Demian fixed the cuffs of their labcoat again, waiting in the empty hall of the DPIP intake office, post-checkup. They were due to meet their first colonist and begin the moving-in process, now that they were confirmed clear of any potential foreign infection. Their affiliate research partner had already landed, but Demian hadn't yet received word, other than that they were both being stationed on Rekes, a southern island.
They skimmed the basic information on the clipboard they'd been handed when they landed, studying the photo of the volunteer that was to be their first colonist. They hoped they'd get along. Getting booted off-planet would be a massive failure. Their translator nestled in their ear, buzzing with the florescent lights overhead.
Demian took a deep breath, and entered the meeting room.
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On the on-planet side of the room sat a nervous creature, far larger than Demian, sleek black and spotted with white and darker lines. She -- so the paperwork said -- was Isolde, Demian's first colonist and on-planet guide. Her fur was thick and well suited for the chill of Rekes, with the subtle sheen of water-repellant oils. She whistled -- the translator said, in a mechanical voice, "Hello."
"Hello." said Demian.
Over the course of the interview, both aliens-to-each-other progressively relaxed. By the end of it, Isolde was sharing stories of Rekes' wildlife, and the two headed off to the site they'd been designated, close to Isolde's home tribe.
The location they'd been designated was barren, and Isolde was worried for the alien. It was tiny, and had very little fur, only a long mane. Thankfully it had arrived during the warmer season, but even then, the nights in Rekes could be bitterly cold.
Finding a cave, Isolde ushered Demian into it. Over the course of the next few days, she made frequent trips outside to forage and scout the local surroundings -- at the nearest city, she noticed something very odd. A large, colourful drone was scanning the area, and there were deep gouges in the cliff face the city was built into. Isolde crouched and hid, trying to stay out of its sight.