Disclaimer: I do not own Zootopia or any of its characters, they all belong to Disney. I do not own Halo or any of it characters, that are all belong to 343 Industries. Rated M for sexual themes.
Just One Small Spark
Chapter 15
Their first destination was a star 12,512.67 light years from the Zootopian star system. All 106 Keyships dropped out of slipspace within nanoseconds of each other a billion miles above the plane of the ecliptic. Six ships remained in-system while the Admiral sent the others to survey the hundred closest 'nearby' stars.
"All ships have reached their destinations," the communications tech reported. "We're also receiving their 'I'm alive' message once a minute."
"Are we receiving any artificial electromagnetic radiation from within this system?" Mary asked.
"No, ma'am."
"The ships in-system are proceeding as ordered."
"Yes, Admiral," she said and checked her console. "They report that they are on course for their designated targets and will begin their surveys upon arrival."
"Thank you," Mary said. "Please forward their updates to the appropriate departments as soon as they're received."
"Yes ma'am."
Mary's flagship, the Zootopia II, set course for the only habitable planet while the other five key ships had now moved off to explore the other planets, asteroid belts, and Oort cloud of this star system. They achieved orbit of the blue planet six hours and twenty-six minutes later and immediately launched automated probes in orbit to assist in the survey. Twelve hours later the first of 34 crewed shuttles touched down at various points of interest that had been detected by their scans.
"Drones are away, Admiral," the flight engineer reported after their shuttle had touched down.
"Our surveys have found no infectious bacteria or virus," Jasmine said and tapped her pad. "Of course the odds of being infected from any planet whose life evolved in a totally isolated environment are for all practical purposes zero."
"I believe you," Mary said and smiled, "but it's always best to check."
"True enough," she said and rose on her hind feet so they now stood eye to eye. "Just as you ordered when you first met my people."
Mary smiled and patted the centaur's shoulder.
The loading ramp dropped and soon everyone received their first look at the new planet. The Spartans, led by John and Cortana, went first and fanned out in a defensive perimeter. By local midday semi-permanent buildings had been erected to house the labs and the living quarters. Several other shuttles landed during the day, bringing in more building materials and personal. This included scientists of several species and specialties, marines, Gas Bags, and Huragok. The Gas Bags and Huragok immediately began to 'fix' things and then began to 'improve' them. This did cause a bit of confusion initially, but after few hours the new camp was running quite smoothly.
Mary's shuttle set down in her flagship's landing bay and was met by Robert, the Captain of the Zootopia II and her husband.
"This is a bit of a surprise," Mary said and smiled. "Problems?"
"So how was your trip?" he asked and his bunny only smiled as she turned and he followed her into the internal shuttle. "The 'Ris' Pride' reported that they've found a derelict ship in the Oort cloud on a collision course with the eleventh planet. Bridge." They sat just as the shuttle began to move. "They've taken it aboard."
"Of course they did," she said and Robert shrugged.
"But haven't gone boarded it yet."
"I guess we might as well ask them to bring it here before they actually do."
"Ris are always curious, aren't they?" he said and they both smiled.
After five minutes the shuttle came to a stop and a minute later they walked onto the bridge. Mary looked up at the main screen which was currently showing the planet below and turned to the communication tech.
"Please contact Captain Vajjar," Robert said, anticipating his Admiral.
"Thank you, Captain," she said and smiled at her handsome Fox.
A few moments later a Ris' face appeared on the main screen.
"So you've found something interesting," Mary said and the Ris grinned. "Could we have a look at it?"
"Yes, Admiral!"
The image on the main screen switched to the Ris' Pride's main landing bay and zoomed in on the derelict.
"An interesting design," Robert said, stepping closer to the main screen.
"Contact the Chief Engineer and pipe this down to her," the Admiral said, indicating the main screen.
She saw the Ris Captain grimace for just a moment.
"Admiral," the Chief Engineer said, soon joining the conversation. "An interesting design."
Mary looked at her Fox and they both smiled again.
"Thanks for joining us," she said and smiled at the other Rabbit. "Olivia, the Ris have found a ship."
"Have they broken in yet?"
"No, we haven't!"
"Will wonders never cease," she said and the Admiral heard a few chuckles around the bridge. "Zoom the camera in near the center of the ship." A moment later everyone heard the Ris growl the order. After a few seconds the area filled the screen and the Chief Engineer was silent for a time. "It looks to me like that's the hatch for the main landing bay." Again she was silent for a time and then smiled. "Captain Vajjar, please bring it here unopened and undamaged." A low growl was heard over the speakers. "Also, please let your mate know that I would like her to join me."
"Thank you, Olivia," came a feminine Ris voice.
"You're welcome, Ejona," she said and smiled. "I'll meet you when you get here and we'll get started right away."
"Admiral, I will speak to you when we arrive," Captain Vajjar growled. "Signing off."
Mary sighed.
Captain Vajjar did an in-system slipspace jump which wasn't recommended, but wasn't against regulations either. They rendezvoused with the Zootopia two hours and ten minutes later. The two Keyships extended docking tunnels and the Admiral and the Chief Engineer greeted their guests at the airlock.
"Olivia," Ejona said and hugged her friend. "My favorite prey."
The Rabbit laughed.
"Somehow being told by a predator that you're their favorite prey is somewhat unsettling."
The female Ris laughed too.
"It sounds quite natural to me!" Captain Vajjar growled.
The Admiral sighed audibly.
"Admiral, with your permission Ejona and I and our teams will begin the analyst of the ship," Olivia said and was soon followed by group of Rabbits, Gas Bags, Huragok, and lastly a single female Skunk who stopped for a moment, eyed the Ris Captain, and then winked. Mary noted Captain Vajjar watch her for a few moments as she hurried to catch up and then turned back to her.
"That engineer of yours is insubordinate!" he said and the Admiral couldn't help smiling.
"But she does seem to work quite well with your mate."
"I just don't see the attraction between those two."
"Maybe it's simply because one's prey and the other's a predator," the Admiral suggested and Captain Vajjar only grunted in acknowledgement. "I would like to keep the ship here while they examine it."
"And my mate too," he said and she saw the corners of his mouth twitch up.
"Only if you can spare her."
"Of course, Admiral."
The derelict starship was moved into the Zootopia II's landing bay and its examination began in earnest.
A day later ships surveying the nearby stars discovered two new civilizations, one of which had FTL capable ships. First contact specialists with the help of Forerunner AIs observed both via stealthy probes and after a week it was decided to contact the more advanced civilization first. Contacting a lone ship had become standard practice if the new civilization had spaceflight.
"Captain, we have reentered normal space and the FTL engines show green and are going into standby mode," the navigator reported, "We are current traveling at .01c and decelerating at one gee."
Captain Faon walked around her bridge, checking each station and praising each of her bridge crew for another successful mission. Then she sat in her command chair and for the next nine minutes read her accumulated messages from various shipboard departments and ones downloaded from the closest early warning platforms of the thousands scattered throughout this colony's Oort cloud.
"Captain!" the sensor technician shouted and Faon turned. "Another ship just appeared one tenth of a light second behind us!"
"One of ours?"
"No ma'am," he said, turning to look at her. "It's much too large and Captain, if we continue on this course and at our current deceleration it'll rendezvous with us in," he turned back to this monitor, "eleven minutes and thirteen seconds."
"Is it deploying any weapons?"
He typed for a few seconds and turned back.
"Its hull is not showing any changes."
"If anything changes please let me know."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Captain?" the Navigator said.
"We'll remain our course and continue to decelerate."
Faon returned to her command chair and looked at the main screen which showed the other ship. She looked back at her messages and tried to read them, but her eyes continued to be drawn back to the screen. She finally gave up and walked around the bridge again.
"Captain, we have an incoming message with video," the Communions Tech said.
"Please put it on the main screen," she said and returned to her chair.
The face of a Cheetah filled the screen.
"I'm Captain Able Johns of the UNSC Bellerophon," he said and looked at the Yoth. "Captain, we'd like to meet with you and whoever else you think might be appropriate." She noticed that the sound of his words didn't match the movements of his mouth. "We shall be along side in three minutes and ten seconds. We can open our landing bay and you may either bring your ship aboard, some of us could come aboard your ship or visa-verse, or we could simply talk like this. It's up to you."
She stared at him for a time and then smiled.
"I would like to see your ship," she said and he smiled, "and I think my crew would too."
"We have a great many things to talk about."
Things moved rapidly afterwards as the new species elected to join them in contacting the other one. Also, things were moving along well enough on the initial target planet that the Admiral decided to join the first contact mission.
"Have you seen a ship like this one?" the Admiral asked and her pad translated.
"No Admiral," the Yoth Captain said, turning to Mary. "We've only contacted two other species and this ship looks like neither of their designs."
Faon and several other Yoth followed the Admiral on board the strange ship and then deep into its interior. They finally approached a door guarded by two marines. It opened and Mary let the Yoth enter first. Faon immediately recognized the cryogenic chambers for what they were as did the Yoth biologists. They moved closer to examine their contents.
"They kinda look like a larger version of your species, uh..." Faon said and looked at Mary, trying to remember the name.
"Rabbit," came a voice from behind them.
They turned as the person stepped between them and stopped to look in the chamber herself. Jasmine trailed behind the Aphpo and stopped. She looked at Mary and rolled her eyes. The human saying 'the pot calling the kettle black' immediately came to mind and she had to smile.
"Faon, this is Amki," Jasmine said and smiled. "She's one of the biologists the Aphpo sent up."
"I haven't had a chance to examine a Yoth yet," she said, turning back to look at Faon. "So far we haven't found any harmful bacteria or viruses for either us or you." Faon looked at Mary and smiled. "And you have so many intelligent species in your crews and some of them are even predators!"
Mary had to chuckle.
"They do make life interesting at times," the Rabbit said and smiled.
"Have any of them ever..." Amki began.
"It has happened on my world in the past," the Admiral interrupted, remembering what her cousin Judy and her husband Nick had gone through in Zootopia. "You know almost all the species on my world are intelligent."
"Yes, I read the biology reports," Amki said excitedly. "Yours must be most unique world in the entire universe! I'd love to see it!"
"All the animals on our world came from Earth," Jasmine said, looking at Amki, "and for reasons of their own the Forerunners uplifted them."
Mary had to smile at Jasmine saying 'our world' since they'd only arrived recently. Then again they'd seem to fit right in with all the other thousands of intelligent species on their world – well now worlds.
"Except your species," Amki said.
"Yes," Jasmine said.
"Uplifted?" Amki said curious.
"It's a term from a human novel I've read," Jasmine explained. "It means to bring a nonintelligent species up to being sentient and sapient by artificial means. The book is available online if you want to read it." Amki began tapping on her tablet and the centaur glanced over. "Just look for the word 'uplift' under the human section."
"Jasmine, when are you going to... 'thaw' them?" Mary asked. "Would 'thaw' be the right word?"
"Well in this case it would," she said as she noticed two Gazelles entering the room. The Centaur turned and smiled.
"They have been frozen at cryogenic temperatures," Amki interrupted and Jasmine turned back and a moment later felt a hand on her shoulder just as she opened her mouth. "It'll be just like thawing out prepackaged food in a microwave."
"These are my assistants, Jesse and his sister, Jean," Jasmine said, interrupting Amki. "They are Gazelles and don't think there's more a handful of them in the fleet."
She knew most of the people here were biologists and thought they would be interested. She felt Jesse squeeze her shoulder.
"Nice to meet everyone," Jesse said and smiled. "It's just about lunch time if you'd follow us."
It's always good to have perceptive assistants, Mary thought.
They took another day to double and triple check that every system on the derelict ship was functional. Only after one of the Forerunner AIs had managed to install itself on the ship's main computer and when every necessary system showed ready did Jasmine initiate one and only one of cryogenic chambers to begin the thawing procedure.
He woke and stretched. Immediately he knew he wasn't on his ship. He smelled and then felt grass under himself and opened his eyes. He raised his head and across from him was a person who resembled one of his people, but was shorter and had much longer ears. She smiled and unconsciously he did the same.
"My name is Mary and I'm a female Rabbit," she said and her pad translated.
As a doctor he guessed beforehand that she was female assuming her physiology was similar to theirs. She had pronounced breasts and her features more soft and rounded. Then she held out a hand and he took it. Three fingers and an opposable thumb, he thought as he began his examination. He assumed correctly that the device would translate his words into her language.
"My name is Eshu," he said, leaning closer to examine her eyes, "and I'm a Mellin and my ship's doctor." He reached up and gently touched her ears. "I was wondering if you're pregnant."
Of all the questions that was absolutely the last one she thought an alien would ask during a first contact. She fell back in the grass and laughed. He leaned over her.
"No Eshu, I'm not pregnant," she got out between giggles.
"You're laughing, correct?" he asked, looking at her closely.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I just didn't think you'd ask me that and it struck me funny," she explained. "Why'd you think I was pregnant?"
"You have breasts," he said and she started laughing again.
He sat back and watched her for a time.
"And this time?"
"All females have breasts," she said and looked at him speculatively. "Or do your females only have them when their pregnant?"
"A few weeks before they deliver until a few after the kits are weaned."
"I understand," she said and sat up. "You seem quite calm meeting an alien or have you done it before?"
"No, we Mellin haven't, but you don't look so different from us," he said and shrugged. "Our ship was the first one to leave our solar system. So we did hope to meet others."
"I like you Eshu."
He thought she was quite attractive and smiled.
"Maybe later we could..."
"Oh, well I'm married," she said and gigged.
"Ah," he said and his eyes twinkled. "And you mate exclusively with your male."
"Yes," she said and her ears turned a deeper shade of pink. This didn't go unnoticed by Eshu. "Your people are different?"
"Of course like you we have marriage or there wouldn't have been a translation for the word, but we as a species are a bit more relaxed about sex."
"Oh."
"I have a feeling that you're somewhat uncomfortable with this topic," he said and smiled, watching her ears turn just a bit more pink. "We're on a ship?"
"Yes, it's named the Zootopia II."
"Do you spin your ship to simulate gravity?"
"No, the ship generates gravity artificially."
She saw what she assumed was surprise on his face.
"How?"
"I'm not the ship's engineer, but do know it can be adjusted," she said and looked at him in concern. "Here it's currently set the same as our homeworld. Are you uncomfortable?"
"No, actually the gravity on our world is a bit greater," he said and looked around. "What is this place?"
He waved his arm over his head.
"It's our garden area," she said relieved. "Any of the crew can come here when they're off duty."
"Are there others here?"
"Yes, but we really didn't want to overwhelm you with a lot of people all at once."
"And my ship."
"We found adrift," she said, "and it's currently in our landing bay."
"It's over thousand feet long!"
"The Zootopia II is a Forerunner Key Ship," she said.
"Forerunner?"
"An Ancient race that ruled most of this galaxy until around 100,000 years ago," she explained. "We recently discovered one of their Shield Worlds and salvaged these ships."
"And they still worked!"
"They were still being maintained."
He wasn't engineer either, but wondered how that was even possible.
"How large is this ship?"
"Just a bit over seven miles," she said and saw his eyes widen. "Also, I wanted to tell you that we have accessed your computers and know this was your first crewed attempt at FTL travel."
"I assumed you had since your device can translate between our languages."
"I just wanted to make that clear," she said and then looked at him seriously. "It's good that you were in cryogenic suspension."
"Why would you say that?"
"Your ship was in FTL for just a bit over five years and you overshot you destination," she said and touched his arm. "Eventually your FTL engine failed and your ship reentered normal space. Then you were adrift for another seven years until Captain Vajjar recovered your ship."
"How far did we travel?"
"Only 3,478.54 light years."
"ONLY!" he said and grabbed her shoulders.
A moment later very tall person stood over them. He quickly released Mary and scooted back on his butt.
"It's OK," she said and stood, touching John's arm. "He was only surprised. I'm not injured."
The Spartan looked down at the Mellin and Mary felt the blood start to trickle into her fur where Eshu's short claws had punctured twelve neat holes in her flesh.
"This is John," she said and held out a hand to Eshu. "He's in charge of security on this ship."
"Then I'm assuming that you've very few problems with security," he said, slowly standing and looking up at human.
"None at all," John said.
Later that day Robert turned over command to the second shift and like every other day made his way to the Admiral's suite. As he stepped through the door she smelled supper cooking and then remembered it was his turn. He found his bunny waiting for him and took her into his arms.
"So I heard your first contact with 'the alien' went quite well," he said.
"Yes, it did," she said and smiled coyly. "He was quite interesting and handsome."
"Also, I heard he was quite taken with you, but somehow you were able to fend off his charms."
"That wasn't so hard since I'm already taken with a certain Fox."
"Anyone I know?"
"Oh yes," she said and smiled, "He's tall, intelligent, and handsome too."
They both laughed and she kissed him. She felt his hands slide down to her hips and pull her tight against his body. Then Mary wrapped her legs around his waist. When the kiss ended they looked into each other's eyes. Seemingly moments later their clothes were scattered haphazardly about the room and they were on the couch with her atop him.
Later they found that supper wasn't too badly burned.
Over the next few days 257 Mellin were revived and immediately began a survey their ship's systems. Engineers from the Zootopia II volunteered to help and were eagerly welcomed. Huragok and Forerunner AIs were also brought in with the proviso that any software or hardware changes would be made only after discussions and the agreement of the Mellin engineers. After only a day the cause of the Mellin's predicament was discovered.
John, Cortana, and several marines met Captain Obgu, Chief Engineer Suas, and Doctor Eshu at their ship's air lock and led them to an internal shuttle. Five minutes later they entered a large auditorium filled with several hundred people of varying species, some in person and others virtual.
"I have called this meeting make several announcements," the Admiral began. "A probe has been sent back to Zootopia with all the information on what we're discovered here so far and it will also report the decisions I've made on how we shall proceed. But first we will hear from Captain Ejoja on what was discovered during the survey of their ship."
"The problem with our engine was due to an error in the software controlling it," he reported and sighed, "but we haven't determined if it was made in error or intentionally. Our engineers and yours are continuing to investigate."
"If there's anything else you need just let me know," the Admiral said and then looked back to her officers. "Ninety of the Keyships will proceed to our next destination under command of Captain Vajjar who I'm promoting to Commodore. The other sixteen ships shall proceed to the Mellin homeworld. We'll come out of slipspace outside their system and Captain Ejoja will proceed us to their home star system once we learn the state of their civilization. After discussions with the Yoth and Aphpo governments their ships will also accompany us to establish diplomatic relations with the Mellin and join us in our primary mission too. Are there any questions?"
There were a few on logistics and once those were answered the Captains and other officers returned to their various ships to begin preparations.
"Admiral," Commodore Vajjar said and she turned. "Thank you for the confidence you have in me and for the promotion."
"You're my most senior Captain and I couldn't think of anyone more qualified to lead this mission," she said and smiled. "Just keep us informed of what you find and we'll do the same. Then we'll join you when we've completed our discussions with the Mellin."
She watched him go and knew she'd made the correct choice.
Mary sat on the bridge and watched as the ninety Keyships entered slipspace. She turned to the Captain of the Zootopia II and smiled.
"All allied ships have come aboard and are secured," Robert reported, returning her smile. "All ships report ready."
Twenty-two seconds later the sixteen ships jumped to slipspace and thirty-two hours, ten minutes, and twelve seconds later they arrived ten light years from the Mellin homeworld. Mary wanted to get a feel on how the Mellin civilization had reacted to the loss of their first FTL ship before they made first contact. The Mellin expedition was suppose to have traveled the four light years to the nearest neighboring star, spend a year there, surveying the one known habitable planet, and then return. If everything had gone as planned they would have been away only 24 months.
"Admiral, we are now receiving multiple audio and video signals from the Mellin system and they are from ten years ago," the Communication tech reported. "The Forerunner AIs are beginning to sift through them."
"We will remain here for a week. I've decided that one ship will continue on to the Mellin's original destination," Mary said and looked at Captain Obgu. "That was a good idea of yours to send a ship to that star along with some of your crew."
"Who knows, my people may've sent another ship and/or set up a colony there by now," Ejoja said and shrugged. "There were several other ships like ours under construction when we'd left."
"Admiral, Captain Johns' ship has entered slipspace and will arrive in ninety seconds," the sensor tech reported.
"Two and half light years in ninety seconds," Ejoja whispered to himself. "Incredible."
He didn't realize how good a Rabbit's hearing was, but the three of them on the bridge heard him clearly. Mary looked at the other two and smiled.
The UNSC Bellerophon, not following standard procedure, came out of slipspace just outside of the Oort cloud per the Admiral's orders. Then six probes were launched and immediately jumped to slipspace and emerged in different parts of the star system.
"Captain, the probes report artificial electromagnetic radiation being radiated from the fourth planet and a few other points within the system."
"Most of these signals are consistent with our civilian entertainment and commercial traffic," Suas reported ten minutes later.
"Most Chief Engineer Suas?" Captain Johns said.
"Sir, a small part of these frequencies used by our military, but they don't seem to be on a heightened alert status."
"Do all your people agree?"
"Yes sir," he said confidently, "but we also think that you're being a little too cautious?"
"We don't want to accidently alarm your people into firing on us."
"Sir, as I understand it the Mellin have no weapons even capable of scratching a Key Ship."
"This is the plan that your Captain and the Admiral have agreed to," the Cheetah said and Suas sighed.
"I understand, but we still have reservations."
"Then we shall proceed."
The Mellin military base had been constructed inside a large nickel/iron asteroid. It had been melted using reflected light from this system's star and then stretched and blown up into a hollow cylinder. Then it was spun on its long axis in such a way that there was one g of simulated gravity on almost all its entire inner surface. In this way the base personnel and civilians who lived here could live and work just as they would on a planet. There were even farms, growing most of the food needed to feed its inhabitants.
On its circular ends there was, of course, lessening gravity as one moved from the edge to the center of them. The airlocks to allow ships to enter and exit had been constructed at the exact center of those ends where gravity was precisely zero. Passengers disembarking the ships would take an elevator 'down' and would feel the gravity increase as they neared the rounded inner surface of the cylinder. Also, large mirrors had been placed there to reflect muted light from the system's star to light the interior of the cylinder.
The sensor technician noticed the ship approaching the asteroid like he'd done a couple a hundred times before. Following standard procedure he requested the computer to identify the ship and waited.
"Sir," the sensor tech said and second officer turned and approach. "The computer reports this incoming ship as unidentified and of an unknown type."
He leaned closer, looked at the returns from the sensor, and then read the same information that he'd just received from the tech. He looked at her for a few moments and then they both looked at the sensor again.
"Sir, it's slowing and will ready to enter the airlock in nine minutes and thirty-four seconds."
"Can we get a picture of it?" he asked and she began to tap her screen. Five seconds later its image appeared on the main screen. "Certainly not one of ours."
"According to the computer it half again as large as one of our cargo haulers," the tech reported, "and sir, it won't have any problems fitting through the airlock."
"Do we have any ships ready to send out and meet it?"
"Not in time," she reported after ten seconds of typing. "There are no other ships nearby either, sir."
"Sound action stations," he said and CIC went to red light and a warning flashed to all computers with the cylinder. What a day for the Commander to be planetside, he thought. "Communications send a message all stations across the system."
"Done sir!" the communications tech reported moments later.
"All weapons locked on target," the weapons specialist stated.
"Make sure all weapons are safed until I give the order," he said and then walked around CIC, checking each station.
"Sir, we have and incoming signal," the Comm tech reported. "Both audio and visual."
"Put it on the main screen."
The face of a Mellin appeared and smiled.
"It's good to finally get here," Suas said.
The UNSC Bellerophon is just a bit larger than the cylinder, the Mellin Commander thought as the Forerunner shuttle made a slow orbit of the ship.
"So what do you think?" Suas said and smiled.
"This warship and the others in their fleet are from a race that left the galaxy 100,000 years ago," he stated, looking back at his fellow Mellin, "and these Forerunners left these warships behind for these 'reclaimers' who are the humans and species from the Zootopia system."
"Yes, and as I told you they are mission to find the humans who came from the Greater Magellanic Cloud."
"That's quite a story."
"Have all Mellin become so suspicious over the last twelve years or it just you?"
"I get suspicious when alien warships just show up my system unannounced!"
"Actually they did announce themselves by sending this shuttle ahead," Suas said and smiled. "Also, did you notice that they trusted us with this shuttle and that its entire crew is Mellin?"
The Commander opened his mouth and then shut it. Suas just smiled.
"Chief Engineer, the landing bay is opening and we'll be setting down in five minutes," the pilot said over the shipwide intercom.
"We'd better get strapped in," he said sat down, buckling in.
"So you intend take this ship and other fifteen like it and proceed to our homeworld," the Commander said, "and establish relations with our government."
"I contacted the Admiral and we should be hearing from her soon," Captain Johns said, leaning back in his chair. "It's up to her when we'll proceed and I'm sure that she'll want you to accompany us."
"I'm in charge of our military here and can't just leave!"
"You'll only be away less than a day."
"Its four light years to the home system!"
"Our ships can traverse that distance in 144 seconds."
Suas chuckled at the expression on the other Mellin's face who then glared at him.
"Chief Engineer Suas, I will be speaking to your Captain when I see him."
"Be my guest."
"I'm going to write you up for being insubordinate!"
"That only works if I'm in the military and as you might recall our expedition was completely under civilian authority," he said and smiled.
"Please calm yourselves," Captain Johns said, looking from one to the other.
"This doesn't concern you!" the Commander said, rising for his seat a bit. "This is an internal Mellin security matter!"
From Suas' short acquaintance with Captain Johns he said seemed to be rather easygoing commander much like Captain Obgu. Then he heard a sound like a low rumble and looked in its direction. The Cheetah looked to have doubled in size with his fur standing out and seemed to be smiling, showing all of his impressive dentition. Suas froze in place, glad that all the Cheetah's attention was now directed at the Commander and not at him. He was leaning across the table and the Commander was now scrunched back in his chair.
"Sir, on my ship EVERYTHING concerns me," he rumbled and Suas watched as the Cheetah's claws began to express themselves. "Chief Engineer Suas is currently part of my crew and if you have any complains you WILL address them through me. Do you understand?"
The Commander nodded and Captain Johns turned his attention to the other Mellin.
"Chief Engineer Suas, you are dismissed," he said and looked back at the Commander. "I wish to speak with the Commander alone."
"Yes sir," he said and calmly, or at least as calmly as he could under the circumstances, left the room.
He slumped against the wall after the door closed, feeling his heart thudding in his chest. After a minute he consciously slowed his breathing and went to his cabin.
The Commander was not with them when the left for the Mellin home system nor did they see him before they left to join the other Keyships at the next target planet. The Mellin agreed to join the UNSC were assured that Keyships would soon arrive with technical help to update their technology. They did supply the fleet with smaller in system ships and personnel to crew them. Also, a number of civilians specializing in the physical sciences volunteered to travel with them as had the Yoth, their client species, and Aphpo.
"We found nothing on this planet," Commodore Vajjar said and shrugged, "but after 100,000 years I think little would remain. The planet itself could make a good colony world though."
"It's was much the same for the other planet too," Mary said and leaned back in her chair. "And there are five more until we leave the galaxy. Anything interesting in the surrounding stars?"
"A few more habitable planets and one of which might have a sentient species, but the anthropologists are still arguing over it."
"Are you surprised how quickly the Mellin joined the UNSC?"
"Not really," the Ris said and smiled. "They are very enthusiastic in everything they do."
They both chucked and her pad beeped.
"We're coming out of slipspace in a four minutes," she said touched her pad. "See you soon."
The screen went blank and Mary headed for the bridge.
"Admiral," her Fox said and smiled. "We'll be coming out of slipspace in two minutes and thirty-four seconds. Hopefully this planet will be more interesting than the others."
"Sometimes you get more than you wish for."
Mary rose and walked around the bridge, glancing over the shoulders of various techs. She looked at the main screen and the countdown clock had just licked to nineteen. She returned to her seat and looked at Robert. He smiled and they both looked back as the countdown reached three. Then they dropped out of slipspace and she frowned at what she saw.
"What's wrong with that star?" she asked no one in particular.
"Ma'am, there's a white dwarf in a close elliptical orbit of the system primary and it's in the process of pulling in matter from the larger star," the sensor tech reported a minute later. "Its orbit is also perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic."
"Ma'am, Captain, we're also receiving a radio signal from the fifth planet," the communications tech reported, "and it's repeating!"
"Apparently the matter collecting on the surface of the white dwarf has detonated several times in the last few centuries," the science officer said, still looking at her monitor, "damaging the inner planets and spreading radiation throughout the system."
"Do you have an estimate on the next time it'll happen?" the Admiral asked.
"Ma'am, we'll need to gather data for a few days to make a good estimate."
"And if we're in this system when it occurs?"
"At this distance a Key Ship's shields will easily protect us, but our in-system ships could be damaged."
"Signal Commodore Vajjar," the Admiral said, turning to communication tech, and soon his face appeared on the main screen. "Commodore, I'm sending you a list of fifty-two ships and you shall lead them closest stars. The others will remain here and we'll commence a thorough survey of this system."
"You suspect that signal is distress call."
"Yes, they may have evacuated some of their people to a nearby star system," she said and stood. "Once you finish those fifty-three go on to the next ones and then report back."
"Yes ma'am."
The main screen returned to a view of the system primary and its much smaller companion. The Admiral sat and began to work on her pad.
Seven hours and twenty-two minutes later the first shuttle touched down on the fifth planet near the site of radio signals. Its ozone layer was no longer thick enough to stop the periodic doses of radiation or the natural amount generated by fusion of the primary star itself. The planet was dying. Already large swaths of the planet had been denuded of plant and animal life and had become desert. Other shuttles landed on the few fertile places in deep valleys to gather and preserve at least some of the planet's life forms.
"Admiral, you see the radio dish in this deep depression," the science officer said and started walking toward a nearby hill. "And over here is the entrance to their complex. It's not really like they were making it hard to find."
"Are there others?"
"We haven't found any yet, but we're continuing to search."
They continued into a tunnel and soon came to a large metal door.
"Admiral, we're about ready to open it," he said and moved back to make room for the Spartans.
"John," she said and touched his armored hand, "I'm sure they called for someone to help them. So just try not to... ,but be careful."
"Ma'am, I understand."
"I'll help him," Cortana said and patted her lover's shoulder.
"We'll be OK," Fred said, stood aside as several techs moved back from the door.
"Are you ready," the science officer said and the techs nodded. "Do it!"
They heard a grinding sound and the metal door dropped slowly into the floor only to reveal another similar door. The science officer shrugged and sent the techs forward.
"It's the same as the first one," a tech shouted back.
After five minutes they returned and followed the same procedure. As before the door dropped into the floor, but this time another set of doors stood open.
"An elevator?" Mary speculated.
The Spartans went forward and John stepped aboard first. The elevator dropped several inches and several people chuckled.
"John, have you gained weight?" Lynne said over the Spartan only communications channel and Cortana laughed first.
He looked at the Rabbit and moved further back.
"This new armor seems to be somewhat heavier," he said deadpan.
"If you say so," Lynne said and felt Fred's hand on hers.
Soon the other three Spartans followed John and turned to face the others. After a few seconds the doors shut and they felt themselves begin to rapidly descend.
After five minutes the elevator began to slow and finally came to rest. Then the doors opened and lights came on as they stepped out. They soon learned of the immense size and the many levels of the cavern that had been cut out of the living rock. They walked to a central shaft and looked down. Lights were still coming on on the lower levels as the shaft disappeared into darkness.
"I wonder how far down it goes," Lynne said, looking at Fred. "I've already counted 89 levels so far."
"We'll just have to wait," Fred said, continuing to look down.
Then they all he heard noise in the distance and turned. As the sound grew louder they took defensive positions.
"John, should we send the elevator back up now?" Cortana asked.
The four Spartans looked at each other for a moment and soon came to an agreement. Cortana reentered and touched the button. The doors closed and she rejoined the others. The sound grew louder and soon a large machine on twelve legs came into view.
"It looks like a spider with too many legs," Lynne said and shivered. "I wonder if they look like that."
"Humans have made robots that looked like spiders," Cortana said and stood. She held her hands out palms up. "I am Cortana." Her voice from her suit's external speakers echoed about the cavern and the 'spider' stopped and then lifted on foot and touched her palm. She lifted her other hand and placed it atop the foot. "We're here to help."
Then the leg traced her armor from head to foot and the others stood too. The 'spider' did the same to the others and they heard a rumble as the elevator returned. The door opened and three other Spartans stepped out. John went to speak to them and soon Olivia and Ejona joined the group with several other engineers and biologists. Since she and most of the other newcomers weren't wearing armor the 'spider' made a much more detailed examination.
"I wonder if they will look like this," Olivia said and touched one of its legs.
"Our robots look like us," Ejona said as her examination was completed.
"With fur and all?"
The Ris laughed and gave the Rabbit a playful shove. Then the 'spider' interposed a leg between them.
"This is interesting," Ejona said and looked at her friend.
"Could it think you were being aggressive toward me?"
"It's possible I suppose," she said and stepped toward the Rabbit, "but then again, weren't you?"
The leg didn't move.
"Maybe it's a security robot," Olivia said and reached across the leg and took her friend's hand.
The leg withdrew and robot began to examine others.
"What do you want to do next?" John said, after watching the interplay.
The two engineers looked around the cavern and then looked down the central shaft.
"I'm gonna ask the Admiral for most of the Huragok, Gas Bags, and Engineers," Olivia said, turning back to John and the other Spartans. "We're also need the Forerunner AIs to set setup communications with these robots."
"We're going to need a great many more people to just simply survey this place," Ejona said and looked back down the central shaft. "To evacuate this place is simply too large a job for the fleet. We're going need to call for help."
Mary and her Fox followed John to first set of cryo chambers on the first level. Olivia, Ejona, a Forerunner AI, and one of the many 'spider' robots waited for them.
"So what will it take to evacuate these people?"
"Admiral, Captain, it would be simpler to move the planet," Olivia said facetiously.
"Would you like it moved to the Zootopia system or another star?" the Forerunner AI asked nonchalantly, drawing everyone's surprised faces in its direction. "I'll need to contact 2742 Vibrant Contemplation to have the sending gateway setup here and the receiving gateway in the system you designate. If this planet were to be placed in the Zootopia system it would need to be trailing planets four and five in such a way that it wouldn't affect the orbits of the others in the inner system. It would then become the fourth planet. It's also fortunate that the Zootopian star is much the same as this system's primary. Of course its velocity would need to be adjusted too and that can be easily accomplished as it passes through the gates."
The Captain of the Zootopia II was the first to find his voice.
"That's actually possible!" Robert exclaimed.
"The Forerunners didn't do it often, but the technique exists and the equipment is available," the Forerunner AI said confidently. "It's your decision."
Everyone looked at the Admiral.
"Our government will need to discuss it with them," she said and indicating the closest cyro chamber. "When are we going to begin to thaw some of them out?"
"We've been able communicate with these robots and they understand that we're here to help," the Forerunner AI said. "They have agreed to bring five of the adults out of cyro suspension."
"How many of them are here?" Robert asked.
"There are 144 levels in this complex," Olivia said and pointed to the central shaft.
"And on each level there are 248,832 cryo chambers," Ejona continued.
"Or 35,831,808 individuals," Olivia said and leaned close to Mary, "of which only one percent are adults."
"They only had time to build this complex between the time they spotted the white dwarf," Ejona said, "and the system's primary drew it into orbit and the radiation became lethal."
"They sacrificed themselves to save their children," Mary said.
The Admiral first met with the government officials and surprisingly 2742 Vibrant Contemplation who'd accompanied them aboard the newly arrived Key Ship. Then they accompanied the Admiral planetside to meet the five representatives of the Ogaki who actually did actually resemble large spiders, but thankfully nowhere near the size of their robots. Fortunately it was deemed more important for the fleet to continue its original mission.
"I sure glad we didn't get stuck there," Robert whispered as they walked back to their quarters.
"Me too," Mary said and smiled.
"God only knows how long it'll take them to reach a decision."
"With 2742 Vibrant Contemplation there it probably won't take as long as you'd think," she said and touched his arm. "He most lightly isn't one to put up with a lot of bureaucratic time wasting."
"True enough."
They were silent until the cabin door shut behind them. Then Robert wrapped his arms around his bunny and pulled her close. She looked up at him and smiled.
"So what do you have in mind?"
"First, I thought I might make a light dinner."
"And then," she said and smiled.
"We could relax on the couch and watch a movie," he said and returned her smile. "You know the humans have some really interesting ones."
She raised an eyebrow and her smile widened.
"And then."
"I'll take you into my arms and carry you to our bedroom."
"And then."
"We'll get a good night's sleep."
"That's all," she said, sounding disappointed.
"Who knows, maybe together we can think of something else."
She hopped into his arms. Of course they did all the things he'd suggested, but just not quite in the order he'd suggested them.
The last four planets like the first three did have signs of being visited in the distant past, but none of them shed any light about the origins of the mysterious humans from outside the UNSC. They did find a thriving civilization on the last planet and after the initial shock of 'aliens from another world' friendly relations were established. Also, like the other civilizations contacted previously volunteers were plentiful.
"Please open a channel to the fleet," the Admiral ordered.
"All ship's indication that they're ready," the communication tech reported a few seconds later.
"As you really know we shall begin the longest slipspace jump of our mission," she began, trying to project as much confidence in her voice as possible. "It shall be done in three parts and will last just over 41 days in total. We shall begin one minute after all ships signal that they're ready."
"Unless we find something interesting along the way... again," Robert whispered in his bunny's ear.
Five minutes and thirty-two seconds later 106 Key ships disappeared into slipspace.
The first part of their journey was uneventful. Most of the crew would've used the words 'dull' or 'boring', but certainly not in earshot of any of their officers. Not that their officers didn't keep them busy with all the mundane details of running a Keyship especially when the slipspace engines would be in use continuously for the next thirteen days. Of course minor problems always cropped up in a machine as complex as a Key Ship and were repaired by engineers with the 'help' of the Huragok and Gas Bags.
To relieve some of the monotony more activities were organized for the crew's off hours. There were movies shown several times a day on large screens setup in the Garden area of each ship for each of the three duty shifts. Demonstration team sports from the different worlds were organized and once the rules were understood drew many of the crew to watch. Other individual competitions for members of different species were setup i.e. athletics, self defense, weapons proficiency, and piloting skills.
Finally the timer on the Zootopia II's navigator's console ticked down to zero and all 106 Key Ship reentered normal space in a bubble one thousand light years across. This was done so that if there were a hazard in this unknown region of space no more than one Key Ship would be lost or damaged.
"Admiral, we are outside the galaxy and have reentered normal space as planned," sensor tech reported, checking her console. "Our ship is currently 102,548.87 light years of the target world. All 106 Keyships are within the planned distance of the Flagship."
"Admiral, all ships reporting no major problems," the communications tech reported. "Also, launching slipspace probes confirmed by all ships and they will all arrive in their designated locations in sixty minutes."
"Captain, slipspace engines have powered down and gone into standby mode," Olivia reported. "We shall begin checks and perform any necessary maintenance."
"As you know we shall remain here only a day," Robert said, looking at a console on his chair.
"I guarantee they'll be ready at a moment's notice."
The slipspace engine weren't the only part of the Zootopia II that was being inspected. Each and every system was checked by the ship's main and subsidiary Forerunner AI's, visually by the engineer crews, and/or both. This was done across the fleet by the Admiral's order. Since maintenance was performed continuously during the time the ships were in transit very few problems were found.
Ten minutes before the end of the first shift a report from one of the probes launched earlier was received.
"Captain, one of the probes reports its sensors detected a starship, drifting," the communication tech reported and continued reading from her screen, "and it's proceeding to rendezvous with it. It, the starship, I mean, is located 187.36 light years ahead approximately 4.5 light years off our projected course."
"Admiral, your orders," Robert said and looked at her.
"We and the three nearest ships to that position will proceed to rendezvous with the probe," she announced and turned to the communication tech. "Please relay those orders to the appropriate ships and alert the crew that we're getting under way." Then she turned to the navigator. "Please plot a course to the indicated location."
Two minutes and eleven seconds later they enter slipspace and after one hour, four-three minutes, and forty-three seconds reentered normal space ten thousand miles from the derelict ship, joining the other three Keyships which had arrive earlier.
"Captain, we're receiving a signal from Commodore Vajjar."
"Put him on."
"Admiral, Captain, from our scans and the probe's this ship is similar to the one in the museum on your planet four."
The starship just barely fit through Zootopia II's landing bay doors. Once it was secured John, Cortana, Fred, Lynne, and the other Spartans entered first wearing full armor and then spread out through the starship. Fred and Lynne when directly to the main bridge and removed the back of the captain's chair. It was exactly the same with a wiring harness connected to square metal box.
"The ship is secure," John reported, after searching all compartments and receiving reports the other Spartans. "No trace of the crew found alive or dead. Ship's personnel may come aboard."
Once the decontamination crews finished engineering teams scattered throughout the ship, checking the ship's systems, and the Hurogak and Gas Bags concentrated on making necessary repairs to its computers. As they were brought up Forerunner AI's began taking control of the computers and sifting through their stored data. The survey and repairs to the derelict starship continued into the next shift. The Admiral called a progress meeting for 10am the next morning.
"Chief Engineer, please tell us what you've found so far," Mary said and smiled.
"Admiral, I was part of the engineering team after Fred found the tertiary flight recorder on the other ship," Olivia began and smiled at the tall Spartan. "This starship isn't identical, but it certainly is in the same class as the other."
"Differences?" Robert asked.
"Heavier armor, more weapons, and better computers," she said. "It's been dead in space for a very very long time."
"And the crew?" Mary asked.
"They were still there," Jasmine said matter-of-factly and everyone turned to look at the Centaur. "When we did the decontamination we collected and analyzed many things including the dust. Over a great deal of time bodies just simply turn to... dust."
"We didn't see anything," Fred said.
"Also, over that same time the air currents simply spread the dust around so it settles evenly on all flat surfaces," Eshu said without emotion. "With more analysis we might in time find what killed the crew. My guess would be a disease." The Admiral gave him a questioning look. "The entire ship has been exposed to vacuum, irradiated, and nanites were introduced to clean all surfaces. Also, the Spartans and decontamination crews themselves went through all decontamination procedures twice."
"What do the AIs say?"
"After we did everything Eshu mentioned they scanned the ship completely and found it to be completely devoid of organic life," Amki said, looking first at the Mary and then around the table. "We've made it as safe as we can unless we drop it into a star."
"Thank you for the report," Mary said and looked at the Forerunner AI. "What have you found on the computer systems so far?"
"The computers are very primitive even more so then the ones from the UNSC and the Zootopian system, but their designs are interesting," it said, floating around the conference room. Mary rolled her eyes and several others smiled. "Extensive repairs were necessary on all of the computers simply because of the great span of time. The storage media held up much better only because they were still in vacuum within their cases and most had been shut down as were the computers. But they were exposed to the air."
"So what have you found so far?" Mary asked again.
"From the analysis of its tertiary flight recorder this starship came from the same star system as the other," it said and Lynne squeezed her husband's hand, "but 5,287.54 years later. Once we complete our analyst of the other computers we should discover the reason."
"Any speculation," the Admiral said.
"That would be premature," it said and from the Admiral's facial expression the Forerunner AI thought she wanted a response, "but it was most likely a rescue mission, a search, or both."
"If there isn't anything else...," Mary began.
"Admiral," the head astronomer said and all heads turned toward her, "within the last few hours we have received a report from one of our probes that it found four stars between the galaxies. These are all yellow dwarfs much like our star or Sol. They're within a sphere of eight light years and all moving in the same direction."
"Why haven't we seen them?" the Admiral asked.
"Admiral, those stars are 16,378 light years away heading away from us," she said, consulting his pad. "They are eighty-seven degrees perpendicular to our course and seventeen degrees below it. Also, there's a dust cloud between us."
"I didn't think we sent probes out that far," she said.
"We didn't, but this particular probe was sent 5,000 light years away and ninety degrees above our course. At that position it was able to see above the dust cloud."
"That sounds interesting, but..." the Admiral began.
"This is very unusual," the Forerunner AI interrupted, after reviewing the relevant data. "Admiral, we feel that this needs further investigation."
"When you say 'we' I assume you mean you and the other Forerunner AIs."
"Yes, Admiral. And Cortana too."
"So what would you recommend?"
The Forerunner AI was silent for a moment, polling the others.
"An onsite investigation."
"Do you concur?" she said, look at the head astronomer.
"Yes, definitely!" the female skunk said, nodding.
"Commodore Vajjar, you'll take the majority of the fleet on the next leg of our mission and wait there for us there, but if find anything 'interesting' you may use your own discretion. Please contact us when you arrive. I will take sixteen ships to investigate these stars."
"Yes, Admiral."
"I want to see those stars before we go into slip space," she told her husband as they rode the shuttle to the bridge deck. "Also, I want to travel there in a series of eight jumps. Remember that probe was seeing them like they were 16,378 years ago."
"So as we come out of slip space every 2,000 light years or so we'll see how things are changin' over time."
"And you got it the first time," she whispered and winked. "I know I married you for some reason."
"And I thought it was just my charming personality."
"No, it was actually your fluffy tail," she whispered without any inflection.
Robert burst out laughing, causing the others riding in the shuttle to first look at their Captain and then the Admiral. Mary only smiled and sat back in her seat.
Robert was still chuckling as they entered the bridge and took their seats.
"Navigator, please plot a course to the location that was sent to your console," Robert said and watched the Deer as she worked.
"Sir, course plotted and the ship is ready," she said moments later.
"Admiral, all other ships report they are ready also," the Communication tech reported.
"Enter slipspace in ten seconds," she said and the order was relayed to the other fifteen.
The Communication tech sent the message and exactly ten seconds later the sixteen Keyships vanished into slip space.
Fifty-four hours, thirty-one minutes, and fourteen seconds later they appeared at the probe's position.
"As you can see Admiral those are the four stars," the head astronomer said, pointing to them with a laser pointer. "They all have planets in what the humans call the 'Goldilock's Zone'." The main screen zoomed in so they could actually see one of the planets. "That's a habitable planet in orbit of the third star and as you can see it has plant life." The landmasses were nearly green from pole to pole. "As I said they're within a sphere of eight light years. Their night sky must be spectacular!"
Mary could smell the skunk's musk grow a bit stronger.
"How can we get such clear picture of that planet at this distance?" the Admiral asked.
"I anticipated that you would want a closer look at those stars," the Forerunner AI said, hovering before Mary. "I sent out several dozen probes after we arrived four hours ago to the surrounding area - all spread over ten light years. They each carried a telescope and using the light collected, several AIs, and our computers we created this picture in realtime."
"And we can do this at each stop?"
"Of course."
Over the first five jumps of 2,000 light years each nothing changed on any of the planets. When they came out of slipspace the next time they noticed that forest had disappeared at the joining of two great rivers on the habitable planet of the fourth star.
"All the reports from the anthropologists believe that this is the result of intelligent life and the rise of civilization on that planet," Mary said, setting aside her pad. "I'm going to change our next jump to only 1,000 light years."
She started to take her pad and her Fox intercepted her hand.
"I think the Admiral needs to relax a bit," Robert said, pulling her into his lap and hugging her.
"I've got so much to do!"
"You need to learn to delegate more."
She squirmed around in his lap which he found was both annoying and pleasurable.
"Come on Mary just relax," he said and nibbled on an ear. "The work will still be there tomorrow." She still resisted a bit and then he slipped a hand under her blouse. "If you relax I'll even let you play with my tail."
She lay back against his chest and giggled. He squeezed her beast gently and just to prove he was a Fox of his word he laid his fluffy red tail over her. She hugged it and smiled up at her Fox.
"So what do you have in mind?"
"A little dinner and just maybe we'll just find another way for you to relax."
As she indicated the next jump was only a thousand light years and changes to the planet were dramatic. Civilization has spread across the entire surface of the planet and now there were cities on all the continents. Better yet each time they moved closer the resolution on their 'telescope' became clearer, showing even more detail.
Then they trained the 'telescope' on the other three planets and surprisingly a civilization had developed on the habitable planet of the first star.
"It's going to be interesting to see how things develop over the next thirty-three hundred years," Robert said, looking at the images of the two planets. "You know we could do this same thing for Zootopia on the way home. I wonder how good a resolution we could get. We'll have to ask the AI."
"I hadn't thought about it, but there's no reason we couldn't do it, is there?" she said and looked at her Fox.
"No, there's no doubt in my mind."
"You're just a clever old Fox."
"And there's no doubt in my mind about that either."
They both laughed and she kissed him.
The eighth time they emerged from slipspace the probes and the Keyship began to pick up radio waves from the habitable planet with the older civilization. The Forerunner AIs immediately went to work to decipher the language.
"I wonder when the other planet's gonna catch up," Robert said, taking another bite of steak and making a sound of pleasure.
"Sometimes I think you predators like that red meat a little bit too much," his bunny said.
"I'm offended," he said in a haughty voice, crossing his arm across chest in mock indignation. Mary made a rude noise and then continued eating. Her Fox smiled. "You prey had it easy. You could eat anything as long as it didn't run away while we predators were stuck eating bugs, fish, chicken, and turkey."
"And vegetables."
Her Fox made a face.
"I think you prey are secretly glad, but we now have source of red meat," he said, slipping out of his chair and dropping to all fours. "I think you were afraid that we predators might someday go back to our old savage ways."
He walked over, put his hands on the arm of her chair, and licked her cheek.
"Quit that!" she said and pushed him away. "I'm not done eating!"
He persisted and she hopped out of chair. She saw the gleam in his eye and then thought to play along. She hopped away and he chased her into the bedroom. Then he pounced. Later they had to reheat their suppers.
Giving into the scientists persistent requests they came out of slipspace near the center of the imaginary sphere containing the four stars.
"Radio signals being received from all star systems," the communication tech reported. "Two of them are in the one language and the other two are in another."
"Apparently they're both reached one of the stars," the Admiral observed. "I wonder if they've developed slipspace or some other type of FTL method."
"There's also video signals being broadcast," the Forerunner AI said. "Soon we should be able to decode and view a selection of them. Also, the Forerunners knew of several methods of FTL. It's possible that these species may have discovered one of those or simply travel at sublight."
"Are there any starships outside the star systems?" the Admiral asked, looking at the main screen which was currently directed toward the star system with older civilization.
"Orders Admiral?" the Captain asked.
"As we planned," she said and turned to Communication tech. "Please contact each ship and tell them there are no changes and to proceed."
Twelve of the Keyships jumped into slipspace and three of them entered each star system. Two others exited slipspace outside the imaginary sphere so they could observe all the star systems simultaneously. The Zootopia II and the Bellerophon retained position as hundreds of probes were scattered across the sphere.
"Admiral, two starships traveling sublight approaching stars two and three," the sensor tech reported later.
"Let's go say hello," Mary said.
Before they'd entered slipspace they'd matched the velocity of these four stars and now they only had to do the same for each of the 'alien' ships. Of course if they hadn't when they'd exited slipspace the two sublight ships would've left them quickly behind since they were traveling at fractions of the speed of light. Since the Keyship had inertialess drives for sublight travel they could accelerate at a high gee without damaging their crews. Since the two 'alien' ships were traveling at .2c it took the Keyship accelerating at one thousand gees for one hour, forty-one minutes, and forty-eight seconds to match velocities. Then they cut their acceleration to one gee and entered slipspace.
Lax was awakened by an insistent pounding at her door. Fortunately a few hours before they'd turned the ship and had began to decelerate which gave them at least the semblance of gravity. She rose and her door flew open.
"Leader, there's another ship!"
She stared at the junior officer for a moment, clearing her head of sleep.
"What kind of ship?"
"It's huge!"
She sighed.
"Just where is this ship?"
"About one hundredth of a light second astern of us!"
Lax felt her single eye widen.
"Why didn't we see before now?"
"Leader, one moment it wasn't there and the next it was," he said and she looked at him incredulously. "I swear on the creator." He touched his eye and bowed his head. "Leader, I have video and pictures."
In their culture anyone swearing an oath such as this and then were caught lying they, their family, and their progeny would be shunned for the next ten generations.
"Show me!"
He led her to his cabin and stopped at the door. He looked back at her.
"Leader, I was off duty and using the external telescopes..."
"I understand," she said and indicted his cabin. "Just show me."
They arrived on the bridge at a run and Lax handed the disk to the communication tech.
"Play that on the main screen," she ordered and sat in the command chair. The video played and no one said anything till had it finished. "And no one noticed this?!"
"It was on automatic and the computer hasn't signaled," her first officer said and she just stared at him. "I will check it personally."
A minute passed and he returned.
"The computer categorized that bright flash damage to the camera and shut it off," he said, looking at her helplessly. "I've corrected the error brought it back on line."
"Put the feed on the main screen," she ordered and a moment later it showed the massive ship much closer.
"Could this be the others?" he asked and Lax only stared at him.
"We've watch them and we assume they've watch us," she said and looked back at the screen, "and they never tried to contact us."
"Outsiders?" he asked and she nodded slightly.
"Yes," she said and everyone was quiet for a time.
"But Leader that's..." the junior officer began
"People have been speculating about that for millennia," she said and smiled at him, "and now they're here. Youngling you did a good job today and you deserve a reward. I'm..."
"Leader, we're receiving an incoming signal," the communication tech interrupted.
"Youngling come stand next to me," Lax said and he moved beside her chair. "Answer it."
The screen filled with a gold and black spotted furred face with two golden eyes."
"I'm Captain Able Johns of the UNSC Bellerophon," he said and bobbed his head. "We'd like to meet with you."
"You're an outsider," Lax said and stood, approaching the screen.
"I suppose we are," he said and the camera pulled back, showing the others in the conference room, "We're from the larger galaxy and on a mission to the smaller one."
"And you just found us," she said and marveled at all the difference species.
"Actually we found you 16,378 years ago," Captain Johns said and his eyes sparked.
"Captain!" the sensor tech exclaimed, his wings flapping once in surprise.
The ship's master looked up from her pad and turned to face the crewmale who she thought looked a bit frightened.
"Report."
"A ship has appeared ahead," he said and his wings flapped again. "It's matching course and slowing to rendezvous with us."
The Captain rose and went to the sensor station. She put a reassuring hand on the youth's shoulder and lightly squeezed it. Then she leaned closer and looked at his monitor. A moment later the image was transferred to the main screen. The ship was still three tenths of a light second ahead of them and she could she its engines firing to slow it.
"That's not one of the others, is it Captain?" he said, looking up at her.
"No," she said, looking around the command deck and seeing her crew staring at the screen as the ship grew steadily larger. She felt her wings flap, breaking the spell. "Everyone back to your stations."
It took a second or two for them to pull their eyes away and look back at their screens. The Captain returned to her command chair and was soon joined by her first officer.
"Captain," he said, unconsciously extending his wings and then bringing them back under control. "Orders?"
"For now we shall only watch them and wait," she said, meeting his eyes.
He looked at the screen for a moment and then back to her.
"Outsiders," he whispered and she nodded her head once.
Over the next ten minutes the other ship grew closer and in size. It finally matched their velocity until it sat twenty miles off their starboard side.
"Captain, we are receiving a signal," Communications tech reported.
"Put it on the main screen," she said and sat back in her chair.
A face appeared on main screen and it obviously was not one of the others. It had two eyes as her species did and fur like the others. Unlike them its fur was red and white with long muzzle ending in a black nose.
"I'm Captain Robert Renard of the UNSC Zootopia II and we would like to meet with you," it said and she noted that the language sounded mechanical and didn't match the movement of the mouth. "Please acknowledge."
"Please open a channel," she said and stood.
"I'm Captain Onive of the Draco's Talon and I agree."
"Excellent," he said and smiled without showing his teeth. "Would you like us to come there or would you rather come aboard my ship?"
"On your ship," she said and smiled.
"The Draco's Talon will easily fit in our landing bay," he said. "It'll be illuminated and is near the center of our ship on your side. You should be able to see it now." Lights came on and the doors parted. "You may proceed."
"Thank you," she said and raised a hand. "I look forward to our meeting."
"Agreed," he said and the main screen returned to a view of the Zootopia II.
"Captain," her first officer said, his voice rising.
"I wouldn't miss this for the world," she said.
As they slowly passed through the large doors their sensors immediately registered a oxygen\nitrogen atmosphere which sensor tech dutifully reported.
"How's that even possible!" The First Officer said, turning to the tech. His wings quivered.
"The sensors registered a magnetic field as we passed between the doors," he said and looked back at his console. "I suspect it was a force shield keeping the atmosphere in. The doors are closing and a small ship is approaching."
The ship passed and then fell in ahead of them.
"Receiving message," the Communications tech reported. "It says 'follow us'."
They moved very slowly on thrusters only and passed several docked ships.
"Look," the navigator said, pointing at the main screen, "there are people working on the outside of that ship." He split the main screen and directed an external camera toward them. "There are many different kinds."
"This is going to be more interesting than I thought," Captain Onive said and patted her first officer's arm. "Look they're waving."
They drifted passed and a few minutes later the small ship began angling toward an empty spot along the wall. A cradle extended on a long arm and stopped thirty feet from the wall.
"Receiving message," the Communications tech reported. "It says 'land here'."
"Pilot."
"Captain, you won't even feel a bump," he said and true to his word their ship settled without a sound. "Shutting down thrusters and engines going to station keeping."
A docking collar extended and sealed against the main airlock.
"Everyone let's go meet the outsiders," Captain Onive said and smiled. "I've always wanted to say that!"
When the airlock opened they saw four people in armor waiting for them at the far end of the tunnel. The outsiders motioned for them to come and the Captain stepped through the airlock first. Her First Officer touched her arm and she looked back at him.
"Maybe I should go first," he said seriously.
"Do you think that really makes any difference now?" she said, patting his hand. "Anyway, I'm the Captain so I led."
The tunnel wasn't quite large enough for them to stand fully upright she soon found and they had to walk stooped with their wings held tightly against themselves. When they reached the other end of the tunnel they stood and their horns brushed the ceiling. The Captain looked down and saw her reflection in the gold faceplate of the outsider's armor.
"Please follow us," the person said in her language.
They soon came to a large room with other outsiders in what she thought were decontamination suits. Now that she could see their faces it confirmed that they weren't just dealing with one species, but many. She and each of her crew were assigned a person (doctor?) who began an examination with a handheld scanner.
"Cooperate with them," she said loud enough so everyone of her people could hear and understand.
When they finished with scanner the examination became hands on. It began with her fingers as her examiner asked her to move them and then express her claws. She noted that the ones in the armor became a bit more interested as they did this. This continued with other parts of her body until it came to her wings. The outsider asked her to extend them and then carefully traced the bones and where the muscles were connected to them.
When they asked her to flap them the hand scanners came back out and they held them close to area where her wings attached to the shoulders. She'd looked at some of the outsiders none seemed to have wings tucked in there suits. Could it be possible that they hadn't discovered an intelligent species with wings? She thought.
Then she was led to the showers. The water was warm, but not overly so. She was fairly sure that it had some type of disinfectant in it, but it didn't have any smell. After a while the water cutoff and warm air blowers came on. That felt wonderful and she extended her wings and closed her eyes. Soon she was dry and was led back to rest of her crew. Then the outsiders removed their decontamination suits and she saw all the different species.
So intend that she and crew were looking at the outsiders that no one had noticed that a door had opened at the other end of the room nor what had entered. I felt a furred hand on my arm.
"Huragok," my outsider said, indicating the newcomers.
Onive turned and unconsciously took a step back. At least all the outsiders up to this point had a body plan similar to theirs, but these were radically different.
"They will be helping with the last part of the examination," my outsider said as the Huragok stopped beside them.
"How?"
"Watch," the outsiders said through its pad and produced a scalpel.
She then made an inch long incision on her palm and held it out to the Huragok. Onive leaned closer to watch. Two tentacles touched the area and a minute later the spot was healed, leaving no indication there was ever a wound.
"That's just seems impossible!"
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic," the outsider said and smiled.
What followed was even more of a shock. A metal ball floated into the room and stopped before her.
"Greetings Captain Onive," it said in her language, "I'm 777 Serious Contemplation, Fleet AI."
"An Artificial Intelligence."
"Yes, but I'm much more advanced than the one that runs your ship."
"You know about it."
"I spoke to it through your communications system," it said with what to her seemed like pride in its voice. "I could upgrade it for you if you wish."
She motioned for her computer specialist to join them, but it seemed like everyone was interested too, crowding around.
"How?" Captain Onive asked and Forerunner AI began to explain.
Its answer was beyond her after the first thirty seconds and from the expression on his face her computer specialist after the first two minutes. When the AI finished he began to ask questions and the Captain moved out of the crowd.
"The Captain and Admiral will be here shortly," my outsider said.
"So you didn't find anything that would make you sick."
"Or you either," it said, rising on its hind legs. "My name is Jasmine and like you I'm female or at least the young would development inside my body. My race has three sexes, you see." The captain wondered how that worked and then thought about it and smiled. "I noticed when I examined you that your eggs are almost ready to be fertilized."
"My mate's in this star system we're approaching," she said, looking pensive. "I was hoping to get there before..."
"I'll speak to Mary and she'll have you there by tomorrow," the Centaur said and Onive looked at her sharply.
"Tomorrow!" she said loudly enough that everyone stopped talking and looked at them. "This ship travels faster than light!"
Onive knew intellectually this must have been true since the outsiders were here, but it still was a shock for one of them to actually confirm it!
"Yes, of course," she said and took a step back. "I've read about it and can't say I understood everything. Remember I'm a doctor not an engineer, but a Keyship can travel at a top speed of 950,000 times the speed of light." Onive just stared and just knew her lower jaw must now be resting on the floor. Jasmine moved closer. "Are you OK?"
"I think you surprised her," Mary said, coming up behind them.
That number kept rattling around in her head as looked down on the planet. She knew her mate was waiting for her, but she really wanted to be part of all this! Then there was a signal from her cabin door.
"Onive, I have a surprise for you," Mary said as the door opened and she stepped aside.
"Okega!" she said and rushed into her mate's arms.
After a minute of examining the wall and trying not listen Mary cleared her throat.
"We have also have another surprise for you two," she said and smiled at Robert. "If you'd please follow us."
After a short ride on the internal shuttle they stood before a door. It slid back and Mary indicated that Onive and Okega should precede them. The two stepped through the door and stopped.
"This is our garden area and its all yours for the next few days," Robert said and put an arm around his bunny. "Have fun!"
"So what now?" Mary asked after door closed.
Robert smiled and they went back to their cabin to 'relax' too.
Captain Johns' Keyship dropped into orbit without any fanfare at least initially and was escorted to the Zootopia II by two Draco in-system ships. Two days later one shuttle from each of the Keyships touched down near the capital city and soon afterward things got interesting fairly quickly. The loading ramps lowered and as always John, Cortana, and several other Spartans went first. This caused a bit of excitement until they formed an honor guard. Then the passengers filed out between them.
The shuttle from the UNSC Zootopia II contained the Admiral, the ship's Captain, delegations from various species, and the crew of the Draco's Talon. The other shuttle from the UNSC Bellerophon contained its Captain, similar delegations of various species, and a group of the others.
Since the Keyships were so large that they could be seen with the naked eye from planetside the pubic had been quickly informed of the outsiders' arrival and that they were friendly. So on that day numerous Draco were present as were cameras from their various media outlets. The Draco expected the outsiders to be different and of course they weren't disappointed – no wings. But when the others made an appearance there was a collective gasp and it became very very quiet. The Admiral recognized the Governor of this Draco colony world and she simply marched up to her with several Spartans in tow.
"Governor, I'm Admiral Mary Elizabeth Renard," she said and watched the Governor, finally tearing his eyes away from the others to look at her.
"You brought the others," his said quietly.
"Yes, I did."
"Why?"
"So we'd have something interesting to talk about of course," she said and grinned.
The groups retired to a large well secured conference center just outside capital city.
"This is just unprecedented," the Governor said, looking at Leader Lax.
The Admiral's pad translated.
"I know I agreed to this, but just feels is odd," Lax said.
"Why?" Mary said.
"But they are the others!" they said simultaneously.
Mary rolled her eyes.
"Look around the room and tell me how many difference species you see," the Rabbit said, sweeping her arm around.
"Twenty-four including ourselves," Lax said.
"I don't want to be insulting, but you are only two out of that twenty-four," she said and smiled. "I mean you knew about each other for..."
"Eight hundred and twelve years," Lax said.
"In all that time you simply ignored each other, right?"
"Yes," Lax said.
"The others were so different," the Governor said, glancing at Lax.
"Captain Onive, did you have any problems interacting with crew of the Bellerophon?" Mary asked, calling the Draco over.
"No, I thought it was all quite interesting myself."
"And your crew?"
"No problems."
"Leader Lax?"
"Admiral, no problems with your crew," she said.
"So we're all her now," she said and shrugged. "Let's get to know each other."
The talks went well enough that it was agreed officials from each of the respective governments meet. The Admiral suggested that the leaders of the two species should meet and she offered the Zootopia II as the meeting place in neutral space. Lax and the Governor were taken to their respective homeworlds and after the initial excitement of outsiders in their respective star systems each species agreed to the Admiral's suggestion.
"Looks like everything went OK," Robert said as the two leaders shook hands and exchanged goodbyes.
"They've agreed to meet again as soon as the Keyships I requested arrive," Mary said and smiled, "and the FTL communications equipment we gave them will help a lot too."
"So once we take them back with the new embassy staffs then we'll be ready to go," her Fox said and saw Lax and Onive approach.
"We've both received permission to travel with you," Leader Lax said, holding the Draco's hand. "Also, there are many scientists volunteering too."
"Same thing happened when we met the Yoth and Aphpo," Mary said and smiled. "We'll just spread them across the fleet."
A week later the sixteen ships assembled with their new personnel and leapt into slipspace.
The sixteen Keyships dropped out of slipspace 51,212.62 light years from their ultimate destination and only a hundred thousand miles from the Ris' Pride.
"Signal from the Commodore Vajjar," the communications tech said.
"Please put it on the main screen," the Admiral said and a moment later the Ris' face appeared. "Commodore, I hope you haven't been too bored."
"I know you've been reading our status reports so you know we haven't," he said and smiled. "I look forward to meeting these new friends you've made."
"And you found that the space between galaxies isn't quite as empty as we thought," she said, returning his smile.
"Finding planet drifting through space alone was mundane compared to stumbling across a black hole moving at ten percent the speed of light."
"And it's confirmed that there once was a civilization on that planet," she said and tapped her pad.
"Yes," he said, glancing at his science officer for final confirmation. "It's been traveling through space a very long time and everything's simply frozen at cryogenic temperatures. Our scientists and Huragok think they might be able to revive the bodies which had been preserved at those temperatures before the entire planet was frozen naturally. Also, I've placed probes around the black hole to begin its study and as an early warning of its presence until we can get a dedicated scientific expedition out here."
"All the Keyships will join us here in orbit by midday tomorrow," she stated.
"Yes, Admiral," he confirmed, "and if you have time you're welcome to come down to planet to see what we've found."
"I think we will," she said and looked at her Fox for conformation. "We meet down there in two hours with some of our new friends if they are willing."
"We'll see you then," he said and signed off.
She thought it sad, seeing these people huddled together and trying to keep warm, but knowing that they had no chance to survive. It looked to her like others simply walked outside until they simply froze where they fell.
"Admiral, this is their cryonics facility," Vajjar said as the shuttle touched down again. "Of course the power had gone out long ago, but by that point the planet was already frozen at cryogenic temperatures. We are slowly heating this building so we'll be able to work without our armor."
The building had been encased in several layers of ship's shields and as they passed through each one her armor showed the increase in temperature and air pressure. When they entered the building's airlock it was balmy negative fifty degrees Fahrenheit outside.
"Admiral, Captain, welcome to our little science project," Amki said, awaiting them on the other side of the airlock. "As you may've guessed it's just a bit more difficult then what we did with the Mellin."
"How so?" Jasmine asked, coming around the group.
"Unlike the Mellin who were frozen for only twelve years these people have in suspension for millennia."
"I can see that," Jasmine said and nodded. "But wouldn't there be some derogation of the bodies over that time even at temperatures just above absolute zero?" Amki looked a bit unsure. "If there is then how do you propose to handle it?"
"Maybe if you two would work together you could find an answer," the Admiral said, stepping closer. "Isn't it the point to help these people?" Both the Centaur and Aphpo both turned to her and then looked a bit embarrassed. "Amki, why don't you show us around?"
"Admiral, all ships in position," the sensor tech reported.
"Enter Slipspace when all ships signal ready," she said and communions tech relayed the message.
Twenty-three seconds later all 106 ships disappeared. As with all the other long periods in Slipspace the diversions were setup to help the crews to deal with monotony. Mary began to think that the Mellin had the right idea using cryogenic suspension. Of course, if they'd been awake they most likely could've gained control of their ship at least come out of FTL nearer to their destination.
After fourteen days the bridge crew watched the clock countdown the last few seconds. As always the Keyships came out of slipspace within nanoseconds of each other in a wide arc above the plan of the ecliptic of the targeted solar system.
"Captain, receiving artificial electromagnetic radiation over a number of frequencies from the vicinity of the fourth planet," communication tech reported and studied her console. "It's not coming from the planet itself, but something in orbit."
"Captain, we'll need to be closer to get an exact reading," the sensor tech reported. "We could send probes ahead of us to make a high speed pass."
"Do it," the Captain said. "Navigator, match the speed of the planet and put us into the same orbit it has with the star."
"So you're going to creep up on them," Mary whispered to her Fox.
"Suggestions?"
"Please signal the Ris' Pride and the Bellerophon," the Admiral said and six seconds later Commodore Vajjar's and Captain Johns' faces appeared on the main screen. "I assume that both of you have picked up the signals from the fourth planet." They both responded in the affirmative. "We're going drop in on them unannounced."
They both smiled.
"Have they detected us," the Admiral asked.
"No ma'am," the sensor tech said.
"Have the other ships reached their assigned positions?"
"Yes, ma'am," she said and looked back at her monitor. "The last one reported in position four minutes and twenty seconds ago."
"And the probes?"
"The last few have entered slipspace and will be in position just outside the Oort cloud in a eight seconds."
"And we will be in position in..." the Admiral said.
"Twenty-nine seconds," the navigator said.
The clock ticked down and when it reached zero the three Keyships entered slipspace and reentered normal space a moment later between the planet and its attendant moon. They had timed it perfectly so that the four unknown ships had just disappeared behind the planet.
"Now all we have to do is wait."
Sixth-one minutes and thirteen seconds the ships reappeared.
"This is Admiral Mary Elizabeth Renard commanding UNSC Second Fleet, please respond."
The sensor tech reported their response three seconds later.
"Power buildup on all ships," she said, receiving FTL reports from the stealth probes also in the planet's orbit. "They're firing! Shields at maximum!"
The three Keyships simply dodged most of the incoming energy bolts.
"Analysis of those weapons," the Captain said.
"Phased plasma traveling at a tenth the speed of light," the sensor tech said. "Our shields are easily absorbing them."
"I'd like to take at least one of those ships intact," the Admiral said.
"Admiral," 777 Serious Contemplation said after appeared before her, "we shall do as you ask."
It promptly disappeared and it and long with three other Forerunner AIs then reappeared just outside the four enemy ships. When they began to launch fighters the four AIs entered. The fighters only made it halfway to the three Keyships before reversing course. Firing of the four ships main weapons ceased simultaneously.
"Signal from 777 Serious Contemplation," the communication tech said.
"Main screen," the Captain said.
The Forerunner AI's image appeared and the Admiral assumed what she observed in the foreground was the interior of the enemy ship.
"Admiral, all four ships now neutralized," it said with what to her ears sounded like smug pride. "You may now send over the personnel to secure them."
The Admiral stepped off the shuttle with her Captain and saw the hatches of the shuttles from the Ris' Pride and the Bellerophon just opening. John and Cortana took up positions before her as 777 Serious Contemplation waited for them and just beyond it she saw rank upon rank and shiny silver vaguely human shaped robots.
"Per your request all four ships have been taken intact," the Forerunner AI said and Mary rolled her eyes.
"Were all these ships were crewed by robots?" Ricard asked, looking passed the Forerunner AI.
"Yes, all these that you see behind me are lower level AIs who simply obey orders."
"And they're under your control?" Captain Johns asked.
"Yes," it said, drifting to hover before the Cheetah. "I hacked their main computer and rewrote their operating systems. But they are now all under the Admiral's command."
Mary looked at the AI in surprise.
"Who was in command?" Vajjar asked.
"Please follow me," 777 Serious Contemplation said and then led them passed a small group of similar human shaped robots with gold skin to where a somewhat different type stood alone. "It commanded these ships."
"Who are you?"
"By your command, I am Lucifer," it said in Zootopian.
