Lt. Cmdr Thelan Valeris - All Ashore
tas9303
((Bridge, Deck One, USS Khitomer))
The bridge had fallen silent as everyone listened to the voice ramble on about – what Thelan had to assume – Matthews escaping the probing station and wandering the ship.
Dewitt: =/\= That was internal communication by the Velithari? =/\=
It didn’t seem…cohesive enough to be actual communication between any group of people. More like systemic data being read and processed. More like a computer giving a report. A transcript of the communication was put up onto the main viewscreen by Morda, overlaying the now sleeping husk of filaments on Deck 5.
Morda: What about Lieutenant Semara and the others – do we still have that connection?
Graves: =/\= Response =/\=
Morda: If that’s the ship’s computer speaking, it sounds like it might be willing to let him go and offer us some grace. I wonder if that grace would persist if we come clean on our gender ruse.
Thelan let out a sigh as he turned his body to look more directly towards the others on the bridge.
/
Valeris: If that was the ship’s computer, it was giving a fairly comprehensive recommendation. But it is ultimately up to Captain Rana whether or not Matthews or any others are to be released.
Dewitt: Yeah… it looks like we lost the luxury of choosing when our cover ends. But we might still have a few minutes to choose how.
One last glint of a silver lining in the storm that they found themselves in.
th’Vrosa/Graves?: Response
Valeris: I do have to give it one thing, it seems to understand that we don’t mean any harm and we are here basically by accident.
Compassion was probably the last thing that Thelan expected from a ship’s computer. Maybe because it seemed to be organic made the difference?
Dewitt: ::another nod:: That was the door Mr th’Vrosa was talking about. So we can be sure that it is open, let’s walk it on our terms.
th’Vrosa/Morda: Response
Looking down at his console, seeing the modifications to the EPS junctions sitting ready, he held his hand over the ‘cancel’ command.
Valeris: What is the plan now, Sirs?
Before an answer could be given, an alert sounded from one of the science stations. As Commander Dewitt made his way across the bridge to the station, something began to itch at the back of Thelan’s mind.
Dewitt: It’s a proximity alarm, Sir. Long range sensors are picking up something beyond the edge of the nebula. It looks huge… ::breat:: that’s everything I can read from here. Not sure if it is another Velithari or…
The itch slowly turned into a burn as Thelan shifted uncomfortably. Velithari or Lattice. That was the end of the Connor’s sentence. Sencha radiation had a nasty way of messing with telepathic species. It seemed to affect everyone differently. Apparently for Thelan it was like someone rubbing to sticks together at the back of his brain. And he was not wanting to see what it would develop into. He looked towards the Captain, his face scrunched in discomfort.
Morda: It’s a Lattice Alliance hull, sir. Possibly doing an SAR, or at least investigating their missing ship.
th’Vrosa: Response
Naxell: ::to Valeris:: Can we power up our anti-Sencha hull plating?
Valeris: I sure hope so.
The burn slowly grew more and more intense. If it was Sencha weaponry they were experiencing, it wasn’t quite reaching them. But it was getting close enough.
th’Vrosa: Response
Naxell: Do it. Now.
Dewitt: ::to Valeris:: I’ll have a bit of advice on how to operate the systems, Commander.
Thelan welcomed the help. He hadn’t seen the technology in action yet, and the former Chief Engineer would be the best person to help explain a few things.
((Timeskip, Almost an Hour Later, Conference Room, Deck 1))
With the hull plating now humming happily away, Thelan’s brain didn’t feel like the starting embers to a camp fire. There was still a bit of an itch there that no matter how much he tried, he couldn’t scratch, but it was tolerable.
Naxell: Captain Rana, I must apologize for our deception. I am Commander Nax-Ellarneii-Tellargo, “Naxell” to most, and I captain the starship Khitomer. When your people displayed hostility towards my second-in-command, Lieutenant Commander Dewitt ::gesturing:: we opted to lower the temperature, so to speak, by offering a more comfortable face. Lieutenant Semara, whom you know well, is actually my Intelligence Officer.
Sitting in one of the chairs around the conference table, Thelan crossed his arms. Up until then, he had only seen the Velithari through the viewscreen. But having two of them aboard the Khitomer was…interesting.
Semara: I apologize for my part as well… ::lips twisting:: Like I said, I’m quite protective a’ my crew. I understand y’all have trouble trustin’ us - or me… I pray you’ll believe the impulse to conceal the truth was for their safety. ::Beat:: I’m afraid I ain’t done a terribly good job of bein’ an Intelligence Officer. What we knew ‘bout you ‘fore comin’ here was basically nothin’. ::A contrite wince:: And I might’a overdone it with the embellishin’ liberties I took…
Rana: Response
Hearing the alien speak over the comm held nothing over hearing it in person. The UT did a great job in translation, but some of the noises they made bled through. Almost chilling.
Naxell: I’ve spoken with Dr. Ohnari about your people’s history with the “Takers,” was it? I assure you, we are not conquerors. We are explorers. Our laws—our prime Directive—forbids us from interfering with your people and your culture. But it does not prevent us from defending you against outside aggression, as you have experienced against the Lattice alliance. Your tactical assessment, Lieutenant Zerva?
Attention shifted to Zerva as they gave their report. Thelan tried to focus on the Lieutenant and not the aliens at the other side of the table.
Zerva: Response
Naxell: Our best guess, Captain, is that the Lattice see the Velithari as a thorn in the path of their conquest, and they want to smooth you out. They’re firing indiscriminately. It’s probable that they don’t see us, but their Sencha weaponry is especially dangerous to your cloud. Lieutenant El’Heem?
Attention shifted once again. This time to Ras.
El’Heem: Response
Naxell: I’m afraid it gets worse, Captain. As bad as the Sencha technology is for your cloud, it is even worse for organic life, especially life that communicates by means of telepathy. Fortunately, our doctors have come up with inoculations that have shielded our crew of the worst of these effects. If you accompany Dr. Ohnari, Lieutenant El’Heem, and Ensign Melville-Kilpatrick to sickbay, we can adapt our technology to your physiology and with any luck to Jorogumo itself.
Perhaps it had been the inoculation that kept the earlier effects of the radiation at bay somewhat. Thelan couldn’t help but feel like he needed to re-up his dose.
Ohnari: ::wincing:: Even a rudimentary radiation protection would be preferable to none.
That was for sure.
Rana/El’Heem/Melville-Kilpatrick: Response
Naxell: While you are there, I would invite your technician, Vidya, to assist in the effort to free our ship from the cloud so that we may better defend you. My First Officer—my true First Officer—will personally oversee this effort in Main Engineering.
A task that Thelan was hoping would be immensely easier given information and insight into how the Velathari traversed the cloud.
Dewitt: ::to Vidya with a small bow of his head:: Lieutenant Commander Dewitt, ma’am. I understand you asked for a visit yourself? We will try to be worth it. If you would follow me once we are finished here to Main Engineering.
Valeris: Hopefully our systems aren’t too dissimilar to your own.
Vidya/Michaels: Response
Thelan knew that there would be massive differences between their technologies. One and organic ship, and the other a marvel of Federation technology on the cutting edge. Not to say the Velithari technology wasn’t cutting edge for them. It appeared to him, at least, that they may be more advanced. Even if by just a little bit.
Naxell: In the meantime, the rest of us will begin work on the tactical aspects. Lieutenant Semara will lead the effort. It’s at least two-to-one out there, so we’ll need to be creative.
Creative was certainly a word for it.
Semara: Aye, sir. We’ll come up with somethin’.
Zerva/Morda/th’Vrosa: Response
The Khitomer had a very solid and well put together crew. Thelan had no doubt that they would make it through whatever was waiting for them on the outside.
Naxell: Thank you for your trust, Captain Rana, Ms. Vidya. The rest of you, dismissed.
With a couple of soft drums of his hand on the table, Thelan stood up and turned to follow Commander Dewitt and the others towards the exit. After a very ‘eventful’ day on the bridge, he was ready to get back to what he knew best.
Dewitt: Engineering is a couple of decks down. We are going to use the turbolift to get there.
A question suddenly sparked in Thelan’s mind that he couldn’t quite hold back as it left his lips before he could stop it.
Valeris: Do you guys have lifts on the Jorogumo?
Quietly cursing himself, Thelan pursed his lips, not expecting an answer.
Vidya/Michaels: Response
Dewitt: This all must feel … very Alien to you.
Probably an understatement. Thelan was able to keep that comment to himself.
Vidya/Michaels: Response
They arrived at the doors to the turbolift, and Connor pressed the button to call the car.
Dewitt: ::nodding:: Of course. Commander Valeris, please give us a short report on the crystalline masses across the ship.
Pulling his PADD out of his pocket, Thelan looked down at the still running sensor data.
Valeris: There are no new reports of injury or systemic incursion. The program seems to be keeping things in check. ::Beat:: I took the liberty of changing some of the songs that were playing throughout the ship in hopes of maximizing our chances of keeping the masses asleep.
Vidya/Michaels: Response
The turbolift arrived, and the doors opened with a hiss. Thelan stood back and let the others step inside first before taking his position next to the door.
Valeris: ::To Vidya:: If you happen to have any insight into the masses as well, I would love to hear it.
Dewitt/Vidya/Michaels: Response
The turbolift slowed and came to a stop while the others spoke, the doors opening to their destination. Thelan quickly stepped out and to the side to allow the others out.
Valeris: Deck 12. All ashore who’s going ashore.
Why? Why was he like this?
Dewitt/Vidya/Michaels: Response
TAGS/TBC…
Lieutenant Commander Thelan Valeris
Engineering Officer
USS Khitomer
A239905NR1