Ensign Xilva Marsek - Virtuoso
2 views
Skip to first unread message
Katamari
Jun 1, 2026, 11:47:55 PM (4 days ago) Jun 1
to sb118...@googlegroups.com
((Bridge - Deck 3 - USS Ronin))
From what Xilva was seeing on her scans, things appeared to be going from bad to worse. She had dozens of overlays up, was running as many simulations as she could at once while nursing a bad headach - and she couldn't find anything outside of 'we're boned' to tell the captain.
oO What a great first day in Starfleet - and last day in Starfleet. Oo
Morgan: Between the power drain and interference I can’t get much of anything on the away teams at the moment, no EVA suits and no can do on commbadges either.
It didn't take a mindreader to tell by the thud of the captain's fist on the armrest that this wasn't what he wanted to hear. Xilva swallowed hard - there wasn't much she could think of, it was her first day!
Niac: Then we need another option...we're not going to be able to launch shuttles to recover them in these conditions and I'm not sending another team over until I've got a better understanding of what I'm sending them into. Suggestions?
Marsek: ::shakes her head:: My first thought is another class 5 probe, but this interference is making it near-impossible to determine safety.
It wasn't the answer she wanted to give (and definitely not the answer that she knew Captain Niac wanted to hear), but it was all she could think of. oO NOT perfect. Who cares? You've got that dishonorable discharge coming the second the danger's passed, anyway. What were you thinking, it thinks the ship is its CHILD? Oo
Akani: Response
Morgan: ::to the Captain:: I’d suggest we back off and get just outside its range so we can restore some systems.
Xilva's attention turned back to the viewscreen and the tractor beam currently engulfing the ship. There was still a strange beauty in it - one she kept to herself.
Niac: If you can think of a polite way to ask our friend out there to let us go I'm all ears, Lieutenant. Speaking of...what's that material doing to the hull? I sincerely hope it's not developing a taste for duranium plating.
Xilva rechecked her console for what seemed like the thousandth time. There was so little that she knew - and so much she needed to know, immediately!
Marsek: I won't be able to tell until Lieutenant...Vomek returns, but the data is suggesting that it's a harmless polymer.
oO That was his name, right? And he's a lieutenant? I wish my stomach would stop flipping...Oo
Akani: Response
Morgan: I’m turning on life support to the three decks that had the hull breaches. I don’t know how much we want to populate those decks, but I don’t see a problem.
The sudden loud alerts screamed in Xilva's already-sensitive ears - and each tone just made her nausea worse. How could - oh, right. Not everyone could hear the amount of tones she could.
Niac: The sensor interference from the creature just vanished...we should have a clear view around us again. Try to locate the away team. We'll need Lieutenant Vomek to get that sample...
Every comm relay on the bridge activated at once and a massive voice filled the bridge with a rich, melodic timber.
Narhelion: =/\= Hello, Tiny Predator. =/\=
-Soothing.-
The sudden warm, rich tones were a balm to Xilva's ears, the thousands of variances becoming a melody that she -understood-. Music was another comforting language to her, like most Kerelians, and she held back a sudden gasp/sob/joyous noise. It was a vastness she hadn't heard since she left Kerelia at eighteen, one that felt like a beautiful secret she shared with the glowing being. She wanted to listen, to chronicle, to hear its story and just for a moment, feel what it meant to belong.
Her thoughts scattered with the next indication that she was to return to her duties - no matter how much she longed to capture the music.
Niac: 'Tiny Predator?' Is that coming through the UT?
Marsek: It's not being amplified through the probes we've sent so far, sir.
Akani/Morgan: Response
Niac: =/\= And hello to you...whomever you are. My name is Karrod...and our ship is the Ronin. We are not a predator...we have no desire to harm you. We wish to make peaceful contact. Can you understand us? =/\=
Xilva was struck silent when the viewscreen suddenly changed to a closer - or was it interior - view of the creature. Her first thought was mirrors - shards of glass, streaked with silver and reflecting blues, greens, vermillion, lavender, thousands of shades that she couldn't place a name to. She began to see patterns in the vastness, the delicate lattice shimmering and twisting, but never wavering. Its confidence, joy, curiosity radiated outwards, and even in the chilly confines of the ship and the colder ones of her own mind, she wanted to touch, to share in its impossible depth of joy.
Narhelion: =/\= Narhelion apologizes to Tiny Predator’s fuzzy Caretaker. Narhelion did not realize Tiny Predator Ronin fragility. =/\=
When Xilva heard the laugh, her head snapped up - there was nothing in any Academy manual about an officer being allowed to be anything less than completely professional, especially on the bridge.
...She then figured it was probably captain's privilege, but it was nice that for once, it wasn't directed at her ridiculous hypotheses.
Niac: =/\= Narhelion? Is that your name...or the name of your ship? Either way 'fuzzy caretaker' thanks you, Narhelion. We did not believe you damaged us purposefully. Your energy transfer is also appreciated but doesn't appear to be compatible with our systems...I don't suppose you'd mind deactivating it? =/\=
Marsek: Caretakers? I wonder what it means by that.
Akani/Morgan: Response
Narhelion: =/\= Narhelion has a request. Narhelion is last of my kind. Would Tiny Predator’s fuzzy Caretaker permit Narhelion to take some of Tiny Predator to make a new Narhelion? =/\=
Xilva could feel her heart crumbling. What had Narhelion seen? What had happened to its kind, to its previous caretakers? How many times had it said goodbye, over and over again?
This time, she understood the music of loneliness.
Niac: Did...did the space whale just invite us to make a lil'whale baby?
She had to hide her feelings, she was on the bridge, after all - and thankfully, she had the opening to do so.
Marsek: I'm not sure if diapers exist in the size we'd need...
Akani/Morgan: Response
The intricate glass-like colors shifted, and the deep bass that Xilva could hear vibrated gravely through her body. oO No! Oo
Narhelion: =/\= Caution. Narhelion has detected approaching. Many more angry crystals and unknown vessels with them. Primary offensive armament still healing. Secondary and tertiary armaments are functional but remain in hibernation state. Primary and secondary defensive functions offline and in hibernation state. Recommend hibernation rescindment as soon as possible. =/\=
Xilva tried not to cry - the sob reverberated just as loudly, in the highest pitches she could hear. She had never heard that kind of anguish or desperation - or felt so helpless.
Narhelion: =/\= Please. Narhelion does not want to expire. =/\=
Niac: =/\= We don't want you to expire either, Narhelion. We came to convince you to leave this area of space...but it's too late for that now. Please...wait just a moment. =/\=
Xilva breathed a sigh of relief when the captain strode to tactical - perhaps they really could help it?
Niac: Can you tell me the size and disposition of the enemy force, Lieutenant Akani? Lieutenant Morgan...are we going to be in anything like fighting shape when they get here? Ensign Marsek...now that the long range sensors can actually function, can you give us any idea what the creature might be heading towards? I refuse to believe it chose this course randomly.
...That was going to be more bad news that she was going to have to deliver, dispassionate and smoothly. The numbers didn't lie, and neither did the trajectory.
Marsek: According to the predicted path, sir, we're heading right into a subspace fissure. Class ten.
Akani/Morgan: Response
Each bit of news was more and more devastating, here in the dark. Narhelion had to survive, no matter what the cost!
Niac: You're telling me the creature is heading towards a class ten subspace fissure that could tear the ship apart...but that it's on the other side of a Lattice Alliance task force that could tear the ship apart first...and that's only if we can perform enough repairs in the next few hours to survive until one of those things can tear the ship apart. Did I miss anything?
Marsek: ...There's also the Narhelion wanting to absorb part of the ship to create a child.
Akani/Morgan: Response
Niac: Well for a minute there I thought we were in real trouble. Lets see if our new friend will let us talk to Commanders Raga and Kel...because we're going to need to come up with a plan. And possibly schedule a baby shower.
A second Narhelion - could they really help create such a thing?
Niac: We're going to need a really big cake.
Marsek took a long look at the viewscreen, at the darker, mournful colors, the lower tones that reminded her of Kelerian funeral songs - and made a quiet vow to herself.
oO I'll protect you, even if it's the last thing I do. Oo
[tags/end Act II, Marsek]
====
Ensign Xilva Marsek
Science Officer
USS Ronin NCC-34523
R240305XM1
From what Xilva was seeing on her scans, things appeared to be going from bad to worse. She had dozens of overlays up, was running as many simulations as she could at once while nursing a bad headach - and she couldn't find anything outside of 'we're boned' to tell the captain.
oO What a great first day in Starfleet - and last day in Starfleet. Oo
Morgan: Between the power drain and interference I can’t get much of anything on the away teams at the moment, no EVA suits and no can do on commbadges either.
It didn't take a mindreader to tell by the thud of the captain's fist on the armrest that this wasn't what he wanted to hear. Xilva swallowed hard - there wasn't much she could think of, it was her first day!
Niac: Then we need another option...we're not going to be able to launch shuttles to recover them in these conditions and I'm not sending another team over until I've got a better understanding of what I'm sending them into. Suggestions?
Marsek: ::shakes her head:: My first thought is another class 5 probe, but this interference is making it near-impossible to determine safety.
It wasn't the answer she wanted to give (and definitely not the answer that she knew Captain Niac wanted to hear), but it was all she could think of. oO NOT perfect. Who cares? You've got that dishonorable discharge coming the second the danger's passed, anyway. What were you thinking, it thinks the ship is its CHILD? Oo
Akani: Response
Morgan: ::to the Captain:: I’d suggest we back off and get just outside its range so we can restore some systems.
Xilva's attention turned back to the viewscreen and the tractor beam currently engulfing the ship. There was still a strange beauty in it - one she kept to herself.
Niac: If you can think of a polite way to ask our friend out there to let us go I'm all ears, Lieutenant. Speaking of...what's that material doing to the hull? I sincerely hope it's not developing a taste for duranium plating.
Xilva rechecked her console for what seemed like the thousandth time. There was so little that she knew - and so much she needed to know, immediately!
Marsek: I won't be able to tell until Lieutenant...Vomek returns, but the data is suggesting that it's a harmless polymer.
oO That was his name, right? And he's a lieutenant? I wish my stomach would stop flipping...Oo
Akani: Response
Morgan: I’m turning on life support to the three decks that had the hull breaches. I don’t know how much we want to populate those decks, but I don’t see a problem.
The sudden loud alerts screamed in Xilva's already-sensitive ears - and each tone just made her nausea worse. How could - oh, right. Not everyone could hear the amount of tones she could.
Niac: The sensor interference from the creature just vanished...we should have a clear view around us again. Try to locate the away team. We'll need Lieutenant Vomek to get that sample...
Every comm relay on the bridge activated at once and a massive voice filled the bridge with a rich, melodic timber.
Narhelion: =/\= Hello, Tiny Predator. =/\=
-Soothing.-
The sudden warm, rich tones were a balm to Xilva's ears, the thousands of variances becoming a melody that she -understood-. Music was another comforting language to her, like most Kerelians, and she held back a sudden gasp/sob/joyous noise. It was a vastness she hadn't heard since she left Kerelia at eighteen, one that felt like a beautiful secret she shared with the glowing being. She wanted to listen, to chronicle, to hear its story and just for a moment, feel what it meant to belong.
Her thoughts scattered with the next indication that she was to return to her duties - no matter how much she longed to capture the music.
Niac: 'Tiny Predator?' Is that coming through the UT?
Marsek: It's not being amplified through the probes we've sent so far, sir.
Akani/Morgan: Response
Niac: =/\= And hello to you...whomever you are. My name is Karrod...and our ship is the Ronin. We are not a predator...we have no desire to harm you. We wish to make peaceful contact. Can you understand us? =/\=
Xilva was struck silent when the viewscreen suddenly changed to a closer - or was it interior - view of the creature. Her first thought was mirrors - shards of glass, streaked with silver and reflecting blues, greens, vermillion, lavender, thousands of shades that she couldn't place a name to. She began to see patterns in the vastness, the delicate lattice shimmering and twisting, but never wavering. Its confidence, joy, curiosity radiated outwards, and even in the chilly confines of the ship and the colder ones of her own mind, she wanted to touch, to share in its impossible depth of joy.
Narhelion: =/\= Narhelion apologizes to Tiny Predator’s fuzzy Caretaker. Narhelion did not realize Tiny Predator Ronin fragility. =/\=
When Xilva heard the laugh, her head snapped up - there was nothing in any Academy manual about an officer being allowed to be anything less than completely professional, especially on the bridge.
...She then figured it was probably captain's privilege, but it was nice that for once, it wasn't directed at her ridiculous hypotheses.
Niac: =/\= Narhelion? Is that your name...or the name of your ship? Either way 'fuzzy caretaker' thanks you, Narhelion. We did not believe you damaged us purposefully. Your energy transfer is also appreciated but doesn't appear to be compatible with our systems...I don't suppose you'd mind deactivating it? =/\=
Marsek: Caretakers? I wonder what it means by that.
Akani/Morgan: Response
Narhelion: =/\= Narhelion has a request. Narhelion is last of my kind. Would Tiny Predator’s fuzzy Caretaker permit Narhelion to take some of Tiny Predator to make a new Narhelion? =/\=
Xilva could feel her heart crumbling. What had Narhelion seen? What had happened to its kind, to its previous caretakers? How many times had it said goodbye, over and over again?
This time, she understood the music of loneliness.
Niac: Did...did the space whale just invite us to make a lil'whale baby?
She had to hide her feelings, she was on the bridge, after all - and thankfully, she had the opening to do so.
Marsek: I'm not sure if diapers exist in the size we'd need...
Akani/Morgan: Response
The intricate glass-like colors shifted, and the deep bass that Xilva could hear vibrated gravely through her body. oO No! Oo
Narhelion: =/\= Caution. Narhelion has detected approaching. Many more angry crystals and unknown vessels with them. Primary offensive armament still healing. Secondary and tertiary armaments are functional but remain in hibernation state. Primary and secondary defensive functions offline and in hibernation state. Recommend hibernation rescindment as soon as possible. =/\=
Xilva tried not to cry - the sob reverberated just as loudly, in the highest pitches she could hear. She had never heard that kind of anguish or desperation - or felt so helpless.
Narhelion: =/\= Please. Narhelion does not want to expire. =/\=
Niac: =/\= We don't want you to expire either, Narhelion. We came to convince you to leave this area of space...but it's too late for that now. Please...wait just a moment. =/\=
Xilva breathed a sigh of relief when the captain strode to tactical - perhaps they really could help it?
Niac: Can you tell me the size and disposition of the enemy force, Lieutenant Akani? Lieutenant Morgan...are we going to be in anything like fighting shape when they get here? Ensign Marsek...now that the long range sensors can actually function, can you give us any idea what the creature might be heading towards? I refuse to believe it chose this course randomly.
...That was going to be more bad news that she was going to have to deliver, dispassionate and smoothly. The numbers didn't lie, and neither did the trajectory.
Marsek: According to the predicted path, sir, we're heading right into a subspace fissure. Class ten.
Akani/Morgan: Response
Each bit of news was more and more devastating, here in the dark. Narhelion had to survive, no matter what the cost!
Niac: You're telling me the creature is heading towards a class ten subspace fissure that could tear the ship apart...but that it's on the other side of a Lattice Alliance task force that could tear the ship apart first...and that's only if we can perform enough repairs in the next few hours to survive until one of those things can tear the ship apart. Did I miss anything?
Marsek: ...There's also the Narhelion wanting to absorb part of the ship to create a child.
Akani/Morgan: Response
Niac: Well for a minute there I thought we were in real trouble. Lets see if our new friend will let us talk to Commanders Raga and Kel...because we're going to need to come up with a plan. And possibly schedule a baby shower.
A second Narhelion - could they really help create such a thing?
Niac: We're going to need a really big cake.
Marsek took a long look at the viewscreen, at the darker, mournful colors, the lower tones that reminded her of Kelerian funeral songs - and made a quiet vow to herself.
oO I'll protect you, even if it's the last thing I do. Oo
[tags/end Act II, Marsek]
====
Ensign Xilva Marsek
Science Officer
USS Ronin NCC-34523
R240305XM1
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages