Gunnery Sergeant Jon Hammundsson
QCS Shiram, Hylactor-class Frigate
UNSC Military Calendar: February 2nd, 2561
The admiral nodded when all of a sudden, a jolt of what looked to be electricity arced over to the Shiram. The rings were spinning at a truly prodigious rate before they stopped, the stars bent backwards, and the Shiram was launched thousands of lightyears in the blink of an eye.
A split second later, the universe bent back into shape.
The ODST next to Jon got up out of her seat and took a step or two forward, one hand on the transparent metal of the observation window. "Woah."
Through the window, a vast number of ships floated. There had to be thousands. Even at the distances of in-system travel, three stood out- each was a few kilometers in length and started with a massive, spinning ball. They were surrounded by others, both large and small, but those three dominated the scene.
Behind the ships, a nebula dominated the background. Filaments and tendrils of brightly colored gas were lit up by protostars underneath the dust as ripples of plasma wafted on the outer edges of the nebula's sheath. Pings of near-luminal energetic particles accelerated outwards by the plasma sheath hit the kinetic barriers of the ships in the system, lighting up the barriers and the ships underneath in a dim yet vibrant blue hue. As the barriers on the Shiram flared up, light from the impacts danced in the observation room, illuminating everything from the hard gray floor to the pitch black surface of the ODST armor. It was, quite simply, one of the most beautiful things Jon had ever seen.
"Definitely the nicest place we've ever parked the fleet," Yuhi proudly stated. She turned her right forearm towards her face as an orange holograph appeared on it. Words of some unintelligible language danced upon the small screen before she moved her hand back into the armrest of the chair. "I predicted correctly- you'll be taken for a tour of the Neema, our largest dreadnought, while I do a debrief with the admiralty board of the Migrant Fleet. Then, the admiralty board will meet with you to discuss your request.
"What you're asking for shouldn't be much of a problem. The technetium is a byproduct of some of our nuclear processes and selenium is frequently mined by our mining ships. The selenium is likely unprocessed- is that going to be an issue?"
"No," Cole responded, "we have refineries and fabrication plants onboard."
"Good." Yuhi smiled before turning back to the view in front of her.
"Hey, cap'," Jon leaned forward towards Yuhi and pointed, "what are those big ships with the spinning spheres up front?"
She rotated her chair before responding. "Those are the liveships. They produce the food for every living quarian."
"Damn," an ODST complimented as the quarian continued.
"We built them in space within a year of our expulsion from the homeworld. If the human race has truly been consigned to the same fate as us, I don't see a universe where we wouldn't lend our expertise in building more."
Jon stood up and walked to the window, looking out over the fleet, grenades jingling as he stepped. He looked back at Yuhi with a smug grin on his face. "Thanks, though there's a lot of covvie ass-kicking between then and now".
The Shiram had come closer to its intended destination and the observation room afforded a better view of the fleet. Jon turned his attention to the wide variety of ships parked in solar orbit. Some ships, like the liveships and the ship the Shiram was approaching, looked unbelievably fragile, with their beautiful loops, spheres, and intricate shapes. They were so completely unlike anything in human or Covenant space. And yet others were so similar to the familiar, bulbous and smooth shapes of covenant ships, yet on a vastly smaller scale. Others still were angular and aggressive-looking, like the Shiram.
As the Shiram began its final approach to the Neema, Yuhi got up from her chair. "Let's make our way to the airlock. We'll be docking shortly."
The group of humans followed the captain through the ever more familiar corridors of the diminutive ship and arrived at an unassuming door next to a status display giving off a dull, red light from its scratched-up, beveled edge. A handful of other quarians milled about nearby. A moment later, the ship jolted as a tinny thump came from behind the airlock and the light turned to a green.
"Onwards?" asked the captain rhetorically.
Preston Cole responded with a simple "mhmm" as the airlock door slid open and the party moved through. The metallic gangway gave way to the main entry of the considerably larger QCS Neema. Various quarians, some armed, some not visibly so, stood by in their brightly colored suits.
The entrance was grand, with a single level but the ceilings were tall, maybe five meters in height. The walls were a lustrous dark gray with delicate sculptures embedded in the walls themselves. The ship was clearly made in a time of peace and great prosperity, times which were long behind the Quarian people if the condition of their suits were anything to judge by.
Towards the front, a male quarian stepped forward. He wore the standard quarian silver bucket on his head atop a suit with a black and silver chest piece and red and white appendages. "Welcome," he said with an outstretched hand greeted the humans, "I'm Admiral Rael'Zorah vas Alarei, and on behalf of the Quarian people, welcome to the Migrant Fleet, Admiral Preston Cole vas Everest."
Vice Admiral Preston Cole stepped forward, met the quarian admiral's hand, and shook it before releasing. "Thank you, Admiral Rael Zorah vas Alarei. It's an honor to be here and to establish a peaceful first contact between our two people."
A drone, floating about in midair, snapped its lens. A picture of humanity's first peaceful contact for posterity.
"This is Captain Gator'Shaal vas Neema. He'll show you around. We'll debrief Captain Yuhi'Raemos vas Shiram and then hear your request. Is this acceptable for you, Admiral?"
"More than acceptable," Vice Admiral Cole responded, "your hospitality is very much appreciated."
The captain of the Neema gestured to the humans to follow him. A pack of quarian marines followed the visitors in suit. "Welcome to the Neema, humans," the captain welcomed his new visitors.
"Thanks for having us," the Vice Admiral responded with as much warmth as his cold heart could muster.
One of the human soldiers, Private Amari, opened a private line to each other human. "Hey, check it out. The date rolled over a few minutes ago. Official first contact on the anniversary of first contact."
"36 years since that fateful day," Jon bitterly remembered to himself.
"Happy Harvest Day, Private," he replied dryly as he walked through the halls of the alien ship.
Gunnery Sergeant Jon Hammundsson
QCS Neema, Neema-class Dreadnought
UNSC Military Calendar, February 3rd, 2561
"Thank you for joining us, Vice Admiral Preston Cole," Rael'Zorah motioned to a series of chairs in a moderately lit, windowless room onboard the Neema.
"Thank you for having me, admirals," Cole responded. His contingent of bodyguards followed the human admiral and stood at ease behind him.
"So, let me introduce everyone," Rael'Zorah continued, "you've already met Captain Yuhi'Raemos vas Shiram. This is Admiral Faetor'Shahala vas Jenbay of Special Projects," he pointed to the female next to him, "Admiral Han'Gerrel vas Neema of the Heavy Fleet," he motioned to the larger than average quarian, "Admiral Waela'Tora vas Rayya if the Civilian Fleet," he pointed to a flickering and fuzzy near-monochromatic holograph of a quarian laying down, tubes coming out of her, "and Admiral Reene'Yaal vas Shenbay of the Patrol Fleet." Rael finished as he sat down. "Firstly, I'd like to extend a thank you for your peaceful handling of our intrusion aboard your ship. We know how important ships are to those that inhabit them, so we assure you that we meant no harm or offense."
Cole sat down in the chair offered while the other humans kept standing. "None taken, Admiral Rael'Zorah. It was just a friendly misunderstanding."
"Time is, unfortunately, of the essence so let's skip the formalities. Tell us about this Covenant you're fighting."
"The covenant," Cole paused for a moment to search for a succinct summary, "is a hegemonic empire of aliens with religious overtones. Similar to how this Geth of yours systematically waged a campaign of genocide against your people, the covenant are waging one against my people. What's this issue with limited time?"
Admiral Reene'Yaal of the Patrol Fleet crossed her arms and sat back a bit before speaking. "Turian patrols. What we did- open a relay- is considered one of the greatest crimes in Citadel space and the Turian Hierarchy has a history of being," she paused for a bit, "overzealous in their duties."
Cole furrowed his brows for a moment. "You're not a part of the Citadel Council. Their laws don't apply to you."
"If only that were the case," Reene responded, "but the Council believes that all of known space falls under their purview."
Cole let out a low rumble of a chuckle as he grinned slightly. "How presumptuous."
"The Covenant," Han'Gerrel vas Neema of the Heavy Fleet said as he steered the conversation back, "their weapons, and defenses."
"Weapons? Plasma and directed energy-based. From what Captain Yuhi has been telling me of these kinetic barriers, I suspect that your shielding design would be effective in stopping plasma torpedoes but not lasers. Offensively," Cole moved around in his seat slightly to find a comfortable seating position, "I can't say. I don't know enough about how your guns function other than they do. Defense-wise," Cole took a deep breath as he looked over the remaining members of the admiralty board, then steered his gaze back to Han'Gerrel, "energy shielding which protects against impacts regardless of speed followed by meters of armor, depth being ship-dependent, of course. Covenant ships are tough nuts to crack."
"Meters of armor?" Faetor'Shahala, Admiral of Special Projects gave Cole an incredulous look. "How large are these ships?"
"Depends. Their smaller combat vessels, the CRS-class, they're about three hundred fifty meters in length. Medium-sized vessels weigh in around one-point-two kilometers. The biggest ships we've seen are the CAS assault carriers and the CSO supercarriers, which are five point five and twenty nine kilometers in length, respectively."
"Keelah," responded Reene, eyes wide open.
Han leaned back and uttered a quiet "by the ancestors."
Cole seized the moment of shock. He leaned forward, right arm on the table. "Admirals," he began, "our people have much in common. Our people both travel the stars, we both discovered a hegemony of aliens, and we both created artificial intelligence. There are differences, of course. Our hegemony is trying to eradicate my people while our AI has helped keep us alive while both your AI and hegemony tried to eradicate your people. I understand your hesitation regarding humanity, our technology, and our war" he turned to face Jon before looking back, "but we come as a people in need. Besides humanity, only quarians have experienced the unique experience of having its species be the subject of a near-total genocide. The Quarian people, more than any other in the galaxy, understand what humanity is facing right now. For the cost of a few tons of raw materials, I can help prevent the total destruction of my people. If humanity survives, then you'll have our eternal gratitude. If humanity has fallen, then we would ask to join the Quarian Migrant Fleet. It is as your people say, 'keelah se'lai.'"
"By the homeworld I hope to one day see," Jon's translator helpfully informed him.
"The cost isn't free, Admiral Cole vas Everest," Reene bit back with a harsh tone, "materials that we give away means another ship will have to be scrapped. It means more quarians won't be born. You're asking us to trade quarian lives for human lives."
"No, I'm asking you to trade human lives for quarian lives. If the Covenant reaches Citadel space, how many lives will be lost? How many quarians on pilgrimage will be glassed? Will your ancient warships and agricultural vessels stand up to the inexorable tide of the covenant war machine? If you're worried about a few tons of selenium, I have my doubts. Let humans fall on the sword so that quarians don't have to."
Admiral Reene'Yaal vas Shenbay leaned back and studied the human leader for a moment before nodding slightly. "Acceptance? Maybe agreement," wondered Jon.
"Admiral Cole," the holograph of Admiral Waela'Tora vas Rayya began stirring, "young quarians go on pilgrimage," she paused to breath deeply, the tubes going in and out of her suit moving up and down with her labored breaths, "and return with supplies for the fleet to keep going. If there is no humanity left to return to, what would your pilgrimage gift be?"
"If humanity has truly been exterminated, then there aren't enough of us onboard the Everest to continue the species. We just won't have enough genetic diversity. Our pilgrimage gift, in addition to one of the most powerful warships humanity has ever made, would be all of the technology at our disposal. Artificial Intelligence creation techniques, Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Drive, advanced material design, medical technology, literally everything we have. Our gift, should it come to it, would be the entire legacy of humankind. What's left of it, at least."
"If those are the conditions, I hope we never have to receive that gift," Waela replied with heavy breaths and a heavier tone. The other quarians in the room studied the humans for a moment as the magnitude of Cole's words sunk in.
"If I may, admirals," Yuhi broke the somber silence, "when we were on the Shiram, you had mentioned that your artificial intelligence hacked our omnitools to discover our language, in addition to the galactic codex. How?"
"You'll have to ask Tyr, the Everest's AI. My best guess is that he interfaced with your tools when you touched something on the Everest. Our ship-borne artificial intelligences are designed for signals intelligence and information gathering."
"Interesting," Faetor'Shahala leaned forward, both elbows on the table, fingers interweaved, "you said he? Your AIs have genders and names?"
"Yes," Cole responded, "our AIs are formed from recently deceased humans by scanning their brains. They are then uploaded into an AI housing. That's a simplification, of course, but that's the gist of it. They retain human memories and knowledge accumulated in their human lives."
"Fascinating." Faetor's said with a low and drawn out tone, "And they've never rebelled?"
"Never."
Rael'Zorah studied the humans with an analytic gaze before looking down at his omni-tool. He pressed a few buttons on the orange holographic screen that emerged from his left forearm. The other admirals followed suit. "Vice Admiral Preston'Cole," Rael started, "we are prepared to grant your request in full with a two stipulations. We would like to establish a channel of official communication through your ship. Would you find Captain Yuhi'Raemos vas Shiram and a few bodyguards to be an acceptable ambassadorial attaché?"
"Very. Yuhi would have been my choice, as well." Cole turned towards Yuhi and nodded gently before looking back at the admiralty board.
"Excellent. The second is that we'd like to interview your AI. We'd like to determine what threat UNSC Artificial Intelligence poses to our fleet and to shore up our defenses against AI intrusion," finished Rael'Zorah.
"Yes," continued Faetor'Shahala vas Jenbay of Special Projects, "we'd like a small cybersecurity team, five people at most, to interview your artificial intelligence and the data breach. Maybe patch holes in our firewalls that we've overlooked.
"I assure you that our AIs pose no threat to you or your people," Cole struck a relaxed pose on his chair, forearms resting against the armrests and hands limp, "but you are welcome to do an investigation so long as it doesn't run afoul of UNSC confidential information."
"Excellent," Rael'Zorah stood up from his chair, "the Quarian people are at your disposal. Keelah se'lai, Vice Admiral Preston'Cole vas Everest."
Author's note:
People have overwhelmingly voted for longer stories so longer they shall be. I've also turned off guest review moderation- my apologies to visitors who have had to wait for me to check a box.
From a discussion point, there were some great discussions on chirality and DNA in the review section for chapter 3. My education in biology was always pretty lacking. If yours is too, or even if it's just fine, I highly recommend for every reader to check it out! A special thanks for everyone who has made me just a little less ignorant of the world.
Now, I promised some science explanations way back in the opening chapter, "The Strange Ship," so let's get started.
When a massive star goes supernova, the outer layer of its body is pushed outwards in the form of plasma at a high percentage of the speed of light (think 99% of the speed of light) while the inside is compressed into a neutron star. Some nebulae, like the one we saw this chapter, are formed from the result of this explosion.
Now I don't believe this has been experimentally confirmed hence the wording, but we strongly hypothesize that as this sheath of plasma expands outwards, it picks up particles of atomic dust from the interstellar medium, accelerates them, and spits them out at some outrageously high fraction of the speed of light relative to itself (remember, light is the cosmic speed limit!). We suspect that this process, known as diffuse shock acceleration, forms the majority of what are called cosmic rays.
Cosmic rays are interesting because they are among the most energetic phenomena in the universe. A singular nucleus of something like iron, could have as much kinetic energy as a baseball launched from an major leaguer's hand! Experiments like ISS-CREAM are designed to do direct measurement on these cosmic rays (though such experiments are usually very rare because of costs). Wikipedia has a great article on the topic in general for those who are interested.
In the Mass Effect universe, kinetic barriers are designed to stop projectiles moving at high speeds but not low speeds, so the activation of the barriers makes a lot of sense. In the actual universe, particles at such high energy would be extremely dangerous to living tissue, electronics, etc due to their penetrative power. While I decided not to bother, it is possible to explicitly calculate just how effective the armor of a barrier-less quarian ship needs to be using the Bethe formula, an equation which can be used for calculating the stopping power of materials as it relates to fast-moving particles. If the armor wasn't good enough and the kinetic barriers were off, our story would end here, with everyone dying of radiation exposure and cancer. Our protagonists must surely be glad that I'm not George R. R. Martin, then.
Likewise, it's good thing that human ships have literal meters of fancy titanium to protect themselves from such things, though it's not clear if standing next to windows would be safe.
Again, still looking for a beta-reader/proofreader. Please PM me if you're interested.