Astral Zephyr: “I collected everyone here today to discuss
our options concerning Colony-224. As
some of you are aware, I received a message from the gas giant’s orbital space
station. It included a map of the star
system, including all navigational hazards, and also an overlay describing the
filed flight plans of every ship in the system, including our own trajectory,
which appears to be safe. There was also
a video message using the same protocol, with the image of a female human and
subtitles. I think it’s a welcome, based
off of facial expression, but I can’t translate the subtitles.”
Alexander Gestler: “It could be a trap. They are advanced, but they are slower than
light. They know we can travel faster
than light. Therefore they have motivation
to capture us.”
Zheng Hui: “And how are the maps a trap? You think they are to deceive us?”
Gestler: “They are not a trap, directly. Assuming C-224 desires our FTL drive, they
have no reason to give us false information.
Similarly, if they are being genuinely helpful, they have no reason to
give us false information. Instead, I
suspect it is a ploy for us to rush into the system without being fully
prepared.”
Maria Santiago: “The map is consistent with everything we
see via sensors. Make of that what you
will.”
Zheng: “I think you’re being overly suspicious. If I have the math right, they should only
have had a few hours of seeing us before they sent those messages.”
Zephyr: “Five hours, minus the time for actually noticing
us.”
Zheng: “Yes, well, that’s not really enough time to come up
with deep plans of that sort. Do you
expect that the crew of that orbital station decided on their own to capture
us? There wasn’t enough time to send a
message to C-224 proper and get a reply, certainly.”
Gestler: “I was just pointing out the possibility,
Captain. Our plan should address the
mostly likely circumstance, but also be safe from the worse possible
circumstance.”
Zheng: “What do you mean?”
Gestler: “If we assume they are friendly, there are many
ways we could act. For instance, we
could immediately dock with the station.
Similarly, if we assume they are not friendly, there are many ways we
could act. We could flee the system
entirely, for an example. However, there
are a number of plans that would work both ways.”
Zheng: “Give me an example.”
Gestler: “Light takes time to travel. If we set up a random flight course a few
light-minutes away from the gas station, then they cannot know our location –
by the time they see us, we will be somewhere unpredictable. Meanwhile, we can observe the station for any
weapons, weaknesses, and also send messages back and forth with the station.”
Zheng: “That is definitely overly suspicious.”
Gestler: “As you say.
Given that they probably do not want to destroy us, even staying a few
light minutes would be sufficient, since if they threaten us, we can be gone
before they could receive our answer and act upon their threat. As security chief, however, it is my place to
be overly suspicious, and to make every possible plan. In this case, however, I will accept most
plans that do not involve rushing blindly into potential danger.”
Zheng: “And if we choose to rush blindly into potential
danger?”
Gestler: “I will object, and if my lady chooses to do so
over my objections, well it is her choice, and hers alone. I will help her rush blindly into danger, and
then defend her as best I can.”
Zephyr: “You speak of me as if I am not here.”
Gestler: “My apologies, madam.”
Zephyr: “Hm. Well, I
do not plan on ‘rushing blindly into danger’.
We will continue to approach on our current trajectory, and send
messages to the gas giant station and to C-224 itself. If we provide them with all of the languages
our translation software knows, we might be able to find a common language. Once we have analyzed everything we can see
from here, we will move closer. Maria, I
trust you know how close I should go to C-244 for you to get a good idea of
their orbital traffic?”
Maria: “Yes.”
Zephyr: “Well, that is my plan for now. Things may change once we can actually
understand what they are saying.”
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