ST:SoD311 | "Beginnings and Endings"

Stardate 390132.9

When the Latenter intervenes to save what they believe to be refugees at the mercy of the approaching Darkness, Mischa is subject to an unexpected temporal experience...

---

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T'Lana@anncaris | P'JEM SYSTEM

T'Lana@anncaris | STARDATE 390132.9

T'Lana@anncaris | The glows of three Ditean ships can be seen, though unlike the one taken out by the Venator in our own time, they are glowing bright yellow instead of red, a colour which is an exact match for -

T'Lana@anncaris - the star of the P'Jem system in the background

T'Lana@anncaris | Behind the Ditean ships are a number of other vessels. A few seem to be the Starfleet designs of the current era, including ships we have seen among the Survivors, as well as designs that we -

T'Lana@anncaris - haven't yet seen, but clearly fit the visual aesthetic of this incarnation of Starfleet

T'Lana@anncaris FX | https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/startrek/images/7/7c/Nautilus_at_Earth.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20201231131149

T'Lana@anncaris | Others are clearly freighters and transport designs from their long shapes and far less elegant design

T'Lana@anncaris | Others yet appear to have a Vulcan aesthetic, though they are no Vulcan class we are familiar with

T'Lana@anncaris FX | https://i.pinimg.com/474x/1c/53/45/1c534501c278b6aad524d722ee1ae477--star-trek--star-trek-ships.jpg

T'Lana@anncaris | Apertures open from the front of all three glowing ships. The glow fades slightly, though still obscuring the view of the ship as all three disappear inside. The rest of the ships follow in -

T'Lana@anncaris - one by one until the entirety of the small fleet is gone, and the apertures close

T'Lana@anncaris | The camera pans over, past the M-class planet of P'Jem to the outer reaches of the system

T'Lana@anncaris | There is a flicker as we pass through the cloaking field and into the bridge of the Latenter, where the crew are at work on their consoles with Mischa in the command chair

T'Lana@anncaris | T'Fel: "All Ditean ships are gone."

T'Lana@anncaris | T'Bee: "The anomaly is continuing towards the system at a steady rate. At current speeds, it will reach the star in 22 hours and 15 minutes."

Mischa@crystyl:"Scanners clear on all fronts?"

T'Lana@anncaris | T'Bee: "Affirmative. There are no ships or energy signatures remaining in the system. The planet has been entirely evacu...curious."

Mischa@crystyl looks over, "The planet has been avacurious?" she teases

T'Lana@anncaris | T'Bee: "No, the planet was reading devoid of sentient lifeforms only a few minutes ago when the Diteans departed. However, I appear to be picking up several lifeforms which were not present -

T'Lana@anncaris - before."

Mischa@crystyl:"Coincidental timing... who or what are we looking at?"

T'Lana@anncaris | T'Bee: "They appear to be Vulcan lifesigns...and more are emerging on sensors as we speak."

Mischa@crystyl:"Presumably taking the opportunity to separate themselves from the Diteans. Are they all in one area?"

T'Lana@anncaris | T'Bee: "Affirmative. They are concentrated in the monastery. However, I can find no means for them to depart the planet. There are no shuttles or ships remaining."

Mischa@crystyl sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose, "So these will be the steadfast monks who defy all logic by staying behind I suppose..."

T'Lana@anncaris raises a brow, "Vulcan monks are expected to show a greater degree of logic than this. I understand this is not our mission, but perhaps we may be able to convince them to evacuate and relocate -

T'Lana@anncaris - them to safety?"

Mischa@crystyl nods, "We can't in good conscience just leave them there. Are we able to open a channel to the monastery?"

T'Lana@anncaris | Victoria taps her console, "I am attempting to hail them, but there is no response."

Mischa@crystyl:"I am not surprised" looks over to TL, "Well, guess we're doing this the hard way"

T'Lana@anncaris nods, "I will change to my field equipment and meet you in the transporter room."

Mischa@crystyl stands, "Victoria, you have the conn" and heads out

—

T'Lana@anncaris | Mischa and T'Lana materialize on the inside of the P'Jem monastery. It is still daytime and some light streams in from the windows, but the place looks completely empty. There is not a soul to -

T'Lana@anncaris - be seen, and all the candles and braziers aren't lit

Mischa@crystyl takes out her tricorder and begins scanning, "Have you ever visited here before?"

T'Lana@anncaris nods, "Once, when I was quite young, but even in this timeline so far into the future, there are still elements which seem familiar to me. I suppose even now the Vulcans are a highly traditional -

T'Lana@anncaris - people."

T'Lana@anncaris | Mischa's tricorder shows no sign of the lifesigns T'Bee mentioned

Mischa@crystyl nods, "I came here once too. One of my first shore leave getaways after starting a desk job at HQ. I had quite the fancy for archaeology back then, and given the mutual interest with the history of-

Mischa@crystyl - this place, I thought I would come and try to rediscover the old spy network buried beneath it" she chuckles

T'Lana@anncaris:"I can certainly understand your interest. I came here for more cultural reasons." She taps away at her tricorder, "Strange. The lifesigns no longer appear to be present."

Mischa@crystyl:"Could they have detected our incoming transport and resumed their hiding?"

T'Lana@anncaris:"That is a distinct possibility. While there is no spy network remaining in the rebuilt monastery, at least within our own universe, the most logical place for them to conceal themselves would -

T'Lana@anncaris:- still be within the undercroft."

Mischa@crystyl:"Then let's see if we can find our way down there"

T'Lana@anncaris:"If my memory serves, it should be this way."

T'Lana@anncaris leads the way through the eerily empty monastery until they reach a flight of stairs down

Mischa@crystyl:"Looks promising"

T'Lana@anncaris nods and begins making her way down, "Perhaps they have made additions to the undercroft again, though this time in the form of bunkers rather than a monitoring station."

Mischa@crystyl:"Perhaps. Though I challenge you to explain the logic of how a bunker will protect anyone from the Darkness"

T'Lana@anncaris:"I do not see any way it will, but there is a possibility that the bunker is not intended to protect them from the Darkness, but the Diteans."

Mischa@crystyl:"Which would make sense if they had an escape plan"

T'Lana@anncaris:"If the bunker complex is significant enough, they may have shuttles stored within. However, they would be launching them by now, with the Diteans gone and the Darkness approaching."

Mischa@crystyl:"And they are not doing that. I feel like there's something more to this, another piece to the puzzle that we can't see yet"

T'Lana@anncaris nods as they enter the undercroft. Without the sunlight, this place is completely dark, with the exception of some faint light from some consoles on the far end

Mischa@crystyl taps her visor to activate some night vision

T'Lana@anncaris:"These consoles are the most promising for bunker access, though the monks may have devised some more archaic triggers, and the consoles are simply for other technological functions within the -

T'Lana@anncaris:- monastery complex."

Mischa@crystyl nods, "Let's see what we can find"

T'Lana@anncaris | As they make their way towards the console, a brazier is suddenly kindled behind them as flames roar up from it

Mischa@crystyl looks around, deactivating her night vision, "Better late than never..."

T'Lana@anncaris | Then, the fire begins moving in a strange fashion, which quickly becomes uncanny as it seems to form a bipedal body

T'Lana@anncaris draws a phaser as the body begins to step out of the fire and solidify...

T'Lana@anncaris FX | https://cinefilesreviews.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/fantastic-four-2015-human-torch-michael-b-jordan-movie-superhero-marvel-fox-action-miles-teller-kate-mara-film-review-4.jpg

Mischa@crystyl draws as well, "Did we take a wrong turn and end up in the Bajoran fire caves...? Just curious"

T'Lana@anncaris:"Captain. Behind us."

Mischa@crystyl looks around again, leaving TL to keep an eye on the fire being

T'Lana@anncaris | As Mischa turns, she notices the console flickering erratically and sparking. Jolts of electricity seem to course out from it, but not in the wild, uncontrolled fashion of a malfunction. They -

T'Lana@anncaris - too seem to form into a vaguely humanoid shape

T'Lana@anncaris FX | https://pbs.twimg.com/tweet_video_thumb/FMBkVYCVgAA2igm.jpg

Mischa@crystyl:"First fire, now electricity? This was not on the tour during my last visit"

T'Lana@anncaris | The fire being solidifies into what is now distinguishable as a dark-skinned Romulan from the forehead ridges and pointed ears. More features become visible on the electrical being as well, -

T'Lana@anncaris - first a skeleton, then muscles, and finally a very familiar face...the face of a much older Kayleigh

T'Lana@anncaris | Romulan: "You should not be here. You are out of time. Out of place."

Mischa@crystyl:"Funny, I was just thinking the same of you two"

T'Lana@anncaris | Kayleigh takes a step forward, the glow fading from her body first, but sparks of electricity still linger in her eyes, "You are Starfleet, aren't you. Not one of the tattered remnants today. -

T'Lana@anncaris - One of the old guard."

Mischa@crystyl looks back to Kayleigh, "Never been referred to quite so romantically before, but yes. We are Starfleet - the Starfleet that once was - not the fragmented remains that exist here and now"

T'Lana@anncaris | Kayleigh nods, "Yes. I served in a time not unlike yours, I believe."

Mischa@crystyl:"I'm guessing you were a little less ethereal back then. So forgive the bluntness but, what are you exactly?"

T'Lana@anncaris | Kayleigh: "We are what you call 'Ascended.' I always thought the term was rooted in more spirituality than logic, but calling ourselves 'Evolved' just sounds arrogant..."

Mischa@crystyl:"So you are psionics who have moved beyond physical existence?"

T'Lana@anncaris | Romulan: "That sums it up, yes."

Mischa@crystyl:"That certainly explains who and what you are. But the question remains then, why are you here? You are undoubtedly aware of the fate that is about to befall this world"

T'Lana@anncaris | Romulan: "That's exactly why we're here. All of us here have some connection to the monastery. For most, it's where we made the transformation into what we are now, or at least where we -

T'Lana@anncaris - trained and got the tools to do so. We've returned because we want to be here for the last moments of this world."

T'Lana@anncaris | Kayleigh: "The question is, why are /you/ here? You thought we needed saving, didn't you?"

Mischa@crystyl:"We were observing the evacuation and detecting lifesigns on the surface after the last of the Ditean fleet left. It would have been negligent to depart without investigating"

T'Lana@anncaris | Kayleigh nods, "Yes, that makes sense. These bodies are near-exact replicas of our physical forms, and they would show up as lifesigns to your sensors. We refrained from creating them until -

T'Lana@anncaris - after the Diteans departed, but we didn't realize you were in the system as well."

Mischa@crystyl:"We were both concealing ourselves from the Diteans"

T'Lana@anncaris | Kayleigh: "It would seem so. But what brings you to our time and our reality in the first place? An unfortunate anomaly?"

Mischa@crystyl:"In a manner of speaking. The Darkness is appearing in our time and reality now, and we have come here to investigate it. The tattered remnants you spoke of have also become known to us so we wanted-

Mischa@crystyl:- to learn more about them as well"

T'Lana@anncaris | Another figure steps through the wall and into the room. We recognize her as an older Mariel, though Mischa doesn't recognize her of course. She is dressed in Chlasi robes, unlike Kayleigh and -

T'Lana@anncaris - the Romulan, who is wearing Vulcan ones

T'Lana@anncaris | Mariel: "So, you've come to learn about the Darkness?"

Mischa@crystyl:"The tattered remnants of your Starfleet have been steering history in our reality to delay the Darkness' arrival. They succeeded, to a point, but now we need to find a way to stop it. And since it -

Mischa@crystyl:- is still rampant here, we must learn what we can of it"

T'Lana@anncaris | Mariel nods and smiles, "If you will allow me, I can help you understand. Not the scientific scans and analyses, that your ship is more than capable of doing, I'm sure. We can show you -

T'Lana@anncaris - the true nature of the Darkness."

Mischa@crystyl:"Being powerful enough to ascend, I was hoping you might have some unique insights into this matter. I would welcome any insights you have to offer"

T'Lana@anncaris | Mariel: "Then I will show you..." She waves her hand in front of Mischa, and Mischa suddenly finds her vision blurring away...

—

T'Lana@anncaris FX | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YLCa1CoQbQ&ab_channel=crysknife007

T'Lana@anncaris | Mischa stirs awake on a bed in an unfamiliar room

Mischa@crystyl looks around trying to get her bearings and see if TL is also with her still

T'Lana@anncaris | There is no sign of T'Lana or the Ascended. She is no longer in her mission gear either and is wearing pajamas of some description. It seems as if she's been asleep in this bed for the whole -

T'Lana@anncaris - previous night. It does seem to be morning now, as she sees an analogue clock beside her

Mischa@crystyl glances to the clock first to make sure it's familiar and nothing extraordinary about it, proceeding to investigate the rest of the room

T'Lana@anncaris | It seems to be a lady's bedroom, with the lockers filled with clothes of Mischa's size. The drawers contain various cosmetics and tools for applying them. Much of the technology she is used to -

T'Lana@anncaris - is missing though, and what tech there is appears to be pre-warp, albeit high pre-warp tech. There is a touchscreen phone by her bedside and a computer terminal atop the desk. One of the desk -

T'Lana@anncaris - drawers seem to be locked shut, unlike the others that hold makeup and jewelry

Mischa@crystyl grabs the phone and moves to the terminal, setting it down while she investigates that first

T'Lana@anncaris | The terminal boots up with a screen reading: 8:36 | September 14, 2049 | Please approach for facial identification

Mischa@crystyl leans in, assuming that it is configured to recognize her at this point

T'Lana@anncaris | The screen flickers again to a screen with the text: 'Welcome, Lady Alicia Leveson'

T'Lana@anncaris | This screen quickly fades away to a computer desktop

Mischa@crystyl thinks a moment on the name, trying to remember if she recognizes it as an ancestor to this time period

Mischa@crystyl wishes she paid more attention to the family history now. Recognizing little more than the familiarity of the name itself, she proceeds to investigate the terminal

T'Lana@anncaris | She doesn't get far when an alarm klaxon suddenly sounds. The phone lights up with the notification of a message

Mischa@crystyl grabs the phone to see what it says

T'Lana@anncaris | The message is from one Doctor Muthoni, reading, "All personnel required in medical bay."

T'Lana@anncaris | Mischa does remember seeing some lab coats when searching through the lockers...

Mischa@crystyl sighs softly, resigning herself to playing 'doctor' for now. She heads over and grabs a lab coat, heading outside to try and find her way

T'Lana@anncaris | She is a little lost at first, but her path is conveniently cut off by soldiers rushing wounded through on stretchers

Mischa@crystyl rushes along with them, tagging along with one group and checking on their patient, "What's the situation?"

T'Lana@anncaris | Soldier: "The enemy's pressing the attack again. Damn Eastern Coalition doesn't know when to give up. They've turned the whole region into a radioactive wasteland but they're /still/ at it."

Mischa@crystyl nods, "Alright, let's get your man to the medical bay pronto"

T'Lana@anncaris | The soldiers continue to move and carry the wounded along. As they go, Mischa notes from the layout and signs that they are definitely in some kind of bunker. The soldiers standing guard -

T'Lana@anncaris - inside are wearing standard mid-21st century military gear, though all the ones rushing in with wounded have special sealed helmets, unlike the basic combat helmets worn by the troopers indoors

T'Lana@anncaris FX | https://taskandpurpose.com/uploads/2020/05/02/https___taskandpurpose.com_.image_MTcwNjAwNDI4NDQ4MDY1MTc1_19197755.jpg

Mischa@crystyl looks around for where best to make herself useful

T'Lana@anncaris | Dr. Muthoni, played by the same actor as Commander Muthoni of the Yorktown with a different haircut and a scar on his face, steps up to Mischa, "Dr. Leveson. I know you're not a medical -

T'Lana@anncaris - doctor, but you've been looking after your father well, and we need every hand we can get."

Mischa@crystyl shakes her head, "It's fine. The Eastern Coalition doesn't discriminate in who it hurts, I won't discriminate with who I help. Just point me where you need me"

T'Lana@anncaris | Dr. Muthoni points, "The west wing's overflowing and we don't have enough nurses there."

Mischa@crystyl nods, "Say no more" and heads in the pointed direction to assist

T'Lana@anncaris | Mischa works away in the medical bay for a while. It is much lower tech than a Starfleet sickbay, but fortunately she is largely working as an extra hand for the nurses and not being asked to -

T'Lana@anncaris - do anything too complicated or make critical decisions. As she works, she hears a voice call out, "Alicia!"

Mischa@crystyl turns to the source of the voice

T'Lana@anncaris | The source of the voice is a soldier in a sealed helmet, who promptly removes the helmet and approaches her. His face looks a little familiar to her. "I thought I'd find you in here, sister. -

T'Lana@anncaris - Always eager to help out."

Mischa@crystyl smiles, "And I am relieved to see you in one piece too"

T'Lana@anncaris | Mischa notices a nametag on his uniform reading 'Leveson' and her historical knowledge allows her to identify the rank insignia as an Army Captain

T'Lana@anncaris | Captain Leveson: "The American garrison took the brunt of the attack. They're down to less than a quarter of their fighting strength now. Most of the wounded we're dragging in are from their -

T'Lana@anncaris - lines, their medbay's even more full than ours."

Mischa@crystyl:"I am not surprised" she punches him lightly on the shoulder, "Thanks for letting me know you're alright too! You know how many wounded I've seen come through here wondering if your face was going -

Mischa@crystyl:- to be behind the helmet?"

T'Lana@anncaris | Captain Leveson: "I know, I know, you'd much rather be the one out there risking her life instead of the other way around. But you know how traditional father is about having ladies of the -

T'Lana@anncaris - family enlist. You're doing good work in here, looking after him and all the other wounded."

Mischa@crystyl:"I'm doing what I can, just like everyone else"

T'Lana@anncaris | Captain Leveson: "So are we all, sis," he gives a little sigh. "I have some news I think you won't like."

Mischa@crystyl:"Well you'd better lay it on me then"

T'Lana@anncaris | Captain Leveson: "We retaliated with a series of our own missiles last night. The Kazan Kremlin's been wiped off the map. Along with the rest of the city. They're the enemy, but I know the -

T'Lana@anncaris - archaeologist part of you always hates it when historical sites get caught in nuclear strikes. Thought you'd rather hear it from me than the Colonel."

Mischa@crystyl gives a faint smile, "I appreciate that. It is saddening to see so much history and culture wiped out just like that. But it is still better than the alternative"

T'Lana@anncaris | Captain Leveson nods, "We've already had two near-hits on Paris. Hopefully we can end this before we lose too much more."

Mischa@crystyl:"Always the dreamer I see"

T'Lana@anncaris | Captain Leveson smiles, "Hopes and dreams are what keeps us going."

Mischa@crystyl:"Very true brother. Well, I should return to the wounded"

T'Lana@anncaris | Captain Leveson: "I'll leave you to it."

—

NPC@annpc#557 | After working all day in the medbay, most of the wounded who can be saved are largely stable. As she takes a rest, one of the nurses approaches her

NPC@annpc#557 | Nurse: "Dr. Leveson?"

Mischa@crystyl looks up, "Yes?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Nurse: "Your father wants to see you. I think we have things in hand here. Why don't you attend to him?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Very well. Just call for me if things change at all then"

NPC@annpc#557 | The nurse smiles, "We'll be sure to do so. Thanks for your help here today."

Mischa@crystyl:"No problem" she smiles back, heading out

Mischa@crystyl not knowing any better, heads back to her quarters to see if she can figure out from there where this father person is

NPC@annpc#557 | Back in her own quarters, she access the computer again and is able to find some files pertaining to herself, or rather, the ancestor she seems to be inhabiting now. Alicia Leveson's father is -

NPC@annpc#557 - apparently Major General James Leveson. According to recent reports, General Leveson suffered radiation poisoning during the nuclear strikes on Milan. Apparently a strategic genius, he is -

NPC@annpc#557 - being kept alive for as long as possible with state-of-the-art life support while he continues to lead the war effort on the Eastern front

Mischa@crystyl checks for anything on his location

NPC@annpc#557 | He is being housed in the depths of the bunker in a restricted area requiring a keycard, retinal and hand scan. Mischa possesses Alicia's keycard and seeing as the facial scan of the computer -

NPC@annpc#557 - seems to recognize her, will most likely be able to get through the other two

Mischa@crystyl makes her way down there

NPC@annpc#557 | As Mischa makes her way deeper into the bunker, she finds more guards on duty. They wear helmets with MP on them, designating them as military police. They allow her to pass by, a few of them -

NPC@annpc#557 - addressing her as she walks past as 'Dr. Leveson' or 'Lady Alicia.'

NPC@annpc#557 | She soon comes upon a larger door, similarly guarded by two MPs. There is a panel beside this door with a screen on it, and one of the guards steps aside so she can use it

Mischa@crystyl steps up to the panel

NPC@annpc#557 | The panel states: 'Please present keycard.'

Mischa@crystyl does so

NPC@annpc#557 | The keycard disappears into a slot for a moment before reappearing. The text changes to 'Keycard recognized. Please provide handprint.' The imprint of a hand appears on the screen

Mischa@crystyl places her hand on the screen

NPC@annpc#557 | The text changes to 'Please look into the light.' A glowing red circle appears on the screen

Mischa@crystyl leans in to the light

NPC@annpc#557 | The circle spins as it processes the scan before the text reads, 'Authorization recognized' and the doors slide open to reveal another set of doors beyond in an airlock setup

Mischa@crystyl continues through

NPC@annpc#557 | The door seals shut behind her. Jets of steam emit out around her, and she immediately realizes this isn't an airlock, but a decontamination chamber

NPC@annpc#557 | After a few seconds, the steam shuts off and the door slides open to a dark room. At the end of the room is a medical contraption on which an emaciated old man is attached...

NPC@annpc#557 FX | https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dB0dy9FZqGY/maxresdefault.jpg

Mischa@crystyl approaches, "Hello father, and how are we doing today?" she asks almost idly, while checking the readouts on his life support

NPC@annpc#557 | General Leveson replies in a hoarse voice, "I am doing well, but I understand we have suffered quite an attack today."

Mischa@crystyl nods, "The Yanks got hit hard, we hit the East hard in return"

NPC@annpc#557 | General Leveson: "That's good to hear. I can't believe they are still pressing the attack here. They must be getting desperate."

NPC@annpc#557 | The medical readouts show everything within expected levels. He's not a regular healthy human, of course, but for his current state all the readings are normal for his condition

Mischa@crystyl:"No doubt. But that was your field, not mine. So I'll take your word for it"

NPC@annpc#557 | General Leveson: "I hear you have been helping in the medbay in the wake of the attack?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Well, we can't all get away with lazing around in bed all day" she teases with a little smile

NPC@annpc#557 | General Leveson: "I am glad to see that your humour is still intact, daughter. The bunker could use some levity in these dark times."

Mischa@crystyl:"Like mother used to say; if you don't laugh, you'll only cry. So, why am I here?" she chooses her words in case this is something more involved with her displacement

NPC@annpc#557 | General Leveson: "Well, I could use some of your humour, for one. But there is something else, too."

Mischa@crystyl:"I had a feeling. So what can I do for you, father?"

NPC@annpc#557 | General Leveson: "You know what my style of command is like. I prefer to be out among the men, rather than commanding from a faraway post. I suppose that's what put me in this situation to -

NPC@annpc#557 - begin with. Still...I believe seeing the morale of the troops is important for directing them effectively. Your brother is always eager to please, and that attitude goes for how he presents -

NPC@annpc#557 - his men, too. Tell me, from your observations and experiences, how are the troops feeling as of this latest push by our enemies?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Your men are resilient and steadfast. But resilience is not infinite. Their hearts are still willing, but the constant skirmishes are whittling down their resolve. In spite of themselves and their -

Mischa@crystyl:- own desire for peace, they are succumbing to an underlying sense of futility. As the ones on the front lines, they are seeing the world slowly being ground into dust"

NPC@annpc#557 | General Leveson: "That is what I suspected. This war has gone on for far too long, and with many devastating consequences. Some of the new recruits coming in...they would never have known a -

NPC@annpc#557 - world without this conflict. I cannot say if they fare better or worse than old soldiers like me. Perhaps having known only war makes them less susceptible to despair. But they also have no -

NPC@annpc#557 - idea what they even fight for, anymore. To them, for king and country is something from the storybooks. Fighting is about survival, the very heart of their lives."

Mischa@crystyl:"I fear it may even be worse than that for them. If not now, then soon enough. It's not even about surviving after a while when they see their friends killed off every day. No, the fight simply -

Mischa@crystyl:- becomes a natural state of being then. No goal, no purpose, just the fight"

NPC@annpc#557 | General Leveson: "And at that point, we become no more than animals."

Mischa@crystyl:"Assuming we are not already beyond the point of no return. I haven't started chewing on bones or chasing milk trucks down the street, so I think there's hope"

NPC@annpc#557 | General Leveson: "Indeed. Well, thank you for your insights, Alicia." He manages a weak smile. "You should get some well-deserved rest, daughter. Otherwise they will be treating you in the -

NPC@annpc#557 - medbay as well."

Mischa@crystyl:"Yes, and I have no desire to be on the receiving end of the barbarism we call triage nowadays" she smiles, "I will try and stop by again soon. Until then, father" she turns to head out

—

NPC@annpc#557 | As Mischa steps back into Alicia's bunks, she notices an unfamiliar man casually lying back on the bed with hands folded behind his head. The first thing she notices is that the man is -

NPC@annpc#557 - unusually well-dressed for this environment, not wearing army fatigues like most of the bunker's population. As she enters, the man immediately jumps up, straightening his clothes

NPC@annpc#557 FX | https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Fsundaytimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F4f84a292-1efd-11e8-8523-de565c87c927.jpg?crop=2250%2C1500%2C0%2C0

NPC@annpc#557 | Stranger: "Well, hello there, Captain."

Mischa@crystyl:"Um... hello. Strangely well dressed person...? Nice bow tie by the way"

NPC@annpc#557 | Stranger: "Thank you. I always like to look presentable. You know what they say about first impressions! Anyways, I don't believe we've met, yet. Thinking in linear time is still so strange, -

NPC@annpc#557 - even after all this time. And throw in the multiverse and the countless versions of you, and well...you can see how one might lose track."

Mischa@crystyl strolls over to sit down on the couch, "I must admit even I risk losing track sometimes. But dear sir, you have me at a disadvantage here. Since you clearly know who I am and where and when I come -

Mischa@crystyl:- from"

NPC@annpc#557 | Stranger: "Right. Of course," He leans forward and extends his hand to Mischa, "I'm Q. Pleased to meet you, Captain Leveson-Scott. Or Doctor Leveson, if you're getting into character."

Mischa@crystyl:"Of course you are..." she sighs, "So are you the same Q as usual wearing a different face or actually a different Q? Honestly, you think we're hard to keep track of?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "Different Q. What can I say? We all have our quirks."

Mischa@crystyl:"You are not the only ones it would seem. So by your presence here I must assume that I am actually existing as my ancestor right now, and this is not simply a psionic vision. The question is why?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "Yes...and no. As for why, well, you did ask Mari to show you the nature of the Darkness, didn't you?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Mari, is it? Well yes I did accept her offer to show me that. But I do not yet see the nature of this lesson with my being here and now, and I certainly did not expect to actually be temporally -

Mischa@crystyl:- displaced by the process"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "Her time with my son might've rubbed off a little too much. She's fond of riddles and analogies these days. I'm sure someone as bright as you will figure out why you're here soon enough. -

NPC@annpc#557 - There is something rather familiar about this era compared to the one you left behind, isn't there?"

Mischa@crystyl:"You are suggesting that this period of Earth's history and the near total self annihilation my people brought upon themselves is metaphorically comparable to the Darkness"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "Not quite, but there...are a few similarities there. Of course, the Darkness wasn't brought upon by yourselves, or any other mortal civilization. It's far from a perfect analogy."

Mischa@crystyl:"Clearly. And by the fact that you've seen fit to pop in, this 'Mari' and your son have obviously done something that does not sit right and now you need me to follow a desirable course to -

Mischa@crystyl:- restore balance and keep the Continuum happy. That about sum things up?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "Actually, no, I rather approve of this analogy, imperfect as it may be. You're not just here to see the time period, there's a little more to it. I'm just here to enjoy the show. You see, -

NPC@annpc#557 - the Darkness is...you could say my area of expertise."

Mischa@crystyl:"Then you picked a lousy time to drop in on me. You know I was actually seriously considering performing a certain El-Aurian ritual in order to make contact"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "I see that as a good time to pop in, otherwise you'd have made that certain El-Aurian quite annoyed. And an annoyed El-Aurian is usually not a good thing. You should know, your James Kirk -

NPC@annpc#557 - was killed by one."

Mischa@crystyl:"Which is why I am grateful you spared me that dilemma. Still, you could have swung by a /bit/ earlier and saved us this whole little excursion"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "Where would be the fun in that?"

Mischa@crystyl eyerolls, "And one does not need psionics to have anticipated that response. Just tell me this, be it through this little entertaining distraction, or once I am back on my ship, will you enlighten me -

Mischa@crystyl:- given you are - as you say - the expert on the Darkness?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "I can enlighten you on /some/ things. Others, it'll be better for you to figure out yourselves. Ask away, I'll answer what I can, and then we'll get on with the show."

Mischa@crystyl:"I suppose I should get the obvious out of the way first... is the Darkness one of the Continuum's machinations?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "No. It's a force beyond even our control."

Mischa@crystyl smirks a little, "Well now, I didn't honestly expect it was of your creation. But I did not expect that little confession too"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "If I wanted to present myself to you as a god, I would've introduced myself as the Lord of Death. The Grim Reaper. The Gaunt Man, the Herald of End Times, the Horseman of the Apocalypse. -

NPC@annpc#557 - If you really were Alicia Leveson, I might've chosen one of those names, but that time is past us. Now that we're on a little more equal footing, with the psionic awakening and all, you're -

NPC@annpc#557 - mature enough to understand that we're not god. We're not omnipotent. We're just a little further down the road than you are."

Mischa@crystyl:"And with many of the Children hot on your heels at that. Alright, another question; can it be stopped?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "No. Well, technically yes, but it would be bad. Very, very bad."

Mischa@crystyl considers, "Alright... so it is a force of nature - a part of the universal balance that is required to sustain the whole. Let me rephrase then, is it possible to prevent it from destroying our -

Mischa@crystyl - galaxy?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "We already have. For a time. You've learned by now that the Darkness only enters when we drop the barrier, haven't you?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Of course, but it still seems to be a matter of delaying the inevitable. The question remains, how to prevent it from reaching the point it has in this universe. I mean... the one that this Mari of-

Mischa@crystyl:- yours zapped me into the past from... I'm not even going to get into the quantum complications of this being the past of which universe"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "That, you'll have to figure out on your own. But I can tell you this is the past of both universes. The split hasn't happened by this point, the Survivors have yet to interfere in your -

NPC@annpc#557 - history. Maybe doesn't quite make up for the lack of the other answer, but hey, it's something."

Mischa@crystyl:"But there is evidence in our own recorded history of encounters with Starfleet from a future beyond even the Survivors timeline. Therefore there must be a path forwards that leads to salvation from-

Mischa@crystyl:- Darkness, we just have to find it. And supposedly my being here and now is a step on that journey"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q smiles, "All excellent guesses. Very logical. Are you sure you're not part Vulcan? No wonder you and Lana have a thing. That's already happened, right?"

Mischa@crystyl sighs, "Yes, that has already happened. Should I be worried about how much you seem to know about me? I'm starting to get the feeling it isn't just my current mission that you're paying such close -

Mischa@crystyl:- attention to..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "We may not be entirely omniscient, but we do still know a lot."

Mischa@crystyl:"Including specifics on the personal relationships of a single Human from a single timeline in a single universe...?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "Don't get any grandiose thoughts there, now. You might have quite the storied history in multiple realities, but it's not /your/ personal relationships we're keeping an eye on."

Mischa@crystyl:"And I'm glad to hear it. Just be mindful of what you look in on..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "What do you think I am, one of the barbarians from this time? It's not your relationship we're interested in. It's the specific nature of the one you're in a relationship /with/."

Mischa@crystyl leans in, eyes narrowing, "You're watching T'Lana? Why?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "Haven't you noticed by now? With the multiversal floodgates opening, you've been meeting and hearing about counterparts of yourselves left and right. You might not have met another you, -

NPC@annpc#557 - but you heard about it. And I'm not even going to mention that Tierno. But you haven't heard of a counterpart for T'Lana, have you?"

Mischa@crystyl:"True, but there are many associates I have never encountered a counterpart for. And don't get me started on Tierno. One day when this Darkness thing is all over, you're going to have to tell me -

Mischa@crystyl:- what the hell the universe's deal is with that girl!" she chuckles, "But... you're suggesting that T'Lana is unique across the multiverse..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "Not quite. There are other versions of her, but they only exist in alternate realities that branched off /after/ her birth. She's not entirely unique, but the circumstances of her -

NPC@annpc#557 - creation, that's an outlier from the timestream, an event which can only occur in the very specific circumstances of your timeline up to that point. Strictly speaking, most of the Survivors -

NPC@annpc#557 - active in your universe are more divergent entities, but the divergence failed to create something as...unexpected as your friend."

Mischa@crystyl:"Besides her lacking the usual Vulcan telepathic capability, what is it that makes her so important to you?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q smiles, "Oh, the lack of telepathy is just a surface condition. But, that's a discussion for another time."

Mischa@crystyl:"Fine. One more question before you run off; is your interest in T'Lana tied to the situation with the Darkness?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "Of course, she's working with you to try and stop it, isn't she? But if you're wondering if she has some secret hidden power to drive them away, I'm afraid it's not going to be so easy."

Mischa@crystyl:"I never thought that would be the case. I am just curious why someone specifically interested in the Darkness also shows such an interest in T'Lana"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "Don't worry, I'm not about to steal her from you and make her my personal pet or anything. As for why I'm interested...that's something I don't expect you'll understand yet, even if I -

NPC@annpc#557 - tried to explain it to you. Let's just say she has more in common with some of my friends than she does her people on Vulcan."

Mischa@crystyl 's eyes narrow on Q, "...fine. I have no desire to get into a fruitless debate with a Q anyway. Right now there are more pressing issues, chief of which is getting back"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "Don't worry, you'll be back, as soon as you've seen what Mari brought you here to witness. And no, it's not experiencing an atomic blast firsthand, if you're wondering. Your ancestor has -

NPC@annpc#557 - to be alive for you to exist."

Mischa@crystyl smiles, "Well that's oddly reassuring. I don't suppose you'd care to point me in the right direction at least?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q smiles back, "I'm sure you'll figure it out. You're Starfleet after all." He snaps his fingers and disappears away in a classic Q flash

Mischa@crystyl eyerolls at the enigmatic departure, scratching her shoulder, "I know, I don't trust him either"

—

NPC@annpc#557 | The rest of the night passes without incident, and after getting some sleep, Mischa wakes the next morning, still in Alicia's quarters in the bunker and not back in the future

Mischa@crystyl sighs, quietly hoping this isn't going to be one of those lifetime-in-an-instant things, getting up and checking her schedule for the day

NPC@annpc#557 | As she checks her schedule, the doorbell to the room buzzes, a much less pleasant sound than the chimes of Starfleet doorbells

Mischa@crystyl heads over and opens it

NPC@annpc#557 | She finds Captain Leveson on the other side dressed in his combat armour, but with his helmet off and held under one arm

NPC@annpc#557 | Captain Leveson: "Morning, Alicia."

Mischa@crystyl smiles, looking him up and down, "Morning. If you're here for inspection I'm afraid my combat armour is in the wash" she smiles, heading inside to sit down

NPC@annpc#557 | Captain Leveson chuckles as he steps inside, "Don't worry, I'm not here to inspect anything. I just wanted to stop by," he gestures to the desk, specifically the locked drawer Mischa found the -

NPC@annpc#557 - previous day. "Still keeping that pistol I gave you locked up?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Of course"

NPC@annpc#557 | Captain Leveson smiles, "Mother and father aren't going to come and search your room, you know. I hope you're checking it regularly, just in case. We are in a warzone after all, never know -

NPC@annpc#557 - when you might need it."

Mischa@crystyl:"I maintain it just like you showed me. But locked up is exactly where that thing belongs"

NPC@annpc#557 | Captain Leveson nods, "Well, speaking of father, he's sending us out on a counterattack. The Eastern Coalition forces are still regrouping after we fended off their push yesterday. We're going -

NPC@annpc#557 - to try and finish things now, hit them before they can hit us again."

Mischa@crystyl:"So... just another day at the office then, yes?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Captain Leveson: "Well, we hope if we can rout their army again, they'll be too disorganized and scattered to rally again. From here on, it'll just be picking off remnants. If we play things -

NPC@annpc#557 - right, we might have the region reclaimed in a month or so. Not that there is much /to/ reclaim at this point, but with the pressure off here, we might be able to reinforce other areas, or -

NPC@annpc#557 - push further east."

Mischa@crystyl:"If you say so, all sounds the same to me still; they hit us, we hit them, they hit us back, we hit them back..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Captain Leveson nods and sighs, "Father thinks there's a chance we can turn the tide, and I hope he's right. The alternative would be us withdrawing, and yes, there's not much to fight for -

NPC@annpc#557 - here anymore, but if we pull back, they're just going to push further. And then we either give more ground, or we fight back, and if we fight back hard enough, they might just go scorched -

NPC@annpc#557 - earth again. No, we have to hold the line here. It's not the radioactive wasteland we're fighting for- it's stopping the rest of the continent from getting turned into the same."

Mischa@crystyl nods, "I get it, yeah. But that doesn't mean I like it"

NPC@annpc#557 | Captain Leveson: "And neither do I. I hope there was some other way, I really do. But for now, all we can do is our duties here."

Mischa@crystyl smiles, "Indeed"

NPC@annpc#557 | Captain Leveson smiles, "Well, time to get the men ready to move. I'll see you soon, sister."

Mischa@crystyl:"See you later brother"

NPC@annpc#557 | Captain Leveson waves and heads back out

—

NPC@annpc#557 | Several hours later, Mischa sits at her desk, attending a virtual conference with several other archaeologists. Keen eyed audiences will notify that one of the names on the group call is -

NPC@annpc#557 - marked as Dr. Bishop, though unlike Muthoni, she is not played by the same person as Sam

NPC@annpc#557 | Dr. Bishop: "I can't believe you would suggest that we loot the Cairo Museum, Samash. This isn't the colonial age."

NPC@annpc#557 | Samash: "Not loot, /safeguard/. We all know it's only a matter of time before Cairo falls. We cannot hold the line there, and there's no saying what the enemy will do to all the precious -

NPC@annpc#557 - artifacts. We don't even know which enemy will be getting control of the city, but I can't see it ending well in any case."

NPC@annpc#557 | Archaeologist 3: "That's assuming someone doesn't just bomb it off the map completely. I have to agree with Samash here. We've got to get everything we can out of Cairo, ASAP."

Mischa@crystyl:"And assuming we do, where exactly do we deem to be safe to store the artifacts now?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Archaeologist 4: "Exactly. America's fractured, London's in a worse condition than it was at the end of the last world war, Berlin's gone and Paris' been targeted multiple times over. We don't -

NPC@annpc#557 - have anywhere safe anymore. The whole damn world's on fire."

NPC@annpc#557 | Samash: "Central America hasn't been hit."

NPC@annpc#557 | Dr. Bishop: "And who's going to pay the Cartels to protect the artifacts? My family and the Levesons combined wouldn't have that kind of money even if we sold our estates. And good luck -

NPC@annpc#557 - convincing the king's treasury to send money to crime lords. That's assuming they don't just take the money /and/ the artifacts all for themselves. No, I'd sooner trust the Coalition with them."

NPC@annpc#557 | Mischa's phone suddenly starts to ring

Mischa@crystyl mutes the conference and picks it up

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Muthoni> "Dr. Leveson?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Speaking"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Muthoni> "You better come down to the medbay."

Mischa@crystyl:"I'm on my way"

Mischa@crystyl grabs her labcoat and heads out

—

NPC@annpc#557 | As Mischa enters the medbay, Dr. Muthoni immediately approaches her

Mischa@crystyl:"What's the situation?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Dr. Muthoni: "It's your brother, Alicia."

Mischa@crystyl looks around, "Where is he, did something happen?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Dr. Muthoni nods, leading her further into the bay where Mischa quickly spots a wounded Captain Leveson being treated by another doctor

Mischa@crystyl:"What is his condition?"

NPC@annpc#557 | The other doctor responds, "He's been hit multiple times. We're looking at-"

NPC@annpc#557 | She is interrupted as Captain Leveson raises his arm towards Mischa, "Alicia. The enemy...they...they're..." He coughs

Mischa@crystyl steps over, taking his hand, "Save your strength brother"

NPC@annpc#557 | Captain Leveson: "They're sick, Alicia. Like...like father. Saw them...Lin...translated the reports. They've been...abandoned..."

Mischa@crystyl:"Abandoned? What do you mean?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Captain Leveson: "Left...for dead. Radiation's worse...east...worse than we thought. They can't...get home. The enemy...already pulled back. These aren't..." he coughs again, "not the enemy. -

NPC@annpc#557 - Not trying to drive...drive us back. Just want in...the bun...bunkers...don't know how...except to fi-"

NPC@annpc#557 | Doctor 2: "He's going into cardiac arrest!"

NPC@annpc#557 | Dr. Muthoni: "Get me the defib!"

Mischa@crystyl staps back to give them room

NPC@annpc#557 | One of the nurses passes Dr. Muthoni the defibrillator, which he promptly starts to use. After a few tries, he lowers his head and sets the device aside, turning to Mischa

NPC@annpc#557 | Dr. Muthoni: "I'm sorry, Alicia."

Mischa@crystyl hangs her head, "Excuse me. I need to inform our father" and heads out, hoping to avoid feigning familial grief more than necessary

NPC@annpc#557 | As she heads out of the medbay, she sees more wounded being brought in by soldiers, just like the day before. Maybe the counterattack did some damage to the enemy, but it's certainly cost them -

NPC@annpc#557 - as well

Mischa@crystyl wonders what exactly happened, but is distracted by Alicia's brothers dying words

—

NPC@annpc#557 | After getting through the security checks again, Mischa enters General Leveson's chamber once again

Mischa@crystyl steps over, "Father"

NPC@annpc#557 | General Leveson: "Daughter. I was not expecting you here so soon."

Mischa@crystyl:"Then I assume news has not yet reached you"

NPC@annpc#557 | General Leveson: "News of our counterattack, I presume?"

Mischa@crystyl:"News of it's failure. News of..." she sighs, "your son - my dear brother..."

NPC@annpc#557 | General Leveson: "Did...something happen to him?"

Mischa@crystyl:"He is dead, father"

NPC@annpc#557 | General Leveson: "This...this was the perfect time to strike. Everything was right, we could have finished off the enemy right here! All we had to do was take the opportunity! It was supposed -

NPC@annpc#557 - to be his chance to seize the glory! How could this have happened? A...lucky hit by the enemy?"

Mischa@crystyl:"I do not know the specifics, but he was heavily wounded. They called me to the medbay as soon as he arrived, but we lost him shortly after I arrived"

NPC@annpc#557 | General Leveson: "No, this cannot be. We must strike again! We must end this fight, here and now! The attack must have been a success overall, it must have been. This is our chance, our chance -

NPC@annpc#557 - to wipe out the enemy and push forward!"

NPC@annpc#557 | Mischa notes the medical readings by the general spiking up

Mischa@crystyl:"Father please calm yourself. It is this approach which has led us down this path, but there might be another way"

NPC@annpc#557 | General Leveson: "What...do you mean?"

Mischa@crystyl:"He took great pains to share his insights with me. Your son used his dying words not to speak of vengeance or regret, but of hope. It was important enough to him to share what he learned that he -

Mischa@crystyl:- literally gave his life to deliver his message"

NPC@annpc#557 | General Leveson: "Message? What did he say?"

Mischa@crystyl:"He said the enemy is not our real enemy. That they aren't trying to drive us back and that they just want into the bunkers because they are suffering the same sickness as you are"

NPC@annpc#557 | General Leveson: "Of course they would be affected by radiation on the surface. That does not mean they are not the enemy. The Eastern Coalition is relentless. They will throw their lives away -

NPC@annpc#557 - through radioactive wasteland if it meant dislodging us from our defensive position."

Mischa@crystyl:"No father, that's not what he was saying. Don't you see? They don't want to fight any more than we do. They just want the protection we have here. You said yourself that this can't continue, so -

Mischa@crystyl:- surely it's worth exploring the possibility isn't it? Even if he didn't get it all right, don't we owe it to him to at least look into what he said?"

NPC@annpc#557 | General Leveson: "They killed your brother, and you want to invite them into our bunker?! If they are weak and dying from radiation, then this is our chance to finish them off! There is only -

NPC@annpc#557 - one way this war ends, and it's-" He starts to break into a fit of coughs as the medical readouts light up with alarms

Mischa@crystyl:"Father please, you must calm yourself. And I am not saying we should just accept this as gospel and invite them in. I'm just saying it's got to be worth looking into, to find out what your son gave-

Mischa@crystyl:- his life to relay back to us"

NPC@annpc#557 | General Leveson: "We wipe them out! That is...my...or...der..."

NPC@annpc#557 | The door slide open and a nurse rushes in to check on the alarms

NPC@annpc#557 | The general seems to go unresponsive as the nurse taps away frantically at the various devices, "Dr. Muthoni, I need you down here!"

Mischa@crystyl sighs, working to help the nurse, "We need to bring his levels back down. Sedate him if you have to"

NPC@annpc#557 | The nurse nods, moving over to press something on his life support device to sedate him

NPC@annpc#557 | A few moments later, Dr. Muthoni rushes into the room, "He didn't take the news of your brother well, did he?"

Mischa@crystyl:"That's putting it mildly..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Dr. Muthoni pats her on the shoulder, "I'll look after him. You've been through enough for one day already, Alicia."

Mischa@crystyl:"Thank you. I think I need to be alone right now, but let me know if there's any change in his condition"

NPC@annpc#557 | Dr. Muthoni nods, "You'll be the first to know."

—

NPC@annpc#557 | Some time later, Mischa is summoned to an office in the bunker...

Mischa@crystyl finds her way there and rings the door

NPC@annpc#557 | Mischa sees the door marked as 'Colonel MacNeil.' As she presses the doorbell, the same buzz from her own quarters can be heard, followed by a voice with a slight Scottish accent saying, "Come -

NPC@annpc#557 - on in."

Mischa@crystyl steps in, "Colonel, I understand you wanted to see me"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil, a man in his mid-40s dressed in an officer's uniform, is seated behind the desk, "That's right. I heard about your brother, and Dr. Muthoni informs me that your father's -

NPC@annpc#557 - slipped into a coma, with no telling when or if he'll ever awake. Two family members in one day, I'm sorry, lass."

Mischa@crystyl:"I appreciate the sentiment"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "Have a seat, Doctor. Can I get you anything?"

Mischa@crystyl sits, "I am fine, thank you though"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil nods, "If you need anything, just let us know, alright?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Of course"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil takes a sip of coffee, "Now...you're probably wondering why I called you here."

Mischa@crystyl:"I assumed at least it wasn't simply to offer sympathies"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "I do want to offer sympathies, of course, but you're right, there's a little more to it. With your father in a coma, command here falls to me, now. As I understand it, you -

NPC@annpc#557 - were the last person to be with him while he was still conscious. Did he...happen to say anything on any plans he may have had in mind following our latest counterattack?"

Mischa@crystyl shakes her head, "He was distraught over news of my brother and not thinking straight"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "So he didn't have any solid plan formulated for how we move forward from here?"

Mischa@crystyl:"No, he was overly emotional and distressed"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "What about yourself? I know you're not military, but you have your father's mind, and your study of history and historical conflicts make you no less of a tactician. Any -

NPC@annpc#557 - thoughts on how we can proceed from here? We've been stuck in a deadlock for so long now, I'm looking for ideas anywhere I can find 'em to break this bloody stalemate."

Mischa@crystyl:"Then perhaps you will be interested in what my brother had to say"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "Is that so? And what did he have to say?"

Mischa@crystyl:"He used his dying words to tell me that he'd seen the enemy up close, and that they aren't the enemy we think them to be. He said they were all sick like our father, and just wanted into the -

Mischa@crystyl:- bunkers for protection - not to drive us out. He said something about them being abandoned and it sounded like he - or someone - had intercepted some intel to this effect. It was clearly a lot -

Mischa@crystyl:- more than personal opinion, and whatever he learned out there was strong enough to sway his belief about this whole situation and use his dying breath to relay that"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "They want in our bunkers for protection? You're sure this isn't some kind of trick or something?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Of course I'm not sure. But I believe in my brother, and he believed whatever he learned out there. So I have to believe there is at least something to all of this"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil considers and nods, "It's risky, that's for sure. But if there's a chance that we can end this without more good men like your brother dying...I owe it to him to at least see -

NPC@annpc#557 - if that's possible."

Mischa@crystyl nods, "As do I. If there's any way I can help..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "If we send soldiers to approach them, they'll probably think it's another attack. But I can't risk sending you out there, not after everything that's happened to your family -

NPC@annpc#557 - already..."

Mischa@crystyl:"Is there some way we can contact them, setup something more mutual?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "Maybe. We don't have any negotiators though, unless you think you're up to the task?"

Mischa@crystyl:"I said I'd do what i can, and I meant it"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "We'll send you out there with an armed escort, no doubt the Coalition'll send troops of their own. They won't trust us any more than we do then. But as much as I trust our -

NPC@annpc#557 - officers, they're still soldiers and they've been fighting this enemy for years. I don't think asking them to negotiate is going to end well."

Mischa@crystyl:"I understand. Still, it might help the situation if we can pre-empt our arrival somehow"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "I'm open to suggestions. I can't say setting up peace talks is something I've done before."

Mischa@crystyl:"Well assuming we can't just pick up the phone and call them, we need to get a message to them some other way. A drone would be a sensible choice, but they would likely just shoot it down on sight" -

Mischa@crystyl:- she thinks, "This might be a long shot, but... during the last great war in the mid 20th century they would send long distance messages with small hand written notes tied to the legs of pigeons. -

Mischa@crystyl:- I don't suppose we've got any of them sitting around though..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "Not around the bunker, but I believe I heard something from Dr. Amala about research into the effects of radiation on the wildlife, and there are birds alive out there."

Mischa@crystyl:"Then I will go and speak with Dr. Amala and see if we can pursue the option. I'm no diplomat but I've handled my share of negotiations. I mean, through my historical studies of course. So I can -

Mischa@crystyl:- draft a simple invitation to discuss an armistice on neutral ground"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil nods, "Sounds like a good plan to me. I'll let you get to work and hold off on any further offensives for now."

Mischa@crystyl stands, "Thank you Colonel. We'll do what we can to honour my brothers memory"

—

NPC@annpc#557 | After a little research, Mischa learns that the 'Lin' referred to by Captain Leveson is one Lieutenant John Lin, an officer who speaks several of the Eastern Coalition languages

NPC@annpc#557 | Locating his quarters in the bunker is quite simple from there, and Mischa proceeds over to it...

Mischa@crystyl approaches and rings the door

NPC@annpc#557 | The door slides open and a man appears at the door, dressed in a tank top with military fatigue pants

NPC@annpc#557 | Lin: "Dr. Leveson. I'm sorry about your brother."

Mischa@crystyl gives a feint appreciative smile, "Thank you Lieutenant, or would you prefer John in this setting?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Lin smiles back, "I'm good with either. So, what can I do for you, Doctor?"

Mischa@crystyl:"I understand you were out with my brother today. If it's not too much of an intrusion, might I come in and discuss what happened with you?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Lin nods, "Of course. Come on in." He steps aside to let her enter

Mischa@crystyl steps inside, letting the door close, "Thank you. What I want to discuss is best in private, I think"

NPC@annpc#557 | Lin: "I'm afraid my platoon wasn't with him when your brother was hit. We only heard that he was wounded when we were pulling back, so there's not much I can tell you about how it happened. -

NPC@annpc#557 - Well, nothing more than anyone else in the company, at least."

Mischa@crystyl:"Of course. However that is not what I wanted to talk to you about. As you said, I can hear that from anyone should I wish to. Though frankly I can do without the grizzly details. No, what I find -

Mischa@crystyl:- far more intriguing is that he took great pains with his final breaths to try and tell me about something he learned about the enemy. Something that came from you"

NPC@annpc#557 | Lin: "You're talking about the reports we found on the Coalition officers, aren't you?"

Mischa@crystyl:"That sounds likely. Now please understand, my father took a turn for the worse upon hearing about my brother and Colonel MacNeil has assumed command. I am now working under his direct orders to -

Mischa@crystyl:- explore the possibilities of an armistice, based on my brother's dying words. So please Lieutenant, anything you can tell me about said reports could distinctly help me in this"

NPC@annpc#557 | Lin nods, "So that's why you're here. Well, we didn't have time to download the reports and bring it back, but I was able to have a read before they started pushing back against us. From what -

NPC@annpc#557 - I saw, the Eastern Coalition have given up on the men here. You remember when they nuked the area, we shot a good few of them down before they got to their targets?"

Mischa@crystyl nods, "How could I forget..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Lin: "Well those nukes detonated behind the enemy and it totally cut off their retreat. Their superiors ordered them to keep attacking, and they did at first, until they realized their -

NPC@annpc#557 - people had already given up on them and were essentially just sending them to die. They tried to call for extractions but it was denied, and they quickly figured out that staging an extraction -

NPC@annpc#557 - op through the wasteland they created was probably deemed not worth the effort. So they were just being thrown at us to keep us busy."

Mischa@crystyl:"Thank you John, that provides me some invaluable context. It might not be talks to end the global conflict, but if we can resolve things on this front then I'll take that as a step in the right -

Mischa@crystyl:- direction"

NPC@annpc#557 | Lin smiles and nods, "There's more- these recent attacks they've been conducting, it's not because of their orders. They've cut contact with their superiors already, some tried to retreat on -

NPC@annpc#557 - foot but either died or were forced to turn back from the rad poisoning. And the rest of their ranks are slowly getting more and more irradiated, too. Their officers here in the field ordered -

NPC@annpc#557 - the recent offensives of their own volition, out of desperation to try and break into our bunkers, for shelter from the radiation and medical supplies."

Mischa@crystyl nods, "That makes sense. Do we have any sense of their numbers?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Lin: "One of the reports said they were almost down to two thousand, and I'm pretty sure that's before our recent engagements. So it's even less now. I'd say probably under two thousand, maybe -

NPC@annpc#557 - even below one thousand at this point."

Mischa@crystyl:"Thank you. Well if there's nothing more, I should leave you in peace"

NPC@annpc#557 | Lin nods, "That's about everything I remember from the reports. I hope it's of help to you."

Mischa@crystyl:"Very much so, I now have enough understanding of the situation to be able to frame this invitation properly. And I couldn't have got to that without your aid. So again, thank you" she smiles, -

Mischa@crystyl:- turning to head out

—

NPC@annpc#557 | Mischa enters the medbay to search for Dr. Amala and is greeted by Muthoni again

NPC@annpc#557 | Dr. Muthoni: "Alicia. Is there something I can do for you?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Dr. Muthoni, you do get around don't you?" she smiles, "Actually I was looking for Dr. Amala"

NPC@annpc#557 | Muthoni: "She's working in the west wing, there," he points her out to Mischa

Mischa@crystyl:"Thank you" she heads straight over

NPC@annpc#557 | Dr. Amala taps away on a computer as Mischa approaches

Mischa@crystyl:"Excuse me, Dr. Amala?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Dr. Amala looks up with a smile, "Dr. Leveson. Can I help you?"

Mischa@crystyl:"I do hope so. I am interested in your research into wildlife survivability out there - it is my understanding that you have some specimens?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Dr. Amala nods, "That's right. It's the side research I've been working on, outside of my duties here in the medbay."

Mischa@crystyl:"This might sound a bit odd but... do you happen to have any pigeons?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Dr. Amala: "Why pigeons specifically?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Well, I need to send an important message across the wasteland. And if I recall correctly from my historical studies, pigeons were used in the last great global conflict of the 20th century to -

Mischa@crystyl:- deliver messages without attracting attention"

NPC@annpc#557 | Dr. Amala: "Well, I don't have any pigeons, but I do have a pair of crows. Pretty much domesticated, they can follow instructions and always come back here, so you might be able to use them to -

NPC@annpc#557 - send a message and get a reply. Crows are everywhere out there too, they're managing pretty well thanks to all the fighting, so they won't attract any attention."

Mischa@crystyl smiles, "Perfect! And I'm pretty sure they were once used to deliver messages too, but we're talking back in medieval times here and even the old family estate doesn't have anything that dates -

Mischa@crystyl:- /that/ far back" she chuckles, "So, would you be willing to help me get these crows into service?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Dr. Amala: "Of course. I assume you're going to do the old tie paper around their leg trick, and not have one carry a data stick?"

Mischa@crystyl nods, "That was the plan, yes"

NPC@annpc#557 | Dr. Amala smiles, "Just get me the message and where you want it delivered, and I'll send one of the crows out, then."

Mischa@crystyl:"About that. I can prepare the message discreetly, but the destination is classified. I must ask that you not share any knowledge of this for now as we are embarking on a potentially volatile -

Mischa@crystyl:- endeavour"

NPC@annpc#557 | Dr. Amala: "I understand. I can teach you how to work with the ravens, if you like."

Mischa@crystyl:"If that is your preference over having to maintain discretion, of course"

NPC@annpc#557 | Dr. Amala: "I can keep a secret too, don't worry. It'll take longer to teach you, so it depends on how urgent this message is."

Mischa@crystyl:"The longer we delay, the longer this conflict will continue and the more lives will be lost"

NPC@annpc#557 | Dr. Amala nods, "Then I'll send the crows out for you. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone a word. We've all had the loose lips sink ships talk. Or bury bunkers might be more apt in our case."

Mischa@crystyl chuckles, "Very true. And don't worry, this is nothing nefarious. I am working with Colonel MacNeil on a special project, since he has taken command in my father's absence. Please prepare the crows-

Mischa@crystyl:- and I will return shortly with the message cylinder"

NPC@annpc#557 | Dr. Amala nods, "A classified project. Don't worry, your secret is safe with me, Alicia."

—

NPC@annpc#557 | The day after Mischa sends the crow out, she receives a notification on her phone to proceed to the Colonel's office again

Mischa@crystyl arrives and rings the door

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "Come on in."

Mischa@crystyl approaches, "Colonel, I understand you wanted to see me?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil nods, "Dr. Amala just informed me that we've received a reply for the message you sent."

Mischa@crystyl:"Faster than I expected" she takes a seat, "So what do they say? I hope they at least my - and by which I mean LT Lin's - attempt to translate it for them"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "I think they understood the message well enough, and they seem rather eager to meet. I think they might really be as desperate as Lin suggests."

Mischa@crystyl:"Then I assume we are proceeding to await them at the designated meeting point?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "That we are. You're still sure you want to be the one to go and meet with them?"

Mischa@crystyl:"I am the one who invited them to these talks. To not greet them in person would be a sign of disrespect. I will be fine, Colonel"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "You'll be given an armed escort, as agreed upon to see you safely across the battlefield. They'll make sure the other side is bringing no more than the agreed troops either. -

NPC@annpc#557 - If it's all good, then you'll go in to begin the negotiations."

Mischa@crystyl nods, "I selected a location that is in clear middle ground and away from any immediate conflict zone, so there should be minimal risk. With your permission, I would also like to take a supply of -

Mischa@crystyl:- emergency supplies to help with their radiation poisoning as a show of good faith on our part"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "Very well. I'll let you work out the details of what we can spare with Dr. Muthoni. You'll set out at 0900 tomorrow."

Mischa@crystyl nods, "Understood"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "Good luck out there, Doctor. I hope this plan works."

Mischa@crystyl stands, "You and I both"

—

NPC@annpc#557:| The next day, Mischa dresses up in some protective gear intended to shield her from the radiation. She meets up with her escort squad at the entrance of the bunker

NPC@annpc#557:| The squad leader steps up to her, "Staff Sergeant Mary Dunn. Ready to head out, Doctor?"

Mischa@crystyl:nods, "I'm good to go Sergeant"

NPC@annpc#557:| The sergeant puts on her enclosed helmet and gives a nod to one of her troopers, who opens a door into an airlock-like chamber, though this one is significantly larger than the one before General -

NPC@annpc#557:- Leveson's room. On the other end of the chamber is a massive blast door. As the smaller door seals behind them, the Sergeant taps her helmet. A trooper in an enclosed control room nearby gives -

NPC@annpc#557:- them a hand signal, and the blast doors begin to open with a loud clang

NPC@annpc#557:| Bright light streams in through the crack of the opening door, which quickly begins to widen until the brightness becomes blinding...

NPC@annpc#557:| As Mischa's eyes slowly adjusts to the light, the view of the blasted landscape beyond sets in..

NPC@annpc#557:FX | https://pixelpine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/fallout-4-landscape-1.jpg

NPC@annpc#557:| SGT Dunn: "Alright. Let's move out."

Mischa@crystyl:squints as her eyes adjust, taking in the sight of Humanity's darkest hour for herself

NPC@annpc#557:| Dunn and her squad move out with rifles in hand, unphased by the sight that they are no doubt used to by now. Outside the bunker, Mischa spots a number of other squads on patrol or in defensive -

NPC@annpc#557:- positions. Tanks and armoured transport vehicles rumble about and the whirring of a helicopter can be heard overheard. As they move deeper into the wasteland however, the military presence grows -

NPC@annpc#557:- fainter. Before long, they are the only humans in sight- living humans, at least

NPC@annpc#557:| Their surroundings are filled with dead, leafless trees and bombed out European buildings much like those seen from images and footage of the first two world wars. Into the distance, -

NPC@annpc#557:- as far as the eye can see, the entire region is in the exact same state

NPC@annpc#557:| They pass by a farmhouse which has survived surprisingly intact compared to most of the other buildings, a striking reminder of what once was. However, no life can be seen within the farmhouse -

NPC@annpc#557:- anymore, and what would once have been a field of crops were now filled with dead, withered plants

NPC@annpc#557:| SGT Dunn: "Have you come out here often after the bombs dropped?"

Mischa@crystyl:"No, in fact this might even be the first time I have ventured out this far"

NPC@annpc#557:| SGT Dunn: "Quite the difference from how it looked before. Hard to believe this is the same region."

Mischa@crystyl:"It is almost unrecognizable"

NPC@annpc#557:| Dunn looks up as several crows caw and fly overhead, "Still, life pushes on out here. Some life's doing even better than before, like those bloody crows. They're everywhere now, hardly even -

NPC@annpc#557:- wait for people to die before eating them anymore."

Mischa@crystyl:"Life always finds a way" she muses, watching them fly over

—

NPC@annpc#557:| After some more travelling, Mischa and the squad reach the site of the meeting, one of the many destroyed and deserted small towns in the area

Mischa@crystyl:looks around as they get closer, "Yes, this will do"

NPC@annpc#557:| As they approach the town, Sergeant Dunn signals the team to stop and looks to Mischa, "We'll scout out the area first, Doctor. Stay here while we make sure they haven't set an ambush."

Mischa@crystyl:points out the central plaza, "That would make an ideal place for the meeting. It's open, but there should be sufficient cover in the surrounding buildings that your team can secure the area -

Mischa@crystyl:- discreetly"

NPC@annpc#557:| SGT Dunn nods, "Agreed. Alright, you three, stay with the Doctor. Rest of you, with me to secure the area. We'll radio you when it's safe."

NPC@annpc#557:| Dunn moves out into the town with the rest of the team while three of the soldiers stick and guard Mischa

Mischa@crystyl:looks around more, "Do we know what direction the other party will be coming from here?"

NPC@annpc#557:| One of the soldiers with Mischa replies, "The north-east, if they're taking the most direct route, but if they take a detour, it's anyone's guess."

Mischa@crystyl:"We can assume an equally cautious approach, but if they had the bandwidth to circle around then they would already be here watching us prepare. In that case, I will position myself... there" she -

Mischa@crystyl:- points to a spot on one side of the plaza

NPC@annpc#557:| The soldier nods, radioing to SGT Dunn

NPC@annpc#557:| A few moments later, Dunn's voice comes through the radio attached to Mischa's suit, "Good call, Doctor. We have eyes on the ene- Coalition soldiers. I don't see more than a squad, so it looks -

NPC@annpc#557:- like they're respecting the terms."

Mischa@crystyl:"Thank you Sergeant, that's good to hear. If they are making their approach, I should get in position. Are you satisfied we have the area secured to proceed?"

NPC@annpc#557:<C - Dunn> "Affirmative, Doctor. You're clear to move in."

Mischa@crystyl:looks to the team with her, "Time to go then" and makes her way in

NPC@annpc#557:| The three soldiers move in with her, rifles in hand but not raised as they warily survey their surroundings while walking into the town

Mischa@crystyl:leaves the worrying to her escort, and takes a seat on her chosen bench where she can see the others approach

NPC@annpc#557:| Not long after she sits down, Mischa spots figures moving in towards the plaza from another part of town. The Eastern Coalition forces are dressed in 21st century style military gear with some -

NPC@annpc#557:- similarities to the soldiers around Mischa, though it is visually a distinct uniform. Their helmets set them apart the most, wearing something which more closely resembles the traditional gas -

NPC@annpc#557:- mask appearance from the previous world wars, though clearly more high-tech with glowing night-vision eye lenses

Mischa@crystyl:stands as they come into view, holding a very neutral posture with her hands folded in front of her

NPC@annpc#557:| The Coalition appears to have approached with four people too. Three of them bear rifles just like Mischa's escort and stand back, while the four approaches Mischa. He has a pistol holstered at -

NPC@annpc#557:- his side. Unlike Mischa, he doesn't wear a completely different civilian protective suit, but is dressed in the same military attire as the others, with rank insignia designating him as a Captain

NPC@annpc#557:| Coalition Officer: "You are the representative we come to meet?"

Mischa@crystyl:bows, grateful for her youth with Goto again at last, "I am Doctor Leveson, the representative"

NPC@annpc#557:| The Coalition Officer returns the bow, "I am Captain Sato Tadashi, representing the 121st Division."

Mischa@crystyl:straightens up, "Thank you for meeting with me, Captain Sato. And for honouring the terms of the armistice talks. In the interest of mutual respect and full disclosure, I will tell you that the -

Mischa@crystyl:- escort accompanying me is equal in number and those not visible in this plaza are monitoring us - and our surroundings - from secluded positions around us. My hope is that they can keep us safe -

Mischa@crystyl:- from external interference as much as securing our own attendance"

NPC@annpc#557:| Captain Sato nods, "That is understandable. I assume from your presence here that you are...open to consider the concept of a cease-fire agreement?"

Mischa@crystyl:nods, "That is correct. During the last engagement our troops learned of your situation. We have no more desire to continue fighting for fighting's sake than you do"

NPC@annpc#557:| Captain Sato: "That is good to hear. If you know of our situation, then you understand I represent only our division, not the entire Eastern Coalition as a whole. But my division is all the -

NPC@annpc#557:- forces that remain here. Our superiors have all but abandoned this front."

Mischa@crystyl:"That was my understanding, yes. Whilst neither of us may be positioned to end the global conflict, if we can bring a bit of peace to even just this one corner of the world. It's a start at least. -

Mischa@crystyl:- And as a small token of our sincerity, I have been authorized to provide you these-" she pats on a rucksack beside her, "-supplies. I know they won't go far to helping your sick, but regardless of-

Mischa@crystyl:- the outcome here and now, I hope you will accept this small gift as a sign of our willingness to move beyond conflict and put them to good use"

NPC@annpc#557:| Captain Sato: "Thank you. We can certainly use any medical supplies we can get. As you can imagine, our supply lines are all cut. Everything we have comes from what's left over or scavenging -

NPC@annpc#557:- ruins like this one."

Mischa@crystyl:"Exactly why I wanted to bring you this, I am just sorry that I could not carry more. Please forgive my inadequacy in this" she bows

NPC@annpc#557:| Captain Sato: "I appreciate anything you can provide. It is already much more than we expected given our...history."

Mischa@crystyl:rises, "Human history is rife with conflicts such as this. As our species grows, so does the scale of our conflicts. But they all inevitably end up as shameful records in archives while people -

Mischa@crystyl:- descendent from both sides continue forwards, together. On the subject of history, and in the vain of transparency; I want you to know that my own brother died from injuries received during the -

Mischa@crystyl:- recent skirmish. Furthermore, my father was - until that time - commander in chief of our forces. Regardless of these facts, I am here vying for a peaceful closure to our situation here"

NPC@annpc#557:| Captain Sato: "I have seen many die in this war too. Family, friends and fellow soldiers. Each of us is ready to die ourselves in service to our people. But our deaths here will serve nothing, -

NPC@annpc#557:- except to cause more suffering for both sides. And I have no wish to see more die purely to continue this fighting out of spite."

Mischa@crystyl:"Good, now we better understand each other. So you want to take shelter in our bunker, we are willing to accommodate this - and we believe, able - assuming our estimates of your numbers are not -

Mischa@crystyl:- grossly incorrect. But as you can no doubt imagine, doing so without sufficient controls and precautions will create a highly volatile situation with lots of resentment on both sides all -

Mischa@crystyl:- bottled up in close quarters together. Assuming we reach an agreement to move forwards, have you considered how to mediate this reaction from both camps?"

NPC@annpc#557:| Captain Sato: "And from our intelligence on your forces, you hold multiple bunker complexes and have been receiving very limited support and reinforcements. Especially on the American side, as -

NPC@annpc#557:- last we heard they were preoccupied with all the unrest back home. That is why our latest attack was focused on the American bunker, we hoped it would be easier to take with the personnel issues -

NPC@annpc#557:- they were already having. Since you are allies with the Americans, perhaps their diminished numbers can move into your bunker, and we can take refuge in the American one."

Mischa@crystyl:"That does sound like a logical approach. And what of resources, medical supplies and the like?"

NPC@annpc#557:| Captain Sato: "We will require medical supplies, but I expect that need will drop once we are safely within the shelter of a bunker. We have been spending most of our efforts searching for clean -

NPC@annpc#557:- food and water. Your soldiers who attacked us recently can testify to our stockpiles. We would be willing to share some of those reserves in exchange for medical supplies."

Mischa@crystyl:"A most gracious offer" she smiles, "And what of your long term plans? So we do reach an arrangement and provide you with a bunker. Say we see things out in mutual accord here. How long do you -

Mischa@crystyl:- expect to remain in this arrangement, what if a global peace is reached - or perhaps more pertinently, what if is not? You could be facing a reality where your future generations and ours are one -

Mischa@crystyl:- and the same"

NPC@annpc#557:| Captain Sato: "That we have considered. Perhaps, if a global peace, or at least ceasefire between our respective sides is reached, the Coalition may be able to organize an extraction back to our -

NPC@annpc#557:- home countries. But even then, because we have defied our current orders to continue the assault and instead choose to negotiate peace of our own accord, it is very likely that the Coalition will -

NPC@annpc#557:- see us as traitors even /after/ global peace is reached. The most eager of us have already thrown their lives at you. Those of us remaining, we are willing to accept a life in exile. It is better -

NPC@annpc#557:- than death for nothing. There is no honour in a fight where both sides have no cause to fight for besides survival. Better to lay down our arms and work together to survive."

Mischa@crystyl:"Agreed. But suppose your superiors back home one day learn that you have gained the trust of their enemies and entry to their camp. It might be awfully tempting for them to offer you a chance for -

Mischa@crystyl:- retribution to return home as honourable heroes if you use your new advantage against us"

NPC@annpc#557:| Captain Sato: "Yes, I see your concern. Perhaps these concerns will be eased somewhat, if we turn over control of our armed vehicles. We will retain control of solely infantry weapons and -

NPC@annpc#557:- transports for the purposes of maintaining security and conducting further supply searches. I do not believe we have a numerical advantage over you anymore. Even with the advantage of surprise, -

NPC@annpc#557:- such an attack would be certain death with our remaining infantry alone."

Mischa@crystyl:"Quite the reasonable concession, but I have a counter proposal for you. Namely; cooperation. I believe your proposed concessions will be amenable to begin with, however I would first like to have -

Mischa@crystyl:- agreement from both sides to a periodic review of the arrangements to ensure continued mutual benefit. Following a probationary period of adjustment, on the table at the first such revisit would -

Mischa@crystyl:- be /a review of/ the potential for joint operations. We may not be fighting each other at that point, but we still have a wasteland to survive together and there are plenty of less agreeable -

Mischa@crystyl:- parties out there who would welcome the lack of our conflict as an opportunity to pounce. So that first review will consider the options for working together on scouting and scavenging, along with-

Mischa@crystyl:- any ongoing trade agreements and the like"

NPC@annpc#557:| Captain Sato: "That is exactly what I was hoping for, when I say we should work together to survive. The true enemy here is the radiation- it has been claiming the lives of our soldiers much more -

NPC@annpc#557:- than fighting with you. Some have tried to retreat through it, fully expecting to be executed for deserting even when we reach friendly territory, because it is better than withering away here. -

NPC@annpc#557:- But no execution was even necessary. The bombs we dropped did the job for them."

Mischa@crystyl:"Whilst it saddens me to hear of your losses, it gives me hope to hear of your ideas for the future. I believe we have the grounds here to proceed forwards. But understand that I can not speak -

Mischa@crystyl:- directly for the Americans in this, so I request a recess from this discussion that I may bring this proposed arrangement to our leadership and negotiate with the Americans"

NPC@annpc#557:| Captain Sato nods, "And I will bring the proposal to my superiors as well. For the time being, I can assure you that none of our people will fire on yours, provided they do the same."

Mischa@crystyl:"And we shall honour that arrangement. I will send another crow as soon as possible with news for you. Until then, Captain" she bows

NPC@annpc#557:| Captain Sato returns the bow, "Until then, Doctor."

—

NPC@annpc#557 | Mischa and the squad return to the bunker without incident. After changing out of the radiation protection gear and stepping out, she finds Colonel MacNeil waiting for her in the hall outside

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "Doctor. I'm glad you made it back safely."

Mischa@crystyl smiles, "Colonel, I'm surprised you came down here to meet us"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "It's the least I can do after the danger you put yourself in. Do I take it the talks went well, since everyone's unharmed?"

Mischa@crystyl:"A textbook example of cordial negotiations"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "Really? Been quite a while since I've heard of that happening, I must admit."

Mischa@crystyl:"Well, desperation can be quite the motivator"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "That it can be. So, have they made any demands other than access to the bunkers?"

Mischa@crystyl:"I'm not sure demands is quite the right word. The Captain I met with has clearly given serious consideration to his position, and what they want. In short the proposal is this; we take the remnants-

Mischa@crystyl:- of the Americans into our bunker, freeing up theirs for the Eastern Coalition to occupy. They will surrender all but their small arms which will be needed to conduct scavenging and scouting -

Mischa@crystyl:- missions. A trade agreement between the bunkers will be drawn up where they will provide fresh produce against our medical provisions. A further clause will be agreed to periodically review the -

Mischa@crystyl:- armistice to ensure content and compliance to the satisfaction of both sides, and the first such review will also have a predetermined additional agenda point to begin discussions about conducting-

Mischa@crystyl:- joint operations in the wasteland with both bunkers working in collaboration. Until I contact them with news of our formal response, a total cease fire will remain which both sides will honour"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "That sounds like a good plan. Logistically I think it'll work out, of course we're going to have to coordinate with the Americans on this."

Mischa@crystyl:"Exactly why we have taken a recess from the talks so that we can progress discussions here, and the Captain has to convince his superiors in their camp of their concessions as well"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "It sounds like a pretty good plan to me. I'll have a talk with the Americans and try to convince them of it. I'm sure the Americans get used to living with us, and giving the -

NPC@annpc#557 - Coalition forces their own bunker should make things considerably less tense, I hope."

Mischa@crystyl:"That was my thinking as well"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "I'm sure the Americans'll see reason. They're as tired of this fighting as we are. If anything, their position's even closer to that of the Coalition with everything they've -

NPC@annpc#557 - got going on back home, so they'd be even more sympathetic. Granted they're not exactly abandoned and stranded, but it's pretty bloody close at this point."

Mischa@crystyl:"Alright, well let me know if I can do anything to assist"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "I assume we'll be arranging another meeting once I hammer out the details with the Yanks?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Yes, I said I would send another crow once we had news"

NPC@annpc#557 | Colonel MacNeil: "I'll let you and Dr. Amala know when we're ready, then. For now, you should go get some rest after that trip."

Mischa@crystyl:"No arguments here" she smiles, heading off

—

NPC@annpc#557 | Returning to Alicia's quarters, Mischa enters to once again find the same Q from before. He stands and does a clap as she enters

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "Bravo, Captain, bravo."

Mischa@crystyl eyerolls, "I'm glad I'm able to keep you entertained"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "Don't tell me you didn't enjoy this at all. A firsthand look into a period of your history with so many records fragmented and lost? I imagine you never knew General Leveson was kept alive -

NPC@annpc#557 - by that life support machine in his final days. The painting in your family manor has him all prim and proper in his military uniform, after all."

Mischa@crystyl:"True enough, but interesting as it is shouldn't it be Alicia doing all of this? I feel like I'm stealing her show at this point..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "Oh she does. You were wondering about the nature of all this, weren't you? Well, think of it like an...interactive historical simulation. Not quite exact, but the closest I can think of -

NPC@annpc#557 - with your level of understanding."

Mischa@crystyl:"Maybe you should have thought harder about it then, because I'm still not seeing the lesson I'm meant to learn about the Darkness here yet"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "This was Mari's idea, not mine. But I thought you might need a hand with the analogy."

Mischa@crystyl:"Well I appreciate that. Because unless the concept is that the Darkness needs to be welcomed in as a friend, I'm still not seeing the connection"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "This ceasefire you're negotiating, it might just be an insignificant little peace treaty with one enemy brigade, but it's the first to be signed between members of two major factions in -

NPC@annpc#557 - this war. It would set the example for the eventual ceasefires to come that would end this war. But if the bombs hadn't been dropped, if so much death and destruction wasn't caused, then you -

NPC@annpc#557 - would've never found common ground, would you? The old generals like Alicia's father would still be leading this conflict, and the Coalition wouldn't have seen the need to set aside differences."

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "The war was a horrible thing, yes. But do you think without that war, United Earth would have ever formed? That without the Romulan War, the Federation would be what it is today?"

Mischa@crystyl:"But in those broad terms; if the bombs hadn't been dropped then the old generals would not have had a war to get caught up with in the first place. That said, I do see your point and it is proven -

Mischa@crystyl:- throughout history that adversity creates solidarity. So you are saying that the Darkness is the universe's equivalent to the bombs - or the war itself - and then the answer is for the galaxy to -

Mischa@crystyl:- unite. But that is all just philosophy, and unless you can tell me otherwise, the Darkness is not sentient so there is no philosophical debate with it, it simply is"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "Not quite unite, no. The Darkness is not adversity. The Darkness is death. Which, from your mortal perspective no doubt sounds very ominous and all. But death is only the end from your -

NPC@annpc#557 - limited perspective. Without death, there's only stagnation. Imagine if men like General Leveson lived forever. Only with his withering away did people like Alicia have the chance to steer -

NPC@annpc#557 - your history in a different direction. Only with the destruction of the atomic bombs did your species learn to respect and cultivate the other life of your planet. While it's sad how many -

NPC@annpc#557 - species you killed off, new species are developing on Earth even now, life that would've never had a chance if what came before it wasn't wiped out. Just like you wouldn't be here if the Voth -

NPC@annpc#557 - hadn't gotten just about everything in their day and age killed. Oh, spoilers for that last part."

Mischa@crystyl eyerolls at the spoiler comment. I understand the concept, just like the constructs of 'good' and 'evil' being unable to exist without each other. But in this context, the Darkness is inevitable"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q smiles, "Bingo."

Mischa@crystyl:"But we have seen evidence of even more distant future time periods where it has not ravaged the galaxy"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "And you've seen evidence of people kept alive despite the damage they've endured, have you not? You've even seen people who've transcended death entirely through means they were never -

NPC@annpc#557 - meant to, like the Architect. That's why I said, technically, the Darkness can be stopped. But you came here because you saw what happened to those who dedicate every fiber of their existence -

NPC@annpc#557 - to stopping it. What kind of twisted parody of Starfleet they've become, just like the Architect was a corruption of everything his people stood for."

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "Sometimes, the old's just gotta go."

Mischa@crystyl:"I'm afraid I can't accept that. Perhaps you are right, but we can't just lay down and let it consume our existence"

NPC@annpc#557 | Q: "And I'm not saying you should. You asked to be shown the nature of the Darkness. Well, there's your answer. What you do with it, that's something you have to figure out. Because it's not -

NPC@annpc#557:- the fact that everything dies that matters. That's a constant, whether you like it or not. It's how you deal with that knowledge which defines who you are."

NPC@annpc#557 | Q snaps his fingers and flashes away

Mischa@crystyl sighs

—

T'Lana@anncaris | After going to sleep following the conversation with Q, Mischa suddenly finds herself back in the undercroft of the P'Jem monastary, facing the older Mariel

Mischa@crystyl looks around and breathes a sigh of relief, "Thank goodness. I was starting to have nightmares about living out my days there..."

T'Lana@anncaris looks to Mischa with a raised brow, "Captain?"

Mischa@crystyl notes the look, "Oh... let me guess, not a moment has passed here has it?"

T'Lana@anncaris nods, "Were you...transported somewhere?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Yes, I just spent several days living as one of my ancestors"

T'Lana@anncaris slowly looks between Mischa and Mari

Mischa@crystyl looks to Mari as well, "Quite the impressive feat there"

T'Lana@anncaris | Mariel: "You wanted to be shown the nature of the Darkness. I obliged in the best way I knew how. And a way the Q wouldn't be upset at me for, too."

Mischa@crystyl:"Oh, Q was quite amused by it all. So kudos there. That's Q Senior at least, I assume you are better positioned to speak for Junior"

T'Lana@anncaris | Mariel: "Yes, I sensed his presence. And it wasn't an upset presence, which is good."

Mischa@crystyl:"Still, was that whole escapade really necessary?"

T'Lana@anncaris | Mariel: "It took less time than conversing in this form, didn't it?"

Mischa@crystyl:"For the rest of you maybe..."

T'Lana@anncaris | Mariel: "You experienced time differently," she smiles. "A little taste of our existence for you. But it takes no time away from the limited amount your physical form can endure, and more -

T'Lana@anncaris - importantly, it wouldn't delay your departure here. We wouldn't want you to get caught in the aftermath of the Darkness, after all."

Mischa@crystyl:"True enough. Still, the whole metaphysical analogy thing doesn't really answer anything still. We are no closer now to finding a way to stop it than we were before"

T'Lana@anncaris | Mariel: "And that is something I can't reveal to you either. Not only would the Continuum be rather upset at me, but I understand why they enforce such rules as well. That's why Starfleet -

T'Lana@anncaris - fields so many ships for exploration despite the dangers. You could send out probes to collect all the data for much less risk, but it's just not the same. Some things are better figured out -

T'Lana@anncaris - firsthand."

Mischa@crystyl:"I do understand the concept, that doesn't mean I have to like it in this case though"

T'Lana@anncaris | Mariel: "And neither did our Starfleet, when the Q first told them the same."

Mischa@crystyl:"I see. Well, it has been insightful in its own way, so thank you for that. But as you say, we need to depart. What of all of you though?"

T'Lana@anncaris | Kayleigh: "We have our own means of coming and going. We understand your concern, but you don't have to worry about evacuating us."

Mischa@crystyl:"Very well then. In that case, we should depart"

T'Lana@anncaris | Mariel: "Good luck on your mission, Captain."

Mischa@crystyl:"And to you in appeasing the Continuum" she smiles, turning to head out

T'Lana@anncaris turns and follows Mischa out of the undercroft

—

T'Lana@anncaris | Mischa and T'Lana materialize back on the transporter pad of the Latenter

Mischa@crystyl smiles, "Ah, it's good to be back"

T'Lana@anncaris nods and steps off the pad, "There is still the better part of a day before the Darkness arrives. We should have more than ample time to reach a safe distance and observe. Shall we change back -

T'Lana@anncaris - into our regular uniforms first?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Sounds good to me"

T'Lana@anncaris heads out the transporter room and into the halls beyond, "So what did these ascended show you through your ancestors?"

Mischa@crystyl:"I'm still not entirely sure... at least in regards to the context of understanding the Darkness"

T'Lana@anncaris:"What of the specific vision you saw? Or was it more of a memory?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Neither actually. For all intents and purposes I took the place of Alicia Leveson in history for the duration of my time there"

T'Lana@anncaris:"I am not familiar with that ancestor. It is well before Federation records, I assume?"

Mischa@crystyl nods, "It was the height of Earth's last great war"

T'Lana@anncaris:"Perhaps they were trying to make a connection between atomic destruction and that caused by the Darkness?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Q - at least, /a/ Q - visited me a couple of times while I was there. He likened the Darkness to quite simply 'death'. In this context, it would seem destined to serve the same purpose for our -

Mischa@crystyl:- galaxy as the near self destruction of that period in Earth's history do for Humanity, or the Romulan War for the Federation. He implied it was the inevitable force of nature that needs to wipe -

Mischa@crystyl:- the proverbial slate clean so that something greater can rise from it's ashes. Only this time, the slate is all life in this galaxy"

T'Lana@anncaris:"Interesting. You said this was /a/ Q? I assume it was different from the Q that Starfleet has previously dealt with most frequently?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Yes, I am not aware of this particular Q ever getting involved before. Interestingly though, he did also indicate that he had a son who was involved with that ascended who put me there - Mariel -

Mischa@crystyl:- and I get the impression that she and the Vulcan are from a similar period to us. Might be worth keeping an eye out for them when we get back, no telling what we might find if this version of them-

Mischa@crystyl:- is anything to go by"

T'Lana@anncaris nods, "I am not familiar with their names, but I will see what I can find when we return to our time and universe."

Mischa@crystyl chuckles, "I wouldn't exactly call it a priority, but it would be interesting to see how closely they overlap us - if at all - and I'm pretty sure there aren't many Starfleet officers with a name -

Mischa@crystyl - like Mariel, or Vulcan ones named Kayleigh"

T'Lana@anncaris:"Indeed. Kayleigh is a rather unusual name for a Vulcan."

Mischa@crystyl:"So I don't imagine it will be too hard to run a background algorithm to find the pair. But in the meantime, we are still no closer to our objective"

T'Lana@anncaris nods, "Perhaps the scientific data we can collect from observing the Darkness in action will provide something more tangible than this...historic experience, or however it may be described."

Mischa@crystyl:"That would be nice, but I remain skeptical. It seems increasingly likely that the solution will lie in achieving the impossible by uniting the entire galaxy. Or at least, all of the psionics"

T'Lana@anncaris:"That does seem the most likely solution from all we have learned so far. As we are already here however, there should be little harm in remaining to see the Darkness in action. The data from the -

T'Lana@anncaris:- Discovery mission and our scans of system remnants provide a good idea of what distance we must maintain to be safe."

Mischa@crystyl nods, "Agreed. And once we have seen this, we should turn attention back to these Starfleet remnants and their historical interference"

T'Lana@anncaris:"To Bajor, then?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Once the observation is complete, and assuming nothing else crops up"

—

T'Lana@anncaris | Nearly a day later, the usual bridge crew is gathered on the bridge of the Latenter as they observe the arrival of the Darkness

T'Lana@anncaris | The viewscreen shows a magnified view of the system. The camera seems to be tracking something moving through the system, but it is hard to see. The only visible signs of the Darkness is when -

T'Lana@anncaris - it moves in front of a distant star, obscuring the speck from space before reappearing when the Darkness has passed over it. With the diminished field of stars as a result of the -

T'Lana@anncaris - Darkness' prior actions on the galaxy however, it becomes all the more difficult to see

T'Lana@anncaris | Its existence becomes more distinct when it passes through the mid-system asteroid field, and asteroids in its way seem to be erased- not blasted apart or exploded, but literally like an -

T'Lana@anncaris - eraser being swiped over them in an image-editing software

T'Lana@anncaris | T'Bee: "The asteroids have immediately been converted to strange matter upon contact with the Darkness. Their mass is now a part of the Darkness, though the addition is negligible given its -

T'Lana@anncaris - considerable size."

T'Lana@anncaris:"As we expected. It is maintaining its current course directly for the star."

T'Lana@anncaris | Victoria: "They are predictable. If only there was a surefire way to stop them, then it would all be so easy..."

Mischa@crystyl:"Let's keep watching and see if we can't find that surefire way then"

T'Lana@anncaris | The Darkness edges closer and closer to the star by the minute. Then, it begins...

T'Lana@anncaris | The Darkness didn't erase the star like it did with the asteroids. The moment it made contact, it seemed to jump forwards, like a predator pouncing on its prey. In seconds, the majority of the -

T'Lana@anncaris - P'Jem star was covered by a dark mass, almost like viewing a solar eclipse

Mischa@crystyl:"Well that's... disturbing"

T'Lana@anncaris | This eclipse-like effect lasts for about half a minute before waves of energy begins arching outwards. The star seems to swell up, and the Darkness swells with it like a giant gaping hole in -

T'Lana@anncaris - its very core. The arcs of energy which resemble solar flares increase in frequency and size. One of them lashes the planet closest to the star, melting much of it away much like a hit from -

T'Lana@anncaris - the Doomsday Machine

T'Lana@anncaris | What is left of the planet is quickly swallowed up as the Darkness/star combination swells in size again, and similar lashes hit the second planet, to identical effect

T'Lana@anncaris | The remnants of the second planet isn't slowly consumed, though. The energy suddenly expands outwards in all directions, a bright flash which covers the entire viewscreen. For a good minute, -

T'Lana@anncaris - there is nothing onscreen but brightness. Then, the light fades away, revealing only dark empty space

Mischa@crystyl:"Now what the hell was that?"

T'Lana@anncaris | T'Bee: "Massive energy shockwave, similar to a supernova. The energy is consistent with what the local records refer to as 'strange energy' and does not match anything we have encountered -

T'Lana@anncaris - previously in our own universe. The shockwave has destroyed the entire P'Jem system."

Mischa@crystyl | Ori: "So... the Darkness just ate that star, and then burped out a supernova?"

T'Lana@anncaris:"That...would seem to be an apt analogy, yes."