“Details, Lieutenant?”
“Scans coming in now, Sir.”
The image on the viewscreen was that of a large man-made rock floating through space. Constructed from metal alloys, many of which were unfamiliar to humans, the structure was designed to appear at least to the naked eye as a devastated asteroid. Admiral Ransome was unsure as to whether their scanning equipment was simply too advanced for that disguise to work, or the design itself had purpose. No ship coming near to the facility would mistake it for actual geological material.
“It’s definitely a large facility Admiral,” reported the Science Lieutenant. “I’m reading several eateries, eighteen docking ports, moderate shields, substantial weaponry, and what appears to be a large medical facility on one of the lower levels.”
At this point, the doors opened at the rear of the bridge and Commander Dresden joined Harry at his side.
“Interesting design,” she noted, having caught the tail end of the Lieutenant’s summary. “Wonder if they’re friendly.”
Harry nodded, his arms folded, thumb stroking his beard, which he had noted was now substantially more peppered with whites and greys than when he had left Earth two months prior.
“Well I don’t think we have much choice but to find out. We need supplies after the attack from our mystery friends, and after two months, I expect there’s a few people who would like to stretch their legs somewhere that wasn’t the Odyssey.”
Kelly was definitely one of them. She had frequented the gym so often since they left home, that she had almost worn one of the rowing machines out already. And since the attack, the swimming pool was still out of commission, thanks in no small part to the bottom having been blasted into space. Harry nodded at her, and she took a rigid stance next to her commanding officer.
“Commander Teale, open a channel to the facility,” she ordered. Harry had been trying to give her more authority over the mission since the attack, in order to prepare her for eventual command. What she didn’t know that Harry did, was that whenever this mission concluded, he would be promoting her to Captain, and handing the Odyssey over to her. He stood back and allowed her to continue.
“Channel open, Commander.”
Kelly cleared her throat.
“This is Commander Kelly Dresden of the human vessel Odyssey. Please respond.”
The bridge fell silent, with the quiet punctuated by the odd bleep or tone from a console or two. It seemed as though they were about to be ignored, but as Kelly opened her mouth to repeat the hail, the viewscreen switched to an image of a very large and very green skinned individual. The hair on the person’s head had been shaved on both sides to the scalp, leaving a flared mohawk of jet black in the centre. His eyes glowed yellow, but were similar in appearance to their own, and his clothing was similar to that of an Earth blacksmith. Despite the initial fuzzy picture, the muscles on the man were easily definable. He was easily seven feet in height and Kelly suspected at least four feet wide.
“Humans, huh?” growled the alien. “Well I suppose you had to figure out how to fly eventually.”
The familiarity with their species caught both Kelly and Harry off guard, but continuing to lead the inquiry, Kelly probed further.
“I’m afraid you have us at a disadvantage Mister…?”
“Gryffin. Tolian Gryffin. I’m the Station Master here. I suspect, Commander, that you are in need of maintenance, or else why would you have hailed our facility?”
Guy really cuts through the bullshit, Kelly thought.
“We are indeed, if you are willing to accommodate us Mr Gryffin? We are still lacking a few vital components to complete our repairs following an attack several weeks ago.”
That caught his attention, and his posture noticeable shifted. He even managed a small smile.
“Attack you say? Well there’s no point in making more enemies through refusal, I guess. We shall see what we can do. Please bring your vessel around to Docking Port Seven. I will have a team meet you there, and your crew will be free to disembark.”
A surge of satisfaction rose through Kelly’s chest. Her first encounter with an alien species outside the Sol System, and it had been an immediate success. But then that happiness began to be pushed back down by the impending dread of one sentence running through her mind.
That was too easy.
This time, Harry decided to step forward and address Tolian Gryffin.
“Station Master, I don’t see any docking ports. Perhaps you can direct us?”
Gryffin examined Harry’s face for a moment, before replying.
“You will Admiral Ransome.”
The screen returned to the exterior view, and the entire image of the rock structure rippled momentarily, until a cloaking shield which must have been disguising the facility dropped, and a space station three times the size of the initial structure shimmered into existence.
“Woah!” exclaimed Teale at the communications station. “Bigger on the outside. How ‘bout that.”
The docking ports were now clearly visible with their large numbered markings on the bay doors, and Kelly indicated for the pilot to head for door seven. As they approached, they cut main engines, and switched to thrusters.
“Certainly impressive, Admiral, wouldn’t you say?” asked Kelly.
Harry nodded.
“Indeed Commander, and you did exceptionally well in securing our docking here.”
“Thank you Sir.”
“There’s just one question I don’t understand.”
Kelly looked puzzled.
“And what would that be Admiral?”
Harry turned his head so that his mouth was inches from Kelly’s left ear. He whispered so nobody else would hear him.
“How did he know my name?”