arrival . ota

[chaotica]

Hugh Cambridge is partway through an analysis of an artifact - an old one, part of an extended paper that he'd never finished - when the transition comes.

At first, he assumes the ship's entered some sort of anomaly, and he turns away from the viewport (the stars have shifted, how odd), his hand moving to his combadge. A quick touch, and he starts, "Cambridge to -"

This isn't Voyager. In fact, this is the Ten-Forward of a Galaxy Class starship, unless he misses his mark. Populated with a few handfuls of people, some out of uniform, some in uniform, but those in are wearing the style that was in use twenty years earlier. Cambridge's uniform has shoulders of a grey-purple, and the turtleneck inside is medical/science blue. His combadge is thinner and sleeker.

"- Oh, bugger," finishes Cambridge. It's an illusion or it's time travel - neither of those bodes well.

Comments

[chaotica]

"Then yes." His casual attitude hasn't changed, but there's something sharp in his expression. "I've been a counselor for thirty years, and I'm an expert in xenoanthropology and first contact situations."

[ancientstalker]

"Xenoanthropology?" How interesting. Legitimately. "I take it that's a rather complicated subject."

[chaotica]

"Well, what gave you that idea?" asks Cambridge, deadpan. "Could it be the endless and infinite variety of sentient species in existence? Or the fact that I'm a genius?"

[ancientstalker]

"Well, if it's the second option, then you're pretty arrogant, too." Orlin points out, sounding amused.

"The variety of accessible species in this universe, so far, is much more than my own, though, so I conceed the first point, also."