Lieutenant JG Niev Galanis - Prime Claimant
Niev Galanis
((Derelict Vaadwaur Ship – Underspace Corridor))
Vaadwaur: The structural integrity of this vessel was forfeited hours ago. Panic will not repair the bulkheads. Now, if you would be so gracious as to provide the aforementioned transportation to your vessel, I will assist you in navigating the corridors and allow your healer to perform their customs. I assure you, your cooperation will be noted when we reestablish proper order.
Niev was entirely unsure of what to make of this Vaadwaur. Was he making a call based on the obvious state of the ship, or did he actually know something more? Something told them it wasn’t going to be as simple as just asking. Subtly, Niev brought their tricorder back up, as though checking their surroundings. What they were really curious about was more data on this derelict’s passenger, however.
Hopper: Right. Well, we need to keep moving. A little further along and we should be able to transport back to our ship and move away. Once we’re back aboard, Lieutenant Shortrith can give you a proper once-over, just to make sure you’re in good shape, and we can talk ‘til the cows come home.
Shortrith: ::To Galanis and Hopper:: Will we need security?
Hopper: No. ::Eying the Vaadwaur:: I don’t think so…
Hopper: At the moment, we’re all in this together. Let’s try to maintain that, uh, spirit of cooperation, shall we?
Vaadwaur: Duly said. Cooperation is the very foundation of civilization. You may proceed.
Pressing their lips thin, brow furrowing together, Niev couldn’t figure out what to say to that. He wasn’t wrong, but…
The awkward trek back to the point they’d entered the ship left Niev with little to do but watch the Vaadwaur. His movements did seem stiff, though it was hard to tell if it was from a rigid personality or a concentrated effort to hide how exhausted he truly was. Luckily for everyone involved, even if the Vaadwaur was more injured, they didn’t have to worry about carrying or supporting him in zero gravity.
Hopper: Lieutenants – the interference should be sufficiently reduced here for Flint to get a lock on us. Confirm via tricorder readings and, if all looks well… Put in the call.
Remembering what was to be found in the room, Niev glanced back at the Vaadwaur, brow knitting in mild concern. They had no idea what their relationship to each other might have been. Niev debated internally before hesitantly speaking up.
Galanis: I don’t think whoever was in that room made it. My condolences.
Shortrith: =/\= Shortrith to Flint. Four to beam out. =/\=
Flint: =/\= Received, Away Team. I have your signals – they look clean. Prepare for transport. =/\=
Much to Niev’s surprise, the Vaadwaur didn’t do more than give a small nod of acknowledgement. It reminded Niev of the way a ship’s quartermaster might nod at being told they were low on certain supplies.
Hopper: See you on the other side.
Vaadwaur: I’m certain we will.
((Talon Class Scout Daintree - Underspace Corridor))
Being back on the Daintree should have been a relief. But their new guest had set Niev on edge. As they moved to remove their EV helmet and begin the process of stepping out of the suit, they tried to keep one eye on the Vaadwaur as well. He had found grip on a nearby railing, holding himself with a rigid professionalism that even Niev could only dream of achieving. Part of them imagined a level placed on his back would read perfectly even. He was doing a very good job of compensating for his stasis sickness, if that’s indeed what he had, though Niev couldn’t help but wonder if his posture was overcompensating for it.
Shortrith: ::To Flint:: Have you received anything from anyone?
Flint: Negative. I thought perhaps there was some comms chatter on some of the lower-band channels, but it was just sensor echoes. No way to tell if it was our people or not. If it’s them, they’re not yet close enough to resolve the signal…
The noise now coming from the speaker wasn’t helping things. Niev found themself reaching up to rub at their temple, biting back the urge to inform the pilot of how senseless playing garbled noise for all of them to hear was. With a signal this fragmented, isolating waveforms was the least one could do. Fortunately, their fellow scientist was already on top of informing Lieutenant Flint.
Hopper: Not enough for us to make anything out of. ::Sigh:: Alright, we’re still on our own. Time to get the hell out of here.
Shortrith: Hold on - still nothing?
Flint: You’re welcome to review the data yourself, Lieutenant, once you’ve seen to our guest’s health. ::Eying the Vaadwaur warily:: And who is our guest, ma’am?
Hopper: This is– ::Pause:: Actually, we haven’t yet been properly introduced. ::Gesturing to the fold-out biobed:: Why don’t you take a seat and we can complete the pleasantries while our medical officer completes their review?
Vaadwaur: You’re trying to reach other members of your fleet? A sensible, if futile effort. This is why we commit the paths to memory. ::straightening up further, holding himself authoratively:: I am Vathrik, Prime Claimant of the Barossa Corridors - and since you have so graciously provided my transit, I shall allow your healer their inspection. Your thoroughness will be appreciated. I have much work ahead of me.
Blinking several times, Niev stared at the Vaadwaur - this ‘Prime Claimant’ named Vathrik - and couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at his title. They’d known the species had been listed as imperialistic and expansionist. It was strange to think that they’d been far enough to have a name for even the Barossa Sector. How many civilizations had once laid claim to parts of space that seemed totally vacant and abandoned today?
Shaking their head, Niev finished undressing from the EV suit and took their place at the science console. Multiple times, they could feel that careful, observant gaze falling upon them again. Vathrik wasn’t letting himself miss a single bit of detail on the bridge of the small scout craft.
Flint: Lieutenant David Flint, sir. Pleasure to make your acquaintance. Now, if you’ll quite forgive me, I think the plan was that I would be ‘getting us the hell out of here,’ – is that right, ma’am?
Hopper: Sounds about right to me. If engines are sufficiently restored, I suggest we go back the way we came, unless you– ::She glanced to the Vaadwaur:: –would suggest otherwise?
Niev was sure they weren’t the only one who saw Vathrik’s gaze flick down toward the phaser, a look of thought and calculation crossing his face for the briefest of moments. Was he preparing for a fight? It didn’t look that way to Niev. Something told them that Robin’s drawing of attention to the weapon had been more like a confirmation - a piece of a puzzle sliding into place.
Vathrik: No, that’s an acceptable course. It will allow me to better reorient myself with what branch of the corridor you’ve retrieved me in.
At last, the ship began to move away from the debris. Niev had to keep their attention on the console - what they would have liked to see was the Vaadwaur’s reaction to seeing the state of his ship. To leaving behind his crew members. But perhaps it was for the better. They would have been disappointed to see that Vathrik seemed far more interested in what lie ahead than the wreckage left behind.
Flint: Keep an eye on that debris, will you? That wave that pushed us into the underspace corridor seems to have been carrying an awful lot of junk along with it and it’s been pelting this position for the last hour or so.
Galanis: Yes, sir. I’ll keep the link I established while you were… unavailable… earlier.
oO Was unavailable really nicer than unconscious…? Oo
While Niev pondered such pressing thoughts, Robin moved back to check on Vathrik and Renaie.
Hopper: How’s he doing, Lieutenant? ::To the Vaadwaur:: Feeling alright? What happened, anyways? To you– to your ship?
Vathrik seemingly ignored the medical officer’s examination entirely, allowing her whatever scans she saw fit, fixing his gaze on Hopper with an expression of weary disappointment rather than grief.
Vathrik: I’ve suffered worse unpleasantries than a prolonged sleep. My faculties are entirely intact. As to the fate of that vessel… I can offer no tactical report. I was roused only by your arrival, long after whatever violence crippled it had concluded. How was it that you discovered the wreckage?
Shortrith: Response
Hopper: We entered this underspace corridor by accident while we were investigating the opening. It opened in a volatile region of space and was highly unstable. Evidently, we got a little too close… We found a significant amount of debris outside the rift – debris that matched your vessel. I’m sorry. We think you were likely the only survivor.
Vathrik: Keep your apologies, Commander. I am not surprised by their demise. Sympathy is a currency wasted on the inept. To be the sole survivor of a doomed expedition is the natural distillation of competence.
Shortrith: Response
A sudden, blinding flash ripped Niev’s attention from the conversation. Beyond the viewport, the derelict ship tore itself apart in a series of violent, rippling explosions. They had made it out with only minutes to spare. Niev didn’t know what to think about that feeling like a generous margin compared to what Amity’s crew usually ran into.
Flint: Bloody hell. Are we clear enough? Radiation danger?
Galanis: At this point, sirs, radiation danger is a constant. As long as our shields can hold up, we shouldn’t be in any worse of a situation than we already are. ::they bit down lightly on the inside of their cheek, looking over at Vathrik to see his non-reaction to the ship’s final destruction:: …I hope there weren’t any other survivors on board.
That actually brought Vathrik’s attention to Niev fully this time, the Vaadwaur shaking his head like a parent might at a misguided child.
Vathrik: You must understand... the individuals who crewed that ruin were diminished. Scavengers draped in the faded regalia of a true empire. I don’t know what petty local squabble they provoked to bring about their own destruction, but they clearly lacked the discipline and the mandate of the Supremacy I represent. Separate my presence from the actions of such pretenders.
Hopper/Shortrith: Response
Galanis: Are you saying your people are liars?
Vathrik: Liars, traitors, barbarians, warmongers, call them what you want. I expect upon your first contact they lied to your faces and attempted to take your kindness for all it was worth. They are, in a word, fools. The same fools that watched the Supremacy slip through their fingers one vassal at a time, spat on those who built it, and hid us away like cowards for centuries.
The look of bitterness on Vathrik’s face was unfiltered, a contrast to his otherwise restrained authority. Even Niev didn’t need to have the acrid tang his tone took on pointed out to them. It seemed whoever this Vaadwaur was, he had some rather strong feelings on those the Voyager encountered and awakened.
Hopper/Shortrith: Response
Vathrik: You would be a fool to trust a Vaadwaur, Lieutenant Commander Robin Hopper of Starfleet. But you can trust me.
Hopper/Shortrith: Response
TAG/TBC…
