Lt. Cmdr. Drex - Unease creeping in
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Drex Drex
Jun 2, 2026, 9:25:45 AM (3 days ago) Jun 2
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(( The Market – Deck 358, Voth Generation Ship Igirni))
The conversation shifted to more urgent matters. Understanding the culture, its traditions, beliefs, and social structure was important to set the best path to solve the crisis they were in, but once more, Drex had to come to terms with the fact that they did not have time to collect all the information he wanted. They had visited part of the huge city-ship while the engineers were training to learn how to stop its drift, but at the same time the pull from the black hole had not diminished, and the reverse count was falling below the safe threshold.
The hypothesis of beaming everyone aboard the Eagle could not be considered after he had learned how many Voth were on board. They did not have enough room, not even for the kids. Yet he did not want to believe the ancestors of Verrla had not thought of an escape plan.
Drex: Your ship has travelled so far to reach this point. Your ancestors must have known the journey would involve dangers and difficult conditions, including the possibility of a major systems failure. And I find it hard to believe they did not plan a way to save their people.
Verrla: The original plan was to allow for the ship to separate into multiple parts. Damaged sections that were a danger to the rest of the ship could be jettisoned to save the rest of the ship. This ship was designed to be modular and parts replaceable. That is no longer the case with the ship as it is currently.
Letek: A decision that probably no one could make lightly as long as there is still hope for another way.
Drex: When did it stop being separable?
Verrla: This ship is not the same ship that left our home planet all those years ago. Things have broken or worn out or could not be replaced with a perfect match and so must instead be replaced with good enough. We have not yet come across replacement parts or materials for the system that allowed the ship to function as many. We have done our best with what we have had available to us.
Letek: The emergency shuttles you mentioned... I don't suppose there are enough of them to evacuate everyone?
Verrla: There are enough. It would be crowded, but we can get everyone on the shuttles.
Avariswal: Let’s hope it won’t even come to that. Would it be acceptable to start some premature evacuations? Get some of the children to the Eagle, for example? We can't possibly harbor them all, but we could offer them a safe place. Perhaps allowing you to shut down a few systems to save power?
Mensah: We’re drawing a lot of attention. ::Nodding towards the crowd starting to form::
Verrla looked away from the Starfleet officers to her people and took in the indicated crowd.
Verrla: Ah.
The Eagle First Officer let his gaze drift over the Voth in the market. Many had stopped their activities and were watching them. They had asked too much and too loudly. How much had they actually heard? They were just making suppositions; none had talked aloud about the black hole, had they? He was not sure.
Drex: Maybe we should return to talk about your history, Leader Verrla.
Letek: ::Looking at the Voth nearby:: Maybe we should continue this conversation in a quieter place.
Avariswal: I think that’s a wise suggestion. Unless you want to keep this an open debate for your people to follow?
Menash: With respect, I don't think moving elsewhere solves the problem. These people already know something is wrong.
Verrla: ::Softly:: This is not a good place or time for a debate.
The Denobulan Lt. Commander forced himself to look away from the gathering Voth. Crowded places made him nervous, and those filled with aliens were the worst. It was also not their task to decide when and what those people were supposed to know. They needed to take a step back, not only metaphorically.
Drex: I agree. We came to learn more about your people and your history. See if we can assist you in achieving your plans for the future. That’s it.
Letek / Avariswal : Response
Mensah: If they're blocking our path, perhaps what they're asking for isn't privacy. Perhaps they're asking for answers.
Aa to emphasize the new ensign’s suggestion, a group of Voth began stamping their feet on the floor. Soon, several others joined in with the rhythmic stomping. Drex blinked and shook his head uncomfortably. Although he did not regret ordering them to leave their weapons on the Eagle, it was clear that if the crowd went out of control, they would be in great danger. He was about to activate his commbadge and put the transporter on standby for a beam-up when Verrla held up her hands in a calming gesture.
Verrla: Please allow us to pass. These people are here to help with our home.
Trying to keep his voice calm while the pressing crowd made his heart race, Drex tried to add more weight to Verrla’s request.
Drex: We are scientists and explorers. We came here to learn about your people, your culture, and your journey, and to share knowledge where we can. Our only goal is to help.
Letek / Avariswal : Response
Mensah: If they are frightened, secrecy may worsen the situation. You may find that speaking to them now is easier than trying to calm them later.
Verrla: This is not how I wanted people to find out.
Drex agreed with Verrla. That was not the place nor the time. But running away now could be worse that admit a part of the truth. Turning to Verrla.
Drex: Even on a big ship, rumors travel fast. Our engineers are already onboard. They surely know this.
Letek / Avariswal / Mensah: Response
She took a deep breath and began to explain with all the sincerity she could muster.
Verrla: Some of you might have heard, but our home’s engines are malfunctioning. Without them we have been left adrift, vulnerable to the dangers of space. You know as well as I do that our engineering staff are hard working and diligent, and when they hit a wall instead of hiding behind it out of pride they requested we ask for outside help. When we put out a call for help a ship ::She gestured to the Starfleet officers:: from the United Federation of Planets answered our call.
The First Officer opened his arms in a pacific gesture.
Drex: Our engineers are collaborating with yours right in this moment, and I’m confident you’ll soon be able to return to your voyage.
Letek / Avariswal / Mensah: Response
Verrla: Everyone is doing their best to ensure that our home is fixed and will remain until we reach our motherworld. All I ask is for your patience and trust that we have your best interests in mind.
The stomping lessened a little, or at least it seemed that way to Drex. It was a good sign. The crowd was still uneasy, but people were listening now instead of simply reacting. The First Officer lowered his arms and let his gaze travel across the gathered Voth, his heart pounding in his temples.
Drex: I know it is difficult to place your trust in strangers. If our positions were reversed, I would probably have many of the same questions. But your leaders asked for help because they care about your future, and we answered because helping people in need is what we do. ::He paused briefly, fighting to keep his tone calm in the crowed.:: Give your engineers the time they need to do their work.
Letek / Avariswal / Mensah: Response
The crowd parted, clearing a path toward the corridor. Drex watched Verrla, eager to leave the market for a quieter place.
Drex: Do you have any recreational areas? What do your people do in their free time?
Letek / Avariswal / Mensah / Verrla: Response
The group began to move forward; apparently, the previous words had been enough to calm the Voths down.
The Denobulan First Officer walked among them in clear discomfort. He was not truly afraid, but past experiences pressed at the edges of his thoughts, shaping his reactions more than he would have liked: without fully realizing it, he quickened his pace.
The change did not go unnoticed, and a group of women shifted around him, closing the gap, and Drex found himself separated from Verrla and the rest of his team.
He slowed, scanning the wall of bodies for an opening, but found none.
Letek / Avariswal / Mensah / Verrla: Response
Drex stopped completely, forcing himself not to push or force his way through the crowd. He turned slightly, trying to reorient himself toward where he had last seen Verrla and the others, but the movement around him made it difficult to find them.
The crowd pressed in a little closer. The Denobulan took a steadying breath, trying to push down the rising discomfort and keep his focus on rejoining the others. Instinctively, his hand moved to his commbadge, but it was not there.
Drex: Letek! Avariswal! Where are you? ::The first trace of panic slipping through.::
Letek / Avariswal / Mensah / Verrla: Response
TAGS / TBC
The conversation shifted to more urgent matters. Understanding the culture, its traditions, beliefs, and social structure was important to set the best path to solve the crisis they were in, but once more, Drex had to come to terms with the fact that they did not have time to collect all the information he wanted. They had visited part of the huge city-ship while the engineers were training to learn how to stop its drift, but at the same time the pull from the black hole had not diminished, and the reverse count was falling below the safe threshold.
The hypothesis of beaming everyone aboard the Eagle could not be considered after he had learned how many Voth were on board. They did not have enough room, not even for the kids. Yet he did not want to believe the ancestors of Verrla had not thought of an escape plan.
Drex: Your ship has travelled so far to reach this point. Your ancestors must have known the journey would involve dangers and difficult conditions, including the possibility of a major systems failure. And I find it hard to believe they did not plan a way to save their people.
Verrla: The original plan was to allow for the ship to separate into multiple parts. Damaged sections that were a danger to the rest of the ship could be jettisoned to save the rest of the ship. This ship was designed to be modular and parts replaceable. That is no longer the case with the ship as it is currently.
Letek: A decision that probably no one could make lightly as long as there is still hope for another way.
Drex: When did it stop being separable?
Verrla: This ship is not the same ship that left our home planet all those years ago. Things have broken or worn out or could not be replaced with a perfect match and so must instead be replaced with good enough. We have not yet come across replacement parts or materials for the system that allowed the ship to function as many. We have done our best with what we have had available to us.
Letek: The emergency shuttles you mentioned... I don't suppose there are enough of them to evacuate everyone?
Verrla: There are enough. It would be crowded, but we can get everyone on the shuttles.
Avariswal: Let’s hope it won’t even come to that. Would it be acceptable to start some premature evacuations? Get some of the children to the Eagle, for example? We can't possibly harbor them all, but we could offer them a safe place. Perhaps allowing you to shut down a few systems to save power?
Mensah: We’re drawing a lot of attention. ::Nodding towards the crowd starting to form::
Verrla looked away from the Starfleet officers to her people and took in the indicated crowd.
Verrla: Ah.
The Eagle First Officer let his gaze drift over the Voth in the market. Many had stopped their activities and were watching them. They had asked too much and too loudly. How much had they actually heard? They were just making suppositions; none had talked aloud about the black hole, had they? He was not sure.
Drex: Maybe we should return to talk about your history, Leader Verrla.
Letek: ::Looking at the Voth nearby:: Maybe we should continue this conversation in a quieter place.
Avariswal: I think that’s a wise suggestion. Unless you want to keep this an open debate for your people to follow?
Menash: With respect, I don't think moving elsewhere solves the problem. These people already know something is wrong.
Verrla: ::Softly:: This is not a good place or time for a debate.
The Denobulan Lt. Commander forced himself to look away from the gathering Voth. Crowded places made him nervous, and those filled with aliens were the worst. It was also not their task to decide when and what those people were supposed to know. They needed to take a step back, not only metaphorically.
Drex: I agree. We came to learn more about your people and your history. See if we can assist you in achieving your plans for the future. That’s it.
Letek / Avariswal : Response
Mensah: If they're blocking our path, perhaps what they're asking for isn't privacy. Perhaps they're asking for answers.
Aa to emphasize the new ensign’s suggestion, a group of Voth began stamping their feet on the floor. Soon, several others joined in with the rhythmic stomping. Drex blinked and shook his head uncomfortably. Although he did not regret ordering them to leave their weapons on the Eagle, it was clear that if the crowd went out of control, they would be in great danger. He was about to activate his commbadge and put the transporter on standby for a beam-up when Verrla held up her hands in a calming gesture.
Verrla: Please allow us to pass. These people are here to help with our home.
Trying to keep his voice calm while the pressing crowd made his heart race, Drex tried to add more weight to Verrla’s request.
Drex: We are scientists and explorers. We came here to learn about your people, your culture, and your journey, and to share knowledge where we can. Our only goal is to help.
Letek / Avariswal : Response
Mensah: If they are frightened, secrecy may worsen the situation. You may find that speaking to them now is easier than trying to calm them later.
Verrla: This is not how I wanted people to find out.
Drex agreed with Verrla. That was not the place nor the time. But running away now could be worse that admit a part of the truth. Turning to Verrla.
Drex: Even on a big ship, rumors travel fast. Our engineers are already onboard. They surely know this.
Letek / Avariswal / Mensah: Response
She took a deep breath and began to explain with all the sincerity she could muster.
Verrla: Some of you might have heard, but our home’s engines are malfunctioning. Without them we have been left adrift, vulnerable to the dangers of space. You know as well as I do that our engineering staff are hard working and diligent, and when they hit a wall instead of hiding behind it out of pride they requested we ask for outside help. When we put out a call for help a ship ::She gestured to the Starfleet officers:: from the United Federation of Planets answered our call.
The First Officer opened his arms in a pacific gesture.
Drex: Our engineers are collaborating with yours right in this moment, and I’m confident you’ll soon be able to return to your voyage.
Letek / Avariswal / Mensah: Response
Verrla: Everyone is doing their best to ensure that our home is fixed and will remain until we reach our motherworld. All I ask is for your patience and trust that we have your best interests in mind.
The stomping lessened a little, or at least it seemed that way to Drex. It was a good sign. The crowd was still uneasy, but people were listening now instead of simply reacting. The First Officer lowered his arms and let his gaze travel across the gathered Voth, his heart pounding in his temples.
Drex: I know it is difficult to place your trust in strangers. If our positions were reversed, I would probably have many of the same questions. But your leaders asked for help because they care about your future, and we answered because helping people in need is what we do. ::He paused briefly, fighting to keep his tone calm in the crowed.:: Give your engineers the time they need to do their work.
Letek / Avariswal / Mensah: Response
The crowd parted, clearing a path toward the corridor. Drex watched Verrla, eager to leave the market for a quieter place.
Drex: Do you have any recreational areas? What do your people do in their free time?
Letek / Avariswal / Mensah / Verrla: Response
The group began to move forward; apparently, the previous words had been enough to calm the Voths down.
The Denobulan First Officer walked among them in clear discomfort. He was not truly afraid, but past experiences pressed at the edges of his thoughts, shaping his reactions more than he would have liked: without fully realizing it, he quickened his pace.
The change did not go unnoticed, and a group of women shifted around him, closing the gap, and Drex found himself separated from Verrla and the rest of his team.
He slowed, scanning the wall of bodies for an opening, but found none.
Letek / Avariswal / Mensah / Verrla: Response
Drex stopped completely, forcing himself not to push or force his way through the crowd. He turned slightly, trying to reorient himself toward where he had last seen Verrla and the others, but the movement around him made it difficult to find them.
The crowd pressed in a little closer. The Denobulan took a steadying breath, trying to push down the rising discomfort and keep his focus on rejoining the others. Instinctively, his hand moved to his commbadge, but it was not there.
Drex: Letek! Avariswal! Where are you? ::The first trace of panic slipping through.::
Letek / Avariswal / Mensah / Verrla: Response
TAGS / TBC
============
Lt. Commander Drex
First Officer
USS Eagle-A
D240011D14
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