Lt.Cmdr Taelon - By a Lion's Reckoning
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armiece
May 29, 2026, 7:42:22 PM (6 days ago) May 29
to Amity Outpost – StarBase 118 Star Trek PBEM RPG
((Medical Conference Room, Deck 2, USS Independence-B))
Taelon: We have, um, interviews underway. ::He swallowed, gaze trying to stay on Ar’a’Dal but failing.:: Unfortunately - or, well, fortunately - your pathogen has certainly been successful in your stated goal. As for its mutation and spread to the crew, though, that is something we must address with all haste…as, um, given the UAW crews are of a variety of species, that indicates the pathogen could spread unpredictably. Including to your own people, should the UAW bring the mutated form planetside.
Saavei: If you were willing to allow us to view control data from your tests of the original pathogen strain which was released, it may help us to understand further.
Lor: ::stops her work and looks to Ar’a’Dal:: Indeed, this mutation appears most unfortunate. What would be even more unfortunate is if this pathogen mutated further and began to affect our systems and yours before moving to infect other humanoids such as yourself. ::pauses:: Mutating pathogens, from what I understand, have a strange way of doing that if left unchecked. We wouldn’t want your people to fall victim to your own pathogen, would we?
Ar’a’Dal: Response
Taelon: That’s why we - well, why we need your help, sir. You aided in this pathogen’s creation. You simulated many scenarios, I, um, assume, including potential mutations?
Saavei: Anything you could share on it would be useful.
Ar’a’Dal: Response
Taelon: Well - my concern is the spread. And potential further mutation into a mold or fungus. I, um, would most like to know what you engineered it to resist; if we’re to neutralize it, better to target its weaknesses.
Saavei: The mold we encountered on the UAW Enterprise was also beginning to consume aspects of the vessel itself. I am concerned this could also contaminate your own planetary and ship systems, causing a greater crisis. If so, even if biologically safe from the current iterations of the pathogen, your infrastructure and vessels may not be.
Ar’a’Dal: Response
Saavei: The UAW is aware of this mold consumption issue from their Enterprise. It is possible, in their strategem of attack, they could seek to weaponize this mold against you. I am certain they would have considered its offensive use, all the more so if they believe they are avenging a wrong, real or imagined.
The two women were hammering away at the seemingly implacable Ar’a’Dal. Taelon was quiet, watching the man and trying to judge his reactions. Not for the first time he wished he had his father’s knowledge of expression; Jakarn could find a lie hidden in a simple flutter of the eyelashes. Taelon could really only guess.
The man had a beautiful face, Taelon thought. His heavy brow and stern expression gave him an air of gravitas, even as he hummed and made little attempt to hide his lack of concern.
Ar'a'Dal: Response
Saavei: It is possible that developing a cure for the pathogen may also directly impact your own survival. ::Hum:: If I understand the possible outcome?
Lor: ::tilts her head to one side and looks at Ar’a’Dal:: Practical reasoning, wouldn’t you say? It sounds as though your fate is intertwined with that of the UAW. Logically, in trying to harm their systems, you have placed yourselves at risk. What is the point of stopping the UAW if it destroys your people, too?
Taelon made a noise under his breath, a kind of commiserating hum.
Taelon: A predator must consider the cost to itself in what it seeks to pursue, I suppose…?
He said it more to himself than the rest of the room. It was a fairly common idea, he thought. Raise the cost above the payout.
Ar’a’Dal: Response
Saavei: ::tilts her head:: Time may be short, unfortunately.
Lor: ::nods:: I imagine Ar’a’Dal must speak with his government. This is a hefty decision.
Ar'a'Dal: Response
Lor: A little bit of information on the original pathogen’s composition and design could buy some time while your government decides how much of their records they would like to release–in the interests of tracking down where the mutation occurred, of course. If we have a baseline, we can work backwards to determine how it might have mutated. ::motions to Saavei:: I’m sure Ensign Saavei has the required skillsets?
Saavei/Ar’a’Dal: Response
Lor: ::tilts her head to one side:: It is your government’s decision, of course. However, it would be unfortunate to see such an intelligent, evolved race as the Zumardi fall prey to their own pathogen.
Saavei/Ar’a’Dal/Lor: Response
Taelon continued to study their guests’ face, trying to get a read on him.
Taelon: The pathogen’s mutation certainly, um, complicates things. ::He brushed a hand over his head, messing with his hair.:: But it has done what it was intended for, and largely disabled the UAW Enterprise.
It was almost a complement. If it had worked with no loss of life or mutations…
Saavei/Ar’a’Dal/Lor: Response
Taelon: I’m, um, more trying to say that its purpose has largely been fulfilled. You said the mutation and spread to crewmembers was unexpected, after all…should countering its undesired behaviors be such an issue, then?
Saavei/Ar’a’Dal/Lor: Response
Lieutenant Commander Taelon
Chief Science Officer
Amity Outpost
O239303T10
Taelon: We have, um, interviews underway. ::He swallowed, gaze trying to stay on Ar’a’Dal but failing.:: Unfortunately - or, well, fortunately - your pathogen has certainly been successful in your stated goal. As for its mutation and spread to the crew, though, that is something we must address with all haste…as, um, given the UAW crews are of a variety of species, that indicates the pathogen could spread unpredictably. Including to your own people, should the UAW bring the mutated form planetside.
Saavei: If you were willing to allow us to view control data from your tests of the original pathogen strain which was released, it may help us to understand further.
Lor: ::stops her work and looks to Ar’a’Dal:: Indeed, this mutation appears most unfortunate. What would be even more unfortunate is if this pathogen mutated further and began to affect our systems and yours before moving to infect other humanoids such as yourself. ::pauses:: Mutating pathogens, from what I understand, have a strange way of doing that if left unchecked. We wouldn’t want your people to fall victim to your own pathogen, would we?
Ar’a’Dal: Response
Taelon: That’s why we - well, why we need your help, sir. You aided in this pathogen’s creation. You simulated many scenarios, I, um, assume, including potential mutations?
Saavei: Anything you could share on it would be useful.
Ar’a’Dal: Response
Taelon: Well - my concern is the spread. And potential further mutation into a mold or fungus. I, um, would most like to know what you engineered it to resist; if we’re to neutralize it, better to target its weaknesses.
Saavei: The mold we encountered on the UAW Enterprise was also beginning to consume aspects of the vessel itself. I am concerned this could also contaminate your own planetary and ship systems, causing a greater crisis. If so, even if biologically safe from the current iterations of the pathogen, your infrastructure and vessels may not be.
Ar’a’Dal: Response
Saavei: The UAW is aware of this mold consumption issue from their Enterprise. It is possible, in their strategem of attack, they could seek to weaponize this mold against you. I am certain they would have considered its offensive use, all the more so if they believe they are avenging a wrong, real or imagined.
The two women were hammering away at the seemingly implacable Ar’a’Dal. Taelon was quiet, watching the man and trying to judge his reactions. Not for the first time he wished he had his father’s knowledge of expression; Jakarn could find a lie hidden in a simple flutter of the eyelashes. Taelon could really only guess.
The man had a beautiful face, Taelon thought. His heavy brow and stern expression gave him an air of gravitas, even as he hummed and made little attempt to hide his lack of concern.
Ar'a'Dal: Response
Saavei: It is possible that developing a cure for the pathogen may also directly impact your own survival. ::Hum:: If I understand the possible outcome?
Lor: ::tilts her head to one side and looks at Ar’a’Dal:: Practical reasoning, wouldn’t you say? It sounds as though your fate is intertwined with that of the UAW. Logically, in trying to harm their systems, you have placed yourselves at risk. What is the point of stopping the UAW if it destroys your people, too?
Taelon made a noise under his breath, a kind of commiserating hum.
Taelon: A predator must consider the cost to itself in what it seeks to pursue, I suppose…?
He said it more to himself than the rest of the room. It was a fairly common idea, he thought. Raise the cost above the payout.
Ar’a’Dal: Response
Saavei: ::tilts her head:: Time may be short, unfortunately.
Lor: ::nods:: I imagine Ar’a’Dal must speak with his government. This is a hefty decision.
Ar'a'Dal: Response
Lor: A little bit of information on the original pathogen’s composition and design could buy some time while your government decides how much of their records they would like to release–in the interests of tracking down where the mutation occurred, of course. If we have a baseline, we can work backwards to determine how it might have mutated. ::motions to Saavei:: I’m sure Ensign Saavei has the required skillsets?
Saavei/Ar’a’Dal: Response
Lor: ::tilts her head to one side:: It is your government’s decision, of course. However, it would be unfortunate to see such an intelligent, evolved race as the Zumardi fall prey to their own pathogen.
Saavei/Ar’a’Dal/Lor: Response
Taelon continued to study their guests’ face, trying to get a read on him.
Taelon: The pathogen’s mutation certainly, um, complicates things. ::He brushed a hand over his head, messing with his hair.:: But it has done what it was intended for, and largely disabled the UAW Enterprise.
It was almost a complement. If it had worked with no loss of life or mutations…
Saavei/Ar’a’Dal/Lor: Response
Taelon: I’m, um, more trying to say that its purpose has largely been fulfilled. You said the mutation and spread to crewmembers was unexpected, after all…should countering its undesired behaviors be such an issue, then?
Saavei/Ar’a’Dal/Lor: Response
Lieutenant Commander Taelon
Chief Science Officer
Amity Outpost
O239303T10
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