Carpathia IV: Episode 318 - Komodo
Engineering, NCCS Shadowdancer-A
Aire sat stiff and tense in his chair as the Shadowdancer rapidly closed on its destination. They expected a friendly situation at Nerada, but still prepared for things to go wrong. In short, they were cruising into the unknown.
Shep: Five minutes to Nerada, Captain.
Aire: Very good. Condition yellow. We don't know what to expect. Remember, everyone, we're not here for a fight. If it looks like things might get hairy, we're out of here.
The lift doors opened and the familiar sound of claws clacking on the threshold told Aire who it was.
Aire: Just in time, Ryuu. How are you feeling?
Ryuu: Just a little tender, but mostly okay. Don't ask me to do any backflips or anything.
Aire: I wouldn't mind seeing that when you're better. Kit, get me Captain Azrael.
Kit: Contacting Cerberus.
Azrael must have been ready for a call, as he appeared on the viewer almost immediately.
Aire: Everything ready on your end?
Azrael: We are ready. We shall study the tactical situation while you map and analyze the surface. Do you still want me to handle any initial contact?
Aire: I think that would be best. Any komodo we encounter will probably believe you quicker than me.
Azrael: Very well. We shall analyze the planet and proceed as planned. If they don't contact us first, we will confer and determine our first move. Cerberus out.
Azrael disappeared from the viewer just in time for Teek to call out their arrival.
Teek: Captain, we are approaching Nerada.
Aire: Slow to induction. Assume standard orbit. Baal, start mapping the planet as soon as we're in range.
Baal: Ready, Captain.
Aire: Tactical, scan for threats alongside Cerberus. The rest of you, work on getting us a picture of what's happening on the surface.
Shadowdancer slowed alongside Cerberus and the planet came into view, with the sun shining on the left side of their approach, with the right shrouded in darkness. This time, however, it wasn't quite so dark as the vashta planet. Not as bright, however, as one would expect from an inhabited planet, with city lights gleaming in the night and illuminated roadways spiderwebbing out. Only a few, small pinpricks of light, barely discernible with the naked eye, stood out in the darkness. Not quite as dead as the vashta planet at first glance, but there was much to learn. Perhaps it was dead. perhaps they were looking at a very sparsely populated hemisphere. Time would tell.
Teek: Initiating standard orbit alongside Cerberus.
Aire: Alright everyone. Hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Let's get to work.
Two hours later...
After time passed evaluating the planet and getting sporadic, disjointed updates, Aire decided it was time to call for a more cohesive summary to put a more full picture together.
Aire: Let's put what we have together so far. Tactical first.
Shep: No evidence of weapons on the surface outside of small arms. Very few signs of electricity or power generation outside of a few pockets. I was just about to mention this one, though. There is a localized energy pocket in a rural area near the equator that's been growing since we got here.
Aire: That last part is certainly something to keep an eye on. Kit, any communications going on?
Kit: Nothing on any large scale. There is something, but maybe two-way radios. Too weak for us to pick up.
Amenaru: There are also a few cars running around down there. Internal combustion type. I just looked at the location Shep mentioned and some of them are converging there.
Trex: Definitely a hot spot for something. If I may offer a conjecture, I wouldn't be surprised if that is the location of a resistance cell.
Joust: It fits. It makes sense to have an HQ in the middle of nowhere.
Aire: Whatever it is, it's worth watching. Keep an eye on that spot and look for more. There is probably more than one.
A few minutes passed in silence until Kit's console beeped.
Kit: I'm receiving communication request from the surface.
Aire: Origin?
Kit: Unknown. They're masking the signature. Captain Azrael is now calling too.
Aire: Put Azrael on viewer.
Once again, Azrael appeared on the viewer.
Azrael: I presume you also received the comm request.
Aire: We did. Shall we proceed as planned?
Azrael: Yes. I shall handle initial contact and transmit the feed to you. Standby.
The viewer went dark only momentarily, and then Azrael reappeared on split screen with a komodo on one side. His head filled most of the screen, but Aire took note of what he could see in the background. A small room, it seemed, crammed full up to the ceiling with various contraptions, all in various states of both repair and disrepair and all piled up on top of each other. It all appeared very precarious indeed, like one small bump could send it all crashing down on his head. Communication equipment, perhaps, which would explain why he was the one to contact them.
Komodo: Bah. Demon. Vashta can't be bothered to do their own dirty work anymore. Now they're sending their surrogates.
Azrael, maintaining his usual unflappable composure, responded.
Azrael: I am Captain Azrael of the NCCS Cerberus, representing the New Carpathia Commonwealth of Planets. My purpose here is twofold. I would like to negotiate a trade and to inform you that Lazmaedia is dead.
The komodo froze, eyes wide and mouth hanging open, until he thrust his face so close to the screen that it was now impossible to see anything in the background.
Komodo: What? What? Say that again?
Before Azrael could reply, the komodo side of the viewer flickered and sparks flew from the equipment behind him.
Komodo: Dammit, not again!
He turned and began frantically flicking switches and moving wires from port to port until the image stabilized. Just when it appeared that the drama was over, he turned again to address the camera and stepped on something, perhaps a bit of oil or an object and slipped, disappearing from the screen instantly as he fell to the floor.
Komodo: Waa!
The audio erupted into a clamor of noise, as though the komodo had just landed on an entire kitchen store full of pots and pans. Azrael waited patiently as the Komodo staggered to his feet and brushed his clothes off with his hands.
Komodo: Now what's this about Lazmaedia being dead? Do you have proof?
Azrael: Nothing physical, but my colleague did the deed. It appears that Lazmaedia somehow tied her life force to the entire vashta power systems. When she died, everything running on electricity failed. The vashta planet is similar to yours, though it is entirely dark. You seem to have some functioning devices.
The komodo looked around, eyeballing his equipment.
Komodo: So that's why everything went dark. None of my equipment is vashta. It's all salvaged from the times before Lazmaedia came. You say Elaris is the same?
Azrael: Elaris?
Komodo: Oh, yes, you might not know. That's the vashta homeworld name from long ago. Lazmaedia forbid its use. My scans show that your ships don't match vashta configuration. Not even close. Especially your power systems. I'm not saying I believe you yet, but you're gaining credibility.
Azrael: That is good to hear. I have given you my name. Would you tell me yours?
Komodo: Taxx. And I... um... work in computers.
Azrael: It is good to meet you. I shall answer any questions you have.
Taxx: Right, well... I see two ships in orbit. Might I ask about the other one?
Azrael: I shall be pleased to introduce you. Before I do that, I would like to say that the captain may appear vashtari, but he is, in fact, an elf.
Taxx: Erm... Okay? I will keep that in mind.
Azrael: One moment, please.
Aire stood, for now it was his time. He only hoped that Taxx's reaction to him would not be as extreme as the others. Taxx disappeared from the screen and Azrael addressed him directly.
Azrael: Ready, Aire?
Aire: I am ready. Kit, resume with all three of us.
Moments later, Taxx reappeared on the screen.
Taxx: Oh, you weren't kidding when you said he'd look vashtari.
Aire: Greetings. I am Aire Valro, Captain of the NCCS Shadowdancer.
Taxx hung his head low the instant Aire said his name.
Taxx: Dammit. I have to admit it. You got me. I knew this was too good to be true.
Perhaps a breach of diplomacy, but Aire couldn't help but roll his eyes. While Taxx continued to lament, Aire turned to Kit.
Aire: Kit, zoom out. Wide angle. Show him the bridge.
Kit: Yes, Captain.
Though the screen zoomed wide, Taxx took no notice as he was still looking down at his feet.
Taxx: I've been such a damned fool...
Aire: Taxx, please look at your screen.
Taxx looked up and his skeptical face quickly turned to wide-eyed astonishment.
Taxx: What's this? That's no vashta bridge. And look at all of the different sorts of people. Hey, komodo! Where did you find a komodo? Oh, two komodo!
Aire: This is my helmsman, Lieutenant Teek Rinc. Behind me is Trex Fisk, my chief of security. We have quite a few komodo serving aboard this ship. Also, allow me to introduce Commander Joust, my second in command.
Joust, upon hearing his name, made his way to Aire's side.
Taxx: Aptaran! We tried to save as many as we could, but Lazmaedia always found them. How...?
Taxx's voice trailed off, seeming that he couldn't find anything more to say.
Aire: It's a long story and we have much to discuss. First, are there any vashtari on your world right now?
Taxx: All jailed. The ones who resisted are dead. Without their weapons, they were easy pickings. Their demon guards turned on them instantly, as we expected they would.
Aire: We would love to meet you. Just name the place.
Taxx: I will have to confer with the others first. They're all in the other room debating whether or not to contact you. I got tired of it and did it anyway.
Azrael: We shall remain in orbit and await your next communication.
Taxx: Looking forward to it!
Taxx disappeared from the screen, leaving Aire and Azrael alone.
Azrael: That went well.
Aire: As well as we could expect. Nothing to do now but wait for him to get to get back to us and continue monitoring.
Azrael: Agreed. We'll talk again when he returns.
Commissioned art in this episode from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Less_End
Colourbrand
Falke2009
