MSNPC Rana - Learning, Part II
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Sarah P
May 24, 2026, 12:10:23 AMMay 24
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((USS Khitomer, Conference Room, Deck 1))
Rana stood with Vidya and watched in amazement at the way that the male officers of the Khitomer seemed to be interacting just as well as the female officers. Given that she had been told this fact by Lieutenant Semara, it might not have seemed so surprising. And yet, here she was, surprised as they actually deferred to a male leader.
She kept her clicking to herself.
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.
Semara: I apologize for my part as well... :: lips twisting :: Like I said, I'm quite protective a' my crew. I understand if 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: I see...I must admit, in Velithari culture it is a great insult to send your males to speak to someone when you are capable of speaking yourself. Your lieutenant has informed me that ::holding in some mild disgust:: that males are able to perform the duties suited to levels far above them in Velithari culture.
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?
Rana stood with Vidya and watched in amazement at the way that the male officers of the Khitomer seemed to be interacting just as well as the female officers. Given that she had been told this fact by Lieutenant Semara, it might not have seemed so surprising. And yet, here she was, surprised as they actually deferred to a male leader.
She kept her clicking to herself.
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.
Semara: I apologize for my part as well... :: lips twisting :: Like I said, I'm quite protective a' my crew. I understand if 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: I see...I must admit, in Velithari culture it is a great insult to send your males to speak to someone when you are capable of speaking yourself. Your lieutenant has informed me that ::holding in some mild disgust:: that males are able to perform the duties suited to levels far above them in Velithari culture.
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?
Rana watched in fascination as the forms of the two ships she knew about, along with the two she had not, appeared as holograms. She was more focused on the potential for attack than the way the holographic projector worked, but she was sure it would be interesting for Vidya to see how the aliens projected their images.
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?
Jorogumo might be resistant to Sen-sha, but the nebular defense system...Rana did not want to test it. The multiple, complex organisms that made it up could be affected in a chain. And if it was susceptible to "warp drive," as explained by Semara, then it was possible for there to be great harm. She assigned a negative association to the Lattice Alliance, in spite of their previously inept behaviour.
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 from 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.
Ohnari: ::wincing:: Even a rudimentary radiation protection would be preferable to none.
Rana: What do you have in mind, Doctor?
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.
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 from 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.
Ohnari: ::wincing:: Even a rudimentary radiation protection would be preferable to none.
Rana: What do you have in mind, Doctor?
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.
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
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.
Vidya/Michaels: Response
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.
Overpowered. Outnumbered. Exactly what Rana had feared. It wasn't quite the numbers she had dreamed up in calculating a possible attack by the Federation the new acquaintances had discussed, but it was significant. Jorogumo would likely be unable to call for reinforcements in a meaningful way--and Rana feared summoning more of her people to an unnecessary death.
Semara: Aye, sir. We'll come up with somethin'.
Semara: Aye, sir. We'll come up with somethin'.
Zerva/th’Vrosa: Response
Naxell: Thank you for your trust, Captain Rana, Ms. Vidya. The rest of you, dismissed.
Ohnari: Captain, could I have a brief word?
Naxell: Thank you for your trust, Captain Rana, Ms. Vidya. The rest of you, dismissed.
Ohnari: Captain, could I have a brief word?
((OOC: Assuming Rana isn't party to the rest of that conversation yet))
Rana took the opportunity to have a quick conversation with her technological lead before she left with the true First Officer of the ship, leaving Rana with the commander and the medical...scientists? She was still uncertain of how to read the colours of their uniforms.
Vidya: Response
Rana: Indeed. I will see what I can learn about their...strange culture. It is hard to believe that their males are so capable. But enough of that. Be strong, Vidya.
Vidya: Response
With that, she clicked towards Vidya and turned towards the scientist-doctors. Unfortunately, it seemed like a few of them were male. She paused and considered that she might be putting her life in their hands. The thought did not bring much comfort.
With that, she clicked towards Vidya and turned towards the scientist-doctors. Unfortunately, it seemed like a few of them were male. She paused and considered that she might be putting her life in their hands. The thought did not bring much comfort.
Rana: I will do my best to assist in this gathering of information on the Velithari physiology. Please be sure to explain your actions thoroughly.
There. Hopefully that would protect them from too much failure.
El'Heem/Melville-Kilpatrick(/Ohnari/Naxell?): Response
TAG/TBC
MSNPC Captain Rana
of the Jorogumo
as simmed by
Ensign Thomas Melville-Kilpatrick
Medical Officer
USS Khitomer – NCC62400
K240210TM2
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