Chapter 3- Meeting the neighbors

Autobot Outpost Omega-1

"Impossible! Humans haven't reached this kind of technology yet! Some of it seems to be even more advanced than Cybertronian technology!" Protested Ratchet.

Optimus, completely ignoring Ratchets closed mind said calmly "What is your evidence".

"You SERIOUSLY don't see it. Don't you? The words on the hull, what does it say?" Jack asked.

"It says Enterprise" Ratchet said pompously.

"And what language is that in?" Jack asked.

"Puh-lease it's in En-" Ratchet stopped.

It hit them all like a wrecking ball. "By the all-spark, he's right!"

Before anyone could say anything else, the two engines lighted up. The Autobots immediately drew their weapons, but Optimus ordered his Autobots to stand down, as he didn't want its occupants to feel threatened.

"Well if it is human it's not of United States design" Agent Fowler butted in.

He continued "I know of all of the classified designs and prototype vehicles, and this looks like none of them."

Shuttlecraft Justman NCC 1701-D/03

Narrator's POV

Data explained his theory about what had happened to the shuttle to Wesley, who was surprisingly able to comprehend fully. Wesley's Tri-corder beeped. Wesley turned to see that the Captain's heartbeat had sped up. A sign of reawakening. He then went to tell Data when Picard's eyes flew open. He then got up, with the most horrible headache.

"Easy sir, you've been out for about twenty minutes." He then looked out the window and asked "Where are we?"

Data then explained the situation to Picard. After which the Captain nodded. A beeping sound came from Data's console, Data then turned to see what it was telling him.

"Report!" Jean-luc said. Data replied by saying "We are being boarded".

"Computer, disregard all commands from the outer panel and re-engage airlock seal" ordered Picard.

"Unable to comply, cannot abort decompression sequence."

The captain ordered them to arm themselves with type 2 phasers but not to hold the weapons as that may be interpreted as a hostile action. They all turned as the last safety lock unlatched and the door opened.

"Well, time to meet the neighbors" Wesley said in a sarcastic tone.

Autobot Outpost Omega-1

Optimus crouched down to the shuttle and said "I am Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, we mean you no harm. You can come out now".

"I don't think they can hear you, they could be all unconscious" Ratchet said.

"Or dead" Miko dramatically stated.

"I don't think any of those are correct, you all saw the Engines turn on. Whoever is inside of there is active!" Jack said in usual serious tone.

"There is only one way to find out" Raf said confidently.

Raf then walked down the stairs to the shuttlecraft.

"What are you doing" Bee beeped in a concerned tone.

"You know me, I have a knack with computers and technology, and perhaps I could override the door".

Before anyone could protest Raf exclaimed "Got it!"

They could hear the safety locks disengage and the door came down.

"Raf! Fall back!" Optimus yelled.

Raf then ran back up to the catwalk where his laptop was. The Autobots drew their weapons and pointed it at the shuttle.

Picard's eyes took a while to be adjusted to the light, the door was pointed away from the Autobots. The crew of the shuttle didn't see them until Bumblebee decided to stick his face directly in front of the shuttle door. Startled, the crew (Except for Data) stepped back and almost tripped.

"Hello!" Bumblebee beeped.

Picard was tempted to ask what he was, but opted to fall back to the standard Starfleet greeting.

"I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard, of the United Federation of Planets, we come in peace. We mean no harm."

Bee acknowledged his greeting and turned to see Data. He was not human. Bumblebee wanted to ask but instead he beeped

"You can come out now, we won't hurt you".

The Captain looked puzzled, but then Data spoke "He is asking you to come out, and he has stated that they have no hostile intent."

The Captain nodded to Bumblebee and his crew. Bee got up, and walked back to his fellow Autobots. The crew then departed the Shuttlecraft, they notice the sheer size of the Autobots. For about a minute the Starfleet crew just simply stares at the titans, until Data stated "These beings do not conform to any Starfleet classification, and they appear to be artificially constructed, whether or not their sentient is still to be determined".

Clearly angered, Bulkhead pulled out his hammer and retorted "Why don't I determine if you're Sentient, FLESHY!"

Optimus put a hand on his shoulder and asked "Who are you?"

The Captain then repeated the standard greeting. "I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the United Federation of Planets, this is my Chief of Operations Lieutenant Commander Data, and my Helmsman, Ensign Wesley Crusher."

"My name is Optimus Prime, Commander in Chief of the Autobots. You've already met Bumblebee, our scout, Bulkhead, and Arcee are warriors, and Ratchet is our medic and scientist" he continued "We are sentient robotic organisms from the planet Cybertron".

"We thank you for hospitality, but I must know where exactly we are". "You are on Earth" Optimus replied.

He continued "What is the United Federation of Planets? Our species has traveled the Galaxy for eons, and we never encountered a United Federation of Planets before."

Picard open his mouth to speak but then Miko opened hers first "Well DUH! Look at Albino man, their spaceship and their HUMAN, well I'm not sure about Paley here but the others definitely are, seriously dude what's with your skin, anyway there is only ONE explanation. There from the future!"

The Autobots and their human protectorates looked stunned.

"Excellent observation, although I do not being called derogatory references about my skin tone if you don't mind."

She rolled her eyes and looked at Bulkhead, who was clearly not impressed with her comment.

"Her assumption is accurate, the United Federation of Planets was founded on August 12th, 2161 on Earth, and we however are from the year 2367" Data stated.

Picard continued "We came here through an unknown anomaly, not by choice mind you". He continued "I would really like to know what you are doing here, humanity at this stage of development is not ready for first contact".

Optimus explained the Decepticons and their story, The Captain has heard similar stories before, so many civil wars, but never one where the warring factions lost their planet. He was shocked that the Arcee, Bumblebee and Bulkhead drew their weapons and pointed it at Data.

"What the devil are you doing?!" The Captain demanded, he turned to Data who had a Tri-corder in his hand.

"Put the weapon down Paley!" Bulkhead demanded. Data looked confused, and said "This is not a weapon, it is a Tricorder"

"What's that!?" Bee beeped in an upset tone.

"It is a multifunction hand-held device, it allows me to scan the surroundings with multiple different types of scans, for instance a tachyon scan, positron-" Data was interrupted by Picard.

"I think they've heard enough Data" Picard reminded Data.

"Hold on, you understood me. How did you do that?" Bumblebee beeped confused.

"My vocal processor has a built in universal translator, a program that can extrapolate the syntax and vocabulary of a language" he continued in Bumblebee's beeps "In effect, I could understand you even before I first spoke to you"

The Autobots looked stunned, but then something hit the medic. "Human's don't have vocal processors! No organic life does!"

"That analysis would be correct, however it assumes that I am Human, but in reality I am not. I am an Android."

The Autobots were shocked again, they assumed he was a random organic Alien, but in reality what stood in front of them was more related to them then they'd imagined.

"Whoa, so you're like our Autobots!" Miko blurted out.

"No, while both our species may fall under the same classification of lifeform, our internal structures are most likely completely different. Before my scan was interrupted, my tricorder was able to give me a basic representation of their internal structure. However my scans are irrelevant due to this tricorder being faulty" Data stated.

"Explain how you came to that conclusion Mister Data" The Captain asked.

"My Tri-corder seemed to detect... engine parts from various automobiles of the 21st century inside of their bodies" Data said uncertainly.

Before anyone could say anything else Agent Fowler walked down the stairs, "I am special Agent William Fowler of the United States of America, I am afraid that I must take you all into custody, we have some questions for you to all answer" said Agent Fowler in an authoritative tone.

"I am afraid that is out of the question, we cannot risk anymore damage to the timeline, if we reveal information about ourselves to you know, and you share that with your superiors, that could alter the past." stated Picard.

Altering our future as a species. So I am afraid I must decline." The captain said.

Agent Fowler looked upset, "I am afraid Captain Picard is correct, we cannot allow ourselves to irreparably modify the timeline. Doing so could have unforeseen consequences" Optimus stated.

Agent Fowler then simply said "This isn't over prime".

He then went up to the elevator and pressed the up button. The doors closed and he ascended to the helipad.

"Sir, I am going to determine the extent of the damage to the shuttle alongside Wesley." Data said

"Very well, make it so."

A beeping sound came from one of Ratchets consoles, he walked over and looked over at one of the screens.

"What is it?" Asked Picard.

"The anomaly that sent you here has moved, it's now in orbit, and it has increased its size by about 200X" Ratchet informed the captain

Picard was disturbed by what he heard, perhaps this anomaly moves sporadically, what if he couldn't reach it before it makes another jump? He in the end elected to end this pointless paranoid thought process.