[Act 2] Commander Wil Ukinix and First Secretary Keehani Ukinix - Clean
Wil Ukinix
cleanskin n. “a bottle of wine whose label does not display the producer's name”
//First Officer’s Log – Stardate 240006.14
Thanks to Lieutenant Robin Hopper, we’ve found a way to push the Indy through the anomaly, and we are now in the parallel universe – that concept alone freaks me out. We’re now located where Amity would be, except there’s nothing here, just the solar nebula.
Our “crossover” wasn’t without cost. I’ve tasked Lieutenant Reade with coordinating repair teams to fix the damage to the Indy as soon as possible. That has been made tricky by the fact that we’re running a bare-minimum skeleton crew due to the sensitive nature of the mission we now find ourselves in.
I’ve sent John, Cassian, and Keehani down to the brig get as much information as she can from the parallel-universe ratbags that stole the Miombo… one of them being me, apparently. Except she’s a… well, she’s a she. From Tasmania… ::deliberately stifled laugh, slap of thigh:: //
(Some time later…)
//Diplomatic Diary Entry for First Secretary Keehani Ukinix, Ambassadorial Aide. Stardate 240006.14.
With Commander Iovianus’ and Commander Carter’s help, I have interviewed the parallel universe version of Rivi Vataix, Tri’lea Polgonz, and, I can’t believe I’m about to say this, Wil Ukinix. They were uncooperative at first, but it seems they were more responsive to assertiveness – especially from me. That is now, subsequently, not surprising given what they told us about my counterpart… ::sigh::
I am in awe of the apparent calmness of our Starfleet officers. We’ve not long ago crossed into a different reality, where everyone we know, everyone we love and care for, has existed in one way or another but with very different histories. Regardless, the officers carry out their duties, and are single minded in our overall goal - rescue and retrieval of Ambassador and Daughter Vataix, Lieutenant Iko, Lieutenant Richards, Ensign Veers, Daughter Ascendant Polgonz, Matriarch Vataix, and Daughter Taival.
While I am not a devout follower, I ask that The Four Deities may guide us – if, in fact, they even exist in this place. //
((Ready Room, USS Independence-B))
Ukinix: So, your majesty, how does it feel to be Queen of all England?
Keehani: ::Eyeroll, sighed scowl:: Shutup, Wil, this isn’t funny.
There was a short silence between the pair before Wil finally broke it.
Ukinix: ::Slight smirk:: It’s a *little bit* funny.
Keehani: ::Crossed arms, Flatly:: Wil.
Ukinix: ::Palms up:: Alright, alright. ::Inhale, then deep sigh:: You’re right. I’m just… trying to find some humour in the situation.
Wil put his thumb into his mouth and began gnawing a little.
Keehani: Don’t bite your nails.
Ukinix: I’m not, I’m just- ::removing thumb:: - alright I was biting my nails. I’m as nervous as all crap.
Keehani: I understa-
Keehani closed furrowed her brow, tilted her head slightly, then looked down as she thought about how it was possible that waste product could even feel nerves, before she momentarily closed her eyes and shook her head slightly to ignore the strange Terran phrase.
Keehani: I understand, cousin, we all are. ::Exhale through nose:: I don’t even know where to *begin* in the briefing to the crew.
Ukinix: Just follow my lead, tell them everything you know, answer their questions, just like you normally would. The more the crew know, the more effective they’ll be.
The First Secretary nodded, then looked down as she placed her hands in her lap.
Keehani: What if they’re- you know- dead.
Ukinix: The crew?
Keehani: ::tut:: No! ::rolling hand:: You know…
Wil looked down, and shook his head.
Ukinix: Nah nah, we shouldn’t assume that, Keehani. This crew will find out what happened to them, and we’ll get ‘em back. I’m optimistic.
Keehani: I know you are. ::Slight eyeroll at herself, leaning head back:: Oh, Four help me, when I set out to be a diplomat I never thought I’d experience anything like *this*.
Ukinix: Welcome to working alongside Starfleet. Where strange, weird stuff might be extraordinary but is always possible. Ready to go brief the crew?
Keehani looked down, closed her eyes, and rubbed the back of her neck.
Keehani: ::Slight smirk, rubbing back of neck:: No. But let’s go anyway, ::Opening eyes:: Otherwise, I don’t think I ever will be ready.
((A few minutes later – Mess Hall, Deck 2, USS Independence-B))
Wil had asked everyone to dress in casual, comfortable, and practical clothes. They were all now either seated or standing in the mess hall, which had been refurbished well above normal Starfleet standards so that it could also act as a meeting area for diplomatic liaisons if necessary.
Keehani, the sole representative of the Federation Diplomatic Corp on board, stood at the far wall, continuing her spiel to brief the Starfleet crew. In one hand she held a PADD, and in the other, a glass of water.
Keehani: … the Protocol Parallax documentation informs us that, in this reality, the Cardassians and the Klingons have formed an alliance and are responsible for the *fall* of the Terran Empire. That’s right, they are no more. We are not entirely sure when that occurred, or if it was sudden or gradual – but based on the fact that... ::disappointed sigh::.. Emperor *Spock* was the last Terran ruler, you can assume sometime between the 2260s and the early-mid 2350s.
Spock was someone she had read about during university, especially about his Ambassadorial career. It wasn’t a surprise to Keehani that even in this universe Spock had reformed the Terran Empire to be less dictatorial and had instigated a disarmament program. But it seemed that the Klingon-Cardassian alliance had taken advantage of his reforms.
The First Secretary took a quick drink of water from her glass, then continued.
Keehani: Since that time, there have been multiple skirmishes between the alliance and Terran resistance cells, especially around Bajoran space. What we know as Deep Space Nine is in fact a mining facility in orbit of Bajor in this reality.
She then leaned to her side and placed the PADD down on the nearby table, before standing upright again.
Keehani: But that is thousands upon thousands of light years away. We are in the Delta Quadrant, and there is little to no information in the Parallax documentation about this area of space. We have come to understand, however, if the word of the “visitors” from this universe that are currently in our brig are to be believed, that sometime around the fall of the Terran Empire the noble Houses of Betazed united. Initially peaceful at first for a few years, they were soon at war with the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance. Betazed now calls itself the Betazed Empire. And, like the Terran Empire, they have employed an autocratic system of government, which…
Keehani nervously swallowed as she looked at the faces of the Starfleet crew assembled before her, before biting her lip and then finally continuing.
Keehani: … which is led by Ninth Wing Matriarch and Mother Eternal, Emperor Keehani Ukinix, ::Immediately lifting fingers, looking down at ground:: I would recommend you all prepare for as equally shocking versions of yourselves should we encounter them.
Hopper/Reade/Wong/Fog/Kiani/Moore/Esma: Responses
Iovianus/Carter: Response
Keehani: Our understanding is that they have come to the Delta Quadrant for resources, including benamite, for their war against the alliance.
Hopper/Reade/Wong/Fog/Kiani/Moore/Esma: Responses
Iovianus/Carter: Response
(OOC: Happy to backsim either Keehani or Wil here as necessary if you have extra tags!)
Wil stood up and took Keehani’s place. The First Secretary took a seat next to Robin. With a rueful grimaced smile Keehani gave her friend small, discreet shrug of resignation, before looking back at Wil.
Ukinix: While we’re all dressed as civilians – whatever passes for civility in this place – to each other we’re still Starfleet. Protocol Parallax instructs that Prime Directive still applies, but not to the same extent that we’re used to. We’re not allowed to majorly interfere in the natural course of societal and civilisation development, but we are allowed to do what we can to rescue our colleagues. Commander Carter, thanks for the prep you, Scotty and Hops have done to get us ready for this mission. ::To crew:: The ship has been scrubbed of any names, registration numbers, everything. We are a cleanskin, and we’ll need a cover story-
Wil cut himself off and grabbed a nearby back of a chair as the ship rocked from weapons fire hitting its shields. When it rocked again, but this time harder, the room was bathed in red while alert klaxons sounded.
And Wil fell to the floor. On his back.
Ukinix: Oof! ::Lying on back, tapping Combadge:: =/\= Bridge, Report! =/\=
T’Srona: =/\= Commander, a Klingon Bird of Prey has just de-cloaked on the starboard bow. They are now seemingly holding fire. We have reports of injuries on Deck 3. =/\=
Still lying on the floor and not yet bothering to get up, Wil gestured to Ikaia.
Ukinix: ::To Wong:: Lieutenant Wong, take Ensign Fog down there and treat any injured crew, we need as many as we can on duty. ::Quick finger wave to Fog:: And by the way, welcome aboard, Ensign.
Wong/Fog: Response
Hopper/Reade/Carter/Iovianus: Responses
Ukinix: Rest of you - ::sitting up:: Bridge, pronto. And say g’day to Ensigns Kiani, Moore and Esma. ::Quick smile:: Welcome aboard, Ensigns.
Hopper/Reade/Carter/Iovianus/Kiani/Moore/Esma: Responses
((Bridge – A minute or so later…))
The remaining crew (minus Keehani, who had decided to return to the Brig on Deck 2) filed out of the crowded turbolift before quickly making their way to the bridge.
Ukinix: Everyone, stations and report.
Wil sprinted to the centre chair, as the temporary crew got up from their stations and filed out of the bridge.
Hopper/Iovianus/Carter/Kiani/Moore/Reade/Esma: Response
Ukinix: Open a channel, put them on screen.
Sure enough, a Klingon warrior appeared on the view screen – a female.
Ukinix: ::Standing up:: =/\= This is Commander Wil Ukinix of the… uh… SS Cleanskin, and who are hooooo-ly *crap* on stick! ::Eyes wide open:: =/\=
Wil realised that the female they were talking to was the spitting image of Bec Iko – if Bec Iko had grown up a full Klingon, which apparently this one had.
M-Iko: =/\= Response =/\=
Hopper/Iovianus/Carter/Kiani/Moore/Reade/Esma: Responses
Tags/TBC!
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Commander Wil Ukinix
Starfleet attaché and First Officer
Amity Outpost
V239511WU0