MSNPC Rana - Cats and Mice

[Sarah P]

(( Shuttlebay, Velithari Ship Jorogumo ))
Rana: While this scan occurs, perhaps you all may answer a question for me. What does this word, 'Lieutenant' mean?

Semara: It's a rank. :: Eyes casting to Rana. :: A title of experience, knowledge, leadership, responsibility, and trust for us.  Typically a more seasoned officer, trusted to lead a department or teams under the direction of their cap'n.  :: Beat :: And an officer is someone who's already gone through extended higher education to learn their specialty and how to serve aboard a starship, and taken an oath of service, 'sides.  :: An easy smile. :: On our ship, we might consider Alya your Lieutenant.

Rana considered this, and it did indeed make sense. Perhaps wherever the word came from, it, too, came from 'lead.' It would perhaps explain it better. She would, indeed, consider Alya if they were in another place and she was forced to send members of her team onto an alien ship.

Rana: I see.

She kept her opinions on the quaintness of the title to herself, and turned to see Vidya. Thank the Goddess. Her Technological Lead was right on time.

Vidya: ::bowing:: Greetings visitors. I am Vidya. Chief Technological of the Jorogumo.

Shuttlebay: Response

Semara: Pleasure to make your acquaintance.  :: Beat :: Your cap'n speaks highly of you, Vidya.  Our own Chief Science officer's been itchin' to meet you... :: A little smile to Rasha. ::

Vidya: ::bowing:: It would be my pleasure to meet with your Chief of Sciences. I am sure we have much to discuss.

Rana: Indeed. The Chief has already had many questions for us.

oO And us some for her, though I wonder if she yet knows it. Oo

Shuttlebay: Response

Semara: :: A glance to Talia. :: If we're all done with all our scans, perhaps there's somewhere more convenient to talk, cap'n Rana? :: Beat :: If Vidya would be so kind as to indulge El'Her's curiosity about your people, I'm sure there's plenty she could share in return?  Then, perhaps, you and I could speak more freely.

Ohnari: Captain Rana...would it be too forward to perhaps ask for a tour? It would be my honor to speak with this Vidya you mentioned. ::glancing to Amelia, hoping she hadn't overstepped:: If, you permit, of course, Ma'am.

Torado: Or, maybe let Ras’ha talk to Vidya? Don’t mean to overload the woman. If you’re worried, maybe Alya can show us around. You know, murder us if we step out of line and stumble upon your secret chrysalis chambers or whatnot. ::hands up:: Ideally, though, keep us away from the rooms punishable by death.

There were many options offered up by the crew of the Kitomeer, some that felt a little too uncomfortable to Rana. The Marine's, first and foremost. Did she have no concept of what diplomacy meant? Bringing someone like that to a first meeting seemed counterintuitive to Rana.

Semara: :: A somewhat-amused smile :: I think Torado's wonderin' how you so easily defeated the Alliance, but doesn't know if it's some state secret y'all have.  :: Beat :: We're all curious, but mean nothin' but respect to you and all Velithari.  Just ain't sure how to show it yet.  :: A slight tilt of her head to the team. :: It might be easier to let 'em ask each other questions so we can talk.

Rana: Vidya will be able to speak to this. And I'm certain Alya would be happy to give you a tour, Torado.

Rana trusted the both of them to make decisions on what information to tell their guests.

Alya: Yes of course Captain.

Torado: ::hands clapped:: Great! Lead on.

Vidya: ::To Ohnari:: I would be most pleased to speak with you, but it seems you have been selected to accompany Alya and your ‘Marine’. Perhaps another time then? I am sure your Chief of Sciences can ask any questions you may have in your place.

Ohnari: Oh...yes of course. ::bowing her head politely:: And of course, I trust Rasha to cover all bases.

Vidya: ::to Ohnari:: Yes of course ::to Rasha:: It would be my honor to give you a tour of our technologicals. But first I must consult my Captain as you have your officers. But a moment.

Rasha: Response.

Rana allowed Vidya to pull her aside--it was for the best. It had been a while, and much had happened since she had last seen Vidya. Hopefully Vidya was able to inform her of what she had learned.

Vidya: ::whispering:: I have a copy of the scans that were performed on these aliens. ::gestures to the ones in the shuttlebay:: I shall watch and observe the one called Rasha, as I am sure you have seen the scans?::short pause:: The scans on the alien male indicated it is of no contagion to us. I have attempted to ‘reason’ with the alien male as you requested. Not once, but twice.

Rana: Indeed, Shakti has shown me the scans of Rasha. And what of the male? Has he told you of his goals in leaving their ship?

Vidya: ::whispering:: The male was unresponsive. They attempted to use ‘humor’ to avoid speaking to me. The male wouldn’t even give me its name or its purpose on their vessel. I decided it was best to show them the incubation video of the King-log, in the hopes it would convince them to cooperate.

Rana: The entire video? He watches it alone?

Vidya: ::whispering:: Yes the male is alone, but secure. It is my recommendation once the video has been completed that an assistant checks in on the male. I suspect with a sixty-six probability that the male may attempt to free itself of its prison, but I am confident within eighty-seven probability the restraints will hold. ::beat:: There is one more thing. I have observed the aliens have small indications on the collars of their uniforms. The First Officer has one less than their Chief Medical and it is of a different color then the other two indications in the Medical Chief. I know not what those indications mean.

Rana took a moment to consider these things. The most pressing seemed to be these indications that Vidya spoke of. Rana had assumed they were decoration, the same way one might decorate an exoskeleton with a particularly shiny jewel.

Rana: Perhaps a position of honor for the medical chief? It could be possible she may be older. We do not yet know how their different species age, or if one may be indebted to another. See what you can discover of their...culture, what these colours and indications mean.

It seemed odd that such a mix of species could have one culture--it was entirely possible they all believed in different things and celebrated different traditions. And yet, they seemed to get along rather well. Curious.

Vidya: ::Bowing:: Yes Captain at once.

Vidya: If you would follow me this way.

Rasha: Response

Rana watched her crew members move to speak to the ones who had desired to speak to them. Then, she turned to the First Officer. Things would be far easier simply addressing one person instead of several, and she trusted that Alya and Vidya would be able to competently represent the Velithari. Shakti's words remained in her mind.

(( Timeskip - Observatory, Velithari Ship Jorogumo ))

Rana's compound eyes focused on Semara as she did what the name implied as observed the observatory. Rana did, at times, come here to think--stargazing was not an entirely unusual habit, but it was one that took time away from the more relevant parts of life as a ship's captain.

Ah, she remembered the days when she was a student, much like the ones that Shakti taught. Possibly less intelligent--Rana always had hopes that the young women in the class would go on to great things, whether that was becoming a captain like herself or a respected priestess like Shakti.

Semara: It's quite lovely.  This nebula.  :: Beat, a sideways glimpse at Rana. :: Have you ever ventured outside it?

The nebula had kept them safe for quite a long time, since the attack that had taken the population of two Velithari worlds. It seemed dangerous to go outside, when they could see what came to them. 

Rana: This is our home, First Officer Semara. We care deeply about maintaining it.

Rana thought of her own home then, the classrooms, yes, but also the skies, the tunnels, everything that made her home planet feel like home. It wasn't often she missed it, missed the women who had been so influential in her life, but it was now more than ever that she desired a simple taste of their influence once more.

Semara: I understand.  :: Casting a look back out, taking a long beat. :: I imagine it's frightenin' to have so many strangers with strange ways comin' here.  To your home.  :: Another sideways glance. :: Even with all your strength.  It must be troublin' times.  New faces...  New languages...  New everything.

Rana clicked as Amelia spoke, absentmindedly. A childish habit and one she had attempted to break. Clicking was supposed to mean something, not mindless chatter. To those unfamiliar, it wasn't much different from the 'on-edge,' near-threatening clicking that she had used in an attempt to startle the male human earlier.

The Betazoid woman walked freely--this was how she identified herself, of the planet Betazed, but not truly, some other name was used that Rana was unable to keep in her mind. A struggle for one who was being rapidly introduced to the knowledge of all these planets, not to mention life on those planets.

Again, the thought of billions of enemies crossed Rana's mind. Jorogumo was strong, Jorogumo was powerful. But she was one ship. The web, though it had served them well, was only one thing.

Rana: Indeed. We Velithari are not very used to the contact of others.

Semara: :: A tiny smirk. :: It's a little different for us.  Or at least me.  I grew up on a Federation member world.  Popular with tourists.  Lots a' different people from different planets and cultures all the time comin' to visit.  So we tend to be a little more trustin'.  :: Beat :: But first contact with a new culture is special.  It's excitin'.  We're an inquisitive sort.  But there ain't any history between us or our people to form the basis for that trust.

Federation. The word translated loosely into Rana's mind as a large group. She imagined a group of planets, then. A large...not Alliance, this was the word they used to describe the belligerent crystal figures that Jorogumo had encountered earlier.

Trust. Rana considered that, turning it over in her head. The concept was not foreign. She trusted Vidya, Shakti and Alya. Trusting a strange group of aliens? It took a little more than a polite gift that, to Rana's knowledge, was still being scanned.

Semara: 'Course the problem with buildin' trust is you often gotta show weakness.  It's the only way for the other person to prove they're as good as their word.  :: Beat. :: So how 'bout this?  I'll go first.  :: Beat :: Do you have a human male aboard this ship?

Rana wished the Betazoid woman would stop moving. It was extra work to track her and consider what should be said. Rana stopped clicking and considered the conversation.

Trust. Weakness. There was one thing that Rana wanted: truth. A fair trade seemed the easiest way to get it--less energy expended.

Rana: Indeed we do. I then will ask a follow-up question: did we not instruct you to send only a team of five?

Semara: Response

Rana: As you have seen, First Officer Semara, I take the safety of my people very seriously. The habits or whims of a foolish male could endanger those people. Especially one unfamiliar with our ways, as yours seem to be.

Rana thought back to the bonded male on the ship answering for the Captain, and the way the captured male had seemed so careless. Not to mention unintelligent--who knew what kinds of bacteria he could have been bringing with him into their nebula? What his presence could have done to the web?

True, he did have the potential to act as a prey source. Who could fault a Velitharian-snapping plant for closing its jaws when prey walked across its maw?

Semara: Response

Rana: You speak of trust, but made no mention of this male's journey into our nebula. Forgive me for breaking what rules this conversation may have--I require more information to fully understand. Is he...bonded, as the other was? Acting on commands?

Semara: Response

TAG/TBC

--

MSNPC Captain Rana

of the Jorogumo

as simmed by

Ensign Thomas Melville-Kilpatrick

Medical Officer

USS Khitomer – NCC62400

K240210TM2