Episode 2.02: Rivulets of Copper, Eyes Aflame

[Davy, aka GM]

Asha & Zorana
Asha raises an eyebrow as the yeoman exits under a cloud, then sighs and turns back to the aforementioned portrait. "Not wronged, young lady; just cautious...and protective," she admits to no one in particular as she wipes away another tear starting form in her eye. Noticing a dropped record tape on the deck, she retrieves and places on the edge of the desk and strides away, focusing on remembering the way back to the lab to take her mind off the exchange.

Treyva
In the otherwise-empty lab, the captain runs through the titles of the keynote speeches:

Karatek spoke on "Techniques of Emotional Control" and "The Blurred Line Between Emotion and Passion."
T'Loris' speech centered on "The Economics of Surak."
The academy administrator Sotir counseled on "Steering Youths Away from Emotionalism."
Spalan himself spoke on "The Intersection of Passion and Crime on Vulcan."
N'Varas discussed "Kolinahr in Public Life."

He also notes in one program that the playback and transcript of each keynote would have already been made available on the public network.

Asha enters the lab and makes a beeline for her husband's terminal, where she leans over and presses her cheek against his.* "Did you solve the case, yet?" she asks more playfully than she feels.

* A very intimate greeting. - Ed.

[Renny]

OOC: The Drake has 87 personnel assigned to security department, including Cole himself (and all named characters). Current operational requirements (in orbit and still performing post-shakedown workups) means that Cole only has 21 personnel (not including himself, since he's involved in the investigation side of things) available for a protection detail.

The downside of the longer shifts would be greater fatigue at the end of the shift. The downside to the shorter shifts would the single-man details at night, meaning a potential greater use of the "flying detail" in the evening hours.

Let me know if you want to use one of these setups, or go with something else.

OOC: I think we'll go with the shorter shifts for now, so that the teams are more alert. See how that pans out.

[Nolmir]

"I do. I also remember you humorously calling it our 'second date,' which I found entirely appropriate, given how fruitful the search was to our bonding," she responds. "And it would be pleasing to me to bond like that again. Where shall we start?"

OOC: A couple things Tobin will know:
1. It's possible there is a publicly-accessible list of known surviving weapons; however, it may not be a complete list.
2. Getting access to a planet-wide weapon registry will likely require sending a request through official channels (T'Kiri as V'Kor liaison, Commodore Santiago as Starfleet representative, or Dr. Suchwani from the Federation mission to Vulcan); this is likely to be a complete list (or as complete as unforeseen uncertainty can provide).
3. Museum loss information should be public, but detailed information would again likely require an official request to access.
4. Of course, there's always beaming around the planet, going from museum to museum, like it's a scavenger hunt.

Oh, and the thought in my mind was that you two never found that sensor fault that time. It somehow fixed itself in the dead of night. The only real good to come of it was getting to know T'Kalla better...

Tobin grins. "Well, I'm tempted to suggest we make a day out of museum-hopping to see these artifacts for ourselves, as a form of bonding. But I know a certain Vulcan security officer who I'm sure could get us access to a comprehensive official list." He stands and stretches as he flips open his communicator to contact T'Kiri.

[Davy, aka GM]

Cole
OOC: Okay, so four 6-hour shifts for each protection detail, with the daylight shifts each using two bodyguards and the evening/nighttime shifts using one bodyguard each, and a flying detail of 7 personnel for rapid response and situational augmentation.

For the Drake's contribution of 21, which named officers/specialists will Cole select?

Tobin
T'Kalla's eyes shine with affection as the call goes through.

Sorak & T'Kiri
T'Kiri's precinct-issue communicator beeps as she and her mate are discussing the growth of tuNirak. She draws the device out of a pocket and intones, "T'Kiri here."

Science Officer Les makes his request, and the Vulcan raises an inquisitive eyebrow - the angle of which Sorak recognizes as interest in the subject. "I will require about 20 minutes to gather the necessary approvals for your request. To where shall I have the data sent?"

Tobin
"If permissible, we can work from my studio," T'Kalla offers to Tobin.

[Patrick Goodman]

Treyva turned his head and kissed her cheek, then shook his head as he turned back to the viewer. "I'm trying to find some kind of throughline on all these keynote addresses, but aside for Surak, there doesn't appear to be one. Considering the conference you're attending, this one by T'Loris looks interesting." He turned to face his wife. "I may not have been home in a while, but I can still tell when you're acting differently than you were less than half an hour ago." Rising, he stood in front of her and gently lifted her face so that he could look into her eyes. "You seem bothered by something, my love," he said quietly. "What's wrong?"

[Nolmir]

Science Officer Les makes his request, and the Vulcan raises an inquisitive eyebrow - the angle of which Sorak recognizes as interest in the subject. "I will require about 20 minutes to gather the necessary approvals for your request. To where shall I have the data sent?"

Tobin
"If permissible, we can work from my studio," T'Kalla offers to Tobin.

"That sounds like an excellent suggestion," Tobin replies with a smile, then relays the information to T'Kiri.

"Thank you for the help, Investigator," he says as he concludes the call.

Tucking away the communicator, he turns to T'Kalla. "Well, it seems we have a few minutes to while away before T'Kiri will have that data for us. Do you mind if I ask you a question?" As her eyebrow arches slightly, he continues. "It's just that, well, ah, before everything happened on the Macon, we had decided it would be best to not get too ... attached. But seeing you again last night, and spending time with you today, I'm feeling that may have been a decision made in error. And I can't help but wonder if you feel the same." He blushes and fidgets with the cuff of his shirt sleeve. "Forgive me if I'm being too forward."

[Doug Burke]

T'Kiri's precinct-issue communicator beeps as she and her mate are discussing the growth of tuNirak. She draws the device out of a pocket and intones, "T'Kiri here."

Science Officer Les makes his request, and the Vulcan raises an inquisitive eyebrow - the angle of which Sorak recognizes as interest in the subject. "I will require about 20 minutes to gather the necessary approvals for your request. To where shall I have the data sent?"

Sorak raises a curious eyebrow as T'Kiri makes the requested arrangements, giving his mate time to do her job. Once she was finished and meets his eyes, he tilts his head in an unvoiced interrogatory.

[Davy, aka GM]

Treyva
Asha purses the left side of her mouth, something she does when she doesn't really want to talk about an issue. But, she eventually softens her expression and sighs. "I...bumped into the Zorana girl you told me about," she says. "I can see why you like her; reminds me of Sabra in more than a few ways.

"You know, Liera and I have been very protective of you since she died - Garris and Tiko, too, for that matter," Asha continues. "We wanted to give you additional time to heal, since you're always so far away from all of us. But, you know Stenna and Moga both have kids with their new wives; there's no desecration to Sabra's memory for you to move on, especially now. And, by the looks of your lovely family shrine in your quarters, I think you're ready to hear what I have to say."

She pauses a moment, the reflects, "You've been sad for a very long time. Liera's noticed it; Miral mentioned it in a communique home earlier this year. And I see it, right here. We need our husband back; Miral needs the father she remembers, especially now. And Tanis desperately needs you - he's utterly lost, and needs help to get out from under the dark shroud that cloaks him; he's looking to his father's example.

"All of this is a way to tell you it's time to let Sabra rest," she concludes. "Our ancient customs talked about letting go of our loved ones after their memorial, because they now belonged to the gods and were no longer ours to cling to. Sabra is amongst the stars, my love; she belongs to the ages now, and we have to honor her by living our lives the way they're meant to be lived, the way she would want us to live them. And she'd be the first to punch you in the arm for hiding behind rules to avoid it.

"If you want to find out if Zorana is the one, then do it and Starfleet be damned. Sorrow is part of joy, but so is happiness, and you've been favoring one for too long. Take a chance on getting that happiness back."

She stretches up to kiss him on the lips.

Tobin
"I cannot discredit our line of thinking as being inappropriate for our situation in that time and place," T'Kalla answers. "However, our separation and changed circumstances have given me a fresh perspective on what I want for my life, and who I want in it."

She raises her right hand, her index and middle fingers extended in the traditional Vulcan invitation for expressing affection* (a ritual she taught him early in their relationship).

"If you are willing, Tobin Les, I want to restore our attachment and build it into something more indelible."

OOC: I wanted to give you a chance to respond to this before moving on to the results.

Sorak
"It crossed my mind that one unfamiliar with the gravity of this case could confuse the elements of it with one of those Earth mystery stories you discovered during your time at the Academy," she says. "Seemingly disconnected murders. A falsely-accused suspect. A potential motive related to a gathering of the victims in one place and time. A famous ancient sword as the possible murder weapon. The absurdity of it all is almost enough to elicit laughter."

[Renny]

Cole
OOC: Okay, so four 6-hour shifts for each protection detail, with the daylight shifts each using two bodyguards and the evening/nighttime shifts using one bodyguard each, and a flying detail of 7 personnel for rapid response and situational augmentation.

For the Drake's contribution of 21, which named officers/specialists will Cole select?

OOC:Lt. David Lear, Assistant Chief Security Officer, USS Drake
Ensign Olodon Anh Sal, Shift Security Officer, USS Drake
Lt. j.g. Gerald Fryling, Shift Security Officer, USS Drake
Ensign Calum O'Neil, Shift Security Officer, USS Drake
Specialist 1st Class Ally Banks, Security Specialist, USS Drake
Specialist 1st Class Nolar Nata, Security Specialist, USS Drake
Chief Specialist Guwinder Dhall, Security Specialist, USS Drake
Specialist 1st Class Elia Noles, Security Specialist, USS Drake
Specialist 2nd Class William Brindley, Security Specialist, USS Drake
Specialist 2nd Class Ariana Tsu Ling, Security Specialist, USS Drake
Specialist 2nd Class Shilov Th'qelith, Security Specialist, USS Drake
Specialist 2nd Class Chipo Obi, Security Specialist, USS Drake
Specialist 2nd Class Remiel Ruza, Security Specialist, USS Drake
Specialist 3rd Class Yuri Prokov, Security Specialist USS Drake
Specialist 3rd Class Sabrina Morell, Security Specialist USS Drake
Specialist 3rd Class Jordan Parris Security Specialist USS Drake
Specialist 3rd Class Julian Barrett, Security Specialist USS Drake
Specialist 3rd Class Ramak Chend, Security Specialist USS Drake
Specialist 3rd Class Joanna Gale, Security Specialist USS Drake
Specialist 3rd Class Harry Welsh, Security Specialist USS Drake
Specialist 3rd Class Hamed Atem, Security Specialist USS Drake

[Doug Burke]

"It crossed my mind that one unfamiliar with the gravity of this case could confuse the elements of it with one of those Earth mystery stories you discovered during your time at the Academy," she says. "Seemingly disconnected murders. A falsely-accused suspect. A potential motive related to a gathering of the victims in one place and time. A famous ancient sword as the possible murder weapon. The absurdity of it all is almost enough to elicit laughter."

Sorak releases the ghost a chuckle and smiles. "It would indeed be ludicrous were the situation less dire. I have often been surprised by the way, as humans put it, life imitates art." He looks on his mate with a raised eyebrow and says, "That being said, I am quite pleased with the fact that you are here to help sift through the chaos. The quality of this investigation is improved just by your participation."

[Nolmir]

Tobin's relief is evident on his face as he completes his half of the ritual, tracing his fingers down the back of T'Kalla's hand. "I would like that very much," he says with an understated smile. "I too had some time to think during my recovery. Between Evan's death on that rock of a planet and my ... eventful time on the Drake, it's had me thinking about my own priorities. While I still feel the call of exploration and discovery, I am coming to realize I need more for a full life. I believe our attachment may be the thing I was feeling the absence of, without knowing it."

The Trill offers his arm to the Vulcan. "Shall we proceed to your office? We do have an exciting list to run down, after all," he says tongue-in-cheek.

[Davy, aka GM]

Cole
Assignments made, Cole turns the force protection duties over to Lt. Lear's capable leadership. He quickly organizes assignments and reports back with them.

OOC: Of note, Lear is assigning Olodon, Chief Dhall, and Banks to Spalan's detail.

Tobin
Regarding Tobin with a sideways glance beneath a slightly-arched eyebrow, T'Kalla takes the proffered arm with the comment, "You certainly are not afraid of being scandalous in public."

Sorak
"And it is refreshing to be able to share my work with you, and to observe your professional interaction with your shipmates," she replies.

Approval for the information comes quickly, and is followed in short order by the information itself. T'Kiri forwards the report to T'Kalla's terminal address, then scans the document to familiarize herself with the basics.

She furrows her brows as she reads the last section.

Tobin
T'Kalla's engineering studio is a small, efficiently furnished open floor plan, designed to be easy for the engineer to move about. A spartan bed has been fitted into one corner to allow her to rest when her body demands it.

They stop at her design desk, which consists a large touchpanel writing surface and a number of smaller screens situated around it. She wakes the tablet with a verbal command, then calls up the file T'Kiri sent them.

Of the blades known to be in private hands, there have been no reports of loss, and only two blades, both crafted by a post-Awakening master swordmaker named Loranik, would be considered "hunting swords"; however, Loranik's weapons were more decorative than functional, as his stated goals were to bring out the brilliance of the alloy through working it using ancient techniques.

One weapon is in the official residence of the First Minister of the Judiciary, Sivaanok, and is believed to have been in her family's possession for more than 800 years. The other Loranik hunting sword is in the possession of NiNuvask, chair of comparative archaelogy instruction at the Vulcan Science Academy; he uncovered the weapon at a site in northern Gol in 2196, and was awarded ownership of it for several important discoveries made on that dig.

Of the museum pieces, only four would be considered hunting blades, and there has similarly been no report of loss; however, one blade, crafted by the ancient master S'harien and housed at a Jarokovan monastery in the mountains that form the southeastern border of the Shival Flats, is reported to have been pulled from public display two months ago for "routine care."*

* This is what T'Kiri saw that concerned her.-Editor

[Doug Burke]

Approval for the information comes quickly, and is followed in short order by the information itself. T'Kiri forwards the report to T'Kalla's terminal address, then scans the document to familiarize herself with the basics.

She furrows her brows as she reads the last section.

Sorak notes his wife's concern and glances at the report over her shoulder, reading the relevant information.

His brows also furrow, "Intriguing. However, this does provide an additional lead to pursue. What connection do the victims have to Tu-Jarok?"

[Renny]

Cole
Assignments made, Cole turns the force protection duties over to Lt. Lear's capable leadership. He quickly organizes assignments and reports back with them.

OOC: Of note, Lear is assigning Olodon, Chief Dhall, and Banks to Spalan's detail.

OOC: Noted, thanks.

[Davy, aka GM]

Sorak
"The algorithm Asha formulated did not uncover anything beyond the conference," T'Kiri notes. "However, their participation in a conference subtitled 'Surakian Values in a Professional Life' would indicate a stronger than average affinity for tuSurak. It may be useful to understand just how strong their affinity was."