LOCATION: SECTOR #KPT00494622
STARDATE: 4205771x19
Thoroughly bored with both his assignment and his harem of only fifty females, the Captain nonetheless continued with his work. He had been tasked by the Obsidian Empire to scan a set list of sectors in this universe for signs of life.
He input the coordinates for the next sector, and his ship’s FTL drive spooled up. The jump took only a short time, but he still called Harem Member Twelve (who could be bothered to learn all of their names?), and spent the time with her.
He sent the other officers to the mess hall and barely noticed that she stared at the stars blasting by through the view panels the entire time, even as he satiated himself.
It didn’t really matter if she enjoyed it, so long as she never complained.
“Thank you, dear. Return to your quarters and await my call.”
She bowed deeply, trying to hide a tear that had escaped her left eye.
Captain Vallor turned his attention back to the controls. He hit a button that would call the other officers back, and checked the progress.
Ten minutes left to the next destination.
He sighed, knowing they’d never let him return without finding at least one life-bearing planet.
Six officers filed back into the bridge and took their positions. One member of the custodial crew entered quietly and cleaned up in the back, exiting without a word.
“Five minutes to arrival, Captain,” his XO said.
Captain Aureth Vallor buckled in and hit the five minute warning button.
Alarms blared throughout the ship, and panels opened in hallways, revealing jump seats. Those walking through the corridors took the nearest seat and strapped in. Those already in their quarters did the same with the chairs there.
A green light appeared on the console in front of Vallor’s XO, and he announced they were safe to drop out of FTL.
Going from impossible speeds to a near stop would have killed everyone on board if it weren’t for the inertial dampeners developed by Vallor’s uncle and father.
The brothers had both been awarded Dukedoms for their meaningful contribution to the Obsidian Empire’s technological advancement, and the entire Vallor family was granted injections that allowed them to live indefinitely.
“Which sounds great, until you realize you will be forced to engage in boring fucking missions across the universes in search of slave labor,” the Captain whispered, thinking still about his predicament.
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“What’s that, sir?” his XO asked.
Captain Vallor shook his head.
“Nothing. Here we go.”
And the sharp lines of light around them slowed to stationary stars as the ship smoothly pulled out of FTL.
The scanner took only moments to generate the first report.
Vallor read it over as his XO and the other officers did the same.
“The Milky Way,” he said. “Why in the fuck do they call it that?”
“No idea, sir,” the XO said. “But the second scan is already generating signs of life.”
Aureth Vallor smiled.
He unbuckled his harness and leapt into the air.
He didn’t even care about his lack of decorum.
“Let’s confirm it, report it, and then we can finally head back home.”
He turned to the rest of the officers.
“Well? Get to it!”
The XO cleared his throat.
“Great work, everyone. Let’s do the final scans. I’ll begin putting the report together.”
He put his hand on the Captain’s shoulder.
“Sir, we can handle this. Go rest in your quarters. I’ll let you know when it’s done.”
The Captain nodded and took his XO’s advice.
He was still smiling as he made his way through the corridor toward his lavish quarters.
Maybe he’d call in two of them tonight.
It was a time for celebration, after all.
Finally.
<
LOCATION: PATHFINDER
AREA: PHOBOS
EARTH DATE: JANUARY 29, 2028
It was one year after the global rollout of the System on Earth, and Skrixx and the crew of the Pathfinder had observed the process while moored to the Mars moon of Phobos.
The Listener, the device the Krollans had left on the planet after it had formed well over 650 million Earth cycles ago, was in direct communication with the System Entity, and reported regularly on the progress.
The Pathfinder had just enough resources to set up a cloak around the planet for one Earth cycle. Or one year, as they called it on the surface. It was like laying a protective blanket over the planet, shielding all signs of advanced technological capability from escaping.
Once that year was up, Humanity, the predominant race on the planet, would be left to their own devices.
Well, not entirely. Because Skrixx had received approval from the Orion Mercantile Syndicate to provide assistance to the burgeoning, newly inducted race.
Skrixx decided to give them the full year of peace before making first contact. The Core Council, responsible for designing and deploying the System, was aware of his presence, of course.
But it was more like hints of his presence than it was confirmation. Just before the end of the protection window, Skrixx informed The Listener of his plans. The Listener passed them along to the System, which informed the Council.
He and his crew of eight boarded their expedition vessel and flew the short distance from Phobos to Earth. The protective net around the planet opened and their small ship flew through.
Through scans performed by The Listener, Skrixx had learned that there was a place called New York City, where the headquarters of the United Nations was located.
They landed the ship right on the lawn out front, and the small amount of panic that ensued was a surprise.
Normally first contact would have resulted in mass hysteria, but here it was as if the humans, remarkable creatures that they were, hadn’t been surprised at all.
Skrixx would later learn that the Core Council had prewarned the UN and local security forces that something like this may happen one day.
And when Colin’s HEX veil detected an opening, he sent word ahead.
As Skrixx and his XO descended the short staircase from his sleek, compact ship, leaders and representatives from the many countries on Earth were on hand to greet him.
It was the first time the denizens of Earth had met an alien life form.
At least the first time it wasn’t hidden from the public.