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Post by Efelix on May 5, 2014 1:40:57 GMT
The second Qiisqex science vessel, the QSNV Free Lunch, arrived in the Khzr system. "There's the science vessel. You should talk to them, since they'd know best about what they need to do. To share science I mean," said Yutabi.
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Post by Aumnivers on May 9, 2014 1:35:18 GMT
19/25
"Run their transmission through the computers." Hopefully it'll spit out something understandable. "In the mean time, send them another blip and wait for another response."
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That was fast, Zjopri thought before replying "Of course. Thank you." She cut the line to the QSNV Herring and hailed the QSNV Free Lunch with the message "Greetings, and welcome to Che. What is your business here?"
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Post by sliprunner on May 9, 2014 2:14:39 GMT
The Seeker rattled again, Giving a much stronger response this time on a higher frequency. shouting "Please stop crying! I know not what you say!" the captain shook his head, feeling a slight backlash through the seeker's psych gland. He communicated to the seeker "Perhaps they are in pain? from being crushed small?", "I know not, I do not wish to hurt them, but they scream not talk" The seeker started to back off slightly, using as little energy as it could to back off in hopes it might remotely help lessen the headache the screaming was starting to cause.
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Post by Efelix on May 11, 2014 4:54:36 GMT
"We're here to share technology," replied the QSNV Free Lunch's communications officer. "We've never done anything like this before. The plan is to send down a team who will have physical examples of some of our devices, and this craft will continue orbiting your planet to act as a sort of command station for our scientists. Does that work with you?"
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Post by Aumnivers on May 11, 2014 19:55:29 GMT
20/25
"They're backing off, and they've returned... some kind of garbled nonsense." "Could they think we're attacking them in some way?" "Who know's what they're thinking without them being able to tell us. Might as well put the VASIMR under low-gear to match their velocity, and return yet another blip - but this time, with less amplitude. How's the translation progressing?"
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"That sounds excellent. We'll inform our aerospace traffic directory of your wish to make planetfall and see if they can arrange something." Zjopri turned to glance at one of the others in the bridge, who had opened a connection to the directory and was informing them of the arrangement, before turning back to her console. "They should have something worked out shortly. After all, it couldn't be said that we're experiencing very much traffic - although, then again, there are yet a number of civil craft under preparation. In the mean time, well... you arrived exceedingly swiftly."
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Post by sliprunner on May 11, 2014 22:53:33 GMT
The Seeker felt the Blip, though this time without it sounding like a scream. The captain found the seeker itself pausing in thought for several moments to try and think on the sound, then finally told the captain "It is not crying", "Then what is it doing?", "It is giving fake cry?", "But you said it is not crying", "It is not crying, but it is not talking, is making sound but no words". The captain took a breath, thinking on what to do. Finally giving the question "Do you have Luminescent glands?", The seeker took a moment to respond "Yes, but only low strength, meant to guide young", "Can you flash them strong enough to see?", "Not normal light, but I try". Two spots on the front of the Seeker would suddenly light up as Infrared spots, pointed directly towards the smaller object.
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Post by Aumnivers on May 12, 2014 1:22:18 GMT
21/25
"Well, now they're hitting us with infrared." "Definitely not a weapon. Too weak for it to be." "Might they have resorted to that as they believe that we don't know how to communicate?" "Well, then we should probably send them another message. Fire up the point-defense lasers, wide dispersion and low intensity - we want to return their emissions, not lacerate them. Pass me the recorder."
While the three lasers flung out their cones of photons, the communications array discharged a tighter beam bearing the message "This is Therjk of the Khzr'Che Populace, Elder Astro-cartographer and overseer of this vessel. Can you understand us?"
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Post by sliprunner on May 12, 2014 1:32:18 GMT
The Seeker just observed the return infrared, alerting the captain simply "They do live, they do respond", "Anything else?", the seeker paused, receiving the beam. For several long moments the seeker didn't respond, the captain finally said "Are you alright?", "They say word? Words? like voice, but garbled, I must think" The captain shook his head only slightly before the Seeker pulled on the psychic gland, pulling the captains mind to assist in the thinking. The seeker itself seemed to suddenly cease action, the infrared lights fading out.
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Post by Aumnivers on May 17, 2014 18:59:28 GMT
22/25
"Hello, Therjk!" the Speaker chittered. Therjk twisted around, saying "Hello! Seems a bit early for a report." "Exactly what I was here to talk about. Ukryi hasn't responded to treatment." A moment of silence, before Therjk sighed, mumbling "Well..." "I have barely been able to glean a single factoid from his mind." A pause, before the Speaker continued: "And, ah... I told him it might be best for him to retire from his post aboard this ship and go to a, well, Special Talent Community. He responded that that's the kind of place for Abnormals and Unfit." Therjk's silence was an abyss. "Calm. He doesn't know." "Calm," Therjk mumbled, the air charged with his silent rage, before turning and striding off into the corridors. "I'll be in my quarters."
The Speaker sighed with frustration, heading off to the helm. Why do I have to be stuck with the least receptive crew there ever was?
The Jumping Spider deactivated its point-defense lasers and repeated its prior transmission, slowly accelerating in high-gear towards the Seeker.
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Post by Efelix on May 18, 2014 4:34:01 GMT
"Some place to land around the equator of your planet would be fine for our shuttle," replied the communications officer. "As for the quick arrival time, the Herring had sent back the jumps it made so we didn't have to do many calculations ourselves. You'll probably want the faster than light communications we have. They're necessary if you want to expand to other systems, and we haven't experienced any weird time stuff. Yet."
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Post by sliprunner on May 18, 2014 11:50:46 GMT
The captain finally was able to draw his mind back, the seeker saying "I have basic word? words? they say, but still strange words", "So you heard words among the sound?", "Yes, but not know words, strange words" The captain thought for a moment, saying "So they are not like us", "Yes? No? they try speak but fail, words there but strange, not like us". The seeker took notice of the approaching vessel, alerting the captain. The captain stating simply "Can they walk here?", "I know not". A circular section of shell at the side would slide open, a hardened almost bone like structure extending from the side. This was as close to a docking port as the vessel had, the captain wondering if it might be safer just to be rid of the object causing such confusion.
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Post by Aumnivers on Jun 18, 2014 20:25:58 GMT
"Your people are... too generous," Zjopri replied. Regaining her composure, she stated "Eztyani spaceport has an open field. Their guide laser is trained on your vessel and should provide you with an accurate enough idea of its location to land within a klick of your destination."
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"I'll go." "You're really volunteering for this? We don't even know what they look like, much less whether or not they want to kill us." "I have considered and accepted the risks," the Speaker responded, before remarking, "Those computers and whatever half-sane ideas we could come up with haven't proven the most reliable. Better to peer directly into their minds, and to let them peer into ours."
Several minutes later, a small pod detached from the Jumping Spider. Bursts of mono-propellant shot out from it as it twisted about and set itself on a trajectory towards what was apparently some form of docking arm on the alien vessel.
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Post by Efelix on Jun 19, 2014 3:33:59 GMT
"It is good to have friends, especially if those friends are capable of doing the same things as you." A shuttle was launched from the Free Lunch, carrying a crew of engineers, scientists, and yet another diplomat. In it's cargo it carried blueprints for the Qiisqex FTL communications ansible, and the shuttle's own ansible would make an example for reverse engineering. The shuttle began re-entry, headed towards Eztyani's guide laser.
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Post by Aumnivers on Jun 19, 2014 6:26:57 GMT
"Should I note that as a hint at your culture, or merely a conjecture?" Zjopri joked, before continuing "In any case, if your scientific staff would like us to provide them with documents regarding anything that we may be aware of, they have but to ask. Is there anything further to discuss before we break contact - at least, for the time being?"
On the ground, another mixed diplomatic and scientific team requisitioned several surface vehicles with which to head out to the shuttle's landing site and waited in the shadow of the subterranean spaceport's entry bulkhead for landing site coordinates.
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Post by sliprunner on Jun 19, 2014 12:52:38 GMT
"Strange thing launched small thing, I do not think threat", "Keep eyes on it regardless" the captain just watched what passed for a screen, the seeker doing its best to focus its vision on the small object. Near the docking "arm", two Soldier forms and a Guardian were present. The guardian more then a bit annoyed he was woken up from deep slumber to something other then a conquest. All three of them had bio weaponry at the ready. The captain just muttered simply "why would they have such a small flyer for transport? space isn't friendly to the smaller growth forms"
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