Posted by Lieutenant Thalos ch’Ravik (Chief Of Security) in NE Merriadoc Patrolling the ship

Posted by Gamemaster Nosferatu (Gamemaster) in NE Merriadoc Patrolling the ship

Posted by Lieutenant Thalos ch’Ravik (Chief Of Security) in NE Merriadoc Patrolling the ship
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻
NE Merriadoc was patrolling the corridors near Engineering. He had been told that the ship had aliens onboard called the Shirain or something like that , he was still relatively inexperienced being only 25yrs old , he didn’t want to come across these alien beings, it was at the moment he rounded the corner and there they stood looking at one of the LCARS panels, One of the aliens.

His hand instinctively drifted toward the phaser on his belt before he caught himself.

()Easy Merri, You’ve already been informed they aren’t hostile, don’t be the one to start an interstellar incident()

()Bugger this , I’m outta here, they were never here()

He thought to himself as he did a 180, then suddenly stopped himself , this was his opportunity to find out more about these alien beings and the city he had heard the Merrimack had docked with and a good chunk of the senior staff including the Captain, XO and his own boss the COS had gone to investigate, he slowly approached the alien .

“H-Hello, I’m Ensign Merriadoc, can I help you with anything?”

OOC: The brackets are him speaking to himself, for some reason I couldn’t find a better way, If anyone has any advice on this, I would appreciate it, someone did post about it awhile ago.

Lieutenant Thalos ch’Ravik
Chief Of Security
USS Merrimack

The figure standing before the LCARS interface was tall and powerfully built, encased in unmistakable Shiarian battle armor. Interlocking plates of dark obsidian alloy covered his torso, shoulders, and arms, their surfaces etched with intricate crystalline patterns that shimmered with faint amethyst and silver highlights whenever the corridor lighting struck them. The broad pauldrons and high gorget gave him an imposing silhouette, while a long, dark cape hung from the back of the armor, stopping just above the deck.

Unlike Starfleet uniforms, every piece of the armor appeared both ceremonial and functional. Thin channels of pale blue light flowed through the engraved crystalline veins, pulsing softly in time with the harmonic resonance that seemed to accompany all Shiarian technology.

Third Officer Serev Kael stood motionless before the LCARS panel, studying the unfamiliar interface with quiet fascination rather than attempting to operate it.

At the sound of hesitant footsteps, he slowly turned.

His silver eyes settled upon the young ensign. There was no hostility in his expression—only composed curiosity.

“You announce yourself before offering assistance,” Serev observed in careful, accented Federation Standard. “Your people place value upon courtesy, even when uncertain.”

His gaze briefly flicked toward Merriadoc’s hand, which had instinctively drifted near his phaser before returning to the ensign’s face. “You were concerned.”

There was no accusation in the words, merely observation. “I understand. We are unfamiliar to one another.”

A faint smile touched his otherwise stoic features. “I am Third Officer Serev Kael, attached to Over-Captain Vreth’kan Taruun’s delegation. My companions continue their cultural exchange elsewhere aboard your vessel. I wished to better understand how your ship… thinks.” One armored gauntlet gestured toward the LCARS display.

“Your computers do not sing to one another as ours do. They communicate through light and ordered symbols. It is… elegant in a different way.” He folded his hands behind his back, the armor moving almost silently despite its substantial appearance.

“I have also been attempting to understand your crew. They appear disciplined, yet many carry concern for those who descended to Vey’lan.” His silver eyes met Merriadoc’s once more. “That concern speaks well of your people.”

After a thoughtful pause, Serev inclined his head.

“You serve in Security, do you not? Then perhaps you can satisfy one of my own curiosities.” He glanced briefly down the corridor before returning his attention to the young officer.

“How does one protect a people while ensuring they do not come to fear those sworn to protect them?”

It was an earnest question, posed not as a challenge, but as one officer seeking the perspective of another.

GM Nosferatu
Your Darkest Nightmare

Merriadoc felt a faint flush of embarrassment as the Shiarian accurately read his earlier hesitation. His hand relaxed completely away from the phaser at his hip, the unconscious habit replaced by a more composed stance.

“I was concerned,” he admitted with a small nod. “Meeting someone for the first time while wearing armor that would make most tactical officers think twice tends to have that effect.”

There was a hint of self-deprecating humour in his voice.

“But concern isn’t the same as suspicion. My job is to notice the unfamiliar, not assume the worst of it.”

He stepped a little closer to the LCARS terminal, glancing briefly at the display before returning his attention to Serev.

“Ensign Merriadoc, Security Division.” He offered a respectful nod in return. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Third Officer Kael.”

The Shiarian’s description of Starfleet’s computers caused him to smile.

“I’ve never thought of them that way. To us they’re just… computers. I suppose it’s easy to overlook the things we see every day.”

Then came the question.

Merriadoc considered it carefully rather than answering immediately.

“I don’t know if there’s a perfect answer.”

His eyes briefly drifted down the corridor before settling back on the towering Shiarian.

“At the Academy they taught us that security isn’t about making people obey; it’s about making sure they can live their lives without having to think about danger all the time. If people only notice us when something has gone wrong, we’re probably doing our jobs.”

He folded his hands behind his back, unconsciously mirroring Serev’s posture.

“If they start fearing the people meant to protect them, then we’ve forgotten that we’re here to serve them, not control them. Starfleet officers carry weapons because sometimes we have to. We wear the uniform because we’d rather people remember the uniform than the weapon.”

A thoughtful smile crossed his face.

“I imagine your people may have a different philosophy. Given what little I’ve learned of the Shiarians, I’m genuinely curious how your officers earn the trust of those they protect.”

Lieutenant Thalos ch’Ravik(NE Merriadoc)
Chief Of Security
USS Merrimack

OOC: Repost . Krys if you wouldn’t mind when you have the time :-)

Lieutenant Thalos ch’Ravik
Chief Of Security
USS Merrimack

OOC: My apologies, I was LOA while ill this week.:)

IC:

Serev Kael listened without interruption, his silver eyes remaining on the young security officer. When Merriadoc finished, the Shiarian was silent for several moments, as though carefully weighing each word rather than simply hearing it. At length, he inclined his head.

“You speak with wisdom uncommon in one so early in service.” His gaze drifted briefly to the LCARS display before returning._ “If people only notice us when something has gone wrong…”_He repeated the phrase slowly to himself , committing it to memory.

“Among my people, we would call that successful vigilance.” One armored hand rested lightly against his breastplate. “Our Guardians are taught differently, though the destination is much the same. We are expected to be seen.”

The crystalline veins running through his armor pulsed softly with pale blue light. “Vey’lan remembers every voice that walks within her. We stand openly so our people know they are not alone. Presence can reassure as readily as it can intimidate. Learning which is required… that is the discipline.” His expression softened into the faintest smile.

“There are, regrettably, some who mistake fear for respect. Such officers rarely serve long under Over-Captain Taruun.”

He turned slightly, looking through a nearby viewport where the crystalline city glowed beyond the Merrimack’s hull.

“The strongest shield is not forged from armor or weapons. It is forged when those behind the shield trust the one who carries it.” Looking back to Merriadoc, he gave another respectful inclination of his head.

“It would seem your Academy and our Harmonies have arrived at similar truths by different paths.” His eyes settled briefly on the ensign’s security insignia.

“You noticed your uncertainty. You mastered it before it mastered you.” There was quiet approval in his voice. “That is the mark of a capable protector.”

After a brief pause, he gestured toward the LCARS console once more. “Perhaps, Ensign Merriadoc, you might continue our exchange by teaching me how your ship speaks.” His faint smile returned. “And in return, I shall explain how ours sings.”

GM Nosferatu
Your Darkest Nightmare

OOC: As David mentioned , there was no LCARS in this time so I made a minor adjustment to my post

IC: Merriadoc couldn’t help but smile at the comparison. The Third Officer carried himself with the confidence of someone who had spent years leading others, yet there was none of the arrogance he had half expected from someone encased in imposing battle armour. Instead, there was genuine curiosity.

“Thank you, Third Officer,” he replied. “I hope I can live up to your assessment.”

His gaze drifted for a moment to the crystalline world beyond the viewport before returning to the Shiarian.

“I think our captains would agree with that. Trust is difficult to earn… and remarkably easy to lose.”

Stepping alongside the computer terminal, he rested a hand lightly on the edge of the console.

“Our systems probably seem rather primitive by comparison,” he said with an amused smile. “Most of what you’re looking at is designed to be straightforward. Dedicated controls for specific functions, indicator lights to show system status, and computer displays to present information as it’s needed.”

He gestured towards the rows of coloured buttons and readouts.

“Every station aboard ship is laid out according to its purpose. Helm, navigation, engineering, sciences—they all follow familiar patterns so an officer can move between stations without having to relearn everything. The computer assists us, but it isn’t quite as… conversational as you’ve described yours.”

A faint chuckle escaped him.

“I’m afraid I’d better refrain from demonstrating any tactical or security functions. My chief would have a few pointed questions if I started giving a visitor a tour of those.”

His tone remained light, but his curiosity quickly resurfaced.

“You said your ships sing to one another. Was that a figure of speech, or do your systems actually communicate through harmonics? I’ve never encountered technology that works that way.”

Merriadoc folded his hands behind his back, his earlier uncertainty now entirely gone.

“If you don’t mind my asking, how long did it take your people to learn to trust technology that behaves so differently from ours? Every Starfleet officer grows up expecting computers to respond to commands. A vessel that sings…” He smiled. “…I imagine that takes some getting used to.”

Ensign Merri Adok
Security
USS Merrimack

OOC: I set up the character for you and you have ownership of it. So, you can change the name or surname and give him an age, weight, height, bio.

Dave