LtCmdr Tamio K'Wara - When in Bewa City...

[LtCmdr Tamio K'Wara]

(( Param Square - Bewa City, Morta )) 

There were numerous phrases throughout Federation history - certainly Human history as well - to detail what to do when facing a foreign culture that didn't, at first blush, seem compatible with your own. "If you can't beat them, join them", "When in Rome, do as the Romans do", "Take a leaf from someone's book" and "If you can't change the game, learn to play it". They all applied in some way, shape or fashion to their current situation.

If the only way to prove to the Nascaik that they weren't a threat was to embarass themself while partaking in Nascaik Culture in a very public fashion, then that's what Tamio was going to do.

Jagrav: As per your request to the Representative, you've been cleared for a visit to the Param Commerce Vault, the Bewa Geological Reserve and a ::discreet sneer:: lunch recommendation. Any attempt to veer from the agreed-upon itinerary will put an immediate stop to your visit.

K'Wara: ::looks to the others:: Any preferences for where we start?

Granted, they couldn't actually consume any food on Morta - due to the toxic atmosphere - but Tamio figured that showing an interest in Morta food and getting a recipe added to the replicators, in case any Nascaik officials wanted a tour of the Artemis while they were in the vicinity anyways would be a good bit of pre-emptive diplomacy.

Best leave that one for last though.

Jaran: I love a good hike, and the geological reserve sounds like it could be a good place for that. That's what you mean, right?

Ikaixar: Yes— a wander through the reserve sounds lovely. 

Jagrav pressed a button on his bracer, before looking up at the assembled officers again. To say that he seemed enthused about the incoming afternoon would be a gross exaggeration, but if nothing else, Tamio hoped they'd be able to turn it from abject dislike to just mild indifference by the end of the afternoon. Achievable goals was the keyword here.

Jagrav: You will accompany me.

Not too long afterwards, a ground vehicle running on threads turned the corner. It was a heavy beast, and the superheated ground seemed to flinch as it ran over it. The arid atmosphere on Morta wasn't exactly pleasant, but it wasn't the worst Tamio had experience din their years of service. That being said, they sincerely hoped the Nascaik vehicle didn't feel as much like an oven as it looked. It stopped in front of them as the door slid open.

Jaran: I take it this is our ride.

Jagrav nodded.

Ikaixar: How— quaint

Sierin stepped inside, spreading her luxurious outfit across her seat and Tamio followed along. There was a certain degree of relief from the fact that the interior of the vehicle wasn't hotter than the outside, but neither was it cooler. They gathered that the Nascaik were so accustomed to the heat of their world, that they didn't even feel the need for airconditioning. Perhaps, instead, what the Federation considered 'normal internal temperature' would be considered frigid by Nascaik standards?

K'Wara: It's been a while since I was in a ground vehicle.

The excitement in their voice wasn't entirely forced. The vehicle started moving forwards through the streets of Bewa City, and it quickly became clear that if they wanted their guard-guide to interact with them, they had to be the ones to elicit the responses.

Jaran: So. ::pause:: How far away is the Geological Reserve?

Jagrav: It is only a few minutes away. It is here in the city.

Ikaixar: How wonderful. Quite a historic city, I see it has been built further upwards rather than out.

K'Wara: Certainly a lot of skyscrapers. That statue of Gilara was massive.

The Goya's face was unreadable, so Tamio couldn't tell whether they'd been able to sneak in a cheap point by referencing one of the most important historical Nascaik figures. 

Jaran: You have me concerned about how much hiking there will be.

This was the first time that they saw something resembling a smile on Jagrav's face, and it gave Tamio the strangest sensation of being a prey animal facing down life's uncertainty. 

Jagrav: Hiking, no. Climbing, yes. The reserve is... vertical.

Tamio was stunned into silence for a few moments as they looked down on their wedged heels.

Ikaixar: ::smiling:: Perhaps interference garbled the comms when we received the itinerary. ::beat:: Tell us of these… geological formations, are they volcanic in nature? 

Jagrav: You’ll see when we arrive. But this region was built from mountains.

That was an interesting tidbit as they watched the skyscrapers of Bewa City pass by them in rapid succession. If the entire region had been carved from mountains itself, where were the mountains now? Had the Nascaik attributed such value to this region, that they'd engaged in the intense workload of leveling entire mountains to render it habitable?

K’Wara: That's impressive. I wouldn't know by looking at the city itself.

Jaran: Response? 

Ikaixar: Mmm yes. Have you been here before? Any… interesting sights we should keep eyes out for?

The disarming interest and consistent chatter from the Betazoid socialite was clearly getting to Jagrav, and Tamio watched with interest. Sierin Ikaixar was one of the newest additions to the Artemis roster, and while they remembered her transfer paperwork, they hadn't had the chance to make her acquaintance.

This was going to be an introduction to more than just Nascaik culture for them.

Jagrav: …not particularly. I suppose the peak has a nice view, but you’d see more from an observation tower.

K’Wara: Perhaps we could make a stop at the tower once we've enjoyed our climb.

The emphasis on enjoyed was most definitely forced.

Jaran: Response? 

(( Geological Reserve -- Bewa City, Morta ))

Jagrav: We’re here.

The groaning of the ground beneath the vehicle ceased alongside its motion, as the sidedoor slid open once more, depositing the group into the open methanic air of Morta once again.

The view that presented itself before them was, in no other words, imposing. It was like a staircase for titans, massive stone steps carved into the landscape, though the reserve was far less meticulous and straight-lined as the Bewa City that surrounded it. The Nascaiks were strict architects and left nothing to chance, showing an impressive capability for subjugating the hostile nature of their world to their intentions.

The Reserve, meanwhile, was one stony oasis in the middle of the city, a single massive mountain that had been allowed to remain in its natural shape. Or perhaps, reconstituted through decades and decades of hard labor.

K’Wara: Wow.

Jaran/Ikaixar: Response

Jagrav: ...Not always. When Bewa City first started expanding, the mountains were culled to make room. Only later did the Superiority of Historical Legacy decide that a mountain should be spared, to show the challenges past Nascaik had to overcome to thrive.

K'Wara: It definitely translates. It's impressive to think this lonely mountain was once part of a chain.

Jaran/Ikaixar: Response

Jagrav pointed up at the mountain, though the location he was referring to was too high to be visible.

Jagrav: The reserve is within the mountain. You must first scale the initial three Sangram'pokk. (UT: Steps of Struggle) to reach the entrance.

Tamio looked up at the first 'Step of Struggle', and while they were certain they were named as such to bring to mind the awesome struggle of the Nascaik to subjugate the wilds of Morta to their will, when they looked upon the massive sheer cliff leading to the first carved surface, they couldn't help but feel like there was a far more obvious struggle waiting for them.

Jagrav's smile told them that he knew exactly what Tamio was thinking.

K'Wara: Well, ::looks to the others:: No time like the present, hm?

And they started untying their shoes. Climbing in wedge heels? Yeah, never going to happen.

Jaran/Ikaixar: Response

TAG/TBC

LtCmdr Tamio K'Wara

Chief of Ops

USS Artemis-A
A240006GS1