“We confirm that Warren G. Harding, the Republican Senator from Ohio, has defeated James M. Cox, and it is a landslide victory. Thank you for listening to KDKA. This is Leo Rosenberg, signing off. Good night.”
Communicator Binod clicked his mandible twice. He muted the ship’s transmitter and scurried out of his pod.
Binod rushed down the main corridor. He needed to tell the Matriarch right away; she had been waiting for any sign that they were not alone.
He found her in the hive. The broad, flat carapace of his leader faced him and he hesitated, not wanting to interrupt her meditation.
“Matriarch?”
The blood red mound in the center of the room moved and unfolded as chitinous plates shifted and slid. Six squat, powerful legs extended to the floor and shuffled in rhythm as the Hive Mother turned to face him.
“Yes, Binod, what is it?”
The Communicator bowed low and ducked his head, displaying his own carapace to the Hive Mother. “You requested that you be notified immediately of any broadcast. I have received a transmission from intelligent life other than the Seraphim.”
“Transfer the feed to my station. Thank you, Binod.”
Binod bowed again and backed out of the room. Deo watched him go, and then breathed a sigh of relief. She had almost lost faith that they would ever locate an alien signal. It had been almost 200 cycles since first contact with the Seraphim, and slightly less than that since her homeworld had been destroyed. Hundreds of spines on her back bristled at the memory.
Now, there was a glimmer of hope. If the aliens were peaceful, perhaps they would offer asylum to her brood. They might even be able to rebuild their home.
Deo clicked her mandible in frustration as she listened to the feed. The aliens’ language suggested anatomy that was nothing like their own. The type of transmission was primitive at best. There was much work to be done if she wanted to save her hive. She must be cautious and prepare for any contingency. This time, she would not be caught off guard.
