Zey distractedly followed the proceedings on screen while waiting for Feng. It was alarming to somehow now understand a lot more of what was being said, at least at a subconscious level. She figured out from the transcript that this 'Gar'Tan' was some kind of psychic mediator. 

After a while she accessed comms for everyone in the shuttle bay to weigh in:

"Yeah, someone please get one of the civilians to talk to this lizard. I'll make the announcement but it is Mallory's pick. Then get that thing out of our heads. We're all finished if Tamerlane finds we've leaked proprietary info. I don't care if the locals don't understand right now; give them enough time and they will learn. General information for an encyclopaedia is fine - try to find out as much about these people as you can."

Right after, she switched to ship-wide comms, excluding the shuttle bay.

"Attention passengers, this is your captain speaking. We need a civilian to help talk to our new friends. Please volunteer at the shuttle bay entrance for +25% rations."

She then switched back to the shuttle bay, leaning back in her seat as Feng stepped onto the Bridge.

"I've sent the announcement. Take your pick. Also, see if any know where our shuttle landed, i'm signing off for 10."

Zey span around in her command chair to greet Feng.

"Thanks for coming Doc. Wodan, stop recording in here and lock the bridge."

"How can I help, Captain?" The doctor asked tiredly. He was dressed in scrubs and gloves, mildly marked in blood. He had his bag with him.

Zey sighed, not looking him in the eye.

"I whited out this morning, after the stand-off. Vomit, disorientation, and now my chem gland is sore."

Feng looked concerned, but nodded confidently and knelt down the rummage in his bag.

"I'm glad you've told me. I have a neck port diagnostic machine in here somewhere."

"Let's not go mad, last time I used one of those things I lost two hours. Something about my neural net."

"Not to worry, if your install is standard it should be simple. Let me see."

Zey got down from her chair and knelt on the deck plate facing away from Feng. Right away the cold metal touch of the diagnostic cords rubbed against her neck, giving her goosebumps.

"Ok, here we go. Plugging in 3…"

Feng plugged into the port straight away. Zey's face involuntarily looked to the ceiling and all air exited her lungs. Her pupils dilated to black pools and she was transported back 20 years, to just before she was augmented.

She was 16, a thin and awkward girl, following her parents while engrossed in her holopad. It was very loud. A hot smell of sweat and eart pervaded her nostrils. They were passing a long, winding queue of people with suitcases and diplomatic cases in the front courtyard of some embassy. A huge crowd of protesters screamed and yelled from the other side of a high wall. Hands shook the wrought iron gates. Gusts of wind from the aircraft engines blew cyclones of red sand up towards the blazing sun.

"It says here they are blockading the spaceport and the senate building." Zey called to her parents in front. Her mother didn't turn but her father did.

"Don't worry my love. Your mother is on the phone to her work, they are sending something called NavSpecWar to help us. Everything will be fine." Her father matched Zey's pace and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. He sounded stressed. Zey could make out a chant from over the wall.

"No to F-T-L! No to F-T-L! NO TO FTL!"

Then another voice yelled from much closer.

"Halt ESA FTL research!"

Another chimed in from somewhere across the line of passengers. Father's grip on her shoulder tightened.

"Humans belong in Sol!"

A final voice shrilly screeched.

"The Cradle signal is a trap! Do not answer it!"

Zey's ears popped as a chain of explosions billowed across the courtyard. the shockwave knocked her straight to the cobblestones. Her father scrambled on top of her before someone grabbed him by the collar and hauled him up again.

"Zeynap!"

"Captain, Captain answer me please." Feng said loudly and urgently. Zey's eyes rolled forward again, and her face lowered to look at the floor. she breathed heavily.

"I'm here, I'm here." Zey murmured, shakily wiping away the water welling in the duct of both eyes.