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A/N: As I mentioned last week I’ll be stopping taking prompts for a few weeks while I build up some buffer. (Torvawk, I’m saving your prompt from last week’s comments for when I tart taking them again).

—

The Bridge of the contact ship was partitioned as well, a fact which made Amanpreet frown. While Fish and Sticks could both be modified to carry passengers of multiple species quite easily they were usually only crewed by one species – or two for the Ishtari – because of their radically different physiological needs. Indeed Amanpreet had never heard of a multi-environment crew before but that was obviously what she was seeing here.

She mentioned it to Rick who laughed quietly.

“All contact vessels have multi-environment crews,” he explained. “So all our species can claim equal partnership in the contact.”

“Ah!” Amanpreet said. “That makes sense. Must be inconvenient though.”

“A little.” The response came from the current occupant of the human section’s captain’s chair. He had a northern Damkinan accent. “But you get used to it. Given how rare first contact is we spend most of our time on coordination drills. The middle-aged, olive skinned man looked around and smiled at her. “You’re Captain Amanpreet, aren’t you? The one who made the contact on Talis that lead us here.”

“Yeah,” Amanpreet said sheepishly. “It was kind of an accident.”

“Not really from what I hear,” he said. “It was quite deliberate on their part.”

“Yes, but it was pure serendipity that it was me,” she replied.

“Ah!” he said. “That’s true.” He offered her his hand. “I’m Mahir, captain of the human section. Pleased to meet you though given how much trouble you’ve attracted recently I hope you don’t attract any more. I heard the Vaians were after you too?”

“One of my navigators, actually.” Amanpreet replied as she shook his hand in reply. “What’s the news on that situation.”

“The Council think they have captured or destroyed all the Vaian Defense Force’s ships,” he said.

“Think?” Amanpreet said. “You mean they don’t know. Surely they know how many they’ve accounted for?”

“They do,” he said. “And it already exceeds the number of ships the VDF was supposed to have…” He trailed off meaningfully.

Amanpreet swore viciously before responding. “Which means the Vaians had been secretly building up their forces.”

“Yes,” he said solemnly. “I think they were stopped just in time, but now the Council can’t be sure they’ve found them all. The attacks have stopped though, which is why they think they have.”

“But they could just be holed up somewhere licking their wounds,” Amanpreet said. “What about Vaia itself?”

He winced. “It’s a mess. They’re fighting the occupation viciously. Not unexpected in the circumstances but tragic.”

“I see,” Amanpreet sighed. “I’ll have to tell Kayla.” She looked to where the Scientists and technicians were gathered around Lin who was checking a screen. “Looks like we’re almost ready.”

“Yes,” Mahir said. “You know for all the drills we’ve done for this I never expected to actually be on a real contact mission.” He swallowed visibly. “I didn’t expect to be this nervous.”

“It’ll be fine,” Rick said. “They even know we are going to call so they won’t panic.”

“Oh, yes,” Lin said. “We did one final sweep of their TV and radio and they are more excited than anything else.” She twisted around to stare through the partition to the Ishtari sectio of the bridge. “I think we’re as ready as we’re going to be, Mori. Shall I send it?”

“Yes,” Mori said. “It seems good so please do.”

“Sending now,” she said before clicking a key on her keyboard very anticlimactically. That didn’t stop everyone on the bridge breaking into their version of applause.

“What now?” Amanpreet said when it quietened down.

“Now we wait,” Lin said. “Even though they are expecting it they’ll need to formulate their reply.” She looked back at her screen. “Well they’ve definitely received it. They’re broadcasting on their televisions.” She covered her face with her hands. “This is the worst bit about being a contact linguist, being the first face a new species see. I bet they think I’m ugly.”

Mori gave the rattle that was a Tkin laugh. “No uglier than you think they are, Lin.”

“Oh, I know,” Lin said. “We’re all so very different. It’s just disconcerting knowing people are probably freaking out at the sight of you.” She lifted her head as her console chimed at her. “We’re getting a response already. That was quick.”

—

A/N: As I mentioned last week I’ll be stopping taking prompts for a few weeks while I build up some buffer. (Torvawk, I’m saving your prompt from last week’s comments for when I tart taking them again).

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