by neetha Napew
But he could see nothing at all that he could identify as weaponry, nor did the skiff’s monitors register any telltale radiation glow. “They look like they mean to stay a while,’ he added very softly.
Hrriss, beside him, was the only one to hear that comment. “I know what I wish zey are doing here,’ the cat man said, wistfully “Me, too,’ Todd agreed, smiling slightly as, once again, he and Hrriss were in the minority. He was positive that most of the others were reacting in various degrees of xenophobia. Had neither race learned anything from the Doona experiment? Or were they two the only ones who had learned the true significance of this unique colony?
Bearing in mind the result of his father’s initial encounter with two small Hrrubans thirty years ago, a show of friendship might once again prove more useful than overt hostility. The very fact that this skiff contained persons from two races, observing this possible confrontation with a third, surely meant some good had been achieved by the Decision at Doona. His grin for Hrriss broadened. “Well, if wishes were hrrrses - . -“ he murmured in a very good imitation of Hrriss.
“It is a tirrifying giant,’ Mllaba said, exhaling on a hiss as she shivered.
The skiff caught up with the leviathan, passed underneath, and shot out in front. Kiachif turned the ship out of an ascension trajectory and headed for the Spacedep cruiser.
Captain Castleton met them at the docking bay. Todd had met her once before, two years back, at a Treaty Day observance. He didn’t know much about her, except that she was a good dancer. Her crew considered her a tartar because she expected honesty and tireless dedication from everyone who served under her. She appeared unruffled and calm, saluting the Admiral smartly before holding out a firm hand to each of the others.
“Welcome on board the Hamilton, gentlemen, madam.
Mllaba shook her hand gravely “Grace, I’m glad to see you,’ Barnstable said at his heartiest. “We’ve just had a good look at your mystery guest. Damned if I know what it is. Any new info?” Barnstable turned to acknowledge another uniformed figure in the bay with a lift of his thick, white eyebrows.
“Ah, Jon, there you are. My aide, Jon Greene,’ he said to the others.
“I’ll want your reading on this asap, Greene.
“Of course, sir,’ Greene said, stepping forward. “My report is waiting for you.
Todd decided the aide was about his own age but a hand-span shorter, compact and trim in his dark blue uniform. He glanced at the civilians behind his CO, meeting Todd’s eyes, then focusing, as if identifying him.
Greene’s look of concentration faded abruptly, dismissing the civilians as unimportant, and returned his gaze to his superior. Todd felt a swift flush of irritation at being so negligently dismissed.
Castleton went on. “Sir, I’ve invited Captain Hrrrv of the Hrruban vessel to take part in this conference.” Barnstable nodded.
“Good. In the ready room?”
“This way, Admiral,’ and Castleton indicated the portside corridor.
It was then that Todd saw the two Hayumans in dark blue uniforms with security flashes on their shoulders.
They peeled away from the unobtrusive group waiting behind the sliding doors and filed in behind the Hrrubans as they went down the blue-grey corridor. As everyone filed out of the bay, more of the ratings took unobtrusive positions of escort behind the other Hrrubans.
It was not very subtly done and Todd could see that Second’s spine was stiff under his red robe. Mllaba’s tail switched angrily back and forth. After so many years since the Decision at Doonarrala, it was infuriating that there was still such blatant evidence of distrust.
“Blast it out of space,’ the Hrruban captain suggested, his fangs clicking together with a sound of finality. He waved an imperious hand at the image hanging on the large screen. Hrrrv bore a broad, dark Stripe down the middle of his gold-furred back, sure indication of his clan’s high position on Hrruba. Both cruisers were now matching the stranger’s orbit, but with one fourth the curve of the great, blue planet between them for safety. The Hrruban’s ship was just barely visible in the corner of the viewscreen. “I do not like its appearance. I think it means us no good.” He walked up and down one side of the ready room, switching his tail irritably.
“Captain Castleton, when the ship did not answer any standard hailing messages, did you try any other methods of communication?” Todd asked, exasperated by the military mind.
Grace Castleton regarded him in surprise. “I tried all known codes . . on all frequencies available to my equipment,’ and her tone and look implied that she had the very best and state-of-the-art equipment in use.
“Oh, I see what you’re driving at,’ she said, her face lightening.
“Thank goodness someone does,’ Todd said, throwing up his hands in gratitude.
“And just what is that?” Admiral Barnstable demanded, annoyed.
“Sir, how can they communicate with us if there isn’t a common language? Or symbols or even a media of communication. My father had the advantage of being face to face with two members of another species.” “And how do you propose to emulate your father then?” Barnstable asked.
“By going to meet them?” Barnstable’s eyes protruded and his face flushed with either surprise or anger but Todd kept his ingenuous smile in place. “Worked before.”
“That’s why we ended up learning Hrruban,’ Jilamey said. When he saw Barnstable, Castleton and Greene giving him a concerted cold glance, he demanded, “What was wrong with that? We learned it. I think Todd’s got the right approach. Go meet “em and find out what they do want. It doesn’t do us any good to sit here in space with that big thing looming over us, neither side making a move.
Their ship may be bigger but,’ and he waggled his finger around the room, “we got more. They could be the ones scared stiff to make a move, you know. Make the wrong move and get blasted out of space.
Todd rubbed at his mouth, trying to make his lips behave. Jilamey was making exactly the point he wanted to.
“Landreau’s talking sense,’ Ali Kiachif said. “Don’t know why I didn’t see it that way myself, since I’ve traded with some mighty odd folk, using signs and trying to savvy their grunts, groans and gargles.” “D’you mean to say,’ Castleton asked Todd, leaning forward across the table on her arms, “that you’re willing to approach them?”
“If you’ll let us have a tender, Captain,’ Todd said equably.
“But . . . but that could be a vanguard?” Barnstable exclaimed.
“A vanguard? That big?” Kiachif exclaimed. “If that’s baby, I don’t want to meet papa, if you get my drift.”
“An unarmed baby,’ Todd said, grabbing the initiative again. “Unarmed.
I’m more than willing to go “I go with you,’ Hrriss said.
“I wouldn’t mind the trip myself. Be sort of fun,’ Jilamey said, grinning in his eagerness.
“Now see here,’ Barnstable began, trying to regain control, “that is not standard procedure.”
“I didn’t realize there is one for encountering large unknown space craft,’ Todd said. He stood up. “If you’ll be good enough to assign us a shuttle to make first contact, Captain “Dammit, young man,’ and Barnstable thumped the table with both fists, “nothing’s been decided.”
“I know,’ Todd said, gesturing to Hrriss and Jilamey, “that’s why I decided to do something, on my own initiative, as co-leader of the planet which I do not honestly believe is in any danger from this visitor. But the sooner we establish communications, the sooner we learn exactly why they are in our space and what they want.” “They want to blast you to motes if you’re foolhardy enough to approach them,’ Barnstable said.
“With what, Admiral?” Todd said, feeling the tide of aggravation rising in his blood. “You’ve established-at least you say you have,’ and he glanced for confirmation at Castleton and Hrrrv, “that the ship is unarmed .
Barnstable waved that consideration away. “You can’t know what kind of
weapons they might have. The whole ship, in that peculiar configuration, might act as an amplifier for some kind of huge energy beam! Who knows what those bulges on the surface are for?”
“I’m willing to take that risk, Admiral,’ Todd said, adding grimly, “I’ve also considered that they might have biological armament which doesn’t require high-powered delivery systems. But I prefer to believe that they’re friendly, only waiting for an invitation from us. Enemies barge in: friends wait for invitations.”
“Good point, Todd,’ Kiachif said, grinning broadly.
“”Enemies barge in: friends wait for invitations.” Great notion.” A notion which did not appear to amuse many for Hrrto’s expression was unreadable though his tailtip twitched. Mllaba’s was extremely active.
“Admiral, remember that thirty-four years ago,’ Todd went on earnestly, “Hayumans discovered that we were not alone in the galaxy: that there was another sentient race with whom we could be friends,’ and he nodded solemnly at Hrrto who looked pleased, and grinned at Hrriss and Hrrestan, dropping his glance lastly on Mllaba who sniffed back at him. “The presence of a sophisticated spaceship that big means that whoever is in that ship is not only sentient but of an intelligent and advanced civilization. The fact that they haven’t opened fire or made any threatening moves against us, I take to mean that they are not aggressive. I’m willing to test that fact.
“So am I,’ Hrriss said.
“Me, too,’ Jilamey piped up, grinning in an inane fashion.
“So, do we have a shuttle, Admiral?” Todd was becoming more and more irked at the specious delays. He wouldn’t call them cowardly, but the next best thing.
Grace Castleton flicked a glance at Admiral Barnstable.
“You can use my skiff, Reeve,’ Ali Kiachif said then, with a glance of veiled contempt at the naval officers.
“Glad to oblige - Barnstable was on his feet, so was Hrrrv.
“Now see here, Reeve, that’s encroaching on military prerogatlves - - “It’s our planet down there, Barnstable. C’mon, Ali, you can pilot while this lot dithers.
Grace Castleton slid in front of Todd before he had taken a full step. “Stow that, Reeve. I take your point, and I’m sure the Admiral does, too, even if your method is high-handed . . . especially while you’re on board my ship.” She gave him a wry grin. “You’ve volunteered to test the intentions of our . . “Visitor?” Todd suggested in a edged tone.
She nodded. “Visitor. But Spacedep is responsible for the safety of all its citizens, and Captain Hrrrv for his nationals.” Todd gave her full marks for remembering the Hrruban presence, naval and diplomatic. “That is true, but as these are aliens, whatever form they take, the approach falls in the province of Alreldep of which I’m a representative.”
“Out of the question,’ Barnstable said firmly. “Until whatever these beings are, are proven harmless, it is still a Spacedep matter. I’ll concur that logic suggests that Reeve should lead a first contact team .
“And the elder Reeve,’ Todd said. “He has, after all, had more experience than anyone else in successful first contacts.”
“Your father?”
“The very one.
“Humph. Well,’ Barnstable cleared his throat. “Makes sense.
“I’ll lead the armed guard - - -, Greene said, taking a Step forward.
“There’ll be no armed guard,’ Todd and Hrriss said in one voice.
Barnstable bristled but Hrrestan’s eyes flashed. “A show of arms is unnecessary. And might even be considered an insult. A friend advances with open hands.”
“It worked before,’ Todd said, exchanging glances with Hrriss. Out of the corner of his eye then, Todd caught the look of intense disgust on Greene’s face. Here was one man who didn’t hold with the pacific approach. And probably one who might be a borderline xenophobe. “I think we’ve discussed this matter long enough. Too long a delay might jeopardize good relations. They’ll have seen the skiff arriving. Captain, may I get in touch with my father on Doonarrala?” As Grace Castleton bent to the terminal to instruct the commofficer, Todd saw the resolute glint in Greene’s eyes.
That man’s middle name might be “trouble’, he thought: he had a sceptical and suspicious air about him. Then the line to the surface of Doonarrala was open Ken Reeve was delighted to be asked. “I wondered what the lines were humming so hot and heavy for,’ he said, his image beaming an ear-to-ear smile at them from the screen. I knew the perimeter alarms went off because I was jawing with Martinson at the Space Centre up here between the First Villages. It was too late for the shush order when it followed. The gossips hanging around in port spread it all over town in jig time. Everyone’s speculating on who’s come calling.” Barnstable looked grim. “I was afraid of that.
What’s the response?”
“Not exactly what you’d think by your reaction, Admiral,’ Ken said, with a grin. “Doonans are more inclined to think that outsiders who don’t come in shooting are minded to be friendly.
We know we’re not the only ones out there, and I for one am happy for a chance to be one of the first to meet these new friends.”
“They aren’t friends yet,’ Greene reminded him sharply.
Ken glanced over Barnstable’s shoulder at the commander, his black eyebrows mounting inw his hairline.
“Nor yet enemies,’ Ken replied quickly. “I’ve never believed in coming in shooting.”
“I’ll send a shuttle for you,’ Barnstable said, cutting Ken off and putting an end to the argument. “In the meantime, this is still a security matter. Please consider this as top secret.
You may not inform anyone where you are going or what you’ll be doing.”
“Right you are. I’ll be ready,’ said Ken cheerfully, and signed off.
“I’ll go get him,’ Kiachif said, rising from his seat. “My skiffs faster’n any naval shuttle and I want another look, leer and lay a lens on that big ship. See if I can’t get any more on her, if you get my meaning. Back in a ten-count.” The Codep captain nodded to Castleton and the Admiral, and left the room.
“Until Dad arrives and we can proceed with a first contact,’ Todd said, once the door shut behind Kiachif, “we must not make any moves which the visitors could consider antagonistic or hostile. No more scans, no probes, no drones. They could think the latter two were weapons.” “Let’s not be overcautious, Mr Reeve,’ Captain Castleton said, studying the image of the ship in the holoscreen. “The range of power fluctuations we observe alone invite closer investigation.
Surely if they’re the advanced beings you speculate they are, they’d expect us to try and uncover any information about them that we could, short of intrusive hardware?”
“Who knows what they’d consider intrusive?” Todd asked. “Beings more sensitive than our two races might find probe scan painful. Do I have to remind anyone here of the Siwannah Tragedy? No, well then. You’ve already done enough remote scans.” He didn’t add “for all the good it did’.
“I would feel better if I had more on them than the long-range data my passive telemetry picked up,’ Castleton said. “To quote an ancient Earth philosopher, it is a mistake to theorize in advance of facts.” Jon Greene was beginning to find the endless beating of the air dull and purposeless. The Doonarralans - wasn’t that a word? babbled against logical research that would help guarantee safety for their own people, not to mention the ships orbiting around their planet. Any part of that huge ship out there could conceal weapons.
It didn’t make sense to remain uninformed when useful data could be picked up as easily as vacuuming space dust. He wished he could recall under what circumstances he had seen that sort of vessel before.
Castleton looked annoyed: and rightly so with civilians usurping the appropriate naval roles in this sort of contact.
Barnstable gave him a glance and pushed his clipboard across the table to him. Greene picked it up and read the note the Admiral had discreetly added amidst the leviathan’s readings. “Send probe
.” Greene erased the words and entered a random jotting of his own. He stood up.
“Permission to be excused, sir?” Greene asked, pulling to attention.
Barnstable glanced up briefly from the discussion, and waved a hand. “Go ahead, son. I’ll call you if I need you.”
“Aye, sir.
Captain, may I see you outside?” The attractive Castleton looked surprised, but followed him out of the room. Greene escorted her a few metres from the door and automatically checked the corridor before he spoke.
“Sir, the Admiral asks if you will authorize launching a telemetry probe at the intruder.” Castleton looked down at her feet a moment before her shoulders relaxed a degree from their tight set. When she tipped her head up again, she wore an expression of relieved approval.
“Reeve’s overcautious, Greene. Personally, I’d feel better with more data about that leviathan on hand.
The distance scanners aren’t giving us much to go on.
This way.” He followed her to a waiting vator car. “Level four,’ she said.
On an impulse, Greene stood closer to her than necessary in the small chamber and was surprised and pleased that Castleton didn’t seem to mind. He was even more encouraged when she returned his smile.
A Gringg in the cargo bay operations room of the gigantic spaceship watched on a viewscreen as a tiny metallic cylinder floated casually in the direction of the bow of their ship. He leaned lazily over and touched the key of the intercom with a long claw.
“Captain?” He knew he would find her in the bathing room. “The Others have begun to acknowledge us. They are sending something towards our ship. I estimate it will be here within the hour. It is very small and does not seem to be armed. Shall I take it aboard?” Splashing echoed in the background, and the sounds of other Gringg conversing provided a pleasant hum, then the smooth rich voice of the captain came out of the speaker. “Do, please, and inform me when you have it.
I’ll come down to examine it.”
“Captain? Ken Reeve is here,’ the bosun informed Grace Castleton, “with Captain Kiachif.”