[TEASER PART 2] Commander Wil Ukinix - Underneath The Radar
Wil Ukinix
((CO’s Office, Level 3, Copernicus Centre))
Ukinix: Welcome to Amity. How was your trip?
Shortrith: Not too bad, did a pit stop in Melbourne while waiting for the ship to arrive, and my parents visited me when I arrived at the terminal from the Ronin shuttle.
He gestured to the round coffee table that sat at the other end of the arced office, that was circled by 4 comfy chairs.
The one-quarter Betazoid could sense some angst in Renaie. Was it their parents that caused that... or the pit stop in Melbourne? Given they were from Melbourne, it can’t have been the city itself. Right? He personally loved the city, especially the architecture of Flinders Street Station (and the old heritage listed pub across the road of course).
As they took their seats, he sat across from Renaie.
Shortrith: I must admit, the QSD ship was quite an experience. Unsurprisingly, it was significantly faster than any of the ships I'd been on previously.
He nodded. If it wasn’t for the invention of QSD, it was unlikely the Federation would have had any sort of footprint in the Delta Quadrant. Quesadilla drives (his nickname for QSDs) was an important technology for them, it was their link back to the Alpha Quadrant. He couldn’t imagine life without it. oO And imagine if for some reason the whole galaxy couldn’t use warp drives any more... no, don’t be ridiculous, Ukinix. Oo
Rosek-Skyfire: Response
Ukinix: So, must be good for you two to catch up again? And I hear you’re here to do some medical study on the Paak.
At least relations with the Paak were now on a good footing, after he unintentionally put his foot in it with them. (Mind you, he shouldn’t have brought the Talon scout he and Robin Hopper were in so close to the planet for a “looksee”. He’d never admit that to Robin though.)
Shortrith: Yeah, they seem like an interesting species, but I barely know anything about them.
Rosek-Skyfire: From what I remember, the database doesn’t say much about them other than that they are near Earth’s technological level.
Wil tilted his head from side to side. oO Sort of Oo. They had only barely (relatively speaking) just managed to master going to warp, and Earth being in the Federation meant his home planet was way advanced compared to the Paak. But, they were probably comparable, if not the Paak in a better position, compared to when Earth made First Contact with the Vulcans centuries earlier.
Shortrith: Well, I hope I get to find out more so we can add to that!
That made Wil smile, and sensing some internal concern in the Klingon-Australian, he moved to re-assure them.
Ukinix: Oh, yeah. Given our technological level compared to them, you might even find out more about them than they know themselves. About them. I mean, us knowing about them to-- tell them. I mean... you know what I mean.
He wasn’t sure himself if he knew what he meant anymore. He blinked his eyes twice as he tried to re-figure it out.
Rosek-Skyfire: ::pauses:: From what I read of the reports, you and R–Commander Hopper had an interesting first contact.
He smiled and slightly rolled his eyes with a small “tut”.
Ukinix: Yeah, if by “interesting” you mean detained because apparently I said a word in an offensive manner that the UT didn’t filter properly because it was still learning, I guess it was. But hey... ::palms out:: Robin and I lived to tell the tale, and they’re friends of ours now.
Shortrith: I'm excited to see what I can find.
Rosek-Skyfire: Response
Ukinix: And if you want to visit there, I’m happy to speak to the FDC to arrange that. ::Playfully forming hands in a triangle above his head, slight smirk:: With love.
Shortrith: What do you mean?
That seemed to confuse the Lieutenant. Maybe they really didn’t know too much about the Paak just yet.
Ukinix: Oh, um, just the gesture they do to each other. Was just having a bit of fun. ::awkwardly clears throat::
Rosek-Skyfire: Response
Wil smiled again when Renaie nodded.
Shortrith: That makes sense, I suppose. In any case, I'm happy to help out where I can.
Rosek-Skyfire: Response
Ukinix: Perfect. So in terms of accommodations, we’ve got you set up in a swanky hotel room at Talaxi Palms, we’ll get you to meet Lieutenant Commanders Orrey and Taelon, and--
He cut himself off when his combadge and a quiet tone sounded from hidden office speakers, indication of a comms call came through.
Tenille: =/\= Ops to Commander Ukinix, we have a priority one situation. =/\=
Wil looked towards Lael and raised his eyebrows a little. The interruption was one thing... but a priority one?
He looked back at Renaie, with a little shrug to offer a small apology about the timing.
Ukinix: Never a dull moment. ::pressing combadge:: =/\= Go ahead, Ensign. =/\=
Tenille: =/\= Commander, we’ve detected a garbled distress signal from beyond Idrustix, close to Trenvonn space. Computer analysis indicates medium-high confidence that it’s a Starfleet distress signal. =/\=
He looked back out of his window, towards the shuttlebay. All three Talon Scouts were still there. Still--
Ukinix: =/\= Was anyone scheduled from Amity to head out that way? =/\=
Rosek-Skyfire: Response
Tenille: =/\= The Independence and all auxiliary craft are accounted for... there’s one other thing. The computer is also detecting a nearby subspace signature that matches with those of Underspace corridors. =/\=
That made Wil’s eyebrows go up at warp speed. The only contact with between the Vaadwaur and the Federation in the Delta Quadrant since Voyager had been peaceful, during the first days of Amity when the FDC held a cultural expo on the Mezzanine. Some Vaadwaur scientists had a large booth, containing a holographic display explaining Underspace corridors (without revealing their locations of course).
During one of their presentations that Wil attended, they had also explained that the corridors were few and far between in the Barossa nebula, and any that did pass through the nebula were likely to be highly unstable.
Amity’s sensors had not detected any signs of underspace in or around the nebula, in the near 5 years that it had been in the Delta quadrant. That could have been due to interference, or maybe there simply were no corridors-- or if there were, they weren’t being used.
Looking for Underspace corridors hadn’t been high on Amity’s priority list.
oO Maybe until now. Oo
Rosek-Skyfire: Response
Shortrith: Response
Ukinix: =/\= Ensign Tenille, prepare the Indy and two Talons for immediate departure. Inform Commander Hopper and senior crew I’ll be assigning duties soon. Ukinix out. =/\=
He nervously patted his hands on his knees a few times, before standing up.
Ukinix: Lieutenant Shortrith, sorry to have cut your welcome short like this. We could use your help though.
Shortrith: Response
Ukinix: Lael, get together with Science and Tactical, look for ways to detect underspace entries and exits in the Barossa nebula. Put together a tactical defense plan in case someone pop-ups up out of them-- if in fact those corridors do exist near here.
Rosek-Skyfire: Response
Wil put his hands on his head for a moment, and exhaled through his lips like a horse, before repeating what he had said earlier.
Ukinix: Never a dull moment.
TAGS/END SCENE, BEGIN MISSION! CUE CREDITS!
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Commander Wil Ukinix
Starfleet attache and Commanding Officer
Amity Outpost
V239511WU0