Planet Landing

Council Meeting Boardroom

Boardroom - Council Meeting

Twix was waiting for the rest to come into the boardroom. There had been rumors but he wasn't sure who or how much was known. Today was going to be an eye-opener for everyone. He had the data sheets and predictions in front of him, and these were hard facts, not murmurings or guesswork.

The last of the stragglers were now coming in. He watched them intently to see if he could make out from their visages how much they knew. The problem for Parmeanians is, they are good at hiding feelings, emotions with facial expressions were seldom revealed in a formal setting. On another world, they would have been the ultimate poker players. Twix hoped his face was just as expressionless, today's meeting was going to be momentous and he needed to keep his composure. His many eye pods on top of his proboscises were dancing with excitement, the one thing, if read properly, that gave away some emotion to Parmeanians. But that was just an indicator that something important was about to happen.

He knocked the stone pallet with the calloused third joint of his fourth limb to start the proceedings. There was an instant silence as all scaled faces, each with multiple eyes, turned to him. The wall screen came on and the President's dry uncompromising phizog graced their company. He did not say a word, as all knew that this was the most important assembly of the Council since the agreement with the colonized Outworlds millennial cycles ago. That was the last time a president attended a council even if it was only by visage panel. His presence would add to the ambiance, the council members turned half their eyes toward the screen, the rest remained on Twix. Their faces still rigid and expressionless.

"Today we have one of the most important announcements this world has ever heard. We have detected a space traveler from the Sol region approaching our world." Twix paused, awaiting reaction. There was a sharp inhalation through the phlaxes that was almost a gasp, but not a word was spoken. Twix continued.

"The trajectory course has been tracked and all data verified. Their approach will be in the Linxt Sector and after initial orbiting will mean their landing will be approximately 3 Milox from here in the Terrian of Wold in two Tweeklights. We have no idea what their intention is, whether peaceable or warlike. As you all know we have been monitoring their broadcasts for hundreds of cycles. From this, we have a rudimentary understanding of their language although their written speech does not seem to have a global standard. We have seen their warlike attitude toward their own kind and they seem prepared for any perceived threat or contingency from anywhere in the Galaxy.

There is no doubting that this will eventually be the first alien contact known to our world. So we have to be prepared. Our deep space scanners indicate no weaponry on board known to us, the cargo holds are too small to tell if they are bringing anything that could be interpreted as armaments. Also, it seems there is only a small contingency of life forms aboard, which suggests they don't have the numbers to be hostile. although we do know from their world wars on their own Terra Firma, they have the power to destroy large areas with small devices, even their own oceans they have polluted. We have no idea what to expect from them, we have been unable to interpret their communications as yet. There is very little to go on."

"We will consider any suggestions. If you have questions, please indicate this by selecting the appropriate stance, a simple raising of the second mandible, please. Your request will be duly noted and a number will be given and displayed over here." Twix pointed to a small screen display above the Visage Panel with the president's image sternly watching the proceedings, please make your statement brief and to the point, when your number is displayed"

He continued... "What we have to discuss, here, this morning, is how we handle this. We have to make a unanimous decision. Do we attack them before they gain our atmosphere or do we allow them to land and greet them in peace? The fate of our Planet depends on the collective resolution we all make here today." His voice getting deeper and more serious as he finished.