The young Admiral Graciano Marino Garibaldi had served for five years in command of the 7th Exploratory Fleet. Always looking up to the stars wondering what's out there as a small child. Of course his wish had already became true when he served together with the Cheunh to hunt down the damned Mardakii. Of Course he was but a Captain then, but now it somehow felt different. He was in charge of a whole fleet this time, something he still couldn't quite believe. What he didn't know however is that his dream would come a reality again.

A small beep sound came from the Communications Console. Everyone on the bridge paused for a moment, all of them wondering what it might be. Lieutenant Shani Hoshi looked with astonishment at the console.

"Well what is it Lieutenant? Do you plan to keep us all waiting for eternity?" the Admiral asked.

"Sir, ... It's ... I think it's a message. It's repeating itself, but ... I can't make any sense from it, I believe our computers aren't familiar with the language. I can pin point it's origin, Sir." 

The Admiral smiled. "Well Lieutenant, it looks like we have a first contact situation on our hands. Relay the message to the linguistics at Dragonfire. While you are at it, inform the Piercer, the Gondwana and the Clinton to meet us here. We do not know what we are dealing with here and I don't like te repeat previous mistakes. Ah, before I forget the Cole Protocol. Send out entire English language alphabet and vocabulary to the buoy. Let's see who has the better linguistics department."
 

---

General Iulia Tudor was drinking her tea in her ready room on Dragonfire. Her doorbell rang". She let out a sigh, but responded in accordance: "Open."

Colonel Igor Poroshenko came in. "Ma'am, you might want to look at this." He put his datapad on her desk.

The General was surprised. "Well, well, well. This certainly does make my day, or tea at least. Send the message to linguistics, inform the King we have a first contact situation at the northern border. Put the soldiers on alert to support readiness. We don't know how this might end up. Dismissed, Colonel."

The Colonel nodded and left the room immediately after the proper salute. The General took a sip again from her tea, yet it wasn't quite the same anymore.
 

---

King Andrei was wondering about his palace, he had a long and tiresome day. He was headed towards his bedroom and finally rest for the day. However, Strategos Douglas Hague just came out of the last corner. To the King's surprise, the Strategos had come to personally meet him.

"Tell me Mr. Hague, what is so important that you came personally from East Point to disturb my sleep."

The Strategos smiled for a moment. "Oh well do not worry Sir. I know that sleep is important, but I can't let this be delayed. It looks like the Cole Protocol is in effect, Sir."

The King took the datapad from the Strategos. He read the message and looked back and forth between the datapad and the Strategos. "Well it sure looks like it. Let's get this started then. Strategos, I believe you will remain here. Order the Manticore to prepare for departure. I will pack my things and join them shortly."

"Sir, I must protest. You cannot go, we only got out of the Velutarian War. Do not make the same mistake as your Father, may God forgive him."

"Douglas, my dear friend. I cannot let this happen, it will be over soon I promise. Besides, we have bigger guns now and much better technology."

"Sir, the Manticore may be big, but it isn't the biggest. I will order the Eternity to come along with you."

"Ah Douglas, I will grant you that. It will be my ace in the hole if things should go sour." The King smiled at the Strategos. "Now go get some sleep. Once I have informed my family I will depart at once."

"Very well Sir." He saluted the King and went his way.
 

---

A week had passed and the King's entourage had met in an unclaimed system 5 light years from the buoy's origin. With assistance from Cheunh linguistics a lot of progres was made, but they couldn't sure. 

"Lieutenant is the language matrix ready yet?" King Andrei asked.

"Yes, Sir. Ready when you are."

"Very well then. Send this message: This is King Andrei Stoian of the Stoinian Star Kingdom. We are currently in system Gliese-7645, just 5 light years from the buoy which we first met. We would like to known who and what you are? We wish to get to know our new galactic neighbours. Be advised that we will enter the buoy system in 16 of our hours. Now if you were to fire upon our ships without provocation, we will return the gesture. However as a gesture of good faith, we will enter your system with closed gun ports and shields down. I advise you do not, I repeat do not misuse this gesture. End transmission."

A brief pause hanged in the air. Everyone was tensed up for what was to come in 16 hours. Eventually King Andrei turned to the crew.

"Well then, let's hope this doesn't end up like last time. Inform the Eternity that it will not go with us in the buoy system. May God help us all."