Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Reia Shandy (C Intelligence -Comm Officer) in Main Sim Tour of the Science Installation

Posted by Gamemaster GM Kate (GMT) in Main Sim Tour of the Science Installation

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Reia Shandy (C Intelligence -Comm Officer) in Main Sim Tour of the Science Installation
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻
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Dagen nodded to Tom. Yeah, giant attacking rodents were important. ‘Sounds like a teenager’ Dagen thought to himself but didn’t voice. Maybe to Reia later .. seismic attacks. Dome that was a sphere to defend from all angles. He peered at the sphere, and a thought came to him. “Why would they bother .. attacking. That word suggests intent. That shield presupposes that you don’t leave food out for them.” By his tone he was inferring they were rather more than rudimentary. Rodents, at least most, would not go into areas where they would put themselves into danger without good reason. He glanced to Reia and Tom. There was more going on than for sure. The question was, was this in any way a danger or problem - Della sounded as if they were an inconvenience - so not a danger, but ethically this could be problematic. Sure these Volians could be just that, an overgrown rodent annoyed at being woken up early, or that of ethics whereby said Volians were more than they seemed and so crossing a line.
- Dagen, CE

Tom shrugged at Dagen’s statement.

“Predators and territorial herbivores and omnivores have been known often to attack things that they have thought were impinging upon their territory, threats to their young, or just because they’re hostile. Consider the vanzar beast of Tranky. They’re huge, entirely herbivorous and feed on large grasses but, if something they deem a threat comes anywhere near them, they immediately charge with the intent to crush it. What they decide is a threat is unknown as they have a tendency to attack almost anything that moves within a certain proximity of them. And when I say large, I mean something that could crush a small cargo transport.”

Tom looked around for a moment.

“Of course if these volumes are nothing more than an animal coming out of hibernation, the attacks might be in an effort to search for an immediate food source as they would probably be very hungry. To really know, we need more information.”

Dagen’s experience with critters was pretty small, or even with big critters. He tipped his head in acknowledgment to Tom, deferring to his greater knowledge. The guy was a walking encyclopedia! His typical largest worry with regard to animals was keeping the little ones from chewing on optical cable or relay connections. With essentially a career in space there wasn’t much room for running into animals.

Tom then looked pointedly at Della.

“I don’t suppose you have any files or documentation on these creatures that you can make immediately available to us would you?”

• Tom, IntSec

Tom and Dagen had basically covered everything Reia was thinking. She had a feeling that Della needed somebody who appeared to be on her side though. Perhaps that would help smooth things and get the information more quickly and with less of a fuss.

“This does seem like quite the little situation you have here. While I can understand you not including it in your briefing to us, or any shift that came before us, we really wish you had. I have only one question, how far back in your history do these attacks as you call them go?”

• Reia, CIO/Comms

Point noted there too. Some history would be useful and how did they come about to being so near to an installation? Still, it was better than say Gorn raining down fire from on high. Their fancy cloak wouldn’t be much good with them either, Dagen mused. These big moles would likely be operating from vibrations in the earth or smell or other senses rather than sight.
- Dagen

=/\=Gen..sis and …way teams, please return …palace .... let …drill proceed unencumber… our presence.=/\= Came through their comm badges. It was the Captain’s voice but highly static-filled. Luckily there was enough information to indicate what the Captain wanted.

Dagen listened intently to the message. It was broken up but seemed to be pretty clear. “Recalled to the palace,” he said, summing up the message.

Della let out a deep breath and signaled for a few of her people to approach. “I am sorry but communications between anyone other than our military and chief science officials have been terminated. You are safe,” she spoke as if they were small children scared by a storm. “I can have someone bring you the information you seek but it is of little matter. The Volians will attack the designated areas of the cities not under the shielding and when they are satiated they will retreat to the ground.”

“You mean to say that an order from the captain is to be ignored? It may have come from your superiors,” he cautioned, while inside being irked. He wasn’t afraid of these creatures - it was hard to be afraid of that which they knew so little of. Della was not concerned. More annoyed and inconvenienced and unconcerned. “How are areas designated? And what do they eat?” While the practical mind of his considered that they put out food for them where they could eat it and then go, he was concerned at there being an attack on what was not shielded of the cities. Why not move food elsewhere? Or protect the cities?

“You asked earlier about our history with them. It goes back to the ancient times. We are now in a symbiosis with them. They Harvest and then we are left alone for another year. It is the way of things.”

GM Kate

“You make it sound as though they are the dominant group on the planet,” he commented. While he knew there were forces of nature such as insect cycles and the like that ravaged whole areas and were let to do so, this seemed to be something that directly affected the populace. Symbiosis?
- Dagen, CE

Reia had a sense that Della would not appreciate the Volians being called the dominant group on the planet. She however thought it was a brilliant maneuver, or messed up of words. She would also rather be back with the Captain, Della’s company was getting as large as her presence.

• Reia, CIO/Comms

“In the past, we just tried to fight them off,” Della began to speak in a highly clinical tone as if this was a science experiment. She was aloof and detached proving she was more irritated than concerned as she explained. There was no way the Beltrans were going to be able to brush this away. The Federation was nosy. Now that they learned there were more cities and about the Volians it was better just to tell them. They were scientists after all. They would understand the need for the actions being taken.

“When we actively engaged in conflict with the Volian’s we lost important people. Scientists, doctors, scholars, artisans, politicians,” she listed off a slew of professions. “How was our society expected to grow and evolve unless we came to an agreement. We allow them to Harvest a percentage,” she paused and added, “a controlled and tactically selected percentage of the populace once a year. This is why the shielding is so important,” Della now showed the blindsided hubris of science. “It allows us to focus on science instead of war.”

GM Kate

“Well, I certainly thank you for your brutal and clinical honesty. Such things are appreciated among the species of the Federation. I’m certain you, being an intelligent member of your species, must understand that not all people view things the way that you do. I’m not making a judgment, just explaining a situation.”

Reia had the distinct sense this might not end well but that was not her place to discuss, at this time, with Della.

• Reia, CIO/Comms

Tom do that this was one of those cultural differences that wasn’t going to sit well with starfleet. The seasonal sacrificing of a percentage of the population to appease creatures when they woke up for a feeding cycle just wasn’t going to go over well with the brass.

• Tom, IntSec