Research station Nejir's Foresight, in orbit above Okasha, Gamma Quadrant
Head researcher Nejir Bai- Hadora stared at the collection of screens that took up most of the wall in front of her, deep green eyes sitting at the top of her head widening as one blip after another appeared on the the long- range sensors where there shouldn't be any. All around her diran in various states of alarm worked diligently at curved screens that seemed almost old- fashioned in the dim light of the living, coral- made walls of the reseach station, bringing in sensor data from both the station's sensors and of the moderate number of research ships in this sector. She made an effort to straighten her coat while her headcrest slowly but steadily rose as the number of blips continued to increase.
"Whatever they are, it appears they are gathering in this area just within reach of our long- range sensors." Yelen, her faithful assistant said in his raspy voice. The charcoal- grey male's striking blue eyes were fixed on the screen just like her own, but his body language was more one of intense curiousity and interest than of alarm. He had been her assistant even before their clan had discovered the secret to unlocking the farcaster gates and had led a multi-clan expedition that had culminated in the discovery of the planet they now knew as Okasha and more recently the foundation of the fledgling settlement the Diran had named Okashasura.
They had been there every step of the way, first as part of the expedition through the strange realm behind the farcaster gates and then as head researcher and assistant of this station as the station and research vessels carefully scanned the planet's atmosphere and wildlife and eventually declared it fit for their kind. Once the high council of Dira and the council of shamans had given their blessings and the settlement efforts were safely underway they had received the order to turn their station's sensors outwards, aand so they had. Being the foremost representative of the clan who had done the majority of the work had afforeded her a position in what had soon grown into Okasha's own council of clan representatives.
Bai- Hadora took a deep breath, resisting the urge to clench her fingers. "Focus all sensors in their direction! What do the sensors say regarding the objects' composition and trajectory? Are there any sources of strong gravity within the area that could cause such a gathering?" she asked, her deep contralto voice carrying a mixture of curiousity and mild concern.
A younger female with leaf- green skin further to her left was the first to respond. "Objects arriving from different directions. Movements appear to be coordinated, no sources of gravitational anomalies detected. Long- range chemical scanners... " The young female's auburn headcrest shot up in alarm. "...indicate that the objects are primmarily comprised of metal, ma'am."
The head researcher blinked. "Could you repeat that?"
"According to our sensors, the objects appear to be mostly composed of large quanities of refined metals, although the exact composition is impossible to determine at this range. They're also emitting large amounts of heat!"
That completely rules out asteroids or comets. Spirits preserve us. Could... could it be?
Bai- Hadora could feel herself slumping into her gel seat but quickly rose again. She felt the eyes of every diran in the room resting on her before they, along with her own, moved to the scroll shelf in the room's center, next to her desk. It consisted of six comparmtments, each of them containing a number of scrolls in numbered waterproof cases which together held the full text of the council of shamans' directive. "Yelen, which part contained the directive on the possible event of the discovery of intelligent life?"
To Yelen's credit, the question did not send him reeling, although his body language made it clear he understood the gravity of the question. "I think it was in part three. But I have-"
"Not now Yelen, I need to find that passage. I belive we just discovered another intelligent species and I won't be the one who'll get us into trouble with the councils for missing this chance or for not following protocol!" said Bai- Hadora as she slithered over to the scroll shelf. Great spirits, listen to me. Another species! Now, where is that scroll?
A polite cough from Yelen snapped the head researcher out of her thoughts. When she raised her head she could see that her assistant had already found the relevant passage in the local databank and had projected it onto one of the larger screens that wasn't occupied with data for everyone to read. A very long- winded passage written in the swirling, traditional script used for formal decrees and read from the bottom.
"We, the council of shamans, voices of the spirits, keepers of -" blah blah blah, yadda yadda yadda- Ahah! Here it is "hereby declare that, in the event that this expedition should discover the existence of intelligent life from beyond the stars it shall immediately inform the council of shamans and the high council so that the people can be informed of this joyous discovery. The local representatives shall also- Comms, send a message to the councils on Dira and alert the other councillors here and on Okasha and tell them there'll be an emergency meeting. Yes, all of them! Everyone else, keep scanning and broadcasting towards the objects, vessels, whatever. I want to make sure we don't miss a thing and won't be missed either."