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  1. A great post from Lephi introducing a new species for our current mission. The writer really does a fantastic job of setting things up and digging into what makes this race so unique. An enjoyable read. ((Mosh’ka Alet Camp, Eladar IV (Fari), Deep underground)) The Mosh'ja Alet camp was quite stunning to see. The complex leant itself to a natural beauty, set deep under the surface. The camp was a labour of love that had been born of a desperate necessity. It was already well established by the time that Qalipu had first set foot in it, beckoned to the cause by Katnar'fari. Hesitation had never crossed his mind when the message came from the longstanding ally. He was tired of the Feladoni pushing his people around, and as he sat at a table in the strategic defense room, deep within the complex, he thought back to when he received her message. ((Flashback - 1.5 Years Ago - Awane'jit Reservation)) Things had largely been calm as of late. It seemed the Feladoni had placed his people out of sight and out of mind. Unfortunately, it was not as easy for Qalipu to forget as he sat at his desk remembering the atrocities of Moving Day, which is what the Feladoni called the day they forcibly and bloodily relocated his people to this unforgiving subterranean land. The technology and knowledge they possessed made their living situation more palatable, but still Qalipu longed for the freedom he had not long ago experienced. Anger and frustration boiled dangerously close to the surface of the man. Aggression was frowned upon in their society, a fact which he routinely found himself at odds with. The Feladoni took advantage of their kind and trusting nature to exploit them for their own gain, and he was tired of it. He stared down at the message that had come through for him from Katnar'fari, a leader from a long trusted and allied tribe. It was vague, but he was intrigued and knew he had to reach out to her for answers. His people deserved as much. ((Two days later)) He had gathered his most trusted associates together to say his goodbyes. He picked up his satchel, containing the few belongings he planned to bring with him on the trek, and addressed the crowd that had assembled. Qalipu'fari: Friends, loved ones. I go, not of desire, but of necessity. I cannot promise that major change will come from this. Jiptug (hopefully) this changes things for us. Though I hope to see you all again, I know I may never. He walked towards the door, the crowd parting for him as he passed. Once he reached the entrance, he turned back to face them all once more. Qalipu'fari: Welaʼlin, nigmaq (Thank you, my family) He turned and walked out, deeper into the caverns. ((End flashback)) As he freed himself from the memories he was experiencing, Qalipu stood and headed to the main chamber of the camp. He decided that some socializing would do him good, after the negative memories. He found the room bustling with activity. Ethas’fari: The launch was successful and the pilot returned to the Spacefold Travel Complex. ::They seemed marginally excited:: They are cheering in the streets, but there is no mention of our contributions at all. None! Katnar’fari: Did you expect there to be, Ethas? ::She said sagely:: We only mined the metals they crafted it from. We only helped them make the proper calculations to manage such a thing and the satellites are of our design. The calmness with which his compatriot spoke to the younger Mekra’fari delivering the news was equal parts inspiring and frustrating to him. They were all among friends here, she shouldn't need to censor herself as she spoke. He knew that despite her outward appearances, she was just as frustrated as he was. Katnar’fari: Do not be saddened entirely. Despite the Feladoni’s nature, this is a historic and momentous occasion to be proud of. They may not be willing to openly voice our contributions, but we have done a grand thing together. Fari willing, much good will come of this day. Qalipu'fari: Fari willing, the Feladoni will come to regret leaving us out, subjugating us, treating us this way. Katnar'fari: Response Qalipu'fari: The time for passive hopes is passed. We are hidden down here in the shadows while they hog all of the glory! Katnar'fari: Response Qalipu'fari: They can't keep getting away with this, Katnar. How many more of us have to lose our freedom, how many more lives are to be lost before you acknowledge the anger within? Katnar'fari: Response ‐--------------------------------------- Awane'jit Qalipu'fari Awane'jit Tribal Leader Mekra’fari Equality Movement As simmed by, ============================= Lieutenant JG Lephi Assistant Chief Engineering Officer USS Chin’toka NCC-97187 Community History Team Member Chat Team Member Wiki Team Member A239706L10
    3 points
  2. Kira and Odo - That kiss! On the promenade after all the clear tension and the climatic argument leading to that kiss.... How can you not love that moment?! 😍
    3 points
  3. This sim is a roller coaster of adrenaline with a perfect pace, increasing the urgence of the scene slow and steady till the cliffhanger-y end. @Geoffrey Teller Delivers again? Oh yeah he does ((Damaged Yacht, the Skies above the Zet Homeworld)) Katsim: Are...are you sure this is going to work? The craft rocked, another near miss marring the deckplate near Nenni's skull. Geoff felt that made a more convincing argument than anything he could say, stepping back from the console and working his way towards everyone else. Alieth: ::Trying to impose her voice over the wind:: It will work, Peri. ::She glanced back at the sleek, swiftly moving vehicle that was closing the distance between them::: And in any case, we will run out of alternatives pretty soon. Nozku: Now or never! We're going to be out of there sight for only a dozen seconds or so once we round the next skyscraper! They were gaining altitude rapidly before arcing back on a parabolic course that would see the craft hurtling towards one of the enormous Anroc statues that dotted the landscape. It was a small, pithy gesture, but Geoff had promised to wipe the smug sneer off Anroc's face, and he made good on his promises. Teller: We jump at the same time, we can't risk getting separated in that soup down there. Geoff could see the dense smog layer hanging over the city and clustered in close, on hand steading himself against the ships edge. With a hop, he'd be over and into the open air. He looked ahead, their 'camouflage' nearly in place. It would be a matter of seconds now. Then it would be in the hands of Teller's oldest nemesis. Physics. Quen: Response Katsim: Sure there's something else we can do? Quen: Response Geoff shook his head and put an arm on Peri's shoulder, trying to reassure the visibly frightened young woman. This mission had been unexpectedly grueling for his team and Peri had seemed hardest hit by the horrible conditions and general hopelessness. He'd find time to talk to her when this was all over, but for the moment, they had to act. The yacht shuddered from another glancing hit astern. Teller: If it makes you feel any better about it Ensign, I'm ordering you to abandon this ship. ::Geoff leaned in, lowering his voice as much as he could:: I trust this crew. That how I know it'll be ok. Geoff winked, as if he let Peri in on a secret, before setting himself firmly against the rail, hand outstretched. Alieth: While I always encourage a vigorous debate about the virtues and the innumerable deficiencies of Geoff's plans, we need to jump. NOW. Something about Alieth's voice cut through the breeze and caught Teller's ear unexpectedly. He hadn't noticed earlier, but the spritely Vulcan was almost vibrating with anticipation, eagerly looking over the side of the craft and pantomiming her dismount, subtly shifting her weight from one leg to the other. Where Peri, Quen and Nenni were all looking over the gunwale with a mixture of apprehension and dread, Alieth was visibly excited. Geoff laughed, the tension of the moment broken for him, and looked to Quen. Teller: Doc, the CMO is showing an unhealthy excitement about all this, don't you think? Quen: Response Their moment came, the tops of towers aligning to give them a few seconds of obscurity from the eyes of their pursuers. The incoming fire mercifully ceased and Geoff could feel himself going light, the craft at the very top of its arc before plummeting back downwards and away from them. If they had plotted the course right, they were at nearly 2000m now. It would take them nearly a minute to fall all the way to the ground, but Geoff hoped that would give them time to spare. Nozku: We're out of time for this! Katsim: Sir, I officially go on record that I don't like this plan. Geoff nodded and in reply, stepped to the rail, the first to jump. It had been his plan, after all. The instant updraft made Teller's eyes water before he managed to roll over, watching the rest of his team leave the yacht in a tight string behind him. Even Nenni floated freely and for a moment, everything was oddly peaceful. There was no sense of relative motion, no sensation of velocity because everything he could see was moving at the same speed. Then an Zet interceptor streaked towards the yacht, peppering it with weapons fire, still trying to force it down. Geoff smiled at that a bit, their distraction working. Clumsily he rolled, trying to flair out as he'd been trained to do long ago in an Academy drill. At the time, he had struggled to see the point of it. Now he regretted not paying closer attention. From somewhere to his left, nearly lost in the roar of the wind, a Zet voice called out. Nenni had composed herself almost immediately and seemed in confient control as she gently glided towards Geoff. Nokzu: (Shouting) Together! We need to get closer! Geoff swam, flapped, kicked and dolphined his way through the air, making a graceless spectacle and very little progress. Seconds passed but he got a hand around Nenni's forearm, just as he felt another hand grasping at the back of his uniform. Slightly above him, Doctor Quen had caught up with their small constellation. With his free hand, Geoff swatted at his combadge. The roar of the wind was so loud he couldn't tell if it was working but that didn't stop him. He figured they had forty five seconds now. Teller: =/\= Teller to Thor, Teller to Thor, Emergency Transport, Team Plus One, Expedite, Expedite =/\= Quen: Response Worryingly, nothing happened. They continued to sail through the increasingly polluted Zet air, low enough now to see light shining through windows. Geoff ground his teeth, repeatedly slapping at his comm badge, still unsure if he was even getting through. Nozku: (Shouting) Alright, you Federation aliens! Nows the part where you save us all! The hurtled down, each crewman calling for emergency transport and receiving no reply. Below them, the ground had become visible below the cloud layer. It was reaching up towards them quite uncomfortably. Katsim: =/\=Katsim to Thor….Get me out of here!=/\= With successful contact made, Ensign Katsim was the first to shimmer out of existence. Her sudden disappearance shattered their tenuous formation and Geoff found himself tumbling away from Nenni, his hold lost, as Alieth shouted in alarm. Alieth: GEOFF!!!!...NOZKU….!!! Geoff's eyes widened, the implications clear to him. When they had been in physical contact, the ship would have no problem tracking Nenni along with the rest of the away team. But falling on her own without a comm badge to lock on to, the ship wouldn't see her. He slapped at his combadge frantically. Teller: =/\= Teller to Thor Abor.... It was too late, and Geoff felt the tingle of the annular confinement beam snatching him away. The last thing he saw was Nenni's terrified look of betrayal. Time froze. In the three seconds it would take Teller to cycle through the pattern buffer, he had a lot to think about. The first was that Nenni, still alive and falling to her death, would have about 20 seconds left before coming to an abrupt halt. Geoff didn't know how yet, but he had that much time to find a solution and implement it or he'd feel the shame of that woman's gaze in his soul for the rest of his life. The second thing he considered was how the modern transporter worked, and it's numerous safeguards and redundancies. For example, inertial compensation as part of the dematerialization process meant they wouldn't slam into the transporter pad at terminal velocity, only falling a small distance since they hadn't exactly been on level ground to begin with. Unfortunately, nothing in the transporters safety system could compensate for the orientation of someone spinning out of control. That meant Geoff rematerialized an arms length above the transporter pad with his boots facing towards the ceiling. ((Transporter Room One, Deck One, USS Thor)) The beam released its hold and Teller fell face first into the transporter pad with a bone breaking crunch. Dark red spots filling his vision, Geoff struggled to his feet and towards the transporter console. A visibly startled Chief Larell was already calling for medical assistance, but Geoff held up a hand and slid behind the console, riding the adrenaline for all it was worth. In his mind, Geoff was still falling with Nenni, still struggling to reach out to her, to grab on. Now, he was doing it with the ships targeting sensors. Greaves: =/\= Captain Greaves to Commander Teller. Sir, I've got a nice warm seat here on the bridge with your name on it. =/\= The voice sounded far away, his hearing ringing badly from the wind or the earlier explosion. Teller: =/\= Standby Bridge, forgot somebody. Retargeting transporters now. =/\= The room fell away and the whole of the universe was reduced to the transporter controls. Greaves: =/\= What do you mean we forgot one? =/\= Geoff's fingers were moving fast, disabling some of the very transporter safety systems he'd just been thinking about. He'd never be able to pick Nenni out of that soup, not without something to target first. So he wouldn't try. On one display, he had the computer plotting the descent vectors of the away team it had taken from the transporter logs. On the other, he was increasing the radius of the annular confinement beam well beyond the safety limits. Fifteen seconds. Teller: Clear the pad, now! Quen/Alieth/Katsim: Response So he'd beam up a huge volume of atmosphere, air included, and would hopefully capture Nenni in the process. The trajectory plot computed and safety systems began flashing urgent red. He was pulling power from all over the ship and channeling it, only one chance left for him to make good on his word. His vision was beginning to blur. Something tasted bitter. Ten seconds. Teller: =/\= Volumetric lock established, standby bridge, energizing... =/\= With deft fingers Teller's hands slid up the triple sequence initiators, the transporter humming to life. The system strained and Teller made a myriad of small adjustments, narrowly averting overload and calamity. Finally, a solitary form materialized in the very center of the transporter pad, curled in and clutching into herself. There was a blast of residual air with the scent of the city that dispersed and filled the room, but the ships filters had it gone in moments. He managed to set her down with surprising grace before leaning heavily against the console, his frantic rush having peaked. Blood dripped unnoticed onto his uniform jacket and console. The transporter, similarly spent, went offline with a sad electronic whine. Geoff knew it would need extensive repairs. Teller: Doctors, if you're alright, please check on Ensign Katsim and Nenni. I need to...get to the..bri.. Geoff felt his legs buckling but caught himself before hitting the deck entirely. It was suddenly a struggle to remain conscious at all, adrenaline rush entirely spent. He wanted nothing more than to lay down and get just a few moments of rest, and his eyelids were getting convincingly heavy. Greaves: =/\= Response =/\= Nozku/Quen/Alieth/Katsim: Response Geoff coughed into his hand, leaving dark streaks on his palm. Teller: =/\= Bridge...Transport..Successful. Red...Alert.... =/\= Greaves: =/\= Response =/\= Nozku/Quen/Alieth/Katsim: Response Tags/TBC =============================== Commander Geoffrey Teller Executive Officer USS Thor - NCC 82607 Commodore A. Kells, Commanding V239509GT0
    2 points
  4. This made me spit my tea out - such a big, diplomatic build up and immense reverence ... and fishing. 😛
    2 points
  5. ((Saucer Hull, USS Veritas - Early Morning, Day of Departure from Kidman I)) Roshanara stepped back out onto the hull and walked around the bridge module, although this time she didn’t have to walk quite so far to the ship’s name and registry. Sitting on top of the saucer with her back leaned up against the front of the deck 1 dome was Starfleet’s newest commander, Blake. The captain walked over and took a moment to look out towards where Blake was staring. The morning sun was just beginning to dawn. Rahman: You’re up early. Blake: Used to live by the mantra, “if there’s no sun, it’s not morning.” Space kind of blows that out of the water. Her captain chuckled at the thought. Rahman: I have a groggy Rodulan back in my quarters and under the covers who’d vehemently disagree. The Brekkazoid huffed in agreement, crossing her arms. Blake: So what brings you up here? Getting a last look before you captain the take-off? Rahman: Hmmmph. I was about to ask you the same thing. Roshanara decided to take a seat next to her XO. She took another moment to savor the view, leaning back with her palms against the hull. The metal was actually a bit warm to the touch thanks to Kidman’s hotter climate. It was comforting, as if the two women were sitting on top of a living creature. The Kriosian spoke up again. Rahman: I can see why you like it out here. The XO rubbed her hands together, arms and legs free of long sleeves and pant-legs respectively. Today, Blake was comfortable in a t-shirt and shorts -- a rare sight to see on the Brekkazoid so unsuited to regular human climates. Bupirninyirring afforded her that which wasn’t always offered on a starship. Blake: I don’t have to rug up as much. ::she smiled:: A bit of freedom, really. Rahman: I can imagine. Growing up on Earth in Lahore, it took me a while to get used to the cooler temperatures of Beta Ursae Minor II. This place reminds me a little bit of home. Silence crept between them on a light breeze. The orange hue of sunrise stained the morning sky. The cloudless blue was atypical of the planet. It indicated a dry heat to set in soon -- often a cause for complaints by some. Not necessarily by the Brekkian-born Blake. It was something Sabor, too, would have enjoyed. Blake: Can I ask a dumb question? Rahman: Only if you’re okay with a dumb answer. Blake: Is it too late to ask you to take it back? Roshanara turned towards her Number One, scrunching her nose. Rahman: Take what back? Blake responded with a piercing side-glance. Rahman: ::shaking head:: You know, Blake, for a woman many would describe as fearless, I’m always surprised what *does* scare you. Blake glanced away, back to Kidman I’s bushland. ‘Fearless’ was certainly a descriptor -- maybe sometimes a valid one, but in the case of her personal ‘growth’... she disagreed with the assessment. Blake: I recognise you, and others, believe I’m ready for this. I appreciate it. But what I’m not ready for… is the necessity of my taking command. When you’re captain, that’s a safety net. I can fall back and execute your word, no problem -- that's my job, and always has been. But now, there’s the possibility I could be called elsewhere. Roshanara corrected her. Rahman: That was *always* a possibility. We’re Starfleet officers. We go where we’re needed. The words were familiar. She was told in no uncertain terms that this was the way things were when Veritas underwent its staff shift, when her first group of friends were dispersed across the region to make way for the staff that built the bones of this particular senior staff. Blake: “Transfers are part of the career. You don't like it, now is the time to throw in your hat.” It was something Brandon Cormac had told her almost three years ago when she was struggling with her place on the ship. Cormac had been Veritas’ Special Operations Officer before he was transferred to the ill-fated Outpost 3 during the staff reshuffle. He was the sole survivor of a pirate attack on the station. Starfleet failed to send someone out to assist, word only travelling between friends that something was amiss. Once rescued, he promptly quit the service and moved over to the Colonial Coalition Marshals. He now works planetside, as a marshal on Shadow’s Edge, decidedly happier and in a long-distance relationship with fellow ex-crewmember Elis Nacubaq. Rahman: ::nods:: “Pack light, pack often.” It was a familiar mantra she’d shared with Addison MacKenzie when the doctor and Teller took up the opportunities that had opened on the Thor earlier this year. Rahman: But still, you should put to rest your worries. Outside of wartime and a major crisis, Starfleet isn’t in the habit of just plucking random names across the fleet to put into the captain’s chair. I imagine you’ll start getting offers of your own command in due time once the Admiralty thinks you’re ready, but you could always decline. Eventually, they’ll stop asking -- which I guess depending on whatever your ambitions are, could be a good or bad thing. Blake: That’s the thing. I don’t really have ambition for the ‘service’. Rahman: That’s okay. We all have our own reasons for being here. Roshanara watched her XO’s eyes closely. Rahman: Whether they’re fresh-faced ensigns straight from the Academy or veteran officers trying to move up to the ranks, I usually know or find out quickly what drives them to be here. I realize now after all this time with you by my side, I’ve never asked *you* why you’re in Starfleet. She continued to observe Blake as the Brekkazoid considered the question. It felt like one of those “It all started…” moments Blake couldn’t really answer. For all intents and purposes, Blake’s life truly began less than a decade ago. In a previous lifetime, Sky Blake had been part of Starfleet. Blake today didn’t know how, nor why she had joined. ((Flashback -- Ornara -- 239105)) Caronx: Are you alright, stranger? The Brekkazoid’s chest was shuddering as her body shivered. She'd been here, standing at this curb, for over an hour now. She didn't not turn to look at the one approaching, but her eyes made the effort to at least try and see what they looked like. The woman approaching was an Ornaran, in a uniform of some kind. Security, maybe. They had no weapon to speak of -- a far cry from the disastrous Brekkian security she’d lost herself to over the last three days. The officer continued to approach Sky carefully, non-threateningly, which she would have laughed at had she not been in a somewhat catatonic state. Caronx: I'm Officer Caronx. Someone has told me that you may need assistance. Can I locate someone for you? That was it. What composure she'd retained for the short journey here had been truly and utterly lost. Skyleena Blake fell to her knees, heaving sobs and blinded by her own tears. The Ornaran -- Officer Caronx -- had forgone slowly approaching her and threw her arms around Sky's shoulders as the blond Brekkian Betazoid simply cried into the street. ((End flashback)) Blake today knows she rejoined Starfleet based on a series of fortunate events. She’d abandoned life and responsibilities on Brekka to live anonymously on Ornara -- a result of a broken psyche and loss of a loved one. There, she met a local police officer that found her necessary assistance. Blake joined a police task force to combat felicium in the region. And then a ridiculous Starfleet officer found her, with the intention to bring her “back” to Starfleet. Nevermind that Blake knew next to nothing about Starfleet, but Veritas needed assistance with the felicium problem in the area, and Blake, apparently being the only available Brekkian that had joined Starfleet, was their best bet. Carrero gave her a provisional rank of Lieutenant Commander (the rank she had originally held prior to retirement the first time). Things just… spiralled from there. That was all well and good. The “how” was fairly self-explanatory, if a little convoluted, but it was there. The “why” was a little harder to explain. Blake: I could’ve left when we finished up with felicium. Rahman: But you didn’t. Blake: No. I didn’t. I was given a reason to get up in the morning -- it continues to give me a purpose. A book to follow. Rahman: That’s a perfectly good reason. One that Roshanara related to well. She’d struggled with her own sense of purpose for a bit while she had been on medical leave after her accident on the Tempest fourteen years ago. A Medusan researcher who’d chosen to go by the name Frankenstein helped get her back on track while she recovered on Medical Starbase 253. Blake: Thing is, though… I don’t actually like being on starships. Roshanara couldn’t help it. She let out a snort. Rahman: So you’re a masochist then? ::She shrugged her shoulders.:: That would explain a lot. The two shared a laugh. Blake shook her head a little. Blake: It’s very claustrophobic. I get sick all the time because the temperature is too cold, which means I’m confined to my spaces for most of the time. And I just… She glanced away for a moment. Blake: When we were at the border, and we were going up against those Orion ships while trying to push that damn station back over while trying not to draw Tholian attention… At the end of the day, Veritas is a tin can in space. And I was in charge of it, and its two-hundred and twenty crew. And while I believe I did the best I could have done under the circumstances… it’s not a position I want to be in again. Her captain took her own moment to consider everything she’d said. Rahman: I think any starship commander who says they haven’t thought similar is either a liar or a fool. Blake raised an eyebrow. Rahman: You’re right. ::She tapped her knuckles against the hull plating underneath them, a satisfying metallic echo returning.:: You were in charge of this tin can, and it’s not a job for everyone. It’s a popular misconception, but not everyone in Starfleet wants to become a captain. *I* certainly didn’t join thinking that’s where I’d be now. Blake: Your focus was engineering, right? Rahman: ::nods:: It was -- and still is. No matter where I go, I’ll always still be an engineer at heart. Starfleet for me was a chance to work on the latest technological developments, a chance to contribute the next innovation to the galaxy. From the quantum slipstream drive to the Warp XV engine, the little girl who’d dreamed of reaching the stars would have been amazed to see what her older self ultimately had managed to work on. Rahman: But it’s different for everyone. Scientists, pilots, doctors, peace keepers… Starfleet is a large enough institution to give many reasons to get up in the morning. The thing is, Blake, you *earned* that third full pip. You might not ever have ambitions of having your own starship, but your leadership and sense of duty to a greater purpose besides yourself--whether it be the safety of your crew or the population of this region… those are an integral part of who you are now, the person you’ve become. A small smile touched at the edge of Blake’s lips as she looked away once more. The sun had risen from behind the trees, bathing Kidman and Veritas in a warm light. Blake: When my tour of duty is done, I’d like to return to the Rangers. Roshanara looked back at her XO, seeing the woman’s slight grin and sensing from her a renewed sense of content. Rahman: All right. I think that can be arranged. The Kriosian stood up and looked down at Blake. Rahman: But you’ve still got some work left to do here. The XO looked up at her captain, eyes narrowing against the sunlight. She scoffed at herself, fully aware of the tumultuous months that were likely lying ahead. She reached a hand outwards, Roshanara assisting her up from the hull. Blake: On your order, Captain. ((Bridge, USS Veritas)) The two command officers walked out onto the bridge, a crewman calling out, “Captain on the bridge!” Roshanara gave a glance around the room and nodded. Rahman: I hope everyone enjoyed the sunshine. The captain then walked over to her command chair before looking over towards Blake, taking the XO station. Rahman: Number One, I believe when I left you this spaceship, it was in space. Please put it back. The Commander gaped for a moment, because nodding her head in an un-protested affirmation. Blake: Blue alert. Helm, contact Engineering, prepare thrusters for planetary take-off. As the bridge crew around her acknowledged the orders, Blake took her station behind the captain. Though unexpected of a vessel not entirely suited to landing, Veritas’ nacelles inched off the ground, gradually pulling away from the comfortable land of Kidman I and returning to the vast unpredictability of space. --- And the Adventure Continues... Commander Sky Blake ( @Blake) Executive Officer USS Veritas C238803SB0 & Captain Roshanara Rahman ( @Roshanara Rahman ) CO, USS Veritas I238705TZ0
    2 points
  6. I'm kinda partial to Jadzia and Worf. It's not real romance if bones didn't break.
    2 points
  7. OOC: This was originally a two part post, but for easy reading I am combining it so we all enjoy this wonderfull sim. It speaks for itself. IC: ((XO’s Quarters, USS Juneau)) Natalia woke up from her nap and sat up in her little bed. She pushed aside the blanket and picked up the little badge and activated the HMT she had named George. Natalia: Hi, George. Springing into existence in a cloud of photons and fabric, the Holographic Muppet Teller was a goofy mass of smiles and hugs a few seconds later. HMT: Geordi? Who’s Geordi? Not me!? ::Suddenly, the puppet had a [...]-fabric Visor across its eyes while it looked around the room, feigning confusion.:: Natalia beamed at him and gave him a tight hug. Then with an arm around his neck she headed into the main living area. Edgar the cat lifted his head as they came out. Seeing that he wasn’t about to be chased, settled back down in chair. There was no sign of her parents, so Natalia walked to the door of her parents’ bedroom and looked inside. Both of them were asleep. She rolled her eyes. Pepe must have given Meme another of those special backrubs. They were probably going to sleep for a while. Natalia didn’t mind the backrubs. Pepe always gave the best ones. But still… She wandered back into the other room. She knew there was no leaving their quarters by herself. Her last adventure had resulted in some very strong security features. Unless the red light was flashing, that door wouldn’t open without her parents’ say so. She looked at her special shuttle and smiled. Her Uncle Geoff had made that for her and it was lots of fun. Under her arm was Wimbo, her first and best plushie. She really missed them. Then a smile curved her lips. She would talk to them. The little girl happily went to her father’s workstation and climbed onto the chair. Bounding alongside, the HMT pressed a nose to the edge of the desk, eyes just barely able to see the work surface. HMT: Whatcha doing, stinky? ::It had become a favorite nickname after a particularly smelly incident with the waste recycler:: If you want to watch Toby the Targ, I can put it on for you in the main room. Natalia: Computer There was a chirp of acknowledgement. Natalia: I want to talk to Uncle Geoff and Uncle Wil. Computer: Unable to comply. That earned a frown and pout. Natalia: Why not? Computer: Insufficient Parameters. The pout kicked in full force. Natalia turned her attention to George. Natalia: I don’t know what that means. Fix it. The holo-muppet scratched its head with an exaggerated finger. HMT: Well I’m not sure I know how! You know we’re not supposed to go playing with the computer! Natalia: I want to talk to Uncle Geoff and Uncle Wil. Now! Beneath the fabric & photons, a complex series of algorithms was running to predict the young girls needs, desires, and probably emotional outcomes from different courses of action. As a high priority directive was to avoid making his charge cry, additional programmatic strategies began opening up. The holomuppets outfit changed from the golden engineering tunic and oversized commbadge to a shimmering turquoise. His head changed to a more amphibian shape and an equally deep shade of blue. HMT: How about we go spend some time with Flotter! Our next chapter is "Flotter meets the Invincible Invertebrates" and there’s a very impressive castle…. Natalia’s expression took on the bland stubborn look her father’s would sometimes wear. In her case it meant trouble. Waking up working parents was not part of the HMT’s programming. Sensing failure, the HMT reverted to its typical appearance. With an exaggerated sigh of its oversized head, the muppet shuffled up into the chair next to Natalia, setting off a peal of giggles as he ‘accidentally’ bumped into her several times. Covering its eyes with one hand and clumsily rummaging around the desk with the other, the HMT silently uplinked to the Juneau’s computer and completed the complex series of subspace interlink requests. With a dramatic spin of its cuddly hand, the HMT tapped the controls and the console sprang to life. HMT: I still think we should’ve hung out with Treevis.... It wasn’t long before images of the two men appeared side by side on the viewscreen. Natalia bounced with joy. Natalia: Uncle Geoff! Uncle Wil!! Wil’s screen on his desk in the Chief Engineer’s office of the USS Veritas chimed with an incoming message, from outside of the Shoals. He smiled. It would be crackly and sometimes distorted, but it was a testament to Tristam Core’s engineering smarts. The 3G network was working a treat. Ukinix: ::Smiling:: Tarls! How are you? Natalia: ::bouncing on the chair:: Uncle Wil! I is good! On the bridge of the USS Thor, a priority one communication request directed to Commander Geoffrey Teller sprang up on the main view screen. He was tending the midwatch and there wasn’t much activity on the bridge, so rather than retreat to his office he decided to answer here. As the screen filled on one side with the delighted face of Natalia Moonsong, and the other with the slightly laggy face of Lt. Cmdr. Wil Ukinix, Geoff’s smile widened until it hurt. Teller: Natalia! Wil! What a surprise...and is that a fuzzy friend I see? Natalia: George fixed it! Ukinix: ::To Teller:: G’day Geoffrey, how are ya? Geoff smirked at his dear friend. Teller: G’day knackers! Nacelles fall off that old bucket yet? Natalia: Not yet! Ukinix: Did you make this call, little lady? Natalia: ::head bobbing frantically to make curls bounce:: I called you this time! Teller: I did not program the HMT to do that. From its position in the chair, the HMT hopped up and blew a loud, long razberry. When the holographic toy version of Teller appeared on the screen… Ukinix: ::hand on chest:: Argh! … Wil shrieked a little bit. HMT: Haha! Boring old Geoff, you programmed me to do 1001 things! This was number 624 - “Establish emergency contact with caregivers using whatever means necessary if & when Natalia is in distress. Unca Geof & Unca Wil are listed in my emergency contacts.” Oooo wait a minute, is that a new shiny on your uniform, Dull Geoff? I’ll need to update my outfit! With a spin and a flourish, the HMT was now wearing a crimson uniform with three dots along the collar. After examining his new appearance in a comically oversized hand mirror that popped into existence, the HMT let out an exaggerated ‘yuck,’ shook off the new color and pip and returned to its base appearance. Geoff heard a bit of snickering on the bridge and glanced towards the science station, where Lieutenant Kowolski was very studiously looking anywhere but at him or the viewscreen. Ukinix: Do your parents know? Natalia: ::rolls eyes:: Meme and Pepe sleep. Special backrub again. Ukinix: Oh. Um... right. Well, when a mummy and daddy love each other… uh.. Wow, your hair has grown so much Admiral Natalia! A coughing fit from Lt. Kowalski’s station broke through Geoff’s stupefied expression. The man had inhaled and promptly aspirated most of his cup of coffee and was now hacking for air, trying desperately to hide the tears of laughter in his eyes. Teller: Well then Admiral, we’ll let them sleep for now! So, do you have any orders for us, ma’am? ::Geoff gestured to the bridge:: the Thor is at your disposal. ::Geoff glanced at the aft station:: Especially Lt. Kowalski. Natalia: I am big girl now. Ukinix: ::To Natalia:: Are you and Mummy and Daddy having fun on the Juneau? Natalia: Exciting here. Pepe’s diner go boom! ::arms wide:: And da fireworks went boom too soon. Admittedly not the most recent mission for the ship, but it was the one she actually got to play a part in. Teller’s eyes narrowed in confusion and he tapped at a few controls adjacent to the Captain's chair, bringing up the Juneau’s mission reports. He started skimming with one eye as Natalia went on with her story. Natalia: We wents to the park and had ribs. Then the old stuff store went boom and the man was gonna be on the moon. Wil rested his chin on his thumb and forefinger. Ukinix: ::To Teller:: I think we’re getting a mission report. Geoff chuckled and nodded towards the console. Teller: Honestly it’s better than the one Jansen filed - more explosions and he doesn’t mention the ribs at all. Tisk tisk. Natalia: And Meme wasn’t Meme she was ::pauses to get the word out right:: Ly-bray-rhee-an. And Pepe was chef! Ukinix: Wow! And what were you doing when all that happened? Natalia: ::pouts:: I had to go to kindergarten. Not as fun as Juneau. Dens the ceiling fell on me and Molly. Teller: Well it certainly sounds like you had quite the adventure, Admiral. I think I’m starting to understand why Meme needed a special back rub. That earned him an unimpressed eye roll from Natalia. Ukinix: Well, maybe Uncle Geoff and Uncle Wil could tell you a story about what we’ve been up to. Would you like to hear? Geoff lowered his voice and looked around. Teller: Well, if you’re sure it won’t be too scary for you! The Thor’s mission reports are classified, “Big girls only!” Natalia: ::pointing a thumb to her chest:: I AM a big girl! I’m not a baby! No diapers! Wil thought for a moment about how to describe their last mission in terms that Natalia would understand. Ukinix: We went to visit a pretty Nebula, and we found an asteroid in it. Some miners tried to land on it, but their ship crashed. So your Auntie Roshanara sent us to go inside the asteroid and look at it. And do you know what we found? Natalia: ::eyes big:: What, Uncle Wil? The HMT and Geoff spoke in near unison. Teller/HMT: Yeah Unca Wil, whaddid ya find? Ukinix: People who have been living on there for hundreds of years! They didn’t even know there was space outside. And the asteroid had a very smart computer trying to find them a new planet to call their home, but it broke. So we had to help fix up the computer. Natalia: You broked their house, Uncle Wil? Geoff made a mental note to call up the Veritas mission reports for the last few months. It sounded like it had been an exciting time for his old shipmate. Teller: Well I certainly hope Auntie Roshie saved the day, don’t you Natalia? Natalia: Auntie Roshie always saves the day. Hers is the smartest. And Auntie Char always fixes stuff. Geoff chuckled agreeably and nodded. Teller: Skipper always saves the day! That’s why she’s the Skipper. Now let me think…::Geoff put on an exaggerated display of thinking, which the HMT mockingly pantomimed::...We’ve had a few adventures here. Maybe you’d like to hear about a whole planet that…::Geoff snapped his fingers::...vanished! Nah, that planet was full of dragons, you wouldn’t want to hear about that….no no, much too scary…. Natalia: Uncle Geoff! I want to hear about dragons! ::she put on her prettiest pout:: Please? Teller: Hmm, I don’t know Uncle Wil - what would Starfleet Command have to say about this? Ukinix: ::Smiling:: She’s an Admiral, Geoffrey, I’m sure she’s got clearance. Natalia: Pretty please, Uncle Geoff? With sugar on top? Teller: Well, you did use the magic word, so now I suppose I have to! Your Uncle Geoff and his friends we’re trying to find some people who had gotten lost, and to do it we had to go wayyyyyyyyy underground! It was dark and scary and the tunnels went on forever and ever and ever…. Geoff could see the little girl leaning forward, completely transfixed. He began moving around the bridge, trying to visualize things with his hands as he went. Teller:....so we’re walking and walking and walking and we can’t find the lost people...but you know what we did find? Natalia: A dragon? ::he did say the story was about dragons after all:: Teller: Not just one….but TWO dragons...and they could eat rocks! Can you imagine it, Natalia? A nice hot bowl of rocks for breakfast? The HMT made a disgusted blatt and Natalia giggled in delight. Geoff raised his arms above his head as far as they’d go and splayed his fingers, digging at invisible stone and stuffing it into his mouth with exaggerated chomps. Natalia: Did they tries to eat you Uncle Geoff? Teller: Oh don’t worry, they were very nice dragons...although one of them did eat a little bit of our ship! Natalia gasped and clapped, enthralled by the tales of adventure. Meanwhile, the noise from an excited three-year-old and the voices of old friends dragged parents from a restful sleep. Raissa stood in the doorway of their bedroom, her arms crossed as she shook her head. Moonsong: ::softly:: I wonder how she pulled this off. Orrey: ::pointing at the puppet.:: I have an idea. Moonsong: ::whisper:: Let her hear the end of the dragon story first, then we will interrupt. Orrey: Dragons indeed. We will have to read that later on. Natalia: ::happily bouncing on the chair:: More stories Uncle Wil! More stories Uncle Geoff! Teller: Well there was this time Uncle Geoff & Uncle Will got a little silly on shoreleave…. Ukinix: Yeah, and your uncle Geoff got a picture of someone on his arm, and didn't get it removed! Moonsong: ::coming into view of the monitor:: I think that is enough stories for now. Teller: Raissa! Hope we didn’t wake you. I understand Jansen’s special backrubs really take it out of you. Geoff tried to keep a serious expression. He failed, but a respectful attempt was made. Ukninx: I, uh - ::clears throat:: - awkies. Orrey: Someday I am sure you will be lucky to find someone to rub your back, Geoff. Natalia pouted. Figures her parents would wake up now. Geoff reddened visibly before turning away from the display. Moonsong: ::smiles as she leans forward a little, a hand to Natalia’s head.:: It is great to see you two. Despite the fact this call wasn’t authorized. Teller: Well it seems like we’ve got “George,” to thank for that, isn’t that right….George? Geoff scowled slightly at the HMT, wondering how hard it would be to push a six hundred gigaquad matrix update over subspace. He knew he should’ve built a holo-puppy. For it’s part, the HMT feigned innocence and shuffled behind Natalia for protection. Ukinix: ::smirking:: Onya George. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have seen how much Natalia has grown. Orrey: ::smiling down at the little girl and petting her hair.:: Aye, been a spell hasn’t it? Raissa leveled her gaze at the HMT. She didn’t really blame the little creature. Children were notorious throughout time in finding loopholes in parental authority and exploiting it until caught. Moonsong: HMT Security Update, authorization Mommy Moonsong 01. No subspace calls without parental real time verbal authority. That would stop the off ship calls, but still allow her to call the friends she had made in the ship’s childcare facility. Ukinix: ::To Raissa and Jansen:: Natalia’s going to make a great engineer one day. Or maybe security. Orrey: She can learn from you and Jayla, eh? Teller: I thought we were trying to expose the little lady to good influences, but if you say so. Geoff headed back to the Captain’s chair, storytime having come to a close with a few giggles Geoff felt surprisingly warm, the unexpected reunion buoying his spirits considerably. Moonsong: Considering what Jayla did to Wil for two years, that is not a good thing. Ukinix: Well, I’d just like to say that I miss all of you guys. ::Looking at HMT, smirking:: Maybe not you though, furball. The HMT covered Natalia’s eyes with one fuzzy hand and made a very rude gesture towards Wil with the other. Orrey: We all need to get together more often. Perhaps on the holodeck. Moonsong: That would be a lovely idea. It would be wonderful to give you both a virtual hug. Natalia: ::bouncing in her seat;: Hugs! Hugs! Geoff smiled at the idea, briefly wondering how much leave he’d accumulated. Teller: Sounds like a wonderful idea to me - as I recall, Wil’s got a beach program I’m not supposed to know about hidden in the aft datacore. Wil’s eyes opened, slightly shocked. He had been with Geoff on the tropical planet Limbo where the Veritas crew had become marooned. Once they rescued themselves, the ship was limping away but that didn’t stop Wil from performing a detailed scan of the beach dubbed “PurpleWhiteHaven”. Ukinix: How - how did you know about that? Moonsong: ::looking at the screen:: It appears you are on duty, Geoff, if the snickering crewmen behind you is any indication. And Wil, you probably should be on duty or is Charlena running everything while you’re skirting work? Teller: Oh don’t mind the soon to be demoted Lieutenant at the science station. ::Geoff glanced over, Lt. Kowolski now attempting to blend in with their console.:: Besides, a Priority One communication from the Admiral here ::Geoff nodded respectfully towards Natalia:: will never be ignored. My word as an officer and an Unca. Ukinix: ::Putting feet up on desk, relaxed sigh:: Alpha shift just ended. ::Hand behind head:: I’m free and easy. Moonsong: It was wonderful to see you two again. Say good bye now, Natalia. Natalia: ::with a great big grin:: Good bye now, Natalia! ::blows kisses to her uncles:: Teller: Night night little one. Fair seas to all of you, my friends. Ukinix: Seeya Admiral Tarls! Have fun little lady. Jansen scooped up his daughter with a laugh as the feed cut. Orrey: Alright you, lets get dinner made and have a long talk about subspace communications. END ------ Natalia Moonsong A Child Too Clever USS Juneau & =/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\= Lt. Commander Raissa Moonsong Acting Chief Of Sciences Specialty: Cultural XenoAnthropology/Psychology USS Juneau, NX-99801 =/\==/\=G239107RM0 =/\==/\= & /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Lieutenant Commander Jansen Orrey M.D. M.Sc First Officer USS Juneau O238506JO0 & Lieutenant Commander Wil Ukinix Chief Engineer and Second Officer USS Veritas V239511WU0 & Commander Geoffrey Teller Executive Officer and Holographic Muppet USS Thor - NCC 82607 Commodore A. Kells, Commanding V239509GT0
    2 points
  8. 1 point
  9. Love is in the air since Valentine's Day, every where we look around, and over the vast years since it first aired, this space opera in our hearts has given us plenty of on-screen love to wrap our hearts around. Everyone has their favourite relationship from the series, whether it was Jean-Luc and Beverly who stole your breath away, or you're a niche fan of Archer and Riaan rooting for them, somewhere along the line Star Trek has pulled on your heart strings and warmed you up with the smouldering passions displayed. In First Contact, we're given a glimpse into Data's longing for a relationship with someone who truly understood him, and his capabilities of physically reciprocating love — with the Borg Queen, of all people, so maybe it shouldn't count. She kisses him, he kisses back, disrupting his monologue about the last time he used his advanced bedroom techniques, for the good of all humankind. In Deep Space Nine, a kiss shared between Ben and Jennifer Sisko is a prompt for the Prophets to inquire about corporeal entities, and why Humans seek out physical contact with one another, thus making the Prophets incredibly jealous for the rest of their days... until they kidnap Sisko for smooches, of course. Star Trek has also flirted and courted with controversy over the years, showing on-screen love taboo for the times it aired, and taken their laurel wreaths as pushing those societal boundaries. First aired in 1968, the Original Series episode Plato's Stepchildren included the very first interracial kiss between Kirk and Uhura, amidst a turbulent political backdrop in the United States of America. Over fifty years later, this is remembered as a pinnacle moment of television, winging it's way into the books. Years later, in 1995, Deep Space Nine would flirt with the same, introducing the former lover of Curzon Dax into the episode Rejoined, once again clanging that bell with a same-sex kiss, paving the groundwork for the later Trek relationship of Stamets and Culber in Discovery. So, in this month of love, it's good to remember the relationships — and the smooches — which have made Trek what it is today. Science Fiction has long relied on the relationships built between the characters to demonstrate the futility or hope in the world of tomorrow, and Trek has made history doing so. This week, we want to know which of these Star Trek kisses made your heart flutter?
    1 point
  10. As much as Teller is guiding one of the scenes of this mission to a adrenaline filled and high paced scene, @Tony, aka Kells Here shows us the other side of the Coín with a cold, restrained and Intelligent scene with a slow by highly dramatic pace, a challege of linda with our main antagonist. GORGEOUS (( Anroc's Private Villa, Level 801, Saldanian Corpate Hegemony HQ )) Kells: (deadpan) You mentioned something special. What would be special, Aron thought, was a straight answer, and a quick exit. But he listened to what Anroc had to say. Anroc, however, didn't have anything to say in the moment. Instead, he led Aron to another room, through a door Aron would have sworn wasn't, and into a long, narrow room, framed with frozen Zet and capped at the far end with what Aron could only describe as a throne. Anroc: Welcome to my gallery, Aron. These (gesture to the frozen Zet) as my private advisors. They'll be participating in our discussion, but I'm sure you won't find them a bother. They don't say much. Was it some sort of stasis? As off-balance as he was, and though he felt that he was walking ever more deeply into a trap, Aron couldn't help the itch he felt for his tricorder. It must have been some kind of stasis, but he'd never seen stasis accomplished like this, without any sign of how the suspended animation was accomplished. He was so focused in that moment that he jumped in the next, as Anroc gestured in a way that controlled some stasis mechanism and many of the Zet came to life, mid-scream. It lasted only for a moment, and the Zet froze again, but their screams echoed. Anroc: But they mean so much to me. You see, each of these husks formerly belonged to competitors of mine. Kells: These (beat) husks. As with Anroc's earlier references to eternity and immortality and the like, Aron saw that there was something more there, something to do with this biotech the Zet possessed. But what did he mean, husks of his competitors? Anroc: One of the lesser known uses of the technology that allows for my immortality. But that's a triviality. You're here because you want Eternity, and I'm the one who can deliver it to you. Kells: (coolly) That remains a bold claim. And this (gesture around) display notwithstanding, I haven't seen much that gives me faith in the greatness of Zet biotechnology. Anroc: Very well, it will be good to relay the history without the propaganda we feed the masses. I was there at the beginning and I'm among the last of the First Eternals. You may recognize this chair (gesture to the throne) You saw one aboard my ship. With it, and a small bioware implant here (a finger on the back of his neck) The mind, the unique being, is never duplicated, they can only exist in one husk at a time. That is the miracle of the active particle refractor matrix. The puzzle came together, and Aron saw clearly for the first time. Kells: You possess -- you have possessed -- multiple bodies. You, and these Eternals, the ones who have chased Eternity, migrate your consciousness between bodies. It wasn't absolutely unheard of. He'd read reports of such things happening, though it was generally the sorts of ghost-story-esque outliers that invoked events like possession by energy beings or inexplicable encounters with godlike entities. To find a prewarp civilization capable of such a thing -- if Aron hadn't been repulsed by Anroc's excesses, he would've been impressed. He was, however, still very curious, and wished again that he had a tricorder. Anroc: Quite simply, Eternity was an accident. Scientists were trying to come up with a way of exploring our star system or, perhaps, beyond the Edge, by setting up a series of relay stations and data networks, plus the necessary bioprinters to create biologically viable husks. Kells: (with a slight smile) You lodged your consciousness in your network routers. (beat) And then an accident led to (beat, looking around) this? How? How did you get from there to here? (another beat, then with narrowed eyes) And why have you hoarded it? Anroc: Quite simply, it was too expensive. Our society could not support the cost of immortality. When the civilian authorities abandoned the project, a group of private corporations stepped in and carried on the research. Except now, the clones wouldn't be going to distant moons or beyond the Edge. We were reborn then...no longer shackled by mortality, the Presidents of the original twelve corporations became the First Eternals. Kells: (quietly) Your plutocrats became gods. Anroc: Can you imagine it, Aron? To stand at the yoke of your whole species, guiding them with a benevolent hand over the centuries. All that has happened has been by my hand, my will. That is the strength of Eternity. With another gesture, Anroc forced the Zet -- still silent, but no longer frozen -- to bow and scrape. They made no sound whatsoever. The control, Aron noted, was absolute. He felt nauseous. Kells: This is disgusting. Anroc: Response Instead of acting or sounding angry, however, Aron retreated into the cool tone he'd used earlier. His voice was now downright frigid, though as he couldn't read Anroc's face, he doubted Anroc could read his intonation. But never mind: he felt what he felt. Kells: You're a repugnant slaver who has confused longevity with worth. You're a sad accident, and I hope and I suspect that your species and your culture hold you in contempt. No, I don't want this heinous technology, and I'll work to make sure that you answer for the violence and inequality you've visited on your people. Which was all very much what Aron felt, and he also felt better for saying. But, as soon as he had, he was reminded of his position -- not just as a Starfleet captain, but in space and time. Specifically, in Anroc's hidden gallery, surrounded by Zet husks that he controlled. Anroc: Response Kells: You've confused power and authority. I threatened you before with matter/antimatter weapons, but, no, I think you deserve something far worse: the destruction of your markets and the judgment of your people. Anroc: Response Tags! and TBC! --- Fleet Captain Aron Kells Commanding Officer USS Thor V238208LV0 he/him/his (character & player)
    1 point
  11. ((I just love the interaction and reactions here ❤️)) Taybrim: Janul alone is not enough to ensure full attendance. But… we can force that hand. ::he paused and offered gravely.:: I am going with him. There was a clatter as a PADD hit the floor, a reaction that was entirely justified as the CO of the station proudly announced they were ready to go careening into the afterlife. DeVeau: I’m sorry...come again? McLaren: The Commodore will be going with Janul. Tatash couldn’t help but chuckle, it was the sheer insanity of the situation, mixed with somehow the total lack of surprise in the Commodores course of action that was actually quite amusing. Tatash: Classic.
    1 point
  12. From the way he described the ribbons to his mention of leaders eating last, this sim brought back so many memories from when I was younger. It put a smile on my face and gave me some feels (as the kids say these days). From his great descriptive writing, as you've seen recently from the posts here, Justin is such a great writer who deserves every bit of recognition he gets. (( Home of Ambassador Sarep, Vulcan )) Yogan had been to enough dinner parties to suspect some kind of organized fun was about to start. In the back of his mind, he wondered if the lights might suddenly go off and they would be thrown headfirst into a murder-mystery party game. He remembered the last one he attended, back when he was still living in San Francisco, when he’d been assigned the role of Pappa Razzi, a mobster with a penchant for blackmailing celebrities with incriminating holo-photos. That night, he’d managed to reveal the secret identity of the tightfisted dowager countess, but he’d failed to guess that the mastermind of the crime was in fact Björnfjord Flarnkrappft, the Swedish furniture tycoon. The memory of that evening was pleasant, but the sight of Captain Nicholotti entering the dining room with Commander MacKenzie was enough to bring him back to the present at warp ten. Acting on instinct and his training, he rose to his feet. Yalu: Captain. Nicholotti: Lieutenant. MacKenzie: response The room fell silent, and a few of Yogan’s fellow officers stood out of respect to their captain. They seem to be just as surprised by her unexpected appearance. Doctor Adea, consummate professional he was, left his place at the table to attend to her. Adea: You’re awake, and... out of your room. ::he immediately went to her side:: Are you okay? Nicholotti: I am. And I can promise I am here permissibly, however temporarily. Yogan scanned the faces of the other officers around the table, wondering if anyone else had picked up on what the captain had said. Her statement implied that such permission could be revoked, and Yogan wondered what that might mean for Resolution. MacKenzie: response Adea: ::smiling broadly:: It doesn’t hurt to check, I’m very glad to see you. Nicholotti: And I you. ::Looking to the others.:: All of you. MacKenzie: response Etan: I take it that the Captain wasn’t expected this evening? MacNemar: response Nicholotti: They will hunt me down if I don’t return in a reasonable amount of time though, so if you would assist, I’d like to thank the crew for their hard work. MacKenzie / Adea: response Yogan resumed his seat as the evening took on quite a different tone and tenor to that which he’d expected. He looked to both ends of the table, where sat the Ambassador and Ms Hurmin. Unlike his crewmates, they didn’t appear to be surprised at this unexpected development. Rather, they seemed pleased. Yogan reasoned that they must have been informed of the captain’s desire to make an appearance and, knowing that her condition might necessitate an extended convalescence, had welcomed her into their home for an impromptu awards ceremony. Yogan smiled as he thought about this. The fact that they would extend such a courtesy to a group of people they’d not met before tonight was a testament to how much they cared for T’Suran. The medical officer was lucky to have such a supportive family. Nicholotti: I know no one expected to see me here tonight, but you’ll find out if you have not already, that I am full of surprises. Maybe that is where you all get that. Though I wasn’t there to see it, I want you each to know that I did read about it thanks to our XO, and I couldn’t be more proud of the actions each of you contributed towards the success of our exfiltration and escape from the future. Perhaps one day they will make a movie out of it. Yogan chuckled at the joke, relieved to see that the captain’s sense of humour had survived her illness and incapacitation intact. What she was doing right now was admirable, and it took Yogan some time to fully appreciate it. Here she was, just hours out of hospital, standing before them cracking jokes. Putting them at ease. Taking the time to honour them, when she was still recovering from a trauma that could have untold effects on her. It spoke to her character, and what kind of captain she was. It also reminded Yogan of something he’d read as a student: “Leaders are the ones who are willing to give up something of their own for us: their time, their energy, their money, maybe even the food off their plate. When it matters, leaders choose to eat last.” Any: response Nicholotti: My time with you right now is short, as there are yet tests to run and pass before I will be allowed to escape completely, but I felt it important to make certain you were all recognized for the efforts that brought us, and countless others, home. I know it is a bit crowded here, so instead of coming to me, I will ask that our XO and second officer disperse the awards as each of you are called. Adea / Mackenzie: response Nicholotti: First, for those who inevitably aided in the discovery of a new planet and the race that lived there, I award the following with the Explorer’s Ribbon. Lieutenant Commander Mackenzie, Lieutenant Commander Adea, Ensign Sherlock, Lieutenant JG Macnemar, Lieutenant JG Yalu, Lieutenant JG Sirin, Lieutenant Commander Romjin, Ensign T’Suran, Lieutenant Commander Ilsam, and Lieutenant JG Delri’ise. Thank you all for the dedication you showed during this discovery. Sherlock: Thank you, Captain. Yalu: I am honoured, Captain. Thank you. Yogan studied the ribbon that Dr. Adea had placed in his hands. It was the first of this type that Yogan had ever received, and it was striking. A gold embroidered letter “E” was placed in the centre of the blue-black ribbon–presumably representing the brightness of knowledge emerging from the darkness of unknown space–and gold and blue fimbriation ran alongside the edges. It was a beautiful physical manifestation of a likewise beautiful honour. Any: response Nicholotti: Inevitably, what goes hand in hand with discovery is contact with the life forms that reside on the planet in question. While discovered to be less savory characters, the event was still a first contact situation for us and as far as we know, for the Federation. To that end, I award the following with the First Contact Ribbon. Lieutenant Commander Mackenzie, Lieutenant Commander Adea, Ensign Sherlock, Lieutenant JG Macnemar, Lieutenant JG Yalu, Lieutenant JG Sirin, Lieutenant Commander Romjin, Ensign T’Suran, Lieutenant Commander Ilsam, and Lieutenant JG Delri’ise. Yalu: Thank you, Captain. This time, it was Commander MacKenzie’s turn to present the ribbon to Yogan, and it was just as brilliant as the last one. The red vertical stripe in the centre separated the ribbon into two halves, each a mirror image of the other, with a gold inner stripe and a blue outer stripe. As he examined it, he noticed that the design of the ribbon itself was a metaphor for first contact. The red stripe simultaneously symbolised the initial divide and the subsequent bridge between the Federation and a previously uncontacted people, while the mirrored halves represented the fact that we have far more in common with other species than we have differences. When Yogan thought about the Sau, he struggled to find their common ground, but then he remembered Teril’s final act of wresting control back from Lo’Thar and destroying the slave labor camp, allowing Resolution to rescue many of the prisoners. People, even seemingly evil lizard people from the year 300,000 could surprise you with unexpected acts of mercy. Yogan would be proud to add this ribbon to his dress uniform. Any: response Nicholotti: There are those out there to whom we owe more than can be repaid. In the process of carrying out their duties, these officers go above and beyond and deliver the gifts of life to those who would otherwise have gone without. As one of the recipients of such a gift, I can say that there is no greater love one can receive than to be able to live because of the skill, sacrifice, and care of another. Thus, to Ensign T’Suran and Lieutenant JG Sirin, I hereby award the Silver Lifesaving ribbons for conspicuous actions that saved the life of a member of Starfleet. T’Suran: response Sirin: Thank you. I am honored to have aided in some small way in your recovery. Nicholotti: And to Lieutenant Commander Adea, I hereby award the Gold Lifesaving Ribbon, for putting your life at risk in order to save another. Sherlock: Congratulations, Doctor! ::clapping her hands:: Yogan joined in the applause for the doctors and counselor. They had all acted in an exemplary fashion. He thought about Ensign Treetus, who had participated in his shuttle training with all the chip and cheer of a first-year Academy cadet. Unfortunately, his injuries must have been more serious than they first appeared, because the ensign had departed Resolution at Vulcan, and it was uncertain when, or if, he might return. Despite that sad news, Yogan was certain that without Doctors T’Suran and Adea and Counselor Sirin, Treetus’ very survival would have been cast in a shadow of doubt. And that was doubly true for the two-hundred-or-so people they had rescued from the Sau. Adea / Any: response Nicholotti: And finally, I will ask that Ensign Sherlock join me here for a moment. Ensign, though you have not served long, you have shown yourself to be a veritable force of nature. It will be officers like you who lead Starfleet into the future. For your actions and dedication that you’ve continued to show again and again, I hereby promote you to the rank of Lieutenant JG, with all rights and privileges therein. Sherlock: Thank you, Captain. As I said on my first day on your ship, I will serve you and the ship to the best of my abilities. ::slight nod:: Yalu: Congratulations, Lieutenant. Welcome to the club! Yogan was delighted that Aine Sherlock was given a well-deserved promotion. In her first mission, she’d proven herself to be a security officer of the highest calibre. Her dedication to the away mission had been integral to its success, and indeed their very survival. As the rest of the group congratulated her, Yogan noticed the nonverbal courting between the newly promoted Lieutenant and Commander Ilsam, and wondered what orders Starfleet would have for Resolution next. Their stay on Vulcan had been brief, but jam-packed with activity and opportunities to get to know each other better. If the next mission was even a fraction as stressful as the last, Yogan wondered whether the handful of newly formed relationships could hold up under the strain. Any: response Tag / TBC Lieutenant JG Yogan Yalu Helm Officer USS Resolution NCC-78145 Justin D238804DS0
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  13. @Alieth just has this amazing writing sense where she can take a completely benign scene and really make it a joy to read. Outstanding tee-up from @Ben Garcia for this scene as well. I'm loving this so far, and can't wait to see if Cheesecake is going to get the nasty replicator filter or not!
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  14. I really enjoy this sim and I think it beautifully demonstrates that in our world, there are no 'small' characters. NPC's like this are not meant for everyday simming, but they add a wonderful depth and texture to life aboard ship when used delicately. @Alieth has a sly, warm humor that makes her characterizations wonderfully engaging and I'm glad to see this small moment featured here. Cause Cheesecake is a good dog.
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  15. Every time I see the title of this thread on the unread threads list, it gives me a giggle.
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