June 2006 - Post Selection
ON: Deadlock
Date: 238202.24 - Time: 21.30 - Scene: DM Bridge
As with every first contact, the atmosphere on the Bridge was intense. The concern that the Balannti's small Fleet, (which now spread across the DM's main view-screen) would not reply to their calls was self evident. There was however one element against this possibility. The Balannti were extremely curious and hungry. Claryx could feel it, along with their pride and thirst for occasions to prove their courage. Where it differed from the Klingon's self- esteem was that the Balannti were not inclined to show their wounds, physical or otherwise. They tended to hide them under layers of skin decoration, which over time had turned into a social status.
Claryx was tempted to voice her thoughts but she didn't. Eibee (npc) and Rekk (npc) were both present on the Bridge, (with the hope that they would ease the negotiations with their own people), and she didn't want to dissect the Balannti's obvious traits as if their guests weren't there.
After their hails had remained unanswered, the view-screen suddenly displayed the Bridge of their would-be interlocutors. Everybody on the DM knew how the Balannti looked like, but their general appearance surprised the Bridge crew. The Balannti didn't seem to be as short as they were depicted, although this could be a simple trick triggered by the tall hats they were all wearing. Their clothing was the same colour as their skin: red, helping their dark skin decoration to stand out.
"So... Our agents were right," A Balannti (npc) stated forcefully. His words translated as best as the universal translator could manage. "The Prallem have proved their weakness by asking... what am I saying... begging for help!"
"The Federation doesn't offer its help blindly," Persson corrected. "We do, on the other hand, offer assistance to endangered members of our organization. I'm Captain Lars Persson, commanding officer on this ship, the USS Dark Matter."
What sounded like derisive muttering emanated from the alien ship. "What a fine organization you have, Persson!" The Balannti resumed. "One that sends a single vessel to handle the Balannti! Are you really so powerful, or just plain stupid?"
Claryx saw the Captain glancing at Gol'Khar and Hadley, making sure that the two men wouldn't reply to this obvious provocation.
"These people are here to help us!" Eibee commented out of the blue. "You should listen to them now, Skulkan (npc), and waste no time boasting on who is the more powerful here. The Dark Matter possesses technology way beyond what you have onboard your ships!"
"I'm not listening to you, Eibee," Skulkan replied with rising anger. "The mere fact you are on this vessel, and are still alive proves beyond doubt that you've been corrupted by Persson's people. Do I need to remind you what we do to traitors?"
Eibee was about to reply just as vehemently, but the Captain raised his hand to silence her. "We don't have time to quarrel, nor can we waste precious moments trying to define who has the upper hand here," Persson said, in a quiet but effective manner. "I may only have this very ship here at my command, but then I am not from a civilization that is apparently about to lose its home-world due to a natural disaster."
"I'm relieved to know that you have a civilization behind you, Persson! However, I pity its meekness. It is a miracle that your species made it into space!"
"With hundreds of planets where I'm more than welcomed to stop by, we are talking of a fact, Skulkan. What wealth do you have, that would impress me?"
"Tall men often have a big mouth, and no guts!" Came the answer, distorted with rage. "Just like the Prallem, you hide behind what people who have nothing to do with you, have created, like this Federation of yours! You see me as I am, Persson; and everything your eyes can see here is mine. I conquered it! What do you have that is truly yours!?"
A smile floated on the Captain's lips, who seemed to appreciate the challenge imposed on him. "We have at least one thing in common, Skulkan, for I also earned the right to command this ship. Knowledge led me where I am. As I'm sure you realize, if you only rely on your fists once you are out into space, you won't travel very far."
"Do I look like I even remotely need to receive lessons from you, Persson?!"
"You know all your lessons, very well, Skulkan, which renders this banter rather pointless. We both need help. You need to find a new planet to live on, and I need to make sure that the Prallem continue to evolve peacefully. To shed blood over this will not move the situation forward."
"I knew it from your pale face that you were a pacifist!"
"All the pacifists you see here are well-fed, Skulkan," Claryx intervened, having sensed that this Balannti was speaking with his stomach, since he and his crew were starving. "Do the Balannti accept to trade with species they barely know?"
"We do not trade, we take!!" Skulkan sneered.
"Very well, take a supply of Federation food, if you can." Persson proposed. "I'll dispatch it to coordinates that will not be disclosed to you. I will contact you again in two hours for another discussion. If by then we cannot reach an agreement, we'll have to accept that we are both on our own to solve the problems we are confronted to."
As soon as his words were spoken, he signalled Lomax to sever their link with the Balannti vessels. They immediately tried to call the DM back, but the Captain remained deaf to their attempts.
"Are you sure it's wise?" Eibee asked. "What you suggested here is nothing but some sort of game, and Skulkan is likely to feel insulted by it. The Balannti are not children."
"At the moment, I'm the one who has been insulted, and I will remain so for the next 120 minutes, Eibee."
OFF :
Cmdr Claryx Vahl
XO
USS Dark Matter
Date: 238202.24 - Time: 21.30 - Scene: DM Bridge
As with every first contact, the atmosphere on the Bridge was intense. The concern that the Balannti's small Fleet, (which now spread across the DM's main view-screen) would not reply to their calls was self evident. There was however one element against this possibility. The Balannti were extremely curious and hungry. Claryx could feel it, along with their pride and thirst for occasions to prove their courage. Where it differed from the Klingon's self- esteem was that the Balannti were not inclined to show their wounds, physical or otherwise. They tended to hide them under layers of skin decoration, which over time had turned into a social status.
Claryx was tempted to voice her thoughts but she didn't. Eibee (npc) and Rekk (npc) were both present on the Bridge, (with the hope that they would ease the negotiations with their own people), and she didn't want to dissect the Balannti's obvious traits as if their guests weren't there.
After their hails had remained unanswered, the view-screen suddenly displayed the Bridge of their would-be interlocutors. Everybody on the DM knew how the Balannti looked like, but their general appearance surprised the Bridge crew. The Balannti didn't seem to be as short as they were depicted, although this could be a simple trick triggered by the tall hats they were all wearing. Their clothing was the same colour as their skin: red, helping their dark skin decoration to stand out.
"So... Our agents were right," A Balannti (npc) stated forcefully. His words translated as best as the universal translator could manage. "The Prallem have proved their weakness by asking... what am I saying... begging for help!"
"The Federation doesn't offer its help blindly," Persson corrected. "We do, on the other hand, offer assistance to endangered members of our organization. I'm Captain Lars Persson, commanding officer on this ship, the USS Dark Matter."
What sounded like derisive muttering emanated from the alien ship. "What a fine organization you have, Persson!" The Balannti resumed. "One that sends a single vessel to handle the Balannti! Are you really so powerful, or just plain stupid?"
Claryx saw the Captain glancing at Gol'Khar and Hadley, making sure that the two men wouldn't reply to this obvious provocation.
"These people are here to help us!" Eibee commented out of the blue. "You should listen to them now, Skulkan (npc), and waste no time boasting on who is the more powerful here. The Dark Matter possesses technology way beyond what you have onboard your ships!"
"I'm not listening to you, Eibee," Skulkan replied with rising anger. "The mere fact you are on this vessel, and are still alive proves beyond doubt that you've been corrupted by Persson's people. Do I need to remind you what we do to traitors?"
Eibee was about to reply just as vehemently, but the Captain raised his hand to silence her. "We don't have time to quarrel, nor can we waste precious moments trying to define who has the upper hand here," Persson said, in a quiet but effective manner. "I may only have this very ship here at my command, but then I am not from a civilization that is apparently about to lose its home-world due to a natural disaster."
"I'm relieved to know that you have a civilization behind you, Persson! However, I pity its meekness. It is a miracle that your species made it into space!"
"With hundreds of planets where I'm more than welcomed to stop by, we are talking of a fact, Skulkan. What wealth do you have, that would impress me?"
"Tall men often have a big mouth, and no guts!" Came the answer, distorted with rage. "Just like the Prallem, you hide behind what people who have nothing to do with you, have created, like this Federation of yours! You see me as I am, Persson; and everything your eyes can see here is mine. I conquered it! What do you have that is truly yours!?"
A smile floated on the Captain's lips, who seemed to appreciate the challenge imposed on him. "We have at least one thing in common, Skulkan, for I also earned the right to command this ship. Knowledge led me where I am. As I'm sure you realize, if you only rely on your fists once you are out into space, you won't travel very far."
"Do I look like I even remotely need to receive lessons from you, Persson?!"
"You know all your lessons, very well, Skulkan, which renders this banter rather pointless. We both need help. You need to find a new planet to live on, and I need to make sure that the Prallem continue to evolve peacefully. To shed blood over this will not move the situation forward."
"I knew it from your pale face that you were a pacifist!"
"All the pacifists you see here are well-fed, Skulkan," Claryx intervened, having sensed that this Balannti was speaking with his stomach, since he and his crew were starving. "Do the Balannti accept to trade with species they barely know?"
"We do not trade, we take!!" Skulkan sneered.
"Very well, take a supply of Federation food, if you can." Persson proposed. "I'll dispatch it to coordinates that will not be disclosed to you. I will contact you again in two hours for another discussion. If by then we cannot reach an agreement, we'll have to accept that we are both on our own to solve the problems we are confronted to."
As soon as his words were spoken, he signalled Lomax to sever their link with the Balannti vessels. They immediately tried to call the DM back, but the Captain remained deaf to their attempts.
"Are you sure it's wise?" Eibee asked. "What you suggested here is nothing but some sort of game, and Skulkan is likely to feel insulted by it. The Balannti are not children."
"At the moment, I'm the one who has been insulted, and I will remain so for the next 120 minutes, Eibee."
OFF :
Cmdr Claryx Vahl
XO
USS Dark Matter