MSNPC Luirétt - Our Fledgling Freedom

[LT Tamio K'Wara]

(( Ready Room - Deck 1, USS Artemis-A ))

Luirétt looked upon the aliens, uncomfortable with the amount of attention the three aliens leveraged against them. Luirétt was familiar with speaking publicly - it had been their entire purpose before - but those opportunities were familiar territory. They weren’t expected to make any truly new ground, only retread that which their ancestors had tread numerous times.

This? This was something entirely new, and while that was exciting, it was also deeply terrifying.

Luirétt: It should be I thanking you for your timely response to our distress call, Captain Munro. Your arrival was very fortuitous.

The alien female - Luirétt presumed - in the golden uniform deflected Luirétt’s gratitude with the grace of an experienced guardian.

Storm: That’s part of our mission.  We’re here to help. 

Munro: We've begun to transport your injured to our triage centre, they are in good hands. I've sent several teams to your ship :: cautiously :: It may help us if you told us more about what happened?

Luirétt didn’t know how much to tell them. On one hand, they had espoused the importance of honesty and clarity to Vahljeahn, but on the other hand, they couldn’t refute the possibility that the Artemis’ crew would send them back to the Boraxian City Ship as soon as they learned that they had a shipful of escaped Yurum in their custody…

That simply couldn’t be their legacy.

oO But what if they’re really here to help? Oo

Luirétt: I am sorry... between the mechanical difficulties and the injuries, I’ve had much to think about, and not many of them pleasant. ::folds their hands in two sets:: Please, if you have any questions, pose them.

Meris: Luirétt, may I address a matter with you. ::deadpan:: You are in grave danger.

The blunt manner of addressing this made Luirétt’s already tense body stiffen further, their pale golden eyes widen in shock. Their first instinct was to look out the porthole behind them, to check whether they had been caught up to this soon, but even despite the space outside being as empty as before, the sentence still made them feel off.

Storm:  Meris?

Munro: :: through gritted teeth :: Ensign, there is no need to be alarmist :: to Luirétt :: Let me assure you, that you and your crew are perfectly safe with the Artemis. I believe the Ensign is only referring to the condition of your ship? 

Luirétt: ... I-It’s, condition?

Luirétt recalled the Artemis’ crew pointing out that there was visible damage to the exterior of New Hope’s hull. Was this the condition they were speaking of?

Meris: Captain Munro has observed that your vessel has dock rash on its hull, which strongly suggests your helmsperson is unskilled. I must request that you correct this deficiency. Placing an inexperienced pilot at the controls of a colony ship is, statistically, the equivalent of handing a shuttlecraft to a small child and encouraging them to play tag within an asteroid belt.

Storm:  ::Aside to Meris:: Subtle, Ensign.  Maybe next time start with hello.  ::To everyone loud enough to hear:: What the Ensign is likely trying to say is maybe they can give your helmsperson some docking pointers.

Luirétt felt embarrassment at being called out so openly for their inability to get a skill pilot to steer New Hope, and shame at their inadequacy as a leader. But at the same time, they felt their arms stiffen and their fingers tighten with dismay. What did these aliens know of their struggles? What did this pilot - who had received opportunities to practice, to study, to learn - know of the genuine joy and wonder that Cossátt had felt at finally being at the helm of a Starship, the only dream they’d nurtured for their entire life!?

Nevertheless, Luirétt was too old to react in anger and petulance for a naive slight, and as such, they reminded themself to see the Ensign’s utterance for what it was. A warning.

Munro: :: serious :: Ensign Meris, it's not our place to instruct Luirétt on how to handle their crew and frankly we don't know who was piloting the ship :: turns to the Boraxian :: But my junior officer does have a point. If you can help us understand what happened we may be able to help you? Did someone attack you? 

Luirétt didn’t speak, their blowholes on each side of their large head moving irregularly as they thought. Was there any avenue open to them where they didn’t have to bring up their predicament this early? Where they would have more time to earn Starfleet’s understanding, acceptance, before they found out what the Sectarian Faction had chosen to do.

Storm:  I was curious.  ::Alex opened her mouth for a moment before words issued forth.:: We did notice that your ship had been fired upon.  Can you tell us anything about the people who damaged your ship?

Munro: You can trust us. 

Luirétt looked back to Captain Munro at that assurance, and saw no deception. Luirétt was inexperienced in all things but speaking publicly, but they considered themself quite apt at understanding emotional cues. They didn’t know if this singular experience - this one skill - would be applicable to aliens, but they chose to believe that this much was universal.

oO They feel. They understand concepts of danger, pain... Surely they too must understand the concept of independence. Oo

Captain Munro walked around the desk, and Luirétt turned as well, to ensure that they always kept their face trained on the tall Captain.

Munro: Please take a seat :: she indicated the seat directly in front of her ::

Luirétt did as bidden, slowly sitting down in the seat offered.

Luirétt: It is...  A long story. A complicated one.

Meris:  Response

Storm:  We only seek to keep you and others safe.

There was conviction in that voice.

Munro: :: softly :: Please continue Luirétt. 

Luirétt turned quiet once more, before they began their story.

Luirétt: New Hope is... A wish for change. The Yurum - those amongst the Boraxian people born with the ability to heal and calm through touch - are... ::searches for word:: ‘Imprisoned’ isn’t the right word, as we are treated well from our very birth, protected and catered to our entire lives, but never allowed to come to harm. ::sees a lack of understanding:: Imagine, if you will, a child wishing to help their parent with cooking, but they aren’t allowed near the kitchen for fear of a stove or a knife. Or a child not permitted friends, for fear of eventual conflicts or heartbreak. That is what it is like living as a Yurum.

Luirétt’s voice grew louder as their conviction starting shining through.

Luirétt: When you say ::gestures to Ensign Meris:: that I placed an inexperienced pilot at the helm, that is true. And it is true, because there amongst the Yurum exists not one single experienced pilot. Our people would never willingly expose a Yurum to the most remote possibility that we would be involved in a shuttlecrash. But by limiting our potential for harm, heartbreak and despair, they also rob us of the ability to learn, to experience, to love and to live.

Their eyes turned moist with emotion. So many of their people, injured and scared. For the opportunity to live independently for the first time.

oO Was it worth it? Oo

Luirétt: We have lived as children in a padded cell for too long, Captain Munro. So we made a choice. We commandeered a colony vessel, to try and find our own destiny amongst the stars. To find a place where we would be allowed to cry, to feel pain, sorrow, love, joy... ::sighs:: But we did so clandestinely. Our people were not alerted to our intentions, and they chased after us, no doubt hoping to take us back by force… The damage to New Hope was suffered during our escape from the Colony Ship.

They paused, looking between the aliens’ expressions for the first time, their eyes leaving Captain Munro’s face. They needed as many allies amongst the Artemis’ crew as they could earn, but the most important one was Captain Munro.

She was the one Luirétt needed to convince most of all.

Meris: Response.

Storm: That sounds like quite a predicament.

A big word that said nothing.

Munro: That's quite an adventure you've been on. What you've done is incredibly dangerous and extremely brave. 

Luirétt bowed their head in recognition of what Captain Munro said. Yes, it had been. Had they and Vahljeahn not had that very conversation not two days ago? So much could have gone wrong, so much could still go wrong...

oO Was it worth it? Oo

Luirétt: ::deep breath:: I understand that we are fugitives, Captain Munro, and I apologize for my deception. It was my hope that the repairs would be quick and we could be on our way before causing any trouble for the Artemis, but... Considering the current state of affairs, I can’t honestly say that’s an option anymore.

Meris/Storm:  Response.

Munro: Are you seeking asylum, Luirétt? 

Luirétt looked up, confused. ‘Asylum’...

Meris/Storm:  Response.

Luirétt: ::considers:: Yes… On behalf of the Boraxians aboard New Hope, I ask the Federation for asylum.

It felt like a very final step to the conversation. In truth, Luirétt felt dishonest for taking this step without conferring with Vahljeahn, but if this was the fastest and easiest way to earn the Artemis’ assistance if the City Ship came for them? Luirétt would accept whatever consequences they might have been too inexperienced to spot at that moment.

Munro: I have to clarify if you are in immediate danger, and are your people still pursuing you? 

oO Immediate danger… Oo

Luirétt: There is no doubt in my mind, Captain, that our people are still pursuing us. They wish us no harm, I am sure of it, but it is not within the Boraxian Belief System to allow Yurum to come to harm. ::looks to Ensign Meris:: And, as your crew has pointed out, we are putting ourselves in harm’s way rather consistently.

Munro/Meris/Storm:  Response

Luirétt: The only danger I believe us to be in at the hands of our people is being robbed of this fledgling freedom we’ve managed to carve out for ourselves.

Munro/Meris/Storm: Response

Tags/TBC

Luirétt

Sectarian Faction Leader

As simmed by

LT Tamio K’Wara

Operations Officer

USS Artemis-A
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