Cmdr. (Ensign) Alora DeVeau - "Refocus"
Amanda Nordstrom
((USS Thor, deck 5, Holodeck 4, Invicta Bridge simulation))
Stuck in the badlands, the Invicta wasn’t immune from the effects of the rampaging storms and twirling columns of plasma. Eddies flung their way throughout the area, and it was only a matter of time before they got hit. Storms appeared suddenly, sometimes so quickly, you didn’t have time to prepare. While the Xindi had taken the ship, they also limited the officers’ abilities to keep track of the numerous dangers in the badlands.
Beneath her jacket, Alora’s phaser pressed into her skin, the cool metal warming with her heat. Even as she sat there and stared at their captors, its curved barrel reminded her it was there. Yet, she didn’t reach for it - not yet. Perhaps there was a chance they could come out of that not only alive, but without further altercations.
DeVeau: If you tell us what you need, maybe we can help you.
Communication was vital, especially in de-escalating. Alora did have to admit, however, she hadn’t expected what happened next.
Ch'zila: Snap Crack... What we want is survival. The Shra'Tik was dying and its captain chose extinction - release the brood and meet the void. I rejected that fate as did those who supported me.
Their forelimb lifted and gestured broadly, indicating the entirety of the ship that surrounded them.
Ch'zila: Pop Hiss... The brood is our future and your vessel has everything they require - power, atmosphere, protection, and space enough for a swarm to grow. Your kind protects life instinctively and that makes you predictable.
As they spoke, their multi faceted eyes settled back on Alora and she met their gaze unflinching.
Ch'zila: Crack Snap... The Invicta will become their hive. Stand down and you will live. Refuse, and the brood will inherit this ship from your corpses.
Then again, maybe she wasn’t so surprised after all.
Naledi: Hiss Pew Pop Hiss Crick Chirp… We took your brood as you asked, prepared to beam as many of you aboard as possible. Between the members of your crew who didn’t survive and those that have been dealt with by our security what have you gained? Our people, the Xindi are allied with the federation. We’d have taken you wherever you needed to be.
Ch'zila: Snap... Crack... Yes. Our peoples are allies. Pop Hiss... But alliances do not outweigh extinction. When the choice is between honor and survival, the swarm will choose survival every time.
Survival was the instinct of every living being; the Xindi were no different. Considering their history and what happened to their homeworld, she could understand how that instinct was even stronger among their people.
Tito: Then maybe we can help?
Alora nodded toward Tito, very glad that man was taking the whole ‘try diplomacy first’ a try. Considering she’d made him take Diplomacy 101 twice after he had already graduated, she would hope something actually stuck.
DeVeau: If we can help you, we will. We want you to survive too.
And she wanted herself and her fellow crewmembers to survive as well.
That desire to survive only increased as the Xindi leader turned his attention to another officer, one in Operations yellow. Alora’s eyes met the others. She looked familiar, and it was then the science officer realised that it was Clara Halloway. Although the two officers hadn’t ever really gotten to know each other well, Alora recognised her - whoever had put together the scenario had taken real officers and put them in. Had they known that Alora would be one of the people participating?
Ch'zila: Pop Crack... Now then, access the command console and transfer this vessel to my control or this human female dies.
Tito: We won’t respond to threats.
Naledi: Crick Snap Pop Pew… and it doubts your ability to pull the trigger.
DeVeau: You don’t have to do this. You don’t need to commandeer our vessel.
Had the Xindi thought they wouldn’t help? That didn’t make sense either since the Xindi and the Federation were allies. Something didn’t add up - and Alora wanted to find out what Ch’zila was hiding.
Naledi: Response.
Ch'zila: Pop Hiss... You forget, our young are already inside your vessel. Soon they will awaken and they will be very hungry... Even now, I can hear their shells beginning to crack. Can you not hear it?
Tito: This isn’t the way…
Naledi: Crick Snap Pop Hiss… Agreed, this is getting pointless. We can’t hear the eggs, and they wouldn’t be able to fight us for at least another month anyway.
Was Tito getting impatient? They were in a tough spot, between a rock and a hard place, though Naledi’s comment was true, meaning their threat wasn’t as threatening as they wanted it to be. Diplomacy wasn’t working, though Alora wasn’t ready to give up on it just yet. Surely there was more they could do first to try and de-escalate.
DeVeau: We’re willing to help you without coercion. Wouldn’t a peaceful solution be better?
Naledi/Ch’zila: Response.
Tito: Computer, Command Code Tito Echo Alpha one seven zero zero. Give me full control of shuttle bays and open them to space on my mark, or if any weapons fire is registered on the bridge.
Not even a second later, the computer spoke.
Computer: Acknowledged.
Tito: Anyone shoot and your Nursery goes flying back to the Badlands
Yes, Tito was out of patience, and that desperate act was not what Alora had hoped he would do. Casting a sharp glance in his direction, she really wished he hadn’t gone so far as to threaten their children.
Naledi: Crick Snap Pop Hiss… So, will you stand down? Or face the consequences of what you’ve done?
Naledi surprised her even more by going along with it. That time, her glance fell on the Xindi leader of the Invicta before returning to the leader of the invaders.
Ch’zila: Response.
With their children’s lives at risk, Tito must have felt comfortable enough about their position that he lowered his phaser, but his tone left no room for doubt. He would follow through on his threat.
Tito: Do you really care to risk it? We are offering help… We can help. But we will defend us.
The only reason you are not laying on the floor is because we are a Starfleet ship.
Naledi: Crick Snap Pop Pew… We have already given you the benefit of the doubt, it is clear you are desperate. Don’t do anything else stupid and we will all live. Including your offspring.
Thanks to Tito, everyone on the bridge was armed, including Clara, but it was Tito himself and Naledi who took advantage of their weapons. Alora’s was still hidden beneath her jacket, but she could pull it out quickly. However, she didn’t want to make things worse, especially since Naledi already aimed his own phaser at the Xindi leader. Yet, they also offered assistance.
Naledi: Pew Pop Snap Crack… If it puts it’s weapon down, will you stand down? Accept the help we were already offering?
A chirp distracted them, though only minimally. Naledi lowered his phaser and then nodded at another of the crew members - a Trill who wore the blue of the sciences.
Naledi: Pew Snap Pop… What’s the news, Lieutenant?
The woman smiled broadly before broadcasting the news.
Blue Lieutenant: Security reports the Xindi threat has been neutralised and the bodies, both unconscious and deceased are being moved to Cargo Bay Five.
Taking a deep breath, Alora let out a silent sigh of relief. That meant the only Xindi not taken into custody were the ones right there on that bridge. They were also the ones who had the most advantage. However, maybe they could shift the tide. Turning toward Naledi, who was her commanding officer, even if Tito held the metaphorical keys to the systems.
DeVeau: Captain, I think it would be wise to check on the children.
Alora wasn’t ignoring the fact that Ch’zila and their minions were still there threatening them, she was trying to focus more on the innocent who really did need their help.
Ch’zila/Naledi/Tito: Response.
DeVeau: I know you are all resistant to radiation, but the Badlands aren’t a normal area of space, and children, even children of such a hardy species, are more susceptible.
Susceptible to many things, but radiation was only one aspect of being in space. Most of the radiation they were exposed to was harmless, but plenty more wasn’t, and with ones so young, they might be affected by types that didn’t affect the adults.
Ch’zila/Naledi/Tito: Response.
Tito threatened to send the hatchery out into space, leaving the Xindi hijackers devoid of their future. Alora really hoped it wouldn’t come to that. Even if he made the threat, surely the man understood that they couldn’t punish the innocent for the crimes of their parents. So, she offered an alternative. Although Alora had mentioned earlier they were willing to help, she actually offered an alternative. Children were usually less hardy than their parents, and though they were Xindi, the same could be said for their own progeny. A lot of things affected babies, even when in the womb. Or, in that case, the egg.
DeVeau: It’s not just radiation. Stress, even before birth…er…hatching…can negatively affect the health of the children, even right before emerging. We don’t really want to send them into space, but if you allow us to help you and them, then we can stop all this before it gets worse.
And since they were the last of their group really left standing, it could only get worse for them.
Ch’zila/Naledi/Tito: Response.
-- Commander Alora DeVeau Chief Science Officer USS Thor & Matriarch of the 15th House Betazed M239008AD0
