MORE talking? Yes, more talking. My pacing is terrible as you shall all soon learn. Still, we're getting somewhere.

Right?

Also, soon, we'll all start getting into the nitty-gritty of how I think the 40K universe works in comparison to the ME one, and we all get into a big argument about how grimdark the Imperium is or isn't. It'll be great.

"Whelp," I said, closing the channel.

That had been an odd experience. Two odd experiences, actually.

The first hadn't really established anything beyond a surprising communications barrier. Oh, and that the ship was a human ship. Somehow. Figure that one out. Who knew we built them that big? How long had I been out again?

The second odd experience had been the captain of the giant ship - a guy named 'Jarrion', apparently - requesting permission to come over and speak face-to-face. Something of a surprise but, given the technical and linguistic issues we were having, maybe a practical idea.

Still. Kind of weird though. And the sort of thing that got a paranoid person like me a little itchy between the shoulder blades.

I mean, I'm a friendly lady! But space is dangerous. Especially for me, where it seems about half of everyone I run into has a reason to want to try and shoot me. It's exhausting.

By the time the second bout of communication had come to a close the bridge had got a bit more crowded. Miranda had been the first to come up to see what all the fuss was about, unsurprisingly, followed swiftly by Jacob and with Garrus just wandering in not long after that.

Things had got a touch snug, but I'd had worse.

"They want to come here?" Miranda asked. EDI had explained the details - such as were available, at least - to them while I'd been having the talk about coming over and so we were all more-or-less on the same page. Which wasn't saying much, seeing as how the page was nothing but a collection of question marks at this point.

"Apparently," I said, shrugging. They'd all heard the same thing I had.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Jacob asked.

"It seems a better idea than saying 'no' to the guy in charge of a ship that appears to be about eighty-percent gun. If they're over here talking they're not over there doing something we might regret."

All present took a moment to consider this. Jacob then said:

"...guess you got a point there, Commander."

"Almost like they put me in charge for a reason. Guessing that ship hasn't done anything interesting yet, EDI?" I asked.

"You may have to define 'interesting'."

I swear to God sometimes EDI was obtuse on purpose.

"Threatening," I said, gesticulating.

"Then no, Commander."

"Good, cool. Put me through to the other members of my super group, if you'd be so kind. Jack too, hanging around down there."

"Patching in the super group, Commander," said EDI, earning a sour look from Miranda who did not approve of the name. I took another sip from my mug, grimaced at just how cold and foul my coffee now was, set the mug down and then cleared my throat.

"Alright, something's come up and I'm going to need your attention," I said, then continuing before anyone could interrupt: "Those of you who weren't up front to hear what just happened let me bottom line it for you: a guy is coming over. We don't know anything about him but he's got a big ship that just showed up so we're going to try and play nice. They'll be arriving in the hanger in - uh, EDI, do we have an eta?"

"Nothing has left the other vessel, Commander."

Typical.

"Right, so they'll be arriving in the hanger sometime in the next one hundred years or so. I'll be down there waiting and so will all of you. I want you lot ready to throw down, alright? But don't look ready to throw down. Get it?"

"What?" Miranda asked, clearly baffled. Good.

"So, business casual?" Garrus said, arms folded. I snapped my fingers and pointed at him.

"Vakarian gets it. Oh, and get a couple of security guys to just stand in the background as well. Just, you know, in case. We do have security guys on this thing, right?"

"Yes, but-" Miranda said but I had a feeling she was about to say something to damage my calm so cut across her.

"Cool, get 'em down there. Give them an Avenger or something. They can act like they're helping if anything goes wrong."

You could not pay me to use an Avenger. It's irrational, I know, but they just make my skin crawl. They're just everywhere! And they're so rubbish! Harsh language would be more effective.

They can pry my Mattock out of my cold, dead hands.

"I'm going to go and put some actual clothes on. EDI, when you see something leave that ship you tell us, then it's everyone in the hanger in five minutes, okay?"

A chorus of affirmation from everyone. Very gratifying.

The super group link cut, everyone broke up to go do whatever it was they felt they might need to get ready. For me, that meant looking less like I'd just fallen backwards through a hedge, one of those nice low-profile kinetic barrier units like Miranda favoured and a cheeky Phalanx in case things got messy.

Just a pistol made me feel basically naked but I figured since I'd probably be the one doing the talking it might be tactful to not look too tooled up.

I mean, I do conduct important conversations with questionable people while I'm in full armour and armed to the teeth but, you know, tact. First impressions and all that. This is meant to be friendly, so showing up looking like I'm just waiting for an excuse to start shooting is probably a bad idea.

Life can be so complicated sometimes.

While I was just finishing lacing up my boots EDI gave the word that a small craft had been detected launching from the mystery ship and was heading on over, due to arrive in fifteen, twenty minutes say. Nippy little thing if that's the case, given the distance.

I hustled on down. Most everyone was already there, which I was happy to see, and they'd all taken my instruction on appearing casual mostly to heart. Weaponry was light, but not so light I would feel vulnerable knowing it was behind me, backing me up. Good job, guys.

Especially you, Garrus. You're my rock.

"Now," I said, standing in front of everyone. "This is kind of an odd situation I'm aware but let's just take it a step at a time, alright? Mysterious spaceship appears literally out of nowhere? We can roll with that. I'll be doing the talking - these guys seem to have some language issues. Any questions?"

"Lots but, you know, we're against the clock here," said Garrus, who seemed to sum up the mood of everyone else who all just nodded.

Again, Garrus man, where would I be with you?

"I have given the shuttle docking permission and guidance instructions, Commander, it is making its final approach," said EDI.

"Game faces, everyone. Just another day at the office," I said.

The hanger was some big two-door deal so while we were standing there breathing comfortably we all listened to the big clunk and whine of the exterior doors opening to admit our guests, followed shortly by the sound of them closing again and the atmosphere being equalised.

Then the inner doors opened and we got our first eyes-on look.

The shuttle - that Jarrion guy had called it a 'lighter' when we'd spoken - was, uh, functional looking. That'd be the polite way of describing it. It was the kind of craft that looked like if you threw it at a building it would probably still be able to keep going afterwards. Chunky.

I actually kind of liked it, if I'm being honest. It had character. Ugly character, but character all the same. The big double-headed eagle logo was kind of neat, too.

It sat there venting steam for a second or so before a big hatch hissed and unfurled, folding down onto the deck. From inside came first a good dozen or so guys in full armour, carrying guns that really didn't need to be as big as they were.

Clearly me and our new friends had different ideas of what made a good first impression.

These armoured guys split into two ranks of six and took up position either side of the ramp and then came out the ones who were clearly the actual movers and shakers.

There was someone in full-on, bright-red robes, hood up. Kind of difficult to tell anything else about them because their hands were in their sleeves, too. There was a guy who looked so old it was actually kind of surprising he was standing in the first place. There was another guy in armour who looked like he was carrying enough guns for three people. There was a lady wearing a blindfold of all things and, finally, leading them all, a flamboyant man in the most over-the-top naval-style uniform I think I'd ever seen in my life.

Epaulettes and everything. Enough gold rope to choke a horse.

This man was also smiling. Jarrion, I assumed. He came striding down the ramp like he owned the place, scanned along all of us, fixed his eyes on me - good eye, him, to be able to spot the one in charge that quick - and came strolling forward,

"Greetings, fellow - those aren't human," he said, his greeting dying in his throat as his eyes snapped to the aliens mixed in among the waiting humans.

There was a split-second of nothing much at all, and then hands went to weapons.