Max checked up on the Innu the next morning when he got the first messages about incoming vessels requesting permission to dock with Terminus and found that they had not only survived the night, but had successfully made it down for breakfast, and were engrossed in a very loud and very public discussion of structural design theories with the technicians in charge of the gravity slides.
They found time the night before to take all of the recreational courses of the park, and found that the human notion of "Fun" was somewhat extreme by galactic standards.
For example, the ramps, which were a huge hit with the human crew, had convinced most of the Innu that they were going to die when they hit the water at the bottom.
There was actually a gravity field in place to reduce speed if someone found a way to fly too far or too fast, so it was definitely within the established safety parameters, and even the Innu were highly unlikely to be injured by the experience, but their species was an aquatic one, and not accustomed to being above the ground without a supportive mechanical structure.
Some of them greatly enjoyed it though, and the loops were a huge hit, with everyone enjoying the tumbling spin.
[Commander, we have a vessel here that you are going to want to greet in person. Or at the very least, you should intercept Nico, because she is way too excited to meet them.] Admiral Drake informed him, and Max shook his head.
They had met a lot of aliens already, what could be so exciting about these ones that Nico would freak out?
When Max saw the data for the vessel that was about to arrive, he understood perfectly. They were an invertebrate species, much like an octopus, but with ten tentacles, that piloted robotic exoskeletons as their method of casual travel among the other species.
[I have already arranged their rooms. Suites on the upper levels, since there is nobody else there. The pools will be empty, and the rooms in that region all have hot tubs, it should be perfect for them.] Nico messaged Max, but even without reading her mind, he knew she was most excited about their robotics technology.
He was as well.
From the data that Nico had sent him, taken from the Innu Yacht, the species was pacifist, and their suits carried no weapons, only environmental functions, and were mostly intended to make it safe for them to travel among the large species and in dry environments.
Max met them at the dock, just as a ship glided through the bay's forcefield and was met with a wall of light.
"As it turns out, we had the capability, we just didn't understand the functions of the computer well enough. It's not as good as a modern vessel and requires a very slow approach with engines off, but we can now safely bring vessels into the cruise docks." Nico informed Max as he jogged up.
"It would be nice if someone told me about these things in advance. You know, since I'm the Commander." Max told her.
"It's on the schedule for the weekly briefing. The crew of the Innu Yacht helped get it fixed last night. They have been a huge help while they wait for the spare parts to show up.
"How long for that, by the way?" Max asked.
"Tomorrow at the earliest. Apparently, it's a holiday for their shop, and they weren't willing to send anyone out until they returned to the office tomorrow. Something about it being a non-emergency call now that they have been rescued by a friendly vessel." Nico shrugged, happy for the repairs to take as long as possible.
"Greetings Noble guests of the Illithid Empire. Welcome to Terminus, I do hope you enjoy your stay with us." Nico welcomed the group as they stepped off the vessel, already in swimsuits with towels over their shoulders, while a group of automata in butler costumes carried their luggage.
"I do hope we don't seem presumptuous, showing up without reservations, but the tubes couldn't wait." A robotic voice replied, and Max realized that they were using translation software of some sort to attempt to speak human common.
"We will take you straight to the top floors where your rooms are. I have made a note to reserve the area for more delicate aquatic species, so you will be safe to wander the area as much as you please. The human staff might be inexperienced, but they will pick it up quickly." Nico informed them.
"We have linked all of our nerve endings to our suits, so there is no need to exit them outside of our rooms, but we appreciate your concern. How far is it to the tubes?" The robotic voice asked again.
"We put you in a hangar on the top level. If you follow me thirty meters outside the entrance, we will enter through the side doors and you will be at an entrance to the gravity slides." Max informed them and got a round of robotic cheering in response.
[You're really enjoying this aren't you? New technology everywhere.] Max asked Nico as he led their new guests to their floor.
[Not as much as I hoped. Their security AI is incredible and noticed me right away, so I haven't been able to skim any data from them or their ship. I made out like a bandit with the Innu, though the cruise ship didn't exactly have any secrets in it, other than the interesting way that their Warp Drives work.
It doesn't even have a portal generator on board. It seems that their small ships use a mothership or dedicated port to open a route for them.] Nico replied.
[Innu Vessel incoming, warp 47. Repeated Hails from the Captain. I believe it is the owner of the yacht in our maintenance bay.] Admiral Drake informed them as they left the new arrivals to their own devices, with the promise that an assortment of human fish dishes would be sent to their rooms for dinner in two hours.
"The man whose kid stole his yacht and broke down in the galactic equivalent of the middle of the slums. I bet he's in a particularly great mood. But that speed is incredible." Nico laughed.
[Put him in the same bay as his yacht and I will meet him there.] Max informed Admiral Drake, and turned back to the outer regions of the ship.
