Wheeling and Dealing

Posted on Mon Jul 23rd, 2018 @ 6:03pm by Captain Remas McDonald

1,944 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: S1:3: Myriad Problems
Location: Engineering
Timeline: MD 1 18.30

"I expected something more...impressive if I am to be honest," Abborax said dejectedly before turning an apologetic eye to Ari. "I mean, you did travel all the way from the galaxy below us. That in itself suggests a certain degree of cleverness given the somewhat aggressive nature of the Barrier that hems in all those stars."

"Ah, that's completely different," Arivek said, walking around the large warp core. "This ship didn't arrive in your galaxy under its own power. I created an entire external construct that catapulted us here." He looked back at the man, clearly impressed with himself.

"The Lieutenant here fancies himself as some sort of a genius and he can definitely put his money where mouth is." Vic added trying to support the engineers ego.

"Well, aren't you full of surprises?" Abborax said with a smile. He eyes the warp core, seemingly entranced by the pulsing of energy through the massive reaction chamber. "And yet still...unpleasant thing. I will talk to your captain about this. We do not use warp drive in Myriad space, it is damaging to the local stellar ecosystem. Subspace turbulence. Subspace eddies. Messier 4 has some of the clearest subspace reception band you will ever see."

He thinned his smile at Ari, and then neatly hooked his arm through the crook of the engineer's and turned him slowly away from the core.

"So, seeing as you are imminent to be unemployed as an engineer, what with warp drive being taboo in our space which you inhabit, might I instead interest you in more interesting projects?" he offered, his eyes glowing a little brighter. "You yourself helped to build the phase space accelerator that brought you here. How would you like to see a network of them working in concert? The accuracy of a blind jump must have been massive! And such a brave undertaking too..."

Arivek pulled his arm away, putting distance between himself and the alien individual. "I will hardly be unemployed," Arivek said. "Tending to the warp core is merely a fraction of my duties. Even if we agreed to not utilize our warp drive systems, the core is also our main source of power aboard the ship, and thus would still be utilized for that purpose. Between the warp core and the main computer, there is plenty of work to be done."

Vic didn't like the visitors tone but made sure his body language didn't portray that, despite being a Betazoid he rarely paid attention to his emotion sensing abilities but this time they were screaming at him making it hard to ignore, something was definitely amiss but he couldn't put a pin on what it was.

He kept a small smile on and subtly looked around the room until he made eye contact with is security officer on the upper deck of engineering. He made a facial expression to indicate be on his toes then resumed smiling, no one noticed a thing. "Believe me when I say I can keep Ari here busy as can be with how often I break things." Vic said chuckling at his joke.

Arivek visibly rolled his eyes. While he always appreciated security keeping an eye out on things, they didn't appear to be very intelligent. If anything, the security department had the lowest IQ requirements of any department in Starfleet.

The blue man chuckled to himself for a moment, finding amusement in his thoughts.

"Yes, yes, yes, keeping the lights on is all very well and good. But you could be doing more, experiencing more!" Abborax said, and threw out a hand into empty space. Above his hand, the green and blue marble of a world appeared. Well, maybe a marble, and an oddly proportioned one at that. Large arcing structures like white marble or bone rose from the surface, before arcing back down at regular intervals along the equator.

Abborax pulled his hands apart, and the marble grew to present itself as a world. Thick bands of clouds coiled around the base of each rocky outcropping.

"I offer the opportunity to help other worlds better themselves," he said, and gestured to the holographic world. "Take Skyes Edge for instance, littered with the relics of the Priors. Horribly dangerous things, but filled with the science and engineering of a species who passed through Messier 4 when this Sphere of stars was part of another galaxy. The Myriad believe that the spines on Skyes Edge are part of a massive world encompassing structural integrity field. Now, use that huge brain of yours and answer me this: why would your world need such a thing as a structural integrity field? Why does your ship need one?"

"Even I can answer that. The forces of gravity and warp would crush us like a little tin can." Vic said not outwardly showing how proud he was he answered that so well.

Arivek took a few steps towards the sphere in complete silence. His mesmerized look made it obvious that he wasn't paying attention to Victor or his asinine comments. "I'm going to take a wild guess," he said, his voice sounding somewhat distant, as he was clearly lost in the moment. "This planet exists without a star. Or rather, it did at one point. By now it would have fallen into a stars gravity well, which is how it exists today."

His eyes lit up with the realization he was right. "But at some point, in the past, this planet moved through the galaxy with the ease of a starship. It's population not stagnant to their solar system. How breathtaking."

"Exactly!" Abborax pointed a finger at Ari, and then in an admonishing tone to Victor. "And you thought with such small vision. Imagine a world not constrained to orbit one star, a wandering planet. Oh, what it must have seen! What treasures it must hold, beneath its clouds and sundry defences. It has been a mystery to the Myriad for many centuries. Inscrutible to all our attempts at landing or deciphering any of its defences."

He turned back to the floating holographic planet, and reached out his hands and scooped it up. He closed his hand around it and the hologram vanished.

"And that is but one of the mysteries that the Myriad have at our disposal. We could happily discuss a trade where time could be spent by your ship there, studying Skyes Edge and its devious devices," he grinned. "Or we could discuss what it is you have to trade. We can do away with the material, we're all civilized people with access to matter fabrication technologies. What the Myriad trade in mainly is culture, science, technologies."

Arivek raised an eyebrow. For the first time since the alien's arrival, he was actually and honestly intrigued. "Well, the Federation is overflowing with culture and science," he said. "We have hundreds of worlds, each with rich histories and discoveries. I'm sure there is plenty within the Computer banks to satisfy you."

"Really?" Abborax said, his lips curling into a smile. "I do not suppose I could get a look in at such a marvelous device if only to gauge how differently our two species manage data?

Clearly mulling over the idea, Arivek glanced over at Victor. In reality, it was not appropriate to invite someone into the Computer core who didn't have authorization. Even Lieutenant Reynolds wasn't allowed in there. But this was a special situation, and Arivek wanted to impress their guest. So he would bend the rules this time. And the Captain would certainly understand.

"I'd be happy to show you," Arivek said, his face turning into a smile. "Lieutenant Reynolds, I'm sorry but you'll have to wait for us here. The gentleman and I have some things to discuss."

"I give you the word of the Myriad I won;t try to blow up this quaint little ship of yours," Abborax said with a charming smile.

"While I appreciate your honesty sir," he looked at Abborax then to Ari," I'm afraid that's not going to happen. Not only would it be a gross breach of security to allow our guest to roam without an escort but the core is a restricted area. While I can't prevent you from going I will be present, authorized or not. I also advise we inform the Captain."

"Surely that doesn't have to be the case? After all, you are the Chief Of Expedition Security, and I am merely one single humanoid..." Abborax trailed off with a smile. "Well. One computer is much like another, one supposes. I will just have to use my imag-"

He stopped mid-sentence in the act of turning around. His glow amber eyes locked onto an item that had just appeared in view, rolling to a stop with the gentle tinkle of clock gears. With an imperious hand, he reached out, pointing a finger at the spheroid robot from the Ark.

"Where did you find a working Morning Star construct?!" he said in a reverent tone.

Arivek took a step in front of the device, putting himself between it and the alien. "He is my assistant," Arivek said. "Also, sort-of a side-project of mine. We encountered him on a derelict ship."

Abborax made to step closer, but his amber eyes flickered over Ari and appraised the protective stance he bore.

"Such manifestations of high technology are...rare. Working examples much more so, given the Morning Star Empires insular teaching methodologies. What examples I have come across in my lifetime have either been broken beyond repair by eager tinkerers or so catastrophically ancient they are more akin to fossils. Useful for inference, but little else." He tapped a porcelain fingertip against his chin. "I do not suppose you have more Morning Star artefacts? They alone would constitute a great bargaining advantage against the Myriad."

He eyed Victor for a moment, smiling.

"Perhaps enough to lift, or mediate the terms of our embargo on warp travel?" he teased out. "I mean, I could speak to the mindset of the High Executor, but she is something of a maven when it comes to artifacts of the Morning Star."

"I'm sorry, but no," Arivek said. "We don't have any artifacts, save for this sphere. And he is not for trade, I'm sorry." Arivek's protective nature was strong, but he still wanted to strike a deal with this man. He clearly had mechanical feats to share that would keep Ari busy for quite some time. "But I'm still happy to show you the Computer Core?" he asked, motioning towards the door.

Victor sighed, he knew he wasn't going to win with Ari the man was just too damn stubborn. "Since you're adamant about the core and I can't go with you and I'm definitely not about to stun you to get my way go ahead, but if anything happens Ari, its on you and I will noting this in my log."

Arivek walked past the other man, ignoring him. To be honest, he couldn't care what the gun-slinger was talking about. "Shall we?" he asked, looking at Abborax.

"I really think we should," Abborax said, joining Ari as they walked from engineering. "I really must commend you on your restraint. If I had had my authority questioned by one of the Bound, I would have been delighted to see what colour he turned when I vented the air from the compartment."

He sighed an affectation surely.

"Still, for some species, it is difficult for them to show the correct level of respect to their betters..." The man's voice trailed to silence as the doors to Engineering shut behind them.

 

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