-
Kylah has held her breath for several seconds once the drop began, one hand clenched to the edge of her seat (or anything that is affixed and grabbable). But the shock does not last long, swiftly receding into exhilaration.
It is not quite the same as when she went on the orbital dive--something that she usually does not try to recall, as it ended so terrifyingly with Velir's accident. But the utter delight she felt while falling, almost flying, is brought back to her senses all at once. An almost childish laugh escapes her as she peers out the nearest view. She wishes she could feel the wind in her hair, and closes her eyes for a second to imagine that she can.
A hint of a less pleasant reaction to all this vaguely insinuates itself in her mind, and she looks around until she spots Lt. Graham. Of course, she remembers suddenly: he did not take to that orbital dive well. Not wishing to embarrass him, she takes only a quick glance to share a hint of encouraging sympathy before returning to the view of their exciting plunge, and what she expects will be the sight of the planet growing ever larger.
Again she tears her gaze away to eye Bizhi, Delaney, the Captain and the rest of her crewmates. Finally she ends on Minister Gorra and cannot help blurting, "It is marvelous!"
-
"Marvelous" is pretty much the last thing on Graham's mind to describe the stomach-churning drop.
But he can't help but appreciate what he at least suspects was a sympathetic glance from Ens. Kylah.
After nodding minutely, he returns his attention to the mantra of "don't puke on the captain."
-
The drop does not particularly bother Bizhi: he has been on rougher rides, nor does he mind. On the contrary, he is enjoying it. Any jerking makes him glad he is not holding a drink, though he is starting to wish for a jolt of caffeine. He hopes the Embassy brew passes muster.
He cannot help but notice that Kylah seems to be a master of small talk. She is already breaking the ice with both the Minister and the Starfleet diplomat. He settles in a bit and watches her work.
-
Display screens show the space station growing smaller and smaller behind (or, rather, above) you as you race towards the surface. The planet is still too large and the ground too distant to have noticeably moved, but Delaney, concentrating, observes that the arc of the planet appears to have flattened just slightly as the space elevator descends. He points this out to you all.
Minister Gorra smiles at Kylah's remark. "It is, isn't it? I've been up and down the beanstalk dozens of times over the years, and I always enjoy it."
Dr. Mäkeläinen could ask the attendant if any caffeinated beverages or foods are available, if he wishes.
The Captain seems pensive as you continue your rapid descent.
-
The Minister seems pleased, so Kylah continues to be courteous and enthusiastic--while not too much so; she must find a good balance while also trying to intuit what the Captain and Starfleet wish their relations to be with these officials.
"I have been on beanstalks before, but there are so many different designs with such varying experiences. Many do not give provide an invigorating journey. But that technology tends to be--" She prevents herself from saying more sophisticated and easily changes tack. "--to be more sedate. Functional but lifeless. I prefer something that retains the wonder and thrill of what technology has accomplished. We are both harnessing and negating gravity, and it is a privilege to do so."
She is really feeling the lack of time for a proper briefing that would have made the overall goals for the mission clearer. Or perhaps she is too long away from governmental intrigue, and is simply not picking up cues. Such intrigue has inserted itself into almost every aspect of her life, even Starfleet. But her role in Aldaan's machinations has been nothing nearly as intense as it had been while still closely bound by his puppet strings back on Elas.
For now, she notices Captain Singh's internal focus has shifted, though she has no idea where her thoughts lie. Worried that her giddiness is unseemly, Kylah pulls back from admiring the view like a hyperactive tourist, though still aiming warmth to Minister Gorra.
"If you please, sir. Do you often travel to the station for pleasure? With family or friends? Or does your position entail meeting much with the businesses there? I ask for no details, of course; I would not presume. I am just thinking... were I to have such a mode of transportation, I would find any excuse to use it, personal or business. Unless there are other thrilling forms of sport or entertainment on the planet itself, for whatever little free time you might get?"
-
There is not much call for testing his "space legs", as it were, as everyone is seated in a comfortable lounge, but Dr. Mäkeläinen exhibits nonchalance by relaxing into his seat and discreetly catching the attendant's attention. He offers her his best professional smile and asks if there is any coffee available.
He keeps an interested eye on Lt. Graham, and, as for Ens. Kylah, he does his best not to interrupt her momentum.
-
Minister Gorra smiles and says, "Rarely for pleasure, but somewhat often for my official duties. I don't have frequent occasion to shop on the space station, but do so now and then, to buy gifts, offworld foods and the like. There are many thrilling things to do on Cavinre, to be sure!"
The attendant comes over and then is glad to get and serve Dr. Mäkeläinen some coffee. It is palatable, but far from the best he's ever had.
The elevator falls and falls and falls, and soon the lambent arc of the planet is not far below you, but only slightly below and then soon level with you. The elevator enters the planet's upper atmosphere and the sky outside gradually turns from black to a deep blue. The stars above gradually seem to wink out.
-
Graham clears his throat. "Well, I'll say this, the trip is certainly a lot more scenic this way compared to a transporter."
-
Kylah continues to be pleasant to Minister Gorra, though the silence of the Captain and some of the other crew makes her wonder if she should not be engaging him so. After reacting politely to his traveling habits and planetary loyalty, she adds a duly regretful smile. "I wish I could see some of Cavinre's sights and experience things as its people do." The reference to the populus is, of course, intentional, as is the fact that she makes no reference to the inequities they appear to suffer. Let him think her blithely unaware of such matters.
"...But of course, we have our own activities to perform, and will have no such opportunity. In the meantime, this ride has afforded us a great deal of pleasure already." Her words are sincere as she nods toward the bluer surroundings as they near the planet. It has been quite a while since she has seen this sort of descent--not since returning to Elas after graduating last summer, in fact. After leaving home to join the Yorktown, she has primarily been aboard vessels that remained in orbit outside of atmospheres, only traveling to and from destinations via transporter. The orbital dive was the sole exception, and that was hardly the same thing.
