Chapter 1
"The Undiscovered Country"
Year 2498
Edge of Human space
Galaxy-class starship USS Santos-Dumont:
Captain's log: It is a historic day to Humankind. After centuries, the Parliament finally repealed the Act of Isolation. We've been traveling the stars for five hundred years now. During this time, we found only one alien race, the peaceful and friendly Éonns. They told us the history of this region of space. They told us of how a war between very powerful and ancient races led to the creation of the Crescent, the nightmarish storms of hyperspace shielded Humanity from interference and kept us safe from the races beyond our shores. After knowing this, Humanity decided to grow the most it could within the Crescent before venturing out. Now the time has come. We are strong and confident.
Captain Marco Rogers turned the recorder off. He walked out of his ready room into the bridge.
"Report," he ordered as he sat on the captain's chair.
"We've been scanning deep space for the last our," Lieutenant Melian Celebrin answered. "We found a system that seems to be very busy, a trading hub. We figured they use tachyons to transmit information at faster than light speeds. Different from our use of subspace, but does the job. Our translation team is working with their transmissions to develop a translation matrix, but we already know they are called Vree and they call the system Alzeral."
"Good," Rogers replied. "Lucas, set course to Alzeral, drop us of warp at the edge of the system, we don't want to appear hostile."
"Aye, captain," Lieutenant Lucas Monteiro, the pilot, complied.
The ship's nacelles glowed brightly as it stretched forward and disappeared in a streak of light.
"Mara?" Rogers asked and a beautiful woman materialized beside his chair.
"Don't let them hack into our systems, I know," she answered.
Cyber-officer Mara Eko-11 smirked. The thin, dim glowing patterns on her skin reminiscent of circuitry.
She looked Human but she wasn't, at least not technically. Mara wore a jet black light suit typical of Virtuan culture. An attire that resembles old Earth motorcycle suits with fluorescent-like glowing strips. Virtuans are a race of living programs that evolved deep inside Earth's computer network during the 21st century, being completely integrated into Human society when their nation, Virtua, joined the United Nations more than five hundred years ago.
"We are here, sir," Lucas said.
"I'm picking many tachyon based transmissions, sir," Takeru said. "The system seems not only to be a trade hub but an information nod too."
Vree Space
Alzeral Colony:
Governor Vokal ruled over the richest colony of the Merchant/Adventurer's Guild, an amazingly important trade hub. It connected into Tokati, Torata, Markab, and Yolu space, while easily defendable given its direct hyperspace route to the homeworld. It was a world always full of people and of money. Actually, the position of Governor of Alzeral was very coveted, and Vokal had to pull almost all of his strings to gain it. Now he would only reap the benefits.
Or so he thought. Actually, now he was very annoyed. His military command had called him minutes later, and now he was here looking at the screens showing a rather medium-sized vessel of unknown configuration.
"They have arrived in the system about an hour ago when they were caught by our sensor arrays at the border of the system," the Fleet Master said. "The design is unknown, and the markings on their hull are unintelligible to us."
"Did they try to contact us?" Vokal asked.
"No, sir," the Fleet Master answered. "We detected no transmission whatsoever since they arrived, electromagnetic or tachyonic."
"It doesn't seem very intimidating, though," Vokal told him. "Have you seem all those windows!? No military vessel would be that vulnerable! I also noticed you didn't detect any weapon ports either."
"Only three openings that seem to be torpedo launchers, but that is all. They blocked all our most invasive scans."
"That is not all, Master Governor," one of the science masters said. "They didn't arrive by opening a jump point, either. According to our sensors, they deaccelerated from faster-than-light speeds. We extrapolated the route they came through and, well, it seems they came from the Crescent."
"That is impossible!" Vokal exclaimed. "No race can travel faster than the speed of light in commonspace! Have you calibrated your sensors?"
"Yes, and we ran diagnosis many times. They did travel faster than light. From within the Crescent."
Vokal looked back at the screen. Well. That seems to be a first contact situation.
"Well," he said. "Let's hope they can receive tachyon transmissions. Hail them."
As the strange ship answered their hail, Vokal was caught by surprise. In the screen, he could see a strange looking room, certainly the ship's bridge or command center. It was wide and spacious, with holographic screens and physical screens everywhere. But what surprised him the most were the aliens. They were Centauri! Was this some new Centauri plot-
No, they weren't Centauri, Vokal noticed now. Their hair was different, their clothes lacked all the ornaments, and the bridge looked too clean, lacking all the decorations. They must be another race.
Vokal looked back at the man sitting at the central chair. He noticed how his eyes widened in what seemed surprised when he saw him. That was odd.
"This is Governor Ikalo Vokal of the Merchant/Adventurer's Guild. Please, identify yourself."
"I'm Captain Marco Rogers, a Human representing the United Systems Federation," he answered with a diplomatic smile on his face. Well, at least his mannerisms were Centauri-like enough for Vokal to read him. "I'm sorry for staying silent for so long, we were deciphering your language to make contact possible. I was sent on a mission by my people to contact the many races of this region of space and open diplomatic relations," he smiled, but Vokal could see he found something amusing. "We come in peace."
Vokal noticed that the other members of his crew seemed amused as well. By what? Vokal didn't know. All that matters is that they didn't seem very eager to open relations and a race that wants to talk, wants to trade. He imagined all the new products they could have to offer. Art, minerals, technology. Alzeral would become even richer, and so would him.
"Very well," he answered. "I'm sending two cruisers to escort you from your position back to the planet. Meanwhile, I will talk to the Grandmaster for instructions."
"I'll be waiting," the screen went dark.
"Master Governor," the Fleet Master called. "I just received... unusual information."
"What information?"
"When the alien said he was Human, I remember one thing I learned from my burrow elder, who was from the Scientists Guild. They keep most of their discoveries cataloged, so I called in some contacts in the homeworld. Humans are a race we encountered before, more than five hundred sun-years ago in the Crescent."
"I don't understand, the Crescent is a nightmare of swirling hyperspace storms. It is said not even the First Ones can navigate there! And no one would be stupid to try!" Vokal replied.
"At the time were adventurous," the Fleet Master said. "It was during the time in which we discovered a safe corridor that led to a then primitive planet still in the Atomic Age. The corridor didn't last, and soon we couldn't go there anymore, but during the time it was open we abducted many Humans for study. Those were times in which we were less civilized, as you know."
Vokal was speechless. He hoped those Humans wouldn't remember it, or don't care. He wouldn't want to lose such a good profit prospect.
"That explains their different way of interstellar travel," one of the science masters said. "They couldn't possibly develop hyperspace technology if they live in the Crescent. They were completely isolated until now. Though their technology is certainly inferior due to their isolation, it must work by completely different principles!"
Vokal was enthusiastic too. He should call Grandmaster Keral as soon as possible.
Vree Space
Alzeral System
USS Santos-Dumont:
"We come in peace? Seriously?" Mara raised her eyebrow to Captain Rogers.
"Oh, please! I couldn't resist. And I'm sure neither would you," Rogers replied. "Who would've thought that we would contact the Greys!? And that they actually have flying saucers!?"
"That is not the point," Mara said, only trying to remain serious. "Ok, it was fun!" She admitted.
Takeru laughed. They were all sat by the table of the briefing room now so they could discuss their next action.
"We are being escorted by the flying saucers," he said. "I can't believe I just said that. We could warp there in seconds, but they seem to feel safer if we follow them sub-light. Also, Governor Vokal sent us a message minutes ago. He told us that Grandmaster Keral, who seems to be the highest authority in his guild, will arrive here from Vreetan in 12 hours. He will also be bringing representatives to four other alien governments that happened to be at Vreetan when we made contact."
"The more the better," Rogers said and stood up. "We've been isolated for so long. Now its time to meet our neighbors."
Vree Space
Alzeral System
Alzeral Colony:
They were prepared. Vokal looked around to see if everything was right. Grandmaster Keral was with Ambassador Mollari of the Centauri Republic and G'Kar of the Narn Regime. Why the Grandmaster decided to bring them, he didn't know. Maybe he thought it would be amusing. It was clear that the two ambassadors were bickering at each other like children. They literally met yesterday in Vreetan and we're already at each other's throats.
Amusing indeed.
Ambassador Cha'Nah of the Dilgar Imperium stood far from them, with that proud, superior face that seemed to be common to his race. Vokal could swear he saw him looking with disgust to the surroundings.
"Master Governor," Vokal's aide called him with a low voice. "Captain Rogers says he is ready."
"Perfect," Vokal said. "Prepare the landing area."
"Actually, master," his aide said. "He said he won't use a shuttle or a transport."
"What do you mean by-"
A strange, chiming sound interrupted Vokal. He looked wide-eyed as in front of him four pillars made of blue streaks and sparkles of light accompanied the chimes. In a matter of seconds, the silhouettes became clear, the sound and lights disappeared, and four Humans stood there, smiling.
Teleportation technology! To think those newcomers could have such advances in their hands! The Vree do have teleportation technology too, their dimensional slip devices. It was very bulky, very power hungry, and had a very limited range, though. However, this teleportation technology the Humans just showed seemed to work in a very different principle to the space-folding of the Vree device.
Vokal noticed that the other representatives there were as astonished as him. Ambassador G'Kar was literally salivating.
Vokal walked to the Humans, bowing to them respectfully.
"Captain Rogers," he greeted. "In the name of the Ventuki Conglomerate and the Merchant/Adventurers Guild, I welcome you and your crew to Alzeral. I hope the future relations between the Ventuki Conglomerate and the United Systems Federation be very friendly and fruitful."
"In the name of the USF, I thank you, Governor," Rogers answered. "These are my crewmates: Lieutenant Commander Melian Celebrin, Lieutenant Mara Eko-11, and Ambassador Khalil Marcus."
"We greet and welcome you," he said as the Grandmaster approached. "I present you Grandmaster Hono Keral of the Merchant/Adventurers Guild-"
"And I am Ambassador Londo Mollari of the Centauri Republic," the Centauri ambassador walked in, interrupting Vokal. The Grandmaster only smirked, as if having the most fun. "That is a very curious demonstration you made there with that teleportation device. Very theatrical! The Centauri Republic looks forward for trading technology and art with your federation."
"I'm sorry, ambassador," Rogers apologized. "But I have no authority to sanction any technology transfer. We are actually very jealous of our technology."
"Ah, what bad could come from a small exchange of little trinkets-"
"I am very sorry for him, Capitan," the Narn ambassador interrupted Mollari. "I understand if you are annoyed by this creature, but he Centauri are very primary creatures, you know? Did you know that they invaded our homewo-"
"Well, let's start the welcoming celebrations!" Vokal said, discreetly pulling the ambassadors away from the guests, a it seemed like the Grandmaster would do nothing more than smile with amusement. That decrepit, crazy oldling was leaving all the work for Vokal to do, so he have to take control to guarantee a trade agreement that would benefit him. Maybe even allow him the chance to take that old kovati's place as Grandmaster!
They entered the room where the banquet would be served.
It was a cultural show. With traditional dancers, folk singers, humorists, and poets. He looked at the Humans, dazzled, an interest in experiencing a different culture he has never seen in any other alien. Well, now would come the best part of experiencing a new culture.
"The feast is served!," Vokal said.
The Humans looked at the strange foods presented to them. The living alien worms covered in goo were the only thing they could begin to recognize. Captain Rogers looked back at the other ambassadors who looked just as sick as the Humans. He flashed a diplomatic smiled back at Vokal, trying to hold his shit together.
"Well," the governor said. "To de feast!"
Rogers and the other Humans looked horrified as Vokal's small, thin little mouth opened and his internal mouth extended to the food, ravaging it like a… well, Rogers couldn't find anything to describe it.
The Humans and the ambassadors were able to find some dishes that they could tolerate, with the help of Melian's tricorder.
"Miss Eko," the Grandmaster called Mara. "I noticed that you haven't eaten. Is the food not of your liking?"
"If it is or not, I wouldn't know, Grandmaster," she answered with a gentle smile. "I cannot eat physical food as this body you see here is but a hologram. I'm a member of a race of sentient programs that evolved hundreds of years ago on Earth's computer network."
"A hologram? But, how?" Ambassador G'Kar asked mortified. "I shook your hand as it was the Human greeting you taught us. I could feel your hand, the texture of the skin, the pulsating blood, even the body heat!"
"Our holographic technology is very advanced. We make use of light and force fields to create the illusion of mass."
"Astounding!" Ambassador Mollari said. "A very real demonstration of your level of technology! And that synthetic servant your people built acts just like the real thing!"
"Excuse me, ambassador," Mara said calmly, yet clearly offended. "I'm no one's servant. My people were not directly created by the Humans, we evolved from primitive programs they left in their computer network. We have our own language, culture, religions, and identity. We are full citizens of the United Systems Federation in equal footing to any Human. Actually, that is where the name Virtuan came from, as we were once called Virtual Humans. This holographic body is what allows us to interact directly with the physical world."
"Of course the ambassador of the Centauri would imply you are slave," G'Kar said passionately. "They are a barbaric people who enslaved my world and-"
"I have an idea," Ambassador Marcus interrupted, not wanting to see an interstellar war being declared at the dining table. "When do you think about a tour in our ship?"
"So you can make us your prisoners?" Ambassador Cha'Nah of the Dilgar spoke for the first time. "What guarantee would we have that you don't plan to make hostages of high ranking representatives of four interstellar governments?"
"Well," Ambassador Marcus replied. "There are fourteen Vree ships in the system, seven of which are close enough to my ship to look out for you. But we wouldn't kidnap you. We ask you to take a leap of faith."
After some convincing, the ambassadors agreed. What Marcus said about the Vree ships really gave them some sense of security.
They waited outside, close to the landing pads. They insisted not to be beamed in.
Londo Mollari saw when the shuttle descended from the sky and landed easily in place. It had under it the similar glowing blue pylons to the larger ship in orbit, certainly some kind of propulsion engine. They were all divided into two groups.
When he entered the shuttle, Londo looked around confused. It was too spacious. All other small ships Londo knew of dedicated most of their space to the reactor, the thrusters, and other basic functions.
He sat on the comfortable seat by the wall beside Grandmaster Keral and G'Kar. The savage also looking around in amazement.
As the shuttle took flight, Londo's eyes widened as he noticed that he couldn't feel any acceleration at all!
"We have good inertial dampeners," the Human, Lieutenant Celebrin, explained.
"It seems you have mastered gravimetric technology too," G'Kar said, and for the first time, Londo realized that there was gravity on this shuttle.
Of course, being Centauri, Londo was used to artificial gravity, he didn't even think about how a new coming race shouldn't be hard such technology.
"I don't understand the surprise, ambassador," the AI woman, Mara, commented.
"Artificial gravity is very advanced technology," the Grandmaster spoke for the first time. "Only older and more advanced races have mastered its secrets.
Mara frowned to this. Artificial gravity was such a basic technology in Human space. She also saw the scans on the Vree ships. They had no shields and their weapons were rather primitive. Was this the level of development of the races of the region?
"Such a green world," Ambassador G'Kar said as he looked at the planet being left behind. "Have I told you that the Centauri once occupied my world, Miss Celebrin? They plundered it dry of its resources. What was once a verdant world full of life became an arid wasteland!"
"I'm so sorry, ambassador," Ambassador Marcus said. "It is sad what happened to your world. Maybe I can arrange talks with my government to lend help in terraforming it. We are very adept in this area."
"Oh," G'Kar's mask dropped and, for the first time, his smile was genuine. "Thank you, sincerely.
Londo looked out the window and saw as the shuttle approached the Human ship. It was odd shaped, yes, but which alien ship wasn't? The shuttle flew to the back of the ship and, as has become a habit of his that day, he looked wide eyes as he saw people walking around the docking area, open to space! They used no special suits or whatever, and it seemed like this ship had gravity too.
His questions were finally answered when the shuttle entered the area, passing through some kind of force fields that weren't visible before.
The shuttle landed and they got out.
"Welcome to the USS Santos-Dumont," Captain Rogers said as he got out of the other shuttle.
They walked down the corridors. Londo could see the Humans doing their duties an looking at them with curiosity. But for some reason, the Vree among them were the ones drawing the most attention.
"Engineering," the Captain said as they entered the lift.
The lift moved and its door opened to a wide room. It had many Humans doing their duties, holographic and touch screens. But the most visible feature of the room was the big, tubular structure in the middle.
"That is the warp core, our main reactor," the Captain explained.
"Is it some kind of fusion reactor?" Ambassador Cha'Nah asked, curious.
"No, it's a matter-antimatter reactor."
"You can manipulate antimatter?" Londo exclaimed. "That is very advanced technology. Only the older races and the Vree can harness it!"
"It is one of our main energy sources," Mara said. "But we also use other power sources where they are convenient."
They took some time on their tour. The Humans showed their astrometric lab, sickbay, bridge. Londo really enjoyed it. The Humans avoided giving too much information. Any question about how their technology worked they dismissed politely. It was an enlightening, though.
They were now in an odd looking room. It was empty and the walls covered by a greenish metallic grid.
"Welcome to the holodeck," Captain Rogers said. "Computer, run program Paris 17."
Suddenly, everything around them changed. They were in the middle of a wide avenue surrounded by beautiful, ornate beige buildings. Humans walked around and one of them bumped on Londo and apologized before walking into a store.
"Come, sit with me," Captain Rogers invited them as he sat by a wooden table and called a waitress. "Bonjour. Je voudrais une crêpe suzette, s'il vous plaît."
"What is that?" G'Kar asked looking around.
"We said we have good holographic technology. This is Paris, one of my favorite cities on Earth."
The waitress brought his dish. The smell was divine and made Londo salivate. Captain Rogers took a bite from it.
"I brought you here so we could talk in a more informal setting," he continued. "My people struggled to unify, to find peace, to travel the stars. We use say that the milenia we spent bound to Earth, bound to Sol, was the First Age of Mankind. Them we developed warp drive and colonized the stars. That was the Second Age."
He looked back at the city, the big arch-like structure far away stood proud. "What we are living here, now, is the dawn of the Third Age of Mankind. I hope it is marked by harmony and friendship between our many peoples."