Ensign D'Cyra Varati - 2378
D'Cyra Varati
((West Imeris Branch Settlement, Uwe II))
Stros: I do suggest we take ourselves to a more private setting to further discuss this. We may need to attempt to contact the other team to learn of their findings.
They had to, and it definitely couldn't happen here in public... someone would surely be watching these "strangers" and report any oddities. D’Cyra would also have loved to take a little "real" break and eat some chocolate. But she hadn't brought it with her this time out of consideration for the mission objectives.
Varati: Absolutely… my stomach can’t really handle another meal like that - but it would have been too noticeable if we, as travellers, hadn’t eaten or drunk anything. Uff. We could also tae the risk of adjusting or changing our masks once.
Moore: Changing our disguises could cause more questions than it is worth. Seeing as we would need new cover names, back stories, and have to change our mannerisms. Easier to stick with what we know works.
Wong: Response
Stros: Along the way, do listen for talks of this Summer Moss or Shadow Blight. If we can gather information passively, it could help us a great deal.
Good idea. Maybe this Stros was actually a pretty good team leader after all, he just needed to "thaw out" a bit.
Varati: At least I can take a look in my cookie jar and reactivate the converted tricorder for the UT, and maybe it’s already recorded enough in the meantime—at least now we know what to look for: Norsel, the Ministry, and the Central Tree of Uropal. …
D’Cyra opened her bag, fumbled with the camouflaged can, and made it disappear again. But once started, her little lecture didn't end there, and the little green gears in her brain were vigorously rotating and combining.
Varati: … If I understand correctly, important metals were found there. But it’s some kind of memorial or ceremonial site – perhaps we should venture out there and conduct some scans. Or perhaps Cmd. Ukinix and the team from the Indy can help us. The Uwezo’s scanners are probably not that precise yet…
Moore: The Indy can do a tight beam low frequency scan of an area, highly unlikely they would detect it with their technological level, and if they did, unlikely they would be able to track it back to the Ind–
Before the group could move from the alley, a commotion could be heard from the direction where the protest had taken place.
Wong: Response
Stros: Or, perhaps we have more pressing matters to attend to.
These Uwezo were always good for a surprise! They'd remained so peaceful the whole time, and now the commotion sounded much more aggressive. Something must have happened.
So there is nothing left to do but interrupt the small conference and cautiously approach the angry crowd.
Stros was taller and could see the people well, D'Cyra cautiously peeked around a corner of the building.
Varati: ::quiet:: Yes, no individual actions this time… What’s going on? Are we already dealing with Norsel? Can you see anything?
The chanting crowd had risen in volume, thankfully masking their discussion as they watched on.
Moore: Scanning the crowd. It is an understatement to say they do not look happy.
Wong: Response
D’Cyra grumbled quietly.
Varati: You have to tell me what’s happening up there…
Moore: Large group of protestors, many of them angry, a few in the back have weapons, looks like blunt clubs, and some seem to have small bottles. Different colors in them, so I am guessing paint.
Stros: The attempts to avoid escalation by Elarrapal seem to have been unsuccessful.
Wong: Response
Crowd: :upset: Down with Elarrapal! The gods no longer listen to you, Prophetess of Imeris! Norsel was right! The skies are darkening - doom is near!
This time you could literally feel the stomping and restlessness of the angry demonstrators.
Varati: ::scared:: That doesn’t sound good… Damn! I hope this has nothing to do with us. I don’t want to be responsible for an uprising…
Moore: Given the chants, unlikely. They are here for Elarrapal, and her ideology.
An altercation almost seemed imminent as the tension seemed to rise with the gathered protestors.
Stros: Interesting to see a new struggle beginning within the ranks of one of the sides of this predicament.
Wong: Response
The chants continued, growing louder and louder as more Uwezo joined in.
Crowd: :upset: You didn’t stop the Ministerials as promised! Uropal will fall! Down with Elarrapal! The skies are darkening - doom is near!
The growing crowd seemed to draw Elarrapal from the building in which she had been, a few of her own following in the flanks. She appeared to be attempting to calm the crowd.
Varati: We have to do something! If the mob escalates, the movement will lose a moderate leader and the divisions will deepen further.
Moore: No we don’t. ::Looking over at Stros:: To do so is a clear breach of the Prime Directive. We cannot intervene in internal politics, even if those politics are leading down a dark path.
Stros: Lieutenant Moore is correct. We cannot intervene. We must sit and wait.
Where Kaito was right, he was right. Any intervention would have been a clear violation of the Prime Directive. And that would have resulted in a domino effect... the flutter of a butterfly's wings... Here, they had to remain rational. They couldn't play God or significantly influence the course of history.
Varati: Aye. But maybe things will calm down again. Perhaps the insects were grilled too hot. A few reassuring and encouraging words, who knows, and they'll postpone things until tomorrow.
Wong/Elarrapal(?): Response
Moore: We’re not here to play god, we are here to observe, and wait for them to make their choice. Not intervene. We’ve done that enough already.
While there were numerous examples where the Prime Directive had been intentionally violated, they were not Kirk's, Picard's, or Janeway's.
Stros was probably already looking around for a possible escape route. The situation just felt awkward: they were caught between two stools, unable to move either side. They were condemned to watch.
Varati: This is all so silly. We had such a good start... and then this. Should we have done better research beforehand?
Wong/Elarrapal(?): Response
Moore: I know it’s tough to watch. Trust me, I am sure we could show them a better way, and I want to show them, but the Prime Directive is General Order Number One for a reason.
Before they could delve further into legal philosophical topics, the faint but unmistakable sound of the Combadge rang out. Stros took the few steps back and walked directly behind D’Cyra into the side alley, so that he was standing behind the group.
Hopper: =/\= Hopper to Stros… You there? =/\=
Stros: =/\= Yes, Commander, go ahead. =/\=
It was Robin, who led the other mission on the Ministry side and had apparently also stumbled upon something important.
Varati: What's going on? Hopefully the other team has more success?
She cautiously peeked around the corner again to see what was happening in the square. But the situation seemed unchanged.
Wong/Elarrapal(?): Response
D'Cyra could recognize Robin's voice, but she could barely understand what was being said because of the background noise.
Hopper: =/\= We’ve detected potentially concerning substance traces in the warp labs. Some sort of pollen rich in dinitrogen pentoxide… Have you learned anything the might link to that? =/\=
Stros: =/\= We may have encountered a…less than savory element within the anti-warp faction. We are currently monitoring– =/\=
The pop and clink of glass made everyone turn around in alarm. Apparently, some of the more militant demonstrators had thrown filled bottles toward Elarrapal and her followers. Mist-like clouds, probably simple chemical compounds, streamed out of the broken bottles. But it certainly wasn't a magical performance. Hopefully no dangerous gases formed in the mix.
Varati: Something's wrong if they're suddenly so aggressive? Are these the people from Norsel?
Wong/Moore/Elarrapal(?): Response
Stros: ::Asking anyone listening:: =/\= What reactions from dinitrogen pentoxide should we be watching for when mixed with other chemicals? =/\=
Hopper: =/\= Response =/\=
Galanis: =/\= Mixed? If the dinitrogen pentoxide in the pollen reaches a high-enough saturation level and is exposed to a reactive hydrogen polymer, you won’t want to stay and watch. We could be looking at a high-energy thermobaric reaction, assuming we don’t find the source… or sources. =/\=
Stros: =/\= Response
Well, congratulations! A massive storm seemed to be brewing here within minutes... Why couldn't even one mission proceed halfway normally? If they were all blown up in a heartbeat, the Prime Directive and the like wouldn't matter much. They probably arrived too late, and the proverbial cup had already overflowed. Yes, life punishes those who arrive too late.
Varati: What? Dinitrogen pentoxide? Yes, it's a basic ingredient for explosives and also releases toxic gases. Then the situation is indeed extremely dangerous!
Wong/Moore/Elarrapal(?): Response
It appeared they didn’t have to wait long for an answer as other members of the crowd also threw bottles of what appeared to be water and other liquids into the piles of dust. What ensued could only be viewed as chaos. Sparks, flames, smoke, just about anything and everything that could happen began to happen.
Stros: We can face repercussions later. Lieutenant Moore, Ensign Varati, get Elarrapal and her group to safety. Lieutenant Wong, follow and administer first aid if required.
Repercussions? Which repercussions? What was happening here? They had just been discussing, more or less extensively, the importance of adhering to the Prime Directive, and now the most important directive was being thrown overboard in a matter of seconds? D'Cyra couldn't believe her ears; was this all a dream?
Varati: ::excited:: Wait… What?! ::to Stros:: Isn't that illogical, Sir? We were just talking about how we're not allowed to interfere?! – Did I miss something?
Her thought from a few moments ago now formed into words:
Varati: We are neither Kirk, Picard, nor Janeway...
Wong/Moore/Elarrapal(?): Response
They didn't have much time, but a few things just had to be clarified:
Varati: Wait… What if we're not actually in Starfleet service? I mean, isn't it officially an FDC mission? The Prime Directive only applies to Starfleet officers in the line of duty... but for ambassadors and their entourage, this isn't clearly regulated. So, by mission and therefore, legally speaking, we're just the entourage of diplomats, right?
Somehow D’Cyra was a little proud of herself that she had apparently learned and retained something from her father and the many years at the diplomatic school and later at the academy.
Moore/Stros/Wong/Elarrapal(?): Response
D’Cyra felt all those strange feelings that had overwhelmed her on the last mission on the Indy rising up inside her again. oO No! Not this time! It had to be the strange grilled insects and the overripe fruit. Point. Stop. The end. Oo
Varati: I have a bad feeling about this…
Moore/Stros/Wong/Elarrapal(?): Response
But she didn't give up so easily; more and more green cells started moving - even without an extra portion of chocolate.
Varati: Has anyone read Captain Janeway's biography? No? Does anyone remember the events of 2378? No? Whether a Talaxian colony or Uwe II. – we're not violating the Prime Directive, we're just helping a friend in need!
D’Cyra’s eyes seemed to widen and begin to shine. This was accompanied by a welcoming smile as she looked into the surprised faces of the others.
Varati: Otherwise, we'll all meet up at Ikaia's relatives' alpaca farm in Hawaii, or I'll ask my dad if he'll lend us some start-up capital for a bar... we'd definitely have some great stories to tell our guests. ::quiet giggle::
Moore/Stros/Wong/Elarrapal(?): Response
But now they had to act quickly, otherwise the others would take control of the situation faster than they could blink.
Varati: All right... let's grab a few of the bottles and create some "magic"... They want fireworks? Let them have it! We just need a little more smoke as a distraction. Behind the fog of war, we'll pull Elarrapal and Persiln back into one of the buildings...
oO or we'll beam them to the holodeck... but we don't have time for that. Oo
Moore/Stros/Wong/Elarrapal(?): Response
Tag/TBC
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