MISSION POST: Shi Maro Space Station - Day 47 - OPEN

[enterprise_npc]

The air was one of breathless anticipation as all off duty personnel - military and civilian, Aian and Marosi - lined the viewports to watch the Starfleet ship come in to dock. Murmurs raced through the watching crowd at her strange design, at the unfamiliar words emblazoned across her hull

Comments

[nyota_uhura24]

This is not good. The moment Nyota walked into the hall, she felt a sharp spike of panic. The visiting delegation was from the Enterprise. She'd expected them to be from one of the vassal planets, and thus had actually been rather relieved that she'd be safe for a few hours. No one was going to attack her at a diplomatic function. She was still trying to convince both those loyal to the Aian Alliance and those who favored a separate Marosian movement that she supported their respective causes. Playing the two parties certainly minimized suspicion that she wasn't actually part of the militia, but it was still immensely dangerous

[enterprise_npc]

He sized up the stuttering green man for a moment before dismissing him. "The orders issued were quite explicit," he said flatly, pinning the specialist with a look that dared her to attempt to argue; "You have no business with this man."

[nyota_uhura24]

David's performance was convincing enough, the nerves no doubt real. She kept her eyes on the Commander, bowing again in apology. "My humblest apologies, sir. He made a comment that led me to believe I might be able to convince him to tell me more about the Federation's intentions." It was tempting to profess her doubt of the Federation's motives, but she didn't want to overstate the case. Too many excuses would sound suspicious, not to mention that it would be a rude way to speak to a superior officer.

[enterprise_npc]

Varan Andryosha had been orbiting the crowd cautiously after parting ways with that rather charming Orion lieutenant, when an acquaintance of his caught his eye. He didn't know the woman well - she'd only transferred to the Maros An garrison recently, and he didn't have especially much to do with the cryptography specialists in any case - but something about the way she stood, quiet and wary against the wall as though trying to think herself invisible, seemed odd to him.

"Specialist Kerin," he greeted her in Aian, inclining his head slightly. No need for formality; they were after all acquainted, and of the same rank besides. "Enjoying the party?" he asked with an edge of sardonic amusement.

[nyota_uhura24]

Nyota didn't at all feel like casual conversation with fellow Aian soldiers, but hopefully it would make her less noticeable - and at least she hadn't been spotted by one of the Enterprise crew. "Corporal Andryosha," she replied in Aian, inclining her head in greeting. "Not even remotely. I don't trust these so-called negotiators. I think they're hiding the real reason they're here." Being overly suspicious was usually a good way to divert suspicion away from oneself. Her eyes scanned the room again, ostensibly because she distrusted the newcomers. Then she glanced back at him, a slightly mistrustful look in her eyes. "And you?"

[enterprise_npc]

He shrugged eloquently and flashed a grin. "Would it be poor form for me to comment on how improbably attractive the entire delegation seems to be?" he asked brightly. Not that he'd paid more than the most superficial lip service to protocol the entire night...but then that had actually worked out quite well. He wasn't particularly perturbed by her apparent paranoia. Cryptologists. They were all a bit odd.

"I do agree with you though," he added, looking out over the crowd with a thoughtful air. The woman he'd spoken to had all but admitted as much...in a deliberately vague and circuitous manner, of course, but that had been the nature of the conversation as a whole. There had been a certain amount of reading between the lines going on.

[nyota_uhura24]

She raised an eyebrow at the grin. "Would it be poor form for me to comment that perhaps you ought to pay attention to motivations rather than appearances?" Playing the paranoid cryptographer had worked for her before, and was a persona she'd cultivated. Around people she'd known longer she sometimes acted more relaxed, but Corporal Andryosha was new to the garrison. Still, there was the faintest hint of a mirth at his comment. It was, of course, a delicate balance to strike. She didn't want to be so standoffish that people didn't trust her, but distance had its uses. And people tended to trust the careful officers more when it came to sensitive information. "Though perhaps it is not the strangers we should be worried about," she answered.

[enterprise_npc]

"Very possibly," he replied blithely. Not that he was particularly opposed to being misjudged, however unfairly. There were no end to the situations in which being underestimated was useful. He'd taken advantage of being seen as shallow and thoughtless before.

He raised an eyebrow at her, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I do hope you're not implying anything anything about the integrity of our chain of command," he said; "Now that would be very poor form indeed."

[nyota_uhura24]

She merely nodded when he agreed with her. It was quite possible that despite his almost carefree attitude he was as suspicious as she was pretending to be, but she saw no reason to press the matter.

"I would never suggest such a thing," she replied, raising an eyebrow in response and letting a hint of amusement creep into her eyes. "Surely we have the most loyal chain of command in existence."

[enterprise_npc]

"Oh, of course," he agreed with a fairly spurious air of innocence, "I can't imagine anyone ever questioning that."

[nyota_uhura24]

She allowed a small smile at that. "If anyone ever did, you'd have to assume they were simply making a joke. And have you not noticed, Corporal, that there are many in our garrison who tell such jokes?"

[enterprise_npc]

He shrugged. "It is in the nature of even the most loyal soldier to complain. The difficulty lies in separating harmless jokes from genuine resentment."

[nyota_uhura24]

She nodded, as if her were imparting sage wisdom. "Very true. Do you always find yourself sure that the words you hear belong to the former category?"

[enterprise_npc]

"It's not my job to speculate," he replied evenly. The nor is it yours went unspoken. Not that this was necessarily strictly true; pointless intrigue was one of the many joys of a posting like Maros An.

[nyota_uhura24]

"But of course," she answered dryly. "And it might take away from our enjoyment of the Enterprise's very attractive crew." Her eyes scanned the crowd. "They're an interesting group, to be sure," she mused.

[enterprise_npc]

"This is very true," he agreed, blithely ignoring any further implications about his professionalism or lack thereof. "An odd mix. I wasn't expecting so many nonhumans."