[sb118-khitomer] MSNPC Technological Lead Vidya - A Three Hour Tour
BC Cooper
((Science Labs, Jorogumo))
El’Her: Vidya. What is the Jorogumo? One of the lab assistants mentioned it.
Rasha followed behind the woman, her eyes wandering about the lab as the continued.
Michaels: I understood it was the ship itself. Did I misunderstand?
She knew that it was the name of the ship. That’s not exactly what she was asking. It was the same manner of question that she had asked before, inquiring after the etymology of the name Velithari. There was so much to be learned in the spaces in between. The questions no one bothered to ask because they seemed so trivial and insignificant. But that was precisely why they were so disarming.
Vidya: You did not misunderstand. The Jorogumo is the name we have designated for our vessel.
El’Her: I see. Does the Jorogumo leave the cloud? Or those other ships we seen in the shuttlebay?
Vidya: If we have sufficient cause.
Michaels: My station on Khitomer is in Engineering and my work deals mostly with the engines, fuel systems and the physical structure of the ship. I am particularly interested in such things as how Jorogumo is propelled.
It would seem the one called Michaels was Vidya’s equivalent, and yet the one called Rasha also held other skills and talents like Vidya. Perhaps the two share the same level of intelligence and command but divided between the two?
El’Her: You see, that interests me as well. Just how large is the cloud, and what is it’s composition? Is this a naturally occurring phenomenon or did you…make it?
Michaels: If the cloud is a constructed piece of work, it is an extremely impressive bit of engineering. I realize that you may not be at liberty to tell us some details. While some of it may be security related issues but I would be interested in whatever you are free to tell us.
They asked a great deal of many questions. Questions she knew some could not be answered. Questions she would not willingly give unless instructed to by the Priestess.
Vidya: You and this Alliance of Lettuce, are not the first aliens we have encountered before. I am sure not all your encounters with aliens have been met with pleasantries like ourselves. As you no doubt have noticed, the cloud does provide us with some level of protection, in that we are not easily exposed to the naked eyes of would-be hostile alien visitors, like the Alliance. The nebula supersedes us. The cloud existed before my time or even your own time. Since our discovery, we have formed a harmonious relationship with the cloud. Anything beyond that would require information that I am not permitted to speak upon. Its composition is known to us. If it is deemed that your awareness of the science behind the cloud and our relationship with it is required, then at that time it shall be known. ::bowing:: What I can provide is more information on the propulsion of the Jorogumo if you wish?
El’Her: Lieutenant Michaels is an engineer and I’m sure that would interest her greatly. Let us first see the gardens and we shall go there after.
Vidya: ::nodding:: Very well. ::gesturing:: The garden is this way.
Vidya continued their journey past the last of the labs. Up ahead laid a wall that marked the end of the overspacious science room. Beyond the wall that was almost before them, was the entrance to a corridor that would lead them to the hydroponics garden.
Michaels: I think you will find this of interest.
The one called Michaels had given Rasha a small piece of their technological. They were examining it. Vidya fainted disinterest, but kept the pace moving ahead of them. She knew if it was important, other members of the crew would not have left a piece of their technological around for the aliens to find.
El'Her: ::looking up from the square at Michaels:: What is this?
Michaels: One of the workers was repairing the outer skin of one of the shuttle craft. She was replacing this after removing this section. It reminds me of some of the early 21st century body armor used on Earth. I believe it is a damaged part of the vessel's shielding or armor system.
Rasha bent it between their hands.
El'Her: A remarkable amount of give for hullplating.
Michaels: None of the Velithari craft appear to have shield emitters. This sort of armor might be adequate at velocities less than half light speed. That would be my estimate of the maximum speed of any of their ships that I have seen. ::beat:: That should be fast enough for use within a single star system.
Single star system? Why would they need to go any place else? They were home here and safe from aliens who might otherwise not understand the ways of the Velithari. Aliens who might have other intentions.
El'Her: ::handing the sheet back.:: You may be right lieutenant. Let’s find out. ::speaking up:: Vidya, please forgive all the questions but as a scientist, I’m sure you understand the curiosity. What are your ships made of? I assume the Jorogumo and the smaller craft are comprised of similar composition?
Vidya walked through the indentation that merged between the science labs and the adjoining corridor as Rasha spoke.
Michaels: A fair assumption. Although a massive structure may well require stronger materials at some point. Simply scaling up inevitably fails. There is a limit to how much additional strength you get simply by using thicker pieces of unobtanium.
Vidya: We, the Velithari, use a composition you might be familiar with. The secretion of our kind.
The two aliens came to a stop. Was it something she said?
El’Her: You mean…saliva?
Vidya: ::thoughtfully:: Yes. That is one word for it.
Michaels: :: shaking her head:: How can that be? How could their digestive system function if it is full of :: Lera hesitated before she came up with the right word :: full of glue?
El’Her: ::to Michaels:: like a Swallow or…a Paper Wasp. ::louder:: But only the males produce this “compound?”
Michaels: Entomology has never been my favorite subject but do not the insects construct their nests out of wood fiber and dried saliva? Perhaps something stronger than wood fiber held together by a saliva based ... glue. While such a structure could function in space I can see no possibility of it surviving entry into an atmosphere. :: She paused again :: That would be a reasonable explanation of their fascination with biology and chemical research.
Vidya: It may all seem strange to you, but to us it is a part of our technological. Part of our way of doing such things.
Several of what could only be described as vehicle-like technologicals of sorts that carried a variety of freight hummed past with one female passenger, made little sound as the three of them walked the corridor. Vidya stopped and noted that Micheals was examining a painting on the wall.
Michaels: Rasha. Can you see that? It is almost as though... a view of a city? :: she turned to Vidya :: Is that a painting?
Vidya: ::nods:: Yes, do you not display such art among your vessels walls? It is a painting of Captain Rana’s home city.
El’Her: Fascinating. ::pause:: you have indulged many of our questions. I am sure you have some for us as well.
Vidya did indeed have such questions. She gestured once more and continued walking as she asked her first question.
Vidya: Tell me your vessel’s name? The Kit-o-more? Does it have a purpose beyond a name? Is that why you inquired as much before about the Jorogumo?
Rasha / Michaels: Response
Vidya: I see. So you and these King-logs created a peace document after many centuries of war and your ship is named after that? Interesting. We have met these King-logs before and they are rather aggressive aliens. ::dismissively:: Why you wish to make peace with such aliens, I do not know.
She gestured to the wall next to them to enter as they approached.
((Brief Timeskip. Verdant Hydroponics Garden Bay, Jorogumo))
The three entered into a lush, tropical verdant forest full of all sorts of alien vegetation of all sizes, colors and composition. The flora and fauna stretched well above and beyond anything they had seen before. Some ninety plus meters above them the beautiful pink, purple and other colorful hues of the nebula’s cloud cascaded into streaks in the sky. The size of the garden was such a scope that it was impossible to see where the walls of the garden ended. The temperature here was several degrees warmer than the corridor they had previously exited.
Rasha / Michaels: Response
Vidya game them a moment to enjoy the view before responding
Vidya: Initially the vegetation planted here originated on our homeworld. Since then we have cultivated more than half of the garden, which now consists of vegetation life that we grew intandom with the Jorogumo to create the new life before you that does not exist back home.
Rasha / Michaels: Response
Vidya took note as the two stood next to one of the many pathways that moved further into the dense garden looking all about them.
Vidya: The purpose of the garden is not to beautify the Jorogumo, but rather serve a purpose to ensure our survival. The beauty as you see it is merely a coincidence. ::looks up at the ‘sky’ as she stands near them:: But yes, it is a sight to behold and to view from this angle I suppose. We could spend more time hereafter if you like? I believe you wish to see our engineering?
Vidya gave a nod and exited them the way they had entered back into the corridor. She gestured across from the corridor into another set of winding corridors that stretched back towards the end of the vessel. Time seemed to take less time than before when they first left the shuttlebay. Along the way several other pieces of art could be seen along the walls on their journey. Each is more full of color and life as the previous ones. Vidya answered any questions Rasha or Michaels had about the Hydroponics Garden as they walked. After questions about the garden had finished, Vidya had an important question of her own.
Vidya: There is one question I have that you could answer for me? Since you have seen our vessel on the inside, shall you in the interest of fairness, allow myself and Rana the opportunity to view your vessel as you have ours?
Rasha / Michaels: Response
Vidya: ::nods:: Yes I am aware you do not speak for the rest of your Kit-o-more. ::beat:: Very well then, let us ask. Your First Officer is with my Captain. They can answer for us both.
Vidya gestured to enter through a wall as they arrived at the ‘door’ to engineering. Vidya made a call to her Captain as she went through.
Vidya: =/\= Technological Lead Vidya to Captain Rana. I have a request for you, my Captain and the Aliens First Officer. =/\=
Rana / Semara Rasha / Michaels: =/\= Response =/\=
Inside they would see all sorts of vine like connections that waved about the room along the floor. Vidya would step over them without much thought. All around them the room seemed to give off a glow as several female Velithari worked about.
Vidya: =/\= The Chief Science Officer Rasha has asked if I had any questions for her and Engineer Michaels. There is one I have that requires both your approvals. To visit the aliens' Kit-o-more vessel as they have visited our vessel. In the interest of fairness is such a thing possible? =/\=
Rana / Semara Rasha / Michaels: =/\= Response =/\=
Tag / TBC...
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MSNPC Technological Lead, Vidya
As simmed by
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Lieutenant (JG) Ezra Zerva
Security Officer
USS Khitomer (NCC-62400)
A240101EZ2