NationStates Jolt Archive

"Take note of the TFU border and ensure that our craft does not enter within it's boundaries or within close enough proximity to cause distress to the TFU." Came the synthesized voice of the co-pilot of the Ugolungabardu trading vessel GFR-6573. The small, sleek vessel was armed, but only lightly, yet with an array of unusual weaponary. It was however, obviously a non-military vessel that bore no soldiers and only two crewmembers, the pilot, CF-546 still being attached to the craft, his neural socket still interfaced with the ship's systems as he guided the craft mentally, ensuring to log the position of the TFU border and not cross it. They were trying to get to a system where they were to trade basic tech for fuel and CF-546 knew that the last thing they wanted was to tread on anyone's toes. The mostly robotic Ugolungabardu connected his thumb into the computer socked within the wall and downloaded more information directly within himself and, then swatting a fly from a part of his army that was still flesh, he turned to CF-546.

"CF-546," The co-pilot said to the pilot, "We have recieved word from The Others that there is a mass colonization to commence within this sector shortly by The Cassiopeian Empire. The TFU are angered by this and so it will not be advisable to take this route on the return journey." The pilot turned his prtially metallic skull towards the co-pilot and nodded.
"Affirmative," The pilot said in a more synthesized voice and in a slightly cold manner, lacking emotion and drive, "New future course being plotted FR-11. May the Machine God compute with certainty." FR-11 plugged himself in then to the computer he was standing by and monitored the frequencies of thier newly aqquired Hyperwave decoder to see if they could interpret more about what was going on around the vicinity; perhaps there was profit to be made here. But then again, such thoughts weren't always good.

They had never encountered the TFU before in person, only through others had they heard that they existed. They were not sure on thier diplomatic and miltiary stances either, but neither of them appeared to matter either as they were neither at war or at peace with them yet. Indeed, they were nothing to them; according to Ugolungabardu records, the TFU had never met thier kind before, that much oculd be deduced with a 98.75% probablility, FR-11 concluded as he continued his Hyperwave Decoder scanning, picking up nothing as of yet. If they made good time they could reach the agreed place for the trade a few weeks early, it was quite a distance but nothing that thier craft couldn't handle, although from the outside point of view it would have looked more like a custom job gone horribly wrong, but looks weren't everything, FR-11 knew. They knew that all too well.

Slowly a mars class light cruiser rumbled along in the dark void of space, its sleek body illuminated with the light of a near by star, its hull lights blink on and off as it approached strange readings.

The ships mission was mainly border security, it was used in conjunction with the SWACS, and AI probes.
On the bridge the captain sat in his chair looking around his officers working along, he exhaled with a feeling of tiredness, the ship slowly drifted closer towards the suppoused trade route, but it unknowingly did so.

Conversely, the shining blackness that was GFR-6573 continued undettered, not noticing the ship that was soon to cross thier path. They were not to know that anyone was to turn up at this time, there had been hyperwave silence for some time and so neither FR-11 nor CF-546 were expecting any company. The modulating Phase shields were on thier lowest setting and thier weaponary, the single Beta Warp Cannon was currently powered down.
"If all goes well, we should arrive within the agreed trade area within 48 hours of non-stop travel. Make sure to recharge your pwoer units during the journey." FR-11 told the pilot of the vessel. CF-546 complied and began removing unwanted cache files from his memory while running an encryption/virus scan on his main memory banks.

The cruiser floated by inching closer, the scanners on the con began to beep with furious noise, the captain looked over and asked “what do we have con ?” the con officer tapped the blinking beeping console and said in a soft but noticeable voice “unknown sir we have a strange object out there”

The captain sighed and said “set an intercept course, full speed”

Several moment passed the ship raced towards the unknown reading quickly.

The con stated “sir, we are coming with in range of an unknown ship, its not an enemy ship or a ship we know in data bases”

The captain looked over “hmm really? Well open hailing frequencies “

The con officer taped a button up a frequency then he nodded.

The captain spoke in a friendly diplomatic tone “ this is the captain of the federal star ship USS Defender, we kindly request that you identify your selves.”

FR-11 turned to face CF-546 then as he was in the near trance like state of controlling the ship.
"CF-546," FR-11 told him almost as an activation command, which it partially was. Suddenly snapping out of his trance and turned to see FR-11 and, in his mind, the picture that had appeared on the scanners of the ship that had hailed them. It was a most curious design, one they would have to examine at a later date with the TFU's consent, but that was for another time, "We have been hailed. Advice on possible course of action." CF-546's bionic right eye flashed red as the AI within his own mind activated and calculated all the possiblities of thier potential actions. There was a moment's silence that was only broken by the sound of machines whirring in the background.
"Logic dictates that diplomacy would be the best course of action. Attacking is futile and not required due to our current mission. Potential trade routes and agreements are 54.3% probable if we take a peaceful approach." CF-546 explained. FR-11 understood and complied, turning on an audio-only communication and sending it back through thier hyperwave decoder, an old piece of technology but heavily upgraded to become equal to current technology levels. The tone was that of FR-11 that the TFU people would have heard, synthesized and yet eerily humanoid in a manner of speaking, monotone and precise.

<HYPERWAVE CODED MESSAGE BEGINS>

"Vessel GFR-6573. Crewmembers two. Subject CF-546. Subject FR-11. Onboard defensive systems setting low. Agressive protocols not activated. No alert or hostile intent procedures initiated. Acknowledging the territory boundary GY-658 Delta of the The Fedral Union. Request intent of initial communication."

<HYPERWAVE CODED MESSAGE ENDS>

The frigate turned to face the ship ..

Mean while the captain stood up and pressed a comm. Button, he spoke with a friendly voice “ from your message we determine that you come here in peace, we are glad to meet new races and wish to know if there’s any way we can escort you to a star base to set up a diplomatic meeting?”

The ships hull lights blinked off and on

There was a moment's silence as CF-546 and FR-11 looked to one another briefly; this would be an important choice, one that was so simple to make and yet hard to calculate. Running through the sums in thier heads for all of a second, they opened up communications again.

<HYPERWAVE CODED MESSAGE BEGINS>

"Escort mode engaged. Now following your vessel. Proceed to starbase for diplomatic session. Message Ends."

<HYPERWAVE CODED MESSAGE ENDS>

That same message was being relayed to all of thier own kind's vessels in the area, the notification that diplomatic talks would take place with the TFU slowly spreading through thier entire species, eventually reaching thier leader. He computed the information and nodded to himself, making ready for the nessecary arrangements.