[center] [h3][b][color=00ff00]J'eon the Blacksmith[/color][/b][/h3] [/center]

"An exchange of gifts," grumbled J'eon, watching as Lord Silbermine take the offered pen and toss something of his own back before locking his chest up. 

Or did Silbermine see it as something else? A tribute? Or proof of the Sky People's favor?

"I hope for reason, for good relations," the blacksmith rumbled, rubbing his chin. "Why do I fear this will not go well?"

[hr]

[center] [h3][b][color=00ff00]Jack Mallory, X.O.[/color][/b][/h3] [/center]

"We set boundaries," Jack stated flatly. "We do not let them inside the ship. Those giant armed deer guys can't fit, but they must be murder on open plains and roads. However, the others aren't much bigger than we are, so we have to make it clear they're not allowed inside until we're ready for them."

"With everything that's happened, the hanger will have to do. We'll put up a table, the flags, all the bunting we can find - but we install a defensive barrier of some sort to keep them away from the airlock," he stated. "It'll hopefully avoid any rushes and give us a position should there be an attack." [i]Like flamethrower attacks from that burning tree. Let's hope the heat shielding is still intact.[/i]

"Second, we need to learn whatever language they're speaking," Jack added. "Wodan, are you able to listen in on the locals and work out their language?" [i]Please tell me someone somewhere thought it was possible their AI would need such a thing should they encounter other alien races out here... wherever [u]here[/u] was.[/i]