[USS Charon, Holodeck Two]
Perhaps she should have taken her own Lirpa along after all and simply endured the baffled looks. No matter how well you programmed the holodeck and how detailed your instructions to the computer were, something always felt a bit … off.
Radiating mild exasperation, Sakarra turned on the sands and threw the unsatisfactory weapon into the hot air. When she caught it and brought it back around in a deadly arc, the blade yet again stopped 0.8 centimeters from where it should have.
It could not be the gravity, she had finally managed to adjust it to acceptable parameters. In either case, the young Vulcan was perfectly capable to compensate for variances in this aspect.
Quite vexing, really.
Radiating mild exasperation, Sakarra turned on the sands and threw the unsatisfactory weapon into the hot air. When she caught it and brought it back around in a deadly arc, the blade yet again stopped 0.8 centimeters from where it should have.
It could not be the gravity, she had finally managed to adjust it to acceptable parameters. In either case, the young Vulcan was perfectly capable to compensate for variances in this aspect.
Quite vexing, really.
Sakarra slammed the blunt end of the Lirpa into the ground, causing some dust and sand to briefly swirl about, and looked at the stand where her sword rested. It would be a more satisfying exercise, but she needed the workout with the heavier weapon first. Her recent injuries had taken somewhat of a toll on her fitness and that was clearly unacceptable.
Breathing the hot, but much too thick air, she looked unblinking into the brightness of the simulated sky, while the shadows in the courtyard around her lengthened.
Maybe a brief drink of water would be in order.
Ivory colored robes swishing quietly, she strode over to the little carafe she had brought along, and the loud humming of the holodeck door opening served to increase her exasperation by a considerable margin. Truly, it had been difficult enough to schedule this time, one might at least expect some privacy.
Breathing the hot, but much too thick air, she looked unblinking into the brightness of the simulated sky, while the shadows in the courtyard around her lengthened.
Maybe a brief drink of water would be in order.
Ivory colored robes swishing quietly, she strode over to the little carafe she had brought along, and the loud humming of the holodeck door opening served to increase her exasperation by a considerable margin. Truly, it had been difficult enough to schedule this time, one might at least expect some privacy.
Khiy's first impression of the barren environment consisted of two simple words: hot and heavy. He eyed the desert landscape reminded of his Academy survival training. Stepping off the carpeting of the arch he trudged through the simulated desert sand. In the brightness he noticed a long heavy shadow in the distance. He approached slowly until he could see the woman's figure.
Khiy stopped and threw a PADD at her feet. The device slammed into the desert sand creating a small crater in front of Sakarra's "we intercepted Charon's recent data burst from Starfleet. Having a curious mind I looked into the data and discovered something interesting." He pointed at the PADD "V'Shar encryption- quite uncommon but easily noticed and difficult to break. I find it surprising that a V'Shar agent would be stationed aboard the Charon. I really am curious. Don't worry; I haven't informed Rehu. "
Khiy stopped and threw a PADD at her feet. The device slammed into the desert sand creating a small crater in front of Sakarra's "we intercepted Charon's recent data burst from Starfleet. Having a curious mind I looked into the data and discovered something interesting." He pointed at the PADD "V'Shar encryption- quite uncommon but easily noticed and difficult to break. I find it surprising that a V'Shar agent would be stationed aboard the Charon. I really am curious. Don't worry; I haven't informed Rehu. "
Sakarra had calmly watched the small man's approach and was rather surprised to have a PADD thrown at her feet. And as if that was not rude enough, he did not even have the decency to introduce himself before making accusations. Not that she did not know who he was, but there was such a thing as common courtesies.
"Curious mind indeed." the young Vulcan glanced briefly at the PADD before her black eyes studied the young man. Her voice was quite even, although it had a definitive tinge of displeasure to it.
"I assume you have an explanation for prying into private communications, Commander Kanryth?"
"I assume you have an explanation for prying into private communications, Commander Kanryth?"
"My orders were to monitor every detail of the Charon and to report back to Admiral Cerywyn directly." Khiy watched her, carefully; it was always safe to be wary of those holding knives, especially big ones.
In truth he didn't want to be here- but the question was too big not to explore "so I perused the data, nothing so intrusive, but such a detailed encryption easily caught my eye. Perhaps you would be willing to volunteer an explanation and make this slightly easier on both of us."
In truth he didn't want to be here- but the question was too big not to explore "so I perused the data, nothing so intrusive, but such a detailed encryption easily caught my eye. Perhaps you would be willing to volunteer an explanation and make this slightly easier on both of us."
"Perhaps you might consider that a polite inquiry would make people more inclined to 'volunteer' as you put it, than thrown PADDs, Commander."
She was fully aware of being the subject of some intense scrutiny, and some of that scrutiny was directed towards the Lirpa still in her hand. Interesting.
Still mildly annoyed by his lack of manners, Sakarra presented the unyielding front of a calm, unperturbed Vulcan.
"And I believe I already have offered the explanation you seek. It is a private matter."
She was fully aware of being the subject of some intense scrutiny, and some of that scrutiny was directed towards the Lirpa still in her hand. Interesting.
Still mildly annoyed by his lack of manners, Sakarra presented the unyielding front of a calm, unperturbed Vulcan.
"And I believe I already have offered the explanation you seek. It is a private matter."
"That is not an explanation that is an equivocation." Why does she irritate me? Khiy wondered. He didn't generally dislike Vulcans. In fact he often found their dullness refreshing but this woman bothered him. Was it her closeness to Rehu? Perhaps- he disliked Rehu. Maybe it was the lingering scent of abhorrence for the other. He wasn't sure.
"Equivocation?" Sakarra favored the rude one with the same look one might give a Chkariya which has managed to get into the house and steal some nuts off the table.
"How much directness do you require, Commander? Surely you are aware of the definition of 'Private matter', yes?"
Not only rude, but displaying subtle signs of hostility. How ridiculous. Did he truly expect her to respond kindly to such behavior?
"How much directness do you require, Commander? Surely you are aware of the definition of 'Private matter', yes?"
Not only rude, but displaying subtle signs of hostility. How ridiculous. Did he truly expect her to respond kindly to such behavior?
Kneeling down Khiy slid his fingers through the hot sand. A gentle breeze carried the dust specks away forming a small whirlwind which twisted the tiny grains far beyond the desert dunes.
He looked up at Sakarra, the brightness of the beating sun behind her "there is no such thing as a private matter when it may concern the security of the Federation. Vulcan V'Shar encryption or not."
He continued to slide his fingers through the sand- why is this so comforting? He wondered absently. Finally he stood back up and approached the woman- slowly and with great care. "If necessary I will have my superiors request the encryption key for the second level directly from the V'Shar. That is if it truly a V'Shar encryption and not a Tal'Shiar ploy."
He looked up at Sakarra, the brightness of the beating sun behind her "there is no such thing as a private matter when it may concern the security of the Federation. Vulcan V'Shar encryption or not."
He continued to slide his fingers through the sand- why is this so comforting? He wondered absently. Finally he stood back up and approached the woman- slowly and with great care. "If necessary I will have my superiors request the encryption key for the second level directly from the V'Shar. That is if it truly a V'Shar encryption and not a Tal'Shiar ploy."
A wave of amusement briefly overshadowed the young woman's mild annoyance. Ridiculous had been an understatement it seemed.
"You are of course at liberty to do so, Commander. In fact, it would be rather interesting to see what kind of answer you might receive."
Oh, interesting indeed.
"You are of course at liberty to do so, Commander. In fact, it would be rather interesting to see what kind of answer you might receive."
Oh, interesting indeed.
His curiosity about the simulated sand was somewhat puzzling, however it also reinforced an air of … thoughtfulness about the young man.
With the warm light on his face, Sakarra thought she could see why he was approaching so slowly. Either he did have some manners after all, or the Lirpa's crescent blade was having an unintended threatening effect. Either way, she slowly leaned the weapon against one of the stone columns and canted her head in the inquisitive way of a Vulcan who is inclined to give one the benefit of doubt. For now.
"However, I was not aware that a Vulcan's family matters were of the utmost import to the security of the Federation. Would you elaborate what precisely it is you wish to know?"
With the warm light on his face, Sakarra thought she could see why he was approaching so slowly. Either he did have some manners after all, or the Lirpa's crescent blade was having an unintended threatening effect. Either way, she slowly leaned the weapon against one of the stone columns and canted her head in the inquisitive way of a Vulcan who is inclined to give one the benefit of doubt. For now.
"However, I was not aware that a Vulcan's family matters were of the utmost import to the security of the Federation. Would you elaborate what precisely it is you wish to know?"
"They will likely acquiesce to a request by Starfleet Intelligence to preserve our symbiotic relationship- as your people would say. It is only logical."
He watched her as she shifted the blade's position. It was an interesting weapon. He knew little about Vulcan culture and made a mental note to research it later "it is unusual to encrypt personal correspondence so thoroughly." He nodded at the PADD in her hand "I was able to break the first level but the second is quite difficult. I'm sure anyone in my position would be suspicious."
He watched her as she shifted the blade's position. It was an interesting weapon. He knew little about Vulcan culture and made a mental note to research it later "it is unusual to encrypt personal correspondence so thoroughly." He nodded at the PADD in her hand "I was able to break the first level but the second is quite difficult. I'm sure anyone in my position would be suspicious."
"He is not one to acquiesce to rudeness either, Commander." Sakarra stated mildly. "Although I am certain whatever answer Fleet Intelligence would receive, it would be flawlessly logical."
Broken the first level? One elegantly slanted brow rose slowly at that statement. Quite an achievement, all things considered. Logic dictated, this young man was prying as a matter of course.
"Unusual, perhaps. You are not aware then, that Vulcans value their privacy? More so, where matters of family are concerned. Are you asking then to read my private correspondence, or is this a subtle attempt to make a suspected Tal'Shiar agent incriminate herself?"
It would indeed be funny if he would not insist on being so … obstinate.
"I should point out though, that your subtlety requires some improvement."
Broken the first level? One elegantly slanted brow rose slowly at that statement. Quite an achievement, all things considered. Logic dictated, this young man was prying as a matter of course.
"Unusual, perhaps. You are not aware then, that Vulcans value their privacy? More so, where matters of family are concerned. Are you asking then to read my private correspondence, or is this a subtle attempt to make a suspected Tal'Shiar agent incriminate herself?"
It would indeed be funny if he would not insist on being so … obstinate.
"I should point out though, that your subtlety requires some improvement."
"Subtlety is a waste of time- I preferred to be understood immediately. Direct. I have no interest in personal matters Lieutenant Commander; however, do you believe that something so well protected does not rouse suspicion? Do you believe I can simply accept your 'word' that the content is as invaluable as you have described? I have been around long enough to understand one thing about Vulcan's. While they abhor it they are not beyond mistruth." He took another step forward, carefully and reached out touching the silver frame "there is something in there- but it could be anything. How would a logical being approach this matter? Accept your word and walk away?"
This time, the brow quirked at him was outright amused.
"Direct, Commander? You storm in here, do not even possess the courtesy to explain why you need to invade my privacy, let alone introduce yourself, and accuse me of wrongdoing the manner of which you have yet to specify.
Direct? You have not posed one question, nor made a request that may be called specific. Veiled threats and vague accusations hardly qualify as direct, Commander."
"Direct, Commander? You storm in here, do not even possess the courtesy to explain why you need to invade my privacy, let alone introduce yourself, and accuse me of wrongdoing the manner of which you have yet to specify.
Direct? You have not posed one question, nor made a request that may be called specific. Veiled threats and vague accusations hardly qualify as direct, Commander."
Sakarra glanced at the PADD for the first time and saw the red, ornate symbols that had obviously given the young man such troubles. Well, naturally if he knew this little about Vulcans, the mere concept might be foreign to him. Still, he had gotten at least this far.
"How would a logical being approach this? Allow me to demonstrate."
She turned over the PADD in her hand so the script faced the young man and held it out to him, giving a polite nod. "Commander Kanryth, I should appreciate an explanation as to why your personal correspondence contains a V'Shar encryption code. Specifically, a code that is not listed as one recognizable by Fleet Intelligence."
"How would a logical being approach this? Allow me to demonstrate."
She turned over the PADD in her hand so the script faced the young man and held it out to him, giving a polite nod. "Commander Kanryth, I should appreciate an explanation as to why your personal correspondence contains a V'Shar encryption code. Specifically, a code that is not listed as one recognizable by Fleet Intelligence."
Khiy's brows knitted as he glared at the device but he otherwise remained composed. Unlike Rehu he was not prone to temper tantrums; instead, he employed the cold rigidity of his mother.
"I apologize if I have offended, it was not my intention. However, if you continue to obstruct me in this matter I will have little choice but to declare you a possible Romulan agent and take you into custody aboard the Quantum Fury until the matter can be sorted." He sighed
"It is something I would prefer not to do but you are leaving me with few alternatives." He was beginning to find Vulcans as aggravating as his own kin.
"I apologize if I have offended, it was not my intention. However, if you continue to obstruct me in this matter I will have little choice but to declare you a possible Romulan agent and take you into custody aboard the Quantum Fury until the matter can be sorted." He sighed
"It is something I would prefer not to do but you are leaving me with few alternatives." He was beginning to find Vulcans as aggravating as his own kin.
"Commander, while your apology is appreciated, it seems you do not understand the concept of ceasing to offend afterwards."
Sakarra was not sure whether she should find this man merely ridiculous or the personification of bad manners. What she was certain about was that the prospect of grabbing him by the collar and encouraging him to leave the holodeck became more appealing by the minute.
Romulan agent indeed.
Sakarra was not sure whether she should find this man merely ridiculous or the personification of bad manners. What she was certain about was that the prospect of grabbing him by the collar and encouraging him to leave the holodeck became more appealing by the minute.
Romulan agent indeed.
[To be continued ...]
(A) Cmdr Khiy Kanryth
Commanding Officer
USS Quantum Fury
Commanding Officer
USS Quantum Fury
Lt Cmdr Sakarra Tyrax
Chief Helmsman and Acting Executive Officer
USS Charon
Chief Helmsman and Acting Executive Officer
USS Charon
