W.O.L.F. 2 - We Come in Peace by Sharpfang

W.O.L.F. 2 - We Come in Peace

Story by Sharpfang on SoFurry

Sharpfang, Anthro, Human, M/F, Sci-Fi, Wolf

#2 of W.O.L.F.

W.O.L.F. - World Of Lupine Furries

We Come in Peace

a fantasy story

By Sharpfang'99

This is the second story from the series W.O.L.F.

and if there will be any further depends on your feedback ONLY!

Thanks for help to The Phoenix.

W.O.L.F. - World Of Lupine Furries ==================================

intro

Deep space. Small ship named Toronto after the city of birth of its constructor, returns from a mission. The mission was to examine an especially interesting star and its solar system, and to seek any signs of alien life. No life was found. The ship returns home. Six humans sleep with the death-deep sleep. In coffin-like hibernation containers four men and two women wait for the journey to end in a few years.

Meantime the computer drives the ship and controls all the devices. It also watches and listens using all its scanners, radars and detectors, for what's going on around. Look! It just noticed something in the space! Let's peep into its logs to see what is that!

We Come in Peace

:::::::::::: event_24.log :::::::::::: Mar 8 19:07:15: logger: log service started. (Tue Mar 8 19:17:15 2095) Mar 8 19:07:15: logger: Stand-by state interrupted by radard: unexpected object on route detected. Mar 8 19:07:16: system: Starting event evaluation program eeval. Mar 8 19:07:16: eeval.boot: booting eeval. Mar 8 19:07:18: eeval.boot: importing input data. Mar 8 19:07:18: eeval.boot: starting eeval. Mar 8 19:07:19: eeval: First evaluation: Asteroid or starship on route. No collision danger. Mar 8 19:07:20: eeval: Requesting access to standard long-distance camera. Mar 8 19:07:20: system: access to standard long-distance camera granted for eeval. Mar 8 19:07:20: system: booting camera daemon camd. Mar 8 19:07:21: eeval: gathering additional data process started. Mar 8 19:07:21: camd: standard long-distance photo taken. Mar 8 19:07:22: eeval: Second evaluation: Non-standard asteroid or starship. Mar 8 19:07:22: eeval: Requesting access to high-detail long-distance camera. Mar 8 19:07:22: system: access to high-detail long-distance camera granted for eeval. Mar 8 19:07:22: camd: setting up high-detail photo. Mar 8 19:07:23: camd: high-detail photo taken. Mar 8 19:07:24: eeval: Third evaluation: unknown starship or starwreck. Mar 8 19:07:25: eeval: Requesting ship ID. Mar 8 19:07:25: radiod: ID request send. Mar 8 19:07:26: radiod: junk data reply. Saving. Mar 8 19:07:26: eeval: Fourth evaluation: unknown starship. Mar 8 19:07:26: camd: setting up high-detail photo. Mar 8 19:07:27: camd: high-detail photo taken. Mar 8 19:07:27: eeval: Requesting access to X-ray camera. Mar 8 19:07:27: eeval: Requesting access to outside flashlight devices. Mar 8 19:07:27: system: access to X-ray camera granted for eeval. Mar 8 19:07:28: system: limited access to flashlight and laser granted for eeval. Mar 8 19:07:28: camd: setting up high-detail photo. Mar 8 19:07:29: camd: flashlight activated. Mar 8 19:07:29: camd: high-detail photo taken. Mar 8 19:07:29: camd: X-ray photo taken. Mar 8 19:07:31: eeval: Fifth evaluation: New generation or alien starship. Mar 8 19:07:31: eeval: Requesting Uniform Contact Protocol handshake from the ship. Mar 8 19:07:31: radiod: UCP handshake request sent. Mar 8 19:07:32: radiod: UCP answer error. Unknown codes. Saving. Mar 8 19:07:32: eeval: Analyzing UCP reply. Mar 8 19:07:39: eeval: Logical key found. Mar 8 19:07:40: eeval: Final evaluation: Alien starship. Mar 8 19:07:40: eeval: Passing control to firstenc. Mar 8 19:07:40: system: Booting the first encounter program firstenc. Mar 8 19:07:42: eeval: self-shutdown. Mar 8 19:07:45: firstenc: loading input data. Mar 8 19:07:46: firstenc: requesting security level 2 permissions. Mar 8 19:07:46: system: security level 2 permissions granted for firstenc. Mar 8 19:07:47: firstenc: Sending basic intelligence signal (2+2=4) Mar 8 19:07:47: radiod: Sending raw signal. Mar 8 19:07:48: radiod: Piping raw received stream to firstenc. Mar 8 19:07:48: firstenc: Attempting to establish basic dictionary. Mar 8 19:07:48: radiod: 'Firstenc' protocol installed. Mar 8 19:07:48: radiod: two-channel data stream established. Mar 8 19:07:50: firstenc: Basic dictionary request understood and accepted. Establishing. Mar 8 19:07:56: radiod: increasing bandwidth. Mar 8 19:07:59: radiod: increasing bandwidth. Mar 8 19:08:08: radiod: increasing bandwidth. Mar 8 19:08:30: firstenc: Basic dictionary established. Mar 8 19:08:30: firstenc: sending information on human civilization. Appx transfer time 140 secs. Mar 8 19:08:30: firstenc: received meeting proposal. Arranging meeting. Mar 8 19:08:30: firstenc: Asking system for route change permissions. Mar 8 19:08:31: system: route change accepted. Mar 8 19:08:31: navid: computing new route. Mar 8 19:08:33: firstenc: meetpoint offer sent. Mar 8 19:08:33: firstenc: received adjusting request. Mar 8 19:08:33: navid: change allowed. Recomputing route. Mar 8 19:08:35: firstenc: meetpoint accepted. Mar 8 19:08:36: firstenc: Receiving text file. Contents: unrecognized. Mar 8 19:08:40: firstenc: EOF received. Closing file. Mar 8 19:08:40: firstenc: Receiving data file. Contents: unrecognized. Mar 8 19:08:40: navid: closest point in 10 seconds. Mar 8 19:08:46: camd: setting up high-detail photo. Mar 8 19:08:47: camd: flashlight activated. Mar 8 19:08:48: firstenc: data transfer suspended. Mar 8 19:08:48: camd: setting up high-detail photo. Mar 8 19:08:50: camd: flashlight activated. Mar 8 19:08:50: camd: high-detail photo taken. Mar 8 19:08:50: camd: X-ray photo taken. Mar 8 19:08:50: camd: Holo photo taken. Mar 8 19:08:50: scand: flash detected. Mar 8 19:08:50: scand: x-ray flash detected. Mar 8 19:08:50: scand: low-energy laser scanning flash detected. Mar 8 19:08:52: firstenc: data transfer reactivated. Mar 8 19:08:52: camd: flashlight activated. Mar 8 19:08:53: camd: high-detail photo taken. Mar 8 19:10:15: radard: object out of range in 10 secs. Mar 8 19:10:55: firstenc: data sending complete. Mar 8 19:10:55: firstenc: asking alien for data on their civilization. Mar 8 19:10:56: firstenc: Transfer refused. "Already have" error. Mar 8 19:10:56: firstenc: Error unexpected. Aborting request. Mar 8 19:10:57: firstenc: trying to establish enhanced dictionary. Mar 8 19:10:58: firstenc: Transfer refused. "Already in transfer" error. Mar 8 19:10:58: firstenc: Error unexpected. Aborting request. Mar 8 19:10:59: firstenc: Analyzing received data. Mar 8 19:29:30: firstenc: no logical key found. Mar 8 19:35:30: firstenc: EOF received. Closing file. Mar 8 19:35:31: firstenc: asking alien for data on their culture. Mar 8 19:35:32: firstenc: Receiving data file. Contents: unrecognized. Mar 8 19:42:15: radiod: transmission error. Decreasing bandwidth. Mar 8 19:48:19: radiod: transmission error. Decreasing bandwidth. Mar 8 20:59:05: radiod: transmission error. Decreasing bandwidth. Mar 8 21:15:00: radiod: transmission error. Entering LDL protocol mode. Mar 8 22:30:18: firstenc: EOF received. Closing file. Mar 8 22:32:02: radiod: connection lost. Mar 8 22:32:02: radiod: scanning for carrier. Mar 8 22:42:02: radiod: scan unsuccessful Giving up. Mar 8 22:42:03: navid: Course correction applied. Mar 8 22:42:08: firstenc: Switching to stand-by mode. Mar 8 22:42:09: firstenc: log service shutdown.

:::::::::::: event_25.log :::::::::::: May 2 01:07:24: logger: log service started. (Fri May 2 01:07:24 2095) May 2 01:07:24: logger: Stand-by state interrupted by navid: 10 days to meetpoint. May 2 01:07:25: system: switching firstenc to active mode. May 2 01:07:27: firstenc: Activating the dehibernation procedure. May 2 01:07:29: cryod: Changing status: (new status follows) Format: Name [function] - Real age - Bio age - Life functions - Status Andrew Kachanov [Capitan] - 172 - 38 - 0.3% - dehibernation Irena Schwartz [scientist] - 64 - 41 - 0.2% - dehibernation Thomas Locker [doctor] - 183 - 52 - 0.2% - dehibernation Nora Starr [navigator] - 86 - 34 - 0.3% - dehibernation Leonard Estevano [2nd pilot] - 92 - 35 - 0.3% - dehibernation Alex Timber [psychologist] - 48 - 23 - 0.4% - dehibernation May 2 01:07:30: firstenc:Scheduling hourly radio scan for carrier. May 2 01:07:30: cron: crontab change accepted. May 4 07:02:24: navid: Main drive engaged. Impulse 7 seconds. May 5 02:23:11: navid: Main drive engaged. Impulse 5 seconds. May 5 23:58:01: navid: Main drive engaged. Impulse 8 seconds. May 6 03:55:02: radiod: Scan success. Connection to alien ship established. May 6 03:55:03: firstenc: trying to establish enhanced dictionary. May 6 03:55:04: firstenc: Transfer refused. "Already have" error. May 6 03:55:04: firstenc: Error unexpected. Aborting request. May 6 03:55:05: firstenc: asking alien for data on their technology. May 6 03:55:06: firstenc: Receiving data file. Contents: unrecognized. May 6 16:59:57: firstenc: EOF received. Closing file. May 6 16:59:58: firstenc: asking alien for data on their civilization. May 6 17:00:00: firstenc: Receiving data file. Contents: unrecognized. May 6 17:42:21: navid: Main drive engaged. Impulse 6 seconds. May 7 22:02:11: firstenc: EOF received. Closing file. May 7 22:02:12: firstenc: asking alien for data on their biology. May 7 22:02:13: firstenc: Receiving data file. Contents: unrecognized. May 8 10:30:15: system: security level 0 permissions granted for life_support. May 9 08:14:54: navid: Main drive engaged. Impulse 19 seconds. May 10 09:59:55: navid: Main drive engaged. Impulse 15 seconds. May 10 10:00:01: firstenc: EOF received. Closing file. May 10 10:02:24: cryod: Changing status: (new status follows) Format: Name [function] - Real age - Bio age - Life functions - Status Andrew Kachanov [capitan] - 172 - 38 - 81.3% - sleeping Irena Schwartz [scientist] - 64 - 41 - 75.1% - sleeping Thomas Locker [doctor] - 183 - 52 - 79.0% - sleeping Nora Starr [navigator] - 86 - 34 - 82.7% - sleeping Leonard Estevano [2nd pilot] - 92 - 35 - 83.2% - sleeping Alex Timber [psychologist] - 48 - 23 - 82.5% - sleeping May 10 11:21:28: radard: alien in radar range. May 10 11:51:11: navid: switching to secondary drive. May 10 11:51:12: navid: Secondary drive engaged. Impulse 20 seconds. May 10 14:51:12: navid: Secondary drive engaged. Impulse 23 seconds. May 10 17:51:12: navid: Secondary drive engaged. Impulse 21 seconds. May 10 20:51:12: navid: Secondary drive engaged. Impulse 22 seconds. May 10 23:51:12: navid: Secondary drive engaged. Impulse 25 seconds. May 11 02:51:12: navid: Secondary drive engaged. Impulse 18 seconds. May 11 05:51:12: navid: Secondary drive engaged. Impulse 19 seconds. May 11 08:51:12: navid: Secondary drive engaged. Impulse 21 seconds. May 11 11:51:12: navid: Secondary drive engaged. Impulse 20 seconds. May 11 14:51:12: navid: Secondary drive engaged. Impulse 20 seconds. May 11 14:51:14: cryod: Changing status: (new status follows) Format: Name [function] - Real age - Bio age - Life functions - Status Andrew Kachanov [capitan] - 172 - 38 - 97.9% - awaken Irena Schwartz [scientist] - 64 - 41 - 95.9% - awaken Thomas Locker [doctor] - 183 - 52 - 97.0% - awaken Nora Starr [navigator] - 86 - 34 - 98.4% - awaken Leonard Estevano [2nd pilot] - 92 - 35 - 99.7% - awaken Alex Timber [psychologist] - 48 - 23 - 99.2% - awaken [EOF]

So... That's it... an alien civilization and we can't understand them. - Andrew stood up from his place at the console and looked over his crew. Thomas and Irena, the doctor and the scientist - sitting on both sides of the main passage were apparently thinking, what to do. This was the first Irena's flight, while Thomas was the oldest and most experienced amongst the space medics, who participated the first hibernation flight. Generally the five other persons' task was to bring Irena to the place so she could complete her research - seeking for signs of life, while Thomas was the one that had to prepare everyone correctly for the re-hibernation in the return way home. Over them, behind the large transparent head up displays on the pilot and navigator's chairs Leon and Nora were sitting. Andrew has been flying with them for a half of his career and since they left the cadet school.
I have a feeling that they don't like us - said Leonard.
Why do you thinking so? - asked Alex. He was a young, just-graduated psychologist, and a person that's usually quite useless on the ships as long as the hibernators work ok... but after a few failures of the hibernation machinery, when the crews returned either crazy or dead after killing each other, the command centre decided to include an especially trained person to keep the high spirit in hard moments, and it mostly worked. He was sitting in the chair at the end of the main passage, as the bridge room was too small to fit all the six persons comfortably.
They send us either junk or enciphered data we can't decipher. Do friends do such things?
Wait... Maybe we should see, what they sent us? - said Thomas. Maybe that's just this stupid computer?
Sure we should. Computer! Display the first file received!

A text slowly scrolled through the main screen. It was simple English with a lot of mathematics and algorithmic language.

Stop! I think I can recognize it! - exclaimed Leonard. - I think this are some kind of algorithms... like... let me look better... Lorenz-Huffman compression! mp5 audio, jpeg images... Only everything slightly different: Other headers, other names, other output... Computer! Treat the text file as a set of instructions on creating programs. Create file-processing program following the instructions from the first paragraph. Create multimedia player programs following the instructions from the rest of the file.
Creating; evaluating; correcting; evaluating; compiling; correcting; evaluating; compiling; saving; creating; evaluating - the computer was babbling for a while, and finally presented a set of executable binaries. - One program demands access to a non-standard multimedia device: beam radio antenna. Shall I proceed?
Details?
The program directs the antenna to the middle of the ship, on the audience and sends modulated radio stream from the .psn files.
What are the .psn files?
I don't know.
Well... Let's take this risk. Proceed!
Damn... Sending us encrypted files is not very honest... - noticed Andrew.
Not encrypted but compressed. They save the bandwidth! - said Alex.
Do you suspect they may be hostile? - asked Thomas.
I don't know. Probably not but we can't exclude such possibility. - answered the captain.
I think best if we check the contents of the files they have sent us... - the old doctor decided.
Right. Captain? - Alex added.
Computer! Process the received files using the first program. - commanded Andrew.

A long column of filenames was quickly scrolling through the screen.

Created 9283 files. Firstenc analyses them. Result: multimedia database on their civilization. Automatic presentation script found. Enhanced dictionary file found. Learning enhanced dictionary. done. Unrecognised electronic device plans detected.
Run the script.
The script uses periodically the antenna as a multimedia device, using the psn files as input data. Shall I disallow it?
What the hell would it do? We don't have radios in our brains! - said Leon.
So it won't disturb. Allow the antenna but display a marker on the side screen, whenever it's in use.

The computer dimmed the lights in the bridge room and the screen went black.

Strange, unknown but quite pleasant music came from the speakers. The rough computer's voice translating the transmission was contrasting with it. The screen filled with stars. Some known constellations could be recognized.

Welcome, strangers. Greetings from the civilization of Wolf. We hope our worlds will start a fruitful cooperation in the future. Let us introduce ourselves. - two silhouettes appeared on the screen, a male and a female. Human sized, human-shaped but whole covered with grey fur. In place of noses, they had long, canine muzzles, hairy tails on their backs and strong hands with short fingers ending with small, sharp claws. Generally you could say you see a two-legged, anthropomorphic wolf.
A werewolf - whispered Nora.
We live on the second planet of the solar system that can be found in 1/3 of the distance between the two nearest from here giant stars, from which the further one is a double-star set. - First a more distant map with the line between two stars with a mark was drawn, then the close-up of the mark and the star not far from the line was shown.
Computer! Locate the star! - commanded Andrew.
The double-star set identified as Antares, the other giant as Hadar. The mentioned star exists on our maps as Oltiio [-17,-38]#3 a type G yellow star, while the spectrum scan indicated seven planets, including one (second planet of the system) which is about earth size and it's distance from the star (0.95 AU) grants orbital period of 364 earth days and in case of oxygen atmosphere similar to earth, average temperature estimated as 34 Celsius degrees.
Ok, continue with the presentation.
The life on our planet is based on proteins. - an image of a deep forest full of old, big trees appeared on the screen - The most basic organisms called plants build their mass using the mineral substances from the soil and the solar energy. They work as food for higher-organized beings - a deer grazing on a glade was shown - and they grant the necessary life energy for us.

The screen went dark and the red light on the side screen went on. Irena shivered. A small glade could be seen, like in the view from a wolf's eyes. A small hare was eating the grass in the middle of it... Crawling. The skin on your neck starts itching in the emotion... the tail low over the ground... crouch, crawling slowly, nerves... The hare turns its head slowly and you already know you will be noticed! You start a mad run towards the prey, it immediately hears you, sees you and runs very quickly... but you're quicker! On all four, like the nature created you, you chase the hare, feel it just below your muzzle, you'll have it! No! Hitting the air with your jaws, you see the hare that turned suddenly. You turn too, but not as quickly, losing time and distance, but now! You're on his heels again, Another pouncing attack, and you see as the hare below you changes its direction again. You reach after him and feel his leg in your hand. Pulling strongly you get the prey back and as you land on the ground he's just under your jaws again, this time without chances. Strong hit, smashed bones, fresh blood, feeling of the hunger and the far imagination of the smell of the roasted hare...

The side screen went black.

Stop this! - shouted Leon. The computer obeyed. - Did you all feel the same thing as I did?
I was feeling as it was ME hunting for the hare! - Nora said with shocked voice. - Oh my god, I was feeling this need for killing!
Seems they can manipulate our feelings. - muttered Thomas. Alex, what do you think?
That... - Alex gasped - that was incredible.
I wasn't asking for your feelings but for the potential danger.
I... I don't know! There's no such device on earth that could change your feelings.
I think we should disallow the antenna - said Irena.
No! - shouted Alex - Oh, sorry. I just though that if we want to learn about them, we should see the whole transmission as they prepared it for us.
Who wants that too? - asked the captain. Nora and Thomas rose their hands.
So... I too, think we should watch the full version. If you, Irena and Leon don't want it, use the lift and wait in the HPP part of the ship. We will tell you about the results and let you see the "censored" version later.
I didn't say I don't want that myself, I was just undecided. So I stay - said Leonard.
I won't wait like a fool in the hydroponic store for you to finish... - said angrily Irene - I'm just afraid that if they are hostile they can force us to think whatever they desire. But I'll take that risk.
So... Computer! Continue!
We could grow the food easily, but we hunt instead because it is the important element of our culture. It helps us communicate with each other regardless of any elements of the real domain of the world. Also old, tribal rituals help keeping the unity of the pack.

The marker indicated the 'special' file again. You're one of the wolves, sitting in a circle around the fire. The oldest of you rises his muzzle high up in air and starts howling. The others begin it too. You feel your own howl, clean and strong, mixing with the others, vibrating in your head, interfering with other voices, like a strong drug, making you feel the power, the pride, the confidence that you're not alone. This is your place in the pack and you're safe here.

A young, weak, unexperienced howl joined the chorus. Thomas turned his head towards the passage and saw that Alex was trying to howl too. He just grinned.

The screen went dark again.

Excuse me for another break... may I? - asked Irena.
Sure. What's the matter? - asked Andrew.
Computer. Explain "regardless of any elements of the real domain of the world"
Firstenc reply: The aliens believe that the world we live in is like the real subdomain of the complex numbers set. Except of the 3 basic dimensions plus time, there are the axis of the imaginary dimensions in our world.
Related items in available material?
List follows. - a list of a few files scrolled onto the screen.
Holomorphic wave radio plans? What the hell is this? Display.

Plans of some electronic device appeared.

Moment... This... yes... here... and... No, bullshit. But if... Damnit, the energy must go somewhere! It can't vanish just like that! Heat? But.. if I used the superconductor there would be still energy loss! - Irena began writing something quickly on her touchpad. - Damnit. Two complex roots. This is true! So... here modulation, splitting into two channels... Got it! My god, they can separately modulate the real and the imaginary phase of the electromagnetic wave. They gave the full physical explanation to the Schroedinger's equations - and the wave sent by this radio can't be absorbed by any real existing object - it will re-appear behind it! Unlimited range and extremely high data transfer rate as there's no data loss! Incredible.
But... but imaginary numbers don't exist! There's no such thing as a square root of minus one in real world! - protested Nora.
I though so too before! - laughed Irena. - It's so simple! Why no-one designed it earlier?
Great. They are much more advanced than we are then... If it came to fight we have no chances - sighed Leonard.
Why do you think we would have to fight? - protested Alex.
sssh now... Let's continue - said the capitan.
Our science is very important for us - continued the computer - We balance our research in all the domains that are important for us - ecology and ecosystems engineering, psychotransmission and mind self-control, space technology and navigation research, medicine, electronics and social sciences are the domain we are mastering in. We never forget about the needs of soul in the pursuit for success and news: More important than gaining new achievements for us is keeping the gifts of the nature undamaged as they, not the modern technology are the source of the strongest power.
In our space travels so far we meet seventeen other civilizations. We cooperate with most of them and trade the technologies and goods - the screen filled with a view of an exotic orbital space city. The docking spaceships of different shapes were full of goods. The view moved to the main street of the city, filled with creatures of strange kinds. Mostly they were humanoids, similar to earth animals: Big cats, very fit-looking bulls, proud wolves sleek horses and dolphins in strange small cars filled with water. There were also other creatures, you couldn't imagine ever before: bulky metal robots (apparently intelligent and on equal rights with all the others), strange beings with a lot of hard legs and different mysterious mechanisms on their backs, that looked as if made of thin layers of some hard material - they whole looked like mechanic toys like a steam engine, with a lot of 'bells and whistles', all moving. Also a few small pink clouds apparently talking with each other and other creatures could be seen.
As a sign of good will, we have sent you the plans of a holomorphic radio - the device to transfer high-bandwidth data over planetary distances.

The view changed again. This time it was an old forest of high firs. The sun was shining through the trees and a slight breeze was blowing. You could see a lone, pregnant she-wolf nearby and two male wolves in the background.

As in some domains of our life we still behave as the wild wolves who didn't know the fire nor the shape of their planet, we still have their strength and health.

The side screen flashed red again.

You're the she-wolf. You suddenly feel a strong pain down in your womb. You know you'll be giving birth to your child in a moment. Another wave of pain, the feeling of something like a big egg moving down inside of you, a strong push and it's outside! Gasping hard you turn and bite through the navel string, and lick the small, helpless, blind body of your new-born son. Now you feel the extreme pride and joy! You take the small wolf in your hands and embrace him, feeling his nose browsing in your fur for nipples. Your tongue and the sun stimulates the blood flow and builds the strong heart. The razor-sharp air and the light wind give the immunity, and warm milk from the mother's breast provides all the necessary substances to build the strong, healthy body. You smile to the two wolves. The doctor can leave - he wasn't needed. Your mate is not allowed to come closer for some time. He will be bringing you the food, but he won't be able to touch his son for the first month or two...

If you have any specific questions or want to know more about any of the subject, just send us the question and we will send more detailed answer.

The presentation ended. The lights went on again and for a while no-one said a word.

Irena? - asked Nora - Is really giving birth so wonderful feeling?
As I remember it, the pain was much stronger and the hospital service took the child immediately after the birth to an incubator and I wasn't allowed to touch it for the first 3 months. No, it's not a nice experience. It doesn't look like this at all.
I'm worried. - said Leonard - I'm seriously worried that they may be extremely dangerous.
I think you can be right - continued Andrew - It is quite probable that this obviously carefully selected material wasn't showing the whole truth. Have you seen how the wolves behaved on that space station? They were outstanding, with their pride it looked that they are the dominant race, the others are to serve them.
I don't think you're right - said Alex - You have no proofs!
Be realistic, Alex! Open your eyes and learn to read between the lines! They are the race of warriors! Have you felt the bindings between each others? The best squad possible! The killing instinct! Giving birth to their children in the wilderness makes the strongest warriors of them. And the communication? Psychotransmission! A channel that can't be snooped or detected in any way. And why do you think they hunt for food? To perfect their killer abilities. Open your eyes!
All this can be wrong Andrew, You know it.
I know. But I'm worried I'm not. There's too many signs of danger. Do you think that in the data we sent them there's anything about the glorious tradition of wars in the history of Earth? I think there's a little chance that there will be no war.
so what will we do? - asked Thomas
Behave as if nothing has happened. We will accept their invitation that I expect quite soon. And don't let them know what we think really.
Aliens ask for docking to their ship. Accepting offer. - said the computer.
Damn! Why did you agree?
Following standard procedure.
Computer! Every time they request anything, ask for permission!
Accepted.
Why are you so anxious about this Andrew?
We are fried now. After docking we won't be able to leave quickly as they can keep our ship on dock as long as they desire.
Aliens ask for plans of our docking devices and airlock. Accepting and sending.
Hey!? I told you to ask for permission every time!
Sorry. Permission of security level one from the life support daemon was granted.
What does the life support system have to do with it?
All requests of security level one are accepted. The life support daemon followed the instructions from the alien ship.
What?? And what level of permission do the aliens have then?
Level zero, given by system daemon on eight may, hour ten thirty and fifteen seconds.
Computer! Check the system daemon for security vulnerabilities.
Checking... No vulnerabilities found. Unencrypted connection without authorization from level 2 for camd, scand, timed, radiod, dbase, dock.
Check the mentioned programs.
Camd - secure connection from level 3, active. Scand - secure connection from level 3, secure connection from outside, active. Timed, radiod - secure connection...
Stop. What a connection from outside?
Analysing. Gate type: Illegal backdoor implemented by system author. Removing. Recompiling. Rebooting. Scand - secure connection from level 3. Timed, radiod...
Stop the scan. How did they access the outside gate?
Authorization granted after 136274th password retry.
What is the current security status of aliens?
Level zero. Active connection with radiod.
Break the connection!
Permission denied. You don't have the security level zero access.
SHIT!!! Alex! Do you have any doubts now?!

No reply.

Irena, Nora, examine the data our computer has gathered about them, seeking for any of their vulnerabilities. Alex, Thomas - Check the rest of the docs they sent us. Only turn that feeling change thing off! Leon - Come here, we'll try to get the control over the system back.

They began working quietly. Whispers about what they found, quiet or louder curses of Leonard and Andrew as all their attempts failed.

Incoming video transmission. Accepting. - the soulless voice sounded.

Everyone gathered in front of the main screen. Without any logos etc, in the middle of the screen the face of a wolf appeared. Behind him five other wolves were standing and behind them some kind of garden or a forest could be seen. The wolf had a small device, apparently a translator attached to his ear.

Wow... I think I like them - whispered Alex watching the aliens... His look wandered onto a young she-wolf in the background. He shuddered, suddenly realising he can't stop thinking about her.
I'd like to invite you to our ship. We have prepared a suitable docking area for you. The analyze revealed that the air inside of our ship is suitable for you, even the airlock usage is not necessary. Do you agree?
Yes, of course.
In this case I'd like you to allow us to control your ship's manoeuvre engines. This will make the docking procedure much easier.
You're already in control of them.
Thank you. - the wolf's face was a little puzzled.

They returned to their work. Suddenly Leonard shouted.

It died! This damned process died just from itself!
Incoming video transmission. Shall I accept? - announced the computer.
Yes!

The wolf appeared on the screen again, this time alone.

I'm very sorry for the intrusion into your system. This was the result of an error in our operating system. It has been already removed and the undesired connection was broken as soon as we located it. We hope we didn't offend you in this way and you're still willing to accept our invitation.
Yes, we accept it. The access to the engines will be granted. Thank you.

The connection ended.

Computer! Grant access to the manoeuvre engines for the aliens.
This violates the security rules. Are you sure to proceed?
Yes! - Andrew shouted angrily. - Damned electronic idiot. - he gasped and sat in his chair - Ok... There's the plan. Irena, Thomas and Alex go with me to their ship. Take the communicators. Leon, Nora, Every five minutes contact us. In case of no reply or emergency turn on the secondary drive, break the docking connection, turn around and try to survive the short primary drive impulse directed into their ship. This should destroy or at least seriously damage them. Then hibernate and fly home as fast as possible. Personally I don't believe we could survive if they attack us but I think they will not and during the first contact they will be as sweet as sugar. Irena, please report us what you found out about them.
We have a precise photography of their ship. It's built of two sections and totally about 2km long. The front section, sphere-shaped is supposedly the engine room. We can't say whether the devices on top of it are antennas or weapons. The engine room and the living area are connected with the almost two kilometre long drive column. I suppose it's a particle accelerator. The prow is a wide, disk-shaped room around the column drive. Radius about 400m. Lower part of it mostly empty. The docking bay is located in the middle of the drive column. If we hit it strong enough with the secondary drive, it will break or at least bend and their ship will be useless. As they keep the constant deceleration of 1.03g it's supposedly their mechanism of keeping the semi-gravity. Probably when not accelerating they make their ship pivot around the docking bay. If you ask for my opinion, because of the unstable and highly vulnerable construction, it's not a battleship, but rather kind of explorer. Although... I can be wrong.
And you, Thomas?
Nothing very new. They are older civilization than we are so they achieved more, although their progress is slower than our. One thing that can be interesting: There are humans on their planet.
What??
Yes, they are like early stone age men and the wolves treat them just as other animals. Sometimes they hunt for them but not for food but rather for keeping their population low, as it means danger to the balance of the ecosystem. Of course they don't waste the meat...

Nora shivered... - I don't like the idea of ending up eaten by a wolf.

Alien ship direction change. Current direction: - the computer suddenly began babbling as if something broke down.
Stop it! Outside camera, view on their ship!

The ship was pivoting slowly around the docking bay in the middle of the drive column.

If I could suggest something... - began Thomas - We should take the video camera and record our whole visit.
Sure, do it.
Secondary drive braking impulse for 183 seconds. Starting in 10...9...8... - the computer announced.

Everyone took their places safening the seatbelts. The deceleration wasn't a nice thing. Nobody said anything before it ended. Then Alex broke the silence.

You know what? I still believe they are good and you are wrong.
I know your task is to keep the morale up... that was a good try but no banana this time. - angrily replied Leonard.
Secondary drive impulse for 30 seconds. Starting in...
Computer, What's the original transcription of the name of their world? - asked Alex.

The sign: )^/o appeared on the screen.

And the pronunciation?
Woof!
Damn you! - began Leon but the drive impulse pushed him into his seat forcing to be quiet.
Three minutes to the meetpoint. Secondary drive impulse for 95 seconds in 10... 9...

Another impulse...

)^/o

The sign was looking as if taunting.

One minute to the meetpoint. The secondary drive is off. Switching to manoeuvre engines.

No-one even moved.

Thirty seconds to the meetpoint.
Remember, contact every 5 minutes. More than 7 minutes without contact - start.
Twenty seconds to the meetpoint. 18. 17. 16. 15 - the computer was counting down. No-one said a word. - 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. 0. Docking. - two metallic clangs, the ship shivered a bit. - Airlock secured. Testing. - a far hiss of compressed air. - Pressure established. Difference in pressure: plus 400 Pa No pressure stabilization needed. Both airlock doors can be opened at the same time though it's not recommended.
So... - Andrew stood up - Wish us luck.
Good luck - the voices of Leonard and Nora sounded together.

The small lift carried them to the airlocks in the zero-g zone. Four people floated towards the airlock which opened in front of them. They entered it. The door slid close behind them and those in front of them opened with a quiet hiss. A short corridor and a lift. Inside, a green light on one of the buttons encourages to press it. They entered the lift and Thomas turned around with his camera slowly. Andrew pressed the button. The lift slowly moved down, letting them catch the handles in the walls so they began accelerating with the lift. Andrew said a few words to his communicator. The semi-gravity began appearing. The lift sped up a bit and soon the gravity reached normal level.

The door opened, revealing a forest or a garden. A soft light was coming from the roof. There were many usually low trees, low bushes, grass, flowers. A bird was singing on the nearby tree. A small stream was flowing just a few steps from the lift entrance.

Six big, grey two-legged wolves were standing forming a triangle. The biggest of them closest to them, behind him an old male and a female, two other females and a male in the last row. All they had the small translator devices attached to their ears. They wore no clothes.

None of them said a word. They seemed to be pretty nervous.

Andrew walked a few steps forward and rose his right hand.

We come in peace. - he said.

Suddenly something broke among the wolves. The image of total despair! Slapping heads with hands, sitting on the floor, punching their own legs, shouting "No, not again!", "Why?! Why those words!" - their captain said nothing, only lowered his head. A young she-wolf in the back row began crying.

The humans were totally flabbergasted. They expected everything but this. The wolves mostly calmed down, looking at them in silence, with sadness, only the young she-wolf was still sobbing, kneeing on the ground with her face covered with paws. Alex quickly moved towards her.

Alex! - Andrew stopped him.

Alex looked at him, with asking look.

Oh... never mind. - he really didn't know what to do...

Alex crouched by the young she-wolf and gently touched her shoulder. She looked at him with eyes full of tears.

Did we do anything wrong? Hurt you in any way? - he asked. She stood up still sobbing. Alex just felt it's right and simply hugged her tenderly. She returned the hug. Her sobs faded slowly.
No... Not you, but... - she began crying again. Alex hugged her again. The wolf captain rose his head and began speaking. The small device attached to his ear was translating, imitating his voice.
Amongst the 17 civilizations we have met so far, only four during the first contact greeted us with such words. In all and only those four cases it ended up with wars, very bloody, long-lasting space wars, started by those four civilizations. We have no reason to think it will be otherwise this time.

For the first time since the awakening the crew of Toronto looked into their own souls. Suddenly they began understanding themselves. All their suspicions revealed true faces: The wolves weren't vain invaders. They were just a race that's proud of their achievements. That wasn't the fear and disgust what drove the despise for their habits and culture, but the jealousy after what humans have lost a long time ago. Hunters, not warriors - that's a serious difference. They never wanted to fight against anyone... and in minds of the humans this one strategy of the war appeared first: To attack before they can react, before they begin their attack... and the real, subconscious reason for it... Not defence but taking all they have away from them: Their wonderful, unpolluted planet, their freedom, wilderness, pride, culture and strength. The worst kind of jealousy: They have what we have lost - let's make them lose it too.

Andrew looked at Thomas and Irene.

Shame on us - he said.
Ooh, - sighed Irena putting her hand on Andrew's shoulder. - Now I see, how foolish we were.

Thomas just sat down in the door to the lift, where he had been standing and put the camera aside. - So? Can we prevent the war?

I'm afraid it could be extremely difficult - said an elder wolf from the middle row of the triangle, stepping forward. Suddenly Thomas' communicator came to life.
Is everything ok? - the voice of Leonard could be heard.

Thomas angrily picked it. - Yes! Everything according to the plan! We agreed in the point that our worlds will war. Now we only have to arrange the place and time! - he threw the communicator into the stream, splashing water.

Andrew spoke to his radio. - Leon? I cancel the rule of the five-minute contact.

But... but the... you know... And what a war? I don't understand?
Leon? They are harmless. WE are the potential aggressors. The human race. If you and Nora want, come join us here, we have to think how to prevent this. Don't worry, it's not a trap. Situation status code BEFAC.
BEFAC? - You mean safe & clean?
Yes. BEFAC and COSAL. You know, these are secret codes, noone could force me to use them and if they did I could use the wrong ones to warn you.
Code COSAL. Accepted. Nora, will you come? Ok, we'll join you ASAP.
What's the code COSAL? - asked Irena.
Solving the problem together with the other party. Thomas, free the lift door.

Thomas stood up and noticed Alex and the young she-wolf are standing now, holding each other's hands and looking into each other's eyes without a word. The lift closed behind him and quickly moved up.

We wanted to invite you to the Glade of Meetings - said the wolf captain - Will you come? Nightsong will stay here to guide your friends there. Will you, Nightsong? - he asked the young she-wolf. She agreed.

I'll wait for them here too, captain - quickly added Alex - They could suspect something bad happened.

Ohh... ok. - Agreed Andrew.

In a loose group, wolves and humans mixed, they walked into the forest. Thomas, when passing by Alex stopped and whispered a few words to him.

Remember, it's not a human. And the fate of our worlds depends on us, not only your personal pleasure. - and he joined the group.

As soon as the last tail vanished between the trees, Alex and Nightsong turned to each other. She shyly closed her eyes as his lips touched hers. The tongues touched. The hands wandered up the arms to create a strong and tender embrace. Dizzy, never known before taste of the kiss of the alien race, lips of totally different shape than you ever knew, eyes other than ever seen, but reflecting known feelings: joy, love... The future doesn't matter. There are no worlds, no wars, No-one else exists.

The tongues touching, learning about each other, big fangs against the small human teeth, soft fur under the fingers, unknown smells making you feel dizzy and forget what is forbidden by the society, all the old rules, even your logic, only not heart.

The sound of the stopping lift suddenly interrupted them. Nightsong slipped off the embrace jumping aside, shy and confused, but then she smiled to him. She corrected the translator device and walked towards the lift door that just opened revealing Leonard and Nora.

Welcome to the starship StarEye. Please follow me to the Glade of Meetings. The others wait there.

They followed her. Alex was trying to concentrate on the problem of the war but couldn't help looking at her back and the tail swishing with each step.

So you say it's unavoidable? - sounded nearby. The glade appeared from behind the trees. It was maybe twenty steps wide, with a circle of thick wooden logs as seats around the fireplace with some dry wood stacked on it in the middle. A device located in the roof was designed to suck the smoke in, though it wasn't totally effective - the roof was visibly darker around it.
Yes - said the elder wolf sitting turned back to the newcomers - or at least there were very hard attempts to avoid it last time, but they all failed.
Oh, Nightsong - said the wolf captain - please, everyone , take places. Maybe before we continue I'll introduce my crew?
Good, I too - said Andrew. The newcomers took places in the circle. The wolves on one side, humans on the other, both captains next to each other and Nightsong next to Alex, on the opposite side of the fireplace.
My name is Stormgrowl. I'm the leader on this ship. - This is - he pointed at the elder she-wolf to his side - Foxtouch, the soulseeker. Soulseekers can detect intelligent life from astronomical distances. Next to her - a middle-aged wolf with darker muzzle bowed - Windhunter, our pilot and navigator. Next, Softflower, twin sister of Foxtouch, the ecoengineer in duty of keeping the balance in this forest. She's also our shaman and healer. Next to her, Catseye - the old wolf rose his paw - The person of wisdom. Whenever in doubt we ask him for an advice. He can solve most difficult problems. Let's hope now he won't fail too. And this is young Nightsong. She's Foxtouch's assistant and student of soulseeking. That was her, who found your ship.
So it wasn't quite an accident that we have met?
Well, if we weren't in the same area of universe within the distance of two light years and on such course that we could enter your radio range, we would never meet.

Andrew in short words introduced his crew and added - Let's think about the facts: I think that all the danger comes from the fear. Even I sitting here, looking at your fangs don't feel very secure.

And the fear comes from the lack of knowledge. Probably if you knew us better, you wouldn't be afraid of us. Maybe even we would be friends.
So... Maybe we should learn more about you?
There's only one big problem: Even if you six do, not all the people on your planet will. And additionally, the crowd effect will work: They won't think of what they really do and they won't believe what you say. It's quite probable they will turn against you. - said Catseye.
Where do you know so much about humans from? - asked Leon.
Not about humans but generally from my experience. The union of the seventeen civilisations isn't a real friendly union. The relationships between the planets are often more than cool. If some disaster meets a planet, they blame the nearest civilization. Two different space wars are raging right now, there's no dominant civilisation and even though we are important, our voice counts only until the crowd effect takes over. Then we are helpless. We retreat then and let them kill enough of each others so they understand they did wrong.
And your race? Doesn't the crowd effect work on you?
We are unique in some way. We never form bigger groups as there always two wolves hostile to each other can be found in such ones and what we hate most is fighting against each other without need.
And in the space wars, don't you think you should intrude, interrupt in some way to stop them from fighting?
One race once did and learned a hard lesson. Both of the fighting sides considered it as an attempt of an attack and turned against them. This world is still mostly ruins now.
But... Do you... Are there... - Alex began.
I know what you want to ask. No, there's no civilizations that would be friendly to each others. With one exception: the community of pilots, travellers, discoverers, scientists, space traders and others who travel between the worlds and have the opportunity to meet other civilizations, like we do. They all are a big family and they are the ones who hate the wars most as because of them they are forced to kill their friends.
And - asked Irena - I'm not quite sure if the fear is the only reason for attacking a civilization. In fact I can't quite believe it can't be solved in some other way.
You are right. The fear is only what keeps you from learning about the other worlds. The reason for the war is that from the parts of knowledge you have and from your imagination you build the image of rich monsters that don't deserve what they have and should be killed at any cost and their riches should belong to you.

* * *

The discussion was very long. Many ideas were thrown away. Erasing the ships' logs, changing the human ship's destination to the wolves planet, negotiations, personal exchange, sharing the whole knowledge possessed by the both sides... The roof began getting darker, with some red colours. Softflower departed to hunt an animal for the dinner and Windhunter and Foxtouch made the fire on the wood, in a strange, alien ritual - They made two hairballs from their loose fur, put them in the wood and just by holding each other's hands and looking at the hairballs they set them on fire.

Softflower soon brought a small deer, took a knife from under one of the logs and skilfully skinned and cleaned it, with Windhunter's help. Then they took some dry herbs and spices in leather sacks from under the same log, sliced the meat and pierced each slice, putting them on long, fresh sticks. Then they sprinkled or rubbed into the meat more or less of each kind of spices or herbs and handed the sticks to the others in the ring: First to both the captains, then to the rest of the guests, rest of wolves last.

First the scent of the raw meat wasn't pleasant, but then, over the fire, when the pieces of the herbs began burning on the surface of the meat, the smell became so wonderful, that everyone just couldn't wait for it to be done. One of the spices was sparkling with quiet crackle.

It will be good when the last spark vanishes - explained Foxtouch.

Shortly the crackles became rare and finally ended. Foxtouch took a dozen of big, wooden forks from the place where the spices were stored and helped the guests moving the meat from the sticks to the forks - the wolves were handed the forks too, but they didn't need the help. Finally Stormgrowl took the first bit, Andrew too, then all the others.

The first feeling was that the meat is hard. You had to bite hard to get a piece of it off the fork and then chew for a long time before you swallowed it. Then you noticed that it was done so on purpose and it was an advantage of it: with each bite the delicious juices, filled with herbs flavour, spices and the wonderful taste, were coming from the piece, and just as they were getting weaker the piece was ready to swallow. The crews were eating in the silence, watching each others, and the looks were becoming more and more friendly. By the end of the meal the meat began getting cooler, but Nightsong kept her piece on the fork over the fire from a moment, others followed her example, and the last pieces tasted best, and even though you didn't eat much really, you felt full.

Foxtouch carried the remains of the deer away. For the asking look of Thomas, Stormgrowl explained that she'll freeze it so it won't be wasted.

Some of the wolves and humans felt a bit too warm from the fire and walked aside, talking about different issues, only Catseye lied inside of the circle, close to the fire, enjoying the heat. The captains turned away from the fire and talked quietly about important issues, and Alex and Nightsong were sitting embracing each other, watching the fire. She rested her head on his shoulder. Thomas watched them for a while and was just about to disturb when Catseye tugged on his trousers slightly.

Let them enjoy each other. Don't you see they are in love?
Yes, but..
You know that Nightsong didn't really find your ship or any of you, only exactly him. There's only one possibility how it could happen: They were created for each other and it can result only in some good way.

They began arguing. Catseyes' argument were always hitting the point, leaving no doubt. Soon Thomas was convinced that this love is something absolutely ok and the discussion moved to other areas. Thomas realized that the civilization progress of the wolves isn't slower but only more balanced than humans' who concentrated on technology. ("You need special clothes for the space walk? I'm pretty old but can stay in open space without any clothes for two hours and the race of bulls perfected it in such a degree that they need no spaceships nor equipment for travelling between their planet and its moons. It's just the matter of training of the body and mind. How is it possible? Well, do you need to eat every two seconds? Just learn to breathe as often as you eat! The only difference is that you don't need to chew the air.)

As Thomas didn't believe, Catseye took him to the lift, to the airlock opposite to the docking bay. They floated at the entrance of a short pipe closed on both ends, leading outside into the open space. There were small windows in all the airlock walls and doors and one bigger window in the wall of the ship.

Catseye entered the corridor, smiling to Thomas, who looked inside.

No spacesuit, no rope or a jet engine?
What for?

The first airlock door closed. Thomas clutched his teeth, looking through the window in the door, expecting a fountain of meat all over the airlock. The other door opened and Catseye was sucked into the open space. And then, instead of vanishing in the distance, without any support he turned towards the ship. It looked as if he pushed with his legs against an invisible wall. Then he floated towards the bigger window. Thomas moved there too. The nose of the old wolf was covered with frost but he was smiling apparently enjoying the ride. He knocked on the glass. Thomas touched it with his hand and the wolf touched the opposite side. A mind, something like the wolf's voice told him "Now you believe?". Thomas nodded. Catseye turned in the space playfully a few times yet, like swimming under water, and flew back to the door. Shortly he was back inside.

It's very cold out there, let's better go back to the fire! - he said.
Sure! VERY cold. How did you do this trick with changing your direction? That's against the physics! Third Newton's rule, action and reaction...
Against the physics? - Catseye chuckled entering the lift. - Bluehawk's rule of the postponed reaction with RedLeaf's extension of the action break explains everything in simple words. With an expense of additional energy you can postpone the reaction of any of your actions. Additionally if you take any action in the opposite direction, the reactions will negate so none of them is never needed, only the spent energy is lost.

The lift door opened and they went out from it onto the grass. Catseye picked a tiny rock.

Look - He said putting the rock on his hand. Pure Bluehawk's rule.

He didn't move the hand but the rock suddenly jumped up like thrown, and fell down nearby.

Now I'm using the energy to postpone the reaction. If I kept it in such a way longer, it would be tiring.

He swinged his empty hand up suddenly as if throwing something.

Done. Now let's add RedLeaf's extension.

The rock slowly floated up, then began flying in different directions.

It must have the same speed by the end as in the beginning. - the rock landed slowly. They walked towards the glade.
Amazing. I wish I could do that.
It's not so difficult. I can teach you the basics if you want and the rest is just the training.

They were near the glade already. Irena was passing by them in opposite direction, away from the glade. - We decided that we'll try some small cultural exchange - she explained - I'm going to pick the R-disk player to let them listen to our music.

Two lovers in embrace was the first image they saw. Then the others' faces by the fire, this time mixed so there was no human who wouldn't sit by a wolf and no wolf sitting between two other wolves.

Nice atmosphere you have here - said Thomas.

Catseye stood still. - Try to sense the atmosphere. Just stop and breathe deep - he touched Thomas' hand, who felt now he discovered some unknown areas of his own mind. He breathed deep and looked in to souls of them all. And he saw the fear. Not the fear of each other. They were afraid of something far and very bad.

I'm not sure of the atmosphere any more. - he said.

They both sat by the fire.

Nightsong opened her eyes and embraced Alex tighter suddenly.

I was dreaming - she said - and the dream was that you just must go away, right now. This was the worst dream I ever had, and the best awakening ever too.

He smiled and took her on his lap.

Thomas tapped his shoulder - Don't bother with what I have said about you two. I was an old stupid idiot.

Thanks! - replied Alex, not even trying to deny, and soon his lips touched Nightsong's and nothing existed any more, only this embrace, this kiss. It was long and happy.

She opened her eyes. - I miss something yet - she said - Stars overhead. Let's go for a short spacewalk. Oh, you can't go outside without this stupid equipment. So let's go to the bridge room, we have a huge window in the roof there.

He smiled, kissed her shortly and followed through the dark forest. It was really dark but she guided him flawlessly. Shortly some strange noises could be heard and Alex recognized the voice of Nora.

Yes! Eat me, you big, bad wolf! Ooh! Yes! More! Please, Windhunter! Stop! No! Don't stop!

Young lovers giggled quietly. When they were far enough, Alex asked Nightsong, whether the cross-species relationship happen in her world.

In my world quite rarely, but in the community of the space travellers yes, even the cross-species marriages are common.

They got to the side wall of the ship and climbed narrow stairs to the level above the forest.

The bridge room was big and dark, it was covering one fourth of the circumference of the disc. It was full of plants and electronic devices blinking with signal lights amongst them. The roof and outer walls were transparent showing the whole front part of the ship and the stars.

We rarely use this place - she explained - Once from here Stormgrowl and Windhunter drove the ship when the standard docking procedure failed. Otherwise we just meet here to talk or watch the stars rarely. I think the engineers who projected this ship expected this, so they placed this here - she pointed at a very large, comfortable couch in the middle of the room. - We often use it for soulseeking too. That's where I was when I found you.

They lay on the couch by each other, watching the stars. She turned her head to him and kissed his cheek. He smiled, took her paw in his hand and began stroking it gently.

I've read so much about this feeling - he said - I know all the theory about it and I never expected it will happen to me. I love you!
When I felt your presence up there... Exactly there - she pointed at some point in the space - I knew it's not only a starship. Not only an alien starship. I was feeling the presence of someone I expected for so long. I love you too.

She unzipped his costume and her hand began scritching his chest. He slowly slipped off his clothes and they embraced tightly. The soft, warm fur was tickling a little. Her breasts against his chest... He slowly moved his hand down her back and very surprised found her tail. She played with his ear and seemed to be very interested in its shape.

Alex felt a bit embarrassed when he realized he's pricking her leg with his maleness. She giggled and reached down, to play with the new toy, then gently rolled him onto his back and slowly straddled him.

My dearest - she whispered. He felt her opening touching his tip... A moment of anticipation and she slowly lowered her back, taking all of him inside. She opened her mouth and gasped. Overwhelming pleasure... The far fantasies came true. She moved up breathing hard... and attacked again with a quiet yelp. A soft though touched his mind. She moved up again and he felt as he opens his mind for it... and with her move down a flood ran through his mind: Joy, happiness, ecstasy of little pain and great pleasure, the feeling of finishing the quest of life: finding the love... and the far spark of fear about losing it. He embraced her back and rolled on top of her. Then he began thrusting, feeling her pleasure and pain echoed in his mind. With each move she was yelping and suddenly she writhed under him and bit into her paw with a louder yelp - The wave of her orgasm came to his mind. He still slowly moved, feeling its waves with each of his thrusts. He was close to his end but he was prolonging it, holding her strong, writhing under him in spasms. Then he noticed that her mind gets blurred, the pleasure began turning into bad mental pain. She was reaching the limits of her stamina. Three, four quicker thrusts and it was all over. So good, so incredibly good. He slid off from her. She breathed hard, with her paw still in her jaws, looking unconsciously into the stars. He stroke her head and gently took the paw from her mouth. Some blood was dripping from it. She looked at him and hugged him strong, crying. He was kissing her head, her cheeks...
It's all right... Don't cry, there's no need, no need...
I - she whimpered - I almost lost you. I was on the threshold of madness... Of serious damaging my psyche, losing my contact with the reality, with you, forever! It was wonderful... but so dangerous by the end...
But it's all right now... You won't lose me, I promise.

She looked into his eyes. - Can you promise that? You know you can't go with us, I can't go with you. We both will probably die in the war. The ships will disconnect in several hours and we will never meet each other again...

I'll do everything to avoid the war and to find you when it will be safe. Everything I can and if I can't, I'll learn how to do it.

She calmed down a bit and embraced him again tightly, tears running down her cheeks.

We should do something with your hand. It's bleeding.
Yes? Oh. I'm so exhausted that I didn't notice it. Don't worry, it will heal before tomorrow.
Let's rest now...

She lay down. He sat by her and gently scritched the fur on her belly for a while, then they kissed long and happily, with deep trust and love and hope that everything will be fine. He lay down by her and they both fell asleep in each other's lap.

* * *

When Andrew decided it's time to go back to their ship to sleep, he noticed that both Alex and Nora are missing. He got seriously scared, but then he saw Nora coming back in company of Windhunter.

Nora, we come back to our ship to sleep. Come! Have you seen Alex?
Sorry, capitan, I haven't seen him.

Thomas stood by Andrew. - Don't worry about him. Let him stay, wherever he is tonight.

If you say so... - since the moment when he realized his mis-evaluation of the aliens, Andrew wasn't sure of his opinions any more.

Softflower guided them back to the lift and wished them dreams solving the problems.

* * *

The voice of Andrew woke Alex up. He opened his eyes and looked unconsciously over the room. Darkness. Stars over head, jungle around... Where the hell is he? Then he noticed the lights of the electronic indicators and the bulky shape of the front part of StarEye and small construction of Toronto attached in the middle to it, over his head.

Alex, answer! - his communicator commanded. It was lying nearby in his clothes. He quickly picked it.
Yes, captain? - he answered.
We meet on the glade of meetings in 20 minutes. Be there.
Yes, captain. - he re-attached the communicator to his belt.

Nightsong sat up and kissed him. - Come with me, let's take a bath. You're not afraid of cold water I hope?

Sure not. - he picked up his clothes and followed her to a wide, bright corridor leading through the middle of the ship.
Personal rooms, stores, laboratories - she explained when they were passing by side doors and corridors. They stood at the entrance to a big room, with no floor only a thin passage by the walls around. The opposite wall was built of stacked rocks with a stream of water running down to the lake on the lower level, where the terrain opened all around to the rest of the forest below the passage.
You can climb down the rocks to the water or just jump like I do, only be careful, it's deep there. You won't reach with your feet to the bottom.

Alex dropped his clothes down onto a sandy beach by the lake and followed Nightsong to the place where the passage was running over the middle of it. She smiled to him and jumped down, splashing the water with her back. Alex waited for her to swim a bit aside and dived down, trying to remember the high diving on the swimming pool at his university. He got under the surface of the clean and cold water and swam towards Nightsong, trying to appear from under the water behind her to surprise her. Instead she surprised him hugging and kissing him just as he got to the surface.

There's a proverb in our language about playing hide and seek with a soulseeker. That's what you just tried! - she giggled.

He kissed her too and they swam to the beach. She shook herself splashing the water all around, he took the clothes onto his wet body. The roof together with the light was radiating warmth, so they weren't cold.

Wait a moment - she said and ran to the forest. A moment later she was back with a big plant similar to a smaller watermelon, only with brightly red stripes. Alex noticed it's not a fruit but a flower. She made two holes in it with her fangs and sucked at one of them, then handed the flower to Alex. It was full of very sweet, sticky nectar and tasted really fine. they were drinking from it, handing it to each other and when the flower was empty, Nightsong just threw it away to the forest and they walked to the lake to wash their hands and faces from the sticky fluid. Then they headed towards the glade of meetings, holding each others' hands. There was no-one there yet, except of Catseye. They sat by him. Alex greeted him and asked.
I'd like you to answer me a question: How did the four wars end?
Three of them just died away slowly after many years. We stopped shooting at each other, began the trade and exchange. We never really claimed those wars are over. We just don't fight. We won the fourth war. After the heavy assault on their planet we took over the capitol.
And what did you do to them?
Commanded to stop any military industry activity, to destroy all the weapons, and we left a person to watch their activity so they wouldn't start the war over.
And no revenge? No recompensation?
No, revenge is a very bad thing. We never do it. It's what makes the wars go on. Recompensation? Their losses were heavier than ours. It wouldn't be fair. We took for ourselves a copy of all their scientific data, so they didn't lose anything while we gained something.
Tell me then... What if I tried creating the underground on Earth? Resistance? People who would help you winning the war quickly and with as few loses as possible? There are people who think like I do.
Would you? You'd be called a renegade! But if you succeeded... I was thinking about this possibility but I threw it away as I assumed that none of you would ever agree. But if you think so... It's very risky but it could work! You'll need the ability to communicate with us.... Got it! I'll save the plans of an ultratachyon radio to the R-disk, on the player your people left here. You don't mind me erasing some of your music I hope?
Sure, just hurry up before the others come.

CatsEye pulled a wire with an earphone from under the log where the spices were stored and placed it by the microphone of the player, turned recording on and just left it. All the others came soon, took the places around the fireplace and one by one began presenting their ideas. They were all a failure. It took a few hours. Only Nightsong and Alex were quiet, looking in each other's eyes and thinking about the moment of departure. Finally Andrew's alarm clock reminded them it's time to go back. The ships are close to the turnpoint star, they will disconnect soon and using the star's gravity, passing by its opposite sides they will return to their original routes: home.

So we failed to find an ultimate solution. In this case we will have to use the more risky one. - said Catseye.
Which one?
I can't tell you or it would fail, but there's a big chance it will work. Just please, trust me in one thing: I want to ask you not to protest against the war when you come home. Support them, let them start the war. In any case, don't let them think you're against it. Believe me, it will help most, both us and you! Reveal your true mind when the right time comes - you will know when it is. Then just tell all the truth.
If you say so, we will, though I don't like it - replied Andrew.

Catseye handed the R-disk player to Alex and they all went to the lift. They shook each others' hands or hugged the new friends and they spent as much time as possible there. Alex hugged Nightsong and they both had tears in their eyes.

I will be back - he whispered to her.

They left.

* * *

Headline news.

21.04.2301 New York Times New Civilization Found! Daily Mirror Signal from Starship: ALIENS LIVE!

24.04.2301
Science
    Enemies or Friends?

30.04.2303
Vryemya
    Reactivation of the Star Wars program!

03.05.2303
New York Times
    President increases budget in Star Wars program! 

07.12.2309
Planet
    Those Who Met The Aliens Arrived!

08.12.2309
Knowledge
    New facts about the Aliens! Danger from space!

11.12.2309
NY Times
 Astronauts Confirm the fears!

14.12.2309
NY Times
    Astronauts accused of neglecting!

14.12.2309
Vryemya
    International Top meeting in Moscow.

18.12.2309
Science
    People as food!

23.12.2309
Chip
    Microsoft creates software for the military starships.

26.12.2309
Planet
    Agreement in the tactics of the first attack!


1.04.2312
Daily Mirror
    Star Wars wait for YOU!

2.07.2314
London Times
    Astronauts acquitted!

14.05.2315
Planet
    First attack starts tomorrow!

15.05.2315
Chip
    US Army against Microsoft: Accident or sabotage?
NY Times
    Self-destruction of all seven space cruisers confirmed! -
    - Microsoft in court!

18.06.2315
NY Times
    Microsoft Bankruptcy! William Gates 7th in prison!

15.07.2315
Chip
    Linux and UNIX providers refuse participating in the Star Wars!
Science
    Second Generation Hyperdrive invented!

15.08.2315
Chip
    Netscape provides software for the Second Generation starships!

15.09.2315
Chip
    "We won't write programs that kill" - 
    - Best programmers leave Netscape

18.09.2315
NY Times
    Second attack wave tomorrow!

19.09.2316
London Times
    New Earth's Hope under way!

23.09.2316
Daily Mirror
    Starfleet crashes into the moon!

08.10.2316
Planet
    Netscape Bancrupcy!

15.10.2316
Chip
    New star: Mozilla Software!

16.10.2318
Science
 Third Generation Hyperdrive invented!

18.10.2316
NY Times
    Mozilla definitely refuses participating in the war!

28.12.2316
Planet
    Who will create the software?

04.02.2318
Chip
    Apple gives no warranty!

08.04.2318
Planet
    Third generation starships under way!

09.04.2318
Planet
    Plans of Second Wave attack.

12.05.2318
Vryemya
    Russia limits expenses on Star Wars.

14.08.2319
Der Spiegel
    Canada retreats from the Space Wars program

14.08.2319
Planet
    If they wanted to attack, why didn't they do it yet? -
    - asks president of Canada

18.08.2319
NY Times
    "Stop the aggression!" - demands Amnesty International

27.12.2319
Planet
    Second Wave program suspended!

29.12.2319
NY Times
    Public protests against the war!

01.03.2320
Hustler
    "I slept with a Wolf!" - 
    - Interview with an ex-astronaut Nora Starr

08.03.2320
Planet
    The Truth about them!
NY Times
    The astronauts speak!
London Times
    Shame!!!

10.03.2320
Planet
    Stop the first wave!

12.03.2320
Knowledge
    They are friendly!
Science
    Tachyons: 80000 times faster than light!
Planet
    They knew everything from the very beginning! -
    - hidden communication centre found.
NY Times
    The secrets of the hidden R-disk.

15.03.2320
London Times
    Official contact with wolves established.
Chip
    Revolution in data transfer! - 
    Alien technology conquers Internet!

16.03.2320
Planet
    Reply from the First Wave ships: We will fight to the end!

19.04.2320
NY Times
    Warning sent. Beware of those ships!

02.01.2321
Planet
    Close your eyes! The battle of shame begins tomorrow!

04.01.2321
Planet
    We love you Apple! Their weapons can't shot!

04.01.2321
NY Times
    The Heroes of the Underground show their faces!

05.01.2321
London Times
    Where is the leader of resistance Alex Timber?
Planet  
    Helpless aggressors surrender! We all won!

15.01.2321
Chip
    [on the cover: Picture of the Linux Penguin, Mozilla
    dragon, and a wolf holding the rainbow apple in paw,
    they all hugging]
    Great union is software for civil starships!

18.01.2321
Wall Street Journal
    Great sale of heavy lasers for the mining industry!

19.01.2321
London Times
    Alex was in the First Wave!

20.01.2321
London Times
    "I won't return, I'm happy there!" - says Alex Timber

22.01.2321
Planet
    New trade: Nuclear technology exchanged for reactionless
    movement!           
Science
    Newton and Einstein were missing something! - 
    - New rules of Dynamics.

20.08.2322
Cinema
    New Hollywood saga: "The War That Never Happened"!

02.04.2323
NY Times
    Veterans return home!

21.02.2325
Planet
    New embassy on Wolf

Yesterday, using the ultratachyon transfer we contacted Alex Timber, the former underground leader, now a citizen of Wolf and...

Q: Please, tell me, how did you feel when you received the nomination to ambassador of Earth on Wolf?

Alex Timber: I was surprised, very, really! But I accepted it, of course. I know no-one better for this job and I will be doing my best in it.

Q: And how are you doing in the new world?

A: I love it! It's pretty difficult. I often must learn things that children here know, but Nightsong is very helpful and understanding. The most difficult I find is hunting for food. And learning so many new things is so much fun! For example, three days ago I went for my first short spacewalk without the spacesuit.

Q: Some people say that Wolves kept your presence here in secret on purpose?

A: They just were friendly and didn't want you, journalists to disturb me during the honeymoon, and I really appreciate it.

Q: Tell us, when do you plan to return to Earth?

A: Never! Maybe in a few years I will visit Earth for a month or two to show Nightsong my home world, but I won't stay there for long. This is my new home.

Q: Aren't you pity you can't have children?

A: Don't you know yet? Yesterday morning together with Nightsong we adopted a cub who lost his parents. His name is Lovestar. I really love my new son!

Q: Congratulations! So... Thank you for the interview. Any last words to the people?

A: Never think about war when you speak about peace!

. . . . By Sharpfang, finished Thu Mar 25 20:03:42 CET 1999

Back to search