Lt. Cmdr Stros - What Are You?
tas9303
((Bridge, USS Khitomer))
After several moments had passed in relative silence, the viewscreen finally flickered to life as some sort of connection was made.
Velithari Comms Officer: =/\= Identify yourself. =/\=
The…form that appeared on the viewscreen wasn’t one that Stros recognized. It appeared to be a new sight to the others as well, as Lieutenant Semara leaned in towards him.
Semara: ::Barely a whisper:: You think they have indoor plumbin’ to add to the collection?
Stros tilted his head slightly as the words sunk in. It took a brief moment for him to remember the museum of toilets that they had visited.
Stros: ::Whispering back:: Do you suppose we should ask?
C. Dewitt: =/\= My name is Conno… =/\=
Velithari Comms Officer: =/\= ::sharply:: Unacceptable. =/\=
The sudden and sharp response too Stros by surprise. Certainly not proper etiquette when communicating with an unknown species under first contact circumstances.
Velithari Comms Officer: =/\= I will not address a male. You will present a female authority or this channel will be terminated. =/\=
A matriarchal society. Certainly they could have been more understanding when dealing with an unknown culture without outright demanding they conform to their societal expectations.
C. Dewitt: =/\= Of course. ::voice lowered:: I am merely assisting the command authority aboard this vessel. =/\=
The Commander quickly gestured for Lieutenant Dewitt to assist him.
C. Dewitt: =/\= This… Uhm… This is Captain Ayemet Dewitt of the USS Khitomer. =/\=
Seemingly without missing a beat, Lieutenant Dewitt took her place center stage.
A. Dewitt: =/\= That will do Connor. Take your place to my side. =/\=
The sudden dynamic shift drew Stros’ full attention.
Stros: ::To himself:: This should be interesting.
Valithari Comms Officer: =/\= Acceptable. ::pause:: Stand by to talk to the Captain. =/\=
To no surprise, the tactic worked.
Semara: ::To the rear of the bridge, leaning in toward Ayemet.:: Guess the rumors are true and these are the amazonian predators we heard about… Intel only knows a’ one encounter. A woman called “Lioness of Lowka.” Claims she survived by playin’ it up to their matriarchal foibles, and even managed to barter for savaged weapons. ::To Ayemet.:: But she could’a been lyin’ ‘bout that last part.
Amazonian predators. An interesting phrase for the rumors of the nebula. An apt one as well. Historically, Amazons had been matriarchal with males being the inferior sex and used for menial labor. Things were taking an interesting turn.
Semara: ::Hushed:: Can we triangulate the comm signal? A directional scan might cut through the nebula ‘nough get us a tactical analysis if they’re close enough.
Stros had to assume that the “Amazons” knew exactly where the Khitomer was within the nebula, and quite possibly using a tight beam for their communications. His console pinged quietly as a message came through from the helm console. “Feeding extra power to the sensors. Working on freeing up more.” He looked up towards the Klingon with a nod before activating the sensor array.
Stros: Attempting to Triangulate.
As Stros got to work, another figure appeared on the viewscreen.
Rana: =/\= I hope I am addressing the leader of your ship this time. =/\=
A. Dewitt: =/\= I am Captain Ayemet Dewitt of the Starship Khitomer. =/\=
While the sensors did their work, Stros kept one eye on the conversation happening in front of him.
Rana: =/\= Your male is quite unrestrained, Captain. Perhaps you should consider revoking his communications status. =/\=
C. Dewitt: Response
A. Dewitt: =/\= ::glancing at Connor:: We are bonded, and he took my name ::beat:: It was my gift to him. =/\=
Stros found it difficult to wrap his mind around the prospect of a matriarchal society. He understood the cultural significance of it to certain societies, but the prospect of such degradation to the males of a species left a bad taste in his mouth. The subjugation of any gender of a species was wrong in his mind. Unfortunately, he needed to ‘grin and bear it’ as they said.
Rana: =/\= Very well. Tell me, Captain Ayemet Dewitt, what is your purpose here? =/\=
Stros: ::Quietly, hoping not to be heard over the comms:: The signal appears to be reflecting through certain gases like relays. It may take a moment to compensate.
C. Dewitt: Response
A. Dewitt: =/\= We were investigating the ship before us as it appeared to have been badly damaged, and then we appeared to be caught by the anomaly we find ourselves in. If you cannot assistance we can be on our way. =/\=
The console trilled in front of Stros as the sensors cut through the gas and found the source of the signal. Trying not to draw too much attention, He waved his hand towards Commander Dewitt and sent the coordinates of the vessel to Korras’ console. With another swipe along the screen, Stros sent the sensor image to the viewscreen for everyone to see. A small box appeared in the bottom right corner, just to the side of the alien’s image, and displayed the rough pixilated image of what he could only assume was a ship.
Semara: ::Quietly, to Connor:: That’s a ship?
Much like the insectoid that sat on the viewscreen before them, the ‘vessel’ was very insect-like as well. One could almost say it resembled a chrysalis or hive of some sort.
Rana: =/\= The ship before? A hostile, it seems. Believe me, I am having a women investigate it as well. =/\=
Stros: ::Quietly:: It appears to be organic in construction. I am not reading any obvious weapons systems or shields at the moment. But it may be the interference.
C. Dewitt: Response
Keeping up the impromptu ruse, Lieutenant Semara stepped forward and curtsied to the alien on the viewscreen.
Semara: =/\= Pleasure to make your acquaintance. ::Beat:: For some time now, we’ve been dealin’ with invasions into our own territory from the same pair of species you’ve expertly dispatched. We didn’t want ‘em establishin’ a foothold in this nebula, but it seems we didn’t need to be worried. =/\=
Stros’ console pinged once more with a message from the helm console. A suggestion for the males to move into the conference room for uninterrupted work and conversation. For both sides. He quickly sent his acknowledgment and waited for the Commander to agree.
A. Dewitt/C. Dewitt: Response
Rana: =/\= You have experience with these species, then? =/\=
Looking over towards Lieutenant Korras, Stros watching him prepare their stations in the conference room before moving from his seat and almost crawling across the bridge an to the conference room. Stros elected to take a more ‘stand up’ approach and moved along the back of the bridge, trying not to draw attention.
Vidya/Semara/A. Dewitt/C. Dewitt: Response
Rana: =/\= We have only recently encountered them ourselves. They are…relatively simple. Perhaps we do indeed have a common goal. =/\=
Stepping into the conference room, Stros saw Lieutenant Korras already hard a work at one of the panels.
Stros: I am unsure how much time we will have to prepare with their conversation. They may also find our scans to be intrusive and choose to respond.
C. Dewitt: Response
Korras: Apologies if my suggestion was too.. Forward. However, I figured we would work more efficiently if we are able to communicate verbally.
Stros took a position at one of the terminals and brought up the sensor readings and tactical assessments.
Stros: I must agree, Lieutenant. Verbal communication is much more ideal for planning.
C. Dewitt: Response
Korras: I have started an analysis of the alien ship, but the sensors have difficulty identifying the individual systems. It sees it all mostly as one lifeform. That, combined with the interference from the nebula, is making it very difficult to analyze properly.
Stros pulled up the sensor data on one of the main screens within the conference room.
Stros: The computer is having difficulty parsing the hull makeup of the vessel. It appears to be using organic materials that are yet unknown to our databases. While also, of course, containing known biological and crystalline elements.
C. Dewitt: Response
It was then that Lieutenant Korras appeared to have an idea.
Korras: If it is a lifeform.. Perhaps the medical systems are better equipped to analyze it?
It was an interesting thought. One with merit. The sensors were designed to take in more specific information, like mineral compositions, elemental compositions, tactical readings, etc. They weren’t exactly tuned to take in medical data on a large scale.
Stros: Perhaps we can tie the medical systems into the sensor arrays to attempt to isolate and analyze the organic materials.
C. Dewitt/Korras: Response
Stros: We may only need one biobed to be tied into the system to enact the modifications. Hopefully Commander Ohnari will not mind giving us access.
C. Dewitt/Korras: Response
TAGS/TBC…
Lieutenant Commander Stros
Tactical Officer
USS Khitomer
A239905NR1