Alone in the void [OPEN]

[clash]

The shuttle drifted, its own momentum allowing it to travel without expending fuel and drift at a velocity beyond the speed of sound. Nothing could slow it, nothing could divert it, nothing could impede it. Cosmos liked it that way. Drifting along, making headway without expending energy... This is the life! However he had places to go and things to do, planets to revive and races to save! "This is for Cybertron, after all..." He mused to himself, the sound vanishing in the void of space. He turned on his internal radio and sent forth a signal on all frequencies, a ping giving away his location. Echolocation, something would respond to his signal sooner or later... and if not he'd just move on. He gave another transmission, this one meant to show his trajectory. 

If anyone responded to his pings, he'd wait a little longer. If not, then he'd use his phase space drive and jump to... wherever. Maybe an undiscovered planet, maybe an undiscovered species. The galaxy was a big place, who knows?

"To whoever is listening, these are my coordinates and this is my trajectory. I am here."

[Tori Jacobs]

The Midori was traveling through space when it picked up the signal being sent from an unidentified sender. June read the signal from her station before notifying Tori, “Captain, I'm picking up a signal from an unidentified source. It's equipped with coordinates and trajectory of its location.”

“A distress call?” asked Tori.

“Unknown,” answered June.

“I'm picking it up too,” stated Lily, “it's dialing on all frequencies.”

“It could be a trap,” suggested Shinta. “My advice is to ignore it and continue on course.”

“Is it close enough for our long range sensors to detect it?”

“No, Captain. It's a good couple of light years away from us.”

“What else can you tell me about the message?”

“The voice appears to be male. He doesn't provide a name or a reason for calling. Just, “I am here.”

“Well, that isn't vague at all,” interjected Genius sarcastically.

Tori sat there in her chair for a moment, hand to her chin stroking it softly as she decided on what to do. Shinta wouldn't like it but she didn't like the idea of potentially missing a chance to come into contact with a new species that's completely harmless and could use their help. It was decided.

“Plot an intercept course for those coordinates and go to Yellow Alert.”

“Aye, aye, Captain.”

The ship powered up and made the jump towards the source of the signal.

---

The Midori came out of phase space and now floated in front of the position of Cosmos. Tori looked at the exterior of the unidentified vessel from her position at the center of the Bridge as she looked around to the others.

“Report?”

“Definitely not human,” replied Lily.

“Oh sweet Allah no!” exclaimed Nex.

“Is there a problem, Nex?”

“Fucking Autobots!”

Tori raised an eyebrow and replied, “Pardon?”

“I believe what Nex is trying to say is that our life sign readings show a similarity to the Cybertronians who made a brief appearance in Isafaro back on Genesis,” explained Shinta.

“Yeah, what he said.”

“Weren't they the species that were able to transform into common everyday vehicles?”

“That would be correct,” answered Shinta.

“So am I talking to an alien in his ship or an alien that is his ship? One way to find out. Open a channel.”

June punched in some commands into her console and opened a channel between them and the aliens ship.

“Channel open.”

“This is Captain Tori Jacobs of the KKR Midori, are you in need of assistance?”

Nothing to do now but wait.

[clash]

A signal! And a ship! Cosmos scanned the ship, a signal emitting from his sensors and giving him an outline in his mechanical mind, he pinged it with his sensors once more just to be sure. A ship! he wasn't dreaming. In his giddiness Cosmos almost danced, his saucer form bobbing and spinning as the guidance system moved him rapidly around. He radio'd out his response without even thinking, "A ship! A ship! haha! I knew there was something out here!" The Autobot regained his composure quickly, moving in front of the ship and holding his position, carefully angling himself with his maneuvering thrusters.

"Transmitting on Frequency Zero-Zero-Seven-Two-Alpha. I am Autobot Cosmos. I believe the cliche is; I come in peace!"

[Tori Jacobs]

Tori raised an eyebrow at the sight of the alien ship bobbing and spinning on the view screen. Either it was more damaged than they realized or it was working just fine. The answer came when the alien responded to their hail and formally introduced himself. Interesting name.

“From what I can understand you don't seem to be damaged. Was there any reason in particular you sent out that message?”

[clash]

"Damaged? Me? Never!" The signal came through loud and clear as the shuttle doubled back slightly and came around beside the the Midori.

"But I could do with some energy, and this could be considered diplomatic first contact as well!" The ship sounded almost excited as it flew next to the larger Midori, keeping within proximity and waiting intently as if for the crew to throw open the hanger door and let it land. "Imagine that, broadcast a signal out of boredom and I find something!"

[Tori Jacobs]

Tori wasn't sure what to make of the Autobot. So far he hasn't proved to be hostile, just excitable, but Tori was reluctant to let him on her ship at present. She looked at the other Bridge officers, trying to get a feel for what they were thinking through their eyes and facial expressions without having to use words. Where was a telepath when you needed one?

“When you say you need “energy” what do you mean exactly?”

[clash]

what do you mean exactly? What kind of a question was that?! Cosmos slowed down a bit, then picked up the pace again, tagging along beside the Midori, quite possibly not even at the hanger entrance. He responded after a pause, letting his circuits sort out how incredulous that response was.

"Fuel, Power, Energy! You know the stuff, Your ship runs on it, doesn't it? Whats more my own reserves could use a top-up, not too much but enough to keep me puttering around space. I'm on a mission of exploration, you see."

Cosmos seemed to be growing impatient, all that pent up excitement blunted by the these aliens he had drawn to him.

[Nizzal Shala]

Nizzal was still a little bit surprised to see a saucer right outside their ship. That was really something that she wasn't prepared for as she looked at Tori with a questioning look on her face, "What do we do now?" she asked. 

[Tori Jacobs]

Tori thought on it a bit more and than signaled for June to cut off communications so they could speak freely.

“Lower our shields and open the Launch Bay doors.”

“Captain, I don't think that is wise.”

“If he wanted to start a fight he would have by now. Lower the shields.”

The Bridge officers complied and the shields were dropped followed by the Launch Bay doors coming open and allowing the ship entry.

“Shinta, Genius, you're with me. June, you have the Bridge.”

The three left the Bridge and made their way to the Launch Bay to greet their new guest, a security escort not far behind as was customary.

[Saephara]

As Tori gave the order to drop the shields and open the bay, Tifa sat up in her seat, swinging her legs from the top of the dashboard of her work area on the bridge. "Are you sure you want to do this, Tori?" Tifa asked but wasn't heard as Tori, Shinta and Genius started to walk off to meet their guest. She let a sigh escape her lips and hopped up, jogging to reach the group. As she passed her standing guards, Tifa gave them a quick order. "You both stay put and keep guard here. I'm going to go with them just in case." She had no idea what an Autobot was but from what Nex had expressed, they weren't good. So, she would take the risk fully herself. There was no way she was going to risk her people's lives. Walking briskly, she pulled her gloves out and pulled them on, God's Hands fitting her hands perfectly. "Well, here we go again. Same ol' rodeo." 

[Nizzal Shala]

"Is this really a wise decision ma'am?" Nizzal asked, she didn't really trust the voice and she was wary that it could be an enemy attack. How many ships had been attacked by pirates because they believed that they were helping someone in need? It disgusted Nizzal that there were people out there that would use trickery and the good will of people to make their living and kill people. She hoped that it would not be one of those time.

[clash]

A door opened! Cosmos was quick to comply. "Thank you!" The ship flew quickly into the landing bay and brough himself down onto the tarmac, landing softly with a slight thunk. As the humans approached, apparently three officers and a detachment of security personnel, cosmos remained in his saucer mode. Humans do love their shows of force, not unlike the Decepticons at times.

With a sudden turn of his T-cog, Cosmos began the process. the saucer's form began to split at several areas, several parts folding in as the sides extended out. The front protruding as what appeared to be a pair of yellow struts were exposed. The top of the saucer opened as the extended sides and the yellow struts started to push up. The green front split in two, connected to the struts and forming a pair of legs, the hip and waist exposed as the saucer's top and central parts reformed, the extended sides stretching out into a pair of arms, and the opening top revealing an assembling head.

Standing eight feet tall, looking remarkably thick and dumpy, but maintaining a neutral stance, a mechanical voice emanated from the form. "I am Autobot Cosmos, I come in peace!"

[Tori Jacobs]

Looks like they got the transformation part right.

“Fascinating.”

It was too early to tell about the rest.

“Are there any other secrets you're withholding that you'd like to share with us?” asked Genius bluntly.

Tori gave Genius a little nudge and then addressed the Autobot, “It's a pleasure to meet you, Cosmos. This is my Number One, Commander Shinta Greenaway, my Head Tactician The Genius and of course my Head of Security, Tifa Lockhart. Welcome to the Midori.”

[Saephara]

At mention of her name, Tifa inclined her head and brushed her hair back. "Pleasure to meet you...Cosmos." A certain wonder came across her as she looked up at the creature...if she could call it a creature. She supposed she could, but except it was a fully metallic creature. Like a vehicle but in a human-ish shape. Interesting. And it changed shape? Yep. It was something to keep an eye on. "Might I ask exactly what you are? I haven't met anything like you before." As always with newcomers, a smile graced Tifa's lips as she spoke. Nothing better than making a good impression with a towering mechanical beast. 

[clash]

So many questions! Some blunt, some polite, but addressing the captain was tantamount. "The pleasure is all mine, Captain. Thank you for letting me on board your vessel, its quite roomy!" He looked around, admiring the hanger. They were all human, by the looks of it, small and soft. Optimus would've worried about them, but been proud of their accomplishments since the days spent on earth.

"I am a Cybertronian, a being from another world. My function is deep space exploration, formerly surveillance. Do tell me, what exactly is the mission and function of this vessel?" Cosmos noted the security detachment, they didn't look threatening but he was unsure of how quickly that would change.