"We are ready to initiate the first test of the jump-drive, Sir," said Lieutenant Fallborn.

"Very well, input navigation telemetry to RA 14h 39m 37s | Dec -60° 50′ 2, and prepare to engage," Captain Winterborn ordered.

Lieutenant Fallborn entered the coordinates into her console, "Sir, coordinates are entered and the course laid in."

Captain Winterborn looked on reflectively, "This test could be what redefines space travel for all of Humanity. Instead of traveling at warp, taking weeks, months, or years on a voyage, we will be there in moments. This could be the single most impactful event in history. With that said, engage the jump-drive Lieutenant."

Lieutenant Fallborn entered the code required to unlock the controls, and with great solemnity, pressed the button the engage a jump.

The world went white.

They could feel themselves being twisted and bent, as if their souls were being compressed and stretched.

Moments later, reality reasserted itself - the world no longer washed out in white nothingness.

"I can't believe it..." whispered Winterborn, "we've done it! We've traveled using a jump-drive!" The ship burst into cheers of joy and pleasure. They all knew what this would mean for them, and for humanity as a whole.

As she gazed triumphantly out the viewing port, she noticed something was definitely wrong.

"Lieutenant Fallborn! What are our current coordinates?"

"Sir...I don't believe this. The instruments must be faulty..." Her voice was low, worried.

"Lieutenant, I need an answer now!" Winterborn barked.

"Sir, according to our instruments, we are in a different spiral arm of the galaxy..."

Suddenly, the panel flashed to life, blinking and blaring the distinct warning that radio communications were occurring nearby. "Wait...that isn't possible," Fallborn stammered, "Sir, we're picking up signals indicating intelligent life in the system."

The Captain's blood ran cold, "First contact? On top of everything else, we have confirmation of alien life?"

"Sir, there seems to be a planet in the system with signs of advanced life. From the debris field surrounding their planet, they appear to be space capable," she reported.

The Captain sighed heavily, "Well, let's go and say hello."

They arrived at the planet in good order, sending out a message of universal peace and brotherhood. The message being broadcast simultaneously in every Human language, and in binary sequence.

"Sir, they have received our message. They are not responding."

"I wonder what they're waiting for-" the rest of the Captain's sentence was cut short by an advanced looking ship pulling to port of her vessel. "Shit!" she exclaimed.

"Something's happening, Sir, it appears as though the aliens have accessed our translation sub-systems!" exclaimed Fallborn, "They have interfaced with the A.I. Core, I'm reading a massive data exchange."

Winterborn mentally accessed her neural implant, a clear green overlay came to life in front of her eyes. "What the hell? They've downloaded our entire lexicon-library...Well, I assume this means they'll want to talk." Flicking her eyes to the side, she sent an alert to Junior Lieutenant Ava Springborn, "Attention security chief, our security system has been breached. Diagnose vulnerability in our computer systems. Also, send a security team to the main airlock. This is first contact, so ensure security forces aren't seen. Winterborn out."

An affirmative answer was shortly received.

"Sir, they are requesting permission to board. What should I say? Also, they're speaking English, Sir," Fallborn reported.

"So, their translation A.I. must be advanced...Well say yes, dammit, we need to make sure this goes well."

Their response given, they waited near the docking bay. As the doors opened, they could make out three aliens standing in the airlock. They were a deep crimson, with five scaled arms. Their eyes were deep, slanted gashes in their skulls. The Captain was vaguely disturbed by the location of the fifth arm, it rested on the upper back, an omnidirectional joint seemed to allow total freedom of movement.

The only thing the crew found more surprising than their appearance, was what they did when the doors opened - they threw themselves to the ground in supplication.

Winterborn dropped to the cold metal floor, mimicking the posture of the aliens, and gesturing for Fallborn to do the same.

The visitors seemed shocked, almost scandalized by the action. The lead alien questioned her, "Why do you bow, master? You are the ones to discover us, not the other way around."

"Ah, I'm sorry. We don't know the custom," Winterborn stood and dusted her uniform.

"Never apologize to one as lowly as I, good master, unless of course it is your pleasure. According to galactic law, any species which discovers another is given dominion over that species. For the first time, my species seems to be the one discovered." While she had difficulty interpreting their facial expressions, they seemed vaguely relieved.

"Wait, how many species have your people discovered? How often is this an issue?" asked Winterborn.

The creature chittered, "At current count...438. Of course, your species now controls them all as well."

Fallborn fell to her knees. The Captain felt like following her lead—how would she explain to her superiors that they had accidentally conquered 439 species?

Captain Winterborn stood straight, forcing herself to be calm. "I'm afraid I don't really understand. Why would this be a law which everyone follows? It doesn't make sense."

The alien cocked its head, "Of course it does master. Before we initiated this law, there was anarchy—complete and total war. Everyone fought one another. At this time, there were only about fifty known space faring species. The law was passed after the bloodiest day in recorded history."

The Captain sat, contemplative, "I see. So, by establishing this rule of conduct, you make the entire point to discover new civilizations as fast as possible. I have a question though," she paused to consider her phrasing, "What happens when a species disobeys the law? What if they don't give up their sovereignty?"

Sharp wheezes erupted from the aliens, "I apologize for laughing, master. Did you forget that we previously controlled 438 species? That's 438 fleets, 438 armies, 438 civilizations which can supply their resources to an effort of war."

Captain Winterborn nodded slowly, "Yes...Yes, I'm sure that would give anyone pause." It certainly gave her pause.

Fallborn stood up, her legs still shaky, "Sir, if I may?"

"Speak freely Lieutenant," Winterborn replied.

"Well, obviously there are more questions than answers right now, but I'd just like to know—what happens when a subject race discovers another one? Do we take control? Or are they under the supervision of the race which discovers them?"

The aliens chittered together before answering, "Ultimately, that is down to the judgement of the First Species. When we were the First, we preferred fairly direct leadership, insisting that each planet have a delegation of First there to assist in leading the government."

"Excuse me, would you? We need to confer," the Captain pulled Fallborn around the corner. "We need to report to central command. We need their permission before deciding anything here."

"Sir," Fallborn said in a strained whisper, "I agree, we don't rank highly enough for this to be our problem."

"When we get back, we'll get into contact with Admiral Fortha Summerborn. It'll be her issue," Winterborn smiled in relief.

At their return, the lead alien prostrated itself further, "This one apologizes for its temerity, master, but we could not help but overhear..."

"...You couldn't help but overhear a whispered conversation through multiple layers of bulkhead?" Winterborn asked, astonished.

"We have exceptionally sharp hearing, master. I apologize once more for our transgression. I'm afraid that you do not understand the entire significance of what has transpired. The species which found us is the new governing species, yes. But more than that, YOU are the commanding officer of the vessel which discovered us. You are the new ruler of the First Empire. You are in fact, The Prime."

Captain Winterborn, Prime of the First Empire, First of her name, passed out—smacking her head heavily on the floor.