Lt Jovenan – An invitation by a compatriot

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Jovenan

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Aug 27, 2024, 3:45:53 PM8/27/24

to USS Artemis-A – StarBase 118 Star Trek PBEM RPG

((Gare Saint-Lazare Transporter Hub, Paris, Earth))

The rematerialization sequence was brief, and appearing within the blue cloud of mist, Jovenan stepped down from the transporter pad. She found herself surrounded by chatter, announcements and other sounds in the hub. Individuals of various species and all walks of life walked past to their destinations, passing the local transporter arches or queueing to traditional transporter pads. Having spent mere seconds in the city, she was already near to being overwhelmed by the masses of people around her.

By now, she was accustomed to beaming down to random locations on planets, be it a small town on Betazed or a disaster stricken city on Meranuge, but in a place such as the very heart of the political life in the entire Federation, they were expected to use predetermined transporter hubs. This one, built within a 19th century railway station, served as one of the main access ways to central Paris, and it should not have been such a surprise to her that there may be a lot of people in there. Two years spent mostly on a starship had really warped her perception of a crowd.

Walking ahead quickly to find a spot where she wasn’t on anyone’s way, Jovenan looked behind her, just to verify that she hadn’t yet lost her travelling companion. Indeed, she found Genkos following her out of the crowd.

Jovenan: Do you see an exit anywhere?

Adea: Response

They walked past several small stores and cafés serving whichever needs a traveller may encounter, standing on the two sides of an open space spanning the three floors of the building, all the way to the underground metro station. Curious, Jovenan kept looking at the travellers, shopkeepers and others rushing past or enjoying their day, although occasionally she also spotted someone from the local security keeping an eye of the people. The recent battle in the orbit must have caused an increase in the presence of the security forces, and she believed they may encounter many more of them where they were heading to.

Looking up, she eventually found a sign hanging from the ceiling: “Sortie – Exit. Cour de Rome – Rue Saint-Lazare.” She pointed it out to Genkos, and in the direction indicated by the sign, they found a way out to a small square. As the first rays of Sol touched her face, she had a deep breath. The air from a genuine atmosphere, even if in a large city, smelled so much more fresh than the recirculated and replicated starship air.

Jovenan: It’s so nice to be back on Earth. It’s been more than two years since I’ve been here. ::pause:: How long has it been for you?

Adea: Response

Jovenan: I visited Paris a couple of times while in the Academy, but only briefly. And not once in the Palais.

Adea: Response

Once again, Jovenan reviewed the message on the PADD she had with her. Her initial reaction to the invite by the Rubicun III representative to the Federation Council had been panic. It was just a social occasion, a chat with a compatriot, as one of very, very few Edo in Starfleet so soon after their biggest defensive – and arguably, Pyrrhic – victory since the Dominion War, which may have major political implications to the Federation and Starfleet for generations… It had been an easy decision to ask Genkos to accompany her. Nervously straightening her uniform, she checked again to verify the invite didn’t have further instructions but to use the main entrance.

Jovenan: D-do you happen to know what’s waiting ahead of us?

Adea: Response

((OOC: A clarification about canonicity of stuff, there’s some uncertainty in the canon if the Federation Council is based in Paris or in San Francisco or both. Palais de la Concorde in Paris has some SB118 precedent (plus personal preference), so I went with it. It’s also possible the Council is based in two or more cities, like the EU Parliament.))