CHAPTER II

UNSC AURORA

Captain Kaloha feels nervous and also confused about what's going on outside. What makes him more confused is the unknown ship right off of his port.

"Orsa, what can you tell us about the ship?"

"According to our scanner, the ship has unknown hull types and unknown armor. Our scanner is unable to penetrate that ship. It is completely alien from us, but I can tell you that 65% of the crew inside that ship is human" Orsa replied to the captain

"Maybe it's one of the colonies that gone missing for decades, I think." Commander Suratoh makes a comment. "Well let's don't make speculation around here, we don't know anything about them except that hull marking. Comms, initiate communication with that ship, all frequencies!" Captain Kaloha attempt to make a communication.

"Captain, are you certain that move will be wise? We don't know where we are and we're facing an unknown ship and unknown capability." Commander Suratoh has some uncertain feelings about such a move. "You said yourself that the ship may be a lost colony of ours, although I am myself uncertain. But the ship itself has a lot of humans, better to try our luck."

"Captain, communication is open on all frequencies." The communication officer informs the captain.

"Excellent, let's try to communicate with the ship. 'This is Captain James Kaloha of the UNSC Aurora to the Unknown ship, please identify yourself!" Captain Kaloha wait for a response for a minute but no one answered.

"This is Captain James Kaloha of the UNSC Aurora to the unidentified ship, please response."

USS QUEEN VICTORIA

"For the ship armament, it contains a massive quantity of missiles, some unknown weapons, and an Accelerator captain." Ensign Park informed the captain. "An accelerator?" Captain was confused. "If I say simpler captain, it is a kinetic weapon captain. But a massive one captain, with that massive kinetic weapon, it can knock out a moon or even a planet" Ensign Park replies.

"That kind of weapon, I think it is safe to assume that it is a Weapon of Mass destruction. No doubt about that if whatever came out of that weapon hit a planet or any terrestrial of any kind" Commander Stampson about the Weapon on board the UNSC Aurora

"Captain, I'm detecting a radio transmission. Origin is…. the ship itself, UNSC Aurora." Lieutenant Commander Vorik informed the captain about the signal

"Open a channel Vorik now!" Captain response.

"….. UNSC Aurora…. Identify yourself."

"Attempting to clear the signals, here it is captain" Vorik clears the signal from any disturbance so everyone can hear the radio signal.

"This is Captain James Kaloha of the UNSC Aurora to the Unidentified ship, please respond!"

"This is Captain Claire of the Federation Starship USS Queen Victoria. Do you require any assistance?" Captain Claire's response to hail from the UNSC Aurora

"Can you repeat your last?" Captain Kaloha appears to be confused

" Captain Kaloha, this is Captain Claire of the Federation Starship USS Queen Victoria. Do you require any assistance from us?" Captain Claire answers the confused Captain Kaloha.

"Captain Claire, your ship is unknown to us. Please identify your Registration number and your point of origin under the Cole Protocol"

Captain Claire was confused with the meaning of the Cole Protocol.

"Vorik cut the transmission for a while. Do you know the meaning of it?" Captain asked Vorik and everybody else. "Not even me Captain, I have no idea what it means." Ensign Thomas answers the captain's question." Since everybody was confused, all eyes were back on the captain.

"Thomas, a quarter impulse to that ship. Let's take a closer eye of it."

"Aye Captain!"

UNSC AURORA

November, 25TH 2571 Earth Calendar under UNSC Calender

Captain Kaloha stood at the bridge crossing his arm. He is curious about the 'USS Queen Victoria.' But that curiosity come to an end pretty quickly when USS Queen Victoria approached his ship at a rapid pace.

"Lieutenant!"

"Captain, that ship moves at a quarter-light speed. I had never seen such a ship move that fast! Intercept course within 5 Minutes!" Lieutenant Ward in charge of the helm responds to the captain.

Lieutenant Ward is a during the covenant war. He served at the UNSC Pillar of Autumn and for a short year at the UNSC Infinity. He also has a lot of citations and awards as he was engaging in several naval warfare against the covenant and also in defence of the UNSC Infinity bridge as the covenant boarding party somehow successfully entered the Infinity. He and the captain are the only survivors during the defence of the Infinity.

Orsa AI appear again at the bridge, this now at the tactical station. "Captain with that speed, I can't guarantee a hit shot into that ship unless we within thirty thousand kilometres."

Commander Suratoh immediately ordering the ship to be fully armed now "All stations! Get all MAC Weapons online now! Prepare Archer Pods, and put shiva into the tube! And bring online the defence batteries now!"

"Understood Sir! Activating MAC now, will take several minutes to be fully charged!" Lieutenant Ward answering the commander.

Captain Kaloha decide to communicate with the ship again, hoping to avoid a conflict. "Orsa, open the channel to that ship now!"

"Aye Captain, Channel open!"

"This is Captain Kaloha of the UNSC Aurora, Stand down right now and cease your approach! We will consider your act as hostile action if you do not stop!"

After the warning from Captain Kaloha, USS Queen Victoria come to a full stop. USS Queen Victoria opened a communication with the UNSC Aurora

"Captain, we've got an incoming transmission from that ship. Audio only!" Orsa announces to the captain.

"This is Captain Claire of the USS Queen Victoria. We have no harm intention against you. We simply want to take you into a low band-closed frequency signal to your ship, I am sorry if it startled you. The only thing I am able to understand about your protocol is that I believe it is a safety measure protocol. If you wish to maintain a distance like this, we will do so." Captain Claire explains to Captain Kaloha.

Captain Kaloha takes a sigh breath of relief that USS Queen Victoria has no ill intention. Although there is a cloud of anxiety in his mind, he takes this as a good sign. "Is the communication channel still open Orsa?" Captain asks. "Still open Captain," Orsa replied.

"That is very kind of you Captain Claire. But we prefer this distance right now. Captain, may I ask for your identification once again?" Captain Kaloha asks in curiosity.

"Certainly, My Name is Captain Elizabeth Claire Evans, I am the commanding officer of the USS Queen Victoria, Hull Registration NCC-177820. We represent the United Federation of Planet." Captain Claire gives her full Identification.

Captain Kaloha, Commander Suratoh, and others including Orsa were confused about this federation.

"Captain Claire, I am unfamiliar with your 'Federation.' Which colony do you come from?" Captain kaloha asks. "Colony? Hmmm, Captain, we are the United Federation of Planets. A Unified Sovereign Nation with multiple member worlds and species with Earth as the Capital. I am surprised you are not familiar with us." Captain Claire gives the information while taking a confused mind.

"Suratoh, your opinion?" Captain Kaloha ask his commander

"I am confused as you do captain. I never heard of this federation before."

"Captain Claire, your ship is not a related to any of us within the UNSC. I assuming you are not human but you speak English like us, are you aware of the Covenant war?"

A couple of seconds of silence and then came the response. "Captain, I am unfamiliar with the covenant war but I can tell you that I am a human. And also, we are speaking Federation Standard language or English so to speak. "

Everybody was in shock upon hearing that last transmission. Skin of every crew member began to shiver for a couple of seconds after hearing that.

"Captain, rather than we stay here I'll suggest we meet each other. Come aboard my ship and let's discuss together to know what is actually going on. Will you agree?" Captain Claire makes a proposal.

"Gives a moment captain. Orsa, suspend the channel for a while." Captain Kaloha replies and cut the transmission for a while.

"Captain, I don't think is a good idea to come to their ship, and God knows what happens if they puncture our body right away." Commander Suratoh put skepticism about Captain's Claire goodwill offer. "That is a low possibility Commander. Captain Claire is a reasonable person based on her voice analysis and her suggestion. I suggest we come to our ship." Orsa AI gives her opinion about coming aboard to USS Queen Victoria.

"No, they are the one to come to our ship. Its better this way, Captain's Claire goodwill is already more than enough to convince me that this is a friendly people. Orsa, open the channel once again."

"channel open captain" Orsa opened the ship communication with USS Queen Victoria

"Captain Claire, I appreciate your offer but I prefer you come to my ship. I have some scepticism in regards of our situation."

"I understand that Captain. We'll come to your ship now. We will initiate transport to your ship."

"A Transport Captain Claire ? You mean like teleportation?" Captain Kaloha asks in confusion

"Yes, something like that captain, that will ease the journey."

"No thank you, captain. I prefer you come with traditional way." Captain Kaloha in confused on how this federation are able to create some kind of teleportation technology. Something unheard of within the UNSC.

"Alright Captain, whatever that makes you calm. Claire out."

Transmission end.

"Well commander, prepare the red carpet for our guest." Captain Kaloha ordering his commander to welcome captain Claire.

"Aye sir"