Scott made his way to the cargo bay and found Drack on the first floor looking down. You must ascend Scott approaching him, because he then turned around.
"I've seen a lot of shit in my life, but that vault was certainly a first," said Drack. "Things are going to be interesting with your round, kid."
"Doesn't matter what life throws at me. It's what I make of it, right?" Scott asked with a small smile.
"You keep that going, you just might live as long as I have. Minus zero at the end," said Drack.
"Now that we've been digging, it's clear you were right about Spender," Scott informed him.
"Guy like that'll do anything to get ahead," said Drack bitterly. "Just wonder how far he went."
Scott then asked more about fighting kett, and that when he mentioned that certain kinds that they had yet to encounter named Destined. Apparently these kett were faster than a normal variety and they were able to produce some kind of mist that hit them and any nearby ally from view. He suggested that taking them down quickly would leave the other kett completely exposed.
"We can talk more later," said Scott.
Drack nodded. "Sure."
Scott made his way to the bridge and found Kallo and Gil talking over the comm.
"The ship's manuals useful," said Gil. "That leg of my workbench needed propping up."
Kallo looked immensely annoyed. "If you bothered reading it, you'd know that the Tempest is an orchestra of new tech. You can't just meddle with—"
"I got this ship launch-ready in record time, Kallo. I know my stuff," said Gil sounding equally annoyed.
"And you don't have a shred of respect of other people's," said Kallo under his breath.
"Kallo?" Scott warned.
Kallo clearly didn't realise that Scott had been listening to the conversation. "Oh, Ryder. Sorry you had to hear that that. Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Can you tell me anything more about the ship?" Scott asked.
Kallo smiled. "Our aerospace engineer was Teon'Adda vas Moreh. A quarian fellow—and absolutely fearless. Once, some Omega scrap dealer pulled the 'we don't sell to quarians' nonsense. Teon found… a workaround."
"What do you do?" Scott asked curiously.
"He glued a memory foam to his environmental suit, then during the negotiations, leaned against the drive core he wanted. Very casually. It made a perfect mold of the components—and the scrap dealer was none the wiser."
"I'll let you concentrate."
"You know well I'll be."
It was time for them to search for that signal managed to acquire from the vault. Everything started out so smoothly, but then a proximity alarm sounded across the bridge.
"We're on a collision course with unknown objects," Kallo announced.
"Make corrections?" Scott ordered as the ship shook violently. "SAM? Are you on this?"
"Collision is imminent," SAM warned.
"All stop! Now!" Scott yelled.
They suddenly came to a violent stop and that's when they came face-to-face with a large alien ship. It in take them long to figure out that it was actually a kett cruiser, a very big one, Kandros had been able to gain a bit of information on kett ships. Also patrolling around it were fighters, but they were unusually designed. Instead of being small and sleek they were tall and a bit bulky.
However the immediate concern was the fact of the cruiser was a minute gun batteries straight down towards them.
"Kett ships, a dozen—no, more!" Suvi warned.
Fighters soon began to surround every exit point except for one. Sadly that exit point lead them back towards the Scourge.
"They've pinned us against the Scourge!" Kallo warned.
"They are scanning us, Pathfinder," SAM announced.
"Well, stand them back!" Scott ordered, not sure what else to do.
They immediately went to red alert and the Pathfinder team quickly made their way onto the bridge to find out what was going on.
Then suddenly appearing on the view screen was a kett, but he looked quite different from all the others they've encountered so far. He appeared to steward with quite a bit of a faulty so Scott assumed that he was some sort of an authority figure.
"Where is the one who activated the Remnant?" he demanded. He was clearly not making a request, it almost seemed as if he felt as if he was entitled to know. "They're DNA signature is there. Answer me."
Scott was quite stunned that they were able to scan their DNA, clearly his DNA and his father's were quite similar to be recognised. There had been no reports of any kind of kett activities since they activated the vault on Eos, so he assumed that he was referring to Habitat 7.
Liam looked as if he wanted to say a few things straight to his face, but thankfully Cora stopped him before he can make the situation any worse.
Scott was not about to be bullied by someone who would not even have the courtesy of giving them his name. "You're the one in my way. Who are you?"
He clearly annoyed him quite a bit, because then the ship shook.
"They've locked navigations," Suvi announced.
"We're being steered into their ship," Kallo warned.
"Just tell me what you want," said Scott looking at their capture.
"I won't explain what you can't understand," he said as if he was talking to some kind of insect.
"Ryder," said SAM over the private channel so they would be overheard. "I have almost regained control of the ship. I need a few more seconds."
Scott got the message, he needed to stall this guy just a little longer. "I actually know a lot about the Remnant. We should compare notes."
"Enough," said the captain looking impatient. "Your defiance is naive and reckless. This day marks the beginning of your greatness."
Scott had no idea what that meant and he wasn't exactly looking forward to find out. Fortunately navigations suddenly came back online as dear good majority of the ship systems.
"SAM?" said Scott as he approached the console.
"I have plotted a potential course through the Scourge," said SAM.
"Do it," Scott ordered, knowing there was no time to lose.
Kallo quickly operated the controls and immediately headed straight towards the Scourge. They little manoeuvre must have caught the kett offguard, because they were ill-prepared for their sudden course change. Only two fighters chased after them through the Scourge, but one of them got struck by it just as they entered. The other fighter was head on the heels and then suddenly the ship shook as they grazed the Scourge.
"Report?" Scott ordered.
"Enemy destroyed. Damaged to arf sensors!" Suvi announced.
"Scourge got it?"
"Yes."
"Get us out of here!" said Liam as he and Cora try to stay steady.
They kept on flying deeper into the scourge with the enemy fighter approaching behind them. Unfortunately, since the Tempest was unarmed there was nothing they could do about it, but they were fast making it difficult for the fighter to catch up with them and it was much more manoeuvrable. That became true when the fighter crashed into the Scourge, but the explosion was shooting down the Scourge like fire in a tunnel and it was approaching them. To make matters worse the Scourge was getting even tighter and what the engines grazed against it.
"It will be tight," SAM warned.
"Kallo…" said Vetra looking a bit tense.
Seconds later they shot right through the scourge just before the explosion and there was no sign of any pursuers.
"Yes!" Kallo cried with joy.
Now that they were on the other side of the Scourge there was no way the kett would be able to get through.
"Ha-ha! Nice work, kid," Drack smiled looking at Kallo.
"Yeah… but who the hell was that guy?" Scott asked.
"Ryder! We've got trouble down here. You need to find a port now!" Gil yelled over the comm.
Scott got the message that it was urgent, sadly he wasn't entirely confident they will be able to find a port in the middle of nowhere. "Great. Where'd we end up, anyway?" Scott asked looking at Suvi.
"Sensors are damaged, but I think we're at the vault's co-ordinates…"
"You think?" said Scott, not feeling utterly reassured. Fortunately there was a planet in front of them and according to the scanners it was oxygen bearing. "Gil, give it what you can. We're settling down."
They began to descend towards the planet and they quickly descended into the atmosphere. No sooner have they done so that they received some unknown visitors.
"We're being contacted," Suvi announced.
Suddenly six shuttles, of unknown design, appeared out of nowhere and began to surround them. Ordinarily they would be ecstatic to make first contact with an unknown alien species, but they had pressing issues in their last encounter with the first Andromeda species didn't exactly go well.
"We have to land…" Scott sighed. "Open a comm."
Suvi immediately did so and no sooner had she did that they received a message. "Tove jagalesh do!" Sadly no one understood the language, but it sounds as if she was asking for identity. "Tove jagalesh do!"
Scott knew that this was a time for diplomacy. "We're visitors from another galaxy. Our intentions are peaceful."
All of them just stood there waiting for the response and it was a bit nerve wracking to say the least.
"Paav, nele set do," said the unknown alien.
"They've sent us a navpoint," said Kallo looking at his controls.
"Set us down," said Scott knowing they had no choice.
The shuttles then immediately began to guide them towards the navpoint and heading towards lush looking sanctuary, which was immensely different compared to the rest of the planet.
"Yes…" Scott smiled as it came into view. "Ha. Look at that… it's beautiful."
They soon headed towards what looked like a city and apparently there had been a port ready for them large enough for the Tempest, though only just. Scott got the impression they did had anything bigger than the shuttles so no doubt they were quite spooked by the enormity of the Tempest.
The shuttles continue to circle around the Tempest, no doubt order to shoot if they made some kind of unfriendly gesture. Though that wasn't exactly likely considering the Tempest was unarmed, but neither were they going to go anywhere until they talk to someone in charge.
"We need in that vault," said Scott.
"Please," said Vetra as she folded her arms. "You're not really going out there on your own."
It wasn't exactly the smartest choice, but judging from the proximity to the Scourge and the black hole, this planet was virtually hidden. In fact they probably wouldn't have known it had existed and they hadn't got the data from the vaults. This no doubt meant that the inhabitants were quite wary of outsiders and an armed escort was no doubt waiting for them outside.
Scott didn't want unknown of the more than they already were, after all they did practically enter the planet while on fire, not the best start of friendly relations.
"We can't afford a repeat of last time," said Scott as he faced everyone. "I'm the Pathfinder—first contact is on me."
"Most important thing ever. No pressure," said Liam.
Scott made his way to the doors and faced them. "If this goes badly—if I get eaten alive—even if it's hilarious—please destroy the vids."
Scott soon made his way outside with his hands of his head, to indicate that he was not unarmed. Already outside was a bunch of aliens holding rifles, and Scott really hope we didn't have an itchy trigger finger. It was hard to get a good view of them since they were covered in armour and had helmets, but they had hunched back legs and had a muscular frame.
"Tas goaj yabe jeanvad," said one of them were somewhat threatening tone.
Then one of the aliens with a much more lenient build, which is soon to be female, approached him with some sort of scanner. "Ged tas gohal tam yehal?" she said with a rather more gentle tone.
Scott really hope that the translator would kick in soon, because he felt like an idiot not able to understand what they were saying. "Thank you," he said, hoping whatever she said was supposed to be a good thing.
"Eham daar goss," said one of the aliens.
"Nasen roa," she said, no doubt confirming that he was unarmed.
The alien then gestured indicating to inform Ryder to proceed and soon he began making his way through the dock. They soon entered for a massive door that led them into a city and already there was a good number of the same kind of aliens staring at him.
These ones were wearing casual clothing making it easier for him to define them, he noted that they had two black eyes with blue irises, a single pair of nostrils, and folds of flesh on the sides of their heads that extend to their chests. He also took note that their hands had five fingers, but the final three fingers on each hand are densely webbed together into a single digit. He also took note that they had many different skin tones waging from blue or mauve, some of them even had shades of into green or tan.
He was soon being escorted to a stern looking female with dark blue and light blue skin tone. Judging from her attire he had to assume that she was the leader of this city, she was looking at him as if not sure what to make of him.
"I'm Paaran Shie, governor of Aya. We are the angara," she announced.
Scott was found for that the translators were working now and it least now he had a name to their species. Though he can help but notice that all them were looking at him suspiciously some of them even looked resentful.
"Hello," he said trying to be diplomatically. "I'm a Pathfinder with the Initiative."
"Yes. You cross darkspace, I've heard of your journey," said Paaran.
Scott shouldn't have been surprised about that, the Nexus had been stuck in Heleus for 14 months now is more than enough time for word to spread of their arrival. Though seeing as they never made any form of contact with them, he suspected that they were rather cautious species when it came to outsiders.
Then suddenly appearing out of the crowd was another male angara, he seemed to be wearing some kind of VI eyepatch over his right eye. Judging from his posturing Scott had to assume that he was some sort of soldier.
"Jaal, I have this in hand," said Paaran.
Jaal raised his hand, clearly indicating that he did not care. "Evfra saw the ship come in and sent me to find out what's going on."
"He's a human from another galaxy. A Pathfinder," Paaran explained.
Jaal then marched up right in front of Scott's face in a rather threatening manner. "Aya is hidden, protected. What do you want?"
"I apologise," said Scott trying to remain calm. "Landing here the way we did, without warning, on fire, was not the plan."
"That's good to know," he said relaxing slightly. "Because of it was, that would be a very bad plan." He then turned around and walked past Paaran. "I'll inform Evfra. He'll be waiting for you in his office at the Resistance Headquarters. I'll meet you there."
"I will accompany you through our city. Your crew will stay on your ship," she insisted. "Follow me."
Knowing that he had very little choice Scott complied with her.
"Follow me closely. Do not try to explore the city or interact with anyone," she instructed. She then gestured to the guards accompanying them. "Evfra's guards will use force if necessary."
Scott nodded, he didn't expect anything less. "Understood. Is it okay to ask you questions?"
She looked at him suspiciously. "I suppose."
They then began making their way through the city and Scott can help but notice that there was quite a gathering. He also noted that many children were being hidden behind their parents' legs, no doubt to protect them from the strange alien that landed unannounced on their front porch.
"If you're the governor, why do I need to see this 'Evfra'?" Scott questioned.
"He's leader of the Resistance," she said simply.
"What's that?"
"They fight the kett—and protect us."
That confirmed that they had encountered the kett and it sounded as if their first interaction with them went just as well as theirs. The term Resistance also implied that they had no standing military, so it was probably much like their militia back on the Nexus.
"I detect unusual levels of electrostatic energy in the angara," SAM informed Scott by their private channel.
Scott was tempted to scan them to find out more, but he suspected that would be seen as a hostile act so he resisted the urge. As they made their way through the crowd that had gathered around he also heard many of the angara calling him it and clearly wanted him in a containment cell.
Scott looked at Paaran. "Am I that intimidating?"
"You're an outsider who invaded our home," Paaran reminded. "We know nothing about you."
"I'm not here to cause trouble."
"Then keep moving."
Scott grimaced, it sounds as if diplomatic relations were going to be bit tricky with these people. Adding the complication of the fact that they need access to their vault to find out more about the terraforming network was only going to make his job even more difficult.
They soon passed what appeared to be some sort of museum and the curators were outside staring at him.
"How did it find us?" said the only male curator.
"'He.' Not 'it,'" said the female curator with purplish skin. "And stop staring."
It was good to know that not everyone on this planet was going to call him it, there might still be hope for diplomatic relationships after all.
"None of the local flora register in my data files," said SAM on their private channel. "We've encountered an undiscovered ecosystem."
Scott looked over a balcony which oversaw a beautiful waterfall and the plans were absolutely gorgeous. All the more reason to strengthen diplomatic relationship with these people so they can get researchers to study the plant life.
"Your city is beautiful," said Scott looking at Paaran.
"Thank you," said Paaran with a small smile. "You're the first outsider to see it."
"I'm honoured."
They soon reached the far end of the city and were approaching a large building which Scott had to assume was the Resistance Headquarters. Paaran stopped just in front of the doors and looked at him.
"What happens if Evfra doesn't like me?" Scott asked sounding a little apprehensive.
"He won't—but you need to earn his trust."
"He's responsible for everyone's safety I know what that's like."
"You're a leader."
"Trying to be."
Paaran nodded and then gestured towards the doors. "This is Resistance headquarters. Evfra is waiting inside."
Scott nodded and entered the building.
The moment he entered he found Jaal walking alongside a young looking recruit, who was holding a modified kett rifle in his hands.
"They're bullies, but this situation is now your fault," Jaal scolded. "Don't get kicked out, Moraan—not because of them."
"But you're telling me to be weak!" said Moraan.
Jaal placed a hand on his shoulder. "No, I'm telling you to be strong for your cunning and heart. Okay?" Moraan nodded and began to walk off, only for Jaal to stop him before he made five steps. "Hey."
Moraan stopped and then looked at the rifle in his hands before giving it back to Jaal. "It really is the best one in the Resistance."
Jaal smiled. "I know."
Moraan then made his way to the entrance, but he stopped briefly as Scott walked past and gave him a wide berth.
"Our experiences with the kett makers naturally distrustful of all aliens," Jaal explained."
Scott nodded. "We've had our own run-ins with the kett."
"Then you really do understand. When the Archon came to Heleus, he demolished our sovereign state—took what he wanted, as if we were nothing. Now the kett mercilessly abduct angara. Often, we never see people again." He then gestured down towards the corridor. "Come this way. Evfra's waiting."
"Wait, the kett kidnap you—steal your people," Scott frowned as they walked down the corridor.
"And the Resistance fights them every day, with everything we can."
Scott found this behaviour bit strange. "Is it attrition? What are the after?"
"You should save your questions for Evfra."
It in take them long to enter what appeared to be the command station and many angara were manning a console. Scott quickly deduced that they were monitoring different Resistance cells throughout the cluster and this Evfra obviously was overseeing them all.
"Kadara be damned. I won't lose Voeld," an aggravated voice.
Standing at a desk was a battle scarred angara with light blue skin and he certainly looked like the uncompromising sort.
"Evfra, this is one of the aliens from the Milky Way—a Pathfinder," said Jaal.
Evfra turned and looked at Scott suspiciously. "'Pathfinder.' It's an aggressive move, coming to Aya."
"It wasn't meant that way," said Scott quickly. "I have an ark full of desperate people counting on me to find them at home before they starve."
"Of course. I feel free you and your people," he said looking sympathetic. However his demeanour completely changed to aggression. "So, Pathfinder. Never mind how you even found us—why are you here?"
"On a hostile planet we call Eos, I explored an ancient structure—a 'vault'—and brought it back online," Scott explained. "It stabilise that planet's environment."
"'Remnant.' Recent intelligence support that claim," said Jaal looking intrigued.
"If I'm right, there's a vault on Aya that's different," Scott continued. "I need to look inside."
Evfra remain silent and then turned to face the window. "You're right. There's a 'vault' out there, but it was shut down years ago and the entrance hidden. We can't help you."
"The Moshae could," said Jaal and noted Scott confusion. "She's our most revered scientist and elder. She knows this vault."
"But now the kett have her, and our rescue attempts failed," said Evfra bitterly. "She's lost to us. And you."
"There must be another way. How can I convince you? Can I offer help?" Scott offered.
Evfra looked at him furiously. "Arrogant. I don't know you, let alone trust you, why would I want your help?"
Scott was a little taken aback with this outburst. "Of course."
Jaal, who appear to be more levelheaded and less aggressive than Evfra, stood forward. "Evfra. I feel… Evfra, what this alien says is extraordinary. The Moshae would want us to be brave and not let this chance pass."
Evfra looked at him tiresome. "Jaal. You talk too much."
"Let me assess this alien," Jaal offered. "I'll be your eyes. I know you can spare me."
Evfra waved his hand dismissively and then left. "Go if you want. But when he tries to kill you, be prepared to strike first."
There was little awkward silence between the two of them after that.
"I'm Jaal Ama Darav. I'll be your envoy through angara space," said Jaal breaking this awkward silence.
"It's going to be cosy, so I hope you like people," Scott smiled.
He then extended his hand out, but when Jaal extended his hand he placed it behind Scott palm. Scott then quickly repositioned his hand so that it was in front of his, but clearly this was not the friendly greeting that the angara practised. Jaal grabbed his arm and raised it and then they press their palms against one another.
Jaal groaned as he did so, because apparently he had been doing it correctly. "I hope I don't regret this."
"Me too."
Soon the two of them left headquarters and made their way back to the dock. A few of the dock workers had been looking at the Tempest as Gil fixed up. She looked as good as new, clearly the angara were more than happy to spare the spare parts needed to repair her,but the question was whether this was a friendly gesture or did they just want them of the planet.
"I've organised my analysis of Aya. Shall I relate to the Nexus?" SAM asked by their private channel.
"Definitely," Scott whispered so that he was not overheard.
Scott then noticed that Jaal was talking to some sort of official, no doubt assigned by Paaran.
"Be careful out there," he said.
"You know I will," said Jaal.
"You really think the Moshae is alive?"
"I'm sure of it."
"Don't kill yourself bringing her home."
"No promises."
Scott immediately approached the official and he introduced himself as Enroch Bosaan and Scott predicted he was an assistant to Governor Shie. He explained that he was free to explore the docks, but the city was off-limits until Evfra approved it.
Scott was a little confused why he needed Evfra's approval when Paraan was the Governor. Enroch explained that while she had jurisdiction over Aya, she respected Evfra's judgement and would only accept his return to the city once he trusted him. He also pointed to Scott to a few individuals that were quite eager to talk to him, a museum curator and a trader.
Scott then approached the museum creator and recognised her as one of the people within the crowd when he was escorted through the city.
She was completely starstruck when he approached her. "Stars above, it's you… I was hoping to get a chance to speak with you. You left your home across dark space… is it true you can never go back?"
"Yeah. This is home now," Scott nodded.
"To take such a risk and give up your old life… why did you do it?"
"I can resist the adventure of a lifetime."
She nodded as if she understood him perfectly. "I know the feeling. There's a rush in taking a chance and hoping for the best."
"My turn for question. Do I get to know your name?" Scott asked.
Clearly she forgot that she hadn't introduced herself at all. "Oh—of course. I'm Avela Kjar, curator for the Repository of History. We study relics of our past. Try to piece together what we lost in the Scourge. And… the truth is, there was something I wanted to talk to you about. Pathfinder, how much you know about our history?"
Truth be told Scott didn't know that much, he only knew about the confrontation the kett and that was limited in itself. "I still have a lot to learn."
"Centuries ago, the Scourge targeted my people," Avela explained. "Our ships were the first to go dark. Many of those ships went down over Havarl. The wilds of that planet are filled with history. A scientist on Havarl just contacted me with the navpoint of an intact crash site. A huge opportunity. But with Remnant patrolling the area, we can't get close enough. Not like you can."
Scott was a little surprised that she knew about him and the Remnant. "How do you know about me and the Remnant?"
"I have friends in the Resistance. They heard your conversation with Evfra," she explained. "I know it's a lot to ask. But you have a ship—and the means to get past the Remnant. Without your help… I'm stuck."
Scott was a little surprised that she was putting so much trust in him, especially after what he had witnessed going through the city. "You're trusting your history with an outsider?"
"I know what people say about you, but I don't agree. I think you're here to help."
"I am."
"Now's your chance to prove it. You want to earn Aya's respect, right? Recovering our past will go a long way."
Scott had to agree, he had to show that he was a friend to the angara and there was no better way of proving and assisting them recover some lost history. "I've always wanted to give archaeology a try."
Avela's eyes lit up. "I was hoping you'd say that. If you find anything, I'll be here. Thank you, Pathfinder."
Scott also talked to the trader, whose name was Sohkaa Esol and he appeared to be very interested in trade and question about the economy. Scott explained that the use the currency they called credits in order to buy things and that trade was negotiable. Sohkaa went on to explain that the kett never traded, but instead gave them gifts and old bargains. He also explained that one of his supplies off world had failed to check, Scott agreed to help when he gave him his suppliers navpoint said that his name was Keldo and once he came back with supplies then maybe they would trade.
Scott soon approached Jaal just stared at the Tempest, clearly the angara didn't possess a ship quite like the Tempest.
"Your ship is… we have nothing like it," said Jaal as he stared in awe.
"Wait 'fil you see the inside," Scott smiled.
"It gets better?"
"Oh, yeah."
"You ready to go?"
"I'll introduce to you to the rest of my crew."
Within minutes they were on the Tempest and had exited Aya's atmosphere, but the mood wasn't exactly ecstatic. Everyone was confused why they had to leave and more importantly why they had picked up an extra crew mate.
Cora was attempting to calm everyone down. "I'm just saying, as fast first contact goes, at least that went better than the last one."
"Only slightly," said Liam.
"Yeah—what happened?" Peebee asked as she turned to Scott. "I wanted to look around."
Drack looked at Jaal, who was sitting in the corner. "And now we have another mouth to feed. Whatever he eats…"
Jaal just sat there observing them like a hawk and it was starting to make everyone feel easy.
"Do the translators not work?" Vetra asked.
"They work," said Jaal.
"I know we're improvising, but let's remember that there is Pathfinder team protocol," Scott reminded.
"Don't think I got that handbook," said Peebee.
Cora turned on Scott. "Ryder, we followed our best lead here, and now we don't even have that."
"Jaal has offered to do what he can to help us access the vault on Aya," Scott assured them.
"How do we do that when we're leaving the planet it's on?" Vetra frowned.
"That's…" Scott paused unable to think of a clever response, "a fair point, Jaal?"
Cora rolled her eyes. "Seriously?"
Liam slammed his hand on the table. "Settle down! Ryder's right. There's an angara right here. Let's hear from the new guy."
Jaal sat there and Scott made room for him at the briefing table, he then rose to his feet and approached them.
"One day, about 80 years ago, the Archon and the kett arrived in Heleus, and the horror began," he said.
"They declared war?" Vetra asked.
"Nothing so easy to define or fight."
"The kett kidnap angara—their people disappear without a trace. What if they were us?" Scott asked trying to make them see the point of view of the angara.
"Sure. I'll fight kett all day long—but that's no plan," said Drack.
"I agree. We need to get into that vault, Ryder," Peebee nodded.
"Surprisingly, I'm with Peebee," said Cora. "Our own mission has to take priority."
"We have a plan," said Scott trying to remain as calm as possible, though that was easier said than done. "Kind of. Pretty solid." He then looked at Jaal. "Jaal?"
"The Resistance is stretched thin," Jaal began. "I was tasked with travelling to two of our worlds at our briefing this morning—and you'll accompany me."
"Because…?" Liam questioned.
"Because then Evfra will see you as trustworthy. You want that."
"Jaal's told me about these two worlds: Havarl and Voeld," said Scott as he brought up in holographic image of the two planets in question.
"Before the Scourge, Voeld was a thriving planet of billions, a shining centre of technology and life," Jaal explained.
"And now?" Vetra asked.
"It's the centre of our ground war against the kett. Our Resistance base is fighting Kett Command for control of the planet."
"What about the other?" Cora asked.
"Havarl is the birthplace of the angara. It's starting to degrade, to become wild and dangerous. We suspect Remnant."
Peebee's eyes lit up. "Now we're talking."
"We've recently lost contact with our scientists."
"Still don't get how any of this helps us," said Drack.
"I do," said Cora looking slightly annoyed. "Help us—or rather, help me—and I'll vouch for you, right? Because Jaal want's inside Aya's vault, too."
Drack looked at Scott. "Pathfinder? It's your call."
The plan wasn't ideal, but they need to regain the trust of Evfra and Jaal was their best shot of getting it. It would also give them a chance to learn more about the angara which would assist the Nexus for diplomatic talks if it ever happened.
"Let me weigh the options. I'll let you know," said Scott.
"We'll be ready, whatever you decide," Liam assured.
"Jaal give Kallo the navpoints for both planets. Let's… do this," said Scott, though with some doubt.
When everyone left the briefing room, immediately made contact with Adam and immediately informed him of the situation.
"First contact, we didn't suspect that we would encounter another alien species so quickly and now we've done it twice," said Adam.
"The angara didn't shot us out right like the kett, but they seem to be extremely cautious and distrustful of other alien species," Scott informed him. "That being said they don't strike me as xenophobes."
"Sounds a lot like us when we started venturing out into the stars," said Adam. "There was a lot of fear when First Contact War was first raged, we were terrified. It wasn't for the Council intervening when it did the xenophobe back home would have been far worse."
"Sounds as if were 80 years too late."
"We also have another problem, I'm afraid those two planets you're investigating happened to be Habitats 3 and 6."
"So two of our golden world of the sovereign state of the angara," Scott sighed.
"One in their home world, no way we can colonise that, but it may be possible to establish an outpost on Voled, of course we need a local angara stationed there to agree. I'll inform the Nexus leadership of what has happened, in the meantime you should try and bring as much goodwill as possible."
"Don't worry, I'll make sure that the see that they can trust us," Scott assured.
"Just be careful, I have a hunch that not all the angara are going to be as friendly as the ones you encountered on Aya."
"What makes you say that?"
"Personal experience, you know about all those pro-human and anti-alien groups that roamed around the Milky Way before we left. You might very well encounter group just like that, if that does happen the careful."
Scott nodded. "Thanks for the warning."
