Ark Galactapedia

First Contact Day is a holiday celebrated by Humans in the United Empire of Earth (UEE) to commemorate the moment they first made contact with civilizations outside their own. On 12 June 2438, explorer Vernon Tar encountered a Banu pilot in the Davien system. Though he initially believed the Banu’s ship was another Human attempting to survey the same area of space, he soon realized his mistake and sent his coordinates to the United Nations of Earth (UNE). In response, a diplomatic team led by General Neal Socolovich arrived to smooth out the situation. The Banu Protectorate made formal contact two weeks later, and signed the Interstellar Peace and Trade Accord in October 2438. Humans celebrate the holiday by cooking or purchasing meals from alien cultures, holding parties or small gatherings, and shopping at Banu, Tevarin, and Xi’an-owned businesses.