Star Trek: Trevelyan

[Arstense]

Nathros points south.

"It is not far. Look for ground that is not."

You can see quite far south, and it looks like more desert. No structures or temples; there's not even a suspicious-looking bunch of rocks.

[Ichneumon]

"Wait... sir, I think this is a trap.... why would they lead us to their gods, their leaders, without them having a slightest idea who or what we are?"

[Kobold-Bard]

Sharec

"Perhaps. However we need to get there and they are much more mobile and more heavily armed than us; I would rather go as guests than prisoners."

He looks back to Nathros.

"Ground that is not? I'm afraid I do not understand what you mean."

[Ichneumon]

Sarah doesn't respond to the captain's words., but only looks in a very paranoid manner at the reptiles.

[Arstense]

"Looks like ground. Is not ground. Is temple."

Nathros pauses.

"Looks like wet ground."

[Ichneumon]

"Like mud?"

[Arstense]

To the extent that a large lizard-like creature can express emotion, Nathros seems to be annoyed.

"Is not mud. Is holy ground."

[Kobold-Bard]

Sharec

"Then you mean an oasis? Water pooled in the sand?"

[Ichneumon]

As Sarah sees the reptiles react more annoyed to their questions, she slowly lays her hand on her phaser, ready to draw it and shoot, in case they make any aggressive movement towards any member of the party, especially if they make any advancement towards the captain. She wanted to prevent any strive, but if they were going to get violent, she wanted it to be they, not them, to make the first blow.

If it would come to combat, she decided to aim for the reptilian's faces, going for a head shot.

[Arstense]

Nathros lets out an extended click.

"No. Not water. Not mud. Not ground. Holy ground.

Nathros can show you. If Sharec wants."

[Kobold-Bard]

Sharec nods.

"Yes please."

[Arstense]

Nathros clambers out of the vehicle, still clutching his gun. Fortunately, it is pointed towards the ground, and away from the landing party.

"Follow Nathros."

Nathros starts to lope off, heading south. As you follow, it's soon apparent that he's heading straight for the energy signature. It isn't long before you have arrived at the 'temple' - a wide pool of a grey, clay-like liquid, about 2.5 across in all. In the centre of the pool, bubbles rise to the surface in a continuous stream.

The tricorders confirm that the pool is definitely the source of the energy signature.

[Ichneumon]

Sarah whispers, cynically, to Roe: "So, it seems I was right. Mud it is."

[Arstense]

The bubbles in the center start to rise faster, and the area covered by bubbles expands. Almost the entire pool is bubbling and steaming as three figures start to rise from the grey muck. Each has a bald human-like head, followed by broad, powerful shoulders. The grey substance runs off the figures like water as they continue to rise, revealing skins of dark blue scales, human-like jaws and gleaming purple eyes. Each figure is draped in a full-body cloak supported by a metal apparatus. This apparatus forms pointed shoulder guards, and extends down diagonally to form a diamond in the apex of each being's chest. A glowing circuitry array sits in each diamond. The beings each stand a full 2 meters tall, perhaps even a little more. They each speak in turn.

"Who comes unbidden?"

"Who disturbs our rest?"

"Who dares to approach?"

[Binks]

T'jen swallows loudly and stares at the figures. He puts his hand on his phaser but leaves it holstered as he waits to see what happens.

[Ichneumon]

Sarah says nothing. It would be for out of place to talk first. Let the captain talk, she thought. She remained ready though to attack them.

[Kobold-Bard]

I am Sharec, how might we address yourselves?"

[Arstense]

The being on the left speaks first...
"I am Therus, twentieth-spawn of the Old Traders."

Followed by the being on the right...
"I am Danatos, nineth-spawn of the Old Traders."

And finally, the being in the middle speaks.
"I am Carator, third-spawn of the Old Traders.

Your arrival is unexpected. Your master gave no indication that he would be summoning more of his vassals."

[Kobold-Bard]

"Yet here we are. Does our presence disquiet you?"

Sharec; his hands held behind his back since they arrived (a habit of his, both by practicality & preference) makes three a small gestures to his crew: a loose fist, three fingers and a cross of his middle and fourth finger; Starfleet Sign Code for "Tricorder, Three, Careful".

[Arstense]

It is Carator who speaks.

"There is some... discussion within the ranks. Not all our number agree on the nature of the New Traders. Every one of you that arrives only engenders more of these discussions.

Some are raising questions about the nature of things."

He nods briefly towards Nathros. This is apparently a signal to Therus, who in one smooth motion produces a silvery tube from within his cloak and points it, arm extended at the lizard-like alien. With a thin, red beam of energy, Nathros is pitched to the ground.

[Binks]

T'jen reacts the instant he sees the beam. Stepping forward to a point where he could easily place himself between the captain and the aliens he draws his phaser but keeps it pointing down for the moment.

[tigerusthegreat]

Brad also pulls his phaser and steps between the doctor and the aliens. He doesn't point it at them, yet.

["Captain, as much as I hate the method, I believe we are no longer bound by the Prime Directive."

[King Tius]

The Chief stands there befuddled, unsure of what is about to transpire. He considers going for his tricorder or his phaser, but decides that it might be best just to wait and see how this goes down.

[Kobold-Bard]

Sharec remains composed, as only a Vulcan can under such circumstances.

"Doctor, if you would examine Nathros to confirm his condition please.

It is my opinion that to question something is to is to understand it; and to wish to understand something is a sign of great respect for it. You disagree?"

[Arstense]

"To question is to demand knowledge! To demand knowledge is to show the gravest contempt for society! For over a thousand rotations of the sun, we have- Nathros? What is Nathros?"

Dismayed, Carator gestures towards the cooling corpse.

"Not-? It hadn't named itself, had it?"

[Ichneumon]

Sarah reacts shocked when she sees Nathros fall down to the ground. With a few beeps from her medical tricorder, she tries to identify what happened to him.
(1d100)[10]

[Ichneumon]

"Captain, he's wounded, we should take him to our ship or he dies, quickly."

Sarah, grabs her phaser, points it at Therus and shouts: "Freeze! We're leaving, and taking him with us!"

[Binks]

T'jen blinks in confusion 5 times before a pair of simple thoughts cross his mind. Firstly, that the doctor threatening these beings is likely to make them angry, and secondly that, the doctor outranks him and is therefore to be supported unless overridden by the captain.

Smoothly T'jen raises his phaser arm, phaser already in hand, and takes aim at one of the beings, ready to fire if necessary.

[tigerusthegreat]

Brad hands his phaser to T'Jen, and picks up Nathros's body in a fireman carry.

"Sir, I recommend getting the ship to beam us out. It will take us too long to get back to the shuttle. I can have them beam me back to the shuttle and pilot it back, or destroy it if we do not have time for that."

[Arstense]

Carathor turns to Danathor, his voice both worried and angry.

"It did name itself! This is unacceptable! We'll have to exterminate that entire clutch."

Danathor seems to be keeping a cooler head as he makes an observation:

"These vassals seem rather agitated. Perhaps we should summon their master to the surface. He may be able to calm them."