Silently Arriving

Posted on Sun Jan 15th, 2023 @ 6:51pm by Ensign L'johk Adams & Lieutenant Commander Tiandith 'Tia' Tobru & Lieutenant JG Lyras

1,084 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 5 - Objects In Motion
Location: Shuttle Cockpit

ON

Ensign Adams had been at the helm for the last few hours while the others got some rest, or as much as they could given the cramped facilities the shuttle had for its crew. He had to admit, he found the craft quite impressive though. Higher warp speed that one would have thought, manoeuvrability - she could turn on a pin head. She did lack in armaments and the aforementioned crew amenities but in truth, his Klingon half was somewhat enamoured by the craft.

"Adams to Tobru and Lyras. We are a few minutes away from entering planetary atmosphere!" he spoke into the internal comm, encouraging them both to come to the cockpit. The hazy atmosphere a sickly yellow colour, a lightning storm in the area of the landing site and the city they needed to be in.

Lyras rubbed his eyes as he sat up. "Well, here we go," he muttered as he got to his feet and sauntered forward. "What is our ETA?" he asked as he dropped himself into the co-pilot's seat, despite his inability to fly this particular craft.

"We should be touching down in about... oh... Six minutes. Give or take a few direct lightning strikes!" Adams jested, the intended mirth not really touching his eyes or smile as he focused intently on the navigation console "lets just brace for impact in case!"

Truth is Tia rarely got a rested sleep but as she got more comfortable in her new reality that had started to change. Moving into the cockpit she looked out the window over Adams and pursed her lips. "Gives us 6 minutes to gear up and get ready to disembark." she commented stepping back. Hanging up she saw her long red leather coat and a soft smile formed on her lips as she placed a hand on it.

"Shuttle Kraz'zeheen to Lozari Space port" Adams spoke in his native Klingon tongue. "We will be touching down in six minutes!"

"Acknowledge Kraz'zeheen. Landing bay three is ready. Have your docking fee's ready, we accept latinum only!"

The line closed and Tia shook her head and rolled her eyes. Ports like these never changed and even back in her own universe latinum was still a constant. The Ferengi had even carved out a nice little market for themselves running financial institutions for the Dominion.

"Good thing I have some then." she said as the shuttle descended towards the landing pad. "So, are we clear on what we are doing?" she asked the other 2.

"Get in, find out what we can about these unconfirmed reports about some kind of weapon and get out?" Adams asked absently, still a little shaky on the details himself but his focus was entirely on not getting them killed on their approach to Lozari Space port.

"As Humans say, that's it in a nutshell. Strange saying..." Tia thought out loud.

There was a loud clunk as the shuttle hit the landing pad. "Open the rear doors, L'johk. No ranks from here on out, names only."

The doors hissed open and the smell that met them was one that made your nose sting. Whether that be a mixture of the smells of foods, some industrial tents or just the smell of so many species mixed into one place... or maybe it was the large Klingon that met them at their hatch. "Latinum." he said simply with a grunt.

Tia passed over the agreed amount and put some extra on top so they could pass into the market place quicker and get on task. "I hope Voltar (the city) is a bit more open plan." Tia commented hoping the air would move around a bit more and get the current smell out from her nose.

Lyra's followed at a slower pace, not quite sure how he was supposed to act. In a way, this was his first proper away mission and he had to pretend to be something other than what he really was. At least, he reasoned, he was probably allowed to show his Romulan side more often? "So do I," he echoed, trying to show an air of confidence he sure didn't feel.

L'ojhK followed the pair, towering over them both but made a concerted effort to hide his usual cheerful disposition and leaned into the gruff and imposing nature of his Klingon half.
"Lighten up kid" she said to Lyras. "You stick out like a sore thumb!"

As they quickly managed to find their way out of the space port the city of Voltar fell beneath their eyes. Unfortunately the smells did not dissipate as street vendors now added to the mix with their mixture of otherworldly delights and treats.

One moved towards Tia and she ended up parting with some latinum for some Sower Strips.

"According to reports there is a bar down the end of this strip called The Wyrm. It is said to be good for finding out information we may need to get what we came for." Tia spoke nodding in the direction the bar.

"Then we should probably find a quiet corner where we can listen in on conversations," Lyras suggested, resisting the urge to wrinkle his nose as a wide variety of scents assaulted his senses. "Unless we are required to engage in conversation?"

"My understanding is we need to find out what we can by any means necessary!" L'johK added, eyeing up the food vender as they passed. He had to admit, his human half was disgusted by the sights and smells... His Klingon half however was more than a little interested in what a Gormagander skewer actually tasted like. "Correct me if I'm wrong but Gormagander are an endangered space whale right?"

"I do not know," Lyras admitted as he too glanced around the present edibles, "nor would I ever consume it, I am a vegetarian." He had followed the hybrid Klingon's gaze towards one of the vendors. "Would you, if it were endangered?"

"You've seen the forehead right?" the taller, broader hybrid laughed drawing attention to his Klingon heritage and by extension the atypical Klingon cuisine that his people often enjoyed.

"Yes..." Lyras answered, his expression quizzical, "what does that have to do with consuming endangered species?"

Once again Adams laughed, feeling his Klingon side really starting to come out given his surroundings. He clapped a hand on Lyras' shoulder and started to lead him into the bar.
"How have you managed to out rank me but still be so green!"

OFF

 

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