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USS HOSHEA: Observations in the Lounge

Posted on 03/22/2017 @ 3:13pm
Edited on on 04/22/2017 @ 11:20am

Mission: The Way the Cats Jump
Location: Observation Lounge, Aft section - Deck 1, USS Hoshea

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User: Kheren

User: Caltern

User: BLZBUB

User: Caltern

User: Caltern

User: Caltern

User: Caltern

Shortly after Sean Andrews and Jonathan Livingstone had exchanged pleasantries, the main bulk of the Hoshea's crew arrived. First into the room was the Peliar helmsman, Ensign Dena Rynon, looking about with quiet appreciation for the well-appointed area. Dena was shy, her glossy brown hands frequently folded in front of her hips, eyes just a bit downcast when not observing the view from the observation windows, or admiring this potted plant or the other decorating the long, low cabinet of polished wood adjacent the conference table.

Ensign Rynon quickly took the closest seat, making way for Commander Evelyn Ryans. The commander was one of the few humans aboard, obvious to those who knew Earth's colonies well as a native of New Seattle. The tip off was the silver hair, which the small woman kept short and in loose spikes. The Hoshea's Chief of Security was chatting amicably with the person behind her. "I can just bet you had a field day in Botanical," she said with a smirk.

Alani Bankole, the starship's First Officer, shook her head. She was serene despite the teasing prod. "No, Ev. Though I imagine I should stop down there soon." She sat down next to the shorter woman, and nodded to those already seated. She continued, "The reports you've all submitted have had to be given a careful review."

A deep, soothing voice echoed her sentiment. "Yes, there's still so much to learn about this vessel." The words belonged to the Grazerite Ops officer, Ensign Lordrim-Inyar, who was clasping the back of Ensign Rynon's chair as he sidled past it towards one of the empty seats near Lt. Andrews. "Is this seat taken?" He asked politely.

Though it was difficult to tell, the next man to find a seat, clad in a pale blue medical overcoat, was not human but Angosian. He was tall and lean, with neat brown hair and the beginnings of crows feet at the corners of his eyes. He chuckled as he sat down. "You know, I believe I'm only now beginning to realize just how diverse this crew is."

The last man into the room before the Captain replied, his voice slightly muffled and tinny because of the metallic, almost T-shaped flourine mask that covered his face, "But you're the doctor, are you not?" He was a Zaranite, one of the older Federation species, and the deep purple collar to his loose-fitting duty uniform marked him as the ship's Diplomatic Officer.

The doctor smiled, then nodded. "I'm glad you noticed. But seeing the reports and being among the crew-" he stopped short briefly, then nodded. "As humans would say, "Seeing is believing."

Jonathan Livingsone was blinking his huge golden eyes at everyone, saying nothing, taking it all in. Even during his brief indoctrination at Lotus Fleet Academy, he had not been exposed to so many diverse sentient species as he was now. It felt to him that the journey of discovery he had dedicated his life to was going to begin aboard this ship not outside but inside the ship herself. Being underway had now become secondary to him. As far as he was concerned, just sitting now at this table, the X"Ell already was underway, farther now than he had ever been since leaving the Egg.

---

It wasn't much longer until Captain Speaker-of-Names entered the Observation Lounge, and made his way to the head of the conference table. The Kzinti was auburn-furred with occasional blonde tufts, and had a long, furless tail that swished gently behind him. He was taller and broader than the rest of the crew, and even through the thick fabric of his duty uniform one could see hints of powerful musculature. His bat wing-like ears were partially laid back against his skull, and when he sat down, he leaned forward, giving the impression of a lion or tiger about to pounce. "It is good that you are all here. I will be adding one more to this meeting." He looked to Jonathan briefly as he tapped his combadge and said, "Lieutenant Commander Dnee, please join us in the Observation Lounge."

It was not long before a bottlenose dolphin clad in a variation of the Starfleet uniform materialized in the air above them, then "swam" to an empty spot near the end of the table. "Lieutenant Commander Dnee, reporting as ordered, sir." The voice was like someone who had inhaled helium, but otherwise clear and intelligible. Occasionally, as Dnee swam in place, a fish would swim into existence in front of him or beside him, then disappear. His body appeared to distort slightly at times, too: it became clear that Dnee was using a holopresence suite to attend the meeting.

Speaker nodded to the dolphin and addressed those assembled. "Thank you for coming. Before we begin with the mission briefing, inform me: what are your impressions of this ship? Strengths. Weaknesses. Things-to-fix."

Commander Ryans leaned forward, somewhat mimicking Speaker's posture as she spoke. "Sir, this ship just made my job a whole lot easier. I know it was standard issue for the newer Fleet vessels, but basically turning every room and corridor aboard into a holodeck means that I can completely isolate any intruder with a few taps of the button. I can even get creative with my holo-jails. Walls of fire, vacuum of space, fish bowl..." She grinned. "And the best thing is they built the safeties in. I don't have to worry about killing them."

Commander Bankole looked at the shorter woman, smiled, and shook her head ruefully. To Speaker she said, "And here I was expecting her to rave about the phaser arrays."

The dolphin science officer chimed in after a brief pause. "The various aquariums and "airlocks"," and here the dolphin waved his two fins in front of him, emulating the human air quote motion, "are well designed. The water's flavor is a little stale, but I imagine that will improve once the various algae blooms and corals grow to specification. The fish are delicious, but the other aquatics and I are hesitant to eat too many. Again it's just a matter of time. The fish need a chance to grow the population, so we're all on replicator rations until then." Dnee seemed to shimmer and waver for a moment, then a portion of his dorsal surface, the one closest to his blow hole, distorted in size briefly. "Crewman Nuune went to check out the aquatic Jefferies Tubes and said that the environment in there was uncomfortable, but bearable. She also checked the EAE suits out. They are reportedly comfortable and useful."

Livingstone' sheereess flashed in his feathered crest like the proverbial human christmas tree as he spoke next with musical voice.

"Captain, I'm currently in contact with the advanced sensor suite of this ship through my implants and surveying the Decatur nano-enhancement of their systems as it is proceeding. I just came from the USS Phoenix and even her state of the art science facilites where this enhancement was first tested are hard put to compare with those we have aboard. it will be a privilege to work on the Hoshea, Sir."

The fiber optics on his head changed rhythm and color.

" As of now, Level 1 an 2 diagnostics completed and everything is in order. I'm currently doing a level 3 diagnostic and a level 4 will follow before our departure. Then, I will use our departure to better calibrate it all through the known space data we have here in the immediate vicinity of the starbase. We should be able to differentiate a neutron star from a handheld radio by then."

He was not sure if he had got the humor right but there was no disguising his elation at the science tools he would have at his disposal on board this ship. And the way he looked at all the others in the room, from the holoprojected marine ammmal to the intimidating felinoid commanding officer showed how fascinated he was to just be there, among them. Even after the visit of the starship Artemis that opened his people to the rest of the galaxy, no X'Ell ever imagined the richness of life and sentience he was now exposed to.

Speaker nodded. There was no indication that he got the joke, or that he was aware it was even present. "Very good, Mister Livingstone."

Sean smiled slightly at Lieutenant Livingstone' humor. the apparent difference in energy signatures between the two mentioned items was not lost on the engineer. As the subdued blinking of the science officers head dress wound down slightly, Sean took that as his que to speak on the engineering aspect of the Hoshea.

"Captain, I've also completed level one, two and three diagnostics on the ship's drive and power systems. Once Science has finished with their level four I will run the same, but I expect no problems. She has state-of-the-art warp drive and Sangliar impulse drive. The auxilliary warp engine is on standby should she be required."

Glancing down at his PADD Sean looked toward Commander Ryans, the ship's tactical and security officer, and continued.

"The type XI phaser arrays have full power available when needed. Of course, the battle bridge array number twelve is unavailable until separation, but that reads as ready as well. Four torpedo launchers are certified and ready to go."

That report won the engineer a smile from the commander, as well as a nod.

Glancing again at his PADD he again proceeded.

"Personal Inertia Dampeners, PEL warning system, Syntron space sonar and AART systems have all checked and are in the green. Engineering is ready and willing. Just awaiting the order sir.

The AART reference was, of course, referencing to the Automated Away-team Recon Transmitters: Hover units that followed away team missions and transmitted real time data back to the ship via Visual Acuity Transmitter technology adapted from VISOR technology, along with tricorder style sensors. The comms/diplomatic officer was the new placeholder of the AART system station which ran the deck nine AART storage and launch facility.

The Zaranite, Ensign Novlath, spoke next, after a metallic hiss signaled an intake of flourine-laced air. "Yes, Captain. Those AARTs will be quite handy for the recording and preservation of historic events. I have examined the initial conversion of the starboard and port diplomatic facilties for Kdaptist and Black Priest faction usage. A good first effort, but I have asked the staff to make a few rearrangements. Quite impressive for a starship, overall. I've familiarized myself with the new diplomatic interface as well."

Lieutenant Lennar, the ship's CMO, spoke next. "Fine ship to call home, Captain. Looking forward to serving on the bridge, and that alcove is..." he shook his head. "...going to take some getting used to. Being able to respond to any medical crisis happening anywhere on the ship is disorienting. Physical medical care only, until the patient is moved to Deck 5 or reached by a real medical team, sure, but we can do a lot with that." He raked a hand through his hair, then looked around at the rest of the crew present. "I want them to convert one of these ships into a hospital ship. Just replicate Deck 5 a few times. We're not just a sickbay, we're a full medical facility. ICU, Isolation, Counceling, Chiropractic, Surgical, Radiation - we have it all, and we're fully stocked."

The deep-voiced Ensign Lordrim-Inyar spoke next. "All sections ready. Transporter systems obviously all verified before everyone boarded. All shuttlecraft aboard, bay doors closed. Your yacht is secured. It still needs a name," he observed, meaningfully.

Speaker nodded. "Ah yes." He almost purred. "The yacht will be known as the Spanner-of-Gaps."

The final member of the crew to report was Ensign Dena Rynon. With wide eyes cast slightly down, she said, "As the chief said, engines ready. Quantum Slipstream is also available. I've spoken with Starbase Control, we are clear to proceed once you give the order. Until we get underway I can't fully confirm that navigation is fully calibrated, but it looks good so far."

The Captain nodded as the reports around the table finished. "Very well." He stood, and walked over to the wide monitor above the long, low cabinet behind half of the crew. Thankfully, the chairs could swivel. "If there is nothing else, I will brief you on our mission. As many of you know, the Pittsburgh has been stationed at the border of Kzin-Patriarchy space for years."

The screen flicked over to an LCARS display of the region, showing in yellow hatching the influence of the Patriarchy during the last war. "As many of you know, after the last Kzin war, the Federation demilitarized the Patriarchy and imposed strict borders." The borders on the image rapidly contracted to just a handful of star systems. "Starfleet worries, rightly, that my people have been contained by the war-treaty for too long. There are factions within the Patriarchy that are restless-to-hunt, need-to-spread-out, and conquer."

"We have been working with the factions that balance those out, while attempting to create opportunities for opposing-factions to earn strakh by allying with Federation-ideals. Ensign-Novlath mentioned the Kdaptists and the Black Priests." Notably, there was no hyphenation in the Black Priests' name, even when the Kzinti spoke it. "We have made great in-roads with the Kdaptists. Due to their beliefs, it was very easy to convince them that we have a better vision-of-the-future than the others do."

"How are their beliefs comparable to those of the Federation, Sir?" asked Livingstone, obviously fascinated if not even a bit apprehensive in a visceral way he could not even understand himself; a vague uneasy feeling he felt even when he looked at his new commanding officer.

The kzinti was not by any means the only savage, violent species he had encountered, even interact with, starting with Humans and of course the Klingons who had tried to invade his homeworld; but there was something more deeply unnerving about this felinoid species, something that felt like it came from ages past.

Ensign Novlath chimed in with another metallic intake of air punctuating the beginning of his brief. "Those with ideals most comparable to the Federation are the Conservers, the clan to which Captain Speaker-of-Names traces his lineage. The Kdaptists just have a very...convenient belief system. They are Kzinti who have come to believe that the Biblical God - whom they refer to as the Bearded-God - exists and favors the children created in his own image, as well as their allies. The religion, once considered heretical, now maintains a following billions strong across Kzinhome. Kdaptists believe that the Federation's might, as well as the inability of the Patriarchy to expand their borders in the centuries since the last Earth-Kzin War, is proof of human God's favor."

Captain Speaker nodded slowly.

"This fits naturally with my people's societal structure. One of the hardest lessons for me to learn in the Academy was Equality. In our culture, this concept doesn't exist. The closest concept is the very-rare "evenly-matched". Our very language is arranged into the "dominant-tense" and the "submissive-tense". In the case of the Kdaptists, they have found us to be the dominant, while the entire Patriarchy is submissive to the Federation and the Biblical God. This has been a boon for us in negotiations these past few years, but has also made it difficult for us to deal with the High-Priests and the Black Priests. It also is a sore point with the Conservers."

The X'Ell's eyes blinked in confusion.

"My people to this day never had any concept whatsoever of the supernatural; it is rather hard for me to understand such attitude. But, as I understand it, most of the Federation does not bow to any such belief, even if some cultures like that of the Bajorans still cling to it even despite evidence to the contrary. Starfleet exists to enforce the Prime Directive and so do not engage or even allow any interference in such concepts, but it certainly does not rule itself from such paradigm as belief in this or any other ancient Human mythology. Neither is the Federation. Is this Kzinti group aware of this? And so I wonder; how is this impacting on our relations with them? And if they do not, what kind of impact could this have when they would learn about it?"

Ensign Novlath again spoke. "The Kdaptists are a strange bunch. Even from the view of every other Kzinti pride and faith. Over the centuries, the Federation has attempted to disabuse the Kdaptists of that notion, but they steadfastly cling to the concept. Our ambassadors and psychology teams have come to the conclusion that the Kdaptist phenomenon is ultimately a coping mechanism." A hiss of flourine-enriched gas punctuated his next comment. "The Kzinti populace - overall - believe in a deity known as the Great Fanged God. He is their creator. He gave them dominion over the universe and all life. Yet the humans and their Federation have beaten them in every single war, and contained them in a very small corner of the galaxy. If they could so thoroughly thwart the Fanged God's mandate, humanity must have a deity on their side who is more powerful than the Kzinti Great Fanged God. The denial of it by the Federation has lately even been taken as proof that there is a deity on our side."

"Fascinating; I am always mesmerized by the fact that the minds of sentient beings could be so diverse," Jonathan admitted. "There is much to learn about such behavior."

He blinked a few times then looked at Speaker-of-Names.

"Sir, I hypothesize a definite danger of psychological and cultural manipulation here. I know the Prime Directive expressedly forbid it but... how can we be sure that we will not, willingly or not, abuse these... beliefs in our own pursuit of peace and relationship with such a people?"

Speaker-of-Names looked to Jonathan and said, "The Kdaptists will believe as they will. My Pride, the Conservers, as well as the High-Priests act as a counter to them. We tell the True-Culture of the Heroes, and we are each more numerous than the Kdaptists. Yet until the Great Fanged God proves we are mightier than the Bearded God and the Federation, the Kdaptists' views make sense to my people. I have been briefing our Diplomat-Councilors in the Federation about this as well. If we can reach a true alliance with the Patriarchy, perhaps that too will change their views. But for now, there is nothing we can do about them." The captain shook his head sadly, while flaring and closing and flaring again his nostrils - A human expression mixed with the Kzinti equivalent.

Speaker was drawing in another breath to speak when a comm chime intruded upon the conference.

"Captain Speaker, sorry to disturb the meeting, sir, but you have a priority communication coming in from Admiral Kotari." The voice was high pitched like Commander Dnee's, but younger sounding.

Speaker's fur flattened. "Put it through to the Observation-Lounge," he ordered.

"Aye sir."

The Lounge's viewscreen flickered to the blue and white United Federation of Planets logo, then to the Lotus Fleet emblem, which faded to a view of the Rear Admiral. Kotari didn't look happy.

"Captain, we have a situation developing on multiple fronts," Kotari said without preamble. "We've just been informed of two events Starfleet needs the Hoshea to respond to. The USS Alexander G. Weygers - one of the ships that was to aid your efforts at the Patriarchy border, recently encountered what they thought was a probe. One that just appeared out of nowhere on their long range scanners. They altered course to investigate, whereupon they were immediately fired upon by the object. The shot killed Captain Rhol and all senior bridge crew. Two similar devices have been observed appearing on long range scanners by other starships: one at Omega Sagittarii, and one at the Naus Borealis. The Weygers found the probe at 58 Ophiuchi. Starfleet has assigned the USS Kir'Shara to investigate the one at Naus, and the Solferino to Omega Sagittarii. You are ordered to 58 Ophiuchi to get the Weygers back on her feet."

There was a pause as the the Boslic man focused his attention on the Hoshea's First Officer for a moment. It was a look laden with meaning. "Captain Speaker, I'm afraid you're going to have to reorganize your crew a little. Your shuttlebay's receiving a replacement bridge crew. Everyone but the new Captain for the Weygers will be aboard. Commander Bankole. You are hereby promoted to Captain. You will assume command of the USS Alexander G. Weygers as soon as you and your new crew are aboard. Your orders are to assist the Hoshea at the Kzinti Patriarchy border, and to investigate the disaster that led to the previous crew's death. Captain Speaker, I'd like the Hoshea involved in that investigation as well, but as a secondary priority."

Speaker-of-Names nodded, looking at his Number One before uttering, "You said multiple-fronts, Admiral. These probes are not all."

"No, Speaker. I'm afraid things are going to be busy at the Patriarchy. Something is happening. We aren't sure what, but we're detecting significant fleet movements within their borders. As soon as Bankole's crew is aboard, you are to make best possible speed for 58 Ophiuchi and rendezvous with the Weygers. While you assist with her repairs, begin making high powered scans towards the Patriarchy border. Find out what's going on."

Captain Speaker's auburn fur remained flattened during the entire conversation. "Understood."

"Good luck, everyone. Kotari out."

Sean, like the rest of the officer's present, listened to Admiral Kotari' statements with rapt attention. The loss of an entire command crew on a star ship was devastating news to say the least. When Kotari mentioned 'best possible speed', Sean pulled out his PADD again and silently contacted main engineering on deck thirteen. He ordered the crew down there to bring the main warp core up to full and also ready the impulse reactors to full power. The order was, be ready for imminent departure. Once Captain Speaker-of-Names gave the order, Sean wanted his section to be able to respond immediately.

Within the conference room, everyone felt the almost imperceptible rise in power as the engine systems increased. Linking his PADD to the display on the conference room wall, the Hoshea's Master System Display blinked into view and all could see the green status lights winking into being as the ship's multitude system's began to come to full power. As the last system, the main navigational deflector array turned green Andrew's looked back to Captain Speaker-of-Names and, with a curt nod, indicated the ship was ready for departure at his command.

Following with admiration the chief engineer's example of efficiency, Livingstone used his sheereess to make a final level 5 diagnostic of all sensor and computing system and bring up all relevant data about the Patriarchy, Kzinti Space, 58 Ophiuchi and the USS Alexander G. Weygers. His job was to provide the captain with answers to all his questions; he would make sure that he would be ready.

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Comments (1)

By Trea on 04/22/2017 @ 2:16am

Feel free to jump in on the Admiral Kotari briefing. Once this portion is concluded, I'll be closing this post and moving on to the next one. It'll soon be time to rendezvous with the Weygers.