King Toal'Dius - A fault against the dead (edited)
Jania Nis
(( OOC: Noticed an irredeemable typo in the previous version))
(( Audience Chamber, Zet Royal HQ, Koreli IV ))
Rouiancet: And that, for us, is the heart of the matter, Your Majesty. We will offer aid to the Danni, but until and unless the Zet renounce all claims to this world and return it to its indigenous sapient species, there's little we can do to advance relations between our peoples.
The queen of this starship had spoken, and Toal’Dius did not like her answer. Toal’Dius narrowed his eyes, all six of them. Absurd it was. He hadn’t made the deal to secure this planet, but he sure wouldn’t dishonor his family’s legacy by abandoning it at the first sign of a struggle.
Nilsen: But we can support both sides in managing this so that no one is left out of pocket.
Saa: …and was the shield too late?
Toal’Dius: Only time will tell. There are those among us who believe even calling the Federation in will only provoke more animosity by the other Zet.
oO And -I- am one of those people. Oo
Saa: He risked a great deal by inviting the Federation here then… (looks to Toal’Dius) But you do not feel currently it was worth it and are trying to salvage the situation thrust upon yourself. Understandable.
Toal’Dius pressed his index fingers to his lips and nodded slowly. Yes, this one was correct.
Toal’Dius: :: returning his gaze to Rouiancet :: On the other hand, flat out abandoning these people--and our investment in them--is not an option I would consider.
Nilsen: As I said your highness, there are always ways.
Greaves: Maybe it’s worthwhile to shift our focus elsewhere.
Moydol: A viewing of the honored dead, perhaps?
Toal’Dius snorted. What were they getting at with this line of thinking?
Saa: The Federation has a number of species with their own regarding death but most commonly moments of honoring the dead with viewings before being laid to rest so those mourning can say their final goodbyes and pay their last respects.
Toal’Dius: Respect? And many Federation planets practice these viewings?
Rouiancet: Yes, the Federation incorporates almost two hundred individual worlds now, with an even greater number of member species. The cultural practices around death are many and varied.
The number was perhaps more interesting to Toal’Dius than the fact that other cultures may have viewed death differently than he. The Zet had usually dealt with one or two Federation crews at a time; he hadn’t been fully aware of their scope. Getting them on his side may have been more useful than he thought …. But not at the cost of the whole project.
Nilsen: And with this, you’ll also be showing that we could perhaps be turning a new chapter together.
Moydol: I’d be happy to lend my own medical expertise. (beat) It’s no problem really.
Suddenly it dawned on the king. They believed he killed his own brother. This Moydol person wanted to get close to the body for the purposes of blame.
Toal’Dius: What about your alleged -help-?
Greaves: And I would be more than willing to assist in surveying any site requiring Starfleet assistance.
Toal’Dius glanced at the marine.
Rouiancet: Your Majesty, allow two or three of us to accompany you, while the rest (beat) assess.
Yes, that would be good. That W’es’Greaves one should be out of the palace. He was too dangerous.
Nilsen: I was in operations before I took on the diplomatic role, so I can help with that and help coordinate our people and resources.
Was the purple one offering to leave, as well? Even better. Direct access to the ship’s queen was what Toal’Dius wanted.
Saa: Response
Toal’Dius: Yes, the flooding is of utmost concern. We cannot allow the Danni to suffer more than they already have.
Greaves: Ma’am, I could take a couple out to the site of the floods and see what it’ll take to transport supplies out there.
Rouiancet: That's an excellent idea. (to Moydol; eyebrow raised slightly) Doctor, what additional personnel do you anticipate requiring?
Moydol: I’m sure two or three of us would be sufficient.
Rouiancet: Very good. I'll accompany you, and Lieutenants Saa and Nilsen will accompany Colonel Greaves.
Hmm. The blue-clad female one would be a loss--she had seemed sympathetic. And Moy’Dol clearly did not like Toal’Dius. Toal’Dius had no more killed his brother than Executive Nik‘ulama’pao’en’bei’yie’Bahb had killed the Great Ghullworm in the days of legend. But if this Moy’Dol believed it to be true, Toal’Dius had no question that he’d find the evidence, even if he had to invent it.
The purple one nodded.
Nilsen: Yes sir.
Saa: Responses
Toal’Dius: That would be appreciable.
Greaves: King Toal’Dius, could you elaborate on the flood and the need for supplies of the Danni towns?
Toal'Dius: It’s simple--we’ve disassembled the walls of the Great Mall and we’re prepared to move that metal to Kaej and Maiton where it can be better used to reconstruct houses of Danni workers. But we lack the infrastructure to move such a quantity of metal across the planet in a day or so--the last estimate I saw was two months. That’s far too long. You may speak with my chief reeve about it to get a better understanding of the organizational needs, but I’m sure your ship is adequate to move the material.
Rouiancet: Good luck. We'll be just a comm call away.
Nilsen: We’ll get to work.
Reeve at Toal’Dius’s side: You are hereby dismissed from the presence of the great Toal’Dius, the Deathless Dynamo.
Greaves / Moydol / Saa : Responses
As the others left, Toal’Dius stood and approached the queen of the USS Octavia E. Butler and her frustrating little doctor.
Toal’Dius: This way, please.
(( Rebirthing Rooms, Royal HQ, Koreli IV ))
The rebirthing rooms were dark and full of winding pipes. Most of these were made from silver or other precious metals, and they led to a half-dozen rounded copper tanks. Each had a glass panel revealing the contents, which seemed to be some sort of brine.
Toal’Dius :: over his shoulder :: In typical circumstances, a figure of my brother’s stature would be recalled with a memorial on our homeworld. But until I manage to make this kingdom profitable, he will receive a less noble treatment.
Rouiancet/Moydol: Response
The king approached one of the chambers--the only one currently housing a body. Although it was hard to make out, the individual inside was definitely a Zet. Some small fish swam about the face, taking bites of the flesh. Even as they watched, the body was being broken down at an unexpectedly fast speed.
Toal’Dius: You are witnessing an extremely sacred event, and I ask for your respect.
Rouiancet/Moydol: Response
It worried him to tell the Federation about Zet physiology. They would undoubtedly use it against his people some day. But they needed to know, to understand.
Toal’Dius: In a typical circumstance, his essence would be removed and prepared for placement into a new husk while the old husk is broken down and processed. Unfortunately, his essence was damaged, and could not be saved.
Rouiancet/Moydol: Response
Toal’Dius: Everyone dies eventually, Queen Lia'Rou'i'an'Cet. Even the Deathless. :: pause :: We -do- mourn, you know. And I despair to look upon his body being consumed, even if it is as it should be. He was good to me when I was a child. But to waste a life over the death of another--that is surely a fault against the dead, even a fault against nature.
Tags! and TBC!
Supreme Director
Koreli IV
O240108JN2