If the bridge of the Andromeda had been busy before, now it was practically bustling as damage reports came in, and the comms practically went haywire. Fortunately, damage was minimal and injuries from the turbulent warp limited to nothing life threatening for the most part. The Cosmo Tiger squadrons launched successfully and took up defensive perimeter around the ship, and the shock cannons, pulsar guns, and missile launchers were ready to fire should they be attacked. Considering that the Wave Motion Gun was offline, they were in another galaxy far from home, and surrounded by potentially hostile vessels, they were as ready as they could be. 

Hijikata presided over it all still, working to get some sense of order here and to figure out what had happened and how they would get back. 

“Sir, I think you should see this,” Flynn called from her station, and Hijikata nodded a confirmation before the viewscreen above the main bridge windows changed to display a planet bustling with activity, bright lights and giving all the appearance of a bustling megapolis, much more than Earth had ever been. “Wow, that's impressive,” commented Brandon idly. 

But that was not the only thing, as a glow enveloped the planet itself and large, triangle shaped ships rose to meet them, their presence apparently noted now as the people who dwelt here responded. And more vessels arrived, some saucer shaped ships, a large, purple, almost organic vessel, and more. Space was getting rather cluttered.

Dmitri Pavlovich, Ukraine, leaned back in his chair as the radio waves washed over him. “Admiral, I'm getting a lot of hails out there. They want us to identify ourselves, fall in with one of their cruisers, and prepare to be boarded. They're claiming themselves as some sort of 'Galactic Empire'.

Hijikata frowned as he leaned back in his captain's chair, fingers erched together as he thought. “Respond and tell them who we are, that we will comply with their directive, but will not allow ourselves to be boarded for the purposes of inspection. We request the rights given to sovereign nations, as we are representatives of Earth.”

Dmitri nodded before turning to the comm station. “This is the Earth Defense Forces Ship [i]Andromeda[/i]. We hear your request and will comply, however we will not allow ourselves to be boarded for purposes of inspection, and request the same rights that you would give a sovereign nation, as representatives of the Earth Federation.” 

Hijikata nodded to Brandon. “Lieutenant, lay in a course.” Brandon nodded and activated the maneuvering thrusters, beginning to bring the ship around into formation with the nearest of the wedge shaped cruisers, though the screen of fighters was careful to interpose itself between the Andromeda and their escort. For the moment, shock cannons were motionless. 

Another message came in, this one directed at them from another of the unknown vessels that didn't seem to match any of the multiple numbers of ships out here. “Sir, we're being hailed by a ship called the [i]Osprey[/i], claiming to belong to the United Federation. They claim to recognize us as human, but don't recognize our ship, and want us to confirm our operations and intentions.

That earned a small chuckle from Hijikata. “I think I can agree with them on the 'us being human' part.” Just as the humor was there, so too was it gone. 

“Sir, the [i]Osprey[/i] appears to be moving onto a parallel course to ours,” Flynn called from sensors. 

“Distance,” Hijikata replied with a question.

“Several klicks. Well away from our defensive screen.” 

“I see.” Hijikata mulled in thought before speaking again. “Respond, confirm that we are human, and from Earth, that we were en route to fight the forces of the Comet Empire, we have no desire to fight.”

“Yes sir,” Dmitri replied, before relaying the message. “United Federation Ship [i]Osprey[/i], this is the [i]Andromeda[/i], we copy. We are indeed humans from the planet Earth. We were en route to Saturn with the EDF main fleet to engage the forces of the Comet Empire before our transition through Warp went awry and we found ourselves here. We have no desire for unnecessary conflict, and seek to return as rapidly as possible before the Comet Empire can reach Earth.”

And then the last message came in. A request for medical assistance, and that was easily answered. In true Earth tradition, both naval and space based, a request for help wouldn't be denied. “[i]Culling of Prospero[/i], this is the EDFS [i]Andromeda[/i]. We are willing to provide medical assistance, though we must inquire as to your ability to receive small transport craft, as well as the number of wounded that need to be tended to.”

The ship floated along, engines at a smooth, constant burn, tachyon energy powering it like a fire, as they floated over a glittering world of light and steel.