NationStates Jolt Archive

[OOC- Keep comments to a minimum,please.]

It was a dark night in central Indigalia,and those workers on the ground saw a wire-framed outline against the dim skies.

On top of this structure was a satellite dish,which was broadcasting to a satellite in high orbit...and a voice began to speak to the crowd that had gathered; mothers and their children,businessmen,all quite curious...

"My fellow Indigalians...it is my pleasure to finally introduce to you,the IPCA,or the Inter-Planetary Communications Array. This will hopefully enable us to speak to those who reside in the stars,whether they be friend,foe,or neutral in intent!",the tall man,who wore a lab coat and thin glasses spoke into the hand-held megaphone.

"John,hit the lights!",he shouted into the megaphone. And at once,his comrade in the IPCA's control room flicked a few switches. Red and white lights flickered on,illuminating the rim of the satellite dish and wire-frame supports. Two powerful spotlights soon illuminated the dish itself.

And right after that, a repeating message was then broadcasted into the satellite,and hopefully to any nearby starsystems,planets,or ships.

"Greetings,otherworldly beings! The Dominion of Indigalia sends you warm greetings,and wishes to hear from you!",it was already recorded by the mega-phone weilding scientist,Dr. Straus.

John whispered to himself,monitoring the displays. "Lets hope this works..."

The nameless low-ranking communications officer had to disturb Ms. Knight, the president-elect, once more.

"Ma'am, we have a signal from Earth."

"So?," Jennifer replied, "What's new?"

"Well, this one seems to be a transmission from an Earth nation that wants to make extraterrestrial contact for the first time."

"That's good, let's send a reply. Tell them that this is the Independant Pluto president, and ask if they would be willing to exchange ambassadors or something."

"Um, we're probably not exactly what they were looking to contact, seeing as we're human and all."

"So? Let's shock them."

"Yes, ma'am."

A transmission went out on the same frequency that the call had went out on.

"This is the craft of Independant Pluto President Jennifer Knight. We wish to establish relations with you and possibly send an ambassador."

bump

He oughta be back on by now...

John's face lit up with excitement,as he called onto the intercom to Dr. Straus,who was still below. "Straus! We got something!",he spoke quickly and excitedly.

A few minutes later, Dr. Straus and a few other scientists were looking at the monitors John was in front of,and listening to the message.

Soon John had recorded a new message,after conferring with his comrades behind him. On the same frequence still:

"Warm greetings to you,President of Independant Pluto! We are currently looking into a diplomat that can make the great leap into space,however we do not have any 'extreme' craft,just space shuttles."

Message:

We could send one of our own craft to you. It would be cheaper, and more comfortable.

A bay opens in the side of the ship.

Message:

We could send one of our own craft to you. It would be cheaper, and more comfortable.

A bay opens in the side of the ship.

John recorded a quick message,basically giving the co-ordinates to the Space Program runway,50 miles from the IPCA.

"Now,what kind of training should we give this diplomat of ours?",he asked,and sent.

A small craft, the 15-person Passenger Liner Mk III, sails out, with Ms. Knight and several others aboard. It enters orbit.

"What's our ETA, John," Jennifer asked the pilot.

"Maybe 20 minutes."

"Good. Tell those back on ship to prepare hyperspace coordinates for somewhere scenic."

The engines on the small craft fired, bringing it into the atmosphere with a red glow.

Francis DuChamp had received a call from the government,and he nearly dropped the reciever in surprise; he had become the first ambassador to a otherwordly nation.

However,he had no training,and he hoped he didn't need any. So he ran out to his car and jumped in,before speeding off towards the airfield. Hurrying as fast as he could...

The pilot, trained for this sort of thing, fired the engines one more time as the craft settled down anto the runway. The door of it opened, and Jennifer was the first one out. Wearing a suit, she looked friendly but impressive, a look that she had been working at. Following her were 2 security guards. Th pilot stayed with the ship.

Francis arrived thirty minutes later,and after recieving a quick briefing from Emperor Tezen Nightshade himself,he walked out onto the runway.

Soon standing before her,and realized... She's...human?
And he quickly bowed before holding his right hand out. "I am Francis DuChamp,seasoned diplomat of Indigalia. What's this about becoming an ambassador to your government,Ms. President?"

"We were wondering if we could leave an ambassador here and possiblt take one to our nation, if you were comfortable with that. We might also wish to open trade relations with your nation."

keepin' it bumped...

keepin' it bumped...

"We were wondering if we could leave an ambassador here and possiblt take one to our nation, if you were comfortable with that. We might also wish to open trade relations with your nation."

"Ah. If this ambassador of yours is here, the Emperor...Tezen Nightshade,can immediately brief her on our country,and give her a comfortable office within the Parliament House",he nodded.

"Trade releations would also be quite a boost,however...", Francis paused for a bit,then started up, "We do not have any ships capable of making the route to Pluto,but they can be made..."

"I'm ready to go when you are,Ms. President.",he smiled and bowed slightly,in a courteous (sp?) manner.

Jennifer nodded. "No, we don't have an ambassador here. We were not expecting your message, or indeed anything but a simple diplomatic function elsewhere, so we are not ready to establish a permanent representative."
She continued,"We are in need of foodstuffs, but you do not need to develop your own vessels for trade. We have a substantial trade fleet. If you need some craft, we could sell some to you." She shrugged. "Let's leave that to the real negotiators." She motioned to one of the guards, and he stepped forward. "After you," she said to Francis.

Fracis nodded and followed the guard into the spacecraft,as he began to ponder how his first space ride would turn out...it would be exciting,that's for sure.

He looked through the case he brought with him. A built in laptop,with some papers and stuff. His equipment...

"So...Is Pluto's atmosphere changed now? Or do you live in colonies within domes?",he asked,curiously,to Ms. President.

As Jennifer entered the craft, she pondered how to best respond to the inquiry. She decided that honesty was best.

"No, no terraforming has been done. I don't think that some of the other nations with bases on Pluto would approve. We used to occupy a very large tower on the surface, but not anymore."

She took out a portable communicator and told those on ship to wram up the Space Fold drives.

As Jennifer entered the craft, she pondered how to best respond to the inquiry. She decided that honesty was best.

"No, no terraforming has been done. I don't think that some of the other nations with bases on Pluto would approve. We used to occupy a very large tower on the surface, but not anymore."

She took out a portable communicator and told those on ship to wram up the Space Fold drives.

"Where do you all live now?",he asked curiously,beginning to type up a report already on what he had.

The Emperor would be pleased with the information he had already gathered, to further understand...their new allies?

"A while back, under the old President, we started to notice soem overcrowding on the IP Tower," Jennifer said. " He put most of the people into suspended animation underground and split the Tower into cubes. They were fired into the Kuiper Belt and stay there. Each one is specialized."

"Enough about us, tell me about your nation. All I know is what I've heard from your transmissions, and that's not much."

She made sure a recorder on the craft was running.

"A while back, under the old President, we started to notice soem overcrowding on the IP Tower," Jennifer said. " He put most of the people into suspended animation underground and split the Tower into cubes. They were fired into the Kuiper Belt and stay there. Each one is specialized."

"Enough about us, tell me about your nation. All I know is what I've heard from your transmissions, and that's not much."

She made sure a recorder on the craft was running.

"Well,we are an economically strong nation, that has quite a science program...",he paused a bit,then continued. "And also,we hold control over two other nations,forming the 'Indigalian Empire'. Our leader is the Emperor,Tezen Nightshade,who has lead us from the very beginning...but his health is getting quite poor...",he went quiet again.

"Very sorry about that . . ." Curiosity overcoming gloom, she asked more about the science program. "Our technology isn't really as good as it appears. Much of what you'll see was bought from other nations. And we also don't have several bits of technology." They started floating against their restraining straps. "Like artificial gravity."

"Do you have the ability to project mass? Like a tractor beam? We haven't been able to do anything like that."

"Very sorry about that . . ." Curiosity overcoming gloom, she asked more about the science program. "Our technology isn't really as good as it appears. Much of what you'll see was bought from other nations. And we also don't have several bits of technology." They started floating against their restraining straps. "Like artificial gravity."

"Do you have the ability to project mass? Like a tractor beam? We haven't been able to do anything like that."

"To my knowledge,no. The science department is keeping some projects top secret,like 'Andromeda' and C.A.I.S...both relating to computers in some way. So perhaps they are trying..." Francis spoke directly to her,floating up a bit in his harness.

[Note- This name is one of mine (Indigalia) puppets.]

OOC: You told me.

"We're actually pretty good with computers. They run much of our nation, though we don't have real fancy AI. Why I asked about the mass thing was that having that would give us a tractor beam, and something like that would make landing easier, though our pilots are rather good at landing, as you saw." She paused. "We don't really have the money to develop such things for a few years. We've been busy expanding the Fleet and other things."

OOC: You told me.

"We're actually pretty good with computers. They run much of our nation, though we don't have real fancy AI. Why I asked about the mass thing was that having that would give us a tractor beam, and something like that would make landing easier, though our pilots are rather good at landing, as you saw." She paused. "We don't really have the money to develop such things for a few years. We've been busy expanding the Fleet and other things."

"We can always find a way to...help fund your research. Maybe even help develop it,even.",Francis spoke,stroking his chin and thinking of what to say next.

"Maybe when we have a firmer relationship," Jennifer replied. "We're approaching the main ship. This is our 'Mobile White House', used for things like diplomatic functions."

A door opened in the side of the passenger liner, and the little craft sailed in. The door closes.

"Here we are," said Jennifer. "Our home away from home. Do come out, it's safe."

She unbuckled and pulled herself to the door.

"Oh yeah, you're not used to this. Hey Mike," she gestured to one of the guards, "help him get around. We're heading back to out nation," she said to Francis, "but not directly. Follow me to the observation bay."

"Maybe when we have a firmer relationship," Jennifer replied. "We're approaching the main ship. This is our 'Mobile White House', used for things like diplomatic functions."

A door opened in the side of the passenger liner, and the little craft sailed in. The door closes.

"Here we are," said Jennifer. "Our home away from home. Do come out, it's safe."

She unbuckled and pulled herself to the door.

"Oh yeah, you're not used to this. Hey Mike," she gestured to one of the guards, "help him get around. We're heading back to out nation," she said to Francis, "but not directly. Follow me to the observation bay."

Francis unbuckled his harness,trying to adjust to the new surroundings. "Interesting...",he mubled to himself as he let the guard help him.

Jennifer pressed the door latch, and with a hiss, the door retracted. She pushed off of the side of the craft, sailing up to a door. She waited for Francis.

Jennifer pressed the door latch, and with a hiss, the door retracted. She pushed off of the side of the craft, sailing up to a door. She waited for Francis.

Francis jumped a bit and followed after her,but jumping caused him to go to far and *Thwak* his head on the wall near the door.

"Ow..."

"It's not really very hard," Jennifer told him. "Here, I'll help you."

Gracefully, she glided over to the foreign diplomat and helped him to the door out of the hangar. She opened the door, and pulled herself out and alond the hall using the handles om the walls.

"Follow me. We're going to the right viewing bay. It's not far."

"It's not really very hard," Jennifer told him. "Here, I'll help you."

Gracefully, she glided over to the foreign diplomat and helped him to the door out of the hangar. She opened the door, and pulled herself out and alond the hall using the handles om the walls.

"Follow me. We're going to the right viewing bay. It's not far."

Francis rubbed his head a bit and followed her,using the handles,soon getting quite used to this. Maybe even enjoying it...

A lot of thoughts were in his mind..

As the pair moved down the hall, the reched the hall to the viewing bay. It was a 90 degree direction change. While Knight pushed off from the wall deftly and sailed down it, she left DuChamp behind.

She pulled her way back to the foreign diplomat and said, "Your problem is gravity. You're still thinking like 'down' means something. You're still oriented the same way that you came out of the little craft. The way you're facing, the turn is a sheer wall. But if you go to this wall," she moved to another wall, "it's a left turn. See? It's tricks like that that make things different here."

"One of our problems bach in the Kuiper Belt is transport. We have a significant fleet of those little things that we entered orbit with, but it's not really enough for commuters. We're distributed amony hundreds of cobes out beyond Pluto's orbit."

As the pair moved down the hall, the reched the hall to the viewing bay. It was a 90 degree direction change. While Knight pushed off from the wall deftly and sailed down it, she left DuChamp behind.

She pulled her way back to the foreign diplomat and said, "Your problem is gravity. You're still thinking like 'down' means something. You're still oriented the same way that you came out of the little craft. The way you're facing, the turn is a sheer wall. But if you go to this wall," she moved to another wall, "it's a left turn. See? It's tricks like that that make things different here."

"One of our problems bach in the Kuiper Belt is transport. We have a significant fleet of those little things that we entered orbit with, but it's not really enough for commuters. We're distributed amony hundreds of cobes out beyond Pluto's orbit."

Francis nodded and attempted to follow the President,and almost made the turn,but flew down the straight hall,and twirled to grab the corner. "Ehehe...yeah,I'm used to Earth's gravity..."

He then managed to turn the corner and ended up next to the President.


Except he was upside down.

Jennifer, oblivious to the problems that Francis was facing, continued talking.

"We're about to arrive at the viewing bay. Nothing's run from there, it's just a place for passengers to enjoy the view. I don't expect that you've been in space before, so I ordered the ship to face towards Earth. You might enjoy it."

The pair reached the door to the bay. Jennifer pressed a button on a keypad, and it opened with a hiss. The ship was still rotating, and the stars were spinning past slowly.

"Come in," Jennifer said to Francis, "Eath will be in view in about a minute. Sit down in one of the seats."

She sat down and strapped herself in in one of the nearest reclining seats.

Jennifer, oblivious to the problems that Francis was facing, continued talking.

"We're about to arrive at the viewing bay. Nothing's run from there, it's just a place for passengers to enjoy the view. I don't expect that you've been in space before, so I ordered the ship to face towards Earth. You might enjoy it."

The pair reached the door to the bay. Jennifer pressed a button on a keypad, and it opened with a hiss. The ship was still rotating, and the stars were spinning past slowly.

"Come in," Jennifer said to Francis, "Eath will be in view in about a minute. Sit down in one of the seats."

She sat down and strapped herself in in one of the nearest reclining seats.

Francis propelled himself off the wall and into the viewing bay. He managed to slip in a chair next to Jennifer,and strapped himself in. "I have never really seen Earth from space,except for satellite imagery."

"You're in for a treat then," said Jennifer. It's inpressive, even if you've seen it before."

Just then, the edge of Earth came into view.

"You're in for a treat then," said Jennifer. It's inpressive, even if you've seen it before."

Just then, the edge of Earth came into view.

Francis looked at the planet, the one he was born on. The clouds...the oceans and their peaceful blue depths,and lands of green and brown and gray.

"Oh my...",he whispered,mouth open slightly in surprise and admiration of the view.

Jennifer gave a slight smile. "It's still impressive, even after you've seen it. My home planet isn't nearly as impressive, being a little ball of ice and dust."

She paused and admired the view as the rest of the planet swung into view.

"We're going to go somewhere really scenic soon, though. Just wait..."

Jennifer gave a slight smile. "It's still impressive, even after you've seen it. My home planet isn't nearly as impressive, being a little ball of ice and dust."

She paused and admired the view as the rest of the planet swung into view.

"We're going to go somewhere really scenic soon, though. Just wait..."

"May I ask where?",Francis looked over and smiled. He then turned back to gaze at his homeworld until she answered him...

"No. You'll find out soon enough anyway."

Jennifer didn't know herself, but she trusted in her crew to pick somewhere good.

"We ought to be there in a few minutes. The trip won't take very long."