Vincentius looks warily at Dworkin. He says to Brad, "I am feeling fatigued. May I rest?"

Brad is not so sure he buys this. Looking toward Dworkin, he notes that he, too looks dubious. Thelev, from long experience with Brad, notes the tension in the air. This Vincentius talks a good line, but something is just not adding up to Thelev. Suddenly he's glad he has the hand phaser, but halfway wishes it was a tricorder instead.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:44, Sat 17 July 2021.

Dwrokin picks up where he left off moments ago, "However, discussions of the grand sweep of sophont personality types and alignments would seem to be irrelevant to the discussion except as how they inform individual actions. The question at hand, as I'm certain the Commodore and the Captain would agree when we get down to the nitty gritty, is 'what are your intentions?'." He balaces his glass on the arm of his chair and raises the skull-handled walking stick in the air. Vincentius stands to confront the smaller man.

In reply to Lieutenant T'Sara, MD (msg # 104):

Despite his discomfort, Khendron starts analyzing the bones and the silver pendant from the pouch. At least this may distract him from the pain.

He starts a database search for matches to anything that looks like the silver pendant, and then analyzes the bones to attempt to figure out from what creature they originated. He also queries for any historical or mythical relationship between bone, copper, and silver.

In reply to Captain Khendron Mercer (msg # 107):

The LCARS comes up with a result immediately. The symbol is a geometric baphomet, a semi-abstract representation of Baphomet.

"Baphomet is a deity that the Knights Templar were accused of worshipping, and that subsequently was incorporated into occult and mystical traditions. The name Baphomet appeared in trial transcripts for the Inquisition of the Knights Templar starting in 1307. It first came into popular English usage in the 19th century during debate and speculation on the reasons for the suppression of the Templars.

"Since 1856, the name Baphomet has been associated with the Sabbatic Goat image drawn by Éliphas Lévi, which contains binary elements representing the "symbolization of the equilibrium of opposites" (e.g. half-human and half-animal, male and female, good and evil, etc.). On one hand, Lévi's intention was to symbolize his concept of balance that was essential to his magnetistic notion of the Astral Light; on the other hand, the Baphomet represents a tradition that should result in a perfect social order.

"Modern scholars agree that the name of Baphomet was an Old French corruption of the name Mahomet, with the interpretation being that some of the Templars, through their long military occupation of the Outremer, had begun incorporating Islamic ideas into their belief system, and that this was seen and documented by the Inquisitors as heresy. Alain Demurger, however, rejects the idea that the Templars could have adopted the doctrines of their enemies. Helen Nicholson writes that the charges were essentially "manipulative"—the Templars "were accused of becoming fairy-tale Muslims". Medieval Christians believed that Muslims were idolatrous and worshipped Muhammad as a god, with mahomet becoming mammet in English, meaning an idol or false god (see also Medieval Christian views on Muhammad). This idol-worship is attributed to Muslims in several chansons de geste. For example, one finds the gods Bafum e Travagan in a Provençal poem on the life of St. Honorat, completed in 1300. In the Chanson de Simon Pouille, written before 1235, a Saracen idol is called Bafumetz.

"It is also possible that the term Baphomet originates from Byzantine Greek. Since the Crusaders had their first direct exposure to Greek culture during the time of the First Crusade, bringing back with them stories and strange terms from the East, it is possible that the word was adapted from the Greek name of Muhammad, Μωάμεθ (Moameth), who was at times referred to as "devilish" in near-contemporary sources such as Constantine VII's De Administrando Imperio.

"Lévi's Baphomet is the source of the later tarot image of the Devil in the Rider-Waite design. The concept of a downward-pointing pentagram on its forehead was enlarged upon by Lévi in his discussion of the Goat of Mendes arranged within such a pentagram, which he contrasted with the microcosmic man arranged within a similar but upright pentagram. The actual image of a goat in a downward-pointing pentagram first appeared in the 1897 book La Clef de la Magie Noire, written by the French occultist Stanislas de Guaita. It was this image that was later adopted as the official symbol—called the Sigil of Baphomet—of the Church of Satan, and continues to be used among Satanists.

"Satan, also known as the Devil, and sometimes also called Lucifer in Christianity, is a non-physical entity in the Abrahamic religions that seduces humans into sin or falsehood. In Judaism, Satan is seen as an agent subservient to God or typically regarded as a metaphor for the yetzer hara, or "evil inclination". In Christianity and Islam, he is usually seen as either a fallen angel or a jinn, who used to possess great piety and beauty, but rebelled against God, who nevertheless allows him temporary power over the fallen world and a host of demons. In the Quran, Shaitan, also known as Iblis, is an entity made of fire who was cast out of Heaven because he refused to bow before the newly-created Adam and incites humans to sin by infecting their minds with waswās ("evil suggestions").

"A figure known as ha-satan ("the satan") first appears in the Tanakh as a heavenly prosecutor, a member of the sons of God subordinate to Yahweh, who prosecutes the nation of Judah in the heavenly court and tests the loyalty of Yahweh's followers by forcing them to suffer. During the intertestamental period, possibly due to influence from the Zoroastrian figure of Angra Mainyu, the satan developed into a malevolent entity with abhorrent qualities in dualistic opposition to God. In the apocryphal Book of Jubilees, Yahweh grants the satan (referred to as Mastema) authority over a group of fallen angels, or their offspring, to tempt humans to sin and punish them."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 00:39, Sun 18 July 2021.

Rising to his feet, Vincentius answers, "I have told you the unvarnished truth. Having escaped slavery, I ask for sanctuary and the freedom to live life as a sovereign citizen. If you cannot grant me that, I'll be on my way!" His eyes glint crimson.

[OOC: Andorian antennae are considered to be more than just a sensory organ, in fact they are so important to Andorians that touching them without permission is considered to be the ultimate act of rudeness and any threat of injury to their antennae is often considered grounds for assault and even murder. Andorians can obtain a great deal of sensory information through continually waving their antennae. They can detect electrical fields, changes in air density and temperature, and sub-sonic sounds. They sense fluctuations in gravity, useful for beings living underground on a geologically unstable world. Because of this, extreme gravity disturbances can cause pain or unconsciousness. When an Andorian concentrates, they can even use their antennae to single out bioelectric signals nearby. However, the antennae are not particularly reliable sensory organs as the antennae can move differently depending on the emotion state of the Andorian, and the levels of epinephrine or teptaline in their system. Even detecting overheating equipment can cause false senses.]

Right now, Thelev's antennae are detecting a swirl of electromagnetic energy around Vincentius, similar to the heat haze one sometimes sees in a desert. Thelev's hand instinctively strays to his hand phaser. Even though it is restricted to the lowest 8 power levels it is still capable of vaporising a humanoid. The settings available are light/medium/heavy stun, light and heavy thermal, and light disrupt settings A, B & C—colloquially known as cut, kill and disintegrate. Based on the one known silicon-based lifeform in the Federation database the Horta of Janus VI, the hellhound is most likely immune to stun settings.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:35, Thu 22 July 2021.

"You have merely asserted things without evidence. By claiming sanctuary and accepting it when offered, you have bound yourself by the same guest oaths used by your former master. However, since you have disavowed your master, how then are the commodore and captain to believe your word?" asks Dworkin.

Dworkin stands to face Vincentius and despite the difference in their heights seems to stand eye-to-eye with the hellhound. The heat-distortion ripple in the air is now visible to Brad as well as Thelev, and Vincentius seems to grow in size as his appearance changes. He now stands two metres tall, deeply tanned, heavily muscled, with dark hair and a beard; naked save for a loincloth and woad. His eyes are deeply shadowed and gleam blood red from beneath heavy brows.

"Enough! I will suffer no more of your prattling, little man!" snarls Vincentius.

"Oh, judge me by my size, do you?" asks Dworkin with a mischievious grin.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:04, Mon 26 July 2021.

In reply to Dworkin the Black (msg # 110):

ooc: I am hoping that there is a non-verbal signal that I can send via my communicator for security.  If so he will send it.

Thelev brushes his phaser controls and bumps it to B (to kill thinking it will hopefully stun), and says "Vincentius, we have granted you asylum here on MY SHIP, stand-down." If he senses any additional change around Vincentius he will draw and fire.

"Dworkin as I guest please do not provoke Vincentius unnecessarily" try to give Dworkin a little latter in that wording.

OOC: Finally sorry for the delay in getting involved.  RL.

In reply to Captain Thelev (msg # 111):

[No, not with your communicator (they're the old-style clamshell units, not commbadges) but Brad has a panic button at his desk and after years together you have certain non-verbal cues to signal certain concepts like call security, back me up, or you take the lead. Marine Captain Rimbaud and Security CPO Cobretti are standing guard outside the Ready Room. I'll take it as read that you give Brad the signal and he presses the panic button.]

Dworkin nods, "As you wish, Captain," and returns to his chair, all the time keeping eye contact with Vincentius.

The door opens almost silently and Rimbaud enters, flanked by Cobretti, assault phasers drawn. Vincentius stands frozen, his eyes locked on Dworkin's. A low growl comes from deep in his chest. Khendron's assault phaser lies on Brad's desk where Nurse Goldberg had placed it, close enough for Thelev to grab if things go to hell.

Meanwhile, down in sickbay, the silver amulet begins to glow on Mercer's bed table. Dr. T'Sara calls out, "Sir! Watch out!"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:30, Thu 29 July 2021.

In reply to Dworkin the Black (msg # 112):

Thelev turns slightly towards Vincentius being sure he is in a position to grab Khendron assault phaser if need be. And signals with his hand as he says "Perhaps you could take a seat and we can talk this through, I am sure we can come to a resolution that is beneficial to all of us." knowing that Brad is likely laughing on the inside seeing Thelev use his diplomacy.

All the while accessing the situation using both his Security procedures and combat leadership accessing who is all in the room and their positioning in relationship to Vincentius and depending how Vincentius and Dworkin interact Dworkin.

In reply to Captain Thelev (msg # 113):

The tension between Vincentius and Dworkin is palpable. Neither blinks or looks away from the other, locked in an animalistic duel for dominance. Both Brad and Thelev recall from their Academy classes in diplomacy the analogy between a cold war and the dominance struggles between Alpha males in a wolfpack. To Thelev it also reeks of a bluffing standoff in a high-stakes winner-take-all Poker tournament. Rimbaud and Cobretti look to Thelev for guidance, phasers levelled.

Down in sickbay, Khendron stares in amazement as the polymer of the containment pouch swells and begins to heat-discolour. T'Sara moves toward the bed table, as if to knock the glowing amulet away. Khendron notes this as if everything is moving in slow motion.

In reply to Odyssey GM (msg # 114):

Thelev nods at Rimbaud and Cobretti to stand down but does not signal them to leave.

Remaining standing Thelev ask Vincentius, "Lord Dhark sent you to investigate us and if necessary kill.  Two questions if I may.  What are the risks of Lord Dhark sending someone else or coming himself to investigate. And second if I can be so bold, why the change of heart? " When asking the second he ensure to emphasis his bold trait.

Thelev's gaze seems to interrupt whatever interaction is going on between the hellhound and Dworkin. Suddenly, he breaks the stalemate, shakes his head as if to clear it. Suddenly, he's simply not there! There is a rush of air into the space he'd just vacated and a loud pop!

Dworkin collapses deeper into the cushions of the chair and fumbles for his glass, downing it in a single gulp.

Rimbaud and Cobretti raise their phasers and scan the Ready Room to see where he's gone. Cobrett reaches for her tricorder. "Where the frack did it go?" she mutters as she activates the device.

****************************

Suddenly, Dr. T'Sara is tossed aside like a child as the hellhound materialises in the sickbay.

Vincentius has reverted to its animal-like form and is standing on it hind legs, the glaasy bristles on its head brushing the ceiling bulkhead.

T'Sara comes to her knees and snaps, "Security to ICU! Intruder alert!" and is slammed to the floor as Vincentius kicks her savagely in the head. She lies on the deck, olive coloured blood spattering the wall. Khendron notes that she still has her hand phaser from the earlier yellow alert.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:00, Sat 31 July 2021.

Brad looks to Thelev and Rimbaud “GO!”.  He turns to Dworkin.  “Now it’s your turn, Mr Dworkin.  To explain why you would antagonize our guest when we seemed to be coming to some level of agreement.” “There seems to be some history between the two of you and I’d like an explanation NOW!”  McCurrvey motions to Cobretti to retreat to the door and take up a station there. (Inside). McCurrvey trusts that Thelev won’t turn sickbay into a war zone.  He focusses on Dworkin.  He’s starting to view the diminutive figure as more of a potential threat than before.  However he struggles to keep his temper.  He’s very aware of where the assault phaser is.

"Every second word that came out of its mouth was a lie. Oh, the information about the alignments in the Underdark was true enough. By those standards the Demons would be Neutral Evil. In the personality profiles, they would be Explorers; Observant (S) and Prospecting (P) personality types, specifically the Adventurer profile. In that, they're much like you, though your alignment would be Neutral Good, like myself. I suspect this Vincentius, as he calls himself, was never truly a slave to Lord Dhark—it shows too much self-awareness and individuality—too glib, if you will.

"I pray that your people get it under control as swiftly as is possible. The Vaarduvée—their name for their species—are a deceitful lot and do not take defeat well. I suspect he means your Captain Mercer ill, and probably Captain Thelev as well. I count myself in that unhappy number and more than likely yourself. They're well-named as hellhounds, share many traits with canines of all species. When I stared him down like that, as did Thelev, we successfully asserted dominance and the Vaarduvée do not suffer that gladly.

"I initially contacted you when it came to my attention—some time ago by my reckoning, time does not behave the same in all the Twenty Universes—I reviewed your career. You, Thelev and Khendron are quite the team. I was quite impressed by your interactions with other timelines when you came into command of the Infinite Improbability Drive, something rarely discovered by polities as young as yours. It's been only a third if a millennium since your species, and I hope you will forgive me if I lump you in with the Humans from Earth, as your anthropologists are correct that Al Rijil was seeded from Earth by the people you call the Preservers; achieved space flight, and that only half a century after powered flight itself! Everyone was quite astounded that the planet survived the twenty-first century. It was a good thing you were discovered by the Vulcans and not the Klingons or—the gods forbid!—the Iconians."

He has the replicator refresh his Bushmills. "A cousin of mine named Rufo spent much time on Earth during the twentieth century. Claimed he had a low taste for slumming but I think he just liked the place. I spent some time there myself in the 1960's; quite refreshing. At any rate, you'll be wondering about these Twenty Universes."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:14, Sat 31 July 2021.

Dworkin leans back and steeples his fingers. "Center is the capital planet of the Twenty Universes, but Empress Star is not an empress and it is not an empire.

"I'll call her Star as hundreds of names are hers, but it is the name given to her by her husband and I'll call it an empire because no other word is close, and I'll refer to emperors and empresses—and to the Empress.

"Nobody knows how many universes there are. Theory places no limit; any and all possibilities in an unlimited number of combinations of 'natural' laws: each appropriate to its own universe. But this is just theory and Occam's Razor is much too dull. All that is known in the Twenty Universes is that twenty have been discovered, that each has its own laws, and that most of them have planets, or sometimes places, where humanlike beings live. I won't try to say what lives elsewhere.

"The Twenty Universes include many real empires. Your Galaxy in your universe has its stellar empires, and there are Gates that link the universes. Some planets have no known Gates. The anomaly in the planetoid below is a major Gate.

"The Emperor is sole source of Imperial law, sole judge, sole executive — and does very little and has no way to enforce his rulings. What he or she does have is enormous prestige from a system that has worked for seven millennia. This non-system holds together by having no togetherness, no uniformity, never seeking perfection, no Utopias — just answers good enough to get by, with lots of looseness and room for many ways and attitudes.

"Local affairs are local. Infanticide? — they're your babies, your planet. PTAs, movie censorship, disaster relief — the Empire is ponderously unhelpful. Sort of like your Prime Directive, but on steroids!"

He looks at Brad like an Academy professor who's just delivered an advanced introductory elective to a promising student.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:12, Sat 31 July 2021.

McCurrvey looks at him like a first year student who has shown up for the wrong class.  He wonders to himself if this is some form of psionic attack.

In reply to Vincentius (msg # 116):

Down in sickbay, Khendron rolls off the bed on the side away from Vincentius.

"Somebody is not living up to their side of the bargain" he says.

Khendron's eyes dart quickly around looking for 2 things: a safe route around Vincentius to T'Sara and her phaser, and a stasis container to toss the glowing pouch into. He has the hypothesis that Vincentius's abilities are somehow tied to the contents of the pouch, and would like to remove them from the equation.

In reply to Captain Khendron Mercer (msg # 121):

As Khendron rolls off the bed, the endotracheal tube pulls out of his throat, causing him to retch and spit mucus all over himself. It hurts like hell, but he manages to croak out the words. It comes out, "Thumdy no liwng uppa dir si'utha prgn...", but the message is clear. A high-pitched keening sounds in the room, and Scotty McQuarrie barrels through the door, phaser drawn and ready. He fires, and the beam envelopes the hellhound to no effect. Khendron can crawl under around the pedestal of the bed and grab T'Sara's phaser.

He aims it up at the hellhound's belly and fires it on setting eight. Again the beam envelopes Vincentius but this time it screams in pain and frustration. Scotty takes a split-second to select a higher setting and fires again, as Khendron's beam fades.

The hellhound collapses onto Khendron, who passes out from the impact.

This message was deleted by the player at 01:15, Mon 02 Aug 2021.

In reply to Odyssey GM (msg # 122):

OOC deleted my first reply since I typed while Owen also replied.

On his way out Thelev grabs Khendron’s assault phaser and on the way done he bumps the setting to Kill. Thelev rushes into sickbay with Rimbaud. Looking around and assessing the situation quickly based on where Vincentius, Khendron and the medical staff is and aiming the assault phaser at Vincentius.

Seeing Vincentius collapsed on Khendron he quickly moves over to free Khendron and he opens his communicator and says “Transporter room point to point beam Vincentius to the brig and be sure maximum security is enabled once he is in the brig.”

In reply to Commodore Bradron McCurrvey (msg # 117):

Rimbaud and Thelev exit the turboliftlift just as the piercing medical alarm sounds and head for the double doors ahead to their left. Passing through, they see the door to Khendron's ICU room open and Crewman MacQuarrie standing in the doorway. They can hear the piercing alarm and the scream from the hellhound as MaQuarrie fires. Vincentius collapses onto Mercer, who is poking out from under the medbed, a type 1 phaser in his hand. Dr. T'Sara lies crumpled on the deck against the wall in a pool of blood.

Thelev gives his order and Vincentius disappears in a swirl of energy.

Khendron begins to move, now that Vincentius has been beamed off him. He stands shakily, leaning against the wall, grasping T'Sara's hand phaser in a death-grip. Blood-streaked mucus drips from his chin and mustaches onto his chest, already wet with the stuff.

Nueses Goldberg and Parducci and Dr. Driveon arrive, Trask and Braunschwegger of Security right behind them. Goldberg and Parducci squeeze past MacQuarrie to T'Sara. Driveon says to Thelev, "Captain, can we clear my ICU so we can treat T'Sara? And XO, get back in that bed, you've ripped out your endotracheal tube and you're bleeding."
This message was last updated by the player at 05:23, Mon 02 Aug 2021.

Trask says into his helmet communicator, "Beam me and Crewman MacQuarrie to security. Arnie," he says to Braunschwegger, "Secure the area. Dr. Driveon, as soon as Dr. T'Sara and the XO have been relocated for treatment, we'll need this room sealed off so we can do a full investigation. Computer, copy all audio and visual records since the XO was admitted to Security and place them under security lock except fo the XO's medical readings. Captain Mercer, we need to take the samples you were examining for forensic examination."

Goldberg and Parducci transfer T'Sara to an antigrav gurney. As they take her to surgery, Thelev and Khendron can see that they've stabilised her cervical spine with a force-field and that the bones of her left orbit and cheek are crushed. Her eyeball has popped out of its socket and lies on her cheek. Sticky olive green blood is everwhere, mixed in with mucus from Khendron and the clear circulatory fluid from Vincentius.

Another nurse brings in a gravchair and orders Khendron into it, then transfers him to the adjacent room. She examines his throat, prescribes analgesics and a dose of tri-ox compound before leaving, cautioning him to speak only in a whisper for the next few hours.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:15, Mon 02 Aug 2021.

In reply to Commodore Bradron McCurrvey (msg # 120):

Dworkin sighs and continues, "I can see you're feeling confused, Bradron—if I may call you that—or would you prefer Brad?

"You've been to more of the Twenty Universes than most other beings in your Federation. Though the word Universe is most often used, perhaps the more precise term would Multiversal Clusters, as such things as alternate timelines and the oh-so prosaically named Mirror Universes are mere shadows in a Multiverse and are considered all part of a single Universe with a captial U.

"As you've noted personally, each Multiversal Cluster can have widely diverging laws of nature. In some, certain chemical reactions simply cannot take place. Certain lifeforms cannot exist except in their own Cluster, while others may gain new abilities, such as when Captain Kirk and crew were able to tap into the magical realm when they were transported to Megas-Tu."

He leaves his seat and begins to pace. "The crux of the situation is this: by utilising the Infinite Improbability Drive—your Quantum Para-Dimensional Transport Device—hell, those are both mouthfulls—let's just call it the Silver Ball, as your crew does. By utilising the Silver Ball, your Federation has come to the attention of Her Glory Empress Star and She is of a mind to invite your Federation to formally interact with Centre.

"Peripheral to this is the question of Lord Dhark's son, the Verlegg. While it was merely using Calista as a proxy within the Federation and surrounding space, it was of little importance, but with its discovery of the Bridgetown Anomaly—a major Inter-Multiversal Gate, it has become a danger to reality itself. Her Glory wishes you to, in Her words, 'rid Me of this existential menace'."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 15:04, Tue 03 Aug 2021.

Trask and MacQuarrie materialise in the Brig.

"Status!" orders Trask.
Cygnan Petty Officer 2c Daneric-Tren replies, "The prisoner is badly injured from the phaser shot. Its right arm is nothing but a charred stump and the skin of the right side of its head and torso are charred and blistered. A glossy oil-like fluid is seeping from the shoulder and blisters—may be what it uses for blood. I've requested a doctor with a specialty in exobiology to attend. She should be here in a moment."

Within seconds, the door swooshes open and in walks a tall redheaded woman in medical whites, carrying a large medkit. "I'm Maura Regem. You need a exodoc? I'm your gal," she says. "Where's the patient?"

When shown to the cell with Vincentius, Regem says, "Oh... my!"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:41, Thu 05 Aug 2021.

In reply to Lieutenant Devlin Trask (msg # 128):

Once in sickbay Thelev says "Put that pendant into stasis and put a psionic shield around it."

Turning to the doctor "How is Captain Mercer doing."