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:: watches the main viewer for a response to their hail, having pre-emptively Picard-maneuvered ::

ACTION> :: the Kascal finally answer our hail. A man with a face reminiscent of a house fly with big red eyes and feelers appears on screen, screeching out a language of clicks and hisses. The translator catches up shortly after ::

:: eases Atlantis to a relative stop near the disabled Kascal ship ::

:: is retuning the plasma configuration on the Vorrin ship's warp core ::

:: can't help but silently snicker at the appearance of the Kascal ::

Kascal Captain> +CO+ … your Federation mother! And you meddle in things you do not understand!

:: even she would have trouble with this language ::

+KC+ I am Commodore Kathryn Harper of the Atlantis, and we have responded to a request for help from the Vorrin, one of whom you have aboard against their will.

Kamina> :: still making small talk :: CEO: So, how’s life in the Federation? Oh, and hit that switch. :: she points at a switch on the wall ::

Kascal Captain> :: crosses all four of his thin arms, hissing again :: +CO+ As the technologically superior species, the Vorrin is ours by right.

:: keeps an eye on the sensors at Ops, prepared for the possibility that someone may opt for a violent solution, judging from the behavior of the Kascal captain... ::

:: watches the strange alien on the main viewer from her chair, waiting as Harper addresses the issue ::

:: looks to the main viewer, trying to understand :: +KC+ You claim a right to abduct others because your technology is superior to theirs?

Kascal Captain> :: pauses, then turns to one of his officers and has a brief exchange. He asks her if ‘abduct’ is translating correctly :: +CO+ We… take him, yes. He is ours until the task is complete. Then he may return.

:: hits switch :: Kamina: It's alright. It's a weird perspective in Starfleet. It's easy to be like, War. War never changes, when you're seeing all this conflict that normal civilians don't tend to see, or even hear about in most cases.

+KC+ What is this task you speak of, and would he perform it willingly if asked?

:: checks the deuterium supply sensors; they seem to be properly calibrated ::

Kamina> :: nods solemnly :: CEO: If I never see war again, it will have been too soon. I hope my planet joins the Federation someday.

:: wonders about this task, furrowing her heavy eye ridges only slightly, looking between both captains with a flick of her eyes ::

Kascal Captain> :: once again barks at his translator, a smaller and paler fly who seems to sink when he’s yelled at :: +CO+ Willingly? He will do whatever we say, to be released.

:: trying to discern tone from their language and facial movements despite the translation ::

Kamina: I mean, it's not a bad collective to be a part of, but I also understand why a planet might want to remain sovereign.

Kamina> CEO: Yeah, I guess. But to share borders with hundreds of planets… that’s amazing.

+KC+ Captain. You must have observed the technological capability gap between the Atlantis and your ship. Tell me why I should not transport your hostage aboard and instead allow this task to continue.

:: wants to understand, but also is concerned for the welfare of the abducted Vorrin while not starting a war between these two species ::

:: checks readings on a previous energy test :: Kamina: Damn it, your guys's warp core output just won't get back up. I can't get it above, like, a notch above standard fusion output. :: chews her bottom lip ::

KC> :: stands up a bit straighter, his lower two arms uncrossing and resting on his hips :: +CO+ Hm, well… yes. But it is the Vorrin’s fault that the rok’t’shar are on our planet. Only their king can remove them, as the legend says. He must… or else.

:: now she's getting somewhere, having played that card :: +KC+ What are the rok't'shar?

Kamina> :: peers at the meter over D’bryn’s shoulder :: CEO: I think we might need to restart the fusion injectors.

KC> :: looks back at one of his officers and waves a hand. An image appears on our viewer, it’s a large red-and-black snake ::

+KC+ Your technology is superior, yet you need their king to remove the snakes from your planet?

Kamina: Readings on your reactant injectors look good, though. Not saying you're wrong, but... :: blows lips :: It might be your magnetic constrictors.

KC> :: grumbles, seeming insulted :: +CO+ They burrow, we have purged sixty-seven times and there is always more in the ground! He will play the chimes, they will all come out, blam! You know, easy as.

Kamina> :: rubs her chin, then shrugs :: CEO: You may just be right. Let’s get to the engine room and check it out. :: she waves a hand to lead the way ::

+KC+ What chimes are these, and why must a Vorrin king play them?

:: is confused by the Kascal captain's words, wondering not for the first time if the translator is working well enough ::

KC> :: huffs :: +CO+ The chimes, arrived at our planet by the time this conversation is over. Now you must not interfere, Federation goats.

:: follows Kamina :: Kamina: I wouldn't have wanted to repair or replace a magnetic constrictor on a ship I'm familiar with. This'll be fun.

Kamina> CEO: Well, they were acting up before we got shot so it’s overdue anyway. I’ll help you out.

+KC+ It would seem to me, Captain, that you either accept our "interference," or lose any chance at all to resolve your problem.

KC> :: uncrosses his top pair of arms and rests them above his other set of hands :: +CO+ Our engine is nearly repaired. We do not require your assistance.

:: exhales a long breath as she feels her patience slipping away, hoping to get it back :: +KC+ What you require, captain, is our cooperation.

:: she looks to T'Lira :: CAG: Commander, lock transporters on the Vorrin lifesign.

Kamina: I appreciate it. I just hope it's not the vertical tension members. That's some tedious work.

KC> :: barks :: Crew: Shields up!

:: brow furrows further, staring at the alien on the main viewer ::

ACTION> The Kascal ship raises their damaged shields.

Kamina> :: laughs :: Yeah, I hope it’s just a bent pin!

:: attempts to get a transporter lock, working the controls carefully ::

+KC+ Captain, please. Those shields may absorb a few shots from our phasers, and you know that.

:: preps for whatever might come next ::

KC> :: emits a low clicking growl-like sound :: +CO+ Why must you stick your nose where it does not belong?

+KC+ It is in our nature to respond for calls for help. However, if you assure me that the Vorrin will come to no harm and will be released after playing these chimes, we will escort you and return him to his people afterwards.

KC> :: hesitates, then exchanges a few grunts with his translator :: +CO+ We will not… harm.

+KC+ And the act of playing these chimes will not harm him, either?

KC> +CO+ Surely not. We planned to return him in no pieces.

KC> +CO+ We do not want… war.

:: re-scans the warp core when they arrive there :: Kamina: I'm not a superstitious person, but I'm starting to believe in the concept of jinxes. Three guesses as to what's wrong with your magnetic constrictors.

Kamina> :: groans :: CEO: Don’t say ‘vertical tension members’.

+KC+ Alright, lead the way when your engines are repaired. We will follow to ensure the Vorrin's safety.

:: tsks, puts a hand on Kamina's shoulder :: Kamina: It's a cruel universe. Let's see how many we have to fabricate.

KC> :: turns to his crew, and the comm feed is cut. Shortly after his engines begin powering up, and they set a course for the Kascal homeworld, a heavily swampy planet known as Kascor ::

NAV: Stay with them, Zorro.

:: takes her seat, that having been mentally exhausting ::

Kamina> :: sighs then chuckles, shaking her head. She gets into the machine parts, checking how many are bad ::

CO: Aye aye. :: easily keeps pace with the crippled Kascal ship ::

:: gives Harper a sympathetic look, now at eye level with her ::

:: smiles a little a Kuari while wondering if she has time for a cup of tea and some headache medicine before their arrival ::

ACTION> A bit of time passes, and we arrive in orbit of the Kascal home planet. The other two ships from the earlier chase are already there, having set down around the site of a large metal rod-shaped structure buried underground. The ship we’ve been following enters the atmosphere, and begins descending to land at the same site.

:: returns from the ready room after a cup of drakberry tea that chased something for her headache ::

NAV: Powered stationary orbit above their landing site.

:: fastens the last VTM and reinserts the manifold into the warp core :: Kamina: Okay, last one. Hopefully now that they're tritanium and cortenite, they shouldn't corrode and break so easily.

CAG: Keep a transporter lock on the Vorrin lifesign.

Kamina> CEO: Not a bad upgrade. I’ll put you in for a promotion! :: she laughs ::

Kamina: I'm honored! What's my new rank?

CO: Sí, capitana. :: uses the impulse engines to put them in an assisted pseudo-orbit above the landing site, far lower than would be possible unpowered ::

ACTION> The ship with the Vorrin lands, then drops its shields. Two armed Kascal escort the Vorrin down their loading ramp, toward the platform atop the metal structure where the chimes are already waiting for him.

CTO: Put the landing site on the main viewer and zoom in as far as possible.

:: watches the main viewer carefully, glancing at times at her console ::

CAG: Also, scan the surface for... giant snakes.

:: giant... perhaps it was best not to ask for clarification :: CO: Copy. :: scans for... giant snakes... ::

ACTION> The Vorrin seems perfectly zen despite his armed escort. He approaches the chimes, takes the hammer hanging from their side. All across the planet ships begin taking off, mostly warships, all powering weapons.

:: pulls up the landing site, glancing up at the main viewer as she toggles the zoom functions ::

XO: What is the story from Earth about the tied piper that lured the bats away from Hamburger?

ACTION> The Vorrin hits the chimes, contemplates, then hits a few more. He starts to sweat, will this actually do anything? But he continues to play, hopeful.

:: frowns, eyes averted in thought :: CO: I remember...rats? I don't know the story, though.

ACTION> The battleships all around the planet take up positions over continents, and aim their weapons at the surface.

:: shakes her head :: XO: Me neither. Perhaps we are witnessing something like that now, but somehow... stranger.

ACTION> The Vorrin hits the right chord finally and the large metal rod resonates, causing the area around the structure to quake.

CTO: What are all of their ships doing, Ryleigh?

Kamina> CEO: Head Engineer’s Studious Assistant!

CO: I... don't know. :: is glancing from console to console with a frown, trying to figure it out. ::

Kamina: Nice!

CAG: Any snakes on the surface scan yet?

:: thinks about rats, bats and snakes ::

ACTION> When the quaking stops, the Vorrin seems surprised. Then he knows what he must do, and plays that chord over and over again, as loud as he can. The rod he’s standing on resonates, as do rods that apparently dot the whole surface. Sure enough, big red snakes start surfacing. Just as soon as they’re spotted on sensors, the warships open fire on the surface, killing the snakes.

Kamina> CEO: What is your rank, actually? I don’t know what those mean. :: she points at Zoë’s pips ::

:: her eyes go wide as the Kascal fire on their own world :: CAG: The Vorrin! Is he alright?

:: her fingers fly across the controls, checking for lifesigns of the Vorrin ::

Kamina: Lieutenant Junior Grade! I always loved the word junior in that rank, like I'm the child's version of a lieutenant. :: puts her voice up in register, adds a little lisp, a soupçon of rasp :: 'Lieutenant Junior, reporting for duty!'

:: looks back :: CO: The Vorrin is safe, Commodore.

:: looks to Kuari :: XO: That is the most extreme form of pest control I have ever seen.

Kamina> :: grins :: CEO: That’s funny. My rank is boring, just ‘Head Engineer’.

:: with large eyes watching the main viewer, turns to Harper and nods slowly in agreement ::

ACTION> All across the planet, tuning forks ring and snakes are being wiped out without mercy.

Kamina: That's a good title. I see one of those biweekly—every week if I'm having a particularly hard time.

:: smirks ::

Kamina> CEO: Oh? You meet a lot of Head Engineers in your line of work?

:: waits for the massacre to conclude, not about to interfere ::

Kamina: I was engaging in a little— :: waggles some self-effacing finger-guns :: —dadly wordplay. Head Engineer, psych therapist... It's almost like I'm deliberately trying to not be understood.

ACTION> The shooting goes on for a few minutes, then slows, then eventually stops. The Vorrin becomes visible once again as the landing site stops shaking, and he seems winded but otherwise unharmed. There is loud chittering and clicking that sounds happy, and one of the armed guards even hugs the Vorrin.

:: seeing that on the main viewer, she figures that the danger has passed :: CAG: Hail them.

Kamina> CEO: … dadly?

Kamina: See what I mean?

Kamina> :: nods, then smirks :: CEO: Did you build your own walls, or did someone build them for you?

CO: Hailing now.

:: thinks about the strange and sometimes symbiotic relationship between species, glad that they seemed to understand and respond what she feels was properly in this situation ::

:: stares into the middle distance, hears 'Sound of Silence' in her head ::

Kamina: Little bit of column A, little bit of column B.

KC> :: answers the hail, his crew behind him celebrating :: +CO+ Federation! The deed is done.

:: smiles :: +KC+ We saw! It was an... interesting thing to witness, and thank you for the opportunity. Is your business with the Vorrin concluded?

Kamina> CEO: Well, it’s good for an engineer to have their guard up. Otherwise even the ship will break your heart.

:: smiles ::

KC> :: chitters :: +CO+ Our business is concluded. We can take him back, or you can if you wish. The chimes as well. We will not keep them for our museum, as a gesture of peace.

+KC+ We will return him to his people, along with the chimes. Might I suggest asking the Vorrin if this happens again? They might surprise you.

Kamina: Okay, are you quoting Vorrin song lyrics right now, or are you just this insightful?

KC> :: exchanges a noise with his translator. He seems to begrudge this, but concedes :: +CO+ We… will ask.

Kamina> :: tuts :: CEO: You got me. ‘This Ship Will Break Your Heart’ is a song by Artrons.

+KC+ That is wonderful news, thank you. I regret that we had to meet in such a way, but happy that we could find peaceful resolution.

KC> :: licks his eyes with his proboscis :: +CO+ Our fight was never with you. Safe travels.

Kamina: Okay, wow, I was deflecting with humor. But that's cool.

+KC+ And to you. Atlantis out.

Kamina: I sneak song lyrics into shit all the time.

:: nods to T'Lira to cut the comm, then follows up :: CAG: Beam the Vorrin up to the transporter room, and then the chimes to cargo bay one.

Kamina> CEO: Seems like deflecting with humor is most of what you do.

:: cuts the comm as ordered, and then locks onto the indicated targets :: CO: Aye sir.

Kamina> CEO: I didn’t expect an alien to recognize a song, so I figured I’d seem more poetic. :: she laughs ::

:: turns to Kuari :: XO: Care to go meet our guest, Commander?

Kamina: Humor deflection is the last bulkhead I have left, man.

Kamina> CEO: Reminds me of my dad. :: she snaps her fingers :: Oh! Dadly. Dad-ly. Ha. Yeah.

CAG: Energize.

:: nods at Harper, standing ::

Kamina: I hope it reminds you of him in a good way.

:: hits the controls, transporting both the Vorrin and the chimes to their intended locations :: CO: Transporting now.

Vorrin> :: appears in the transporter room, looking around. He has short brown hair, and wears a simple orange robe, more like a monk than a king :: Self: Oh, huh.

NAV: Set a course to rendezvous with the Vorrin. I am sure Lt. D'bryn has finished repairs and is dying to get back aboard.

Kamina> CEO: Well, yeah. We got along when he was alive.

CO: Course laid in and ready.

NAV: Warp six.

:: engages the warp drive and Atlantis warps away ::

Kamina: Oh, I'm sorry. I'm glad it was good while you had each other.

Kamina> CEO: Why are you sorry? You didn’t kill him. :: finger-guns :: Dadly joke.

CAG: You have the bridge. :: nods to Kuari and enters the TL with her, directing it to TR1 ::

:: sits in the TL, tail curled around her feet ::

:: arrives in the TR to meet the Vorrin :: V: Hello, and welcome to the Federation Starship Atlantis. I am Commodore Kathryn Harper, and we are returning you to your people at their request.

:: stands next to Harper, smiling at Vorrin in greeting ::

Vorrin> :: steps off the transporter pad and bows his head to Harper :: CO: Hello, Commodore Kathryn Harper. I am Vorrin, head of the Vorrin people. I appreciate the ride.

:: nods in acknowledgement before rising to take the center seat, hesitating for only a moment before sitting down ::

:: laughs :: Kamina: Speaking of song lyrics, that reminds me of an old comedy song that had the lyric, 'I'm sorry' and 'I apologize' mean the same thing, except when you're at a funeral.

:: dips her head in response :: V: Of course. I apologize for the drama in your rescue, but I did not wish to provoke further hostility from the Kascal against your people.

Vorrin> :: bobs his head :: CO: Yes, well once I realized what they wanted, I was unafraid. However, I appreciate your help nonetheless.

ACTION> Some time passes, and we meet back up with the Talial, now with engines back online.

Kamina> CEO: Well, thanks for all your help! It went much faster with you.

:: now back on the bridge ::

Vorrin> :: stands on the bridge watching the viewscreen as they approach the Talial ::

:: also on the bridge in her off-center seat ::

Kamina: Anytime! If we're ever in the same corner of the quadrant again, let's grab a drink or something.

CAG: Hail the Talial and inform them that we have Vorrin safely aboard.

Kamina> :: smiles :: CEO: I’d like that.

:: manipulates the controls to open hailing frequences :: CO: Frequencies open.

:: settles Atlantis into formation with the Talial ::

Captain Joibo> :: appears on the viewscreen :: +CO+ Atlantis! How did it go? Is Vorrin safe?

:: smiles at her passenger, then to Joibo :: +CJ+ Indeed, Captain, safe and sound. How are your repairs progressing?

CJ> :: sighs with relief :: +CO+ Oh, good! With the help of your engineer, we are already back to warp-capable.

:: transmits the subspace/whatever equivalent of her digits to Kamina :: Kamina: Thanks for the Artrons album. Let's keep in touch.

:: clasps her hands :: +CJ+ Wonderful! We will transport Vorrin over to you, and I am glad to hear that Lt. D'bryn was so helpful.

CJ> :: clasps his hands and bows his head :: +CO+ Vorrin-ay. We are in your debt.

:: returns the gesture :: +CJ+ It was our pleasure.

Kamina> CEO: I’ll send you more music, send back yours!

Kamina: I will! +Atlantis+ D'bryn to Atlantis. One to beam out.

:: looks to Vorrin and smiles and says farewell before he's off to the transporter room ::

:: as she shimmers away :: Kamina: See ya later, alligator.

Vorrin> :: nods at Harper, then heads into the turbolift to the transporter room ::

Kamina> :: to the empty air :: See you later, alligator. :: she thinks :: Hm. Ha!

NAV: Prepare a slipstream solution to Wenkudia, as close as it is.

Landeskog> :: silently escorts Vorrin to the TR ::

Vorrin> :: shimmers away and appears on the Talial along with the sacred chimes, safe and sound ::

XO: Prepare the ship for slipstream flight.

CO: Easy enough. It's ready, capitana.

:: nods and turns her head :: CTO: Captain Grey, please prepare shields for slipstream.

:: nods, fingers flying to prepare the shields as instructed ::

NAV: Warp one.

:: engages the warp drive and Atlantis streaks away from the Vorrin ship ::

:: peeks at her console, then nods back up at Grey before meeting Harper's eyes :: CO: Ready for slipstream flight.

XO: Thank you, Commander. :: takes her seat, glad to be done with that, but now they're back to the Wenkudian problem ::

CO: Slipstream in thirty seconds.

ACTION> The tunnel appears ahead of us, and Atlantis is smoothly pulled in.

CO: Flight time is about five minutes, ma'am.

:: has no headache after that success, so she stays in her seat ::

NAV: Thank you, lieutenant.

:: enters the bridge, heads for her station ::

Bridge: What'd I miss?

:: notes D'bryn's entrance, then peers down at her Wenkudian notes ::

CEO: Oh, just a planet-wide massacre of snakes summoned forth by the Vorrin ringing a chime. :: grins at Zoë :: You know, the usual. Great job over there!

:: finally has some respite in her office to catch up on paperwork, her patients having been transported over before they left the Talial ::

CO: The Vorrin have a chime that summons St. Patrick?

CEO: Who?

CO: Thanks, Captain. It was fun.

CO: Uh, it's... Man, I am bombing today.

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