[right][sub]([i]Addressing: [@Irredeemable])[/i][/sub][/right]

Andrei is a little bit drunk, and not very happy.

The Gateway Listening Post is supposed to be an easy job, okay? You've got a big, beautiful space station, which is a rare sight in the ECU these days. Then you've got a bunch of scientists who know their careers depend on you, so they won't talk back, and plus you've got as many holographic servants as you could wish for. You've got a whole schedule of off-hours. And you can get drunk.

That last one wasn't in the official description of the position, but being on Oligarch of thirty-five, Andrei assumes it's implied. Or maybe all the wine implied it to him. He can't remember, his head's a little fuzzy right now. He only got this job because he paid some scientist woman to publish all her research in his name. That was years ago, but it's still paying off. The Noocracy thinks he's a "preeminent scholar in Gateway Theory," whatever that is. So they stuck him here.

And then, you know, they invite a bunch of aliens onboard. Because that makes sense.

When he comes into the room (only a few minutes late!) he can't remember where he is for a second. The... Royal Court? Yeah, yeah, that's it. An old Holo-Program. His grandad probably loved it. He tries working his way across the marble floors without tipping over.

"Incredible," a voice was saying, speaking to one of the scientist guys who run this station. "Our early experiments into holographic technology have yet to yield anywhere near as an impressive result."

[i]Yeah, that's right, you alien weirdos,[/i] he thinks, [i]give credit where credit is due[/i]. But then Andrei's eyes finally focus in, and he nearly jumps backwards.

"It is very good to see you-" the horror keeps going without taking notice- "as we talk, your ship in Sol has been talking to our own vessel. I am Epsilon-Bouchet, this is Gamma-Nine, and this is Beta-Bernas-Lee, from the Zeta system."

Those aren't names. Andrei doesn't know what they are, but they definitely aren't names. Just like those aren't faces, with all the blinking lights and the metal strips and the... the [i]weirdness[/i]. He doesn't know what to say. There hasn't been a real diplomat in the ECU for centuries. Just, you know, people who are nice at parties and stuff! How could he be ready for this?

The scientist, a non-Oligarch who's name Andrei never bothered to remember, because he is a non-Oligarch, catches Andrei's eye- which is currently glossy, red and twice as big as it is meant to be- and realizes he will need to take care of this situation.

"Well, we are so gratified you like it," the scientist begins with a forced smile. The cyborgs are not so disconcerting to him as they might be to others. "Our researches have been engrossed in holographic simulations, such as the one before you, for upwards of-" but he does not get to finish his explanation.

"In the name of Earth," Andrei is slurring, leaning against a wall just a little bit, "[i]what are you[/i]?"


[b][center]~~~~~~~~[/center][/b]
[right][sub]([i]Addressing: [@Raylah])[/i][/sub][/right]

“This is Guardian Blackwood," a hologram reads out. "From the Undefeated nation to the Earth Cultural Union vessel. We are happy to see representatives of another surviving colony. We currently have the representatives of the Zeta system on board of..." the holographic man struggles to read out this term, which is not in his Full Dictionary of All Valid and True Earth Tongues,"...[i]The Revenant[/i]. Perhaps you would like to send your delegation to join us?”

Unlike a certain other Oligarch countless lightyears away, Student Abadi is not drunk. A little drained? Probably, since she just saw Earth, the manifestation of her people's hopes and dreams, looking like a lump of clay that's been kicked around in the dust for too long. But not drunk.

Which is why she's immediately concerned.

[i]The Undefeated,[/i] she thinks. [i]Guardian. Revenant.[/i] She considers words a source of special pride for herself, and these are making her nervous. Who call themselves Undefeated? Warmongers, she decides. And people trying to cover up for a defeat.

She turns to the two men in the room with her. Sympathetically, one is still crying about Earth. The other one, less sympathetically but far more wisely, is running scans of the two ships in front of them. And he doesn't need to be asked to interpret them:

"Revenant. Looks like a pretty massive ship: lots of room, tough exterior." But then he smirks. He's been an engineer for ten years.
"Well, Mr. Roberts?" Abadi prompts him.
"Well, ma'am, I'd still have to call it a little thrown together. I'd bet anything those big weapon-y looking bits weren't on there until five minutes ago. Like sticking cannons on a wagon." Then he remembers how most Oligarchs like Abadi think, and suddenly adds: "Oh, oh, but we still shouldn't try to take it on or anything. Compared to them, we're, uh..."
She sighs. "I get the idea. What about the other one? The... Zeta ones?"

Roberts looks at the console in front of him, smashes a few buttons, and stares seriously at some flashing holo-readouts. At last, he concludes: "I have no clue."
One of Abadi's eyebrows goes up. "Is that your professional opinion?"
A few more buttons get smashed. Then: "Yep. Yeah, they're hard to read. Pretty advanced looking. No idea if they have weapons or not." He shoots her a thumbs up. "So, good luck, diplomat!"
Abadi decides she hates engineers.

A short message is bounced back to the so-called Revenant. "Expect a delegation of... two. We shall board with you shortly."

Following the procedure observed by the other vessel, it is only a few moments before the shuttle pilot is able to dock with with the Undefeated ship. (It would have been faster, if he hadn't needed to dry his eyes first.)

"Nice to finally meet you," Student Abadi tells the Undefeated who are there to greet her. She is dressed in her most formal Old Earth clothing: a black, gown-like abaya, a jeweled necklace in a Victorian English style, and an authentic American baseball cap. She looks over her hosts, and decides that despite the Military aesthetic, they look reassuringly normal as well. "Are the Zeta individuals near by, may I ask?"