The Orbital Platform received the message it had been expecting with baited breath for weeks: Three ships inbound on approach. The first ship to come into view was the massive Klingon warship the IKS Kavaar’ton. The hulking ship didn’t send any communications to the Traffic Control Tower, but simply banked and moved to take up it’s normal stationary position outside of the normal platform traffic pattern. But it was the second ship that was the focus of everyone’s attention.

The type had never been seen before. It was long and sleek, and at first glance appeared to be some kind of water-borne vessel. Closer inspection revealed that to be an illusion due to detailed and intricate painting. The head on profile was thin, but wide; and from the top and bottom it was obvious that space was planned to go out, not up. There was a slight delay and then a wholly strange accented voice said [O] Oed V Platform. This is the Vren ship Promise. We request docking permission and instruction on arrival procedures. [O]

In the Control Tower, Major General Charles Tenkiller took a deep breath. “Ok, everybody… here we go. Let’s not f$@k this up, ok? And that was directed to me. I’m sure y’all got this.” The statement was meat with small laughter and then Tenkiller set his hand on the shoulder of the Antican sitting in the chair in front of where he stood. The Antican nodded and then keyed the comms. [O] Vessel Promise, this is Oed V Space Traffic Control. Request to dock is granted. Please make at slowest speed for Docking cradle Seventeen. You will see it lit up in three… two… one. [O] and he touched an icon and suddenly all the exterior lights on the platform went out save for the bright;y lit destination of the Vren vessel. Tenkiller then spoke into the comms. [O] Vren vessel Promise, this is Major General Charles Tenkiller of the Colonial Customs and Defense Agency. On behalf of the citizens of Oed V, Governor Kenzo B’tren-Hyrushi, Lieutenant Governor Captain Eela Dasca, Ambassador Jeannette Mathis, and the entirety of the United Federation of Planets… we welcome you. Your welcome delegation is waiting for you at your docking point. Oed V Tower out. [C] Tenkiller knew it was a bit formal for the process of docking, but orders were orders.

Inside the Vren ship, a single figure unknowingly mirrored the human who just spoke. Standing behind the ship’s helm operator, Griget Kek- Ambassador of the Vren to the Federation- stood with a hand on the clothed shoulder of the pilot. “Steady as you go, Korhet. We don’t want to bump into anything right now.” Korhet shared the Ambassador’s trepidation. His long fingers played over the controls and the ship slowed to a crawl, slowly approaching the massive structure that was the Oed V Orbital Platform. Minutes passed in silence as both Traffic Control and the crew of the Promise held their proverbial breaths as the ship inched closer and closer. Finally… there was a loud CLANG inside the ship as the docking clamps engaged. Korhet exhaled a long breath and Kek nodded in satisfaction. “Well done.” he said as he turned and looked at the ship’s Captain. “I still invite you to come with us Captain.” The larger Vren, almost entirely green, shook their head in the universal sign of negativity. “No Kek, this is your fiasco. I will stay here so when it goes to rot, someone is capable of saving us.” Kek fixed the Captain with a hard glare and said “Unless you know something I do not, Captain, I suggest you keep a more positive attitude. They are our last hope at survival.” and he walked past him before the words could escape the Captain’s lips.

A half hour passed until the hatch between old foe and new potential friend opened. Ambassador Kek was the first one to step onto the deck of the platform, and the momentousness of the simple physical movement was not lost upon him as he paused, looking down at the four-toed foot encased in the Vren’s suit that pulled humidity from the surrounding air to keep their skin moist under the suit. Over the suit were colorful and loose-fitting robes. Kek looked at his foot for a long moment before moving forward and standing very tall before the assembled representatives. His bright red and bright blue skin, with symmetrical black markings of lines and hash-marks on either side of their exposed skin on their head seemed to glisten slightly under the lights, and his deep red with black pupils on either side of his head moved slightly as he took in the scene before him and he waited for the other side to speak as four more Vren exited their ship and stood slightly behind and to either side of Kek.

Ambassador Kek