Posted by Lieutenant Todd Nyman (Chief Counselor) in Ring of the First Nagus (Mini Sim)

Posted by Lieutenant Bradley Maxwell (Chief Medical Officer) in Ring of the First Nagus (Mini Sim)

Posted by Lieutenant Ashara Mavix (Chief of Security) in Ring of the First Nagus (Mini Sim)
Posted by… suppressed (11) by the Post Ghost! 👻
“All that glitters is gold.... All that glitters is gold… “

The words repeated over and over again, a mantra if you would ringing in the ears of an unfortunate soul looking to their hand. A cursed hand destined to create suffering with what it touched but yet, so appealing in a way. It was a strange and twisted beauty showing through the torment, the individuals mind cluttered with greed and desire for material things as that twisted shaky hand was held up, fingers curled and a single bent finger held out before it pushed slowly towards a stone where upon contact, a great heat spread out from the stone as a wave of energy passed over it, the stone being replaced with a proportionally equivalent lump of gold pressed latinum.

The shimmering lump of gold pressed latinum pulsed with a warmth that seemed to burrow into the stranger’s skin. They blinked, the mantra fading slightly as a wave of dizziness washed over them as they stared at the transformed stone, heart pounding a frantic rhythm against their frail ribs. It had worked! The simple hammered brass ring that looked too poorly even for a peasant had indeed been real.

The cursed soul had scoffed at the legends, the whispers of its curse. After all, what was a little greed to a Ferengi? It was practically a virtue! But now, as the ring throbbed on their bent and withered finger, a cold dread began to creeping up the spine as that sense of dread and doom radiated throughout them. The transformation of the stone hadn’t been a clean exchange. The air crackled with residual energy, and the faint scent of electricity mingled with something… else. Something ancient and malevolent.

They tried to remove the ring, but it wouldn’t budge. It was as if it had become a part of them, fixed to the very bone, its intricate Ferengi script burning into the flesh of their withering finger. Panic clawed at their throat. It had to come off, they had to get help. But who would believe such a tall tale? Their mind started to cloud as they could already feel the ring’s influence twisting their thoughts, amplifying his deepest greedy instincts, turning them into insatiable cravings for that which glitters, for the beauty that is a full purse.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in their mind, raspy and ancient, like dust and echoes. “A wise investment, young one. But all investments require… a return.” The latinum in front of them pulsed with heat and energy ominously, before plunging the room into a suffocating darkness. A chilling laughter echoed around them, seeming to come from the ring itself. “You seek wealth, power? It can be yours. But the Nagus always collects his due....”

---

Lazol had been on the Leviathan once before, an advantageous post to say the least that cost him a fair sum. He tapped his blue finger nails against the railing of his shuttle it approached, “When do we plan to get there, next year? I have business to attend to!” He called out, his voice nasally and irritating as the pilot simply ignored him. This Starfleet uniform was stuffy and not very flattering to his somewhat rotund figure and it was absolutely the wrong colors for him. But this new mission was certainly an interesting opportunity, and Admiral Jansson had been particularly persuasive in his methods of recruitment.

Docking at the ship Lazol could find a thousand little things to nit pick, his rank being one of them. A Lieutenant Commander? He was a DiaMon! Captain at minimum, Commodore more like it, but he was in charge, he had rather strict orders but the ship was his to command. He exited the shuttle and boarded once more, heading straight for the Bridge where he tapped his badge, “All senior staff to the briefing room or whatever you call it. NOW” He barked, his tone somehow more irritating as he made his way.

–Lazol, aCO–

Lieutenant Nyman practically jolted out of his chair at sound of Lazol’s orders. For one thing, he wasn’t used to hearing that tone from a Starfleet officer. His immediate response was something ingrained in him from his years dealing with Romulans. Second, though, he recognized what this meant. The new acting captain was here.

Nyman left his office and made his way to the conference room. A mixture of emotions running through his mind, ringing him like a bell. But he had in maintain his control. Sen’ra, he reminded himself. Strength, discipline, metal focus. That’s what he wanted this Commander to see. So, after taking a few deep steady breaths, he entered.

|Lt. Nyman, Chief Counselor|

Brad, while mildly annoyed, wasn’t too put out by the tone. Tempers flared hot sometimes during medical appointments, he’d heard worse tones in recent memory. He checked in with the next most senior officer on duty in sickbay, and upon confirmation everything was running smoothly, hurried down the corridor to the turbolift.

Arriving at the briefing room, he walked in, slightly smiling, and took a seat, watching the Ferengi obviously chafing in the command uniform. “Welcome aboard,” he greeted. “I don’t believe we’ve met?”

Lieutenant Bradley Maxwell
Chief Medical Officer

Dorian arrived to the conference room and quietly took a seat to wait. There was an absolute stillness to the man sitting in the chair, as if he weren’t real.

• Dorian, CE/CA

Pacing the room grumpily the old Ferengi watched as the staff entered. He eyed each of them with gentle suspicion and as the Chief Engineer sat he clutched the back of the chair with two wrinkled hands, on his left pointer finger, the faintest outline of an intricate script remained and appeared faded as if an old wound healed many decades ago. He moved himself towards the table and said to the first who entered, “You must be Nyman? Todd Nyman! I’ve read all about you, fascinating how you got to be onboard.” He said with a little flourish. He had read each of the command staff’s personnel reports thoroughly on his way over, although he wasn’t privy to Nyman’s true nature. The second man who had greeted him made Lazol smile, “Bradley Maxwell, you’ve always been drawn towards people, that’s good, very good.” He remarked before he turned his eyes towards the Chief Engineer, “And you must be Dorian Kelmain. I’ll admit besides your photo and a few sparse details most of your file was redacted, a rather frustrating development. How am I to trust my engineer if I don’t know anything about them!” He said with a twinkle in his eye, a mischievous look as he tapped his head, “I may be old but it’s a steel trap up here. I’m Lazol. DaiMon Lazol when I’m not in this uniform and I’ve been hunting anomalies for longer than I’m sure most of you have been alive. Admiral Jansson saw fit that given the nature of the mission that I be recalled to active duty with the ARU and head up the taksforce.”

He looked at each member briefly before he said, “I’m sure you’ve all seen the briefing? I don’t have much more information that you do besides that the anomaly has been located near Balancar. Where is everyone else? When I call a meeting I expect people to be here!” He said with a whiny snap, his voice shrill and demanding as he reached his right hand to rub at his finger where the faded script lay.

~Lazol, aCo~

Dorian wasn’t the type to play mental games or placate people.

“You called the meeting and those of us that could came in short order. Not everyone can just drop what they’re doing. Be patient, they will be here as soon as they can be.” Dorian said flatly.

Dorian’s sensors noted the minute details of the Ferengi before him, age, skin condition, vascular and pulmonary functions, muscular and skeletal density, neural attenuation. For Dorian, this was equivalent to giving the man a casual once over. He wasn’t chipped for medical skills at the moment so the data meant nothing to him beyond potential tactical values.

• Dorian, CE/CA

OOC:
I updated my character profile to include Todd’s official cover story if anyone is interested.

IC:
Nyman was a naturally cautious person. Cautious, but curious about working with this Ferengi officer. He acknowledged Lazol’s greeting with a respectful nod and a chipper, “Yes, sir.” Then took a seat across from Dorian, who he also greeted with a silent nod.

His demeanor changed slightly hearing the complaint, eyes drifting down toward the tabletop. He agreed with Dorian’s reasoning, but would not have been so direct about it expressing it.

“I have a question actually…” he said, as a way to redirect the conversation,

“Is there any additional information about long term effects after exposure, physical or psychological? Particular warning signs we could screen for? The report I received was rather vague and … heavily redacted.”

|Lt. Nyman, Chief Counselor|

Adam entered the briefing room just in time to hear the Counselors question and sat down in his usual seat, sparing only a brief glance to the Acting Captain.

CIO

“That’s a good question,” Brad agreed. “I’d like to know everything we can about that as well.”

Lieutenant Bradley Maxwell
Chief Medical Officer

“Trust me I’m well aware of the ARU’s propensity for restricting information. While I’m aware of the situation at hand, Rule of Acquisition #74 states Knowledge equals profit, and their insistence to compartmentalize information is infuriating!” Lazol replied to the question asked in his shrill voice. More staff joined them in the meeting room and he paced back and forth, rubbing his hands the way one might rub an arthritic joint.

“To answer your question though, there are plenty of side effects I know of first hand. Cellular degradation, biological energy drain, genetic mutation, and sensory overload are the recorded physical effects, and mentally the affected are subject to include a heightened tendency towards greed and avarice, not a problem if you ask me but we’ll get to that. Delusions of grandeur, paranoia and distrust, loss of empathy, and hallucinations as well.” He finished as he looked around the room at the officers gathered. “This ring can transmute objects into gold pressed latinum, it’s rumored it’s how Gint was first able to come to power on Ferenginar as the first Grand Nagus. Now it’s unproven and he would never have admitted it, but it’s an interesting thought isn’t it?”

~Lazol, aCo~

“Yes, very interesting,” Nyman said, nodding along. He clasped his hands together in a small pyramid while reflecting on what was said.

“I suppose it would be redundant to recommend caution when dealing with this anomaly’s current owner… or host.”

|Lt. Nyman, Chief Counselor|

Ash stepped into the conference room quickly, “Sorry y’all, did Ah miss anything?”

-Lieutenant Ashara Mavix: Chief of Security-

“Don’t touch the ring,” Brad summarized. “And if you do, or start feeling tired or a need to acquire material goods, come see myself or Lt. Nyman immediately. Same goes for everyone else on the crew. I’ll start working on a general announcement as soon as we’re finished here.”

Lieutenant Bradley Maxwell
Chief Medical Officer

“We should also work on a plan to screen for these… symptoms of exposure. We cannot always rely on self-reporting.” Nyman suggested. It was unlikely, from his point of view, someone experiencing such delusions and sense of power would volunteer to be treated. He certainly wouldn’t.

|Lt. Nyman, Chief Counselor|

Lazol watches as the staff discuss the finer points of ‘don’t touch the ring’ when he said, “Yes yes we need to work out a plan, that’s your job isn’t it?” His voice sharp and grating, “Well lets—” Lazol said as a message came in:

INCOMING TRANSMISSION

”…This is Settler leader Elara. Anyone out there, please respond! We… we are in dire need of assistance. Something is happening to our people. It started subtly – an increase in disputes over land rights, arguments over resource allocation, petty thefts escalating into violence… But it’s become something… monstrous.

Our people, they’re consumed by greed. They hoard everything they can, even essential supplies. They distrust each other, accusing their neighbors of stealing, of plotting against them. Families are torn apart, friendships shattered. There’s no sense of community left, only suspicion and avarice.

We’ve tried to reason with them, to appeal to their better nature, but it’s no use. They’re obsessed with wealth, with possessions. They see value only in material things. It’s as if… as if something has poisoned their minds.

We’ve had reports of strange visions, hallucinations. People claiming to see shimmering figures made of gold, promising them untold riches. Some have even started to harm themselves, convinced that their blood will turn to gold if they spill it.

We’re losing control. We’re desperate. If anyone can hear this, please, we need help. We need someone to… to break this curse. Before it destroys us all…”

Lazol, grumpy at the interruption but realizing the opportunity said, “Well… what we need to do is get going! Everyone to their stations. You two” He said, pointing a crooked finger at the CNS and CMO, “Stay here I need to discuss the screening with you. Everyone else, make sure we get there quickly! Dismissed!”

~Lazol, aCo~