001

[diziet_sma]

[The camera clicks on. Sma is sitting in her quarters, smiling. She's had some time to get her feet under her and now feels up to introducing herself.]

Hello, Tranquility. [Still amused by the stodginess of the ship name.] It seems like the thing to do is introduce oneself, so—my name's Diziet Sma. A very nice ship you have here, I must say.

I'm something of a veteran of space travel, although my usual bailiwick is diplomacy and arts patronage—and I doubt there's much call for that here. But if there's anything I can do to make myself useful, I'd be glad to help.

[A pause, and then she seems to come to a sort of decision.]

And if there is anyone here who knows what I mean when I refer to the civilisation known as the Culture, I'd like to meet you.

[Because even if it's an enemy, she'd like to know about it. And on the off-chance that another Culture citizen is here, bonus.]