After Contact

Franklin Adams couldn't believe his luck, it was just a few weeks ago that it had happened.

First Contact.

Unfortunately what should have been a celebration at meeting another sentient species was instead a terrifying experience when people learned that the aliens had attacked and were occupying the human colony of Shanxi. Even after the Alliance military drove the Turians from the planet in a stunning victory people were still howling for blood.

Millions of people wanted to chase them back to where they came from and return the favor. Some people were predicting a short and victorious war, with others calling this the end times. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed, and the fleet held position around the Shanxi relay. Debate raged on in Human space with the war hawks calling for at least a scouting expedition in force and the current administration on the other side advising caution. Fortunately, shortly after the president and the joint chiefs of staff announced that they would simply be holding the relay, a single ship came through.

It was a design that was radically different from the Turians. While their ships had been all hard angles that looked like birds of prey this ship was curved and almost reminded Franklin of a Manta Ray.

Second Contact had gone better than anyone could have hoped for. The Asari as they called themselves were much more Humanoid than the Avian looking Turians, and while some said they were too far into the uncanny valley most people thought they looked like fairly attractive Human women. A small but vocal subset of the population were disgusted by the Asari and were saying that they couldn't be trusted. That the people who found them attractive were sexual deviants who should be locked away. However, most people were not allowing xenophobia to cloud their judgement.

The negotiations were tense at first, but progress was made quickly. First a ceasefire was declared, then the Turians sent through a small delegation. They claimed that the war was a misunderstanding caused by an over eager general attempting to stop Humanity from making a grave mistake and apologized almost immediately, reparations were offered, and a formal peace agreement would be signed. However, this was just the beginning. Literally overnight humanity went from being alone in the galaxy to a small fish in a very large pond, and although we had proven at Shanxi that Humans were no push overs, we would still need to find our place in the wider galaxy. So, a small delegation was hastily prepared to be sent to the seat of galactic power. A massive space station, untold millennia old where for longer than humans had had industry alien powers ruled over the galaxy. Humans were going to the Citadel.

This was how Franklin Adams civilian attaché for the state department somehow found himself chosen as a personal assistant to the ambassador and one of the first humans to set foot on an alien space station. Those first few hours were a dizzying spectacle of new sights, sounds and experiences. The welcoming celebration was unlike anything he had ever experienced with beings from all corners of the galactic community coming together to celebrate humanity joining the galactic community. Of course, it wasn't all celebrations. After the initial celebrations died down long and difficult talks involving trade, military and tens of thousands of other issues began.

Franklin was like everyone on the delegation being worked to the bone in order to ensure that the talks succeeded. That was when he was given what would perhaps become the most important job in the history of mankind.

"I'm sorry sir, but what exactly do you mean by play tourist? Shouldn't I be assisting you or any of the other teams?"

Sir Patrick Robertson regarded Franklin from across his desk in the office he had been given access to on the Citadel. Sir Robertson was a diplomat originally from England. After a brief foray into the military where he served with distinction he went to oxford and studied Political Science and Economics. His work ethic along with his silver tongue helped him to become one of the best diplomats in the Systems Alliance, and he was often brought in to help negotiate and mediate problems between the various member states of the Alliance.

"I understand this is unusual and not what you were expecting to do here but I believe this is where you will be best able to help the Alliance and Humanity. I'll be Frank. This is the first time in a long time that humans are meeting a new people and culture. And if Human history has taught us anything it is that while humans can be taught to appreciate the beauty of different cultures and learn to embrace them, we can also be close minded, xenophobic, defensive, frightened and nationalistic. And that's just when dealing with ourselves." said the aging diplomat.

"Do you really think that will be a problem sir? Don't you think that humans have grown past that?" Franklin asked, only realizing too late that he was questioning the single most important human on the citadel.

If Sir Patterson minded being questioned by his assistant, he didn't show it. "I've been working for half of my life to try and keep the Systems Alliance together. Even now, at the best of times our tribal nature can sometimes threaten to pull us apart, and this is far from the best of times. Literally overnight our galaxy has changed. From a vast frontier holding an infinite number of possibilities to a terrifying nightmare where we might have to fight for survival, and then once again to a political quagmire that most people never expected to see and are simply ill prepared to deal with.

People at home are still reeling and there is a growing sentiment amongst the population, government and even some of the top military brass to throw the Shanxi relay into a star and to pretend none of this even happened.

I cannot stress enough that this cannot be allowed to happen. The current government has staked everything on finding a peaceful settlement and for humanity to take its rightful place among the stars. And we cannot do that if the isolationists get their way and we stick our head in the sand.

So, your job is to learn about their culture. Find the best parts of it that can be easily shown to people back home. Something beautiful, familiar yet exotic. Alien but not so different that the average human can't enjoy it. Then we are going to shove it down people's throats until all of this is just a little less frightening for people. If the isolationists get their way, then all of these talks will be for nothing and I will not be allowing that to happen." Finished Sir Robertson said fixing Franklin with a steely gaze that brooked no arguments.

Franklin realizing for the first time just how important the task he had been given paled. "Sir, I uh well" stuttered Franklin. "If this is so important..."

"Then why were you chosen?" Finished Sir Robertson for him.

"Yes sir, why me? why not an actual diplomat? Or someone with a little more experience? I've been in the state department for less than a year."

"I've read your file Adams. You're not giving yourself enough credit. You have a masters in Anthropology and political sciences from Demeter University, one of the finest institutions on the outer rim. Furthermore, your father was a diplomat and you've lived in more than 10 countries on 4 planets. Tell me how many languages do you speak?"

"six sir, but my German is pretty rusty."

"Well fortunately I don't think you'll need much German out here." Said Sir Patrick Robertson with a wry smile. "Now believe me when I say that everyone on this mission was handpicked for this mission so when I say you're ready for this that means you are. Any other questions?"

"No sir. I won't let you down." Replied Adams standing straighter and almost giving a military salute.

"I know you won't. Now we've prepared a small spending account for you as well as downloaded all the tourist information that we could find onto your omnitool along with the best translation program we could make. Don't worry about collecting receipts just try to keep an idea of where your spending money and what on. Any questions?"

"No Sir!"

"Good now go out there make some friends and find us some common ground with the locals. Talk, watch an alien sports, look at art, even buy some overpriced souvenirs, or whatever young people do for fun on an alien space station."

"Yes Sir!" this time Adams did salute Sir Robertson before he turned around and almost ran out the door.

After Franklin left Robertson immediately turned to the small mountain of paperwork he had been working on since he first boarded the ship to the citadel. "So, Deborah what did you think?" he asked to the apparently empty room.

After a moment a middle-aged women's voice responded over the intercom. "Well sir that was quite the pep talk you gave him, but what if he finds out he wasn't handpicked for this mission?" she asked him not at all sounding embarrassed over being caught listening in on his conversation.

"What do you mean? He was handpicked by Dr. Anasad after he had to bow out due to his heart attack, and Dr. Fitzpatrick couldn't come because of his broken leg, and Dr. Wong had that mental breakdown. He is the absolute best, of the people we had available to choose from. I'm sure he'll be fine. "

"Of course, Sir. He's a handsome, young man who was just given a spending account after getting off a turnip truck in the largest most important station in the galaxy and told by his superior to have fun. What could possibly go wrong?" Her tone belying none of the sarcasm her words held. "I have some calls for you on hold Sir. Dr. Charles is on line one. He says it's urgent."

Sir. Robertson had just enough time to hope he hadn't made a mistake in sending Adams out before he put it out of his mind before he got back to work. "Please put Dr Charles through Deborah."