Prince Da’ni’Grend - God hath given you one face, and you make yourselves another.
Lhandon Nilsen
(( Stellar Cartography, Deck 11, USS Octavia E Butler ))
The crew of this ship had come up with a rather ingenious plan: use the torpedoes as mines to slow down the incoming Zet fleet. If Grend didn't know any better, he'd say these sound like the actions of warriors and not the explorers they claim to be.
He wondered if he could exploit that somehow. Despite how they frame themselves as higher and more evolved people, they are still people after all, and what senescent, yet still barbaric bipedal hominid wouldn't want to blow up a few bugs?
In an effort to help, Grend suggested that they use his computer that they confiscated from him and they agreed. Awesome. They would use his computer to access the internet on Koreli-IV to see about finding the status of their crew. He even offered the use of his Tidbitter, just with a disclaimer
Grend: I will, however, need my computer from before. From there, I will be able to give you the credentials. You do have an ad-block, right?
Forsyth: I think so, Caras?
Caras: We unfortunately don’t filter any the data due to its possible importance. We’ll have to manually set the filters.
Promontory: Alright, give him his device.
But it came with a condition.
Promontory: Just make sure to keep it away from our main systems.
Forsyth: With the ship in its current state that might be difficult, could we use an isolating system?
Caras: If I use the trick Lahl used earlier to isolate processes in the core, we can containerize the process for scanning through the media posts, that should suffice.
Promontory: (dubiously) If you think that’ll be sufficient. I really don’t want to make this worse!
Grend: Look ::in an attempt to make himself seem more likeable:: I know I’m just a guest here and I’m going to help; Besides, you can watch what I do.
Forsyth: Prince, what else can you access from your computer?
Grend: I can access Tidbitter, my notes, the latest episode of Ja’ar’te’ws’go’qnf’lard’s cooking program…
Promontory: That’s… less helpful.
Well, it could be.
Forsyth: What about security feed, someway we determine if our crew is okay.
Promontory: That’s right, you were, until recently, the number two in government. Surly you had access to all manner of security monitoring.
Grend: I did. I had a load of systems. I might be able to access the defence systems of the Royal Headquarters too. Though I should warn you - they're likely to be as ad-filled as everything else. The security system was actually sponsored by Gylelkeset last month...was a bargain deal.
It really was—just a bit of advertising and their auxiliary security systems were taken care of...and perhaps a backdoor.
Caras: Nothing says we’re a hostile invader like that. If we get caught, They could turn that approaching fleet on us if we cause them enough trouble.
Promontory: Maybe. If the forces on the planet and in the fleet are allied. (beat) I have the impression that they may, in fact, be pretty diametrically opposed.
Grend: It maybe the case. Those Zet coming in the fleet could be from Zet themselves, they want to know what we got here. Could be someone taking an opportunity? Word did get out quickly.
He was helping? They were infectious, these people.
Forsyth: We need answers, hate not knowing the full story.
Caras: I’m ****hooking the prince's computer up to the access layer. He just needs to have his computer pass through the access codes and credentials when prompted.
Grend: I thank you kindly.
Grend took the computer back and connected it to the port that was provided. As soon as the connection was made and his access code were entered in, the Advertisement for Gylelkeset played.
Advertisement: Are your lower limbs a little bit… lacking? Do they just not reach where you want them to? Does everyone tell you that it’s… normal? We’ll they’re wrong! I’m former Champion gambler Gau’zu’rak Bazkite here for Gylelkeset! Gylelkeset gets your lower limbs stronger, girthier, and more energetic. If you’ve seen me place bets, then you know I use my lower limbs as a flex.((advertisement goes on))
Promontory: (loudly) CAN WE TURN THAT OFF OR AT LEAST MUTE IT?
Forsyth: ::loudly::YES, I DON’T LIKE IT!!
Caras: You guys have advertisements in your ACCESS CODES? It got past the containment layer because your computer is on top of containment to pass the credentials through.
Forsyth: Turn it off, I’m starting to get a headache….
Grend: ::pressing an extra few buttons:: There we go. I never liked Gau’zu’rak, too much of a pompous pomp. Thinks they can fight but really couldn’t fight their way out of carrier bag.
Promontory: Thanks. (beat) OK, is there anything useful behind all this?
Forsyth: S-Sorry, That just was a lot of noise.
Grend: This is the “for one” page. The algorithm gives you what you most want based on what you’ve interacted with before. The trick is to not get sucked in.
Caras: Response
Promontory: Wait! (pointing) That one, what does it say?
Grend: A reward? ::looking at the officers next to him and then back to the page:: Are they your people?
Forsyth: Looks like a wanted poster, Sir.
Promontory: Wanted!? Oh no—no no no no no. This will not stand!
When he saw three people in the grainy images on the wanted poster, Promontory’s reaction seemed to be one of both worry and a sense of an injustice he needed to correct.
Grend: Purple? What does the purple one mean? That’s a royal colour, is he your king?
Grend liked the purple, maybe when he gets his throne back, that will become his colours. Besides, the one wearing it seemed bigger than the rest—he must be stronger too.
Caras: Response
Promontory: C’mon, we’re going to the Operations Center, we need to get to the bottom of this!
Forsyth: Of Course, Sir….
Grend: What is an Operations Center?
Caras/Forsyth: Response
((Operations Center, Lower Level, Deck 7, USS Octavia E Butler))
This Operations Center looked so much better than those bridges that Grend had seen in holophotos. Those bridges just looked like playsets; this was the real deal. Grend wanted this too. All two floors of it: the situation table in the center of the room with the ship's status upon it in full displays. This table was crowned by the Mezzanine floor which formed a circle above and around the central display.
There were a number of officers in the Operations Center, all of them wearing yellow. They were going about their business but glanced over as Grend and the rest of his team entered the operations.
Above was an office, the one that seemed to Grend to watch over it all. He wanted that. That was a position of power, that must be where that king sits. Grend had not seen anyone else wearing purple. That had to be it, the purple means king.
And to Grend’s surprise, he was being helpful.
Grend: What are their names?
Promontory/Caras/Forsyth: Response
Grend: Lh'andon'Ni'l'sen, Se'van'tha'S'aa and We's'Gre'av'es. Got it. I'm going to search all the records I can
Do they really have just two names? No, that couldn't be right. He tried a few different combinations, struggling a little bit with the spelling as he got used to this new and strange naming convention.
Promontory/Caras/Forsyth: Response
Grend: There's one here. It's a post from Ka'al'sa'ylon'Stal. She's an opinion—erm...she says a lot of things, people listen to her. I think it's about them.
Grend then plays the video of Stal
Ka'al'sa'ylon'Stal: They act so nice, as if Kaliwn could not melt in their mouths but as most Zet know, and now we will tell you; they are worse than the dominion. My name is Ka'al'sa'ylon'sive, I'm a political commentator specializing in intergalactic relations.
Grend: Another word for spouts rubbish.
Promontory/Caras/Forsyth: Response (optional)
Ka'al'sa'ylon'Stal: Starfleet are here, let's talk about it. The video I'm about to show was automatically uploaded by my colleague Gi'We'Atyu'Ka'en'Hale. As you can see, she was attacked, without any reason by Starfleet, hiding as regular Danni.
Ka'al'sa'ylon'Stal then shows video of Lhandon approaching the Zet named Gi'We'Atyu'Ka'en'Hale.
Ka'al'sa'ylon'Stal: You can see here that the Starfleet officer approached Gi'We'Atyu'Ka'en'Hale and in the interest of peace, which I can tell you, is all Hale wants, she did not open fire. In fact Hale tried to communicate with the officer however—
A quick cut and then Lhandon firing on Hale, and then the video cuts back to Stal
Ka'al'sa'ylon'Stal: As you can see here, Starfleet wanted the communications node that Hale was working on, and instead of working with us or coming in peace like they proclaim; they opened fire upon Gi'We'Atyu'Ka'en'Hale, an Ephemeral Soldier working with her, the Ephemeral who were providing support and most damning of all, the two innocent Danni who had so kindly agreed to help Gi'We'Atyu'Ka'en'Hale with her work.
Then another video cut this time to an image of the winged Ephemeral flying above Lhandon and both of them firing at each other. The video then pauses suddenly.
The workers around the Operations Center stopped when Lhandon's image was displayed, an officer tapped an enlisted on the arm, and they showed a moment of shock on their face as they gasped for air and their eyes raised.
Ka'al'sa'ylon'Stal: We are fortunate however to learn that while the brave Ephemeral was shot down, they were able to crawl to safety, and further.
She then cuts the video to show Lhandon lying motionless on his back, arms wide.
Ka'al'sa'ylon'Stal: That brave and selfless Ephemeral was able to kill the Starfleet officer, so that one will no longer be a threat.
There was an audible gasp from the operations, some giving an involuntary shudder, others just staring at where the video was being displayed.
Ka'al'sa'ylon'Stal: Sadly, the Danni did not make it, and I'm waiting to hear back from Gi'We'Atyu'Ka'en'Hale to see if she survived, or if she had rehusked. I will keep you updated. Don't forget to follow me for more updates.
The video ends and Grend stopped it from looping.
Grend: Erm...okay.
Promontory/Caras/Forsyth: Response
What a reaction, Grend thought, this Lh'andon'Ni'l'sen must have truly been their king, for them all to react like that. There must be a new king now, is this who this Promontory was going to be?
Grend: Maybe the security feeds then?
Promontory/Caras/Forsyth: Response
Tags/TBC
The rightful Prince Da'ni'Grend of Koreli-Four and the Danni people, child of the slain king, Zet King Ma'det'ain'ths'ng'in'Grend
As simmed by
Lieutenant Lhandon Joseph Nilsen whose simmer is very sorry to Vio for the emotional torment he had made Morro suffer this mission.
Diplomatic Officer
USS Octavia E Butler
O240007LN1
He/Him/His (Both player and character)