Captain Luriaa - "The Cake Is A Lie"
Amanda Nordstrom
(( Flight Deck - USS Talents – Tlugani Nebula ))
Luriaa’s mission was in jeopardy. She had personally requested to oversee the delivery to Guranis, and suddenly she found herself attacked and crippled. Of course, the last people she wanted to answer their distress call actually did - Starfleet. They weren’t enemies, but they weren’t friends - their philosophies far too different to allow an alliance. She paused, her eyes flicking toward the space outside. Currently, their view was coloured by the hues of the nebula that surrounded them. Visually, it was difficult to see far, and even with sensors, they had not been easy to find. How had Starfleet found them? She wanted to know, but it was a question she would ask later.
She also knew that if they compared the markings to their database, they would find no matches. Luriaa didn’t even recognise them - they weren’t from the quadrants that Starfleet was from, nor did they match anyone in the Gamma Quadrant. When attacked, the antagonising ship had remained completely cloaked, so they had no visual to compare to. There was nothing that could tell them who those people were, and even Starfleet wouldn’t be able to determine that. For once, she wished that was not the case.
Luriaa: We need to get it to them quickly.
“It” being the serum developed to cure a disease that had rapidly spread among the Guranis people. They were now members of the UDP, and the UDP was a much different entity than the Dominion had been before them. They had seen what Starfleet accomplished and recognised the merits. That was their goal - to establish something like that, but for the Gamma Quadrant, but not bound by the rules that so severely restricted what they were able to do and how they operated, while simultaneously building a connection and network that was their own rather than by a people who infiltrated their territory.
Greaves: Lieutenant, what’d you find?
Meanwhile, the Caitian tapped on her screen before speaking to the Colonel.
JoNz: ::looks to Greaves:: Colonel, once we get our team back on board, I can get us to that planet faster than a Tellerite checking out a buffet.
No one laughed. Especially not Luriaa. It wasn’t funny.
Greaves: Captain Luriaa, I need to know more about Guranis. What’s their technology level? Are they friendly? Will we be well received? I’m not putting this task force at risk without some intel on what we’re heading to.
Luriaa: They will receive us because I am here.
Guranis was the UDP’s ally, not Starfleets, and she levelled her gaze unflinchingly at Greaves. Neither of them were the sort to back down.
Luriaa: They are warp capable, and we have entered an alliance. If I identify myself, they will receive you.
It was then, however, that the voice of the other human came through the line.
Woolheater: =/\= Talents actual? We found another survivor. Inside a special crate. Its own backup power. =/\=
Greaves: What in the hells?
He turned on Luriaa, every syllable covered in ice.
Greaves: You didn’t say your medical supplies were people!
But the shock wasn’t just for Greaves, for Luriaa well upon her features as well.
Luriaa: They aren’t!
She stated calmly, cooly, but the surprise still registered visibly on her features. No one had forced anyone to become any type of medical supply.
Greaves: That’s not good enough. Explain.
The Caitian’s tail whipped from side to side in an agitated manner. Luriaa did her best to straighten up. Though small, she was not cowed easily, and she would not back down to anyone, even someone like Greaves.
Luriaa: I can not. I have no idea what he is talking about.
Suspicion rose in her breast. What was Starfleet trying to do? She had thought she knew their game, but this was odd, especially for them. Had they changed tactics?
Valkyrie 1: =/\= Talents, this is Valkyrie lead. Valk 4 got a ping in the grid. Ship movement bearing 120, mark 040. At this range, and with this nebula interference we’re not getting it on sensors. Could be cloaked, or could just be the nebula. It’s heading toward your position. =/\=
Greaves: =/\= Good copy Lead. Close in on the Talents, close protection formation. We’re gonna expedite here. Keep that detection grid functional though. We can’t lose sight if they’re cloaked. =/\=
Valkyrie 1: =/\= Understood. Lead out. =/\=
That was possibly their assailants from before, but Luriaa couldn’t say for sure until she either saw them visually or read the sensor reports. Since they were not close enough yet to do the former and she doubted Starfleet would do the latter, that was not possible.
Greaves: Lieutenant, let the boarding party know we’ve got inbound and get us ready to shove off.
JoNz: Aye Sir. =/\= Extract Team ::purring trill of concern in voice:: it’s time to move, we’ve got an unknown visitor in the area and I don’t think they’re bringing us a welcome to the neighborhood cake! =/\=
Woolheater: =/\= Understood. We are on our way! =/\= ::to himself:: I'd like to see how 'Mama Cee' computes THIS variable!
The man spoke in riddles and strange jargon. She had no idea who ‘Mama Cee’ was, nor did she care if it wasn’t relevant to the situation.
Greaves: Care to explain more about this child Luriaa? I’m not helping you traffic people.
Luriaa: I’m well aware of your people’s stance on such things.
They had no idea what they were dealing with, and Starfleet was going to find themselves in a lot of trouble if they decided to mess with the UDP in such a manner. Luriaa’s eyes narrowed, her thoughts focused on the revelation. She knew Starfleet was not happy with the UDP, but from what she had also knew about their philosophy, sabotage wasn’t usually something they engaged in when it wasn’t all out war.
Or was that their plan? Were they now trying to make a reason for war?
JoNz: =/\= Acknowledged, Woolheater! =/\=
That was sent through the connection with the others, but the next words were for those physically present.
JoNz: ::controlled tone/to Bridge:: Prepping to disengage the docking clamps; that incoming bogey is still a factor, Valkyries going steady..
Greaves: We’re much more ready for a fight than your freighter was, but I’d prefer to not go toe to toe with a technologically advanced invisible ship of unknown capability.
Luriaa snorted delicately, but she had no time to answer when a Klingon barged onto the scene, yelling at the top of his lungs.
Ragh: ::angrily interrupting:: What is the meaning of the sick child we found aboard your ship?
Yet, despite the raging lunatic, the Vorta captain remained cool and collected. She faced the Klingon, undaunted.
Luriaa: I would like to know the answer to that question as well.
Woolheater: Response
Greaves: Ensign Ragh-
Ragh: How did you not know? This child was being kept sick and barely breathing to produce the very serum you are delivering. On your ship!
Luriaa: Very convenient to find such a thing, isn’t it?
She met the Klingon head on, a tree unwilling to bend in the wind that howled at her. Greaves quickly inserted himself.
Greaves: Ragh, you’ve got three seconds to contain yourself or I’ll do it for you. Get back to your patients.
Meanwhile, the Caitian ignored everything and did her job. Unlike some people.
Luriaa: If I had known a person other than my three injured crewmen was alive on my ship, I would have indicated that when we first contacted each other. And if this child was so important to producing this serum, I certainly would have taken more actions to protect such a commodity rather than leaving him to randomly be discovered by you Starfleet.
Woolheater: Response
Ragh: That is.. plausible. ::to Greaves:: Understood, Sir. I will be in the medbay.
Finally, the Klingon did what he was supposed to and turned to deal with the patients. He could learn something from the Caitian who did her job when she was told.
Greaves: Sam, go with him and make sure he calms the hell down. JoNz, get us clear of this damn ship and get us back into the nebula to hide, shields up.
JoNz: ::out loud/Bridge area:: Aye Colonel, clearing off from the freighter. Permanent docking seal is unsuctioned, docking clamps pulling back in.
Luriaa’s eyes slid over to the Caitian as the woman iterated what she was doing as she did it. Unnecessary, but perhaps the feline felt a need to fill the silence left by the angry Klingon. She also took the opportunity to note the tactical feed. They weren’t alone - there were other Starfleet ships with them.
Woolheater: Response
Greaves: We’ll talk it over en route. JoNz, get us moving toward Guranis as stealthily as possible. Luriaa, I need to know the full story on this disease and this child. Now.
She turned away from looking at the display and once again, Greaves received her full attention. Despite the pain of her shoulder, an ache that spiked and sliced from time to time as if to remind her of what she had endured, Luriaa showed none of it on her face. Her violet eyes settled upon his blue ones, and her answer did not come immediately. Finally, she sighed heavily, and had she been younger, she might have rolled her eyes at the man.
Luriaa: I can not give you the full story on the child. That is unknown to me.
And then the Caitian began to speak, that time through the commsystem which echoed through the entire vessel.
JoNz: ::open communications:: =/\= Hello all, this is your pilot speaking. We are currently underway and moving away from the freighter towards a new destination. Please hold onto your arses as I will be boo-yah-ing this craft out into the Black in an attempt to avoid an incoming bogey. Thank you for your time. = /\ =
She had no idea what some of those words meant. Starfleet possessed some very strange vocabulary.
Greaves/Ragh/Woolheater: Response
Luriaa: As for the disease, we entered an alliance with the Guranisians over a year ago. Then, several months ago, they contacted us. A strange illness began sweeping through their planet. Although they were technologically advanced, they struggled to find a treatment or cure. Of course, as part of the UDP, they are under our protection and care. We brought scientists from their planet to collaborate with a number of others in the UDP.
As they talked, the vessel began to turn and pitch, but thankfully, dampeners kept them from feeling too many of the effects. Still, the view displayed a dizzying array of motion, and Luriaa had to admit, while she didn’t understand the Caitian’s humour, or many of her words, she was quite an adept pilot. Too bad she was Starfleet.
Greaves/JoNz/Ragh/Woolheater: Response
Luriaa: As I said, I was unaware. We did not use people until late in the development, and every single person who participated in the studies did so voluntarily. We did not force anyone to comply with any sort of trials. That child was never involved with them. None of my crew brought her here. I did not bring her here.
Did they believe her? Starfleet was many things. Some she felt were somewhat honourable, but there were other aspects about them that not only frustrated, but annoyed her and everyone in the UDP. What would they do with her testimony?
Greaves/JoNz/Ragh/Woolheater: Response
Luriaa: That child was not on my ship when we left the dock. That child was not on my ship when we were attacked. I have no idea where that child came from.
Surely if she had been involved, she could have come up with a better excuse than that. Once again, Luriaa remained unwavering. Her sweet, bloody streaked face hardened and she held her ground, unwilling to to cower before anyone, and especially not before Starfleet.
Luriaa: Your guess at how she came to be there is as good as mine.
Greaves/JoNz/Ragh/Woolheater: Response
-- Luriaa Captain UDP Rij’dal’vak M239008AD0