MSNPC Xarrin: Not the welcome he'd expected..

[Tomas Falt]

((Chief Minister Zishi’s Office, Voth City Ship Ruttu, Delta Quadrant))

Having beamed aboard the Ruttu, Xarrin and the others had been taken to meet the Minister by his security chief, Tobrak.

Tobrak: Minister. I present Xarrin and Starfleet.

Xarrin bowed low, and Zishi waved a large three-fingered hand dismissively.

Xarrin: Minister. I am Xarrin. I have delivered the Igirni as agreed.

Zishi: You’ve done well. ::his stern gaze moved to their visitors:: Who, indeed, are they?

Xarrin appreciated the compliment, but he felt no pride in what he had just done. He knew it had been right to bring the Igirni home, to reunite family, but doing so had left a pit in his stomach and a bitter taste in his mouth.

Kettick: Lieutenant-Commander Kettick, Starfleet. Green-Two-Three-Nine-One-Zero-Seven-Lima-Red-Zero. We have responded to the Igirni's distress signal. :: He pointedly turned his compound eyes towards Xarrin :: In good faith.

Stapledon: Lieutenant Kimberly Stapledon, Starfleet.  India two three eight six zero one Kilo Bravo 0.  I concur

Xarrin could hear the tone of betrayal in their voices. It was not making him feel any better.

Zishi: I am sorry, you were not supposed to be involved. ::he looked at Xarrin sternly:: My agents were not supposed to let any distress signals occur. ::he looked at the other two:: Are you free to speak on the behalf of your crew?

If the minister had ordered his security chief to slap Xarrin he was confident it would not have stung as much as their verbal rebuke.  Xarrin hung his head.

Kettick: I am not a duly appointed representative of Starfleet. My Captain, his First Officer and our diplomatic envoy are still on the Igirni.

Zishi: But you are the ones I have here. ::sighing:: My sympathies. I know what it’s like to be separated from your family - it’s why we brought the Igirni home… But it was a one way trip - I can’t send you back.

Stapledon:  You utilized an existing wormhole?

Xarrin lifted his head at the sheer audacity of posing such a question to a minister. He tried to intervene.

Xarrin: No, they created one, using technology beyond Starfleet...

Zishi: We only had the power to open a single wormhole; it was a once in a generation opportunity. Which I suspect is why… Xarrin, was it? Why Xarrin brought you along - it was too risky not to.

The lack of recognition stung Xarrin almost as badly as the rebuke. This was hardly the hero's welcome he'd envisaged having successfully completed the mission and brought the Igirni home.

Kettick: With due respect, Minister, the whole situation sounds like a purely internal Voth matter.

Xarrin saw an opportunity for redemption with the minister and took it.

Xarrin : Indeed, Minister. The opportunity was not to be missed simply because of their presence. And the distress signal was sent by the Elder. I reduced the range of the signal, but unfortunately Starfleet responded.

Zishi:  Response

Stapledon: For what purpose?

Xarrin stayed quiet. In the presence of the Minister he knew it was not his place to answer that question.

Zishi:  Response

Kettick: The final decision rests with our Captain, but unless and until one of your factions calls upon our help, I believe we have no business interfering. As long as our crew is retrieved safe and sound, we will be content to leave you in peace and be on our way to the nearest Starfleet outpost.

Stapledon: Response

Before Xarrin could answer Tobrak raised his weapon.

Tobrak: I will go to the Igirni and find the Starfleet crew. Along with this Elder. I'll bring them here before the cause any more trouble.

Zishi: Response

Kettick: Begging your pardon, Minister, but unless it happens to be a state secret, where are we exactly?

Zishi / Stapledon: Response

Xarrin winced, the guilt flaring in his stomach as the realisation he'd taken them half way across the galaxy began to sink in.

Xarrin: ::to Kettick:: There was no other way. Truth be told I did not anticipate I'd grow to respect you so quickly. For what it's worth I'm sorry. I wish we could have met under better circumstances.

Zishi / Stapledon / Zishri: Response

Tobrak snorted.

Tobrak: Enough, Xarrin. Come with me, you are to report to the Circle of Archaeologists for debriefing.

Xarrin turned to face Tobrak, his expression a mixture of surprise and confusion.

Xarrin: Not the Circle of Engineers, but...

Tobrak laughed cruelly.

Tobrak: Your ship is a living museum. Hardly worth bothering the engineers about. Now, follow me.

Xarrin visibly sank as his ego finally surrendered to the onslaught. He didn't even manage to reply as he followed Tobrak out of the office, his head hung low.

Zishi / Stapledon / Zishri: Response

TAG / END for Xarrin

Hereditary Chief Engineer Xarrin

Voth Generational Ship Igirni

As simmed by

Commander Tomas Falt                   

Strategic Operations Officer

USS Eagle-A

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