[https://i.imgur.com/TDizVDh.jpg]

“W-What precisely is the matter?”

Agozi supported Kaz, steadying him as they entered the bridge together.

“W-Why do you all appear to be engaging in such f-f-frenzied activity?” Kaz asked, before letting out a minor hiccup.

On their arrival, Bridge-Commander Teflar rushed to them.

“There’s something very urgent that we need you to see.” Leading them to the primary navigation computer, Teflar pinpointed a specific location on the screen. “Look at this!”

Kaz attempted to focus on the monitor, his drunken state apparent despite his efforts.

“W-What precisely am I meant to observe here?”

“Recent readings from sector T-Eight-Seven.”

“W-What’s the significance?”

“We may have found something,” Teflar replied.

“Something none could have anticipated.”

“And that would be...?”

“When the scanner screw first discovered it, they were so astonished they had to double and then later triple check the readings,” Teflar said. “They are now positive they are legitimate.”

“…and?”

Observing Kaz's unsteadiness, Teflar eyed him cautiously.

“If I may so ask…is not all well?” he asked Agozi.

Agozi played it cool.

“Oh, he's totally fine!” she replied. “We were just heading to bed before you called us over. It's been a crazy long day, and he's barely slept.” In reality, Kaz had clearly hit the bottle too hard. He'd been drinking during his time off, and the unexpected call had taken him by surprise.

Teflar shot a disapproving glance at Kaz.

“I see.”

“No big deal,” Agozi said. “Just tell me what you've found.”

Teflar got the hint and didn't pry any further about Kaz's shaky state.

“The scanners have detected an unidentified object of sentient origin…” His whiskers twitched anxiously. “Readings show a high probability of it being another ship.”

With her eyes wide and whiskers trembling intensely, Agozi took a moment to recover from the shock.

“A ship?” she asked, her voice full of genuine disbelief. “Right in the middle of the Unstable Regions?!”

Teflar’s whiskers twitched again.

“We also thought it impossible,” he replied. “But the readings don’t lie. They clearly hint at a sentient made object. It’s not large enough to be a station which rules out any other possibility.”

A moment stood.

“When did the scanners first pick the signal up?” Agozi asked eventually.

“Only a few hours ago,” Teflar replied. “A scanner technician came across the signal by accident. It was faint enough to miss. We initially dismissed it as an error, but following subsequent reanalysis work, we’re certain the readings are valid.”

Agozi mulled over Teflar’s words.

“Is their ship within communicator range?”

Teflar’s whiskers fluttered.

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“The readings…” His tone became somber. “Hint at the ship not being in motion. We believe it to be a wreckage of some kind.”

Agozi’s whiskers twitched and her eyes widened.

“You mean—”

“There’s a high probability the crew has been lost,” Teflar said, his tone somber. “Unfortunately, that seems like the most likely possibility.”

Agozi's expression grew somber, her ears wilting.

She wasn't alone.

Everyone within earshot froze. The shock on their faces, and the twitching whiskers of the Mevik who heard, laid bare their emotional response to the grim news. Not knowing anything about this supposed ship, or those lost on it, could only soften the blow of such a massive tragedy so much.

Once the emotional moment subsided, Teflar resumed his explanation.

“What remains of the wreckage continues to emit an energy signature albeit just barely,” he said. “It’s how we found it.”

Though still drunk, Kaz attempted to expel the stuttering from his voice.

“C-Could this ship belong to someone who had the same bright idea we did coming here?” he asked. “Someone else testing their own version of the drive? A rival corporation…maybe…?”

Honorary-Lieutenant Snikers, now also on the bridge, sneered at the proposition.

“To the best of our knowledge, which I assure you is rivaled by none other, no competing entity is even remotely close to having a functioning prototype.”

Agozi’s whiskers jerked in annoyance.

“Says you and your ego.”

“Says the trillion-credit budget we used to build it,” Snikers replied sneeringly. “Do not belittle the immeasurable resources it took to get us where we are now. The idea of someone else getting here before we could…is simply preposterous!”

“We can confirm the ship does not belong to any known government or corporate entity,” Teflar said.

“The scanners are experimental,” Kaz said. “Snikers said so himself. The readings might be bogus.”

“Unlikely,” Teflar said. “The data is too specific. All evidence points at this being the wreckage of a destroyed ship.”

A moment stood.

"What if it's from someone else?" Agozi asked eventually. "Like a civilization we haven't met yet?"

Unintentionally, her words got Snikers all fired up. “Another civilization…” His grin got huge, almost creepy.

Agozi could only guess what was going through his head, but she bet it was something self-serving.

"This is now far beyond a mere trial-run, my dear fellows!" Snikers said. "We stand on the precipice of making history!"

Agozi just rolled her eyes.

"Imagine the boundless opportunities that first-contact shall bring!" Snikers said exuberantly. "Not only will we be the foremost sentients to conquer the outer regions, but we shall also be the precursors in establishing diplomatic relations with whomever resides there." His face contorted further into a gleeful grin. "And, naturally, with diplomacy comes the prospect of trade!" He cast a swift glance at Kaz, causing the latter to flinch involuntarily. “Kaz, my boy…you cannot even begin to fathom the significance of this discovery!” His lips quivered with excitement.

Kaz, on the other hand, didn't look too pleased. He shook off the slurring in his speech.

"I’m not a boy," he said irately. "And while I regret having to dampen your aspirations, we possess no information regarding this alleged alien vessel. It may not even be a ship, or amount to anything significant at all."

Kaz's comments didn't dampen Snikers's excitement.

"Utterly preposterous," he said dismissively. "This is undeniably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity ripe for exploitation!"

Agozi’s whiskers flickered in disgust.

Begets exploitation?

"I hereby decree that our current mission parameters be altered forthwith," Snikers said. "We shall set our course for the location of this alleged alien wreckage."

Snikers blowing off Kaz's authority seemed to get under his fur.

"That determination falls within my purview."

"On the contrary," Snikers replied, "As the council's esteemed commissioner, I possess the authority to override decisions."

"Your authority is limited to situations related to our mission of evaluating the new equipment," Kaz asserted. "You hold no sway beyond that scope."

As they bickered, Agozi mulled over the implications of first-contact.

The Pretenti were the original inventors of slipspace technology, unlocking the door to interstellar travel. In the centuries that followed, they crossed paths with a multitude of other races, including the Mevik, Prol, and more.

The last time the Union discovered an advanced race was when they encountered the Langa, a progressive society that had already blossomed into a prosperous civilization. Despite outsmarting the Pretenti, the Langa's natural risk-avoidance had kept them from venturing into space at the time. It took some diplomatic nudging from the Pretenti to show them the upside of stepping out of their home system.

That was centuries back.

If it turned out to be true, stumbling upon another advanced race after all this time would be a game-changer.

Agozi's whiskers fluttered, her curiosity now piqued.

"We gotta check this out.”

"The responsibility of decision-making lies with me."

“But what if he's onto something?” Agozi countered, whiskers jerking again. "We can't just ignore the chance of making first-contact with another race, especially if it’s spacefaring."

“Heed the sagacious words of your lieutenant!”

Agozi’s whiskers fluttered in lukewarm amusement.

A compliment from Snikers? I never would’ve thought.

Kaz mulled over their words.

“Altering our course now, only to potentially find nothing of significance, would result in a considerable waste of time and resources,” he said. “All for naught.”

“The scanners are experimental, like you said,” Agozi said. “So…it's our job to test them out! That's why we're here.”

“She is correct,” Snikers said. “As such, my overwriting powers are very much still in effect! I hereby order we investigate this matter immediately.”

Kaz sighed.

“Very well.” He cast a glance at a nearby navigation specialist. “Disengage the ship from slipspace and reconfigure the navigational systems.”

“A most excellent decision!”

“That remains to be determined.”

“There’s no need for doubt, Captain,” Snikers said. “I assure you that you’ve done the right thing! The history books will speak highly of you.”

Kaz lapsed into a momentary quietude.

“I’m certain.”