Fleetmarshall Yolan Ser: Hide And Do Not Seek
Robin Hopper
((OOC – Apologies to my scene partners here, as well, for my delays. My illness has now fully abated and I should be back to a normal posting schedule going forward.))
((Inside Hovan Military Command Center))
Leading the visitors from the Federation into the first of only several rooms they were permitted to view, Yolan pointed to various items of interest as he spoke.
Ser: This is our communications server hub. It operates using fibreoptic channels bored through the planet’s ice pack. It allows for near instantaneous communication with all other military centres on Hova’s surface… Nothing slips by us without being detected and communicated to all units near-simultaneously.
Nevark: Response
Iko: That'd mean that all our previous hails were received then, right?
He turned to face them, pausing to speak, as his physiology made him unable to turn and look over his shoulder. His moustache ruffled uneasily, a gentle ripple like a small breeze fluttering it.
Ser: Your initial communications were not met with a welcome invitation, yet you’ve persisted. ::Pointing:: It is also where we monitor the sublight communications of our stellar neighbors, the Uwezo. As a matter of fact, I served for two decades as the Superintendent of Interstellar Monitoring for two decades prior to my promotion to Marshall and eventually Fleet Marshall.
A fact which the various baubles pinned to his uniform attested.
The toothy Federation security person moved their head up and down. It was something they did frequently – a gesture which he was familiar with from observing the Uwezo. A little nonverbal shortcut that seemed fairly ubiquitous among species with long fleshy flexible necks (gross).
Barberra: And do you have your own FTL communications capabilities?
Ser: We do… Our scientists have determined ways to manipulate subspace to transmit signals faster than the speed of light. No doubt you utilize similar technologies or have found other, even more clever solutions.
It was a slightly backhanded compliment, intended to elicit an elaboration. Yolan had to assume that the Federation, whom he knew possessed far more advanced starships and engines than they did must also be similarly advanced in all number of fields. This was another, yet-unspoken, reason that the Hovans had ultimately relented to this visit. A chance to learn more about these celestial newcomers and their advanced technology – to see what sort of a threat they would pose.
Barberra: We use subspace communications, and the nearby nebula - we call it the Barossa nebula - can make comms a little, you know, spotty, but we can still communicate with our outpost in real time.
If he’d had a long fleshy neck, Ser might have nodded as well. Instead he grunted in understanding.
Iko: And messages to the greater part of the Federation can travel some 70,000 or so light years in a matter of days if need-be.
Nevark: It’s been a fantastic assist for us all that communications are so stable.
Ser: I see. I find it hard to imagine needing to send communications so far. We Hovans like to keep to ourselves, not go gallivanting about the wider galaxy looking for other people’s affairs to stick our snouts into. The majority of our communications needs are located within this binary star system.
Barberra: What are the methods of communications that the Uwezo use?
Yolan’s beady eyes shifted from the Counselor to the Science Officer with a shimmer of intrigue. They certainly were asking a great deal of questions. Questions which, if too openly indulged could present security concerns. On the other hand, the Federation would make a dangerous enemy – the Fleetmarshall didn’t doubt that at all – and if there was an opportunity to keep them mollified within the constraints he’d been given by the People’s Assembly, then he planned to do exactly that.
Ser: Hmph. The Uwezo have barely mastered rudimentary laser-optical communications for their “long-range” spacecraft… not that the range or capability of these craft is particularly impressive. I suppose lasers are probably sufficient for their purposes… Aside from that, the majority of their terrestrial communications are handled by radio broadcasts, supplemented by a relatively small network of artificial satellites.
He couldn’t believe anyone, especially anyone as technologically-advanced as these Federation Scientists, would find this interesting. The Hovans certainly didn’t find it interesting beyond its practical applications in monitoring the Uwezo and developing sensible safeguards against any future difficulties they might have with the reckless species.
Barberra: And the scientist in me wants to know, how does their warp development technology and programs compare to yours. And how different is it?
Yolan crossed his arms – a gesture that was universal, even on Hova.
Ser: It’s sloppy. Much sloppier. No doubt their initial test flights will be riddled with unanticipated difficulties that will take them back to the drawing board. In my estimation, they are rushing this to a likely self-destructive end… Bah. No matter.
Iko: There are several different ways to do something.
His bushy brow drooped into an uncertain glare. Was Lieutenant Commander Iko suggesting that the Uwezo’s methodology was just as sound or valid as the Hovans – whose first warp-capable vessel had been completed neatly and with zero recorded incidents over the course of several generations. Surely, the superior approach.
Nevark: As in there may be different ways to approach the problem as long as the goal is met it is a success, however, some systems may be better than others at achieving this.
Another grunt of agreement.
Ser: Indeed. Our own warp development program was ruthlessly organised and optimised to achieve certain success and minimal… difficulties. Furthermore, the entire People’s Assembly was unified about the importance of the program to enhance our defensive capabilities. ::Incredulously:: I assure you, as one who is intimately familiar with the Uwezo, they are a deeply divided people on this matter – which I find quite troubling.
Barberra: Well it’s not like the Uwezo are pedalling really fast to get their drive to Warp 1. When a civilisation reaches a certain level of technological capability, they’ve won the development game and we generally like to turn up and offer a friendly, you know, “hey, how you doin’, we make this thing called apple strudel, would you like some?” That kind of thing.
“Apple Strudel?” Yolan’s moustache wiggled again, curiously, wondering what sort of ritual that might be – but before he could request clarification, the one in yellow continued.
Iko: We just want to make sure, as you do, that the Uwe enter space and interstellar relations smoothly…
oO Doubtful. Oo
Nevark: Relationships can be difficult and with you being so close to each other in space we appreciate there may be concerns from your side.
oO Indubitably. Oo
Barberra: What are your concerns with them? Not the diplomatically worded ones, the *real* ones. I assume you’ve been studying them for a long time, right?
Iko: You wished to speak with us rather than the FDC for a reason…
This time, Yolan’s grunt was intended the same way as one of these long-necked visitors might shake their head from side-to-side.
Ser: A correction, Lieutenant Commander. We did not with to speak with you at all, but the matter was rather forced on us by the Uwezo’s aggressive timeline for completion and your own agg– ::he cut himself off from recycling the term:: –your own need, apparently, to play ‘galactic greeters’ to anyone who straps fast enough rockets on their rickety spacecraft…
Iko crossed her arms at that. Ser knew that one all too well. She did not like what he had said just then. He was certain.
Sighing, Yolan waved for them to continue following him as he wound his way through the Command Center, quickening his pace as they moved by classified areas.
Ser: The Hovan people’s homeworld is one that demands care. Care in all things. An errant spark, in the wrong place at the wrong time, can create a massive explosion – devastate communities, irrevocably damage ecosystems. ::Sigh:: These challenges bring out, in us, a precise and cautious mindset. The Uwezo, on the other hand, have recklessly thrown themselves into nearly all of their own problems… Runaway greenhouse gas emissions and environmental catastrophes, sociopolitical disarray – Wars!
Nevark: I see. I can understand that being a difficult thing to overcome.
Iko: But it can be done.
Ser: Perhaps.
At that moment, they reached the next room he was permitted to share with them. He opened the secured door and led them inside.
Ser: ::Explaining:: The Uwezo Monitoring Program’s central control hub. Data we collect about them is processed and analyzed here.
Turning to face the giant wall of monitors opposite them, Yolan’s face darkened as he thought back to all the chaos and disorder he’d seen play out on their neighboring world during his time with the program. So much self-inflicted pain and suffering, so much division and discord…
Ser: But you don’t know them like we do… I don’t think they’re ready.
Nevark: If I may ask, is that part of the reason you didn’t wish to communicate with us?
Ser: Yes. ::Turning around to face them again:: In our limited interactions with other spacefaring species we’ve found the majority to be… similarly hazardous – to themselves and to others.
He wasn’t yet convinced the Federation weren’t just like the others.
Iko: There are other people that we've met that appreciate being left alone. We like to have an open line of communication just in case anything… goes wrong.
Barberra: I promise, we don’t bite.
Yolan felt his gaze uncontrollably drawn, once more, to the teeth of the hairless officers he was addressing.
Ser: Perhaps not. But I have seen the scans of your ships’ weapons systems. They are formidable. Are you sure that this approach doesn’t, perhaps, provoke a certain amount of danger to yourselves? To those you deal with?
Nevark: Response
Barberra: The Vulcans, a member species of the Federation, have a saying - “Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations”. Counsellor Nevark is from the planet Betazed - check out the colour of her eyes - whereas, Commander Iko here is from Earth but is a hybrid human-Klingon. I’m also from Earth, but I’m a boring old human without any special powers. But together? We can achieve anything, like... ::eyes up, thinking:: like, say, helping two close together worlds slowly integrate with each other. ::Shrug:: Just saying.
In truth, he hadn’t realized the three females weren’t all members of the same species. To Ser, they all looked more-or-less the same, only one of them had some bumps on their forehead.
Ser: I see.
He remained entirely unconvinced that the Hovans and the Uwezo could ever be anywhere nearly so ‘compatible’.
Nevark: Response
Barberra: What else can you show us on your tour? Sensor technology? Weather control systems? Games room?
Ser: I gather you are eager… However, there is not much else I have received permission to share with you. If you’d like, we can visit the hangar, where you can see some of our vessels more closely than your preliminary scans would likely have allowed. I’m afraid I can’t bring you onto any of them though. For security reasons.
Nevark: Response
Iko: She's very enthusiastic.
Again, Ser would have nodded here – only, instead, he once again had to grunt. With that exhalation, he began leading them to yet another area of the Command Center. The Hangar.
Ser: And yet, she comes from a society that has already developed this technology – examining us and the Uwezo from a scientific point of view… from on high. The Uwezo do not have this experience or perspective which makes them dangerous.
Barberra/Nevark: Response
Iko raised a hand – stopping the conversation abruptly.
Iko: Look, whether you like it or not, the Uwe are developing warp. If they're not saying “hi” tomorrow, they will be next week. You can't bloody stop it. So either you gotta be a kind neighbour and show them some of the ropes, or become an enemy and have tensions between you and the Uwe for the next hundred-million years.
Yolan’s already-beady eyes narrowed. He said nothing.
Barberra/Nevark: Response
This time, Iko shrugged dramatically. It was ironic. How reassuring these visitors were – of just how wonderful it could be to embrace the Uwe, despite their unpredictable natures – meanwhile, exhibiting the same kind of explosive and uncontrolled behaviour.
Iko: So what if they don't know crap? The Federation's founders were all dumbarses back 350 or so years ago, and there'd be a time in Hovan history where you were too. We grow and we learn. It's all part of life.
Ser: Yes, undoubtedly the Uwezo will eventually learn. Our concern is that they will realize the quickest way to grow is to take. And then, who will they come for?
A gnawing question was, irritatingly, now in his mind. Even if he had his suspicions, it was a bother that would not be quieted and which he could not satisfy without asking.
Ser: How did your people develop warp technology anyways? What led you to your present state of self-reported peace and harmony?
Barberra/Nevark: Response
Iko: Earth had just come out of a world war. It was in ruin. Divided.
That only confirmed it, then. War. “A world war”. How unconscionable.
Ser: Then perhaps that is what the Uwezo need… Their culture is certainly divided, and their planet is speeding towards ruin. It might teach them a thing or two about consequences.
Barberra/Nevark: Response
Iko: The Uwe are just getting into space, they're not gonna be perfect! Were you?
Nobody was perfect. Not even the Hovans. But the Uwezo were so far from “perfect” that it felt almost irrelevant to answer directly.
Ser: My people have our own saying: “Self-sufficiency is the zenith of competence.” The point being, we prefer to avoid things ‘going wrong’ in the first place. Perhaps that means our progress is slower, and our engines less powerful, and our friends less numerous than yours – but we have achieved all that we have without internal conflict, without tragedy, and without the need for anyone else’s help.
There was a brief silence, which he hoped meant the Federation people were considering his words carefully – but also could have meant they were thinking about what to eat for lunch, as far as he knew. His moustache twitched again, nervously.
Barberra/Nevark/Iko: Response
Ser: Then perhaps there is nothing more for us to discuss on this matter. Let us leave the Uwezo behind for now – leave that for your Diplomats and Chancellor Ril to debate… ::Stopping in front of a very large door, not unlike that on an airplane hangar:: Ah. Here we are. ::Inserting his security key:: Now, I will show you a craft which I have a great deal of personal affection for – our long-range stealth reconnaissance vessel, capable of scattering incoming scans and appearing nearly invisible to…
His words suddenly petered out to silence as his eyes, wide and blinking, looked about the massive drydock-like facility in disbelief.
Barberra/Nevark/Iko: Response
Spinning around, Yolan found it hard not to spit the next words at the visitors with an accusatory tone, even though he struggled to comprehend what he was seeing or how they could have possibly had some hand in it. (Yet what other explanation could there be?)
Ser: What is going on here? Two of our stealth ships are… missing.
TBC