Tricks of Perspective

Posted on Sat Sep 5th, 2020 @ 4:59am by Staff Warrant Officer Reo'thanra Sandtail & Lieutenant JG Miraj Derani

Mission: Season 3: Episode 4: Cause and Effect
Location: Shuttle Bay
Timeline: MD08, just before Hyperion Mining
1854 words - 3.7 OF Standard Post Measure

[ON]

Miraj has been the first to arrive at the designated shuttle, wanting to double check the landing gear. If they were going to one of the gravity less asteroids to mine, they would need fixing, and landing drills were rarely used, she wanted to make sure the one added to this one was nice and sound. Her basic checks indicated no metal fatigue or damage, but nothing like a visual check. She opened the inspection pit she'd parked the shuttle over and went down its steps o have a closer look at the landing gear.

The door of the Cargo bay slid open with a hiss as a Short Vulpine alien stepped through into the cargo hub, its steps Loud and Noticeable as Impact plats jostled around its Extensively modified Engineering uniform. Hanging from its Right hop, and swaying gently with each step hung a Wicked looking Carbine. It stepped closer to the shuttle and tilted its head to the side, causing its massive ears to flop. "Something wrong with the shuttle?" He asked, his voice thick with a exotic and strange Accent.

"No," she replied to the new voice, she assumed one of the engineers coming on the mining trip. "Just checking the landing drills. They aren't typically used, so always worth a double check." She walked up out of the pit and stopped short. The speaker was a fox. That wasn't the most surprising thing. Afterall, Elysium already had a horse, so why not a fox? No, the things that pulled her up suddenly was the fact he was carrying an enormous gun. And what looked like body armour.

"Are we going into battle?" The captain hadn't mentioned it and she thought there was no interstellar activity in the solar system at this point in history.

Reo'thanra shook his head his large ears twitching with the motion. "No, this is just part of my uniform," he said with a gentle tone to his voice. "Warrant officer Reo'thanra Sandtail of the Arten Confederacy defense fleet Diplomatic Transfer," he said with a slow bow. "Ah...sorry its part of our uniform...we're always armed, just in case."

"In case of what?" Miraj's curiosity was instantly aroused. "Are your people at war with each other? Or surrounded by pirates? or monsters?"

"Our people have a," the short vulpine paused and shifted his posture slightly his Carbine away from her. "Violent history...our three home worlds nearly wiped themselves out in the past.." he gave a weary smile. "But thats not why Our soldiers and sailors are always armed, Unlike Star Fleet, the Arten Confederacy defense Fleet is purely a Military organization," he explained as he looked over the shuttle.

"You're constantly at war?" She couldn't imagine any other reason for a purely military organization in this day and age. The Dominion War was mostly over by the time she was born. Shinzon's shenanigans done before she was a teenager. Even the Kzinit war had been highly localized and not involved the whole of starfleet. "That must be horrible. I'm so sorry."

"We're not always at war," Reo said with a sigh and shake of his Head, his long tail twitching behind him. "We haven't been at war for nearly one hundred earth years," he shifted slightly. "We are an independent Solar system that is surrounded on all sides by a potentially Hostile, and far more wide spread State,"

Miraj popped the door of the shuttle and sat on the open step, fascinated. "Who? Can't the federation do anything?"

Reo laughed heartily. "Sure, they could Cede us enough star systems to stretch our borders to Neutral space," he said after a moment. "The Federation is the Power surrounding us."

Miraj's jaw fell open, "And they're hostile?" she asked with shock, "That's not..." She trailed off. He obviously thought it was.

"No, but they're potentially hostile," he said calmly. "Our first contact with them that had conversation The federation rolled up with an ambassador class Warship to Try and force compliance."

Miraj did a double take. "The Ambassdor class is a warship??"

"You...do realize...that the Federations Photon torpedo's have a maximum yield of 200 isoton's right?" Reo said with minor concern. "even the the ACDF's Cluster Fusion Warheads only have a combined yield of sixty four Megatons, and we only mount those on battleships," he added, intentionally leaving out the primary weapons systems of His home nations fleet.

"But..." she never thought about it before. Federation ships were multi- purpose, but the true mission was always peaceful exploration. "Those are just for defense. Captains aren't allowed to shoot first. Its in Directive 10." She wasn't sure if that was a statement or a question.

"Well, yes the federation has good intentions right now," Reo said softly with a slow shake of his head. "But the federation is an Organization of individuals, And Individuals can make mistakes and choices that are contrary to the core values." He shifted in place and flicked his tail. "how many Captains have gone rogue in Star fleets History?"

Miraj opened her mouth to deny it, and then rembered Captain Kirk's bad habit of going off piste. Though that was to save the world, or the quadrat, or the galaxy. Okay so there was one. She opened her mouth to say so, but then she remember Cal Hudson and Michael Eddington who'd been leaders of the Maquis. Though they hadn't technically been captains. She held up a hand to make her point, but then a vague memory of a dull lecture on starfleet history had brought up Doughtey and Leighton, both admirals who had really gone off the rails.

"oh." she said

Reo gave a hearty laugh and walked over to her. "Look, We're not like Klingons, we don't go looking for fights...hell most of our military service members are just using their service to help Improve their social standing," he said with a warm smile as he placed a paw like hand on her shoulder. "But, given how Resource rich our system is, we as a Democratic confederation have decided to Maintain a well trained, well armed, and Well mannered Military."

"I'm sorry. I just didn't think about it that way." Miraj admitted. All her life the Federation had been this big benevolent, ever present force that looked after you. Shared resources and knowledge. It had never occurred to her to think of Starfleet not as a fleet, but an armada. "Are you scared it will go bad? That we'll turn on you?"

"I'm not sure," he muttered as he took a step back from her out of habit. "I'm part of a small group of Arten officers who were traded diplomatically with Star Fleet to get a First had look at the Federation..." he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "To be honest...It seems like Species who join the Federation lose their cultural Identity after a time...and our Military would..." he trailed off and patted the Carbine gently. "Not...translate well into Star Fleet."

"You are a little..." Miraj tried to find words tht wouldn't insult the Warrant Officer, "...overdressed. Though given how quiet phasers are, something that goes bang may put the fear of old hobb into people far faster."

"To me you're under dressed," he shrugged slowly. "Its all about how you've been trained," he added. "Our Soldiers and Naval personal always wear armor, not because we're expecting a fight, but because it helps us get used to it should we actually get into a fight." He shifted slowly. "I'm here as an engineer, but I could probably give your Security teams a run for their money."

Miraj imagined the vulpinoid taking on S'hib, and couldnt keep her smile down. "It would be a sight to see, I think." She said carefully. "I dont think id last long one one of your sbips. I dont really do anything but fly. But I'm glad of it. I don't like hurting anything."

"You might like flying our ships," Reo chuckled. "We don't use Impulse power, but rather Impact Drive assemblies," he explained. "Our ships are under inertia for the majority of their flight, letting us perform some pretty crazy maneuvers."

Miraj's blue eyes went wide with lust. "Oh, yes you could. I have to fly one."

"I'm sure I can get a training simulator for your....ah...holodeck is it?" He said with uncertainty. "I'm sure I could get a program up and running for that." He said with a fang filled grin.

Miraj shook her head. "Simulators don't count. I want the real thing."

Reo smirked and turned slightly his tail swaying. "Well...I am a certified IDA engineer," he chuckles. "I guess I could Fabricate a pair of thrusters for a shuttle craft."

Miraj's eyes went wide. "I would really reallly like that. Really like that." It would be so much fun. Impulse drives were really quite boring, and a change of engine was always good. "Will you be allowed? I mean, converting a jollyboat is kind of a big deal."

"Well...So long as the CO signs off on it, and the Shuttles Hull integrity tolerances can support the IDA's," Reo Shrugged. "I don't see any reason why we wouldn't be able too."

Miraj's grin was enormous. "As soon as we are back in the 24th century I'm going to hold you to that."

"Just get me Enough samarium and Thorium To power the IDA reactions and a small fusion power plant to kick start the Reactions," Reo smiled. "And you got a deal."

"No problem on the samarium and thorium." They were simple elements, a replicator could take care of that. "Just let me know how much. I'll have to ask my dad if he can save me a fusion generator from his next salvage op. It could take a while. So please don't transfer off in the next three months."

"I'm not planning on going anywhere for at least an earth year," he said with a chuckle. "Who know's maybe the federation will adopt the IDA systems, though I doubt it from what I've seen about their Technological preferences."

"Maybe they just need some more evidence." Miraj grinned. She was definitely going to get that evidence.

"Eh...well IDA's are still slower then Impulse, so Who knows if it will ever be on capital ships, but maybe on your fighters," Reo shrugged.

"I don't care. Still want to fly one." Miraj said. "I'll make it do things you've never dreamed possible. I gaurentee it."

"I bet you could," Reo chuckled tiredly his tail swaying slowly. "Just don't push them to hard...I'd hate to have to explain what happens when and IDA shakes apart a Hull."

"pfft." Miraj waved a hand. "Ii can handle that. i grew up flying semi functional ships. I'll be fine." The door to the hangar bay opened, and the other engineers arrived. "Give me a few months to get you the parts and I'll prove it."

"I'm not Going any where," Reo nodded as he turned his attention to the new arrivals.