[End Act 2] Lieutenant JG Niev Galanis - Unprimed Directives
Niev Galanis
((Oparis Regional Hospital – North Oparis Branch Settlement, Uwe II))
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.
Ikaia glanced at Niev, who raised an eyebrow back at him.
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…
That raised eyebrow lifted even higher as it turned to cast in Robin’s direction now, Niev trying to figure out exactly what she was implying.
Hopper: …We may be forced to use ‘other means’ to reach Norsel, or find Greeta.
oO ‘Other means’? What kind of other means? Oo
Their lips pressing thin, Niev folded their arms across their chest and tried to settle their misgivings for now. Robin wasn’t wrong - they were going to have to set things right here one way or another. Idly, the Centauran wondered how things were going with the rest of the crew with the Hovans. Surely it couldn’t be this chaotic.
Wong: We’re going to have to reach them. They’re the key in getting to the bottom of this.
Saavei: I see no other alternative at this time.
Offering a curt nod of their head, Niev took one more glance through the windows at the grove before turning away, preparing to get moving.
Hopper: Elarrapal, will you be safe here? Or find your way back to Imeris without any more trouble?
Elarrapal: I will find my way. I fear more for the murmurs you might face, now.
Hopper: We’ll check back in on you as soon as we can. ::To the others:: Okay, team, let’s go.
Singing, murmurs… Niev had never heard of plants quite so vocal as these.
((Shortly Thereafter – Uropal Grove))
The serene beauty of the tree, set in the lush and colorful grove, lets its natural beauty stand in defiance to the evidence of mining activities strewn about. Not even those scars could diminish the beauty of it all. Niev couldn’t help but rest their hand briefly on one of the roots, a sense of quiet contemplation coming over them. It felt like nothing could ruin the serenity of the scene.
Nothing, of course, except for somebody rapidly scrambling up the tree. Niev blinked several times at Ikaia, pondering what they might do if their doctor injured himself climbing around trees. Fortunately, he finished his business up there and was back on solid ground soon enough, much to Niev’s relief.
Hopper: Well, can we confirm it? Is it dilithium? Anything else to note?
Saavei: ::recovering from her distraction:: Scanning now, Commander.
Also holding their tricorder now, Niev tried to pay close attention to the roots and any signs of unusual development around it. They weren’t sure they’d ever even heard of a tree growing successfully near dilithium.
Saavei: Yes, confirming the presence of dilithium. The energy signature has a variance to it which I am unfamiliar with. Possibly a product of the biome? It is rare to find dilithium on a planetoid like this and evolution here has proceeded apace in its own, unique way. Considering the trees location atop the crystals, I cannot dismiss the possibility that the two are interconnected.
Galanis: You’re right - instances of life evolving alongside significant dilithium formations are very rare. It’s still quite a frontier in scientific knowledge, even today.
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: Not yet. It’s pretty silent at night. I suspect that most people are at home right now.
Suddenly, there were soft alerts across the group - they were being approached. Slipping their instrument back into their sleeve, Niev stepped away from the root and straightened out their posture, watching warily as the two strangers approached. It was getting harder and harder to trust their disguises to hold up.
Hopper: Good afternoon, gentlemen. Come here often?
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: Really? Last time I checked, it wasn’t illegal to visit a tree.
Saavei: By what authority do you compel the Minister and her aides to go anywhere?
Swallowing hard, Niev glanced over at Saavei. It was a bold move to try and flex their faux-authority now, although it wouldn’t have been absurd for somebody who followed Norsel’s attitude to respond well to blunt displays of strength. The Centauran kept quiet as their gaze shifted toward Robin, then back toward the guards, trying to gauge their reactions.
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: The night’s still young and I bet he wouldn’t mind a little fresh air, right?
Galanis: A neutral ground would be the most reasonable solution.
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…
Letting out a small sigh, Niev couldn’t help but frown lightly. Trouble phrased like that was never a good idea, and they didn’t like the idea of going wherever Norsel wanted them to. That could all too easily wind up with them held as prisoners. But it wasn’t all bad - the natives may have suspected they weren’t who they said they were. At least there was absolutely no way these people could possibly know they were from…
Guard: Starfleet.
Hopper: ::Deflated:: Oh boy…
That was certainly one way to put it.
END ACT for Galanis
