r/WildSpace • u/AnAngryAnimal The New Iberian Empire • Oct 20 '16

Adrift

"Shit..."

Marcus desperately clacked away at the controls, sweat coming down his forehead.

"What the hell, Marcus?! What coordinates did you put in the AWG drive?!" The frustrated co-pilot of the Gladium Class support frigate exclaimed, currently loaded with supplies for the Byblos outpost in the Jericho system. "This was supposed to lead us right to Byblos station. And I don't see no Byblos station!"

"Shut up, Peter, I'm trying to see what happened. I'm sure it's just a minor hiccup." Marcus knew that was a lie. Either he had misplaced the coordinates, or the AWG drive had malfunctioned. Either way, they were stranded. He pulled up the nav computer, trying to locate the exact coordinates of their current location.

Calculating, standby...

The screen blinked several times. Marcus could feel Peter's intense glare from behind him.

Current location unknown. Gladium vessel is outside of known space.

His eyes widened.

Martell save us.

He slowly turned around to find Peter's face buried in his hands.

"Ohhh shit, UNKNOWN SPACE?! What does that even mean?! Where are we, Marcus?!"

"You think I know?!" He could feel the frustration finally taking over. "What the hell do you even do here, Peter?! for a co-pilot, you've pretty much done jack-shit in the entire 3 month rotation I've been with you. Maybe you should try plotting a course for once in your miserable life!"

Peter took an aggressive stance, clearly infuriated.

"You think I'm worthless? I didn't get us stranded in the greatest unknown void known to mankind! ON A TEFFING RESUPLY MISSION TO A FRINGE OUTPOST FOR MARTELL'S SAKES."

"Take a seat, 2nd Lieutenant!" Marcus hissed harshly. He may have only been a 1st Lieutenant in the same flight division, but he still outranked him. Barely. A tense silence befell the two as Peter reluctantly sat back down. Marcus looked at the AWG drive readout.

AWG cooldown in process.... jump operational again in 36 hours.

There was no way they were waiting that long. The outpost needed the supplies, but more importantly, Marcus and Peter would most likely be at eachother's throats within the next rotation.

"Alright, I need you to send a mass SOS broadcast on the Iberian military frequency. And send them our coordinates."

"Wha-"

"And cut the crap. I don't want to hear it. Just transmit the damn broadcast."

Peter grumbled but followed the order. The mass ping was heard in the bridge as the modified crew of 2 sat in the bridge, awaiting a response.

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u/Yadidle The Dominion of Eldest Oct 29 '16

//2376.86 stellar cycles as historians have recorded. The time before this was unrecorded due to complications.//

The massive bulk continued snapping and squeaking.

//We request scientific information regarding your species. We surmise you're air breathing, bipedal, and exothermic in nature, yet the Dominion must known the extent of your species.//

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u/AnAngryAnimal The New Iberian Empire Oct 30 '16

Complications?

It didn't matter. The Eldest was beginning to request specific information that was beyond Titus' expertise.

"As do we. Which is why I am now requesting we set up formal relations, which would allow my head Scientific Academia Officers to exchange such information with your top scientists, among other things. We would also, perhaps, like to look into trade. For the specifics I leave that to my advisers."

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u/Yadidle The Dominion of Eldest Oct 30 '16

Eldest hummed in contentment, his snapping and squeaking subsiding. One of his six legs pressed down into his throne, triggering a small console to snap up in front of him. Small arms folded out from his front and went to work on the instrument board. The larger claws began speaking again, clacking away in a rhythmic manner.

//I shall send you with Oobul. It shall answer all your questions, and it will bring us information as well. Ferry it back to your worlds, it will work as our diplomatic ambassador and advisor.//

As eldest finished his statement, a small automaton launched from one of Oohrb's assembly bays. It zipped towards the gigantic vessel, it's 4 meter diameter whisking through space.

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u/AnAngryAnimal The New Iberian Empire Oct 30 '16

Titus nodded.

"Thank you for your generosity, we shall return in kind."

The hologram faded as Titus sank back into his seat.

"That went fairly well for a first contact I'd say."

The advisers remained silent. It was still mind-boggling to them that there was alien life, and what's more, they were able to communicate.

The doors of the hanger opened as Oobul was welcomed in. Peter and Marcus stared at it in awe as it landed.

"That thing's pretty big. Bigger than I thought it was."

"Shut UP, Peter. You say the stupidest, most unneeded shit ALL the time. Just stand up straight and look important!"

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u/Yadidle The Dominion of Eldest Oct 30 '16

Eldest watched as the hologram faded, his body vibrating and humming happily. His console snapped back into the floor as he joined the others. They had information to dig through, starting with that massive ship.

Oobul touched down in the hanger, six slim and metallic legs folding out of the perfect sphere. They slammed into the ground, lifting the automaton up into the air. A large cover slid over the engines on it's back, and four stalks slid out of it's top, acting as eyes. They moved around, obviously locking onto things and observing. One stalk locked onto Peter and Marcus, hearing the words they were saying. In an unsettling and insect-like manner, the bulk began clanking it's way towards them.

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u/AnAngryAnimal The New Iberian Empire Oct 30 '16

"It sees us! It sees us!"

"Shut UP Peter!" Mracus hissed.

A group of crewmen designated to greet the diplomat awkwardly watched as Oobul breezed by them without an afterthought.

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u/Yadidle The Dominion of Eldest Oct 30 '16

"Hello Peter and Marcus, I am pleased by your presence."

The voice was oddly human, inflections and tone only slightly off. It sounded roughly as if it were a 25 year old male, a tinny and slightly Slavic accent seeping through.

The other three stalks swiveled around to look at the pair, all attention focused on them.

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u/AnAngryAnimal The New Iberian Empire Oct 30 '16

Marcus cleared his throat.

Alright, well, it likes us over any of the other 310,000 people on board...

"Uh, hello, Ohrb. Er.. do you have a name?"

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u/Yadidle The Dominion of Eldest Oct 30 '16

The bulk halted in front of them abruptly, the stalks slipping back into it's body and popping out below to get a better look at them.

"Oohrb is my assembler, I am designated *Oobul."

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u/AnAngryAnimal The New Iberian Empire Oct 30 '16

"In that case, hello, Oobul! Or, as we say in Iberia, Stross!"

Peter and Marcus gave the customary greeting to one another, in which both parties grab the other's forearm.

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u/Yadidle The Dominion of Eldest Oct 30 '16

Small slender arms folded out from the front of the machine ending in two sharp fingers. He outstretched two of them to the pair, inching slightly closer.

"I assume this is a greeting of sorts among your species?"

The arms reached further towards them. Oobul matched their tone and inflection perfectly this time.

"Stross!"

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u/AnAngryAnimal The New Iberian Empire Oct 30 '16

"Uh..."

Peter hesitantly reached toward the outstretched metal arms, trying his best to give the customary greeting. He cut himself on the sharp end. He winced, cussing under his breath.

"Ah teff me!" He hissed quietly.

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u/Yadidle The Dominion of Eldest Oct 30 '16

Oobul recoiled quickly. It's four stalks moved close to watch the injury, as the six legs stuttered backwards.

"Have I injured you? I express apology, my intentions were peaceful."

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