Captain James Nolan's Log, Supplemental
Shire Base landing pad recording
30 days after Rothgard's Fall
Wings of steel touch the earth.
Eyes of two worlds meet.
The first words of peace are spoken.
The VS-44 Wyvern fell through the atmosphere, heat-resistant coating glowing a deep red as it went trans-sonic, leaving thin white trails in its wake. Captain James Nolan sat in the pilot seat, hands steady on the controls as the shuttle entered Shire Base airspace. "Wyvern One, you are cleared for Pad Alpha. Wind is five knots from zero-one-two, surface is dry. one-five-hundred AGL; Welcome to the Shire, Captain," A.L.I.'s voice came back immediately, crisp over the comm. "Copy that," Nolan replied. "Beginning final approach on one-eight-zero."
The shuttle glided gracefully over the heads of Thistle Ear and Sylva, who waited with A.L.I. on the edge of the landing pad. The rabbitkin and catkin stared upward in awe as the massive craft descended with precision, landing lights bright against the evening sky. The roar of the engines was deafening, then faded as the shuttle settled gently onto the pad.
The rear ramp lowered. Captain Nolan emerged first, flanked by Commander Voss and Dr. Vasquez. The three figures in their black uniforms walked down the ramp with calm authority. Thistle Ear and Sylva stood frozen, their animal features showing clear awe at the tall human male leading the group. Nolan's presence was commanding yet approachable.
A.L.I. stepped forward. "Captain, this is Thistle Ear and Sylva. They are representatives of the nearby Beastkin village." Nolan offered a respectful nod. "It is an honor to meet you both. I am Captain James Nolan of the starship Discovery. This is Commander Voss, our Chief Intelligence Officer, and Dr. Vasquez, our Chief Medical Officer."
The Beastkin stared, taking in the humans who had come from the sky. The conversation about who they are and the possibility of official diplomatic relations began carefully, with A.L.I. translating where needed.
The first steps toward understanding between two worlds had begun on the landing pad of Shire Base.