Lt. Commander V'Lar - As Always, Science Prevails
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Chris M
Jun 3, 2026, 5:22:20 PM (2 days ago) Jun 3
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((The Vineknot, Gateside Dimension))
Following a sudden, acute spike in seismic activity, the violent tremors had abruptly ceased. V'Lar, now bathed in the filtered lights from her suit, focused on the First Officer's tricorder which she had temporarily borrowed, checking the status of the remotely deployed tricorder they had been monitoring.
V’Lar: The telemetry feed from the deployed tricorder has abruptly terminated. The final readings indicated the duritanium casing was under significant pressure. It is highly probable the device has been sufficiently damaged to disable its optical emitter, thereby pacifying the environment.
Tahna: Alright, so using that one as a lure or a weapon is out. And I don’t want to risk wasting another.
Pace: Understood, sir.
V'Lar: Given the force that would have needed to be exerted on the tricorder, proceeding is risky. I would strongly advise a contingency.
Pace: ::A bit shakily.:: How do we make a contingency with a forest that can melt us and crush a tricorder?
V'Lar observed the Elaysian officer avert her gaze downward towards the floor, her body language, breathing and speech all suggested she was suffering from acute stress.
Tahna: Alright. Light agitates it. We seem to be safe with our modified suits, but that could change as we go deeper, so we need to be prepared to go dark again. If we have to do that, we’ll still have the echolocation program.
Pace: Aye, sir.
Tahna: We could set up a tether to a less dense section of the vines, so we could pull ourselves out, but given the force exerted on the tricorder… I think we may need to worry more about constriction than just being trapped. The suits will protect us against that to an extent, but likely not enough.
Pace: I wish there were some way we could defend ourselves against the constriction, sirs. Thats… new and a little bit terrifying if I’m being honest sirs.
Although her rank suggested sufficient experience for the mission, V'Lar intellectually understood why the Elaysian might be uncomfortable operating in a hostile alien environment without any security presence. V'Lar was less concerned, not just because of her superior emotional control but also because of their shared scientific backgrounds.
oO Our ally is science, and a powerful ally it is. Oo
V’Lar: Your fear will not alter the reality of our situation, Lieutenant. I would remind you of what you are capable of. You wield the power of the scientific method and there is no aspect of existence that falls outside the purview of science. This environment, no matter how hostile or alien it appears, is governed by laws.
V'Lar paused briefly, giving her colleague some time to consider her words before continuing.
V’Lar: As we proceed, we will collect the data necessary to reveal the relationships between the components of this environment and the mechanics that drive them. In doing so, this biosphere is reduced to an equation, our situation: a problem that can be solved.
Taking a moment to appreciate the calming efficacy of her own words, V'Lar once again considered that her instructors at Starfleet Medical Academy had significantly erred in their assessment of her bedside manner. Out of her entire record at Medical School, she had received only two 'B' grades: MED111 Bedside Manner and MED640 Paediatrics.
oO This interaction empirically proves my capacity to provide comfort is flawless. The grade for MED640, however, remains undisputed. Children possess poor emotional regulation and reasoning skills. Additionally, their reduced physical mass means their illogical demands are mathematically disproportionate to their actual significance. Oo
V'Lar was confident she had detected a subtle relaxation in Lieutenant Pace's posture, confirmation that her reassurance had achieved the desired result. With the morale crisis averted, V'Lar tracked the First Officer's line of sight as Tahna turned her helmet to face the dense, impenetrable foliage concealing the transponder coordinates.
Tahna: Perhaps we start with further recon. While it’s unlikely the civilians survived, it’s not impossible, and determining with certainty whether this is a rescue or recovery mission could change how we proceed.
Pace: Aye, sir.
Tahna: Response
Pace: Well, at least the transponder signal is still strong. The plants haven’t destroyed everything they have stashed away!
V’Lar: I would theorise that since the transponder broadcasts on a subspace band it is essentially invisible to the local flora and therefore the transmitter itself has not been targeted.
Tahna: Response
Pace: How should we proceed once we get closer to the transponder, sirs?
V’Lar: Once we close the distance, it should be possible to cut through the sensor interference and determine whether the scientists are present and what their status is.
V'Lar extended her hand, offering the First Officer her tricorder back.
V'Lar: Since the tricorder I was tracking is no longer transmitting I no longer require yours. Do you wish to resume possession, Commander?
Tahna: Response
V'Lar angled her light to wash over the thick, serpentine vines ahead of them.
V'Lar: A vector bearing zero-two-five appears to offer the most efficient path forward. However, the terrain will likely become increasingly uneven as we approach the central root system.
V'Lar thought back to her time with the Bajoran during their shore leave at Aithela Cove, the last time they had taken a detour together. Although on that occasion, they sought to avoid crowds of festival goers rather than predatory extra-dimensional xenoflora.
Pace/Tahna: Response
As they began to move once more, V'Lar tightened up their formation slightly, moving closer to her Lieutenant Pace.
Following a sudden, acute spike in seismic activity, the violent tremors had abruptly ceased. V'Lar, now bathed in the filtered lights from her suit, focused on the First Officer's tricorder which she had temporarily borrowed, checking the status of the remotely deployed tricorder they had been monitoring.
V’Lar: The telemetry feed from the deployed tricorder has abruptly terminated. The final readings indicated the duritanium casing was under significant pressure. It is highly probable the device has been sufficiently damaged to disable its optical emitter, thereby pacifying the environment.
Tahna: Alright, so using that one as a lure or a weapon is out. And I don’t want to risk wasting another.
Pace: Understood, sir.
V'Lar: Given the force that would have needed to be exerted on the tricorder, proceeding is risky. I would strongly advise a contingency.
Pace: ::A bit shakily.:: How do we make a contingency with a forest that can melt us and crush a tricorder?
V'Lar observed the Elaysian officer avert her gaze downward towards the floor, her body language, breathing and speech all suggested she was suffering from acute stress.
Tahna: Alright. Light agitates it. We seem to be safe with our modified suits, but that could change as we go deeper, so we need to be prepared to go dark again. If we have to do that, we’ll still have the echolocation program.
Pace: Aye, sir.
Tahna: We could set up a tether to a less dense section of the vines, so we could pull ourselves out, but given the force exerted on the tricorder… I think we may need to worry more about constriction than just being trapped. The suits will protect us against that to an extent, but likely not enough.
Pace: I wish there were some way we could defend ourselves against the constriction, sirs. Thats… new and a little bit terrifying if I’m being honest sirs.
Although her rank suggested sufficient experience for the mission, V'Lar intellectually understood why the Elaysian might be uncomfortable operating in a hostile alien environment without any security presence. V'Lar was less concerned, not just because of her superior emotional control but also because of their shared scientific backgrounds.
oO Our ally is science, and a powerful ally it is. Oo
V’Lar: Your fear will not alter the reality of our situation, Lieutenant. I would remind you of what you are capable of. You wield the power of the scientific method and there is no aspect of existence that falls outside the purview of science. This environment, no matter how hostile or alien it appears, is governed by laws.
V'Lar paused briefly, giving her colleague some time to consider her words before continuing.
V’Lar: As we proceed, we will collect the data necessary to reveal the relationships between the components of this environment and the mechanics that drive them. In doing so, this biosphere is reduced to an equation, our situation: a problem that can be solved.
Taking a moment to appreciate the calming efficacy of her own words, V'Lar once again considered that her instructors at Starfleet Medical Academy had significantly erred in their assessment of her bedside manner. Out of her entire record at Medical School, she had received only two 'B' grades: MED111 Bedside Manner and MED640 Paediatrics.
oO This interaction empirically proves my capacity to provide comfort is flawless. The grade for MED640, however, remains undisputed. Children possess poor emotional regulation and reasoning skills. Additionally, their reduced physical mass means their illogical demands are mathematically disproportionate to their actual significance. Oo
V'Lar was confident she had detected a subtle relaxation in Lieutenant Pace's posture, confirmation that her reassurance had achieved the desired result. With the morale crisis averted, V'Lar tracked the First Officer's line of sight as Tahna turned her helmet to face the dense, impenetrable foliage concealing the transponder coordinates.
Tahna: Perhaps we start with further recon. While it’s unlikely the civilians survived, it’s not impossible, and determining with certainty whether this is a rescue or recovery mission could change how we proceed.
Pace: Aye, sir.
Tahna: Response
Pace: Well, at least the transponder signal is still strong. The plants haven’t destroyed everything they have stashed away!
V’Lar: I would theorise that since the transponder broadcasts on a subspace band it is essentially invisible to the local flora and therefore the transmitter itself has not been targeted.
Tahna: Response
Pace: How should we proceed once we get closer to the transponder, sirs?
V’Lar: Once we close the distance, it should be possible to cut through the sensor interference and determine whether the scientists are present and what their status is.
V'Lar extended her hand, offering the First Officer her tricorder back.
V'Lar: Since the tricorder I was tracking is no longer transmitting I no longer require yours. Do you wish to resume possession, Commander?
Tahna: Response
V'Lar angled her light to wash over the thick, serpentine vines ahead of them.
V'Lar: A vector bearing zero-two-five appears to offer the most efficient path forward. However, the terrain will likely become increasingly uneven as we approach the central root system.
V'Lar thought back to her time with the Bajoran during their shore leave at Aithela Cove, the last time they had taken a detour together. Although on that occasion, they sought to avoid crowds of festival goers rather than predatory extra-dimensional xenoflora.
Pace/Tahna: Response
As they began to move once more, V'Lar tightened up their formation slightly, moving closer to her Lieutenant Pace.
V'Lar: ::Quietly:: Remember your training and trust in your skills, Lieutenant.
Pace/Tahna: Response
Pace/Tahna: Response
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