[MISSION TEASER] - Commander Ukinix, Lt. Commander Hopper, Consul Ukinix - Two Worlds
Wil Ukinix
((XO’s Office, Level 3, Copernicus Center, Amity Outpost))
When the door slid open and Wil followed Keehani into the room, he smiled and held out his hands, as he looked around the Robin’s refurbished office that he hadn’t seen yet. What had once been Wil’s office was now in the midst of being converted to a mid-2200s-inspired retro office / lounge.
There was the requisite desk, towards the far end of the room, of course, but to right of the entrance was a curvaceously round coffee table surrounded by several egg-like chairs – and on the opposite side was a jukebox and a minibar stocked with various Earth sodas. The entirety was encased in a mix of teak wood, colour block panels, and frosted glass. Tropical plants and old movie posters dotted the walls, shelves, and other surfaces. In many ways it resembled an extension of her apartment, and may have leapt off the pages of an interior decorator’s catalogue from the earlier days of space exploration.
Ukinix: I like what you’ve done with the place, Robin. ::playful smirk, deliberate sniff:: Did you get rid of the prawns I sewed into the curtains?
Keehani: The what in the what? Why would…
Of course, there were no curtains in the XO’s office - at least, not when it was Wil’s office.
Hopper: ::Unphased:: Of course. And then I put them in your pumpkin soup the other day.
Nor were there old prawns served in Wil’s soup - at least, not that Robin would admit to.
Wil chuckled for a moment-- then cut himself off as his eyebrows furrowed a little, and he put a hand on his stomach.
The First Officer’s lips curled into an amused smirk. She stood from her desk, rounding it casually, and gesturing to the seats surrounding the coffee table.
Hopper: Come on in, you two. Have a seat… Help yourself to a drink from the minibar if you feel like it. It’s all on-duty-friendly.
Wil took a quick look at the minibar, and chose himself a lemonade.
As they settled into their various seats, Robin crossed her legs and leaned back in her chair.
Hopper: So – what’s the dealio? Must be something exciting to get both of Ukinixes in my office at the same time.
Wil lifted his bottle of lemonade in a “cheers” gesture to Robin.
Keehani: I’ve received a report from CSO Commander Kivik regarding two systems just beyond the Barossa nebula. One is warp capable-- obviously at a level less capable than us, and one is on the verge of developing warp.
Robin nodded, a vague recollection of what Keehani was talking about solidifying in her mind as she recalled a handful of reports from the new Acting Chief Science Officer, who’d been doing a capable job of rounding up the various threads that Hopper had (admittedly) allowed to unspool a little while she was busy transitioning to the role of First Officer.
Hopper: Mmm, yes. I remember that one catching my eye. A wide binary system, with two K-Type stars – on the dimmer side – orbiting at sufficient distance for them each to maintain their own little set of planets. Each with one inhabited world. Not exactly a commonplace cosmic arrangement.
Wil sat forward in his seat, placing the lemonade on the coffee table. Robin, meanwhile, reached for a PADD and brought up the file she’d been sent days prior from the Science Division.
Ukinix: And they’re close to each other?
Keehani: Two stars located in close proximity, as I understand it.
Hopper: ::Reading:: “Hova” and “Uwe” as the locals call them according to Nygean star charts. They’re a few AUs apart. Just enough distance for a bit of privacy… Though I guess with the Uwezo developing warp drive that’s about to change. ::Eyebrows raised, looking up:: That first contact would be interesting… Like finding out another family had been living in your attic your whole life.
Kind of creepy, really, when she thought about it.
Ukinix: I’m assuming we haven’t made contact with them. ::Looking at PADD:: I don’t remember even being briefed about these guys.
Keehani: The FDC did try to communicate with them, but never received a response. We were assured by Starfleet that there’s no technical reason why, so the assumption is that they wished to remain alone. Maybe with good reason, given the reach of the Borg and the Hirogen. It seems to be a common pattern in the Delta Quadrant.
Hopper: ::Nodding:: The Hovans’ fastest vessels seem capable of achieving warp three. Good enough for their own stellar neighbourhood, but they wouldn’t stand a chance against the Borg or the Hirogen – that might be why they prefer to keep to themselves… Either way, we’re not really in the business of forcing unwanted contact.
Not on purpose anyways. She stood, crossing the room to grab something from the minibar herself, since Wil’s lemonade had been tantalizing her. Reaching in and digging through the various options, she settled on a cream soda, and plucked the bottle filled with bright orange liquid from among the others, carrying it back over with her to the ‘lounge’ seating.
Keehani: Well, given we’ve now detected that the Uwezo system is on the verge of developing their own warp capabilities, Ambassador Turnbull has decided now is the time for outreach. So we’ll be going to visit them - specifically, the Hovan system. We’d like Starfleet to investigate the Uwezo system.
So – Diplomatic Corps to the taciturn stellar recluses and Starfleet to the mysterious new kids on the block. Robin smiled, briefly, thinking it sounded fun. If a bit risky.
Hopper: Investigate a new system testing warp tech? ::Grimacing, humorously:: The last time we tried that, Wil and I wound up in an alien jail and dragged before a tribunal… Of course, that was sort of an accidental first contact – I guess we can try to be a bit better prepared this time?
Wil pursed his lips for a moment.
Ukinix: Let’s hope they don’t have one word that could mean a thousand things at once.
Hopper: For what it’s worth, I think Kivik’s had nir team working on language analysis with the UT already. Hopefully we’ll know if there’s any “nono” words this time around.
Nodding (and relieved), Wil tapped on his PADD to bring up details of the systems.
Ukinix: Anyway, we can take the Indy to ::checks PADD:: Uwezo space, to send undercover teams, no worries. ::To Keehani:: The FDC can take the Shelby to Hovan space to try and meet with them.
Keehani: ::Tilts head from side to side:: *If* they want to meet with us. But in case they do, I’d like some Starfleet presence with the FDC on the Shelby, should it be needed.
Wil considered for a moment, looking at his PADD,
Ukinix: ::Nodding:: Bec, Layla and… Annamae. Security, Counsellor, Science. ::To Robin, palms out:: How’s that?
Hopper: That should cover most of the bases – and with Nate serving as Chief Engineer of the Shelby, you should be covered in case you need to, um, book it out of there. ::Shrug:: But let’s hope that doesn’t happen.
Keehani smiled, feeling for Robin. Her fiancee Nathan had recently accepted the Chief Engineer role on the FDC ship, but hadn’t had a chance to talk to her about it since the Bachelorette party. She hoped her friend was okay.
Ukinix: Yeah agreed, but ::checking PADD again:: if we do have to run they’ve got low warp capability, so we’d be ‘right. Can’t outrun a Quesadilla drive if you don’t have one.
Keehani simply nodded, now understanding that the name of the Terran food with regional origins was Wil’s nickname for a Quantum Slipstream Drive.
Hopper: If you’ll allow me a bit of physicist’s self-indulgence, I’d love to get a closer look at the Uwezo’s warp program, see just how close they are to launching their first warp-capable engine. But I think we’ll want to get a broader picture of their society, so I’d recommend two teams.
Keehani lifted her eyebrows.
Keehani: Commander Hopper, this is a diplomatic mission. I am not sure interfering with their civilisation is a good idea. Especially given the prime directive.
Ukinix: Gonna have to pull rank on you there Keehani, this is a normal Starfleet thing to do. The teams will have prosthetics, no-one will know they’re Starfleet or Federation. All good!
Robin nodded, shooting a hopeful smile to Keehani, like a kid thinking they’re about to open the Christmas gift they’ve been waiting for all year… Besides, she wasn’t planning on any interference. Strictly observation only. And maybe nicking a little harmless souvenir.
Keehani crossed her arms, and eyerolled a little at Robin's smile, which made Wil smirk a little. Even if it was standard Starfleet practice, she did not feel comfortable with the idea.
Apparently her cousin sensed that.
Ukinix: ::Patting Keehani on shoulder:: It’ll be *fine*. ::To Robin:: And seeing you’re volunteering Hops, who do you want?
Hopper: Hmmm… ::sipping her cream soda, while considering:: I’d like to bring Lael on my team. She’s not taken maternity leave yet, and our Chief HCO is bound to have some insights into the construction of a new warp engine. An Engineer seems like a no-brainer. It’d be good to have Science represented there as well, and probably Security too – just in case someone’s fake forehead falls off and we have to shoot our way out of there.
She shot a teasing glance to Keehani, who did not seem amused, and her expression quickly returned to a more serious and professional one.
Hopper: Kidding.
Keehani simply raised her eyebrows and tilted her forehead towards Robin. She did not need another Paak situation on her hands, and Robin better have been just “kidding”.
Ukinix: ::Nodding:: Lael, Niev, Torvi and Saavei. Done. And we’ll send Stros in another team, with Kaito, Ikaia, D’Cyra. Easy as.
Keehani: ::arms still crossed:: I don’t like it.
Hopper: I said I was kidding! I have just as much respect for the rules as you do. Come on, Keehani, you know whose fault the Paak nonsense was… ::A knowing look at Wil:: I’ll be on my best behaviour.
Ukinix: Hey!
Keehani: ::Pointed look at Wil:: Who was it that decided to take the Daintree in for a “closer look” at Paak?
Wil went to speak to defend himself, but closed his mouth then sat back in his chair, choosing to say nothing.
With a pleased smile, Keehani lifted her chin and turned back to Robin.
Keehani: And yes, best behaviour, Commander Hopper. Much better than ::gesturing with head tilt towards Wil:: this one.
Ukinix: Heeeyy!
Wil awkwardly cleared his throat, and looked back at his PADD, wanting to move things along from *that* false-but-mostly-true accusation about the Paak mission.
Ukinix: Anyway-- alrighty. Now that teams are settled, I’ll inform Stros, we’ll get all this organised, and leave at oh-six-hundred in two days from now.
There was a quiet sigh from the Consul.
Keehani: ::arms still crossed:: I definitely don’t like that. Why does Starfleet have to do everything so early?
Hopper: Work hard, play hard. I try to live by those words, Miss Consul. This is the “work hard” part. Besides, 0600 isn’t that early…
The CO nodded in agreement.
Ukinix: The joys of being in uniform. Well, it looks like we’re up for another first contact!
Robin grinned. This was precisely the kind of work that had drawn her to Starfleet. Meeting alien cultures, learning about their unique approaches to the same universal scientific principles, and seeing how they too explored the cosmos… and for once they actually seemed to have a plan rather than stumbling upon a first contact situation unexpectedly. Hot dog!
Hopper: ::Pumping a fist in the air:: Maybe two! If the Uwezo manage to pull it off, of course. Either way, should be fun. You know, Keehani, fun.
Keehani raised her eyebrows and blinked her eyes a few times, before standing up with a small smile.
Keehani: Let’s hope so, Commander.
[END SCENE! BEGIN MISSION:
“THE VEIL”
CUE OPENING CREDITS! https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=WxZfC7suUXQ
]
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Commander Wil Ukinix
Starfleet attache and Commanding Officer
Amity Outpost
&
Lt. Cmdr Robin Hopper
First Officer, Amity Outpost
Character Wiki Page
V239806K11
&
Envoy Keehani Ukinix
Consul, Diplomatic Mission to the Delta Quadrant
Federation Diplomatic Corps, United Federation of Planets
V239511WU0