Star Trek RPG - Mission #8: "Make A Wish"

[Elendil's Heir]

The Ambassador says to Graham, "Yes, of course, Lt. Deng will introduce you to Lt. Barlow, who commands the Security detail."

The Chief of Staff answers Dr. Kylah's questions. "Given the current security situation and recurring political unrest, there are unfortunately few everyday encounters with anyone not connected to the government. There are a few local civilians in regular contact with the Embassy, but none who work or live on the premises. When Embassy staff are able to get out into the city, and elsewhere on the planet, they do try to engage with the local populace, of course. They are almost always kept under surveillance by the government, however, sometimes heavy-handedly, which scares many of the locals off. We have some contact with the Bellun and other dissident or opposition groups, but it's difficult. Very difficult." She frowns. "I'm not sure that getting you or your shipmates out among the Cavinrean people is going to be possible this trip."

To Dr. Mäkeläinen she says, "There is indeed a small Embassy medical clinic. I believe it's fully stocked at the moment, but you can certainly confer with Dr. O'Neill, our Medical Officer. There are about two hundred non-Embassy Federation civilians on the planet, most of them here in the capital, primarily engaged in business affairs and merchant shipping. They all have communicators and other means to reach the Embassy if needed."

[choie]

"I see." Kylah sympathizes with the Embassy personnel. It must be frustrating to live a life preparing oneself for diplomacy and fostering allyship with other worlds, yet be stuck in an environment where there is little opportunity for interacting with the very people they live among. After a slight hesitation, while she continues to listen, she asks, "Is there any opportunity to talk to them? The Federation civilians, that is. Does the Embassy hold or attend events with them? I expect it would be informative to hear how they get along with the Cavinreans, if you cannot speak directly to people such as the Bellun." Kylah lifts her shoulders in an apologetic shrug for pressing the subject. It seems that they are mostly here to ensure the building's safety. Unless the Bellun seek asylum or assistance--and if they do not trust the Federation, that seems unlikely--it does not seem the Crew or Embassy's place to help these poor people's lot.

[stolz]

So, if they anticipate any specific trouble, they have yet to mention it. It may be interesting to hear later what some of the staff have to say off the record, as it were, of course. Mäkeläinen tells Carson [she did introduce herself as Carson? He is sure of it], "Certainly, I will have a chat with the physicians, look over the equipment and all that, if it can be arranged. Thank you."

He doubts that Kylah's efforts to get them invited to some sort of gala will bear fruit at this time, but one never knows.

[Elendil's Heir]

The Ambassador says, "Yes, Embassy staff are in regular touch with Federation civilians on the planet on an as-needed basis. They have problems, or opportunities, with various government ministries or businesses and need our help now and then. Some also run afoul of local police from time to time, and we help them, too, whenever possible."

Without warning, Kylah feels a strange, subtle tingling in the back of her mind. Her psi sense has been touched somehow.

[choie]

Kylah is considering whether to ask about the police's treatment of the civilians, but the little sensation stops her before her parted lips can do more than shape a word. She is surprised, not shocked. A life barraged by some truly intense emotions and thoughts has made her relatively immune to anything this minor. She displays little visible reaction. Just tilting her head with a tiny frown, then a similarly minuscule shake of her head.

In any room of sentient beings who are not in strict mental control, Kylah experiences what she thinks of as psi static: whispering around her, diffuse and unremarkable as white noise in the background. If someone has a fairly vivid presence or somewhat heightened emotions, they might catch Kylah's attention with a sort of radiant, almost tangible pressure. Not troublesome. The psychic equivalent of walking past a lit candle flame.

So this does not alarm her. It is interesting that it has come on (is it continuing?) all at once, rather than a gradual awareness. Less random static than specific.

Was someone reacting to the Ambassador's words? And does anyone else notice it? She takes a brief, casual look around. Humans have negligible psi abilities, generally, unless confronted by something powerful and purposeful. Her glance takes in Ensign Baenre, whose race, Kylah believes, is psi-capable. Does it look as if the other woman can feel this?

If her unobtrusive visual survey is fruitless, she will return her outward attention to the Ambassador. But within, she narrows her focus in an attempt to identify this odd mental nudge--what it is, and its possible source.

[general_urko]

Graham raises an eyebrow at the comment about "some also run afoul of local police from time to time."

In an authoritarian state, the police can be anywhere from complicit to brutal at keeping the leader in power.

But they can also be corrupt and abusive for their own gain or jollies - something the leader's willing to overlook as long as they deliver on the that.

He makes a mental note to ask Lt. Barlow about that.

[Elendil's Heir]

Nobody seems to be reacting particularly strongly to what the Ambassador said. She continues to talk about her work, and the difficulties of representing the Federation on a world which is strategically important but which has a government that is oppressive to its people.

Kylah's narrowed psi focus helps her realize, to her shock, that Rangin is trying to tell her something from the ship high above.

[stolz]

It seems clear enough to Dr. Mäkeläinen that they are not here for any kind of cultural (or medical science) exchange. (The latter might have been interesting: one never knows what kinds of techniques the local doctors have been forced to improvise precisely because of the artificial lack of technology.) Apparently the Embassy has procedures in place for contingencies, such as if Federation civilians have urgent medical, or other problems, but nothing is out of order at the moment. So this mission is purely routine, after all, which is good, however this entire world just leaves him with a bad taste. Even too much freedom, as it were, is preferable to living under an oppressive regime which is unstable to boot. How are people to flourish under such conditions? He sympathizes with the Ambassador, who has to manage but cannot change the rules of the game.

[choie]

Mid-inhale, Kylah's lungs hitch when mere sense coalesces into recognition. She widens her eyes and straightens noticeably in her seat, though she tries to recover her poise and at least pretend she is concentrating on the Ambassador. But she is distracted by the impossibility now present in her mind.

How can Velir contact her? He was unconscious when she left the ship--whenever that was; she now feels pulled outside of time, as if in a stasis bubble. Any voices within the room are muffled while Kylah tries to rein in her ability to reach out to the man who seems to drag her attention back to the ship far distant.

And that is what seems even more impossible than his conscious status. To impress his...his voice (though she is uncertain that is what she has recognized) from so, so far? What kind of psi abilities must he possess now?

Is that you? is all she can venture at first. Velir, are you...where...how are you doing this?

Awe and humility swell through her, along with pride and the smallest trace of fear. She shakes her head. Can you even hear me? I am not nearly--

Kylah squeezes her hands together, almost physically choking off the acknowledgement that she is nowhere near able to sense anyone's mind on her own at such an incredible distance. That is more than she dares admit. He must continue to think she is merely a passive receptor.

Please, Velir, she thinks while doing her best not to look to skyward. Tell me, is this you?

[Elendil's Heir]

After an agonizing pause, she "hears," Yes, Kylah, it's me.. Another pause, and then, She reached me. Aya... Aya Khoury. They have her. She's in danger. Yet another pause, and then, M78007... T43249. This is.... Then nothing.

The Ambassador finishes and says, "So. That's what we're facing here. Any questions?"

[stolz]

Bizhi has no further questions at the moment. If anything that requires the Ambassador's attention will occur to him after seeing more of the Embassy and talking to the staff, that is a matter for later.

He notices Kylah fidgeting, but he remains impassive. He has sat though much longer meetings, and this one was not that boring or useless.

[choie]

Relief washes over Kylah when she hears--senses--confirmation that this is truly Velir, though it is swiftly followed by confusion. Whom is he talking about? Is this a real person? Is he dreaming, something from his past bleeding out psychically? Then he starts speaking in numbers and she is at a loss.

Then silence.

She leans forward in her chair. Velir? Are you still there? Please, I do not understand, what do you mean to tell me? Is this person someone you know? From your last ship? Coridan? Did she contact you through the ship? What do the numbers mean?

Her barrage of questions cannot possibly help him. She must look down at the table, away from everyone, and tries to gather her thoughts, though they too are questions. If someone is in danger, why does Velir not contact Security on the ship? Surely they can investigate. But...perhaps he is not even conscious! Are these mere snatches from a powerful dream? Or has he truly received some message from... what was the name? Aya Khoury?

She rubs her left temple and tries to reach out again. Velir, please, can you say more? Her eyes have closed unconsciously while focusing, and she quickly opens them, staring up at the Ambassador. If Velir can no longer contact her, she must attempt to discern his status, whether he has awakened. But how? She is stuck here. She cannot think of a way to break away from a meeting with a Federation Ambassador.

Her fingers now twist a curl of hair as she stares at the head of the table while waiting for a response from Velir. It strikes her that even if she can get a moment to herself, she will have little luck learning from the ship's medical staff of any change in Velir's condition. She switches her gaze to Dr. Mäkeläinen, the only person who knows of Velir's psi abilities. If anything, she can tell him.

[Elendil's Heir]

Kylah realizes that Ens. Baenre is looking at her. She leans over and quietly asks, "Are you all right, Ensign?"

[choie]

With her colleague's voice addressing her, Kylah must tear her mind away from its almost painful attempt to draw out any possible message from Velir. Reining in her frustrated, discomposed expression, she blinks and turns to Ens. Baenre. "I am well. A slight headache, that is all." A flicker of a smile softens her tense brow."Thank you, Ensign. It is kind of you to ask."

Her gratitude is genuine but other thoughts gallop through her mind. The last communication from Velir was nearly instantaneous. If he were able to hear her and respond, he likely would have done so by now. Still, she will try, and then whatever the result, she will report it to the doctor.

And perhaps Lt. Graham, she thinks, more reluctantly. She is loath to tell him anything Velir might not wish her to, but this woman might be someone known to be missing. The thought occurs to her that it might even be someone on the Yorktown crew, although it seems doubtful. Kylah does not think she has heard the name before. Of course, she only vaguely heard of Ens. Baenre, and here she is on a mission with her. Kylah's circle is, she must admit, very small indeed.

Making a better effort to keep her face blank, she tries one more time to breach the massive gap between her and Velir--only physical, this time--and listen. Else she will await an opportunity to speak to the doctor and Lt. Graham.

[stolz]

Dr. Mäkeläinen will wait for the meeting to end before privately speaking with anyone--- unless there is an emergency, of course. He would like to hear what the Captain makes of all this, and whether she has any specific instructions. Then, perhaps, a quick word with the rest of the team. Are they to stick together, or splitting up?

[Elendil's Heir]

It appears that no one has any questions for the Ambassador.

Ens. Baenre looks closely, but sympathetically, at Kylah but then nods.

Try as she might, Kylah senses nothing more from Rangin.

[choie]

Nothing. Velir either cannot hear her, cannot reach her, or is simply unconscious again. Assuming he was ever conscious in the first place.

Kylah's foot shakes restlessly underneath the table while she stares at the Captain in hopes that Singh will give orders and explain their duties. In the meantime, since Ens. Baenre was not constrained into silence, Kylah gently brushes an unobtrusive hand on Dr. Mäkeläinen's arm to get his attention.

"Sir," she says in an undertone, "I need to ask a favor. If we have a moment, may we speak?"

[stolz]

It has not escaped the Doctor's attention that Kylah has grown increasingly restless in the last few minutes. He tries to divine what she might want to discuss that she could not wait a few minutes to ask him: a flurry of calculation while his expression does not flicker, but the only result of this prognostication is, it cannot be anything obvious. He whispers the only possible response: "Aye, of course." The meeting seems like it is winding up, in any case (though you never know).

[Elendil's Heir]

"Thank you, Madam Ambassador," the Captain says, rising. "Mr. Graham, please tour the rest of the Embassy, evaluating its security measures, with Lt. Deng and the landing party. Mr. Kylah, please remain here with the Ambassador and me; there's a matter she'd like to discuss with us."

The Ambassador, Chief of Staff and Lt. Deng stand, as well.

[choie]

The Captain's request comes as such a shock that Kylah just stands clumsily and stares at the older woman. As she flushes, her self-conscious gaze whisks around the table, but the more urgent issue of Velir's message trumps her mixture of embarrassment and pride at being singled out.

She must think quickly. "Yes, Captain," she blurts. "But--forgive me, may I speak with you, and the doctor, and--" Kylah looks at the ranking Security Officer with a belated, apologetic expression intended both for him and, in absentia, Velir. "--And Lt. Graham? Privately? Please pardon me, Your Excellency," she finishes awkwardly.

Assuming the Captain approves and they move off a little bit. Worried she is turning as red as her uniform, Kylah tries to gather herself. "I did not want to mention this, as it may be... irrelevant... but I have received a communication from Ens. Rangin."

It is difficult to meet the Captain's gaze. "I bring it up now because I do not know if this relates to our mission here or not, but he seems urgently concerned about someone named Aya Khoury. I do not recognize the name, but he says that she is in danger--that someone 'has' her. He said nothing more."

She turns to the doctor and adds with intent, "I was surprised that he had awakened enough to send such a message, Doctor. Perhaps you can reach out to the medical staff for confirmation?"

[general_urko]

Graham also rises and nods, but then raises an eyebrow and holds his position as Ens. Kylah speaks.

[stolz]

[Whenever the conversation including Mäkeläinen and Kylah takes place...]

The Doctor is astonished to hear Kylah's news about Lt. Rangin. "Last I checked on Lt. Rangin, before we left, he was stable, with normal readings, but unconscious," he explains. "You received a message from him, you say?"

If the Captain is there, or nearby and available and up to date, he can directly ask her, "Captain, we cannot leave it at that. Are communications between here and the Yorktown secure? May I have leave to contact Sickbay regarding Lt. Rangin's status?"

[general_urko]

Graham modulates both his demeanor and his breathing.

Rangin could be a potato at this point as far as he's concerned, and the landing party has bigger fish to fry than worrying about whether he is or isn't.

But strange things have happened in his Starfleet career and it's not his call what to dismiss or not.

[choie]

"Yes, sir, he... communicated to me..." Kylah says with a intent look that she hopes expresses her meaning to the doctor, while somehow...obfuscating it to the rest. It seems unlikely, and she quickly brushes that part aside. She tries to read Lt. Graham's and the Captain's faces, but the latter is opaque, while the former is almost equally so. A flicker of impatience seems to run through him, that is all.

What she definitely does not see or hear is any immediate recognition of the unknown name. Dr. Mäkeläinen and Lt. Graham are both newer to the ship than she is, but the doctor has probably studied ship medical records, and Lt. Graham is a well-liked security officer. And the Captain likely knows the name and background of everyone on her ship.

"Is this Aya Khoury not a crewmember, then?" she stammers. "He sounded as if I should know her, but..."

Weakening, she falls silent and bites the inside of her lip. How can she possibly avoid revealing Velir's psi ability? Lt. Graham will not take that knowledge well. Especially knowing the younger man can reach out to her, penetrate her mind. Lt. Graham mistrusts him enough as it is.

She regrets having said a word to anyone but the doctor. But time seemed of the essence. She still remembers the feel of Velir's feverish concern. But this could all just be a hallucination, a phantom nightmare that grasped his mind so violently he reached out to her for help, drawing her in.

Kylah shakes her head free of the memory, hugs her datapad to her, and mutely waits for the Captain's response.

[Elendil's Heir]

The Ambassador seems a little surprised, but assents.

The Captain is puzzled upon hearing Kylah's report, a discreet distance away. She says, "I don't recognize the name, Ensign. Maybe the Ambassador or Lt. Deng would? And how did Lt. Rangin contact you, exactly? I had the same understanding as to his condition as Dr. Mäkeläinen does."

To the good doctor she says, "Yes, of course, you may contact the ship. Use an encrypted channel, please."

[choie]

"It was moments ago... during the meeting." Kylah's evasive response is not enough, she knows, and her fingers clutch the datapad till they turn a bloodless white. "He spoke to me. Or at least...I heard him."

She turns with a pleading gaze to Dr. Mäkeläinen, but realizes he might not be at liberty to divulge medical issues to anyone but the captain. "Ma'am, I do not know how much the doctor reported from everything that happened on our last mission, but Mr. Rangin has shown new symptoms--new mental abilities--"

Her reluctant gaze shifts to meet Lt. Graham's. "Ever since the three of us were attacked by Mr. Palver on Omicron Ceti III, his mind has shown similar abilities to...to influence. On the Doregg, he told me he convinced one of the enemies to stand down."

She avoids the incident with Lt. Onn and the three soldiers who were rendered unconscious. She is still uncertain if Velir was responsible for that, whatever he himself believes.

"And just now he made his presence known to me. In my mind. The words were clear, they were his, and I did not imagine them. I do not think I did." Her voice reveals sudden doubt, and the truth is, the magnitude of Velir's feat of mental strength leaves her at a loss, even with her personal knowledge of psi abilities. For him to have learned of this woman's situation, then to relay it to Kylah herself, all while never leaving the Yorktown's Sickbay?

"I do not understand such a force," she murmurs in genuine awe and unease. "He trusts me, and we are closely connected, so maybe that is why he knew I would be receptive." A flash of memory from their physically intimate moments at the Black Sun floods her with embarrassment and even more unease, and she yanks her attention away from Lt. Graham and the doctor to the Captain. "But it all might be nothing. You are right, of course, ma'am. We must ask someone here."

[stolz]

"I am cognizant of a number of what one might, in lay language, call 'mental abilities,'" the Doctor says carefully--- he might say more if it were just the Captain here--- "that enable communication. It is not even that unusual, galactically speaking, even if it is quite rare for humans, say, either to manifest such abilities naturally, or to possess the physiological aptitude and discipline to master through study techniques such as the Vulcan Mind-Meld."

Telepathic contact at orbital distance, through a shielded building, however?

"As for Lt. Rangin, the Medical department is aware of his particular physiology and background, and has been keeping especially close track of his status, as we would for any crew member injured during a mission. I discussed his case with the Chief Medical Officer, not that long ago. To reiterate, however, at the time this mission started, the mental symptoms he was exhibiting were unconsciousness and coma. It is possible that his condition has since improved to a hypnagogic state, or further, which, under the circumstances, makes it all the more urgent to request an update on his status."

If nobody has any immediate pertinent questions, with a, "By your leave, Captain. Ambassador," he stands aside and attempts to open a communicator channel to the Yorktown, confirm that it is encrypted and put through to Sickbay, and get a hold of whoever is on duty to ask for a visual check on Rangin as well as any recent changes in his monitored vitals.

[Elendil's Heir]

The Captain is taken aback. "That's... remarkable, Ensign, especially from orbit. Good Lord. Have you been able to reply to him? To converse? Are you sure it's him?"

After Kylah answers, she turns back to Amb. Ishimwe and Lt. Deng. She says, choosing her words carefully, "We've just had a communication from one of our crew, regarding an Aya Khoury. It appears she may in danger. Do you know this person?"

Both the diplomat and the young Starfleet officer appear startled. "Yes!" the Ambassador says at once, glancing at Lt. Deng. "We know her. She's a Starfleet Intelligence officer who's undercover here. She's been missing for two days."

Dr. Mäkeläinen reaches Dr. Giancarlo Bucci in Sickbay, who says, "Mr. Rangin is here, but still unconscious, and I'm sorry to say that he's in medical crisis at the moment. It apparently just happened. Dr. Villa and a Medical team are attending to him now."

[choie]

Before Captain Singh leaves to speak to the officials, Kylah quickly tells her that yes, it was obvious that it was Velir even before he formed words. "I recognized him. He--he has been in my mind before." She regrets the admission, and avoids Lt. Graham as best she can, hurrying to confirm Velir had heard her, too, but only once. Unfortunately, he stopped speaking replied no further.

The Captain moves to fetch the Ambassador and Lt. Deng. But now something tickles Kylah's memory. Velir's last discernible words were not words. "There were numbers, too, sir," she murmurs to Lt. Graham. thinking aloud. "Out of nowhere, he gave some numbers, but I do not know what he meant. But if the doctor can confirm that Velir has regained consciousness, we can ask him directly." She smiles a little while looking with hope at Dr. Mäkeläinen's back.

[stolz]

Dr. Mäkeläinen reports back, striving to keep his demeanour calm, but unable to keep out a certain degree of tension. He might be able to do something to help Rangin, but fate has him here where he is unable to affect the outcome. "Lt. Rangin remains unconscious," he explains, "however, his status has just gone erratic; I have no details except that there is an entire medical team working on him as I speak, including the CMO.

"While you will get no takers of the odds of this being a coincidence, there is also no way, at present, to confirm whether the message was from Lt. Rangin himself or relayed through him, versus something else entirely. Something or someone impersonating the Lieutenant, for instance, though," he turns to Kylah, "if you say you recognized him..." He lets this digest.

"Speculatively, Rangin is only in this because some third party found him... susceptible. We were all exposed to a number of exotic fields on our last mission, but Rangin suffered the worst." Though that is not, strictly speaking, true, is it? Whatever precisely transpired, some of the Chalnoth died. The Doctor does not offer anything Rangin told him in confidence. "In someone already recovering from exactly this type of strain, that would account for triggering a medical crisis. We should make sure whoever it was does not try again.

"You said, numbers?" he asks, again addressing Kylah. "A message authenticator, perhaps? Or coded words, or a location?"