Tholians hate Tardiness

Posted on Tue Nov 28th, 2023 @ 4:52am by Captain Kagami Izumi & Commander Tormek & Lieutenant Vep Ka of the Empire

2,600 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Lockdown
Location: Conference Lounge
Timeline: MD 02, 1030 hrs

The larger Tholian stepped forward the moment that the doors slammed shut and sealed. His suit clicked and tapped as he walked over towards the Orion Intelligence Officer. "You. Green One. Explain!" the Tholian demanded raising one of its 'arms' towards her.

"I am called Vep-Ka." She did not back down in meeting his red eyes. "Tell me your designation or name please. " She gave a bright smile. "To answer your polite question; It is a computer locking down the station due to a plague or something kind of Drill with terrible random timing."

"Fix the problem," The Tholian demanded.

"Do you want me to single -handed solve when I am not totally sure the exact problem?" She turned towards the portal in the corner. "It might be wise to get an outside opinion?"

Vep Ka went to the corner and taking a small tool from out of her boot pry a panel open as she spoke.

"You are not my Master, so it is polite to add 'please' to those you do not have authority over."

Pulling out a field Transmitter she hid here after arrival and before reporting officially. She has Four of them throughout the station.

"More important is the question of time you have in life support?" Again smiling. "This is a short range emergency Field Transmitter, it should reach your ship if it is not docked and on stand by for you." Vep Ka offered. "Tholian is not one of my Languages so if contacted you will have a private line in a matter of Speaking."

The shorter Tholian was still almost a foot taller than the Orion woman in its exoskeleton EVA armor. Its multiple legs clicked rapidly across the deck plating before it screeched with a series of high-pitched and clicking tonalities. It took the universal translator a full two seconds to crudely translate the message. "Fix the problem. We will not be deceived."

"I have tried to be nice, I am not in a habit of making problems." Vep Ka said. "THere is a problem and we are locked down. "You have been trying to communicate and found it zero, right?" She asked. "This little baby can get farther than any hand held or Helmet unit if you would like me to try?"

The lead Tholian didn't seem at all phased at what the Orion had just said. "You have a communications device?"

"Yes, this is meant for downed vessels to reach out farther than the standard systems. It should be able to et signal out of this quarantine lock-down. Having several place in strategic place for just such a need; or if enemy invasion I have independent comm system." Vep Ka announced. "Plan for rainy day when sun is still out. we have a rainy day right now." She grinned. "Planning can pay off."

The Tholian turned to the other and started to talk to him in their own language, an strange conversation of clicks and whistles.

"Hey, I need a number to dial and find some way to refill those tanks of yours?" Vep Ka announced.

The shorter Tholian's spidery legs continued to click across the deck plating with obvious agitation. High-pitched chirps and squeals unintelligible to the humanoids were relayed between the two representatives, then finally the silicon-based lifeform turned to the Orion and screeched. "Do not attempt to deceive us. Outside contact is not authorized." Its high-pitched chirps continued before being translated, "We will...destroy this station."

"That would not be the best thing to do." Vep Ka stated calmly. "Your governing body sent you here for a reason, I am a Communication Expert, not a linguist so I know how a quarantine ; or a scrambler works in both theory and practicality, coding programs are great unless one happens to know how they work, then it is a simple algorithm to find an opening. This is a Federation system; I have worked on these before, so I am not lying. Just a little cryptic calculations to figure the wavelength cycle and frequency to give an independent Transceiver a signal that get past the blockage."

She grinned as she was playing with her communication system.

"You should see what I can do if it is important, keeping you healthy is Very Important to me I assure you." Never looking away despite their trying to intimidate. "Oh and having you not destroy the station is among the top of that list also."

The shorter yet still large Tholian moved forward to within reaching distance of the arrogant Orion, its armored legs swiftly tapping along the deck plating. It suddenly reached out with a three-fingered hand which wrapped tightly around the Imperial intelligence officer's throat then lifted her several meters above the ground in a most threatening display of physical prowess. "You will not deceive us. You will not intimidate us." The shrill clicks and squeals translated by the UT failed to convey the severity of the Tholian's intent. "Fix the problem. Immediately."


Not exactly the best of positions and unfortunately this is also not the first time she has been in this position. She had been able to usually talk her way down.

"WHy do males always try violence as a way to change a fact they do not like?" Vep Ka Said between breaths. "I have been telling you what I have been doing, what more do you want Rocky. The radio is coded, won't work for anyone else, down please."


The larger Tholian approached quickly. "Leave the green one!" it demanded. It seemed that the larger Tholian was the more 'diplomatic' out of the pair. "I do not believe that the green one has any harmful intentions."

Consecutive screeches and clicks were subsequently exchanged between the two silicon-based lifeforms. Though not intelligible by humanoid standards, it quickly became clear there was some sort of agitation between the two. Possibly a disagreement. Finally, the smaller Tholian released its neck-grip on the Orion, dropping her back to floor.

The larger Tholian approached the Orion. "Explain," it said simply. "Leave out no detail."

"If that leaves a mark you owe me a gold necklace to cover it." Vep Ka rubbing her neck. "I bruise easily so no more touchy.. agreed?"

She smoothed her skirt and composed herself.

"Okay, here is the simple truth so Rocky can keep up." She started. "I got here early to prep things, then some moron just set off a Quarantine Alarm, aside from that the system thinks there is a deadly pathogen running rapid and is compartmentalizing everything to contain what is thought to be deadly. So all the station is locked down, the comm lines are closed and no movement place to place."

She kept looking between them both.

"Until someone clears it, like the Captain code being accepted by the computer. Which I am sure she is working on as we speak, we are locked in this room incommunicado until I get that Emergency Transceiver keyed to the Scramble Wave and then we can maybe get an exchange with close range ships and hopefully get a way to keep your needs filled while the Captain gets this taken care of. That is what little I know of what is happening." She never looked away to show her sincerity. "All defenses and force fields will be up and I hope to get word to your people that you are not harmed and we re working on a way to get you safe."

The larger Tholian stepped forward once again towards the Orion. "We only have limited atmosphere in our suits." Its tone sounded a little more worried. "We have just under four hours until we perish. I will not perish on this alien Starbase!"

"THe emergency Medical KIt!" Vep Ka exclaimed. "The medical tricorder could scan you and give an idea of the Life Support system, the atmosphere you require and then we adapt a small section with those conditions and if required the replicators could generate us breathing gear is not too toxic to us?" Ahe nod. It is what they do for your guest quarters on station we just do the same here to allow you to breathe if it comes to that."

The shorter Tholian swiftly maneuvered behind the Orion with more rapid clicks of its legs. It reached out and firmly grabbed the back of her green neck and raised her into the air once again. "Do not deceive us," it forcefully repeated with firm squeals and clicks from its translated voice. "We do not trust Starfleet. Or Klingons. You will attempt to destroy us."

"This is getting old Rocky..." Vep Ka said. "Not federation or Klingon, I am Orion, so put me down; Slave Girls cater to everyone so put me down, I have been very friendly so far." She pointed out. "You are getting annoying and this is Strike Two Rocky."

The larger Tholian made several high pitched squeals and clicks at the other who had picked up the Orion. "Release the green one!" was its warning.

Agitated clicking from the other Tholian's feet ensued before it complied with the order - this time flinging the carbon-based creature against a nearby wall to express its displeasure. Another cacophony of clicks and screeches emanated from its exosuit as it seemingly argued with its commander.

Walls are never soft upon any impact, her head felt it and she hoped she did not hear a crack, she landed luckily in a crouch, left knee pointed right as a proper lady should in a controled landing of sorts. Having to take in a breath or two as the wind was knocked out of her. It hurt and she wanted to cry out it had been so unpleasant.

"You just got matching Earrings and a tennis Bracelet added to your tab Rocky." Vep Ka half growled as she rose slowly; one hand gently on the wall to help guide her up. "Next flinch and you might regret the day you were hatched, born or whatever you life cycle is?" Watching him carefully. "I will not be what we call 'Manhandled' by anyone or anything."

Holding her forehead as she regained her balance, glaring at the creature.

"You are scared; fine, no need take it out on me." She saw only two Tholians; no concussion. "And you will not Get Strike Three." She warned."Only because this is important to Us all that I let this slide."

Moving closer to larger Tholian.

"Ambassador, my Name is Vep Ka of the Empire." She began. "With respects; not 'Green One' as I properly introduced myself and wait the same courtacy from you Sir." Not breaking eye contact. "Your Name or what you are known by please?" A glaring glance to Rocky. "He has not earned my respect enough to want his name, Rocky will do for now." Fighting not to scowl. "He comes near me again with intent I Will retaliate. How many times would you have accepted violent intent upon you Ambassador?"

The Tholian seemed to twitch as if making some form of official movement. "My name is not well translated." The Ambassador said in response, the universal translator occasionally delaying due to the complex Tholian language. "You may refer to me as Yanfazene"

"Pleasure to know you Yanfazene. " Vep Ka gave a bow/ courtesy. "I hope that we can come to mutual trust as we share this experience Sir?"

"We appear to have no choice. But beware, we will not be deceived!" Yanfazene warned.

"Deception is a terrible foundation for a budding friendship." Vep Ka replied. "Any potential interactions should start with being frank with one another and frankly, this situation is irritation that I do not need. I am here to open talks with your people, this lockdown is not what was planned and if Ifind who did it I will let Rocky there ring their neck."

The other Tholian - designated 'Rocky' - approached and its spindly armored digits gesticulated to the Orion. "You are here to serve us," it corrected the woman with another series of high-frequency screeches and clicks. "We demand access to your computer. I will fix the problem."

Vep Ka went to the Conference room computer and tried to access it , only to be locked out. She turned the screen to show. "During lock Down Only three can do anything, Captain, executive Officer and Chief Medical. I cannot even get in if I tried hacking and I do normally have access." She shut off the screen. "The security program would not allow anyone not reconized and if you do get in crashing the system would do more harm that good."

A warning klaxon began to sound on Yanfazene suit. "My suit is losing atmosphere," the Tholian stated. "There is ninety minutes remaining. Fix the problem!"

"We need to get across the hall." Vep Ka suggested. "We can then change atmosphere to your needs and then you can crack face plates or whatever in a place where you can breathe."

Suddenly a new announcement started to wail out across the entire station. "WARNING! Self Destruct Activated. WARNING! Self Destruct Activated...." the message then cut off.

The shorter Tholian's legs clicked and maneuvered in place as its body rotated within the large humanoid administrative compartment. The words of the station's computer elicited a prolonged shrieking response which was only able to be translated as it ended. "They have deceived us! ...We will die!" It turned back to the Orion and rapidly approached her with intent to kill the carbon-based lifeform for its treachery.

A Sonic Drill is really nothing more than an Ultrasonic bandwidth of sound; Ultrasonic are also used to destroy some Crystalline Entity that took out a outpost, a comm badge and the right frequency adaptation by a Communication savy person; not unlike an Intel who haqs to always have a clear comm signal home, is able to do. Add a high alto pitch and you have something that would do a number on anything Crystal -like. Not to shatter his armor or anything; yet, but a scramble of the hearing and vibration of the inner properties should be enough to halt a charging Tholian.

At least in her research into them prior to arrival; Ferengi always say to know a customer before they enter your store; an Envoy coming to the station was a close parallel, one of her little tricks she had prepared ahead of time. Lest she have to actually reach under the Hemline for her other two safety measure.

"Strike ..." She hit the high note. "Three!" and with the power of a strong singing voice came the power in a unilateral focus of the Badge hits him like a sonic drill.

This is all and good but a girl always ready to use speed and gymnastics to be able to get out of the path should he Not Stop.

Yanfazene stopped as it backed off slightly. "That tool is emitting harming sounds!" it said in response. Luckily the Tholian suits offered them some sort of protection from the sharp high pitched sounds. "We must evacuate!"

"Keep Rocky away from me and it will cease." Vep Ka said keeping the device off also. "Be calm; the Captain will get this problem resolved then come here and let us out." She assured. "Being rash will not help right now."

Yanfazene didn't like the idea of dying on this starbase, especially an enemy one. "We do not have much time. Continue!" it demanded.

Posting by:

Lieutenant Vep Ka of the Empire
Imperial Intelligence Officer

Yanfazene
Tholian

'Rocky'
Tholian

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