Thoughts from Andromeda: Incident Logs
By ElementalsAdvocate
…
Authors Note: Fair warning: this is all from SAM's point of view, or as near as I could make it, so bear with me.
…
Year 2819. Day 26 after Arrival. Incident Log. Beginning approximately 0947 (morning) and concluding approximately 1106.
Present on Bridge: Scott Enfield Ryder (Pathfinder), Kallo Jath (Pilot), Suvi Anwar (Science Officer).
…
Kallo: "We're on a collision course with unknown objects!"
Scott: "Make corrections. SAM, are you one this?"
SAM: {"Collision is imminent."}
Scott: "All stop! Now!"
WARNING! UNKNOWN SIGNATURES DETECTED! RELATIVE BEARING: 0°, RANGE: 1.7 kilometers. IDENTIFIED: 1 LARGE VESSEL, HEAVY CRUISER CLASS OR HIGHER DETECTED, VERIFICATION PENDING.
WARNING! SCOURGE CONCENTRATIONS RISING: FIELD SPREAD APPROACHING HABITAT 7 LEVELS AND RISING! ADVISE CAUTION!
WARNING! MULTIPLE WEAPON SIGNATURES DETECTED! Kett vessel bringing primary weapons lock: Weapons tentatively identified as plasma cannon, sized for dreadnought-vessel. WARNING! TEMPEST NOT EQUIPPED WITH SHIELDS OR ARMOR TO WITHSTAND ATTACK BY PLASMA CANNON. ADVICE EVASIVE MANEUVERS IF FIRED UPON!
DETECTING: Multiple small craft moving to flank. CONFIGURATIONS UNKNOWN. ACESSING INITIATIVE SECURITY DATABASE… IDENTIFIED: KETT FIGHTERS.
Suvi: "Kett ships, a dozen- no, more!
Kallo: "They've got us pinned against the Scourge!"
Peebee enters Bridge from Starboard Escape Pods.
SAM: "They are scanning us, Pathfinder."
Scott: "Well, scan them back!"
Lieutenant Cora Harper, Crisis Specialist Liam Kosta, Quartermaster Vetra Nyx, Mercenary Nakmor Drack enter Bridge.
DETECTING INCOMING VID-LINK FROM KETT VESSEL. PATCHING IN… VID-LINK ESTABLISHED. KETT ALIEN OF UNKNOWN VARIANT. LARGE, ROUND, SLIGHTLY LUMINOUS WHITE EYES, with barely discernable pupil. Distinctive bony crest forming a circle across the rear of the skull, forming a shape similar to a halo. Denotes authority? Evolution? Unknown.
Unknown kett alien: ["Where is the one who activated the Remnant? Their DNA signature is there."]
Kosta attempts to move to forward viewer, face contorted as if to yell, but Leiutenant Harper intercedes, grabbing Liams arm and shaking her head (to keep Liam silent?)
Scott: "I'm Ryder; Captain of this ship and Pathfinder with the Andromeda Initiative. And who are you?"
Unknown kett: ["…You'll come with me."]
WARNING! HACKING ATTEMPT IN PROCESS! ATTEMPTING TO COUNTER.
Suvi: "They've locked Navigation."
Kallo: "We're being steered into their ship!"
Scott to Unknown kett: "Just tell me what you want!"
Unknown kett: ["… I won't explain what you can't understand."]
SAM: {Ryder. I have almost regained control of the ship. I need a few more seconds.}
Scott to Unknown kett: "Okay, now you've made me mad! Who the Hell do you think you are?!"
Unknown kett: ["Enough! Your defiance is naïve and reckless. This day marks the beginning of your greatness."]
MESSAGE LINK TERMINATED. REGAINING CONTROL OF TEMPEST SYSTEMS. RETURNING HELM CONTROL TO BRIDGE STATIONS. PLOTTING POSSIBLE ESCAPE VECTORS… ESCAPE PAST KETT VESSELS: PROBABILITY OF SUCCESS… 0.47%. ESCAPE THROUGH SCOURGE FIELD? PLOTTING… COURSE PLOTTED. PROBABILITY OF SUCCESS, GIVEN TEMPEST PERFORMANCE AND CREW ABILITY… 6.64%.
Scott: "SAM?"
SAM: {"I have plotted a potential course through the Scourge."}
Scott: "Do it!"
Pilot Kallo Jath setting in course and commencing evasive maneuvers. WARNING! KETT FIGHTERS ATTEMPTING TO PERSUE THROUGH SCOURGE FIELD. EXPLOSIONS DETECTED-
Scott to Suvi: "Report!"
Suvi: "Enemy destroyed- damage to aft sensors-"
Scott: "Scourge got it?"
Suvi: "Yes."
WARNING! KETT FIGHTER FOLLOWING PARALLEL COURSE THROUGH THE SCOURGE FIELD!
Liam: "Get us out of here!"
WARNING! SCOURGE STRANDS APPROACHING WITHIN CRITICAL DISTANCE-! DETECTING GAP AT FIELD EDGE: DIMENSIONS: APPROXIAMATELY 10 METERS HIGH BY 50 METERS WIDE. TEMPEST CLEARANCE: 8 METERS HIGH BY 45 METERS WIDE.
SAM: {"It will be tight."}
APPROACHING FIELD EDGE. DISTANCE TO GAP: - 3 KM-2KM-1KM-! WARNING! SCOURGE STRANDS WITHIN CRITICAL DISTANCE!
Vetra: "Kallo…"
EXPLOSION DETECTED. ENEMY SHIP DESTROYED. CAUSE: CONTACT WITH SCOURGE TENDRIL. WARNING! SHOCKWAVE APPROACHING, SCOURGE REACTING! WARNING! GAP CLOSING!DISTANCE TO GAP: - 3 KM-2KM-1KM-!
Kallo: "Yes!"
LEAVING SCOURGE FIELD… DISTANCE: 10 KM… 20 KM… 30 KM…
Drack: "Ha! Nice work, kid."
Kallo appears (dumbfounded?) at the krogans praise.
Scott: "Yeah… but who the Hell was that guy?"
Engineer Gil Brodie: [Broadcast] "[Ryder! We got trouble down here! You need to find us a port - Now! "]
CONFIRMED. STATIC BUILD-UP IN ODSY DRIVE CORE REACHING CRITICAL LEVELS. STATIC DISCHARGE REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY IF CORE INTEGRITY IS TO BE MAINTAINED. WARNING! CORE OVERLOADING! CHIEF ENGINEER GILBERT BRODIE AUTHORIZING EMERGENCY CORE SHUNT… CONFIRMED. SHUNTING OVERLOAD TO IES SYSTEM… HEAT TRANSFERING TO IES HEAT SINKS. WARNING! HEAT SINK TEMPERATURES APPROACHING CRITICAL LEVELS. REPEAT: DISCHARGE DRIVE CORE IMMEDIATELY TO MAINTAIN CORE INTEGRITY. WARNING: KINETIC BARRIER STRENGTH IS AT 23.12%.
Scott: "Gil, what's happening?"
Gil: ["Short answer: We just went through a bloody Scourge field! We didn't get hit; otherwise I'd be looking at stars down here, but we still got whacked but good! The ODSY Drive wasn't able to take the charge, so I had to shunt the overload to some less important systems-"]
Kallo: "What!?
Gil: ["It was that or let the charge ground itself in the Tempest and blow us back to the Milky Way in pieces! Right now the ODSY Drive's keeping it together but the electrostatic charge hasn't gone away, and the heat sinks are as hot as they can stand. We're lit up like a bloody New Year's Parade float, and the shields won't hold if we're hit by anything much larger than space dust! We need a planet's atmosphere to discharge the core, or better yet, a port to land in and ground the charge. Then I can assess the damage and make repairs."]
Scott: "Great. Hang in there, Brodie. We're doing the best we can. Where'd we end up, anyway? Suvi?"
Suvi: "Sensors are damaged, but I think we're at the vaults co-ordinates."
Scott: ""You think-?" Ugh. [Broadcast] [Gil, give it what you can. We're setting down."]
PLANET DETECTED.
3rd Planet from the sun.
Orbital Distance: 1.1 AU.
Orbital Period: 1.3 Earth Years.
Keplerian Ratio: 0.788.
Radius: 3,289 Km.
Nitrogen-Oxygen atmosphere… Atmospheric Pressure: 1.40 atm.
Surface temperature: 28 °C.
DETECTED: VOLCANIC ACTIVITY ACROSS 52% OF THE PLANET. NO NATURAL CAUSE DETECTED.
ALERT! REMNANT SIGNAL DETECTED. LOCATION… UNKNOWN, UNABLE TO TRIANGULATE DUE TO VOLCANIC ACTIVITY WITHIN THE PLANET AND FLUCTUATIONS FROM BLACK HOLE: H-012 KETOS CLUSTER COREWARD.
BEGINNING ENTRY… ALERT. COMMUNICATIONS SIGNAL DETECTED.
Suvi: "We're being contacted."
DETECTING 4 SIGNATURES, UNKNOWN CONFIGURATION, APPROACHING AT SPEED.
Scott: "Damn it—we have to land! [Sighs] Open a comm."
COMM CHANNEL OPEN… RECEIVINGCOMM SIGNAL, PATCHING SIGNAL IN:
Unknown Alien Contact: [Tove jagalesh do!]
TRANSLATION BEGUN… INSUFFICIENT DATA.
Unknown Alien Contact: [Tove jagalesh do!]
Scott: "We're visitors from another galaxy. Our intentions are peaceful."
Unknown Alien Contact: [Paav, nele set do.]
RECEIVING NAVIGATION INFORMATION. PLOTTING…
Kallo: "They've sent us a nav-point."
Ryder: "Set us down."
WARNING: ADDITIONAL SIGNATURES DETECTED… 6 TOTAL, CONFIGURATION SIMILAR TO UNKNOWN DERELICT SHUTTLE RECOVERED FROM ORBIT OF H-599 (Zheng He System)… SHUTTLES ASSUMING A FLANK AND GUARD POSITION AROUND TEMPEST AT 1 KILOMETER RADIUS. APPROACHING NAV-POINT. DETECTING ELEVATED HEAT SIGNATURES CONSISTENT WITH GEOTHERMAL ENERGY… REFINED METALS… SYNTHETIC COMPOUNDS… LARGE QUANTITIES OF LIQUID WATER…
Scott: "Oh… yes!"
CONFIRMED. SETTLEMENT DETECTED.
Scott: "Ha! Look at that… it's beautiful.
HULL CAMERAS ACTIVATED… LARGE WHITE BUILDINGS SET ON TOP OF A RIDGE OF VOLCANIC BASALT, OVERLOOKING A LARGE LAKE. STREETS AND BUILDINGS COVERED BY LARGE AWNINGS, IN SHADES OF GREENA ND BLUE. DETECTING MULTIPLE HEAT SIGNATURES… CONFIRMED. LIFESIGNS DETECTED, LIFEFORMS UNREGISTERED IN INITIATIVE DATABASES. DETECTING ABUNDANCE OF FLORA… CONFIRMED: INDUSTRIAL SCALE AGRICULTURE WITHIN THE SETTLEMENT AND SURROUNDING AREAS: TERRACES, ORACHARDS, AND FIELDS, FLORA UNKNOWN… DETECTED: VOLCANIC ACTIVITY TO PLANETARY SOUTHWEST OF SETTLEMENT. SOURCE: VOLCANIC FISSURE, APPROXIAMATELY 126 KM FROM SETTLEMENT. SENSORS INDICATE STABLE LAVA FLOWS, WITH STRONG PROBABILITY OF SMALL, FREQUENT EARTHQUAKES.
NAV-POINT BEACON CONFIRMED: STAR-PORT TO NORTH-EAST SIDE OF SETTLEMENT. PROCEED.
DETECTED: LARGE CONCETRATIONS OF FLORA TO NORTH-EAST OF SETTLEMENT, CONSISTENT WITH TROPICAL PRIMORDIAL JUNGLES OF EARTH AND SUR-KESH, EXTENDING
LANDING BEACON CONFIRMED. PROCEEDING TO LANDING ZONE. HULL CAMERAS: STARPORT LOCATED IN VOLCANIC HOLLOW BELOW THE SETTLEMENT. LANDING PLATFORM LOCATED APPROXIAMATELY 18 METERS BELOW RIDGE-TOP, IN THE CENTER OF THE HOLLOW, HANGING OVER A LARGE WATERFALL AND POOL. THERE IS APPROXIAMTELY 46 METERS OF OPEN AIR BETWEEN THE PLATFORM AND THE POOL.
EXTENDING LANDING GEAR… 30 METERS TO TOUCH-DOWN… 20 METERS… 10 METERS… 5. 4. 3. 2. 1… TOUCH-DOWN. LOWERING KINETIC BARRIERS, VENTING IES HEAT SINKS, BEGINNING CORE ELECTOSTATIC DISCHARGE PROCEDURES; TIME TO COMPLETION: 1 HOUR, 36 MINUTES.
WARNING: SHUTTLES ASSUMING FLANK POSITIONS AND GUARD POSTURE AROUND THE STAR PORT. ALERT: WEAPON SIGNATURES DETECTED: SHUTTLES ARMED WITH PLASMA-BASED WEAPONRY. NO WEAPON LOCKS.
Scott: "These folks aren't taking any chances."
Vetra: "I don't like this, Ryder."
Scott: "Doesn't matter if you like it or not. We need in that vault."
Vetra: "Please. You're not really going out there on your own."
Scott: "We can't afford a repeat of last time. I'm the Pathfinder – first contact is on me."
Liam: "Most important thing ever. No pressure."
Scott: "Yeah, no pressure."
Scott exits the bridge. As soon as the bridge doors close, Scott immediately jumps down the ladder to Deck 2 and enters the Pathfinders Cabin.
SAM! Start recording!
I've only got a couple of minutes, so I'd better make this count.
Bottom line, we've discovered a new intelligent species here in Heleus. I don't know who they are, and SAM's still working on language translation. But, they're definitely flying around in the same kind of shuttle we discovered abandoned off "99". And they haven't shot at us yet, which is definite plus over the kett.
And the kett! Fuck! They came after us. They hunted us down just outside this system, caught us against a massive wall of Scourge, and if it weren't for Kallo and SAM and Gil being on the top of their game, we'd definitely be on a slab being dissected by some kett scientist!
Fuck! They were looking for me! Not for me – but for Dad! For the Human Pathfinder! How does that happen? What is going on?
Now, I need to go out there and see if the locals are interested in talking. SAM, if anything happens to me, you follow the protocol. Transfer to Cora, do everything you can to get the Tempest and the crew out of here. And if that doesn't work… transfer all my reports, notes, and logs to Captain Dunn, with a copy to Sara. And tell them if they meet a kett with a face like a fucking blowfish and ice like a pair of blue moons, shoot him for me! And please… look after Sara. Don't let her wake up alone.
{Yes, Scott. However, I do not believe that will be necessary.}
…Why?
{I have no intention of allowing you or the Tempest to come to harm.}
Heh. Thanks SAM.
Scott turns and exits the cabin, striding through the Tempest to the cargo bay and the exit ramp.
"Okay. Show time-"
"Hold it!"
Docter T'Perro runs up to Scott, drags up the sleeve of his left arm, activates a hypo-spray, and swiftly begins administering a barrage of anti-biotics to Scott.
"Doc?"
"I'm giving you a broad-spectrum series of antibiotics. Scans haven't found anything recognizably contagious, so this should keep you together long enough to get us out of here. Finished!" Lexi pulls the sleeve back down. "Now! I assume you're up to date on First-Contact protocols concerning personal health and safety?"
"Yes Doctor. I covered all that during training. "Don't eat anything. Don't drink anything. Don't touch anything unless I've scanned it first and made sure it's safe."
"I suppose it'll have to do. Good luck, Pathfinder."
Doctor T'Perro turns and retreats out of the cargo, once again leaving Scott alone. Scott activates his omni tool and sends a command to open the bulkhead doors of the exit ramp. There is a sudden hiss as air from the planet rushes into the Tempest. It smells of sulphur, likely from the active volcano's sighted on the Tempests approach. Scott likens it to the smell of rotten eggs or the mineral springs of Yellowstone National Park on Earth.
Scott steps to the edge of the ramp and looks down. The Tempest is resting on platform, hanging out above the plunge-pool of a large waterfall that Scott can immediately hear.
At the bottom of the ramp are a dozen aliens of a species unknown to Initiative database. All are fully covered in heavy skin-tight cyan-colored protective gear, obscuring all features. The aliens appear to be of the same speicies, with a physical variation that would seem to indicate a degree of dimorphism, (possible between male and female of the species?) The first (group) are characterized by broad shoulders and narrow hips, and the second group characterized by smaller shoulders (in comparison to the first group) and larger hips, similar to the dimorphism which occurs in human and turian species.
All the aliens are wearing smooth featureless helmets completely hiding their features from view. The tops are round and curved like a soup bowl, but on either side of the head are two sets of fringes or plates,
All the aliens are bibrachial and bipedal, possessing two arms and two legs. However, while the arms and hands appear humanoid, the leg structure of all the aliens is more similar to that of quarians and salarians than that of humans, possessing visible recurve joints that turn at almost right angles from the thigh, back into a curve so that the individual is balancing upon a strung bow. This adaptation would likely provide a considerable strength in stride, possibly for bounding across an open landscape, or perhaps for hopping or lunging for prey as the ancient salarians did.
All of the aliens are armed. The weapons are of three variations: a large pistol similar to a hand cannon, made of heavy synthetic materials and metals, a large rifle with a long barrel and sight of similar make, and a short heavy tube, likely some form of shotgun. Short heavy knives with long handles are also in evidence, sheathed and strapped to alien thighs and behind the waist. However, while they are all armed, only a few of them are actually pointing their weapons at Ryder.
Scott slowly raises both hands over his head and descends the ramps 30 degree incline, treading slowly and steadily, making no sudden movements that might startle or antagonize the aliens.
When Scott reaches the bottom of the ramp, one of the aliens steps forward and extends their (hand?) towards Ryder. A scanner is detected in a device strapped to the aliens (forearm?), and it is scanning Scott, though not to the invasive degree of a cutting edge medical scanner. The scanner is likely trying to detect concealed weapons and/or dangerous agents about Scotts person.
Unknown 1: "Tas goaj yabe jenvad."
Unknown 2: "Ged tas gohal tam yehal?"
Scott makes to lower his hands, but the surrounding (guards/warriors/attendants) immediately raise their weapons, and Scott raises his hands to their former position.
Scott: "Need me to take off my shoes?" Ryder's comment is clearly meant to lighten the mood. As it is unknown whether the aliens can translate his language, it seems more for his own benefit than a genuine attempt at communication.
Unknown 1 completes its scan, and nods to Unknown 2.
Unknown 1: "Eham daar goss."
Unknown 2: "Nasen roa."
Unknown 1 moves to Ryders left, out of his way, and Unknown 2 jerks its head for Ryder to proceed forward, through the armed entourage. Ryder hesitates for a moment, and then proceeds as indicated. Five of the aliens form up around Ryder, firmly boxing him in, with two leading from either side, two flanking, and one directly behind with (shotgun?) leveled at Scott's back. The other aliens remain where they are, apparently to guard the Tempest, as they make no move to approach up the ramp or move against the outside.
Scott is led off the platform, through a small shuttle port. Gunships hover in the air overhead, bows and (presumably) guns pointed towards the grounded Tempest. Exiting the port, the group enters a long covered walkway, similar to a cloister, open to the outside air. There are plants everywhere, growing out of large terraces and planters along the sides of the hall.
The group climbs a short set of stairs, coming out into a large courtyard open to the sky. There are more aliens around on the periphery of the yard, but the guards march Scott to the base of another set of stairs.
Standing at the top of this staircase are five aliens, standing side by side and looking down at the approaching group. None of them are wearing the uniform protective gear of the (guards?). Civilian leaders then? Two (males?) and three (females?). Without protective helmets, the aliens facial features are visible, revealing humanoid features: two eyes, a flat nose, a mouth, clearly defined chins. The male faces are sharper, while the females appear more rounded. However, they have no distinguishable hair, and from the level of the brows, flesh sweeps out from either side of the head and descending the neck to the shoulders and possibly beyond. In the males, the flesh forms similar to the hood of cobras, expanding to halfway between the neck and shoulders. In the females, it forms a (tentacle?) on either side of the head, haloing the face before disappearing beneath high collars and down the front of the chest, forming a noticeable bulge beneath the fabric, though what functions these may fulfill is unknown at this point.
However, the most distinguishing features is that all the aliens show distinctively different coloring. (Far left male with weapon: Purple, with large lavender freckles across the face and down the neck and throat. Left male: Bright green on crown and across neck-folds, with pale face and throat.) Center female (Royal blue crown with light blue face and neck folds. An artistic design in white is (painted? Tattooed?) Around the edge of her crown directly over her brow, showing visibly against the blue. May denote authority.) Right female ( blue. similar to center female, but without tattoos). Far right female (Green crown, pale face and neck.)
The female with the sharp white markings in the shape of a tiara over her brow steps to the apex of the staircase, looking down directly at Scott.
Unknown Alien 3: "I am Paaran Shie, governor of Aya. We are the angara."
Scott: "Hello. I'm a Pathfinder with the Initiative."
Governor Paaran Shie: "Yes. You crossed darkspace. I've heard of your journey." The governor seems about to continue, but is interrupted by another angara, a male in some kind of light body armor under a short blue poncho-like cape and wearing an blue haptic eyepiece pushes through the line."Jaal. I have this in hand-"but Jaal (translation unknown, proper name/noun) raises his hand, peremptorily cutting the Governor off.
Jaal: "Evfra saw the ship come in and sent me to find out what's going on."
Jaal slowly descends the stairs, taking Scott in, while Scott does the same to the Angaran. Jaal exhibited another distinct coloring of the angara: Pink and purple and maroon in an intricate spotting pattern, pale on areas of the face. A large noticeable scar is on the left side of Jaal's neck, where something has cut a wedge out of his neck, source unknown. (Possibly a large knife. A sword? Unknown.) Three small black metal bands pierce a fold of skin on the left side of Jaal's head, just above where the temple would be in a human, opposite the haptic eye-piece that wraps around the right side of Jaal's head.
Governor Paaran Shie: "He's a human from another galaxy. A Pathfinder.
Jaal advances down stairs and walks right up to Scott, bringing his face to within inches of Scotts, studying him. Jaal: "Aya is hidden. Protected. What do you want?"
The angaran's eyes are a bright blue, with black slits for pupils, similar in appearance to that of a cat, though the sclera appears black instead of white. A memory flashes across Scott's mind: the image of a large cat; identification cougar (Puma Concolor), standing upon a rock and staring directly at Scott. The memory causes Scott's adrenal glands to increase production precipitously. In response, Scott deliberately breathes deeply, stands straighter, looking Jaal in the eyes and speaking slowly and clearly.
Scott: "Honestly? We came hoping to find a vault. But the fact is that we didn't know what we would find. But I'm willing to share what we know, if you are."
Jaal makes a sound, (a sort of cross between a "hmmm" and a snort. (part Consideration, part Incredulity?) Jaal: "Hmph! Honesty? Honesty would be a good start." Jaal raises his chin, looking down at Scott with a (unknown) expression. With that (enigmatic?) statement, Jaal turns around and walks back up the stairs. "I'll inform Evfra. He'll be waiting for you in his office at Resistance Headquarters. I'll meet you there."
Governor Shie eyes Jaal as the male angaran walks past her, then turns back to Scott. Paaran Shie: "I will accompany you through our city. Your crew will stay on your ship. Follow me."
Scott nods in acknowledgment, and then follows Governor Shie, guards following close behind.
Paaran Shie: "Follow closely. Do not try to explore the city or interact with anyone. Evfra's guards will use force if necessary."
SAM [Private]: {Scott, I have relayed the instructions to the Tempest. The crew will remain within as requested. Lieutenant Harper would like you to know that the heat sinks on the IES system have cooled sufficiently to allow for escape if necessary. The angara have made no attempts to scan or tamper with the Tempest, however a heavy guard presence remains.}
Scott: "Understood. Is it okay if I ask you questions?"
Paaran Shie: "I suppose."
Scott begins to follow the Governor, followed closely by two of the guards. Scott: "If you're the governor, why do I need to see this "Evfra"?
Paaran Shie: "He's leader of the Resistance."
Scott: "What's that?"
Paaran Shie: "They fight the kett – and protect us."
The Governor says no more, and Scott seems to be considering her words, but is quickly distracted by the surroundings. The Angaran settlement (Aya?) appears to be built of composite material. Floors, walls, support frames all appear to be made of the same material. Everthing is in an off-white color, with ocassional bands of dusty-blue on some of the buildings and fixtures. Patterns of circles and lines in blue and saffron spot the walls, though their purpose is unknown (Merely decorative? A written language?).
Flora abounds, large fronds and bushes (similar in appearance to those found in jungles across the Milky Way galaxy, though with noticeable variation in shape and color) in planters, placed along the edges of open spaces and up on the tops of walls and buildings to keep them out of the way of passers-by, but still present.
They pass a small fountain stuck into a corner, a broad hole in the wall of the terrace spilling clear water into an open trough. The sound of water is audible all around, and as Paaran and Scott descend a short flight of stairs and enter onto a broad balcony, another waterfall is revealed, spilling out of a broad natural cleft in the rock and cascading down below the settlement in frothy waves of blue and white.
Natural out-cropping's of volcanic basalt thrust up above the settlement buildings, the settlement built around and secured upon the ridge. More plants and vines grow from the rock, making green and brown curtains against black stone.
Paaran and Scott pass a courtyard, filled with angara of both sexes, blocked from approaching any further by more armed guards. Scott can hear the voices from the crowd.
… (Translation of Angara Language rudiments complete.)…
Unknown Angara: "What's this?"
Unknown Angara: "We have a visitor."
Unknown Angara: "This isn't safe. We should lock it up."
SAM [Private]: {I detect unusual levels of electrostatic energy in the angara. Also, the translators the angara are using: I have analyzed the translation, and there is a strong probability that they are using one of the Initiative Basic Translation programs, though how they would be in possession of the software is as yet, unknown.}
Unknown Angara: "This is insane. It belongs in a containment cell."
Unknown Angara: "Let Governor Shie handle this."
Unknown Angara: "You don't know what you're doing."
Scott: "Am I that intimidating?"
Paaran Shie: "You're an outsider who invaded our home. We know nothing about you."
Scott: "I'm not here to cause trouble."
Paaran Shie: "Then keep moving."
The Governor leads Scott onto a bridge that passes under a looming basalt outcropping on one side and another large waterfall on the other, before coming out beneath a pale blue awning, leading out into another square. More angara are clustered at edges of the road and on top of buildings to see the "alien".
Unknown Angara: "How did it find us?"
Unknown Angara: " "He," not "it." And stop staring."
Away from the open balconies on the edge of the ridge, the smell of Sulphur is reduced, overpowered by the smell of water and plants. More terraces and planters encircle the square, filled with tall conical plants that spread large blue flowers petals to the sun above.
SAM [Private]: {None of the local flora registers in my data files. We've encountered an undiscovered ecosystem.}
Angaran Guard: "Keep moving."
Scott: "Sorry. It's just… it's been a long time since I've seen this much moving water in one place that didn't come out of a pipe. Your city… it's… beautiful."
Paaran Shie: "Thank you. You're the first outsider to see it."
Scott: "I'm honored. So, what happens if Evfra doesn't like me?"
Paaran Shie: "He won't – but you need to earn his trust."
Scott: "He's responsible for everyone's safety. I know what that's like."
The governor shoots a look at Scott, brows twitching (interest?). Paaran Shie: "You're a leader."
Scott: "Trying to be."
Paaran Shie: "Here we are." Paaran stops outside a large circular building, indistinguishable from the others they had passed, except by its size, easily twice that of any single building yet seen in the settlement. Paaran: "Someone will show you to Evfra. Do not wander off."
Scott: "Thank you."
Paaran nods, and then waits until Scott enters the building.
Scott finds himself in an ante-chamber, empty except for more plants and a blank computer terminal. Scott hears voices around a corner and quietly moves to investigate. Turning a corner, Scott spots Jaal, speaking sternly with a male angaran in the same cyan-armor of the settlement guards and carrying a large kett rifle, but without a helmet, revealing bright green skin mottled with white across the face and neck, and wearing an expression of (remorse? Confusion? Defiance?)
Jaal: "They're bullies, but this situation is now your fault. Don't get kicked out Moraan – not because of them."
Moraan: "But you're telling me to be weak."
Jaal: "No." Jaal places his hand on Moraan's shoulder, an affectionate and reassuring gesture. "I'm telling you to be strong through your cunning and heart." Jaal notices Ryder, glancing in his direction before turning back to Moraan. "Okay?"
Moraan nods and begins to walk away, but Jaal brings the other male up short with a low-toned "Hey." Chastised, Moraan turns back around and sheepishly hands over the heavy kett rifle.
Moraan: "It really is the best one in the Resistance."
Jaal: "I know."
Moraan walks away, but not before giving Scott a hard, blank faced look as he passes the human to go deeper into the building. Again, the image of having a large predatory cat in a desert, staring at Scott with large unblinking eyes.
Jaal: "Our experience with the kett makes us naturally distrustful of aliens."
Scott: "I understand. We've had our own run-ins with the kett."
Jaal: "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 our people again."
(All through his speech, Jaals face has been contorting, expressions switching as if he is being confronted by images of the ketts actions upon the angara, bearing his teeth and twisting his nose and brows into a rictus of emotion.) But abruptly Jaal's face calms. Jaal: "Come this way. Evfra is waiting."
Scott: "Wait," Scott is forced to skip to keep up with Jaal's sudden turn to go deeper into the building, "the kett kidnap you – steal your people?"
Jaal: "And the Resistance fights them every day, with everything we can."
Scott: "Is it attrition? What are they after?"
Jaal: "You should save your questions for Evfra."
Unknown angara, raised in anger: "Kadara be damned. I won't lose Voeld."
Jaal and Ryder enter a large room, lit by sky-lights in the roof of the building. Along one wall are dozens of large screens that cover the entire space, filled with charts and maps and projections. Several angara are working feverishly at consoles below the screens. Some stop to stare for a moment at Ryder, but turn back to their work when they recognize Jaal with Ryder.
Standing in the center of the room with his back to a large table is a single male angara, dressed in similar garb as the civilians Scott had seen coming to the building and a large blue (scarf? cape?) similar to that worn by Jaal, glaring balefully at the screens as if daring them to give him more bad news. Jaal approaches the angara, and Ryder follows.
Jaal: "Evfra, this is one of the aliens from the Milky Way –" Jaal pronounces the name as "meelkee wee"—a Pathfinder."
Evfra: "Pathfinder." Evfra skin is light blue speckled with white, his voice is a growl, and as he turns to look at Scott, a long vertical scar running from the top of Evfra's head, across the brow of his left eye, and continuing down across his mouth until it ends at his chin becomes evident. Evfra: "It's an aggressive move, coming to Aya."
Scott: "Sorry about that. It wasn't that meant that way. We'd just run into a kett cruiser outside this system, and didn't exactly have time to-"
Evfra: "Cruiser!? Where?"
Scott: "Beyond the Scourge field. My pilot had to take my ship through the Scourge to escape. Don't worry, we left the kett on the other side, and all the fighters that tried to follow us were destroyed before we left the field."
Evfra to adjutants: "Warn our scouts on the perimeter! Any activity is to be reported to me immediately."
The adjutants quickly begin tapping out commands on their consoles and setting about their task. Evfra breathes in deeply, and seems to settle himself before turning back to Scott.
Evfra: "So, Pathfinder. Never mind how you even found us – why are you here?"
Scott: "On a hostile planet called Eos, I explored an ancient structure – a "vault" – and brought it back online. It stabilized that planets environment."
Jaal: ""Remnant." Recent intelligence supports that claim."
Scott: "If I'm right, there's a vault on Aya that's different. I need to look inside.
Evfra is silent, considering, turns his back on Scott and moves to stand in front of a large bay window looking out over Aya's landscape.
Evfra: "You're right. There's a "vault" out there, but it was shut years ago and the entrance hidden. We can't help you."
Jaal: "The Moshae could. She's our most revered scientist and elder. She knows this vault."
Evfra: "But now the kett have her," Evfra rounds and advances on Jaal, expression hard and uncompromising "and our rescue attempts failed. She's lost to us. And you."
Scott: "There must be another way. How can I convince you? Can I offer help?"
Evfra's eyes narrow. (Anger?) Evfra: "Arrogant. I don't know you, let alone trust you, why would I want your help?
Scott: "Because I need your help. Your help to help my people. If your Intelligence is good enough that the Governor knows about how we crossed dark space, then you know about our mission and our composition. Multiple species, multiple backgrounds, and working together to make a new life here in Heleus, without getting into a fight with anybody over it. Only we ran into the Scourge and the kett, and frankly we're getting our asses kicked. Now, thousands of people are looking to me to find them a home before they starve to death."
"What I did on Eos won't save them. So I'm out here, looking for other options, willing to help, and I've got a ship and a crew. What could you do with an extra ship and a willing crew? What would you do?"
"Among my kind, we have an old saying: "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." And I don't know about you, or pretend to understand what's going on here, but you definitely enemies of the kett, and I am most definitely on the ketts shit list. So, can we be friends? Or… can we at least try? To get to know one another and find out if we can get along? And then maybe… we can help your… Moshae? And then… we'll see."
"We're not perfect. But we're not out to start a fight either. We're just… lost. And hurt and hungry and willing to do anything to survive… including walking right out of this building, going back to my ship, and never coming back, if that's what you want, or… putting myself – and my ship… at your disposal."
Evfra and Jaal stand, silent, staring at Scott. Scott's heart rate begins to climb, the physiological signatures of doubt and anxiety beginning to manifest.
Jaal: "Evfra. I feel… Evfra, what this alien says is extraordinary." Jaal comes closer to Evfra, staring into the other angara's face. Jaal: "The Moshae would want us to be brave and not let this chance pass."
Evfra: "Jaal. You talk too much."
Jaal: "Let me assess this alien. I'll be your eyes. I know you can spare me."
Evfra's expression might be described as (stony?) as if Jaal had just revealed information Evfra wanted kept hidden. However, by the twitching of his upper lip and nose, (in humans) would presage the advent of rage and disgust.
Evfra: "Go if you want. But when he tries to kill you, be prepared to strike first."
Evfra storms away, leaving Scott and Jaal alone by the window.
Jaal: I am Jaal Ama Darav. I will be your envoy through angaran space."
Scott: "I'm grateful. Not many I can think of in your situation would go out on a limb like this for a complete stranger."
Jaal: "Yes. But, I can always kill you in your sleep."
Scott: "I wouldn't be so sure about that, but… thanks for the warning."
-{End of Incident Log.}-
…
Authors Notes: Okay, this chapter was a beast write, mostly because I was trying to translate everything through SAM's POV, who is also supposed to be experiencing the world through Scott. Also:
+Determining how best to describe travel in the Andromeda Galaxy, especially since we're only operating in a "corner" of it, and what takes precedence.
+The dimensions of the Tempest: length, breadth, width, depth. Etc.
+Activity of Scourge and its reaction to ships (not to mention why it does that)
+Working out what a "proper" preparations for a First Contact might entail.
+Assessment of the Angara from the point of view of SAM observing through Scott, and drawing conclusions on the nature of people and the worlds based on those observations.
Normal updates restart next week.
As always, please: read, review, and enjoy! I always love hearing your thoughts.
