Welcoming Committee

Posted on Mon Nov 13th, 2017 @ 8:28am by Commodore Jason Myers & Captain Michelle Bartlett & Commander Rostra Tang & Lieutenant Valeria Mordin & Lieutenant Talea Honn

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/3
Location: Shuttle Bay 2
Timeline: June 18, 2399 @ 1030

Michelle, Jason and Talea Honn were walking towards the shuttle bay. They decided after all that it may be better to just have the entire party travel by shuttle. At least for some that was still safe. Talea looked over at Michelle. "Getting an itch yet?"

"You mean the uniform? I just need to break it in a bit." she said, having replicated a new red-collared uniform that reflected her change in position.

"Congratulations, ma'am. I suppose you don't want to preside over the talks just for old times sake?" Talea asked.

"I've got too much to do today. Gul Kasella left a mess of work." Michelle said. "Though what's the point of doing paperwork when you think you're going to maroon this ship anyways?" she sighed as they entered the observation platform to observe the shuttle's arrival.

There was something to be said for Dalacari aesthetics. Their exploration craft were sleek and built to give a sense of speed, while their drone fighters were like little rings darting about on their own. Their shuttlecraft were similarly impressive to just watch, with a sleek style and design that was unique to such a people. Integrated nacelles, smooth hull design, and plenty of window space for the passengers to enjoy the view.

Passengers. That's all she needed. Dalacari craft flew themselves. All part of the drone initiative designed to defend Dalacari life so that they could pursue other joys in life. The life of a Dalacari was nigh decadence in some respects.

The shuttle itself requested the clearance and the vector to land, and the landing couldn't have been more 'by the book' if it tried. The rear hatch opened slowly, lowering more like a ramp than a door to allow the passengers their exit. "Please watch your step." the automated drone pilot system even went so far as to sound courteous, wishing the departing passengers a good day and good luck in the upcoming meeting.

Shipmaster... or rather... Fleetmaster Tukal was the first to exit, dressed in full captain's regalia. A dark olive uniform with a slightly brighter hexagon pattern, a collar torq and shoulderpiece, and a matching metallic forearm brace. He didn't wear his full compliment of medals and accolades, but this wasn't a parade. It was a meeting.

He held out a hand to help the next passenger out, the familiar forms of Neelor Palim of the Dalacari Republic Diplomatic Corp. Again, her garb looked more like a dress than a uniform, a soft sea-green slip with gold trip, earrings and a simple necklace on each form. She turned a head to look back inside the shuttle, "Thank you Seventy Five Delta. You can wait for us here."

The response from within the shuttle was that same courteous but obviously artificial voice from before, "A pleasure, Mistress Palim. Enjoy your day.

The final forms out of the shuttle were the newest addition to the Wellington roster, Rostra Tang. As her twin forms descended down the ramp there was the swirly yellow glow of a Dalacari transporter effect as her bags and personal effects were unloaded from the shuttle's storage bay. Rostra, knowing the layout of Federation ships a little better than most outsiders, looked up to the observation deck window, and gave a wave up to the officers there.

"Welcome aboard." Jason replied. "We figured it's only fair that we return the hospitality you extended us. Now that other concerns are behind us. I'm sure you all remember Captain Michelle Bartlett." she said as Michelle nodded, getting used to the title.

"Captain." Tukal said with a nod. "Congratulations on a successful sortie." he said, referring to the combat not too long ago.

Neelor Palim gave a pair of nods in greet. "Thank you for your hospitality. I've never been aboard a Federation vessel before, they're a bit off from the usual, and from my expectations. Though it's a magnificent ship nonetheless. Thank you."

Though Rostra's smirks gave away the mischief to come. "Captain Bartlett? Captain... captain... captain hmm, no no I don't see anything about a Captain in my notes." she teased, before she calmed down.

"Congrats. It's a hell of a big deal."

"Thank you." Michelle said as she smirked a bit. "I'd be happy to give you a tour a little later on, but I suppose we should get the important stuff out of the way first. Your efforts are appreciated in helping fend off the attack earlier. I still can't quite wrap my head around the extent of it."

"I'm sorry you had to see it so close." Neelor started, but Tukal smirked and held up a hand, "I'm not. Now, don't take that the wrong way. I'm not a big fan of violence first BUT if it's the solution to the problem, I'm of the mindset that if the first volley is impressive enough, no one ever wants to see the second."

"That's.. actually a strong point." the diplomat said before turning her attention back to the others. "I'm just glad what loss of life there was was as minimal as possible. Send my best..."

"... regards to the survivors, and my deepest sympathies and appreciations to those that didn't make it home."

"Thank you. We appreciate that very much." Michelle replied. "This is my successor as Chief Diplomatic Officer, Lieutenant Commander Talea Honn. She will be presiding over the talks along with Commodore Myers."

"A pleasure to meet you all." Talea said. "You'll have to excuse me, I don't think I've ever seen a Dalacari up close before." she added, still kind of shocked that this was all in her hands now.

"We're descended from swarm predators." Neelor said with a smile. "We're absolutely ferocious."

The joke held water for a fraction of a second before both Dalacari and the Fleetmaster burst into hysterics.

"I'm teasing you. We like to think we're harmless, well mostly harmless. Though, we're burdened with curiosity and intellect, which..."

"... makes us dangerous, in the eyes of outsiders. Honestly, we just want what everyone wants. The right to live, to do so in comfort, and to pursue our dreams and curiosities."

"Can't argue with that." Michelle said as the party began heading out of the cargo bay. "Your attack drones are rather impressive. It's fascinating to see a society that has become so automated. It must allow you all a great deal of leisure time."

Neelor gave a nod, "When we discovered how fragile we truly were, we started to hand more and more military responsibility to our drone forces. Once that was handled, we started to use drones into our day to day lives. Now there isn't a single aspect of..."

"... Dalacari life that isn't touched by drone technology. Personal vehicles, mass transit, refuse collection, and we timeshare computational time on our local Thinking Engines with laboratories and schools to help keep them running..."

"... smoothly and efficiently. Now, with the menial tasks handled, the average Dalacari didn't have to pursue careers they had no interest in." the diplomatic Dalacari gave a smile each.

"We are unfortunately a few years behind you on that." Honn said. "How long did it take for your society to advance to that point?"

"We've had drone technology for a few hundred years. The trick was control. I mean sure, we could micromanage every single drone in every single aspect of every single duty but..."

"... to be honest that sounds like a job." Neelor gave a giggle from each form. "So we designed the method of control shortly after. Something that could make fuzzy logic decisions and still obey direct commands."

"A leader, in a sense. That's where the Thinking Engine was designed. It's a massive computer mind, designed to command drones under it and adjust for day to day needs."

"In addition, it adjusts itself and its orders based on success or failure of previous notions. Like, for example. Every morning, at 0900, you get coffee. You take it a very certain way." Neelor detailed out a scenario. "After a..."

"... few times, you'd be greeted in the morning by that coffee by a servitor drone. Your morning document tablet would prioritize sections that you gave the most focus to. In short..."

"... the mechanized aspects of society would adapt to serve. So, like the Borg, but reverse and docile." a pause, "So really, nothing like the Borg." and there was a laugh from the group. Tukal stepped in at this, "When the Dalacari and the Ts'usugi made contact, the conflict lasted all of five minutes. We made our peace, signed an accord, and it's been two hundred years and our people are still as close as ever. We ask of them only one absolute."

Neelor gave a nod, "No research into unrestricted Artificial Intelligence."

Jason laughed. "Quite understandable when you think about it... Otherwise that may be how you get the Borg." he added. "By the way, your people really need to open up restaurants on New Earth. I was rather enjoying some of the places on the promenade. Perhaps yours too." he said to both Neelor and Tukal.

"Still thinking with your stomach I see.. Sir." Michelle said with a laugh.

"The real tragedy is that none of you brought any of it back for the diplomat that's been working their butt off." Talea said with a laugh.

Tukal gave a chuckle, "Oh, I think they brought enough for everyone. Tell me, Diplomat Honn... if a species designed their technology to allow them more time to relax and enjoy life... and that same species had Insipp..."

"Fabrication." Neelor corrected with a smirk.

"... yes, Fabrication technology, AND had shuttles..." Tukal said nothing further, but motioned back towards the shuttle. "Seventy Five Delta does requests, it just doesn't have a database for human cuisine."

"A pity." Rostra said with a smirk. "Not a single human pastry or cookie in the entire database. What to do with sixty isoquids of Dalacari and Ts'usugi desserts..."

"I may have to ask Lieutenant Forrester to start programming." Michelle said with a grin. "That one cheesecake you made once... Oh my god... I could eat that for days."

Rostra gave a pair of smiles and a pair of nods, "Considering it a cultural exchange then." and she giggled. "Nevermind military secrets or government blacklists, with this crew it's food."

Tukal shook his head, "For the record, I don't have a secret carrot cake recipe I'm sitting on." he smirked, "But, my wife makes these little cucumber sandwiches that almost melt in your mouth."

"Commander Tang once assisted us in resolving a diplomatic spat with this incredible dessert. It calmed this really angry ambassador down enough to actually listen to what was being said." Michelle replied. "All the Commodore and I had to go on were facts. We won it with dessert. None of the senior staff would believe what happened."

"You..." Tukal and Neelor Palim both turned their attention to Rostra, though it was Tukal that continued to speak, "Y... you solved a diplomatic dispute with Dessert?" and when Rostra gave a nod, Tukal performed the intergalactic gesture of disbelief.

The facepalm.

"Only a Dalacari would appoint a dessert as a diplomat." he muttered into his palm, but it was all in good humor.

"It worked." Michelle said with a laugh. "It was probably the strangest thing I've ever encountered!" she said as they approached the turbolift. Commodore Myers will escort you to our main conference room just off the Bridge. I have some further followup to continue with, but I will be delighted to meet with you afterwards once everything is hopefully resolved."

"Are you giving ME orders, Captain?" Jason asked playfully.

"Someone has to." Michelle said with a grin.

"Even the Emperor has advisers, Commorode." Tukal offered, a cover for the Captain perhaps. Though, everyone had their 'amused' faces on.

"Thank you for the escort, Commodore." Neelor said as her forms entered the Turbolift. She took a breath and held it in each form, before letting it go, "I'm ready."

END

Captain Michelle Bartlett
Commanding Officer
USS Wellington

Lieutenant Commander Rostra Tang
Mission Advisor
USS Wellington

Commodore Jason Myers
Task Force Commanding Officer
Starfleet Command

Lieutenant Commander Talea Honn
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Wellington

Daisan Tukal (NPC by Valeria Mordin)
Shipmaster
ICS Nebular Flare

Neelor Palim (NPC by Rostra Tang)
Diplomatic Officer
Dalacari Republic