Arrival and Introductions

Posted on Fri Dec 4th, 2020 @ 11:52pm by Chief Counselor Serephima Anilon & Commanding Officer Maralen Seitha
Edited on on Fri Dec 4th, 2020 @ 11:53pm

Mission: New Starts
Location: Docking bay and Maralen's office
Timeline: 247912.30

As the first of the groups from the Interstellar Coalition finished coming through the Mobile InterPlanetary Doorway (IPD), the wormhole shut down, and the Doorway reset itself to await the next signal that the next group was ready.

Around the new arrivals, the room they entered was huge. Before them, Medical personnel stood, Security standing near the door across the room. As the Doorway shut down, the six medical personnel moved forward, running scans of everyone. When they were satisfied that none of the new arrivals had brought any unwanted hitchhikers, they moved off and began preparing for the next batch. The security personnel then indicated for the people to leave the debarkation area.

Serephima looked around as she boarded, impressed. This was a magnificent ship--she felt quite fortunate to have gotten this position.

She asked directions to the Commander's office and, after receiving them, moved to the Core Transport, requesting to be taken to the center of the ship. While the Transport did her bidding, she marveled at this ship--so large that it required its own transport! Amazing.

Once at the center of the ship, Serephima found the nearest Lift and requested deck 125. When the Lift deposited her on that deck, she made her way to the Commander's office and, after taking a deep breath, pressed the chime.

Maralen looked up from the dossiers he was reading. There were so many for a ship this size that even he was starting to feel a bit overwhelmed. Therefore, he was glad of the chance to pause for a few minutes to handle something else. "Enter." he called in calm but warm tones, watching to see who would enter.

Serephima entered, inclining her head in the Nandalone greeting custom, saying, "Good day to you. I wished to present myself to you and introduce myself. I am Serephima Anilon, Medical/Counselor for the ship."

Maralen felt himself mentally tense. Counselor. He knew that a ship this size, that would be going out as far as they would, needed one; but he had a... dubious relationship with her particular field of expertise or rather its members. He would not assume that she was like those who had preceded her, but he was also not going to assume that she wasn't. Instead, he pulled himself into his Calm and smiled slightly.

"Welcome, Counselor." he said, standing and offering his hand in the custom that seemed standard for this Sector. "I am Maralen Seitha." The introduction was likely unnecessary, but it was proper. "Please have a seat. May I offer you anything as we speak?"

"A cup of tea would be nice, if it is not too troublesome," Serephima replied as she carefully rearranged her wings and took a seat in the chair across from Maralen. She could not help herself--her eyes roamed about the office as she became even more impressed. Even something as utilitarian as an office had been constructed with aesthetics in mind.....

Maralen smiled. "A woman after my own heart." he said, his tones having reacquired their original warmth. He moved to a table off to the side of his desk and turned two of the cups there over. "Do you take anything in it?" he asked as he poured one cup full and set that on his side of the desk.

“Just a little sweetener, if you please,” Serephima replied, smiling softly. She continued, “To me, there is nothing more pleasing than tea and conversation.”

Maralen chuckled softly. "Well, I do like my tea, but conversation... is thAt not dependent upon whom the conversation is with?" he asked, a sort of minor test. As he spoke, he added a small bit of a natural sweetener to the second cup, poured the tea into it and stirred it a bit. When he had finished, he set the tea stirrer onto a small platter and brought the cup to offer it to her.

Serephima chuckled softly, saying,”That is very true. Some conversations are a delight, others can be difficult.” She picked up the cup of tea and took a sip, then smiled, saying, “This tea is excellent—very flavorful.”

Maralen smiled warmly. "Indeed true. And I am glad you like it. It's an import, not from this Sector." He frowned, remembering that didn't mean the same thing here as it had where he grew up. "I mean, this galaxy. Apologies."

"No apologies necessary," Serephima replied even as her eyebrows rose. "Forgive me, but did you say other galaxies? You must be very well traveled!" Her eyes were bright as she asked, "When your duties permit, would you be willing to speak of some the places you have seen?" She took a deep breath and tried to curb her excitement and was only marginally successful. "You see, Nandalone has been--reclusive--for quite some time and I find that I long for knowledge of other places....."

Maralen considered the woman before him carefully. She likely did not want to know what he knew of the places he had been. Some of those places were... unpleasant. But he understood her desire to know, the curiosity which drove her. What feline wouldn't! He smiled a soft smile. "I doubt you would be interested in all of them, but I am willing to tell you of some, yes." Privately, he thought that her people would be wiser to engage their neighbors, make allies. But then, how much good had that done his own world?

"I would like that very much," Serephima replied with a smile, "Anything that you can tell me would be most appreciated." She regarded Maralen for a moment, then took a deep breath and spoke again, saying,"I have not spoken of this to anyone but somehow I feel that you would understand. Nandalon was not always reclusive. We had explored, established colony worlds, and made allies. All was going well when interaction with our allies ceased. We were preparing to investigate when a fleet of ships entered our space and began firing on our ships. They fought valiantly but it was no use--the enemy was too strong. Their fight became a holding action to enable as many of us to escape as possible. Every spaceworthy ship launched and left Nandalon; we took refuge on our colony worlds, which for some reason they had ignored. Small fast ships returned to rescue as many more of our people as possible before the enemy established a perimeter that could not be penetrated. We began to harry them with swift attacks and retreats. After many years they left as inexplicably as they had come. We returned and began the process of rebuilding our world. While we retained spacefaring ability, we were loath to use it extensively--until recently."

Maralen listened to her words with compassion and some understanding. Part of him was just a tiny bit jealous, though he did not show it. While they had been damaged, they had not been destroyed. "I do understand. My own world was attacked when I was very young. Those, also, did not remain; though their leaving was of their own volition. I have never quite understood the whole thing." he admitted. That was the cliff notes version of it, but it was all he was willing to tell someone he had only just met... and a counselor no less. It was her job to see his weaknesses, but he was not giving her any ammunition yet.

“I am truly sorry to hear that,” Serephima told him. “I would not wish that horror on any other species, save perhaps those who inflicted it upon us.” She sighed, continuing, “We never knew how they named themselves—we called them Xandor—our term for monster. We Castlementari—you would name us Comfort Givers— were hard pressed to heal their psyches. The Healers were able to heal their physical hurts quickly, but the memories tormented them long afterward—the memories and the Night Terrors—I think they are called nightmares here—persisted for many months. It took much soothing and assurance to convince them that the Xandor were truly gone”

He understood that. At the time, though he would not admit it just yet, he had spent many days watching that entrance to the Vaults, waiting for the enemy to return and make sure they had killed everyone, but they had never come. Eventually, he had moved from that spit, but the pain and loss had beat his psyche relentlessly for months.

"I'm sorry that your people had to endure that." he sympathized. "Is this what made you choose Counseling? Or is that merely an extension of your role within your culture?" he asked, curious. Also, it moved the subject away from things that he did not want to admit to anyone, much less a Counselor, yet.

“A little of both, I believe,”. Serephima replied, relieved to be moving in a different direction with the conversation. “Comfort Givers soothe the psyche, attempt to heal emotional wounds. My understanding of a Counselor’s duties is that they are very similar. We do not force anyone to avail themselves of our skills, but we are present if we are called upon. From all that I have studied, such is also a Counselor’s role.”

Maralen nodded, glad that she got the whole 'don't push' thing. Most of the counselors he had ever encountered hadn't, and it was a sore point with him. "Only one notable exception to that rule comes to mind." he said thoughtfully. This bit had never applied to him, but it bore saying. "If someone is ordered to see a counselor by their superior officer, then it is not optional. Is that going to go against your beliefs?" Better to know now than when they were several galaxies away.

“By no means,” Serephima replied. “There have been times on Nandalon when family members request our services on the behalf of a resistive family member. Those are somewhat more difficult to put at ease, but I will do what I can for them.”

Maralen nodded, pleased. "It would seem that we have reached consensus then." he stated. "Do you have any questions for me?"

"I can think of none, at the moment," Serephima replied, rising. "It has been an honor meeting you." She hesitated, then continued, "Perhaps later, when both our duties permit, we could meet, have some tea, or other refreshment, and talk? This may sound somewhat bold, but I find speaking to you quite pleasing."

Maralen smiled and stood as the lady did. "It may be bold, but it is not unwelcome. I would enjoy that. I only hope all of my crew proves to be as pleasant to deal with as you have." He knew better, of course. The laws of probability where people were concerned leaned in favor of at least a few of them being... problematic. But he could hope, right?

Offering his hand, he said, "I am pleased to meet you. Welcome aboard the FarVoyager."

Serephima took Maralen's hand, saying, "It is an honor and a pleasure to meet you. I look forward to my time on Farvoyager."

"Likewise." he said genuinely. "Please feel free to explore the ship, get acquainted with her. Lyta will be happy to help you."

“I thank you,” Serephima said, rising and re-adjusting her wings,smiling. “I believe that exploring the ship will take some time.” She smiled, saying, “I look forward to more tea and conversation”

With a respectful incline of her head, Serephima left Maralen’s office.