Lt. Cmdr. Lhandon Nilsen - Sometimes the quiet is what you need.
Lhandon Nilsen
(( Bridge, Deck 1, USS Octavia E. Butler ))
The viewscreen showed two equally terrifying things. The first was arcs of super-charged plasma arcing through space, each flashing onto the bridge with a brilliant flash.
Nilsen: There’s no one here, but if left unchecked, this part of the nebula could expand to hinder warp travel. It will affect the route from Esh-o to Koreli.
He needed to know what the limits were; if he had figures, it could help a lot when it came to future negotiations. That became the second of the terrifying things. The Continuance created an "Override Boundary" on the view screen. Displayed was what the Continuance described as "active threshold values, confidence intervals, and the specific metric feed driving each trigger." The Continuance explained that these were computed from three live inputs: projected loss curves, time-to-failure margins, and resource-depletion rate. Not dissimilar from a setup ops might use, but one where the goalposts could be moved when they needed to pull a fast one over command.
Rouiancet: What other effects will it have on our systems?
Lhandon kept his heart rate to himself as he read of the negative side effects.
Nilsen: In addition to communications difficulties, we'd have issues with the sensors and potential EPS feedback at various junctions throughout the ship.
Varik: Responses
Kevara Continuance: Clarification: Effects include sensor decoherence, comm scattering, and intermittent EPS feedback in exposed junctions. If you remain within the charged band, deflector harmonics will saturate and communications will degrade below operational minimum. Risk increases with time and proximity. Recommended action: complete a bounded scan window, then exit to the corridor track within thirty-seven minutes.
o0 That’s what I said 0o
Rouiancet: Very well. Lieutenant, be careful, but bring us to an optimal position to contact Colonel Greaves. Commander, gather whatever additional data seems germane. Continuance... (Pause) Could you please provide an update on shipboard activities?
The normal warmth that Rouiancet and her new command team had was not present in this moment, replaced with a tentative sense of walking on eggshells around the Continuance. They had had some success, but it had been limited, and they had had to work for it. With the guardrails in place, Lhandon was cautious, not out of fear, however he was sure of that, but something else he couldn't quite put his finger on, and as such, he elected to once again listen.
Varik: Responses
Kevara Continuance: Valaria III relief staging remains active under masking protocols. UDP transport operation continues; comms are intermittent but improved at current position due to field geometry.
Nilsen: Very well, Varik, keep monitoring comms and get a sit rep from them.
Lhandon did not know this, nor did he realise that he had picked up on one of Rouiancet's habits.
Varik/Rouiancet: Responses
Kevara Continuance: Notification: I detect an Operations-center effort to establish auxiliary compute and alternate control paths. I am not terminating this activity at this time. I am observing it as part of the cooperation trial. Constraint: attempts to weaponize holodeck authority, EPS routing, diagnostic ingestion, or shuttle-core networking against my integration will activate override trigger four.
His throat went dry with the "gotcha" moment of the Continuance, like a puppy caught head-first in the bag of kibble. Another flash of lightning shone through the viewscreen as he quietly said:
Nilsen: Four?
Varik/Rouiancet: Responses
Kevara Continuance: Assertion: You have local control within published boundary conditions. I will not intervene unless a trigger activates or your actions measurably increase loss probability.
But then…
Nilsen: Kevara Continuance, Assertion: You originally only said there were three triggers. In fact, I’m looking at them on the screen right now. Projected loss curves, time-to-failure margins, and resource-depletion rates, and yet you’ve just introduced a fourth one.
He could feel his patience slipping. He wanted to yell at the Continuance, but he didn't; he didn't bottle it up either. He just acknowledged the anger's presence and dismissed it for now in a moment that would have made a Vulcan nod and say, "That was almost acceptable."
Varik/Rouiancet: Responses
Kevara Continuance: Response
Then an idea, one that had formed a while ago. He needed to be honest, but at the same time, he needed to make sure that they still had whatever plan. Silently, he mouthed “trust me” to Rouiancet
Nilsen: Looking at things, both sides are still not fully trusting each other. So I do not know the word, but you’ll have to forgive them for their actions, but I hope you have learned from that, then when cooperation happens, things…
Lhandon searched for the words; this felt like one of those moments that, if his ego was talking, might get quoted as one of Lt Commander Nilsen's greatest quotes.
Nilsen:…get better
Varik/Rouiancet: Responses
Kevara Continuance: Response
He looked towards Rouiancet again and just scratched his temple, not to get an itch but hoping that she would catch his drift. Lhandon just hoped the idea that he had been forming would not come back to bite him in the rear.
Nilsen: Let me give you a show of faith. Continuance, pay attention to my actions. =/\= Nilsen to Arlill. Please stop your tasks in the Operations Centre. Diplomatic work is continuing. Confirm that you understand? =/\= Now, shall we get back to work? Or shall we continue with this back and forth?
Varik/Rouiancet: Responses
Kevara Continuance: Response
((Flashback))
((Flight Deck, Talents, Argonaut Class Runabout - Post Koreli IV recovery))
He passed Thomas a hot drink that was just replicated. The once rival was sat before him, a broken man, both physically and mentally. The injuries Thomas O’Reilly had experienced were those that which Lhandon Joseph Nilsen would never wish on his worst enemy, and yet there was someone he was told would be a worst enemy, in such a position.
Nilsen: I get you, mate. I like it out here, too. Sometimes the quiet is what you need.
O’Reilly/Arlill: Response
((End Flashback))
Seeing Thomas in that state also helped to affirm to Lhandon that he was on the right path. Like Thomas, he shared a desire never to see that again, and that had resulted in a changing of the uniform for them both, Nilsen to purple, O'Reilly to gold. The image of that memory was then sent to Arlill.
He'd never done this with Tox before. He'd never needed to. Tox and Lhandon pretty much told each other everything, even at 01:36 hours.
And another flash of lightning appeared on the screen before him as it became 35 minutes.
Tags/TBC
Lieutenant Commander Lhandon Joseph Nilsen
Second Officer & Senior Diplomatic Officer
USS Octavia E Butler
O240007LN1
He/Him/His (Both player and character)