Emissary.



Start 9904052217
Working Title: Emissary



I: Visitor.



It arrived completely unexpectedly. After month upon month, loss after loss, that this should happen came as a complete surprise to those who had given - had sacrificed - so much. Instead of an unhearing fist, a hand was offered.

Luna Four tracked the J'kahtnihr vessel as it ascended from jump and performed it's last slingshot manoeuvre around Sol 5, the formidable gas giant known to the locals as Jupiter. L4's scouts informed the duty watch commander, known to a precious few as Jane, but to most simply - and affectionately - as 'Watch'. They took quiet pride in the fact that the craft had travelled for only 38 seconds in the solar system before being painted. A new record. Watch was about to order her nightshift crew of 42 to follow standard protocol, scrambling the heavy intercept craft, Phoenix, to turn the intruder back if possible, but to engage and eliminate if necessary.

On closer inspection of the data fed back from the Callisto outpost, one of many 'listeners' that formed the TRIPWIRE early warning net, she noted two aspects of this incident that had not occurred before. First, the craft was a loner, second, it was under it's own power but completely unarmed. The weapons were there, they just weren't powered, weren't even warm.

It also saw but did not speak; the comsat watched as 'eyes' onboard the vessel tracked it's position, the craft carefully maintaining an obviously in-range, but 'respectful' distance with the subsentient. Clearly it wanted to be seen, but did not intend to intimidate; no warning squawks were sent back to it's home.

Instinct kicked in over protocol: Watch decided this entity deserved a closer look before she punched it's lights out. Instead of raining fire on the visitor with Phoenix, she instead ordered the deployment of two long range surveillance craft, Eagles, to fly alongside the craft as it hurtled towards it's as yet unknown destination ...though the trajectory predictably looked Terran-bound. One minute and forty-two seconds after the Eagles had assumed an escort formation with the craft, Watch, surprised further by the birds' findings, called Terra One's commander.

"There is an occupant."

Twelve minutes after initial detection, the craft, now optimistically designated 'Emissary' changed course slightly then jettisoned it's jump engines. There would be no return passage for it's occupant. At least not without assistance. More 'lookers' were deployed by Luna Four, Two and One to form up with the entourage in the hope of further analysing the visitor in an attempt to gauge it's intent. It was then that the Emissary began to speak. Not in it's native incomprehensible language but in Terran-based English.

It sought a meeting. This thing was full of surprises.

---



II: Talk.



It took a few hours for the shell of the craft to cool from entry into the Terran atmosphere. That it did not carve a new valley or crater on it's landing indicated that it intended it's occupant to arrive unharmed. T1's Commander Matthews stood on the bitterly cold plateau as dawn struggled against the seductive cloak of night, facing the Emissary alone as was requested. He smirked slightly as he pulled the insulated overcoat tighter, thinking of ancient cold war movies depicting tense midnight prisoner exchanges at checkpoint Charlie in Old Berlin. The flashpoint of old, petty, yet lethal domestic times. Car headlights showing Captain America facing off Comrade Colonel Dimitri Baronovich (no doubt with beautiful yet equally lethal consort, and Special Agent Natasha Ivanova in the car) at 50 metres while some treasured nuclear scientist stumbled towards the 'free world' pausing halfway to look in the faces of three terrified dissidents heading the opposite direction. Frantic breath forming wisps of fog in the sub-zero temperatures, silence but for the sound of car exhausts ticking as they cooled. AK-47's and M-16's staring each other down in their own silent exchange, their possessors itching for an excuse. A pin could drop.

This was the present though; the stakes were much higher.

His flyer was perched on a ridge some 200 metres behind, with a protective Alpha on the trigger of the flyer's formidable weaponry. Locked. Ready. That the Emissary might have similar protective measures in place was not doubted for a second. The occupant of craft Emissary finally stood before him. This was the first time Terran had seen J'kahtnihr. This was the first time J'kahtnihr had seen Terran. Surprisingly similar in appearance yet so clearly different, alien, in culture. Respectful bows were made and returned. A dialogue began.

"There are those of us who wish to see this... conflict? loss? unpleasantness? curtailed. I wish to assist, to alleviate, to... defect? As you can see I am without claw, tooth, talon, unarmed? Will you do same? Trust me?"

The unremarkable man whispered a command. Reluctantly (what was the history between these Alpha's and the J's anyway??) the Alpha lifted the flyer one metre off the ground, turned 60 degrees, landed on toes, then stood down weapons. Only surveillance could be performed from this aspect. The alpha bristled at the commander's naivete. A further whispered command, and the personal shield extended protectively from the flyer vanished. The Emissary must have known, must have seen the slight blue tinge disappear since he/she relaxed visibly at the gesture of trust.

---

L4's command watched the view relayed from the flyer. Breaths were held, but optimism, hope, pervaded the command centre. The two TRIPWIRE ops consoles darkened the picture: more J'kahtnihr inbound. Many more. This time intent clear: the conversation was not to finish agreeably. Watch decided to act. To protect. This emissary - and her loved one - would not be lost. Not on her watch.