Make New Friends...
Posted on Tue Oct 19th, 2021 @ 8:14am by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Lieutenant Commander Larim Myles & Lieutenant Paul Michael & Lieutenant Commander Hermia O'Rourke & Lieutenant Junior Grade Mira Jayde & Corporal Sina Ravenna
Edited on on Tue Oct 19th, 2021 @ 8:30am
2,421 words; about a 12 minute read
Mission:
Episode 11 - Family Matters
Location: Planet Jutus
Timeline: MD004 1700 hrs
Jaflok and Terra stood a little nervously as they wore their ambassadorial sashes over their clothes. Both of the diplomats new that if things did not go well with the crew of the Pioneer then relations with the Federation may not go as planned. This was their one chance to finally get a leg up on the Romulans.
Terra turned to the transporter operator. "Signal the Pioneer that we are ready and standing by. Energize on their command." The operator acknowledged the order and did as he was bade.
Ameri looked down once more at her uniform, making sure all was in order. She walked into the transporter room, smiling to herself as she was the first to arrive. She hated being late, so she always planned on being early.
She was looking forward to this first contact with the people of Jutus. Ameri had a good feeling that things would go well. This was what they were out here for. To meet new people and to hopefully an alliance along the way.
Hermia arrived in the transporter room wearing her dress uniform, she looked forward to checking out some the Jutrai medical techniques. "Hi, Ameri, are you looking forward to seeing what Jutus and its people have to offer?" She asked her friend.
"I am," Ameri smiled in return. "To have this opportunity is what we're here for. I know you must be looking forward to it as well."
"Yes, I'd like to see their hospitals, and how their medical techniques differ from those of other vulcanoid cultures." Hermia replied.
“I’m interested in their technology.” Ameri said with a smile. “And their everyday life. How they raise their children, things like that.”
"That will interesting too." Hermia agreed.
Jayde didn't want to stand out. Her job was to see that this meeting went well by keeping the away team safe. She stepped onto the platform so she could be part of the first team down.
Lyna and Paul arrived in the transporter room, to beam down for the reception.
Lan followed in to the transporter room. She looked around the room and then stepped on to the platform. She quietly nodded to the transporter chief and then beamed down to the reception.
When it was their turn to beam down, Paul and Lyna stepped up on the platform, and with a nod to the transporter chief, were beamed down to the planet.
Although she didn't have to say it, Hermia stepped on to the transporter pad and said. "Chief, energize." The CMO was then enveloped by the transporter beam.
When Corporal Sina Ravenna arrived at the transporter room, she found that everyone had already beamed down. As a member of a group that had left Vulcan centuries ago, she had been chosen to join the diplomatic mission to Jutus. Unfortunately there had been a mix up and she'd only received the order five minutes earlier, so as a consequence she was late.
Lan saw the Ambassadors standing there looking around and she decided to walk over to them and introduce herself. She bowed slightly and said, "Jolan tru, Ambassadors, I am Command Chief Petty officer Lan Nguyen. I am the Pioneer's chief of the boat. I am honored to be here to day." She said in a calmly tone.
"Welcome, we are overjoyed to be hosting you on this momentous occasion. We of all people know that relations between our cousins and the Federation has been strained to say the very least, and hope that our relationship can be built to a long lasting friendship. Tell me what exactly does a Chief of the Boat do? It is not a position that we have on our vessels." Terra spoke genially and with a smile on her face. She handed Lan a glass of Romulan Ale.
Lan took the Romulan ale and nodded as thank you and then started to explain, "Starfleet makes use of non commissioned officers, members of the Federation sharing their expertise with starfleet. Usually because of their experience they don't come in the same way as the commissioned officers. Usually non commissioned officers are lower in rank than the lowest ranking commissioned officer. I as chief of the boat am just the highest ranking non commissioned officer on the ship. I represent this group of non commissioned officer on the command team and take care of their needs. But as non commissioned officer I do also fulfill another role, and I think you are more familiar with that. I am the Master at Arms of the Pioneer."
Terra looked thoughtful for a moment as she pondered and processed everything that Lan had said. After a moment she spoke. "I see so you represent them so they have a voice. So you Captain can know how they feel and thereby make the ship more hospitable to the lower ranked. This is something we can learn from. Up until now we have only had the Romulan Navy to model our own structure from. As you can imagine they had no such position on their vessels. Serving in two capacities must keep you busy."
"I am no busier than a department head." Lan took a sip form the Ale. "Which is in itself is already quite busy. If you do consider getting non commissioned officers on board, you will find it is quite beneficial to have a chief of the boat on board. Ships operating this way often operate more efficient."
"Duly noted, and thanks for the advice... ummm Chief?" Terra ended her statement with a question as she realized that she did not know exactly how to address Lan.
Lan nodded. "Yes, Chief. Thank you, Ambassador."
Paul and Lyna looked around the area where they beamed down. They saw the Chief of the Boat talking to two of the aliens.
Jayde stood beside the Starfleet delegation, watching and assessing their hosts. So far, they seemed genuine, as did everything she read about them.
Hermia rematerialised in a square surrounded by ornate buildings and immaculately attended gardens of brightly coloured flowers. Well, they have an eye for beauty. She said to herself.
Most of the Jutrai were milling about the buffet table which had been strewn with delicacies from Earth. The Jutrai had definitely done their homework and gone the extra mile to make the crew of the Pioneer feel at home.
Ameri immediately looked around, taking in the beauty of the area as she listened to the words of greeting. All appearances seemed to be a way towards peace among them. It was what she had surmised from studying them before they came down. She would move forward with that mind.
Jayde was impressed. The place reminded her of the best of Bajor. There was a tranquillity that appealed to her. But it didn't make her trust them. Not yet. She stayed close to the Federation delegation--or as much as possible as they began to spread out.
Materialising on Jutus, Sina adjusted her dress uniform and took a deep breath. The air was sweet like that on her homeworld of Vellon III. Though Jutus seamed to have more of a temperate climate, unlike the warm, damp jungles of home.
She looked around, the Jutrai sported the bowl like hair of the Romulans or Vulcans, something her people the Wuh pakik had abandoned in favour of short hair with platted pony-tails. Seeing the tables full of Earth food, she wondered what the Jutrai ate themselves.
Paul and Lyna walked around the room and looked at everything. They walked with her arm in his.
They passed the buffet, looked at what was available, they kept walking.
Sina approached one of the Jutrai diplomats. "Jolan tru." She said. "I'm Corporal Sina Ravenna, I don't know if you've heard of Wuh pakik, but I'm one of them.
Jaflok cocked an eyebrow at the newcomer in the Vulcan fashion. "I cannot say that I have heard of those people." He replied with both suspicion and interest in his voice. Jaflok would have been contented staying silent and in the shadows, but Terra insisted that they make contact.
"The name means the 'Lost ones', my ancestors left Vulcan to colonize a new world millennia ago. They didn't believe in the suppressing of emotion, but weren't conquerors like those that became the Romulans. We are warriors, not aggressors and we have a spiritual life too. An Andorian survey vessel rediscovered us shortly after the end of the Dominion War, and through them we came in contact with the Vulcans and the rest of the Federation." Sina explained.
Although the suspicion remained Jaflok's demeanor became jovial and he raised his mug of Romulan Ale. "Oh Ho! Then we are cousins are we not. After all the Jutrai, like the Romulans, and apparently like yourselves are all descended from Vulcans. We bid you a warm welcome cousin."
"Thank you, 'cousin'." Sina replied performing her people gesture of friendship.
If there was one thing Lunara had learned about being a counselor, it was that one was never truly off duty. So thought Lunara as she sprinted down the hallway. Her cleared afternoon schedule, carefully crafted to give her enough time to dress up, was dashed by an Ensign emergency session. Her polished badges, her shined boots, even her freshly pressed uniform she had so carefully laundered the night before, all lay in her quarters, useless to her now. For now, she just had to hope she would make the ceremony in time - or rather, not miss the entire thing. She paused outside the transporter room, straightened her uniform, and ran her fingers through her hair, hoping she'd at least look somewhat presentable. Taking a deep breath, she stepped through the door, took her place on the pad, and gave the command to energize
Since the Starfleet delegation was spreading out, Jayde wandered around the room, looking for security weaknesses and appreciating what she saw. Nothing seemed to be incongruous, which was good. At least she hoped so. They seemed like genuinely nice people, and she hoped they were just what they presented themselves to be.
Ameri walked by the buffet and accepted a drink. Taking a sip, she found it had a pleasant taste, not quite certain what it was she circled the room and found a spot where she could observe the others.
Jayna finished her tour of the room and found a place where she could watch both the delegation and their hosts and still be close enough to act if necessary. She couldn't put her finger on anything specific, but she didn't trust these people. Everything seemed just a bit too coincidental. She hoped there would be time later for her to learn more about these people, but her duty on this assignment was clear.
Lunara arrived on the planet in a shimmer of energy, quickly looking around to observe what was going on and who she could talk to.
Jaflok had been mingling with the everyone who was coming and going. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed a young woman with dots on her flesh materialize in the transporter effect. The look of the woman appealed to him as she was a vision he had never beheld. he approached the young woman. "Greetings I am Ambassador Jaflok and welcome to Jutus."
Lunara looked up, surprised. "Ah, hello Ambassador!" Was this the right way to greet new dignitaries? She had no idea. She's certainly hoped so. "I am Lunara Hol, Chief Counselor aboard the Pioneer. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." She stretched out a hand, smiling, while discreetly watching his body language. The Federation had next to no information on this species, and it never hurt to be a little careful.
Jaflok took the hand and noted how cold it felt. He immediately wondered if Trill were cold blooded. He kissed the back of her hand. "Pleased to meet you Lieutenant. I had heard that Federation ships carried trained psychologists on board. However, I had no idea they would be as beautiful as yourself." Jaflok refused to admit it however, this woman intrigued him.
Lunara blinked, blushing a bit. "Err, thank you, Ambassador." She secretly wondered if the entire species was so... friendly..
"No I must thank you. May I get you a drink." Jaflok asked as he motioned toward the bar with a smile.
"I... okay." Lunara stammered. While Perim loved this sort of attention, it left Lunara flustered. "What's the speciality here?" If this was a random stranger in a bar, she'd tell him to back off, or at least take it easy, but this wasn't random guy, and this wasn't a bar. The last thing she wanted to do was sink a first contact, so for now she just decided to smile and play along.
Hermia had mingled a bit, but now sat down on a bench in a secluded alcove. Her right boot lay on the cobbled area in front of her as she rubbed her right foot with both hands. She'd warn Starfleet issue boots for the first time in years, as her usual Marine boots weren't part of her Dress whites.
As she sat there, her mind, indirectly, touched the surface thoughts of those within range.
The diplomatic function proceeded well into the late evening with Jutrai consuming a large amount of food and drink. It seemed that the Ambassadors enjoyed themselves immensely.
A Joint Post By
Captain Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Commander Larim Myles
Chief Security/Tactical Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Paul Michael
Chief Flight Control Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Commander Hermia O'Rourke
Chief Medical Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Junior Grade Lunara Hol
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Junior Grade Mira Jayde
Assistant Chief Security/Tactical Officer, USS Pioneer
Corporal Sina Ravenna
Pathfinder RECON, USS Pioneer
Command Chief Petty Officer Phuong Lan Nguyen
Chief Of The Boat/Master-At-Arms, USS Pioneer
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