[End act 2] LtCmdr Jovenan – Hello, may I have Ava on the phone, please?
Jovenan
((Communications room, Golden Spire, Boraxian Cityship))
The grandeur and glamour of the upper levels of the Golden Spire turned quickly to utilitarian simplicity. Screens, consoles and panels replaced the gold and crystal decorations from the corridors that led the team there. The room didn’t lose all the elegance they had seen before, but it was obvious that this space, unlike the others, was primarily used by the staff rather than the resident of the luxurious estate. The muted hum of the machinery and the occasional bleeps spoke the language of control; it wasn’t a coincidence that the Boraxian leadership allocated the space in one of the most prestigious locations to be used by their officials rather than by their own ceremonial use. This is where the real orders were issued.
Veteran Aide: This room serves the communications of the Household. We can try to contact the Advocate and your officers from here.
Jovenan: Communications? ::to the officers:: We could try to breach the communications block-out with this equipment. Use the help of our new friend ::nods towards the Veteran Aide:: and contact the Artemis, while Luirétt and I will try and call Peace of Ellet.
Bancroft: Aye, ma’am.
Bergmen: Understood, Commander.
Luirétt: Response
Jovenan circled around one of the terminals that sat in the middle of the room. The interface appeared as unfamiliar to her as all the Boraxian technology so far had. The four-armed people appeared to take full advantage of their physiology, with little regard to how unintuitive it might be to two-armed aliens – and why would they, given how many other civilisations so far had seen themselves as the rulers of the universe and the sole sentient species until one faithful day the aliens came down the sky? It happened to practically all of them. She raised her gaze from the screens and buttons only for an instant, finding the older Boraxian looking at her with a puzzled look.
Veteran Aide: This is not what…
Jovenan: Sorry. Luirétt, I don’t know how to operate this device, but you do, right? You contacted our ship, after all. You have to lead me on this.
Her shy and reserved nature aside, Jovenan had little regret in interrupting the Boraxian aide. They had indeed agreed that they’d contact their officers and the Advocate in Peace of Ellet, and the aide had also asked Luirétt to let the Starfleet team and the aide to do the talking. On the first point, Jovenan intended to keep what they had agreed, but there was nothing against also contacting their officers on the Artemis. As for the second point, Jovenan trusted Luirétt, whom she had known for hours now, far more than the government official. Besides, there was something in the request she felt… off about.
On the side, the junior officers’ started their work with the aide.
Bancroft: ::to the Veteran Aide:: Ma’am, I’m Ensign Roy Bancroft – this is Lieutenant Bergmen. First, thank you. Second, any chance you could show us how to work this thing without setting something on fire?
The official glanced at Luirétt but joined the two other officers instead, leaving the Yurum faction leader to work with Jovenan.
((OOC: Jovenan doesn’t focus on all the discussion between Bergmen, Bancroft & Veteran Aide, so some of their lines are dropped for a bit.))
Luirétt: Response
Jovenan turned her eyes to the Yurum and then back to the terminal. Although she had a fair bit of understanding in the communications from the Academy – and from her service so far – she couldn’t even guess by looks alone how would she contact her colleagues or their kidnappers. Did she just ring Peace of Ellet and expect someone pick up the phone? Did she need an area code of the underground section?
Jovenan: If we were to contact Peace of Ellet, what would happen? Can we even assume the kidnappers or our officers would be able to receive us?
Luirétt: Response
Giving Luirétt a nod, Jovenan permitted them to resume. While they worked establishing a line to whomever they might be able to contact, she had a covert look at the aide before landing her eyes to Luirétt. She hesitated, wondering how far her duties and the diplomatically appropriate conduct would have allowed her to go.
Jovenan: May I ask, why did you agree to her asking you to leave the communication to us? You are fully capable, and I know you could have been more assertive if you had wanted to.
Luirétt: Response
Pursing her lips together, Jovenan nodded slowly. She could have said more, but she didn’t know what. Of all the people in the room, she was likely the least qualified to give anyone a lecture in assertiveness. It had taken her years to be able to even talk to Captain MacKenzie without a stutter, and at her worst, she had almost been like Doctor S… well, some other people on the ship. It didn’t matter so much, after all, as before she could even make up something to say, she heard crucial words from the other side of the room.
Veteran Aide: Your channel is open.
Bergmen: =/\= JG Bergmen to Artemis, do you receive? =/\=
Udesky: =/\= Artemis to Bergmen, we confirm, loud and clear. =/\=
The voice of the familiar Lieutenant came through the communications device, much to Jovenan’s relief. At least they had contact to their ship; even if they’d be unable to find Commander Munro and her team, they’d be able to continue their mission and also minimise the losses by saving themselves. If that were to be the case, Jovenan would of course in trouble, as she would need to take the responsibility in their response to the kidnapping and possible murder of their Acting Captain.
Jovenan: Sounds like we’ve got some success.
Luirétt: Response
Bergmen: =/\= Artemis, can you run a scan for us and find the combadges of Commander Munro and her team? We have some comms difficulties down there. =/\=
Udesky: =/\= Understood, we will run the scan, Lieutenant. Will you want to connect if we manage to detect them? =/\=
Lt Bergmen turned to Jovenan.
Bergmen: ::to Jovenan:: Ma’am? Should they?
Jovenan: Yes. Our attempts haven’t been successful. There might be something going on in there, and it’s better to use all our resources to find them.
Bancroft: ::wry:: Well, now we wait – Udesky versus the local interference. My money’s on Udesky.
Jovenan shrugged but ended up nodding anyway. The Artemis had better equipment to start looking for the missing team. She wondered how much the chaos on the streets had spread. For all she knew, the rioters aggravated by Andoren and his faction had already damaged or even destroyed much of the Cityship’s communications infrastructure. She had little opportunities to say from here if they were even safe in the government building. Everything they had seen in the Commercial sector, what Luirétt had told them and done, what Doctor Bancroft had speculated… it all troubled her. It wasn’t a coincidence that it was the departure of the Yurum when the coup had begun; there were still things to connect if – when – the teams reunited once again. A whole another issue was, what could they even do about this all, and if they should.
Luirétt: Response
Bergmen: Ma’am, maybe it would be better if you finish this call.
Udesky: =/\= Commander Jovenan, I have Captain Munro on comms. Patching her through to you now. =/\=
Unable to stop herself, Jovenan curled up a little as the relief washed over her.
Jovenan: =/\= Thank you, Lieutenant. Please do so. =/\=
The feeling of relief remained intensive as the information of each of the other team’s state came through. Their survival and health were, of course, her first priority, but the information they gathered and their success also made her happy, not to mention the fact that she’d avoid further responsibility.
They’d soon have answers.
Bancroft: Well, thank every available deity. ::idly:: I wonder if – no, wait – how many things Cole blew up while they were gone…
They’d soon have answers for that, too.
Luirétt: Response
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Lieutenant Commander Jovenan
Acting XO (Chief Science Officer)
USS Artemis-A
E239911J11