New World.

The message.

S.A.L.F. research center.
Nevada, USA.
30/DEC/2055

an alarm sounded on the monitor of the main receiver panel, waking up the lone technician on duty.

. . .

Meanwhile, in the desert, a homeless boy lies in wait as an antelope gets closer to the tub of cold well water.

Right as he was about to yank the rope to tighten the snare on the creature, his eyes glowed brightly.

The antelope's eyes did as well.

"Young child. Fate has not been kind to you, has it? I'll give you some of my powers. You will become instrumental in many ways. The antelope, that you were going to kill, will aid you. So, spare her life."

. . .

"I'm telling you, the monitor has something significant. It's shaped like a Norse battle axe one kilometer wide and three long. It's got a power signature output that makes Chernobyl look like a firecracker! We're talking about a massive solar flare level output from this thing!"

"Dammit! Quit wasting my time, Jerred! I. . . . Hold on."

"Yes sir." The tech sighed with exasperation.

It was about three minutes before the director of the Space Force came back on the line.

"Well, Jerred. I'm sorry. As it turns out, Mikhail Torrentov on the I.S.S. has reported a massive structure matching what you described. Keep me updated, it looks like we've finally reached someone out there."

"Sir, I'm getting a transmission from orbit. It's a multiple beam ultraviolet and infrared signal."

"See if you can decipher it and get back with me."

"It's already translated in English and on the monitor."

"Read it."

*********

"Humans, of the United States of America.

My name is Níqö Rhóüphÿs Lу́nn, of Lún'Râ, from the solar system of the star, Lynñâ.

Lynñâ is a blue hypergiant star belonging to the Pantios constellation of stars.

I've personally selected a boy, dwelling in the desert of your region of Nevada, along with an antelope as champions.

They're to lead and accompany you, if they so choose, in a race to our home world.

Others have selected a champion from each nation who must guide engineers in building their vessels.

I'll be leaving a vessel for my champions in a location that only they are able to access and operate. From there, it's up to them to proceed how they see fit.

Having a granted vessel does not give them an advantage, as they cannot simply disembark before the scheduled start day of the race.

I'm the only Lynark who is capable of raising an animal's intelligence to human level, as I've done for Juli, as the antelope chose to be named.

I've detected weaponized craft in orbit and must warn you.

This is the Lynark Berserker class warship, U.S.S. Luminar 5. I've been escorted by our Galaxy class war bringer/carrier, U.S.S. Haven which carries the other nineteen Berserkers.

Onboard each Berserker, are twenty two Barbarian class destroyers, one hundred and ten Trooper class heavy barrage fighters and one hundred and ten Valkyrie class Invasion Force alpha fighters.

This totals to one war bringer, twenty berserkers, 440 destroyers and 4,400 fighters.

Current fleet vacancies are one female who is on maternity leave.

We come in peace, prepared for war, as only a fool would not.

We've sent similar messages to every nation of Earth, which are as follows.

Follow the instruction of the champion or champions to our home world. The first to arrive will be rewarded greatly, crew and all.

The first champion or champions to arrive will receive the greatest reward.

If you arrive without your champion, it will be seen as a declaration of war between our worlds.

We'll know if the champion was coerced or forced into compliance and no reward will be given, except to them.

Unlike the other champions, however, you must impress the boy as well as Juli, the antelope chosen as co-champion.

She is equally as important.

Kill either one and Earth will be invaded and occupied.

We will await your response.

Bon voyage, mon amis."

*********

"So, then. It's a space race. Where the hell are we going to find a brat and an antelope?"

"I don't know, sir. Maybe hire professional hunters to find them and offer a reward for information on their whereabouts. Or a higher reward to bring them in willingly."

"That's actually a good idea. Capturing them would not be within these people's rules of the challenge. We must find them and impress them."

. . . . .

"So. Your name is Juli?"

{Yes. I. . . I never imagined that I would be anywhere near a human, let alone aiding one.

Fact is, before now, I never imagined anything at all.

I hope that I can remain like this. I don't want to go back to the darkness of an animal's mind.}

"I hope so too. I've always wanted to be able to communicate with animals. You can still do so, right?"

{I can, but I no longer have any desire to do so.}

"I'm not going to try to make you.

So. They have to impress you, then me."

{I know what would impress me.}

"What's that?"

{Let's see if they can figure it out, first.}

"That's alright with me."

. . . . .