[h3]The Planet of Xia’s World, Jiang System, The United Colonial Republic of Xīwàng, Union [i](Outer Colonial Space)[/i][/h3] [quote][i]//Attention, this is declaration of non-hostility. These constructs are merely scouting the region and seek discourse with the controlling parties of the region. This construct represents a large conglomeration of worlds held in the name of the Synchronicity of Amnos, the Over-Mind and keeper of the Most Perfect Equation. Should non-hostile negotiations be your intent, all that need be done is reply to this message with that intent expressed. If a reply has not been received in the time it takes for the first planet of this system to complete a single orbit, then these constructs will take their leave. We warn you, however, if you commit hostile actions against these constructs, consequences will be dire//[/i][/quote] --- “What the hell is happening, give me something lieutenant!” Captain Kao Qiang shouted as he sprinted down the ships corridor, crew shuffling aside to let him through. He had be woken in the middle of his sleep by the emergency alert alarms blazing away across the ship. Still wearing sleeping robes and a pair of slippers, he looked like a half-dead oldman who was living out his final years in a retirement home. “Sir, a fleet of unidentified vessels of unknown make or class has entered the system, ninety vessels currently marked, the extranet is being bombarded with that message we picked up. It, uh, seems the fleet is communicating with us” A voice spoke through the upper walls of the corridor, transmitted from the bridge. Captain Kao had reached the bridge elevator now and was heading up. “Sir, I think this might be a… first contact scenario, sir” The lieutenant's voice continued nervously. Qiang wasn’t liking this, not one bit. Either way he looked at this, it was a lose-lose scenario. “Call for backup and start getting the merchant ships to fall back behind the planet as cover, this is likely the Federation or Empire pulling its usual bullshit”. Qiang spoke with cynical anticipation grown from decades of living through the seemingly never-ending cold war between the superstates. “They… fake first contact transmissions? Isn’t that illegal?” The lieutenant asked absentmindedly, a young and naive mind the poor sap possessed. “Tell that to the graves of the 140,000 lost souls at the battle of the Hera System. The “Hegemony of Azrthasphan” sure was a first contact alright” Qiang spat with caustic sarcasm. “Commander Brown, bring up shields now please” Qiang spoke again, his voice in the bridge now amplified near the commanders seat. Just as he finished speak, the elevator doors opened and Captain Kao was on the bridge too. The darkened bridge was in full alarm mode, with orange blipping lights and all. ‘Calmest region in the border colonies’ they said. Why is it no one in the Union navy ever gets a peaceful retirement? he wondered. “Captain, the rest of the Jiang defence fleet is converging on our position. The UHS High Spirits has taken up position in front of us. We also have a, uh, single merchant ship that has apparently volunteered itself for battle” The lieutenant informed him, reading through messages rapidly. “What?” Qiang asked, somewhat surprised that a lowly merchant was volunteering itself for essentially a suicide mission, perhaps they were after a position in being a mentioned footnote in history? he thought. “The merchant ship is apparently a Spacer Q-Ship sir… and, uh, have already started rushing forward to-” The lieutenant spoke before being cut off by an outburst from the captain. “Idiots! send a hail out, god damn it they just ran in” Qiang barked. “...” “...” “They aren’t responding sir” the Lieutenant finally spoke. Qiang sighed. “Sir, they are, ah, umm, this… they, they, are hailing the enemy fleet sir” The lieutenant was now just stuttering. “...” Qiang was not saying anything and remained completely still. The entire bridge went silent for a long, long five minutes as the fleet of twenty Union colonial ships faced off against the heat signals of ninety incoming unknown vessels. Suddenly, a segment of the bridge main viewing screen was covered by a video screen showing the Spacer captain and bridge. “The merchant vessel responded to our hails sir” the Lieutenant spoke quietly, no longer of any more use. The merchant captain, being one of those abhuman’s who lived their entire lives in space wore their iconic cultural attire of complete body covering jumpsuit, robes and gasmask. Qiang assumed she (He figured it was a she) was going to reveal her sudden change of loyalties… “Captain Kao, that fleet we are about to engage, I think you should open hails with it… or even take a probe scan of the fleet instead of just a heat scan. I think you might find the information a little important”. The Spacer captain stated. After five minutes of taking physical scans of the incoming fleet, it became increasingly apparent that they were genuinely partaking in a first contact, or at least communicating with a fleet of people who had odd design tastes. The ships were obviously not Federal or Imperial, unless either of them took to a sudden and total redesigning of their fleet within the last few days. Qiang sighed. Now he almost prefered it had been a fleet of Federal or Imperial ships launching a surprise attack on a far distant colony of the Union. “Open up a hail”. Qiang muttered. “Hail open, sir” The Communications officer announced. [quote][i]“Greetings alien lifeform. I, Captain Kao Qiang of the Jiang Defence Fleet represent the United Supranational Union of Humanity and the Human species as a whole. Should your fleet act in accordance with universally recognized international customs and regulations concerning appropriate conduct during first contact, we will accept your entry into the sovereign territory of the Union and begin communications. As I am a military officer and not a dignitary or government official, it is not within my capacity to sign treaties or official statements, I am also incapable of taking aggressive action against any enemies you may, may not have or trade goods that are not registered by the Union’s contraband laws or---” [/i][/quote]Qiang was stopped just before finishing the official first contact procedure when he realized he was looking straight at, well, a human woman. “You’re human”. Qiang stated bluntly, only just realizing that apparently he had been duped after all. God damn, the Empire or Federation were really getting desperate with new ship designs. After a short pause, Qiang spoke again. “So, I assume this is the part where you reveal you’re secretly an Imperial or Federal and launch an invasion of this system right?” Qiang asked, leaving the question hanging in the air, waiting for the woman’s response. ============================================================= [u][i][b]SUMMARY:[/b][/i][/u] -First contact between Sync and Union