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[_DivideByZero_]

Xenology! Does this odd ship match any records regarding Haptis II? If not, has Maxwell seen this sort of ship before?

The psychically-active creatures from Haptis did not travel inside conventional spacecraft. This odd ship, though primitive in outlook, bears more sophistication.

That said, cylinder-shaped craft are not exactly uncommon among fledgling starfaring races. It is a simple shape that is easy to construct.

Maxwell is familiar with a case in which the survivors of a xeno race, hunted by the Imperial fleet, transformed an asteroid into an impromptu starfaring vessel and tried to flee the system. They used an elongated shape not unlike the current vessel under investigation, and they too used a primitive nuclear drive, although the waste heat from their engines was mainly dissipated by boiling off ice from within the asteroid.

[HighEndNoob]

"It's a rather small ship, all things considered. And almost silent too. Is it not possible that the ship is empty? Devoid of any life whatsoever?"

[Devastator]

"It seems unlikely to retain a working reactor after thousands of years, without some sort of assistance.  Much less working radar.."

[Sirus]

"Could it be some sort of...alien machine-spirit maintaining the ship's systems?" Maxwell directs the question towards the tech-priests. He knew a little about such things from his void-traveling upbringing, but nowhere near enough to answer that sort of tricky question.

[Caellath]

"Shouldn't we be askin' less, hailin' more? If it's alive and hostile we shoot it 'till it's dead, if it isn't then we keep checking for livin' people." Tork pointed out, once more suggesting his straightforward approach to problems.

[Aseaheru]

"We may wish to have the Shark on standby, for face-to-face diplomacy or for a last assault if need be. Or, for that matter, simply getting a closer look in something smaller and slightly more replaceable than our own craft."

[Caellath]

"Far more replaceable if ya mean the Indecent Proposal. Thousands of Sharks don't make up the teef to buy a raider." Tork said in a good-humored tone.

[Aseaheru]

"Well, unless someone has a spare ship in their back pocket, the Proposal only ship I know of being owned by this Dynasty located way out here."

[Stirk]

"We may wish to have the Shark on standby, for face-to-face diplomacy or for a last assault if need be. Or, for that matter, simply getting a closer look in something smaller and slightly more replaceable than our own craft."

"We should have a boarding party primed as well. In fact, the whole ship should be prepared to take action at a moments notice. Nothing that would suggest hostile intent to observers, but enough to act instantly if things heat up."

"Shouldn't we be askin' less, hailin' more? If it's alive and hostile we shoot it 'till it's dead, if it isn't then we keep checking for livin' people." Tork pointed out, once more suggesting his straightforward approach to problems.

"Patience is one of the Emperor's greatest blessings. However in this case, all our inquiries have a simple solution. We had planned on making contact from the beginning, after all."

Tristan steepled his fingers once again, carefully choosing the words to use for first contact. First impressions are always important, perhaps more so among groups than individuals. The message would be relayed twice-first in High Gothic, second in Low Gothic. If they are truly a lost human colony (a possibility that is looking more and more distant), then perhaps someone among them retained enough knowledge of the old tongue to hold a conversation. If by chance they are some form of xenos, then its possible that they have intercepted some of our communications in the same manner we had intercepted theirs-Emperor willing enough to understand our meaning. In any case, the message should be simple and easy to understand even with a language barrier in place. At the same time it has to indicate power and regality, while still indicating the desire for peaceful relationships. After several moments of thought (while several of his retainers entertained each other), he speaks again.

"Hail the nearest ship. Our message: I am Tristan Vendigroth of the Vendigroth dynasty. I speak with the Authority of the Glorious God Emperor of Mankind and his Imperium. We come in the name of Friendship." His words are concise and clear, to minimize any misunderstanding. After a moment passes he repeats the message in low Gothic.

[Caellath]

"Well, unless someone has a spare ship in their back pocket, the Proposal only ship I know of being owned by this Dynasty located way out here."

Tork choked up a laugh. "Ya said 'craft'. That's how we call shuttles, fighters, bombers, assault boats, guncutters, lighters. Small craft." he explained to the other void-master before gesturing to the etherics team, who in turn relayed the Trader's message.

[Stirk]

"Well, unless someone has a spare ship in their back pocket, the Proposal only ship I know of being owned by this Dynasty located way out here."

Tork choked up a laugh. "Ya said 'craft'. That's how we call shuttles, fighters, bombers, assault boats, guncutters, lighters. Small craft." he explained to the other void-master before gesturing to the etherics team, who in turn relayed the Trader's message.

The trader coughs politely, indicating his message is over with. "Craft is the abbreviated form of 'voidcraft', essentially meaning 'vehicle capable of traveling the void'. The word itself is technically means 'vehicle', though it is usually only used for those that traverse water, air, or the void alongside a word indicating which of which it roams. 'Small craft' are thus simply a way to say 'small voidcraft'. Thus his use is correct, though it may not be typical to your old ship. Perhaps I should lend you all one of my multitudinous thesauruses at some point?"

[Caellath]

"Atmospheric fliers are also called small craft, captain." Tork pointed out, meaning that in that case it wasn't simply an abbreviation of voidcraft. Aircraft, most likely. "And I meant in the void lingo, captain. It's unlikely you'll see a voidsman calling a voidship a craft. I can understand it bein' used, but since he used it instead of the usual stuff I didn't catch it."

[GiglameshDespair]

"Could it be some sort of...alien machine-spirit maintaining the ship's systems?" Maxwell directs the question towards the tech-priests. He knew a little about such things from his void-traveling upbringing, but nowhere near enough to answer that sort of tricky question.

"+Not theoretically impossible. A primitive craft as this appears on first glance? Less so. When we get closer, however, more details may reveal themselves. It seems more likely to me to be manned by some base species.+"

[Aseaheru]

"Ive seen crews call battleships craft."

 With this final comment directed to Tork, Eggbert turns to Lord Captain Vendigroth.

"Lord Captain, permission to ready the Shark and a team to act as an assault unit or as an escort."

[Stirk]

"Ive seen crews call battleships craft."

 With this final comment directed to Tork, Eggbert turns to Lord Captain Vendigroth.

"Lord Captain, permission to ready the Shark and a team to act as an assault unit or as an escort."

"You are hereby granted authorization to prepare the Shark at your discretion, including any future encounters. Do keep enough room so that I may accompany you, leading the charge on enemy ships is one of my specialties."