Planet N1
The Praefectus could sense that the being was saving the Plaerique, but didn't understand why. Before it could have a moments of thought, however, 6 more ships were drifting in at large speeds and slowing down. They spread out, some looking over the moon, some joining the others as they looked down at the planet.
There was nothing but silence for awhile.
The Plaerique laid there for a moment, before jumping up in a surprised manner, and looked around and made sounds, mixed of squaks and barking sounds, 'looking' around the room, but really just cocking it's head about like a chicken or ostrich. It made some coughing sounds, but it could slightly tolerate the carbon dioxide. It took more energy from it to turn it into oxygen, but it could do it. It's 'stomach' area or 'belly' would expand and contract very obviously and largely as it calmed down. Still in shock that the being had obviously grabbed it and taken it to this box like area, it was intimidated until it was calmed by the Praefectus.
...
...
"The being that placed us in the chamber. You gave it life."
...
"You must meet us. On our home."
As the Praefectus said 'on our home' the very large Hive ship that had entered in close to the Exploration vessel opened its mouth largely and attewmpted sound, an echo wave that the Exploration could feel and sense, but it was completely ineffective to the larger, more battle ready ships. It's small and short tendrils stretched out and its smog released slightly, it was drawing attention to itself, away from the other Hive ships. Stating that it was the ship the Being needed to board.
Whether or not the demand was for the Tinkerer to board the ship alone or not was not answered. And the Praefectus would not speak again.
(There are apparent openings, small enough for someone to crawl into, on the sides of the Hive... if they could find them. They are covered in something representing a biological slime-like wall. Considered to be similar to pours, but act as airlocks for Esurienti, coming with another slime-like wall on the other side. If one wanted to be a dare-devil, the Hive is keeping its mouth open for this purpose; one would blatantly see a large entrance in the mouth, consider it a throat. But an airlock much larger with the same slime-like walls that one could pass through. Hint: This is what they use when a Hive bites on an enemy ship. Create a hole and create an instant boarding party)