Lt Commander Trellis Vondaryan -- Naming Customs (Tag: Ydem-18 / Svalasdottir / Kustais / Pandorn)

[Trellis Vondaryan]

((Black Hole Bar -- Deck 9 -- 1845 hours))

::Having marked the occasion when they officially left Federation space, Trellis had soon after met the Captain who gave him his first official assignment as first officer. He was to lead an away team on a first contact mission. Now he had to brief the rest of the team. The three were easy enough to find. He had, after all, spent some time memorizing the crew roster. Purely under the pretense of his duties as FO, obviously. Nothing to do with his incessant need to know, well, everything he could, from time in Intelligence.

::Gathering the team to him he was giving orders.::

Vondaryan: ::smiling:: I've got exciting news for the three of you. ::tilting his head:: We'll be meeting a new species tomorrow at 1100, and you're coming with me to their ship.

Pandorn: An away mission? : he looked surprised:: What is it about, sir?

::Trellis noted the excitement and surprise in the security officer.::

Vondaryan: We don't know much about them at all, yet. They call themselves the Deep and seem friendly. Our job is to get as much information from them as we can -- what do they want, why are they contacting us now, anything. ::he turned to her:: Reni, you'll be in charge of diplomatic operations. Do they want to set up diplomatic relations, or is this some sort of friendly warning to stay out of their space? How much do they know of the Federation or our alliances and enemies?

Svalasdottir: ::nodding, her smile still there but now accompanied by a down to business look in her grey eyes:: Right, sir.

::Watching the tall woman for a moment Trellis could see she was already thinking about how best to complete the task before her. Making preparations, figuring out best practices, the need to review information. Trellis gave her an almost imperceptible nod before continuing.::

Vondaryan: Krindo, as is standard Starfleet protocol you'll be in charge of our security while we're on their ship. ::beat, smiling:: But also see if you can get anything about their weapons, tactical or communications systems. They may be willing to share.

Pandorn: Aye, sir. I'll try to be discreet about it, sir. Wouldn't want to anger a potential ally.

::Trellis gave a small chuckle. If the Deep weren't willing to share something that would be fine. For all he knew their technology was inferior to current Federation standards and might not be worth sharing anyway. But better not to have reason to give offense on the first meeting.::

Vondaryan: ::turning to the young science officer:: T'Semrik, that leaves you dealing with their science and technology. As we don't know anything about them we have no idea how advanced they are. Have they just now managed warp, or have they been travelling the stars for centuries? What are their science and medicinal capabilities?

Kustais: ?

Vondaryan: Any questions?

Pandorn: Just a suggestion, sir. Have the Za keep a transporter lock on us. Just in case things go south fast.

::Good to know the young security officer was taking precautions. The pessimistic, overly protective nature security officers tended to give their crew clashed with Trellis' own open, friendly, optimistic view of people, but that didn't mean he didn't appreciate their efforts. Far from it. He only wished they weren't proven right so often. Well, no matter, they were always learning opportunities.::

Vondaryan: Sensible precaution. ::smiling:: Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

Svalasdottir: Do we know anything about why they have chosen to contact us now Commander?

Vondaryan: Not yet, no. ::tilting his head:: We should learn more tomorrow once we've met them, but I hesitate to make guesses now.

::For all he knew they were pretending to be friendly before launching an assault on the Za. Or maybe they really were a friendly species looking to open trade relations. Maybe they were requesting aid in dealing with an enemy. Or one of dozens of countless other scenarios. Whatever the reason, it would be interesting to find out.::

Pandorn/Kustais: ?

((OOC: we can continue if there are more questions or thoughts. Otherwise we'll just fast-forward to the mission itself))

Vondaryan: ::rubbing his hands together, smiling:: Well, that's all I had. Enjoy the rest of the party and I'll see you all tomorrow.

::Trellis nodded to them all, picked up his now-empty wine glass and headed back out to the party. There were still many members of the crew he had yet to meet officially. And plenty of wine to sample.::

((Later, 2230 hours, Trellis' quarters))

::After a thoroughly enjoyable party filled with new people and fascinating conversation Trellis headed back to his quarters. The computer informed him he had a message from someone at Starbase 118. Trellis' heart quickened momentarily thinking it was from Zaina, but when he checked it was just the latest move in his correspondence chess match from a Zakdorn friend back on the station. Trellis made the appropriate move on his set, thinking about his own next move.

::Before he could decide his communicator beeped.::

Pandorn: =/\=Pandorn to Commander Vondaryan. Might I have a word with you, sir. Concerning the mission.=/\=
 
Vondaryan: ::he stifled a yawn:: =/\= Of course. But could it perhaps wait until tomorrow morning? ::yawning again:: Say my office at 0800 hours? =/\=
 
Pandorn: =/\=Aye, sir. I will be there at 0800, sir. Sorry to have disturbed you.=/\=

Vondaryan: =/\= No apologies needed. See you tomorrow morning, ensign. Vondaryan out. =/\=

((Timeskip 1100 hours next day))
((Transport Chamber, Deep Explorer-46))

::Having met with Pandorn in the morning before leaving Trellis felt the team was going to be in very secure, capable hands. The young man had questioned him about weapons. Trellis had been of two minds. Standard protocol on away missions was to have each member carry a Type 2 pistol. Yet this was also a first contact and he did not want to offend the new species and appear overly hostile. In the end Trellis compromised. He suggested Pandorn be armed with standard equipment as befitted his station, but that the rest of the team would not. He also warned the young man that he should be prepared to relinquish his phaser if asked by the Deep. Trellis had also, discreetly, mentioned that perhaps Pandorn would like to have some sort of ceremonial hand-to-hand weapon just in case.

::That matter handled, Trellis met the rest of the team at the appointed hour. As was his custom he inhaled just before the familiar tingling sensation of the transporter engaged. He rematerialized in an unfamiliar ship. It had low lighting and a slightly heavier gravitational field that standard, but nothing too out of the ordinary.

::He smiled at the female who stood to greet them. She had a neutral expression on her face. At least, Trellis assumed it was a neutral expression. The ridges that lined her face from temples to chin made familiar expressions harder to read and look more intense. No matter, he gave a small half-bow to her in Vissian fashion as she spoke.::

Ydem-18: Welcome, Federation folk. I am Ydem-18, arbiter of the Deep's Explorer-46. I am honored that you join me today.

Vondaryan: Greetings, Ydem-18, thank you for welcoming us. I am Lieutenant Commander Trellis Vondaryan, First Officer of the USS Za. These are the members of my team ::he held out a hand to each in turn:: our diplomatic officer, Ensign Reni Svalasdottir, science officer T'Semrik Kustais and security officer Krindo Pandorn.

Svalasdottir / Kustais / Pandorn: [tag]

Ydem-18: Allow me to lead you to the meeting chamber. It is close by. And I--

::Trellis detected the slight pause in her words. He tilted his head, wondering what caused the stumble. The woman seemed ill at ease, he thought.::

Ydem-18: --I am at your service while you remain with us. Is it your pleasure to go now?

Vondaryan: ::he nodded:: Yes, please, lead the way.

Svalasdottir / Kustais / Pandorn: [tag]

::As they left the small transporter room Trellis immediately noticed the lack of activity during the ship. Whereas almost anywhere he had visited in the Federation was alive with people hurrying to and fro, this ship was strangely silent. He hoped talking with her would ease the tension a little, so began questioning her.::

Vondaryan: Tell me, Ydem-18, are there more of your people known as Ydem as well, thus requiring the number designation?

Ydem-18 / Svalasdottir / Kustais / Pandorn: [tag]

::Trellis tilted his head, intrigued. This was his first first contact. Already it was proving interesting.::

Vondaryan: That is excellent to know. On my homeworld, a planet known as Vissia, male surnames are a combination of the continent on which they were born and their mother's last names. Thus, my own 'Vondaryan' means I was born on the continent Vondar to a woman with the last name Yan. Women's names remain unchanged through generations. ::beat:: We have a third sex, cogenitors, which can chose either designation, or make their own. Many people, too, take their cogenitor's name into their own as a middle name.

Ydem-18 / Svalasdottir / Kustais / Pandorn: [tag]

Vondaryan: ::smiling:: Yes, we do all have interesting customs, don't we?

Ydem-18 / Svalasdottir / Kustais / Pandorn: [tag]

((OOC: This is your opportunity to ask questions of the new race, give descriptions of the ship, race, technology or whatever and otherwise move the scene forward somehow. Most of what we 'know' of the Deep will come from us, the players, so feel free to be creative!))

tag/tbc

--
Lieutenant Commander Trellis Vondaryan
First Officer
USS Za
O239208TV0