Star Trek RPG - Mission #7: "The War-Brotherhood of Irkhuit"

[choie]

Her cupped palms accept the little device, reminding Kylah of an old rite she witnessed from one of her family's guests many, many years ago. The alien's culture required them to give a precious item to their hosts in gratitude, and the one Kylah watched did so to her mother: a gilded flower, something lovely and delicate and, according to the guest, part of a holy ceremony back on their planet. Mother had accepted it with all her usual grace.

A communications device seems just as sacred to Kylah, having been without one at nearly every terrible event since joining Starfleet. She cradles it protectively with her fingers and looks up at the Uwat officer. Her mind works fast to recall her paltry knowledge of basic Uwat until she recalls: "*Thank you, Pell. We are grateful.*" Glancing at Lt. Graham like a child exhibiting his first caught fish to a parent, Kylah smiles and then nods to Pell. "I hope the Chalnoth can be assured none of us harmed their men, and that they recover completely from whatever happened."

She steps close to her senior officer, still holding the device prayerfully, and will leave when he does.



Just adding the link to show that it is indeed canon that Kylah seems to know at least rudimentary Uwat.

[stolz]

Bizhi has a younger sister, but he is not at the moment inclined to field questions about his relatives, so he does not mention her.

He does ask with a smile, "Plank owner, eh?" He glances at Rangin and Onn to see if the tradition means something to them. "What privileges does that confer?"

[Elendil's Heir]

The Uwat looks as surprised as an Uwat is capable of looking, which isn't much, and replies in the same language, You are welcome. May it do you some good. Now go to your quarters, please. At least, that's what Kylah thinks it said.

Rawlings says, smiling, "Bragging rights and a fancy certificate, and when the ship is decommissioned, a piece of her actual deck plating you can hang on your bulkhead... or wall, if you're out of Starfleet yourself by then."

[general_urko]

Graham reminds himself to ask how the hell Kylah learned Uwat later...then also reminds himself she's a comms specialist, that's what they do...

"Let's double time," he says to her. "Back to base as it were."

[SidonianGal]

Nia nods enviously at Rawlings. "I don't blame you for being proud," she says, though he's not new to the sentiment. "Never had the pleasure, aside from my parents' ship and of course a couple of shuttles." Sensing the treacherous memories of the latter, she shrugs and, turning to lie on her stomach, props her head on her crossed arms to get a view of Mäkeläinen.

"I don't detect that different an accent in your Fed Standard. Just some unfamiliar, maybe untranslatable words here and there. But that's the fun of meeting so many races, isn't it? Infinite Diversity. We had one kind of people back home. Here..." She looks at her fellow guests. Add in Book and Kylah and it's not a bad mix even just in their party.

Thinking of the others triggers her to glance with a little unease at the door. They're likely okay. Hasn't even been very long since they left. Time's really hard to gauge. Nia's spent over a decade in fairly regular watches, with easy access to chronometers and the barely audible thrum of the engines to serve as a guide to how long and how fast the Yorktown and her past ships were traveling.

"Um Doc," she says with a little tap on his forearm. "How long have we been on board? I oughtta be taking more notice of our ETA, which admittedly is vague anyway. You mind keeping a sort of...record...of the time we've got left? Maybe a log too, if you haven't started one. Tracking how long those meds last before there's some deterioration."

Her words sound embarrassingly obvious even to her. Of course the doctor's doing this already. But she's tired and logey and she wants to contribute something. "Sorry. I'm not telling you how to do your job. It's just...if this compound can really take the place of Bilitrium, that means a lot for my people. It means everything. Offworld life before our time. I'd be proud of that. I could be the medical equivalent of a plankowner. Even if it's post-mortem." Nia offers a smile to take the morbidity out of her words.

[choie]

"Yes, sir." Walking by Lt. Graham's side, Kylah hastens her pace, moving her short legs faster to match his. As she does not have her duty belt, she keeps the device in her hand.

"I am grateful you asked me to come," she says with another smile. "It is... I cannot express how relieved I feel to have this communicator." Her smile ebbs somewhat. "Do you think their medical crew member will know what to do for... Nia and Velir? I think Doc was hoping to use their medical tech to give proper examinations. It does not seem that is possible."

Kylah sideeyes the rest of the corridor to see that they are, indeed, alone, then exhales. "I hope my uncle gets the message--and replies as soon as possible. If a shuttle flies out to meet us, it could cut our rendezvous time considerably. I do not feel comfortable with two party members so far away from decent medical care when they are so...ill."

[stolz]

It is a sensitive issue, but he is pleased she finds his accent passable, and tells her so, since he knows she is sincere. He consciously put much effort into perfecting his elocution, plus he had his time in Starfleet Academy on Earth. As a colony world and industrial base, Mars always had what, at least he felt at the time, was a diverse population, even if it was hardly that on a galactic scale, so growing up on an entire planet with one kind of people is still a foreign concept to him.

The Doctor does have a reasonably good, though by no means preternatural, sense of time even without technological aids. The lack of clockwork-regular Starfleet shift changes and watches is no help, but he remembers getting up, T'Pol informing them it was late morning, and what they have been up to since then. "It is not quite mid-afternoon [correct that if I botched it :-) Then again, who knows if he is always as on the ball as he tries to be...]. It only feels much longer."

"I have not yet thought of all the ultimate implications," he says, ignoring for the moment her attempt at graveyard humor, "but I agree. Barring a major breakthrough, Bilitrium is, let's face it, hard to get. Even if a ship on Ollos had some, we would never have been able to afford any. However, a substitute that anyone can whip up with a medium-tech chemical fab, that is a different story. And the principle behind it will surely be more widely applicable, to more species and further environments.

"The side effects you are feeling," he says with an abrupt earnestness, "the fatigue and tolerance, that is the first thing for for research to work out. But we know they can be alleviated with genuine Bilitrium. Just another couple of days. We are already on our way home; focus on that. Nothing to do but rest and learn some new card games."

[Elendil's Heir]

Dr. Mäkeläinen's time estimate is accurate.

Graham and Kylah leave the Uwat crewman and make it back to their quarters without further incident, although the sounds of Chalnoth shouting seem to be coming closer. They find all four of their Starfleet shipmates in one room, which is now a bit crowded.

"Welcome back," Rawlings says. "Any news?"

[general_urko]

"Agreed," Graham says after Kylah says she hopes her uncle responds soon. He'd like to know more details about what's up with that, but at the moment he'll simply take whatever they can get.

"And Mr. Kylah," he says before they enter their quarters "you earned your place. I'm pretty sure nobody else has picked up any Uwat."

Graham makes sure the door is locked before answering Rawlings. "Well, we have a communicator, but the medical facilities suck, and the Chalnoth are pissed."

Graham takes a deep breath and surveys the too-small room. "Mr. Rangin--" he glances at the doctor then back at him. "I don't know what kind of condition you're in. I don't know what the hell happened back there with the Chalnoth. But if Mr. Rawlings and I are incapacitated, and the crew is at risk, you do whatever you need to do to bring any and all Chanoth down. That is a direct order."

[stolz]

"Let's take it calmly," Mäkeläinen reacts. "Did you see any Chalnoth--- are they heading here for a go at us?"

He thinks for a second and asks, "Did you see any weapons, or anything they can use to get through a locked door?" Presumably they were scanned before coming on board, but there are ways to smuggle contraband. Or they may simply intend to settle things with knives, or bare-handed. Would they really escalate so quickly? All the shouting must have alerted the crew already.

[SidonianGal]

Nia, inclined to fall asleep, wakes herself up immediately when Booker barges in with Kylah in tow. She pushes herself up on one elbow again and listens to Book's report to the Doc, then gives a double-take when she digests his latest order.

"You're asking Rangin to act as backup? I mean, no offense," she says with a nod of brief apology to the xenobiologist. "But you're almost as bad off as I am, and right now I'd think even she--" Her hand waggles at Kylah--"could take you in a duel. No offense," she repeats, this time to the little ensign.

She shakes her head and leans back to stare at the underside of the top bunk. "It's not my call. I've got no options to offer even if it were. I just hope the door security's more sophisticated than the rest of this heap looks." After a pause she raises an eyebrow at the cabin and--to make it a trifecta--adds dryly to the quarters at large: "No offense."

[choie]

As ever grateful for Lt. Graham's support, Kylah nonetheless quickly exchanges her expression of pleasure to astonishment. Without prodding she steps close to Velir, as if preparing to defend him. "What--what can he do, sir? He is not feeling well."

She does notice the air feeling thick, somehow, and she turns to the door leading to the second cabin. "Maybe we should split up. They may not know we are in two cabins." Kylah starts to open the door (if it is not locked) and turns back. "But this is absurd. That they blame us for their problems. They are likely drunk. Maybe the food did not agree with them." Biting her lip, she faces Dr. Mäkeläinen. "They may have no weapons but their teeth and hands are enough to do damage, armed or not. And they are so very large."

With a quick check of the communicator, Kylah shrugs helplessly. "It may come to nothing. Mr. Jol said he could control things on his ship. Well, this is his opportunity." Kylah, finding no free space to sit in the crowded cabin, moves to the other quarters (again, if they're open) and will sit by herself, arms crossed in frustration.

[Elendil's Heir]

Rangin's eyes widen at Graham's order, and he says, "Aye, aye, sir," without the slightest hint of irony or sarcasm. He replies to Onn, with a wry smile, "None taken."

Rawlings rubs his chin. "We haven't seen the Chalnoth armed, but yes, it's possible they've smuggled weapons aboard. I wouldn't put it past them, if they could. Something Uwat sensors wouldn't pick up... or even recognize as weapons. It's been done before, on other ships with even more advanced tech."

Kylah goes and sits alone in her quarters; her five Yorktown crewmates - Onn, Graham, Dr. Mäkeläinen, Rangin and Rawlings - remain in the other assigned quarters, at least for the moment. The sounds of angry Chalnoth shouts and pounding boots grow louder still.

[stolz]

[Not sure if Kylah mentioned her mystery passenger or not... I am assuming not.]

With the arrival of the Chalnoth imminent, judging by the sound (plus no accompanying sound of Uwat security officers), Dr. Mäkeläinen goes over to the control panel and prepares to lock the door. If there is no time to ask Ens. Kylah how she feels about safety in numbers, he cries at her, "They're here! Keep your door locked until we sort this out."

[choie]

No Kylah decided to wind back time and not mention the patient because it didn't make sense in context.

Kylah--who frankly expected at least one person to join her when she suggested splitting up--has risen to her feet, awkwardly looking back and forth from her colleagues to the door to her left. She nods to the doctor's logical suggestion and moves to check that the door to the corridor is locked. She also tilts her head against the metal, trying to hear anything she might recognize--and also to sense... well, anything she can sense. Although the Chalnoth are chaotic and she doubts she will discern anything but the rawest emotion.

[Elendil's Heir]

"I'd better go with her," Rawlings says, slipping out the door and joining Kylah in the adjoining cabin. He locks its door just seconds after he spots two Chalnoth, clearly angry, rounding the corner and heading towards them.

Dr. Mäkeläinen likewise locks the door to the cabin containing him, Rangin, Onn and Graham.

[SidonianGal]

The abrupt escalation of noise shifts Nia's mode from semi-relaxed to fully alert, not through any mental strategy but purely on animal instinct. She shoves herself up--any higher and her forehead would knock into the bottom bunk--and immediately regrets the quick movement. But dizzy or not, she slinks farther back beneath the cot until she's positioned like something feral against a cave wall, staying out of the way of anyone who can actually perform some defensive maneuver.

[stolz]

Satisfied that everyone in the group is behind a locked door, Dr. Mäkeläinen braces himself for the Chalnoth's next move. Arguing through a locked door is not very polite, but, until things calm down, they are going to stay locked and any Chalnoth itching for a fight are not going to be obliged.

He looks over at Rangin--- the last barney the guy was in, somebody got killed. Over nothing. He silently prays to ineffable gods Rangin does not again go catatonic (or, worse, go off preternaturally like Kylah thinks may be happening) due to the shouting and the stress. If it comes to hand-to-hand combat in this room, that leaves himself, and Graham. The latter looks capable and dangerous, the type to not take chances and therefore "bring them down", so again he has to pray nothing like that come to pass. As for himself, he knows incapacitating someone without doing major damage is not necessarily so easy, but he will use his knowledge of anatomy (and previous scuffle experience) to plan some blows that will not do anything that cannot be healed. Just in case. But he hopes that the more murderously enraged a Chalnoth gets, the less likely he is to think clearly enough to get through a locked electronic door before security arrives. (Kylah apparently has that working communicator, if the shouting was not enough...)

[choie]

Kylah steps back farther into the cabin, eyeing the space. Is there anything to pick up and hold as a weapon? Probably just the chair. And that would do very poorly, she suspects.

"They cannot barge in through a locked door," she says to Rawlings--an assumption rather than a certainty. Even Klingons would be hard-pressed to beat their way through a relatively strong door. Not that she knows the relative strength between Klingons and Chalnoth.

She backs up another step and looks anxiously at the communicator. Pell knew the Chalnoth were headed their way. Perhaps he was going to get reinforcements? It does not seem that she would gain much from contacting him unless things grew dire. For no reason other than to feel connected to the others, she lifts her palm and touches the wall that is shared with the second cabin. I should have stayed with Velir. What was I thinking?

[general_urko]

"Doc, if worse comes to worst, your priority is Lt. Onn's safety," Graham says, eyes on the door. "Though I'm hoping based on your medical chops and suave you have enough of the gift of gab to convince the Chalnoth that further exposure to the potential cross-species allergic reaction might cause their manly parts to shrink and wither...or whatever gets them to go away."

[SidonianGal]

Nia, in her useless corner in her useless position, nevertheless hears Booker's remark and lifts her mouth in a tilted smile. "Yeah it might be too late for that ploy," she says with a shaky laugh. "My experience, it's the ones who're already lacking in the manhood department who overcompensate like this."

[Elendil's Heir]

Kylah sees nothing in her cabin other than the chair which might be used as a weapon, and it is not particularly sturdy. She doubts it would do much good against a tall, stocky Chalnoth.

You hear more Chalnoth shouts and stomping outside, coming right up to the doors of the two cabins. It sounds like a crowd is gathering. Someone pounds loudly on the door to the cabin of Graham, Onn, Dr. Mäkeläinen and Rangin. "Open up!" a Chalnoth bellows. "Open this damn door and tell us what you did to our men!" Graham thinks it might be Teloqq, their leader, but he can't be sure.

[stolz]

Mäkeläinen exchanges a look with Lt. Graham, then speaks firmly yet without shouting, "All right, calm down! Our man is down, too, and we don't know what happened! I was barely able to get him back here, and it turns out there may not be any medical facilities worthy of the name on this tub, so if you want to know whose door to mob, get your medic to help figure this out and after we do I'll go right there with you. Otherwise, this is not the time!"

[SidonianGal]

Raising an eyebrow, Nia remains impressed by the doctor's composure. She snaps her fingers to get Rangin's attention, then pats the bed beside her. He can lie down and look... unconscious, if that's what the Doc's aiming for... while she provides at least a little barrier. The fact that Nia herself was also at the scene has likely gone unnoticed, which wouldn't surprise her given how the leader regarded her--or, to be more accurate, didn't--earlier this morning.

She eyes both Booker & Mäkeläinen to see if getting Rangin as far from the line of fire is a good strategy, or if they're aiming at some other tactic.

[Elendil's Heir]

The doctor's remarks seem to have no effect on the Chalnoth at the door. They continue pounding and shouting.

Rangin glances at Onn after she snaps her fingers. He looks a little disoriented, but follows her lead and lies down, closing his eyes.

[choie]

Kylah winces at the noise. The Chalnoth's not having paid any attention to the doctor's perfectly reasonable response is a bad sign. She looks up at Mr. Rawlings, apology in her gaze. "I did not mean to separate you from the others."

She cannot think of a thing to say. If Dr. Mäkeläinen could not get through, she certainly will not. Perhaps Lt. Graham will. This is his area of expertise.

If only she had established some rapport with the sole Chalnoth she interacted with last night. She tried to assist him! It is doubtful he has any goodwill toward her for the attempt; he greatly resented it at the time, and certainly showed no sign of gratitude when she saw him earlier.

But at least he knows she meant no harm. Even if embarrassed about being seen as weak, he should still understand the simple fact that Kylah wished to help him. He could communicate that to his fellows. But why would he? And how can he tell them I tried to help without revealing why?

It is all useless speculation, especially since, for all she knows, he might be one of the unconscious. I should have checked, she thinks, but why would she have?

With the banging increasing, Kylah inhales deeply, making a decision. She focuses on the wall to the cabin next door again. She will have to risk eschewing the pretense that communication requires physical contact. Velir does not understand his powers and has no idea of hers... If he hears her, the notion that this is her doing should not even cross his mind.

Closing her eyes, she concentrates on Velir's thoughts as if they were a beacon drawing her nearer--or, more accurately, if she were the beacon, lighting his way to her.

Velir. If you are in danger and the others cannot help... forget my warnings. Do not hesitate to protect yourself. If necessary, take those Chalnoth down.

[stolz]

Well, it was worth a try. The Doctor quietly addresses Graham and the rest of the room, "It will be a moment until they realize we are not coming out. After that--- sheer bloody-mindedness and shouting won't get them through a locked door. Now, worst case, if they brought tools, that would demonstrate cold calculation and disturbing intentions, and for us a problem: if they come en masse, we are outnumbered. In that case, do we break out? Head for the bridge or try to go for a hatchway, negate their advantage?"

He shakes his head as if to clear his thoughts. "Sorry, getting ahead of things. It probably won't come to that. I just do not know what to expect from them. If I knew for sure they wanted a simple one-on-one brawl, I have half a mind to indulge them, if that would get them off the rest of your backs. But they are not drunken asteroid miners, or Klingons, and I don't know how they think. If we could only convince them not to blame us...."

[SidonianGal]

Whereas she's been impressed by the Doc's composure, Nia's now eyeing him with more than a little wariness. Her gaze flickers from his not overly muscle-bound form--little different from Rangin here--to then focus on his artificial arm. Is that thing so strong that this average-sized dude can take on a Chalnoth? Her eyebrow raises at the thought that maybe he's got more machinery elsewhere bolstering his capabilities than he's let on.

Regardless, the idea of choosing him to fight some kind of duel with one of the oversized hairballs is, well, not what Nia would recommend if she were still CO. When Book's an incredibly powerful, seasoned fighter and strategist? And Double-T is...Double-T?

She inhales, her eyes darting to Booker in some concern, trying to see if he's thinking what she is. "Uh... not my call, Doc, but... not sure hand-to-hand combat's a solid defense. That group's got War right in their name; I'm guessing the fighting thing's kind of a specialty." Nia sighs raggedly, swallows, and plays her best card: her truth. "And--and Doctor... I can't do without you."

[general_urko]

Graham grunts approvingly at Nia's words. He forces a smile at her.

"If we are gonna wind up fighting these guys, I'd rather it's after they've spent a few hours tiring themselves out pounding on doors, honestly," he says.

He exhales. "Old law enforcement trick....worth a try." He shrugs and sits down close to the door.

Then he starts talking in a voice aimed at being detectable on the other side of the door, but far from comprehensible over the pounding and shouting.

[stolz]

Dr. Mäkeläinen meets Nia's gaze, ruefully. Is he so perturbed by the prospect of a situation with too many variables to predict with any degree of confidence what may happen, and the little they do know hinting at ways it could very well spiral out of control, that she can tell? And she needs to hear how everything is going to be fine, though there is no way to leave her out of whatever tactics Lt. Graham comes up with.

"I don't see myself going---" he makes a quick calculation--- "one-to-three, or even one-to-one, with trained killers (to give them the benefit of the doubt), but, as the man says," he indicates Lt. Graham, "getting you to safety is the priority, and I have to include Lt. Rangin in that. If, mind you, if it turn out they out there are up to more than raging at a locked door. We stick close together, and if someone tries anything I can distract them long enough for the three of us to slip past. If fighting is what they expect, their surprise when we don't stay around for a general ruction may be our one advantage."

[Elendil's Heir]

Rawlings smiles ruefully at Kylah. "No apologies necessary. I came of my own volition. I just didn't want to see you left alone in here while we all huddled next door."

She hears a very faint psi response from Rangin: I understand. I feel very weak... but will do what I can.

The pounding and shouting continues outside.

[color:green]What is Graham saying as he sits close to the door?[/green]

[SidonianGal]

Amused despite herself, Nia watches Book take his seat and murmur incomprehensibly, at least to her. To Dr. M., she tilts her head. "You're closer to the door. How many do you think are out there? Do you think we'll be able to sneak past?"

She then turns to Booker. "Interesting strategy. Should we join in?" she asks. "Is the idea to drive them nuts with frustration?"

[choie]

While nodding to Rawlings, Kylah holds her abdomen as she exhales, as if supporting herself, once she hears Velir's response. Why is he so weak? Did his attack weaken him? Or did something truly happen to all of them?

She crosses the room, pacing in thought. Has she sensed anything abnormal? Other than Velir's condition, no. Nothing has occurred to her. So it is unlikely to be external psionic activity--or at least, if it is external, it only affected those near that corridor.

Yet Velir is still affected and somewhat disoriented--less than he was, but he has still not recovered from whatever happened. Kylah's brow furrows. Is he still somehow connected to the Chalnoth? Still controlling them? She cannot tell from the shouting whether those three Chalnoth have recovered, or if they are still incapacitated.

Sighing, she leans against the bed and pulls out the communications device. Enough time has passed that, if some help had been arranged, surely some Uwat officers should have arrived by now. The ship is simply not that big.

Scrutinizing the device, she tentatively tries to work its controls. Is she able to recognize at least the basic elements of how the communicator works? "If I can figure this out," she murmurs to herself and Rawlings, "I will try to reach Pell, the officer who gave this to me."

A coincidence strikes her. "I just remembered. Back at the nightclub, Lt. Graham and I met a human named 'Pell.' Totally different species, no relationship, and yet..." Kylah shakes her head in wonder while peering at the communicator.

"The formation of language is extraordinary. Humans and the Uwat have entirely different vocal production, yet through similar phonemes can produce the same homophonic word. Or name. I find that fascinating. I suppose that is why I gravitated to Communications."

Not entirely true--she was groomed to do so by her uncle--but it is not false, either. She does have both the affinity and curiosity for linguistics. She flashes another apologetic glance toward Mr. Rawlings. "I am sorry for running on so. I am nervous."

[stolz]

Dr. Mäkeläinen knows there are nine Chalnoth, and that three of them are (probably) out of commission. He tries to listen to the shouting voices: does the crowd sound like it consists of five or six (or more) people, or obviously fewer? Can he make an estimate, at least a lower bound? Are there any Uwat, or possibly other, voices? He also asks Lt. Graham what he thinks about the number of Chalnoth.

Absent any information at all, he figures not more than six Chalnoth, and two doors, so getting past three Chalnoth, assuming they have the element of surprise... but they know not yet precisely what is going on outside, and, furthermore, whatever forces them to make a desperate move instead of staying where it is safe might itself be a surprise.

He will further add, "There is another consideration. We cannot easily coordinate with Kylah and Rawlings, not over this din."

[general_urko]

Graham pauses talking about a combination of some of his daughter's favorite bedtime stories, Starfleet regulations, and advancing the hypothesis that the incident with the dropped Chalnoth was the result of a cross-species-allergic-reaction to answer Nia.

"Ha - sometimes when you talk to someone losing their shit at a level they can't understand if they don't calm down, they key on in being able to hear what you're saying." He shrugs. "Sometimes it works. Sometimes people are too committed to losing their shit though..."

[Elendil's Heir]

Rawlings smiles ruefully, but glances at Kylah only briefly before looking back at the door. "No need to apologize. Being in a situation like this could make anyone nervous."

Dr. Mäkeläinen thinks there are at least four Chalnoth outside, perhaps five, but cannot be sure.

You can all hear an Uwat voice rising above that of the Chalnoth for a few seconds, and then the Chalnoth are shouting again, drowning out the Uwat. The pounding resumes. A second Uwat voice joins the noisy tumult outside, and almost at once you hear the crackling hum of an energy source of some kind. None of you recognize the sound. The pounding stops again and a Chalnoth cries out in what sounds like pain.

[stolz]

The Doctor is saying, "They are not out in full force, but---" when he visibly winces at the cry of pain.

"Sounds like they are a wee busy. We need to get things cleared up, statim. Doubtful they are just going to forget about this, and neither will the crew." Above all, they cannot afford to get thrown off board or otherwise delayed.

[choie]

Though Kylah has apparently had no luck deciphering the communicator, the sounds in the corridor prove it is no longer needed. She fumbles it back into her belt and takes a quick step closer to the door, although the entrance is blocked by Ens. Rawlings. She inhales sharply at the cry of pain, but... considering what these Chalnoth were likely willing to do to Velir, Kylah is not tremendously outraged by the Uwat's methods of restoring order.

With such tumult, Kylah would very much like to see what is going on, but the odds of the junior security officer allowing her to take a peek are dismal. Crossing her arms across her chest, she waits in frustration.

[SidonianGal]

The energy sound triggers memories of disciplinary measures on Sidonia, and Nia jerks back instinctively. It takes a second or two before she shakes the moment off. "Y-you make a good point," she says, a trifle weakly, to Dr. Mäkeläinen. "They need to understand they're barking up the wrong tree or we'll have to stay here for the duration."

Nia eyes Booker. "Up to you to talk 'em down, I suppose. But if you need me as a witness, I'm willing. Maybe the big boys'll think twice once they realize they'd be claiming three of their guys were taken down by a guy half their size and a sick old woman."

[Elendil's Heir]

You hear the energy source - a weapon of some kind? - crackle again. There is a loud THUMP outside, and then another, as if two bodies have hit the deck. There is more Chalnoth shouting and an unusual, high-pitched squeal. Footsteps seem to fade away down the corridor. After a brief pause, you can hear the energy source, now louder, as if right outside the doors to your respective cabins, first one and then the other.

Then each door begins to slowly slide open. Onn sees Rangin prop himself up on one elbow and concentrate. Outside, there are several more THUMPS and then howls of Chalnoth anger... or fear? Rangin starts to say something but collapses back on the bed before he can utter a word.

[choie]

Frustration turns to a stab of alarm when Kylah hears the energy sound, and the thumping bodies--if that is what they are--soon after. The squeal baffles her and she shrinks from it, although the disappearing footsteps are encouraging.

Then she spies the door's movement and her hands dart out to Ens. Rawlings's arm, instinctively seeking to pull him away. But she has no leverage to move such a man, and anyway he would know what to do far better than Kylah--and will do so much more easily if she is not latched to him like a lamprey.

So her ice-cold fingers release his sleeve and she scrabbles backwards, hip smacking into the desk corner with a sharp pain. Another set of thumps does not pacify her, since they did not stop the group before. Adequate weapon or not, the chair offers something solid for her numb hands to grab, which they do while her wildly racing mind tries to focus on Velir again. They are coming in, they are breaking in!

[general_urko]

"Get behind me, get behind me," Graham shouts to the others, moving to interpose himself between the others and the door.

[stolz]

Mäkeläinen was listening to the outside action. The discharge of an energy weapon right outside the door makes him take a step back. The door opening... his nebulous plan to make a hole for Onn and Rangin to escape quickly runs into a complication (it was always going to be something) when the latter collapses.

He nimbly moves over to stand by Rangin's bunk, behind Graham but, in particular, against the wall and not directly in line with the door. Any tricks like trying to get the jump on an unwelcome intruder he leaves to the security officer, focussing on checking Rangin's pulse.

[SidonianGal]

Already backed up at the far end of her bunk, Nia has no problem complying with Booker's command; to get any farther behind him, she'd have to beam out from the hull entirely. She winces again at the weapon--it sounds like a weapon, anyway--but her eyes widen when the door inches open. What the fuck, how are they doing that? Have they got some kinda tool?

Then Rangin gets up, probably as happy as she is to see the barrier between them and the hairballs potentially breached. She grabs his arm to steady him, but... another noise, another thump, Rangin's looking transfixed and he's suddenly out. "Rangin!" she whispers, shaking him. She barely has time to say his name before the doctor's lunged ably to the rescue, so she lets go to give him room to work.

It's just like before, in the corridor. Chalnoth down, Rangin zombified. Nia... nothing. Did some weapon reach through the door to get at Rangin? And again she's immune?

But this time she's got others nearby, and neither Book nor Mäkeläinen seem to have been affected by the weapon. If that's what it was.

Nia's brain isn't working as fast as it used to...it hasn't for days now...and can't concentrate on multiple tasks. So she pushes this weird phenomenon aside to focus on Booker.

She doesn't like him facing this alone. It's what he does, of course, not just as a Security officer but as a man. Maybe not so much anymore; maybe he won't with the right partner, with Marala.

But it's his first instinct, launching himself to protect others, and Nia both loves him for it and fears that side of him.

Scared and confused as she is, she forces herself to the edge of the bed, planting her feet on the cold deck. "Plan, Book?" she asks his broad back, her voice quiet but steady enough to reach through the chaos. "Should we dialogue?"

[Elendil's Heir]

Each door slides a little more open, and a snarling Chalnoth tries to get through each.

Rawlings is, as Kylah expected, unmoved by her grasp. His jaw set, he grabs both the gloved hands of the Chalnoth coming through your door and twists them to his right, blocking the door with his body. The alien warrior howls in pain.

Rangin does not respond to Onn. He appears to be completely unconscious.

[general_urko]

Graham is feeling really unhappy Kylah, and, most especially, Rawlings are not with them in the room at the moment.

"De-escalation would be great," he grunts over his shoulder in response to Nia.

Graham gauges as carefully as he can if the Chalnoth can make it through the door, and then how far its arms are likely to reach.

Once he does, he moves to just out of reach and stares the Chalnoth in the face.

"Hey--now that we're face to face, can we talk sense?" he says firmly.

[stolz]

For how long did Rangin pass out last time? A couple of minutes? Whatever has been afflicting him could be causing further damage, and they have yet to rule out any aetiology, not even Graham's 'allergies'.

What Dr. Mäkeläinen must do at this moment is protect his patients. The only good news is that--- so far--- there is only one Chalnoth barging into their cabin, and it does not look like he is part of some sophisticated coordinated assault. Mäkeläinen does nothing aggressive, but he stands up straight, shielding Rangin and Onn, and regards the intruder grimly. He says nothing, but many thoughts are playing out in his mind.

[choie]

Kylah's sympathy for the Chalnoth's pain is limited, particularly as she is doing her best not to feel any. She does exclaim a proud "impressive" to Ens. Rawlings for his quick, decisive and highly effective instincts.

Peeking in vain to see through the door beyond Mr. Rawlings and the arms of their would-be attacker, she gives up the attempt. She must summon her uncle's diplomacy, coupled with her own. Her spine straightens and she places her hands on her hips, taking a deep breath to support a stronger voice.

"There is no doubt you Chalnoth are a strong race," she directs toward the door. "But your strategy is ill-thought-out; should you continue, my companion will easily break your bones. But there is no need for such violence. Neither he nor I have a quarrel with any of you, nor should you with us. What is the meaning of this intrusion?"

[SidonianGal]

With an unseen but approving nod at Booker's opening salvo, Nia tries to keep her attention split between her colleagues. She peers at Rangin, concern tightening her muscles--which are taut enough as it is--then darts her gaze up to Mäkeläinen. His stance as a guardian rather than a healer makes some sense, since he's the only person able to back Book up in any significant physical way. But it threatens to fill her with despair. Her own health condition seems helpless as it is; Rangin's is utterly mystifying.

"This is worse than before," she says softly to the doctor. "Back when those original three in the hallway dropped, Rangin was loopy but, y'know...upright. And seemingly conscious, if in a serious daze. Whatever's happened now--"

Cutting herself off, she purses her lips. In the corridor, the junior officer seemed to recover once Kylah showed up. Nia clearly lacks the Elasian's skill as a restorative. At least for Rangin. She's never had complaints from any other guy.

She leans closer. "C'mon, Velir," she murmurs as gently as she can. "Everything's gonna be okay. I know everything's been super intense and scary, but... I really don't think the Uwat are gonna let anyone kill off passengers before they've fully paid up. Come back. We need all hands on deck." Sighing, Nia straightens. Nice words aren't gonna fix him any more than they'll fix her.

[Elendil's Heir]

The Chalnoth snarls in frustration and screams something unintelligible as he grasps for Graham, who is just out of reach. Then the door edges even further open and the Chalnoth shoulders his way in, lunging for Graham, who is obviously closest to him, as he does.

Dr. Mäkeläinen recalls that Rangin was unconscious for about ten minutes last time. He appears much the same now, and is unresponsive to Onn's encouragement.

The Chalnoth that Rawlings grabbed seems similarly immune to Kylah's words of reason, although it snarls, through obvious pain, "You disabled our soldiers. You attacked us, and you must pay!" Rawlings, concentrating, his face grim, maintains a tight grip and doesn't quite break its arms. The door does not open further.

The comm unit on the bulkhead in each of your quarters crackles to life, and an Uwat-sounding voice says a few sentences in what Kylah thinks is Chalnoth and then Vulcan, before turning to Federation Standard: "All passengers must return to quarters. All passengers must return to quarters. Security Protocol Ghar will otherwise be imposed. This is your last warning."