[sb118-artemis] Ensign Tho'Bi - Full bellies make an army march well Part 1 [Resent - Missed Off Writing ID]

[Tobi]

(( Inside the Grand Kehixa Edifice - New Kehixa, Galaris IV ))

 

The Andorian’s senses traced across the heavy stone of the building, it remained static, unmoving; and yet, something shifted within the otherwise still structure.  The Engineer glanced down at his Tricorder; it was reading large amounts of organic matter, within the stonework.  He knelt down and traced his fingers across the smoove surface of the stone slabs; the gap between each slab was broken up by a coarse line of ridges and furrows.  His dark blue eyes followed the run of ridges and furrows along the length of the floor, up the opposite wall, and over and across the soaring ceiling; and back down the wall behind him.

Tho’Bi:  ::still kneeling:: The entire structure appears to be held in place ::looking up and around the hall:: by tree root and branch ::stands up and looks at Vailani:: readings indicate ::flips Tricorder for Vailani to see:: it’s one tree (beat) one living tree.

Vailani: Yes, I am no stranger to a tree Ensign Tho’Bi :: to the General :: Is this commonplace in Grunden territories? To have nature immersed into your interior spaces?

The Andorian Ensign stepped back a touch; his footfall echoed around the soaring arches of stone and branch.  The quiet bip and beep of Lieutenant Gnai’s Tricoder drew this attention, at least the Galadoran scientist appeared to share his fascination with the tree superstructure.

Kexxin: Uh… Yep. Is that- not something you’ve seen before?

The Grunden General seemed as bemused as Lieutenant Vailani regarding their apparent interest in the mix of tree and stone.

Sadar: That’s an impressive architectural accomplishment... ::looks to the General:: This building seems to be of particular symbolic importance to your people. And older than most of the other buildings outside.

Naru: ::Lightly clearing his throat:: Our ancestors found that the trees were resilient against not only the elements, but against generations of families. They began to use the trees without harming them, to build within them. Some of us think it is an outdated practice. But our heritage is important to us, so we continue with what we were taught by our ancestors.

The young Engineering Ensign felt a slight shudder through his body; now that they found themselves in the relative safety of the Grunden Capital, his Andorian biochemistry had begun to shift away from elevated awareness and pronounced composure necessary for war; and with that, his accelerated Andorian metabolism had also kicked in.

Vailani: It certainly looks impressive. 

Tho’Bi: ::simply nods::

The Andorian opted for a nod rather than words, his growing appetite did not include being on the receiving end of any more of Lieutenant Vailani’s ire; preferring instead to glance up at the staggering structure, the organic and the hewn, grown and crafted together in harmony. 

Cole: Response

Sadar: You can certainly tell there is a... A ‘reverence’ of the past. It’s no wonder that you’re known as a society of storytellers.

Kexxin: If you want stories, get some of our old timers talking. They will give you stories for days on end.

So fixated on the building of branch and stone, the young Andorian had not noticed the hesitant movement of Grunden around them; a pair of younger Grunden gawked up at one meter ninety centimeter tall blue humanoid, moving among them; he smiled and bowed his head in polite and respectful acknowledgement; as though be reflex more than intention, the two Grunden bowed back, their eyes hanging forward as they did so.

(( Conference Room - Grand Kehixa Edifice, New Kehixa, Galaris IV ))

With a heavy creak, quickly followed by a second heavy creak, the large wooden doors swung open to reveal an unstated, but, nevertheless, stately room.  A large table carved in a thick, earthy wood, dominated the length of the room.  A tall stained glass window shimmered its way all but to the rafters; it appeared to be a romanticized depiction of the conflict between Grunden and Kobyar.  Lights hung from the branches that stretched and crisscrossed the ceiling, casting the surfaces of the room on a warm flickering light.  

The Grunden General lumbered his way to the huge, heavy table; standing beside it, he turned to the Starfleet officers.

Kexxin: I hope this is a better place for us to talk. I want to start off with a couple apologies. ::clasping his paws together:: I am sorry that our initial plans to meet here were unable to happen due to unforeseen circumstances. 

A dry stifled cough from the General’s fellow Grunden, Naru, appeared to spur on a further apology. 

Kexxin: And sorry about those sensors. I don’t know much about the technology and why it does what it does, but I hope it didn’t startle you too much.

Vailani: A little warning would have prepared us, to avoid any further misunderstandings :: indicates the room around them :: I’m eager to learn more, I wasn’t expecting such beautiful architecture when we arrived - there is a lot for us to learn about your people. I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say that. 

Sadar: Th-Thank you, General. It’s truly an extraordinary building.

Cole: Response

A large holo-image shuddered into life above the table; the Grunden sigel rotating slowly, an intricate tree and a paw print.  The Andorian’s dark blue eyes studied it for a moment, before swinging the rucksack of his shoulder, and placed it upon the smooth flagstone; pulled one of the squat chairs out from the under the table and sat down; given his long frame meant his knees were raised above his stomach, he thought better of trying to sit at the table; and instead, opted for sitting table adjacent.

Naru: I will be sending information to the Display in front of you to take a look at as we talk. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

The Andorian nodded to convey acknowledgement of what the Grunden had said; but immediately felt dizzy because of it, a rolling swell of perspective shifted over and around his head.  He needed to eat.

Sadar: ::uncomfortable clearing of throat:: P-Perhaps before we get to that, w-we should hear why you believe the Kobyar are receiving off-world aid in the war?

Kexxin: It is my understanding that the Kobyar government has been accepting supplies from an unknown source. That is the only plausible explanation for their advancements that far exceed our own. 

The young Engineering Ensign listened along to the back and forth between the more senior offices and the Grundens; as much as he might try though, he could not dedicate his full attention to it; not with those uneaten field rations just sitting in his rucksack.

Vailani: Can we have access to this intel? It would also be useful if Ensign Tho’Bi and Ensign Cole could have access to your inventories, including serial numbers - I noted that your drones scanned for these markings back at base camp? They could cross reference with communications, intelligence reports and shipping schedules. Our priority is to rule out the Grunden from the equation so that we can focus on the real culprits. 

Gnai: This would also be very interested to see more about your sensor network, and the readings that it might be producing.

Tho’Bi:  With permission General Kexxin…

The Andorian Ensign bowed; and as he did so, looked around and most, if not all, were still standing.  This caused a hesitation on his part and a repetition.

Tho’Bi:  With your permission General Kexxin ::repeating himself:: I am bound by duty to understand the cause of the incident with the sensor drone (beat) . I would ask that I be allowed to honor my duty (beat) by inspecting one of those drones. 

If asked, the space-born Andorian would not have been able to fully explain why he felt so compelled to speak in this highly ritualistic manner; other than to say, it felt like the thing to do.

Cole/Sadar: Response

Kexxin: I said that was my understanding. That doesn’t mean I necessarily agree. My job is to provide you with what I know, not my own theories. 

The General seemed preoccupied by his own thoughts and in no great hurry to respond directly to their questions and requests.  Perhaps he too was hungry, the young Engineer wondered.

Vailani: Please, General, we are here to help?

Gnai: Yes, there is no way that help can be provided if you are not willing to be completely transparent…

Tho’Bi:  General Kexxin, my people say (beat) It is only when the ice is pure that everyone can see the truth.

((OOC: I made this Andorian saying up.  It does not appear in any canon.))

Cole/Sadar: Response

The sun had moved across the Grunden skyline; casting stained glass colors, where once there was none.  A steady drizzle started to fall; the sound of raindrops popped and tapped off the colorful window panes, making the projected colors slew and warp across the surfaces of the room. 

Kexxin: If I can speak completely off the record here– I think our officials themselves are hiding something. I can’t be sure of it, but they seem to think their men on the front lines are all brawn and no brain. Some of their stories are just too convenient when it comes to how Kobyar technology has just fallen into their lap for us to study and use for our own benefit.

Naru: ::Turning to look in any direction but at Kexxin:: Our government officials speak to be people of peace. ::swallowing hard:: Never make the mistake of assuming the person of peace is unskilled at war.

The very structure of the building seemed to shift and breathe under the rainfall; a twisting tightening sound of bark stretching as it absorbed the water; the stonework shuddering into slightly different settling places.

Vailani: Some cultures believe war is peace. I disagree with that notion. My people have a complicated relationship with peace themselves. They fought so long against oppressors they almost forgot what it was to be peaceful. It’s not as easy as you would think, when fighting is all you know.

Gnai: But it’s certainly a noble pursuit.

Cole/Sadar: Response

Tho’Bi:  General Kexxin ::bows head:: on the world of my blood (beat) we called it The Time of Lament  (beat)  a hundred years of war so ::stutter:: so terrible (beat) my people resolved to destroy thousands of years of their own history (beat) because ::breaths:: because it was the only way (beat) the only way to ::stutter:: to end the endless blood for blood vengeance.  

The ancient structure shuddered as the wind whipped up outside; cracks and splinters echoed off the stained glass arch, as the rain began to fall heavier; hanging from the branches above, the lights started to flicker; while the will of the Grunden remained unshakable, their power reserves did not appear to be so resolute. 

TAG/TBC

(( OOC: Part 1 of 2.  Once again, broken into two parts.  I retconned a change in the weather to reflect the mood of the General.)) 

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Ensign Tho’Bi

Engineering

USS Artemis-A

A240203T11