Astra Pt. 04

Grace patted his shoulder and laughed, "You did find a way to help save humanity."

He nodded and brought the craft down into the landing pads and shut down. The ladies opened the door closest to the Capitol and a few guards got nervous until they saw who was coming out.

Jack walked past them all with the ladies, "Astra button it up, shields up. The security line was down now and they were all waved straight thru. Some looked very nervous. An escort waved them on, "Right this way." They looked like there were heading for that dining room when she turned and walked them into a smaller room and door on the other end. "Just step in and go through the far door. This is as far as I can go."

They nodded. Jack led the way and walked the ladies into a meeting. But not the one they expected. Jack walked up to the man and his guards, "Ambassador Grentiloc I am assuming?"

He looked at Jack, "Have we met?"

Jack shook his head, "Our history has you arriving here in 2575. A year after we stopped and terminated the Praylons attack at our colony in Briss at the time. Your arrival must have something to do with them."

Jack thought to him, *Did the Drakor visit your people as well? *

He heard back, *Many years ago and like you, I am a hybrid and an ambassador to my people. *

Jack nodded, "For the sake of the president walking in we should use your translation device and talk with the President."

Jack looked over, "They arrived while I was on the air I take it?"

He nodded, "Said what you did to those two ships is unheard of in their society. He wished to meet you."

Jack nodded, "One hybrid to another."

The President looked over, "They are hybrids as well?"

Jack smiled, "There ambassador is one. Not necessarily all of them. They apparently passed the Drakor tests or are in the process of it."

He nodded, "We are still in the process of it. Currently, I am the only one and I have been working to find answers for ten years everywhere."

Jack nodded and floated his sword in front of him and the ambassador showed a Drakor blade. He looked at Jack, "How did you make such a blade?"

Jack nodded, "Right question, wrong audience. Ask your DNA that question in private. The Pralons were a threat to your people as well and the Drakor's actions caught your attention?"

He nodded, "Then your interview with the hostile woman."

Jack nodded, "How have your people reacted to the presence of the Drakor?"

He sighed, "They do not know of them at home or me being part one."

Jack asked him. "We have a medical library on your species from the future. Would you like us to have our doctor take a look to see the extent of the changes you have undergone?"

He popped out his vid. "Astra secure vid and display my internal scan."

He watched the image pop up. "Mr. President I believe the Pralons were a problem for them as well and a catalyst for them contacting us. We had some minor but friendly exchanges with them as they worked with a group of independent species called the unaligned species traders guild.

Commodities trading group if you will. This occurred shortly after I left. A century in negotiations They had over a century of contact after this but a lot of records were lost with the events that befell our people. I will get Astra to send you a report but this was the ambassador that oversaw the initial contact and worked the connection. Based upon his actions I am guessing a blue blade color?"

The ambassador nodded, "This revelation about a third color was news to me. The extent of change on your body is extensive."

Jack nodded, "Also you. If you made the choice then it could have changed 30-40% of your DNA and any offspring you have would carry those markers."

The ambassador nodded, "I do not have this level of detail of what I have undergone. You have a doctor versed in my species?"

Jack smiled, "We have a reference library of medical information on your species from the future. How I knew about you was working on compiling a list of species that were benign, hostile, good for humanity, or if they created issues for us in the past.

Then trying to figure out why. Hybrids will be one of the courses of action if needed. That the hybrids can help humanity in working with species relations is new. The library was a catalog of the species in your groups and a list of things to not use in attempting to treat the species because of toxic reactions.

The fact that the race did not wish for any outside race to treat them. Like your own people. We have books on your biology, an AI doctor from the future, and we have a xenobiologist named Carol Travus who is one of my wives. Along with my wife Danyelle who is a xenobiologist but geared more for the archeological study of alien species.

When Carol gives birth she will become the last of my wives who have asked to be hybrids. She has been studying the changes to us, the women who carried my offspring and the effects the unborn had upon the mothers of our species. The biological effect.

I would make the assumption that in general your species is not that long-lived and your status as a hybrid is discovered by your people in the future. You likely kept us at arm's length because at that time you had passed this trial and our people did not seem to have knowledge of the Drakor."

The ambassador sighed out loud, " I do know if that was me or not. We are not that long-lived. I should be dying in the next 20 years but to hear that I am still alive is surprising."

Jack smiled, "You or your offspring. I do not know your species naming convention and how you translate your name to your offspring. If you have family names or if the names are more titles than names."

He nodded, "I cannot say how we would do it in the future but typically a name would not be cleared for reuse if you will for 200 years after the last recipient.

It could have been another who made contact with your people due to your success with the Praylons."

Jack nodded, "I worked from holographic records and the attack strategies that were used during that time to help devise a strategy to fight the Praylons. Our finding a Drakor shuttle inside one of their ships was a surprise and infuriated the Drakor enough to take action as you have seen.

I will say is that as far as the selection process goes, if you have only been doing this as a hybrid for 10 years then it is likely you talked with your government about this modification that was done to you. How would your people react to that being done to one of their own?"

He was hesitant for a moment, "We know of several other races and I have had contact with one other ambassador who was just as confused by the next step as I was. When his people found out about him it was not pretty. I never saw him again and what information I was able to gather, he lived on in hundreds of jars for examination and further study.

They butchered him. My people have done this on a few occasions in the past. The last one that was with us from what I could tell was better received until he was assassinated. A problem that seems to be a concern for you."

Jack nodded, "The extent of our help for you in regards to the Drakor is limited. They expect each race to find the path themselves. The question you asked me is the only clue I can give you about the process. Things might be different for each race but start there and I hope you find your answers soon.

The offer to get examined by our doctor to see these changes is to let you better understand what has occurred to you. Were your people naturally psychic?

He sighed, "Very few and I was not before this occurred. Some of the others might have been the progeny of other hybrids. There was a history of abnormalities being reported, physical and mental. Our people studied the changes but did not cut up our own to examine them.

The fact this was introduced into our people by an outside alien species would shock them. Some would be offended. Your message to your people and what you found out about the benefits from this exchange went well from what I hear.

I have recorded for my file when I will have to reveal. If asking this question would help then I have gained more from this meeting than I had hoped. It is something to investigate. Having a better understanding of what changes are occurring would be useful.

I have a life mate who is expecting. The changes to her would be useful to know. How would we arrange this?"

Jack nodded, "We could travel to Jupiter and away from the prying eyes of our people and you could meet us out there. If you have a small craft to visit us. A three-man group like this would be permissible. We could arrange a couple of hours for the examinations and to check over some blood work.

To understand how your species DNA function. Also, how the Drakor markers are affecting you and your life mate should then provide you with a better insight. Do you practice with the sword?"

He looked at Jack and shook his head, "Sword fighting is an alien concept to us."

Jack nodded, "We could transmit some knowledge on the ways we do it and not all of it is about fighting. Iaido is not done in sparing generally. It is about form and structure. It trains one to be able to fight with the sword but the contest if you will is less important than understating the forms the strikes and the precision.

We could send you some information on sword usage to you so you have it as a reference. Understanding that weapon is key to finding your answers. Understanding what it is doing to you and potentially your people will aid you.

Your people could make an informed decision if you have not completed this, were slated to die yet still live for many more years beyond that. Meltora might be able to provide some insight to you."

The Ambassador nodded, "We saw the images to your Meltora reveal. We did not know it was a sentient creature and we have had researchers who had worked to try and understand how they work. Knowing this now I am not sure how to approach the mater."

Jack thought, * Meltora is under our protection. Because you are psychic it could communicate with you to work to gain a better understanding and to avoid the mistakes of the past. Any information you have learned about them we would find useful as we will not harm him but understanding his physiology better might aid us in aiding Meltora.

An understanding of how their species interact, migrations, and its social structure if one has been noted. If you could arrange with your ship for this meeting then we could aid you and in return, you could aid us in understanding our friend's needs better. How they communicate and such. We are not looking for any samples just the information on what transpired and what was learned from this unfortunate incident. Your personal guards here seem aware of your status? *

He nodded, "To an extent. We would like to do this closer. The dark side of your moon."

Jack nodded, "We can try that. We can move off and approach from the backside. Obviously, people are watching our every move at the moment."

He nodded, "Thank you. Your ship's speed is astounding."

Jack smiled, * As is your stealth technology. With Meltora and our advanced sensors, we would pick up any hidden assets in your entourage. I am sure with your technology you might have a hidden agent or two with you now and our people, humanity in general, would not be appreciative of that level of invasion of their privacy. I would ask that you take any of these agents with you when you leave to avoid a diplomatic crisis. *

The Ambassador looked at Jack, *You can tell these things? *

Jack smiled and spoke, "I just ripped apart two craft using a form of stealth technology to attack me. We have, on the Excalibur devices that would let us track them that have not been made public yet. Given the potential threat this would pose, real or implied to humanity, that technology might get released sooner to keep all negotiations on an even playing field."

He nodded, "I have two others in the room here with me as silent guards. They will go when we go. We will ensure to not bring them with us when we visit your vessel. Thank you for being forthcoming in that matter."

Jack nodded, "I understand not wanting to make contact until you have assessed if they are a potential friend or adversary. Are they ready to meet up? How have their relations gone with other species we know about and have not known about. Your contact with our people in the future probably came about because we eliminated a threat to your people where you had not been able to do so.

It is hard to say where our future might have gone as our conflict with the Drakor in the previous time frame might have pushed you away not wishing to get involved. If you had passed your trials by then it is likely that you knew that if they were attacking us we failed that trial and it was best to not interfere."

The Ambassador nodded, "Very likely course of action given the firepower they showed they had."

Jack nodded, "Remember they came at you with a gift. This started with a rescue of you and then being told you have a choice. For the sake of humanity, I hope you work to make the right choices when dealing with us in the future.

Please contact me again in the future if you have questions, I might be willing to answer. We might be able to avoid the pitfalls that have befallen your interaction with the species of Meltora's kind. Our offer of a meeting still stands. The Drakor are watching us both; we are hybrids."

He nodded and looked to our president. "I thank you for arranging this meeting. I hope we can enter into some sort of understanding. I will have to talk with my people first and give them a report of your interaction with the Praylons first.

Knowing the scourge is gone, yet you were not the ones who just wiped them out, will go a long way in winning some supporters in opening formal negotiations. This is a process of years and not days. We have some of the same limitations on travel speed and communication as you do over long distances."

Jack looked at him, "Keep in mind the Drakor got involved because we discovered an attack on them within that ship. We were further into the evaluation it appears than you are. That was when they acted and they did not use that firepower on your people. They used it on ours because we failed to understand the nature of the tests and dance of diplomacy surrounding the moves of the Drakor.

Assessing if we could negotiate with them in a manner, they felt was acceptable. That is another fact you should keep in your discussion about the Drakor's actions. Like you, this negotiation with the Drakor could likely take years. Shall we meet in 4 of our hours on the dark side of the moon?"

He nodded, "That would be acceptable."

Jack looked at the President. "Would like to talk more about this and our own stealth technology that was revealed before the cameras today on the attack against me. Questions will be coming in about this and how much of the military is still out of control since the Admiral was brought down."

He nodded, "I have people to talk to about those same subjects. Let us try another meeting tomorrow to go over this."

Jack nodded, "Of course, Mr. President."

Jack gave a slight bow to them both before walking out with the ladies.

Jack got back to his ship and got everyone on board, "He was quite except to contact the tower, "Capitol tower request permission for a 90 degree up angle departure at speed." He heard a sigh from the guy in the tower, "King Arthur you have been cleared. I really wish I knew why you always ask for that."

Jack smiled, "Tower my ship in orbit moves to be in a geosynchronous position every time we move around the planet.

They are right above us. We get into traffic lanes and flying through or near other restricted airspace gets to be a hassle. This gets us away from you and back to our ship the fastest. Avoids us running into any other problems with other towers or local governments along the way."

The tower replied, "Thank you for the explanation, King Arthur."

Jack took it up angled and shot out of the area and went straight to Excalibur as she was away from the equator and above the Moscow area awaiting their arrival. Jack did not talk the whole way back. Before opening the doors he told the ladies, * To all activate your swords and set them to not hurt any human or human hybrids. To hold them at the ready. *

He stood as they walked back to the others He called out, "If any stowaways are onboard these swords will hurt while passing right through us. Identify yourselves and save yourselves the pain and embarrassment in being discovered." Ladies sweep the ship from the cockpit out. Jack turned to see one of the aliens appear. He looked at him, "We will sweep for others."

Jack went around and with them and Sprits made contact with another who jumped back and became visible and was awfully wounded. Carol moved forward, "I am a doctor."

They finished the sweep and then stripped them of their gear. They walked the two of them to medical. The doctor got them up on the table and looked over what she had in the medical history and what they had from the scans. There were several noticeable differences and Carol looked at us, "The information they provided was likely for one of their ancestors. Enough to be close yet far enough away to be next to useless in treating the injury."

Jack nodded, "Is he stable?"

She nodded. He looked over, "Put both of them on the table side by side."

She helped them up. Jack looked over, "Core strap patients to bed with an extra layer of straps across the chest area. Carol, obtain a blood sample from each of them for analysis.

See if any Drakor markers are listed in either patient. If there is in the other then give a dose of one blood to the other and see if that helps to repair his injuries."

She nodded. "Astra, up angle full speed departure for one hour. Meet me in xenobiology."

He went to the lab and awaited Astra with the gear they had taken. He found what looked like the device he needed to examine. "Get the scanner from engineering brought down so we can examine and record all of this gear."

She nodded, "What are we looking for?"

He smiled, "Any power signatures. Get another of those prosthetic eyes, incorporated into your eye color.

We will work to adapt it to your system for use with the internal security grid for target acquisition and neutralization of stealth technology. You said it had a feature that would allow for that. We need you to have that."

She nodded, "Alright I will get the eye as you are looking to build a mod for me and not for distribution."

He nodded, "I am not about to rip out my own eye to have you put more technology back into me. If I wanted to do the eye I could have done it while it was in my head. I let you back into my mind. I think we might want to fabricate a new chip for my head."

She looked at Jack, "Something wrong?"

He shook his head, "No I scanned that chip. I have the specs for it. I also have been working psi to electronic interfaces. Examine the encrypted file 782338APE Access code Psionic Interface Module. To allow me to talk with you mentally through the chip. Look over the design."

He thought out, * Meltora the aliens we have onboard, we have an ambassador who claims to know something of experiments done on some of your kind. Not knowing you were a sentient species. I asked him to give us the results of those experiments. No samples.

To better understand your physical makeup and to allow us to aid you in the future if you encounter contaminants possibly and a course of treatment. It might also explain how your species subsist on these space particles answer some of the communication questions. The ones I asked about being able to create synthetically.