The Bridge Between Us

Posted on 30 Nov 2025 @ 7:57pm by Captain Sabrina Corbin & Commander Suzanna Batenburg

956 words; about a 5 minute read

//// Cargo bay ////

She had remained in the cargo bay after the meld. Sorvak was continuing his work based on what they had achieved so far. Once they had a start it was going faster with the programming. “Batenburg to Corbin, Captain, we seem to have established rudimentary communications. You may want to come down here.”

“On my way, Commander,” Sabrina replied, already rising from the center seat. There was a quick spark of excitement in her chest, rudimentary communication, real progress. “Give me a summary when I arrive.” She closed the channel and strode for the turbolift, intent on meeting their guests face-to-face and hearing firsthand what had unfolded.

The moment Sabrina stepped through the airlock into the altered cargo bay, the air shifted around her, warmer, denser, carrying a faint hum she felt more than heard. The survivors turned toward her in a soft ripple of bioluminescent color, their pulses synchronizing in a pattern she instinctively knew wasn’t random. It was the first true look she’d had at them up close, and the sight struck her silent for a beat: luminous skin, fluid movements, eyes bright with something between caution and hope. Whatever they were, whatever had brought them here, they were beautiful in a way that tugged at the deepest part of her curiosity. She approached slowly, respectfully, letting her presence announce itself without intrusion as she joined her officers at their side.

Sabrina stepped forward, keeping her posture open as the aliens’ bioluminescent pulses shifted in gentle, curious waves. She offered a small, respectful nod, her voice low and steady. “I’m Captain Sabrina Corbin,” she said, letting the universal translator do what little it could. “You’re safe here, and we’re honored to help you.” Only after giving the survivors that first acknowledgment did she turn her attention to Suzanna, her eyes asking for the promised report.

"Captain," Suzanna nodded in greeting, "I managed to mind meld with, what may be the leader of the alien. There seems to be more collaborative than hierarchally set up. I communicated that we are here to help, and I believe I got their OK to also help repair the ship." She paused a long moment, "since then, the UT has started to function, slowly. The more we speak together, the more it will improve."

Sabrina nodded thoughtfully as Suzanna finished, her attention drifting briefly to the shifting pulses along the aliens’ skin. “They’ve demonstrated remarkable cognitive complexity already,” she said quietly. “Let’s not underestimate what they can contribute. If they’re willing, we should offer them access to the translation interface, carefully sandboxed, and let them assist in shaping the matrix. Their own patterns and logic may accelerate what our systems are only just beginning to interpret.” She glanced toward Sorvak’s team, then back to her XO. “Gentle pacing, full transparency. We guide, but we don’t take over. If they can help us build the bridge between our languages, I want them to have the tools to do it.”

Sabrina folded her hands behind her back, settling into the familiar cadence of decision. “Next step is their vessel,” she said, voice firm but warm. “If they’ve indicated permission, let’s not delay. Assemble a small cross-departmental team, Engineering, Operations, and Science. And I want a few of the healthier survivors to accompany us as guides, if they’re willing. Their presence will help us avoid missteps, and they’ll know their own systems better than anyone.” Her gaze swept the cargo bay, taking in the hopeful glow of the gathered aliens. “We’ll treat this as a cooperative mission, not a rescue operation. Their ship is their home. We’re guests.”

"Understood, Captain," Suzanna replied, the decisions were logical, "will you communicate that to the aliens while I get this organised."

Sabrina adjusted the display to show only the damaged alien vessel, its silhouette rotating slowly beside a simplified image of the Arawyn. She angled the screen so the survivors could see clearly, then touched the image of their ship with two fingers, letting the gesture speak as much as her words. “We want to go here,” she said slowly, giving the UT time to catch what intent it could. “Your ship. With your help.” She tapped the damaged sections highlighted in soft amber. “We repair. Together.” Her gaze moved between their luminous faces, her tone steady and respectful. “You guide us. You show us what is safe, what is needed. We follow you.” She lifted her hand, palm open, not command, but invitation. “If you agree, we stand ready.”

The aliens clustered closer, their bioluminescent patterns tightening into a more unified rhythm. The woman who had melded with Suzanna stepped forward again, her pulses brightening at the edges. She studied the display, then placed her hand gently over the image of their ship, her fingers tracing its outline with unmistakable recognition. When she looked back up, the translator caught only fragments, but enough to matter. “You… come. We… show.” Her skin flared in a warm, resonant pattern that washed through the group behind her. “Together.”

Suzanna turned toward the Science team and walked over, "Commander, you probably heard the Captain." Vulcans, and half Vulcans had above average hearing. "Let them help, sandboxed from our systems. The sooner we have proper communication with them, the better." She paused a moment, "who would you send on the away team?" While Sorvak was giving it a moment's thought, she tapped her comm badge, "Engineering, Operations, I need members for an away team to the alien ship. Report to transporter room 2."

Captain Sabrina Corbin
Commanding Officer
USS Arawyn

Cmdr Suzanna Batenburg
Executive Officer
Everything fits, otherwise we'll make it fit!

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