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Rahman and Rivi Vataix

Executive Council member
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Everything posted by Rahman and Rivi Vataix

  1. Don't forget to still use the spoiler feature of the forum in your posts as needed. All you have to do is type something, highlight it, and then click on the eye button next to the smiley face/emoticon button on the message toolbar. Hopefully more joys than groans! Early reviews and advanced screening word of mouth has been positive! Here's somewhat of a spoiler, I suppose: a little snippet of the score from the composer himself:
  2. 93% fresh so far on Rotten Tomatoes! Final (relatively spoiler-free) trailer: Woohoo!
  3. Hmmm, I think my character's cruel sense of humor is rubbing off on me...
  4. I still can't believe "In the Pale Moonlight" and "The Visitor" came from the same show as this...
  5. Beautiful. And nominated to the Top Sims Contest!
  6. ((Adova: Arc's Personal Residence)) :: It was a funny feeling, here she was probably dying and yet she was at peace with it. All her life she had fought, and struggled, and raged against the world to survive on her own terms, to live under her own rules, but now… Now it felt a little bit okay to let go, to just surrender to whatever her fate may be. Maybe she needed to stop fighting for once, and stop trying to control every aspect of her life, even if staying alive was one of those things.:: :: She wasn’t suicidal. She was just tired.:: :: Della had been right. A starship was not a safe place to raise a child -- there had been far too many times T’Sara and Gina had been put in harm’s way. And T’Lea had been wrong – she couldn’t protect any of them. Hell, she couldn’t even protect herself.:: :: So, here she sat on a rather festive tile floor, on some far away planet, in some alien home, drowning slowly in her own blood, and for no other reason than being hated for being a telepath. It almost made her laugh that she was going to die for something so pathetic and meaningless. She’d done plenty of horrific things in her lifetime, things that warranted execution, or at least a long prison sentence – betrayal and murder topped the list. But the crime of being a telepath? Now that was funny.:: Kells: Hold on, T'Lea. Hold on. ::to the others:: We need med tech. Is it all back on Compass? King: I’m going to check the surrounding rooms for any provisions we might need. ::beat:: We’re all dangerously close to being dehydrated. ::beat:: The Compass has most of the provisions and equipment we need but it doesn’t seem like we’ll be able to get to it in the near term. :: Well, that sucked, thought T’Lea as she sat there and did her best to concentrate on her breathing. All that meditation was paying off. She was keeping calm and had slowed her heart rate. If necessary she would put herself in a Vulcan healing trance, but for now she was complacent with other thoughts.:: :: Looking back on things, she couldn’t blame Della for leaving, and she couldn’t hate her for it either. It was never hate that she felt. Anger perhaps, but never hate. The truth was that she would always love that stupid Trill, even if Della didn’t feel the same way. There was simply too much history between them to let their separation, no matter how permanent, ruin what T’Lea still felt, and would always feel for Della.:: :: After all Della had been there when T’Lea had needed her the most, when death was eminent and she needed someone to keep her Katra safe. Della did that for her, and thinking about it now, that was the moment T’Lea had fallen in love with the Trill. The moment she had died.:: ((Flashback)) ((USS CONSTITUTION - T’Lea’s QUARTERS)) :: The pain had quelled, but now there were moments of inconsistent consciousness. A feeling of drifting in and out of life. It was nauseating and confusing. The Vulcan hybrid was dealing with it the best she could -- with logic.:: Vetri: =/\= Vetri to sickbay - medical emergency in Lt. T'Lea's quarters. =/\= ::The call for help made, Della darted to the hybrid's side, dropping to the ground to haul her up into a vaguely sitting position. The Romu-vulc’s body was fairly limp at this point. The only thing keeping her sitting upright was a combination of the wall and the Trill. T’Lea couldn’t distinguish between the two, but her right hand tightly fisted a bunch of fabric from one or the other. T’Lea: Who…? Vetri: ::whispering:: Your cute as hell angel, come to save the day... ::They had an agreement, Vetri would come first when T’Lea called, but medical would be on the way. That left little time. Little time would hopefully be enough so that they could have their private moment together.:: ::Gently, Della brushed the hybrids hair aside, and laid her lips gently against her brow, not bothering to try and hold back the tears that were rolling down her cheeks.:: ::The sudden warmth against her skin rallied T’Lea’s focus. Her vision sharpened in, then out, then in again. She was seeing spots before her eyes.:: T’Lea: ::weak, but surprised:: … Spots, you came…? Vetri: Of course, silly. We had a deal, remember? ::Deal. Her heart looked inward. What deal? At first she didn’t remember, but eventually after some searching, yes, she remembered. T’Lea remembered what they had been working on all this time, all those long nights together training for this moment. A lobotomy would be the only way she could forget those moments with Della, actually she wasn’t far from one. But right now, in a moment of perfect lucidity she was stacking her thoughts in proper order. And with fluid thought came a curiosity. Did Della mean that she was willing to go through with the Katra transfer?:: T’Lea: Are you certain…? Vetri: I'm certain. You're not getting away from me that easily. ::The Romu-vulc’s grateful pale blue eyes slid down the Trill’s delicate face, following a particularly intriguing line of small dark spots. Her mindless gaze ended in a sliver of strength. With her body tensing in Della’s hands, T’Lea moved to sit more upright just as they had practiced during their nightly visits. This had to happen fast, right now or not at all.:: Vetri: ::trying to summon up some humor to keep herself together:: Don't want to rush you or anything, but... ::The hybrid’s right hand flattened against the fabric she’d been clutching all this time. Oddly enough she had no idea where that hand was, or if it was even still attached. The left hand seemed to be easier to find and operate. T’Lea moved closer still, barely holding on to the stoic, regal Vulcan poise as she did so. Another odd moment of brief wonderment over what the Trill was wearing and why her locks of hair were wet, flashed through T’Lea’s dysfunctional head. It was strange how these unimportant thoughts rambled to the forefront of her mind so clearly. The remnant of a Vulcan brow twitched under the stress.:: Vetri: Stay with me, T'Lea. I can't do this on my own. ::Face to face with Vetri, T’Lea tried to stay steady, tried to control her breathing, tried to summon the inner Vulcan to finish this. For the Romulan in T’Lea was nowhere to be found. Like a coward she had stepped away from the situation, unable to confront the emotional humiliation of it all.:: ::Shaking slightly from the frayed nerves, T’Lea reached up with her left hand, failing at first to place it in proper position for a mind-meld. Instead, that hand came to a soft rest on Della’s cheek. The next precious few seconds were spent trying to form her fingers and find the correct points of contact. It was quite possibly the most difficult and most exhausting thing she’d ever done. Finally, it paid off.:: ::Relieved, T’Lea dipped her forehead against Della’s, not for technique but out of her tiresome struggle. Next she tried to set her breathing to match Della’s rise and fall. Della made the change for her, finding T’Lea’s rhythm instead, just as they’d practiced.:: T’Lea: …assist… ::She didn’t even need to say it, it was already done. Della was holding her left hand steady in the proper position, keeping it from slipping. T’Lea blinked her eyes, trying to clear out the fog, but her thoughts strayed again as she felt Della’s invading warmth. It distracted, then enveloped, then penetrated, and then reinforced. It seemed to wash out the pain. The hybrid was starting to see through the haze in her eyes. Logic started to jell into a solid thought. Was Della sending her empathic support? If so it was precise and well controlled. But it was also speeding up her death. T’Lea didn’t know for sure…. She wasn’t sure of anything right now except the meld.:: ::Drawing on the training she'd received on Betazed, as well as the lessons the hybrid in her arms had given her, Della forced all the fear and worry in her mind aside. It wasn't easy to accomplish, but she managed it, leaving her thoughts clear and calm, ready for what was to come.:: Vetri: ::firmly:: Do it. ::Her melding-hand rested confidently at the correct points of contact against Della’s face. Her voice, though labored, was as true as a Vulcan’s should be.:: T’Lea: My mind… to your mind… ::A pause as her eyes settled deeply into Della’s.:: T’Lea: My thoughts… to your thoughts… ::A bright, white hot pain started to slash its way through the incredible blanket of... what was that feeling? It was beautiful…:: T’Lea: Our minds… are one… ::Nothing. A realistic fear registered in T’Lea’s eyes and reflected back in Della’s. What if the malfunctioning chip in her brain had damaged her abilities?:: ::Repositioning her hand with more determination, T’Lea firmed herself against Vetri’s body and started again this time with a heavier conviction. This time the Romulan joined in out of desperation. She took one lungful of air and spoke without taking a pause, or another breath. The words were the same, but the tone was completely different -- intense and rippling with pain.:: ::Wrapping T'Lea even tighter in her arms, Della held her close, desperation clawing at her awareness. Wildly, her thoughts flashed through everything that could have gone wrong, all the possibilities that could have prevented the link from forming.:: Vetri: Again! Try again! ::Physically the two could not have been any closer. Mentally… A terrible feeling started to bore a hole in the back of T’Lea’s skull. It took all her strength to hold on to Vetri, to stop herself from shaking loose. She was sure she was bruising the woman.:: Vetri: Come on you crazy [...]. I've never seen you back down from anything yet, so make this frakking work! ::One last time. One last act of desperation. One last intense effort to establish the mind-meld. T’Lea needed just one more shot at it. One more. But before the next word could be uttered, it was over.:: ::The Vulcan hybrid never finished.:: ::T’Lea wasn’t holding her breath anymore. She simply wasn’t breathing.:: ::Her head fell on Della’s shoulder.:: Vetri: T'Lea? T'Lea! ::Frantically, she searched for a pulse, a flicker, anything that would deny the evidence of her eyes. Breath coming in ragged gasps, blinded by tears, she tore at the hybrid's uniform, trying desperately to get her body to respond to the instructions her mind was firing out. Somewhere in her skull, a rational bit of consciousness was driving her start CPR, to try and get her patient breathing again.:: Vetri: Nonononono... Don't leave me like this! Breathe! BREATHE! ((End Flashback)) ((Arc’s Personal Residence)) :: A deep, shocking gasp of air filled T’Lea’s lungs. For a moment she’d stopped breathing and had passed out, but she was back. Nobody had seemed to notice her brief disappearance. They were all heavy in conversation about something. She tried to focus and tried to listen.:: TBC Lieutenant Commander T’Lea History & Archaeology Specialist USS Invicta Author ID I238301T10
  7. I can just see Del's face as he stands there...
  8. The Captains Council has introduced a new category of badges that members can earn: Legendary Badges. Legendary badges are for unique, or legendary achievements in the world of UFOP: Starbase 118 RPG. They are denoted by their gold, gilded border. The first legendary badge to be approved is the 20th Annual Awards Attendee badge. This badge recognizes members who were active during the 20th Annual Awards Ceremony. To be awarded, members must be active and in good standing on the date of June 30, 2016. This is a one time only award. All active members as of June 30, 2016, have earned this badge. See below for the full list. If you believe you should have earned the badge but are not listed, contact your CO. Learn more about badges and how to display them on your wiki pages here. And don't forget: Make sure you take our quick survey about the ceremony to let us how you think it went. The full ceremony has been posted on the wiki now, as with all previous ceremonies.
  9. Looks like we're going to get some character-specific ads now. First up, Sulu:
  10. Welcome to the final day of our 20th annual awards ceremony! After celebrating individual achievement across the fleet for the past week, we finish the ceremony with a celebration of why we're all here: the stories we tell together. The 20th annual awards ceremony marks the beginning of a new award presentation: the Featured Missions of the Fleet. Just as the Featured Bio Contest highlights the best character pages from our wiki, the Featured Missions of the Fleet showcases the best missions as chosen by you and your fellow shipmates. Each ship's crew voted among the past missions of 2015 and the first half of 2016 to choose the mission to be featured from their ship. Then, players nominated sims from the mission to be selected as the Featured Sim of those missions, with the sim receiving the most "likes" in the forum presented with an excerpt for the ceremony. Thank you to all crews who voted and nominated during the process. And now, UFOP: StarBase 118 proudly presents your selections... StarBase 118 Ops: "Tribbles and Strife" Stardate 239212.30 - 239301.20 When StarBase 118 Ops is chosen to host the galaxy's largest Tribble Convention, what could possibly go wrong? Mission Wiki Page Featured Sim: The Anders Family - Taking the Gorn to the Bedroom Excerpt: ::Baylen could see Theo darting into a crowd and then became well hidden. How he wished he could go join him in his exile at the moment. Baylen handed his father the port and he took a sip and started looking around at all the lady's and blocked out there conversation all together.:: Alia Anders: I don't understand what the big deal is. Did you two, conduct Jamaharon yet? Anders: ::Blushing:: No it was our first date. Alia Anders: I thought you said it went well, and was very romantic. Anders: It did, but Theo is Human, I am not going to jump into bed with him on the first date. Things just don't work that way. Alia Anders: Well I just don't understand. You talked about all these feelings you had, I thought he was the one. Anders: I think he is. ::Smiling:: Alia Anders: Well you got to mount the pony before someone else does... It is the Risian way... Anders: ::Full Blown Embarrassed.:: The Risian way... The Risian way, don't tell me about the Risian way, you had us all surgical altered to look fully human so we could blend in on earth. None of us no longer have our birth heritage and seal of Risa. You turned you backs on Risa remember??? Embassy of Duronis II: "The Zone" Stardate 239303 - 239305 The crew of the Embassy takes on the Ferengi criminal Deka and The Zone. Mission Wiki Page Featured Sim: PNPC Quiana, "Contemplation" Excerpt: Quiana: Our three battle cruisers are the key to holding the Luxis system. Before we get into a pitched battle with them, we will try something else.. Tauron: Something...else, Empress? Quiana: Yes. we will find out who these people are. Find their weaknesses. Exploit them. Discredit them in the eyes of their Laudean lapdogs..::smiling:: then, we take the planet without firing a shot. The most powerful ships ever assembled for the Orion Syndicate will remain just that...intact and ready to take on the Federation, if needed. Tauron: And..what of our allies? :: Tauron was referring to those who were outside of the Syndicate..those who also had an axe to grind against the Federation.:: Quiana: They will wait. They will understand, especially those Romulan [...]s...and our ships will still be raiding, and serving our other two bases, and when the time is right...we will be ready. There will not be a repeat of 2389.... :: The rousing defeat of the Orions, who allied with the Klingons in that disastrous first invasion, almost won. In the sand bar they just left , wreckage from that battle still floated in the mist. They destroyed two Federation starships, but that wasn't enough. They invaded with Klingon shock troops and Orion Imperial guards, and had overrun the Embassy...but it still wasn't enough. One battle turned the tide against them, and another battle in the mountains took out their leadership, Tallis Kern and Tallis Meral. Settling back in her chair, Quiana watched as the stars streamed by on the viewscreen. It was time to out think Starfleet, not outfight them.:: USS Constitution: "1914" Stardate 239209.21 - 239212.01 During routine patrols in the Talos Sector, the Constitution gets shaken through violently as they are pulled into a surprisingly appearing singularity. Upon scans and research they find out that they landed close to Earth, on June 27th 1914. The temporal rift has closed itself and the ship has been damaged during transfer. Will the crew be able to return to their own time? Mission Wiki Page Featured Sim: Lt Commander Foster - Sucker Punch Excerpt: ::The director leaned his head to one side, one antennae perked forward, the other stayed upright and he stayed there for longer than Wyn felt was comfortable before he spoke again:: Jos: Giving up is always the cop out. ::He frowned very slowly:: I had heard you were a medical genius. ::That hurt. And Jos knew it hurt. He was staring the kid down openly and digging for the meaty center.:: Foster: ::He stayed stubbornly put behind the chair, as if it would shield him from the onslaught:: I was removed from my ship by a man I trusted. ::Of course he was avoiding answering the posed question, but in his round-about way of thinking it all made sense.:: I saved his life. ::fast:: Aneurysm, with infectious complications. Four and a half hours of surgery, only person who could have done it. And how am I repaid? Betrayal. ::That last word was spat towards the screen.:: ::Director Jos' gaze softened fractionally. Admission meant they were getting somewhere - slowly - but moving. Wyn was, on the whole, easier to reach than his father; though still just as frustrating.:: Jos: Do you regret it? ::Such a simple question. Such a dangerous question.:: Foster: ::A deeply furrowed frown:: I don't know. ::beat:: I think he died that day. There, on the biobed. In fact I know he died - six seconds of clinical death before life support was activated. But the real question is; did the same person wake up? I always felt like I revived a monster rather than saved a person. ::Wyn shook his head. Such questions came dangerously close to concepts of playing God - something expressly forbidden in the medical trade.:: Jos: Not your call to make. ::plain and simple:: Foster: ::Throwing his hands up in the air:: I know! ::Bad move. His balance flipped him the middle finger and he stumbled ungraciously forward, finally landing in the chair. After a few more seconds of untangling his limbs, he turned back to the viewscreen, navy-flushed, with his entire argument deflated.:: I know... ::replied meekly:: Haven't we all taken oaths? Jos: ::A light nod:: But an oath isn't a black and white rulebook. It's a promise, made by you, kept by you, and interpreted by you. ::Wyn frowned, squirming under the steady gaze of his superior.:: Foster: And I keep it. USS Darwin: "Silent Night" Stardate 239212 - 239301 On the edges of the distant Delta Quadrant. The crew is forced to take refuge on a class-p planet and live among the pre-warp society of the the Turisans while waiting for rescue. Mission Wiki Page Featured Sim: Captain Renos: "Welcome to Lomorton" Excerpt: :: Renos held nir breath as a young couple on the other side of the street looked their way. Would their disguise hold? This was a pre-warp people they were dealing with so it was imperative that every member of the crew blended in. They had brought lightweight foods, ration packs down to help support them but would need to be exceptionally careful not to allow the food or packaging to be seen. Many of the crew had picked up jobs as they would need to earn money to pay their rent, buy food etc. :: :: The sounds of their gasps made nem turn around quickly. :: Renos: oO Have they seen through the disguise? Oo Female voice: What is that up there in the sky? Above Akatosh’s sword. Do you see it. :: Renos observed the pair looking up at the night sky. It was early evening, but dark already. The streets were illuminated by what looked suspiciously like oil lamps and light reflected by the snow kissed ground. The J’naii imposer looked up to the stars and glared. Ne might have shook nir fist at the Darwin were it not so likely to draw unwanted attention. Instead ne shook nir head almost imperceptibly. :: Renos: oO I wondered how long it would take the Turisans to spot you. Oo :: Valdivia and nem had collaborated on a plan to light the Darwin up like a disco ball making one scientist in particular very happy. To think ne had scoffed at the plan having read it some months ago and now they were literally lighting up the Darwin to hide it. From here it looked like like a star. Ne watched the couples reaction most carefully, terrified about whether the response would be positive or kick off doomsday scares. The last thing ne wanted was a terrified population rioting and tearing down their city. Fortunately the couple seemed to think of it as a wondrous sign. They had dodged a bullet this time then. :: USS Doyle: "Chains of Survival" Stardate 239301.29 - 239303.15 Crash landing on the surface of a world that suppresses technology, will the crew of the Doyle find a way off? Mission Wiki Page Featured Sim: PNPC Captain Shelther Faranster - Stop wasting time Excerpt: :: Shel walked up to the door and it opened, letting him in the room. As he stepped in, he caught the end of what Ceciri was saying. :: Hakashri:... Look, we’ve been arguing for 4 minutes 22 seconds. Let’s just tell him together if you *really* don’t want to tell him directly. Faranster: I'll make it easy for you, here I am. What do you have to tell me? :: He crossed the room and stood towering over the woman, but even though he was shorter than the Vulcan, at this point he was sure his presence made the officer seem small. :: James: Ah. Captain. I was… Umm… About to come see you. :: By the expression on James' face, he realized the man was a bit more than a little nervous. These were his two most trusted officers, and he wanted them to know what was really at risk because of the delay. :: Faranster: So... you are more afraid of telling me that my sister and her crew are missing, than say... what Selene will do when she finds out that instead of taking action, you were arguing about who was going to tell me? :: That got their attention. He knew what his sister had done to take care of her crew, and what she was willing to do when they were in danger. But... he didn't know what would happen in this case, and he didn't want to risk their lives to find out what would happen because they delayed a search. :: Hakashri: Well. ::pauses.:: Accurate, sir. Faranster: Get a scout ship out there to their last known coordinates, whatever is ready and fast. :: He watched the two for a moment. :: NOW! USS Gorkon: "A Monstrous Murder Mystery" Stardate 239210.25-239212.21 A celebration turns into a murder investigation when a Cardassian diplomat is found dead during the Gorkon's awards after-party. Trapped inside a sabotaged holodeck, will they be able to find the murderer, while keeping themselves and their guests safe? Mission Wiki Page Featured Sim: Commander Walter Brunsig - "A Turn for the Worst" Excerpt: ::Haase and Chandur managed to reach the top without incident, though not as quickly as he would have liked. He was acutely aware of two things; one, that they were probably being pursued in some fashion; and two, that even dishevelled, Quinn looked lovely and he hated her for it. ::Catching himself looking, he tore his gaze away from his former lover, just in time to spot… something. The waterfall froze, as though someone had paused the program, and a huge section of the cavern in front of him -- including the staircase -- just vanished, exploding the grey metalwork of the holodeck walls. ::Beside him, Quinn had just enough time to breath a soft expletive, and then the program snapped back into life as if nothing had gone wrong.:: BRUNSIG: This just gets better and better. ::She glanced at him, then looked up toward the top of the stairs, calling out to the trio who had completed the climb.:: REYNOLDS: Is everyone alright up there? ::He could see the crewman sat on the ground, catching his breath and peering down at the stairs and cavern below. Intact, if shaken.:: REYNOLDS: We'll be right up. BRUNSIG: Will we. REYNOLDS: Well, we can't stay down here. USS Invicta: "Manhunt" Stardate 239211.30 - 239301 When Captain Kells is presumed killed, the crew of the Invicta discover a secret mission underneath the pomp and circumstance of the grand Invicta Expedition. Mission Wiki Page Featured Sim: LtCmdr Tristam Core, "Not as clever as initially thought." Excerpt: ::It was standard for all away team members to carry weapons equipment when travelling into unknown areas. Though Tristam protests this constantly, he was still required to carry some sort of weapon in the event of an emergency. Plus, phasers could come in handy when in a survival situation - boy did he know that from experience. So, instead of viewing it as a cause of bodily harm, it was a form of rescue. ::And today, it was going to make a hole in the cavern ceiling.:: ::Before his potential killer could get a shot off (or hopefully even get a chance to aim at them), he took a shot into the rocks in a lower vertex near her, though it unfortunately affected all of them. The rocks that had moved earlier must have been holding back a small river worth of water, because it was now leaking past the airlock door in a small flood. But that was the least of his problems - now, a crack began to appear, the ground beneath their feet crumbling away, until they were now falling.:: Demirjian: ~Jeffers!~ ::A name to remember for later, he mused, though by this point, there was nothing but air beneath him.:: ::Tristam landed awkwardly on the ground and was promptly covered in the water from above and various rocks from the ceiling, and made the unfortunate mistake of breathing it all in (by accident - he'd never do this intentionally). He twisted, coughing and spluttering.:: Saveron: One suspects we may have our answer. Vyrenna: Indeed! And no license for most of this equipment. Saveron: Quite. ::He agreed dryly.:: ::Investigation of a stinging sensation on his shoulder. In fact, his entire left side was in pain, some areas worse than others. Awesome.:: Saveron: Does anyone require medical attention? Core: Probably. Thank you again to each of the crews for sharing your stories with the rest of the fleet!
  11. ((Invicta – T’Lea’s Quarters)) :: T’Lea was sitting on her couch in silence, not really meditating, but thinking about her conversation with Ms. Moonsong when the door chimes rang.:: :: A moment more passed as if she hadn’t heard the announcement, and then she rose to her feet.:: T’Lea: Enter. :: Her voice was calm, and so was her response when Rune walked in.:: Jolara: ::jaw set:: We need to talk. :: It didn’t take eyes to see that Jolara was in a hostile mindset, one that T’Lea didn’t want to deal with.:: T’Lea: Now is not a good time. Jolara: Then I will talk and you will listen. :: With a sigh, T’Lea moved over to the replicator with unwavering patience.:: T’Lea: Very well. ::to the replicator:: Vulcan spice tea. Hot. :: When she turned back with the cup in her hands she took a sip and lifted an eyebrow for the woman to do as she said – talk.:: :: Rune watched T’Lea for a second. If there was any doubt before, there was none now. She almost let out a sigh of her own. She hadn’t really come to fight but she would have to do whatever it took to make the irritating Romu-Vulc normal again.:: Jolara: ::releasing a quiet chortle and shaking her head:: I liked you better when you were not so bland. ::waving her hand:: This…. Vulcany act does not really suit you. But I get it. It is how you choose to deal with things. :: The truth was, after talking with Moonsong, she was feeling depressed, and right now she didn’t give a flying frell about anything.:: T’Lea: ::a sip of tea:: I have had my fill of counseling for one day, if that is why you are here. Jolara: No. Actually that is not why I came. But it would make things easier if you were yourself again. :: T’Lea gave a dull little shrug. It was stunning how people wanted her to change, how everybody wanted her to be something different, and when she finally did it, they wanted her to change again. Of course, this metamorphosis hadn’t been for them, but the reactions were still ridiculous.:: T’Lea: Why would it be easier? Or perhaps the more accurate question would be *who* would it be easier for? :: Rune ignored her comment and moved to plop down on the sofa. She looked around, taking note of the sparse decor. It was a reflection of what she knew T’Lea was feeling. For that she was truly sorry but she wasn’t about to show any sympathy. After all, that would only alienate the woman even more and right now that was the last thing she needed to do.:: Jolara: Because something is happening inside ::tapping her head:: here and you are the only one I can trust. :: The Romu-vulc sipped her tea and then gave a small shake of her head.:: T’Lea: There are better people to confide in. Have you sought counsel? Jolara: ::shaking her head:: I do not need counseling… not for this. T’Lea: Then elaborate because you are failing to convey your thoughts in a comprehensive manner. :: That sounded very much like a Vulcan insult, and it probably would have been if T’Lea had cared enough to manufacture it into one. But honestly she had no idea what Rune was talking about.:: Jolara: ::sighing and leaning forward with her arms on her knees:: I am talking about… ::her brow creased:: If Kieran had not left maybe she could have helped but she is not he… ::Stopped abruptly and looked up at the Romu-Vulc, though she didn’t have to look at her though to know the thought that ran through her mind. She pointed a finger at T’Lea.:: That is not what I am talking about. And I never wanted you to change or be anything different but that does not matter right now. ::She shook her head and touched the back of her neck as her thoughts instantly shifted.:: I think I am beginning to figure out what my mentor really did to me. But actually, none of that is why I am really here. I was not going to tell anyone and maybe I should even tell you but of all the people in the universe, you are the one person who has a right to know. ::waving her hand:: Yeah, I know I am still not conveying my thoughts in a comprehensive manner. ::She sucked in a breath. She was rambling and she knew it. But it was the way her thoughts were coming.:: I have secured the portable repository. No one else will ever be hurt by them. :: It was almost too much information for T’Lea to process. For a moment she stood there staring blankly at the Al-Leyan as her mind raced to sort through landslide of words she’d been caught in. And then… and then it started to sink in.:: :: T’Lea set the delicate little tea cup on the table top and gave Rune a faintly curious look.:: T’Lea: Does the Captain know? Jolara: ::shaking her head:: No. No one does. T’Lea: You have chosen to disclose this information to me and not him because…? Jolara: I do not really know… maybe because you are the only one I *know* I can really trust. :: Just because they enjoyed annoying each other didn’t mean they didn’t trust each other. T’Lea took the declaration at face value.:: T’Lea: And what do you plan to do with the lesser repository? Jolara: Keep it hidden… destroy it? :: T’Lea closed her eyes, and tilted her face toward the ceiling to inhale a clean breath of soothing calm.:: T’Lea: ...why do you people continue to test me…? :: She said exhaling a long sigh. First it was Ms. Moonsong battering her defenses, and now this… this temptation of revenge staring her down.:: :: The look she gave Rune hinted of her thoughts. She wondered what Rune was capable of on her own. She wondered about her loyalty to Starfleet Intel. She wondered if the woman would crack under pressure. She wondered what she *herself* would do next.:: T’Lea: You realize they will be looking for it. You know they will come for it – they will come for *you*, and when they do what will you tell them? :: Rune knew all of that and she knew T’Lea doubted her. It was no secret the Romu-Vulc thought Rune was weak. It was something that had once bothered Rune, but now… well the woman simply did not know what Rune was really capable of. She hadn’t even known until Kya unlocked the memories Laro had tried to erase.:: :: Her jaw clenched and then she shrugged.:: Jolara: They can come for me but they will not get it. No good can come from it and the danger of it falling into the wrong hands is simply too great. T’Lea: You would sacrifice your career and possibly your freedom for this? :: She looked at Rune with unwavering eyes. She looked for weakness. She looked for hesitation.:: Jolara: There was a reason the Council of 12 sought to destroy the Iconians and their technology. I understand that now. :: T’Lea gave a firm nod. Rune was different now. Something had changed in her. But so had T’Lea. Vengeance, bloodlust, rage… it was still there inside of her, but she had control. Besides, there was a bigger picture, a bigger target she wanted. Dal Selta. Her archenemy, and really all of SFI’s nemesis.:: :: Now she was thinking as she should have been all along. Her purpose renewed.:: T’Lea: The Twelve Deities of Destruction may, or may not still exist. They may be long dead, or they may be lying in wait for another resurgence of Iconian technology. The Cardassian Bureau of Intel is SFI’s biggest competition right now. If either side facilitates a revival of Ico-tech there could be grave repercussions throughout the galaxy. Now you see why I’ve “mismanaged” details and discoveries. But Nygel is different. The information is out there. :: Rune could almost feel the change in T’Lea, which was good. She nodded thoughtfully.:: Jolara: I know. T’Lea: The Cardassians will come for it. They will stop at nothing to acquire it. What we uncovered on Nygel has the potential to be devastating. Imagine infiltrating the upper echelon of Starfleet Command by simply overwriting an Admiral’s consciousness. ::pause:: I believe the Captain has underestimated the destructive nature of such technology. And I, like you, do not know who to trust. SFI has its own agenda, but I think… I hope I have placed my trust well with you. :: She took a step literally and figuratively toward Rune. They’d been through a lot together, and it seemed they had a mutual respect for confidentiality. Maybe this was a big mistake. Maybe Rune was playing her like a fiddle. One way or another she’d find out.:: Jolara: All I have is my word that you have… whatever that is worth to you. ::She bit her lip. That hadn’t come out the way she intended.:: What do you think we should do about it? T’Lea: My initial instinct is to destroy the repository. Both of them. However… Jolara: Destroying it will not stop the Cardassians or anyone else from looking for it. T’Lea: No. At least we can influence where they look though. What good is a trap without the bait. Since I cannot control the information flow on Nygel, let us use it to identify friend and foe. If it lures out the Cardassian threat then we will have succeeded. :: All that was said in the terrifyingly, calculative calm of a manipulative Romulan. Dal Selta would come. She was sure of it.:: :: Rune smiled but it quickly faded as she stood. She thought for a moment, rubbing the back of her neck as the pins and needles started again.:: Jolara: We should start with the Captain. Somehow we have to convince him just how dangerous the technology really is and that we can not allow anyone else to get their hands on it. Perhaps even convince him to allow me to keep it secured. T’Lea: That would be the best scenario. :: She paused and considered what Rune had said previously.:: T’Lea: You have your doubts about Captain Washington? Jolara: ::shrugging:: If we can not trust him, we should not even be here. There is a gathering this evening. We can speak to him when it’s over. T’Lea: If we cannot trust him, we should be *exactly* here. After the gathering then. -end- Lieutenant Commander T’Lea History & Archaeology Specialist USS Invicta Author ID I238301T10 & Lt. Cmdr. Rune Jolara Intelligence Officer - USS Invicta Writer ID: A238909RJ0
  12. ::Taking a small sip of his cranberry juice and waving his goodbye to Dickens, the Ensign made a beeline toward the door. Approaching the door, he felt the contact before he saw the face. The moment seemed to slow, he felt the bump in his right hand, saw the splash of cranberry juice as it rose from the cup, his eyes grew wide as a large drop splashed over the rim. Then he saw the eyes of the other person, noticed the face and - the ears.:: King: oO Nnnnnnoooooooo Oo. ::A slight splash of cranberry juice landed on the teal uniform of the officer.:: T’Lea: Response. hehehe...
  13. It's actually surprisingly difficult to find a picture of Joseph's avatar NOT wearing a suit and tie, so he'll be sporting something a little different... Meanwhile, Rahman managed to find an asymmetrical dress to cover her scarred left arm... She'll be attending the awards with her "daughter from another reality," Taz:
  14. ... ... What? That's not a tear, it's really dusty in here... ... ... ... Yep, just raining... sniff, sniff... stupid rain clouds... ... ... ... Also, Top Sim nominated!
  15. ((Shuttlebay, USS Invicta)) :: Much as she might have been tempted, Della didn't give the woman who'd helped T'Sara and herself load their gear into the shuttle a thoughtful frown. Instead, she was busy sending a silent reminder to her daughter not to stare at the same dark-haired female as she strode off, a bag slung over one shoulder, toward the turbolift.:: :: Not that she blamed T'Sara in the slightest. It was probably the first time that the little girl - and, for that matter, herself - had encountered someone that had no aura at all... that wasn't a hologram, at any rate.:: :: As the woman, who'd apparently come in on the same shuttle as the pair of them were due to be leaving on, disappeared from view, a far more important reason to ignore extraneous details turned up, and Della was glad to see her. Not that she'd doubted that such an appearance would happen, of course. One last opportunity to try and blame her for everything would hardly be missed, after all.:: :: Still, there was at least some hope that this would go better than she suspected it might.:: :: Saying goodbye to loved ones was never easy. Saying goodbye to loved ones and feeling responsible for their leaving was even worse. It was for that reason why T’Lea almost didn’t show up see them off, but here she was watching a stranger load her family’s belongings onto the shuttle like she was a stranger herself.:: :: Emerging from around the corner as the woman that had been helping Vetri with the luggage passed by, T’Lea steeled herself and focused on control, for T’Sara’s sake. That’s why she was here after all. For T’Sara, and to make one last ditch effort to convince Della to stay.:: T'Lea: I was held up. :: She said that while looking through Della and at T’Sara. The girl showed no signs of stress about leaving, but to her this was probably just a vacation to visit her grandparents.:: Vetri: We'd have waited. :: A simple statement, but very true regardless. They'd found time for a goodbye before Della had gone to see Kells, and T'Sara had surprised her by how well she'd taken both the news of what was happening and the reality of it. Better, she suspected, than either of her mothers had.:: :: And just to really rub that point in...:: T'Sara: I lefts Andy and Fruggles to keep you compn'y. ::looking down at the small black and white cat in her arms, who was eyeing the surroundings suspiciously:: Inky din' wanna stay. :: Just when she thought her heart couldn’t break anymore, her daughter finished the job.:: :: T’Lea smiled through the ache in her chest and knelt down to T’Sara’s level.:: T'Lea: That’s because he’s your cat. He should stay with you. Always. :: She realized how that must have sounded to Della after she’d said it. It could have been construed as an indirect jab at the woman, even though that’s not how it was intended. But it did fit the sentiment she was feeling.:: T’Lea: Is there any more luggage inbound that you need help with? :: A minor slip up that may have indicated she’d been watching from afar.:: T'Sara: Nah, we gots everyfing. The not real lady helped get it all put away. T'Lea: Not real? :: The little frown was given to T’Sara, but it was the woman behind her that answered. With a helpless little shrug, Della was willing to admit ignorance on at least that much.:: Vetri: New arrival is all I know, but she's as real as anyone else around here. Anyway... I'm glad you came. T'Lea: Yeah. :: It was a short acknowledgment, but T’Lea kept her sights on T’Sara while she fidgeted with the girl’s backpack.:: T’Lea: I know what you’re thinking…. Just make sure Inky doesn’t walk on the helm controls, okay? It might be funny to annoy the pilot with him, but the cat hasn’t passed his flight exam yet. :: The giggle and smile from T’Sara brightened T’Lea’s mood for a split second, until she remembered that she wouldn’t be seeing or hearing that smile or laugh for a while. Apparently T’Sara saw the change in her mother’s colors without even trying.:: T’Sara: I dunno what d’big deal is. I not going forevers. :: Reality check. T’Lea rocked back slightly and set her hands gently on her daughter’s shoulders.:: T’Lea: No you’re not, but I still get to miss you. :: The not so tough Romu-vulc tucked the little girl into a tight hug; one that she hoped wouldn’t break the restraints she had on her emotions right then.:: T’Lea: Have fun. Stay safe, and look after your mother for me, okay? T’Sara: Kay, but you’re squishing Inky. :: Releasing her grip, T’Lea blinked at the unhappy cat.:: T’Lea: Sorry, Inky. ::to T’Sara:: Be good. I love you. :: T’Sara threw her arms around T’Lea’s neck and gave her a quick peck on the cheek before scooting off excitedly into the shuttle.:: :: For a moment T’Lea just stood there, arms crossed as if trying to keep what she was experiencing behind the bars of her rib cage. Something that was all too clear to the Trill standing a meter or so away, though there was no denying that no matter how hard she'd tried, it seemed to be a whole lot more distance than that.:: Vetri: We'll call as soon as we arrive, let you know that we got there okay. :: A half-glance back, and then T’Lea followed through and turned around to finally look at the woman. She swallowed hard, took a shallow breath and met her eyes.:: T’Lea: Don’t do this. If it’s revenge you want, you have it. ::a step closer:: I’m sorry, okay? I am eternally, painfully sorry. I know I can’t undo what happened, but give me a chance to fix it. I’ll make it right, I swear to you I will. :: Begging. This was not the T’Lea everyone knew. This was the act of a desperate woman willing to do anything to make the woman she loved remain with her. Begging was not beneath T’Lea at this point, and the mere thought of that was enough to twist in Della's gut.:: :: It didn't *need* to be this hard. Did it?:: Vetri: You don't need to fix it, T'Lea. I told you, *that's* not the problem. T’Lea: Then what is it? You said something was going wrong inside of you, well, let me help you damn it. Tell me what it is and we’ll work through it together. You’ve been there for me in the past; let me be here for you now. Just stay. :: As if she wanted anything *but* to stay. Leaving was going to tear her damned heart out, and she knew it... but she also knew that what she - they - needed couldn't be found here. But explaining that again was going to get them nothing but more trouble.:: Vetri: You will be with me, lilyali. ::touching her heart:: Right here. And that's what I need. All the rest, all the incredibly distracting things about you that are part and parcel of what I love, will make it harder for me to get right and get back here to you. Not easier. The best help you can be to me, T'Lea, is right here. :: Stepping closer, she wrapped her arms around her wife, hugging her tight and, from the sense she got of the other woman, taking her somewhat completely by surprise. Whatever the Romu-vulc may have expected her to do, this was clearly not it. The kiss that followed it probably didn't help her keep her balance, either, but Della really, *really* needed it.:: :: T’Lea’s mind raced for answers in the conflicting chaos that suddenly, and physically enveloped her. She tried grasping onto anything that would make sense, but in the end all she found was the fabric of Della’s shirt clutched tightly in her fists, and then a surprising embrace of lips against hers.:: :: It was so unexpected that she didn’t have time respond to the affection. In fact, she wasn’t even sure the kiss had actually happened.:: T'Lea: I don’t understand. :: Each syllable was profoundly spoken to impart exactly that.:: Vetri: Call whenever you want, lilylai. And expect me to do the same. And if it's any help at all, remember that I'm going to be with my parents. There's no way in any hell you care to name that I'll be able to put up with that for too long without going crazy, which will be a pretty good incentive for us to get right back here as soon as possible. :: The expression on T’Lea’s Vulcan brow pinched, and she shook her head. The hard realization that there was nothing she could do was starting to sink in.:: Vetri: ::sighing:: And I don't want to leave, but... :: With clear, and extreme, reluctance, Della stepped back. Whether she liked it or not, it was time.:: :: T’Lea felt the break in contact and the fabric of Della’s shirt slip away from her hands, but that wasn’t the only thing that felt like it was slipping away.:: T'Lea: … but you are. :: It probably would have been better for both of them if she had left the obvious unspoken, but it either way it hurt. She shrugged, and backed off with another confused wag of her head.:: Vetri: ::smiling just a little:: Don't blow up the ship whilst I'm gone, 'kay? Or steal it, for that matter. T'Lea: No promises. :: Her tone was hollow, no humor, no feeling. Kind of like how she felt inside. The words themselves reflected that she didn’t expect a return soon, or maybe even at all.:: :: And that was about all there really was to say. Not without repeating themselves, anyway. After a long, silent moment, Della reached out to lay her fingertips on T'Lea's cheek, then turned and headed into the shuttle.:: :: It was time to go.:: :: Unable to watch the shuttle leave, unable to take any more emotional punishment, T’Lea departed the deck hoping to get back to her quarters in time to deaden her feelings with a bottle of Romulan Ale before she felt the cold distance of space begin to separate the last connection she had to Della – their telepathic bond.:: FIN -------------------- Ambassador Della Vetri Diplomatic Officer USS Invicta Author ID O238506DV0 & Lieutenant Commander T’Lea History & Archaeology Specialist USS Invicta Author ID I238301T10
  16. It's funny cause as someone who is pretty lukewarm about the nuTrek movies in general, I'm really looking forward to this one. I also seem to have had the opposite reaction to these movies from most other fans in that I actually thought 2009 was the weakest besides the opening Kelvin bit, with the rest of the movie running more on nostalgia and caricatures of the TOS crew ("Oh of course Kirk needs to sleep with green alien women!"), and Into Darkness actually trying to say something (if only barely) about drone warfare/execution without trial that unfortunately got lost with the unnecessary inclusion of Khan. This movie (spoiler alert) supposedly will not be set around Earth (that's actually a "Starbase Yorktown" they are visiting) and might even touch upon issues of exploration vs colonialism/imperialism, but I also like what I'm seeing in terms of separating the bridge crew into smaller pairs like the classic Bones and Spock and other pairings like Uhura and Sulu and Kirk and Chekov. That offers a chance at some real character moments. And I love the imagery of the ship traveling at warp...
  17. I liked Luca's description of the contrast of nothing going on in the corridor versus the magic of creation going on with rebuilding Pompeii in the holodeck. And then of course his surprise at being ambushed by those two troublemakers... ahem.
  18. I don't think Tristam is gonna be able to kiss his way out of that one. Also... "The name's Kells. Aron Kells. "
  19. Death of the Enterprise in Star Trek III:
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