[END ACT ONE] MSNPC Luirétt - An Ambivalent Homecoming

[LT Tamio K'Wara]

(( Bridge - Deck 1, USS Artemis-A ))

Assisting Ens Meris with their investigation forced Luirétt to think of the situation in different ways. The gap in experience and knowledge was impossible to overcome in the limited time they had, so instead, they had to focus on how to use what experiences they had.

Luirétt: Our ship... It is, uhh, ‘injured’, isn’t it? ::gesturing uncertainly:: When we soothe our fellow Boraxians, we follow the hurt and fear to its origin and use our connection with our people to dampen the source. Is there a trail of some sort, left by our ship’s injuries, that we could follow?

Meris: ::with a faint smile:: Luirétt, you’re better at this than you think.

The unexpected praise made Luirétt’s bulbs darken once more as they fidgeted with their hands.

Luirétt: Is that good?

Meris: It’s excellent. Computer, analyze viewscreen grid section L-47. Identify vessel component and material being expelled.

Computer: ::dutifully:: Analyzing grid section. Component is a Theta-band subspace transceiver. Material is theta radiation.

Meris: Scan local space for theta radiation and display a two-dimensional view at Mission Ops.

Luirétt couldn’t follow most of what Ens Meris said, but as they watched, the computer changed focus from the crippled New Hope to a trail that they had left behind on their journey. ‘Theta radiation’...

Meris: There you go, Luirétt. There’s your trail...

Luirétt: Can we trace it back to its origin then?

Meris: Computer, tie in long-range sensors and extend the trail to the most likely star system of origin.

Computer: Working...

The image expanded its scope once more, the path displayed widening and fading. Evidently there was a decay of some kind that had deteriorated the trail by now, but it had narrowed the possible results significantly from the options they’d had initially. But how to narrow it further?

Meris: The system that the New Hope jumped to - what color was the star?

There was zero hesitance in Luirétt’s voice as they answered this question. They doubted they would ever forget this past day for as long as they lived. Even if they ended up being sent back to the Cityship to face the consequences of their choices, they would forever remember this experience and the views they had seen… A chance allowed to no Yurum before them.

Luirétt: A bright azure blue. Like chlorinated pools.

Meris: I know where you came from. ::to Munro:: Captain, I believe we have it.

Captain Munro and Lieutenant Storm turned towards them, and Luirétt rose from the seat once more, folding their hands in front of them.

Munro: Ensign Meris you have just made me a very happy woman. What you got?

Meris: The Boraxian colony ship is leaking theta radiation from one of their subspace transceivers. ::pointing to the viewscreen:: We tracked the discharge back to one of three likely systems the New Hope escaped to after their encounter with the Boraxian City Ship. I believe the most likely candidate is Adelphous.

Storm:  That does sound like good news.

Luirétt nodded.

Luirétt: Your technology and crew are very capable, Captain.

Munro: So we know what direction they are heading?

No good news came alone, and so Ensign Meris had the dubitable duty of alerting Captain Munro of the very real possibility of an incoming confrontation.

Meris: But you asked for an ETA. I'm afraid the news on that front is not as encouraging. Luirétt indicated that after their encounter, they made a short warp jump to Adelphous, but since then have been traveling on impulse power for several hours. Assuming their sensors are as capable as ours, and they detected this theta radiation leak, the Boraxian City Ship could already have overtaken them. That suggests the only delay is the internal discussions Luirétt referenced earlier. ::pause:: They could be here any moment.

Aliens were different to Boraxians - numerous times already, Luirétt had been stumped by the emotional scape and logic of these Federation aliens - but they had a lot of experience ‘reading the room’ per se, and there was a palpable change in the Bridge’s atmosphere at that admission.

It was evident that no one on the Bridge relished the notion of a confrontation with the Cityship.

Munro: Luirétt you may not know but is it likely they would send out scout ships? :: swallows :: Or fighters? Our records don't have much details beyond the trading vessels. 

‘Fighters’... The word made Luirétt’s stomach turn.

Luirétt: We are a people that value peace, Captain, but we are able to fight to enforce that peace if necessary... But given the sensitive nature of our current situation, I doubt that any scout vessels would go far from the cityship.

That didn’t mean that they wouldn’t be deployed, obviously. As was evident by the report made by one of the bridge crew moments later.

Ops Officer: Captain, we have something … several ships … one of them is …

Storm:  I can confirm.  We have …  ::Alex looked up at Munro:: Sir, we have ten ships on sensors.  And one of them is a city ship.

Luirétt trembled slightly, though they gripped their hands tightly to dampen their bodily reaction. It was all coming to a head now. Whether Ensign Meris had noticed Luirétt’s reaction or no was uncertain - the alien had proven themselves quite observant - but as they prepared to return to their station to back up their fellow crew, they gestured for Luirétt to take a seat again.

Meris: Please, sit here. I will need to take my station.

Their golden skin had paled with apprehension, but they nodded quietly as they took their seat.

oO Our fate will be determined soon, Vahljeahn. Oo

Munro: On screen. 

The viewscreen, which had thus far showed New Hope and its extensive damage, changed focus now.

Meris: Captain, all of the vessels are of similar design to the Boraxian colony vessel. They vary in age, with some appearing as old as the colony ship. However, the three lead vessels seem to be of a newer vintage. Based on metallurgical analysis, I would estimate less than five years in service.

Luirétt barely heard Ensign Meris’ report, their eyes instead glued to the appearance of the Cityship itself. The glass dome cocooned a marvelous city of spires, each one glinting in the internal lights that dotted the dome’s structure. To an outsider, the spires all looked identical, but Luirétt could immediately locate Sunhaven spire - their home for their entire life, and the spire with whose welfare they had been charged - and they felt an instant pang of guilt.

How were the pregnant coupling on Floor 3 doing? Had they delivered yet? Had the child been blessed? Had the mother been taken care of? And what of the group of elderly who attended the ceremonies? One of them had complained about increasing erratic thoughts... Luirétt hoped one of the few Yurum who had chosen to remain aboard New Hope had been able to soothe the people’s woes.

oO It’s not our fault. They pushed us to this. If they had only listened... If they had only listened… Oo

Luirétt’s eyes felt moist, their breathing growing uneven as they clenched their fingers firmly.

oO Great Mother Oo

Munro: I guess they wanted to say hello.

End Act for Luirétt

Luirétt

Sectarian Faction Leader

As simmed by

LT Tamio K’Wara

Operations Officer

USS Artemis-A
A240006GS1