Commander Wil Ukinix - Dilemma

[Wil Ukinix]

((Bridge, USS Independence-B - At the edge of Trenvonn space))

 

Shanaak: =/\= Do you have telemetry that you can share with us regarding this supposed vessel that strayed into our territory? =/\=

 

Aitas: =/\= A few initial reports, yes. I’ll have them sent over. =/\=

 

The Grand Expert clicked her beak twice to someone nearby, who seemed to be operating a console. After a tense fifteen seconds or so, Shanaak looked back at the screen.

 

Shanaak: =/\= Your data correlates with ours. We will allow one auxiliary craft to meet with the science vessel O’Ran, to treat your Starfleet Officer, Seleya of Khanda. The occupant reports injuries, we are currently validating. Only medical personnel may enter our space, and there must be no signs of arms or weaponry-- otherwise we will take action against both the craft, and the Independence-B.  =/\=

 

Aitas: =/\= Understood, Grand Expert. You have our thanks for your assistance. =/\=

 

Wil’s eyes opened wide, before he quickly accessed the Starfleet database to look up the named officer’s file. Lt JG Seleya of Khanda, Intel Officer, USS Valkyrie-A?

 

Ukinix: ::Quietly to Ikaia and Layla:: Take the Gatineau, go rendezvous with that Trenvonn ship, give that Starfleet officer what they need, then get them out. Keep things diplomatic, these are neighbours and I’m sure the FDC wants to keep it that way.

 

Nevark: Guess it’s time to go.

 

Wong: Don’t worry. We’ve got this.

 

He nodded to indicate thanks.

 

As the two officers left the bridge, Wil turned back to the conversation between Aitas and the Trenvonn Grand Expert.

 

Shanaak: =/\= First Secretary, was this a failed attempt at espionage on the Trenvonn by Starfleet? =/\=

 

Wil raised his finger and opened his mouth to say something, but then immediately closed his mouth and covered his lips with the same finger.

 

There was the fact that Lieutenant Seleya of Khanda was an Intelligence officer. And Starfleet *had* put a secret research facility out in the Delta Quadrant named “Whispering Wall”, but he couldn’t think of a reason why they’d want to spy on the Trenvonn... right?

 

Aitas: =/\= I have no cause to believe that is the case. Such would be a blatantly foolish gesture. =/\=

 

Shanaak: =/\= Foolish? No. You would not be the first to attempt to extract information from the Trenvonn. Our data sets are of interest for many of our neighbouring civilisations, and beyond... =/\=

 

Wil watched her clicked her beak once. He wished he knew what it meant. A nervous tick? The equivalent of a point of a finger, or an eyeroll? Liking the sound of her own... beak?

 

Shanaak: =/\= What *is* on your side is our sensor telemetry that suggests signs consistent with what Vaadwaur and other species lazily call “underspace”. I must warn you, First sSecretary, we are undecided if we will allow your Starfleet Officer to return. =/\=

 

That made Wil stand up next to Aitas and address the screen.

 

Ukinix: =/\= Respectfully, Grand Expert, we’re not in the business of being sticky beaks--nose, I mean nose, being sticky noses on our neighbours. ::Counting fingers:: The Starfleet signal was genuine, we got the Underspace signs too, we told you about the O’Cree. Our only goal is to retrieve our colleague. =/\=

Aitas: =/\= Seleya of Khanda’s testimony may prove crucial to our investigation. We wish to be most thorough. =/\=

 

He nodded, and then returned back to his-- I mean, Aitas’ console. He noticed a message from her bot Fureri, which showed information about Aitas’ encounters with Lieutenant JG Seleya of Khanda. So that told him two things:

 

(1) Aitas and Seleya had met. He’d get a briefing from Aitas when practicable.

(2) Having a pet robodog linked straight into your brain was *awesome*. He’d never do it, of course, he liked his brain as it was. But still... pretty awesome!

Shanaak: =/\= Thoroughness I can appreciate. I will inform you once I have heard more from the project vessel O’Ran, who has intercepted the vessel containing your officer. =/\=

 

Wil looked over his shoulder to see Aitas’ hands folded together, before turning to look at the Trenvonn woman on the view screen with a stoic expression... maybe. From the limited encounters he’d had with them face to face, it was hard to tell their emotions from expressions alone.

Aitas: =/\= I will of course keep you informed of what we discover. =/\=
 

Someone off screen mentioned something to her which made her turn to face them, before turning back to Aitas.

Shanaak: =/\= We’ve detected your vessel entering Trenvon space. Patrols are heading towards it to provide escort. =/\=

Aitas: =/\= I would appreciate knowing when our team reaches her, as well. =/\=

Shanaak: =/\= You have my word, First Secretary.  =/\=

Ukinix: =/\= And, Grand Expert, let’s just make sure that our officers get unimpeded access to Lieutenant Seleya, yeah? And we’d like to have *all three* back. =/\=

 

The Trenvonn moved her head slightly to observe Wil, almost judging him while observing him. It was a statement of intent as mucha s a statement of fact. He’d take the Indy in there to get all three out if he really, really had too.

Aitas: =/\= The medical personnel have many skills and a great breadth of knowledge, but Seleya's species is not common among our ranks. =/\= 

The Trenvonn turned her judgy glance away from Wil oO thank the Four thingies for that Oo, before turning back to eye Aitas again.

 

Shanaak: =/\= The O’Ran crew has been instructed to treat your Lieutenant as best they can. They will not harm her, or your crew, provided your crew do only as allowed and follow instructions. Any deviation identified in our telemetry will cause an incident between our civilisations, First Secretary, and neither you or I want that. =/\=

Wil again went to lift a finger in protest at the very possibility of Wong and Layla doing the wrong thing, but decided to keep quiet. Aitas was handling it, and it was a diplomatic situation.

Shanaak: =/\= And we will study the telemetry from this event, First Secretary, for our own research purposes, and for the purposes of protecting our borders. We wish to remain isolated. The ascension is the only goal of our people. =/\=

Aitas: =/\= Information is always crucial, Grand Expert, and even more so when the unexpected appears. We have no wish for repeated incidents. =/\=

Shanaak: =/\= Then we are in agreement. I will apprise you of any developments. For this to have the outcome that everyone wants, your three officers returned to you, your ship must remain in its location. Do not deviate from this instruction. =/\=

 

The view screen suddenly went black, before it was replaced with a view of the thick purple nebula that was a feature of the edge of Trenvonn space.

Ukinix: ::playful mimicking:: Your ship must remain in this location, do not deviate from this instruction, ::hand puppet gesture:: Blah blah blah.

 

Aitas: Response

 

Wil sat back in the seat at the console that Aitas was formerly at, and placed his hands on his head and crossed his legs.

 

Ukinix: ::Hands on head, legs crossed:: No wonder they’re isolationists, nobody would wanna hang out with them.

 

Aitas: Response

 

Ukinix: You may as well stay there in case Madam Superior calls back, besides, it’s a comfy chair. ::Reaching out, tapping console with one hand:: But I suggest we look into anything to do with Vaadwaur and underspace since Voyager. ::Inspecting console screen:: Ever heard of Operation Brightstar?

 

Aitas: Response

 

Wil tapped a few more times, then leaned forward towards the screen to get a better look.

 

Ukinix: A lot of the detailed information is classified. But Deep Space 17... occupied for three months by the Vaadwaur who had popped up out of underspace, as you do, but in the Alpha Quadrant. Wow, after they got busted they then set up an agricultural colony on a place called Devinon V, there you go. You learn something new every day.

 

Aitas: Response

 

He stood up, and rubbed his hands together.

 

Ukinix: I’m going to see what I can find out from the Starfleet database oO and make myself a Japanese Sencha tea after I go to the head Oo in the ready room, bridge is yours, First Secretary. Helm, maintain position, don’t move or we might get in trouble with Lady Holierthanthou.

 

With that, he made his way off the bridge, now suddenly craving the tea that his brain had told him he suddenly desperately need.

 

Maybe he was lucky there wasn’t a robo-doggy connected to his neurons, who would bark at him to not have mug number 5 for the day. No wonder he had to suddenly go to the loo. It’d be like BAXTER always there to tell him off. oO No thanks. Oo

 

Helm: ... aye, sir.

 

Aitas: Response?

 

 

((Bridge, Fourteen minutes later))

 

(OOC: this is set likely just before Wong and Nevark rendezvous with the O’Ran to treat Seleya)

 

With PADD in one hand, and mug in the other, Wil aimlessly wandered around the bridge as he read out a mission report to Aitas regarding Operation Brightstar.

Ukinix: ...  “by the possibility that the Vaadwaur could move from the Delta quadrant to the Alpha with those corridors, the Challenger was launched as soon as the repairs were done to find out more about the corridors of the Underspace, while the Captain Samal Frazier was called for important talks about the recovery of DS17”-- ::looking up at Aitas:: bloody hell, it sounds like an ordeal.

 

Aitas: Response

 

Ukinix: Any word from the Trenvonn yet?

 

Aitas: Response

 

Ukinix: ::Looking back at PADD:: I guess it’s a don’t call us, we’ll call you thing--

 

He was interrupted by a trill that sounded through the bridge, before he heard D’Cyra’s voice.

 

Varati: =/\= OPs to Daintree, Miombo and Independence-B: Whoever receives it first: the scouts must get away from the vicinity of the subspace rift! Immediately! Part of the rift is on the verge of collapse! Get out of there! =/\=

 

Ukinix: Oh no...

 

He rushed over to one of the consoles, dropped the PADD, tapped at the console while slamming down the rest of his mug of tea, and read the screen.

 

Aitas: Response

 

Ukinix: The Miombo’s caught in an eddy, and the Daintree’s heading right for them. There’s an unidentified vessel nearby as well. ::to Helm:: Raise them, now!

 

The helm officer tapped at their console, before it sounded warning tones.

 

Helm: There’s too much interference. Comms won’t go through. ::Turning in seat:: We can’t make contact.

 

Aitas: Response

 

Ukinix: We can’t stay here. Bugger the Grand Expert, we’ll have to leave a note or something. That’s two lots of crew in trouble. We gotta help ‘em. ::To Helm:: Set a course but don’t engage yet.

 

Helm: ::tapping at console:: Aye sir, setting a course to the scouts.

 

Robin Hopper, Taelon (in a Talon, tee hee! - oO Not now Ukinix! Oo), Jansen, Saavei, Niev, and poor Renaie who had only virtually just arrived at Amity. And Flinny (or David Flint for those that didn’t know Wil’s nickname for him including possibly David himself).

 

He wasn’t about to lose them all.

 

But then there was the whole relation with the Trenvonn thing to think about... oO @%@## Oo.

 

Ukinix: This is ultimately an FDC vessel. It’s the FDC’s call.

 

Aitas: Response

 

 

 

Tags/TBC

 

 

 

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Commander Wil Ukinix
Starfleet attache and Commanding Officer
Amity Outpost
V239511WU0