16 |Base Established|

Two months have passed since the return of Kestral and her occupants. The inhabitants injuries were treated during the journey and were immediately sent to isolation courtesy of the medical staff.

"We've been studying the flora and fauna that the recon teams have been collecting and have confirmed the presence of unknown microorganisms within them." One of the Doctors reported, "All teams have entered quarantine for two weeks before they embark on their next outing."

"Then what about the inhabitants? Its not exactly reassuring to them being locked in a enclosed room without a thing being said to them." OO Paulina noted. "Sooner or later we will need to make face to face contact with them."

"In due time Officer. While we study these microbes and determine the risk factor to us, we'll suit up the linguistics people to go talk to them." The Doctor replied. "It seems that some of them have been gaining some fluency in their language and wish to ensure that they are. Pestering me ever since they arrived those word ears."

"Haha, the linguistic department are quite jumpy right now. At least they have something to do now." Paulina laughed, "What else are you preparing Doc?"

The Doctor turned and stared straight into her eyes. "Vaccines."

"Vaccines? Already?" Shocked, Paulina had to do a double take. "Its only been a couple days since those people arrived. Sur-"

"Not for us." The Doctor interrupted, "The vaccine is for them, not us."

Raising an eyebrow, Paulina shot the Doctor with a questioning glare.

"Really now? Vaccines, for them?"

Shrugging his shoulders, the Doctor entered his lab. "Well, we need to vaccinate them first before face to face contact. We don't want to recreate what happened when the Europeans started colonizing New America now do we?"

"Makes sense doc. How much time do you and your men need to find and develop a vaccine for us?"

"Depends on what we find, maybe a week, at most? A Month and a half."

"Then you got 2 months doc. We look forward to the results."

Pushing Paulina out of the lab, the doctor shuts the door right in front of her.

"Yeah yeah, go bug the linguistics people. They have the spare time to talk with someone like you"

--------

"Admiral, the Medical department says they have synthesized a vaccine. They're asking when do you want to start vaccinating the crew."

"That was fast, only a month has went by." Rubbing his chin, Vardan thought for a moment. "Get the recon teams vaccinated first, they're the ones who always get first contact with the inhabitants anyways, Then the linguistics department, so they no longer have to wear the bio suits if they want to talk with the grandparents 1st recon picked up."

"Rog, just sent the instructions Admiral. Its almost time for the language class to start, connecting you to the portal now Admiral."

"Many thanks Officer Leeman, this is quite the interesting language, do you want to tag along?"

"No thanks Admiral, I won't be entering the field anytime soon. As such, there isn't much reason to learn this new language sir.

"Unfortunate, maybe in the future then." Chuckling to himself, Vardan then switched the topic. "How is the mining base doing? In the last report, they mentioned something about starting construction of late WW2 and early cold war ships."

"The mining operations have been a success, we now have a reliable source of materials and the 3D printer can synthesize anything we can't mine with the excess materials being brought up." Leeman read as he pulled up the detailed report.

"In regards to ship building, they are following what you said. About using the old ship designs since they pose no threat to us whatsoever. So far they've laid down the hulls for 3 Montana class fast battleship and 2 Yamato class heavy battleship. Looks like they have some history nerds amongst them Admiral."

"HaHaha." Laughing out loud and slapping his knee, "Those boys sure have their imagination. How long until the ships are seaworthy?"

"About a month Admiral, some of the designs they used had some flaws and it took them a bit to flush them out."

"Good, Good, I want to be there and experience when they get launched, put it in my schedule Leeman."

"Yes Admiral."

--------

"Hey Grandpa, when are the strange people going to let us out?"

A small boy could be seen sitting in the lap of an old man.

"I'm not sure little one, the only thing I'm certain of is that they are doing this for our own safety." Rubbing the boy's head, the old man replied tenderly.

"But what about Auntie and Grandma? And my friends?" The boy asked for the nth time.

"They are still here Austin, don't worry about them, I'm sure they are doing alright as well."

Just as the boy was about to ask another question, knocking on the door interrupted him. Startled, he jumped off the man's lap and hid behind him, gingerly looking at the door.

"Hello? Mr. Salix? Austin?"

As the voice came from the door, a click could be heard.

"On behalf of the ship, I apologize for keeping you here for this long. We have confirmed that everything should be safe for everyone. If you would please follow me, you are the last ones, everyone else is waiting for you in the cantina."

"Many thanks Mr. Proctus, I look forward to seeing everyone together in one place again."

As Linguistics officer Proctus took the two and approached the cantina, Austin immediately ran ahead once he heard the voices of his friends.

"Haha, quite energetic he is." Proctus commented. "Again, I would like to apologize for keeping you here for so long."

"Oh please, don't apologize. You people saved my wife's and I's life." Salix shook his head. "Its just that the little ones haven't been fully exposed to the world that they act like this."

"Heh, if you say so Mr. Salix. But we don't mind if kids act like this, in fact its more important that they act like this when they can." Proctus replied to him. "Its only at times like this where children can run around and laugh carefree that we grown folk feel rewarded."

"HAHAha, Well spoken Mr. Proctus." With a loud laugh, Salix banged his cane on the floor a couple times. "You don't even look half my age yet you are speaking with the wisdom of an elder. Very intriguing."

"Well, this is what war does to the human mind. You either grow and mature immediately, or you get caught in the jaws of war and die." Proctus said with a self depreciating chuckle.

"Hmm, let us leave it at that. We can talk about this another time, away from all the little ones."

"Agreed Mr. Salix." Slapping his cheeks, Proctus stood up and clapped, grabbing the attention of everyone here.

"Hello everyone, I'm sure that you all know who I am. But I think a more regular introduction is needed." Proctus spoke in a loud voice. "As you see, I am no longer in that strange suit of ours, and that is because there is no risk of danger anymore so you don't have to worry anymore."

"Is that related to what you injected into us a week ago?" A old lady spoke up. "That clear liquid in that injection device, a /Vaccine/ as you called it."

"Yes indeed Mrs. Asimina. As such, I would like to formally welcome everyone here aboard the C.S.S. Zephyr." Proctus spread his hands out and bowed to everyone present.

Tapping on a device in his ear and pulling up a screen on his wrist, a change in his facial expression could be seen by the others.

"It would seem like we have a guest that wishes to speak with everyone" Proctus spoke with a more formal tone.

"Would you be able to tell us who this guest is, Mr. Proctus?" Salix asked with a worried expression.

Walking to a door and placing his hand on the doorknob, Proctus straightened his posture and replied to the old man.

"That guest would be the Fleet Admiral and Leader of this ship. Admiral Vardan"