Expect lots of speculation, the act of buying into various fan theories, and a trip into referencing the 80's version. You have been warned.

Our present: Il Nostro Presente

Her Highness hovering over the communications console seemed an out of place image for reasons the others couldn't seem to isolate. But it was hardly worth questioning; right now there was an important task at hand.

The humans waited with baited breath for news.

"I am sorry. I have been unable to pick up transmissions in this sector." She averted her eyes in shame. Suddenly a thought struck her "How far out are human ships able to travel?"

"Only to Kerberos." was the dejected reply. That was definitely inside the sector. Within radius of the castle's search capabilities.

"Wait! My radio gear!" Pidge's exclamation echoed around the chamber. Only Hunk seemed to understand its significance. "We don't transmit messages the same way as the rest of the 'known universe'!"

Lance cut in skeptical; "Wait, really?"

"Yes!" Pidge was on a roll. "I had to make special equipment to get my hands on alien radio chatter. Even then it was always garbled because I was just picking up leftovers. What if the reverse is true here? Your communications system may not be compatible with our own."

"Yes, that makes quite a bit of sense." Coran shook his head in agreement. "Their system must be so nascent in comparison; the castle simply doesn't know to listen for it!"

"Right" Pidge grumbled.

Sometimes Coran knew how to throw in 'unintentional' jibes at the most inopportune times.

~\/~

The paladins traveled to the lab for Pidge's gear.

Alone two Alteans went about their work silently.

The navigator turned to exit the bridge.

"Coran." The Princess caught him with a stern look.

He sighed resignedly. "You know my reservations about this Princess."

"And I do not approve of them."

A malcontent silence formed between them.

She couldn't help but remember his prior sentiments. Almost trancelike she repeated the words he spoke when their journey had been earthbound. "They deserve this; even if we never had the chance."

"You know that's not what this is about." His voice echoed; soft and remorseful.

"I know. I understand your concerns. But we both know the Paladins could not abide by them."

~\/~

Our heroes sat clustered around some messy looking equipment that Hunk and Pidge had thrown together. Its cables extended into a panel of the ship where Pidge was working on the last links. Allura and Coran looked over the setup curiously, before checking the ships readouts. "This is the kind of message we are looking for?" Allura queried. Coran was similarly befuddled "Humans send messages this way? Isn't it rather inefficient?"

Pidge pulled away from the panel and sighed. "May not be the best, but it can still pick up on remnants of your own chatter."

Hunk made a few last checks, "remember what Pidge said about picking up the leftovers? You guys still end up transmitting some stuff at this level too, sort of an echo of the original transmission frequency."

The green paladin wandered over to the controls reluctantly.

This was it. It felt like standing on the edge of a cliff, toes on the precipice. Vertigo and adrenaline pulling toward a conclusion. Time to try; to make the jump.

A few key strokes and the 'new' dish affixed outside the castle was activated. "We are going to have to take time to check for signals from all directions" Pidge informed Allura "that means rotating the castle periodically."

"Right. How often would that be?"

"On earth we kept DSN systems at strategic points 120° apart on the surface so we would always have a possible connection. Shiro?" Pidge looked at her superior questioningly.

Shiro gave a thoughtful pause. "Every mission has its own schedule for contact and messages, but there should be fairly frequent signals sent by a low gain antenna. Those are our best bet for finding something."

"There still is lag to deal with." Hunk piped up, "Interference too."

"There's also the distinct possibility some of them may have turned off their signals in order to trouble shoot since they have lost contact with earth." Pidge added

"It's hard to say." Shiro conceded. "Just to be safe let's give each direction a fair amount of time. "

At this point, Allura was sure a 'fair amount of time' was going to be a sizeable chunk. She sighed inwardly. An indefinite wait was exactly what Coran had been trying to avoid. Keeping him complacent would be a chore.

~\/~

Dim evening lights filled the bridge and a bright screen crowned Pidge's form. Perched in front of the computer the young paladin was on radio duty. Relentlessly scanning the waves low conversation rumbled in her ears— unfortunately not from any transmission—Allura and Shiro lurked nearby. They had chosen this particular time and place to have a little chit chat. Pidge was not annoyed, even if excluded from the conversation, company offered more than just static for listening.

But why did it have to be so tense?

"How will we approach the ones we find? You have all said most humans are in denial about the greater galaxy's residents. Is there anything we can do to alleviate this situation?"

"We will greet them first. Human contact will be best."

Their present

Stars shone brightly above the Galra space hub. A large warship was docked, and presently being loaded with supplies.

Bathed in purple light, a lone figure had been waved aboard by guards. He made his way discreetly through the bowels of the craft. Boots clicked against the sterile floors coming to a stop before the bridge.

"Vrepit Sa." He made his entrance known.

The sole occupant of the bridge turned expectant eyes upon the entrant.

"Congratulations on the destruction of Earth General Lotor." The newcomer proclaimed. "You have once again displayed the might of Zarkon

Lotor grimaced. "It was not meant to be a display of power. Simply retribution."

"Of course General. I only meant to congratulate you."

"No, you have come to test the waters." Lotor rebutted. "The Voltron victory was a fluke. I could not allow such a defeat to stand. We both know this."

The unwelcome guest remained silent. He knew better than to test this warlord's anger.

"Now tell me Sravd, what are you really here for?"

Said purple miscreant kowtowed.

"Forgive me; it is simple curiosity that befalls me." He gave a nervous grin careful to leave his canines covered. "The supplies currently being loaded— they are a bit unusual for a ship of your bearing— I couldn't help but wonder, might you need more soldiers as well?"

"Ah, I see the gag order has not hailed down from above then." Lotor gave a malicious laugh. "Your impertinence proves useful here. I shall enforce it myself."

~\/~