[Randallw]

The Council hall was abuzz with excitement. One of the states vessels on the border had passed through a wormhole and had been surprised to come across an inhabited world belonging to another race, indeed the first alien race ever discovered. A large map of surrounding space was up on the screen with an area newly coloured in.
“What are they like?” cried one council member
“What do they want?” cried another
“Are they dangerous?” shouted a councillor, probably Logos.
“Order!” ordered the chairman “If we settle down we can discuss the matter properly”.
Slowly the noise subsided and the council took their seats. The entire council available was in session for such a momentous occasion.
Once the throng had quietened High Councillor Dias began to speak
“What information we have is vague. We have intercepted transmissions, not much but enough to get a name and a view of what we have met”
“What are they?” someone called.
“They are called the Spelunkers, and they are lizards” Dias answered.
“Lizards!” exclaimed a councillor at the front.
“Yes, strange as it is they have the appearance of lizards. Much as one might find under a rock in ones garden”
“If I might interject?” voiced a junior councillor, Dokeo.
“Yes, Dokeo”
“We must not lose sight of what they are from their appearance. It would be obvious to assume they view us to be as strange as we view them. This is another race entirely. With, we must assume, as much capacity for violence as ourselves. It could be a fatal mistake to pass them off as a strange looking garden animal”.
murmurs of agreement echoed around the council chamber.
“Your words speak wisdom, councillor” Dias said to Dokeo.
“What else do we know?” questioned a junior councillor.
“Information is scant. Their own database, what of it we picked up, lacks any information on them”
“What of the ship that found them?”
“The Captain, for whose wisdom we chose for the position, has sent them a message asking them to refrain from intruding in our space, in return we have withdrawn our vessel before we cause any alarm to the aliens”.
“I ask again, are they dangerous?” this time it was clearly Logos posing the question.
“With the lack of data we cannot be certain, we shall have to take precautions and see what happens. The Auxiliaries have been informed and are drawing up contingencies”
What followed was an in-depth discussion of the data recovered. At the end the councillors filed off to their offices to plan actions to deal with the new crisis.