The Next Arrival: Tial

Posted on Sat Sep 6th, 2025 @ 10:54pm by Captain Calypso Skyie & Cass'e'Indira & Tessa di'Orion & Lieutenant Commander Alexander Espersen & Lieutenant Mark Valleroy & Lieutenant Rebecca McMillen & Lieutenant JG Raven Windancer & Lieutenant JG Rala & Lieutenant JG Kally Kellerman & Captain Natalya Markova

Mission: A Princess Of Tial
Location: USS Chimera

The Veil of Asta, as Tessa had described it, was a treasure trove of scientific data. As the ship had passed through it, even Calypso knew that it would keep Rebecca McMillan busy for several days, if not weeks. It was a diffuse stellar nursery with at least one star that had only recently (in stellar terms) began to burn and had yet to even form protoplanets, though the early signs were there for that to start in the coming few million years. Three light years away from there was another large mass that flickered as if it were a star clearing it's throat in a desire to be born.

Beyond that, the Veil was as advertised, free-floating star-stuff in densities that were messing with the sensors, long range results coming up empty even while short range were pulling in incredible data. Coordinates long memorized by Tessa had guided them to an extremely dense asteroid shell around what purported to be the system that they called home, but Chimera's sensors had found several paths and they hurtled down one.

"Helm after we clear the shell, I want to drop out of warp and get a full scan of the system." Calypso glanced over to the turbolift. Cass'e'Indira and Tessa'e'Sera were late, well past when they had said they would be on the bridge for this homecoming.

"Aye, Captain. (Whistle this place is beautiful.)" Raven thought, appreciating the flow of the kaleidoscope before her.

Katie stepped out of the turbolift and headed for the Engineering station for a computer diagnostic. She did a doubletake at the viewscreen on her way. "Oh wow," she said, marveling at the sight. She could barely tear her eyes away as she sat down and began her work.

The starship dropped out of warp, the system coming into resolution as they appeared in-system. "Ops, give me a sensor sweep, tell me what your elf eyes see. Science, what are we looking at for the planetary system."

Rala, once again filling in for T’Pinga on the bridge, flicked an ear and raised an eyebrow in confusion at the “elf eyes” line, but her four hands obligingly moved over her control panel, sending Chimera’s sensors questing outward to gather information about the solar system they’d just entered, and one planet in particular therein.

“System matches the info provided by our guests: five planets, the second of which is M-class, with a few ships in orbit.” She made sure all relevant data was being forwarded to the Science and Tactical stations, then glanced over her shoulder at the rest of the bridge, a slight smile on her face. “Looks like we’re in the right place.”

"Pulling up relevant data on the ships in order." Rebecca called out, almost literally dancing across the console. "Also keeping an eye out one some of the more problematic rocks in this belt."

"Captain," Mark said, "just thought you'd like to know several vessels have changed course to head in our direction. Their shields are charged and weapons systems do look to be on standby mode. Nothing's going on to indicate direct hostile intentions, but I do suggest that this might be a good time to open hailing frequencies."

Calypso glanced back at the turbolift hoping it would open for their Tialan guests, but they didn't slide at her wishes and she sighed, "Bring us in slow ahead, send out the standard non-hostility greeting and send our translation files on an open channel."

In front of them, the sensors showed eight large ships bursting into movement before three of them suddenly slowed, maintaining their course and headings, those on the far end of the system from Chimera. The other five turned on converging courses, power surges from several other smaller craft, clearly escorts to the larger ships, gave the Chimera's sensors their first looks.

“Did either of them warn you about a welcome committee?” Alexander asked Cally.

"Sensors, isolate one of those ships and magnify." Cally ordered and the screen blinked before a grainy image of one of the ships came into view. It was saucer-shaped, no, more like a pentagon, the edges were flatter, with vanes that protruded above and below, effectively dividing the stern into three equal lengths. As they watched, the shimmer that looked to be shields seemed to cause the 'wings' to bend to the view and there was movement on the dorsal and ventral surfaces, the gleaming noses that looked like missiles being revealed as the light of the system's binary stars hit them. Glowing dots speckled the ship's hull as well, which appeared to be heavily armored in the front. Clearly they were coming in armed to the teeth and showing it. A hiss sounded behind her as she took it in, "Shields up-"

"No, My Lady." The clarion voice of Tessa came immediately after the Captain spoke and Cally spun to face her and stopped. Tessa looked much like when she'd boarded those several months ago, though she looked to have filled out a fair bit in the meantime, not as scrawny looking as when they'd first met. "There are very few who know the way through the Veil to our world, so these warships are very wary and this is the standard greeting, a show of strength to warn off those who wish harm."

"So no shields, but power up weapons?" Cally asked, getting a nod from the girl as Cass'e'Indira and, of all people Ensign Taylor, followed her out, Cass, herself, armed to the teeth, the Ensign comparatively less-so. "Mark, do as the lady says, power up phasers, open our torpedo tube ports, but be ready on the shields if they open fire."

"Aye, Captain," Mark said. "Phasers charged, torpedo bays active, shields standing by."

“I’ve heard of this greeting,” the XO said. “Gun ports open. A transparent demonstration of weapons and of restraint. They could attack but they choose not to.” He smirked. “More than one civilization has fallen to that misunderstanding.”

From the speaker, a very harsh sounding male voice spoke in what was clearly the Tialan language, but the translator handled it with aplomb, "Unknown warship, declare yourself. You are trespassing on Tialan space and are not welcome, answer now."

Cally looked over to Tessa, who bowed her head to defer to her. "I am Captain Calypso Skyie of the Federation Starship Chimera. We are here on a peaceful mission to return someone who was lost that we have found."

"And we will defend ourselves..." Tessa whispered in a prompt.

"And we will defend ourselves if we are attacked, but only in defense of our people." She watched Tessa for more words if needed.

"Who do you claim to have; announce them! If you promote falsehoods, prepare to be destroyed," the voice barked back.

"Clearly a relative of yours," Henry said to Cass under his breath.

This time Tessa stepped up next to Calypso, even though the entire conversation had been audio only. No video stream had been forthcoming, but surely there was a reason for that. "Sha'va Tessa'e'Sera di'Orion, Tuvess el Ligat Tovar, Bestel tu Urd'a'Neta, Sev-etel. Sha'va osteln tor Vitoi'e'Beless ti'Veder, Ligat el Torsten Vial. Estoniel ste'tasten nevesh gor Tial al Ligat Tovar. Sha'vel dior?" It was more confident than she'd sounded before, but it was in her native language and she whispered, "I announced myself and demanded to be allowed to Tial and home."

There were noises from the other side of the comm link, voices talking to each other, one clearly not happy, one that sounded intrigued, but wary, "I am Brav'e'Cheten Storel, Priest of Bey'a'Dande Sixth Class. I command this ship, Bey'a'Dande's Spear. Approach. Make no move to attack and prepare to accept a shuttle within ten vekrande of interception. You will not approach Tial until I verify your identity, Your Grace."

"We understand." Tessa bowed her head and gave a curtsy despite no video feed. It was expected. "We shall obey, yes, Dread Lady?" She clearly referred to Cally.

Cally glanced back again, getting a gesture that demanded her response. "We will obey. We await your presence... Dread Lord." She caught Tessa's mouth movements and heard Katie snort behind her. There was a sound that sounded like a 'Hmph', then the comm link closed and Cally glanced around, "All right people, get everything you can on this system and those ships. How long to intercept and how long is a vekrande?"

"(What the actual wackiness!?) Captain...what exactly's going on here? If we wanted trouble, we'd have come in guns blazing...right?" Raven was confused, wanting to understand why this scenario was freaking her out, and why the Chimera's guests also set her teeth on edge. Was she being paranoid? Snobish?

(Uuuu! Just get over yourself already!) Raven thought, accidentally smacking her cheeks with her hands.

"I'm pretty sure we don't want trouble, that's why our guns aren't 'blazing,'" Katie said from Engineering. Most of what she knew of these people was coming to her second-hand, but she knew a warrior race when she saw one. She looked over to Rebecca at science. "If port sensors are still giving you grief, let me know."

(Ouch...I REALLY gotta stop doing that!) Raven though, slowly rubbing her sore cheeks.

"I'll start a countdown now so that we get a better idea of timing in the future. Whatever or however long a vekrande is, I guess it's safe to assume minutes until otherwise proven?" Rebecca chimed in.

"My Lady," Tessa addressed Cally, but made sure the rest of the bridge could hear her, "From what I have seen, this ship could take on the entire fleet and come out victorious, but I wouldn't doubt the tenacity of our ships." She wasn't sure how much she should tell them of what she knew, "They were built for a purpose, for an enemy that has come here twice before and they may not be enough. Still, what they lack in technology these ships will make up with aggression if provoked."

Henry marveled at the view on the screen. "Beautiful, but dangerous," he said, half to himself. "In keeping with the theme."

Raven smiled, trying to keep her swelling chest from being notices. The Chimera was indeed a fighter.

One of the auxiliary Bridge consoles was tied into Marine Country. Nat sat, her eyes taking in the vistas on the main viewscreen. It was simply gorgeous.

“How big are their shuttles?” Alexander asked, looking pointedly at Tessa and Cass. “We will need to clear the flight deck, but by how much?”

"You're asking the wrong person." Rebecca chimed in.

"If their other ships are any indication," Mark said, "we shouldn't have any real trouble bringing one of their shuttles on board. Going on the idea of having weapons and shields ready as we approach them, should I have a security detail standing by in the shuttlebay?"

"A Vekrande is roughly equivalent to a minute or that neighborhood. Their shuttles are larger than yours, by about forty percent." Tessa stated, "But reaction thrusters with no counter-grav capability. I can try to explain the construction, but a priest of Skull'a'Dea would be far better at it. Aside from certain location underground on the surface, technology is abhorrent to Tial, which is why you see us armed with swords and bows and I suppose you would call our armor old-fashioned. We rely on brute force to get off-world and our best technology is on our ships and stations. Our shuttles will likely seem very primitive in comparison and they burn hydrogen. As for a security detail?" She looked to Cass'e'Indira.

"Yes, a modest one, armed to the teeth." There was no hesitation in her own words, "Same principle, show that you aren't easily intimidated if you want to impress him, or to gain his respect. War priests respect strength, those of Thrynn respect appearance and diplomacy, Skull is innovation, Lind is knowledge and Urd is compassion. But Bey is the primary factor here, because these are our first line of defense. We don't have to worry about regional politics yet, those picked for our space force swear an oath to take no part in any conflict on-planet and they really do mean it."

Cally looked across the bridge and exhaled deeply. She had to go, that was a given, but who else to take with her? If she needed to decide who was to go on an away mission to the planet on a moment's notice, she'd want them there on hand. "Can we transport a team to the planet when we get there?"

Tessa had to shake her head, "I'm not sure it would work and I wouldn't want to try it with something living first. IF it works, it would be very power-intensive and there may be other problems. I doubt any of your energy weapons would work on our surface, nor your devices. There are reasons why our surface level of technology consists of fire, blades and the like. Perhaps we can conduct experiments in a safe location, but I wouldn't risk it."

There was a movement of the Captain's head that was impossible to decipher, so she decided to give the choice to her own people, "Standard watch on the bridge, if anyone wishes to join us for yet another first contact situation, be down in the hanger bay in about thirty minutes? Exec, you, me, Nat and Mark are definitely going there, security detail, marine details both. Dress for a fight, but I don't think we'll need to."

"Captain. Permission to come along. If ya'll get in a sticky wicket down there that requires flying, I wanna make sure you have the best." Raven knew her people could fly, but she needed someone who knew the ship at the controls and a wild card as the Captain's backup.

"Of course, Raven, I wouldn't want any other pilot going with me other than well, maybe myself, but I can't look important if I'm the one flying around, can I?" She gave her helmswoman a smile.

"At your service, Mon-Capitan!" Raven grinned wolfishly before standing, relinquishing the Helm to one of her team-members, walking to the turbo-lift, and leaning against the wall, all the while continuing to grin.

Mark tapped out a message to his team to have a full security detail meet him in the shuttlebay, armed with phaser rifles as well as side arm, and then got into the turbolift behind Lt. Windancer.

In the turbolift, the XO turned to Cally. “Captain…I would normally argue for you to stay aboard but that seems a stupid move, doesn’t it?” he said plainly.

"I think it would be, especially if they want someone who can technically speak for the Federation." Cally agreed, "Kindof me in that respect, but I promise I'll behave. So what do you think?"

“So instead I recommend that I return to the bridge after this diplomatic meeting and seeing you and the shuttle off,” Alexander suggested. “After the initial greetings, Mr. Drake will fly a second craft down with me and some reinforcements.”

"Sounds like a plan, Exec, it'll give me a chance to make a first impression. After we get a meet and greet with local leadership, we can talk about who else we want to come down." Cally agreed.

Henry twitched physically wanting to go along. He knew this was the end of the road, but he wanted to have a little more time. Saying goodbye in the shuttlebay was one thing, but a few more hours while they traveled wouldn't be too much to ask, would it? The withering glare from Cass, however, indicated it would and he simply stood by Tessa, letting their hands brush together.

Tessa leaned over, "I don't want you to come down on the first shuttle," She whispered to Henry, "The second shuttle, after I have a chance to present myself to my mother and arrange for an escort for you. I want to show you around Light's End, all of you, really."

Henry's chest swelled, and he did his best not to react too much. He nodded gently, taking her hand and squeezing it for just a moment before letting go and putting his hands back to his sides. I'm going to have to replicate a dress uniform, he thought.

"Where do you need me, Captain?" Rebecca asked, "Covert pocket science? Lone remaining bridge officer holding down the proverbial fort?"

"Arm you with a toothpick and throw you at anyone who gives me the side-eye?" Cally suggested, but only ended up chuckling, "Actually, having you on the bridge would make me feel a bit better. You won't lose your head if something happens and you can keep an eye on the sensors and maybe get a good read on the atmosphere. If possible, try to find a way to get the transporters to work or at least find out why they won't."

Rala pondered for a moment, before speaking up. “I’d like to come along, Captain. I’ve never been in a First Contact situation before; I think it’d be good to get some experience under my belt.”

"Of course," Calypso smiled at the Draakri as she too had entered the turbolift with them. "This is as good a time as any, plus it'll give them a taste of the diversity we have in the Federation." She tapped the key to send them to their destination, "All right, let's go."