“Darnack tells Etrana this is a way of this people to express closeness. Etrana is grateful this one cares about Etrana’s feelings so readily.” I resisted the urge to panic or squirm in her feathered embrace as she set her beak between my ears and chirped and cooed, finally releasing me.
“Snow Dawkins will tell Etrana. This one does not fear. This Corvaldian wishes to know the shiny tradition.” Her feathers ruffled briefly and she pecked one back down with her beak.
“My people are not as… Shiny as you are. It is a custom among my people to be more restrained.”
“Ah! The humans are dim?” I chuckled darkly. She was closer than she thought.
“Not exactly. We seek to make our conversation flow calmly. There are many different types of humans and morphics. Different people respond to shiny in different ways,” I said, hoping desperately I wasn’t talking down to her.
“Ambassador?” The head of the detail called from the base of the ramp.
“Just a minute lieutenant.” Etrana’s eyes shot down the ramp and she caught sight of his honor guard uniform, with its gleaming silver accents. She clicked and chortled for a moment but then looked back at me.
“Etrana is curious, but Etrana feels she understands. Etrana will try to contain the shiny for the benefit of relations and understanding!” She clicked and drew herself back up into her standing pose, appearing almost regal.
“Excellent. I greatly appreciate your understanding and I apologize if I appear nervous. This is the first time I’ve led first contact with a new species.”
“Ah. That is glimmering! Etrana has met many, many species! The Mendians have brought many to Corval Prime! Yes yes! Etrana understands every species has shiny in different ways. Snow Dawkins should possess no fear!” My ears perked up. Many species? Jill and I exchanged a quick glance of perfect understanding as she made a note.
“Etrana, let me just say personally that it has been a real joy meeting with you today. Now, may I escort you to your quarters, then dinner?” I said, struggling to be diplomatic.
“Etrana would find this shiny! Come, come! We go now!”
We reached the bottom of the ramp and I saw her eyes go wide with wonder. Her birdlike talons tried to grip at the floor, seeking traction, and she chortled softly as she took it all in. She was trying not to lose herself in the moment and I felt sorry for my part in it. It was clear she was a being in deep love with new experiences.
“This is most brilliant! Etrana approves,” she said as she clicked and warbled. The lieutenant approached and saluted.
“Ambassador Etrana, on behalf of the Earth Diplomatic Corps and the United Earth Alliance, we welcome you to our diplomatic ship, Danube. It is an honor to have you aboard our Ship of First Contact.” He snapped the salute down smartly and Etrana watched with interest.
“Etrana is most pleased. Etrana finds this to be a day of great brilliance.” She bowed in response to the salute.
“Does this one take Etrana to her quarters?” she asked, looking to me for guidance.
“Yes, he will escort us, along with the rest of the detail. It is a tradition of our people.”
“Ah! A male of your species! Etrana has limited knowledge on this. How does Snow Dawkins tell?” she asked curiously.
The lieutenant and I shared a look. My ears fell, as I rapidly considered exactly how to answer, “We can discuss that later, perhaps over dinner?”
“Etrana will look forward to it! Now, this one will lead.” She made a motion towards the lieutenant, who still appeared a bit baffled.
“Of course, right this way,” he said, turning slowly, leading us out.
Chapter 5
Time marched ever forward to the press conference, and if I was to be honest, each step felt like a step towards execution. Etrana was a gentle soul from a different people. From what little I had learned in the last few hours, they seemed to be a people much more innocent than our own.
Alice Bolter was going to rip her apart.
The remains of our dinner were before us in my quarters. I, staying true to form, had hardly touched mine. Etrana, had eagerly cleaned her plate and was busy nosing a grape.
“This fruit is shiny! This fruit is brilliant. This gleams!” She lifted it gently in her beak, before tossing it up in the air, catching it, crushing it, then gobbling it down as birds do. She looked over at my uneaten salad and randomly pecked a leaf.
“Snow Dawkins food is fine. Why does this one not hunger?” she asked, regarding me intensely. Her focus, zeroing in on me.
“I have much on my mind, Etrana. The politics of my government is quite…stressful,” I said, struggling to find the words.
“Does this one fear Etrana’s press conference still?” She was nothing if not perceptive.
“I…” I trailed off, fearing I was mauling first contact.
“Darnack is most correct about Snow Dawkins.” She trilled and her eyes gleamed with what seemed like amusement.
“I choose a very nervous form to live in,” I said, doing my best to imitate my friend.
Etrana trilled and bounced happily “Yes yes! Snow Dawkins perceives, but if this one perceives, why does this one fear?”
“Fear is not always a choice for us, Etrana. Sometimes fear simply is. We learn fear, we know from where it comes and we began to fear those things. I guess, in a way, fear has always been my way,” I said, reflecting on my life thus far.
“Ah! Etrana is not one for fear! Etrana is one for knowing!” She clicked and warbled emphatically. I was beginning to notice how her tone would slightly change from sentence to sentence, almost like she was adding emotional accents to words.
“Etrana will help Snow Dawkins with the knowing, then Snow Dawkins will shine!” she said, following with her rhythmic clicking noise.
“The knowing?” I asked, her unusual delivery drove my curiosity.
“Yes, yes! The Knowing! Snow Dawkins is most worried about Etrana’s press conference, Etrana will tell what she will tell!” She chirped and flapped a bit at this. She was obviously excited.
Etrana straightened herself and once more took on a regal appearance. Her emerald green eyes looked out from her black feathers and gleamed with both beauty and an air of mystery.
“In accordance with the Treaty of Light, Etrana of Corval Prime comes to the humans this day. Etrana brings with her a great revelation for the humans!” She trilled some and looked at me.
“See there is nothing to fear. Etrana brings knowledge. Etrana brings light. Most shiny gleaming light! Etrana brings a message not just from Corval but also from the Mendians. This is why Etrana must talk to the press. The great revelation! It is what the humans have been waiting for. We will chase out fear together!” She unfolded her wings and bowed.
“What is it though? What is the revelation?” I asked, now desperate to know myself.
“It is not yet time for the full revelation. Snow Dawkins must wait for the press conference. Now though, Snow Dawkins has no reason to fear.”
“I don’t understand?” A pang of pain ran through the front of my skull, accentuating my confusion.
“This one knows the reason now,” she nodded emphatically.
I tried to puzzle this out.“ You mean the press conference is about fulfilling the Treaty of Light?”
“Snow Dawkins thinks very shiny! This one has no reason to fear, Snow Dawkins negotiated the treaty. Snow Dawkins knows of its requirements. Today Etrana will aide in its fulfilling. It is the conclusion of old business! Etrana helps. Etrana feels shiny for helping!” She made a low contented warbling tone.
My door chimed, and a few seconds later, slid open. It was Jill.
“Boss, we need to get going. The press conference is in fifteen minutes,” she said, and I briefly felt the butterflies.
“Etrana is ready. Will this one accompany?” Her wings flared out in a dramatic gesticulating motion towards me.
“Yes, and, if you wish, I will introduce you,” I said, trying to be a
s friendly and diplomatic as possible.
“Yes, yes, yes! Most sparkling!” she replied.
“Right this way, Madame Ambassador,” Jill said, standing by the door.
“Etrana will go!” She replied, covering the distance in an almost leap, charging beak forward in her bird like way, with gleeful abandon. I hopped rapidly after her trying to keep up.
It was not a far walk to the room where we held the press conference. When the Danube had been a military ship, it was used as a briefing room for the senior officers, and was not far from my quarters. We were in a small room off to the right of the stage, watching a monitor waiting for Jill’s introduction.
“Greetings, I would like to welcome you to this evening’s briefing. As you know, our Mendian allies summoned Ambassador Dawkins to the House Lethine today at noon to discuss first contact with Corval Prime. This conference will serve as the press update for that meeting.” Jill went on with her introduction while some of the press made notes on their pads. Etrana, just behind me, was vibrating with excitement.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the press corps, I present Snow Dawkins, Ambassador of the United Earth Alliance to the Mendians.”
The door slid open and I moved towards the podium, the butterflies now throwing a rock concert in my stomach. There was no turning back now. I climbed the stairs to the podium and held up my right forepaw in greeting, waiting for the flashes to die down.
“Thank you members of the press. I only have a short statement, then I will hand it over to our main speaker this evening.” The rapt focus of every soul in the room seemed to intensify, as even the barest hints of a murmur fell silent.
“At noon today, I joined with the Mendia Darnack aboard House Lethine for an update on our first contact mission to Corval Prime. I have exciting news for all of you. While aboard the ship I was introduced to the Corvaldian ambassador, Etrana. She has been selected by her government to return with the EDCS Danube to Earth and establish the Corvaldian Embassy there. Now, I know you have many questions, but she has requested that she be allowed to make a statement to the press first. Ladies and gentlemen, if you would please rise to honor the first Corvaldian Ambassador to Earth, Etrana.”
The room was raptly quiet as the members of the press corps rose. The doors slid open and Etrana walked, in her bird like way, towards the podium. She stretched out her large wings, which almost touched the walls and then gave a small bow.
“Etrana of Corval Prime greets the Earth Press Core. Etrana comes to the Press Corps with a message of revelation for the people of Earth.” The cameras flashed, and pulsed but Etrana was unshaken.
“In accordance with the Treaty of Light brokered by Ambassador Snow Dawkins, Etrana brings this revelation: there are more than Mendians, there are more than Corvaldians, more than Humans. This Galaxy gleams with life! Earth is one tiny world among thousands.” The press corps exploded into a hushed series of murmurs, every reporter was furiously making notes.
“Every 71.6 Earth years many races come together in a Galactic Council. Corval regularly attends, but it is the judgment of the Chosen Races that we do not yet vote. Only the Chosen choose the Chosen. The Corvaldians are to watch. The Corvaldians are to learn. Etrana brings to Earth the happy news that the humans are now invited to watch, are invited to learn, with the Corvaldians! This is due to the Mendians, and their fulfillment of the Treaty of Light. Etrana will now take questions.”
Alice Bolter raised her hand, and Etrana eagerly indicated towards her, clicking noises flowing from her beak.
“Alice Bolter, Space News. Why have the Mendians waited until now to reveal this council? Is this council diplomatic or military in its purpose?”
“The council’s scope is peace and stability among the races of this galaxy. It is most shiny,” she replied.
“Follow up question,” Alice blurted out, and I watched three reporters sit down so as not to incur her wrath.
“This one is very eager. This one burns for information. Yes, yes, go ahead,” Etrana said, my jaw dropped, she was handling this conference better than I normally did.
“Does the council have a military arm to enforce peace and safety?”
“Military…” She stopped and considered for a moment… “Ah a fighting force, no, not at all. The council has no need of such things. Now, now, next question for Etrana. I have much shiny to share will all of these ones!” She trilled and gave a slight flap.
The hands shot up again. Etrana pointed to a spectacled older man, and he stood.
“Nehemiah Johnson of the New York Sun. Why wasn’t the press informed that the ambassador would be meeting with you today? Isn’t it true that you were conducting high level negotiations outside of normal diplomatic channels? What are you not telling us?” he said, pressing, I suppose playtime was over.
“The press was not informed because the ambassador did not know. Etrana’s government wanted to meet with the Earth ambassador before the formal introduction in order to foster good relations. The Corvaldian government only wants our relationship to gleam! That is why Etrana is here. Etrana does not wish to hide. However, Etrana knows much, and to share it all at this one conference would not be shiny.” The corps chuckled, Etrana had totally missed the context.
“Follow…” Mr. Johnson tried to get another question in, but was quickly subsumed by the cacophonous din about him. Etrana picked another, seemingly at random.
“Jackson Jennings form the Martian Colonial Sentinel, how many species would you estimate are known to Corval Prime?” he asked, and I breathed a sigh of relief glad to see the focus shifted off me.
“Etrana does not estimate, Etrana knows,” she trilled proudly. “Etrana knows there are 2.5 million species represented on the Galactic Council.” The room fell silent; I had never seen a fact that could make a reporter shut up, but that was a good one. Jennings stood there for a moment shocked, as did the rest of the press.
“Fo…Follow up…” he stammered. “The Corvaldians have relations with each of these species?”
“No. No. This is not what Etrana means. The Corvaldians know, according to the council, that 2.5 million species are represented. The Corvaldians know many races, but not that number. That would be many, many, many!” she chirped, speaking in her unusual way.
“Now the time for questions is done. Etrana found this gleaming! Etrana would like to address again soon! Etrana thanks these ones for their time!” She warbled excitedly. I moved closer towards her and the press took photos of us together. Jill quickly walked up and we filed off the stage quietly through the side door to facilitate a quick escape back to quarters.
I found myself more grateful than at any other time of my life for the proximity of one place to another. I practically bolted, seeking the safety of my private surroundings, and would have been in a full, leaping run had Etrana and detail not been in tow. I had to get with Jill and work on getting out a press statement. Then I needed to talk to Darnack about asylum. 2.5 million races… The Hague was going to have a coronary when this hit live, which it was no doubt doing presently.
“See, there was no reason for fear. Shiny news! The Treaty of Light is fulfilled! The treaty Snow Dawkins negotiated, this Corvaldian is very happy for her part in fulfilling it!” She chirped and warbled. I was beginning to be thankful that we had increased our following distance to the Lethine, thus breaking the Link. I had gotten an email earlier in the day from the chief engineer about “unsafe conditions” and “severe angina” so I decided to have mercy upon the poor soul, and myself, having Etrana aboard. I did not want my nervousness upsetting negotiations.
Thankfully, my quarters were just ahead. “You handled the press corps most efficiently. I am eager to get to work on my official statement after such shiny news,” I said, trying to be as diplomatic and friendly as possible.
“Etrana finds this most gleaming that you are happy!” She stooped down just as I was coming to a stop in front of my door and practically tackled me in a hug. Every ins
tinct I had went to condition red as I wrestled the panic attack down. I heard Jill let out a pleased mew; that was her way of guffawing in laughter.
“Etrana, meeting you today has been an experience I will never forget,” I said with complete honesty.
“Etrana is most pleased! Good night Snow Dawkins!” She let out the most curious contented warble and then charged down the corridor with security detail doing its best to look dignified chasing a giant bird through a hallway.
Chapter 6
The doors to my quarters slid open and I immediately went to my sleeping pad, nuzzled under my blanket and flopped miserably.
I felt awful. My head pounded and nausea rolled through me in waves. My entire world was a misery.
Then there was the stress, looming over it all like an evil overlord.
“Boss, you know we have to get a statement out,” Jill said, still standing near the entrance to my quarters.
“I know. I’m thinking, give me a minute,” I said blearily, trying to crunch a way around this.
“Come on Boss, be positive,” Jill said weakly, her encouragement doing nothing for me.
“Wait a minute. What did you say?” I said, the embers of an idea beginning to form within me.
“Look, Boss, relax. I didn’t mean anything by it, I just meant that it’s going to work out,” she said defensively.
“No, I don’t mean it that way at all. That’s our press statement!” I darted out from under the blanket and perked up on my sleeping pad. This idea could just be crazy enough to work.
“That everything is ok?” Jill responded, puzzled.
“No, that everything is fantastic! No doubt Earth First is going to take this as a reason to pump the defense budget up another ten percent in the next quarter, but we aren’t the military, we’re the explorers. We are out here on the frontier making first contact with a new race. We can play to that enthusiasm,” I said, growing more eager as the idea took form.
Rise of the Forgotten Page 4