Control Center on Daichi

Saiki Kouan was in the Control Center of the Tansaku Staging area on Daichi. He looked out the window down at the eight starships were being loaded and prepared for one of the most important missions the Scientific Studies Service had embarked on. Meeting with a new race, and establishing a semi-permanent presence on their home world. Who would have imagined such a thing would happen so soon. We fully expected to observe non-star faring races, but to meet one that had already made the transition. he thought as watched the flurry of activity below.

The activity at the Staging area was an example of efficiency, ground vehicles delivered equipment and supplies to their designated ship. As soon as they were offloaded, they returned to the warehouses and repeated the process.

He looked at the large structural sections being loaded into the extra ships. Once at their destination, they would be used to create a large structure that the expedition would use.

Takara walked up and placed her right hand on his shoulder, “Kouan-Chan, we should be heading down to the Tansaku. The Captain wants to close up the ship in a few minutes.”

Kouan turned to his green haired assistant. “Then we should not keep Captain Sturm waiting. You know how he gets when his precious time schedule is interrupted. “

He then grabbed his isolated computer pad and his backpack with his personal items. “Let’s go Takara my darling; we have a date with destiny.”

They took the lift to the ground floor and walked out of the building. An SSS Classico was waiting for the Chuji. Security person from the SSS stood by the vehicle and opened the door as Kouan and Takara approached. “Good day Chuji, ma’am.”

“That it is Mitchell-San, an auspicious one.” Kouan replied.
Once at the Classico he waited for Takara to enter the vehicle, he watched her slide over on the seat and make room for him. Once he was certain that he had enough room he handed her his backpack and computer. He then slid into the seat and the guard closed the door. Once the guard entered the passenger side of the vehicle, the Classico pulled away from the Control Center with a soft purr.

Kouan looked at the ships as they circled the field to where their ship waited. It gave him a moment to appreciate the lines of the ships. All of these Tansaku-Class ships had been upgraded to the 1B variant, which was fortuitous given the distance they were going to cross. “Just think Takara,” he said placing his hand on her thigh, “We are about to go from one frontier to the other. Quite the adventure, I must say I am looking forward to a bit of time in the field. This trip to Shara will be an entirely different experience.”

When the Classico completed its circuit of the field, it pulled up in front of the Tansaku. The guard exited the vehicle and opened the door for the passengers. Kouan and Takara exited the vehicle and walked towards the airlock. The Classico then went for the forward ramp and entered the vehicle bay.

Kouan made his way to the bridge of the ship, he knew the Tansaku intimately having been involved in its conception, so he liked to make his way through without assistance.

Once on the bridge he spotted Sturm talking to a number of his crew members. He chose to wait until the Captain was done before speaking to him. Without so much as a word, Sturm looked over at Kouan and gave him a brief nod. He concluded his discussion and walked over. He bowed to his superior, Kouan returned the bow.

When both straightened he spoke, “Looks like you have everything well in had my friend. I hope we did not delay your departure?”

“Not at all Saiki-San, we are on schedule and should be lifting in twenty minutes. Your cabin is ready when you wish to retire to it. I presume you will be in the Lounge for departure, I will join you there once we get ready to lift.” David then turned and took his station on the bridge.

Takara leaned closer to Kouan and whispered, “I am going to go to our cabin and change into something more comfortable for the departure.”
Kouan turned and watcher her leave, then followed shortly after.

Twenty-five minutes later the eight Tansaku-class ships lifted from Staging area and headed upward in a single line. Once in orbit the ships moved into a staggered pattern and left the orbit of Daichi, along the way two squadrons of 2XF Plumeria Gunships paralleled their path. Once the ships were beyond the effective gravity well of Daichi, the order was given to commence the first of several folds that would take them to Shara. The sixteen starships vanished in a series of teal glows that faded marking their passage.

Arrival

Kouan was on the bridge when the group arrived in the Shara star system. He stood looking at the star on the screen and looked at the overlay of the system. He had spent most of the time in transit reading the information provided by the crews of the Yamatai ships that had already visited.

Marcus sitting at the communications station sent the following message to the Gartagen home world.

Upon arrival to Shara the SSS convoy would find the entire system was on high alert. Their advanced scanners would detect that the local space fleet was indeed numerous and fully mobilized for an active defense of the home system. They did not how ever act aggressively towards the new arrivals. Immediately they received a response directly from Gartaga




The fleet defending the Shara system did not send an escort, which was a different show then what was seen during the initial Yamataian visit. The Yamatians were Gartagen allies. Gartagen etiquette would have allies treated like family. The reception may not have been formal, but it was certainly warmer.

Kouan turned to the Captain from where he stood at the back of the bridge. "Well David-San, we have our invitation. Kindly take us down. Instruct the other ships to remain in orbit until we have a chance to secure a location to establish our base of operation."

David gave a nod to Kouan, "Okay people let's take her down. Secure all exterior units and prepare for atmospheric travel. Mr Garret, you are cleared to descend to the specified coordinats." The Captain then relayed the orders from the Chuji.

The Tansaku made easily entered the upper atmosphere and was buffeted by the turbulence at the upper levels. At the Helm John smiled as the great ship responded to his touch, "She is handling like a dream Captain, those upgrades have really helped with her performance Saiki-Chuji." he said as he altered course for the landing site.

As the Science ship passed over the Gartagen city, the sensors took many visual images on their approach of the surrounding area. John slowed the Tansaku and deployed the landing gears just moments before the ship touched down on the surface. Once the ship settled on the gear the Helmsman terminated the primary sensors and propulsion.

"Nicely done Mr Garret. David-San, care to escort me to meet with our hosts?" Koan said as he turned towards the exit.

"I would be glad to Saiki-San, should be interesting to meet a new race." He replied as he crossed the bridge.

Takara followed Kouan off the bridge, as the ship's AI Shisou sent a message informing the Gartagens that the representatives would be disembarking from the port airlock.

The three members of the SSS waited in the airlock to give their hosts some time to get to the area before they opened the outer door.

The Visual images would find the Imperial city to be a vast Urban sprawl that in many respects rivaled that of Funky City. Key differences seen were the fact that the structures were not nearly as tall. Other then that, the city was filled with a teeming population that were all in the streets going about their lives. Orphaned children could be seen hopping from the flat roof tops trying to get a view of the landing alien ship. Aerial vehicles were flying about the city’s skyline, and Gartagens could be seen making use of animal driven carriages right next to advanced technology. The City of lights was like a mixture of space age right next to ancient times.

The ship was guided to a Landing port that was on top of a massive stone structure in the middle of the city. The building while beautiful with its obsidian architecture was clearly in disrepair. It was how ever the large plot of land promised to the Yamatians for an embassy and scientific base.

With the message sent the envoys of the SSS would find Operative Saia standing with her entourage. She was a peach colored Gartagen, with high facial features, and red eyes. Her face was rather childish looking. Her small figure was draped in the set of plane white robes that the Operatives wore. As always she had the hilt of a Sheshka sprouting out behind her back. Next to her was an entourage of servants and guards ready to assist in any way specified.

Saia bowed at the guests “Greetings Sai! Welcome to the City of Lights Gartaga. I am Saia, your liaison during your stay on this world. I must say, I am humbled and honored to be handling this endeavor.”

Kouan returned the bow, "It is out pleasure to come here in the spirit of cooperation and learning Saia.

The woman on my right is Takaramono, she is my Personal Assistant. The gentleman on my left is Captain David Sturm who commands the ship behind us.

In the spirit of learning, I suppose we should start with a simple question if I may. What are you customs regarding introductions and meeting people? I presume our predecessors explained our custom of bowing. But I could not find any information in their reports on your custom. I want to make sure that our people working with yours are way of the simple courtesies."

Saia bowed in the Yamataian style as each person was introduced.

The operative held her position, smiled softly, and tilted her head as her guests spoke to her about greeting customs. "We generally bow as well." she said demonstrating the Gartagen bow. She folded her arms across and her chest and tilted her torso forward slightly. "This is very formal, as you would greet a stranger or a person of great prominence." She said. "your bow is different then the one we preform." She said noting that she did the Yamataian bow to greet the visitors. "Less formal greetings involve touching, caressing, and embracing. Bonded pairs usually never leave each others side, and will often greet you similarly. You should be warned that bonded pairs will sit on each other, and are generally intimate at all times, short of actually mating in public."

"Mating in public is done once a year during Shara's Festival, which is a month long celebration of love and fertility." She added calmly. "This building we are standing on has been set aside for your need, if it is not sufficient, we can find you a better location, or have a state of the art facility constructed for your use."

Kouan took a moment to digest what Saia had told them.

"Well, it sounds like there will be some interesting times ahead for us. I am sure we will be able to deal with these matters. Most people in the SSS are fairly open minded.

This facility may be fine for the Embassy personnel. But we actually would appreciate a separate location. We prefer to set up our places so that our ships can land nearby since they are our supply life line. Also we want to set up a facility where our people can meet and exchange ideas and information of a science nature. We brought most of the resources we need to set this up. So it is just a matter of getting a location, and your permission of course."

He then pulled out a document, "We have written down the requirements as far as space. We used the data supplied by the first team to meet with your people to translate it into Gartagen."

"Ah, excellent!" she said with a smile. Saia read over the document thoroughly before speaking again. She looked up at the Yamatians and chose her words rather carefully.

" I do see the wisdom, perhaps an open area on the edge of the city would be better?" Saia stood hoping her guests would find her suggestion helpful. Gartagen cities were clustered, and had little in the way of a suburban area. It was mostly Urban, or Rural living for Gartagens, but their was plenty of space to land a ship out side of the city.

"Setting up in the open area outside of the city would be perfect, in fact that is how our primary installation back on our homeworld is set up. We have our Campus and then near it is the actual area our ships come and go from." Kouan replied with a grin.

"In addition allowing us to set up our facility, means it will create an example of how we live back home which may help your people to understand us and our ways. At our facility our people will be going about their lives in as normal an environment as possible. So it is beneficial to both our people."

"That would sounds excellent." Saia said softly. She then approached her Yamataian Allies. She held out her hand, and one of her assistants handed her a data pad. "I am compiling information for you to select your desired location to start construction of your facility. Topographical maps, real maps, all of them. It also contains information on weather patterns of our world so your people can be prepared. I should also let you know that my people are mostly nocturnal." She looked up to the pinkish sky of Gartaga. "Many worshiped Shara in the past, but he was a harsh unforgiving god...and this world reflected that."

"As far as studying your society, I am sure you noticed we have technological innovations...but our society when placed next to yours is very primitive. I there is an army of intellectuals, students, and politicians itching to get a look at your culture and society. I think they all know that while technologically superior...your culture is what makes your civilization a great one. Do not be surprised when these Gartagens are swarming your facility." she said with a chuckle. "Come, we should get things going, nothing will ever get done by milling about over words."