Fwurg

[Mercury]

((OOC: This thread is private to: Ardios Eldrilith, Senator Nehket Aeka))

The Kortranc System appeared to be quiet - the sensor vessel that had been dispatched reported the system to be empty.

The system itself featured a single Blue Giant star circled by a large planet, which was not much more than a large rock with some bacteria and a few plants. The air was thin and dry and could barely be considdered a Type II atmosphere. It was safe to land on however, and a marker bouy had marked a single location near the planets southern pole, the only place cool enough to hold a sensible conversation.

As of yet there was no sign of the Echani, but the sensor vessel could give some images of the location below:



Finally a blip appeared on the hyperspace sensors - a single ship was coming in towards the system...

[Senator Ardios Eldrilith]

"Lets land our ship on the open spot that is marked by the sensor bouy. "

Ardios orders the pilot to land the ship.

The sensor vessel is dispatched to scout around the Kortranc system, scanning for any other incoming ships.

After the landing Ardios prepares his ceremonial robes and makes sure he does not forget anything.

[Nehket Aeka]

"Pilot, delay that order.", Senator Nehket Aeka interjected.

"Would you like to be wiped from existence, Senator Eldrilith? While I applaud your trust in our newfound conversation partner, I think it best to wait a bit before landing.

Let us contact the vessel by holochannel before we set foot on the surface and open ourselves up to all manner of attacks. That way we can coordinate a synchronous landing, which at least opens up both diplomatic parties to the same attacks."

[Unknown Echani]

Soon, a small vessel ship dropped out of hyperspace. It was remarkable only by its unremarkableness: the hyperdrive was eons out of date judging by its signature, it had no weapons, shields or armour and it featured no markings or colours except being black. There wasn't even a transponder code being broadcasted. In fact, it didn't seem to transmit anything.

Not even bothering to attempt to contact the Union vessel, it moved straight for the marker bouy, slow enough that the two senators were easily able to go in for a synchronous landing.

Once the ship had landed, the cargo doors opened and a ramp slowly lowered itself. The vessel was rusty and small, definitely not something you would expect to be used by a foreign diplomat. Then again, who knew what was considdered 'normal' by the Echani?

Synchronised with the two Senators, a single humanoid figure walked out of the small Echani vessel, cloaked in black cloth to hide their face and appearance, with the exception of the eyes which were visible - deep blue ones, surrounded by what seemed like smooth yellow-pinkish skin.

"Do you understand this language?"

An obfuscated voice, deformed by machine, inquired in Galactic Basic. In the Union, Galactic Basic was the Lingua Franca, so asking whether it was understood seemed strange, but of course the Echani territories had been inaccessible for so long, the same might not hold there.

[Nehket Aeka]

"We do.

I am Senator Nehket Aeka, and this is Senator Ardios Eldrilith."

[Senator Ardios Eldrilith]

"Greetings traveler.

We were surprised and curious when we received a official message from the Echani. As representative of the Union I am authorized to say that the Union is always willing to talk. What is the reason for meeting here on this barren planet? What is the matter that you wanted to discuss?"

[Unknown Echani]

The Echani representative seemed surprised by the senator's introduction and they were for a moment brought off balance by it.

"You are very open and trusting. Much more so than we had expected." they concluded. "As you have been so open, let me give you my name as well. I am Speaker Duhiel. I speak for the Echani."

By this time, Duhiel seemed to have adapted to the new situation.

"I have brought a symbol from our people." Duhiel stated, retrieving a large dead bird of prey from amongst their affects and placing it carefully upon a stone next to them. It was quite a regal bird. No doubt it had been nimble and capable in life but now it lay dead on the rock, it's wings spread out around it as they would have been in flight.

From the way Duhiel handled the bird, it seemed as if this was a highly symbolic act with a deep meaning behind it which was completely lost on the two Senators.

Duhiel looked towards the Union representatives expectantly.

[Senator Ardios Eldrilith]

"I have a gift for you as well."

Ardios takes a small box from his affects and hands it over to Duhiel.
The box contains two expensive rare elements that continuously float around each other in elliptic curves.

"Do not worry, it is harmless. It is a symbol of what our factions could be: continuously in contact with each other without harming each other. "

[Nehket Aeka]

Understanding the relevance of rituals and symbolic gestures, Aeka decided to remain silent and let the Minister of Foreign affairs handle it.

[Unknown Echani]

Duhiel nodded in acknowledgement of the symbol, seeming most pleased at the level of understanding of the two Senators. The Echani looked to Senator Ardios, then to Senator Nehket.

"A new force is rising in the Aptic Zone." - that was most likely the Echani name though not being familiar with their method of determining location, it didn't tell the Senators much. "Intelligence suggests a new Mand'alor will soon rise to power. Do you understand this threat?"

Though they were unsure about the details, no doubt the Echani was speaking of the Mandalorian Fleets. Divided, the individual fleets and tribes of the Mandalorians were mighty, but they could be dealth with and though dangerous for individual members, a nation as powerful as the Union could no doubt chase them off.

Mand'alor was the name the Mandalorians gave to their supreme ruler - a single individual in charge of all Mandalorians. There had not been such an individual in a long time, and never in the history of the Union. All Mandalorian fleets combining to form a single force would be much more dangerous. Dangerous enough to threaten even the Union.

[Senator Ardios Eldrilith]

"We understand that this could be a threat. We will need to verify this information ourselves. "

Ardios paused for a few seconds.

"Could you give me more information about the 'Aptic Zone' ? I am not familiar with this part of space. "

[Nehket Aeka]

Nehket Aeka awaits Duhiel's reply before acting.

[Unknown Echani]

"The Echani understand the need for verification. The Aptic zone features a double pulsars system where the slower pulsar pulsates at a ratio of 33.425 to the faster one."

Double Pulsar systems were extremely rare and the ratio between them was more then enough to uniquely identify them. A quick search on a datapad revealed that what the Echani called the Aptic zone was most likely in Sector 3 -6, well inside Mandalorian territory.

[Senator Ardios Eldrilith]

"You must understand that we will have to contact our people on Unity before we can proceed. Let us both take some time to report back to our own people. We can continue in 30 minutes."

Ardios quickly bowed before he returned to the ship.

After returning to the ship and waiting for Senator Nehket Aeka he sealed the room.

"Do we have any spies in the Aptic zone? We should verify this information as soon as possible. Let us contact the cabinet and report what we have just learned. "

Ardios left the setup of a secure communication channel in Nehket Aeka's capable hands.

[Nehket Aeka]

With a short bow towards speaker Duhiel the minister of Defence followed her colleague to their own vessel.

"We do not have any spies in the Aptic zone that I know of." After replying to the question Nehket Aeka looked at Ardios Eldrilith Expectantly, clearly waiting for something.

[Senator Ardios Eldrilith]

"In that case we should deploy them as soon as possible. With approval from the rest of the cabinet of course. Don't you agree?"

After Senator Nehket Aeka's answer Ardios unsealed the room.

[Nehket Aeka]

"That does seem like good course of action", she replied, clearly expecting some action from her colleague.

[Senator Ardios Eldrilith]

"Give me a second."

Ardios entered the flight deck and looked towards the communications officer.

"Setup a secure connection to Chancellor Acehtoo and route it to the meeting room. "

After this command he returned to the meeting room and waited for the holonet connection.

"Greetings Chancellor Achetoo. We have just met with representative Duhiel from the Echani. The Echani have new information about a Mand'alor rising to power in the Aptic Zone.

This information still needs to be verified. Here are the coordinates for the Aptic Zone."

Ardios sends the coordinates to Acehtoo.

"Am I forgetting anything Nehket Aeka?"

[Nehket Aeka]

"We have not yet discussed more with Speaker Duhiel. He, or she, mentioned the fact that a new Mand'alor represents a significant threat. I will allocate funds to verify the information as soon as we have returned to Unity.

What strikes me is the fact that the Echani have waited till now to contact us. We know that they are very xenophobic, yet they seek to contact us. I think they do not share this information only because they wish to warn us.

We should endeavour to determine the actual reason for seeking contact."

[Senator Acehtoo of the Miomanian Colonists]

"Greetings Senators," The Chancellor seemed relieved the two senators had not been the victim of a trap.

"Though we should verify it, if a new Mand'alor is rising to power, this could be a serious problem." she took pause to consider that "The Mandalorians are dangerous warriors known for their ferocity and when they follow a Mand'alor, this almost always means large campaigns and war.

Regardless, the question raised by Senator Nehket Aeka of what their motivation is remains up in the air. Have they asked for anything from us?"

[Nehket Aeka]

"Not yet. I assume they will bring this up before we part ways.

We shall inform you after our second meeting with speaker Duhiel."

Senator Nehket Aeka moved out of the holorecorder's field of vision, to the bridge.

"Inform us the moment you detect the presence of other vessels or phenomenons.", she told the captain, "we shall continue our meeting with the Echani representative."

[Senator Ardios Eldrilith]

Ardios follows Nehket Aeka back to the meeting.

"Welcome back."

[Unknown Echani]

"Will your people be able to get confirmation of the information we have provided you with? Do they understand the implications?" The Echani inquired, with a greater sense of urgency than the first time they asked, as if they were somehow missing something important which Duhiel tried to clarify in a wonderfully obscure way.

[Senator Ardios Eldrilith]

"We will see what we can do to verify this information quickly.

Maybe we do not fully understand the implications. Why have the Echani decided to come to us with this information?"

[Unknown Echani]

"Because of this." Duhiel motioned to the dead bird that they had brought. "The Nova-birds are dying." Duhiel offered as further explanation, seemingly surprised that this was required.