The dawn breaks slow, because it has all the time in the world. There's no rush here. Already, birds are chirping their sing-songs, and the brook is bubbling along beneath. The ground is soft beneath her feet; it smells like pine. There's only one place in the universe this perfect. It's another beautiful morning on Earth.
But then a tear runs down her cheek, because it is a lie. She has seen Earth, today, and it doesn't have an ounce of beauty left.
At her command, the Holographic Suite flickers off. The birds disappear, not even leaving the echo of a chirp. Without all those tricks of light and sensation, the Suite is a small, dead room, painfully white. It is occupied only by two people: the human woman named Jamila Abadi, and a smiling hologram who has no name.
"Ms. Abadi!" the holographic man says, in the friendly tone all programs use, "I do so hope you enjoyed the show?"
She wipes the tear from her eye, feeling self-conscious even though she knows the man in front of her isn't real- that he's only made of light. "Of course," she says.
"Wonderful!" he cheers. "Shall I help you select another program? A new holo-film was just released today, from the makers of-"
"Suite: Mute."
He stops talking. But does stay smiling, very incapable of being offended. She leaves him there, grinning cheerfully in the general direction of the door. He'll probably stay that way all night.
After all, Student Abadi, daughter of the Oligarchy and soon to be initiated into it, newly-assigned diplomat and first ECU citizen to see Earth in three centuries, has bigger matters to attend to. There are two other ships here. One is broadcasting a (slightly annoying) message on repeat, and the other is trying to talk to it.
Hopefully, Abadi thinks,
to tell it to shut that broadcast off. Her thoughts are being unkind right now. It's only been five minutes since her ship was ordered through the Gateway, four minutes since she looked upon Earth, and three minutes since, overwhelmed with emotion, she excused herself to the Holographic Suite. She left the other two crew-members of this little shuttle to stay at helm, themselves torn between watching the foreign ships and watching the sad story that is humanity's old home. She can't help but notice that one of them is crying, too.
Why are you still here? she wants to ask those ships.
You can see that Earth is gone. It's over. Why are you here? But she knows the answer.
"Hail, foreign ships," she finally broadcasts outwards, picking her best Old American accent. "We are travelers as well, from the..." the irony suddenly makes her tongue go thick, "...
Earth Cultural Union. We greet you."
~~~~~~~~
"Unknown Vessel," the holographic woman in front of him recites, "this is Captain Olivia Lillith of the Zelrio Corporation, the colony of the planet Oria. We welcome you with open arms to our system."
He waits a moment, and then asks "That's the end of the message?"
"Yes," the hologram secretary confirms.
Tanaka nods at once, looking very unsure of himself. Not that it matters either way, because nobody's looking at him. The other two crewmen are staring diligently out into space, taking in the sheer scale of the threat before them. Being loyal ECU citizens, they were raised on holographic horror stories of aliens, abhumans and invaders just the same as anyone. Tanaka alone is too naive to feel the danger. When he looks at the massive, looming ship through his viewscreen, he only senses curiosity. (And, maybe, the slight tingle of nerves that comes with any new responsibility.)
After some thought, he commands his holo-secretary to send back the following message:
"Captain Olivia Lillith of the Zelrio Corporation, of the planet of Oria, I am Oligarch Tanaka, student of our wise Savant James Heralds, and humble explorer in this world..." Growing up as a Student, his teachers only ever praised him for Eloquence. Luckily, this was also the class they had cared most about. "Our people are dedicated to preserving the knowledge and essence of Earth, humanity's long-lost home. But I now believe there are no words in any of its languages to express the joy I feel at this encounter."
~~~~~~~~
If all goes well, they won't even know they're in a Suite.
James Heralds had been surprised to hear that message which was sent to the Gateway Listening Post. So quickly? In the same moment Tanaka leaves, or near to it, the alien ship appears. It left him with the feeling he had participated in some strange exchange.
Within two minutes, he had already run through every scenario his mind could imagine, weighed the odds, and landed at the following conclusions.
1.) Because it has access to the Gateway, the ship is most likely from an Earth colony.
2.) Because it is an Earth colony, they are most likely human.
3.) Because they are human, they can be manipulated.
The rules of manipulation are so well-known to Heralds, after more practice playing at them than most people would get out of their entire lives, that he does not need to call them to mind. He knows instinctively that one will need to get them in a controlled environment, and that one needs to impress them early on. Very early. Really, he would prefer it was done already, but if you want something done right...
'
Invite them onboard,' he hammers the message into his steel-gray infopad. '
Take them straight to the Holographic Suite. Have it already set to a very impressive program, visually speaking.' He considers for a moment, and then decides '
the Royal Court scene. If they do not know what a Holo-Suite is, they may believe they are within an actual room in the station.' This will grant the visitors the impression that the ECU constructs lavish and complex areas within even their research outposts, making them seem far wealthier than they are.
'
If they recognize it as being artificial, do not act surprised or offended. Convince them, if you can,' for he knows how often other people struggle with this, '
that you never intended deception. That is, that they were meant to know it was a Holographic Suite, and we are only putting our best foot forward.' He debates whether to tell his citizens to make their guests feel stupid for not knowing what a Suite is, but decides that would be too complicated of a maneuver for them.
Without a moment of hesitation, for hesitating means you are lost, the Savant James Heralds sends his message to the Listening Post.
Member
kapuchu
Sylvan
Expendable
MrSkimobile
Timemaster
Izurich
Abstract Proxy
Vixere
PrinceAlexus
