MSNPC Rana - The Point

[Sarah P]

((Observatory, Jorogumo))

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: Bonded?

It seemed there was some confusion. Perhaps the custom was differently named among the First Officer's people than with her captain's.

Semara: Heavens, no.  :: Another chuckle :: He wishes.

Rana translated this to mean that being bonded was desirable for a male in the alien society. Perhaps they were able to live longer, or given enough privileges to speak or obtain minor positions in their ships. This certainly must have meant that the males were more intelligent than the Velithari--communications were so complicated, Rana couldn't imagine it.

Semara: Cap'n Rana...  How carefully have you and your people examined the ships you've destroyed?  :: Beat :: Particularly the propulsion.

Rana: I fail to see what this has to do with the fact that one of your males entered our nebula.

Did she care nothing for this male? Given that the nebula was likely to have had a deep impact on his well-being if Jorogumo hadn't intervened, it seemed like the Kitomeers were comfortable with wasting resources. Disgraceful.

Semara: Forgive me, I ain't meanin' to avoid your question, but this is real important.  Before I answer, I gotta know how much you already understand.

Rana: Understand? Vidya is the technological lead, First Officer. She examines everything that comes into contact with Velithari space, and informs me of what is important. We have examined enough to understand the apparent basics of their function, and our students work to understand more.

Rana still had no idea what the male had to do with the ships' methods of propulsion.

Semara: We travel between the stars similarly.  We call it warp drive.  It's real fast, but it seems your nebula ain't too fond of it... Or subspace bubbles in general, if I were guessin'.  :: Beat :: When we came into contact with the nebula, it interfered with our ship's systems, and our propulsion in particular.  Our sensors were havin' trouble understandin' why, so the man you have was instructed to risk takin' a sample for closer study.

Warp drive. A name assigned to a piece Rana hadn't put too much thought into, a piece that, within her nebula, did not function properly.

Rana: Instructed. ::clicking thoughtfully:: I see, so you did, indeed, fail to follow our instructions. Sending one of your males into certain danger...we may not have been able to rescue him from the nebula in time. Not to mention the possible contagions to our nebula and our ship.

She clicked in disgust. Disease...the one thing that could humble anybody.

Semara: Hold on, are you sayin' your nebula's... Alive?

Rana: Is this not as common as your...::recalling:: warp drive?

Just because their nebula, or nebulae, wherever they came from, didn't have the advanced technology carefully poured into the Velithari nebula didn't mean that they were an entirely backwards people, though Rana was beginning to see more and more of the differences as the First Officer's voice turned urgent.

Semara: I gotta contact my ship.  They'll be tryin' to restore warp.  If I'm right, and if I understand you, a stable warp bubble inside your nebula's liable to devastate life inside it for trillions a' kilometers...  I ain't gonna let that happen.

A threat? Hardly. Merely an uncomfortable line of thought. A device that could cause immense harm? Rana would have to let Vidya know sooner rather than later. For now, her eyes swiveled to Semara.

Semara: =/\= Semara to communications assistant Dewitt. =/\=

Dewitt: =/\= Communications assistant Dewitt here, Ma’am. Go ahead. =/\=

Semara: =/\= I need you to pass along a message to the Cap'n.  The Velithari nebula is full a' livin' organisms we can't detect.  If I understand Cap'n Rana, I believe the life-forms to be allergic to subspace bubbles and waves, in a manner a' speakin'.  That reaction would be what makes 'em able to stop us from goin' to warp, but it also means if we do manage a stable bubble it'll likely be highly toxic.  We could endanger the nebula's stability over very long distances. =/\=

Dewitt: =/\= Understood, Ma’am. I’ll get this to the Captain the moment we close. =/\=

Semara: =/\= The Velithari are real protective, and I understand 'em to be real worried about infection or contamination of themselves and the nebula.  So tell the cap'n that, too.  I don't know much more than that yet.  If I were to guess, I'd say odds are low of a true sapient intelligence.  Too diffuse.  :: Beat, then thoughtfully. :: Ant colonies are capable a' complex problem solvin', but don't 'think' per se.  Maybe an analogue? :: Another beat. :: I'll call back when we know more - 'bout anythin'.  Either way, we can't go to warp until we're fully clear a' the nebula, or confidently understand the mechanism. =/\=

Comparing the nebula to an unknown organism did not bring the most comfort to Rana. They claimed advanced travel and federation and yet could not understand the basics taught to every Velithari student before she graduated?

Dewitt: =/\= Yes, Ma’am. No warp, Ma’am. I’ll let the Captain know. ::beat:: A note from the Captain, Ma’am. Concerning the pasta party you were supposed to attend before you left… Turns out the guests had cousins in every cupboard. We’re playing slow records, most of the are snoring. We ain’t sweeping any of them outdoors, yet. Just letting the family sleep. =/\=

Rana: Does your communications assistant often speak such nonsense?

It had to be an affectation of the captain's that such a creature was allowed to run the comms. Perhaps Semara was as annoyed with it as Rana was.

Semara: Response

Dewitt: =/\= Understood. Communications Assistant Dewitt out. =/\=

Semara: Response

Rana: Am I to assume you believe your ship's propulsion system is conflicting with the function of the nebula?

Much had been said in the conversation, and Rana didn't like much of what she understood. The nebula had kept them safe for a while--for an alien ship to interfere and possibly cause great damage was uncomfortable, if Rana was one prone to making understatements.

Semara: Response

Rana: And your ship will cease the activity that may cause damage, then?

Semara: Response

It was times like these when Rana considered brushing up on her technological knowledge beyond what she shared with Vidya.

--

MSNPC Captain Rana

of the Jorogumo

as simmed by

Ensign Thomas Melville-Kilpatrick

Medical Officer

USS Khitomer – NCC62400

K240210TM2