Behind the blameless trees
Old fate slowly builds
Her mute countenance.
Wrinkles grow there...
What a bird shrieks here
Springs there like a gasp of
Warning
From a soothsayer's hard mouth.
And the soon-to-be lovers
Smile on each other, not yet
Knowing farewell,
And round about them, like a
Constellation,
Their destiny casts
Its nightly spell.
Still to come it does not reach out
To them,
It remains
A phantom
Floating in its heavenly course.
Behind the blameless trees
Rainer Maria Rilke
********************************************
The Majah-tu craft is stationed no more than one thousand meters from our starboard side, which is making me and most of the crew a bit nervous. They, that is the Majah-tu have elected to come aboard the Helios, which Mandy said we have to accept and be gracious hosts. So everyone is in their class A uniform and we will attempt to be... diplomatic. Well, at I will do my best to be diplomatic.
I put a finger in my collar as it feels tight; Mandy clears her throat. I glance at her as she raises an eyebrow at me; I readjust my uniform and hold back the urge to pull on my collar again. The light on the control panel of the bay door entrance turns green, so the Marine Private standing by the door opens it. Mandy steps in first, but just as I start to go I grab Gunny Wilcox. "Stay close by. You and Corporal Banes." The Gunny nods and winks at me his understanding, as he unhooks his plas pistol.
The Majah-tû shuttle is still buttoned up. I analyze its design and it resembles and arrow head, very sleek and fast looking; it probably is fast. Then the hatch hisses open; the collective tension in the shuttle bay can be felt like energy flowing through all of us. Just then I spot a pair of sliver armored legs coming down the ramp followed by more armored troopers. The one in the silver armor which is from head to toe stops about ten paces from us. The other troopers are wearing dark colored armor more plain the the one in silver. I'm assuming that is some sort of status to Silvers position; Silver, that's what I'll call this one who is... well, I think built like a woman. Silver is wearing a helmet with a face visor, so there are no features yet.
Suddenly Silver inclines, sort of bowing and then proceeds to remove said helmet! One of the dark clad ones speaks in an unmistakable male voice, but Silver dismisses him outright in a language I've never heard before and the voice is female. Though, from his hesitation you know he's not to thrilled with Silver doing that. The helmet comes off and my jaw drops, as does the jaw of every guy in the shuttle bay. Her skin is pale white so much so it almost glows. Her hair is long tied in a pony tail it's white, but her eyes, that's what strikes me; silver colored eyes. She's gorgeous looking... like - an angel.
"I am Jah-jahní, commander of Tôhl-tenak."
She turns her head to the left and speaks in that strange tongue of theirs, and it seems that the big guy there is not to happy, as he removes his helmet. "This is sub commander Kal-Tôhna." He has the same skin tone and even his hair is the same tone, but his eyes are cobalt blue. If Adonis was real this would be him. He eyes us suspiciously; there is definitely no trust in him. The other one takes off his helmet and his eyes are a pale blue, his skin tone is darker than these two. "This Lieutenant Talneh-Kah, my chief of security."
Mandy shoots me a look. Well here is my time to be a diplomat. "Welcome aboard. I am Antonio Valdez, Captain of the United Earth Alliance ISV Helios." Jah-jahní smiles slightly inclining her head as an equal would. Returning the smile I incline my head as well. Gesturing to my right. "This is Major Mandy Roberts mission commander." Then to my left. "This is Lieutenant Hal Meyers my Executive Officer." I motion for them to come with us; the angel steps through first then Mandy and me. Unfortunately the passageways are wide enough for two people to walk shoulder to shoulder, with just enough room for someone to squeeze by.
I'm walking right next to Jah-jahní; don't how it worked out this way, with Mandy right behind me and the big guy Kal-tôhna behind her. Jah-jahní seems to be studying the structure of the Helios, as we walk to the officers lounge, which serves as the mess as well. "I'm sure that this ship is very primitive compared to yours."
"Yes, actually it is." Whoa! Talk about not pulling any punches. "However, it is very practical in its simplicity." She turns those silver eyes in my direction that seem to see straight into my soul. "My people have been waiting for yours to finally expand into the stars and now that time has come." Waiting? They've been observing our world; for how long?
"Is that so?"
"Yes; quite so." That would explain why she knows our language.
"How long have your people been watching our people?" Thank God for Mandy chiming in the conversation. "And if so, why have you not made contact until now?"
Jah-jahní just slightly glances over her left shoulder at Mandy then back to analyzing the Helios; I feel the indifference directed toward Mandy. "To be quite frank you humans have been much to savage, for us to risk contact. We would have had to come in force to deter violence, which is not what we would have enjoyed; nor do I assume that your people would have either." I look at Mandy and the set of her jaw, that usually means trouble.
"What does that mean?" Mandy ask in a passive tone of voice that I know means she's ready for a fight.
"Well." I interject. "Why don't we go and sit down at the officers lounge and speak more comfortably. Then we can eat and have a quiet discussion." I look to Mandy then to Jah-jahní; the latter nodding in polite acceptance the former fuming quietly. Maybe after food and drinks tempers will cool a bit; at least that's my hope.
We enter the lounge and Mr. Ahmadi is there waiting by the table, just as I asked him to. "Jah-jahní, this is Mr. Basha Ahmadi our personnel councilor." Ahmadi bows and Jah-jahní inclines her head.
"We are most honored to have you on our ship." He greets them warmly, which is my hope they get that feeling. I want to make a positive impression on them, and start a lasting friendship. Jah-jahní smiles and inclined her head slightly; I gesture for her and her officers to take a seat.
We all take our places at the table, as the food is brought in. We begin to eat and they watch how we use the utensils and they quickly emulate their use. "So." Mandy starts to talk, making me feel nervous and I send her one our hand signals for peace. "Why did you wait so long to contact us? And if - we are inside your territory, how did the Hyperion, that wreck out there get destroyed without your knowledge?"
I feel my face getting hot. What the hell is she thinking! "Well." Jah-jahní reply's. "We are not in all places at once. And you lie at the edge of our sphere of influence; a back water is the term I believe your people use." Mandy recoils at the ,back water' statement. "In fact the only ones who at this moment comes here on patrol is my ship." Mandy is about to say something that I know will disrupt the balance that I'm trying to achieve.
"I see." I interject. "Are you on standard patrol now?
She smiles at me. Making me feel like a kid speaking to an adult. "That is correct Captain. This was a scheduled patrol that we were completing in this sector when we picked up your signature." Mandy backs down, which causes me all kinds of relief. Though I can see that she is still fuming.
"So tell me." I begin to ease the conversation to extracting a little more of info. "Why the interest in our people? I mean surely we can't be of that much importance."
Jah-jahní turns her silver eyes to me making me a bit uncomfortable, as they seem to penetrate deep into my soul. As if your thoughts are open to her. "We have been watching over your civilization of a very very long time." Mandy and I glance at each other, as Jah-jahní continues to speak. "Our two people are very similar; do you know just - how rare that is?"
I clear my throat. "No, we don't - really know."
She smiles at me warmly. Almost like a mother to her child. At least that's the feeling I'm getting. "Yes, to be sure that it is the truth. In this galaxy to run into ones that can be close to us yet so different is refreshing." Well at least I can sense that they are not here to be aggressive to us. In some ways they seem to see us as children, that need guidance. I wonder; what if this is the beginning of a great friendship or the meeting of our worst nemesis.
Only time will tell.
I return to my quarters after escorting our guests back to there shuttle. I feel it went well, but it's hard to say if everyone feels the same; especially Mandy. The Majah-tu. They're used to power and being in control, that much I gather. Also they're an old race of people who have been out among the stars for a long time.
I take off my uniform dress tunic and carefully place it on my bed, Lord it feels good to get that high collar off.
The intra comm unit on the table chimes; it's tied directly to the bridge, so I answer it. "Go ahead bridge."
"Sir we have a message from SAC HQ marked secure, for you." She says.
"Send it to my secure comm line please."
I wonder who it is, thoughI have my suspicions as to the sender. I see the icon pop up on my screen and I touch it opening up the message and it's who I thought. Mindini.
He sent a written message. I wonder why not a voice recording.
My dear Captain Valdez
I congratulate to you and your intrepid crew on making a successful First Contact. Things are not as good here on Earth, the rebellion on Mars was put down again; with more disastrous results. Now some of the nations that united with us are teetering on open rebellion; it is my hope that the news of your contact with an extraterrestrial intelligence will bring sober minds back to the fore front. We are in a desperate times here, so please take careful care with these people, for good news would go a long way for us. If this fails WAR is the result. We need a VICTORY Captain. God be with you now. Represent us well.
I sit back rubbing my chin; Lord almighty what is going on. How is this happening! I remember something my Father said. All governments fall when the people forget why they came together in the first place. Though it is a Republic, many of those nations that were not of the old allies did not live in the same manner; I'm almost sure that the problems are there. I hope that they can hold on with patience.