Lieutenant Elor Letek - A stampede? At this time of year? In this part of the universe?
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Lieutenant Elor Letek
Jun 2, 2026, 10:03:09 AM (3 days ago) Jun 2
to USS Eagle
((OOC: Ensign Mensah, Elor's reaction is purely in-character; please don't take it personally. :) ))
(( The Market – Deck 358, Voth Generation Ship Igirni))
It was a very difficult task to gauge the mood of a crowd when one was unfamiliar with the species and their culture. At least, if one wasn’t a Betazoid.
Elor had struggled with “reading the room” himself throughout his life and had, usually unintentionally, stepped on someone’s toes on more than one occasion without meaning to.
But what was now unfolding before his eyes was on a whole different level. More and more of the Voth in the market were obviously looking around for them, talking about them, and seemed to be getting closer.
While Elor wasn’t someone who suffered from social anxiety, he was nonetheless no fan of large crowds in confined spaces, and he was starting to get a little nervous.
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.
oO Seriously? All they need now are torches and pitchforks, and are supposed to have an open discussion here? Oo
Verrla: ::Softly:: This is not a good place or time for a debate.
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: And with all due respect, I don't think we have the time to discuss this in a broad public debate.
Avariswal: Response?
Mensah: If they're blocking our path, perhaps what they're asking for isn't privacy. Perhaps they're asking for answers.
As 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.
Elor's hand twitched, ready at any moment to activate his communicator and ask to be beamed up immediately.
Verrla: Please allow us to pass. These people are here to help with our home.
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.
While Elor left it to the diplomats and officials to engage the crowd in conversation, he kept looking around for an escape route, doing his utmost not to let his nervousness show.
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.
The crowd hadn't quite turned on them yet, but it wouldn't be long. Didn't Ensign Mensah see the danger they were facing?
Verrla: This is not how I wanted people to find out.
Drex: Even on a big ship, rumors travel fast. Our engineers are already onboard. They surely know this.
Elor leaned slightly toward the counselor.
Letek: ::In a whisper, so no one can hear them:: With all due respect, Ensign, but the crowd is on the verge of a furious stampede. Should we really be telling them right now what’s waiting for this ship out there?
Mensah / Avariswal: Response?
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.
oO Okay... tell them what they already know or suspect, but don't mention how serious the situation really is... Oo
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. The crowd was still uneasy, but people were listening now instead of simply reacting.
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.
An angry group of Voths began to protest, shouting something incomprehensible, but most of the crowd seemed to ignore them. Elor, however, noticed them. He decided to ask Verrla about it later.
Avariswal / Mensah: Response?
The crowd parted, clearing a path toward the corridor.
Elor would have loved to run off right then, but he didn't want to make a fool of himself.
Drex: Do you have any recreational areas? What do your people do in their free time?
That was a quick return to business as usual. Drex seemed to have regained his composure faster than Elor, whose heart was still pounding loudly in his chest.
Avariswal / Mensah / Verrla: Response?
They pushed their way through the crowd, which was still staring at them intently despite the apparent avoidance of a stampede, when a group of female Voth jostled past them. At first, Elor didn’t even notice, but a moment after they had moved on, he realized that Drex had disappeared.
Letek: ::Looking around in alarm:: Wait! Where’s the commander? He was just with us a moment ago.
Avariswal / Mensah / Verrla: Response?
The group came to a stop and looked around, but Drex was nowhere to be seen.
Elor tapped his communicator anxiously.
Letek: =/\= Letek to Drex. We’ve lost you. What’s your position? =/\=
No response.
Avariswal / Mensah / Verrla: Any response?
Elor’s thoughts returned to the group around Voth, the one that hadn’t been calmed by Verrla’s and Drex’s words. The one that had been loud, but had been ignored by the others.
Letek: ::Addressing Verrla:: Earlier, as the crowd was slowly calming down, there was a small group that remained agitated and loudly expressed their displeasure. They seemed very angry, but were ignored by the others. Do you have any idea who they were?
It was a shot in the dark, but perhaps those Voth had something to do with it.
Avariswal / Mensah / Verrla / Drex: Response?
(( The Market – Deck 358, Voth Generation Ship Igirni))
It was a very difficult task to gauge the mood of a crowd when one was unfamiliar with the species and their culture. At least, if one wasn’t a Betazoid.
Elor had struggled with “reading the room” himself throughout his life and had, usually unintentionally, stepped on someone’s toes on more than one occasion without meaning to.
But what was now unfolding before his eyes was on a whole different level. More and more of the Voth in the market were obviously looking around for them, talking about them, and seemed to be getting closer.
While Elor wasn’t someone who suffered from social anxiety, he was nonetheless no fan of large crowds in confined spaces, and he was starting to get a little nervous.
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.
oO Seriously? All they need now are torches and pitchforks, and are supposed to have an open discussion here? Oo
Verrla: ::Softly:: This is not a good place or time for a debate.
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: And with all due respect, I don't think we have the time to discuss this in a broad public debate.
Avariswal: Response?
Mensah: If they're blocking our path, perhaps what they're asking for isn't privacy. Perhaps they're asking for answers.
As 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.
Elor's hand twitched, ready at any moment to activate his communicator and ask to be beamed up immediately.
Verrla: Please allow us to pass. These people are here to help with our home.
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.
While Elor left it to the diplomats and officials to engage the crowd in conversation, he kept looking around for an escape route, doing his utmost not to let his nervousness show.
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.
The crowd hadn't quite turned on them yet, but it wouldn't be long. Didn't Ensign Mensah see the danger they were facing?
Verrla: This is not how I wanted people to find out.
Drex: Even on a big ship, rumors travel fast. Our engineers are already onboard. They surely know this.
Elor leaned slightly toward the counselor.
Letek: ::In a whisper, so no one can hear them:: With all due respect, Ensign, but the crowd is on the verge of a furious stampede. Should we really be telling them right now what’s waiting for this ship out there?
Mensah / Avariswal: Response?
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.
oO Okay... tell them what they already know or suspect, but don't mention how serious the situation really is... Oo
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. The crowd was still uneasy, but people were listening now instead of simply reacting.
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.
An angry group of Voths began to protest, shouting something incomprehensible, but most of the crowd seemed to ignore them. Elor, however, noticed them. He decided to ask Verrla about it later.
Avariswal / Mensah: Response?
The crowd parted, clearing a path toward the corridor.
Elor would have loved to run off right then, but he didn't want to make a fool of himself.
Drex: Do you have any recreational areas? What do your people do in their free time?
That was a quick return to business as usual. Drex seemed to have regained his composure faster than Elor, whose heart was still pounding loudly in his chest.
Avariswal / Mensah / Verrla: Response?
They pushed their way through the crowd, which was still staring at them intently despite the apparent avoidance of a stampede, when a group of female Voth jostled past them. At first, Elor didn’t even notice, but a moment after they had moved on, he realized that Drex had disappeared.
Letek: ::Looking around in alarm:: Wait! Where’s the commander? He was just with us a moment ago.
Avariswal / Mensah / Verrla: Response?
The group came to a stop and looked around, but Drex was nowhere to be seen.
Elor tapped his communicator anxiously.
Letek: =/\= Letek to Drex. We’ve lost you. What’s your position? =/\=
No response.
Avariswal / Mensah / Verrla: Any response?
Elor’s thoughts returned to the group around Voth, the one that hadn’t been calmed by Verrla’s and Drex’s words. The one that had been loud, but had been ignored by the others.
Letek: ::Addressing Verrla:: Earlier, as the crowd was slowly calming down, there was a small group that remained agitated and loudly expressed their displeasure. They seemed very angry, but were ignored by the others. Do you have any idea who they were?
It was a shot in the dark, but perhaps those Voth had something to do with it.
Avariswal / Mensah / Verrla / Drex: Response?
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Lieutenant Elor Letek
Medical Officer
USS Eagle
E240201EL2
Patients are asked not to die in the corridors.
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