After leaving Jason’s office, Fin took a few minutes to walk far enough away and turn a corner so as not to be observed by the XO. She wasn’t really happy about the choice of assignments the Admiral had given her, but she was disciplined enough to make a go of it. Mado. Apparently, he was the one to fill her in on exactly what was going on. Jason wanted to impress her with his position, but she’d grown tired of the banter. She needed answers.

=/\=Computer, locate Lt (?) Mado.=/\=

(response)

Fin had only been on board a couple of hours, but too much time had passed. She usually found the ‘source’ who gave her the necessary information for the job, within the first thirty minutes of being near them. She shook her head, disappointed with herself. She’d let Jason distract her with the rum.

‘That won’t happen again’, she murmured, as she headed in a direction that would lead her to Mado.
—Fin, CIO

The deck plates vibrated in s rhythmic fashion and the ship could be heard to grown, a shadow fell across the floor and wall ahead as something ominous occluded the light.
Soon a scaled snout fallowed buy meter long head fallowed the shadow into the corridor. The creature froze as the pupil of the fist sized Amber eye dilated In surprise. Quickly returning to its normal slit, the beast took another step forward as its head turned on it’s sinuous neck so as to gage the distance to it’s prey.

In a flash the head rose, its crest lifting and the color of its face changing from emerald green to a lighter shade. “ Excuse me, Lieutenant.” Came the Deep resonant voice, felt as much as heard and vaguely reminiscent of a crow or parrot imitating human speech. The massive Gnal, surly the largest ever seen in the fleet retreated back into the side passage.

“Morning Bright”

Fin was caught completely off guard by the sight, which was nearly impossible to do. She stood, rooted to a spot in the corridor wondering if she’d had a stroke that produced a hallucination. With her mouth still open with surprise, she stepped up to the side passage and looked into it. It was still there, a massive lizard thing that stood on its hind legs. Had it really spoken to her?

Totally unsure of what was happening, Fin faced the creature. “By all that’s holy, what are you?” There was a little awe in her voice when she spoke.

—Fin, CIO

The massive head cocked to the side slightly, with the initial shock residing, one could see the blue collar and ensign’s pip as well as the black uniform draped over the Gnal’s back. “I am a Gnal of the Arklash phenotype, Lieutenant. Their are others in the Fleet, but I believe they are all Fejjimereht, and thus much smaller than I.” It was clear his ‘voice’ originated in residence chambers in his skull as his lips didn’t move. His crest twitched alternating from half to one quarter height as he spoke. “Morning Bright” extended a clawed hand in the human greeting known as a ‘hand shake’ the curved talons raised above the finder pads, the structure much like a Terran feline, but rather than covered in a fury sheath these were exposed at the ends of long fingers and a thumb.

“Morning Bright.

Still marveling at the creature, Fin held out her hand. The two shook awkwardly as she continued to take in his appearance. “I am not familiar with the Gnal, but I will correct that as soon as I make it to my quarters and have a chance to do some research.” She let her hand drop back to her side. “I am Fihnrilkk’Hob”ledn-ardol, a Cam h’lan”, newly assigned to the Wolverine. Most peo…most beings call me Fin.”

Over the decades of her life, she had survived in many types of bodies, but nothing like the creature in front of her. The thought crossed her mind that to possess the size and power of the Gnal, even for a short time, would be wondrous. On the heels of that realization, Fin wondered if she would even be ‘able’ to take command of its intelligence, as that was necessary for her to control the outcome of the joining.

—Fin, CIO

“ Fihnrilkk’Hob”ledn-ardol, a Cam h’lan, a pleasure..” again the deep mimic bird like voice pronouncing her name with ease.”The UT is rather literal in the translation of my name, the Ship’s surgeon insists on calling me ‘Morning’Tho ‘Dawn’ would be more accurate.” A darkening if his face, perhaps a blush?” Tho among those I served with before the academy found that translation humorous.”
At this closer view one could see that his uniform consisted of a rigid blue collar and a black cape laying over his back.

Morning Bright.

“Most cannot pronounce my name because they lack the breath for it. The UT and you have done it flawlessly.” She couldn’t quite take her eyes off the magnificent creature before her. Everywhere she looked, there were new details to take in. “Names are very important on my world, so I offer you this. Simply tell me what name you prefer to be called, and I shall endeavor to use it. It doesn’t matter if others use it or understand it. It will have meaning to you.”

—Fin, CIO

“ I do not breath as you do, so it is easy enough, tho I struggle with the higher register.” The deep notes and sub Sonics travels much farther in both air and water, native ganglia sounded much like wale song crossed with that of the great pachyderms.

“I have become used to Morning Bright, but find others find it formal. Dawn would be fine, unless you find something else, a nickname or handle you prefer.” As they spoke his head lowered to a point some what lower than his hips. It appeared to be a natural and relaxed posture, but it certainly betrayed his predatory nature. “Is there a nickname you prefer?” Morning bright’s head swinging to the other side so as to asses his companion from the other eye.

Morning Bright

“Fin is fine for now but I will think on a more suitable name for you.” Not meaning any disrespect with the comment, she continued. “You appear to be a fierce creature with a very gentle name. I believe humans call that a paradox?”

Her eyes continued to roam over him taking in every detail they could. “Are you a warrior?”

—Fin, CIO