STF

Main Sim: Docking and Talking

Posted May 24, 2021, 2:49 a.m. by Lieutenant Priscilla Simms (Chief Science Officer) (Melissa Aragon)

Posted by Lieutenant Elaine Janvier (Chief Medical Officer) in Main Sim: Docking and Talking

Posted by Gamemaster Alias Smith N. Jones, Esq. (GMT) in Main Sim: Docking and Talking

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Issac Forgrave (Chief of Security) in Main Sim: Docking and Talking
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻

<snip>

As Forgrave sang, Shalir seemed to perk up. Slowly, very slowly, she moved into the open and approached Forgrave. She was much taller than him, but as she got close he could see was indeed a avian humanoid. As he finished singing, she stood up fully, almost a foot taller than him, and she put a hand gently on the side of his head and lowered her head to the other, gently touching his ear to the side of her head. At this close proximity, she had a heady scent of flowers and open air. They touched for less than a moment and then she stood up.

Issac didn’t know what to expect; but he knew that he was volunteering for.... something. He expected further pain; and couldn’t help but tense up as Shalir approached; though he didn’t see anything resembling the emitter from earlier…
As the alien embraced him; he froze stock-still, not sure what was happening or what to do.

“There. Thank you for your trust and patience… ” and her eyes fixed on his collar, “… Lieutenant Junior Grade. Communication should be less… awkward… now.” and she smiled.

GMT

“Ah, yes…” He didn’t return the smile, but he did manage a stiff nod in reply. Issac was deeply uncomfortable, though he did his best to suppress and hide it. He still wasn’t quite sure what had happened, but… other than some form of psychic… mind-reading? or something, how else could an understanding of language… and knowledge, if her reading of his pips and knowing of his name be passed so quickly? The thought made his skin crawl; try as he might to dismiss it. It ain’t important, not right now!

Still feeling out of sorts, he nodded once more. “Well, uh, reckon I’m glad we got a bit of an understanding now.” After looking around somewhat awkwardly, he continued. “I know there’s a lot going on with… well, the station an’ everything else; we’re still trying to figure out what’s happening. Anything you can tell us; well, I think it’d get us further than we are right now.”

-Forgrave, CoS

Shalir nodded and said “Of course. Would you like to convey the information? Or do you want to see if anyone from your… how do you say… well… leadership… wishes to speak directly? Now that you understand us, I am certain you can convey the process.” and she looked in the direction of the station.

“What is happening is our fault, but not our doing. But I do believe that… together… we can free your people and mine.”

GMT

Issac couldn’t help but grin as his brain translated Shalir’s words into ‘take me to your leader’.

As Molly watched the scene unfold, it took everything in her not to bring her fingers back to the phaser, but as the alien stood back up, leaving the Dresden’s COS in the same condition as he had been moments before, she let out a breath she didn’t know she had been holding. Looking expectantly at the pair, she waited to hear what Forgrave had to relay back, not wanting to interrupt what actually seemed to be a conversation.

Holloway, CO

It was definitely strange understanding only half a conversation that was happening right in front of her. With the musical sound that was emitting from the alien it added an earie feel to the room. It reminded Janvier of the stories of sirens calls that her Grandmother used to tell her about as a child. The beautiful notes speaking to the lone sailor. Though, that was where the similarities stopped. She wasn’t always the best at reading people but her gut told her that these aliens weren’t here to randomly abduct Forgrave. They were asking for help, but until Forgrave translated all she could do was listen to one side of the conversation and wait.

Dr Janvier, CMO

“It uh, sounds like they’re involved with what’s happening here.” Issac turned to face the rest of the crew in the corridor; gesturing vaguely towards the alien ship as he spoke. “Shalir here says it’s… well, their fault, but not their doing. Ain’t sure what exactly that means, but I’m sure we’ll find out before too long. Their people are trapped, same as ours, so we definitely got a shared interest in… resolving this situation, whatever that may be.”

Turning back to the strange alien, he asked “So, where to from here? We got an avenue of communication now; but I ain’t optimistic enough to think that’s the hard part over with. We came here originally ‘cause the station went quiet… but it’s been a fair bit since that was noticed by our command. Have y’all been stuck here this whole time?” Concern washed over Issac’s face as the thought settled in his mind. “Is your crew… alright? How are y’all holding up - life support, food, all that mess?”

-Forgrave, CoS

Shalir nodded. “The hard part will be containing the power cell from our communications relay. That’s what has caused this whole mess. Our Captain and your station’s leaders went to see about the core. Our Second and the one of yours called Security Chief were on our bridge when the containment cell shattered and the core became exposed. We could use some water. Food wasn’t inside the field, but our main water reserves are and we ran out of of rationed water three days ago.”

GMT

Issac nodded attentively, listening to the brief description of what happened; it sounded like there had been some sort of rapport between the aliens and the crew of the station; at least prior to things going pear-shaped. As Shalir described the current state of things on their vessel, his face contorted into a grimace. Immediately he half-turned back to the others; eyes landing on Captain Holloway. “Captain; they need help - seems their water stores are trapped inside the field; and the rest of ‘em are out. Harris; can we get some of your men ta shift some barrels over? Dr. Janvier; can you make sure we don’t, uh…” Issac’s tone was firm; not quite an order, but clearly not a question; at least, until his brain caught up with itself and he realized just who all he was talking to. Just in time, he had about to say ‘give ‘em smallpox or some such crap’ when he caught his tongue. Pausing, he amended his truncated words into “so we uh, don’t have any cross-contamination.”

Looking back at Shalir once more, he opened his mouth to repeat what he’d just said, before catching himself once more. “I reckon you caught that? We’re gonna try and help y’all, starting with water. I uh, well, I can’t make any promises, but do y’all have anyone needing medical attention?” Forgrave’s urge to help was in conflict with his suspicious nature; but these… Lidrian seemed peaceful; and well, as the song went - For space is wide and good friends are too few…

-Forgrave, CoS

Shalir nodded and said “Yes… and thank you. And the concern of infection is admirable, but we are immune to most diseases of mammalian and reptile origins.” and she laughed slightly, and it was almost like the tinkling of small bells in a breeze. “I am a scientist. That is my role on board this ship. I was allowed some access to your station’s database. I have to say, your people are most impressive. If I am not mistaken, this is the first exchange that the Lidrian people have had with your ‘Federation of Planets’.”

GMT

Without water? Oh geeze. Bethany glanced back at Janvier then at Holloway, shrugged and moved off at a slight job. Emergency rations and supplies were just 2 sections away. She moved past Dangar and waved him to follow when he hesitated she stopped and glared at him and then, head hanging he followed. They were back shortly with a crate. They set it down next to Holloway. “Captain, emergency water rations. Not as good as the barrels Harris can get, and won’t last as long but it will start them off slow.” She glanced at Janvier, “If I remember my emergency first aid, if they’re dehydrated too much at once can shock the system and make things worse?”
Lt Gadi, CNS

“That’s right,” the doctor confirmed a gentle smile as she moved over to quietly examine the water.

Molly nodded at Gadi’s words, but her eyes were still trained on Forgrave and the alien being. There were a lot of things she didn’t yet understand, and there were a lot of questions she had still left unanswered. Molly had listened intently to their Security Chief’s side of the conversation without having any way to confirm whether there were small nuances on the alien’s response that were not being conveyed. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Forgrave, but rather, a lot of things could be lost in translation when a conversation was not engaged with in the first person. And then he had started coordinating efforts to help them. Was she not the Captain of her own ship anymore? Because it something went wrong, and Forgrave misunderstood something down the line, it would be on her to clean up the diplomatic mess. Not to mention, the mess would be on her record, because any member of the Dresden’s personnel was her responsibility.

Issac looked back at Holloway; catching something in her eyes that he couldn’t quite identify, but he suspected he knew what it was. He hadn’t exactly run through the proper channels before effectively ordering aid to be provided to an unknown entity. ‘Good intentions’ wouldn’t really make up for a bad outcome; and well… he was the Chief of Security.
“Ah; Sorry, Ma’am. I reckon that all oughta be ran past you first, eh? I’ve let myself get, ah, carried away here.” Issac’s voice was quietly apologetic; and he admonished himself for his lapse. Hopefully it wouldn’t bite him too badly; if at all. They still had far too little to go on; regarding both the events on the station, and the station’s ‘guests’.

Waving her palm at Gadi in a waiting motion, Holloway took two steps forward, before asking: “Now that we know that there is a way for us to communicate safely, is there a way to make more of us understand you?” Molly addressed the alien directly, but she wasn’t sure if whatever she had done with Forgrave meant she could only understand him in particular, or that she could understand everyone. If it was the former, rather than the latter, she was sure the Security Chief could relay her question.

Holloway, CO

Issac turned back to Shalir; pausing to see if Holloway was understood. If he had to guess, the alien likely did understand them; but he suspected that understanding was all that had been ripped passed between them. Forgrave consciously altered that line of thinking; suppressing another shudder as he considered how his language and knowledge! had been… shared.

-Forgrave, CoS

Shalir looked at Holloway and then at Forgrave. “I’m sorry, but until I… we… share the connection, I cannot understand her. Just as all voices are unique, so are all electro-impulses. Our physiology allows us to ‘hear’ impulses we have come into physical contact with. That is why I can understand you. I don’t hear your voice, exactly… just the impulses that drive it. And that I can understand.”

GMT

“Ask her for permission for me to scan her. If they’re dehydrated they could be lacking in other natural minerals they need as well,” Janvier said quietly. “If they are lacking too much than we can infuse their water with it and slowly introduce it in that manner.”

Dr. Janvier, CMO

Just then a comm came thru to the Captain. =^=Captain, Simms here. We have an idea but need to make sure everyone’s aware of it before we take action on your word. We are going to use a pinpointed anti-chroniton field to bore a hole towards the object we have found is at the center of this field. Using a modified tractor beam riding on its tail, we will drag the particle out of the station and relocate it to an asteroid at a safe distance from the station and the ship. If it goes according to plan, the field will move with the object and release the ship and the station with minimal issues.=^= She glanced to Drillek and the XO and hoped the Captain understood enough to let the move forward. And enough to pass on to the ship so they were aware as well.

Priscilla
CSO


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