“Nothing whatsoever. They are explorers. Their sole concern and principal subject of conversation was survival. Military matters were not mentioned.”

The officer mumbled something half audible. “… couldn’t expect much …” Then louder, “For your own information, we found nothing during our study of their ship to hint they are especially advanced militarily. What we have been able to glean of their social structure indicates they are not, for example, organized in a paramilitary society like the AAnn.”

“I could have told you that,” Ryo said confidently.

“However, they display certain worrisome characteristics of both social and individual temperament.”

“I don’t understand, elder.” Ryo was uncertain how to interpret the officer’s last statement. “I’ve already told you that they thought we were the ones who’d attacked them. They are more than ready—I would even say anxious—to form an alliance with us against the AAnn. This despite unfortunate differences of shape. They find us only slightly less disconcerting physically than we find them.”

“That is difficult to believe,” the second young researcher murmured.

One of the elders scolded him. “That is not a scientific attitude, Drin.”

“I know it’s not, but I cannot so easily wipe out thousands of years of mental conditioning. They are mammals, no matter how similar their minds might be. Soft of exterior and flexible of form. My insides turn whenever I have to look at them.” He swiveled to eye Ryo.

“I understand you actually engaged in physical contact with them, even to the point of extending formal farewells.”

“They are not at all that repulsive,” Ryo insisted. “It’s merely a matter of seeing them as people. As I’ve mentioned, they feel the same way about the tiny arthropods on their own worlds. We are each the stuff of the other’s nightmares. These are primitive attitudes that both races must fight to overcame. There is no logic to them.”

“All of which I understand,” Drin admitted without offense. “Still, thousands of years of nightmare … We are professionals here, used to dealing with the incredible and outré.” He surveyed his colleagues. “How do you think the populace will react to the existence of these beings? And if what you say is true,” he said to Ryo, “these monsters will have similar problems on their own world of Earth.”

“Odd,” one of the elders commented, “that they should name their home planet after the ground when in fact they live above it, exposed to the open sky—or so you tell us.” He turned to Ryo.

“There are many such fascinations awaiting us,” Ryo told her confidently, “as soon as formal contact is opened.” The words of the officer returned to haunt him. “You said certain characteristics worried you. What characteristics?”

Silence reigned in the chamber. Ryo studied his questioners curiously. “They are allies, you know. Or will be soon.”

More silence. Several of the scientists looked away. The others did not.