I'm sure they have a few non-military ships, but I will say that based on the reports we were given the for the total Licori fleet strength one cruiser and ~3 frigates isn't a bad estimate for the total Ixarian military fleet. I'm almost certain they don't have a second cruiser, and the two frigates we've seen might be the only ones they have.
To Boldly Go... (a Starfleet quest)
- Thread starter OneirosTheWriter
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- star trek exploration fully automated luxury gay space communism top level canon (canon) #hashtagcontent all-encompassing space amoeba cardassian boy bands cardassian magical girls darkest bureaucracy debate makes the qm cackle like palpatine hoh is an empire quest it has to be foreign infiltrators more ships ship happens singers delenda est starfleet this is not an empire quest ur waifu is collective?
I'm sure they have a few non-military ships, but I will say that based on the reports we were given the for the total Licori fleet strength one cruiser and ~3 frigates isn't a bad estimate for the total Ixarian military fleet. I'm almost certain they don't have a second cruiser, and the two frigates we've seen might be the only ones they have.
- Location
- Infraspace
It was that bit about the duotronic systems. It's what inspired the comment, and I didn't feel comfortable not crediting you.
We did actually build one Constellation early in the game. One Cosntellation was laid down in the 2304 Shipyard Ops.
KnightDisciple
Love God. Do Right. Fear No Man.
- Location
- Midwest, USA
Oh, they can even saucer-separate? Nice.
I mean, keep in mind that even now the Federation ships can do that; there was a reference to the original Connies being able to do that back in TOS (the episode where the Enterprise is stuck in orbit due to a tractor beam or something, Kirk tells Scotty to "crack out of there with the main hull if you have to".
Still, this seems like a simple-but-elegant design for it.
...Now I have this image of getting the Ked-Paddah to give the "common sense rework" to crazy designs cooked up by bleeding-edge Human engineers.
...It's....it's beautiful. It's like you read my mind and heart as to "what would KnightDisciple most want in a big, bad starship design?", and wrote it down!Omake: Yagad-Tich
In ages passed, tribes of Chelonian hunter-gatherers lived in awe and reverence of the vast yagad-tich, the megatortoise, that stomped across the plains and swamps in between their villages, crushing entire groves of trees aside and leaving footprints as deep as men. Now, the greatest of all beasts lives once again among the stars, and it is the enemies of Rigel that tremble with its approach.
1 pixel = 1 meter
Throughout the later twenty-third century, the United Worlds of Rigel debated the merits of a military buildup. On the one hand, Rigel had been a Federation protectorate for over one hundred years, and there had been few complaints about Starfleet's performance in its defense. On the other, increasing fears about the longterm viability of the Federation in the face of unpredictable Klingon and Romulan relations led some to insist that Rigel would need to be ready in case the Federation abandoned it or fell apart. From the 2270's onward, successive generations of light patrol cutters and "turtleship" cruisers were built in increasing number, and with combat capabilities that eventually grew to rival Starfleet's. It was the Ulith III Biophage, however, that inspired the Rigellians to create their first single-purpose capital battleship in over two hundred years. Unlike the cutters and turtleships, the vast Yagad-Tich was not designed with peacekeeping, exploration, or garrison duties in mind.
Several proposed warship designs had been on the desk of the fleet committee since the early 2290's, most of which could be described as, essentially, a better armed turtleship variant. These designs were rejected both because of the better versatility of the existing turtleship designs, and due to fears of the Rigelian government becoming too trigger happy if it had a large fleet of battlecruisers at its disposal. Yagad-Tich was chosen both because its superfreighter-like size meant that it would not compete with turtleships for existing military berth space, and because the investment in a smaller number of more powerful supercaps would encourage the government to employ them for defensive operations only. Furthermore, while Rigelian shield and hull technologies are second to none in known space, their weapons were somewhat lacking; try as they might, the engineers could not design a turtleship-sized vessel with firepower to match a Federation excelsior or a Romulan heavy warbird without severely compromising its valuable shield and hull strengths. Only a super-capital dreadnought would do.
The twin hulls of the Yagad-Tich are heavily redundant, each hosting their own command center, computer cores, environmental control centers, and (most importantly) anterior deflector dishes, enabling the megatortoise to continue operating at nearly full capacity even after sustaining severe hull damage. The dual shield system is further amplified by an array of secondary dome-deflectors positioned near the aft flanks; in addition to improving shield integrity and helping regulate their coverage over the ship's entire 2.5 megaton bulk, these ancillary domes are designed to absorb any power surges from shield damage, acting as a kind of ablative armor to keep the main deflectors safe. The domes also work in tandem with the array of sensor blisters that run along the megatortoise's spine in the experimental "shield sensor" system that uses the shields to relay sensory signals from different angles. Though this system is less powerful and more energy intensive than the turtleship's large conventional sensor banks and astrometrics labs, they allow a large amount of the Yagad-Tich's hull space to be saved for extra armor, shock absorbers, and secondary EPS conduits. Even with this system in place, however, the Megatortoise is never meant to be deployed without escorts to sight for it.
The megatortoise's propulsion system is remarkable in two respects. First, the quad-nacelle system - adopted in order to avoid having to build larger and more exposed dual-nacelles to accommodate the vessel's size - uses a "warp funnel" nacelle pylon system that links the field of the port and starboard pairs and then acts as a surrogate for the Line of Sight requirement, the nacelle pylons maintaining a clear path to each other through the ship's central gap. In essence, each "wing" of the megatortoise acts like a massive warp nacelle for LoS purposes, even if the nacelle rods themselves are of conventional design. Second, in addition to the primary warp core located deep in the aft dorsal hull, the megatortoise has a backup core - normally kept offline and completely seperated from the EPS systems - in the ventral hull just below the warp field gap. The Megatortoise is thus the only ship in known space that can escape at warp after being forced to eject the core; the smaller secondary warp core is much weaker and has only a limited fuel capacity, but is still sufficient for escape purposes.
Phaser banks, torpedo bays, and escape pod racks dot the outer hull wherever a break in the armor can be afforded. While the choice to dot the Yagad-Tich with numerous cruiser-scaled weapon ports rather than a smaller number of capital grade superweapons leaves it somewhat undergunned for its size, the relatively smaller breaks in the armor and less volatile EPS corridors needed to power these smaller weapons makes for a better armored, more reliable package that can remain in the fight long after its better armed counterparts have been disabled. The distributed placements of the weapon ports also affords the megatortoise unusually good coverage; a feature that stood out in particular to the Rigelian fleet committee when they considered the waves of suicide-shuttles employed by the Biophage. The megatortoise's shuttle bays are located in the aft overhang of the dorsal hull, just above the impulse engines. The same entrance also doubles as the primary warp core ejection terminus; needless to say, there are thick walls and SIF systems in between the port and starboard shuttle bays, and the ejection tube that separates them.
The six hundred and fifty souls who crew the Yagad-Tich live in spartan conditions, compared to those of most Rigellian ships. Crew quarters are located throughout the ship, so that each serviceman can get to his engine room, torpedo bay, sensor blister, or command center with only a short walk or turbolift ride. The relatively small recreational spaces are a continual source of complaints among the crew, as are the dual mess halls that minimize the sense of shipboard community in favor of keeping every crewman near his station at all times. In retrospect, the engineering team admits that they might have gone slightly overboard with the post-Biophage paranoia when they designed the last minute touches before construction began. Morale is likewise unhelped by the presence of an internal EPS venting system modeled after Starfleet's own, meant to scour Biophage-infected ship sections clean of all life. On the plus side, the crew take comfort in the Yagad-Tich's ten racks of escape pods located at each cardinal corner of the ship; wherever you're stationed, escape is easy should the unthinkable happen and the Megatortoise's shields and armor both fail. Each escape pod bay is also linked by a single hallway to one of the ship's six transporter rooms, ensuring a swift evacuation to the escape pods for all crew members regardless of internal hazards.
With the first Yagad-Tich earning the respect of the entire quadrant in the Licori War and a second under construction, the Rigellians are already considering the possibility of a refit to compensate for their battleship's weaknesses. A redesign of the crew areas has already been put forward that should improve living conditions and allow for more community without compromising battle-readiness; the resulting morale boost will both improve performance, and increase the ship's effective Presence (in contradiction to its original design philosophy; the offensive role played by the Yagad-Tich in the Licori war has caused some considerable rethinking). Rumor has it that Rigelian representatives are also engaged in secret talks with the Seyek Union, regarding acquisition of the monstrously powerful Photon Lance weapon. A certain Rigelian engineer believes that she can redesign the megatortoise's anterior hull and EPS channels to accommodate a photon lance with only a minimal tradeoff in armor strength, and turn the Megatortoise-A into the single deadliest warship class in known space.
Unfortunately, the ship's low maximum warp - originally not considered a major drawback due to the Yagad-Tich's planned defensive role - is less easily solved.
- Location
- Patriarchova
Anyone want to see another ship writeup/panorama?
AKuz
Been Better
- Location
- A Rising Tide of Horrors
- Pronouns
- She/Her
KnightDisciple
Love God. Do Right. Fear No Man.
- Location
- Midwest, USA
....Pride of Seyek?
Thebigpieman
I've got this, I think.
- Location
- United States
The Kadeshi Mothership maybe?
Jenny
anonymous user
- Location
- maryland
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Takaaki family of escorts? Lorgot, for a failed design?
Apiata queenships, my most interesting designs.
Risian corvette?
- Location
- Infraspace
Thanks! Made a correction. Compared to the rest of our shipbuilding, one ship barely registers!
- Location
- Patriarchova
Kadeshi mothership probably already has a bunch of analyses around the net. Just replace the Homeworld hyperdrive with warp engines.
Sign of Rethellia and Queenship are both candidates for my next capship (if I do Sign, I'll probably be consulting with @Iron Wolf a bit). I'd rather do another small ship or two before that though.
I guess its either Risan Corvette or Cardassian Takaaki next.
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- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
This capability is what saved the crew of the explorer Miracht when the ship was crippled by fire from an ancient but trigger-happy planetary defense system. Captain Mbeki ordered separation and managed to crash-land the saucer of the Miracht (with all but a few dozen of the ship's crew aboard) on a nearby moon.
However, separating the saucer of an Excelsior requires firing explosive jettison bolts. Something similar is implied for the Connies. Reconnecting the halves requires starbase or shipyard-level maintenance.
So whereas it's a fairly simple operation for the Galaxies to dock and undock the saucer and engineering hulls during a mission, this capability is not reusable and may not be entirely safe for TBG-era ships.
In the context of what Leila and me were talking about, this is true but not entirely relevant. The question at hand was the status of ships mentats could use to engage in their typical brand of dickery. That doesn't really require a warship; I'd be if anything more worried about their civilian 'research vessels,' of which I strongly suspect House Ixira has at least one of the few the Licori possess.
I suspect Rigellian doctrine on turtleship and megatortoise warfare is similar to the design philosophy that went into the US Navy's "Standard" battleships. The key to victory isn't outmaneuvering the enemy, in such a mindset. It's identifying a target they must defend, sauntering up to it in a calm, leisurely manner, and blasting the everliving bejeebers out of it. In this way, you can force the enemy to give battle against their will, thus neutralizing one of the main advantages a more mobile enemy has.Intriguing and insightful how the Rigellians don't consider their, well, pitiful speed to be a weakness - not mentioned once in the whole article
Oh, he'd say it, but it'd depend on the context. You'd have to catch him off-guard or otherwise impaired, and he'd raise hell through assorted old friends and connections in order to avoid having it said in any quasi-official publication.
On the other hand, virtually anyone in Starfleet who knows the man knows he's thinking it. And you probably could find a quote of him saying that if you catch him off guard or out of context- which isn't all that challenging, frankly. Leslie's never been that good at guarding his words, except by keeping his mouth shut entirely.
I like this; I really did try to use With Quicksilver Stride to play up a bit the idea that the Rennies are basically the first of the TNG-era ships in terms of "look and feel." Like, the only reason not to directly recycle sets from The Next Generation aboard Renaissance in a hypothetical To Boldly Go TV series would be to avoid accusations of laziness. Plus, of course, Six Forward is probably a lot smaller than Ten Forward, things like that.
- Location
- Infraspace
Any ideas for a more appropriate/official quote? I can edit it in.
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
Hm.
Leslie tends to use pretty imaginative ways of insulting things, sometimes including things that you have to stop and think about to realize are insults, at least when he's not mad. I could see him describing a Galaxy (or a Rennie) as "a beige flying palace," for example. The associations with 'beige' and the excessive luxury connoted by 'palace' are things you have to take away by going 'hey, wait a minute,' and it's not a direct insult to the designers that he thinks their ship is 'palatial' when that's not what ships are about for him.
[Of course to be fair, Eddie Leslie's ideal starship rec room is the one we saw in Charlie X, mostly because he has such soft-focus memories of that era. If he were somehow time-warped fifty years into the future to experience a Relics-esque plot, he'd probably just as out of place aboard the Enterprise-D than Scotty did.]
Leslie tends to use pretty imaginative ways of insulting things, sometimes including things that you have to stop and think about to realize are insults, at least when he's not mad. I could see him describing a Galaxy (or a Rennie) as "a beige flying palace," for example. The associations with 'beige' and the excessive luxury connoted by 'palace' are things you have to take away by going 'hey, wait a minute,' and it's not a direct insult to the designers that he thinks their ship is 'palatial' when that's not what ships are about for him.
[Of course to be fair, Eddie Leslie's ideal starship rec room is the one we saw in Charlie X, mostly because he has such soft-focus memories of that era. If he were somehow time-warped fifty years into the future to experience a Relics-esque plot, he'd probably just as out of place aboard the Enterprise-D than Scotty did.]
- Location
- Patriarchova
Takaaki it is. Some interesting in-universe design history and fleet doctrine came to me.
I might do the Risan Corvette afterward.
I might do the Risan Corvette afterward.
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
Maybe you can work in the idea that the Risan... thing they have instead of a military... has conditions of Maximum Chill, Medium Chill, and Minimum Chill corresponding to our High Alert, 'normal operating conditions' and 'Starfleet doesn't actually have a word for this.'
Night
Widow Null
- Location
- Hoff
Actually, I daresay we do. In-port watchstanding or non-maneuvering watch or something like that.
- Location
- Patriarchova
Hmm.
You know those really weird Ancient Aliens theories in which the prehistoric visitors supposedly had sex with our ancestors? The Risans were noted to have recently begun a campaign of exploration before we met them, and its not clear if this has stopped. If they've discovered any pre-industrial humanoids, well...
EDIT: for your actual question though, I imagine that the Risan starfleet-equivalent has pretty much the same mission statement as our Explorer Corps (or starfleet as a whole, in the most idealistic TV show episodes). This is not a military, its an exploration, diplomatic, and scientific organization that can defend itself if need be.
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So I took the feedback and made some revisions to the original. I feel like it better has Sorje ramp up the dickishness. I'm just included the revised section below in the spoiler if you don't want to read the whole thing again.
The Bajoran youth rose to his feet, face red with anger, "You dare insult me, you gutter--" He stopped as he realized he had stood up and shook with embarrassment.
Duvip clacked his beak, "Now, now, young sir." He took a demure sip from a glass, "I have read The Book of Proper Relations by your esteemed government. By those sacred laws I have all the authority here. Sit." The youth sat, glaring at his plate.
Anessed flicked his tongue out, "I'll pass your regards onto the First Minister."
"He won't be interested!" Duvip said to Anessed as the Seyek slithered away.
"...That is why I do believe in the continuing resilience of your regime, my friend," Sorje was remarking to Iifirdir, "And your continued generosity. Like this excellent cooking. Pass my compliments to the chefs -- it is almost as good as what my retinue could make back on Bajor."
"It is always an exciting challenge for my cooks to try to replicate the tastes of your planet," Iifirdir replied, "Perhaps eventually they will be blessed with success."
The First Minister laughed politely, "I look forward to the day. Chancellor!" He said, as Anessed slithered to his seat, "My apologies, I missed your entrance."
The presence of the Chancellor at the dinner had been something of a tension at previous gatherings, but eventually Sorje's Divine Sorter had determined that, with a background in the ancient landed gentry of Rethelia and parents and grandparents who served honorably in the civil service and military, Anessed could sit at the table of rulers -- as a trusted military advisor.
"Sir--" One of the First Minister's aides began. She was looking at Oleneb down at the other end of the table, standing with her arms folded into her robe smiling bemusedly. But Sorje just held up a hand.
"You seem to be sharing insights with our King, I take no offense." Anessed said, also glancing at forgotten Oleneb, hoping Sorje would take the hint. But Sorje was laser-focused on the Chancellor now, the long table helping to keep Oleneb out of his sight.
"Mostly about the nature of this excellent spread," Sorje said, "But now that you are here I expect the King will be glad to hear your report on how you have managed His government's response to the ongoing crisis."
Iifirdir and Anessed shared a look of discomfort. Sorje had latched quite literally onto that bit of legal theater, and never failed to remind Anessed of his allegedly subordinate role.
"To be clear," Sorje said lightly, "I would like to know if I am about to be evicted by an angry mob." He tried to smile, but it was forced, and he reached for a pitcher of springwine, refilling his large goblet.
Anessed flicked out a tongue, tasting the mood of the table. He could taste the alcohol in Sorje's sweat and wafting out with every breath. He could feel Iifirdir's restrained annoyance. And a few of the guards were warmer today, their scent perfumed with tension, spiking at the word 'eviction,' the implication behind it clear: revolution.
"Well," he said to Sorje. The First Minister raised an eyebrow and Anessed sighed inwardly. He turned to Iifirdir, "My king, the arrival of Starfleet mediators appears to have increased tensions. But I suspect this will be short-lived. Like many medications, things will be worse before they stabilize."
"I have to applaud the Captain they sent, Iifirdir," Sorje said, "She must have the blood of an orator. The Enterprise lives up to its reputation."
"We are lucky Captain Mrr'shan was there today to prevent tensions from boiling over, yes." Iifirdir responded.
"Of course, my King," Chancellor Anessed interjected, "She was highly visible. But we have many diplomats, including the Federation representative, doing hard work behind the scenes."
Sorje scoffed into his goblet, "Forgive me, Iifirdir, but I find the Seyek tendency to do so much behind closed doors counterproductive."
Iifirdir raised his head, "It is sometimes a little disconcerting. But you must understand, Seyek and Fiiral don't obey authority reflexively like in your system. Sometimes secrecy is required so that the leadership can have disagreements that could inflame public tensions in private and then present the finished compromise." Iifirdir looked at Anessed, who nodded in agreement.
"That said," Iifirdir continued, to Anessed's surprise, "I do sometimes wonder the lack of public comment with the aim of restraint only allows the mob to spins their regressive fantasies. It is times like those that speakers like Mrr'shan are so welcome."
"Then why don't you speak out, King Iifirdir?"
Anessed flicked a tongue out towards Sorje. A harmless gesture to the Bajoran, but a clear warning to the normally-immobile guard behind him who had just tensed, angry heat radiating off him.
Iifirdir took a sip of water, glancing at Anessed, his feathers twitching. "I await my government's..." Anessed could tell Iifirdir was cycling through several words. Assent. Approval. Clearance. Permission. "... advice on when that would be most prudent."
"Prudence is for the Ked Paddah," Sorje said, laughing, "You should act now. Listen only to what the Divine instructs in times like these, as only the Prophets can guide you through the chaos of the mob." Sorje said, gesturing with a knife, "This is why we instituted the caste system, and why it is so effective. You would have found no such unrest among our people. Unity through the divine songs of placement."
"Despite the potential for unrest," Iifirdir said, slowly, "I have to find the current system we are under adequate. Within the Union, people can become anything they desire. Surely promoting such freedom is a ruler's ethical, spiritual, moral imperative."
"Perhaps that is the ideal," Sorje said, placidly spearing some vegetables. "But it appears to me the reality is that the Seyek have imposed a caste system on you -- how else to explain the removal of the Fiiral from the Navy?"
Anessed repressed the urge to grab the pitcher of springwine and down the remainder in one gulp. Then the urge to smash it over the First Minister's head.
"A temporary security precaution," Iifirdir said, voice even, "That is what the Chancellor assures me."
"Of course," Anessed added. He opened his hood slightly, a further warning to the guard, sour with the taste of an adrenaline spike, "Of course." Desperate to change the subject, he gestured down the table, to where Oleneb was standing, "Your King, the Qloathi Foreign Secretary--"
"Ah!" Sorje said, finally noticing Oleneb, standing at the other end of the table, who in a moment dropped the bemused grin she had held on her face since the moment she'd walked into the palace.
"That," Iifirdir said, "Is our esteemed guest, Oleneb of the Qloathi. A highly accomplished official in their government, friends of our people." He gestured with a talon, "Where are my manners, Secretary Oleneb, you have been standing for ages. Please, sit."
"I believe it is a suitable penance for my lack of manners," Oleneb said, moving towards the First Minister, past rows of gilded, empty seats, "I was the cause of the delay that has us showing up in such delayed circumstances."
Anessed chuckled, "Oleneb is too kind. I am afraid some state business restrained me - Discussing the, aftermath of Captain Mrr'shan's arrival."
"You should have had the King as part of those discussions," Sorje said, as Oleneb bowed slightly before the First Minister. Anessed and Iifirdir froze as Sorje's hand flew out, grabbing Oleneb's ear.
Oleneb smiled through any awkwardness, "A curious custom, First Minister."
"You hide behind a mask, but your pagh will reveal all." He said, "You project a sort of wry wisdom. But troubled about your place in the universe." He smiled, "But clearly not your place at the end of the table. The King has left you a seat, you must be ready for a rest after standing so long.
"Oh, think nothing of it," Oleneb said, "I've had to stand much longer on the stage. Once, in a school production, I had to be a tree--"
Sorje's hand flew back as if Oleneb's ear had turned into a rat. "An actor!" He said, wiping his hands on a napkin. "Rabble rousing in the street. Body-buriers and garbagepeople scrabbling for scraps at the expense of good-working people." He waved a hand dismissively, "Leave my presence. I am offended, your Highness, that you would allow this."
"First Minister," Anessed said. One of Sorje's warrior attendants rose and stepped towards Oleneb.
"I do not address my comments to you." Sorje snapped, as Oleneb took half a step back, her hands tucked beneath her robe, smile strained.
"Sorje," Iifirdir said, "Oleneb is a talented individual in addition to her hobbies in the theatre. Surely you can overlook this and offer a modicum of respect to the dignitary I invited to my palace."
"Your palace? My King," Sorje said, leaning forward towards Iifirdir, back practically turned to everyone else, "It is not your palace. It is the palace of these lesser castes, who keep your divine spirit locked away. It makes my soul, my pagh ache. That you have allowed the divine clockwork to slip so far from your gasp is the cause of suffering for your people..." He stopped, looking at one of the honor guards as they tightened a grip on their rifle, "You see, your people react because their souls know the truth. That you should not be so be litted."
"Sargeant Omirid, you are dismissed," Iifirdir said, voice cool and level. The guard huffed out a breath, then turned, saluted, and walked out.
Sorje's raised voice quavered slightly as he doggedly continued, "To allow these people, untouched by the hands of the divine, moved above the provenance of their ancestors, feeding you platitudes as they botch everything you hand them -- you need to be strong, Iifirdir! Cast them down in chains--"
Iifirdir rose suddenly, "Your insights into the Bajoran viewpoint continue to interest, First Minister, and I find every iteration as illuminating as the last. But unfortunately, I need to cut it short this evening." Iifirdir glanced at Oleneb, "I believe tensions have been raised, and it would be better if I discussed these tense government matters in peace with the Chancellor. I invite you to continue enjoying this spread, but I must depart."
Sorje's bowed his head slightly, before cutting again into the meat. "Of course. I will be ordering another course."
Duvip clacked his beak, "Now, now, young sir." He took a demure sip from a glass, "I have read The Book of Proper Relations by your esteemed government. By those sacred laws I have all the authority here. Sit." The youth sat, glaring at his plate.
Anessed flicked his tongue out, "I'll pass your regards onto the First Minister."
"He won't be interested!" Duvip said to Anessed as the Seyek slithered away.
"...That is why I do believe in the continuing resilience of your regime, my friend," Sorje was remarking to Iifirdir, "And your continued generosity. Like this excellent cooking. Pass my compliments to the chefs -- it is almost as good as what my retinue could make back on Bajor."
"It is always an exciting challenge for my cooks to try to replicate the tastes of your planet," Iifirdir replied, "Perhaps eventually they will be blessed with success."
The First Minister laughed politely, "I look forward to the day. Chancellor!" He said, as Anessed slithered to his seat, "My apologies, I missed your entrance."
The presence of the Chancellor at the dinner had been something of a tension at previous gatherings, but eventually Sorje's Divine Sorter had determined that, with a background in the ancient landed gentry of Rethelia and parents and grandparents who served honorably in the civil service and military, Anessed could sit at the table of rulers -- as a trusted military advisor.
"Sir--" One of the First Minister's aides began. She was looking at Oleneb down at the other end of the table, standing with her arms folded into her robe smiling bemusedly. But Sorje just held up a hand.
"You seem to be sharing insights with our King, I take no offense." Anessed said, also glancing at forgotten Oleneb, hoping Sorje would take the hint. But Sorje was laser-focused on the Chancellor now, the long table helping to keep Oleneb out of his sight.
"Mostly about the nature of this excellent spread," Sorje said, "But now that you are here I expect the King will be glad to hear your report on how you have managed His government's response to the ongoing crisis."
Iifirdir and Anessed shared a look of discomfort. Sorje had latched quite literally onto that bit of legal theater, and never failed to remind Anessed of his allegedly subordinate role.
"To be clear," Sorje said lightly, "I would like to know if I am about to be evicted by an angry mob." He tried to smile, but it was forced, and he reached for a pitcher of springwine, refilling his large goblet.
Anessed flicked out a tongue, tasting the mood of the table. He could taste the alcohol in Sorje's sweat and wafting out with every breath. He could feel Iifirdir's restrained annoyance. And a few of the guards were warmer today, their scent perfumed with tension, spiking at the word 'eviction,' the implication behind it clear: revolution.
"Well," he said to Sorje. The First Minister raised an eyebrow and Anessed sighed inwardly. He turned to Iifirdir, "My king, the arrival of Starfleet mediators appears to have increased tensions. But I suspect this will be short-lived. Like many medications, things will be worse before they stabilize."
"I have to applaud the Captain they sent, Iifirdir," Sorje said, "She must have the blood of an orator. The Enterprise lives up to its reputation."
"We are lucky Captain Mrr'shan was there today to prevent tensions from boiling over, yes." Iifirdir responded.
"Of course, my King," Chancellor Anessed interjected, "She was highly visible. But we have many diplomats, including the Federation representative, doing hard work behind the scenes."
Sorje scoffed into his goblet, "Forgive me, Iifirdir, but I find the Seyek tendency to do so much behind closed doors counterproductive."
Iifirdir raised his head, "It is sometimes a little disconcerting. But you must understand, Seyek and Fiiral don't obey authority reflexively like in your system. Sometimes secrecy is required so that the leadership can have disagreements that could inflame public tensions in private and then present the finished compromise." Iifirdir looked at Anessed, who nodded in agreement.
"That said," Iifirdir continued, to Anessed's surprise, "I do sometimes wonder the lack of public comment with the aim of restraint only allows the mob to spins their regressive fantasies. It is times like those that speakers like Mrr'shan are so welcome."
"Then why don't you speak out, King Iifirdir?"
Anessed flicked a tongue out towards Sorje. A harmless gesture to the Bajoran, but a clear warning to the normally-immobile guard behind him who had just tensed, angry heat radiating off him.
Iifirdir took a sip of water, glancing at Anessed, his feathers twitching. "I await my government's..." Anessed could tell Iifirdir was cycling through several words. Assent. Approval. Clearance. Permission. "... advice on when that would be most prudent."
"Prudence is for the Ked Paddah," Sorje said, laughing, "You should act now. Listen only to what the Divine instructs in times like these, as only the Prophets can guide you through the chaos of the mob." Sorje said, gesturing with a knife, "This is why we instituted the caste system, and why it is so effective. You would have found no such unrest among our people. Unity through the divine songs of placement."
"Despite the potential for unrest," Iifirdir said, slowly, "I have to find the current system we are under adequate. Within the Union, people can become anything they desire. Surely promoting such freedom is a ruler's ethical, spiritual, moral imperative."
"Perhaps that is the ideal," Sorje said, placidly spearing some vegetables. "But it appears to me the reality is that the Seyek have imposed a caste system on you -- how else to explain the removal of the Fiiral from the Navy?"
Anessed repressed the urge to grab the pitcher of springwine and down the remainder in one gulp. Then the urge to smash it over the First Minister's head.
"A temporary security precaution," Iifirdir said, voice even, "That is what the Chancellor assures me."
"Of course," Anessed added. He opened his hood slightly, a further warning to the guard, sour with the taste of an adrenaline spike, "Of course." Desperate to change the subject, he gestured down the table, to where Oleneb was standing, "Your King, the Qloathi Foreign Secretary--"
"Ah!" Sorje said, finally noticing Oleneb, standing at the other end of the table, who in a moment dropped the bemused grin she had held on her face since the moment she'd walked into the palace.
"That," Iifirdir said, "Is our esteemed guest, Oleneb of the Qloathi. A highly accomplished official in their government, friends of our people." He gestured with a talon, "Where are my manners, Secretary Oleneb, you have been standing for ages. Please, sit."
"I believe it is a suitable penance for my lack of manners," Oleneb said, moving towards the First Minister, past rows of gilded, empty seats, "I was the cause of the delay that has us showing up in such delayed circumstances."
Anessed chuckled, "Oleneb is too kind. I am afraid some state business restrained me - Discussing the, aftermath of Captain Mrr'shan's arrival."
"You should have had the King as part of those discussions," Sorje said, as Oleneb bowed slightly before the First Minister. Anessed and Iifirdir froze as Sorje's hand flew out, grabbing Oleneb's ear.
Oleneb smiled through any awkwardness, "A curious custom, First Minister."
"You hide behind a mask, but your pagh will reveal all." He said, "You project a sort of wry wisdom. But troubled about your place in the universe." He smiled, "But clearly not your place at the end of the table. The King has left you a seat, you must be ready for a rest after standing so long.
"Oh, think nothing of it," Oleneb said, "I've had to stand much longer on the stage. Once, in a school production, I had to be a tree--"
Sorje's hand flew back as if Oleneb's ear had turned into a rat. "An actor!" He said, wiping his hands on a napkin. "Rabble rousing in the street. Body-buriers and garbagepeople scrabbling for scraps at the expense of good-working people." He waved a hand dismissively, "Leave my presence. I am offended, your Highness, that you would allow this."
"First Minister," Anessed said. One of Sorje's warrior attendants rose and stepped towards Oleneb.
"I do not address my comments to you." Sorje snapped, as Oleneb took half a step back, her hands tucked beneath her robe, smile strained.
"Sorje," Iifirdir said, "Oleneb is a talented individual in addition to her hobbies in the theatre. Surely you can overlook this and offer a modicum of respect to the dignitary I invited to my palace."
"Your palace? My King," Sorje said, leaning forward towards Iifirdir, back practically turned to everyone else, "It is not your palace. It is the palace of these lesser castes, who keep your divine spirit locked away. It makes my soul, my pagh ache. That you have allowed the divine clockwork to slip so far from your gasp is the cause of suffering for your people..." He stopped, looking at one of the honor guards as they tightened a grip on their rifle, "You see, your people react because their souls know the truth. That you should not be so be litted."
"Sargeant Omirid, you are dismissed," Iifirdir said, voice cool and level. The guard huffed out a breath, then turned, saluted, and walked out.
Sorje's raised voice quavered slightly as he doggedly continued, "To allow these people, untouched by the hands of the divine, moved above the provenance of their ancestors, feeding you platitudes as they botch everything you hand them -- you need to be strong, Iifirdir! Cast them down in chains--"
Iifirdir rose suddenly, "Your insights into the Bajoran viewpoint continue to interest, First Minister, and I find every iteration as illuminating as the last. But unfortunately, I need to cut it short this evening." Iifirdir glanced at Oleneb, "I believe tensions have been raised, and it would be better if I discussed these tense government matters in peace with the Chancellor. I invite you to continue enjoying this spread, but I must depart."
Sorje's bowed his head slightly, before cutting again into the meat. "Of course. I will be ordering another course."
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
No, that's not maximum chill.
- Location
- Patriarchova
Much better. In addition to being more believable for his age, Sorje is actually more infuriating in this version because he's able to hide his petulance behind a veneer of manners and civility. It also makes it much more satisfying when he blows up after touching an untouchable.
Have I mentioned that I like Iifirdir? Hope he manages to be a central figure in resolving a crisis or two, so that we can justify naming a ship after him someday.
I actually am putting a bit of thought into Risan spacefaring culture for when I get around to the Corvette. Its leading me to some interesting and unexpected places.
Also, have some Takaaki.
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Thanks! I like Iifirdir too. Also, you're more than free to picture that one asshole Bajoran teenager as being played by Jack Gleeson if you want to keep him cast @Leila Hann 
RE: the megatortoise -- the two black rectangles on the bottom of the megatortoise when looking at it from behind are the impulse engines and not the shuttlebay, right? I dunno if it's worth clearing up but I think if you colored the center in red/whatever color the rigellians have on their impulse engines it might clear it up.
Other than that I love it. I guess Duvip, when not at the Kid's table, is making puppy-dog eyes at the guy who designed the photon lances.
RE: the megatortoise -- the two black rectangles on the bottom of the megatortoise when looking at it from behind are the impulse engines and not the shuttlebay, right? I dunno if it's worth clearing up but I think if you colored the center in red/whatever color the rigellians have on their impulse engines it might clear it up.
Other than that I love it. I guess Duvip, when not at the Kid's table, is making puppy-dog eyes at the guy who designed the photon lances.
Nervos Belli
Don't think this means you've won!
- Location
- Murica
Much better. In addition to being more believable for his age, Sorje is actually more infuriating in this version because he's able to hide his petulance behind a veneer of manners and civility. It also makes it much more satisfying when he blows up after touching an untouchable.
Have I mentioned that I like Iifirdir? Hope he manages to be a central figure in resolving a crisis or two, so that we can justify naming a ship after him someday.
I actually am putting a bit of thought into Risan spacefaring culture for when I get around to the Corvette. Its leading me to some interesting and unexpected places.
Also, have some Takaaki.
One fun detail about the Risans, although I forget if it's canon for this quest or not, is that their planet was originally fairly inhospitable until they built a weather control system to give them the balmy paradise they are known for. The Risans are surrounded everyday with proof that they can change the world for the better through cooperation and learning, which I think would affect their mindset. For all that they deserve their reputation as the party planet, there are some very bright Risans out there with an itch for exploration and understanding. In a world without the Federation, I can see the Risans trying to establish something similar on their own.
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
For this quest that might not work so well since part of our underlying notion is that the Risans evolved in an environment so resource-rich that the proto-Risans evolved to cooperate far more ardently, and compete far less violently, than almost any other humans.
But I like the idea very very much.
But I like the idea very very much.
Thoughts on Risan culture....
1. There are Risans who follow a philosophy that at first glance appears to be asceticism but is actually more like a deprivation fetish. They will, for example, eat and drink nothing but extremely bland food and water 95% of the time so that on the rare occasion they actually allow themselves to indulge it's the best thing ever.
2. There's a whole subculture of alien-admiring Risans who insist that their species needs to start taking things seriously and be sober and responsible like their friends in the Federation. They end up trying to be "more human than humans" as they imitate the aliens without fully understanding the reality underneath the superficial. They honestly come across as rather adorable, though few humans would be so mean as to say so.
3. Risans love sports, but they only love playing sports. They find the whole idea of becoming emotionally invested in a sports team made up of a bunch of strangers to be rather baffling. "You don't even know those people; what, are you cheering for the uniforms?" more than one has remarked to their alien friends.
1. There are Risans who follow a philosophy that at first glance appears to be asceticism but is actually more like a deprivation fetish. They will, for example, eat and drink nothing but extremely bland food and water 95% of the time so that on the rare occasion they actually allow themselves to indulge it's the best thing ever.
2. There's a whole subculture of alien-admiring Risans who insist that their species needs to start taking things seriously and be sober and responsible like their friends in the Federation. They end up trying to be "more human than humans" as they imitate the aliens without fully understanding the reality underneath the superficial. They honestly come across as rather adorable, though few humans would be so mean as to say so.
3. Risans love sports, but they only love playing sports. They find the whole idea of becoming emotionally invested in a sports team made up of a bunch of strangers to be rather baffling. "You don't even know those people; what, are you cheering for the uniforms?" more than one has remarked to their alien friends.