JDL | "Hot Snow" | CO, XO, CEO, MCO | Capt Neyes, Cmdr Ivanova, LtCmdr Dahe'el, 2Lt Garza

Posted on Fri May 9th, 2014 @ 8:27pm by Admiral Rochelle Ivanova & Captain Landon Neyes & 2nd Lieutenant Jasmine Garza

1,533 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: In the Dark
Location: Vindicator Camp

Vindicator Camp, Planet Notura

Thrill was the emotion of the moment as Landon sat with Almar and Rochelle inside the Horizon with Jasmine and a few guards posted outside to keep watch. Neyes had of course insisted they would be fine, but after the creature's attack and the Noturan's visit the marine captain had insisted on posting a guard outside the runabout. With Caldwell and a few others out scanning for some form of "migration trail" for the large creatures, Landon had just let her do as she pleased.

The two elders and the Vindicator team sat inside, each being brought a warm beverage of their choice. The soft(er) cushions of the sofa and chairs cradled them inside from the cold. Thankfully, the runabout had a 'diplomatic suite' of sorts, which allowed the group to sit inside in relative comfort. The technological components of the ship were much less prevalent than in the main cabin, which was good given the Noturan's known dislike for advanced technology. Avoiding an incident with the aliens was Landon's greatest worry at the moment, but he needed Almar to be warm enough to sit in on the meeting. The bit of a snow storm coming down outside had hindered their efforts to move to the Noturan city, so until it faded they would be inside.

"Again, it's a pleasure to have you with us, Elders. I'd like to first off thank you for allowing us to visit." Landon said.

The Noturans seemed complacent enough in the runabout, not seeming to worry themselves over being contained inside a giant mechanized spaceship. Neyes was beginning to note an odd preoccupation with Commander Ivanova, however. The two seemed unwilling to say much in front of her.

Landon looked from Rochelle to the Elders, "Hopefully this storm passes quickly, I'm excited to see your city."

"We would like you to see it, we believe it to be rather impressive," one of the Elders replied with a slight smile.

Sitting on his own, Almar was still dressed in his bulky outfit, he also had some of the heat lamps pointing directly at him, keeping his blood warmed through their use and keeping his extremities warm too.

Rochelle's hands folded against her lap, keeping to her polite visage. So far, she'd been given no need to be anything but kind and courteous towards the council members that had come forward to welcome them to their frozen world. "Of that we have no doubt. Your world is beautiful." She added to the conversation, spying the Cardassian out of the corner of her eye - She was sure he'd disagree.

Jasmine was still in her arctic BDU with the advanced thermal tech on it allowing the BDUs to be light but incredibly warm. With her M3 personal armor vest on along with all of her PLCE (Personal Load Carrying Equipment). So far she had remain quite in the meetings her job was to protect her command team and that was exactly what she was doing.

"Even your reptilian friend would find it reasonable," the second Elder replied with a slight smile and a nod towards the Cardassian, "You will be surprised at what can be achieved when you keep things simple."

"Commander Dahe'el finds most things reasonable, just not cold temperatures." The redhead chuckled lightly, "Which, of course, you have no control over. The rest of us seem to be enjoying the snow."

"The temperatures in our cities are slightly more tropical than the ones you've encountered," the elder replied, not meeting his gaze with the woman as she spoke, instead keeping his focus on Neyes.

"Tropical?" Rochelle asked, her attention once more honing in on the Elder who spoke. Not once had they looked upon her aside from their initial greeting which was perhaps as cold as the world they lived on. It left Rochelle feeling uneasy, wondering if she'd already tripped over one of their customs and shredded it. She'd made a point out of leaving behind all but the most basic forms of technology; her combadge was a formal regulation, one that everyone else present wore.

"I'm afraid that you wouldn't understand," the Elder replied, finally addressing the woman before him, "After all, you are but a woman, you could not understand the finer points of our construction methods." He added before turning his gaze back to Neyes, "Your society is truly strange where a woman could address a man as such."

Neyes' eyes narrowed. The tone of the Noturan Elders felt almost diminutive. Having a technologically backward species carry an ego was something new to him, and at best, a relief considering their apparent chauvinist attitude.

Jasmine just scoffed at that comment as she shook her head. She could take a lot but the idea that men were smarter than women was one that she couldn't.

The Commander's eyes shot from the Elder to Neyes, to Jasmine due to her scoff, and back to the Elder. Her weight shifted in her seat, bringing her more erect and tilted slightly forward in her seat, "I beg your pardon," She began, blinking incredulously. "I know more about architecture than I'd care to admit. Our society views women as equals and rightfully so. I take it that yours does not?"

Landon's heavy voice charged into the discussion, hoping to drown out the coming storm. "In our cultures, women are equals in every way to men. Many of the Captains of vessels I have served with in the past have been female. They are educated and respected just as any man with the same abilities would be. To us there is no distinction except what physiology makes obvious. If your culture does not carry your women as ours does, it would be similar to many other cultures I've encountered, and just as similar are cultures in which men serve their women.

"But in the Federation, Rochelle and the other women on the Vindicator serve under my command because I am their Captain, and for no other reason." Neyes' back was tight and straight as he addressed the Elders. Careful to express his command as one which deserved respect as a leader, rather than the owner of a particular sexual organ.

Landon decided to spare them the complexities of his own experiences as a woman in previous hosts.

The two elders were taken aback by the response, the mugs paused in the motion to their mouths, "Apologies," the first replied as he bowed his head slightly, "You have to understand that in our society, women are completely submissive to the will of the males, they have their tasks and are happy to perform them."

Apparently this was a no-where conversation. The thought of getting caught in a culture struggle over something his and the other peoples of the Federation did away with centuries ago wasn't on his to-do list. Neyes looked decidedly at Rochelle and then back to the Elders, "What you say is self evident. I didn't bring it up to upset you, only to help you yourselves understand why my men and women behave differently than yours."

Rochelle was about to respond, to add her two cents when her attention was quickly diverted elsewhere.

A swish of sound splintered the conversation in the room as an officer came in and said something quietly to the group, "Sirs, the storm appears to be getting worse. Caldwell and his team haven't checked back in yet."

"Damn't I told that man to stay close to camp!" Jasmine growled, "How bad is the storm and did the commander give you his route?"

"Lieutenant." The redhead's eyebrow hiked high, the cold of her eyes narrowing beneath thick eyelashes as she silently warned the Marine and her company. "We'll address this at a later time. I'm sure everything is fine and the weather has just stalled our communication connection." The goal? Minimize suspicion. Minimize drama.

Jasmine took a deep breath before turning to face the XO, "of course commander." Walking over to the door that led to the outside Jasmine whispered to a private to let the patrols to keep a eye out for the commander and his team.

All the Commander could do was nod and still a sigh as it built against her diaphragm. There was no sense in barking at the Marine. No sense in allowing the drama to filter off into an already strange situation. The next few days would prove interesting... Too interesting, and that was all the young woman could think of as she turned her attention to the issues at hand once again. The conversation would go on -- but would it lead anywhere?

Jasmine walked backed into the runabout. She stood at attention again not enjoying this mission one bit. The sexist nature of these people aside she was still a bit confused of why the Federation felt the need a diplomatic meeting with people that were afraid of technology was needed at this time.

Captain Landon Neyes
Commanding Officer
USS VINDICATOR

Commander Rochelle Ivanova
Executive Officer
USS VINDICATOR

Lieutenant Commander Almar Dahe`el
Chief Engineering Officer
USS VINDICATOR

2Lt Jasmine Garza
51st Marine Detachment Commander
USS VINDICATOR

Noturian Consulate
APB Mike

 

RSS Feed