Lieutenant Commander V'Nille - First Impressions
V'Nille
(( Transporter Room 1, Deck 7, USS Valkyrie-A, Aelkuun orbit ))
One hour later, V’Nille was in the transporter room where they would all beam down to the surface of Aelkuun. She kept the same loose white long-sleeved tunic and black pants from earlier, trusting in her coat of fur to close the gap on keeping her warm in the cool spring air waiting for them. Unlike most of the humanoids on the ship, the Caitian felt no need to wear anything on her feet, trusting in the natural toughness of her paw pads. She carried nothing on her, preferring instead to see what she could grab while there. After all, the K’tsélai probably had bags and stuff like that, right?
oO The captain’s sweater looks comfortable as hell, though. Oo
Aleron: Well, I think I’m all set.
V’Nille: Me too. Reine’X, you got everything?
Reine’X: Ready, Sirs.
Aleron: Well, as the Terrans say, let’s get this show on the road.
It seemed fate had another intrepid explorer in mind for today’s jaunt, as another human stumbled into the transporter. V’Nille couldn’t decide if the new arrival was out of breath because she ran here or if it was because of the very full backpack she carried on her back. She recognized the young woman as Nelis Orla, one of the ship’s Operations officers. Other than the name, there was little else she knew of Orla but if the cheery demeanor, overpreparedness, and eagerness to join were any indicator, this was going to be an interesting trip.
Orla: Wait for me!!!! ::gasps for breath::
V’Nille: Another for the expedition, I see! Welcome!
Reine’X: Are you taking all of it down to the planet?:: she pointed at the large backpack.
Orla: Oh! That’s a pretty sweater, Captain!!!
V’Nille: It is pretty! It looks incredibly comfortable as well.
Aleron: response
Orla: I can’t wait to meet them! I bet they’re gonna be so cute!!!!
V’Nille looked around to take one final stock of the others. Reine’X was all ready to go and standing on the transporter pad, waiting for the others. She nodded to herself, stepped onto the transporter pad, and looked towards the transporter operator.
V’Nille: You have the coordinates I gave you? Everything looks okay?
Transporter Operator: Yes sir. Ready when you are.
V’Nille: Good. Let’s get going then. Four to beam down whenever the others look ready.
Aleron/Orla: Responses
It wasn’t long before the familiar bluish-white haze settled over her vision.
(( Near the port of Tseraiq, Qareluun, Aelkuun ))
And moments later, V’Nille and the others were reconstituted in front of a curious and slightly alarmed K’tsélai. She took a moment to study their new host and likely tour guide.
He seemed somewhere between Orla and Aleron in height, though from the way his body relaxed and he started hunching slightly, it seemed his typical height would be closer to Orla’s than Aleron’s. His fur, glistening slightly in the sun due to the oil in it that kept it hydrophobic, was a mottled grey and brown that V’Nille recognized as a natural camouflage pattern. The dark colored outfit he wore bore close resemblance to a swimsuit with its snug fit on his torso. He wore brightly colored wraps around his chest and waist that bore an emblem on the clasp that kept it secure. With the small round ears, the shape of his whiskered snout, long limbs and relatively smaller limbs that ended with webbed paws, V’Nille suddenly fully understood why some of the humans were calling them otter people. Whatever physiological differences there were between these K’tsélai and Terran otters paled in comparison to the silhouette when it came to nicknames. His big brown eyes settled on the only other furred being in the group after he looked at each of the others - V’Nille.
She waved at him cheerily. Thankfully, the little Starfleet delta on her tunic would ensure a conversation would be possible.
V’Nille: Hello. Are you ::sounding out the name carefully:: S’Relaai?
Their lutrine attendant looked at her curiously for a moment before nodding his head.
S’Relaai: Yes. You are … V’Nille. These are the others you mentioned on the call?
V’Nille nodded and pointed at each in turn as she introduced them.
V’Nille: Yes. This is Isara Aleron. She is the captain of our ship. This is Reine’X, who works in our medical department. The one with the big backpack is Nelis Orla, who works in our operations department.
The K’tsélai studied each in turn, nodding to indicate his understanding. He spread his arms wide and waggled his hands.
S’Relaai: I see you and greet you openly. Welcome to the city Tseraiq on the continent of Qareluun. I am S’Relaai, an envoy appointed by the K’tsérai. Pleased I am to show you our world.
V’Nille: Thank you. I am eager to learn more of the K’tsélai and your history.
Aleron/Orla/Reine’X: Responses
S’Relaai: We are outside of the city. Based on what V’Nille told me, I was not sure how this … “transporter” ::the word obviously unfamiliar to him:: technology would look so I suggested this place to be safe. It is not a long walk to the port. I apologize for the inconvenience.
V’Nille: That makes sense.
Aleron/Orla/Reine’X: Responses
S’Relaai’s whiskers twitched along with his ears and tail. He moved so that the others could see the city behind him. In contrast to the volcanic sand and sparse vegetation of the beach, the squat buildings nearby were full of color - each a unique mosaic that somehow didn’t clash or become an offense to V’Nille’s eyes. Perhaps it was the balance of bright and muted colors or simply an understanding of color theory and decoration. She could hear and see other K’tsélai walk and mingle in the streets there, the distance allowing for her to hear the chirps, clipped tones, and long vowels that made up the native language being carried on the chilly breeze.
To their left was the cerulean sea, its waves gently lapping on the shore. They could see the port from there easily enough by the crowd of ships and boats, most of which seemed to be using sails and rowers more than motors. V’Nille could smell something similar to oil on the wind, so she knew there were motored boats in there somewhere. Perhaps the K’tsélai simply favored sail on their homeworld. The notion was certainly romantic enough. The docks looked to be made of a similar stone material to the buildings with wood bridging the gaps.
There was almost an anachronistic arrangement between everything seeming from the Age of Sail and clearly modern technology and architecture everywhere - the ships and boats, the buildings, the clothes, and the devices that the locals carried and used. Something about it seemed intentional to V’Nille.
S’Relaai: I am curious if there is anything you wish to see first?
V’Nille looked at the others. She had no preferences. Everything looked interesting.
Aleron/Orla/Reine’X: Responses