[video]

[weeabhoo]

[OOC: This is a joint post. Jinto's dialog is in dark grey, Lafiel's in blue. Replies may be from either of them or both.]

[Closeup on Jinto and Lafiel next to an observation window. Jinto, as usual, is nervously smiling, knowing he's addressing potentially thousands. Lafiel on the other hand, looks calm and professional -- and a bit annoyed -- as if this is a necessary yet slightly unpleasant task to accomplish.]

Ah, hello everyone. I'm Front Wing Flyer Jinto Lynn, part of the Abh space navy and also on loan to the fleet while I'm here. This is my captain, Deca Commander Lafiel Abriel.

[Lafiel nods at the introduction]

In addition to Front Wing Flyer Lynn and myself, our ship, the Basroil, was also brought in the accident.

[Pan to a ship, floating outside the window. Then back to them.]

It's a destroyer, hundreds of meters long, armed with several point defense guns and one large antiproton main gun, embedded within the body. Normally it requires a crew of 20 to operate. It could be a valuable asset to the fleet. Only there's a small problem with the controls...

Abh warships use an interface that requires both a user with frosh -- the spacio-sensory organ that genetic Abh possess -- and an alpha which connects to the ship's sensors to allow piloting and targeting of weapons.

[Lafiel had paused at 'frosh', as if she had to remember to explain herself. She also gestured to her tiara at the word 'alpha', indicating that was the device in question.]

Obviously, I can pilot Basroil with the existing controls, but I am the only genetic Abh currently present. Thus, the weapons are inoperative using their existing interface.

That means the Basroil can move and fire but not do both at the same time. While most of the crew positions do not require the frosh interface, there are several on the bridge that do, as does piloting the included shuttle.

That's why we need your help. In order to make this ship functional for the fleet's use, we need to either modify the controls to allow for manual control by a genetically unmodified human...oid. Or find volunteers who have interfaces that may be compatible.

Of course, we will be interviewing people before allowing them to use or modify Basroil's controls.

[Which might provide some insight into Lafiel's mood. Someone was a bit territorial about letting strange foreigners on her ship, even if she had obviously acknowledged she needed to. Such "face work" is, of course, Jinto's responsibility. Oh stars Lafiel, please don't scare anyone away, he thinks.]

We can't offer much more than a token compensation. But our gratitude will be considerable. Thank you very much.

[He looks over at Lafiel. Thank them, Captain. People like feeling appreciated.]

Thank you for your attention.

Comments

video;

[plotblackhole]

That sounds like an interesting task. I suppose I should introduce myself. I am Dr. Shirakawa. Working with and modifying unknown technology is a specialty of mine, luckily for you.

Re: video;

[ungrounded]

What is your experience with spaceships?

Re: video;

[plotblackhole]

Admittedly, it's lacking. Giant robots are my forte but that is easily modified knowledge.

[weeabhoo]

Nice to meet you, Doctor Shirakawa. Giant robots? As in automation? [Jinto, being from a universe without mecha, doesn't understand how that's relevant to starship interfaces. But he's willing to be enlightened.]

[off camera]

[weeabhoo]

He seems like he might have relevant experience. Perhaps we should let him look at it and tell us for sure.

Re: [off camera]

[ungrounded]

Perhaps. Though one of us would have to be present: at the very least, the controls are in Baronh, and will require translation. I doubt the instruction in language extended to every language spoken by those transported.

[which is an additional wrinkle that just occurred to Lafiel: even without the interfaces, the crew needs to be able to read the instrument panels.]

[Video]

[wizardsaregodtier]

Hmm. What particular property of this organ allows for this control? I may be able to determine a magical means of accomplishing the same function...

[Video]

[weeabhoo]

Unfortunately I'm not a biologist or doctor. All I know is that it's an additional development of the human brain and provides a kind of motion sense and increased kinesthetic awareness. When using the almfa interface, that sense is accessed to allow the Abh to 'see' through the vessel's sensors as if they were their own eyes, ears and frosh.

[Video]

[wizardsaregodtier]

I see. It enhances sense and provides an additional one. That might be possible to replicate through divination or enchantment spells, although adapting a spell to properly register to the technology might be complicated... perhaps a magical item would be necessary...

Re: [Video]

[ungrounded]

Magic?

[Curious and a bit skeptical. The Abh aren't even theists, so in Lafiel's experience, magic either means 'I am a con artist' or 'I believe in things that don't, objectively, exist'.]

[voice]

[black_swimmer]

I may be able to help, but I will need to examine the equipment and Abh biology personally if there is not documentation available.

Re: [voice]

[ungrounded]

What are your qualifications?

[Since currently the only records on Abh biology are Lafiel's own medical records, she's understandably a bit skeptical. Especially towards someone who might not even know human biology in general.]

[black_swimmer]

I am a Black Swimmer of the Liir, and a steelsinger of six decades' training and practice.

[Video]

[blindlygo]

That's an interesting system. How many with the frosh and alpha are usually needed to steer the ship?

[No offer yet, since Geordi's plans at the moment wouldn't make modifying a ship on the side a very easy task, but he'd certainly had his interest piqued.]

Re: [Video]

[ungrounded]

For a small ship like the Basroil, we only need one pilot and two officers crewing the weapons, which have a similar interface. I can fly her as-is, but she can't function as a warship without changing the interface, or at least one more genetic Abh.

[It's hard to see scale in space, but Basroil is longer than a Constitution-class starship (though less wide) by a hundred and fifty meters. Small ship indeed.]

May I ask what that device is covering your eyes?

[Video]

[blindlygo]

[And definitely smaller than the Teuberg. Geordi nods thoughtfully.]

And for normal crew? Unless you're planning on recruiting your complement from the people dragged here.

[He isn't surprised by the question about the VISOR, he just taps the side of it.]

It's called a VISOR. It lets me see.

[Video]

[clumsy_moe_appeal]

[Well Lafiel, you soon get a video call from... somewhere on the ship. What you do know is that the lights were killed except for one that was shining down on the speaker, who had one leg up on a chair and a guitar resting on his thigh as he let off a loud and obnoxious riff.]

Ah, the problems that come from such specialized systems - on the surface tied so tightly to a single being and then falling to pieces should that one pillar be collapsed!

[Which... wasn't exactly the problem Lafiel and Jinnto stated.]

But a man of my unmatched genius has solved a problem like this before! Discovering work arounds for such locks that have been put into place will be no trouble at all for this century's greatest genius!

[Video]

[weeabhoo]

[Stars, what is that music? It's so obnoxious, yet hypnotic...]

Ah, thanks. Can you tell us a bit about your accomplishments?

[clumsy_moe_appeal]

My accomplishments?

[West looked like he was about to pitch a fit before he took a deep breath and brushed at his chin with a thoughtful expression.]

Ahh.... I should not be so disappointed that my renown has yet to reach far into the night sky and into the stars. I, DOCTOR WEST! Am among one of the foremost authorities in mechanical design and the sciences! A graduate of Miskatonic University and the most brilliant mind alive!

Oh...to look back on my past achievements, the nostalgia I feel as I took my first steps on the road to glory and knowledge! My very first creation was my Super West Electron Barrier! Oh my detractors were giving me glances of ridicule and jealousy, but who was laughing in the end when I walked away from that nuclear explosion?

[West proceeded to let out an arrogant laugh indeed as he looked at nowhere in particular.]

After those came my Type-28 Destroyer Robots, oh such artistic brilliance and lethality, all lovingly hand crafted by the skilled hands you see before you! And of course I cannot forget my most beautiful creation of all time...

My lovely Elsa! Oh I had to spend the better part of three days building her... but it was so worth it! Every detail was so painstakingly done, her mind and body........

Oooh if only she loved me instead of DAIJUUJI!

[It was at this point... West promptly broke into tears.]

[stellarcoffee]

[It's a small ship she's looking at through the viewport, certainly, but that's what destroyers tend to be -- a set of weapons arrays strapped to engines. And one boasting antiproton weaponry would certainly have teeth. Well, they need every resource the Fleet can get, don't they? And answering a call for help is just the Starfleet thing to do. Though it seems like they could have still been cadets back at the Academy.]

It's amazing that other ships made it through. Sounds like it can go through a wringer.

I'd like to help, if you can still use another pair of hands. I'm Kathryn Janeway, USS Voyager --

[Here, she hesitates. That doesn't mean terribly much to them, does it?]

...A long-range science vessel. We had some experience with bio-neural technology, and for better or worse, we've got seven years experience under our belts of adapting things to work while cut off from traditional supplies. There's bound to be something that can be rigged for you.

[weeabhoo]

[Jinto offers the Abh salute: index and middle finger touched to forehead. He's clearly a little nervous around so obviously experienced an officer. This is only partially due to his and Lafiel's young ages (by Starfleet standards) to be officers, a mere nineteen. Mostly it's that the majority of their operational COs have been a bit bonkers, and he's subconsciously come to expect it.]

Thank you for coming to see us, captain. Your help is very much appreciated. I I met someone else from Starfleet actually, Mister LaForge.

[stellarcoffee]

Pleased to meet you. Front wing flyer, wasn't it?

[She tries mirroring the salute, before offering a hand to shake. Jinto looks human, may BE human, but he's still from a different culture, and some gestures clearly need to b respected. She's had enough first contact practice to consider it important, anyway. But those formalities aside, his greeting gets him a smile.]

It sounds like I've fallen behind. But Mr. LaForge is certainly a fine officer -- you've been in good hands.

[ungrounded]

There is the possibility of outside operation, depending on how your artificial gravity operates. Or the artificial gravity aboard our hosts' ships. They are impractical on a large scale inside a ship, unless areas are set aside and secured.

[Because transitioning from gravity to not was a pain, Lafiel had to admit. One did have to make sure that everything was stowed so it didn't go flying. And she recalled Janeway said her ship had a larger crew than Lafiel's.]

[weeabhoo]

A humble captain. That's new to Jinto.

"Although our ships have artificial gravity too, most Abh prefer to keep theirs at far less than one G. This-" he gestures at the command chair and its attendant systems. "-is where all the maneuvering of the ship is done. Lafiel, maybe we could demonstrate it?"

[stellarcoffee]

Janeway has had the benefit of a Vulcan helping thoroughly puncture her ego during early command evaluations, for what good that does. Attention slips from the ship system to the young Abh captain, watching for Lafiel's reaction to the request. Right now, the bridge looks fairly straightforward, and she doesn't particularly see where the unique connection for operation comes in.

"I'd appreciate a look at the equipment in action. Even a simulation would be useful," she says. She wonders, too, if the gravity presences have to do with saving ship power, or perhaps reducing inertia problems in maneuvering -- but these are things she can wait to find out about.