— Hespar, Tyrena System —

The work was difficult. There had been plans to automate it, with mechanical intelligence, but those had never quite worked out. The anticipated disruption to the work force had been a concern for those on Varin, though on Hespar where decisions of that sort were actually made by the main government for the system it made sense.

What was a few unemployed Varins when progress was at stake. Though the most back breaking work was done on Varin there was the entire responsibility of keeping the Varins in line, and guiding both them and the more cerebral Tyrena Primers from the system’s third world, working in harmonious concert. 

Since the departure of the Great Cloud, as they called the Shroud, there had been discord between the three worlds. The Triarch Network had faltered, and while until knowledge was within reach they had been unable to work together to reestablish it. However the ancestors had worked together millennium before, no one planet was willing to cooperate with the others to the extent required.

Millark adjusted the ceremonial robes that came with his role as First Minister of Hespar. Another day of angrily communicating with his counterparts on Varin and Tyrena Prime loomed. He disliked the conflict, and wished that they could work together under Hespar’s guidance to benefit all.

“When is our first meeting with the Varins?” he asked.

His assistant looked up, “Actually Science Minister Devall has a request that you visit him at the institute. He assures us that it is vital.”

An hour later he was at one of Hespar’s most prestigious universities and scientific centres. Entering he noticed a buzz, as people hurried from office to office, no classes seemed to be in session.

“What is going on?” Millark asked Devall when he entered the older man’s office.

Devall gestured to a large wall size monitor that showed space. If Millark could identify stars he might have been able to place where they were looking, but he could not. 

“Watch,” Devall said and adjusted the screen.

“Is that a ship?” Millark asked.

“We encountered radiation, similar to our probes, as if being scanned late last night.  We have sent out our warp vessels,” Devall said.

“They are not armed,” Millark said, none of their space vessels were armed as they had never met anyone to be armed against. All the conflict between worlds in the system, it had never required weapons. At least not in memory.

“If that ship is armed, there would be nothing we could use against it anyway. Short of perhaps an atom weapon,” Devall said, mentioning the ancient weapons of centuries ago.

Millark looked at the ship, a silver one. An oval shape connected to a body of some kind. Engines larger than their own ships. How many people must live aboard, was it a  planet, did a whole civilization live there?

“Are we the only ones to have this?”

“Varin will know by now. Tyrena Prime may be too removed still, but I should say within an hour or so,” Devall said.

“Anyone who could build that should be able to help fix the Triarch Network,” Millark said, “and help us become the rightful guardians of the system. I’ll contact them, first alone and then as the leader of the planets. Let’s insure it is us they trust, and not the unionists on Varin.”

“As you say,” Devall said nodding.

— USS Andromeda, Bridge —

“Three ships approaching, about the size of our runabouts,” said Lieutenant William Hume at tactical.

“Weapons?” Captain Olivia Carrillo asked.

“None, maybe a cutting laser for mining but nothing that would pose a threat,” Hume said.

“And the Tomal is still cloaked?” She asked, knowing the answer.

“The Tomal is cloaked, or not in the system,” Hume confirmed. The Romulan ship seemed to prefer running silent and hidden despite this being a scientific and diplomatic mission.

“Send a nodded message to tell them to leave and return uncloaked. We don’t want to make this weird by having a hidden ship,” Carrillo said. Since the Romulans were cloaked there was no good way to contact them ship-to-ship that had been established. So for now they basically had to broadcast in the area and hope the Romulans caught it.

“We’re being hailed from the central planet,” Hume added.

“Get Ambassador T’Venik here, and Lieutenant Kolem,” Carrillo said.

When the Vulcan Federation Ambassador and the Andromeda’s Chief Counsellor had joined her on the bridge Carrillo sat next to Commander Kan Th’kaotross her Andorian First Officer with Yuhiro Kolem on her other side and the Ambassador just next to her.

“Answer the hails,” she said.

A man’s face appeared. He was a slightly blueish colour, though not as bright as an Andorian, just a tint from beneath the skin. He had head ridges not dissimilar to a Klingon, but not as pronounced. He seemed surprised by the collection on the bridge, and it was clear that he’d not encountered aliens before. 

“I am Captain Carrillo of the Federation Starship the USS Andromeda,” Carrillo began.

The man answered, his voice initially coming out in an unknown language. Then the ship’s computer was able to translate it, and the Universal Translator kicked in allowing it to come out as Federation Standard.

“I am Millark of the planet Hespar, and I speak for all of the Tyrena System,” the man said. He looked surprised, “How do you know our language?”

“Our ship’s computers translate your language using the Universal Translator,” Carrillo explained, “It takes a moment to learn it, but after monitoring broadcasts and communications from your system it has a good basis to work from.”

The man nodded, “We have not encountered aliens before, we all share a common language, no matter where we live.”

“Earth, the planet I’m from has thousands of languages. The Federation billions,” Carrillo said, “but perhaps we can learn more about each other in person.”

Beside her T’Venik stood, “I am Federation Ambassador T’Venik, I welcome an opportunity to share knowledge of your peoples, and ways. In turn we can share our own histories, and knowledge.”

The man looked about seeing the wide variety of species on the bridge of the Andromeda, “I can see that we have much to learn. Our scientists estimate your crew at fifteen thousand individuals. Perhaps we could find a way to accommodate you on Hesta.”

“We’re actually a great deal smaller than that, though it is how many people we can take on in emergency situations. For first contact situations likely only a bit more than one hundred will be involved. Ambassador T’Venik will lead the official delegation to your world,” Carrillo said.

“And you will be able to have a team come aboard the Andromeda,” T’Venik said.

The man smiled, “This is most ideal. I am sure my scientists look forward to it.”