[End Act 2] Lt. Cmdr Robin Hopper: How Do You Know?
Robin Hopper
((OOC – Thanks for keeping things moving y’all; It’s been crazy over here IRL!))
((Oparis Regional Hospital – North Oparis Branch Settlement, Uwe II))
Fortunately, the Hospital had been close to their previous position. The forged credentials they had may not have been perfect, but at least they’d gotten them through the door and into a room where Ikaia could do the work he needed to stabilize Elarrapal.
She was a shrewd individual. Robin almost bought that she did have some sort of prophetic ability, given her numerous insinuations about what their real identities and purpose on Uwe might be… but the way she spoke also left things just ambiguous enough that it could all have just been wild speculation.
Regardless, taking her to the Hospital had afforded them at least one stroke of luck. Robin moved away from medical procedure that threatened to make her lose her lunch, and over to Niev and Saavei at the window overlooking the Uropal grove. The ground around the large central tree was pockmarked by mining tunnels in and around the gnarled roots – a disturbing sight, even to one not from Uwe. Robin couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe there was something to the activists’ misgivings about the warp project and how fast it was moving.
Hopper: Anything relevant you’ve been able to scan from here?
Galanis: With a handheld tricorder, from up here? Only confirmation of what we already suspected. Strange UV absorption patterns. Traker deposits. No signs of the pollen, thankfully.
Robin’s brows raised slightly at the mention of Traker deposits – commonly associated with formations containing raw dilithium. That would certainly explain a few things… but it also raised even more concerns. Dilithium, unrefined and improperly handled, could be quite dangerous – and it was unusual for species to jump straight into using the material (which was rarely found on habitable planets) in their first warp drives. Earth ships had started off using regular old (singular) lithium to regulate their matter/antimatter reactions until dilithium had been discovered as a more reliable mineral.
This thought only added to her feeling that there may, in fact, be something to Elarrapal’s visions of doom and the anti-warp movement's concerns. oO If only they knew how to work with it safely. If only we could help them! Oo
Saavei: No indicators of surveillance systems in the room which might compromise us further. Looking now, it also appears I still have partial systems access to the development center's network.
Galanis: I believe we can question her about this without violating the Prime Directive any further than we have. She may suspect we aren’t who we say we are, but if we aren’t too obvious about our foreknowledge, Elarrapal might be able to confirm if it is or isn’t dilithium they’re mining here. It would certainly make any potential interactions with the Hovans more complicated, whatever’s going on over there.
Robin nodded, silently approving of Niev’s recommendation. They needed more information, more than they could get from this hospital room with the handheld tricorders anyways.
Saavei: Initial schematics made it appear as though the Uwe were utilizing a fusion reaction. The presence of dilithium, in tandem with the Uwe knowing how to utilize it, would make their burgeoning program have all the more potential.
Hopper: It’s that second part I worry about – them knowing how to utilize it. Realizing its potential is one thing, but properly integrating it, even with a relatively simple fusion reactor, could be disastrous if they make even a little mistake… And if that happened within the planet’s atmosphere, it could be sufficient to trigger a cascade of reactions in the underground deposits.
In other words – KABLOOEY! Bye bye, Uwe II. Robin didn’t like that one bit.
Wong: Okay. Almost done. This is going to take a fair bit of time to heal.
Robin turned, looking over her shoulder at Ikaia as he began putting the finishing touches on Elarrapal’s wounds. She had to admit, he’d done good work. She was barely even nauseated looking at it now!
Wong: Can someone get me the blood we procured earlier? I’m going to set up the transfusi—
The injured woman tried to stand and he did his best to keep her keister on the bed.
Wong: Hey. Please stay seated. I really don’t want you taking a tumble across the floor.
Elarrapal: I can answer your questions now.
While she seemed, perhaps, a slightly paler shade of green now than she had when they first met, Elarrapal also seemed in remarkably good shape (and spirits) for someone who’d just ripped their own arm off just to make a point. That was definitely something Robin would need to include in her report.
She nodded for Niev and Saavei to join her, walking back towards Ikaia and Elarrapal whilst the blood transfusion was set up.
Galanis: Is there anything we can do to help?
Wong: I know you’re still uh…. Enthused. But please go easy on yourself, Elarrapal. You’ve lost a fair bit of blood. Also, half your body is still numb from the anesthetic. So uh…. Spatial coordination isn’t going to be your strong suit. I wouldn’t recommend attending any dance parties right now.
Saavei: It would be wise to heed his advice.
Robin pursed her lips. While she was sure Ikaia was right in his medical advice, Elarrapal herself did seem well enough to talk, and time was of the essence – particularly so, now that they’d learned there could be a potentially-catastrophically dangerous element being mined for utilization in the Warp Ship’s reactor.
Hopper: She can talk if she stays there, though, right? I for one would like to know what Elarrapal can tell us about Norsel and his involvement in all this…
Galanis: Not to grow faster than our roots, but the sooner we can speak with her, the better, Doctor. Time is, as ever, not on our side.
Exactly. Robin’s gaze shifted, expectantly, from Ikaia to Elarrapal.
Elarrapal: Norsel suspected you. Spoke of those with false names and titles at the facility that would burn our forests to grasp the stars.
Wong: Now that doesn’t sound like us.
Hopper: Well, not exactly…
It was obvious Elarrapal was onto them – though now Robin had some idea of how she was onto them, and just how much. False names and titles was a lot less concerning than if she’d known they weren’t from Uwe!
Hopper: Our work does sometimes require us to operate covertly, or under shaded pretenses. It can be necessary in the Security business, especially when we suspect someone may be looking for ways to cause harm… I don’t suppose Norsel had anything more to say?
Elarrapal: He has a fondness for gloating, but he is not a fool. He would not have told me all of what was whispered to him amid the shadows. What flowed to me is only a portion, though I cannot be certain of his intent.
Well, then that was good, Robin thought – at least that he hadn’t said anything else to Elarrapal. The fact that Norsel knew more about them did not, however, feel quite so good. While they all appeared Uwezo, even a basic genetic scan of their hair could be sufficient to prove they were, in fact, not of this world.
Wong: Likes to gloat but isn’t entirely forthcoming. Not exactly a great combination.
Saavei: Who whispers to him, I would wonder.
Galanis: Not all that different from asking which leaf is making the sound of wind.
Hopper’s brow furrowed, the barklike creases on her modified mottled green skin pulling together.
Hopper: Sounds like someone who likes to collect sensitive information and decide who gets to know what and when – which is a lot of power for one individual to hold. It’s a recipe for the manipulation of facts to suit an agenda.
Elarrapal: Norsel heard the echoes of what happened, explosions and your timely presence around them. And heard so very swiftly.
Wong: We’re going to have to circle back on this but when you say swiftly, how swiftly?
Saavei: Curious.
Galanis: Some of the echoes could have been literal. It wasn’t exactly a subtle attack. Nor was the timing coincidental. It was set off early due to our presence.
Well, that remained speculative – though it did seem more and more likely. If Norsel had gotten word they were there and weren’t who they claimed to be, that could have been sufficient cause for him to activate an explosive… if he was in fact the one behind that.
Hopper: Is it possible, then, that Norsel himself is somehow behind this attack? If he learned that members of Internal Security were at the facility, that could have pushed him to act… It’s a potential motive, at least, and the opportunity. ::Eyeing Elarrapal:: What about means? Could he have done this?
Elarrapal: He set Imeris alight. I hold no faith in what channels shape his desires; he might burn all the world only to set others upon his path. He rests upon a warren of unclear ambitions.
Right – he had been present when Elarrapal’s tree had been burned. Was likely the instigator. So he was no stranger to such acts of violence.
Wong: It does raise a few questions for sure.
Saavei: Could you elaborate on what you mean by Norsel burning all the world?
Hopper: ::To Saavei:: I think she’s speaking metaphorically… ::To Elarrapal, eyes slightly nervous:: I hope she is, anyways.
If Norsel wanted people on his path, whatever that was, burning the whole world hardly seemed like a way to achieve that. But, if he was being reckless, he might accomplish it by accident nonetheless.
Wong: Consider me an observer of people. It’s part of my profession. But I did notice that Norsel’s protestors seem to be anti… well… you. What was that about?
Saavei: It appears to go beyond debate and into the realm of a personal dislike.
That was another interesting question. Robin had thought, originally, that Norsel was – like Elarrapal – part of the anti-warp camp. If he was behind the explosive detonated there earlier that day, that would definitely lend credence to that belief… But if so, why would he also be so anti-Elarrapal? Shouldn’t they be on the same side?
Obviously, things were a little more complicated than they had initially thought. (When was that not the case?!)
Elarrapal: He cares only for his goals; what might be trampled in their wake is of little consequence. He seems to consider it a betrayal that I might do otherwise.
Galanis: Once a goal seems important enough, price becomes relative.
Hopper: He’s an egomaniac, then. Obsessed with achieving his own ends at whatever cost. Someone with that mindset and influence is a dangerous combination.
It was getting clearer and clearer to Robin that, if anyone was putting the Uwezos’ future in jeopardy, it was Norsel – but why? What were his “own ends” and why did they seem at odds with… everyone else’s? There was something missing here.
Wong: So why did you meet with Norsel this evening?
Elarrapal: To see if he could be reasoned with. And if not, then to make my disagreement with his methods clear.
Galanis: Quite a… heavy-handed method of disagreement.
Niev received a wide side-eye from Robin.
Wong: Well…. How did you and Norsel meet? I mean from the beginning. It takes absolute knots to take on the warp project and not just anyone would do that. But how did you two first cross paths?
Saavei: I too would like to know this story.
Elarrapal: He approached me, at first. He was one of those who thought my message should be heard, that my concerns should be spread like leaves on the wind. He thought I would be useful, perhaps.
Robin felt a bit like her thoughts were swirling like leaves in a whirlwind.
Hopper: So he went from being one of your supporters to trying to burn down your home?
Saavei: The relationship seems a complicated one.
She tilted her head slightly, her eyes drifting sideways towards the past.
Hopper: ::Under her breath:: Sounds like a few I’ve had, actually…
But if anyone heard it, they didn’t remark. (Thankfully.)
Saavei: Given that this situation has become violent, what is your plan from here, Elarrapal?
Elarrapal: I have made my opinions clear. Now I should speak to those who remain to me, and guard Imeris’ branches. Perhaps the tree will tell me more of Norsel’s plans.
Galanis: A reasonable decision.
Hopper: Right now? Are you really in guarding condition right now?
Robin gestured to the woman’s mended stump of an arm, then turned for Ikaia’s input.
Wong: Response
Hopper: Just a few more questions then, Elarrapal, if you don’t mind. You’ve been most cooperative so far – honestly, this is the most information we’ve gotten all day. It doesn’t paint a great picture, but at least we know now that Norsel is the one we need to be looking into.
If they could get to him, that was.
Saavei: Do you know who Norsel has been speaking with about these recent incidents?
Elarrapal: Not for certain. There are those who offered information to me as well, once, but what was entrusted to me is used to heal, not merely to chase gossip of uncertain provenance.
Galanis: This is no mere gossiping, I assure you. We’re as interested in seeing a peaceful resolution to all of this as you are.
Wong: Response
Hopper: Names would be a big help – and where to find them. Anyone who can help point us towards a meeting with Norsel, or his sources.
It wouldn’t necessarily be everything they needed, but at least it was a direction to try. The alternative seemed to be going back to Norsel’s front door and hoping he was in a better mood now than earlier, which seemed quite unlikely.
Elarrapal: Procla lurks near the roots of Uropal often enough. But she will not admit if they sing to her. Perhaps she wishes for one way in which not to listen.
Evidently, Elarrapal was now feeling better. Well enough to get up and walk across the room to the window under her own power, at least. Robin chewed her lip as she walked, both marveling at the Uwezo’s resiliency and fretting over the activist’s stubbornness.
Galanis: Information is information. Whether she hears the… ‘singing’ or not.
Hopper: ::To the others:: It’s a lead, anyways. One that could lead us to better understanding what’s at stake here – or, if we get lucky, to Norsel. Then we can hear it straight from the horse’s mouth.
She wondered if, or how, the universal translator would handle that turn of phrase.
Wong/Saavei: Response
Elarrapal: She might speak more freely with you. Or you could ask Norsel, but he seemed to know enough of you to have built himself a fortress. I do not know how much my objection will have worn at his defenses.
Galanis: I don’t get the impression Norsel is much for talking things out.
Tucking her hands into the pockets of her Uwezo-style jacket, Robin sighed.
Hopper: Well, we have to try, if we get the chance. He seems to have his finger in a lot of these pies. Nobody else seems to be quite so connected – and yet also opposed to – all the sides of this thing.
Wong/Saavei: Response
Approaching the woman by the window, Robin gazed down at the trees, before finding Elarrapal’s eyes reflected in the glass.
Hopper: You’ve been very helpful, Elarrapal. Thank you.
Elarrapal: If you ask more of me then I may offer questions of my own in turn, and I fear that we might all be washed away by the answers. I cannot speak to others of what I do not know.
Robin’s mouth opened for a moment, words on the tip of her tongue, then closed. oO How to say what I want to say without breaking the Prime Directive…? Oo
Hopper: Once this situation is resolved, Elarrapal, I hope we’ll see each other again. I think the government would be wise to listen to your warnings, and at least consider alternatives.
It wasn’t all that much, but it was true – and it didn’t feel like she was offering anything too specific there.
Wong/Saavei: Response
Galanis: ::to Elarrapal:: Thank you for the information you’ve been able to provide regardless. It’s been very informative.
Wong/Elarrapal/Saavei: Response
Waving for the others to join her, Robin moved back towards the opposite end of the room, leaving Elarrapal to look down at the trees below.
Hopper: Well, it’s a bit thin – but it seems we have a thread to pull here. Norsel. He may be our ticket to righting this situation.
Galanis: If we assume the same people behind the explosion and the kidnapping are the same, that suggests it’s just a matter of time before they strike again - and the damage may not be so superfluous. Considering our influence in how events have played out so far…
Robin nodded, looking over her shoulder at Elarrapal. Niev’s implication was sufficient – if they hadn’t been there things might have gone differently, even if they hadn’t been uncovered as ‘aliens’. Something about keeping the wool over these people’s eyes – a people who were so close to uncovering the rest of the universe for themselves – felt wrong. Wrong in a way that most visits to pre-warp worlds didn’t.
Hopper: Yes, you’re right. Things here weren’t great before we got involved – now they seem to have escalated, in both intensity and in pace. It’s not a very likely coincidence, and if it isn’t, then we have a responsibility to try and undo the damage…
Wong/Saavei: Response
Elarrapal: Response?
And thus came the hardest part of these things.
Galanis: Minister, we may not get a chance to pursue another lead if this one is a dead end. What we do next may well decide the future of this project.
Hopper: ::Look of mild irritation:: Thank you… ::Sigh:: Look, if Procla is down there, right now, and she can put us in touch with Norsel, I think that’s what we gotta do. Plus we can use it as an opportunity to investigate the ore they’re mining more closely – confirm our theories. If not…
She reached into her pocket, felt her combadge. She knew the Indy had been called away on some sort of interception mission, but they were still reachable via subspace in a pinch. Their scanners were more powerful than handheld tricorders – able to locate biosigns from orbit, at least, though she wasn’t sure the Indy could get that close without detection. The transporter then, maybe. Skip an introduction and the front doors entirely and turn up in Norsel’s bunker.
Hopper: …We may be forced to use ‘other means’ to reach Norsel, or find Greeta.
Wong/Galanis/Saavei: Response
Hopper: Elarrapal, will you be safe here? Or find your way back to Imeris without any more trouble?
The last thing Robin wanted was to leave her there, in the lurch, to go pursue their own ends. But something told her Elarrapal was more resourceful than that.
Elarrapal: Response?
Hopper: We’ll check back in on you as soon as we can. ::To the others:: Okay, team, let’s go.
((Shortly Thereafter – Uropal Grove))
The massive tree at the center of the grove still stood tall and proud – an impressive sight to behold. On Theta VII, the largest trees were the transplanted cottonwoods from Earth. This dwarfed them handily. (Darn it, I almost made it a whole sim without a hand reference!) It rose into the air, more like a giant sequoia tree from the last stands of the great Redwood forests, yet putting even those behemoths to shame.
Its massive gnarled roots rose in the air, creating archways one could walk under, save for the temporary barricades and deep mining pits that littered the area. The place seemed shut down, perhaps because of the explosion at the warp facility earlier, Robin considered. They might want to wait until they could beef up security here as well before they reopened the mining.
Hopper: Well, can we confirm it? Is it dilithium? Anything else to note?
Galanis/Saavei: Response
She turned to Ikaia next.
Hopper: Any sign of this Procla? ::Looking around:: This place looks like a ghost town… Are we sure it’s safe to be here right now?
Wong: Response
Just then, the tricorders started beeping – not in warning of imminent danger this time, thank goodness – but with the sign of approaching biosigns. Turning behind them, Robin reached her hand back into her pocket, searching for her government ID… not that it would have done much good. Approaching, blocking the nearest exit from the labyrinth of roots and mining pits, were a bunch of Norsel’s men – Robin recognized the two who had tried to intercept Elarrapal before.
Hopper: Good afternoon, gentlemen. Come here often?
The guards did not seem amused, but they did begin fanning out around them.
Guard: You like poking your noses where they don’t belong, don’t you? Norsel said we’d find you here. Said you wouldn’t be able to resist coming to see it for yourselves… But now it’s time to go.
Wong/Galanis/Saavei: Response
Robin stepped forward, a little closer to the guard. In her peripheral vision, she could see another six Uwezo enforcers, all just as tall and formidable as the one who was speaking, spreading out in a semi-circle around them. Wherever this was going, she was sure it wasn’t good. With her hand still in her pocket, she held a long press on her combadge, activating the micro distress beacon within. She just hoped the crew on the Indy wouldn’t be too preoccupied to notice.
Hopper: We’re with the Ministry of Internal Security. Norsel doesn’t have any right to tell us where we can or can’t be… But we’d be interested in talking with him. Maybe he can come and meet us right here?
Wong/Galanis/Saavei: Response?
Guard: Norsel doesn’t come to you. You go to Norsel. Lucky for you four, he’s extended you an invitation. He wants to talk to you, so you all better come with us if you don’t want there to be any trouble…
She was expecting a threat of violence. Maybe a menacing brandishing of weapons. She was not expecting the man to say what he did.
Guard: Starfleet.
Hopper: ::Deflated:: Oh boy...
Somehow – the jig was up.
END Act 2 for Hopper
==
Lt. Cmdr Robin Hopper (she/they)
First Officer, Amity Outpost
V239806K11