Star Trek: Theurgy

Day 15 [1500 hrs.] Quantum Slipstream Burst Drive

March 18, 2020, 05:07:31 PM

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QUANTUM SLIPSTREAM BURST DRIVE

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STARDATE 57594.45
MARCH 25
1500 HRS.

[ Echtand qi Versant | Main Research Vessel Bay | Aerodrome | The Erudite ] Attn: @BZ
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One hour ago, the first delegation from the Theurgy had been beamed aboard the Erudite, and Echtand had taken the time to be there and recieve them. He felt that, given what some of them had endured because of the Scion Directive, he had a bit of an obligation to bridge any hostility. He was likely the only 'friendly' face among the Vigilant that they knew of, and in his absence, there was no telling what might happen. Victims as they were, and owing them as Echtand believed all of the Flotilla did, it was the least he could do to facilitate the grounds of this new alliance.

Echtand stood there, while the Ante engineers thoroughly explained the large device that sat in the middle of the bay, with his arms crossed. His black eyes moved between the faces of the rather small delegation, seeing at least two abductees among them. Lieutenant Commander Tiran, of course, and one of the Andorians that his own mate - Sclergyn - had tended to in the bio labs. Lieutenant ThanIda zh'Wann, he belived, and he had no reason to think the thinly veiled hostility in the blue-skinned specimen was an act. He knew what Sclergyn had done to her, and it was a source of regret for everyone involved. They now lived by the Old Code, what they had done was unforgivable on many levels. Hopefully the alliance wouldn't be broken by the history between them and the crew of the Theurgy.

As the Voice, Echtand knew that they had a lot to gain in the alliance, and he would do what he could to ensure victory over the Scion High Council.

The long-winded presentation of the quantum slipstream properties of the device was coming to an end, and it opened up for questions. Echtand knew, however, that the level of detail in which his engineers had gone to explain the benamite slipstream reactor sitting on the deck was far too much. He felt he had an obligation to summarise the most interesting facts in conclusion of the presentation.

"Using a benamite reactor, this Precept ship's slipstream drive allow for travel equivalent to a conventional warp factor of 9.99998477, or 300 light years per hour," he said in his contralto voice and sought Tiran's blue eyes in the delegation, knowing that she was spearheading the delegation that had come to see this piece of technology that they were offering. Of course, they had more tech to present, but it would likely be a separate session for each offer they had. "The flight-limitation is three hours, and once the drive is deactivated, it can't be reactivated until at least 36 hours have passed. These, however, are the specifications when using our ZPE reactor. A conventional warp core will, unfortunately, limit the flight-time further, and prolong the cool-down. How much can only be theorised at this point, since it all depends on the recommended output of each power source, and the Theurgy have three cores. Depending on your ship configuration and which Vector you install this on, the result will differ. Without testing, it will be difficult to estimate the potential of the drive unless you decide to install it on the Theurgy."

Stepping forth, Echtand continued the summary. "Besides this reactor itself, it will need an array of other components installed, among them slipstream initiators and graviton particle actuators. We offer to aid in the installation, of course, with your permission. It would be my recommendation... but I am aware that it might pose some risk to the Savi. If you can offer safety from assault while they work, I do think we can shorten the time it will take to bring the reactor online for initial diagnostics."

The elderly Savi engineers who had spent the hour presenting the reactor's features schooled their faces, perhaps feeling a bit dismissed by how easily Echtand had boiled down the essentials, but the Voice had the advantage of knowing more than the engineers about how to speak with members of the Federation.

"I suggest we pause the presentation for sake of deliberation," Echtand added, knowing that Tiran might wish to confer with her officers. "Let us know when you wish to resume."

Having said this, Echtand stepped away - alone save for the chief defender that kept his eyes on him and the specimens from Starfleet, standing at a bit of a distance - and raised his wrist tablet. He began to correspond with the Flotilla that fought for the rights of the Antes. Reports were read, and orders passed, and he even managed to send a message to Sclergyn on the damaged Versant, asking for a status update. This was, of course, until he was interrupted...

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OOC: If you'd like your character to be aboard the Erudite in this thread, please let me know! @BZ has already asked for this, and I have other characters that can interact with yours if you'd like to be there. As you can see, Ida is present, but so could others be. Just PM me if you want to take part in this.

Here is also a guide for where they are at. You can find the Aerodrome and the Main Research Vessel Bay here:

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Re: Day 15 [1500 hrs.] Quantum Slipstream Burst Drive

Reply #1 – March 20, 2020, 03:22:53 AM

[Selena Ravenholm | Main Research Vessel Bay | Aerodrome | The Erudite]

Standing nearly stock still through the entirety of both presentations, Selena Ravenholm was far from her typical airheaded self.  Leaning against a bulkhead with her arms crossed in front of her (one hand covering the mark denoting where a Savi weapon shot off her arm all that time ago), her cybernetic eyes betrayed the mental activity going on in her head.  These Savi were going into far more detail about this backup drive than was really needed for this group, and her role was to determine what would be needed to link this think into Thea’s computer systems.  Energy absorption curves, thermal oscillation control, and exotic particle field manifold emissions weren’t her field, so when the pale bulb-headed “allies” of theirs wouldn’t shut up about them she only half listened while stealing glances at the tech in the room.  When the idea of dynamic controls requiring nanosecond scale resolution at minimum came up that caught her attention pretty quickly.  The more they droned on the more Selena grew concerned, it was becoming apparent to her that while Thea might be up to the task, it would take a significant chunk of her computing power to keep the burst drive on the reins.

Once Echtand called for the break, Selena gathered together with the others in the impromptu huddle.  A quick glance at the others told her a lot about what everyone was thinking already and she could only guess as to what her own face conveyed.  “I don’t like the idea of them coming over and messing with Thea’s computer.” she said outright, not caring if the Savi could hear her.  “The last time they came aboard they ripped out her core and left us infected with a series of viruses that I’d still be trying to purge if they hadn’t self-destructed once they grabbed what they wanted."  She couldn’t resist a quick glance at Ida at that line, she was one of those that they wanted as well, and the rumors about what they did to her made the human shudder inside.  If someone offered to let her switch places with the zhen she’d probably stick with the lost arm.  “Not to mention that Thea’s going to have to spend a lot of her capacity to run it properly.  I’d have to show her some of the specs and see what she thinks, but I’d be afraid that keeping the slipstream corridor intact and in phase will take up too much of the computer and something critical gets cut off.”

Re: Day 15 [1500 hrs.] Quantum Slipstream Burst Drive

Reply #2 – March 21, 2020, 12:53:37 AM

[LCdr Blue Tiran | Fuckers Are Still Annoying | Fucking Know It Alls | Can We Have Echtand for 500, please? | Return of Moby]
@Auctor Lucan @Top Hat @chXinya




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A whole.  Fucking. Hour. 

Blue stood in the back of the rag-tag group.  Most of them she didn't want to even fucking be here.  She didn't want all these other fuckers and their voices.  She especially had been surprised when Ranaan Ducote showed up on the Transportation pad.  He was going to witness things she would rather be kept to herself.  She knew, full well, shit was going to come up here for her.  It wasn't as simple as just visiting this place again.  It wasn't as simple as seeing the people again, the white headed mother fuckers that had tortured their crew.  The ones that had done things that only Blue had seen, witnessed, and knew about.  Things she still had fucking nightmares about, and yet, she was surprisingly glad to see Echtand when they walked into the bay they now stood.

Blue was not looking at the white headed engineers.  She was only paying half attention, and besides Albert was recording the whole fucking thing and she was listening for key words.  Blue was pretty fucking adept at getting the whole multi-tasking thing going.  So while she had her ear peeled for the details of all the shit they were spouting out of their creepy little mouths, she wasn't even looking at anyone.  Her attention was on the padd in her hands.  The very one where she was playing a game.  Anyone beside her could see it, and Ranaan probably knew what she was doing even though she had put a steel trap into place the moment they walked on board.  The second the energy beam faded from transporting them all there; she had snapped up her shield so fast. 

Stepping on the Erudite was harder than she wanted to admit.  It wasn't something she needed to distract Ranaan with.  He had enough on his plate and while sh eknew that she could lean on him she preferred that to be later when she could let herself open up and less now when they all had work to do.  The stark walls and décor of the ship weren't what hit her first, it was the smell.  She supposed it must be what the Savi smelled like, or maybe it was the cleaning solutions used to keep the ship as immaculate as it was.  But, whatever it was, her stomach turned the moment she could cognitively function again.  She hated thinking that it could have that reaction on her.  Blue knew she was strong as fuck and with Ranaan, Hathev, and Cross behind her she could do just about anything she wanted or needed.  But, this ship made her feel out of control. 

As soon as they were lead, the whole delegation, through the corridors of the ship she could pick out the differences easily.  But, there was enough that was the same that she felt very skittish.  Hence the mental shields and now the game.  Anything to keep her mind busy.  Which definitely was necessary since these fuckers just kept droning on tossing stupid fucking words at them that they then had to give definitions to and any Engineer worth their weight knew most of them, others were Savi alone and she paid attention to those but for the most part it was like being back in fucking school again.  Blue hadn't gotten where the fuck she was in life by not knowing her Engineering shit.  She had told Albert to remain muted unless otherwise specified, all of this was nuts, but she wanted him there for the fact that he could actually record everything that was happening and she would be able to look over it here and there when necessary. 

It was important to retain as much information as possible.

Echtand apparently thought that maybe the Savi had just learned another form of fucking torture because he finally stepped forward and began to speak.  That drew Blue's eyes up from the fucking game she had been playing and she flicked her padd off.  The game would be saved for later anyway and she might need the distraction.  She was pretty fucking good at burying her emotions and even better at ignoring them.  The game would help if she got overwhelmed again.  Echtand's black pools snapped over to her bright blue ones.  She had most certainly gained wait, muscle, and herself back.  The Blue Tiran that he had seen before he died on the Versant was no longer.  But here, she was vibrant again, and yet she was not afraid to look into his eyes.  He was not what she feared.  Echtand was a friend for the lack of a better word to suit what ever it was.  An ally, she supposed likely was a better one.  He and she had worked together to over throw the old regime of Savi and to rightfully correct it back to what it was now.

As he mentioned the ZPE reactor, Blue spoke for the first time since beaming on board.  “Do we get one of those fuckers too?”  There were a couple chuckles.  She was only half joking though, because if the statistics he had just spouted off at her were true, then she most definitely wanted to get the whole shebang.  Though she knew, that was likely not going to be the case as they hadn't offered and the chances that they just had another ZPE reactor sitting around as a gift was ludicrous. 

Echtand finished everything stating that he figured everyone needed to have a good ol' chat with the whole crew to decide what they wanted to do.  Blue sighed as everyone started gatherine around.  It was hard enough for her to breathe on the ship but standing here with everyone crowding around her now was even worse.  She brushed a hand through her curls and tried to take a deep breath but she couldn't quite inflate her lungs.  Her eyes shifted to Ranaan.

Alive, she reminded herself. 

Coming back here was hard, harder than she would like to admit to anyone.  Only Cross could probably fathom and even then he had not gone through everything she had.  Their experiences were so different, and yet he was probably the only one close enough to fully understand how she felt about standing on a ship run by the Savi.  No longer (they said) did they correct or recycle people.  She hoped the experiments on them had stopped too.  She hoped that she didn't come across any, she hoped that no one was on this ship suffering and waiting for a rescue.  Blue knew she would fight, she would make sure she pushed through til the end like last time.  She had found depths of her strength she hadn't known she had.  But, she would rather not have to go through that living hell ever again.

Ravenholm, spoke first, as soon as they got into the make shift meeting.  Blue looked over at the fucking communications officer and tried to figure out why the fuck she was here.  But, she kept her thoughts on that matter to herself as Ravenholm voiced her concerns on the matter.  Something about messing with Thea and all the shit they had done to her. 

“Thea is with us and can make her own fucking decision if she wants this shit or not.”  Blue reminded her for a moment.  “We wouldn't be here if she hadn't been interested enough to come check this shit out.”  she shrugged her shoulder and sighed.

“Look, the Borg are out there, and so are other races, just like this.  Not to mention the fucking task force we can barely out run on our good days.  Here we are with something that could aide us.  I'm not against using it, not yet, even if it's at a lesser capacity with the shit that we have on the ship.  I'm not against bettering the Theurgy and Thea.  Isn't that our ultimate goal?  To make this fucker the extreme machine it can be?  So that we can fight, win, and unfortunately flee when we need to?  You saw the fuck-fest that was the Theurgy once she came back together at the end of the last set of battles.  You saw how she limped her ass over here as best as we could and how fucking long it has taken to put this shit back together.  We're in a good place to upgrade her.  I'm not turning them down based solely on shit that they didn't choose to do.  They were under the control of some fucky fucked up government assholes that have since been vanquished.”

Blue realized that she might have gotten a little loud at the end there and took a deep breath.  She was just glad her hands were shaking at the moment. 

“Your concerns are valid.” she stated to Ravenholm.  “But, first, we need to really think of the pros and cons.  What is the future for the Theurgy.  If we get caught by Acheron before we even eradicate the ass worms in the Doc, well then this would have all been for fucking nothing because we'll all be court martialed, jailed, and our lives will be fucking over.  So we might as well explore all our avenues before we give a resounding no.”

Re: Day 15 [1500 hrs.] Quantum Slipstream Burst Drive

Reply #3 – March 23, 2020, 11:44:18 PM

[ Cmdr Ranaan Ducote | Main Research Vessel Bay | Aerodrome | The Erudite ] attn: @Auctor Lucan @BZ @chXinya

Ducote's involvement with the visiting delegation to the Savi city-ship was beyond question. Aside from his own desire to see these people up close where they lived, there was also the point that a fat fraction of the crew he now served had suffered horribly at the hands of these people. While he hadn't been present to fully understand their prior struggles, this was one he was actually placed to see for himself - even if the situation was different, it was more than he had for something like Niga or Ishtar.

On a more personal level, he didn't want to send Blue back to a location that was fundamentally identical to the site of her most recent trauma without even volunteering to see it for himself.

He wasn't sure if the headache was just from the lower oxygen content of the local atmosphere or the scant bits and pieces that were leaking out from under Blue's shield, but it was turning into a bastard. Nevertheless, he paid attention to the alto droning of the Savi scientists as they lectured upon the details of the slipstream drive. Ducote felt as if a lot of it went over his head - certainly the finer points about subspace mechanics - but he was gratified that (according to Echtand's summary at least) he had the bones of it by the end.

He decided that ignoring Blue's focus on her PADD game was for the best.

The Voice called an intermission. The XO watched him go for a moment, still trying to decide how he felt about the Savi situation. Their civil war was a just one, he thought, but he couldn't help but compare the Antes in general to Borg drones in several unfavourable ways, chiefly concerning their apparently-unquestioning deference to authority. Which was something of a contradiction given the aforementioned civil war, but here they were. Not for the first time by a long way, Ducote looked around the chamber. The architecture was oppressive in way he hadn't seen in most other alien designs, despite its vaulted construction and wide-open spaces. The dark alloys and naked equipment offended what few aesthetic sensibilities he had... and they were here on what amounted to a social call. This must have been a nightmare during their ordeal.

Ravenholm started off and snapped him back to the present, and he had to agree with her concerns. The counterpoint about Thea making her own decision was a valid enough one, though it was still something he was getting used to. He had assurances that she would follow a given order, but no other ship in the Fleet had the capacity to make its own decisions, let alone the will. Still - any code would be double- and triple-checked before introduction to the nerve centre of their entire ship.

"They did choose, Commander," he corrected quietly, when his favourite firebrand obliquely mentioned the old Savi Code. "They were quite happy to do all they did until you helped Echtand figure out their law had been altered. But that just inclines me more to taking whatever we can. We'll work with the... representatives they'll send us if we agree, but once we have the tech there isn't a great deal they can do. For now, we share a common enemy... but that's about it."

It wasn't lost on him that if he'd been part of the group originally abducted by the Savi he'd have suffered the same violations as them. He'd be a totally different species by now, besides anything else. He was grateful for the psychological safety blanket that was the type-1 tucked between his belt and his waistband - it wasn't likely to do much against the armour the Savi wore, but that didn't mean he wouldn't fight any change of heart their hosts might suffer.

"Ms Ravenholm, what would you need in terms of resources and personnel to verify that whatever runtimes come along with this engine are clean before we implement them?" he asked of the erstwhile journalist and current computer expert, before looking back at Blue. "If we do take this on board, presumably with full blueprints and so on, do you think you'd need the Savi there with your teams or could we manage without? Plenty of people still want a crack at them, and it's not hard to imagine our own security looking the other way."

He suspected he knew what her answer was going to be, flippant or otherwise, but he trusted her to make an honest assessment. She was plenty of things, but needlessly proud wasn't one of them, even if her name was almost synonymous with 'headstrong'.

Re: Day 15 [1500 hrs.] Quantum Slipstream Burst Drive

Reply #4 – March 27, 2020, 01:36:58 PM

[ Echtand qi Versant | Main Research Vessel Bay | Aerodrome | The Erudite ] Attn: @Top Hat @chXinya  @BZ
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Having been interrupted by the raised voice of Commander Tiran, Echtand had lowered his wrist and turned his head halfway towards the group of Starfleet officers. It seemed they had a bit of an argument, and as keen as the hearing of Savi was, it certainly wasn't a secret that there was a lack of trust towards the technology offered. The comment Tiran had made, however, had been about what happened on the Versant, and it opened up for further comments from the hybrid that was second in command on the Theurgy. The cybernetically augmented female of the Human variety had been quite clear on how she wished to reject the offer and the alliance, and knowing what he did about the Federation and their culture, Echtand couldn't say he was surprised.

The comment made about the choices of the Antes, however, made the Voice frown a bit. Such a crude simplification of what his people had undergone, and absent of multiple factors that had paved the way into their morbid practices of science. Of course there would be resentment, but the least Echtand expected was for Starfleet to acknowledge the truth rather than warp it to support their opinions. Slowly, he turned to walk towards the group, but said naught to begin with.

As he approached, he saw a figure step out from behind the group of Starfleet officers. Someone who appeared to be a Human specimen, but he knew she wasn't. She wasn't an organic being at all, but a hologram generated by a rather sophisticated portable emitter. A photonic being, such like the Flotilla had never encountered before, and who's heuristic patterns had generated the Synthesis Code. Quite remarkable, with few of similarities in his people's Archive. The A.I. seemed to have kept herself in the back of the delegation, and some Starfleet officers were even surprised to find her present when she spoke up.

"My consent remains unchanged," said the hologram to the three that had spoken so far. She smiled a bit to them all, perhaps not wanting to make the decision for them, and yet wanting to offer her advise on the course of action. "And based on the presentation held along with my own calculations on manpower and time-expenditure, it would take our own crew one month, two weeks and three days to properly install all these components on me unaided. This is, of course, if there are no complications causing further delays. I do not know how long I can remain in drydock here in the Epsilon Mynos System. At the same time, I do not know how much shorter the time will be if we get aid from the Savi."

At this point, the Andorian specimen - ThanIda zh'Wann - noticed Echtand's approach towards the Starfleet officers in the bay, and she stepped around the people in her way so that she might place herself in Echtand's path. The blue-skinned humanoid merely folded her arms underneath her chest and regarded Echtand, but her movement to interject herself had alerted the rest of his presence.

"My apologies. Our hearing is quite astute... and I merely wished to add comment on the fate of my people," he said, knowing how in their eyes he might seem to try and defend something indefensible. He hoped, at least, some of them would have knowledge pertaining to psychology, and would see the point he would try to make. While the incentive had been reactionary on his part, hearing the misinterpretation of his people's actions, he also thought that understanding might facilitate a positive outcome when it came to the suggested alliance against the Infested. To say the faces of the specimens before him were... sceptical, would be a grave understatement. As the Voice of the Savi and the leader of the freed Antes, he ought to not apologise at all for his approach, but if the Old Code was clear about one thing, it was the need for showing due respect and recognition.

"We were not 'happy', Commander Ducote. If I were to make a generalisation, there are two aspects that you ought to know," said Echtand, standing there with his hands at his sides. His black eyes strayed, however, to encompass the whole delegation and not just the Theurgy's First Officer. "Us Antecedents were all nurtured towards the protection of our Archive, and in order to preserve the knowledge of all our research, we were taught from infancy to adhere to the Code. The Code governed all aspects of our life, and our limited culture, such as it were."

His people did not tarry with artistic endeavours. They were conscientious, industrious, but not overly creative beyond the scientific spectrum of their life. Judging by the Old Code, that might not have once been the case. He did not linger on that aspect, however. "Many times through our long history have we strayed in our scientific research, and our Archive has been compromised. So, in order to prevent us from making the same mistakes we already have, the Code evolved out of not just our own necessity and for the sake of the Archive, but for a second reason." He looked towards Tiran, but he barely paused. "Mercy... towards all life. Because imagine what we - with the resources at our disposal - might deal unto the galaxy as a whole, if we were not careful? We were taught that adherence to the Code stood above all else, for sake of not just the Savi but all the species we studied. The Code we used to live by simply stated that if life in the galaxy came to an end, it would be 'disadvantageous', in that there would be no further biological research to make. It never used to say 'Mercy'. The Old Code has now put it in proper perspective."

Looking back at Commander Ducote, Echtand tried to make his point plain, but judgement wasn't his own to make. "Yes, Commander. We are totalitarian. Still are, for we live by laws that govern all aspects of our society. We must, otherwise one of us might push our research irreparably far."

While he was the Voice, he felt he might be a bit long-winded - like the engineers had been before. He decided to end it with something a bit closer to their own experiences. "There is an ongoing philosophical debate on Earth, I recall, which details the dilemma between nature and nurture. Are you the sum of your genome or are you the product of your experiences? Both would be the common answer in many cultures. For us Antecedents, we have evolved towards the pursuit of discovery. It is in our nature. Curiosity and exploration, putting it before ourselves. We look outwards, not to ourselves. We forget ourselves in our desire for more knowledge, so the Code was created to guide us. We knew nothing but the Code, and using it, we were misled entirely by the Scions we created. Like the Augments in Federation history, what we created cared more for themselves than we have ever done. For like the augments of your Eugenic Wars, despite superior abilities, there were major defects in their genome. Belligerence. Arrogance. Ambition without a sense of morality. We simply did not understand what we created... until Commander Tiran confirmed my doubts."

The Andorian did not move a muscle in her face, merely staring at him still, and Echtand held little hope that he had made his point well enough. It was the best he could offer, for sake of the alliance they mutually needed. "I merely ask that we are judged by the scientific truth, and not a biased standpoint... hard as I reckon it to be because of what we did to you." He spread his three-fingered hands, making his final statement. "True Savi never let opinion cloud scientific findings. It is, perhaps, something you might ordinarily call a virtue, for we would never choose bias over proven facts.... only the facts we lived by were falsified."

Re: Day 15 [1500 hrs.] Quantum Slipstream Burst Drive

Reply #5 – April 21, 2020, 12:59:03 AM

[Selena Ravenholm | Main Research Vessel Bay | Aerodrome | The Erudite] attn: @BZ @Auctor Lucan @Top Hat

Selena blushed at Blue’s reminder that Thea was standing right there in the huddle.  It was rare for the woman to lose track of details like that, it had taken so much of her attention to keep track of the Savi’s presentation and all its details that she’d forgotten that the holowoman had been behind her the entire time.  The blue streak of a lecture that poured out of the engineers mouth didn’t help the color on the cyborg’s face either, the embarrassment was starting to turn into an uncharacteristic defensive rage and the red in her cheeks deepened.  When Blue finally paused to take a breath the only reason Selena didn’t respond in kind was because she was so shocked at getting verbally assaulted in public that it took her too long to get her own composure before Blue did.

Ducote quickly took charge at that point, using his own deft skills to guide everyone back into line and on the topic at hand before they started flying off into the weeds with all sorts of petty arguments.  While Selena tried to parse out the numbers the man wanted Thea beat her to the punch, rattling off a number far faster than her fleshy brain could calculate even with her augments.  “And I’d put at least the first four days of that would be spent just on the feasibility study.  Blue and her kind might be famed for turning rocks into replicators, but this is something that as far as I know, Starfleet R&D has only just started on trying to make feasible.”

Echtand picked that moment to approach and Selena could immediately feel the change in everyone’s reaction to his presence.  He may have been a benefactor of sorts to everyone who had been taken captive but it was clear there was no love lost between the Savi and the Starfleeters.  Strangely though, as the alien detailed his point of view on what his culture was supposed to stand for and what kind of limits they were meant to operate under by this Code of theirs…Selena found herself nodding in sympathy.  Human history was full of disasters caused by people who ignored the facts around them, latching onto anything they could find to justify the conclusions they’d reached as soon as the situation presented itself.  Wars began or worsened due to rumors pushed by shadows behind the curtains, diseases spread further and faster sickening thousands more than should have simply because people didn’t want to give up a luxury or two.  Even the entire concept of truth came under fire before the nuclear fires of World War III nearly brought humanity to the brink and forced themselves to reconsider what society really meant.

Echtand’s final statement brought a frown to Selena’s face at the end, not because of anything wrong he’d stated, but something it reminded her of.  Years ago, after the War ended, she’d been doing some research into some of the smaller stories that nevertheless had huge impacts on it for FNN, one of her first bits of official journalistic work.  One in particular caught her eye: the Romulans had joined the Alliance after losing a prominent senator to a Dominion bomb.  He’d been ferrying proof that the Dominion were planning to attack them and they had apparently found out and killed him to try to keep the secret.  They’d failed, and when the recording had been recovered from the wreckage the Empire rolled over the token defenses and went right for the Jem’hadar’s belly.  It was huge news at the time, a true turning point in the Federation’s favor.

But something about it just kept nagging at Selena.  She could never figure out what, but something about it seemed just off enough that she’d continued to take some free time every so often to track down another thread.  Nothing had ever come from it though, even now the data showed the Dominion just had a rare sloppy instance at the worst possible moment.

Pulling herself out of the temporary aside, Selena’s blue eyes focused back onto Blue and Echtand.  “I’m assuming that this extends to your technical journals?  After all, it’d be pretty hard to install and operate a state-of-the-art slipstream drive without a full understanding of just how it works.  It’d be a lousy day if we try to jump to Pacifica for some sushi only to end up smashing into a desert in the Delta Quadrant because the computer froze up thanks to a memory overflow."

Re: Day 15 [1500 hrs.] Quantum Slipstream Burst Drive

Reply #6 – April 29, 2020, 04:00:29 AM

[LCdr Blue Tiran-Ducote | Moby Can be a Dick | This is Why I Wanted to Come Alone | I'm Going to Need Meds After This]
@Top Hat @Auctor Lucan @chXinya




Ranaan called her out on her statements.  Vibrant, eternally pissy, blue eyes shifted over to the man that was well known as her husband.  Sometimes, she was pretty sure he was more well known for the fact that he was married to her, than he was for being a First Officer.  Not because he didn't make a statement in what he did, but because she kidnn of brought a lot of attention to herself with her own brand of personality.  Ranaan was, thus far, the only one that could 'tame' her though she really hated that fucking word because she wasn't the sort to be fucking tamed.  Only that, he understood and saw her for who and what she was instead of trying to change her and figure her out.  Trying to think she should change to be a better person.  He, instead, could see who she was just underneath the surface.  Right now, he was reminding her that she had been instrumental in helping Echtand realize that the system he was living in was ultra-fucked and needed a Blue style make over.  With the involvement of death, blood, and a lot of curse words.  If Echtand had not said the word fuck at least once since meeting her, she had not done her job.

Ducote asked Ravenholm what she would need to feel secure that they had the resources to power the massive drive.  Before, turning to her and asking her what she thought about the Savi coming on board to help install the fucker, and if that would be all right.  She brushed a hand through her vibrant bouncing curls, the hair had a life of it's own as Ranaan knew well enough.  It was always in his mouth, on his clothes, and attempts to tame it never seemed to work. 

“If I can't trust the fuckers on our ship to realize that what was once a fucking adversary is now a fucking ally, like I'm fucking doing right the fuck now, I want off the fucking ship.”  She had suffered just as much, if not more than some, on this fucking ship.  But, she was not going to stand there and let someone take an ally and fucking turn them against the Theurgy again.  “I'll tell you what, if any pansy ass mother fuckers can't handle the fact that some-fucking-times your adversary becomes the opposite they can get the fuck off my deck while the Savi crews assist us with Thea in getting the fucker going.”

Blue made her thoughts on the process well known.  If she could stand on a ship that fucking would sabotage or attack someone that sought to help the ship.  Afterall, they could fucking use it.  If they hadn't been in on the fucking repairs of a ship that barely continued to exist before Aldea, then they could get the fuck bent.  “If they know me, and they're my fucking Engineers, they can drink their fucking feelings away after this shit is installed on my ship and we're ready to fucking function.” she said honestly, she would make sure, and Ranaan knew, that the savi were as protected as possible.

Thea admitted they could use the help of the Savi, that it would take too long to do it on their own, and the Savi knew their shit.  Before Blue could say anything else, Echtand joined them explaining that his hearing was astute.  “That's just a fancy fucking word for you were eavesdropping.  Be real.” she said with a sly grin, she was totally giving him shit.  Moby began to give his speech and Blue looked over at the device that they were hoping to take back home with them.  Or rather, allow into their home.  She parted from the group and headed to the device.  She didn't know exactly what it would do, but the main thing was they had to use it.  Which meant it had to be coded in Federation standard so that their consoles and so forth could actually utilize the device.  That was going to be important.  She figured that Moby was probably not going to be making friends with the group over there, especially the ones that had been on this fucking ship, or one like it, before.

“Echtand.” she said waving him over to where she was for two different reasons.  One, she wanted to speak to him alone, and two, it would get him out of the punching zone of a certain Andorian.  When Moby joined her, she looked over at him and rose her brow. 

“One would assume you have a really great fucking story to tell about the time you died but didn't actually fucking die.  Because, there are certain blue-haired smart as fuck engineers that want to hear about how all that fucking went down.  I'm sure you're already aware of my reaction to the news of your death.  So catch me up, Echtand.” she said curiously, looking up into his black eyes with her bright blue ones.

Re: Day 15 [1500 hrs.] Quantum Slipstream Burst Drive

Reply #7 – May 07, 2020, 08:01:58 PM

[ Cmdr Ranaan Ducote | Main Research Vessel Bay | Aerodrome | The Erudite ] attn: @Auctor Lucan @BZ @chXinya

Ducote blinked once at Echtand's interruption. To the XO's mind, that was an awful lot of words to say 'I agree with you'. If nothing else, 'we didn't blindly follow the Code and you can tell because we have a new (old) one to blindly follow now instead' wasn't exactly the gotcha the Voice might have thought it to be, given the near-reverence with which they treated the thing. Even Starfleet's own Prime Directive was infamously porous and supposedly served, broadly, the same function of preservation of other cultures. But then, the Savi were capital-T Totalitarian, right? No room for interpretation. And therein lay the greater proportion of his objections.

"Glad we're on the same page," he replied, simply.

To Echtand's request about ignoring bias, the hybrid wasn't sure he could. A fortnight ago these people would have been tearing his genome in half for whatever twisted justification they could come up with, and that in his mind paled in comparison to what they'd done to everyone else. To Blue. His thinking currently could be summed up with a line from some ancient pirate movie or other he'd watched with Blue back on the Endeavour: Take what you can. Give nothing back.

The others though raised fair points about just getting the damned job done, which he could allow himself to admit was sensible - even if he ignored just how grudgingly that acknowledgement came even inside his own head.

Blue took Echtand away for a quiet word, so Ducote turned to Thea. "Then if you're still happy, and your calculated probability of disaster is suitably low," he said, less-than-half joking, "I don't see that there's any rational objection." This last was about as close as he would get to admitting that his biases were mostly emotional ones, at least in front of the Savi.

He glanced at Ravenholm, to include her in the next statement. "Let me know what resources you'll need between yourselves and Engineering to help on the software side. Commander Tiran herself is a capable computer scientist, but I would frankly be happier knowing she was on the machinery implementation side primarily - no insult at all intended towards your original goldshirts, of course. A matter of familiarity."

His headache was growing worse in the neox atmosphere, but he wasn't sure a chunk of it wasn't just his desire to get off this infernal ship with its oppressive architecture and amoral denizens whose sole barrier against wanton experimentation on the lot of them was, by their own admission, an editable document. Deep breath, he told himself. Getting grumpy helps no one.

Re: Day 15 [1500 hrs.] Quantum Slipstream Burst Drive

Reply #8 – May 15, 2020, 04:37:20 PM

[ Echtand qi Versant | Main Research Vessel Bay | Aerodrome | The Erudite ] Attn: @Top Hat @chXinya  @BZ
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Commander Tiran had been perfectly clear about her opinions on his people aiding in the installation of the drive on the Theurgy, and Echtand was gratified that the risk to his engineers would be nominal. Judging by the way the Andorian was looking at him, Echtand might have doubted this, but he had faith in Tiran being able to keep her officers in order. It was in their own best interest to accept the help he offered, and at least she understood this. As for her mate, Commander Ducote, Echtand couldn't quite judge his opinion, few words given in response when he's spoken, but the Andorian didn't have to say a word to make her distrust evident. At least the A.I. was willing to accept the olive branch he'd extended, so that had to count for something. The Flotilla needed intel on what the Scions were planning, and as far as they knew, only this Doctor of theirs could give it.

However, while the humanoids on the Theurgy might not trust them, Echtand didn't see the offer of technology as merely a business transaction. Of course they needed the intel, that had been the deciding factor, but contrary to what his mate felt... he also wanted to give restitution for what those from the Federation has suffered on the Versant. If he were to accept the Old Code, fully, then it was only right that they tried to make some kind of amends. It might not be stated in the Code that they had to seek forgiveness - the direct interaction with other species prohibited to begin with - but if the ethics and morale of the Federation was any standard to go by in this alliance, then Echtand did see the necessity.

Fortunately enough, before the Andorian standing before him might do something that could complicate the brittle good standing between her crew and Echtand's people, Commander Tiran called for him. He inclined his head to the others of the Theurgy before he set his steps to the drive and the specimen that had aided him on the Versant. Towering over her, he folded his large hands behind his back and listened to her query. When one filtered out the profanities, Echtand realised she merely wished to know how he was still alive. He had thought the away team that met him on Aldea had included the details in their report, but evidently they had been neglectful.

"Before I became the Voice, my scientific field was what you call 'transporter technology' in Federation Standard, but in a more... advanced level of theoretical science and application. I was one of the leading Antecedents in the field, and I did well enough in my research to be elevated to the position I held on the Versant."

He realised, belatedly, that this might not answer her question. He had assumed that it was evident, but of course it wasn't. He knew better than to assume the evident to be clear in the minds of others. Especially non-Savi. "When I accessed the Archive and confirmed the truth about my people, I was dying, but there was no time to get the medical attention I needed. Therefore, when I transported to the bridge module of the Versant and assumed command of the ship, I made a secondary containment beam - making an identical duplication of myself. There was no difference between the two versions of me, but one of me was kept in the buffers of the transporter systems. You are now speaking to the duplicate who got the necessary medical care, while the other one died on the bridge. This was necessary to begin the rebellion, and spread the Old Code to all Antecedents aboard."

He had listened to himself speaking, how he - with his dying breaths - had sparked the civil war of the Flotilla. The recording had been... interesting, knowing it was he who'd spoken and yet having no memory of it.

"I suppose that in your culture, congratulations are in order," he said next in his contralto voice, again thinking that it was plain what he meant, but caught himself belatedly. "The... metallic band around your finger."

Such an odd custom... Nonetheless, he supposed that with her experiences aboard the Versant, finding a mate would serve as a reasonable distraction from the trauma. If he remembered correctly, it was also customary to give gifts when marriages were made between Humans.

"My apologies, had I known, I would have offered confectionery." He raised his wrist to tap at his data tablet, a frown on his face. "I do still keep the replication pattern for the sweets you told me of. These 'Twinkies' as you called them. Might I offer some belatedly?"

Re: Day 15 [1500 hrs.] Quantum Slipstream Burst Drive

Reply #9 – June 07, 2020, 04:31:05 PM

[LCdr. Blue Tiran - Ducote | Diatribes | Can't Get Away From the Scent | No Flashbacks Please]
@Auctor Lucan @Top Hat




It was the fucking smell, really.

The one that hit her fucking senses so fucking hard.  This fucking ship didn't smell any different than the Versant, and while she tried to push all those thoughts and memories behind her, the smell alone continued to bring it up.  She had assumed, that the roiling in her stomach would settle once she got used to the stench of the Savi ship, and yet, with every breath, it only got worse.  She was thankful she hadn't eaten breakfast before coming on board, because it might end up all over Echtand's shoes at this point and she couldn't imagine the fucking embarrassment if she lost her fucking twinkies all over the floor here.  It was taking every fucking thing she had to keep her shit together.  She was keeping it together for herself, for the officers behind her, but she would be lying if she didn't want Ducote to see how this place was fucking effecting her. 

This was the place of her nightmares, or, close enough.

This was the scent of the air ducts as she crawled through them trying to fucking survive every fucking day.  Witnessing the horrors perpetrated against her own fucking kind and the deaths of many.  She still had Thor, and still used Thor, but there were times that she remembered using him as a weapon and not a tool.  She had attacked people on this fucking ship and she didn't feel overly bad about that. 

It's not this ship Blue... she reminded herself.

Blue felt the bile rising in her throat, she shifted her ice blue eyes over to her husband who stood with his back to her, not letting on that he felt anything, so that was good, her shields were working.  Sometimes, they wouldn't, sometimes they would stop her emotions.  Her attention turned to Echtand as he began to speak about his prowess before he became the fucking Voice.  He had worked in transporter technology but more advanced than the Federation. 

“So you fucked about with the transportation buffer?” she asked looking over at him.

Oddly, as much as the bulbous white headed mother fuckers plagued her sleep still, Moby was different.  She crossed her arms over her chest as she looked out over the rest of the room.  She knew that she should offer more information to her officers, but honestly, they would be really fucking stupid if they didn't take the offered gift.  They needed that shit on their ship to give them a chance and now that Blue Tiran was in fucking control of the Engineering she did not want it to be something that was half-done.  No, her ship would run like a fucking machine.  And if this was a gift the Savi were willing to give even if it wasn't going to be more than a fucking bandaid over a lost limb, they would be really fucking stupid to stop themselves from taking what they could.

He surprised her as he pointed to the dual bands of blue and meteorite around her left ring finger.  Ducote had done well on both accounts.  She was not a gem person, and she needed something that could withstand all the shit she put I through.  These were perfect, not a scratch, and she hadn't even taken them off.  She smirked. 

“Yeah, I guess one good fucking thing that came out of all this mess was realizing I didn't want to fucking wait to get married anymore.  We'd been engaged for along while.  It was time.” she admitted, though she might have been a few minutes late to her own fucking wedding it had happened, and she and Ducote were now a full married couple. 

“I figured I might as well put my claws into him for the rest of his sad life.” she grinned over at Echtand a moment and shrugged.  She pointed over her shoulder to the First Officer of the Theurgy who had become her husband not all that long ago.  They had been dating and engaged for years, together through so much fucking shit.  But, after her stint on the Versant she didn't want to wait any longer and Ducote had agreed that they had waited long enough.  So they had Ives marry them and she felt more settled about it, even though, it wouldn't change anything about how they were.  She just had a longer last name.

He told her had he known he would have offered confectionery.  “Cake, you mean?  You'd what throw us a fucking wedding party.  Balloons, some flower petals, come icing flowers on cake in horrible fucking colors like.. blush and azure?” she asked looking over at him with a chuckle shaking her head.  “One would hope Echtand, that you would know I don't do that shit.” 

He told her that he hstill had the replication pattern for twinkies, and he might be willing to offer some.  Her brow rose.  Part of her wanted them, but, at the same time, her stomach twisted at the mere though of food being added to her empty stomach at the moment.  Still, it would be rude, and they were trying to make friends and allies of the people here.  She and Echtand had a report, and she didn't want to fuck it up.

“Well I always enjoy a good twinkie.” she chuckled looking over at her friend.  “I am glad you're still around.  I have to admit, fighting together to free your people from fuckery was fun.  Gave me something to concentrate on, and I'm glad you're not fucking people over anymore, that's poor form Echtand, the Savi are smart enough to be better than that shit.”

Blue brushed some of her hair behind her ear.  “Thank you, by the way, for the slipstream.” she said softly clearing her throat.  “Well I guess we should get back to the conversation at hand, but while I cannot assure complete safety of your people.  On my deck, they will be safe.” she promised him.   “I will not let the anger of people get in the way of alliances.”

- FIN