Vontae wasn’t prepared for the feelings he had as the Dor Panak came into orbit around Earth. The overwhelming rush of warmth to heart brought tears to his eyes a bit. As he always had done when seeing Earth from this vantage, he looked for the pinpoint of light that was Nairobi, his home. Or it had once been his home in another lifetime.
He was standing at the communications dais on the bridge with Carmot and Kalpoc next to him. It was time to contact the Space Complex in orbit around the Earth. He decided to try the channel Colony Two had been assigned to communicate with.
“Attention Colony Two control, this is Mission Specialist Vontae Abasi from the Colony Two ship Battuta. I am in orbit around Earth, you will be able to detect the vessel I am in at five thousand miles above equatorial Africa. Colony Two has made contact with an extra-terrestrial civilization. Do you copy?” Vontae broadcasted.
“Is this some kind of a joke?” a voice from the station asked. “What are you doing on a military frequency?”
There was the sound of muffled background voices and then a new voice came on the line. “This is Major Thomas of Colony Two control. We are detecting your position. Repeat again your name and authorization number.”
Vontae looked at Carmot and smiled. “Good to hear your voice Major, I have been gone quite a long time. This is Mission Specialist Vontae Abasi. I am one of two activated duty officers assigned to the Battuta of Colony Two. My authorization code is zulu zulu whiskey hotel.
“We ran into some issues that have compromised our ability to complete our transit to Alpha Centauri. But then we came across a vessel from the Tau Ceti star system. They have offered to help us. They are hoping to be able to meet with the leadership of Earth and establish diplomatic relations with us.”
The Major’s voice sounded a little weak, “Colony Two’s position is over two light years from here.”
“Yes sir,” Vontae responded. “The Tau Cetians have technology that allows them to travel faster than light. It took just thirty-six hours to get here from our fleet’s position.”
Vontae heard the Major’s voice talking to someone off mic. “Do we have a launch bay open where this Abasi character can dock?” The response given to the Major was unintelligible over the communication system.
“Mr. Abasi, are you familiar with the layout of the space complex?”
“Yes, sir.”
“We have launch bay delta open, from the looks of the vessel you are on, I doubt you’d fit in the launch bay. Do you have access to a smaller craft?” the Major sounded like he was winging it.
“Yes, sir, I have,” Vontae said. “We will dock at launch bay delta with your permission. Prepare to accommodate a party of four.”
“Acknowledged.”
Vontae headed for the expeditionary craft with Carmot and Kalpoc in tow. Apamot met them at the launch bay, having been paged by Carmot as they left the bridge.
Launch bay delta was relatively easy for Vontae to find. In the years leading up to his volunteering for Colony Two he had done several tours of duty there. The expeditionary ship fit easily through the doors.
When the launch bay was repressurized, Vontae and his companions were met by the Major and a couple of Marines armed with what looked like energy weapons. The major looked somewhat stunned by his reaction to the three aliens that stood before him. His eyes were drawn to the large mass of quills that covered the aliens’ heads.
Vontae greeted the Major with a salute. “Sir, I would like to introduce you to ambassador’s Carmot, Apamot and Kalpoc.”
To the Tau Cetians, Vontae said, “This is Major Thomas, the man in charge of our Colony Two mission. These are military men who are here because Major Thomas doesn’t want to leave anything to chance.”
“Pleased to meet you,” the Major said holding his hand out and then having second thoughts when he saw the stiff quills on the back of his guests’ hands. He pulled his hand back with uncertainty. Vontae held his hand out to the major and shook hands with him. Carmot and his group did the same and were rewarded with the Major shaking hands with them as well. Vontae translated his greeting to them.
“I’m impressed that you speak their language, Mr. Abasi. I assumed you had only recently met these, eh, beings,” the Major commented.
“I actually have spent a great deal of time among them,” Vontae explained. “I have even visited their world and met their leader, which is called as close as I can translate it as the Ascendant. They are eager to establish relations with Earth and would like to agree to an exchange of ambassadors.”
“I’ll see what I can do about getting the general assembly to call an emergency conference. There has been quite a bit of infighting among the nations. France has been threatening to boycott the United Nations. A lot has changed since you left, I think this will be a welcome distraction to our other problems,” the Major said. “Now tell me about your problems.”
“We encountered a hostile species we are calling the Eridelthans. We attempted to make contact with them, but they practically destroyed the maint ship I was in and meant to scatter the rest of the fleet. I became separated from the fleet and a Tau Cetian ship found me. They took me to their home world as an ambassador for the people of Earth. While there, I got caught up in a terrorist operation to kill their Ascendant. I assisted their government in thwarting the attempt and the Ascendant insists that he owes me a favor.
“That’s where the Tau Cetians offer comes into play,” Vontae said.
“What kind of offer did they make you?” the Major asked.
“Well, the maneuvers that Captain Koeh had to make to protect the fleet from the Eridelthan attack used up all of our fuel reserves and then mechanical problems with the engines of the Drake have made our reaching Alpha Centauri an uncertainty at best.
“The Tau Cetians are offering to use their ships and their faster than light technology to ferry us to a moon in one of their star systems for us to settle on until Alpha Centauri is ready to accommodate us. You see, the Tau Cetians can get us there in a few weeks. The planetoid they are offering us was developed as a reserve colony and is completely set up with the infrastructure we would need.
“If we decide to stay, they will let us. And they would give us full autonomy to rule ourselves while making a situation conducive to providing technology with us in trade.”
“Sounds like quite a proposal,” the Major said. “Colony Three is almost ready to embark to Alpha Centauri. They are scheduled to leave in a couple months. It would be greatly beneficial if we could use the Tau Cetians technology to get them there faster. You know what, I am ready to sign an order authorizing you to take them up on their offer.”
Vontae was surprised that the Major signed on so quickly and was even more surprised when Kalpoc spoke up. “Major,” he said in Human Common, “I have studied your language for seven days. I cannot understand all Vontae told you. From what I hear, he told you our offer. I wish to speak to the leaders of your world.”
“We’ll get that arranged, ambassador,” the Major said. “I’ll be back in a moment. Marines, you can stand down.” The Major and the Marine contingent departed leaving Vontae alone with the Tau Cetians.
“I didn’t know you were studying my language, Kalpoc,” Vontae said.
“Yes,” Kalpoc said. “I wish to stay on Earth as my people’s ambassador.”
Vontae, Carmot and Apamot were all shocked at this revelation, although Apamot seemed to look a bit relieved. Carmot noticed his wife’s reaction and said after a brief moment, “You may have the position. Your experience far outweighs mine. I think you’ll do a fine job of it.”
“Thank you, Carmot,” Kalpoc said. “I have been studying the Human language during our transit to their fleet and here to Earth. I have prepared a speech for the Human leaders that I have memorized in their language.”
“I look forward to hearing it,” Vontae said.
The Major returned and guided the delegation to the observation room where refreshments were brought for them. The Major informed them that an emergency session of the nations had been called for the following morning in which Ambassador Kalpoc would be able to address them.
Until then, quarters were being prepared aboard the space complex for the delegation to relax in until the following day.
