Lieutenant Lael Rosek: And It Just Gets Worse... (Tags Cjnur/Longza/Blair/Fiorr)
Lael Rosek
::Lael tensed as another group approached. Something about all the ratio of Hocktin to the away team again made her feel nervous. Her stomach twisted in knots and she swallowed down the panic, struggling to keep her expression neutral.::
Longza: Professor Mindor, ::looking at the Starfleet personnel:: visitors, what’s going on? This quite the strange meeting place and your conversation seems rather odd.
Blair: As does the fact that not only once but twice in just a few moments someone has approached us on our way towards the space center.
Mindor: ::softly spoken:: Well, actually you approached me…
Fiorr: ?
Longza: I wish it were under better circumstances, but it is an honor to welcome you to our planet. I am President Longza of the Kranstin province.
Blair: Pleased to meet you Mister President. I’m Commander Alex Blair of the USS Za and this is my team, LtCmdr Kalos Fiorr and Lt Lael Rosek.
Mindor: Aaah.. I don’t know if I have introduced myself yet? Professor Rish Mindor, creator of the warp technology for Kranstin and co-builder from the Pathfinder.
Rosek: ::nods and smiles wanly:: The honor is ours, Mister President. ::to Mindor:: And you, Professor. I must say that your work is rather impressive. I'm an Engineer myself.
Fiorr: ?
Longza: I was hoping that you had found a way to contact their ship. I need a way to coordinate with their people in finding Captain Rhani.
Blair: It seems that our intentions align pretty well then Mister President.
Mindor: Yes they do. So where do we start? ::he gives Cnjur an angry look:: I assume he knows more about what Numiz has in mind
Fiorr: ?
Longza: I should have pushed for more thorough checks on all of you Pathfinder crew members, but I caved in for the sake of progress.
Mindor: :: with anger in his voice:: You bastards even tricked me with handing in false blue prints from the Pathfinder ::He shows them to the President and the rest:: They build three times as much armor inside it as we agreed upon.
Cjnur: For that I do apologize. The Marshall believed our safety was paramount and that you all would not knowingly agree to more armor and resources. I had to give you those false blueprints, Professor.
Fiorr: ?
Longza: Well that changes here and now. Cjnur, it is in everyone’s best interest for you to cooperate with us.
Mindor: ::mutters:: Why go easy on him when he doesn’t want to coöperate….
Cjnur: But I am cooperating to the best of my ability, Professor. ::It wasn't his fault he was not privy to the Marshall's inner circle the way General Kzan was.::
Fiorr: ?
Longza: So do we have a way to reach their ship?
Blair: Yes we do Mister President. As a part of our standard duty equipment, all Starfleet personnel has personal communicators.
::Lael fought back a grin at the surprise on the President's face, which soon became a smile.::
Mindor: Fascinating… how does it work?
Rosek: It uses a subspace transmission, Professor, to overcome typical electromagnetic interference without having to rely on an artificial satellite. It can also act as an emergency transponder to beam the wearer up if necessary.
Fiorr/Cjnur/: ?
Longza: Really? Those tiny things can communicate with your ship even from this distance?
Blair: ::nodding:: Yes they can Mister President. The standard range of a communicator is quite impressive.
::Lael's shoulder brushed Alex's and she stifled a gasp at the unexpected emotional current that lapped at her mental shields. Her gaze flickered to his expression to see if he'd noticed, but if he had, he didn't show it as he kept his gaze trained on the President.::
Mindor: ::his voice was high pitched:: which range are you talking about then? And will the others on your ship hear us loud and clear?
Blair: As long as our ship is on orbit we can communicate from anywhere on the surface, and unless something is causing interference the communication will be loud and clear on both ends.
Fiorr/Cjnur: ?
Longza: And you would be willing to use this device to allow me to speak with your crew?
Blair: ::grins and nods:: I’m sure it could be arranged, we will be due for a check-in in a few minutes anyway.
Mindor: ::he licks his lips and he laughs with his sharp teeth bare:: That would be lovely. Let’s get started then.
Fiorr: ?
Longza: So I just talk and my message will be carried over to your ship?
Blair: We could send a message, but I prefer to communicate in real time myself.
Mindor: ::his eyes shoot open wide:: WAIT whut… you mean like we can see them and they can see us and we can hear them on the same moment?
Fiorr/Cjnur: ?
Longza: Live communication, really? That’s even better.
Rosek: ::nods:: It's used for situations like this when time is of the essence to communicate crucial information to other away teams or to a vessel in orbit.
Mindor: ::softly:: and here I though we had to fly all the way up there again to have a conversation with them…
Fiorr/Cjnur: ?
Longza: Professor, there is so much we can learn from these people…
Mindor: Oh yes there is dear President. ::to the Federation Folks:: I hope that whatever Numiz is about to do won’t change your way of how WE see this all. We sincerly only want to exchange knowledge and become better. Right President…
Rosek: ::nods:: And of course once this situation is resolved, we can discuss that.
Fiorr/Cjnur/Longza: ?
::As the president started speaking with Mindor, Alex motioned for her and Fiorr to come closer. She hesitated, uncertain after what had resulted from their last physical contact, before doing as he indicated, careful to avoid contact.::
Blair: I’m going to help him chat with the Za. I want you two to start working on finding the captain.
Fiorr/Any: ?
Blair: Rosek use your tricorder to create a map of the area. Fiorr, cross-reference that map with any areas where we wouldn’t be able to track a combadge. That will give us a shorter list of places to search.
Rosek: ::nods:: Aye, sir.
Fiorr/Any: ?
Blair: I’m also open to any suggestions you might have.
Rosek: ::murmurs:: I'll see what I can get from the scans.
Fiorr/Any: ?
::Alex nodded and turned back to the president and Mindor.::
::She entered the parameters for what she wanted the little machine to do, adjusting as needed. Soon, the tricorder was gathering data to translate into a visual lay of the land.::
Blair: When you’re ready Mister President, I’m ready to contact the Za.
::Lael tried to remain focused on the readouts, but found herself struggling again. While she suspected that the virus was partially responsible, the disconcerting wave of emotion she'd experienced from Alex during their brief physical contact was still bothering her, especially given the tension that still existed between them. She sighed in frustration, wondering when or even if things would ever go back to normal between them. Sure, she'd protected him from the wrong end of a weapon; but that didn't mean he was willing to let go of the fact that she had a crush on his boyfriend.::
Mindor: Then so are we Sir…
Longza/Fiorr: ?
Blair: Just stand close and talk like normal. Your voice will pick up just fine.
::As the men took a small step closer to him, Alex tapped on his combadge.::
Blair: =/\= Commander Blair to Za. I’m here with some local representatives who would like to speak with you. =/\=
Williams: =/\= This is Lieutenant Commander Alexander Williams from the United Federation of Planets. We would like an audience with representatives from your government. =/\=
Longza: =/\= ? =/\=
Cattan: =/\= So you're saying you have nothing to do with it... then can you tell us what happened over there? =/\=
Mindor: =/\= Professor Mindor here… ::laughs shyly:: wow this works…sorry uhm well somehow Kzan, Cjunr and above all the Marshall had been planning this for a long time. If we had known this we would have stopped them, of course, =/\=
Cattan: =/\= The Marshall... do we know his intentions? =/\=
Williams: =/\= So, in short, you are telling me our captain, first officer, and chief security are “missing”? =/\=
Longza: =/\= ? =/\=
Mindor: =/\= We only know where they are taken custody but we don’t know what’s happening over there. Is there some kind of way I can talk this over with you so we can up with a plan?=/\=
Cattan: =/\= ? =/\=
Williams: =/\= You are welcome to join us… Prepare for transport. =/\=
::Lael's ears perked up at that.::
Rosek: =/\= Begging your pardon, gentleman, if I may interject? =/\=
Williams/Cattan/Any: =/\= ? =/\=
Rosek: =/\= Has there been any progress on a cure for the virus? =/\=
Williams/Cattan/Any: =/\= ? =/\=
Blair: =/\= Commander Williams, in that case it may not be prudent to bring the professor aboard the Za. =/\=
Rosek:=/\=With respect, Commander, I agree. From my understanding, this virus is fatal. We can't risk exposing the rest of the crew to the bug that causes it.=/\=
Williams/Cattan/Any: =/\= ? =/\=
::Lael grimaced.::
Rosek: o0 Idiot. 0o
Blair: =/\= Understood Commander. My team and I will continue to support the search from down here; Blair out. =/\=
Mindor: ::sighing:: so… If I got this right…I’m going to be transported to your ship? How are you going to do that?
Blair: ::smiles:: Our people have developed what we call transporter technology. Think of it as almost instantaneous transportation.
Longza/Fiorr: ?
Mindor: so.. what you’re saying is that some kind of beam will take my whole body directly to that ship with lightspeed?
Rosek: ::nods:: It's disconcerting at first. But I assure you it's perfectly safe.
Longza/Fiorr: ?
::Alex simply nodded.::
Mindor: :: to the President:: Sir, I’m sorry I can’t take you with me on this amazing journey. I hope you can work with us from up here!
Longza/Fiorr: ?
Mindor: ::to the Federation Folks:: So you’re staying here because you might be infected with some kind of virus right… ? I hope you’ll feel well soon enough!
::If the expression on Alex's face was any indication, he was thinking the same thing Lael was. It was entirely possible that Williams' order would cost lives. Her thoughts flickered to Dassa and Chythar and she grimaced. Two of their best hopes for finding a cure for this mess might just become victims themselves.::
Longza/Fiorr: ?
::Once Mindor had vanished in a flash of blue light, Alex turned to the President.::
Longza/Fiorr: ?
Blair: Your people deal with this Marshall regularly I take it, so you must know about him and how he works.
Cjnur: He would want to take them to a secure location. Somewhere in Justio proper I'd suspect.
Longza/Fiorr: ?
Blair: We could also use your help concerning this virus we have found.
Longza/Fiorr: ?
Blair: I don’t know much about it, our doctors have requested a blood sample from one of your people.
Rosek: ::nods:: Your people seem to be resistant. Something about your white blood cells fends it off.
Longza/Fiorr: ?
Blair: ::nods:: In that case, if you’ll lead the way Mister President.
Longza/Fiorr: ?
Rosek: ::pauses:: Tell me, Mr. President. Why do you think Marshal Numiz would do something like this?
Longza: ?
Cjnur: Because the Marshall is concerned with the defense of Justio above all else. Above trusting even those from Kranstin, let alone from outside the planet.
Blair/Fiorr: ?
Rosek: ::nods:: Not surprising. I'm sad to say at one point in Earth's history, xenophobia ran rampant and caused a great deal of chaos. Fortunately, we had some excellent leaders to see us through.
Longza/Blair/Fiorr: ?
Rosek: ::smiles and nods:: Yes. I agree. As an old Earth playwright, George Bernard Shaw, once said, "Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything."
Cjnur: I would argue that progress comes with an unimpeded vision. With the desire and will to see an outcome through to the end, despite any obstacles that come in the way. Marshall Numiz certainly has that quality.
Rosek: ::tenses:: Given that I am an individual of two worlds, Cjnur, you'll forgive me if I disagree. Progress at the expense of the people you seek to make a better life for isn't progress. Xenophobia must be stopped in its tracks in the interests of growing our understanding of the greater universe. Peace is good for everyone. War is good for no one.