It All Started With Magnets

.1.

A'tkat'vo, the K'gtar ambassador was firm in the fact we didn't know the ship but that didn't mean it was hostile. They pointed out it didn't have weapons. Which Dnrtn, the Jyngt ambassador, Lorilyee'ei, the Antwyn ambassador, all agreed with. I held back my judgement, as did Hynt and Lrys, the Krent and Hant Ambassadors. We didn't know enough to make judgement on the small vessel.

So we agreed to alert everyone to clear out the biggest landing pad, and had a rather large guard set up around it, just to be sure. I felt like my hearts were going to pound right out of my chest as we watched that ship settle on the landing pad with barely a whisper. And then it had opened and a lean figure had come out, coated in all black with a large round head it looked strange and almost foreboding.

"Don't." The words came out as looked at Gal'rug. I knew what he wanted even as the grog guards lifted their weapons. "It could be an Ilthi." It certainly had the form for it, if a bit small. But then all words escaped me as it stood for a moment before reaching up and pulling its head off.

I nearly felt like fainting and I was sure Ambassador Lorilyee'ei had at the muted thump but then pink skin and a face emerged from underneath the black head and I pressed my hands to my chest, trying to calm myself as I laughed. Ambassador Gal'rug let out a booming laugh. "It's a helmet!" He guffawed and I felt slightly embarrassed but anyone else would have reacted like that watching what they thought was a head being self removed.

"That's a new species." At Ambassador Hynt's awed words I looked up and realized he had been correct. The creature, built similar to the Ilthi, was coloured like a Antwyn, but was not anything we had ever seen before.

"This is first contact." I breathed out the words and was seized by a sudden excitement. For the first time in a thousand years we had a first contact.

"Could still be dangerous." Gal'rug said it low and I shook my head. They couldn't be dangerous. They had so much time to be dangerous and they hadn't.

"Doesn't appear to be armed, nor does it seem to have external defenses." Ambassador A'tkat'vo clicked it out, his mandibles clacking and I nodded.

Ambassador Lyrs shifted on her feet. "Should we greet them?" She glanced over at us from where she steadied Ambassador Lorilyee'ei on her feet.

"Yes!" The word burst from me before I could stop it and no amount of immediate denial from Gal'rug could placate me as I quickly moved from the viewing room and towards the landing pad. My hearts were pounding as I pushed open the door and fairly bounced up the ramp towards where the new species was.

I pushed through the grog guards, knowing the rest of the Ambassadors were following me. The creature was still standing, the helmet tucked against its hip as it looked over everything with a look that showed a reserved but wary curiosity. I raised my hand once I passed the final line. "Greetings! We are the council of Torin." I said the words slow and the creature tilted its head and narrowed its eyes as it looked at me before looking at the rest of the group. Its lips split into a grin that would have terrified me if I hadn't been used to the antwyn, krent, and hants. Granted this one's smile was a lot less sharp with its blunted teeth.

It pointed at me. "Elv." The word was unfamiliar and I blinked before it pointed at Gal'rug, "Org." Its smile grew as it pointed to Lorilyee'ei, "Pick'see." Its finger moved to Lyrs and then Hynt. "Wear'wul'fs." Its finger moved to point at A'tkat'vo. "Prae'in men'tiz." And finally its finger pointed to Dnrtn. "Rog gol'um." There was clear amusement to its strange voice and soon it was bouncing on its feet. "Ahlee'ins! Oh mah gawd! Alee'ins! Ths is so kuwl!" The excitement was clear on its face and I was reminded of the exuberance from Antwyns. However its words were unintelligible. It was clearly intelligent life but we couldn't effectively communicate without translating its language.