The More Things Change - Part II
Posted on Thu Oct 9th, 2025 @ 10:40pm by Commander Marisa Sandoval & Lieutenant C'Mila Juli & Captain Thorrin & Major Hastios Eilfaren
Edited on on Thu Oct 9th, 2025 @ 11:28pm
1,538 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
In The Nick Of Time
Location: The Planet Kroat
Timeline: MD004 1800 hrs
[PREVIOUSLY]
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.
[CONTINUED]
Moments later they were in the Grand Presence Chamber. The Premier sat at a dais of sorts. He was alone and surrounded by various documents. At his right hand sat a large silver stamp on a wooden platform. Chaldok stepped in front of the group and placed his hand on his chest and bowed. "Premier I have brought you the team from the USS Herodotus as requested. I present to you Commander M'lessa the ship's First Officer, Major Aranis the ship's Chief Security Officer, and Lieutenant Meera Joshti the Chief Science Officer." He motioned to each officer as he made the introductions and then returned to a bow when he was finished.
"Thank you First Minister. Please have a seat. I am sure what is said here is of equal concern to you and the Grand Council. Now, I am sure you have traveled far and I would be an ill host if the offer was not made. Shall you have refreshment while we talk?" The Premier seemed to be in a jovial mood and had a smile on his face. This seemed to be in contrast to the image that was on the Herodotus' viewscreen earlier.
M'lessa looked around the chamber as they entered, noting the size of the room, the furnishings, and the exits. As she was introduced, she gave the Premier a courteous half bow.
"Thank you, but no," she replied to his offer of refreshment. "We would prefer to discuss our business as we do not wish to take too much of your valuable time."
Juli's movements toward her seat, were slow and deliberate as she tried to take in as much information from the room around her. Breadcrumbs, hints, any clues into the society that existed here now - whatever now meant anymore.
Hastios followed the others into the chamber, his broad frame cutting a steady line as his eyes swept the space. The grandeur had weight to it—ornate décor that reminded him faintly of old Earth palaces he’d once visited in another lifetime, Tsarist halls dressed to impress. But beneath the shine, he was cataloguing exits, guard positions, and anything that might turn from decoration to hazard.
The buffet caught his eye only briefly. He didn’t move toward it, didn’t even feign interest. This wasn’t a social call, no matter how fine the fruit was arranged. He stayed close enough to Marisa to be a presence at her shoulder, letting silence and stillness do their work.
When the Premier finished his offer and Marisa gave her polite refusal, Hastios inclined his head, his voice steady but edged just enough to press the point. “Direct business is best. We didn’t travel this far for appetisers.”
Then he settled back into silence, hands clasped behind him, but his eyes never stopped moving—watching the Premier, watching the chamber, and most of all, watching the way they watched her.
The Premier raised an eyebrow it seemed that these Starfleet types did not stand on hospitality. No matter, it was something of note however. "Very well straight to business. It seems that you and your ship, as well as a Starfleet vessel prior to your arrival reports a distress signal originating from my planet. I can assure you that no such signal has been created. As you can see there is no sign of problem, or unrest on this planet. My people are well cared for and enjoy their life. I would like to state for the record that we do appreciate Starfleet checking in on us and hope that in due time we can join your great Federation. Now, tell me what can we do to assuage your worries, and allow you to get back to the exploration of the galaxy."
Juli had a few thoughts, but held her tongue as she waited to follow the first officer's lead.
"We respect that," Marisa said. "We do not wish to cause offense to you or your people. We do, however, request permission to investigate the location of the transmission to see if we can discover where the signal originally came from."
"Permission is granted with one condition. We would ask that you take our Science Counsel with you. We would like to know what is going on here just as much as you would." The Premier would insist that the Counsel be allowed to go. Fact was, they knew what the transmission was and it would be up to the Counsel to make sure that the Herodotus' crew did not learn that secret.
Hastios didn’t sit. He let the Premier finish, then angled a fraction closer to Marisa shoulder—supporting, not overshadowing.
“Premier,” he said evenly, “for an investigation this narrow, a small footprint is safer and faster. How many people are you proposing when you say ‘Science Counsel’?”
A beat, just enough pressure.
“A single designated liaison from your scientific authority would be more appropriate. We’ll share our sensor logs and findings in full, but a larger party complicates site security, chain-of-custody, and—frankly—keeps us in the square answering questions instead of at the source answering yours.”
His gaze held, calm and unblinking.
“If you insist on oversight, appoint one liaison. We’ll brief them on arrival and keep you updated throughout.” He glanced to Marisa, ceding the call back to his commander.
Marisa appreciated Hastios' words, and his presence. There was something going on here that made her edgy, but she couldn't place it. An undercurrent of...something. It could just be the Premier himself, but whatever it was or wasn't, they needed to be careful. "Agreed. We do not wish to take your science council from more important duties. This will be a brief visit. One representative will be sufficient to report the results of our research."
"One person is all that is needed or requested. Would you like to leave now or in the morning?" The Premier could tell that this Aranis would be the problem. He would inform Desray to take care of him and all of them if needed.
There was definitely something going on here. It was as much a feeling as the covert glances, but she didn't think they could be trusted. "We would like to go now," Marisa replied. "We will also send another team later." She did not say when that later would be.
"Very well. Any other teams that arrive must check in with our Security forces before they can proceed." The Premier said with a tone that bilked no contestation. He then snapped his fingers and a rather tall female Kroat stepped forward. She wore basic clothing that was in the tones one would be used to if they worked in a lab constantly. The only fancy addition to her clothing was a gold badge of office affixed to her right shoulder. "This is Nagla our Science Counsel. She will accompany you." The woman stepped forward to join the group of Starfleet Officers.
Marisa gave a Vulcan bow to the Premier and Nagla. "Thank you." The more time she spent with the Kroats, the less she liked them. It didn't mean they were behind the distress call or the temporal issues, but it did mean she would have to watch her back.
Marisa took a step closer to Hastios as they prepared to make their way out. Juli followed close behind.
Hastios inclined his head slightly in acknowledgement of the Premier’s choice, though his eyes lingered on Nagla for a moment longer than courtesy required. He didn’t trust the ease with which she’d been produced, neat and ready—as if waiting in the wings.
As she stepped forward, his gaze flicked past her to the guards. They exchanged a glance—brief, sharp, but enough. The kind of look men gave when they already knew how the next move was meant to play out.
Falling into step beside Marisa, his voice was pitched low, meant for her ear alone. “One liaison is manageable. Still… we watch her hands as closely as her words.”
He straightened, expression unreadable once more as they moved to depart, every line of his posture making clear that until they were off-world again, he’d remain a wall at Marisa’s shoulder.
A post by
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
RSS Feed