[right][b]EliteCommander and Zarkun[/b][/right]
[hr]
Kol'Zife had just settled into his seat on the bridge, watching the crew prepare for the arrival of the various delegates from the other ships when the newest arrival came through. The size of it alone...well, Kol could think of a few good uses for a ship that size. Another hail came through and, in classic fashion, the XO answered. “This is Executive Officer Kol’Zife of Ryloth aboard the Venator [i]Resurgence[/i]. Any one with questions has been invited aboard in order to get the answers that we can give by Supreme Commander Jason, my immediate superior.”

It had not taken long for the [i]Aegis[/i] to begin receiving signals. One had been a message, but upon noticing the active, open channel, the communications officer redirected it to the Shipmaster’s personal display. Though, as far as the ship’s computers could interpret, the channel was audio-only. “You speak of ranks I have never heard, places I am unfamiliar with, and from a ship with a pattern I have never seen. You could well be inviting me into a trap, Executive Officer Kol'Zife of Ryloth. Does your vessel belong to the Humans of Earth? To whom do you owe allegiance?"

Kol sighs as he sits back. “Again with this Earth place. Look, wherever you think you are, you aren’t. I owe allegiance to the Galactic Republic Remnant and its leader, whom I’ve already named. If it’s going to help, I can transfer you directly to him.” The Twi’lek pauses a moment. “And yes, he is human.”

“Again, you speak of something unfamiliar. Something unknown to me.” Falul began, pausing a moment in thought as he leaned to the side in his chair. “Your ship, it is armed. If only by its appearance, I can see it is a military vessel. You invite envoys from our ship, and presumably these other vessels, with no knowledge of who you are or whether you can be trusted. And yet, if you are Human, then you share the species of our allies, and I am bound to treat with you...diplomatically. Unless otherwise provoked. I do not require the word of your shipmaster; yours is sufficient. I shall attend this meeting, but know this: if your intent is betrayal, hostages would not prevent the destruction of your vessel.”

“Buddy, if we were gonna shoot people, then we wouldn’t be holding a diplomatic summit. In any case, your choice of dropship is cleared for landing. Be aware, we are providing everyone with an escort once you’re on board, both to guide you to the meeting room and, well, as you said, we don’t know you people.”

Falul gave a brief, somewhat audible grunt. "Indeed." He replied, which was the last word before he terminated the transmission. He lowered his chair closer to the floor, then stood before turning back to his communications officer. "Have you detected other signals?"

"Yes, shipmaster." He answered, prompting Falul to approach the console and listen to each message they had intercepted. They were all different, but most had a similar theme. These ships, all remarkably different in design, had all arrived in this one section of space unexpectedly, and with no identified cause. Another Sangheili, wearing the armor of a commander in the crimson colors of the Swords of Sanghelios, approached beside Falul. His name was Uril 'Laras, and he was the second-in-command to Falul. "Strange forces are at work here, Shipmaster. This is not like anything we have encountered before, but...it still could be a trap." 

"Yes, it could be." Falul remarked, turning back around from the console. "So I shall go myself, along with my guard. My orders are this: if this meeting turns to betrayal, then you are to retreat from this region of space, then focus your efforts on discovering our location and finding a way to return to Sanghelios. [i]After[/i] destroying my captors."

Uril clenched his fist over his chest and bowed his head slightly. "Yes, Shipmaster."

[hr]

Given the uncertain situation they were in, Falul's personal guard were already prepared by the time he reached the hanger bay. Their armor did not bear any distinguishing markings to differentiate them from other major-ranked Sangheili, but their combat harnesses were equipped with shielding as befitting their role. The four of them were armed primarily with carbines or concussion rifles,  plasma rifles, and, of course, they all carried energy swords. Falul himself was more lightly armed, with a plasma rifle and energy sword on either side of him at his hip. They all boarded a phantom, plated in the distinctive red color of their faction, then made the relatively quick flight to the [i]Resurgence[/i]. 

Falul did not have much to say to the troopers that greeted them in the Venator's hanger bay, aside from brief utterances of acknowledgement once they offered to take him and his guards to the briefing room. This was a potentially hostile vessel, and Falul would treat it and its crew with appropriate caution. Observing the troopers, they were the size and shape of Humans, though all that he personally saw on the way to the briefing room were in full armor. He was also unfamiliar with their weapons and was not sure of what they could do. Indeed, there was little about this vessel or its technology that Falul could call familiar. If nothing else, it was a fact that affirmed that his caution was wise. 

Once they were brought into the briefing room itself, there was much that Falul [i]could[/i] have noticed, but all eyes from both himself and his guards inevitably went to the Broodmother. The sight of the creature was enough to cause alarm in his guards, but Falul was quick to motion them to stand down. There were aspects of the being that did bear some resemblance to the parasite, but Falul could see that it was different. That did not necessarily mean it was any [i]better[/i] but Falul was not going to be the one to initiate hostilities. Looking around the room, he could see that there were indeed Humans among this meeting. Although, he could not say what that meant for the situation they were in.