Ensign Jovenan – Playing with fire
Jovenan
((La’kso Canyon, Meranuge IV))
Kireeh: I see. You don’t look like you’re from around here. ::looks at them back and forth:: Enjoying the natural beauty of the Canyon, eh?
Lorana: Yes, we're starfleet officers. We enjoy peacefully exploring new territories, in space and on the ground. It's an important part of what we do.
Jovenan: And I’m a planetary scientist. I wanted to see the cliffs and the fluorescent minerals. The canyon is quite unique in this area of space.
Jovenan was suspicious of the Da’al duo, but she had no definitive proof these men were not park rangers as they claimed. And even if they weren’t, they could be just common thieves, although it was unlikely considering that for a highwayman, a highway was essential, and they were in the middle of nowhere. Not to mention, if they were who she suspected, she had to retain a façade of ignorance. Luckily the other ensigns didn’t know of the investigation and couldn’t answer but sincerely.
Kader: Yes, it's quite nice out here.
Savel: We are simply here as visitors, guests, of this area.
Lorana: We're sorry to have disturbed you on your patrol. Is there anything we can help you with?
Kireeh: :: takes a step closer to them :: That's appreciated.
Jovenan had difficulty reading if the “Senior Warder” was being sincere and considering letting them go, or if he was playing a role in order to get them lower their guards. She didn’t need to try much longer until the “Junior Warder” gave out their intentions.
Rennol: :: nervous outburst:: You can leave! If you want to help us.
A park ranger had no reason to panic in such fashion. That moment Jovenan knew they were in big trouble.
Kader: What are you talking about?
Savel: Have we encroached on some sensitive, protected area rangers?
She could see the situation taking a dangerous tone at warp speed, even if their opponent was holding up to their façade for now. Handling the situation would have been much easier if she wasn’t beginning to panic. Only a few words repeated in her brains: Abort mission.
Jovenan: I-if so, we apologize and return to an acceptable route or to our shuttle.
Kireeh: :: exasperated :: What my colleague means to say is that these canyons can be extremely dangerous for those who wander too far. :: Veiled threat :: One slip is all it takes and you're a pile of bones on the canyon floor, being picked at by a finderian foxcator or scaled monarch. You might have seen one fly past earlier? Fierce creatures. They feed off the unfortunate souls, sometimes it can take days for them to die.
Jovenan recognized the “Senior Warden” was about to drop his pretence. Considering her options, to de-escalate, to flight, or to fight, she stood still wishing the time could stop and let her clear her mind and think. The panic was taking over her mind like a fog.
Savel: We are all more than capable of facing whatever dangers may be ahead of us.
Lorana: Yes, we're trained for this. For any eventuality.
She wasn’t sure if her friends had picked up the threat yet, or if the “Senior Warden” had realized they were sincere earlier. If not, then those sounded like fighting words. There goes the de-escalation option.
Kireeh: It seems there is no changing the minds of Starfleet is there? Can't help but put themselves in the middle of matters that don't concern them.
The next few seconds played out fast. The “Junior Warden” pulled out a weapon she hadn’t noticed before, and Savel raised his phaser against him. Jovenan was gratuitous of the security officer’s quick reflexes, but she had little time to think of it.
Kader: Oh for the love of-, look, we have permission from your government to be here.
Savel: I do not believe they care much for their government or its permission.
Oh, and Lorana had gained a phaser from somewhere as well. Now only Kader, the “Senior Warden” and Jovena herself were unarmed. Except that the “Warden” took something out of his pocket.
Kireeh: Before you decide to use that weapon please note that I have armed five incendiary devices on the rockface above your heads.
Jovenan looked around, as if she could spot the devices. Was it a bluff? It must be a bluff. Or is it? The ensign team had been on a move the entire time, they couldn’t install the devices without the team moving out of the area or noticing the Da’al. But it was also possible they had laid the trap beforehand and just waited the Starfleet officers to walk in there. And the triggering device? Surely it couldn’t work in the kelbonite deposit. Or could it? The kelbonite reflected certain beam, but the triggering signal only needed to go one way… Or something. Jovenan wished she could think straight under pressure.
She turned her gaze from the triggering device to the weapon. Whether or not the “Senior Warden” was bluffing with the bombs, the “Junior Warden” certainly wasn’t.
Kader: Oh great…
Savel: A curious precaution for an area that seems to see few visitors.
Jovenan wasn’t sure if the bombs were real, but she wondered if the Da’al had managed to have them walk straight into the right spot where the rocks would fall on them. It was also dubious if the Da’al were standing in the correct spot to avoid any rockfall onto them. Could they really calculate the right place that accurately?
Jovenan: Y-you are putting yourself in the risk if you trigger that, too.
The “Senior” didn’t seem to care. Either they were certain of the trajectory of falling rocks or he was a serious devout or a great poker player.
Kireeh: It is a crude method yet effective. You fire that weapon and you will all die. We don't tolerate Starfleet spies. Rennol collect their weapons.
The one addressed as Rennol came closer to them, but Savel wasn’t moving. The threat was obvious to everybody now, and Jovenan was happy they had a competent security officer with them.
Kader: Savel I am beginning to think these men are not Da’al officials.
Savel: A logical conclusion, Flint.
Lorana: Response
As Rennol approached them, he stumbled on uneven ground. As result, combined with poor trigger discipline, his weapon fired a single beam towards them. The discharged beam went right past some of her teammates, hitting eventually Kader’s pack right next to his ear. Jovenan quickly raised her hands to cover her mouth in shock.
Jovenan didn’t know much about weapons, but she could swear the beam did more damage than a phaser set to stun would have. They were not joking around. Testing out if they could just shoot the Da’al before they could react wasn’t worth any of them potentially dying.
Yet Savel was unfazed by the incident.
Savel: Were we attempting to commit espionage, would it not be illogical of me to announce my name, rank, and ship?
Still trying to reason with their to-be captors? Seemed pointless, but it could just as well work for in their favour.
Jovenan: And we – we have cases for mineral samples we had planned to take back to the ship. I told you, we just wanted to learn more about the canyon!
There were multiple ways to protect oneself from weapons fire. Sadly, if she moved to employ any of them, the Da’al would shoot first. It was better to stand still and try reason with them.
Lorana/Kader: Response
Kireeh: What a coincidence your evidence aligns with your story. I’m sure your superiors can provide much more evidence in your support. Hand over your weapons and we might consider your claims.
Rennol: You heard the boss! Give the guns!
Rennol kept his weapon towards their general direction but switched between Savel and Lorana who he specifically pointed at. Was he nervous?
Savel: You are left with one logical action to prevent further response from Starfleet. Stand down. ::Looking now to Rennol:: Do you trust him not to detonate those devices when you are in range, attempting to collect my weapon?
Ooh, great move, Savel! Rennol either knew the bombs were bluff or didn’t have a reason to trust his partner. It was risky game, but at this moment they had little options but to play with fire.
Jovenan: If you get closer, we might need to open fire at you. Will your partner trigger the devices or come in your rescue? Either way, it won’t end up well for you, Rennol.
If Rennol had nervous before, one could see it on his face now. His eyes bounced from between each of them, and Jovenan could even spot pearls of sweat forming on his skin.
Lorana/Kader: Response
Rennol’s hand was shaking. It was working!
Kireeh: Silence! Rennol, get the weapons, now!
Reactively, Rennol turned to face his partner, leaving the ensign team unguarded.
Rennol: No! Why don’t you…
Now!
Savel/Kader/Lorana/Rennol/Kireeh: Response
TAG/TBC
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Ensign Jovenan
Science officer
USS Artemis-A
E239911J11