Until We Meet Again

A Tale from the Time of New Worlds for 5 players

The Fleet's Tale

As the Vigorous Felicitation moved deeper into this sector, the reports from the advanced scouting First Contact Teams proved more and more inconsistent with the data you were seeing. It had been less than ten years since the The Unconventional Introduction made their sweep through the area. This sector of space was rich with pre-hyperdrive cultures, civilizations you have to leave alone -- which was why it was odd that The Unconventional Introduction reports had so much data on them.

The first sign of hyperspatial technology came from a weak signal on a world named Gennai Prime. It was also odd, because there was no other indication of a thriving or now-dead technological civilization on that world. Nevertheless, protocol required a closer look.

First Contacts are difficult enough as it is, with so many ways to create a disaster through fear, misunderstanding, and paranoia. It is impossible to determine how a culture will react to the knowledge that they are not alone in the Universe. Furthermore, they may have cultural practices, unusual legal restrictions, and other philosophical tripwires. We are the aliens in their world -- what they do is right for them, and we cannot judge them by our standards.

Contact is a shock. It challenges long-held beliefs, myth systems and power structures. It brings fears, xenophobias, and insecurities to the surface. It raises questions that many cultures have difficulty with. Fleet rules try to err on the conservative side. It is better to leave a culture in ignorance a few years longer, regardless of the benefits that may come to the group making the contact.

On the other hand, sometimes there are First Contacts that are simple. Some worlds show no evidence of violence or hostility and no fractious nations vying for control. These can never really be predicted but, as much as possible, the Fleet tries to use these missions to let untested, up-and-coming officers spread their metaphorical wings.

Gennai Prime has all the hallmarks of a simple First Contact. Understanding the mathematics of hyperspace and hyperspatial technology is one of the usual guidelines that determines First Contact. If the civilization has been advance scouted, the Fleet prefers to make the contact, instead of having the new race drop in on some nearby world unannounced and unexpected. Recently analyzed historical data shows weak signs of hyperfield generation over the last ten years. The Fleet is getting close, and could use a hyperspace-capable friend in the region.

But are things ever as simple as they seem? Are the locals here really ready to learn about the greater galaxy they're poised to join? From space, Gennai Prime looks like a typical agrarian culture world, with small aggregated communities forming small villages here and there. There is nothing worthy of the title "city." What frelling chonk is going on?

You prepped, setting down on a makeshift, ramshackle sketch of a landing pad. There were landing lights, guidance radars, and all the usual Fleet tech here, attached to a joke of a landing surface. Nevertheless, Vigorous Felicitation set down nicely.

Alarms went off almost immediately. When you opened the hatch, you found there was a horde of smiling children on ladders, happily washing the ship. You were greeted warmly and led to "the Great Thrones of the Gennai," which were two large seats made out of local woods and fibers. They looked like standard Fleet launch seats.

Before you could ask any questions, three of the Gennai appeared before you. Each held a long metal cord, which they bit down on. You were horrified to see that the cables were electrified; each of the three convulsed with shock and pain. They were hooked up directly to a Fleet Standard Battery Unit (FSBU), set to deliver a terrible current. All of your training insisted that you didn't dare interrupt the ritual, as horrifying as it might be. One of the Gennai collapsed and died. A second fell to their knee-equivalents, pulling the cable out after three terrible minutes. The third, still standing, waited until they were certain they were the last one standing, removed the cable and declared they were the Emcee.

The Emcee, with the name Grand Entertainer Djenni Rhater, waved to the "Master Culinarian". As you watched, the Culinarian carved off the arm of a "volunteer" and the middle fingers of seven other "volunteers." All of that went into a giant pot, roasted up on a stove. They added scented herbs and other choice morsels into the mix.

The stove was actually a crude collection of reaction control thrusters, which randomly shot bursts of fire. The Culinarian managed to dodge most of the flames, as they cooked up the "godmeet".

As they were bringing you the godmeet, someone jumped out of the brush and grabbed at the obscene food. They started frantically eating it, until the Grand Entertainer used the cable from the FSBU to shock what was clearly an android into submission.

What the frelling chonk happened here? The Tale ends when the Captain decides what to do with this First Contact.