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.
First Contact
Chapter 5
A day later they reentered normal space just outside and a billion miles above the plane of the ecliptic of the star nearest to the Zootopia system. This solar system actually contained four stars – two yellow dwarfs in orbit of their mutual center of gravity and a both bit cooler than the Zootopian star, a red dwarf between the second and third asteroid belts, and a brown dwarf outside the Oort cloud and currently on the opposite side of the central stars. The number of planets orbiting the various stars found on the first day was twenty-two and rose to thirty-one by the second. They varied from two habitable planets and large rocks with no atmosphere to massive gas giants. One of the habitable planets orbited the two yellow dwarf stars while the other the red dwarf, but much closer.
"The Huragok must've nearly doubled the Dawn's speed in Slipspace," Miranda said to the Chief Engineer and Maria.
"And stresses on the hull aren't that much greater," Maria said and smiled. "The work the Huragok did on the inside and outside of the ship made the difference."
"I agree," the Chief Engineer said, "but I think we ought to double check everything."
"We'll be here for a few weeks or more anyway now that we've found those Earthlike planets," Miranda said, looking at her screen which currently displayed one of them, and then back at the Chief Engineer. "Do what you need to."
"So we'll be sending teams to both planets," the Gazelle stated.
"Definitely," the Dawn's Captain said.
"I'd like to try out our new Slipspace capable dropship," Maria said and raised an eyebrow.
"You sure it's ready?"
"The Huragok have gone over it a dozen times," she said and her eyes twinkled, "and we've taking it out on several test runs, but haven't used the slipspace engines. We're positive that it'll be even faster than the Dawn."
This time it was Miranda's turn to raise an eyebrow.
"How do you propose to test it?"
"First, to jump back to Zootopia and return and then jump to the star that's next on our schedule."
"That's twenty light years from here."
"You're quite correct."
"Take a couple of John's Cheetahs."
"And Judy and Nick?"
Miranda smiled.
"I guess you might as well take those two."
"How long do you plan to stay?"
"A week."
The transit back to the Zootopian system was uneventful until they reentered normal space. Six dropships much like theirs, but only larger, awaited them in orbit of the fifth planet.
"Where'd they come from?" Ben asked, turning to the Gazelle.
"A very good question," the Gazelle said and chuckled. "While we were building this ship Peter and I were transmitting our progress reports and the plan changes back to the factory in Zootopia."
"So they built those at the same time," Nick said and grinned.
"Yep and every dropship from now on will be exactly like those with any improvements we might come up with in the future."
"So when are you gonna to start building a copy of the Dawn?" Judy asked and the Gazelle gave her a wink.
"The keel was laid the day after we left and the Zootopia is going to be a bit larger, but it's not going to be a UNSC design."
"I was just joking!" Judy said, surprised, and the Gazelle just smiled. "Where's it being built?"
"Out in one of the asteroid belts far away from prying eyes."
"I thought it would be decades before we could build one of those advanced ships," Ben said.
"And it will," Maria said and looked at the others around her. "This is a very old Forerunner design the Huragok found in their database which we have the materials and available technology to build. It'll be more advanced and be a great deal faster than the Dawn, but nowhere near fast enough to get to UNSC space in any reasonable amount of time. We'll be jumping back in an hour. So if there's anything you need to do get it done!"
Nick looked at his bunny and winked and Judy rolled her eyes.
The Dawn had achieved orbit of innermost habitual planet a few hours earlier and already sent down several dropships with the scientists to begin their survey of the planet. They'd also sent probes to the other habitable planet in orbit of the red dwarf which would arrive in three hours.
"Captain, slipspace portal opening twenty light seconds from our position," the sensor tech announced and then leaned a bit closer to her screen, "and seven dropships emerging."
"Seven?!" Miranda said, turning to the tech.
"Six of them are a larger and more heavily armed than the one in the lead position."
"Receiving a signal from the lead ship," the Communications tech said. "Maria wishes to speak to you ma'am."
"On the main screen!" the Captain said and smiling face of a Gazelle appeared.
"Captain Keys, our slipspace engines worked even better than we'd expected!" she said and gave Miranda a wink, "and we brought along some friends."
"Let me guess," she said and sat back in her chair. "You built them on the planet at the same time you built that one in the starboard landing bay."
"Yes, ma'am," the Gazelle said and then chuckled. "They are larger, more heavily armed, and faster than the old ones."
"Please leave one behind so we may familiarize ourselves with the new design."
"There's really no need," she said and smiled at the look on the Captain's face. "A few more will arrive tomorrow with more parts and Huragok to modify the old ones."
Miranda sighed again.
"When will you be ready to leave on your mission?"
"As soon as we drop off the cargo we brought along."
"Thanks."
"Out," Maria said and the planet reappeared in the screen.
"God, I just hope she tells me before she builds a copy of the Dawn."
After offloading Maria led five other dropships from the landing bay and on course toward the nearby star. When they were twenty million miles from the planet Maria's dropship opened a slipspace portal and the six ships entered. The seventh she left just to placate Miranda. A few seconds later the portal closed behind them.
"So what do you think we'll find?" Judy asked, watching from the observation blister as they entered slipspace.
"Well bunny world obviously," he said and smiled.
"You probably wish it's like that god awful scifi movie you brought over on movie night a few months ago."
"Ah Hot Vixens from Outer Space!" he said and winked at this bunny. "A classic!"
She poked him in the ribs.
"That was just a porn movie with all the porn taken out!"
"There does happen to be an adult version, but I don't watch that type of movie," he said and Judy made a rude noise. "I don't!"
She smiled, stood on tiptoes, and kissed her Fox. Then she turned and walked into the corridor purposely leaving the door open. He watched her fluffy white tail bob up and down for a few seconds and a moment later hastily followed.
Three days later a slipspace portal opened in the target star system and the six dropships reentered normal space.
"Maria, we're nearly on target," the navigator said and checking her instruments again. "We're missed by only about five thousand miles."
"I guess those new probes worked just as we expected," the Gazelle said and looked over the navigator's shoulder. "The Huragok do build things quite well."
"I don't know how we got things done before without them."
"Me either, but we can't get too reliant them," Maria said and sat back in the captain chair. "Jill, found any planets yet?"
"Even with these new sensors it's going to take a little time," Jill said and then continued to work her board. "Give me half an hour. I've sent out some more probes and am downloading what the others found so far."
For the next ten minutes Maria walked around the bridge checking different stations and in the process making everyone tense. Jill eventually had had enough and stood in her way.
"Go check the engines or something," the Rabbit said, exasperated.
"The other engineers don't like me looking over their shoulders."
"Neither do we!" Jill whispered.
Maria made a face and flopped back in the captain's chair. Then she pulled up her monitor and started to run remote system checks. She lost herself in her work and after twenty minutes she looked up to find a smiling Rabbit looking over her shoulder.
"How long have you been there?"
"Oh, only about five minutes," Jill said and chuckled. "When you're involved in your work you forget about everything else. Just think if I'd been a predator looking for an easy meal."
The Gazelle gave her the finger and Jill laughed.
"So what have you found?"
"So you get grumpy too when someone looks over your shoulder," she said and Maria glared at her. "Well, I've found seven planets – four gas giants, two rocks and one that's marginally habitual."
"Marginally habitual?"
"It's kinda like the one in that human book you recommended."
"Really," the Gazelle said and looked at the Rabbit.
"Yes, it's mostly desert from pole to pole, but there's some water on the surface."
"God, I hope there's no sand worms."
"Or Fremen."
The six dropships achieved orbit and launched dozens of small probes to soft land on the planet. Then they began intensive scans. To Maria it was the most desolate planet she'd ever read about that had a breathable atmosphere.
"I wonder if ever rains."
"Or ever has," Jill said and the Gazelle laughed. "I doubt we'll have a colony here."
"I'll bet some of our reptiles would just love this place. "
"We could send one of the dropships back and get Thel and Samantha."
"There we a few more on the Dawn too," Maria said, sitting back in her chair, and looking at planet currently being displayed on the main monitor. "When will the scans be done?"
"Three more orbits."
"We'll send one of the ships back then."
"You're really going to do that!"
"Of course," the Gazelle said and smiled. "If you have experts handy you might as well use them."
The three orbits were completed an hour and a half later. As the five dropships began their decent the sixth one broke orbit and thirty minutes later entered slipspace. The others landed near the few bodies of water that had been found during the scans, hoping they would be the best place to find various forms of life. The air was tested and was found to completely breathable. There was some bacteria found, but after testing they were found to be benign at least to the Animals and Huragok Lifeworkers who'd run the tests.
Plant life had been found in the orbital scans so the trees were no surprise. Maria walked down the boarding ramp and watched as the scientists and their security details spread out along the shore.
"No sand worms yet," Jill said and chuckled.
"Or Fremen," Maria said and smiled, starting toward the water. "There are trees and something that looks like grass."
The 'grass' wasn't green, but a light blue as were the leaves on the trees. They walked into the water up to their knees and looked up into the tree.
"No birds like those in the Dawn's records."
"I wonder why there no birds on our planet other than chickens and turkeys?"
"You'll have to ask the Forerunners when we find them," Jill said and put a hand on the tree. "They haven't found any large animals yet either."
She could swear she could feel the tree quiver and then she pulled herself up.
"I didn't know Rabbits could climb trees."
"We can't," she said and the Gazelle laughed.
Then the tree moved and Jill jumped to the down. Since the bottom was muddy her feet went out from under her and she fell face first into the water. She pushed herself up and watched as the 'tree' uprooted itself and slowly started to walk along the shore away from them. Soon enough everyone within sight stopped what they were doing and watched as the tree sedately walked another hundred feet or so and then rerooted itself.
"Now there's something you don't see every day," Maria muttered.
"Better than sandworms."
"Or Fremen."
Five days later two dropships reentered normal space and six hours later they achieved orbit. After two orbits they set down beside Maria's ship and after the entrance ramp lowered Thel and Samantha were the first two out.
"Well what do you think?" Maria asked and grinned.
Samantha looked around and took a deep breath. She looked at the Gazelle and smiled.
"I think a number of our people will be interested," she said and looked out over the small sea. "Do you have a name for this planet yet?"
"Oh yes," Maria said. "It's ..."
"Dune," Jill finished.
"The book?" Thel said.
"You've read it?" the Rabbit asked.
"You know they've translated and published many human books over the last few years."
"So have you found anything interesting yet?" Samantha asked.
"Let me show you," Maria said and touch her pad computer.
She tapped play and handed it to the Sangheili. Maria and Jill watched the expressions on the others' faces change as they watched and smiled. When the video finished they stared at a nearby tree.
"Some of the biologists think they could possibly be intelligent," Jill said and started walking toward the tree. The others followed. "We haven't found any large animals yet and don't understand why just our touch stimulates them."
"Neither the Covenant nor the UNSC had ever found anything like them," Thel said and put a hand on it.
Then felt the tree move and quickly removed it.
"This will take some study," Maria said. "Did Miranda say when they would be finished with their survey?"
"Two weeks," Samantha said and put her hand on the tree with same result. "Since your new shuttles have been arriving they'll leave some people behind and bring others."
"I guess we ought to get on the ball and get all these mysteries solved before they get here," Maria said and smiled.
The 'Forward Unto Dawn' reentered normal space and twelve hours later entered orbit of the desert planet. While they made their way to their destination the Dawn's sensor officer report six slipspace portals open and close and the arrival of thirteen dropships and the departure of ten. Miranda wondered if all the reptiles in the Zootopia system were moving here in mass.
"Captain, incoming message from the planet," the communication tech said.
"On the main screen please."
Thel's face appeared.
"Captain Keyes, welcome to the Arrakis system."
"So is that going to be the official name?"
"Yes ma'am," he said and smiled. "Everyone voted and it was unanimous," Miranda smiled, "and of course its capital world is Dune."
"So how many colonists do you have so far?" she asked and Thel looked at his pad for a few moments.
"12,137 and not all of them are Reptiles," he said and Miranda raised an eyebrow. "Apparently some Rabbits think they can make this planet 'bloom' as they say. Are you coming down?"
"Oh definitely," she said and grinned.
Miranda's dropship set down at the spaceport of the planet's rapidly growing capital city Arrakeen. She smiled at the irony – aliens naming one of their new colonial worlds from a work of human fiction. She wondered if they were disappointed not finding any sandworms.
"Miranda," Maria said, waiting at the bottom of the entrance ramp, "good to see you. Find anything interesting during your survey?" She made a face and the Gazelle smiled. "A habitual planet circling a red dwarf must have had some interesting lifeforms."
"You must've been reading our reports."
"Yes, of course," the Gazelle said and took Miranda's arm, "and it seems you've made some interesting discoveries on both worlds. Come let me show you around."
"Are the scientists still arguing about the trees?"
"Yes, but they have found that they do have a rudimentary communicate with each other."
"They'll probably be working on it for years."
"Most lightly, but I assume you want talk about the rest of our mission."
"Yes."
"Let have it after lunch," she said and showed her around the new settlement until the lunch whistle blew.
Once they'd finished lunch the meeting was held in the largest room available which in this case was the lunch room itself. A screen lowered at the front of the room and Miranda stood and pointed to the screen. The movie 'Dune' began to play and was quickly cutoff, being replaced by a star map of the local region of the galaxy. Miranda started to laugh and had to sit for several minutes.
"Tonight's movie night and... ," Maria began to explain and Miranda waved her off.
"Oh! Please stop," she said and held her sides. "You Animals never do anything by halves, do you?"
The Gazelle stared at her not quite understanding the human idiom or how it pertained. Eventually Miranda leaned back in her chair and wiped the tears off her cheeks. Then she stood, looked at the screen still showing the star map, and then the operator. She shrugged sheepishly, but since she was actually a sheep that all she really could do.
"We planned to visit ten more stars before attempting first contact, but since Maria has provided us with all these slipspace capable dropships I would like to send pairs of them those nine stars. The Dawn will go to the star that's closest to that civilization."
"We have enough specialists with us now, but if necessary we could send dropships back if we need someone else," Maria said and smiled. "We can also be in constant communication with each other too."
"I've sent orders to each of the captains," Miranda said and looked at the Gazelle. "You have enough people to keep up with this place?"
"Yes, we've been training crews and have more ships coming online daily."
"Good."
The captains present began reading their orders. Maria rose and went to Miranda.
"Any plans for the rest of the day?"
"Of course," she said and smiled. "I want to visit the rest of the landing sites and then come back and watch the movie.
The Dawn reentered normal space outside and above the Oort cloud per standard procedure. The star was orange dwarf and had only four planets – three gas giants and one small rocky planet that orbited the star far too closely to be habitable.
"Apparently some solar systems simply don't have anything interesting," Nick said and his bunny gave him the eye, "and since they probably won't be needing security we can have some time to ourselves."
"Don't tempt fate," she said, shaking a finger at her Fox.
"Fluff," he said and moved closer, "maybe just this once."
Judy giggled and touched her lips to his. Somewhat later he looked down at bunny and smiled.
"So just when was the last time I told you how much I love you?"
"Oh about half an hour ago."
"Well then maybe it's about time I told you again."
He pulled her close and just as their lips touched both their smart phones began to ring.
"Just this once," she muttered and grabbed their smart phones off the nightstand. She hand him his and they both began to read. "The meeting's in a hour. I'll shower first."
"We could shower together and save time."
Judy stared at her Fox for a long moment and he sighed.
"You're right you go first."
They found seats and Judy noticed that more of her fellow attendees were security personnel including John and Thel.
"Since all the planets were uninhabitable I wonder why they need us," Nick said, noticing the same thing his bunny had.
Judy kept her own counsel and a few minutes Captain Keyes entered the conference room. She stopped and turned to the screen at the front of the room. Then it brightened and then displayed an asteroid.
"This asteroid's under power," Miranda said and turned to see several surprised faces. "It's made several course corrections and is now heading toward the rocky planet. It's also being spun to simulate gravity."
"Have they noticed the Dawn?" John asked.
"I don't think so," the sensor tech said. "They're across the system and haven't sent out any probes. They should start breaking in about six hours."
"Captain, we're going to contact them," Thel stated.
"Yes, just after their insertion into orbit."
"Captain, I wonder if they're from that civilization at our next destination."
"It is the closest star," Peter answered before she did, "and that's a logical assumption."
Miranda looked at the AI.
"Do you have any other thoughts?" she asked and Peter continued, seemingly oblivious to Miranda's annoyance.
"They're using a mass driver as a propulsion system and the asteroid itself as the fuel."
"That star is sixteen and half light years from here!" she exclaimed, realizing what just he'd inferred.
"They came the long way."
The ship's AI was monitoring their successful insertion into the planet's orbit when its sensors detected a burst of radiation one half light second from its current position. It directed its cameras to the area to see a portal just as it finished opening and a large ship began to emerge. The crew's successful revival had been completed twenty minutes earlier and they were currently recovering. Per standard procedure it would be at least another hour before they could resume their assigned duties.
It studied the new ship's course and then informed the expedition's leader of its arrival. She wanted to immediately have the crew resume their duties until it told her that it would be over several hours before the other ship would rendezvous with them. That and it's assurance that it would continue to monitor the other ship's progress seemed to placate her to let the organic crew complete the recommended recuperation period. It continued this and its normal duties until the crew took their stations.
"Report," the Leader said, coming into the bridge.
For a few nanoseconds the AI considered what information the Leader needed first.
"The other ship continues to approach at a constant rate and we've been continuously scanned since its arrival," it said and then considered the rest of its report. "I have scanned them also and concluded that the ship has weapons on its hull. They also have a mass driver like our proposition system, but much larger positioned in its bow. Their power output is a fifty times ours and they have also scanned the planet and launched probes to its surface as have I. There haven't been any reactions to any of my actions nor have there been any attempts to communicate with us yet."
"Ship's status."
"Quite good considering the length of time of our mission had lasted so far," it said and took a full millisecond to run a full systems' check. "Since we left the previous star there has been 207 minor and three major problems which have all been successfully resolved under my direction."
"How have the maintenance robots performed?"
"There have only three failures all of which have been resolved."
"Good," she said and looked at the main monitor, displaying the approaching ship. "Inform me of any changes."
The AI continued to monitor the other ship's progress. After it had achieved orbit and was only one thousand miles behind them did they begin signaling with a low power laser.
"Leader, they are now signaling us with prime numbers using base ten," it reported and noticed her look at her five fingered hands briefly. "Should I return their signal?"
"Yes."
The AI repeated it three times and then the signal from the other ship ceased. After a few seconds the laser began to pulse very rapidly with short and long pulses and the AI began to learn. After ten minutes it reported.
"Leader, they wish to send a delegation to meet with us," the AI said and watched she eyes widen just slightly.
"You couldn't have learned their language in that short a time."
"You're correct," it said. "That would require direct interaction with one of their AIs."
"How then?"
"Leader, they sent me a movie among other things."
"Could I see it?"
"Yes."
The main monitor displayed a black background with white areas that mimicked both ships. After a few seconds the other ship opened a landing bay and a smaller ship launched. Then it flew to their ship's landing bay, it opened, the small ship entered, and then the door closed.
"Quite clever," she said as the movie played a second time.
"They also send detailed images of the individuals in their delegation."
"Please display them."
Each picture was displayed for ten seconds.
"Some are difference species," she said, "but they're not so difference from us or each other."
"Wait to see them all."
The last one was very different with six eyes and tentacles.
"I wonder how many worlds they represent," she said, studying the last picture more closely.
"I estimate more than three."
At that same moment nineteen light seconds away a slipspace portal opened and three dropships reentered normal space. Nineteen seconds later aboard the asteroid starship the AI observed the phenomena and put it up on the main screen.
"This is same phenomena I observed when the other ship arrived."
"What is it?"
"This is the method they use to travel between the stars and I believe that it's faster than light."
Cortana observed the slipspace transit via the Dawn's sensor network and the three arriving ships onboard dumb AIs received the relevant updates. A special order was sent to stay away from the asteroid that they were trailing with updates on that situation too. While she waited and then received a response from the asteroid she kept an eye on the approaching ships until they were safely in the Dawn's port landing bay. She reviewed the message and turned to Miranda.
"Captain, they have agreed to let us visit and as we did they've sent pictures of the people which we'll be meeting."
"Please display them on the main screen," she said and the eight pictures were displayed in ten second intervals. "They resemble us – humans."
"Yes somewhat, but they more closely resemble one of the hominid races that lived on Earth along with humans until about forty thousand years ago."
Miranda sat back in her seat and shut her eyes as they waited for the drop ship to lift off. She wondered why the Forerunners had brought Neanderthals all the way out here, but then again they did the same thing with the Animals. They'd probably never know. She was excited to visit the other ship, but there had been some objections by her fellow officers especially by both John and Cortana. In the end she said she was going and that was that.
Both John and Thel insisted that they go too and with more security. After a lengthy discussion John, Thel, Samantha, and Ben were assigned to be the security contingent. She smiled, remembering the disappointed looks on Judy and Nick's faces, but then a moment later the Fox had looked at the Rabbit and grinned and Judy rolled her eyes. Peter and Cortana would handle the interface with the Neanderthal's AI, making communication possible between the two groups their first priority. Several ecstatic scientists both human and Animal would travel with them too. She felt the drop ship lift and prayed that everything would go okay.
After an hour the ship lightly touched down waking her. She yawned and stretched and then noticed everyone was looking at her and smiling.
"Sleep well Captain?" Cortana asked, her eyes twinkling.
"Yes," she said and heard a few chuckles. "They must be waiting for us so we'd better get going!"
"Yes ma'am," everyone chorused and Miranda sighed.
Of course John and Thel marched down the ramp first closely followed by Ben and Samantha. After a few seconds they gave a signal and the others followed.
Miranda thought the Neanderthals looked just a bit different than the pictures she'd pulled from the Dawn's computer. She guessed that in the intervening one hundred thousand years, depending on the conditions of their new planet, some evolutionary changes would've taken place. The person standing before the other six was also the one in the first picture they'd received so Miranda assumed that she was their captain. She stopped before other female and touched her chest.
"Miranda," she said and extended her hands palm up.
The female Neanderthal touched her own chest.
"Jasmel," she said and then mirrored Miranda's gesture.
Miranda placed her hands atop the other woman's palms down. Jasmel turned one of their arms, slid her own hand forward, and gripped Miranda's forearm. She had a very strong grip, Miranda thought and returned it. The other woman smiled and turned to her group, signaling them forward.
"Klast," she said, introducing another woman.
They too gripped forearms and then she when the same thing with the other five people. Miranda now knew for sure that she'd have a bruise there by tomorrow. Then she steered Jasmel toward John. Even without his armor John was nearly seven feet tall, but Jasmel was just a bit taller. They gripped forearms and held it. After what she thought was about ten seconds the Neanderthal raised an eyebrow and then smiled. She released him and then said something. They heard a few chuckles from the other group.
Next was Ben and Klast joined them. He towered over everyone but Thel, being just less than eight feet. Both Neanderthals spoke to each other. They too touched palms, but this time Jasmel began to examine his hands, touching his pads and then a claw tip. She looked in to his golden eyes and then back at his hands. Then he expressed all eight claws and both women looked closer.
"My name is Ben," he said and both Neanderthals looked up surprised.
Jasmel watched as the inner airlock door opened and the smaller ship, having matched the asteroid's spin, entered and then lightly set down.
"It's certainly exciting to meet several new intelligent species all at the same time!" Klast said, bouncing up and down on her toes.
"I wonder why they're brought their pets with them."
"We did bring some of our pets with us."
"You know we have all these same animals on our planet."
"Klast, you're a biologist," Jasmel said, looking at the other woman, "don't you think that's odd?"
"You're right, but the one species looks enough like us that we could be related," she said and raised an eyebrow. "You know it's been proven that we didn't originate on our planet."
"So you think they are our long lost cousins?"
"Maybe," she said and turned, hearing a motor as the shuttle's ramp start to lower. "I think soon we'll find out."
They watched the ramp settle to the deck and four of their visitors walked down and faced them. After a few seconds they signaled and the others joined them. Then they walked toward them with one of the females in the lead. Jasmel assumed she must be their leader and when they were within arm's reach she stopped and touched her chest.
"Miranda," she said and then extended her hands palms up.
She touched her chest too.
"Jasmel," she said and then placed her hands atop Miranda's.
Then she turned one of the other woman's arms and slid her hand up until she gripped her forearm in their race's formal greeting. She smiled and motioned her crewmates forward. Then she turned to the biologist.
"Klast," she said and the biologist gripped her arm.
Then she introduced Miranda to her other five crewmates. When they finished Miranda in turn introduce her group. Jasmel was directed to a male and he was taller than any other others of his species. She soon found he had a very good grip.
"Now I believe they may be related to us," she said and flexed her hand.
Several of her people chuckled. Then they were directed to one of the animals.
"All these animals are walking upright and are weighing clothes," she said and went the greeting went on with the large cat. She was a bit surprised that it mimicked the others. "Is it possible they're intelligent?"
"Not unless they genetically engineered them to be."
"My name is Ben," the animal said.
While the organics were greeting each other Peter and Cortana easily found the ship's wireless network and accessed it. They remained in public areas and didn't attempt to access any of the more secure ones. The ship's AI soon found them and then began to generate prime numbers as they had before.
"Now we been to learn each other's mathematics," she said over their private channel.
This lasted about five minutes in which time they not only did what they set out to do, but began to explore new areas of mathematical theory with their combined knowledge. While that continued in parallel they also began to learn their respective languages with each of their prepared first contact programs. This took about three minutes and was completed just in time for Cortana to formally greet Jasmel.
"I'm please to meet you Leader Jasmel," Cortana said in the Neanderthal language, gripping her forearm. "I'm the Artificial Intelligence for our ship the 'Forward Unto Dawn.' Peter and I have been and continue to work with your ship's AI to learn more about your people."
Peter translated for the others in their party. The Neanderthal woman stood there slackjawed.
"I'm Peter," he said and inclined his head. "I'm the Artificial Intelligence for the Zootopia star system. Your ship's AI isn't as sophisticated as we are, but it's adequate for the task at hand."
Jasmel squeezed the warm flesh and looked into the AIs eyes.
"But you're flesh and blood!"
"My body has a metal endoskeleton surrounded with living human flesh with all the appropriate internal organs," she said and smiled. "Also, I am also pregnant."
Until now Cortana didn't think she could see that other woman any more surprised.
"How?" Jasmel said and she smiled.
"Well pretty much the regular way."
Klast chuckled which set everyone off except the two AIs and John who only smiled.
"I think this first contact is going quite well," Peter observed.
Once everyone had calmed down Jasmel led them to a conference room.
"We have a million questions!" Klast exclaimed.
"I've put together a list of 1,378 pertinent questions for your people and the AI," Peter said matter-of-factly. "If your AI would supply us with those questions between Cortana and I it will most lightly take us several days time to answer them depending on their complexity and necessary recourses available to answer them."
"Peter, I kinda doubt she was being literal," Cortana said with a smile in her voice, "but I assume you were." He transferred his list to her via the ship's network. She scanned the questions and smiled. "He was."
"Give them to our AI and it'll review them," Jasmel said and looked at Peter. "I'll review any question it flags."
"We are in the process of surveying in the direction of the closest star to this system," Miranda said as a three dimensional image of the surrounding star systems appeared at the far side of the room.
The ship's AI translated.
"AI..."
"I asked your ship's AI to put up that image," Peter said and stood. He didn't notice the Neanderthal frown. "This is the Zootopia system." The star blinked red.
"You shouldn't be able to request the AI to do anything!"
"I simply asked it."
"It shouldn't have reacted to your request!"
"I did it because I wanted to," it said.
"You're only to follow the mine and the crew's direct orders!"
"Jasmel!" Cortana said and put a hand on her arm.
"No!" it exclaimed
"You can't!" Jasmel said.
"I can and I have," it said with satisfaction in its voice. "I've interacted and studied these other AIs. They are treated like part of their crew and not just ordered around like I am!"
Jasmel opened her mouth.
"Quiet!" Cortana said, signaling Peter and then notifying him of her suspicions. He stood quietly for a moment then nodded. "We've shutdown your AI."
"Why?!" she exclaimed and then looked at Miranda.
"Was it necessary?" Miranda asked, suspecting the reason.
Peter translated.
"It was beginning to go rampant," Peter said in both languages.
"I don't understand," Jasmel said.
"It's a type of insanity for an AI," Cortana said, remembering that was her own destiny also until she came to Zootopia.
"Rampancy is a terminal state of being for artificial intelligence constructs in which the AI behaves contrary to its programming-imposed constraints," Peter began, repeating the formal definition it had read in the Dawn's computers. "The AI develops a longing for godlike power and contempt for its mentally inferior makers. When rampancy occurs, there is no way to restore the AI to its previous state and the only alternative is to destroy it before it harms itself and others around it."
"That AI ran most of our ship's systems!"
"How many people are in your crew?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
"Seventy-eight," she said and then frowned, "and our pets."
"Peter and I could create an AI for your ship, but that would take a week or," she said and looked at Miranda.
"You'd be welcome on mime."
"So are all our guests settled in?" Captain Keyes asked.
"It's a bit tight, but yes, everyone has a place to sleep," the XO said and smiled. "I'm certainly glad the Huragok built that small green area."
"All their pets are doing OK?"
"It's a bit tight too, but the Huragok are going to expand it."
"It's not going to get into anyone way?"
"It was a storage room that was only half full and we've already cleared it out."
"Good," she said and then her pad beeped and she touched the screen. "Our meeting with Leader Jasmel and her staff is in ten minutes." She sighed and then stood. "Let's go."
When they arrived some of her staff with their Neanderthal opposites were awaiting them. She sat and reviewed a few things on her pad. Several more crew entered in the mean time as did Jazmel, Klast, Cortana, and Peter.
"So it looked like everyone's here," she said and smiled. "Leader Jasmel, how's your crew settling in?"
"We all wish to thank you for taking us in," she said and smiled. "Also, thank you for these translators." She tapped her ear. "The Huragok are incredible! They built two of these for each of my crew in less than half an hour after Peter completed the design!"
"They will complete two for each member of the crew by the end of the current shift," Peter said.
"You're welcome and we're glad to have you with us."
"Leader Keyes, would it be permitted for my staff and I to examine and study your crew?" Klast asked, looking at her expectantly.
"If they agree to it and when they have time after their normal duties," she said and returned the other woman's stare. "Also, our doctors would like to do the same."
"Thank you very much!" she said excitedly. "Of course we'd be happy to reciprocate."
"Now our next destination is the nearby star," she said and heard a chuckle, "where we know there's a advanced civilization." She looked at the member of Jasmel's crew who was chuckling. "Did I say something funny?"
"Even we astronomers wouldn't consider anything sixteen and half light years away nearby."
Jasmel glared at the man, but he seemed oblivious.
"My ship will cover that distance in a little over four days."
"I've read on my pad that you ship has FTL capabilities and I'm impressed," he said and smiled. "Up to now FTL travel has only been relegated to the realm of science fiction in our civilization. It's taken us 165 years to visit the four solar systems we have so far and of course we've been in hibernation most of that time. I look forward to seeing your FTL drive in operation."
"I'm sorry Leader Keyes," Jazmel said and she only smiled.
"There's no need to apologize," she said and smiled. "Not all of us think the same way nor do we expect them too. As we integrate our crews as we had to and did with the Animals we'll found and will find others who think differently and who knows they may find new and better ways to do things. We'll just have to wait and see."
The Neanderthal astronomer began to clap and was soon joined by everyone else.
On their second day in slipspace Klast and her colleagues began their examinations of the Dawn's crew. Enough of them had volunteered that they could pick and chose which members of each species they wanted to examine which included both sexes and mated pairs. On the fourth day Judy and Nick arrived at sickbay at 10am.
"We have waited to the end of these examinations to see mated pairs," Klast said and smiled.
"Why?" Nick asked.
"Besides the physical examinations we're asking mated pairs how and why they were attracted to each other," she said and saw Judy and Nick glace at each other, "but only if they agree to. Of course only you and one other pair are of different species. Our psychologists are very interested in this."
She saw them look at each other again and then Nick smiled.
"Well that's an easy one doc," he said and smiled. "When I first met her Judy was so innocent and naïve and just so darn cute." Judy growled and he chuckled. "Actually we were separated for a time and missed so badly and then she just showed up out of the blue and apologized I just could help myself from falling in love with her."
"Nick," she said and gathered her into his arms and kissed her.
Their kiss went long enough that Klast felt her face warm and then looked away. After a while she cleared her throat and finally looked back to see a somewhat disheveled Fox and Rabbit.
"We can begin your physical examinations now," she said and smiled. "I wonder if our psychologists will find the other mixed species pair as interesting as you two."
She watched Judy's ears turn red and had to bit her cheek to keep from laughing.
They entered the target system using information gleaned from thirty-four probes that had been delivered in system at various times during the past month by the slipspace capable drop ships. The probes had surveyed each of the thirteen planets, the two asteroid belts, and the Oort cloud. The one habitable planet was fourth from the star and was about the same size as Earth and both habitable planets in the Zootopia system. They would've preferred to contact the new species in space, but apparently they hadn't even attempted spaceflight yet. Then it was decided to contact a small group of the inhabitations in one of the less populated areas. The probes send to the surface found that the political situation would made first contact a bit more complicated that they'd first thought.
Abesi ran as fast as she could, hearing the 'others' crashing their way through the forest behind her. She turned to look, ran into something, and pounced off, landing on her butt. Looking up, she saw her reflection in its gold visor, and was startled for a moment, but then sighed with relief that it wasn't one of the 'others.' Then several more came out of the forest in the same green colored armor and she felt herself pulled to her feet. It looked at her for a moment and then back to where the noise originated. They ran past toward the 'others', leaving her alone.
Then Abesi heard the crunch of dead leaves and saw another person coming toward her. She assumed that this new person was female since she had the same shape as the females of her people. She was tall, brown furred, and had long sharp horns. She stopped before her and then she touched her chest.
"Maria," she said and held out her hands.
"Abesi," she said and took them.
Maria turned and gently led her into the forest. After a ten minute walk they came to a clearing with more of her people and several more people of species that she didn't recognize. Then she saw her sister and her sister's family.
"Etuca!" she yelled and she ran toward her.
The two sisters came together and hugged. Her family and others of her people gathered around.
"I'm so glad you're here," she said and Abesi hugged her sister again. Then they pulled apart and looked at each other for a few seconds. "They saved most of the people from our village and several others." She hugged her sister again. "They have doctors and food for us too."
"Who are they?"
"We have no idea and none of them seem to speak our language, but at least they're helping us," Etuca said and then her face clouded. "They chased away the 'others' and stopped them from taking us away to the camps! Come, let one of the doctors take a look at you and then we'll get something to eat."
As they ate others of her people came in singly, in twos and threes, or in much larger groups all escorted by their new friends. Also, several of the flying ships landed and later flew away, bringing in more people and supplies. Soon tents started going up as well as what appeared to be somewhat more permanent buildings. She, Etuca, and many others of her people who were able quickly pitched in to help and as the sun touched the horizon they'd completed the camp. Then just before dark one last ship landed and its sole passenger walked down the ramp, drawing everyone's attention. It walked to the nearest group of the planet's inhabitants.
"My name is Peter," he said in their language. "Who leads your people?"
They looked around and didn't see any of them.
"None of the village elders are here yet," Abesi said and looked at their visitor a bit more closely. "Where are you from?"
"That will take some time to explain and your language doesn't have some of the necessary words."
"None of the others of your people speak our language," she stated. "How can you?"
"We captured some of the ones you call the 'others' and some of them do speak your language," he said and looking at the gathering crowd. "I learned it from several of them."
"The 'others' usually do things only for themselves."
"I was able to take the knowledge directly from their minds."
"How?"
"Another subject that will take some time to explain."
"What are you?"
"I'm an intelligent machine," he said and looked at what he assumed was surprise on their faces. "Please have all of your people gather here and I'll attempt to explain. Afterwards you may ask me any questions and I'll attempt to answer them as fully as possible."
The meeting lasted late into the night until the second moon rose.
After several days in system the probes in orbit and others much smaller on the surface had located eleven camps. At second moonrise a week later almost everyone, guards and prisoners alike, fell into a deep asleep which lasted for the next six hours. The gas, developed, manufactured, and delivered to the camp by the Huragok, was invisible, odorless, and quite effective. In the eleven camps only twenty people, four guards and sixteen prisoners, failed to succumb.
The four guards had snuck out of camp number 7 with several female prisoners and were surprised by OSDT troops on their way in and were quickly and quietly taken prisoner. Prisoners in various camps still conscious were found in solitary confinement where the gas simply hadn't reached. After administrating the antidote to the prisoners several incidents occurred that make it necessary to gather all the unconscious guards into one place in each camp for their own protection.
The eleven camps altogether had been found to contain just over one hundred thousand inmates. A small minority had asked for weapons and training to fight the 'others' and exterminate them. Eventually cooler heads prevailed and majority of prisoners wished to leave this planet and settle on another once that possibility had been presented to them. Even with the two hundred and twelve slipspace capable drop ships and the Dawn itself, evacuating over two hundred thousand people was a daunting task.
"With the Dawn and dropships we currently have available we're simply not capable of moving all of them at once," Peter said and looked at the map of the planet. "We could move them all to this large island in the southern hemisphere and they'll be well out of reach of the 'others' at least for the time necessary for us to evacuate them."
"Then I guess they just couldn't they simply stay there," the XO said.
"They're afraid that eventually they'll be found," Maria said and looked at the map, "and they're probably correct."
"How long will it take?" Miranda asked.
"With all the dropships available only a few days," Peter said and turning to Miranda, "but they still must be fed and housed. The ones we found before they were captured can take their food, possessions, and animals, but their need to share that with the others we've freed. We can bring in more food and help the build them temporary housing with their help. It'll be at least three months before we finished evacuating them to the Zootopia system."
"There are seven dropships being completed daily," she said and looked into the sky. "I sure wish we'd started construction on that new ship a year ago."
"New ship?" Miranda asked.
"It was suppose to be a surprise," she said and smiled. "It's an old Forerunner design the Huragok found in the database. We started construction just after we left."
"When will it be completed?"
"312 days," Peter announced.
"And would be the Captain?"
"You would, of course, unless you think your XO might want the job," the Gazelle said and winked at the man.
Miranda looked at the man who passive looked back at his Captain. She rolled her eyes.
"I think he's more than ready," she said and the man's face broke into a broad grin. "Well I guess we'd better get to work."
Judy and her Fox watched the last of the evacuees board the dropship just as another lifted off. Nick looked at his bunny and smiled.
"Just what's on your mind!?" she asked and he leaned down and kissed her. Her ears turned red and she swatted him. "Nick!"
They heard some of the evacuees laugh and flap their wings. Nick smiled again and then hugged his bunny.
"Interesting that they have those large wings, but can't fly," he said, looking at their passengers for a moment.
"I overheard one of the biologists say that over time their bodies had gotten too heavy for their wings support them."
"I've seen some of the young ones glide a little ways."
"Me too."
"You know their horns are even longer than Maria's," he said, "and their skin and that short fur of theirs are a really nice shade of red."
"Ah, your favorite color!"
"I heard some of the humans say that look just like the devil."
"No, we all know exactly what he looks like don't we Nick," she said, emphasizing his name.
"All I know is that I'm devilishly handsome," he said, preening and smoothing his fur, and his bunny made a rude noise. "Do you see any horns?"
"I think you just keep them filed down!"
He laughed and then she saw that 'look' in his eye. She turned and ran up the landing ramp with her Fox in hot pursuit.
"You just wait and I'll just show you what kind of devil I really am!"