Session 2

When TBD puts the hail on the speakers, you hear a crackling, deep voice. It's so distorted like it sounds a bit edited but it lacks the artificialness of digital editing that you're able to recognize. "This is Krak Lok, come in. Please state your purpose in this sector." At the same time main computer's screen starts to bip, indicating the other ship's request for video communication.

Leda grabs another coffee and hurries to the bridge. What new craziness will befall the group now and will it be real or will it be an illusion of some kind, she wonders?

Hariette grabs her lab kit and starts working. As she checks the oxygen levels she finds out that only a tiny change has occurred, almost a thousandth of one breath. The infestation analysis displays nothing of interest, there is no bacterial involvement present apart from the usual routine of the ship. There is, however, one odd notification in the main computer. Every approved galactic-scale ship need to include a sick-bay and every "official" mission longer than a certain amount requires routine inspection of the crew’s health. The computer bips, alerting your regular inspection time has come, which probably is a leftover from your previous missions with this ship.

Hariette floats out of environment control, a little disappointed she didn't find anything, and heads back to the mess where everyone is.

"Hey. Ship seems fine, I can't account for the weird hallucinations... Hey what's going on?"

The computer replays the Alien's message to her, and she reflexively accepts the request for video.

"Hey! We're just passing through. Yourself?"

Hiro frowns and slows the ship as the distance closes. While doing do, he's redirecting power, preparing for evasive moves if they are needed.

"They are hailing us. Opening a channel," the man says in his baritone.

Hariette. You open the video communication and see a masked face with a muscled, chubby body. In the back screen a perfectly good looking woman sits, curiously eyeing you. These are the people you've witnessed vanishing in the rooms. The creature in the front answers you with no apparent sign of realization or surprise. "Same. Are you here on official bussiness?"

"Before I answer that, can I ask you a weird question?"

Leda is all ears and wide eyes, recognizing the people on the screen, waiting to see what Hariette will ask. Perhaps these two will be the missing link that allows her to put it all together.

The creature looks surprised by Hariette’s request but remains calm. "Only if you promise to say why you’re here."

CC does everything she can to identify the ship and the species that built it. The presence of humans with them seem to indicate a mercenary ship rather than an official delegation. She perks up at Hariette's question, wondering if she's going to pop the big one.

She smoothes her hair, running a finger over her ear, and leans back, considering. Perpetrators, unaware, or fellow victims, and if the latter, will they blame them?

"Sure thing! We can be friendly if you're friendly! My question is, do you have any kind of telepathic abilities? In particular, did you send us a vision to test if we were friendly or not?"

The woman in the back laughs with a high-pitched voice. "And we thought we were the crazy ones to try to get here. Honey, these are clearly not here on official business. We should go on our separate way." she says. Her voice is a balanced one, not too high, not too low. Every word, every syllable and every emotion is delivered neatly. The creature, on the other hand, seems even more surprised with your question. "Is this your idea of being friendly? Joking around? Humans have changed since I last met them."

Cass. The core design of the ship seems rather traditional for small mercenary ships, something you could buy with a small amount of STUs (Standard Transactional Unit) at the black market but it is highly modified. Although aesthetic changes stick to the eye some features suggest possible structural modifications as well.

Hariette puts her hands out in an exaggerated shrug, as though saying "what are you gonna do". "It's a weird galaxy, and we had a weird experience before meeting you. It was worth a shot. Anyways, yeah, we're clearly not here for the same reasons. I'm happy to let that be that, if you are?"

CC sends the details to Hiro's comm panel, highlighting the modifications she's noted. His expert eyes will no doubt see meaning where she sees blobs.

She examines the woman in the panel. Apparently they didn't take Hariette as being serious, but who could blame them. Of course, if they had the same experience, they wouldn't have reacted that way, so there you go. "Well done, H," she murmurs.

Hiro keeps quiet as the exchange takes a turn or two. Maybe not the best idea to have Hariette at the coal face, but it is what it is now. His eyes rove the info that CC sends over and he looks for anything out of the ordinary, as well as anything they can use should things suddenly go sideways.

"Ask when he last encountered humans, and what happened," the broad-shouldered pilot says quietly to Hariette.

Hariette whispers tersely through her teeth trying not to show that she's talking to someone else, "Oh, no but I just... damn ok"

Feigning polite interest she says back to the view screen,

"Oh! You've met humans before? How long ago was that?"

The creature on the front seemed talkative, he was about to start talking when the woman stood up and get to the front. She starts talking with a decisive, strict manner. "I'm sorry but see it from our perspective. You still haven't told us anything regarding your motivations and you expect us to answer personal questions. Not to mention this crazy experience you supposedly had. I'm gueesing you have something to do at TD4 or else you wouldn't be wandering around here. If you want to say anything related to that, we're eager to listen but otherwise I'm going to have to terminate the call."

Leda having withdrawn into her shell again especially with the two strangers on the screen whispers to Cass. "Tell them we don't know why we are here."