In reply to Lt (jg) Argent Merawdr (msg # 3):

When he arrives he sees two combatants fighting it out on a large combat mat
A Vulcan male and what appears to be a half Klingon.
They seem to be rather evenly matched and are moving through intricate maneuvers which almost seem like dance if it wasn't for the Kicks, punches and other strikes directed from and to each other.  The woman notices him and holds up her hand halting the Vulcan's latest maneuver.

"Another time LIeutenant. You know where to find me"

The bow to each other and she sweeps a towel from the floor, wiping her face and arms.

As she approaches , Argent sees that she is not as tall as Shione, but IS more muscular. The head ridges are not as pronounced, as a full blooded Klingon, but she definitely has their blood.
She walks over to him, smiling.Lt Merawdr, I presume? I am Lt Marissa Swann. Pleased to meet you"

She picks and dons a jacket from her bag, shoulders it and nods towards the exit."Walk with me if you would. I'm open to any question that you have about me, and I am also curious about your impressions of the Dyson Sphere. Please speak freely, and for now, call me Marissa, or Mari if you wish"

He half-expected the Vulcan to be a hologram... until he walked out the door.

"Greetings, Marissa," he responds. "I'm afraid if I called you Mari, you would then call me Arri, and we'd confuse the heck out of people!"

"I believe the Humans have a word for the Sphere--'ginormous'. I must say, though, that it is very disconcerting to find that it was built by a species from another universe. I suppose, for me, at any rate, it is like discovering that the shed in your backyard actually belongs to your neighbors."

"I don't know whether to be outraged at the... trespassing, or annoyed at the intrusion. It's like they were dumping their trash in our yard. Why didn't the take it with them when they left?"

"Mostly, I'm just a tad sad now that the mystery is gone."

"As for questions, is this an assignment you requested?"

In reply to Lt (jg) Argent Merawdr (msg # 5):

She grins "Well I could call you a Marauder, and I become a Swan.So as long as we know who WE, are I'm sure it'll be ok"

When he expresses his opinion as to the creation and origins of the sphere, she stops him, with a hand on his shoulder.

"You and I are Starfleet. Explore, discover, engage with whatever the universe gives us, is why we are out here.
Think about it. What difference is it, if it had been blinked into existence, by one of the Q, or built by a race from the Galactic core; who left, never to return?"

By now she has stopped, her back against a wall, forcing Argent to stop, and face her. She grins "I am equally intrigued by your pique at it's origin.

It is full of races from our Universe, a virtual microcosm of flora, fauna, cultures, and technology. All of which is now under OUR supervision.

C'mon, you're a scientist, Arrgie," she smirks, a teasing tone to her voice"And you have an opportunity, that most scientists would give up a body part, to have the chance to explore. And as to the mystery, we've explored, what 10% of it, maybe a bit more? I think there just might be a few mysteries left for you and I"

She casually throws her arm over his shoulder as they continue to the transporter room " And do I WANT to be here, hell yeah I do. You are aware, aren't you that the hand pick the best for this mission? And who wouldn't want to work with the best of Starfleet?"

They walk into the transporter room, her arm still draped over the Caitian's shoulders, which gets raised eyebrows,and whispers between the two PO's working there. She removes her arm, turning on the two."What's with you? Do you have a problem with interracial couples, Hmmn? Well do you?"

She snorts derisively, and Argent sees her wink at him, as she steps onto the pad alongside him." I don't want to hear any rumours, about this, or any other matters relating to the personal lives of other Starfleet personnel, Petty Officers. I trust I am being clear?",she barks.

Which gets a quick pair of "Yes Ma'am and Understood Lieutenant" from the two, whose eyes are now firmly centered on their consoles. " Two to beam up."

After they arrive, she strode out of the room alongside Argent , stopping at a point where no one was."When I arrived, they were carrying on about two female junior officers, that they caught smooching, so I figured they needed a bit of reeducation, Klingon style.

So I have another question for you, my new Caitian friend. Give me your assessment or opinion on the Kapecki COmmander that you met? And feel free, at any time to speculate based on your experience"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:34, Sun 14 May 2017.

Kapecki Commander?

Argent felt like he should know who she meant, but it was escaping him at the moment. While her arm around his shoulders didn't really bother him, it was a bit disconcerting. He wasn't used to such physical contact from other Starfleet personnel. He wondered if she was what the Humans called 'a hugger'?

"It's a bit too soon to have a reasonable opinion," he equivocated. "Even speculation is pointless at this stage."

"He has to actually do something before any opinion or speculation is warranted."

"Why? Do you know something about him?"

In reply to Lt (jg) Argent Merawdr (msg # 7):


"Sorry about the contact, I should have warned you. I forget sometimes, and I get exuberant. I spent some time in the Federation ground forces and there is plenty of back slapping and such done there.

I joined Starfleet afterward. I lost a lot of my unit in an encounter with the Borg, and felt I wanted to get out here and make a difference. I chose this assignment from the ones offered me. I remain concerned about the possibility of threats emanating from the sphere, so I wanted to be onsite when and if they appeared"

"It's a bit too soon to have a reasonable opinion," he equivocated. "Even speculation is pointless at this stage."

"He has to actually do something before any opinion or speculation is warranted."

She leads him into her quarters, which is topped off with packed bags, including a locked weapons case which appears to be able to hold a long weapon.
"Just make yourself comfortable, while I clean up and change"
She pushes the bathroom door , mostly closed and after she showered talks to him through the door.
" I understand, but don't you think as Starfleet officers we need to be aware and prepared for a possible threat, from Commander Olivaw and his fellow Kapecki? I only ask, given that you were in the group which met him"

She comes out in a few minutes, her uniform pants on with a sports bra identical to the one she was wearing before. She sits on the bed, drying her hair."I'm not trying to put you on the spot Argent.I haven't met them and I am wary of a race of androids, that's all"

She finishes dressing and taps her comm badge "Lieutenant Nivran, this is Lieutenant Swann, please meet me at the Starbase officers club. I wish to treat you and Lt Merawdr to lunch, before we leave. Swann out"

SHe indicates to Argent to lead her out and locks the door under a personal code.

"Ok let's talk about something that you don't have to speculate on. Tell me something about Lt Merawdr. What excites you as a Scientist and interests you as an Officer, about this assignment? And I'll do the same once we have met Nivran"

==Tag Argent==

Argent, Marissa and Nivran receive a chirp on their commbadges. "Attention Lts. Swann, Merawdr and Nivran—Lt. Adler speaking. I've been asked to inform you that the USS Thames will be arriving at Starbase 21 shortly with Lts. Sloan and Clare, and that you will be returning to Dyson Base aboard the Thames. The USS Kitchissippi will remain at Starbase 21 pending its replacement crew's arrival. Lts. Merawdr and Nivran, please retrieve any personal effects from the Kitchissippi. You will be informed when Lts. Sloane and Clare have arrived. Adler out"

Oh, THAT Kapecki Commander...

"I don't know enough about androids to know what to think about Olivaw," Argent replied.

"Given the technology that is at his disposal, it wouldn't seem to matter much if they were a threat. The only short-coming I can see is that they thought the sun was going to go nova... and they didn't choose to stabilize it... if they could."

"They just abandoned all the people of the sphere to their doom."

"For that matter, how do we know if there are more Kapecki still alive? As an android, Olivaw could have such an extended lifespan that he has outlived the species that created him."

"As you can see, there are many questions to be answered. I don't know that exploring the sphere will answer them."

Just then, as they were exiting her quarters, his comm chirped, followed by an announcement.

"The unknown intrigues me," he answered her last questions. "I want to know how it works. I want to know what it is and where it came from. That was the appeal of the Dyson sphere. Now, those questions have been answered."

"I cannot imagine anything more to be discovered on Dyson. There are probably still things to be learned, but it will mostly be just busy work. We could find a hundred new species of intelligent life on Dyson, but what of it? The Federation is full of new species. Then there's the horta, the crystalline entity, the exocomps and the sandmites. Is there anything stranger than those?"

"Anyways, I have to collect my travel bag from the Kitchissippi."

...error...
This message was last edited by the player at 23:19, Tue 16 May 2017.

In reply to Lt Shione Kurasa (msg # 11):

She listened to Lt Adler's message with interest. Finally here, and right on time she thought.

"Ok Argent, let NIvran know where my quarters, are and the two of you can stash you gear there

She tapped her comm badge "Lt Swann to Lt Adler. DO we need to get quarters for Merawdr and NIvran, or is the THames arriving soon?
Swann over"

Adler replies, "Probably not for another day, Lieutenant. I'm assigning them quarters. Please be reminded about your briefing at 1500 hours."

Nivran meets Argent and Marissa at the docking bay. Shi has already been in the Kitchissippi to collect hir belongings and is awaiting Argent.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 13):

...

Argent hurried to the Kitchissippi and walked in to get is kit. He traveled light most of the time... just a flat backpack. Replicators could make most of the items he'd ever need, so it was just a few personal mementos that he dragged around with him.

"Hello, Lieutenant," he said to Shione. "They're kicking me off!" he joked.

"Met the new person. She seems... okay. A bit more exuberant than I'm used to. One of us may have to... adapt."

"Heading back to the sphere. Got any suggestions for what use I can be there?"

It's coming up on noon, and all three of the characters are finding themselves somewhat peckish, not the least of them Marissa after her workout with MCPO Storn. When Nivran was here only a couple of weeks ago, shi had found a good restaurant on the commercial levels named The Blue Trogg, which had one of the best steaks shi had ever had. Shi recommends the place to Marissa and Argent.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 16):

"Ok I'm up for anything edible"

The steak proves to be tender, moist and delicious, as described. Nivran takes hir steak almost raw, devouring it almost daintily but with obvious enjoyment. Mounds of mushrooms and/or onions accompany it, along with potatoes prepared in a number of ways. Hot, steaming mugs of raktajino are available, along with milder Earth coffees and a wide range of teas from all over the Federation. The restaurant is dimly lit, with simulated rustic wood paneling and coarsely woven cloth tapestries. Marissa does not recognise the ethnicity of the decor.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 18):

"Excellent suggestion for lunch Nivran. So tell me, either of you. What is the relationship like between your species? I am unfamiliar on he topic, not being much of a student of diplomacy.

But I do wonder if your races are in any way related to one another?"

She sat back, enjoying her wine."By the way we will be meeting the Thames tomorrow so quarters are arranged for you both.  I have a short meeting after lunch, and it would appear we have the rest of the day free.

Nivran suggested the restaurant, Argent, what would you enjoy doing while we're here waiting?"

At that point in the conversation, Argent's commbadge chirps and a communications crewman says, "Lieutenant Merawdr, we have an incoming personal transmission from Dyson Base. Do you wish to receive it now, or should we record it for later attention? It is flagged as important but not urgent."

While Argent is answering the call, Nivran asks, "Did you not say that you have a briefing at 1500 hours? That's only two hours away, so if we do do something, it had best be short."

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 20):

" Let's wait and see what might be something urgent for Argent."

Nivran says, "My hearing is much sharper than you Humans'. They say it's important but not urgent." If shi's heard more, shi declines to pass it on.

"As far as I know, there are no genetic markers in common between a Mirak and a Caitian, though clearly the 'feline' genes are common in both, even though they aren't the same," Argent replied to Marissa. "That's not to say that the Progenitors didn't seed both species from some common genetic pool. Whether they tweaked us to be different, or just let natural evolution take its course, who's to say?"

Just then he got a comm message.

"I'll hear it now," Argent replied to the comm after stepping away from the others. The message couldn't have been so important that no one else could hear it. Besides, he was curious. Did he leave the oven on or something back at Dyson Base?

He hoped it wasn't something that called him away. After feeling a bit hungry, he'd been enjoying the lunch with Marissa and Nirvan.

"Hello, Argent? It's Talja. I'm so excited that I had to tell everyone! The Challenger is back! My sister Greta is alive and well. I'm so happy!" The Challenger is an Intrepid class starship reported missing after that last Borg assault on Earth. Talja's sister Greta is the ship's Counsellor. "They followed the Enterprise into the temporal rift and got stranded in an alternate timeline where the Borg... Well, we can talk about that later. The Challenger found a way to return to the real timeline and she's okay. Oh, and I've been promoted and assigned to the Thames II. That new alien, Dahlakino will be with us, too. Isn't that great?" Talja sounds breathless, a great contrast from her usual subdued demeanor.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 15:48, Mon 22 May 2017.

"Wow," Argent replied to Talja, too surprised to even sound excited. "That's great! Have you seen her yet? Do you need to take some leave to see her?"

"Dahlakino is joining us, too? That's... unusual."

"Guess I'll see you back on Dyson soon."

"No, I haven't seen her—she's going to be undergoing an extended debriefing and the ship needs a full post-combat refitting, but we'll get together this summer. Now that I know she's back and safe, it'll just fly by 'til then. And Dahlakino's really something. They want to keep her around because she's an expert on some tech we don't have. She's really smart and she works well with Tony Gazzo on the tech assessment stuff. Besides, I think she really likes you anyway. So, how's the new officer? What's she like? Any news on the Thames?"

Marissa, didn't try to listen to Argent's call and kept talking with Nivran, to keep hir from hearing.


"So I read in your file that you enjoy hand to hand combat. I've got some skill to speak of. Perhaps we can spar this evening if you're up to it"
She spoke in a playful, but taunting tone of voice

Nivran replies, "I do not think so, at least not right now. Perhaps once we're back at Dyson Base."  Shi brightens up as Argent saunters over. "How did your call go, Argent?"