Posted by Gamemaster GM (Gamemaster) in Away Team One

Posted by Lieutenant Riley Dekker (CNS & 2O) in Away Team One
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The sound that the commbadge made and the voice that followed triggered something in Bassa’s emotions. He was curious and excited but he remained clam exteriorly.

GM

Riley was able to train two different sense on two different people. While his eyes remained on the Pallasian leader, waiting for him to begin their meeting, he focused his empathic abilities on Bassa. Bassa’s mind seemed the most variable and reactive to the situation, and therefore, likely to be the most telling.

Dekker, CNS

“We are very honoured that you would consider us as friends,” said Neve as soon as the counsellor had returned. “It is, of course, important that we welcome you to our planet as friends. We hope that there would be reciprocity practiced in the building up of our friendship.” He was full of confidence when he spoke this. Riley also sensed anticipation from the Neve. At the same time, Bassa’s excitement increased after Neve spoke.

David watched and listened, trying his best to keep a neutral expression on his face. He took a sideways glance in Riley’s direction every so often, trying to get a read on what Riley might be sensing.

-David Michaels, CSO

Sage noted that all of the Pallasians in the room were male and wondered how they felt about two females being on the Genesis’ team. Most of the races/species the Federation had run across since its development were built on a patriarchal society, so it wasn’t a surprise, it was just something to file away. Sitting between Riley and David, with a security officer at her back, Sage allowed herself to relax and bring her special training to bear. As she observed the men across the table, she watched for ticks and tells and listening for specific word choices that could clue the Starfleet officers into how honest the Pallasians were being.

—Sage

Sora’s eyes darted to Riley and then quickly back to the doctor. He seemed curious. He showed the signs of wanting to enter into a conversation but he did not act on his desire.

GM

Riley’s gave moved from the Neve, to Bassa, to Sora, and back to the Neve. The leader’s confidence bordered on hubris. While not Riley’s favorite trait in a leader, it wasn’t uncommon. It was the Neve’s words that concerned him more, specifically his mention of reciprocity. He wondered just what it was the Neve expected.

Sage picked up on his expression and decided to give it a go. “Mt Sora, you look like you’re holding back. Is there something you’d like to ask us? This is supposed to be an exchange of information so we’re willing to take any questions you might have.”

—Sage

Chan sat back and watched the room. She was starting to see that many where excited and curios to start the talks. However her training as a child told her to be careful, she had a feeling not everyone would be happy with the new alliance. However for now she was content with just watching and waiting for someone to talk to her.

Lieut Chan (Sub-DH Robotics)

Sora turned to Neve and when Neve gave a slight nod, he asked, “Your communications technology is very advanced. May I ask what kind of technology it is?”

GM

Riley spoke up at this question, “Lt. Michaels here is our Chief Scientist and Lt. Chan one of our engineers. I’m sure either would be able to give you an overview of our communications, however, as Starfleet officers we are bound by our Prime Directive. It prevents us from sharing details of our technology so we don’t interfere in other worlds’ natural development.”

Dekker, CNS

As he spoke the last words, he could sense an irritation in Neve. Sora asked, “Based on our technology so far, we can physically travel faster than light but unable to reach the same speeds with communication. Is there anything you can recommend us?”

GM

Neve’s reaction furthered Riley’s curiosity at the Pallasian’s end game. Understandably, many races felt frustration at the Federation’s Prime Directive, but ultimately accepted it. Would the Pallasians follow suit, or push for more than the crew of the Genesis was willing to give?

He remained quiet, only turning his gaze toward David and Chan with a slight lift of his brows to signal they were wading into the thick of it. He’d leave it to them to respond.

Dekker, CNS

David met Riley’s gaze, giving his lover a slight roll of the eyes.

Looking over at their hosts, David said flatly, “No. we can’t just give you technology. It appears your planet has some environmental issues. That is something we could assist with.”

-David Michaels, CSO

If there was one area Riley couldn’t count on David, it was diplomacy. David came from the 29th century and was living in the 24th. He hadn’t shaken the hint of arrogance that came with that fact, and Riley doubted he ever would.

As David spoke Chan looked at him her Antenna twitched quickly and sharply back and forth. Anyone who understood Andorian mannerisms would know that meant that she was annoyed and a little angry. She hoped arrogance would not be the undoing of the mission, however she wasn’t sure.

“Nuclear power has vastly improved out environment as we have used less fossil fuels,” replied Sora. “What issues would you be speaking about?”

Riley sensed suspicion in Bassa and Sora towards David. Could it have been the CSO’s body language? Then Riley noticed that the men at the table all had bare hands.

GM

Riley’s dark eyes focused first on Bassa’s hands. Had they been ungloved before? His gaze darted to Neve, then Sora, and back to Bassa. They all had bared hands. He would have noticed before, and if he hadn’t, he was certain Sage would have. She had mentioned her discomfort with the Pallasians’ ability on the shuttle ride down. She wouldn’t have not looked to their hands as soon as they arrived.

For the first time since meeting the Pallasians on the Merry, Riley felt something wasn’t right. It was a moment to make a command decision, a responsibility he was still growing into. He could continue down the path of diplomacy, guard up but polite, or he could trust his instinct and remove his team from the situation.

He stood from his seat, “I apologize. We are approaching a sensitive area in any first contact, one we are not prepared to broach further without conferring with our Commanding Officer. If you would excuse us, my team and I must step out for a moment.”

Riley looked down the row of officers from Sage, to David, then Chan. With a nod of his head he indicated it was time to leave.

Dekker, CNS

Chan also noticed the change in the Pallasians and that there hands where now bare. she slowly placed he hand under the table on her phaser. She was probably being overly cautious but she preferred that to anything else. Chan nodded back, she was hopping first contact hadn’t been scuppered but if it had, she would make sure that whoever was responsible would pay.

Lieut Chan (Sub-DH Robotics)

What Riley felt next was surprise and confusion. “Please,” began Bassa but Neve put his hand on his shoulder. “I understand,” said Neve. “Please,” he continued with his bare hand pointing to the doors that they had all come through. Neve was trying to keep calm. There was fear as well. Neve had begun to be afraid of what the Starfleet officers might do.

GM

Though not telepathic, Sage was trying to be hyper vigilant and noticed when the meeting went South. It wasn’t a gradual thing, it was sudden and surprising. As soon as Riley announced they were returning to the Genny, something in the Palasian dynamic changed. Bassa became distressed and only Neve’s hand on his shoulder—wait—Neve’s hands were bare. Sage looked at the other men and noted that they too were without gloves. When had that happened? She gathered herself away from the table, making sure no part of her body was touching it just in case they could use it as a conduit to bridge the physical gap between themselves and the crew to ‘read’ them.

“There are things we might be able to help you with, but we need to talk things over with our Captain first.” The excuse to return to the ship sounded weak even to her own ears, but it was pretty clear that leaving was the consensus for the officers. She scooted her chair back enough to stand and waited for the others to follow suit.

—Sage

Riley could sense fear even in the Admiral. However, there was a steely resolve in the officer standing behind Neve. Here was a man who would give his life to protect his people.

GM

OOC: Just to clarify, Riley isn’t taking the team back to the Genny, just out of the room to contact the ship.

IC: The fear and confusion Riley sensed only made him more wary. There were a number of explanations, one of which, he had to acknowledge, was that his abrupt decision for the Genny crew to exit the room was confusing to their hosts. Still, he knew it was the right decision. They knew very little of the Pallasians and David’s trepidation was real, even if its source was opaque.

Riley led his team out of the conference room.

Once in the antechamber he pitched his voice low enough that only his team would hear, “The Pallasian delegation is very keen on learning more about our technology, and what I sensed when I described our prime directive left me unsettled. But it was their hands that prompted my actions. Thoughts?”

He wanted to hear from the others who had been in the room before contacting the Genny.

Dekker, CNS

“When did their gloves come off?” Sage asked. “They WERE gloved when we entered the room, weren’t they? Because if they were, then all of them sneaking them off was a tactical decision and that doesn’t bode well for us.” Exactly how much information could the Pallasian’s get from the crew on their own? Even if the officers told them nothing, what could they glean from them simply through touch?

—Sage

Chan nodded “I believe so. they can move fast for none of us to catch that. Or something else is up. However to seems so far things are a little rocky i mean we barely got in there and now we’re out here. It doesn’t look very good.” she said giving her thoughts.

“Also it doesn’t help when egos and arrogance get in the way.” She said looking directly at David “What exactly where you thinking? you don’t just walk up to a new race, that you’ve just met and say oh by the way that energy source that’s keeping you all alive is bad. it makes it look like we’re trying to lord it over them. You have to be far more diplomatic than that. Humans once where very similar, maybe you forgot that in the 29th.” she added.

Lieut Chan (Sub-DH Robotics)

Chan’s criticism wasn’t unwarranted, David’s diplomacy skills were lacking. In fact, Riley was pretty sure that’s why Marius wanted him leading the team that include the Chief Scientist.

“Let’s focus. I agree, the bared hands was the turning point for me. We don’t know enough of the Pallasians to know if it is an overtly hostile act, but it makes me uncomfortable. I think it’s time to contact the Genny.”

Riley looked around to assure himself that they were out of earshot from their hosts and pressed his commbadge.

=/\=Away Team One to the Genesis. Captain, we’ve begun discussions with our hosts. They seem keenly interested in our communications technology. We’ve discussed the restrictions of our Prime Directive and am afraid we’ve had to step out as we may need advice on exactly what we can share.=/\= Riley kept his language neutral, hoping Marius and the others knew him well enough to read between the lines. He stressed the next sentence. =/\=It has us very concerned that we could divulge more information than would be appropriate. The Pallasians have bared their outstretched palms, so to speak, hoping we may be able to assist them.=/\=

It wasn’t a phrase Riley knew to really exist, but it sounded like an idiom and if any Pallasians were listening he hoped they’d read no more deeply into his words.

Dekker, CNS

What the CNS read in the situation were anxiety, confusion and earnestness. If anything, he did not read any duplicity

GM

bump