[B]Combat Carrier Li Wen, Pearl Fleet Vanguard Squadron Flagship, Docking Alongside STC Acheron[/B]

It was, perhaps the furthest thing from a proper first contact that Admiral Hei had imagined. In the plays and movies shown back at home, in all the romantic space operas shown back in the Alarai Empire, first contact with a first species had always been with an aquatic species - in an underwater palace, as the Alarians would greet with their new allies in the finest dresses with a great feast. However, this was strange. The hall was drained, the Alarians were on aquagills and their first contact didn't breath water. There was food strewn all over the floor and the Septonian uniforms were wet and stained, but then again, so were those of the Alarians. 

However, that was of no concern to the Admiral. First contact was still first contact. Returning the salute and shaking the Lieutenant Commander's hand, the Admiral smiled. "Please, Lieutenant Commander, let there be no ranks between us yet." he said, not willing to demand respect from the lieutenant commander. They were of differing militaries, after all, and different nations - there was much to learn first. As the Septonian officers came to attention, the Alarian officers bowed in their own form of respect, keeping their head bowed as the Alarian form of attention on land. 

"We Alarai do not drink liquid in the conventional sense," he explained in response to the wine, "But we do consider flavoured liquid as a luxury item - for us, it changes the ocean around us - not exactly something we consume, but it still comforts us." he said, doing his best to explain what was essentially the underwater equivalent of an air freshener. "I do believe that we can make conversation better out of this docking bay," Admiral Hei said, "But perhaps your ship would be in order? Our ship would be, well..." he looked around at the still half flooded docking bay. "it would most likely not be the best choice." he said with a chuckle.