Act 1, Scene 1
”Here and Gone”
The Insight has been dispatched to the Imvi system to investigate reports of a potentially revolutionary advancement in warp drive technology. According to preliminary intelligence, the Netase claim to have developed the capability to transport an entire space station across galactic distances—a remarkable, albeit unintended, byproduct of their experimental weapons research.
The Netase are not members of the Federation. As an independent and relatively reclusive species, they have focused their efforts on defensive armament, striving to safeguard their autonomy as they chart their own course through the cosmos. While not overtly hostile, their wariness of the Federation stems from negative encounters with more aggressive spacefaring civilizations. This, coupled with their perception of us as a potential threat, makes this mission exceedingly delicate.
Diplomatic overtures have yielded a tentative breakthrough. A Netase representative has agreed to meet aboard their orbital station above Imvi IX. Our objective is twofold: to approach this exchange with mutual respect and scientific curiosity while reassuring the Netase that the Federation seeks cooperation, not conflict. The stakes are high—not only for scientific discovery but for the foundation of trust between two civilizations.