[right][sub][i](Addressing: [@Sophrus])[/i][/sub][/right]
[right][sub][i](Starring: Abadi)[/i][/sub][/right]

There goes that stratagem again: be first for everything. But why does Abadi always have to be the one going first?

Oh, yeah, it's because Tanaka is dying.

With that sobering thought, Abadi decides she'll do her job after all, and reaches out to the new foreign vessel approaching the Meeting Place. Poor timing, they've got. They probably feel like they're being ignored. Any other time, two or three or a dozen nations would have reached out to them, but everyone's been a bit distracted by Christensen's sudden announcement.

She listened to the new nation's messages replay again:

"This is Captain Threa of the New Horizons Explorer, We bring welcome from the Theta-Leonis system."

"Unknown Station, this is the New Horizons explorer, requesting permission to dock."

Getting impatient? Abadi can hardly blame them. But she liked their language- very formal. It makes her feel like she's in a military holo-program. Composing it by herself for the first time, Abadi hails them back, her words echoing into outer space:

"[b]New Horizons, this is the Meeting Place, a gathering of space stations and ships from multiple nations. Like you,[/b]" assuming here, "[b]we are each colonies of Old Earth who were spread out throughout the galaxy through the Gateways. We have only recently began to find each other again, and would all be pleased to welcome your [i]Theta-Leonis[/i] into the fold. I represent the people of the Earth Cultural Union, and on their behalf, I invite you to join me to discuss those events which have unfolded since our Gateways reactivated. There is much for you to hear.[/b]"

Instructions to docking with the ECU segment of the station followed. With luck, could they be a new ally? [i]But don't get your hopes up, Abadi[/i], she thinks to herself, [i]the way things have been going, they're probably cyborg mutant Earth-haters.[/i] She prepares for their visit.

[b][center]~~~~~~~~[/center][/b]
[right][sub][i](Addressing: Everyone, but especially [@Irredeemable])[/i][/sub][/right]

"[b]It's over, boys,[/b]" a message called out to each of the ECU ships around Zeta. "[b]After Davids' little episode, we're getting called home. Pack your things. We're headed,[/b]" his sigh was audible to thousands of men and women, "[b]back through the Gateway.[/b]"

The war was not officially over. No truce was declared, or victory. But the protector's ships were headed home. Soon, the Zetan system was empty, other than the Zetans themselves- and the [i]Memory[/i], the single cruiser left behind to 'keep on eye on things' until the final truce. And even they were under orders to allow any foreign ships through, unharrased. Simply to stand watch while they still could.