Getting Acquainted

Posted on Thu Mar 9th, 2017 @ 3:48am by Lieutenant Ryan North

Episode: Fishing Expedition
Location: Magistrate's Residence
Timeline: MD-01

After seeing Theo and Vex off, Ryan took his own time to start to move through the crowd. The Magistrate had made only a brief appearence, said a few words to Ryan and Farondis and then disappeared. Ryan was slightl disappointed, he was looking forward to conversing with the man at length about his people. After milling about the refreshment area, Ryan headed towards the balcony, which overlooked the serene and seemingly neverending ocean. As he walked around he caught the occasional muttering of the guests, most of them talking about the Children of the Depths. Ryan didn't remember anything about that specific group really.

"Remarkable, isn't it?"

Ryan turned just as Lt. Palmer came onto balcony. He handed Ryan a long stemmed glass full of pale purple liquid. "It's their finest wine, I think it's a bit too sweet for my taste but they get offended if you don't at least try some."

"Thanks," Ryan said, with a smile. He took the glass and gave it a sip. "Yeah, very sweet... not too bad though. They really like to do their parties."

"You should see their wedding and funeral ceremonies," Lt. Palmer stated. "Its fascinating and a little strange to me. Most humanoid cultures treat death as if its' soem some sort of enemy but they don't. They treat it as a honored companion. I had the honor of watching one once."

"That sounds like it would be a very interesting sence to see," Ryan replied. He took another drink of wine and then leanded against the railing. "And I bet your colleagues in the anthropology department were very disappointed they didn't get to see it."

"Probably," Lt. Palmer said, with a shrug of his shoulders. "But they were the ones that wanted to be cooped up in the lab all day. For anthropolgists they are remarkably stingy about actually getting out and studying thier field up close and personal, unlike most biologists I know."

"I'm lucky that way Lt. Palmer," Ryan said. "Theo wants to get out and get his feet wet... litterally and figuratively."

"Please, call me Aubry. I get so tired of hearing my title spouted off to me everyday. I have about three ensigns that I think are wound so tight they are going to snap in half if they move too suddenly."

"I know that feeling," Ryan said, with a sigh. "It's just me and Theo onboard the Highlander and it's taking a lot of time for me to break him of that habit. The research facilities are impressive, I can't wait to actually head out on away missions."

"I have our first one scheduled to depart tomorrow at 0945," Aubry stated. "We'll be traveling to an area that they call the Abyssal Fields, it's home to several large sea creatures that usually aren't all that aggressive."

"What are the Children of the Depths?" Ryan asked. "I heard people whispering about them as I walked around."

"They are nothing to be concerned about."

Both Ryan and Aubry turned as Farondis stepped out onto the balcony. "They are a very small and outspoken group that believe we, as a species, did not orignate on this planet. They are very vocal in asserting this but not harmful. They stage peaceful protests and submit articles to our news sources. Really, you shouldn't concern youself with them."

"Is there any chance that they could be right?" Ryan asked.

"No," Farondis replied, with a shake of his head. "None at all. We have examined their claims and have found fault with their material and the process by which they said they verified their findings."

"Ah," Ryan said. "I don't suppose that we could have access to those findings, just for science sakes?"

"If you really wish we can make it available to you, we can," Farondis said, with a shake of his head. "Really, our sea life is much more interesting. The science guild would like to speak with you both if you have a moment."

"Of course," Ryan said, with a nod. "We'd be happy to speak with them."

"Right this way," Farondis gestured.

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