Posted Dec. 31, 2020, 2:19 a.m. by Captain John Tiberius Glen (Captain) (David Fergusson)
[snip]
=/\= Glen to Grey. We’ll be returning soon and accompanying the alien ship to their homeworld of Alstair Prime. This will take three and half days at Warp 1. They sent out three sleeper ships to the three different systems that they visited, the same that we have followed them to. These sleeper ships unaccounted for. This seems a little strange given how slow they were travelling. They left eight years ago, so about 1,836 km/hour, not taking acceleration and deceleration in to consideration. Most likely they overshot. Can we start long range scanners to make a search for them while we travel? =/\=
The response came immediately, the soft Scottish accent coming out of the communicator =^=Yes, Captain. We’ll set the scanners for the parameters you’ve given us. Will any of the locals be visiting the ship?=^=
=/\=Thanks. I actually hadn’t thought of visits to the Merrimack, but we could give them a tour. We’ll have three days to waste time, after all. I can’t see it as being a problem. Please organise a rota. Glen out! =/\=
“Sir,” Hal said, “Might I recommend the diplomatic protocol? A nice Federation style buffet dinner. With a tour of the ship?”
“That’s an excellent idea,” replied Glen. “With an authentic Federation cuisine menu and specially curated signature dishes! Can you ask Chef to organise it once we are back?
=^=Copy that, I’ll make the necessary preparations, Merrimack out=^= William said cutting the signal. He quickly issued out several orders then contacted Chef to prepare for a banquet.
Glen turned back to the First. “I have organised it. The Merrimack will accompany you to Alstair Prime. The ship will search as we travel and the shuttle could be launched if necessary. We will occupy our time getting to know each other better. We will give tours of the ship and cultural and culinary exchanges. It should be a relaxing journey, quite different to the breakneck speed we usually travel at!”
“Do you have any dietary requirements?” Glen asked the First.
There was a minutes pause before the First replied =/\= I am not sure how to answer that Captain Glen. As we have never eaten food not brought from Alstair Prime. What would you suggest? =/\= The First inquired.
“Sorry, but in that case, maybe a buffet was a bad idea,” Glen said. “It is a very common thing for us to provide a sumptuous meal at our diplomatic functions, and to celebrate diplomatic ties with large banquets. Eating together, breaking bread with each other, this has been a symbolic human activity, historically speaking. It is usually a significant event that promotes brotherhood with others, fosters a meaningful connection, and promotes cooperation. However, without knowing anything about your physiology, there may be foods which we eat, but that contain chemicals that are poisonous to you. We have no way to calculate what would be a toxic amount, and obviously would never wish to do you any harm. We could provide a few of our own dishes for your scientists and nutritionist to analyse first, but I’d still be concerned. However, I have a better idea, I think? We have food replicators aboard the Merrimack. If you give us a sample of the food that you have brought from Alstair Prime, then our machines can analyse their formula and recipes, and we could then synthesise more of the same. That way we could sample and share your own foods with you along with our own. Would that be an acceptable alternative?”
Glen contacted William again to let him know of the change =/\= Sorry, William but I don’t know if the Alstairians can eat a strictly Federation menu, so I will send over details of some of their own foods for Chef to replicate. Glen out! =/\=
The Alstairian ships engines had been running again for several minutes now without any hitch. Glen expected that Kord or Tia might update him soon. He also wondered what Inola had discovered in her animated discussion.
-Glen, CO
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