The More Things Change - Part I

Posted on Wed Oct 8th, 2025 @ 9:56am by Commander Marisa Sandoval & Lieutenant C'Mila Juli & Captain Thorrin & Major Hastios Eilfaren
Edited on on Thu Oct 9th, 2025 @ 10:35pm

1,606 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: In The Nick Of Time
Location: The Planet Kroat
Timeline: MD004 1800 hrs
Tags:

Marisa--or M'lessa--was the first to arrive in the transporter room, her hair was now in a traditional Vulcan style. Her posture was more regal--more Vulcan--than normal to go with her new name and background.

Juli, now under the name Meera Joshti had quickly changed her hair color to jet black for the mission and on first glance was thinking of keeping it. She joined the first officer in the transporter room, carrying only the essentials as directed. She felt a little naked without her usual gadgets, as she was often bringing extra tools with her when she was called to away missions.

She smiled when she saw Marisa. "Hello Commander. Thanks for including me. I'm looking forward to this."

Marisa inclined her head in acknowledgement of the thanks and smiled back. "As am I."

Hastios came into the transporter room tugging at the tight yellow naval uniform he had on. He mumbled something about the Starfleet not tailoring for more broad sized men as he looked up. He felt constricted, a little suffocated. He had decided on the name Aranis, a nod to an old friend he once knew and to go simply by one name made things easier. Looking at the two women, he gave a shrug as his clothing creaked, the stretch of it almost wanting to give out. "I tried a bigger size but it still clung to me like a Ferengi on latinum. You'd think the computer could take my measurements better." he sighed.

"When we return to the ship, I can help you get a proper fit," Marisa said, trying not to smile. He looked uncomfortable and she wanted to help him be more at ease the next time, as she hoped there would be more than one trip to the planet.

Marisa looked from Hastios to Jules. "If you are both ready, we should beam down and meet with the premier."

Hastios gave the collar a final tug, his expression one of grim irritation. “I’ll take you up on that if this thing doesn’t split by the end of the meeting,” he muttered to Marisa. “Though I doubt the premier wants me turning up mid-negotiation looking like the Incredible Mugato.” He gave Jules a brief nod. “New look suits you. Wouldn’t have clocked you straight away.”

He stepped onto the transporter pad with a sigh, rolling his shoulders. “Let’s get this over with. I’ve had friendlier conversations with Jem’Hadar than some of these diplomats. The sooner we’re done playing dress-up and pretending to care about protocol, the sooner I can get back into proper kit.” He cracked his neck. “Ready to go.”

Marisa joined him, ready to transport as soon as Jules joined them.

Jules had a skip to her step as she stepped onto the transporter. She grinned at Hastios. "Thanks, I'm thinking of keeping it."

Petty Officer Fox Delany, the temporal transporter chief manned his post with a smile. He did not recall ever seeing people so excited for a mission. "Commander when you are ready. I have the coordinates from the planet. You will be placed in the central square of their capital city. A representative of the Premier will be there to meet you."

"Excellent." Marisa nodded to Petty Officer Delany. "Beam us down."

"Yes Commander and in case you have never used a temporal transporter before. The transport takes a tad longer than the normal transporter. Coordinate locked on. Time index synched. Energizing." Delany said and then engaged the faders on the transporter console. A green colored light encircled the three officers and in a moment they were gone.

Chaldok the first minister of the Premier stood in the square. He hated tasks such as these as he was not cut out to be a diplomat. He was an idea man, and a man of action not a man of words. The green light and the high pitched sound brought him out of his internal rant and into the present. He had never seen people such as the ones who stood before him. He was sure they had never seen anyone like him either. His large bushy eyebrows perked up and fluttered in the wind as he looked at them. "Morning travelers and welcome to Kroat. I am Chaldok, First Minister to Premier Dascov." He placed his hand on his chest and bowed a sign of reverence to these newcomers. Chaldok took note of the clothing that they wore, they were uniforms and where there were uniforms there was a military, and where there was military there was weapons.

Marisa bowed. "Greetings. I am M'lessa, first officer of the Starship Herodotus. This is Aranis, my chief of security and Meera, my chief science officer. We have come in response to the distress call we received. While you say you did not send it, we wish to have a closer look to ensure there is nothing that requires our assistance."

Hastios inclined his head with a respectful nod as Marisa introduced the team.

“Minister.” The greeting was simple but sincere, his tone calm and even.

He remained just behind and to the side of Marisa, hands clasped behind his back in a neutral stance. As she spoke, he let his gaze quietly sweep the square, noting the layout, nearby observers, and the subtle shift in Chaldok’s expression when he glanced at their uniforms.

He didn’t speak further—Marisa had command of the exchange, and the fewer voices, the better. Still, when the Minister’s eyes lingered again, Hastios met the look with quiet steadiness. Not a challenge—just awareness.

If words were needed, he’d use them. Until then, silence suited him just fine.

"Distress Call? I do not believe there has been a distress call." Chaldok began with a rather perplexed look on his face. Not only did he not believe that there was a distress call. He was sure that there was not one. "Ah, yes the Premier informed me that you were interested in something along those lines. Well, for the time being that may have to wait. I have instructions to take you to the Premier's residence where you can discuss this directly with him. But, before we go there if you would like some refreshments. We have the finest outdoor market you will find anywhere."

"No, thank you," M'lessa replied politely but firmly. "We prefer to go directly to the Premier's residence and speak with him. Please escort us and remain for the discussion. While we do not believe there is anything seriously amiss, we would like to complete our business and move on." She assumed the minister would know why they were there, but if not, she preferred that he stay with them for this first visit. Just to avoid him spreading any rumors while they were still here.

Juli stayed quiet during the exchanges, silently following the Commander's lead. She was disappointed to see the resistance that they were apparently facing, and had concerns that they wouldn't be given the access they were looking for, but was prepared to wait and watch as the situation evolved.

"Very well. Follow me if you please." Chaldok replied and proceeded to lead the Away Team down the long central street toward a rather tall tower that seemed to be made of marble or granite. "This is the seat of the planetary government. The safest place on the planet without a doubt."

When they arrived at the door to the tower the group was challenged by a rather large imposing guard. "Area secure. Identity verify." The guard spoke with his arms folded across his chest. There were two other guards who held their hands on the handles of their firearms. "I am First Minister Chaldok with me is the team from the Herodotus. We are to see the Premier." The guard gave them all a once over and then ushered them through the door.

M'lessa inclined her head in acknowledgement and continued past the guard. Privately, she thought Hastios was more imposing.

Hastios followed in silence, sparing the armed guards a brief glance—not out of concern, but assessment. His expression didn’t shift, but one brow ticked upward ever so slightly as they passed. He made no effort to puff up or posture—he didn’t need to.

He was already calculating choke points, cover options, and how quickly he could disarm each of them if it came to that. A habitual scan—but this time, sharper than usual.

He didn’t like the way the guards looked at Marisa. Didn’t like that they looked at her at all.

Not that she needed protection. But that didn’t stop the instinct.

Juli regarded the entire experience with an almost morbid curiosity. She probably should have been more intimidated than she was, but she simply gave the guards similar attention in return, also giving them the once over as they were allowed to pass, holding back a smirk.

(To be continued...)

<
Captain Thorrin
Commanding Officer
USS Herodotus DTI-30656


Major Hastios Eilfaren
Chief Security & Tactical Officer
Second Officer
USS Herodotus DTI-30656


Commander Marisa Sandoval
Executive Officer
USS Herodotus DTI-30656


Lieutenant C'amila Juli
Chief Science Officer
USS Herodotus DTI-30656

 

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