The Princesses were waiting, along with a crowd of ponies, at a piece of land at the foot of Canterlot Mountain shortly after sunrise, awaiting the arrival of the Visitors. A special run of the Crystal Express was done that night, so relatives of the captives could be present as well for the landing.
Twilight was in communion with Velvet, who was riding with the former captives, as well as being linked with Captain Somers, who was riding forward with the cutter’s pilot. “Estimated time of arrival is five minutes, Princess Twilight,” Jamie said quietly. Not being a mage nor a telepath, he could not quite communicate mentally without vocalizing, at least not without great effort.
“We’re here, ready and waiting, Captain,” Twilight replied as she heard Rainbow Dash shout “There it is!”, pointing a little to the left of the risen sun.
“Please pardon the noise, Princess. An unavoidable side effect of the drive system,” Jamie said as thrust was increased, the rumble and shudder inside the cutter Encanto getting louder as well.
“So you have warned us, Captain. That’s why we chose this clearing at the foot of the mountain. Surely your rotolinear drive cannot be as loud as you claim it to be!” Twilight replied.
Jamie chuckled slightly. “Oh, yeah? That’s what you think!” was his answer. He then focused on watching the pilots work. Good a time as any to supervise them, what with a first landing on an unknown planet, without navigation aids. Jamie was prepared to jump in as needed, but he was pretty sure it would not be necessary.
Less than a minute later, an irregular thumping was not so much heard as felt by the waiting ponies. The thumping increased in both volume and pitch as the cutter closed in, shedding its orbital speed via dynamic thrust as well as some aerobraking. Some of the ponies tried to cover their ears as the Encanto came to a smooth landing in the cleared space.
Twilight was told by Velvet that all was being made ready, to please wait a moment more. As she passed the word, a large hatch on the side of the cutter began rolling up, as a ramp extended to the ground. Atop the ramp stood Corporal Steadfast, flanked by Captain Somers. Lieutenant Velvet was actually astride Corporal Steadfast’s back, her much smaller size, compared to the Captain’s two-meter-tall figure, making the bareback riding possible.
Slowly, the three figures came down off the ship, stopping at the foot of the ramp before touching the ground with their feet, the rest of the North Point ponies behind. Giving a court-formal bow, Jamie said in slow, measured tones, “Princesses of Equestria, I, Captain Sir Jamie Brennan Somers, have returned your citizens as promised! May this be only the beginning of a most wonderful relationship between our cultures!”
After a brief pause for the translation to take place, Princess Celestia spoke. “Consider yourselves welcome to Equestria, Captain Sir Jamie Brennan Somers! You have Our thanks for returning our citizens from the grasp of the Empty Ones! Please, descend from your craft and join us!”
Without hesitation, Captain Somers, Lieutenant J.G. Velvet astride Corporal Steadfast, and the other victims of Ratzi action descended the ramp, followed by the rest of the ten-being contact team, all wearing translators. Once down, introductions were made all around, and the contact party broke up, Princesses Celestia and Luna flying back to the castle, Princess Cadance leading the former captives to meet with their families, and Princess Twilight and her friends approaching and mixing with the crew of the Encanto.
Before the cutter left late that day, Captain Somers left one gift behind: a set of communications gear, so groundside could coordinate with the ship in orbit without the need to overstress the Star Elves. A larger, more formal welcoming party was planned in a week’s time, at the Palace, to officially welcome the new friends from deep space, and to allow both sides to prepare the necessary paperwork involved in making formal First Contact with the ISA. Offers were made and accepted to both bring ponies up to tour the ship, and to allow parties to come down to visit the planet, but such were deferred for a minimum of two days, to allow for plans to be made on both sides.
That evening, Captain Somers had a long discussion with his commanding officer, Admiral Gordon Chambers, back at Fleet headquarters in the artificial planetoid Camelot, in orbit around Epsidani Three. Admiral Chambers was not only his boss, he was technically Jamie’s nephew, Gordon being a son of Jamie’s eldest sister Sophia. There is a great disparity in their ages, Jamie being about ninety while Gordon is pushing a hundred and seventy.
“I’m going to go with your feelings there, Jamie. You’ve already proven your capabilities in First Contact scenarios, getting knighted after finding the Acuna forty years ago and getting them into the ISA,” he said after the technical details were hammered out.
“Not to forget the Gelatinoids a decade before that, and the Mephit six years after,” Jamie added. “I’ve resisted anything more, because groundside politics bore me. I’ll let Dad be a Saganian Duke, with Dylan being his seneschal. Staying in one place for that long will get dull.”
“As you’ve said now for the past few decades, Jamie. I’ll have the Gilgamesh head that way in three days’ time. No real rush yet, and I’ll have them bring along a full diplomatic team. It’s putting one together that’s going to be hard,” Gordon said.
“I know who would be great for the job, except for the fact that she’s a vampire,” Jamie said.
“I was thinking of Grandma Raven, actually. You know her, nothing is impossible, as she says.”
“It’s masking her vampire nature from their perceptions that’s going to be hard. Lee’s champing at the bit to meet the ponies, but they all run in terror from him,” Jamie told his nephew. “We’re trying to come up with some sort of perception filter, but none of my mages can cast a strong enough spell.”
“If Grandma can’t, Salem can,” Gordon said, referring to Raven’s familiar, Salem, a large black cat that has been Raven’s companion since shortly after her creation, thousands of years ago back in Sumeria, and a very powerful magician in his own right.
“Salem,” Jamie snorted. “I still have not forgiven him for getting me to wager my last bottle of Raktokvik in a poker game last year, then winning it off me! That bottle was two centuries old!” Raktokvik is a fine liqueur distilled by the Ryuu, a leonine species discovered back in the early days of the old Inter-Stellar Union, before it became the Inter-Stellar Alliance.
“Salem cheats, Jamie. Always has, always will. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay? Get some sleep. I need some myself,” Gordon said with a yawn. He may be pushing a hundred seventy years old, but he looks at most forty. Jamie himself, by looking at him, one would say he was thirty, when he was actually past ninety.
The next few days were filled with preparations for the formalized opening of relations between Equestria and the ISA. The cutters Dysart and Invergordon returned from their sowing mission and were docked in their bays. Telemetry from the probes showed no Ratzi activity inside or within ten light-years of the cluster, so the Captain had his ship not stand down, but had Sensor division maintaining a full monitoring watch and kept Weapons department on standby, meaning the weapons could be manned at a moment’s notice.
One of the first cutters down to the planetary surface carried a Teltrans platform, which was set up in a park not far from Canterlot Castle, to allow for rapid transportation between the ship and the surface. Another load brought down several prefab buildings to use as a pre-Embassy as well as a nav beacon for the landing field. Other than the two departments, he allowed shore liberty, allowing his off-duty crew to Teltrans down to the surface, and allow ponies to come up for visits and tours.
Princess Twilight was a frequent visitor, along with her friends. Captain Somers took both pride and pleasure in showing them what he could about the ship, some areas being declared off-limits, with the acceptance of the ponies. “Not until all agreements are signed,” Jamie explained about the reasons for some areas of the ship being classified, to which Twilight replied that she understood and would be happy to see what she could of the ship.
The ponies were surprised at the sheer variety of species aboard the ship, all of them getting along harmoniously. One species that surprised them were the Meesers, small white rats who were not only intelligent, they had phenomenal memories. They also had an archaic way of speaking STE, which was described as a choice the species made for themselves. Soon, the six ponies had Meeser companions riding with them.
One problem they faced was Lieutenant Commander Harris, the Chief Medical Officer. Twilight, being an alicorn, was not as affected by his presence as the others, which instilled a phobic reaction in the other ponies, though she still found his aura disturbing. That first night, she went back down to Canterlot to start working on some sort of charm to shield others from the dark aura the vampire emanated.
Jamie got word the third day after arriving that the Gilgamesh had departed Canterlot with a full diplomatic team and should arrive within a week. He was also made aware that his mother, Raven Somers, was also on her way there, if not there already. Raven has connections with ‘higher powers’ and can do many things most people find impossible. His father, Christian, also has connections, but not as deep as his mother does. Exactly what the connections are, Jamie himself has little idea, being told only that his part in the Great Bureaucrazy will be revealed ‘in the fullness of time’. Jamie also knows when not to push his parents on a topic.
Before the Gilgamesh’s arrival, Jamie and his crew had a good opportunity to mix and mingle with the population of Equestria. The three mages aboard were having a field day, learning what Equestria knew of magic, and sharing what they could. Twilight came up with a charm for Doctor Harris that masked his vampiric nature enough for him to get off the ship and meet ponies, which made him happy. It turned out that the ponies, once screened from his vampirism, liked him and his music skills. However, Jamie’s best music ambassadors turned out to be Lieutenant Commander M’Ranx and Lieutenant Khaball. The two were the best musicians on the ship, and both had graduate degrees in music. Annelise has the better voice, L’Dan the better instrument range, but Lee Harris has the widest musical range. Comes with being raised by two classical musicians who part-timed being in an orchestra. Lee owned a truly ancient saxophone rumored to have been owned by someone named Kenny G centuries before. (it was really owned by someone named W. J. Clinton, whoever that was).
Sensors detected the Gilgamesh several hours before it entered the cluster, giving Jamie the heads-up to talk to the expedition commander, a senior Erkudu ambassador who went by the name of U Po. (Erkudu, and several other species, adopted ‘use names’ to use in ISA society, because their native languages proved to be difficult to render proper names into STE). After talking to the ambassador, Jamie then spoke to the ship commander, Commodore Bev Harkennon, a former student of Jamie’s.
“I’ve ordered more drones sowed around the cluster, to give more lead time in case the Ratzis head this way,” Bev, a distinguished-looking redheaded human woman, reported to Jamie. “Fleet Headquarters is also looking into trying to get more intel on Ratzi movements. So far, we have not found anything that includes anything out this way.”
“My guess is that either this is something fairly new, or it could be a side project being done by an alpha-class rat trying to advance his position in the Ratschancellory,” Jamie mused. “CyberTaps of the moletronic cores we have recovered don’t lead in any particular direction, so all we can do is guess.”
“They can guess all they want. Our ships together could decimate a Ratzi fleet, if one came this way.”
“I know. I remember doing so with the Gilgamesh and the Hurin working together at the Second Battle of Brigadoon four years ago, Bev. Glad I picked the right bastard for the job back then,” Jamie said, a faint smile playing about his lips, remembering the trap he had laid for a Ratzi fleet. Eighteen ships went in. Two came out. None reported back to the Ratschancellory.
“Let them come. The Ratzis are very slow on the learning curve. We’re not,” Bev replied, not bothering to hide her smile. “We’ll be there in a couple of days, once we’ve sown the probes.”
“We’ll see you when you get here, Bev. Keep your eyes open. Somers out,” Jamie said before breaking the connection.
The next day, after heading down to the surface via Teltrans, Jamie went to let the Princesses know that the Gilgamesh would be arriving within the next two days, with the full diplomatic staff. He gave them the comm links so they could talk directly to U Po before arrival, to set up any protocol arrangements they desired. After that, he sought out Twilight Sparkle. He found her in a workroom in the castle, running experiments, and talking with her pocket Meeser, Gwenhumara, about magic as it is used on Equis.
“So, of thine species who use magic, it is all aspected to thine natures, is that not right?” Jamie heard Gwen ask as he stood by the door.
“That’s correct. Earth ponies are able to influence the earth and plant life, unicorns are the manipulators, spellcasters, and innovators, pegasi can control the weather as well as fly, zebras are excellent potion-makers and magic crafters. I can go on and on, but I don’t think I will need to,” Twilight said as she set up another demonstration.
“While among the peoples of the ISA, magic use is rather uncommon. All species we have met have individuals who can wield magic, it is rather sporadic,” Jamie said as he entered the lab. “For instance, my mother is a skilled sorceress, yet I am not magically inclined.”
“Hello, Captain!” Twilight said, looking up from her lab table. “Any news?”
“Yes. I spoke to the Gilgamesh last night, and it will be here within a couple of days. They are leaving probes and sensor arrays first, in case the Ratzis come calling again,” Jamie said, getting down on one knee, to bring his head down to Twilight’s level. “Still interested in taking a spacing trip?”
“You bet!” Twilight laughed. “To actually go into space and see other stars close up is a dream come true for me!”
“Well, once the Gilgamesh is in orbit, and the diplomatic team gets in place, I will be happy to take you and your friends on a trip around your local star cluster. We’ll also teach you some of our spacing methods, so you and yours won’t get hurt by doing something you don’t know is dangerous,” Jamie said diplomatically.
“How wilt thou cometh up with space suits for the ponies to wear, Captain?” Gwen asked.
“Chief Lovell has come up with something she is sure will work, Gwen,” Jamie told the Meeser. “She will need to do some measurements and checks next time they come up, to see if it would work.”
“Good. Thine uniforms do such for you, whilst our bracelets suffice for mine own,” Gwen said, holding a paw out where Twilight could see it, a plain band around her right foreleg. “This generates a field that will keep me alive in case of decompression, for a time. Thou should think of such things, too, Twilight, ere you join the stars forever unintentionally, or thine friends.”
“I can feel the spell in it, if I look close enough. How do you put that spell into the band, and how does it work?” Twilight asked with interest.
“I doest not put spell in the band, just wear it I do. Other Meesers have spell craft and learned this spell long ago. Simple and reliable to put on the bands, and the bands on Meesers. Every ship has a supply. Rapid turnovers in Meesers, there is. Short life, but busy one,” Gwen told her pony friend.
Twilight blinked some at the news. “That’s not good, only living a short period of time,” she said.
Gwen waved a paw in the air. “Think not of it, friend Princess. Our lives are our own to use. Plus, what we learn is not forgotten. Our children carry the memories we have, and add to them, to pass to their children. With many Meesers going in and out of main nests in Camelot and Pendragon, no knowledge is truly lost, except in certain circumstances.”
“Still, only three years to live. Does not sound like much can be done in that time. Have efforts been made to extend your life span?”
Jamie nodded. “It’s been worked on for over a hundred years. They’re up to three years now. A century ago, their lifespan was only eighteen months. They are also working on increasing their size. Right now, they are so small, they are easily overlooked,” he told Twilight.
“Not to mention getting stepped on, attacked by wild animals, treated as pests by those who know nought better… Tis why most Meesers reside on ships and stations, where life is safer and we can continue functioning as the Memory of the Alliance,” Gwen said pompously.
“So, Twilight, you may want to round up your friends and ask them if they want to go on a great space adventure, courtesy of myself and the ISA. Departure will be a day or so after the Gilgamesh gets here and expect to be gone a week or so. Think you will be ready?” Jamie asked.
“Oh, we will be! Rest assured of that, Captain!” Twilight said eagerly.