2 hours ago
(This post was last modified: 2 hours ago by Morad Ameen.)
Ameen did not blink or take a step backward as the giant's translated voice boomed through the clearing. The fact that the alien was speaking—and demanding telemetry rather than immediately initiating combat, was a massive diplomatic victory. Midshipman Cortez's musical cipher and Lieutenant Gath's disciplined restraint had just kept the situation from turning into a bloodbath.
"Your biology was failing due to the abrupt severing of your stasis umbilical. My Chief of Security and Chief Medical Officer provided the necessary treatment to save your life," Ameen stated calmly, offering a brief, respectful gesture toward Gath and Evie to formally establish their roles.
He kept his hands visible, maintaining steady, unwavering eye contact with the towering alien.
"As for your telemetry: eleven of your fellow Apex Protectors are currently secure and stable in cryogenic stasis aboard my ship. We extracted all twelve of your pods from the wreckage of your vessel right before the hull suffered a catastrophic structural collapse. Your ship experienced a massive internal explosion and was breaking apart in deep space. It could not be salvaged."
Ameen took a slow breath, knowing that the next piece of information was the most volatile variable in the room. He braced himself for a reaction.
"We recovered a crystalline data module from your ship's bridge—a flight recorder—which provided us with your harmonic language and your sanctuary destination. But we did not find a 'Genetic Seed' among the wreckage. If it was not stored within your pods, or heavily shielded from our sensors, it was lost in the destruction of your vessel."
Ameen watched the giant's eyes, his posture projecting absolute honesty and calm authority.
"My crew and I are here to assist you. What is your designation?"
"Your biology was failing due to the abrupt severing of your stasis umbilical. My Chief of Security and Chief Medical Officer provided the necessary treatment to save your life," Ameen stated calmly, offering a brief, respectful gesture toward Gath and Evie to formally establish their roles.
He kept his hands visible, maintaining steady, unwavering eye contact with the towering alien.
"As for your telemetry: eleven of your fellow Apex Protectors are currently secure and stable in cryogenic stasis aboard my ship. We extracted all twelve of your pods from the wreckage of your vessel right before the hull suffered a catastrophic structural collapse. Your ship experienced a massive internal explosion and was breaking apart in deep space. It could not be salvaged."
Ameen took a slow breath, knowing that the next piece of information was the most volatile variable in the room. He braced himself for a reaction.
"We recovered a crystalline data module from your ship's bridge—a flight recorder—which provided us with your harmonic language and your sanctuary destination. But we did not find a 'Genetic Seed' among the wreckage. If it was not stored within your pods, or heavily shielded from our sensors, it was lost in the destruction of your vessel."
Ameen watched the giant's eyes, his posture projecting absolute honesty and calm authority.
"My crew and I are here to assist you. What is your designation?"