[snip]

=/\= In that case, I’ll instruct my ship to assist your transport ship =/\= Glen told Falee.

=/\= Thank you Captain Glen, it is must appreciated! =/\= Farlee said.

Glen immediately flipped open his communicator again and contacted William. =/\= Glen to Merrimack. Come in, please. =/\=

Tia stepped up to the XO and kept her voice low as she put her back to their hosts for a moment of privacy. “We have been offered a tour. Perhaps if I can get someone to show me the specs for their sleeper ships, with the idea being it is easier to help if we know what we are dealing with, then I can help find out if what is coming really is one of their ships. Giving the specs to the Merrimack will allow her to tell at the soonest possible moment if the ship coming is theirs or not.” She didn’t like ‘cripple’ ships coming up on her Merry. As Chief Engineer, the request wasn’t out of the realm of believable and would certainly gain them an advantage either way.

Kord nodded.

“Remain cautiously diplomatic. We don’t want to start an incident over well intentioned curiosity being mistaken for intelligence gathering.” Kord said quietly.

The Captain continued to get more static. Maybe that ship didn’t have a damaged Comms system, maybe this sector just had bad Comms. He tried his communicator again.

=/\= Glen to Merrimack. Come in, please. Captain Glen here! =/\=

=^=Merrimack here=^= William responded.

Glen turned off the UT.

=/\= I’ve reluctantly agreed for you to help one of their maintenance vessels to rescue this ship. The Alstaireans can’t actually confirm that it is a returning sleeper ship, but if it is then it will shortly be out of fuel and so unable to manoeuvre into an orbit. Tia thinks that she might be able to match engine configurations and confirm better if you would like her to come up and help you.... Listen, my gut gives me a strong feeling that something is wrong here, so be careful, don’t take any chances. We’ve learnt next to nothing about these Alstaireans so far - nothing about their culture, their values, their enemies! So be prepared for something unexpected like a ship that’s disguised, or another cloaked ship following. Defend yourself if necessary, but don’t do anything that could be construed as instigating a conflict. I sure hope that I’m overreacting here but send a shuttlecraft down for us anyway with a good pilot. I don’t want to be left stranded here while the Merrimack is off on some fool’s errand. Do you have any questions? =/\=

The reply from the Bridge was =^=No sir, I’ll get underway immediately. Merrimack out=^=

Glen turned to Hal, “There is a shuttle coming down from the Merrimack for us. Please liaison where it should set down.”

Glen, spoke to Saark, “Maybe you can tell the Alstaireans more about our policy of non-interference since it was originally a series of Vulcan protocols.”

Glen switched the UT back on and turned back to Falee, “The Merrimack is preparing to leave orbit to assist your second ship. If you have a transport vessel going too, you can tell them that they can arrange the rescue directly with the Merrimack. I’m bringing one of our own transport vessels down here for us. If you could let us know a suitable place to put down.”

-Glen, CO

Falee came back over as Glen spoke, after a pause she replied, =/\= I am happy to hear it Captain. I will have one of my advisors relay my orders to the transport vessel. As for your own transport coming down, there is a small clearing in the courtyard where you beamed down that should suffice unless the vessel is overly large? =/\= She asked. Giving a pause to relay orders to an advisor nearby.

“Yes, Sir,” Hal said.

“I’m still rather interested in the fact that these people are primarily dominated by women. I know that i shouldn’t have been surprised to eventually see a planet where the women rule. But I want to see how their cultural history had committed this hegemony.”

CoS

One of the other councilor’s named Galorn spoke, evidently hearing and getting translated the chief of security’s words. =/\= Our male population died out many thousand of years ago due to a genetic mutation and sickness due to a passing comet as our sciences later learned. We Alstair who remain can reproduce by using a melding process of mind and body where one figure is the birthing figure and the other the donor. This is why you would no doubt suspect and see many of our people share similarities. Thankfully before it ever became a problem our sciences figured out means to avoid genetic anomalies.. =/\= She said.

Tia paused a moment and took Kord’s advice to heart. Honesty usually was the best policy so she decided to be blunt. She stepped up to stand beside Kord and smiled to their hosts. “I am the Chief Engineer of the Merrimack and I would love schematics for the ship you believe is arriving. On one hand, if it isn’t the ship that is arriving, we will know much sooner and be able to deal with it. On the other hand, if it is the ship that’s arriving, I will know the best way we can assist bringing her home safe and sound.” It was a long shot, being this blunt, but it was the quickest way. And she hoped, in giving her position, they would forgive her bluntness as she wasn’t a Command Officer or knowledgeable diplomat.

Tia CE

Farlee listened to Tia’s request as they resumed their walk, the group entering a large feasting hall with marble pillars and a marble table. They all looked quite old but well cared and used for. Turning as she did she called over another advisor to the party, her words picked up by the UT a second later =/\= Have the schematics of our sleeper ships pulled. By the Abyss if it is them this is truly a welcome day coupled with our hopefully new friends. Who would have thought so many things could happen so quickly in one day! It is truly a rare thing..=/\= She commented.

The advisor nodded and soon retired for some minutes as chairs of lighter worn dark wood and padded leather were brought in. Across the table serving plates and dishes were being put down. =/\= Please sit, Captain Glen and your company where you wish. =/\= Farlee said. A moment later the first advisor from before returned.

=/\= The Merrimack transport craft has arrived safely. It is in the courtyard. =/\= She said.

As the groups were also sitting the second advisor returned, handing a small stack of paper blueprints to Tia. =/\= I hope this satisfies you? I am afraid we do not have fully everything in a digital format from our vast libraries..=/\= this one said.

Meanwhile also coming into the room, was the First and Third Alstair officers from their barely warp capable ship. The First looked to Farlee =/\= Bond-Mother and Councilor Farlee, thank you for inviting us. My Third was quite eager to meet once more our saviors from the far Abyss of space..=/\= She said turning to regard Glen, =/\= She spoke quite highly of our communications officer..=/\= She stated.

Galorn, and the third Councilor also sat then who was named Vashorn. =/\= I trust the injured are being cared well by the Ministry Of Disabled?=/\= The third female asked.

=/\= Oh yes Councilor! Though their care would be more intense were it not for the Merrimack’s fine medical staff. Sadly what injuries remain will mean they are likely not able to go into the Abyss of space again or serve in fleetly duties. I am confident your own daughter, my Second, will be in good hands in the coming days. =/\= The First said.

Vashorn seemed to show relief on her face that only a parent could show. But soon was replaced by more professional matters at hand. =/\= Thank you First, please take your seat where you wish. =/\= She said.

GM CockRoach