Carpathia IV: Episode 207 - Friends?
Bridge, NCCS Shadowdancer-A
Another shot from the hotoh, another light sudder of the Shadowdancer. The hotoh just circled around and around taking shots at their pleasure. This, Aire thought, was getting tiresome.
Teren: Shields at 74.6%
Aire: This is ridiculous. How long have we been sitting here letting them shoot us now? An hour?
Quenya: One hour, five minutes, Captain.
Aire: Nalma, are you absolutely sure their weapons aren't doing something else?
Nalma: No anomalous readings aside from standard particle weapon damage and there's not much of that either.
Aire: Commander?
Aire knew from Joust's countenance, a smirk and a shrug, that he didn't even need to ask. Joust already knew what he was thinking.
Joust: They're persistent, for sure. I agree that it's time to end this.
Aire: Nalma, can we destroy their weapons only?
Nalma: Their shields don't offer much protection. I should be able to destroy their weapons control node with one shot. Anticipate minimal collateral damage.
Joust: No 100% certainty when weapons are involved. I say we do it.
Aire: Nalma, destroy that weapons node.
Nalma: Helm, try to keep us on their dorsal side. Just off their starboard for the clearest shot.
Mikado: Yes, Lieutenant. Shouldn't be too hard with how slow their ship is.
Aire: Just be careful. We don't know what they might do if they get desperate.
And now, the dance. With the Shadowdancer underway again, the hotoh ship's pretty little circle patterns didn't work anymore, yet they still managed to get several more potshots. Mikado discovered that it was, in fact, not easy to maneuver the Shadowdancer into position, even though he accurately described the hotoh ship as slow. A slow moving object, he learned, is still moving and the hotoh did him no favors with their erratic course. After ten minutes of cat and mouse, or, rather, bunny and fish, Mikado finally got Nalma's approval.
Nalma: This is good. Keep us in line while I target.
Mikado did not have to hold for long. Nalma took his shot. There was a small explosion on the hotoh ship, leaving behind a black mark and some damaged plating.
Quenya: Direct hit. Weapon node destroyed. Moderate damage to surrounding hull plating. It appears that some of the seams ripped apart.
Aire: Let's hope we didn't hurt anyone. I suppose they'll most likely either try to run or talk to us again.
Kit: Communication request from the hotoh ship.
Aire: On viewer.
This time, Alka appeared on the viewer with his head down, shoulders hunched, looking very much like a whipped dog.
Alka: Please... We'll give you anything you want if you just pretend like you never saw us.
Aire: Alka...
Alka: I'm begging you!
Aire: Alka!
But Alka didn't listen as he continued to plead. Aire's head dropped into his neck and his shoulders hunched. Finally, an idea.
Aire: Kit, change our broadcast to a wider angle and zoom out.
Kit: Yes, Captain.
The image in the thumbnail in the corner of the viewer quickly changed. What once was just Aire's head with a bit of bridge in the background was now a panorama showing off the entire bridge and, most importantly, the crew.
Alka: Anything you want!
Aire: Alka, look at your screen, please.
Alka froze momentarily before finally looking up, directly into the viewer. He didn't say anything for awhile, but the gradual dawning comprehension was clear. His eyes widened slowly and his head fins, previously collapsed, started to unfurl a bit at a time.
Alka: What is this? This is not what a Vashta ship looks like.
Aire: Alka, I would like you to meet my crew. To my left is Joust, my first officer and second in command. Behind me is Lieutenant Commander Teren Unas, my chief of security and third in command.
Around me you'll see the rest of my team, people from many worlds and backgrounds. Someday, many of them will be in command of their own ships. For now, they are all under my command and it is my duty to protect and guide all of them.
Alka's eyes darted around, and still he said nothing, perhaps, Aire thought, taking in everything that he could see on the screen. Finally, his eyes froze just off Aire's left.
Alka: Aptaran?
Joust grinned and waved.
Joust: Guilty!
Alka gasped and put his finned hand over his mouth.
Alka: Of what?!?
Aire: It's just a figure of speech, Alka. It's just a fun way of saying you are correct.
Alka: I see...
Alka's eyes continued to move around the room and he named out the other species he recognized and when he ran out of those, speculated on the ones he didn't know.
Alka: Demon... Komodo... Two with fuzzy triangle ears... Two with long ears... and... what's this? Dragon! Well, that's something, isn't it? And what else? A brown vashtari? How is this possible?
Aire anticipated this from the moment Alka started naming species and was already moving in Quenya's direction when he heard the word "brown." For her part, Quenya made a glorious effort not to grumble or pull a face, but Aire could clearly see that she was straining under the pressure. When Aire came near, he put his hand on her shoulder and gave her a little squeeze to let her know that he was there and that he would handle this. Quenya relaxed almost immediately.
Aire: She is one of our valued cadets and she'll work her way up through the ranks just like everyone else. We do not answer to Lazmaedia. We are our own diverse culture.
From his eyes all the way down to his arms, Alka slouched and let out a deep sigh.
Alka: There's no way you could be faking this. No vashtari would ever refer to Lazmaedia without her titles.
Aire: And this is why I prefer elf to vashtari. Won't you come to our ship for a visit. I would enjoy giving you a tour and I think we have much to discuss. It would be nice to meet some new friends out here.
Alka took a step back, holding his hands up as though he expected to defend himself, but he quickly paused, clearly shaken. Again, he relaxed, and replied with a nod.
Alka: Friends? Been a long time since any of us have heard that word. I will speak with my team and contact you again.
Aire: Take whatever time you need. We will wait.
Alka nodded and the viewer went blank.
Aire: I'm going to my ready room. Kit, contact Admiral Zhang and put her through up there.
Kit: yes, Captain.
Commissioned art in this episode from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Less_End
Thatwildmary
Colourbrand
Falke2009
