ZE/D03 - Transporter Rooms

[Paul]

==

[Morad Ameen]

== Bridge >>> Transporter Room One ==

As Morad walked into the room, he saw the Transporter Chief, a stern-looking NCO, at his console, making final adjustments. He did a quick scan of the room. 

Okay, we're here first. Gath and his honor guard are on their way...

"Chief," Ameen said, his voice calm and clear. "Report."

"All systems green, Commander," the Transporter Chief replied crisply. "We have a lock on the transport coordinates from Trill. Ready on your mark."

No sense waiting around. We can get the luggage aboard while we wait for the security detail to assemble...

"Alright, Chief. Let's start with the Mediator's personal effects. Bring them aboard."

"Energizing, Sir."

The familiar whine of the transporter filled the room as columns of blue light began to shimmer on the pad. In seconds, the energy resolved into solid matter. And there they were: Mediator Kestir’s belongings consisted of two oversized suitcases of a flowery design, along with a floppy sun hat, which also bore an ornate flower. Ameen raised an eyebrow just slightly.

What the what??? A flowery suitcases and a sun hat! Right. Definitely not what I expected... 

"Chief," Ameen said, "signal Trill Control we have received the belongings. Inform them to stand by for our signal to transport the Mediator herself." He made sure his next instruction was crystal clear. "We will not proceed with beaming her aboard until Lieutenant Gath and the honor guard are in position here."

He turned to Keir, his hands clasped behind his back, and settled in to wait.

== Tag ==

[Gath]

<<< Bridge <<<

Gath had waited outside the Transporter Room for the Honor guard to assemble. He then entered and a few seconds behind him, the team entered and took up their positions, standing at attention.

[Keir 77]

>>Bridge>>

Arriving; Keir made use of the people assigned there and was assured that the bags would be where they were supposed to be; safely in the Ambassador's quarters.

Settling in s/he took a similar posture and waited for the arrival of the honor guard.

They did not wait long and Keir noted with pride that Samantha was a part of it, but s/he kept her expression neutral.

Making sure that hir comm would reach Ensign Powl and with a supporting nod from the CO s/he addressed the transporter officer present and spoke the traditional words.

"Energize"

==Tag Ensign Powl
Slight continuity issue with the bags just glossed over==

[GM-06]

The oversized, flowery luggage was now off the transporter pad, leaving the area free and clear to accept the arrival of one Trill mediator. The ornately-decorated hat notwithstanding, the promise of a highly-respected negotiator seemed to fill the transporter room with a kind of buzz, not completely unlike the tension one might feel upon waiting to meet their mother-in-law for the first time.

It was approximately seven minutes later when Trill gave the coordinates for the mediator’s location, tacking on the added message that they were waiting. Whether “they” meant the planet or the person was unclear.

Once the shimmer of the transporter beam faded, the person that stood before the Zephyr crew was neither old, nor a woman. A young male stood on the transporter platform, standing at six-foot-two-inches tall, with black hair, piercing blue eyes, a fit build, tanned white skin, and the ever-noticeable hallmark Trill spots. He grinned as he looked around the room, taking in every person he saw. It was a devilish grin, almost a satisfied smirk, as if some great plan was coming to fruition.

“Fantastic to be here!” The young man exclaimed. “Wow, you really pulled out all the stops, didn’t you Captain?!” He took a moment to stare at the Captain, his smile lessening, but not in a disappointed way. “Oh, my.” He said provocatively. “Tall dark and handsome, meet tall dark and handsome!” And he laughed.

Stepping off the transporter dais, he also took in the sights of Kier 77 and Gath in their similarly-colored uniforms. “Gorgeous,” he commented towards Kier, “and tough!” towards Gath. His eyebrows were raised in good-natured amusement.

Reaching out a hand to Ameen, the man finally introduced himself. “C’had Kestir,” he spoke, shaking his hand. “Mistress Kestir tragically died in her sleep the other night, they had to do an emergency surgery – woke me up at three am, can you imagine! But I’m so happy to be here. I’m properly qualified of course, I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t –wouldn't be Kestir if I wasn’t! I’m so looking forward to these three weeks together!”

The young man took a step back and looked around the room again, smirking as he saw the honor guard, and seemed almost on the verge of laughter when he looked back to the command team present.

“Sooo many!” He drawled. “Is anyone up for a little… fun?” And he waggled his eyebrows.

[Morad Ameen]

The transporter beam faded, leaving a figure on the pad that sent a jolt of pure confusion through Morad Ameen. He stood frozen for a second, his mind trying to reconcile the image of the frail, elderly woman from the dossier with the tall, handsome, and very much younger man standing before them.

Okay. That is definitely not who I was expecting...

Then the man spoke, his voice booming with confidence, his devilish grin taking in the whole room. Ameen's brain, still catching up, registered the comments. 

Captain? Tall, dark, and handsome? Gorgeous? Tough? Is he... cataloging my senior staff?...

He thought he could sense the almost imperceptible tensing of Lieutenant Gath's posture and the utterly neutral mask that fell over Commander Keir's face.

When C'had Kestir offered his hand, Ameen's training took over. He stepped forward and took it, his own handshake firm and professional. 

"Welcome aboard the Zephyr," he said, his voice even, deciding to ignore the man's provocative greeting for now. "And... Commander will do. Thank you."

But the explanation that followed hit like a phaser blast. 

Tragically died... emergency surgery... woke me up at three am... The puzzle pieces clicked into place with sickening clarity. The Ambassador's panic, the "urgent medical procedure," the delay... it wasn't about saving the old host. It was about saving the symbiont. They almost lost Kestir entirely...

Then came the final comment, the eyebrow waggle, the drawled "Sooo many!" and the proposition for a little "fun."

Ameen let go of the man's hand, his expression becoming a carefully neutral mask of command. He completely ignored the flirtatious question, addressing it as if it were a simple query about the ship's itinerary.

"Our immediate schedule involves getting you settled into your quarters, Mediator," he stated, his tone even but friendly. "I'm sure after your... unexpected experience, you'll want some time to rest and I must get us on our way. I assure you that we will have plenty of time for... fun... later."

I must buy us some time somehow... I'm sorry Gath, first shift of babysitting duty is yours... I sure hope this sacrifice will add to your tally toward getting into Sto-vo-kor one day...

"Lieutenant Gath," he turned to his Security Chief before the Trill could react or offer any protest. "Thank you for assembling the honor guard. Please escort Mediator Kestir to the VIP quarters and see that he is comfortable." 

This changes everything, all that prep for a frail woman... out the window. We're dealing with someone entirely new. And clearly, someone who will be a handful in a completely different way. This mission had just gotten infinitely more complicated...

== Tag ==

[Gath]

Gath responded with a respectful, "Yes, sir." Then turned to move more directly near the Mediator before saying, "Security Senior Chief Petty Officer Samantha Reagan, front and center."

SCPO Samantha Reagan omved from her position in the Honor Guard to stand at attention near Gath, who then faced their guest, "Mediator Kestir, this officer will be your head bodyguard for the trip. Her and her team have the most experience with VIP protection, as do I. We will do our best to stay out of your personal space, but there will always be one of us with you, or just outside your door. This is purely for your protection and to do our best to make your trip as comfortable as we can. If you have any concerns about Security, one of us will be able to answer, day or night."

He then looked to Sam and with a nod, said, "You may dismiss the Honor Guard and have the first person on rotation report to the VIP Quarters as soon as they are changed. I will escort the Mediator to their quarters."

Without waiting for a response, He nodded to the Captain, "Sir..."

Then gestured to the door in a formal manner and said, "Mediator, it is right this way."

== Tags to CO and NPC Reagan (as well as anyone else) ==
== GM Input request for the Mediator's reaction and any reply ==
== Presuming this is moving Gath and the Mediator to the Crew Quarters location next...please clarify if this is incorrect. ==

[GM-06]

C’had looked momentarily disappointed that the Commander was not escorting him personally, but his award-winning smile came back when the Klingon called the SCPO forward. “Oh, honey.” He said, his smile turning absolutely lupine.

As the Security Chief and his compatriots moved to leave, C’had stopped in front of the Chief Engineer. “Stop by my Quarters later,” he purred. “I want to learn more about you.”

He turned and addressed everyone he could, and declared, “Kestir has spent more than two-hundred years negotiating and mediating and arbitrating... and not one day of it have they had any SEX! I intend to remedy that during this journey! As many times over as I can!”

The Trill allowed the automatic doors to close behind him, and be led away to his VIP Quarters. Anyone they meet along the way would be greeted with a seductive “Hello” and a wink.


==Please feel free to move us to Quarters; Commander and FO, please feel free to react. I will do a small time-skip within the next couple of days.==

[Morad Ameen]

The transporter room was left in a stunned, almost comical silence as the doors hissed shut behind the departing Trill and his security escort. For a long moment, Ameen just stood there, his face an unreadable mask, processing the... declaration... he had just heard.

He finally turned to his First Officer, Commander Keir. The look that passed between them said everything that couldn't be said out loud in front of the Transporter Chief and the remaining honor guard.

Okay. So... that happened. My 'handful' assessment was a massive understatement...

"Commander," he said, his voice low and firm, meant only for Keir. "The bridge. Let's go."

He didn’t wait for a reply, simply turning and heading for the door, trusting hir to be right behind him. The mission parameters hadn't changed, but the VIP at the center of them certainly had. They needed to reassess, and they needed to do it now.

== Next Post: Bridge ==

[Keir 77]

The initial 'greeting' from the so-called Ambassador stunned Keir. S/he prided hirself on self-control but here was essentially a child coming on to hir like s/he was some sort of treat for his personal amusement. This was something that the young Hermat had rarely if ever been exposed to and s/he found hirself completely lost for words.
 
 Keir felt ashamed that s/he had not greeted the delegate appropriately and decided quickly that allowing the Captain to take that on himself was likely the best of choices. This was a circumstance where hir self-control WAS up to the task but just barely and allowed C'Had to walk by, but he insisted on stopping right in front of hir, as if s/he was a piece of meat or something, but did manage a clearly sarcastic reply to his 'invitation'

"I will certainly give that invitation all the attention that it merits." Keir spoke in a whisper
 
This guy does not know who he is dealing with, s/he pondered silently
 
When the Captain turned to hir, s/he did somehow hear his words through the rush of blood coursing through hir ears, and managed a nod along with a subdued response, "Right with you Captain."
 
If the CO was attentive  he would possibly notice a brief flash of hir claws before they were swiftly retracted, while s/he watched the 'boy' leave.
 
==Tag Ameen==

>>Bridge>>