"Come in Optimus, do you read?"
Fleet Commodore Bishop had been in dangerous and strange situations before where he had fought bravely. Starfleet had decorated him many times. This time was different though; the being who called himself "Optimus Prime" had used the word "Borg". Commodore Bishop had fought the Borg before, at Wolf 359 and the mere mention on the name made him tremble with fear.
"Optimus Prime, this Commodore Bishop at Starbase 234, what is your condition?"
A metallic voice boomed over the speakers.
"Starbase 234, this is Optimus Prime, Leader of the Autobots. We have taken severe damage from battle. Our thrusters and weapons are dead."
Commodore Bishop turned to face his staff, just in time to see his brand new ensign running back to his station.
"Nice of you to join us, ensign."
"Sorry, Commodore, I was in the head."
The Commodore smiled.
"Fine time to take a nature break. Can you get a fix on his location?"
"Yes sir, I show him in Sector 52301."
"Thank you, Ensign, check what ships are in that area. Optimus," Bishop said to the console, "Do you have life support?"
"Umm, no, but we're okay for now."
Bishop again turned to his young ensign. "Why is his voice so...robotic?"
"I don't know, sir, the communication equipment might be malfunctioning. I show the Galaxy one light-year away and the Challenger about a day distant, sir."
"Fine, send them to Optimus' ship and tell them to be careful. Whenever the Borg are involved, I get very nervous."
"Aye, sir."
"Optimus, help is on the way, I look forward to meeting you."
"Thank you, Commodore; I look forward to meeting you as well. Optimus out."
"Optimus," Springer spoke up from the back of the ship, "I noticed you hesitated a little when they asked about life support, may I ask why?"
Optimus turned to face Springer.
"I don't know, Springer. Somehow, I think that we shouldn't be too forthcoming with them that we don't need life-support, at least for now. Can you get me a reading on any ships approaching?"
"No problem, Prime," and Springer went to the front console to check the sensors.
Optimus looked around the ship, visually checking the rest of the Autobots. Springer and Magnus looked fine but Hot Rod and Arcee were still trying to get their gears to function correctly. Arcee looked as if she would need repair soon or she may die. Optimus stepped to her to assess the damage closer.
"Optimus, I show one ship approaching quickly. Apparently, the people here do have FTL capability. I show another ship approaching too, but it will take at least a full cycle to get here. The closer ship is also the larger ship and it has its defensive systems activated."
"A sensible precaution," Prime thought aloud. "Hail them and let them know we're not a threat. Let them know they're welcome to board the Abraxis when they arrive."
"Doing it now, Prime," as Springer keyed up the communications.
"Captain, I have received a message from the alien ship. They said to please come aboard and not to worry, they are not a threat."
Captain Berman was another survivor of Wolf 359 and a close friend of Commodore Bishop. If Bishop said to be careful, then he would play it that way. Still, there's no reason not to be diplomatic about this.
"Good, open a channel" he said while turning to his XO Commander Shilom.
Shilom looked over to her captain while she motioned for the bridge officers assigned to the away team to join her at the turbo-lift door.
"I think you should shuttle over there, Commander, I see no reason to mention that we have transporter technology. Judging from the size of that ship, I would think we're dealing with a colony transport vessel of some type."
"Agreed," Shilom said, as she got up from her chair to join the away team.
"Channel open, Captain."
"Optimus Prime, this is the Federation ship USS Galaxy; Captain Berman speaking. Our repair and medical teams are launching their shuttles now. Do you have visual communication capability?"
A static filled voice boomed over the speakers of the Galaxy.
"Yes we do, but I'm afraid it was damaged. All we can manage is audio at this time, Captain Berman."
"Captain," came a voice from behind Berman.
"A moment, Optimus. Mute. Yes, Lieutenant."
His weapon officer leaned over the wood-grained arch.
"My sensor readings indicate that ship isn't from around here."
"Well, I can see that isn't any race that the Federation is familiar with."
"No, I mean it isn't from this galaxy. In fact, I don't think that it's even from this universe."
Captain Berman smiled. He liked the idea of first contact with a completely alien race from outside this universe, the stranger, the better.
"Captain," Commander Shilom's voice comes over the comm. system, "the away team is ready to launch."
"Great, Number One, be careful over there."
"Acknowledged."
As the shuttle approached the crippled alien ship, the first thing Commander Shilom noticed was the size of the doors. They were huge, in fact, far too large for loading groups of colonists or refugees, unless the colonists were ten feet tall. The ship itself was at least five or six times the volume of the Galaxy.
Shilom turned to her security chief, who was manning the corresponding console for this away mission.
"How many life-signs do you get, Lieutenant?"
"That's what bothers me, Commander; I don't get any readings for life-signs. Either our equipment is suddenly malfunctioning severely, or these aliens have life-signs that are so radically different from us, that our instruments can't register them."
For some unknown reason, that made Shilom shutter, like a cold ice cube had just been passed across her back. She looked forward through the view port and watched as the giant doors opened wide, allowing the shuttle an easy entrance. Even a drunken first-year cadet could have piloted a shuttle through an opening of this size. The shuttle pilot glided the small craft to a gentle landing in what appeared to be a cargo hold. The away team exited the shuttle and gathered a few meters away from the craft. They all turned together when the sound of a door at the opposite end of the hold opened and they could all hear the sound of metal striking metal, then what could almost be the tires of an Argos-type severe-terrain vehicle. Appearing before them, a giant vehicle, articulated about one-third of the length from what was presumably the front, them suddenly, it changed in deliberate motions to become a bi-pedal being at least 3.5 meters tall. What's more, it spoke!
"Welcome aboard the Abraxis, gentlemen. I am Ultra Magnus; I will take you to Optimus Prime. Please, come with me."
Shilom stared at her security chief.
"No life-signs, huh?"