Stardate: 70820:2115
Title: Rennas (Part 1)
Author: Captain Deadilus
Time: Directly after "Masters of our Fate"
Scene: USS Horizon


Fifteen minutes.

Fifteen minutes was all that lay between now and the First Contact with the Rennas, the enemy they had yet to know.

~

At first, Scott had resisted the urge to read up on the data that Lily had provided him with. Although he wanted to change the events that led to the civil war in the future, he was wary that knowing too much could have catastrophic consequences. But, as the deadline had drawn closer and closer, he found himself inexplicably drawn to the datapadd.

The information contained in the padd was extensive, although much of the basics would probably become uncovered in the next few hours by the away team, including himself.

The Rennas, as he had learned their name to be, were an insectile humanoid species settled on a handful of colony worlds, although Lily had noted that they inhabited over 100 nearby star systems in the future. Their cultures and beliefs were extensively listed, much of it written in such a manner that Scott realised he was reading his own (and as yet, unwritten) reports from this very contact!

Technologically, the Rennas were on a par with the Federation, possessing high-warp vessels of varying sizes, phaser and energy-torpedo weaponry, and relatively basic shielding. But, whereas many members of the Federation (such as humans) had taken several hundred years and several wars to achieve these technological leaps, the Rennas had accomplished the same, or bought the technology and adapted it, within the last one-hundred years.

A shiver ran down the Captain's spine; any race achieving such a leap of technology would have had to single-mindedly work towards such efforts. But were they merely playing 'catch-up', or would they quickly become a force to contend with?

If he didn't know about the future war, he would have no doubt been impressed. But, knowing what he did, he wasn't afraid to admit he was just a little scared of what the Rennas had accomplished in so short a time.

~

Having donned his dress uniform, Captain Deadilus stood before the viewscreen. The Rennas had contacted the Horizon, now travelling by itself after their future counterpart had dropped out of warp before entering sensor range of Renna, the Rennasian Homeworld.

Autumn had already ensured that the Rennas had been sent the Federation standard alphabet and linguistics data to enable the Rennasian Universal Translator to work more efficiently, and they had replied in kind.

{Unknown vessel, please state your business in this sector.} The viewscreen displayed the brown/green 'face' of one of the Rennas, complete with two red and very large compound eyes and facial antennae.

"Greetings. I am Captain Deadilus of the Federation starship USS Horizon. We are peaceful explorers seeking out new life and civilisations in this region of space."

There was a short pause before the viewscreen changed to another, albeit similar, insectile face.

{Greetings Captain Deadilus of the Federation starship USS Horizon. I am Darka'Tal of the Rennasian Empire. We too are peaceful explorers and welcome cultural and technological exchange with all.}

"Captain, we are receiving beam-down co-ordinates on a sub-channel," Autumn notified him.

{We would very much like to meet with you. Please beam down to the co-ordinates provided.} The universal translator conveyed little emotion, but the Captain was sure there was a hint of glee in the insect's voice...


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Captain Scott Deadilus
Commanding Officer
USS Horizon
NCC-72400
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