we can, we'll continue to explore without you. We may eventually meet but we could also never meet again. I'll leave the system after flagging it as forbidden to all humans."

Wensly blurted out, eyes wide and flashing, "You can't say that, we only just contacted you! Surely if you would contact our government dire-"

"Wensly! That is neither our call or responsibility, we need to let our superiors make that decision," Captain Saule barked.

"I have to abide by my contract when it comes to matters like this. No contact other than the initial introduction and arrangement of a beacon." Eli followed through Wensly's comm, with a sound like an exhale of air.

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"If I stay in contact with you after this, I could be deactivated for a period of [hundred and thirty two years]. You need to contact your leaders and then let me know if they consent to a satellite meeting area being created. I'm leaving you a way to contact me with your response."

And with that, all the radios chirped and from the few viewports they watched the white human craft turn and accelerate away, it's engines glowing white-blue. In its wake, a long white cylinder floated in place, with an access port modelled after thier own ships docking module on its side.

"Well I guess we know why the ring is barren around here. Looks like it was making that," Naytani bluntly stated, "I guess we have a bit to wait now for instructions."

"I guess we do..." Saule sighed, rubbing his eyes. "That could have gone worse I guess, let's get some rest and wait for home to respond to Stuhkey's message."

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