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(( First Officer’s Office, Deck 3 Primary Hull, USS Ronin, In Orbit of Ferenginar )) The last of the usual PADDwork had been finally completed and Toryn stiffly rose from the couch in his office where he had been reclined, or seated for the last hour and a half. They were on leave and he knew most of the crew was already enjoying their time or not on the ever wet Ferengi homeworld. He himself wasn’t overly fond of swamps and bogs, but he’d also never been to Ferenginar before. It was something he looked forward to, especially when he could find time to get out to the Gothis mountains at some point to scale the tallest peak. A soft hoot from across the room signaled the agreement of his Al-Leyan Seiuri, Sylara, from her platinum perch behind his desk. Raga: Al-Leyan Spiced tea, Sez Toural blend. Hot. ::he smirked at his owl:: And Sylara Snacks number five. The replication whirred in response and a moment later he had a fresh libation as well as a small plate of strips of raw targ meat. And one final report he wanted to review before allowing himself to truly start his shore leave. Toryn set the bowl on his desk and held up a strip of meat in the air which was scooped up a moment later as he felt weight on his right shoulder. Pleased screeches murmured in his ear and he chuckled a little to himself. He tapped at the LCARs on the computer in his desk and pulled up all of the Security and Starfleet Intelligence reports for the Alpha Isles. Since the formation of the fanatical or fringe elements of both the Tholian Assembly and the Sheliak Corporate into one Alliance the Alpha Isles had been increasingly more chaotic. The number of distress signals that they’d detected in the region both in and out of Federation territory had steadily increased since their evacuation of the Grus Betans. The Al-Leyan studied the reports and in the essence of being thorough he expanded his search of Starfleet vessels in the region and noticed that aside from the Arrow and Ronin, there was one other starship that operated fairly close to Tholian space. A region known as the Marchlands. He took a sip of his tea while he read up on the region. The USS Constitution-B needed no research or introduction. Years of FNS reports from the legendary vessel briefly flitted in the forefront of his thoughts before he sat back, mug in hand. His face was illuminated by the light from the computer as his office was considerably darker than the rest of the ship. It had been a long day and the nocturnal officer was grateful for the respite for his eyes. Raga: Computer. Open a long distance hail to Commodore Jalana Rajel on the USS Constitution-B. The computer chirped an acknowledgement and the screen shifted from the rotating logo of the USS Ronin, to that of the Starfleet insignia. Toryn glanced down and realized he looked a little dishevelled, his uniform jacket unzipped and wrinkled. He consciously smoothed the creases. He didn’t know the Commodore and as a flag officer he was certain she knew more than him, yet the years of Security and Tactical duty instilled the habit of being thorough. Nothing seemed to be happening. Had he actually placed the call? Just when one might get the impression of the CO ignoring the call, the screen finally changed displaying the face of the red haired Trill. Well in that moment just the red hair. A hand reached up, wiping the red away. She stood somewhere in a breeze that had just come up when she had tried to take the call. Rajel: =/\= Just one… moment. =/\= ::She called out and then moved a few more steps. If Toryn took a good look, he would see round wooden plated buildings in the backgrounds amidst sickly looking crops, something that looked like a tall thin walking tree walking in the background in a pen and a Trill man being left behind as Jalana walked off. Finally Jalana came back into view, looking at the screen, a smile on her lips. =/\= Hello. And hello to your friend. =/\= The Al-Leyan sat up straighter and only then remembered he had a large owl on his right shoulder as the screen changed and he got his first sort of in person look at the fiery haired flag officer. He stared at the screen with his glowing cerulean eyes. Raga: =/\= Cool winds, Commodore Rajel. ::He smiled:: I’m Lieutenant Commander Toryn Raga, First Officer on board the USS Ronin. Apologies if I am disturbing your evening. =/\= Rajel: =/\= Hardly, we are in the middle of an away mission. I just needed to find a more quiet place. Pleasure meeting you, Toryn, please call me Jalana. =/\= A brow raised in a vulcanoid manner at her comment. He had little interactions with most flag officers, even since becoming XO on the Ronin but this was the first time any of them insisted on being referred to by their first names for someone they weren’t familiar with. Raga: =/\= Oh, of course, Jalana. =/\= Sylara gave a soft hoot in greeting as well, her head bobbed up and down several times pleasantly. Rajel: =/\= Much better. And who is your feathered friend? =/\= Raga: =/\= Oh, this is Sylara. She’s an Al-Leyan Seiuri and my childhood companion. =/\= Rajel: ::grinning:: =/\= Nice to meet you Sylara. You are beautiful!=/\= ::She turned her attention back to Toryn. Though I assume you are not calling all the Flag Officers in the Fleet to introduce your owl. Unless you are, in that case I might call my First Officer so you can continue with him.=/\= There was a cheeky little grin on her lips, and a spark in her eyes that indicated her good humor. Toryn noted the grin and it reminded him of Karrod when he made one of his many amusing comments. Raga: =/\= Were that the only reason I would be grateful, sadly I’m calling for something of importance. =/\= Rajel: =/\= Alright then. What can I do for you, Toryn? =/\= She looked behind her and leaned against a wooden fence before looking back to the young man. Curious why the First Officer of the Ronin would be calling her. The Al-Leyan’s brow wrinkled a bit and he tugged at his jacket briefly before explaining. Raga: =/\= Well, we’re dealing with a bit of a problem in the Alpha Isles, us and the Arrow. And while doing some research I noted that your ship is close to Tholian space. Have you heard of the Lattice Alliance? =/\= Toryn knew that both Starfleet Security and Intelligence had put out alerts on the newly formed organisation of two of the most dangerous and xenophobic species in the region, but that didn’t mean that everyone was aware of it, given they only made themselves known a couple of months ago. There may be a lot that a CO had to filter out. Some things that were more important than others to immediately pay attention to. It was easy to consider just focusing on one's own ship but space was a potentially dangerous place and protecting one’s ship meant knowing what was out there. So one part of her work was to keep an eye on the news, Security updates and the like from across the fleet and even more from their area of operation. The Lattice Alliance would be one of these things. But there was not much information out there yet, but enough to be concerned. Rajel: =/\= The alliance between Tholians and Sheliak. ::She said quietly with a nod.:: I believe I read about them in the News. ::She paused.:: Why do you ask? =/\= Raga: =/\= They made a declaration of war on the Federation and all of the Alpha Isles a few months ago when they sent out a message on all channels.'The Lattice Alliance claims this space. Opposition will burn away.' =/\= The Trill sank back against the fence. The Tholians were powerful, dangerous. Starfleet had several run-ins with them and were relieved that this power had been quiet for a while. And as their neighbours, the expansionist and aggressive nature of the Tholians could mean that planets would burn. It did not surprise her that they had formed an alliance with the Sheliak that were equally xenophobic and convinced every other species was inferior. Well apparently unless the other species was Tholian. The raised activity had been concerning but this… this was bad. Rajel: =/\= Shit. ::She hissed, her hand running into her neck as another breeze blew her hair into her face.:: Pardon the language. That means that we’re right in their way over here as well. =/\= Toryn nodded his head somberly, though he hid it well enough there was an obvious concern and remorse behind his glowing eyes. The kind a Starfleet officer who’d failed even partially at a mission would have. Raga: =/\= Weeks after we were forced to withdraw from our engagement with them, when they made that proclamation, we responded to a distress call. Hundred meter tall wildfires ravaging a planet. We discovered the Alliance was responsible. ::He rubbed at the brim of his nose:: They condemned an entire populated colony to burn in order to terraform it for the Tholians. We got out everyone we could, but the world’s a husk now. =/\= The Trill looked into the distance watching inhabitants talk to Starfleet officers, as they did their work while she stood aside talking and receiving these news. It was so peaceful here. If it wasn’t for the run in with Tagus, and even that seemed to be a bit calmer now. Her eyes moved to him briefly. Would they come here too? A deep breath later she nodded. Rajel: =/\= Yes, I remember reading about it… Grus Beta Three. A whole planet… =/\= She mourned for the ones that the Ronin could not save, the flora and fauna, the life on this once blooming planet that now was Ashes. Raga: =/\= While the Lattice Alliance seems to be made from splinter groups from both the Sheliak and the Tholians, and given how close your ship is to Tholian space I wanted to apprise you of what we’re facing here in case things might spill out into neighbouring areas. ::He shrugged:: So far it seems their only interest is the Alpha Isles, but the possibility of the Tholian Assembly seeking to take advantage of this in some way isn’t zero. =/\= Jalana turned her gaze and attention back on the screen in her hand and nodded slightly. Rajel: =/\= If they declared war on the Federation as you said there is no reason to limit it to one area. They could declare any area near the border as their own any moment. =/\= Raga: =/\= Possibly, but the Alliance seems to be fringe elements from both the Tholian Assembly and the Sheliak Corporate. We haven’t yet found anything to suggest the Alliance is condoned by the entirety of both organisations…. but they could still move on just because of the opportunity it presents. =/\= Rajel: =/\= I appreciate that you called me to let me know. Being so close to the border could have easily resulted in a surprise attack while we are asleep. Knowing that they might come, gives us a chance to prepare. =/\= Toryn gave a slight nod and a reassuring smile, though he tapped at his desk out of concern or perhaps irritation with the looming threat. . Raga: =/\= We could still be ambushed regardless, I’ve been there myself. =/\= Rajel: =/\= You know as well as I do that there is nothing that no matter how much you prepare it is never enough. But the enemy you know is better than the one you don’t. =/\= He smiled warmly and again gave the Trill a nod. He could see the rural landscape behind her and the occasional cry of some sort of cattle. Raga: =/\= I couldn’t agree more. =/\= Rajel: =/\= If you hear anything else, please let me know. Likewise if anything should happen on this side of the Embassy I will send word. ::She paused:: The weapon they used on Grus Beta Three, do you know anything about that? Something we can work with? =/\= His brow raised in a vulcanoid manner and his nictitating membranes blinked as he nodded. Raga: =/\= Potentially. The waves were a classified form of radiation discovered by one of Commander Niac’s former hosts. We don’t know how the Alliance got a hold of it as Sencha died along with all of her research. It’s capable of interfering with subspace transmissions and sensor readings for an excessive number of light years. =/\= Rajel: =/\= Things never remain hidden, even if we think there is no reason for them to come out. =/\= Even if it was just someone snooping and then talking to the wrong people. Most of the time they wouldn’t know how information got out in the first place. The Al-Leyan clearly had more to add though he idly rubbed the chest plumage of the owl perched on his shoulder out of pure reflex. Raga: =/\= The radiation is dangerous beyond anything we’ve seen. We think it was responsible for causing at least one temporal anomaly in the system where a former base of theirs was located. We successfully destroyed it. But the Alliance has what we’re classifying as a Dreadnaught. I’d have to check the specifics but I believe it would outsize a D’Deridex. And the one the Ronin encountered had a weaponized version of the Sencha Waves. =/\= Toryn had not been present during the battle as his away team were enacting a rescue of a civilian freighter at the time. He’d read the after action reports though. Raga: =/\= The weapon lets them focus the waves on individual targets. Those waves nearly ripped the Ronin’s hull apart. I wasn’t present at the time as I was with a team rescuing a civilian vessel the Tholians had attacked in the area. But we utilised a series of short warp jumps and some inventive explosives to get out of the confrontation before that beast ripped the Ronin in twaid. If you encounter any vessel deploying one such weapon, reinforce your structural integrity fields. It’ll buy you time. =/\= Jalana nodded slightly, listening to Toryn to make a mental note on that. Buying time would literally be the difference between survival and destruction if it came to powers like the Tholians and the Sheliak. Rajel: =/\= That’s good advice. I’ll advise our Tactical and HCO department of that. =/\= Toryn smiled at the Commodore and leaned in a little. Raga: =/\= I’ll have everything we know about the Sencha Waves sent to the Constitution via secured comms or courier. You have a Starfleet Intelligence detachment on board your ship, do you not? =/\= Rajel: =/\= Yes we do. I’ll make sure they’ll get the data to dig through. Could you also include some details about these inventive explosives? They might inspire my Engineers. =/\= Again he nodded and the Al-Leyan offered the Trill a warm smile. Raga: =/\= Of course, Com…Jalana. Karrod has been trying to impress upon Starfleet Command the urgent threat the Alliance poses in the region but from what he’s mentioned, they seem more concerned with Frontier Day planning. Which is why I wanted to reach out to you as the next closest ship that could be at risk. I don’t know if they’d dare to go after Starbase One Oh Four or not, but as you said. It’s best to be prepared. =/\= Jalana groaned slightly, leaning her head back. She looked up to the clear sky for a deep breath before straightening up again to look at Toryn. Rajel: =/\= Of course they are busier with something that has to do with making them look good rather than something far away from Sol. And when it hits there will be the big question of why we didn’t warn them. =/\= Again his brow raised slightly at her tone while he took a sip from his steaming mug. Raga: =/\= Sounds like that’s spoken from a place of experience? =/\= He could say that again. She had been part of this machine for long enough to recognize repeat offenders and patterns. And quite possible, Apria and her distaste of Starfleet reared her little head in a ‘told you so’ manner. Rajel: =/\= Sorry it’s just… nevermind. We’ll just have to look out for it ourselves, don’t we? I appreciate that you reached out. If they don’t come to 104, they might still try with bordering planets like Cait, and those are in our region. Luckily as a Commodore I can tell some scout ships to go have a look. =/\= Raga: =/\= Certainly, with luck the Tholians will behave but it’s better to be safe than sorry as the Humans say. =/\= Rajel: =/\= Of course. I’ll make sure to let you know if they find anything. I better get back to work now or my crew will think they have to solve this mystery themselves. =/\= He offered her a grateful smile and his own curiosity finally won through as he looked at her rural surroundings. Raga: =/\= I appreciate that. ::He smiled:: It looks as though you’re in a nice locale, I hope your mission’s going well. =/\= Rajel: =/\= Dying plant life in a colony without obvious reasons, so far we haven’t found out why. But we’ll dig a little deeper. Thank you again Toryn and good luck. Please send my regards to Karrod. Keep your people safe. =/\= Raga: =/\= Cool winds and good luck Jalana. And I will. I always look after my people. Be safe. =/\= Jalana nodded with a warm smile towards him, and pressed a button to end the call. With a deep breath she wrote down some notes on that call on her PADD so she wouldn’t forget. It was time to get back to Kiamon, while these ruins had been here for a while it didn’t mean she should let them wait for another ten years. As the screen shifted back to the slowly rotating Ronin logo Toryn sat back and idly scritched at Sylara’s feathers feeling a bit more relieved. It was good to know that their colleagues were forewarned and would give them notice if they uncovered any potential risk to the Alpha Isles. It was concerning that Karrod wasn’t the only CO who was frustrated by Starfleet Command’s distracted state currently. A soft hoot pulled him from his thoughts and he held up a strip of meat to the large avian on his shoulder and smiled. He rose out of his seat and strode up to the climbing axes on the wall. Time to enjoy his shore leave, there was a mountain to climb. — JP by Commodore Jalana Rajel Commanding Officer USS Constitution B Image Team Co-Facilitator A238906JL0 & Lieutenant Commander Toryn Raga First Officer USS Ronin - NCC-34523 Writer ID: A239410TR0 https://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php?title=Toryn_Raga

So negations with the Federation and the UDP have gone well, so well that they are starting a joint effort to help refuges from a newly liberated mine. The federation characters (mine included) are going at 100mph, they're getting to work, but Fraya raises some incredibly important questions. You know it's good when you read the sim and immediately you are thinking of how your character is, or isn't going to answer that question. You also know it's good when you want to write your reply right away. As always @Jack Kessler indulges in his favourite hobby, writing the most kick butt sims that stand among the best not just on our ship but also in our fleet.

Honestly I had to include @Ian OConnor's whole sim here, too, it's just too good.

I guess you may already know that but USS Arrow simulation was just launched last Monday. In order to celebrate such unique event here are the nominations for the Top Funny Quotes of the Season. 🤣😆😂😝

@Karrod Niac deserves everything he is getting for saying mean things about my poor runabout. But the SIM is fine and all.

Ross' player shared this beautiful SIM with me and I just couldn't not put this in appreciations. IC: ((Boston, MA, Earth)) The city had changed its colours. Even though Evan hadn't been there to witness it, he knew from experience. Boston common, a park much older than he dared to think about, had exchanged its enchanting autumn dress of grays and browns for fresh, enlightening green. The rain got less harrowing around this time of the year. When he stepped outside the transporter, the air greeted him with a rich, aromatic wetness, typical after a short shower, but the clouds had already disappeared and made way for spring sunshine, causing every piece of metal within the city to shimmer and shine. The streets were busy as always. He still recognized them, those street corners, the bigger lanes setting off towards the mystic river, small shops and businesses settled deeply into the rows of houses and skyscrapers. It was a city which had preserved its walkability even with the turbolifts popping up - and despite the fact that they would have brought him to his destination much faster, Ross opted for the long walk through the bustling city center that would eventually lead him into the more quiet streets, the suburban life he missed so much and despised at the same time. It felt nice to breathe some fresh air, to feel the sunlight on his skin - and there was something reassuring about walking the old streets, stopping at the same old corner shop where he had spent hours as a braggy and noisy teenager. The shopkeeper was gone, surely retired by now, but Ross immediately recognised his son, who had been in the same year as him during in middle school. There was something haunting about seeing those features again that had been so much more youthful the last time they had seen each other - like a call from the past, a punch in the guts from his own mirror. Ross grabbed a can of soda and went to the counter. Toby: How are you, Sir. That's 2.50. Ross: Hi. Thanks - ::he paid with change, just for nostalgic reasons:: Nice weather today. Toby: Yeah. Didn't stop raining for days now, you're very lucky. Are you on holiday? First time in the city? He hesitated. Evan's faint smile did not vanish as he tilted his head slightly - oO We used to write notes to the same girl during lessons, don't you remember? Oo Ross: It's been a while. Toby: Oh, then you should totally check out the Athenæum. They restored its front, and there's a really nice fair going on today. Lots of people in the city. Ross: ::nodding:: Yeah, I might. Thanks, pal. He knew he wouldn't. His destination was at the other side of town, in an uncanny house at the end of a quiet street. He wasn't sure yet if its door would open for him. Toby: Sorry - do we know each other by any chance? His smile grew a little more distanced. There it was, the prospect of a reunion - the dreading questions. Where have you been, how are you doing? Starfleet? Are you kidding? For the first time in his life, he would be able to tell something he could be proud of - and maybe for that exact same reason he didn't want to. Ross: No, I don't think so. Enjoy your day, man. He raised his hand and left Toby behind, the soft ring of the bells above the door feeding softly into his lie. The pensive gaze followed him a good few steps down the street, and he kept it close, like a second skin protecting him from curious questions and misplaced nostalgia. ((Short Timeskip)) ((Christina Stirling's House, Suburban Boston, MA, Earth)) Evan didn't remember for how long he had stood on the opposite side of the street, eyeing the small house in front of him, before he finally moved and crossed the street. She lived only two blocks from the house they had both grown up in - and yet, the neighborhood seemed much more quiet, much more established than the memory of his childhood which always seemed to take place in the city center, where things were so much rougher and rainy. The doorbell rang softly and sent shivers down his spine. Stirling, it said in plain letters - Christina had kept the family name he had never truly grown accustomed to. It's your choice, his mother had said, If you want to stay with 'Ross' that's fine with us. He couldn't really explain what it was about that name that he so desperately clung onto for all those years now - just another stamp of not truly belonging that he had forced onto himself for no real reason. His hair darker, his build more lean in younger years, a born runner - and younger, always so much younger than her. Christina had been 16 when her parents had opted for adoption. When Evan remembered his sister, he remembered the version from his childhood - and to his own shock it was a copy of that woman in her late 20s who now opened the door. Robyn didn't look exactly like her mother, but she carried her features - fierce eyes, broad shoulders and a few freckles spreading delicately over her nose. A toddler was sitting on her arm, cooing happily as their eyes met. Ross opened his mouth only to close it again. There she was, his niece, with a child he didn't know, and her confused expression said more than a thousand words. Whatever they had shared, ten years ago, it was gone - because he hadn't been there. Robyn: Oh... - Are you the guy for the roof? He couldn't bring himself to answer, and so he just nodded thoughtlessly - his heartbeat was rushing. Robyn: Sorry, I thought you were coming tomorrow! ::turning around, calling into the flat:: Mo-om! The guy's here, for the gutters! Ross subconsciously held his breath as he heard steps approaching. And then there she was. Christina, with her bright eyes and the blonde hair he had always envied, making her so much more akin to their parents - their eyes met, and she gaped at him in shock. Christina: ...Evan? He could only give a small, embarrassed nod. And then she was all over the place, approached him with fast steps, pulling him into a hug he had dreaded and missed, exactly like this little life in Boston. The same tears were verging their eyes as she detached from him, ruffling his hair in disbelief - Christina: I almost didn't recognize you... look at you, your hair... All gray. All grown up. She didn't say it out loud, but as they both smiled at each other, she knew she didn't have to. Robyn: Wait, did you say Evan? As in... uncle Evan? His voice was sounding incredibly raspy when he finally answered. Ross: Hi there... thought it was time. End of Scene (for now ) -- *** Lieutenant JG Evan Ross Intelligence Officer StarBase 118 Ops O240009ER2

Wanted to highlight a very touching JP that just hit my inbox from @Talos Dakora and @Robin Hopper.

I don't have an easy way of explaining what I mean, but the more I read @Kirsty L. Carpenter's sims, the more Kirsty she starts to sound to me.

I'm going to share this whole entire scene as links to the four sims that make it up because the whole thing is absolutely stellar and deserves to be read with all its context. This is a scene where Luxa goes to hit on Beck after the Ronin's award ceremony only to have T'Ama be an absolute demon and (accidentally?) torpedo Beck's night of romance. Hell the whole relationship might have blown up. Thank you to @LuxaLorana and @Quentin Beck for this scene, it was delicious. It has been absolutely fantastic to join the Ronin for shore leave! Lt Luxa Lorana - Unfinished Experiment JP: Lieutenant JG T'Ama and Ensign Quentin Beck - Sending 'Em Off Lt Luxa Lorana - I Won't Be A Fool Ensign Quentin Beck - Try Me

Some background. The UDP have started to become a major power in the Gamma Quadrant after the fall of the Dominion. The USS Octavia E Butler is on a mission at Cheyd'lang, a planet that the UDP wants to integrate, These sims by @Alora DeVeau and @Jack Kessler are from the UDP's perspective and I love the political atmosphere that they layer in and the contrast of thoughts to actions. 🥰

@Josh Herrick with a delightful and thoughtful entrance of a NPC

This is a really creative and unique sim from our very own FO, @Samira Neathler, which adds a really fun (and proper cute!) "bird's-eye view" of one of our away teams, from the perspective of UMO. UMO - A day in the life (google.com)

@Wil Ukinix playing Annamae Barberra truly is a treasure and I'm thrilled she's a visiting character. I wanted to put a quote in the Ronin appreciations quote, because it's entirely possible I've fallen a little bit in love with the existence of this character in general, but then I just kept finding more quotes that were good in this one and decided it was best I just share the whole thing 😂

((Soldotna, 21st Floor, Mac's Quarters)) Mac sat in one of the few chairs his living room currently held. He had been alternating an ice pack on and off his left forearm for the last thirty minutes. He'd stopped by the Clinic before heading back to his room, and one of the nurses had verified Mac's assumption that he'd overdone it in his workout, but they treated his arm and assured him he should be fine in a day or two. McGillian: Computer, begin personal log. Personal Log, Daniel McGillian Jr, Stardate 240104.16, I'm not sure where to start really. I thought I had started out on the right foot here, but clearly some old habits die hard. Mac was referring to his habit of trying to handle stressful situations on his own, and his lifelong struggle with connecting to people. McGillian: Instead of just easing into my new position, I managed to make myself look like a fool in front of the Commodore. ::sigh:: Atleast Falt thought I showed initiative. Mac did some of the deep breathing and grounding techniques that Tristana Yodel, the Counselor aboard the Alamo had taught him during their many sessions throughout his teenage rage years as he had come to call them. McGillian: If im being honest with myself here, I'm disappointed at being grounded instead of on a starship out exploring, and it kind of puts me on edge. Counselor Yodel would say ::imitates Yodel:: Daniel, you are allowing your fears of the unfamiliar to limit your ability to connect with your surroundings and your peers. ::sighs:: Pretty sure she'd be right too. I practically ran out of the awards at the first opportunity. Mac's thoughts swam. He'd been so focused on safety he'd fallen short on a key factor of security, your crew mates. He'd always wondered if it was his experiences or his Rodulan heritage that seemed to make it harder for him to connect with people. Maybe it was both. McGillian: Not everything has been bad, I had a good talk with Alex, Commander DeVeau was nice. ::wide eyed:: I should have seen if she needed anything after the awards. I never answered Lt. Xiron's question either. Mac stood up and started pacing. He felt bad for rushing out at the end of the awards ceremony, and although the Commander was certainly a capable woman, Mac just wanted to help. He had read about her loss when going through reverification paperwork, and postponed Deveau's until after the child birth. No one needed security clearance stress when dealing with everything she had going on. McGillian: I will check in with the Commander soon, I wouldn't want to disturb her now. ::loudly sighing:: I suppose I should probably make an appointment with the station's Counselor, maybe. I should check in with the new Chief of Security, Lt. Cmdr. Kendrick, first thing tomorrow. Computer, end log. Mac stretched his arm and stopped pacing at the front door. He turned to face his living room, and brought his hand to his chin while his brow furrowed. McGillian: Definitely need more furniture. NT/END _________________ Ensign Daniel McGillian Jr. Security Officer Denali Station D240104DM2

((Lora’s home - Kalus - Denobula)) ((OOC: this sim takes place almost at the end of shore leave. I haven't put any tag but if someone wants to meet Drex's family, please feel free to jump in!)) If Drex had made his calculations right, the house would have been empty. His mother Lora had a lecture at the Science Academy and his half siblings had moved from the house years ago. He was the last one to abandon the nest, but since he was not married he did not really leave it after all. He placed his right palm on the security panel near the main door. With a soft hiss the door unlocked itself. A sweet scent of flowers escaped from the inside, traveled through his nose and broke out into a nostalgic smile and a childhood memory of him and Ayra playing hide and seek with their mother. If he had made his calculations right, he had the time to refresh himself and eat something before anyone would find out he had returned. But "if" was wrong. As the door opened he realized his calculations were based on totally false axioms. Not only was his mother at home, he could hear her contagious laugh from the main living room on the right, but he could recognize at least six of the other members of his large family. Tara with her son Adrax and her daughters Alina and Riel, Tes and…wait! Was it Jorx the one who almost choked himself laughing? He surely was. Why were they all at home at that hour of the day? Instinctively Drex turned and raised his gaze to the sky towards the sun: it was definitely late in the morning. As he watched the sun moving motionless in the sky he toyed with the idea of closing the door again, nullifying all his good intentions, inventing an emergency to return to the ring and blaming anyone of his superior officers for his absence. oO They’ll never find out Oo Surely they would not. oO Oh… Yes. She will and… she will too. She knows you better than anyone else, you can’t lie to her. You did and she made you regret it.Oo Drex: Ayra :: He murmured with a deep breath :: oO And she, she will ask you about the ceremony. You can lie, she doesn't know how it really works, but are you ready for the consequences if she'll find out? You won’t lie to your section head officer. Oo Drex: Oh... just shut up. :: He commented bothered :: Ral: Always talking to your imaginary friend? The deep voice of his half brother caught him completely off guard. Drex lowered his gaze from the sky to the taller Denobulan. He forced a smile, trying to hide his disappointment of being mocked once again. Drex: Ain’t a friend. He's more of an annoying brother. The other man had kept walking and was now face to face with the science officer. Ral was half a head taller than Drex, but of the same build. Since they both inherited their mother's coloring and curly hair, they could easily be mistaken for twins. And the few years difference had not yet left any wrinkles on Ral's face. Ral: You miss me so much I’m one of your hallucinations now? :: He chuckled :: Drex: Hallucination? :: He shook his head :: Not at all. My hallucinations are all beautiful and kind and gentle and useful. But… I can classify you as a nightmare if you really insist. :: The mouth curved into a wide, sincere smile. :: I’m glad to see you, Ral. Ral returned the smile. Ral: I’m glad you made it. Ayra was driving me crazy, she even insisted that I come to pick you up at whatever place you could be. Ral reached out with his right hand for Drex’s bag as he rested his left hand on his shoulder. Ral: Let’s get inside before you decide to run and hide on a Starfleet ship once again. Drex: I did not hide. Why’s everyone here? You assured me they all had to work today. Ral: Yeah, I did :: He nodded and gently pushed his brother inside :: Drex took three steps backwards and with the forth he witnessed the door becoming the block of his only escape route. Drex: So, what happened? :: He insisted :: Ral: Mom is pregnant. She was keeping it a secret, until the marriage, but :: He shrugged :: she felt sick this morning while she was with Tara and you know how she is… Drex: Tara loose tongue. :: He sighed :: The older Denobulan nodded. Ral: You bet she is :: he laughed :: You’re better turned, our mother made some changes to the house and you risk tripping over something if you don't watch where you're going. Drex was forced to leave his bag to his brother while turning to face the following two steps that would have placed him right in the center of the doorway of the living room. An uncomfortable silence felt in the room. It lasted hours, or so it seemed to Drex. But he blinked his eyes only twice, before a voice he knew well and had missed too much shouted his name with joy. Lora: Drex! You made it! The woman rushed to her son and gave him a big hug resting her head on his chest for a moment. Drex inhaled the smell of her curly brown hair and his heart smiled. Drex: Hi mom… Ral told me the news, congratulations :: He embrace her for no more than five seconds before they pull apart :: Lora: Oh… He was supposed to be a secret. :: She slapped the air in false frustration with her left hand :: Come. Come and sit. You must tell us all your adventures before your sister sniffs you out and takes you away for preparation. Half shuffling and half walking, Drex reached the center of the room, where he was surrounded by the others. Despite having tried in various ways, he had never managed in all those years to make them understand how much he really hated that type of situation. On the other hand, how could a Denobulan be born and raised in an overpopulated city and in a family structure which, if one also included uncles and cousins, could count a few hundred members? For a few seconds the voices overlapped, but then one silenced the others. Jorx: Let him breathe :: He entered the room from the kitchen :: I’m curious to hear about his fabulous Starfleet. Drex clenched his jaw, even ceasing the forced smile he put on for being the center of attention. When his mother stepped aside, allowing him to see past her, he stared hard into his father's smoky gray eyes. Half of Drex’s family was home that morning. That was unexpected, especially since his half brother Ral had guaranteed him the house would have been empty. Instead, due to his mother's unexpected pregnancy, Drex found himself facing not only his mother, but also his father, among some of his own siblings and nephews and nieces. He has been away from home for more than a year now. The last time he visited his family, things did not go as smoothly as they should have, and an innocent remark caused a major row between Drex and his father, Jorx. Drex left Denobula the following hour and had not spoken to his father since, but now his twin sister was getting married and made him promise to help, so he found himself, for better or worse, facing his old man. Jorx: Nice to have you finally home, son. I hope you put some salt in that head of yours. Drex was tempted to walk away, but with the corner of his eye noticed Ral blocking the way. The doubt that he had lied to him and the meeting was prepared crossed his mind. Drex: Guess ain’t something you should care about. :: He spitted out :: But since you asked, I’m fine, thank you. And satisfied. He unzipped his jacket and got a small box from the inner pocket. Drex: Got something for you. He approached the older Denobulan and handed him over the box. Drex: I got promoted a few days ago. :: He ignored the small chat and congratulations the news produced on the others presents :: And Commodore Oddas gave me this for saving lives during the last mission. As you can see, I’m not wasting my time. I’m making a difference. Jorx took the box and looked at the ribbon inside. Jorx: Saving lifes? :: He snapped the lid shut :: You’re an architect, you save lives designing safe buildings! You… Drex: I’m not gonna waste my license arguing with you. I already proved my point. You are scared, I understand that, but you cannot control my life! Jorx shook his head with a snort of disbelief. Jorx: I never wanted to control your life, but you are letting others do it. You gave up your freedom for what? This? :: He raised the box a little :: Great deal :: A grimace marred his face. :: Lora: Leave him alone, Jorx, or leave this house now. His mother’s interference stopped Drex as he was ready to reply. His fist twitched against his side and he managed to bite his tongue before saying anything else. Drex: I’m the one leaving, mom, as you said a few minutes ago… I need to see Ayra. Ral: I come with you. Drex: No… I know the way. Drex was upset. Not only with his father, but with Ral and the others as well. They had planned to trap him, until his mother realized there was no way the two of them could come to an agreement that way. Without too much grace, he pushed his brother aside, making room for himself to reach the corridor and from there the exit. When he reached the outside, Drex walked without stopping down the avenue. His gaze to the pavement, he did not pay attention to the blue spots created by the blossoming Denobulan almond trees that lined the street. It had once been his favorite sight. He had hundreds of paintings in his laboratory, each a different attempt to photograph the magnificence of nature with the brush. He never got even close to perfection, but he never desisted, till today. Absorbed in his thoughts, mostly focused on complaints towards his father, he reached the building where Ayra lived. He and Ral had designed this building. A 23 floors tower, with balconies bursting with trees and shrubs. It was the first job Dorji had given him as chief architect. As he reached the entrance, he stopped and looked at the result of his first work. He felt proud of his achievement and the clouds that darkened his heart cleared. He entered the doorway and then the lift. His sister lived on the last floor. The rapid ascent lasted only a few tenths of a second, but it gave him time to put what had just happened in the back of his mind. As he knocked on the door, he realized how much he had missed Ayra and how much he wanted to hug her again. He felt stupid for not coming back sooner. He laid his hand on the sensor. The door opened and Ayra appeared. Her black hair was dyed mid-length a bright purple. The surprise on her face was sincere and a wide smile lit up her face. Ayra: Drex! She threw herself around his neck, hugging him. Drex: Easy! Easy! :: He laughed, hugging her back :: You’re gonna choke me. He moved forward, carrying her inside the apartment. Ayra: I missed you so much. Drex: Let go :: He chuckled :: Yet he was still holding her. His heart and his brain were in conflict with each other. She was his friend, his confidante and the model for all his lovers. She was, in fact, the reason why he never got married. Drex: I need to take a shower… :: He breathed in the scent of her hair one last time. Then he let go. :: Alone. :: He added in a whisper :: His sister took a step back with a smile, setting him free. Ayra: When did you become so shy? :: She mocked him :: Drex: We’re not kids anymore, Ayra. :: With a slight note of regret :: And you… :: He pointed at her :: you’re the one getting married tomorrow for the second time. Ayra: Oh… I see… now it’s my fault, isn’t it? :: She walked away pretending to be annoyed :: Make yourself at home then. Drex: Thank you. He took his jacket and shoes off, placing them in order in the cabinet near the door. Drex: Do you still have some of my old clothes? I left my things at mum’s… Ayra: Were you there before coming here? Why didn’t you take a shower there? Drex: Dad was there… long story… Ayra raised an eyebrow. Ayra: Long story? Your shuttle landed less than two hours ago. Get in the shower. I’ll get the clothes and you’re going to tell me what he said this time. She approached again, giving orders, but he saw the concern in her gaze. Drex: I don’t want to talk about that now, really… I… Unexpectedly, Ayra hugged him again. Ayra: You’re doing great, Drex. :: She whispered :: Don’t listen to him. I’m proud of you. NT / END ============ Ensign Drex Science Officer Denali Station D240011D14

What can I say, except: I love Renirs SO DANG MUCH. @Jovenan truly has made the best PNPC in the fleet. Reading her torment my jellyfish is an absolute delight.

Help, I need an adult! An adultier adult! 💀💀 @Ian OConnor has slain me with this.

((Paoike Colony, Drever IV)) Jalana had basically fled the scene. On one hand she tried to keep a distance on Diz’mim, still not over the fact that the guy she had been flirting with and spent all night talking with on Arentis was now her First Officer. She did not want to give him the wrong impression and distance was the best thing she could do. On the other hand she did not want to cross paths with Tagus. Hearing that name after all this time had shocked her to the core. She checked on her Tricorder and the rudimentary outline her scanner had made to figure out which way to go to get to these ruins. She should just go around this building, through this field and then straight until- Kiamon took a few steps, eyes down trying to avoid the puddles while he balanced his PADDs in his arms. He didn’t even register that there was another person there until he quite literally collided with them, PADDs flying everywhere. Bending down, he was startled by a memory… But it wasn’t his memory. Not really, anyway. Same as in this moment it wasn’t exactly Jalana’s memory, but in a way, it still was… (( FLASHBACK )) (( Trill - A bookstore )) The room was dimly lit. At least it appeared that way, as the ceiling high shelves packed with books blocked out the sun, so the visitors relied on the light coming from the ceiling. It gave them enough to see the titles, to read a few pages, but one would not want to linger and read. It was the kind of atmosphere that invited to browse and buy, but one wanted to read in a better spot. Perfect for a bookstore. That new book smell hung in the air. Paperbound hardcover, soft cover, printing ink. Paradise for bibliophiles. Fascinating that it was the same on many planets. Books had an universal smell as if different species had discovered the same secret formula to what made books smell like magic. Pinar hummed to herself as she walked through the bookstore. Her dirty blonde hair was messily plopped on the top of her head in a large bun with strands hanging out that inadvertently framed her face. Her long fingers trailed along the shelves and occasionally moving up to the spines of the books, appreciating the beauty and history as she felt the various textures on her fingertips. Her blue-gray eyes focused on the titles, not sure yet which book she was looking for, but knowing that she would be certain the moment she saw it. A few aisles down a young Olen moved along the shelf with purpose. A few books already on his arms his finger moved along the spines in front of him to focus on the titles, following the finger helped him to not let his eyes stray. He could swear that he heard a hum somewhere, maybe it was the climate control, so he shook it off. Pulling another book from the shelf he opened it to flick through the pages before a smile appeared on the young man’s face, exactly what he needed. Piling the book on to the pile in his arm he continued his path along the shelf. Maybe there was more on the other side. So he took a turn. Pinar had just selected one book and had flipped it open as she rounded the end of one aisle and intended to move on to the next. She knew approximately how many steps to take before turning, but was rather taken aback- quite literally in fact- when she felt the sensation of running into something solid. Her newly discovered read fell from her hands as she herself stumbled forward, reaching out to brace herself in case she fell. Something bumped against him, straight frontal bump, sending the books flying. He only heard it, the weight gone from his arms, because in the surprise he had closed his eyes, stumbling backwards. Blinking a few times, more out of shock than anything else, she saw the man she must have collided with and felt her cheeks flush. She couldn’t see his eyes yet, as they appeared to be snapped shut, but he was still rather physically attractive to her even without knowing the color. Dahn: Oh dear.. When he opened his eyes again his dark brown gaze looked down into the most beautiful blue-gray eyes looking right at him. From what he could tell just as startled as him. Varel: E..excuse me. I… are you hurt? Pinar looked down at herself to verify what she already knew. Dahn: No.. ::she nearly whispered the words and spoke a little louder:: What about you? Why was she nervous? Pinar’s heart skipped a beat even as she felt herself desperately trying to form words and sentences longer than a few words. Varel: No, no. I’m fine. He cleared his throat and took a step back. As he went to bend down to pick up his books, she did the same and he once more bumped into her, this time his head against hers. He rubbed his forehead. Varel: Sorry. It’s fine. I can… Pinar blushed harder, even as she rubbed her own head after their second collision trying to pick up their fallen books. She smiled softly at the man who was obviously as clumsy as her before moving slightly and continuing to go through the books. As she went on to pick them up he looked at her, something formed a knot in his chest. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever met. And of course he had to practically beat her up like that. Exaggerations were definitely his style. She picked up a book, thinking it was hers, but found it was not what she was expecting. She looked back at the man more curious than ever. Dahn: Are you.. That is.. Do you write? Varel: Uh.. yes. Yes I am. Well aspiring Author rather. Something all these books about writing, styles, prose, and character development might be able to tell her. Pinar’s lips quirked up, and she handed the man one of the books he had been holding. Dahn: Aspiring? Have you published anything yet? Varel: No, not yet but…. Well, I’m working on it. He had been working on it for a few years, getting stuck here and there. Non-Fiction was so much more challenging, but it was what he wanted to do. Following in the footsteps of the great philosophers… Pinar flushed more, aborting her start to collect more books to instead brush off her dusty hands and reach out. Dahn: Pardon me. I seem to have lost my manners in the collision ::she winked playfully and extended a hand:: I am Pinar Dahn. These cheeks being blessed with the soft tint of pink made her look even more radiant. Pinar.. The name sounded like music. Olen stared at her for a moment longer like a lovestruck teenager. Even though the teenage years were just behind him. Then he realized she had extended her hand, the wink speeding up his heartbeat. He wiped it off, making sure there was no sweat on them and took her hand to shake it. Varel: Nice to meet me… you… I’m Varel…. Olen.. Olen Varel. ((END FLASHBACK)) Kiamon smiled to himself as he remembered the now bittersweet memory. There was a flood of conflicting emotions when it came to Olen, but before the hurt there were some good memories. Shaking his head he pulled himself back to the present and remembered the person he had nearly tackled by accident. Tagus: Are you hurt? Jalana snapped out of the memory at the voice. Just now realizing that the hard thing she had ran against was not in fact a wall or something like that but a person. She raised a hand rubbing her forehead, even though she had hit him with her chest. Rajel: Yeah… I mean no, I’m fine. :: She looked around realizing her hand as empty. :: Are you hurt? He looked at the redhead, feeling himself blush ever so slightly. She was beautiful and Trill and… Starfleet? Tagus: No, I’m fine thank you. I’m so sorry about that.. Rajel: No no , I’m sorry I should have looked where I’m walking. Still looking for the PADD she saw a whole pile on the ground hers and a few others and nodded as she took half a step forward and bent down to pick them up. Kiamon bent forward to grab the PADDs and instead hit his head against the woman again. Rubbing his head he gave her a sheepish smile. Tagus: I guess I never learn. Sorry about that.. What were the chances? If she had a strip of Latinum for every time that happened… she had two strips, which wasn’t a lot, but it was crazy that it happened twice. Rajel: Likewise. She said with a little laugh and picked up the PADDs before straightening up again. She looked down on them to find her own when she saw what was displayed on them. Rajel: Oh, are you a Scienti- She began and her stomach sank, realisation hitting her. .oO Please don’t let him be a Trill, please please please. Oo. Looking up she looked into those blue-gray eyes that could almost be Pinar’s. And there they were. The tell-tale spots around his face, stunning her into silence. .oO Shit Oo. Kiamon smiled and looked up from the single PADD he had managed to grab before her. His eyebrow scrunched together in confusion for a moment, though as she trailed off. Shrugging it off he used his best charming voice. Tagus: Caught me! I’m Kiamon Tagus. ::He looked politely at her, silently asking for her introduction as well:: Rajel. .oO I know Oo. ::She simply stared at him when he introduced himself, swallowing. He was not Pinar, yet she could see her in him, how was that possible?:: I… I’m Jalana. So this was Jalana. He had known the name sounded lovely, but he would be lying if he said he didn’t think she was as lovely as the name. He nearly laughed at himself, realising how silly and unprofessional he was being. Besides, now finally he could get somewhere with the help that he had asked for. Jalana was the Commanding Officer. But Jalana what, exactly? Tagus: Such a pleasure! I, uh.. ::he chuckled slightly:: I have to admit I never did catch your surname on the report. She had to tell him. He had to know. It wasn’t fair that she did and he was in the dark. Pressing the PADDs against herself like a shield of protection she took a deep breath. Rajel: Jalana … ::She repeated, pausing before taking a deep breath and adding.:: … Rajel. As a scientist, Kiamon knew that physically time had not truly stopped or slowed, but relatively speaking it had. He felt like he had been sucker punched in his gut as all the air in his lungs escaped and he dropped the PADD in his hand. Rajel. She had said Rajel. His heart pounded against his chest as if trying to escape and Kiamon took a stumbling step backwards, away from the Trill before him. Tagus: Rajel.. It was barely a whisper and if Kiamon had cared he wouldn’t have been certain that the woman could hear him. Instead, he shook his head and blinked back the tears forming in his eyes. Blue eyes that may as well have been Pinar’s with the amount of tears they held. He couldn’t breathe. Why couldn’t he breathe? She heard it. All the charm, the smiles, all of it gone. The whisper pregnant with disbelief, with shock and painful memories. She couldn’t blame him, not one bit, not at all. It was all on her. No, on Olen. It was his fault. She remembered it and the memory squeezed around her chest like an iron fist. She had been in its grip from the moment Bolen had mentioned his name. Of all the worlds, of all the galaxy, why did he have to be here? It had been so much better to run from the past. Kiamon wasn’t a doctor, but he was certain he must be dying. He- or rather Tagus- had experienced death many times over. This must be it. The end. But with an anger that was most definitely not typical of him, rather channelled from Pinar herself he set his jaw and glared at Olen. No, not Olen, Rajel… Tagus: You! His voice was gritty and filled with hatred. With hurt. With a pain nobody should ever feel or know. She couldn’t help it, the tone of this single word made her wince. She should have known it would come. Of course he would hate her. No… she would hate him. Pinar would hate Olen for this. Rightfully. But these memories were part of them, it was near impossible to keep them distant. Rajel: ::whispering:: I… Tagus: How could you?! Rajel: ::quietly:: Pinar… Tagus: Kiamon. It was short, but as much a reminder for himself as it was for her. She wasn’t Olen. He wasn’t Pinar. She cursed inwardly. She knew that. He was not her, even if he carried her memories, her life with him. Rajel: Right.. Sorry. Kiamon. ::She sighed.:: I… What was she supposed to say. Sorry that I tore myself out of your life? Sorry that I made your world crumble into pieces? How would one apologize for that? Kiamon cringed. She was clearly struggling and he wanted to care. He also wanted to switch off these memories and get on a shuttle and put as much distance between them as possible. He had always known it was a possibility this could happen, but after so long there was a hope that this would be avoided indefinitely. Tagus: You.. ::no, not her, he reminded himself:: He.. He left.. Them. It was a struggle to put that separation, but he tried. He felt the pain as if it was his own. The heartbreak hurting as if it had just happened all over again. Even the way he said it was all in a kindness to her. Pinar’s words wanting to slip out. oO Coward. How could you, Olen? Oo Every cell in Jalana’s being wanted to tell Kiamon how sorry she was. How much she regretted something that she had not done. The memory was deep ingrained into her. Olen was after all the symbiont’s first host. Rajel: I’m sorry. It was merely a whisper. It didn’t even come close to how sorry she was. There were no words to express it properly. The heartache, the pain, the grief. Everything that Olen had caused, the way he had hurt his wife and their daughter. Without an explanation. Kiamon took a deep breath and began pacing, completely forgetting about the crops and the PADDs and the mission. Lifetimes and lifetimes filled with the lingering grief of losing Olen. And for what? How many people were offered an opportunity like this? And yet, he didn’t know that he wanted to hear it. What could Rajel possibly say that would make this okay? Tagus: He had a family and he just… ::his fists clenched and unclenched repeatedly:: Jalana closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Rajel: I know. He stopped pacing and looked up at her, even though it pained him to do so. The woman he had found so enrapturing now gave him flashes to painful memories. Tagus: I just.. ::he huffed, wishing he could be more eloquent:: I want answers. I need answers. Rajel: No. I don’t blame you. I… I cannot explain it right now. I.. ::she hesitated.:: I will try. But not now. Kiamon’s eyes flashed in frustration and he faced her fully head on. Tagus: Why not now? Rajel: We have the colony to worry about first. ::She said gently looking up to him.:: As much as I want to explain, it… there is a lot to unwrap and ::with a sigh she added, as gently as she could.:: … it won’t bring those lost years back. But we can help the people here to not lose their years… yes? Kiamon shook his head, battling his anger again. Of course he.. No she wouldn’t want to talk about it. Olen never wanted to talk about things. Stubborn until the end- clearly a trait that Jalana shared. Tagus: And perhaps you’ll conveniently just beam back on your ship and leave before we get that chance to talk? ::the accusation was clear in his tone:: She couldn’t blame him for thinking that. It would be easy to finish the work here and run again, never to be seen again. But she knew it would just be a matter of time until she’d have to face it again. She had to give him answers. Rajel: No. I promise I am not trying to push it under the rug. You will get answers. He still wasn’t sure he believed her, but the moment he took to breathe reminded him that they were standing out in the open where anyone could hear and that wasn’t particularly appealing either. And stars, she was right. As much as he hated to admit it, the mission was more important than this right now. Curse his Starfleet training guilt tripping him. Tagus: ::muttering:: Fine.. Jalana hoped that he agreed, but she didn’t understand what he muttered. So under his breath. Rajel: Sorry, what? Kiamon cleared his throat and reluctantly spoke louder. Tagus: I said fine. But I promise you this, if you try to leave without talking about this I will seek you out. I’m not Pinar.. I am far more persistent. Her gaze rested on him. Pinar had been gentle but when she wanted something she dug until she got there. It was how she had managed to deal with Olen all these years, especially when he lost himself in his writing. She was the one to be able to get him out of that world into reality again. But she had no doubt that they had a different kind of persistence. She could already see it in the brief interaction. Rajel: Wouldn’t expect it any different. Kiamon reached his hand out for his PADDs with a sigh, his other hand running through his hair leaving him looking dishevelled. Tagus: So… were you off to somewhere in that hurry or…? It was an olive branch. A peace offering. A signal that he would do his best to play nice right now, even though every fiber of his being was screaming at him to yell at her. Seeing the hand outreached Jalana had the urge for a moment to take it. She already loosened the grip on the PADDs to reach out but then realized he would want his PADDs back and changed the direction of her hand as if that was always planned this way and made sure not to give him hers. Holding out his PADDs she nodded. Rajel: Yes. Ad… Sir Bolen mentioned ruins outside the settlement from the old power plant and such. I wanted to have a look at it. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about them, do you? JP by Commodore Jalana Rajel Commanding Officer USS Constitution B Image Team Co-Facilitator A238906JL0 & MSNPC LtCmdr. Kiamon Tagus Botany/Ecology Specialist On Special Assignment As played by: -------------------- LtJG Dr. Eleanor "Ellie" Park Medical Officer USS Constitution-B Writer pronouns: She/Her or They/Them Character pronouns: She/Her A238908T10

I feel like if you make the Captain cry, you automatically go to Appreciations. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.

The Gorkon away teams are currently navigating a secretive station laced with hidden traps here there and everywhere, and in this really fun sim from Vylaa we get to see some of that action in a whole load of cool descriptions and dialogue 👏 Lt Vylaa zh'Tisav: Bada Boom. Big Bada Boom (google.com)

(( Denali Station, Soldotna, 21st Floor, Mac's Quarters )) McGillian: Security Officer's Log, Stardate 240104.06, I have begun my duties at Denali Station and have already come across some things that I am concerned about. Mac paced across the floor in his new room. It was spacious, much more spacious than what he'd had on board the Forrester, the Alamo, or the Academy. He found it both refreshing and a bit anxiety inducing, he'd have to get some extra furniture or something to make the space not quite as open. McGillian: There are numerous personnel due for security clearance verification, security seems mostly preoccupied with the protection of the administration center, and the Commodore does not have an armed escort when leaving the administration center. Computer Pause. Mac brought his hands up to his face as he stopped pacing. He rubbed his hands up and down his face and then took a deep breath. McGillian: Computer, resume log. ::continues pacing with hands behind back:: I've submitted the list of personnel requiring security clearance reverification to Lt. Cmdr. Falt, I should be able to begin interviews tomorrow morning. Mac paused for a moment, he knew to some extent his recommendations would likely cause some disgruntled attitudes, but he had watched his father endure similar and worse things when upholding security regulations. McGillian: ::clears throat:: In addition, I've delved into the security records and discovered that the Commodore does not maintain a security escort when leaving the administrative area of Denali Station. Given the recent events that occured before my arrival, and the general threats possible when moving outside of the secured administrative area, I have made Lt. Cmdr. Falt aware of my intent to bring my recommendation directly to the CO for her safety. Mac stopped pacing and placed his hands on the back of one of the tall chairs sat at the kitchen bar and slightly leaned down. His quarters came with a full sized kitchen. Not that he knew much about cooking to fully make use of it. McGillian: I hope that the Commodore will take the gravity of this seriously. Finally I have submitted recommendations to Lt. Cmdr. Falt to establish a Federation Security Outpost within the city. Given the large population, that seems to be growing daily, there needs to be an established lawful Federation presence within the city that can handle matters on the civilian side. End Log. Mac took a deep breath and turned around from the chair to face the main living room. McGillian: ::places hand on chin:: Definitely need more furniture. NT/END _______________ Ensign Daniel McGillian Jr. Security Officer Denali Station D240104DM2

((Observation Room, Brig, Deck 11, USS Ronin)) Behind a section of the adjoining bulkhead where a one way hologram concealed a level ten forcefield, Karrod watched, listened and scowled. After wrestling with it for days, he’d decided B’ek’s immediate value to the Ronin outweighed the nagging doubts he simply couldn’t dispel. To his surprise, Starfleet Command agreed with his assessment and put up little struggle to keep Karrod from retaining custody. That fed his anxiety as well, sensing something more and more wrong with his recent interactions with Command but still unable to decipher what was going on in the minds of the fleet's bureaucracy, hundreds of light years away. He mulled it for a moment, but the startling appearance of B’ek, seemingly close enough to touch, pulled his mind back towards the present. Behind him, there was a hissing sound. A door opened and closed briskly. Light footsteps of padded-soled boots approached the commanding figure of the Trill. After a few seconds, the CSO stood at his side, dark eyes locked on the same spot as the Captain. Alieth: Satisfied with that information, sir? She held out the PADD with the data the defector had provided, and she studied the Trill's stern face as he took it. He’d glanced over the list of potential target systems while B’ek had input them, but his scowl remained fixed firmly in place. Niac: He gave us a lot of information without actually telling us much useful…that list of planets he spat out could’ve just been a database search of ‘class M planets with ample biodiversity.’ Got to give him credit…he’s not making this easy. And that suggestion about the Gorn…I just don’t know. The petite Vulcan suppressed a grimace, which nevertheless plucked slightly at her lips. Then she shook her head, long strands of untamed hair swaying with the subtle movement of her head. Alieth: ::with a minute sigh:: He will not tell us anything useful. There was a hint of anger and frustration hidden in the soft wrinkle between her tilted eyebrows, in the tension of the elegant muscles of the diminutive Vulcan's angular jaw. He’d worked with the intense, diminutive Vulcan long enough to pick up on the small shift in her mood…a frustration with the situation that was coming close to outright anger. He pitched his voice down and fixed her with a sympathetic look. Niac: It’s not your fault…we knew this was a long shot. If it helps, I doubt the SFI people would’ve gotten even that much out of him. It was a sour solace, but a solace nonetheless. At the end, she turned to face the Captain, and held his gaze for a moment, a dangerous spark in her eyes. Alieth: ::with a deliberately even tone:: If it were up to my advice, I would encourage dropping him off at the nearest Klingon penal colony. Favouring a very frigid one. A soft curl appeared at one corner of her mouth for a split second, then a pondering frown settled in her strong features Alieth:: Tetra, on the other hand... you pointed out weeks ago that she could be considered a born in the Ronin, and therefore a full Federation citizen… That was a puzzle that the diminutive Vulcan had been pondering ever since, and one that had come up more than once in her conversations with Saros. Neither the discussions nor the conundrum had come to a conclusion that fully satisfied the Vulcan. During that brief pause, Karrod sighed, preparing himself to deliver more frustrating news to someone who’d already had more than their share. Niac: I’ve spoken to representatives from the JAG Corp, three xeno-cultural legal specialists and even Ambassador Buford on DS33…nobody wants to touch this one. As of this moment, Tetra is classified as a ‘stateless being,’ having no specific point of origin, allegiance or culture. My understanding is that there were even communications sent out to the Tholian Assembly to determine if they wanted to take custody…they haven’t responded. I doubt they will. For all intents and purposes…Tetra’s home is this ship. Which makes me her legal guardian. The frown on her face deepened, and a soft crease appeared between the two slanted eyebrows. Alieth: While I rely on your judgment, Karrod, this is no place for her. We have no facilities where it can fully develop, and this :: motioning a hand slightly towards the nearest bulk plate:: is a heavy cruiser in a looming war. What was left unsaid, but plain in her words, was that the decision was substandard, to say the least. Niac: I know it’s not what you wanted to hear…and it’s less than I had hoped for. But the Alliance is still a ‘developing threat’ as far as Starfleet Command is concerned and while they’ve told me they’ll look into this matter with “all due urgency” I got the impression I was getting the brushoff. Alieth: They had abandoned her, then.:: oO All we are Oo was left unsaid, once more. An eerie, dense and ominous silence spread through the tiny room. After a while, Karrod looked through the transparent forcefield and felt a shudder as he caught B’ek’s glowing eyes. For a moment he got the impression the Tholian was watching them, but then B’ek’s attention returned to the datastream coming from Tetra’s habitat. Niac: I don’t give one single damn what happens to that Tholian, but when you and your team decided to try to keep Tetra alive you took on a responsibility, and it’s not one I intend to shrink from…even if it seems like the Federation wouldn’t mind if I did. I’ve written orders for you and for the whole science department that state, among other things, that you are to take all measures appropriate and necessary to preserve this beings' life to the best of your ability. That will give your people all the latitude and cover I can provide. She allowed herself to break her dignified façade briefly in the privacy of that quiet room and pinched the bridge of her nose, shutting her eyes. Alieth: You see, I asked Miss Lorana not to get attached to her, but she never listens. She shook her head and once again folded her arms behind her back, the brief loss of composure past and forgotten. Alieth: We will find a cure for her affliction, but we need a place for her ::looking at B'ek through the one-way window toward the cell:: and for him long-term, and it cannot be the Ronin. Tugging at his beard in frustration as he considered the endlessly thorny problem, Karrod jabbed an angry finger towards the forcefield. Niac: I agree with you that the easiest solution would be dropping that guy off on Rura Penthe in a t-shirt, but we both know that won’t solve our problems…even if it does make us briefly feel much better about them. Alieth: ::with a slight impish tone:: Is it possible to leave him there for just a little while? It would be a very formative experience for him, for sure. Possibly one that would make him a little more chatty. Karrod crossed his arms and his expression hardened. Niac: Alieth… She let out a short huff of air through her nose, not a chuckle, but something that if one listened very carefully could be interpreted as such. Alieth: All right, no penal colonies. :: She looked at Karrod, one eyebrow raised:: Do not even consider telling Mister Raga that I suggested it, or I will disarm you again, and this time for two weeks. Putting his arms up in mock surrender, Karrod shook his head in frustration. Niac: I’ll keep that in mind. The simple fact of the matter is that once I transfer either of them off this ship, I lose all ability to influence what happens to them. I realize this environment isn’t…ideal by any means but I don’t think there’s ‘better’ available at the moment. Our options consist entirely of bad and worse. The brief moment of levity passed, the Vulcan's slanted brows darkened her eyes once more and her gaze turned, again, to the prisoner. Alieth: About the Gorn joining the Alliance... What's your opinion? I do not trust him, but somehow, the way he said it... it seemed genuine. Karrod felt his shoulders tighten as he considered the prospect of the Lattice Alliance welcoming yet another antagonistic, xenophobic species that ranked most of the Federation by how well they’d taste at a buffet. Niac: It’s...an incredibly disturbing prospect. And one we can’t ignore, even if he is just trying to rattle us. The Gorn have a lot of resources and almost no contact with the Federation, so our knowledge of their capabilities is incredibly limited. She gave a small nod. Alieth: We have to try to find out how much truth there is in this. He felt a decision clicking together in his mind and grabbed a nearby PADD, transferring the recording of the entire interrogation and beginning to make notes. Niac: Starfleet Command can’t keep ignoring this…and I’m not going to let them. If I can’t get someone on subspace who will actually act on this, I’m taking a runabout and throwing this PADD on their desk until they pay attention. I can be…very convincing in person. Karrod’s grip on the PADD tightened until his knuckles popped. The petite CSO turned to the captain and raised one hand just a bit, then paused and lowered it again, palm formally against her side. Alieth: Your orders, sir? Niac: Keep the good Doctor here in containment till I can figure out what to do with him. You have my authorization to leverage any resources you need to help Tetra…you might even ask around while we’re still in orbit of Ferenginar. You can pick up a lot of…exotic materials here that might not be part of standard Starfleet equipment. Alieth: Understood. I will get in touch with... people I know there. They might have something that can help us. ::once again she had to hold her expression tighter than she usually did, control over her emotions, thin:: I am confident that Lieutenant Lorana will find a way to put it to good use. She is very invested with Tetra. Karrod let out a long breath and focused on Alieth, his expression softening for a moment. Niac: Good work on this, Commander. Make sure your team knows they’ve got my full confidence. If anyone can figure this problem out…it’s you. While you’re doing that, I’ll go take on a much more complex mystery….Starfleet Command’s hearing problem. Sparing one final glance towards the viewport, Karrod’s jaw tightened as he made his way to the door, already planning the opening salvo of the tirade he’d be sending Command’s way. He hoped it would be enough to get their attention before it was too late to matter. Alieth stood back and watched him go, before she turned back to the chamber where their uncooperative guest dwelt. There, in the solitude of the concealed room, she let her mask crack into a grimace of disdain and disgust at the abject creature that stood before her. [[End]] ================================ Commander Karrod Niac Commanding Officer USS Ronin - NCC-34523 V239509GT0 & Lieutenant Commander Alieth Chief Science Officer & 2O USS Ronin USS-34523 E239702A10

((Special containment cell, Brig, Deck 11, USS Ronin)) The petite Vulcan spun over her heels, slowly, and stared at the Tholian for a very long time, a period carefully calculated to discomfort any non-Vulcan, and then retraced her steps back to the position she had occupied in front of the cell. As if nothing had actually happened. Luxa followed Alieth lead, she observed the changing colours of the Tholian. A ruse? A deceit? He was certainly capable of that. Or was it that he faltered? The reality of the situation had dawned on him. The Caitian suspected that it could be both things. The glowing shifting of colours of his eyes and face were a representation of his hesitation. B’ek: My knowledge of the full extent of the Alliance is limited, as I was not a high-level commander, but I will provide what answers I can. The CSO nodded, slowly but deliberately. Alieth: Questions are simple: what is the Lattice Alliance's organizational structure? Where is located its main HQ? Which forces does it have at its disposal? Whose are its allies? The questions were simple. The answers, not so much. She knew B'ek probably didn't have a tenth of the information they needed, but any detail they could get, any little bit of information, would go a long way toward giving them a slight advantage in this uneven game of cat and mouse they were playing. One in which their enemies knew far more than they did. Lorana: Provide us with a list of the worlds you planned to terraform? She thought of Cait. Her homeworld, and one of the Federations most natural and beautiful planets. At such a perilous location. At present, it was unknown if the wider Tholian Assembly endorsed the Lattice Alliance. Cait was on high alert, with the Caitian Fleet on high alert. The thought of the jungles, the mountains and the seas of Cait being reduced to molten rocks and ash tore at Luxa's heart. She wanted to airlock this Tholian, his brain was the weapon that caused the destruction on GB3. Once, perhaps, she'd have done this. In any other situation, he might have been amused by the Caitian's most obvious concern; while not a stellar cartographer, he had intimate knowledge of the systems they had been exploring that would serve well for their terraforming process. There was a short pause and the captive's eyes flickered briefly, in a way that could only be defined as malevolent. B’ek: You needn't worry - your homeworld has been deemed too dangerous to attempt the process until well after control of the entire region is established. The rest of the quadrant would come eventually, but that would be far down the line. ::pausing:: If you can provide me access to a data unit, I can provide system names and targets planned for immediate testing. There is an extensive list of targets provided the tests are successful, but those would not be attempted for some time yet. Alieth: Note again, we will also need a list of the Alliance's highest ranking officers, affiliates and the location of their headquarters. B’ek: Unfortunately, the Lattice Alliance headquarters remains mobile; rather than being a single installation, it is a modular grouping of multiple crystalline ships. I can provide the names of a few, but not all. They are often on the move, especially with the news of a potential alliance with an offshoot of the Gorn Hegemony. The Gorn? Luxa tried to remain composed yet the shackles on her spine stood on end. Things had just gotten a whole lot worse. He tapped the tips of his fingers together again, a bit less anxious than before. There was something freeing about sharing what was meant to be unknown. B'ek: Supreme Commander F'red is the highest-ranking member of the Lattice Alliance Council. Six members are serving underneath him - High Commanders G'rg, T'rn'r, and Rksirl representing the Tholians, and Commodores B'ahrb, B'hrad, and B'l'n'y representing the Sheliak. There was a slight tremor on the Vulcan's face, a tiny twitch of one of her eyelids as a new threat was named to add to the already considerable menace that was the Laticce Alliance. For a split second, she breathed a hundredth of a second faster than she should have... but she let the defector scientist keep chatting. Alieth: That, at last, is meaningful information. Satisfied, as far as she could be, with the answers, Alieth pulled a small PADD from her sleeve. It was a new model, specially modified by the Ronin engineering team based on the combadges' resistance to extreme temperatures, high pressures and generally unsuitable conditions for technology. She held up the small device for a second in front of the force field that separated her from the prisoner before squeezing the delta pinned to her uniform. Alieth: Transport room four, beam object A-42 to our special invitee's holding cell. A flurry of sparks vanished the PADD from between her fingers, which appeared a moment later between the Tholian scientist's forelegs. As he picked it up, the petite CSO spoke once more. Alieth: Live feed from a camera located in your offspring's ward, with feed from scans of her vitals. She sleeps, as she does most of the time. It was a one-way feed, on a secure line separate from the rest of the ship's systems. B'ek could only observe and read, but any attempt to tamper with the device or access any other information on it would automatically self-destruct. They were not going to take any chances, but she refrained from informing him of this, as the distrust was mutual, and she had no doubt that the smart insectoid would have foreseen such a course of action. B'ek handled the PADD carefully, his hands quite oversized in comparison. He found after some adjustment it would fit in the palm of one hand, and he could use a single sharp-tipped finger to manoeuvre on the screen. Tapping the centre of the screen allowed him to zoom in on the sleeping creature, and he cradled the PADD almost tenderly and traced the tip of his finger over the image of her head. Alieth: In the lower left corner of the screen, you will see that we have provided you with artificial Maleconite crystals, as we informed you in our previous meeting. She is in good condition, as you can see, except for her addiction to the substance, which slows down her development and growth. This time, the petite Vulcan turned to the Caitian, leaving the questioning to her at that point. The lieutenant was, after all, the one who had spent the most time with the creature. From the PADD they could hear that Tetra had begun to sing, in her way, the Caitian lullaby that Luxa had taught her. His colours shifted with surprise at the singing, the lights of his eyes growing wide as his head tipped to the side. Singing was common for Tholian offspring, but not in this manner. He looked to the Caitian as she spoke. Lorana: She grows weaker, her Tholian biology has evolved with the Maleconite and craves it in quantities that we are not able to provide. She is a warrior caste, we believe, and has begun to show signs of her natural instinct. Mostly she … mostly she's confused and tired. She has begun to communicate, in simple terms. Mostly via her colours, and sounds. He zoomed in further to study the structure of her physical form, and he nodded in agreement. B'ek: Warrior, indeed. She must be strong, to have survived this long with this disability. He zoomed back out and studied the artificial Maleconite crystals. B'ek: I would like to see the chemical composition of these crystals. We may be able to make some alterations to wean the cravings and bolster her development. He paused for a moment before looking at Luxa. B'ek: Why 'Tetra'? The petite Vulcan kept a serious face, but when her eyes fell on the Caitian, hidden from the prisoner, they revealed a spark of amusement in them. Alieth: Miss Lorana, would you mind explaining it to the creature's creator? Lorana: Named from the tetradom crystals of her embryo. An accident of her Maleconite DNA :: haughtily :: You wouldn't know that being … less than proficient in the task of creating life. B'ek: ::narrowing his gaze:: What is the phrase oft used by the carbonics called humans? 'Practice makes perfect'? The Tholian flashed again, and the two Starfleet Officers left him with his suffering. The only sound was the haunting siren of Tetra’s lullaby. Luxa was reminded of its lyrics: We sing come little lost cub, come to me, I am your mother, come be free Come little cub, through the trees, I am your mother, come to me Come little lost cub, I am your mother, come be free Somehow the sound was both beautiful and yet simultaneously haunting, and it followed the officers down the corridor towards the exit, and left the Tholian scientist alone, with the music and the image of his creation within his grasp, and yet, at the same time, unreachable. ================================ Lieutenant Commander Alieth Chief Science Officer & 2O USS Ronin USS-34523 E239702A10 & Lieutenant JG Luxa Lorana Science Officer (Astrometrics, Meteorology, Xenobiology) USS Ronin A240004LL2 & Terraforming Specialist V't'r'us B'ek Former Lattice Alliance Territorial Reclaminator as written by Ensign Quentin Beck Medical Officer USS Ronin NCC-34523 A238810SA0

((Special containment cell, Brig, Deck 11, USS Ronin)) Alieth: Spunau bolayalar t'Wehku bolayalar t'Zamu il t'Veh: The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one. If you do not prove useful to us, I will make you a useful asset. The Tholian scientist remained silent for an achingly long time. He weighed what he knew of them, the stories he'd heard, what he knew of their actions on the planet's surface. He was… not entirely certain he could take this one at face value, though even among the Tholians it was known that Vulcans did not lie. Likewise, he was also certain he could not simply capitulate without ensuring their survival. B'ek: So easily, you threaten to let her die, to dissect her. What assurances do I have should I cooperate? The knowledge I offer is worth more than any one life - in truth, knowing what I know now, it is worth at least several hundred thousand lives. I will not fail again, I assure you. In this thing … what do you call one with no mortality? Surely sapient or individual was too limited a word for such malice. Luxa could see in it, an ego. A hubris that had no limitations. He truly believed that what he had done on GB3 was the work of a god. In his view, he has become a self-appointed deity to an entire world. Regardless, they had lived mere minutes. She stepped forward, her furred features almost touching with the specially adapted containment shielding. Her whiskers bristled against the heat. It was a well established fact, throughout thousands of civilizations, that there was one enemy to false gods. Ciencia. It was time to offend a god. Lorana: I can assure you pitiful, low caste Tholian B’ek. Traitor to your kind. Failed scientist. We will cure Tetra, she'll go on to live a fulfilled, wondrous life as a miracle, an accident of science. A new subspecies of Tholian, born in spite of your errors and vast theoretical flaws. She'll show you and the rest of the Alliance that we, Starfleet, always win. Your name will be nothing but a footnote in history. :: to Alieth :: This fool has nothing to offer us. I suggest we turn him to the Tholian Assembly. Although he would never admit it out loud, she was… not wrong, in many regards. Her attempts to insult him, at least regarding his standing among his people, didn't work, if only because he had never had a choice in the matter until the Lattice Alliance. He stood by that choice, even amid failure. And he was proud to be a traitor to his kind for the very same reason. Considering the abject failure of his experiment, there seemed to be little choice, or else he lost the only surviving youngling from his brood. Still… This one he felt was easier to read than the Vulcan, at least in the way she presented herself. Her form was… different, however, which still confused matters. He stood tall despite her insults, tipping his head upward defiantly. B’ek: Failure is common and even expected when one is performing experiments, especially of this caliber. One that is not resilient in the face of it is a poor scientist, indeed. ::pausing:: So which is it? Kill or kidnap? I do not believe you can do both. Either way, you lose everything regarding the terraforming process. Alieth: No kill or kidnap, doctor, it is merely an "equivalent exchange". If you do not supply us with adequate information, we will look for alternatives, which, in all likelihood, you will not find agreeable. The slender Caitian turned away, allowing the Vulcan room. They shared a glance that felt like a plan, a change of tact. Alieth: Moreover, you know that knowledge about your so-called terraforming process is ancillary. We are seeking intel on the Lattice Alliance. The lights making up his eyes shifted to follow the Caitian's movements, the tips of his fingers clicking together with only mild anxiety before his gaze flicked back to the Vulcan. B’ek: That stands to reason. The point still stands - if I am unsatisfied with your 'alternatives' regarding my offspring, you lose everything. Lorana: :: growls lightly :: Give him to the Tholians. He knows nothing. The Vulcan's eyes turned away from the Tholian scientist, and at last she moved, a few short steps to one side of the narrow passageway and then back again. At the turn, the Commander's eyes lingered on a very specific spot on the wall for half a second longer than necessary. B’ek: I know more than you, Caitian Lorana. ::to Alieth:: Again, I ask. What assurances do I have should I cooperate? Alieth: Things would be different in that case, indeed. We would work on sustaining the life of their progeny, indefinitely, if possible. We would provide you with the means to get to a neutral location, well away from the Federation and the Lattice Alliance. A neutral ground, transportation and supplies. You can disappear forever if you so desire. Lorana: :: locks eyes with the Tholian :: I know what he wants. What little could be seen of his colours grew muted. B'ek: I wish to see my child. Then I will answer your questions. A dangerous gleam appeared in the Vulcan's dark eyes. The glint of a predator that knows it has its prey cornered. Alieth: Doctor B'ek, you are not in a position to make demands. B'ek: That is what I require to cooperate. If you will not allow me to see 'Tetra', as you call her, I will assume she is dead, and I have no reason to answer your questions. The readings you have shared are old by any standard. Alieth looked at Luxa, but said naught. Lorana: That may be what Tholian B’ek requires. He forgets that he does not have the advantage. An exchange is required. That exchange is information. We receive the information and we provide access. B'ek: A scientist is prepared to face failure, but they also seek proof. The CSO gave a small nod and finally turned away from the Tholian. When he looked at her subordinate, there was fire in her eyes. Alieth: All right, if that is your choice. ::Turning to Lorana:: Shall we go, Lieutenant? Lorana: He gives us nothing because he is for nothing. There was a small nod of agreement from the CSO. Alieth: And therefore, nothing will come of it. A few steps towards the door at the end of the corridor took them away from the prisoner, plain their intention to left him isolated for an undetermined number of days, once more. Behind them, B'ek fumed, his colours growing ever more muted. B’ek: ::indecipherable clicking noises:: Very well. I will provide limited information on the Lattice Alliance for our first exchange. Luxa and Alieth looked at each other, both aware that they had won that small but important breakthrough. It was the first time they got him to consent to something they asked for, the first hint that they could get ANYTHING from him. ================================ Lieutenant Commander Alieth Chief Science Officer & 2O USS Ronin USS-34523 E239702A10 & Lieutenant JG Luxa Lorana Science Officer (Astrometrics, Meteorology, Xenobiology) USS Ronin A240004LL2 & Terraforming Specialist V't'r'us B'ek Former Lattice Alliance Territorial Reclaminator as written by Ensign Quentin Beck Medical Officer USS Ronin NCC-34523 A238810SA0

When you have absolute stellar writers and they drop a 4 part bombshell. You have to show the love. @Karrod Niac @Alieth @LuxaLorana @Quentin Beck ((Special containment cell, Brig, Deck 11, USS Ronin)) The evening was a good time for her work. There were hardly any people in the corridors, nor in the security complex, the officers and NCOs mostly asleep or off duty. And those that remained were silent, the scuff of feet and boots on the grey carpet as loud as the breaths of the two officers, the only moving shapes in a slumbering world. The skeleton crew left on watch in the brig paid little attention to the scientists as they walked across their territory. Mainly because Chief Carpenter had given them clearance. But mostly because it wasn't the first time she had given them access. Alieth glanced at her subordinate as the doors to the maximum security wing stood waiting for their delayed opening cycle. Alieth: Do you have the questions ready? Luxa resisted the urge to sigh. B'ek had not proven to be useful to them at all. He'd danced around the science, in some attempt to grapple control of this failed experiment. She suspected that this was because he knew as much as they knew about the Maleconite’s unique abilities and how it had impacted on the terraforming process on GB3. Which was very little. Lorana: :: nods :: Do you think he'll be any more helpful this time? The petite Vulcan nodded curtly, an unruly lock of hair escaping from her tight ponytail. Alieth: I expect so, he has sat with the last information about Tetra development… : she made a pregnant pause.:: … he seemed unhappy about it. Lorana: He may be unhappy. ::The sidelong glance of the shorter woman made her stop for a second:: What? We don't know. He's not to be trusted. He betrayed his own kind. Luxa, again, resisted the urge to sigh. Her tail twitched several times, before it looped and sunk down as she tried to contain it. It was forever betraying her true feelings. Captain Niac believed that the scientist Tholian may be more forthcoming with fellow scientists. They didn't believe he could provide any real scientific answers to their questions on the Maleconite or Tetra's condition. They hoped he'd provide much needed intel on the LA. She shared in the captain's frustrations. Always having to respond to an unknown crisis left the fur on edge. They needed to gain the upper hand. Luxa couldn't stop her mind from wondering … where was Starfleet? This situation was escalating at an alarming rate, yet no other ships had been assigned to the region. The Ronin and the Arrow, as well as DS33 were the only line of defence against the Lattice Alliance, which they didn't fully understand yet. Yet, despite all of this she had a nagging worry that this Tholian, wanted further access to Tetra. There were too many reasons for her to count as to why this was a bad idea. However, Tetra, the infant, was the only bargaining chip they had. Why else would they allow her to remain on the ship? B'ek do anything to claim his prize. His scientific ego wouldn't allow him to pass on the opportunity to study her up close. His creation, the potential of a whole new subspecies of Tholian. He didn't see her as a victim to his ego. He saw Tetra as proof of concept. Not unlike Kipal, and the USS Kolo. Alieth: humm… The sound sounded almost like an admonishment, the slanted eyebrows drawing further shadows into the dark eyes. Yet the two had worked together enough to know it was a tacit agreement. One that simply should not be said aloud. Just then, the doors opened before them, a loud hiss and a puff of exhaust fumes marking the opening, as a red light flashed above their heads. The area had been modified for this particular inmate. The temperature, even outside the cell, was oppressively hot and absolutely arid. Given the night cycle, there was hardly any light, only the reddish ceiling beams, and a faint orange glow that seemed to come from nowhere in particular. Luxa felt the heat like an assault. The nearer she got to the cell, the more intense the heat. Her skin beneath the fur recoiled, and she felt the hairs along her spine stand on their edges. Her whiskers pulled back and she stopped. She looked at Alieth, this had become a ritual of sorts. The Caitian twisted her mane around her paw and gathered it on top of her head, to allow more ventilation. With a nod, they moved on. At the end of a short corridor laid the cell. It was larger than the high-energy containment field in lab 4, and had some extras that the lab lacked. A bed, for example, that had never been used. A desk and a chair. A small waste disposal shaft that had required a really awkward explanation and possibly given the Tholian scientist too much information about carbon-based beings. Little else. The Tholian was… sleeping. Sort of. His body didn't consume energy in the same way Alieth or Luxa's bodies might, but especially in this sort of environment, he still needed a chance to rest and recharge, so to speak. While they had done a fine job fulfilling most of his environmental needs, he still required an EV suit to interact with them or any of the tools they could provide. The suit he'd been wearing originally had been damaged too severely to function indefinitely. Thankfully, the Medical and Engineering departments had been able to cobble together a suitable replacement, one that seemed to put the Starfleeters more at ease because the glow of his abdomen and thorax was no longer visible at all times. It looked almost like one of their standard uniforms, jet black in colour, with the Starfleet delta emblazoned on what would be his right breast pocket, if he'd had either. Only the glowing eyes betrayed his nature. Luxa hated that those eyes were the same as Tetra. Their arrival was enough to wake him. He stirred briefly, the pointed tips of his feet tapping against the deck plating, and the colours and lights in his head grew much brighter and more solid as they approached. He didn't raise his abdomen from his prone position yet, but he observed their arrival with a curious look. Alieth: Good Evening, Doctor B’ek. The petite Vulcan stopped just inches from the glowing force field that isolated the defector, bright orange hexagons rippling across its surface almost as if it were a pond. She folded her arms behind her back, firm and stiff, in that posture so typical of her people. B’ek: Vulcan Alieth. Has it been three cycles? I find it impossible to keep track of time in this ship… The diminutive humanoid gave a silent nod, a small twitch between her slanted eyebrows. Alieth: Miss Lorana and I have come to ask you a few questions, if you would like to answer us this time. She made a deferential gesture towards her companion, before resuming her statuesque posture. Lorana: I trust you have reviewed the data on :: She locked fierce amber eyes on the Tholian:: your progeny, as you call her? :: angered :: I hope that you've reconsidered your position. It would make sense for you to help us. We want the same outcomes. As the Caitian spoke, B'ek stretched out his arms and legs before lifting his abdomen from the deck. With arms and legs fully expanded, he took up over half of the room behind the forcefield, and it was… uncomfortable to get around. Even to turn much. So he just stood there, half listening, until she finished. Then he shook his head. B’ek: That is decidedly incorrect, Caitian Lorana. I want the freedom to leave this cell and take, yes indeed, my progeny, to a safe, new home. ::pausing:: However, I have, indeed, reviewed your data and I applaud you for getting this far. I am not fully convinced you can make any good use of it. The Commander stifled the curl that threatened to take hold at the corner of her mouth. Alieth: Your kind does not monopolize industriousness. He chittered and drew his limbs closer to his body so he could turn to approach his computer. B'ek: You wish to develop a workaround for the reliance on Maleconite. Would you find it acceptable to require a different source of nutrition, assuming one could be developed? Alieth: It is an option, but we will not pursue it. We will keep your progeny alive, and nothing else, until we get answers to our questions. The Caitian held her position, as still as a rock. The Tholian had no need to know what she really thought about this tactic. Luxa wanted to pursue all avenues. She had spent hours with Tetra. She'd communicate on a basic level with them, seemingly adapting knowledge from the surrounding environment. Luxa had told her about the galaxy around her, where they are, who she is and her species home planet. She also told her about the Federation, and Starfleet. What it means to be a part of that family. This monster in front of her couldn't conceive of family. He saw an experiment that could be salvaged. Just like any egotistical scientist, he was unwilling to share what he knew. The lights that made up his eyes drew to narrow slits as he studied the duo, and not for the first time was he annoyed at their lack of illumination. It was so difficult to read carbonic expression and body language, he had very little frame of reference. Still, considering what he'd heard of Starfleet in the past, he believed they were fully capable of killing his youngling without a moment's hesitation. B'ek: I grow tired of this conversation, Vulcan Alieth. I have told you what is required to provide you any answers. The petite Vulcan took a small step. So close to the energy screen that a few strands of hair frizzed, electrically charged. Alieth: If your response is deficient or absent, I will let your "progeny" die. A natural death, of course, without the substance to which you have made her reliant. Dissecting her will make an impressive research paper. You will go next. She didn't blink during her speech, her voice flat, her face hieratic. The only thing animated on her face was a dangerous, determined spark in her eyes. The heat of the room seemed to rise a notch or two, Luxa felt her body shift to regulate her temperature more effectively. Subtle changes in the configuration of her fur, and a slight variance in her breathing, that made her breaths quicken, increased the absorption of oxygen. She refused to admit that these changes were brought on by the heightened anxiety she felt at the prospect of Tetra's demise. It simply, for Luxa, was not an option. [[TBC]] ================================ Lieutenant Commander Alieth Chief Science Officer & 2O USS Ronin USS-34523 E239702A10 & Lieutenant JG Luxa Lorana Science Officer (Astrometrics, Meteorology, Xenobiology) USS Ronin A240004LL2 & Terraforming Specialist V't'r'us B'ek Former Lattice Alliance Territorial Reclaminator as written by Ensign Quentin Beck Medical Officer USS Ronin NCC-34523 A238810SA0