Lt Cmdr. Alveth: Careful What You Ask For
Avander Promontory
((USS Modi, Shuttlebay, USS Thor, The Tangle))
Lt Commander Alveth was having the time of his life. In all his nearly eight decades living in the Milky Way Galaxy he had not, before last week, “stepped foot” in the Gamma Quadrant. And now, not only was he on the far side of the Bajoran Wormhole, but he was on an away mission about to encounter scientific colony—a new micro-society—on a strange and distant world.
It was no wonder he was slightly early to meet his designated team. But still not, apparently, the first. A green-haired humanoid was already at the shuttle controls. Shorter than average, Alveth tried to place the species, but came up short. Perhaps they were just a human with dyed hair. A social custom that suggested a slight defiance of authority and conformity, but not enough to sever those ties that bind. Alveth smiled. IDIC and all that…
Kreshkova: You must be Commander Alveth.
The Lieutenant in command red recognized him, however. Alveth would have to do a better job reading up on the senior officers if he was going to make this posting a long-term engagement, which he hoped to do. He gave a slight bow in return.
Alveth: At your service.
Kreshkova: Lieutenant Naledi! It’s good to see you again.
A large Insectoid Xindi officer came up behind him, also in red.
Naledi: Snap… Likewise
oO Fascinating. Oo
There weren’t many Xindi of any kind in Starfleet. Hopefully this Naledi would be open to discussing their people’s culture with him at some point.
Alveth: (to the Xindi) Pleased to meet you, I’m Alveth, a social scientist from Ullia.
Kreshkova: I’m glad you’re bozh here a little early. It looks like zhe normal flight conditions vhich are harrowing on a class K planet, are getting ready to get considerably vorse. Zhe sooner ve get on zhe ground zhe better.
Alveth: (excitedly) Let’s go!
(( Outpost – VX-LON-3 – The Tangle ))
The journey was better than had been advertised and Alveth had barely had time to review the personnel files of his compatriots. The green-haired one was a human and the Xindi was in intelligence. Before Alveth could inquire about them directly, they had landed.
Kreshkova: I am glad zhat is over. ::Swiveling in her seat:: Are you bozh in vone piece?
Oh and that accent! Russian, from one of Earth’s oldest empires.
Naledi: Snap Pop… Yes
Alveth made a show of patting his various body parts, as if to ensure they were all there.
Alveth: Yessir, all my pieces are together in one!
Kreshkova: Good! It vould look bad on my personnel file if I lost someone on a shuttle ride.
The Xindi officer seemed agitated by the comment and fell into a series of crackling snaps and hissed which their translator hurried to interpret.
Naledi: Snap Pop Hiss Crack… The cow fell over the moon. Snap Pop Chirp… Were they our responsibility?
Alveth wondered if the translator was suboptimal. Another question to add to the pile. He smiled encouragingly.
Alveth: Yes, well said.
Kreshkova: Response
Naledi: Crick Pop Hiss… What is the atmosphere?
While he was primarily a social scientist, Alveth was still the only officer in blue on this mission, so he took on the reading of the sensors. The screen showed a series of red bars.
Alveth: Uh… in a word.. bad. Humans and Ullians will definitely need rebreathers. And for the Xindi…
He gave a little shrug, he wasn’t actually sure, the database was less certain about the insectoid. Alveth strained his memory—didn’t they breathe through their sides or something?
Kreshkova: Response
Naledi: Crick Snap Pop Hiss Crack… Brief. It’ll get to speed with the expedition leader.
Alveth: I understand we haven’t been able to establish any sort of communications link with the expedition thus far. If they don’t know we’re coming, they might not react well to being surprised, even if they sent out a distress call.
Naledi/Kreshkova: Response
Alveth went to the shuttle’s supplies closet and passed out the rebreathers. This model had a strap that agitated his cranial ridges, but if it meant he could breath, he could endure it for a time.
Alveth: Can you hear me okay?
His voice sounded funny to himself through the rebreather.
After watching the others, Alveth took a phaser himself. Just in case.
Naledi/Kreshkova: Response
Alveth: Alright, opening hatch doors.
Immediately his senses were assaulted by a noxious and acrid smell that even the rebreathers couldn’t filter out. His eyes watered slightly. It wasn’t a pleasant sensation.
Alveth: I think I’d better put on some safety glasses as well.
He returned to the supply compartment and donned some protective eyewear. It was a marginal improvement.
oO You asked to be assigned out here. Oo He reminded himself.
Naledi/Kreshkova: Response
TBC
[[OOC: sorry for my slight delay--I've been waylaid at the airport with travel delays for the past day!]]
Lt Cmdr. Alveth
Social Science Officer
USS Thor
O239910AP4