Most of the interior of the space ship was decorated with clean, white walls, with occasional doors leading to either other corridors, rooms, different modules, as well as panels for mechanical repair. Beneath and around each wall, soft white lights shined through the plastic-like material and illuminate the vessel into an aseptic white glow. Since the main axis did not spin like the living quarters, and the main fusion engine had not been started yet, there were no gravity within. Vilhelm flew through the slightly cold air of the ship, his hand holding on a small conveyor belt to guide him towards his destination.
Soon, he arrived at one of the larger doors inside the lower quarters of the vessel. within his eye a translucent panel emerged from nowhere, and he quickly selected it with his thought. The white door quietly slided aside into the wall, revealing the lift chamber behind. As he flew into it, the buttons on it changed slightly, from controlling the door of the lift to the level of it. After another command, the door slided back again, closing the chamber with Vilhelm inside. Then, as the walls started shaking and humming with the sound of the heavy machinery, it slowly but gradually descend from the axis and towards the living quarters.
As he approached the spinning wheels that created the much-needed gravity for daily activity, he started to feel the pull towards the floor returning. He slowly floated down to the floor, landing firmly on his legs, while watching the entoptic diagram showing the small light moving towards the “lower” ground. Because of the sheer distance between, it still take him several minutes before the lift stopped and presented him the living quarters.
Like the main axis, the entire quarter was flooded with the soft and clean white glow. However, there were noticeably more doors on both sides of the wall, as opposed to the clean corridor with occasion doors on all sides of the wall. With gravity holding him firmly onto the ground, the commander could walk from sector to sector, crossing the grey lines that indicate gates and bearings between the parts of the torus. As he approached, one of the few lights on the map marked as “crew” seemed to notice his presence as well, and approached him accordingly, until both of them arrived beside the door marked as “gymnasium”.
The commander stroked his chin and pondered. In most cases like this, ships within the Sobornsot were often only fitted with the minimal crew required for function in case the on-board AI broke down - a skeleton crew, as it was called back in ancient times. Because of that, all crews were assigned the most suitable role according to their will and skills. Once decided, the “soul” of the crew members - memory, thought pattern, values, as well as several more other things - would be transferred from their original body to body that was designed for that specific role, be it commander with increased brain function, or boarding party with a strong physical body and built-in drug dispenser. Because of that, it was not unusual for him - actually, her - to work out in the gymnasium to keep the spirit up and to get used to the body, even though it was highly unlikely her ability would be of any use.
Pressing another non-existent button floating on the door, it retracted back to the (slightly thicker) wall, revealing the arrays of equipment designed to strengthen the body and bodily skills of the users. In order to provide the most comfortable for everyone who worked out here, the air was arid and cool, even when compared with the air of the other parts of the ship. However, the strangest part was that even though the scent of sweat could be smelled by him as soon as the door opened, he could not see her anywhere. The light that located her pointed directly in front of him, but it was obvious that no one was here.
About the faction of second after, Vilhelm quickly realise the implication of such event. However, the implication had already reached him before his slower body could do any action, as the feeling of a cold metal rod emerged on the lower back of his torso. At the same time, the same scent of sweat appeared from behind as well, as another hand held his body against the unknown rod.
“Are you looking for me, captain?” It was a voice of a woman, somewhat deeper than average, although still quite pleasant for the sound alone. However, the arm holding Vilhelm was a direct contrast to the soft voice, as while it was still a feminine arm, the strength packed within was obviously stronger than his, and possibly than most humans as well. After all, that female body was designed for physical strength and close-range combat.
“Well, yes, Theodora Boveta. Now, please release me.” With a dry laugh, Vilhelm asked. Even though the one holding him was not hostile - otherwise, chances were he would already been incapacitated, or even decapitated - the sheer strength were still unnerving, and it was not unheard of that new body - “morph” - could be hard to control when newly grafted in.
After a small nod and another poke from behind, the woman called Theodora quickly released the man within her strong hug, and swiftly moved back to where she was supposed to be. Like most morph of the same design, it was a fairly attractive female body, with the skin of a healthy, bronze-like tone, as well as body lines that suggested its muscles hidden beneath the skin and fat.
What made it different from a “standard” human, though, was the fact that she also processed a tail slowly swinging at ankle level. Incorporated for body balance and control, the tail was covered in some kind of fur to conceal its true shape, as the thought of its naked appearance gave Vilhelm a small shudder. As an addition to this body, Theodora also wore a headdress that had a pair of cat ears mounted on it. While he was pretty sure it was her hobby, the seemingly strange headdress was not entirely pointless, as the pointed ears were built to listen to directed sound with higher sensitivity, and could also be used for echolocation should the need arise - something similar to a sonar. Despite all these reasoning, Vilhelm still could not strung off the speculations that this design of combat-oriented morph was most likely built for advertisement reasons.
“So, how is this new morph, Theodore?” After straightening his clothes, Vilhelm asked casually.
“Theodora. It would be strange to retain a male name when in a female body. But yes, this is awesome! I mean, I had a few augmentations back in my old body, but they are nothing compared with it!” The woman laughed loudly, before punching at the wall to demonstrate her point. While the punch did not bent the wall, it was still clearly a heavy punch judging from the sound and speed from it.
“Of course, it is specifically made for melee combat.” And, like almost all kinds of morphs, people with special fetishes. The captain knew better to keep it to himself, though.
“And it certainly shows! I believe it would not be hard to incapacitate someone within a few seconds! Do you want to try it?”
“No, thanks. It is a bit difficult to work when being pinned down while having a few fractured bones.” He remarked, sarcastically, as Theodora laughed again to his comment. Then, as if all the exercises and practical jokes were not enough, she rode back onto a treadmill again and started running on a speed that would bring down people with normal physique quickly. “Well, you are the commander. So, how’s the ‘work’ we have? We certainly have already arrived nearby, and it seems that we are not blown to smithereens yet.”
“I have sent the first contact message to the anomaly a while ago, and I believe it should be about time we get a response in either radio message or laser beams.” Vilhelm said, as he brought out the timer within his vision. After a few clicks, it appeared within the sights of Theodora as well, along with all the numbers that indicated her bodily strength and its theoretical limits.
“Well, they certainly took their time for that.” She commented, as the clock estimated how long the receiver had prepared for a response should it arrived now.
“It was barely five minutes.”
“What? You mean they do not have AI to do all the heavy works?”
“Radio signal received. The source was within range of the anomaly.” as if it was waiting for this exact moment, the on-board AI informed both of them, as the estimated source of the signal appeared on the star map that popped out right into their face.
“How is the analysis of the signal?” Vilhelm gave Theodora a small smile, before turning towards the AI.
“From the complexity and ongoing length of the radio signal, it is highly possible that the message is of the same type as the unknown civilisation engagement protocol. Decryption and translation of the message has been initiated.”“Well, at least they are probably not trying to blast us at the moment.” Theodora said, as she ran on the treadmill like it was but a small walk around the station.
“Certainly - ”
“Unknown object detected.” The sudden warning from the ship interrupted their short discussion, as an unknown object appeared out of the void several thousand kilometre from the ship. It did not take long until a more detailed report was broadcast through the local network, and concluded it was most likely an artificial vessel entering normal space.
“ - And they apparently have faster-than-light travel capacity, or very good stealth technology.” Vilhelm continued, before turning towards the AI once more for orders. Perhaps noticing the strings of events happening around, or were just waiting for some actions, Theodora also stopped the treadmill, and reconnected herself into the mainframe after disabling the puppet program she used to trick Vilhelm moments ago.
“Continue the orientation process, but terminate main engine starting sequence.” Vilhelm stopped for a moment to organise his thoughts, knowing that time is of essence now. After all, since they were to be arriving now, the most important thing after reporting back to
Futura would be to decode the message from these aliens as fast as possible, and to create an algorithm to translate their language. “Change the priority of decoding the unknown message to high. Focus on basic communications and basic words. As soon as the translation is reliable, translate my message and contact them through our radio.”
A small message box appeared in front of Vilhelm, as the vessel started to implement the string of orders it just received. The captain selected the box with his mind, before his thoughts started to be recorded by it in words and occasion pictures.
We are a space vessel from the civilisation of Futura Sobornost.
We are here because one of our unmanned probes discovered your presence.
We come in peace and mean no harm.
We are now decoding your message, and try to communicate with your kind based on the information provided.
We will open our hanger once you approach us and welcome you.
The interior of the vessel is similar to our home world in lighting, temperature, and atmospheric composition and pressure.
“Open the main gate of the hanger once the unknown vessel approaches.” Vilhelm concluded, before the on-board AI got to work, taking away the box of message, along with the 3D model of him and Theodora’s body. Those would be sent to the vessel once the translation was presumed to be correct.
“Well, let us welcome them, shall we?” Vilhelm turned to Theodora, who seemed to finish her part of ordering as well.
“Sure. I have activated some Furies just in case.” The tailed woman nodded, before they left the gymnasium and headed towards the hanger bay at the main axis.