ST:SoD321 Pt. II | "Raveled Reality"

Stardate 100805

A desperate attack by the Survivors leads to the Venator, Yorktown and the Ditean starship Drakos to be trapped together in an unusual situation...

---

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Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | On the Venator's bridge, the turbolift doors slide open again and a pair of security enlisted with Yorktown patches step through

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Security 1: "Well, this is /a/ bridge."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Security 2: "Still not our bridge, though."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Nqakula calls over, "Wait, before you go, have you been collecting any tricorder scans?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Security 2: "Kent's had his open since all this weirdness started."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Security 1 hands over his tricorder, "Here."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Nqakula takes the tricorder, tapping it, "Nope, no electromagnetic radiation." She hands it back to him. "Thanks, Crewman."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Security 1: "No problem."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"No sign of EM radiation from Kelly's team either, or Yorktown's bridge or anyone passing through Yorktown's bridge."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Indrix: "Then whatever's going on here is missing the key characteristic of an inversion field."

Rianni@crystyl:"So that's the inversion field theory out, right?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Indrix nods, "I would say so, yes. The only thing that really matches is the distorted layout. Everything else is distinct."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Security 2 meanwhile looks to Eva, "You have contact with our bridge?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"Telepathically, with your Captain. Comms are out here, too."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Security 2: "Is everythi-"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Security 1: "Intruder!"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Nqakula: "It's okay, the Diteans are-" she pauses as she also sees what the crewman saw...

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Rianni, meanwhile, feels something wrap around her leg...

Rianni@crystyl glances down and yelps, "Wah! What the-" she starts squirming to get away from it and kick her leg free

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | She finds a dark tentacle wrapped around her leg. Its grip is too strong for her to squirm away from. The two security enlisted have their phasers up, but...

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Security 2: "I can't get a shot!"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Rianni finds herself being dragged into what looks like some kind of portal. Before she reaches it however, one of the Diteans that arrived on the bridge earlier leaps in, his arm -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - transforming into a bony blade mid-jump. He slashes at the tentacle, severing it and causing a spray of black ink. Two more shoot out from the portal, the Ditean manages to cut off a second, -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - but the third wraps around his entire body, constricting both arms and making him unable to continue slashing

Rianni@crystyl scrambles back to her feet and rushes to get a weapon from the emergency locker, trusting in her inherited muscle memory to afford her a true aim and quick enough reflexes

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Rianni reacts just in time, hitting the tentacle before it can drag the Ditean in. Being set to stun by default, the phaser doesn't sever the appendage, but it causes it to loosen up, allowing -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - the Ditean to retaliate. He cuts it off and the portal closes as he struggles completely free, throwing the tentacle segment around him to the ground

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean 1: "Thank you."

Rianni@crystyl:"We're even, let's just leave it at that" she comments, adjusting the phaser setting to be more useful against them

Rianni@crystyl:"But what in the blazes was that thing?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Rylliss: "We can figure that out later, Lieutenant. It's not over yet!"

Rianni@crystyl:"Everyone, defensive positions!"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Another portal begins forming behind Azevedo, but he reacts quickly, scrambling over the helm console and evading the tentacle that comes out from it. Rylliss opens fire, disintegrating the -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - tentacle. A second reaches out but is shot by one of the Yorktown security and the portal promptly shuts again

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Then, the portal forms again in front of the two security enlisted. One of them gets another shot off, disintegrating a tentacle, but a second tentacle whips the phaser from the hands of the -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - other security enlisted before promptly grabbing the weapon arm of the one that fired. Rylliss tries to get a shot, but the two enlisted are in the way. Rianni however has a decent angle...

Rianni@crystyl spins around and takes the shot

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | On a higher setting now, Rianni's shot disintegrates the tentacle. With his arm now free, the enlisted fires his phaser directly into the portal. There is an ear-piercing shriek before the portal shuts

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Rylliss: "Hopefully that's done it..."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | A few more seconds pass and no new portals open up

Rianni@crystyl:"Alright, cautious speculation time. But we need to keep eyes open in all directions clearly"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Indrix steps over, scanning the severed tentacles and the ink-like blood with his tricorder

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Security 2: "Looks like it might be a good idea for us to stick around here to provide some extra eyes and phasers. Who knows when or if we'll get back to our own bridge in this maze, anyways. And maybe they've got your Security protecting them now to make up for it."

Rianni@crystyl nods, "Appreciate it guys"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Indrix: "The chemical structure here bears some resemblance to carbon-based organic molecules. But in place of carbon, there's an element the tricorder doesn't recognize. It functions like a carbon atom, but it's not anything we've discovered so far."

Rianni@crystyl:"That means we're pretty far from home doesn't it..."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Indrix: "It would seem so. I'm detecting no traces of any subspace particles, either."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"Kelly's team has encountered...one of these? Something like this on the Ditean ship as well."

Rianni@crystyl:"Alright, new factors in play. So what does this mean for our current situations; let's have some theories"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Azevedo: "Some kind of local lifeform, maybe?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Rylliss: "And where we have trouble navigating across our own ships, these things can show up wherever they want and grab people."

Rianni@crystyl:"These could be catching people unaware across all three ships"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"Don't worry. I'm keeping an eye out for your crew. With so many of you Starfleet heroes on the bridge though, I expected you could handle yourself."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Rianni sees that Eva is surrounded by a strange black shadow effect

Rianni@crystyl:"Um... Eva...?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"And your crew," she gestures to the Yorktown security, who both raise their phasers cautiously, "and yours," she gestures to the Diteans. "But there's only so much I can do. I'm not omnipotent, -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:- you know. A few of them /may/ have been dragged out from under me." She takes a step towards Rianni. "I asked Eva's permission to speak through her. Saves me the energy of manifesting here."

Rianni@crystyl:"So who exactly are you?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"I am the Witch. We have met before. Or is it after? Keeping track of your linear time can be difficult. I am sure you know of me, at least."

Rianni@crystyl:"Not the same version of you who was travelling with us then"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"Every version of me is the version travelling with you, yet every version of me is elsewhere at the same time. The concept of existence outside space-time is much like this universe you have found -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:- yourself within. Except here it is only space which does not exist by the rules you understand. Time is still...relatively similar."

Rianni@crystyl:"Right, of course no conversation with you is ever straightforward. All thanks to our limited linear perspective, of course. Yet you have chosen to speak with us which means you must have a point"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 nods, "I do not have the power to get you out of this universe, and I cannot ward off these scavengers forever. They will eventually manage to seize more and more of you. And the technology that -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - brought you here has been destroyed. There is only one option. We must call for assistance."

Rianni@crystyl:"From...?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"Any ascended who may hear our call. I cannot reach out to the Continuum from here, not with my own energy. But there is a piece of equipment on the Ditean vessel which can serve as a psionic amplifier like the Trident."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean 2: "That is true. But why have you not used it already?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"Because it would take too much of my energy. Sin cannot yet manifest in multiple places at once, nor communicate with the other denizens of this universe to fend off the scavengers preying on you. -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:- It is more ideal for her to utilize her energy, combined with Eva's telepathic talents, to send the signal. The temporal agent is already guiding Sin there. I can guide you."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Indrix: "The...temporal agent?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"I suppose you learn that after this, and not before..."

Rianni@crystyl sighs, "One complication at a time. What about the Ditean telepath, can they help with this too?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"They are already at the device and need no guidance, but their power alone will not suffice."

Rianni@crystyl:"Alright, so they are already there and Sin is on her way. What do you need to guide us to do exactly?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"I can guide you through the space of this universe. Comprehending it is no different to me than comprehending your linear time. But as much of my power is required elsewhere, it would be preferable for additional protection to accompany Eva."

Rianni@crystyl:"Accompany her?" shakes her head, "Nevermind. She already knows what you need us to do right? So maybe let her explain it in our linear terms"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"Very well."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | The black mist effect fades away

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"In layman's terms, she wants a security escort for me. Just so I don't get eaten on the way."

Rianni@crystyl:"I had a feeling. And this is just to traverse the messed up ships to get you to where this device is, right?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 nods, "Yes, because these portals can pop up anywhere. For the same reason, we probably shouldn't leave the bridge undefended, either."

Rianni@crystyl:"Agreed. And while I figured that was the case, I wanted to make sure that you are in agreement of this being the way forwards. After all, once you go we're cut off from everyone again"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"That's why I think you should come with me. The bridge is going to be useless until we get out of here, anyways. We can't control anything from here anyways, it's just a gathering point for senior -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:- officers. There should still be security to protect the senior officers who remain, but if you come with me, I can keep you in contact with Kelly, Captain Troi-Riker and the Ditean telepath."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 smiles, "And you're not bad in a fight, either."

Rianni@crystyl considers, looking to Indrix, "Are you alright with keeping an eye on things here if I go with her?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Indrix nods, "I think I'll manage, Lieutenant."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean 2: "We can come with you. You will be heading to our vessel, and it may be beneficial to have those who know its technology with you."

Rianni@crystyl:"Thank you" she turns back to Eva, "Alright then, let's do this"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Rylliss: "I'll keep the bridge secure with the Yorktown boys, Lieutenant."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"First stop, through the turbolift."

—

Keliaya@anncaris | Meanwhile on the Ditean ship...

Keliaya@anncaris:"So we have to get to this psionic amplifier on the Ditean ship to broadcast a telepathic distress signal, then. I'm guessing it's not as easy as just taking a lift up from here?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone shakes his head, "The Ditean ship is just as disconnected as yours. Fortunately I have technology that lets me make sense of this layout better than our minds can, so I should be able to lead the way."

Keliaya@anncaris looks to Emma, "Ensign Ralde, tell the doctor it's time to go."

Emma Ralde@crystyl nods and heads back to where the doctor is working, "Time to move out. How's your patient?"

Keliaya@anncaris | V'Leng: "She is stable. There is not much more I can do for her without a biobed. If we leave her here however, she may be easy prey for more of what attacked us."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"True, but we can't exactly afford to split up right now"

Keliaya@anncaris | V'Leng: "I agree. I require only one moment," She takes out a PADD and begins tapping away on it

Emma Ralde@crystyl nods and returns to Kelly, "The doctor is just finishing up. She has reservations about leaving the Ditean, understandably, but we know we have no real choice right now"

Keliaya@anncaris nods, "Let's hope one of the Ditean's fellow shipmates finds her before these things do."

Keliaya@anncaris | V'Leng catches up after a moment, "I have left a message in case any Starfleet stumble upon her next, both regarding her condition and as a warning for what occurred here."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"It's the best we can do"

Keliaya@anncaris:"Good thinking, Doctor," she looks to Boone. "Lead on."

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone nods and begins leading the way, scanning with some device in his hand that looks distinct from a modern Starfleet tricorder

Keliaya@anncaris:"What about that portal you came through? Could you generate another one of these to get us closer?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone: "No, that device is only useful for following the local lifeforms. That's why I showed up right when the attack on you happened. I've been jumping from attack to attack fending these creatures off and hoping to find a senior officer."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"I assume this is going to be a stupid question. But with you being a temporal agent and all, didn't you know this was coming?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone: "If we knew everything, we wouldn't need agents monitoring things out in the field, would we?"

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Right, as I thought then"

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone turns a corner and a door slides open to reveal one of the Venator's halls beyond. He steps inside

Emma Ralde@crystyl | Sin: "Is it weird that I'm actually getting used to this twisted ship hopping game...?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone: "It does get a little less odd when you've been in a universe like this for a while. We actually house one of our training facilities in such a universe. One too far from this to reach with any form of contact I have, unfortunately."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Huh"

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone: "Its official designation is Charon Station, but everyone who's been through it just calls it the Labyrinth."

Emma Ralde@crystyl | Sin: "I bet I could crack it"

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone: "Maybe. The key is getting used to it. That's why they run the training, so we can look beyond our natural linear perception of time and space."

Keliaya@anncaris:"Guess we're lucky to have you aboard, then. But you're just here to observe the infiltrator situation? Isn't that the definition of timeline interference?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone: "Not in this case. As I've explained to Sin before, your timeline and all the ones derivative from it were only created /because/ the Survivors changed history. Their changes left the -

Keliaya@anncaris - original timeline intact, and it branched off into history as you know it here. Their interference is a fundamental part of your universe."

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone leads the way into a lift and begins tapping on the panel

Keliaya@anncaris | The lift begins to descend as everyone is inside

Keliaya@anncaris:"So you're just here to watch, and make sure the infiltrators don't go too far."

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone: "More or less."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"More or less?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone smiles, "Occasionally I lend you a hand, like when we all get stuck in a distant universe."

Keliaya@anncaris | The lift doors open to a white void beyond

Keliaya@anncaris:"Sin..."

Emma Ralde@crystyl | Sin is already throwing up her hands and projecting a barrier as soon as she sees the void, "Yeah, I got it"

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"I guess it's not that way then"

Emma Ralde@crystyl | Sin scowls at Boone, "You sure you're holding that gizmo the right way up?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone: "It's alright. Space doesn't follow the rules of space back in our universe. The combined environmental systems of all three of your ships is covering this region."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Are you saying we need to go out there?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone nods, "I'm sure there's other ways, but my scanner is identifying this as the best path towards our destination. Come on, it's perfectly safe." He takes a step out into the void and just seems to walk on nothingness

Emma Ralde@crystyl looks to Sin

Emma Ralde@crystyl | Sin, "What?"

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"You're the fearless overlord of all existence or whatever right? So you should go"

Emma Ralde@crystyl | Sin: "Yeah, but age bef-"

Emma Ralde@crystyl clips her around the back of the head

Emma Ralde@crystyl | Sin rubs her head and grumbles, "Fine!" muttering under her breath, "Crotchety old hag...". as she follows Boone

Keliaya@anncaris | Sin follows out and finds herself able to walk despite seemingly floating in a white void

Emma Ralde@crystyl grins with satisfaction and follows them out into the void

Keliaya@anncaris steps out as well, taking a curious glance behind her, "Well, this isn't unsettling at all..."

Keliaya@anncaris | Behind them, they see the turbolift and the lift shaft that seems to stretch up before disappearing into a white mist

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Definitely something new"

—

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Elsewhere, Eva leads Rianni and the Diteans through one of the Venator's hallways. As they walk by, one of the doorways slide open to reveal another Ditean hall beyond

Rianni@crystyl peers inside, "That's... the Ditean ship?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean 2: "Yes, that is a segment of our vessel."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"Not the one we want, though. With the way everything is so...disconnected, that doesn't lead to where we need to go on the Ditean ship."

Rianni@crystyl:"I figured. Just the first time I've gotten to see it is all"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean 1: "None of us have encountered such an anomaly before, either."

Rianni@crystyl:"Yeah, but I mean... it's the first time I've seen one of your ships from the inside is all"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean 2: "Ah, that's what you mean. As you can see, our love of art and beauty is reflected both on the exterior and interior, as it is for all Ditean architecture."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean 1: "We don't build ships by classes like you do. Many of our ships follow a similar design philosophy, but each and every Ditean ship is unique."

Rianni@crystyl:"I haven't seen such refined ship architecture since the Thana. It is very inspiring!"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean 2: "I am glad it is pleasing to you."

Rianni@crystyl:"Hopefully I'll get to see it all properly one day"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean 1: "Well, you will be travelling to at least one part of our ship today."

Rianni@crystyl:"True, but it hardly feels like the time for sightseeing"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean 2: "That is a good point."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | As they continue through the Venator, they find themselves in one of the impossibly long hallways. In the distance, they can see something huge crawling along the ceiling...

Rianni@crystyl readies her weapon, "That doesn't look good"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 holds up her hand, "It's okay. That's one of the creatures that the Witch...tamed? Convinced to help us out, something like that. I'm not sure how sentient they are, but it won't harm us."

Rianni@crystyl tentatively lowers her phaser, "If you're sure..."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | The creature looks vaguely like a massive centipede, but as it crawls closer to them, they can see that in addition to legs on the bottom, it has identical looking appendages coming out of its -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - back as well. It also possesses no exoskeleton, and is probably more comparable to the prehistoric hallucigenia than a centipede. The appendages are all tipped on the end with a long blade-like extension like the spikes of the hallucigenia too

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"We...may want to duck, though."

Rianni@crystyl nods, "No arguments from me"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 and the Diteans duck low as the creature approaches

Rianni@crystyl does so as well

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | The creature and its bladed appendages move on by above them, completely ignoring the group as it proceeds down the hall

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 stands once they are clear of it and continues forward

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | As they walk, they find large puddles of the black inky blood and severed tentacles littering a segment of the hall

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"See? It was helping us."

Rianni@crystyl:"I guess looks can be deceiving"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 nods, "Especially in a completely foreign universe."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 turns a corner and they find themselves in one of the Yorktown's halls

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 continues down the hall and turns to another door...

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 ...which slides open to reveal quarters with an Orion female in a slave outfit straddling a half-dressed man with a tactical officer's jacket lying on the ground beside them

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"Oops. Wrong turn."

Rianni@crystyl:"Well, good to see not everyone is letting the situation get on top of them"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean 2: "Phyrine!"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | The skin and outfit of the 'Orion' immediately ripples to form a Ditean uniform and the skin colour changes from the Orion green to a flawless tan

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Phyrine: "I could not find the way back to our vessel, so I thought I may as well make the most of the situation."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean 2: "Come with us. There will be plenty to keep you entertained."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Phyrine flips backwards off the man and moves to join the group, leaving the half-dressed officer still gaping in surprise

Rianni@crystyl facepalms

—

Keliaya@anncaris | Kelly and co. continue to make their way through the white void. Now the lift and shaft is no longer even visible behind them

Keliaya@anncaris:"Are you sure we're going the right way?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone nods as he looks at his scanner device, "Positive."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Well I'm glad you can tell..."

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone: "That's why we need to rely on this technology. Our minds aren't evolved to comprehend places like this. There's far more to different universes than different quantum realities. You're -

Keliaya@anncaris - already familiar with some of them, such as the one you know as Fluidic Space. Ones like these are still relatively close to our own, where matter from our universe can still exist, and vice -

Keliaya@anncaris - versa. Many transuniversal exploration ships and timeships have been lost to ones with a completely unrecognizable set of laws governing that reality."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"I guess we should count ourselves lucky then...?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone: "Luck is part of the equation, but not the only factor. It is always more likely to end up in a universe more similar to our own by accident, than one radically different. Why do you -

Keliaya@anncaris - think there's so many crossovers with the Mirror Universe, or why the ships of other universes visiting the Heart have histories that are still relatively recognizable?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone: "There's realities where humans never evolved, where the Borg never formed or the Iconian Empire never collapsed. It's just harder to get in touch with them."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"And somewhere the laws of physics are completely unravelled apparently"

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone nods to Sin, "One of the things you can look forward to if you choose to ascend. The only way to visit some of these realities is not having to be bound to a single corporeal form, -

Keliaya@anncaris - because our corporeal forms can't exist there. But when you're just a consciousness, that's not a problem anymore."

Emma Ralde@crystyl | Sin: "I'll add it to my to-do list"

Keliaya@anncaris | As they converse, Emma notices what seem to be tree trunks amidst white fog in the distance. Just when she thinks they are approaching a forest of some kind, the 'trunks' begin to move

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Um... is that part of the tour?"

Keliaya@anncaris | The 'trunks' lift up and then land down some metres away, like the legs of a gargantuan creature moving

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone points his scanner in the direction of them, "Don't worry, it's perfectly harmless. The equivalent of a giant herbivore, like a brachiosaurus."

Emma Ralde@crystyl | Sin: "Because this place isn't weird enough already..."

Keliaya@anncaris | Bolian Enlisted: "What's a brakky-saurian, anyways?"

Keliaya@anncaris | V'Leng: "A giant prehistoric reptile from Earth."

Keliaya@anncaris | Bolian: "Right. Maybe we should just...not try and understand this place until we're ready to come and explore with our own technology."

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone: "You're closer than you think, actually."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"I don't know if that's more exciting or terrifying"

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone: "Probably a bit of both."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Reassuring as ever"

Keliaya@anncaris | They begin to approach what looks like a glowing beam of pale blue light

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone: "There it is."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"That's the amplifier thing?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone: "Not quite. It's a Ditean lift. They use anti-gravity tunnels rather than turbolifts."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Ah. Still, I won't be complaining to put this void behind us"

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone steps into the light, "Come on, then."

Emma Ralde@crystyl & Sin follow the others into the light

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone kicks off and he starts to levitate upwards

Keliaya@anncaris | The team hovers up the lift and soon find themselves in a shaft rather than the white void. When they finally arrive, it is in one of the Venator's halls

Keliaya@anncaris:"I would've thought a Ditean lift would connect to somewhere on the Ditean ship, but I suppose everything's a jumbled mess now..."

Keliaya@anncaris | V'Leng: "I am picking up weapons fire in the distance."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Must be more of those tentacles attacking!"

Keliaya@anncaris:"Let's check it out, but be careful. Don't rush into the crossfire or get ourselves snatched up too."

Emma Ralde@crystyl nods

Keliaya@anncaris | They approach to find the Venator's MACO team backing away and opening fire on a creature whom the phasers seem to do nothing against...

Keliaya@anncaris FX | https://i.imgur.com/a1vWsAY.jpg 

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Ok, that does not look like a gentle herbivore..."

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone scans as he goes, "Weapons are no use against that thing. It can give the tardigrades of our own universe a run for their dilithium. Sin, this is your time to shine."

Emma Ralde@crystyl | Sin, "What do you mean? I /always/ shine, thank you very much"

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Sin!"

Keliaya@anncaris | The creature lunges at the closest MACO...

Emma Ralde@crystyl | Sin eyerolls, "I know, I know" the creature freezes mid-lunge, at which point Sin reveals that she was in fact working all along and just shooting her mouth instead of confirming what she was -

Emma Ralde@crystyl:- doing. She holds it there a moment to strengthen her grip and then reaches out hand, tightening her fist to crush the space around the creature and compress it like a Romulan Warbird when it's core implodes

Keliaya@anncaris | The creature is crushed and collapses onto the ground. Though it appears to be dead, its remains flash away in an effect reminiscent of a spore jump, but with black lightning streaks

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone: "We should be safe for now. I don't think it'll be back."

Keliaya@anncaris | V'Leng heads over to the MACOs, "Do any of you require medical attention?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Sh’ivilnath shakes her head, "My team is good, but we have crew holed up in the mess hall from all three ships. Some of them are injured."

Keliaya@anncaris:"You and the crewman should stay here."

Keliaya@anncaris | V'Leng nods, "I concur. My skills would be of more assistance to the crew in the mess hall." She gestures and the Bolian crewman follows her further down the hall

Keliaya@anncaris | Sh’ivilnath: "It's good to see you, Commander. How's the rest of the ship?"

Keliaya@anncaris:"I can't speak for everyone, but we have some help trying to keep it all secure. We're working on getting us out of this."

Keliaya@anncaris | Sh’ivilnath: "Do you want us to accompany you?"

Keliaya@anncaris:"I think the people in the mess hall need your help more. Keep defending this area. We'll manage."

Keliaya@anncaris | Sh'ivilnath takes out her pistol and hands it to Kelly, "Take this, at least. Not all of the things attacking us are immune to phaser fire. It might help."

Keliaya@anncaris:"Thanks, Captain."

Keliaya@anncaris | SSGT Walker steps up and hands his pistol to Emma

Emma Ralde@crystyl smiles, "Thanks"

Keliaya@anncaris | CPL Kruger looks to Sin, "Don't suppose you need one?"

Emma Ralde@crystyl | Sin, "I'm all the weapon I need"

Keliaya@anncaris | CPL Kruger chuckles, "Thought as much. Well, thanks for the assist, Ensign. Good luck with the maze out there."

Keliaya@anncaris:"Let's keep going, then."

Keliaya@anncaris | Boone continues to lead the way

—

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Meanwhile on Rianni's side, the team has run into the tentacles again. The three Diteans fend them off skillfully using their blade arms, especially the new one named Phyrine who joined them -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - from that officer's quarters, who dodges and weaves from tendril to tendril as if performing a dance. The tentacles are clearly in retreat as the portals begin to close, with Phyrine managing to sever one last one before they all disappear back into the portals.

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | As the fighting concludes, the Diteans' skin all ripple several times, causing the inky blood-like substance to slide off them and soon they look completely clean

Rianni@crystyl holsters her phaser after covering them as best she can without risking shooting any of them and looks to Phyrine, "That is some impressive bladework"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Phyrine's blade arms retract and she forms regular hands again, "I learned from the best. You should see the Asteriarch in a fight."

Rianni@crystyl:"I'll keep that in mind"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | As Eva continues leading the way, one of the Diteans steps up beside Rianni while they walk

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean 2: "Phyrine is one of Asteriarch Syrene's daughters. She has her mother's talent, as well as her training."

Rianni@crystyl:"I see. I assume it is not regular then for the Asteriarch to train select members of your crew outside of family?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean 2: "She is a Champion of Thena. She trains other followers of the ways of Thena, many of whom serve on her crew. But not all of us on the crew are followers of Thena, and those of us who are not usually do not train with her."

Rianni@crystyl:"I think I get it. And... Thena would be... Athena, I assume?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean 2: "The name sounds similar enough to be what you call Thena, yes. She is the War-Maiden, but she fights with strategy and wisdom unlike the brute might of Ar'Rhys."

Rianni@crystyl:"The one we call Aries, yes. Of the Olympians known to us Athena was one I had always hoped to encounter myself for that very standing that she holds"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean 2: "Our tales say that Thena was among the first to find enlightenment. She did not fade from the world as some of the other Old Teachers, but we believe she became something more. It -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - is possible that she may yet be encountered. Though if that is so, she has not seen fit to visit any civilization we know of, or her own people, since achieving this apotheosis."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"Sounds like she reached what we've taken to calling ascension, after the Chlasi term."

Rianni@crystyl:"Interesting, I had never considered any of the Olympians even pursuing that"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Phyrine: "Thena was always one of the most rationally driven among the Old Teachers. It is why my mother was so willing to give your information and evidence a chance."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean 2: "And it is something you have to work on still, young Phyrine."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Phyrine: "I know, I know."

Rianni@crystyl:"It is quite understandable for you to remain skeptical of us, just as it is for us of you"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Phyrine: "Oh she doesn't mean being skeptical of you. She means me being rational and not getting too carried away."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean 2: "Like trying to mate during a crisis."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Phyrine: "What else was I supposed to do, continue running around like a headless Jarra?"

Rianni@crystyl smiles a little at their banter

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean 2: "Perhaps you should have been a follower of the Huntress."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Phyrine: "And shoot everything from a distance? Boring."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean 2: "It would teach you the patience you require."

Rianni@crystyl:"Huh..."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 looks to Rianni, "Something wrong?"

Rianni@crystyl:"Hearing you say that made me realize, I've never actually known one of your people to use a ranged weapon of any kind"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean 1: "It is not our way. We are not a warlike people, and those of us who do train to fight make an art form of it. That is best done with our natural blades or other close-quarters -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - weapons. And when we do fight, it is most often in the interior of ships like this, where close-quarters can be more favourable than long-ranged weaponry."

Rianni@crystyl:"That makes sense. I'd probably focus on that too if I could do what you could do with those blades" she chuckles

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Phyrine: "The followers of Atimise are the single exception among our people. There's not many of them, our ship has a team of four and that's more than most. When we need long ranged support, we usually rely on auxiliaries of other species."

Rianni@crystyl:"Thank you for explaining so much. I find it very interesting to see the nuances across our cultures given the relationship we all had with the Olympians"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean 2: "A similarity which interests our people as well."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"So these followers of Atimise are like our MACOs, elite ground forces?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Phyrine: "In practice. But being a follower of Atimise is much more than being an elite warrior. One of my sisters followed that path."

Rianni@crystyl:"Oh?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Phyrine: "Because the aiming and shooting of an energy weapon can be very limited in its artistic expression, they make the weapon the artistic expression. They don't use common replicated -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - energy projection devices like yours," she gestures to Rianni's phaser. "Every follower of the Huntress must craft an aristopos as part of their initiation. Each is a masterwork, an energy -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - caster perfectly tailored to the Ditean who wields it. And I don't mean size and grip wise, since we can adjust our size and grip."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Phyrine raises a hand, fusing two of her fingers together into one large finger to demonstrate her point, "I mean a part of the wielder's essence is poured into it. The weapon is tied to its user through their very soul. There's no trigger to fire it. It's linked to the disciple's mind."

Rianni@crystyl:"That sounds phenomenal"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Phyrine nods, "It's not how I like to fight, but no one can deny the craftsmanship of their weapons. Or their effectiveness."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Suddenly, another one of the creatures Sin crushed earlier appears in front of them in a flash of black lightning streaks

Rianni@crystyl looks to Eva, "Friend or foe?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"Not a friend...but the Witch has it handled. She says don't shoot it, all you'll do is make it angry."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | As the creature starts crawling towards them, a portal suddenly opens up beneath it. The huge maw of a larger worm-like monstrosity clamps around it, dragging it into the portal before the portal snaps shut

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"Alright, we should be clear to go."

—

NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly and co. follow Boone through another hallway on the Ditean ship

NPC@annpc#557 | Boone: "And here we are," he turns a corner and steps into a large chamber with a glowing circular device in the centre surrounded by consoles. Asteriarch Syrene stands at the central holoconsole and turns as they arrive

NPC@annpc#557 | Syrene: "Welcome to the Command Centre of the Drakos. I was told to expect you."

Rianni@crystyl | Emma looks around, taking it all in

NPC@annpc#557 | The Command Centre is a large area with a number of consoles which seem to function as both bridge and CIC. Uniformed Diteans can be seen all around, though most aren't working on the -

NPC@annpc#557 - consoles, likely because they have no access to the systems on the rest of the ship like back on Venator's own bridge

NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly: "So, which one is the psionic amplification device?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Syrene points to the large glowing orb, which has a Ditean standing in front of it wearing a distinct uniform with stylized wings levitating behind him, "There."

NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly: "And that's your telepath, I take it?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Syrene: "The follower of Hermas, yes. He will assist you in broadcasting this telepathic distress call."

NPC@annpc#557 | On the other side of the CIC, a door opens and Eva steps in with Rianni and the three Diteans

Rianni@crystyl & Co. make their way around to join the others, "Fancy seeing you all here, small world"

NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly steps over, "Small but very confusing world. You're just in time, we got here barely a minute ago."

Rianni@crystyl:"I'll take that a sign that things are finally looking up then"

NPC@annpc#557 | Eva: "One word of warning...the psionic signal could attract some of the locals too. So we miiiiight want to prepare for an attack before help comes."

Rianni@crystyl:"Marvellous..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Syrene: "I already have all my people in defensive positions after the last attack."

NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly looks to Rianni, "You're the tactical specialist here. I'll let you pick where to hole us up."

Rianni@crystyl looks around, "They do seem to have things pretty well covered. But we few with phasers are the only ones with range, so..." she starts looking around again and pointing a few spots out, -

Rianni@crystyl:- "We'll spread out evenly there, there, there and there to give ranged support to the Diteans around us"

NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly nods and moves into position

NPC@annpc#557 | Eva meanwhile looks to Sin, "Ready?"

Rianni@crystyl also takes up her position along with everyone else who was free to do so

Rianni@crystyl | Sin, "Like you even have to ask. This is another one of those amplifiers like the one at the Heart right? Then at this point, I'm a seasoned veteran!"

NPC@annpc#557 | Eva smiles, "That's what I'm counting on," She reaches out and sets her hand on the device and the Ditean telepath does the same

Rianni@crystyl | Sin follows suit

NPC@annpc#557 | About a minute passes quietly before Eva withdraws her hand, "The signal is sent. And now we wait..."

Rianni@crystyl:"Do we know who exactly is meant to be coming to help? Would be handy so we don't accidentally shoot them"

NPC@annpc#557 | Eva: "It could be a Q or some other type of Ascended. You don't have to worry about shooting them, anyone with the power to come here and help us won't be hurt by a phaser. The worst you'll get is a few stinging remarks from a Q. Maaaybe get transformed into a Cardassian vole for a day."

Rianni@crystyl resumes her lookout, muttering, "So reassuring..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Rianni sees a portal snap open along the ground some distance away. This one is distinct from any she has seen so far though and glows a bright red, with glowing embers and smoke rising up

Rianni@crystyl:"Um... this is new. Any chance it's our cavalry?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Eva: "No, those are locals, and not friends with the Witch..."

NPC@annpc#557 | A being clambers out of the portal...

NPC@annpc#557 FX | https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/dragonage/images/4/41/Rage_demon_concept_art.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20090318060548 

Rianni@crystyl:"Ok, definitely not friendly!" she starts firing

NPC@annpc#557 | Rianni's phaser shots punch holes through the being, but the holes simply fill up with what appears to be fire. It turns and begins advancing on her, but a shot hits one of its limbs and -

NPC@annpc#557 - severs it, which doesn't seem to grow back. A Ditean lunges in and cuts off its other limb. With no limbs left, the creature explodes in a fiery blaze, taking the Ditean with it who isn't able to get away in time

NPC@annpc#557 | Meanwhile, the portal starts to widen as a second such creature starts crawling out...

NPC@annpc#557 | Boone: "I'll find a way to close that portal. Just keep these things busy."

Rianni@crystyl:"And you lot keep your distance when it's at its end like that! You take the first blows to weaken, then let us occupy it with the phasers"

NPC@annpc#557 | Phyrine: "Got it!" She lunges in just as the creature emerges, severing off one arm and following up with a cut to its body before swiftly backing off. The creature turns to pursue her, but Kelly catches it with a few shots of her pistol and it detonates safely away from everyone

NPC@annpc#557 | Now, two creatures begin emerging at once...

Rianni@crystyl:"That's the way! Same again, just keep it tight and coordinated. Do your attacks, then leave them to us. We've got your backs"

NPC@annpc#557 | Phyrine jumps in again with another Ditean, each picking a target and slashing off a limb before falling back

Rianni@crystyl times her attack with Kelly to finish the pair off

NPC@annpc#557 | The pair are finished off, detonating one after the other

NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly: "Where's that solution Boone..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Boone looks up from some random pieces of tech he was working with, "I got it!" He tosses a little canister into the portal. There is a sizzling sound and a thick plume of smoke starts rising from the portal before it abruptly shuts closed

NPC@annpc#557 | As the portal seals, they notice that Asteriarch Syrene and several other Diteans have engaged some hovering tentacled creatures across the room

NPC@annpc#557 FX | https://images.uesp.net/e/e5/ON-creature-Watcher.jpg 

NPC@annpc#557 | The Asteriarch spins about with her spear, single-handedly fighting back the incoming creatures. The Diteans supporting her seem to mostly be finishing off the ones she wounded, only occasionally slashing off a tentacle from a still fighting creature here and there

Rianni@crystyl:"I hope he's got another one of those things cooked up ready"

NPC@annpc#557 | Boone: "They're coming through the doors, not a portal!"

Rianni@crystyl glances around again, "Oh... well can we seal the doors then or something?"

NPC@annpc#557 | One of the Diteans who accompanied Rianni rushes in, sealing the door that Kelly and co. came through. Meanwhile, the door Rianni came through is sealed as well, while the Asteriarch finishes off the last of the tentacle creatures

NPC@annpc#557 | There is the sound of banging on the door by Kelly and Rianni, but it stops after a few tries

Rianni@crystyl:"Why are they even coming through the doors anyway, didn't they use portals before too?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Eva: "They're not the same thing, I think. There's a lot of different species with different methods of moving about in this place."

NPC@annpc#557 | Phyrine: "You might want to look up..."

Rianni@crystyl almost winces as she glances up

NPC@annpc#557 | Rianni sees what looks at first glance to be a portal, but then she realizes it is a giant mouth. Gazing inside, it is lined with rows and rows of teeth stretching inwards as far as the eye -

NPC@annpc#557 - can see, like a shark but far bigger and far wider as it descends upon the whole Command Centre...

Rianni@crystyl:"Ok that's just not fair..."

—

NPC@annpc#557 | As the giant maw descends on them...

NPC@annpc#557 | Emma points towards the middle of the room, "Something else is coming in!"

Rianni@crystyl looks around to see, "Could this day get any worse..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Rianni sees what looks like a transporter beam between Emma and the centre of the Command Centre, except instead of a beam, it appears to be a bipedal body glowing with a transporter effect. -

NPC@annpc#557 - Slowly, the figure solidifies into what looks like a member of a Children species

Rianni@crystyl holds a cautious aim, but is more concerned still with the giant transphasic shark monster about to devour them all

NPC@annpc#557 | The figure stretches out a hand and the psionic amplifier in the centre begins to thrum and vibrate. It glows brighter and brighter until its light makes it impossible to see anything else in -

NPC@annpc#557 - the room, then the light bursts upwards from it in a continuous beam of cracking energy, straight into the maw

NPC@annpc#557 | The giant mouth quickly closes and pulls back, disappearing through the ceiling of the Command Centre

Rianni@crystyl | Sin, "Now that's how to make an enigmatic entrance. Almost worthy of me, that one"

NPC@annpc#557 | The figure turns her head, revealing glowing eyes like those of a psionic's. Otherwise, it seems to be a fairly normal being, easily mistaken as a human with the rest of her features. She dons -

NPC@annpc#557 - a blue and white skintight suit of some kind, almost like a uniform. The figure makes eye contact with Emma first, "In a bit of a bind here, are we?"

Rianni@crystyl | Emma: "That obvious, is it?"

NPC@annpc#557 | The figure smiles, "Don't worry, I'll get you back home. It'll only take a moment, as far as you perceive time."

NPC@annpc#557 | With that, she levitates off the ground and flies up into the air, through the ceiling of the Command Centre

Rianni@crystyl | Emma, "We would be very grate- oh ok then, she's off"

NPC@annpc#557 | There is a flash of light, then...

NPC@annpc#557 | The Venator crew all find themselves back on their own bridge, with no visitors from other ships present. The low power lighting is gone, though the ship still stands at red alert

Rianni@crystyl looks around

NPC@annpc#557 | Azevedo: "Welcome back. I take it this means you were successful?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Indrix: "I'm getting sensor data and viewscreen feeds again."

Rianni@crystyl:"Um... I guess? What's the situation now?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Eva steps over to the ops station, "All Operation functions are back online too."

NPC@annpc#557 | Nqakula: "I'm connected to Main Engineering again, too."

NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly: "Looks like order has been restored."

NPC@annpc#557 | Indrix: "I'm reading a lifesign...outside the ship?"

Rianni@crystyl retakes her usual seat, "Someone from the other ships? No, that couldn't be right..."

Rianni@crystyl | Emma: "Must be the one who rescued us"

NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly: "Onscreen and magnify."

NPC@annpc#557 | Indeed, they see the mysterious figure just hovering in the middle of space, Superman-style

Rianni@crystyl:"Well at least she stuck around to say hello. Would have been terrible if we didn't at least get to thank her"

NPC@annpc#557 | Despite not having any active comm connections, the figure's voice sounds through the comm system, "You're welcome. I've brought back any of you who were lost or taken in that realm, if they were still alive. Those who have passed beyond the veil of death, I have left as is. There are entities who would be most displeased if I meddled with that in their universe."

NPC@annpc#557 | Eva: "All crew on the Venator are accounted for. I'm in contact with the Yorktown though, and they've lost a few people."

Rianni@crystyl looks around again, briefly confused by the sudden voice but then to Kelly to see how she responds to this being

NPC@annpc#557 | Figure: "Your liaison with the Continuum seems to have prioritized the people of this ship above the others. Such biased behaviour does not surprise me from someone associated with the Q."

NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly: "You're not one of the Continuum, then?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Figure: "Oh Creations no. I am a member of the Trans-Universal Security Corps."

Rianni@crystyl:"Tans-universal wha...? That's a thing now? I've heard of temporal agents before, but this is new..."

NPC@annpc#557 | TUSC Agent: "Your temporal agents are concerned only with the temporal integrity of the timelines relevant to themselves. They are an organization that exists purely for self-preservation. We oversee security concerns that arise from transportation between different universes, /any/ universes."

NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly: "Why haven't we dealt with you before? There's been plenty of cases of contact with other universes here. Many of them not exactly peaceful."

Rianni@crystyl:"Not to mention a distinct flurry of activity in recent months"

NPC@annpc#557 | TUSC Agent: "Because our dealings with your universe have primarily been through your temporal agents and the Survivors, the trans-universal travellers responsible for the creation of your -

NPC@annpc#557 - timeline to begin with. And the contacts that weren't peaceful like with the Terran Empire haven't been much of a threat in the wider scheme of the multiverse."

Rianni@crystyl:"A fair point I guess"

NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly: "You only helped us now because you happened to be close enough to pick up the psionic distress call, then?"

NPC@annpc#557 | TUSC Agent: "Yes, but you can expect to see a little more of us going forward, too. What's a good analogy to use which makes sense for your universe? Let's see...it's like previously, you were -

NPC@annpc#557 - still children, sheltered under the wings of your parents. And now you've grown up, and suddenly realize you have to arrange your own time, make your own appointments, fill out your own -

NPC@annpc#557 - PADDwork. Think of me as the Federation government official your legal guardians have been dealing with up until now."

Rianni@crystyl | Sin, "Which is worse, the fact there was a government official to be dealt with or that someone else has been doing that dealing for us all this time..."

Rianni@crystyl glances back with a frown, "Regardless, we appreciate your assistance now. And aligning with what you say, is there a way we can contact your people again should the need ever arise?"

NPC@annpc#557 | TUSC Agent: "You'll find that the multiverse is a lot bigger and more complicated than you imagine. But that's the fun of exploration, isn't it? There's a whole new frontier out there. I think -

NPC@annpc#557 - people like your Starfleet can see the bright side of that, even if it can be a little scary too."

Rianni@crystyl:"Exactly why it would be nice if we knew how to reach your people in an emergency"

NPC@annpc#557 | TUSC Agent: "Do what you just did. Build ships with psionic amplifiers on them. We don't monitor subspace communications, just like how you don't monitor radio communications anymore."

Rianni@crystyl:"I was afraid that would be the answer..."

Rianni@crystyl | Emma smiles, "Don't worry, we'll figure it out!"

NPC@annpc#557 | The TUSC Agent smiles as well, "I'm sure you'll manage. You have one of the strongest amplifiers constructed so far in your reality to study from in the form of the Heart. Speaking of which, -

NPC@annpc#557 - congratulations on surviving the Horde and completing the Q's trial. Until next time, and do stay out of trouble if you can."

Rianni@crystyl:"Thank you again for the assistance"

NPC@annpc#557 | TUSC Agent: "Happy to help." She disappears away in the same semi-transporter effect that she first appeared on the Ditean bridge with

NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly: "Well, that was certainly something new."

Rianni@crystyl:"I don't know about you, but I've just about had my fill of new and exciting for today"

NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly nods, "I certainly agree with you there."

NPC@annpc#557 | Eva meanwhile taps her console and Asteriarch Syrene as well as Captain Troi-Riker appears on the viewscreen again

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra: "I'm sure glad we got out of that. Good work everyone. And I hope as you get to see more of how we operate, Asteriarch, it'll only solidify your conclusion that we had nothing to do with the attack on your people."

NPC@annpc#557 | Syrene: "Yes, your conduct today speaks quite contrary to someone who would attack one of our primary production sites without provocation and claim many innocent lives in the process. You have our thanks for all the support you have leant to our people."

NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly: "And for all the support you gave us, too. The final stretch was done on your Command Centre with your technology and more of your people at risk."

NPC@annpc#557 | Syrene: "We were in it together. It only made sense to combine our strength to ensure our collective survival."

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra nods, "I hope you'll come to see things that way with the threat posed by the infiltrators too."

Rianni@crystyl:"And the fact that we survived speaks testament to how much we can achieve in working together. I certainly welcomed the opportunity to work alongside some of your people and hope to do so again"

NPC@annpc#557 | Syrene: "As do I."

NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly: "But first, we should get to where we were going. How far are we from it, now?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Syrene: "Not far. Only about ten light years."

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra: "I think after what happened, it might be better for us to travel the rest of the distance the old fashioned way and meet you there, then."

NPC@annpc#557 | Syrene: "Very well. I will tell the ships in the area to expect you there, then."

NPC@annpc#557 | Eva: "We've received the coordinates from the Drakos."

NPC@annpc#557 | Syrene disappears from the viewscreen, but Kestra remains

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra: "Kelly, when we were in that universe, I couldn't extend my mental protection over my entire crew. I think the Diteans took the opportunity to seduce and copulate with them while they were vulnerable."

NPC@annpc#557 | Eva looks to Rianni

Rianni@crystyl:"I don't know about any intent behind it, but we found one Ditean... passing the time, with a member of your crew"

NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly: "And I thought I had bad self-control when we were at the Academy," she chuckles. "But in all seriousness, the infiltrators might have a point about the Diteans. We have to put an end -

NPC@annpc#557 - to this war they've started, but that doesn't mean letting our guard down around the Diteans either."

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra nods, "I'll do my best to reinforce that among my crew. But anyways, ready to get going?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly smiles, "After you."