First Contact

First Contact is a pivotal moment in the exploration of space, particularly for organizations like Starfleet. It marks the initial interaction between different species, often from vastly different backgrounds and cultures. This moment can shape interstellar relations for generations to come and can have profound impacts on both parties involved.

In my own experience, I recently had the opportunity to participate in a First Contact scenario with a species known as the Risu. Our encounter took place on the outer rim of the Beta Quadrant, where we stumbled upon their ship entirely by chance during a routine survey mission.

The squirrel-like creatures were small in stature, averaging about half a meter in height. Despite their diminutive size, the Risu possessed remarkable intelligence and were part of a rich, ancient culture. Approaching cautiously, we made contact with a group of Risu who, to our surprise, displayed a level of technological advancement far beyond what their appearance suggested. Through a combination of gestures, vocalizations, and eventually our translators, we were able to establish rudimentary communication with them.

The encounter with the Risu was ultimately friendly and mutually beneficial. We exchanged gifts and knowledge, laying the groundwork for future diplomatic relations.

In this competition, you are tasked to write a report-style / personal log description of the a species your character encountered. What do they look like, what’s their culture like? Are they friendly or hostile? Where do they live, what does their homeworld look like? How did you encounter them?

Criteria

• Stories should be submitted directly to the BFMS, and your entry should be a link to the published story. Stories should be at least 250 words and no more than 1,000 words.
• Stories will be graded in accordance with the Bravo Fleet Fiction Rubric, which marks on the following criteria: Language, Style, & Mechanics; Adherence to Canon; Perspective; Characterization; Originality; Use of the Prompt.
• This story must be created after this competition opens and before it closes, so there is no reusing of existing stories. This will be judged based on the publication date of the story within the BFMS.
• Your story must be a single-author post, not a jointly written post.
• Using generative AI in this competition is forbidden.