Maps or a Guide

Posted on Sun Apr 12th, 2020 @ 3:22am by Captain Gary Alexander & Karina Tell & Lieutenant JG Talia Flowers

1,550 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Mission 2 - Encounters of a First Kind
Location: Meeting Room
Timeline: 2168/07/27 1315

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Turning back to the table, he nodded at each person and said, "Let me tell you of the place you find yourselves, and then you can determine whether or not you wish us to accompany you." And also, Kense could determine whether it might be of mutual benefit for them to accompany the Horizon as well.

Clearing his throat, he reached into his belt to pull out a small flask. "To help soothe the voice." He warmed to his audience. "This could take a while..."

Nick looked at Kense and gestured to the door. “Main engineering is a few decks down. If you’ll come with me and Ciara, we can leave Fornen and the Captain to talk.”

Kense nodded and said, "I think that's best." She made a strange clucking sound in her throat that turned out to be laughter. "He wasn't exaggerating about it taking a while." If Kense knew anything, it was that Fornen was not afraid to talk. A lot.

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"Do you need something to drink?" Gary wondered. "We can supply you with many different sorts of beverages." He smiled warmly and excitedly at KAT and said, "Get Fornen anything that he would desire in terms of a drink." If only he could make this partnership work, he would have plenty to celebrate with KAT or Talia tonight and KAT in the morning.

Did he need something to drink? Fornen thought that was a fantastic question. "Cap. Ten." He nodded slowly, sliding his canteen back into the folds of his clothing. Like it never had been there. "No reason not to... partake of a host's hospitality."

He smiled and looked at the female that the Cap. Ten. had indicated. "Please, whatever drink you might suggest would be greatly appreciated."

KAT nodded, looked to the Captain and smiled briefly. They would be rationed for the moment, but if this arrangement worked out, they might not need to limit themselves as much as they first imagined. So, she decided to provide something special for their guest. Not just to impress him, but also to smooth the diplomatic connection between their species.

Water was the basic choice, but she decided to go with something a little more... interesting. "I'm not sure of your palate," said KAT politely, "But I'm hoping you enjoy this choice."

She moved to the refreshment area of the meeting room and poured a coffee, adding a splash of coffee liqueur, a cream-based liqueur and a topping of whipped cream for good measure.

Fornen's eyes lit up... he had never seen anything quite like what this female was making. He watched, fascinated. "What is this?" he asked in awe.

KAT smiled, blushing just a little, and said, "It's a specialty of mine, sir. I call it Coffee with a Kick."

"Kicking Coffee." Fornen smiled widely and took the beverage with both hands as though it were a religious artifact. He sipped it gingerly and smacked his lips. "Mmm." He took a second sip and let it sit on his tongue. It tingled. A good tingle though. Nothing life-threatening or dangerous.

Fornen swallowed and nodded, taking another sip for good measure. A comfortable buzz lit his head gently and he smiled. "Good." He indicated the drink. "Thank you."

Gary slightly raised his eyebrows at KAT. She seemed to be inspired about everything. "So, you were going to tell us about the neighborhood...."

"Ahhh, yes." Fornen said and placed his glass mug down within reach. He thought for a moment and realized that this was a fresh audience. An unsullied group of individuals who had no idea about anything. He could embellish... just a tad. After all, what was a story without some entertainment?

But something told him in the baser recesses of his mind that there was something balanced between them. Hanging by a thread. Openness and honesty would make that thread thicker... they could build something. And in the tenuous life of this place, allies, even alien ones, could prove to be the difference between life and death.

"Let me begin at the beginning..."

"That may be too far back. After all, we are new here. Maps, or yourselves as guides, or even just the politics.... Those would be very helpful things," Gary encouraged Foren, leaning forward.

Fornen's face fell, disappointed that his ramping up of dazzling discourse was pushed aside. But he supposed that he could tighten up his history lesson a bit. He took a bigger swig of the drink provided and swallowed it down with a hiccough.

Politics... More like restrained hostility dancing on the head of a pin. Balance. Teetering on the edge of gravity. "Maps, my partner is working with your partner to provide to you." He missed the map that he gave to Kense; it would provide a visual aid for territories and the like... but he would simply have to improvise.

"As for politics, Cap. Ten. That is a story of intrigue, conspiracy and a delicate balance between Factions." He considered how to begin, and it seemed the most logical to start with the largest. "The Consortium." His voice lowered reflexively as though the walls themselves would pipe out the message to those powers that be.

"They comprise of a wide variety of species and pretend to act like they're very concerned about the health and well-being of their citizens." He nodded and pressed his thumbs into his eyes gently, as though to rid himself of a headache. "Instead, they're more concerned with expanding their territory and power base in the Galaxy." However large that might be, it would certainly not reach the homes of those on board the Horizon.

Gary pressed his lips together, trying to ascertain the veracity of the alien and the use of the information he just received. "What areas do they control? And who is against them?"

Fornen sorely missed his map. "The Consortium has two opposing factions. Vanaja that deals in the money, and Sarota that manages all natural resources in the region." That he could answer for the moment. "As for areas?"

He looked at the door that his partner left through. "They are regularly updated on the map we possess." He shrugged, unfortunately caught without his most important prop. "The borders shift like the tide; small colonies, shifting trade routes, spatial anomalies... all of these things change sometimes from breath to breath, Cap. Ten."

He hoped that his verbal explanation would suffice until they'd finished with the map device. "But some things remain the same." He breathed in deeply and let it out slowly. "Like The Tar."

"The Tar?" Gary asked confused. "What is the Tar?"

"Korflidia Targon, Cap. Ten." Fornen responded. "We call it, The Tar."

"The planet you sent the Away Mission to, Captain," said KAT helpfully.

"Ah, yes.... I had forgotten. Thank you, KAT." He then turned to Fornen. "Apparently it changed a bit today, as we met because of it, Fornen?" Gary gave the alien a warm smile. "Is there a place that you would recommend that we go? Find resources? And would you like to come with us?"

Hmm... Fornen considered. Where might a large group of never-seen-before aliens with matching clothing and an appetite for knowledge be able to acquire what they need with relatively low threat levels....?

"One place springs to mind, Cap. Ten." Fornen's smile broke out on his face. He was... an Ambassador of a sort for this entire Galaxy. It would be best if he eased everyone into this arrangement. And his fence for all things salvageable might be a great first place to go...

Why is this alien milking it? I need information, not drama. "And what is that and where is it, Fornen?"

Fornen looked at the Cap. Ten. He wondered what was wrong with his communication skills. Did he not understand the finer points of conversation?

Fornen sighed and imagined himself in that same situation, with untold masses of aliens popping into an unknown place. Cap. Ten. He was in charge it seemed. And responsible too, he surmised.

"A planetary system that is close by. Relatively speaking." He nodded and looked outside the ship through one of the windows. He used three of his hands to triangulate the space and pointed to a small blueish dot. "There." Fornen turned, proud of himself that he came to some conclusion in a brief manner. Not an easy feat.

"It is called ((I almost typed Druidia... but no, I'm NOT going to do that...lol)) Sarota Prime." Now if they could find that in their own database as it coordinated with theirs? Then they could get there in one piece and without much incident. "It is the central place for all resources."

"Central place? Is it controlled by any of the groups that you spoke of?"

"It is in Sarota's territory but has all factions equally represented. For balance of power."

'And a little intrigue as well,' thought Fornen. Neutrality was a double-edged sword.

"Interesting," Gary replied. "Fornen, how about you, Ms. Flowers, and Ms. Bullock take a small tour of the ship? Would you like that?"

Fornen clicked and nodded. "Thank you, Cap. Ten. I would like that very much."

Gary stood up and watched as Talia and Jennifer left with their guest.

 

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