Exploring Trarim

Posted on Fri Jan 20th, 2023 @ 5:20am by Lieutenant Commander Alexander Espersen

Mission: Trade And Tribulations
Location: Trarim markets

Following his own advice, Alexander Espersen beamed down to Trarim with people whose expertise was nothing like his own.

To his left was Warrant Officer Veronika Farida Budiono, a security officer from Indonesia on Earth. Alexander had met her in the gym way back when he first came aboard, and they often spotted for each other while weightlifting. She had been a boxing prodigy as a teen, but an injury kept her out of the competitive circuit. A girl with the skills and desire to fight but no longer permitted to, she’d fallen into the wrong crowd until an aunt helped her enlist. She managed to channel that energy into security work, though got into trouble more than once over the years. Working on the Chimera had helped her, and she’d gotten her warrant status with Alexander’s help.

To his right was Cadet Senior Grade Nozki, a Saurian whose problem was always focus. Too much of it on details which were meaningless. He got his work done, if slowly, but always fixated on something most found irrelevant. This wouldn’t be a big deal if he were a specialist, but going into officer training, he needed more generalized skills. He ended up on the Chimera after a classmate burned his hand on a very dangerous plant, whose leaves exuded a caustic chemical, but Nozki only scanned the fruit. Alexander remembered him though for two instances in his class years earlier, one in which he made a similar error of inattention, but another where he found and fixed a problem quickly and insightfully.

The three were a team now planetside, exploring the markets as he knew several other teams were. “Stick close,” he ordered. A look to Veronika conveyed that she should keep an eye on Nozki.

The open markets were so diverse as to make Alexander think there was no sense to it. Food vendors were scattered among clothing retailers, technology purveyors, arms dealers, shops which sold live animals as food or pets, shops that sold medicines for health or recreational use, etc. etc. etc. If it existed, it could be bought. The only question was if they would ever find a specific vendor if they wanted to. There weren't even any obvious landmarks, at least in this area. Alexander wondered if they just set up every morning in completely new locations, first come first deployed.

Alexander had to tap Nozki's shoulder when he became fixated on a piece of kit. "Sorry sir. But you'll appreciate this! Look!"

The First Officer followed the cadet's eyeline to a piece of kit in the middle of the live animal shop. Huh. The kid was right, this was interesting. An air circulation and containment device, significantly more advanced than anything in the Federation, which was keeping the air in the animal cages fresh and containing anything that might make the patrons or employees sick. "Good find, Mr. Nozki," he said with a nod. "Write it down, but let's go."

More than one predatory salesperson tried to sweep in on the team, mostly targeting the Cadet in blue, but were quickly dissuaded by the woman in gold and the man in red. Occasionally some would try to sell to Alexander or to Veronika, but whomever was targeted, the other two always had their back.

They wound their way through the maze of shops until they came to one which appeared to be an antiquities vendor. None of the items appeared to have any value in and of themselves. The shelves were lined with old vases, stone tablets, dozens of trinkets that may or may not do anything.

Alexander's eyes stopped at a particular item. He stepped closer, avoiding the other gadgets to examine up close this intricate device. Parts of it shined, or would if not for the tarnish, while other parts looked rough, but not worn, just like they'd never been as smooth and nice as the rest.

It also looked very familiar. Like he'd seen something similar before. Very similar.

“I guess I’m not the only one who gets lost in cool things!” said Nozki, prompting Alexander to turn and scowl at the young man. “Um, sorry sir.”

“As you were, cadet,” Alexander ordered firmly. “Warrant Officer Bundiono, take Cadet Nozki. Explore and report back.”

“Yes, sir.”

The two left the XO alone. He kept looking at the one piece. A shopkeeper took notice and sidled up to him.

Alexander stood to his full height and tapped his commbadge. “Espersen to Valleroy. Report to my position.” He turned to the shopkeeper and gestured to the antique. “Tell me everything you know about this item.”