730 Absolute
The conversation continued for a while and focused on lowering the language barrier. The Scalqa leader and Rok-Go even showed utmost patience in teaching Khan and Amy useful words, and significant results eventually arrived.
The Scalqa leader called himself Kru-Zi, and his tribe also carried a specific name Khan and Amy could best translate as "Bone Tribe". Instead, the invaders went by "Warrior Tribe", although Khan and Amy weren't sure about the translation. That title could belong to every nomadic group, but only the ship's scanners could confirm that.
The conversation never focused too much on the human side since the two Scalqa were more interested in teaching than listening, but Khan and Amy still managed to convey their names. However, the best Khan could achieve for himself was an odd "Ka-Han", which he ultimately accepted with a smile.
As for the drinks, Khan let Amy and the two Scalqa sip first, and seeing the lack of side effects gave him the confidence to approach the bone glass. The tainted liquid didn't affect him either, but his interest in the toxic substance remained strong. He forced himself not to look at it, but his attention often fell on the titled cauldron.
The settlement didn't stay still during the conversation. The tribe tied the invaders' corpses to the rocky barrier with ropes made of pelt before welcoming the other attackers. Yet, the latter never stepped into the central parts of the encampment. They didn't even get tents and established themselves in the area's outskirts. Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m
Khan lost track of the enemy leader, but his interest was mostly in the tribe's behavior. Everyone seemed to know their role without requiring additional orders, and that applied to both sides. Allies and enemies understood their position and acted accordingly.
Deep-rooted traditions that crossed the differences in tribes were at work there, and Khan did his best to memorize them while figuring out Kru-Zi and Rok-Go's teachings. The Scalqa displayed many unwritten rules worthy of being reported to the envoy.
As fruitful as the welcome was, Khan and Amy soon hit a wall. There was a limit to how much they could learn through that barebone conversation, and inspecting the settlement's behavior wouldn't lead anywhere either. They could probably impose their presence and live with the Scalqa for a while, but the envoy had quicker methods in store.
Amy took the backseat in the decision-making for obvious reasons. Even while conversing, the two Scalqa were only interested in Khan. They listened to Amy out of basic respect, but their faces remained turned toward Khan. Luckily for the political envoy, he understood his position and knew how to progress the mission.
Once the wall became too evident, Khan stood up and performed a harmless bow. Amy promptly imitated him, and the two Scalqa responded with unknown words. The two aliens were probably asking something, but the language barrier prevented the arrival of any understanding.
Nevertheless, the Scalqa weren't completely clueless about social interactions. Rok-Go said something, and Kru-Zi accepted it, also standing up to face the humans.
Khan half-expected more untranslatable words, but Kru-Zi remained silent and imitated his bow. His performance was clunky and slightly hilarious due to his massive muscles, but Khan and Amy appreciated its meaning.
Khan shot one last glance at Rok-Go before nodding at Kru-Zi and turning. Amy followed along, and the two calmly left the settlement under everyone's curious eyes. The tribe was busy, but the foreigners, especially Khan, remained too interesting to ignore.
The departure was uneventful. No one shouted at the humans or tried to stop them, and Khan and Amy soon returned to the forest. The two didn't exchange words while picking up the pace, and Khan's incredible senses allowed him to lead the way back to the shuttle.
Luckily, the shuttle had remained outside the mess. Its canopy was still open, but no one had touched the equipment inside. Khan and Amy even entered the vehicle to check whether everything was there, and the confirmation arrived in less than a minute.
"What should we do now?" Amy asked, silencing herself when she realized she was about to add a "Major".
Randall's confusion and slight irritation immediately became clear. The ship's scanners couldn't see most facial expressions and gestures, so a random viewer might get the impression that Khan had started a fight. The same went for the settlement's mess. Everything had started from Khan, seemingly on purpose.
Once the video ended, Randall faced Khan and Amy, focusing on the former while crossing his arms. He tried to avoid it, but a scolding tone still joined his voice. "I'm well aware of your feats with aliens, Major, but I thought we agreed on a plan."
Khan wasn't in the best mood, and his element disliked that faint accusation, so he responded accordingly. "What are you insinuating?"
"We could have agreed on a different approach," Randall said as politely as possible, "If that was your idea."
"If I wanted to act on my own," Khan replied, "I would have. Believe that."
The conversation seemed ready to escalate into the usual bickering, but Amy intervened before it was too late. "May I share my report now?"
The interruption came as a surprise, but neither Khan nor Randall stopped Amy, so she began with her report. Her story started with the shuttle's landing and ended with the departure from the settlement, adding essential details that vastly justified Khan's actions.
Randall couldn't help but fall silent while his brain processed the new information. Meanwhile, Khan approached Celeste's desk to help her sort out the words he had learned. Everything flowed into her software, and the process lasted until Randall found what to say.
"The toxic liquid sounds interesting," Randall exclaimed.
"The contents of the central tents probably are more interesting," Khan added. "I plan to find out what it's hiding."
"How?" Randall asked.
"I'll find a way," Khan declared, lifting his eyes from the console to look at the team leader. "If the Scalqa remain uncooperative, I'll just force my way through."
"It's worth noting that the tribe is likely to cooperate," Amy commented before Randall could speak. "They are more than interested in the Major."
"What if they compel you to drink that liquid again?" Randall asked.
"I'll be more careful," Khan promised. "Though, I have a personal interest in the liquid. If the situation allows it, I'll experiment with it in isolation."
"Do you have a plan?" Randall questioned.
"We should stick to the basics now," Khan suggested. "Let's trade a few goods while continuing to learn their customs and language. On that topic, I need a copy of the scanners' recordings. We might discover something about their traditions with them."
Randall didn't give the okay, but everyone began to move to follow Khan's suggestion anyway. He had refused the team leader role, but an unwritten rule had already become law. Khan had gained a relevant status among the Scalqa, so his demands had become absolute.