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

[SidonianGal]

At first, Nia's relieved by the apparent lack of security cams. But on second thought, that means anything can go on, and no one'll be the wiser. If someone goes missing, there'll be no way to track her. (Nia is, of course, thinking of Kylah, because of course it'd be her.) All the more reason for the group to stay as a group.

Book doesn't appear to have time or inclination to answer her question before Rangin returns to some semblence of sentience... but his inarticulate speech is so far from what she expects from him that she takes a sharp look at the doctor.

"Um, no, I didn't feel a thing. Or see a thing. They weren't threatening me, specifically. I don't think," she says carefully in response to Rangin's words. "Not sure what you thought you could've done, gallant as you may be. If they three wanted to take a piece outta me, or the both of us, they would've."

She turns back to the lumps behind them. What'd be their preferred form of attack? Tooth and claw, probably? Normally, that'd be ideal. It's what her scales are for. Trouble is... nothing about her body is normal anymore.

Belatedly she catches up with Double-T and Kylah's suggestions to scram. Nia can't help but scoff. "And hide in our cabins for the rest of the trip? On the assumption the big hairballs don't demand our heads and Jol grants their wish?" She arches an eyebrow at Mäkeläinen. "Are you saying there might've been some weird... psychic allergy going on? But like you said, it wasn't triggered during breakfast, and the chief hairball was acting pretty aggressive then, too."

Tired of standing, Nia leans a little more against the wall. "I don't know. Your decision, Book. Only could you make it fast?" She runs a hand across her forehead, then glances back up at him. "I forgot. Were you able to send a message back home?"

[general_urko]

t the moment Graham is feeling the Chalnoth are lucky for being unconscious.

"But I'll be damned if my memory's tarnished by losing anyone else....Have you... Has that happened to you?"

It takes Graham a long time to process this. Because his relationship with Nia, who's asking it, and maybe Nia herself in a life-or-death sense are the latest and most frighteningly imminent cases of that.

He nods. "Yeah, yeah," he grunts quietly. "And uh, we...we got a message out," he says in a low voice to Nia as well

"Good advice, Mr. Rawlings," he says more loudly.

"Look--" he glances at Nia first, then at the rest of the team. "We have no goddamn idea if whatever happened will happen again if we're standing here." (At that he glances at Rangin.) "But we can't leave anyone behind alone with these guys without Ran - eh, Ginran, to be potentially torn limb from limb. So---yeah, let's get back to our quarters,"

[stolz]

About Rangin, Dr. Mäkeläinen answers Lt. Onn's look with a little shake of the head. He may be responsive, but the man is clearly still confused with the aftereffects of whatever scrambled his brains.

"I'm saying it's not random. But why him, and them, and what triggered it... everyone was acting, well, quite normally, from what you say. Still, Ginran has been visibly anxious in the presence of Chalnoth ever since we boarded, understandable with what he's been through. Who knows what he unconsciously thought was going on? It's not mere thoughts that felled four men, though. Energy blast, psychic or telepathic cascade, all those things would leave residual neurological evidence.

"Regardless, he should get his head scanned at what passes for an infirmary around here. Goes double for our new friends."

[choie]

Dr. Mäkeläinen's quick thinking and confidence are impressive indeed; Kylah herself could not think of a more believable obfuscation to hide Velir's increasingly worrisome abilities. Assuming this is the doctor's attempt to fulfill her request to keep Velir's unpredictable abilities under wraps. Perhaps he is sincere? She is too ill at ease to attempt to gauge his motives. For once the suggestion of a mind scan is not directed at her, but the thought is still unnerving.

She exhales in heavy relief when Lt. Graham decides to leave, and agrees with a quick "Yes sir" before turning back to Velir. "Come, we shall return to our cabins," she coaxes in a voice like a lullaby. "It will be safe there."

[SidonianGal]

Nia nods in gratitude for Book's short but emotionally resonant acknowledgment of a C.O.'s worst nightmare. His look at her is also brief but intense--and as always his gaze hits her chest and stomach with a thud of longing. However, if he's sending a message with it, Nia's thoughts are too hazy to receive it.

Similarly, throughout Dr. M's recitation, she does her best to follow along, squinting as if trying to identify his theories using an invisible microscope. Should she get scanned too? Why did this...whatever it was...not affect her own mind?

That's easy. Hypobilitria's killing off brain cells by the minute. Probably not enough mind to affect.

The thought amuses her and she laughs softly, even as Book disagrees with her judgment (also justifiable given the aforementioned brain shrinkage). Okay, so they're gonna leave the unconscious trio here. Why not. Odds are it's the best decision. Maybe the Chalnoth won't recall what happened. After all, once Rangin recovered he couldn't even remember the dudes' race, and he's a frickin' xenobiologist.

Nia casually uses her shoulder to push away from the comfy wall into a more upright position, ready and willing to hide out in a bunk.

[general_urko]

Graham offers an arm to Onn. "I've got your six," he says quietly, not entirely sure whether she'll appreciate the offer or find it objectionable in front of the rest of the team.

[Elendil's Heir]

Rangin, hearing Kylah's quiet words, looks right at her and seems to refocus. His eyes widen slightly. Then he nods thoughtfully and squeezes her hand. He allows himself to be led away from the Chalnoth and back towards the Starfleet party's cabins.

You pass no one in the corridors on the way there but a single young Vulcan woman, who looks at you curiously for a moment before averting her gaze. She bows slightly as you pass.

[SidonianGal]

Nia almost misses the Vulcan, and nods to acknowledge the reverence, although the religious woman likely can't see her. Nia appreciates the worshipful, most anyway, and if her time is limited, she's not shuffling off to the Great Unknowable with disrespecting someone else's beliefs as one of her last acts.

I've got your six. So Booker. Nia takes up his offer, slipping her arm through his elbow. She lets her muscles relax against him--gravity seems heavier than usual--and gives a small smile of relief. "As always."

[choie]

As they walk, Kylah notices the Vulcan passing by and sees the averted gaze. With a tiny frown, she says, "Good morning, Sister." Regardless of whatever superstitions these women believe in, Kylah will not abandon the grace and respect of her station. She is allowed to speak, and so she will greet a traveler as she would anyone else.

With Velir, she maintains her gentle encouragement by not pulling her hand from his own. Yet she is not completely comfortable being in close skin contact with him, given his demonstrated ability to identify her thoughts--and to project his own. And, too, she cannot forget the uncanny sensation from earlier, when he managed to implant the desire in her mind to kneel and clean the mess from Lt. Graham's spilled tray.

His trauma, though ebbing, haunts her. How much more can he take? This mission has been as cruel to him as their missions usually are for Kylah. Threatened by the Chalnoth--well, she assumes he must have felt threatened; discovering he has some inexplicable new abilities that appear to be hard to control; worst of all, the assault by and subsequent self-defense killing of that stranger. Not to mention what they all went through with the shuttle.

And that other attack, she remembers suddenly. Kylah turns to Velir and glances at his neckline, then moves slightly closer to Dr. Mäkeläinen.

"Sir," she says softly. "I know he was cleared by the hospital. But is it possible that he was harmed by that...ice creature?" Kylah shudders at the memory of those massive blobs hovering over them. "Their teeth were so very thin. Could they have punctured the skin without being noticed?"

[stolz]

Dr. Mäkeläinen addresses Lt Graham as they proceed. "What about alerting the crew? Granted, we need to be superlatively careful how we report this incident. But we just left three people on the deck, they're victims too--- we don't know what shape they are in. Also, if that acolyte does not stumble upon them in the next couple of minutes, either one of their mates, or a ship's officer, likely will."

He keeps an eye on Rangin. If he is nearly lucid already, he does not fear the worst for the Chalnoth, but he was not joking about head scans all around--- also to look for evidence of what exactly happened.

Sotto voce, with Kylah: "If it did happen, it is yet again more trauma to his system in a relatively short time, atop the muckle you've told me about. Are you thinking it is some kind of synergistic effect?"

[SidonianGal]

Straightening to the best of her ability, Nia makes the mistake of looking around quickly at the novice, then--clamping her jaw together to get past the vertigo--back at the others. "I didn't think of her coming across them," she says, honest but ashamed. "Great. That's what I was talking about. Whether someone finds them or they wake up alone, it's a bad look for us--to put it mildly." She bites her lip and looks back. Is the Vulcan indeed heading to the same area? Should they call her back? Oh yeah, that won't look suspicious at all.

[choie]

Nodding, Kylah is now slightly distracted by the realization that she has been focusing so much on Velir that she did not consider the young woman a possible witness. "Yes, an addition to the stress, but also... I suppose you have ruled out whether those creatures have some sort of venom or toxin?"

Swallowing, she squeezes Velir's hand reflexively. How can they prevent the Vulcan from seeing the unconscious figures who are lying there? An immediate, impulsive and unworthy part of her flashes a response: Velir could influence her, tell her to turn back. He could make her believe she has forgotten something and--

She inhales sharply. The recognition of what she herself is suggesting, even silently, is disgraceful. Her eyes dart to stare at their clasped, connected hands, and at once hopes that Velir did not hear her. Or that his better discipline and moral compass will repel him from such an act.

Of course they will. Besides, how could he compel a Vulcan? He told her the Chalnoth seem uniquely suited, and Kylah knows no Vulcan would be so easy to manipulate. She does not know what she was thinking. If anything, her impulse reveals much more about her--and does not paint a picture she likes.

It is how Aldaan thinks.

She recovers from the moment and meets his gaze with far more composure than she felt a moment ago. To the doctor, she replies, "I was about to search for a comm panel to find a way to contact you. As soon as I saw him. Them. You are right. We should do so quickly."

[general_urko]

Graham nodes to Dr. Mäkeläinen. "Yeah, you're right we should notify the crew. I'd trust you most to come up with a, uh, plausible explanation of an, ah, hard-to-pin down phenomenon that is also clear we didn't lay a glove on them, if you're up for it."

[Elendil's Heir]

The young Vulcan woman glances up and briefly makes eye contact with Kylah when the latter greets her, but says nothing. She then walks back down the corridor, away from you.

Soon you stand before the doors to your quarters, having passed no one else along the way.

[stolz]

"It touched him, all right," the Doctor explains to Kylah, "but a toxic or anaphylactic reaction would not have come on suddenly days later. Something would have been evident in the hospital, while he was under observation. Can't rule anything out before all the physical evidence, but whatever triggered these... episodes, I would not bet on venom."

He says to Graham, "I can certainly call it in and talk to them. Nothing should reflect badly on us; we have not done anything wrong. Don't yet have much to tell them beyond my initial assessment, which is why it is imperative to get everyone involved into the sickbay as soon as possible." He looks at Nia --- "You too, I fear. Even though you did not feel any pain nor lose consciousness."

[choie]

Kylah's hands curl into fists, until she realizes she might be hurting Velir with her nails and releases him. "It was not even twenty-four hours later," she exhales to Velir, lost and frustrated. "Is that not true? That creature--the one that attacked us in the snow. It was after the crash, and yesterday you were attacked by that fiend in the club, and then you saw Teloqq..."

She falls into silence. She is overwhelming him, and he must be confused and disoriented enough. "I am sorry, my heart," she whispers and brushes her hand along his sleeve. "Go see if they can scan you. And advocate for yourself. You are the expert in alien biology, and you have had bad experiences with so many. The Sakathians. Mr. Palver and his mental powers. The--the ice vampires. And now these Chalnoth. Who knows what cocktail of toxins or allergies or simply germs could have triggered something within you?"

Lifting his hand, she kisses his fingers gently and steps back toward the cabin, finding Ens. Rawlings. "Mr.--Terrence? Do you wish to wait in our cabin? Unless Mr. Graham has ord--suggestions for us." Kylah lifts her gaze to Velir again. "Or do you wish me to join you? I do not know how many their medical unit can hold."

[SidonianGal]

Mäkeläinen's recommendation--no, it's a command at this point--makes Nia want to moan in aggravation. He's right, she knows that logically, but the vastly, infinitely larger stubborn part of her wants to drop where she's standing in protest.

All the time freezing and miserable on the Tesla, all the hours numb in the hospital, all the mental power spent agonizing...

Who cares about the lack of Bilitrium, the fear and infirmity will suffocate her just fine.

Nia's gaze glides yearningly along the cabin door to eventually reach the doctor. She blinks her assent, but can't help from sighing. "'m warning you guys now, if we meet up with any of the hairballs I'm not gonna be much use in a fight."

[stolz]

Mäkeläinen feels the best way to handle this with the Uwat is to stick to business, and rapid patient assessment is precisely his business. First, to get a hold of one who understands Federation Standard--- they have not passed any, so if he can raise someone by pushing a button on the intercom-looking equipment in their quarters, he will, otherwise he will appeal to Kylah and Graham for help with this.

His report will be, "Medical emergency: my companions and I were on our way back to our quarters when we encountered a group of four, male humanoids, incapacitated by an unknown force. One additional humanoid present, no apparent injuries, reports they suddenly lost consciousness and collapsed. Initial assessment: no overt physical damage, no sign of violence. One victim regained consciousness, suffering from memory loss and confusion. We temporarily moved him to his quarters to recover. Requesting cranial scans for all five, looking for any neurological trauma, abnormalities, and physical traces of toxins, radiation, or energy discharges." Most of this he can later explain to the medic, if any; first they need to contact an officer and make it clear there is an urgent situation.

Rangin has been much poked and prodded and scanned recently, not least by Bizhi himself, but what if Kylah is right, he missed something, and Rangin really is an unwitting vector of psychic chaos? Bizhi is the one responsible for letting him wander around public areas in that condition. He could have confined him to quarters this morning.

He says to Nia, "I would say stay here and try to rest, but it's not certain they use portable medical tricorders." Hope they do not try sticking her in a cargo scanner in the freezing-cold hold. I'm right here with you. I really hope not, but if we do have to climb down a hatch, we'll help you down."

[general_urko]

"That sounds convincing to me, doctor," Graham says. "Are you thinking that we leave Rangin here in his quarters for the moment, or hustle him to Sick Bay too immediately?"

[Elendil's Heir]

Rangin smiles at Kylah. He seems not to hear Graham and says to her, quietly and a little hoarsely, "Thank you. I'm feeling better already. But please come with me, if you can."

Rawlings looks with concern at Rangin and replies to Kylah, "I'll go wherever I'm needed. I think we'll be safer, or at least better off, in our cabins if a bunch of angry Chalnoth come our way, though."

[general_urko]

Graham gives Rawlings a quick nod. "Agreed, Mr. Rawlings."

[choie]

Kylah's heart beats like a fluttering hummingbird when she sees Velir's tender smile, which she returns warmly. He has rarely been so affectionate to her in public, and she cannot help but match his openness. "I shall be with you, wherever I can."

She turns to Dr. Mäkeläinen, still happy but trying to better control her pleased expression. With Lt. Onn's situation, it is unseemly; with Lt. Graham, she is uneasy as to how he will react to the obvious changed dynamic between her and Velir. "Sir, ought we to wait for a response, or may we start off now?"

[stolz]

Dr. Mäkeläinen replies, "I think we should stay with him here, until we get further instructions. Also, Terrance and I have not located the Sickbay yet. Did you happen to run across it?"

[SidonianGal]

As the others talk, Nia has sat down on her bunk for a moment. Remembering her experience earlier when her locked scales sent her toppling to the deck, she's curious whether the metal's still ice-cold. To check, she leans over and experimentally brushes the back of her hand against the metal. Just wondering if things heat up during the day watch. Or shift. Who knows what they call it here.

Then she catches the contrasting opinions of the Security and Medical officers. Her chin lifts so she can volley her gaze between them.

When Dr. M. agrees with Security, that solves the issue. Good, at least she can sit for a moment and think. "I don't remember passing anything that looked like a Sick Bay. Do you?" She's asking Rangin but of course, his memory's fuzzy. She shrugs and just leans back.

[choie]

"I... do not think we saw a Sick Bay." Kylah frowns in thought, then blinks with a flash of memory. "But unless your cabin is different from ours, the comm unit is not useful for our needs. I checked ours last night and it was just a glorified one-way radio reciever. We can listen to broadcasts--barely--if we can find them. But there was no obvious way to get in contact with the crew."

[general_urko]

"Son of a bitch," Graham growls, mostly to himself but clearly audible, rubbing his chin. "Not the news I wanted to hear, but that's good work, Mr. Kylah."

He exhales a big breath.

"All right, here's what I propose. Ensign Kylah and I will seek out some crewmembers and / or a sickbay." She's most likely to be able to handle diplomacy with either Uwat or Chalnoth, he thinks. Also, she seems to have the means to promise the Uwat ever more money, which he's sure they'll demand in exchange for...well, anything more than the team already has, including medical care.

"The rest of the team can bunker down here."

[choie]

"Do you not think the Doctor would be best equipped to explain..." Kylah shifts her uneasy attention to Velir, then Dr. Mäkeläinen. She is flattered by Lt. Graham's praise but uncertain whether it is wise to leave Velir, who seems particularly vulnerable right now. But helping Lt. Graham will help Velir in the end anyway.

Perhaps he wishes Dr. Mäkeläinen to stay and keep a close watch on Velir. Not just Velir. Kylah takes the briefest of glances at the older woman on the bunk before snapping her eyes back to Lt. Graham. "If you think I can be of use, of course I will go, sir."

[stolz]

Dr. Mäkeläinen says, "The important thing is to get things moving: get hold of an officer, impress upon them there is an urgent situation, and get clearance to move to the medical bay--- I am assuming there is at least a rudimentary station. In the extreme there is nothing, a non-invasive scanner." They do take passengers, not to mention their own crew and offspring, so he expects there to be something, although Dr. Mäkeläinen knows better than to presume what be the Uwat's philosophy on medicine. Nevertheless, they must certainly understand the concept of, and be prepared for, unforeseen events: rad leak, whatever.

"I will stay with our patients and accompany them to the Sick Bay. I will provide whatever explanations are necessary to whoever needs to know."

[SidonianGal]

'Our patients.' That's all Nia is now. Not pilot, not Helmswoman, not Lieutenant and definitely not C.O. Her gaze drops swiftly to the deck, and she bows her head to hide the dismayed reaction.

Was it just two days ago that she'd swung herself up onto the Tesla? Knowing every centimeter of that craft, high on the intoxicating rush of anticipation, independence and power that always floods through her body when preparing to launch and lead a crew, her crew, on a mission. The weight of responsibility, of the Captain's trust in Nia's capabilities, also rested on her shoulders. But she's always worn that sobering honor easily.

She should be accompanying Booker. Together on this unfamiliar ship, colleagues and friends if nothing else. Shooting the breeze. Awkward at first, maybe--no, probably, be honest--because they haven't spent time truly alone since the wedding, except for a few moments last night, and all that got communicated there was her damn health status.

They'd had good chemistry as soon as they met. Friend-chemistry, at first. She'd got a kick out of him, enjoyed his company so much. And vice versa. Right?

Her hands curl to strangle the edge of the underwhelming mattress, and she says nothing.

[Elendil's Heir]

Onn notices that the deck is still very cold underfoot.

You hear what sound like Chalnoth voices shouting in the distance.

Graham and Kylah leave to look for a Sickbay or its equivalent; the other four Starfleet personnel remain behind, locked in your quarters.

[choie]

Kylah's reluctant leave-taking of Velir has her sober as she walks by Lt. Graham's side. The shouts of the Chalnoth twist her insides with a knot of alarm. "That... that is them?" She sounds childish even to her ears, and does her best to tamp down her anxiety.

"At least I assume it is the Chalnoth. I have only heard two of them. But it does not sound like either Uwat language, and..." With a quick look up at her companion, Kylah tries to force insouciance. "And I do not believe those are the chants of religious Vulcan acolytes."

[general_urko]

Despite the circumstances, Graham can't help but laugh. "Ha - yeah, you've got that right, Mr. Kylah," he says. He shakes his head and returns Kylah's glance. "Not that I'd expect the Vulcans to fight out battles for us, but I'd definitely appreciate a few of them along for the ride with us at the moment...their presence might give the Chalnoth some pause. At least if they know about the strength advantages of Vulcans versus Terrans and many other humanoid species."

He pauses. "Uh--on that note. If we run into trouble, and, uh, diplomacy doesn't work...leave me and find some Uwat." He sighs. "I'll slow them down as long as I can."

[SidonianGal]

The Chalnoth shouts don't fill Nia with confidence about Booker's choice of companions. She shifts slightly on the bunk, turning to Double-T with a tiny shake of her head in disbelief. Why would he take a pipsqueak instead of a fellow Security officer, someone who can be useful in a fight?

He must have his reasons. Booker wouldn't drag the princess into a dangerous situation. Or any woman, Nia acknowledges with a sigh. His gallantry and protectiveness--sometimes overprotectiveness--are his most dependable traits.

"I hope those aren't the ones we encountered," she murmurs to Rangin. "Although I'm sure their fellow fuzzies will react just as poorly, depending on what they're told. And assuming they have any sense of comradely loyalty." Which, given the consistent road of bad luck the Yorktown crew have been following, is a depressingly safe assumption.

"Well, we're stuck in here for now. Maybe there's something we should be doing but I'll be damned if I can think of it." Nia clasps her hands, rubbing her knuckles where they brushed against that frigid deck--so cold it feels like a burn. If no one chimes in with a better idea, she'll continue--otherwise, she'll react to them instead. "Since three of us already know a fair amount about each other, I guess we get to force the new guy to share your life story." She nods at Mäkeläinen with an attempt at a wry smile. "Kidding. I don't want to put you too much on the spot. How about... why medicine? And why Starfleet? Feel free to change the subject if you need to. "

[stolz]

The sound of shouting--- the Doctor has the urge to run out and help. He should never have left unconscious victims on their own in the first place. Perhaps they should have all stayed put, or he should have volunteered to remain while Graham took charge of an ambulatory Rangin and the others. What effective help could he have provided, though, beyond waiting to arrange for everyone to be checked out, statim, like they are now? Then again, what if some of the Chalnoth are crashing instead of waking up? He does not doubt the security officers' assessment that loitering would have been unwise. It is himself that he can never help second-guessing.

"One thing is certain about medicine," he says, "one is certain to need it, eventually. That applies just as much if one spends one's days comfortably at home. And, even there, another certainty is that the stars will shift and something will come undone. We can accept that, or prepare to do something about it, vain as that may seem." He seems about to add something, but trails off.

He is not sure yet how positively or negatively Nia feels about Starfleet herself. It is good to see she feels in shape to have this sort of conversation, in any case. He allows, "Starfleet was never the only choice, or even the natural one. Their resources are undeniable. Yet, what is unique are the chances to see situations unimaginable. To learn something that will make a real difference."

[choie]

Kylah bobs her head in compliance but is struck by the implication of Lt. Graham's words. 'If diplomacy fails...' He does not consider himself diplomatic. So if it fails, it will be my fault.

Her teeth bite down on her lower lip as she contemplates the responsibility. "I...I have not acquitted myself well on this journey thus far. In the nightclub... I blundered speaking to those humans who got so upset when they guessed our background. This morning, Teloqq ignored me entirely."

She pauses for a step or two, then lifts her chin. "But I shall do my best. I shall not fail."

The words display confidence that she does not usually express, at least not since her faith in herself was shattered on OCIII and Anubis. Indeed, she does not feel confident now. He even wishes her to abandon him, forcing him to face those vulpine creatures alone.

Yet what would she do in a physical fight? Or a phaser fight, for that matter, given her poor marksmanship. And more to the point, I have no phaser. Oh why, why has Aldaan not sent me new knives as promised?

Likely the Uwat would have confiscated them too, along with every other useful item they possess. So she must use the only relevant skill she has.

Lt Graham has spent months protecting and defending her. Kylah hopes that, at least once, she can repay the favor.

[Elendil's Heir]

Rawlings listens attentively to Onn and Dr. Mäkeläinen. Rangin lies down on a bed and closes his eyes.

Graham and Kylah hear what sound like the thumping of several pairs of boots headed in the direction of where they left the unconscious Chalnoth; the shouting diminishes somewhat. The pair round a corner and see an Uwat headed towards them. Kylah thinks it's Jol, but can't be sure.

[general_urko]

Graham nods acknowledgement of Kylah's pledge. "I think we've all been jinxed on this mission," he offers by way of consolation.


Seeing the Uwat, he clears his throat. "Ah, excuse us..."

[choie]

Kylah can certainly not argue with Lt. Graham's point. She spots the Uwat ahead, whom her superior officer addresses. Mr. Jol? She cannot decide. How embarrassing for us if we are seen to confuse some regular crew member as their First Officer.

On the other hand, it would be far worse should they not recognize the one Uwat who has assisted them, and with whom they have had significant conversations. They just spoke with him! She bristles with annoyance at her failure to maintain proper social protocol. It has been too long since she acted as hostess to visitors to her Uncle's guests. Disgraceful. And disrespectful.

Under her breath, she murmurs, "That might be Jol.We should be tactful." She nods politely at the possible First Officer--or his underling, as the case may be--and otherwise remains silent while visually scanning the Uwat to see if she can recognize anything that appears to be a unique identifier on their uniforms*; even better if she recognizes having seen it on Mr. Jol.


* Hm, don't remember if they wear uniforms, or clothes at all for that matter. If not, she'll obviously stick to searching their anatomy, creepy though that is.

[Elendil's Heir]

"Yes?" the Uwat says at once, his raspy voice sounding much like Jol's, but you still aren't sure if it's him. "You should be in your quarters. The Chalnoth are very unhappy. What happened to their three in Corridor 7H?"

[choie]

Silent, Kylah does not wish to unilaterally choose a strategy, not with Lt. Graham's experience with such missions dwarfing hers. She would lie and bluff--but that is almost always her first instinct, which rarely serves her well.

Waiting to see what tactic Lt. Graham will choose, she arranges her expression to one of vague concern; that should be neutral enough. The Uwat may not be able to discern humanoid facial features and the nuanced tales they can tell. She is certainly having no luck identifying Uwat faces.

So, while fruitless, Kylah switches to interpreting emotions despite knowing that anger is surely his primary emotion at the moment. Is there anything else? She must acknowledge that most likely, their minds will continue to evade understanding. It is not only that they are non-Federation; her own people were non-Federation-affiliated for most of her life. The Uwat differ from her as much as they do the humans among them.

Yet she has to try. While maintaining her slightly confused expression, Kylah works to detect anything that might help her and Lt. Graham in this predicament.

[stolz]

Dr. Mäkeläinen takes the opportunity to see if Lt. Rangin is still focussed, lost in thought, asleep, or what. "How about you?" he asks him, looking for a response. "You're a scientist--- how did you cross paths with Starfleet?"

[SidonianGal]

Chin supported by her palm, Nia has settled on her side, the cot's blanket pulled over her lower half. Dr. M.'s explanation is telling--more by what he doesn't share than what he does. Not one for ruminating over his past, sounds like. She mulls over his words: Accept something or do something about it. Not a bad philosophy. To a degree, her parents felt the same. Nia too, but it seems more difficult to pull off as she grows older. She's come across more and more unacceptable situations--and changing them isn't possible either.

Blinking, she realizes he's stopped speaking and is now checking on Rangin. She pushes herself up slightly. "Sorry, Doc. Spaced out there. Go ahead, Rangin," she encourages, not wanting to interrupt him. He's so close-mouthed, Nia really doesn't know much of him, either. She knows Rawlings, of course, but the other two men? Nia usually likes to look up the records of her crew, but there wasn't a chance of that with Mäkeläinen.

"But get ready," she adds with a tired but jokey smile toward Mäkeläinen, "Not done with you yet."

[general_urko]

"We--uh, our doctor--thinks there may have been some sort of, ah, cross-species allergic reaction. This is potentially the first contact between the Chalnoth and several of our team." He clears his throat. "And he also--he'd appreciate being able to access a medical facility to examine a couple of our folks---just in case."

[Elendil's Heir]

Although the Uwat have always been difficult to read, Kylah senses more irritation and concern than anger from this one. He brusquely responds to Graham, "This is not the time. Maybe later. For now, return to your quarters and lock yourself in."

Rangin opens his eyes, rouses himself and leans on one elbow. He says, "My homeworld, Coridan, was in pretty bad shape when I was growing up - violent, even anarchic. I saw the positive role Starfleet was playing where it could, and decided I wanted to be part of it. After I graduated from Cordas University, I sought special dispensation from Starfleet to enroll in the Academy despite the fact that Coridan still hadn't been accepted into the Federation. I was lucky to get in. I still believe that the best hope for Coridan, to break the cycle of violence and political instability that goes with the dilithium smuggling, is Federation membership."

[stolz]

Bizhi digests this. It explains a few of his aspects (and pretty much every Starfleet Academy graduate is highly motivated; Bizhi himself can attest to that), but he knows very little yet about his specific quirks. He is glad that Rangin is better--- one must never rely on luck, but it seems to have held out this once. Will it extend to the Chalnoth, though?

Whatever happens, until the situation is under control, he is going to have to order Rangin to confine himself to quarters--- no more afternoon constitutionals around the deck. If there are no games in the Common Room, perhaps one of the Vulcans, or a crew member, can lay hands on a deck of cards?

[SidonianGal]

Nia listens to Rangin and nods slightly as he speaks. She's heard his disagreements with certain decisions aboard the Yorktown--and at times, couldn't truthfully say that he was wrong--but she can't deny all the benefits Starfleet and the Federation as a whole provide to both longtime and fledgling members.

Sidonia is neither, and won't be without significant cultural changes. She has thoughts on that, but no one's asked her. Tilting her head so she can see all three crewmates, Nia gives a mmm-hmm of interest, muffled a little by her palm. "All of us from different planets, different paths to Starfleet. Pretty diverse group, we are."

Nia's gaze slides to Rawlings, warming. They've known each other the longest, and certainly the closest (depending on how far Rangin and Kylah have gone). Still, the others haven't heard his background, so she murmurs with a small smile, "T, you wanna share?" She adds a query to them all about previous postings.

[choie]

Instinctively, Kylah clasps her hands together, a position of obedience to elders. They are clammy and she rubs them slightly. "Forgive me, sir, we will do as you recommend. But I do not fully understand--why should we lock our door? We--" She glances at Lt. Graham to include him. "We only just heard of this in passing from members of our party. Is there some indication that this...whatever happened...was purposeful? And they blame us? We have no weapons or toxins. One of our friends took ill as well, so Doc told us."

She hesitates. "Once we do return to our cabins, can you please tell us how we may contact someone on the crew? We have not been able to find any communications option within. If there is an emergency--and we have two ill people now--how may we get assistance?"

[stolz]

Bizhi says a few vague words about his previous posting, balancing his natural reticence (plus, he has not known these people very long at all) with feeling good about everyone having this brief moment to sit and talk.

"This isn't my first tour," he says. "Last, I was on the Eriksson." That brings to mind some good friends he had there--- it could be months, or likely years, before he can get together with any of them again. "How to describe it? A lot of subtle details, but by the end it was home. From Starfleet routine down to moments of peril, you would instantly know you were not on the Yorktown. A little smaller, but that is not what I mean. Hard to explain. Each ship develops its own personality. It is analogous to having a unique accent in their speech--- which, incidentally, can really happen on long-duration missions."

[Elendil's Heir]

Rawlings gets a faraway look in his eyes and says, "I'm from Macon, Georgia, in the United States of America, on Earth. Beautiful area - no place else like it anywhere, really. My family's been farmers for as long as anyone's been keeping track. I've got three younger sisters, all still on Earth, but my parents have both passed on. When I graduated from the Academy, I became the first college graduate in my immediate family. I was posted to the Madrid and the Courageous early on, and I'm a plankowner" - that is, one of the original commissioning crew - "of the Yorktown."

The Uwat tells Graham and Kylah, "It doesn't really matter what you did or didn't do; I'm told the Chalnoth blame you for the collapse of their three troops. You really should take shelter." In response to Kylah's question he says, "The communicator in your quarters doesn't work?" He thinks for a moment and then takes a small silvery cylinder from his tool harness and hands it to her. "Use this if you need to get in touch with me. We have no ship's doctor and only a small infirmary. I am Pell. Grola, the second navigator, is trained in basic medical aid. I will send her to you, if I can."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plankowner

[general_urko]

Graham nods approvingly at Kylah and then gratefully at the Uwat. "Thank you," he says. "We appreciate your assistance, and we'll take you advice. He gestures for Ens.Kylah to take the communications device. "And then, let's go..."