I shop, therefore I am!

Posted on Fri May 31st, 2019 @ 1:20pm by Lieutenant JG Siobahn Fallon & Captain Michelle Bartlett & Commander Rostra Tang & Lieutenant Cor Cordale & Lieutenant Renee Salchin

Mission: Shore Leave
Location: Dalacari Planet

Having been given very detailed directions to the coffee shop they had agreed to meet at, Siobahn found herself sitting outside with a cup of the Dalacari blended tea and a pastry. She knew she was early and Renee wouldn't be here for at least another forty minutes, she found herself genuinely just enjoying sitting there and watching the Dalacari world happening around her.

The drone that had seated her, taken her order and delivered her food had returned only the once to ensure everything was to her satisfaction, but she was also well aware of the fact that the same drone was constantly nearby in a perpetual state of busy, but no doubt ready to meet any request she was to make.

Glancing up, she saw Lieutenant Cordale, the alarmingly blue Chief Engineer approaching from the street and waved slightly.

"Enjoying your shore leave Lieutenant?" she asked with a smile.

Cordale had a smile on his face that threatened to wrap around and flip his head open. A Thux Pez dispenser. He had a bag in his hands, an odd sight considering the army of drones that most other Dalacari had following them with their belongings. At Siobahn's greeting, he only smiled wider, "By the Source this place is incredible." he beamed, moving to take the seat across from her before stopping and remembering his manners. "May I?"

Though, before even being granted sitting rights, he kept going with his thought. "The architecture, the air, hell even the beach is something else. The engineer in me admires the drones. Internal balance compensators, sure. Wireless control network, I guess, but just the simplicity of it kinda... I mean... Ask a drone, get a drone, have a drone do a thing. I mean..." he took a breath. "I carry my own bags, mind you. Shoulder no burden if not your own. They're remarkable, they're versatile, but... something about them kinda bothers me in the back of my soul."

"Though, Dalacar can brew a hell of a cuppa." he switched topics, to feel better about the moment.

"Of course," Siobahn said with a smile, motioning for him to join her. "Have you tried what they pass as coffee here? I mean, I really don't like coffee at all and I actually quite like it. I'm going to have to see if Commander Tang has anything like it programmed into the replicator. The food here is incredible, I haven't even started shopping yet, Renee is supposed to be meeting me here, we're supposed to go shopping together, but so far all I've done is lay about on the beach and eat so much food I think I'm going to need to reprogram my replicator when I get back to the ship so it only gives me calorie free food!" she said with a laugh. "All the food is so amazing, they have an amazing skill for balancing flavour."

"I love their coffee. Though the aftertaste is weird. No one else seems to notice, so I guess it must be a Thux thing." he mentioned, taking the seat. "Oh their food is just... mmmmmm." the Thux gave a smile, eyes closed. He was in food heaven. "It's so weird, cause their flavors are for folks with two throats, so I find myself just getting lost in the moment. Picking up something and chomping in while I have half a mouth full already. I feel like such a pig but still, it's so good!"

"We should have come here sooner. Should have a picnic. Think they have picnics?" he started to roam in his questions, but then paused, "Wait, did Renee bail on you? She stood you up?" he shook his head. "Not my Renee. Well she's not my Renee she's her Renee, but she's a bright engineer. Probably stopped to inspect a drone or something and lost track of time."

"I heard my name!" Renee trilled as she seemed to appear out of nowhere, a drone following behind her, carrying a smaller bag that Renee reached out and grabbed as she smiled down at Siobahn and Cor, "Heya Boss, fancy seeing you down here! And no, I'm actually early, I just couldn't stay away from town and well, thought I'd be waiting for you, chickie chickie!" She set the small bag down in front of the younger woman, "Just a little something for you I saw when I was toodling around." She couldn't wait for Siobahn to see the brooch, green gemstones and what she thought was platinum, but she'd have to really find out back on the ship.

Cordale gave a chuckle, "I was worried you got distracted. I know I did." he gave a smirk. He watched the exchange of the bag silently, then when it was done he addressed Renee, "You gotta try their coffee. It's phenomenal."

"Hell, all the food here is phenomenal, I'm holding my next Thuxday here, that's for certain." He grew quiet as a drone walked by on delivery detail, then his cheerful personality returned. "Is it.... bad that I kinda feel bad for them?"

"I don't know," Siobahn replied softly. "I mean, as far as indentured servitude goes, they aren't specifically sentient? Do you think they know any different?" She paused for a moment, picking up the small bag Renee had set in front of her, but instead of opening it she turned slightly to follow Cor's gaze. "It seems drones do everything here. They even have drones as treating doctors in medical facilities. They know a lot, even about us. I came here this morning and instantly the drone that seated me recommended a blended tea and a pastry, which is pretty much what I've had every morning since we've been here." She smiled slightly. "The Dalacari really do have an amazing lifestyle set up for themselves don't they?"

“It’s a matter of programming.” Renee shrugged, slipping into a chair, the drone behind her going into what appeared to be ‘sleep’ mode while she was stationary, “And while there has to be an AI in there, it isn’t an artificial sentience. A few questions I’ve asked came back seeming more of a generic response than a true opinionated one, all in the wording. But oh my... I would love to have one of these back on the ship, think they’ll let me adopt one and take it home with me?”

"You might be too late, I'm pretty sure that Felicie and Brady are already planning to kidnap one and take it back to the ship," Siobahn replied with a shrug and a quick smile at Cor. "They were talking about it last night at dinner."

She picked up her cup and took a sip of the tea. "The drones really are rather remarkable though. I saw a drone treating a child yesterday and it was incredible. With just a glance the drone had already completed a preliminary medical examination of the Dalacari child, but the interaction was..." she paused, trying to come up with the word.

"It was almost personable. There was familiarity. The child was excited to see the drone and treated like it was a sentient being, and the drone basically reacted in kind. It was really remarkable. I've not actually found them to be generic at all, they seem to tailor the way they approach everyone differently, depending on how you interact with them."

Turning in her seat, she smiled at the drone and waved slightly.

"Excuse me, Lambda Twelve, can I please have another cup of tea and a pastry. My friend there would like that coffee drink and a pastry and.." Siobahn turned to Renee. "What would you like Renee?"

"I'll also take a pastry, but I'm a tad more civilized, so can I have a hot cocoa?" Renee's eyes twinkled as she winked at Siobahn and then Cor, "Well, maybe these two are appropriately civilized, but cocoa is much better!"

Michelle walked up just in time to overhear them talking.. "Hot cocoa? Civilized? Not bloody likely. Coffee is where it's at, I'm afraid. Though I may have to have this blend programmed into the replicator..."

"Coffee has it's uses." Renee stuck her tongue out at Michelle, "But when you're looking for taste, I have no idea how something that smells so good can taste so horrible! You have to put lots of things into it in order to make coffee taste like something other than bitter!"

The drone addressed gave a nod of its head as it took each order, "Of course, your drinks and pastries will be ready shortly." the drone then paused, "If you have a dislike of the taste of coffee, there are a variety of alternatives that are rated high among local guests for taste and have similar caffeine content. The typical solution used by the Dalacari would not apply here. Apologies." and with that, Lambda Twelve went into the cafe to retrieve the orders.

Siobahn frowned slightly as she looked at Renee. "I think you offended the drone," she said softly.

"Informational." Renee shook her head, "I mean, truthfully, I could put a replicator program to put caffeine content into a cup of cocoa, but it's not the point! But I don't know what it means by 'typical solution used by the Dalacari'... That may be more along the lines of a Dalacari-specific food or additive."

"You're right on the having to flavour it." Michelle replied. "I had a roommate who drank it black in the Academy and I nearly threw up. Switched to tea for the longest time afterward."

"It meant you drink two cups." Cordale mentioned with a smirk. "Cause, you know, two throats. Two tongues." he motioned inside to the cafe. "If they don't like how something tastes, they drink something else to mask it."

"If you ask them they will blend it," Siobahn replied quietly, suddenly feeling a little out of place among all the senior officers. "They really are remarkably accommodating."

"The most easygoing people I've met in this quadrant..." Michelle replied. "And considering how many people I've had to stop from blowing us up, that says something."

"And what we could learn from them, Skipper!" Renee agreed, "They do this with apparent ease, transitioning an entire segment of their culture to Federation 'standards' just to give the crew some free time to relax. The technicalities of it aren't that hard, but it's definitely a level of dedication we can certainly envy. And these drones! I'd love to get one of my friends the coding for the AI they use, possibly could duplicate them at that point."

"Didn't Rostra say they were all connected to a central... yeah, those Thinking Engine what's its." Cordale recalled with a smirk. "Though if you want a drone that badly, I saw a plush drone in a toy store just down the street." and the Thux chuckled.

"Though, these folks have it easy. Maybe a bit too easy, I'd say." he looked around. Streets full of vehicles and mass transit all driven by drones. Streets kept clean, by drones. And through it all, the Dalacari walked and chatted and laughed. As they passed by the table claimed as sovereign ground by the Federation, they would smile and wave. Especially the children. They'd smile and wave wave wave, it was nice to be welcomed somewhere. Especially with such enthusiasm.

"Tech like this is incredible. Good thing they're just using it to sip drinks." he chuckled again, and finished off his mug. Shortly after, a drone returned to the table with a tray carrying the table's drink orders. It placed each drink down in time, by their respective requester. "Apologies for the delay. The establishment has hit one of the peak times for activity. Would you like something sir?"

"Just a glass of water to wash down the coffee, and please, just call me Cordale." he offered up to the drone. It gave a nod, "Of course Cordale. A water. Coming right up." and with that the drone was on the job.

Renee picked up her cocoa and blew on it for a few seconds before taking a careful sip, then made a face, "There's a bit of a metallic taste to this, very slight, wonder what sort of replication process they use." She shrugged, taking another tentative sip of the steaming mug, "Could be a lot worse. But having everything done by drones could have its weaknesses, a point failure source would be that Thinking Engine."

Cordale gave a chuckle, "Drone must have dipped its finger in to test the temperature." he teased, but it was all in good fun. "I suppose without actually getting a look at that Engine we'll never know. And I don't think they'll just up and arrange a tour of the heart of their drone network." he chuckled again.

"I think it's going to be sad when we finally have to leave," Siobahn said with a laugh. "Everyone seems to be really enjoying themselves down here, it's good to see. The crew needs some good down time. Far too much stress lately."

Cordale gave a nod, "So hey, there's a demonstration of some kinda Dalacari fighter drones on the air strip in a few. Anyone wanna catch it with me?" the Thux offered, checking out the ad for the demo on the PaDD he was browsing the drinks on.

"A fighter drone display?" Michelle asked. "I guess they don't just use them to make life easier. Though... I wish we could get a few... Not sure what we'd do though. At any rate.. I'm in."

"You could always ask them," Siobahn suggested quietly. "I mean, I'm no diplomat, but they seem friendly enough people and they're always happy to be accommodating from what I've seen. Worst they can say is no."

Cordale actually grumped a little bit. "From an engineering standpoint, they're pretty cool... I guess." he said, still going over the flier idly. "And, I mean I guess I see where they'd help in a military standpoint, just something about them still doesn't feel right. I guess..." he paused, "I guess you'd have to be there to really know, just something about the whole arrangement doesn't sit right." the concept of a manufactured workforce didn't sit right with the Thux, for some reason or another.

"Be where?" Siobahn asked gently, a tone of genuine curiosity to her voice. "Is there a specific reason you don't like them?"

"The mine." he answered quietly. The forearm plate of his prosthetic limb itched all of a sudden, around the spot where there were two patterns carved into the plate.

Hexagonal patterns. Ferengi patterns. Numbers. Numbers like the one on his tag he wore on a collar around his neck.

"Some of the earliest memories I have. I ... I used to work for the Ferengi." he hesitated for a moment, "Except, I didn't get paid." he let that sit for a moment in the air, "I see the drones. Marvelous machines, intuitive and responsive. Independent but still directed. Give 'em a plate and tell 'em to bus tables, they do. Give 'em some food and tell 'em to cook, they do."

"Give 'em a pick, tell 'em to dig... We did."

Siobahn listened as he explained, exhaling softly as he finished. "I'm sorry... I had no idea..." she said as she looked down at her tea, her face slowly draining of colour.

"Hey." he said, dipping down slightly to look up at her, those icy blue eyes of his as piercing as the rest of his blue color was soft. "Don't you go worrying on me. It's not something that comes up in casual chats is all. Besides, it's like they say: The only thing more dangerous than a question..." he led up, giving her the chance to finish.

He didn't give her that chance though. Not out of rudeness, but because it didn't really need to be said. "I see a lot of myself in these drones. Hard working, diligent, friendly, polyvinyl chromate." he chuckled, but the chuckle never made it to his eyes. "Maybe too much. Sorry, being a mopey Thux now."

Siobahn smiled. "It's okay, everyone's allowed to have a down day. Come on, why don't we go check out that air show? It's supposed to be great entertainment, and if it isn't, well, I'm sure there'll be a bar there somewhere we can get a drink at." She finished with a grin.

"That actually sounds like fun." He said, cheering up and perking up visibly. "And hey, I've enjoyed what I've had so far. Yeah, let's do it."

Standing up, Siobahn smoothed the front of her skirt and thanked the drone for it's assistance before turning back to Cor and the others. "So, does anyone know where we're supposed to go? I can tell you how to find basically any coffee shop or food outlet in this section, but I have no idea where the airshow is," she said with a laugh.

"The Aerodrone Display Show is going to be held at the local airstrip. There are still plenty of good guest seats available." the drone that assisted Siobahn mentioned as it was collecting the empty drinks from the table. "Local autonomous transit can easily take you there, with more than enough time to spare."

"Could be fun to see." Michelle replied. "I think I'm in. Autonomous transit?" she asked

"I am SO in!" Renee agreed, looking at the drone, "Do they have snack food? I mean, like food on a stick? Like at fairs and stuff?"

The drone gave a nod, to both inquisitive females. "All forms of mass transit or point to point ad-hoc transport are drone controlled. In the case of mass transit, there is a Dalacari safety officer on duty to ensure a smooth transit. A transit van can support a group of your size, if you wish for one to be used."

The drone then turned towards Renee, "Food and refreshments will be available at the venue. The closest approximation to Food on a Stick would be a Doogspear, which is a sweet meat wrapped in a thin layer of fluffy dough, and then quickly fried to bake the dough. The entirety of the snack is speared onto a handle for ease of consumption. The Medical Director of Safety advises against consumption of the handle."

Siobahn stifled a giggle at the drone's warning. "Come on, lets go or we'll end up late," she said as she started toward the transit van.