Potential allies

Posted on Sun Apr 12th, 2026 @ 5:25pm by Captain Tyler Driskill & Lieutenant Commander Joseph Sledge & Lieutenant Nixie Wilde & Lieutenant Tyler Rehman & Lieutenant Commander Gulati & Lieutenant JG Kahlin

2,326 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Mission 4 - Siphoning of Stars
Location: Conference room | Deck one | USS Concord

Captain Tyler Driskill sat on the sofa in his ready room, looking out at the two Khelvari vessels. He took a sip from his mug of coffee and hoped everything would work out with the Khelvari. With many of the Concords key reserves running rather low he really needed a positive outcome from the upcoming meeting.

As Tyler stood he chuckled. He had required the senior staff, including the most senior engineer Lieutenant Kahlin, to present in their Starfleet dress uniform, even those that wouldn’t attend the meeting. The chuckle was because if you had served any amount of time in the command department, you had been on the receiving end of a complaint or grumbling about having to wear the dress uniform. Adjusting his own and checking his reflection he gave a nod and sat his mug down.

With a deep breath the Captain came from his ready room “I’ve never seen a better looking bridge crew” Captain Driskill said with a chuckle. “It’s time, Commander Gulati” the Captain stared at the view screen admiring the alien ships but mostly giving the bridge crew a few seconds to finish up what they were doing and make way for the turbo lift. Captain turned to join the others in the turbo lift and as the doors closed behind him Tyler ordered “deck six.”

Nixie frowned where she stood close to the Captain, a finger surreptitiously hooking into xher collar to try and loosen it a bit. There was no question she was one of those officers who hated the dress uniform, but she managed to keep the complaint inside. "I have teams posted throughout the ship," she assured, but almost to keep herself distracted. She almost tried to push her sleeves up to her elbows out of habit but caught herself at the last moment. "But ordered to maintain a discreet presence unless otherwise ordered."

“I’m sure your people are more than prepared” Captain Driskill glanced over at the Lieutenant. He had given orders for Lieutenant Rehman, Lieutenant Junior Grade Kahlin and Mister Sledge to be prepared and waiting in the conference room when the Captain and the others returned with the Khelvari. When the doors to the turbo lift swished open the Captain knew it was time to put on his best face and play Federation diplomat.

Giving a nod to the Ensign operating the transport control console and just seconds later the familiar blue shimmer revealed the alien visitors the crew of the Concord had become to know as the Khelvari. “Welcome to the USS Concord” the Captain offered a smile with his greeting. “I am Captain Tyler Driskill, Commanding Officer, my First Officer Lieutenant Clmmander Gulati. As well as my Chief of Security Lieutenant Nixie Wilde.”

The transporter beam faded away, cascading pale light with three figures standing on the pad with solidarity. The Khelvari delegation did not stumble or orient themselves like most first-time visitors. They arrived ready, posture already composed, eyes already assessing the transporter room, taking in the Federation design and technology. It was foreign to the Khelvari, but also rudimentary.

The delegation leader stood at the center. She was tall and willowy like a tree. Her almost semi-translucent skin caught the overhead lights in faint, shifting bands appearing nearly luminescent. Her gaze moved calmly from console to bulkhead to officer, cataloguing everything with efficiency. Flanking her were two male escorts, broader in the shoulders and darker in pigmentation. Their attire was identical to hers, sleek, functional yet unadorned. Their stance and posture made their purpose clear. Not guards outwardly, but observers of some sort that definitely were protective of her.

“I am Speaker Aesohel var-Khel,” she said, her voice resonated, as if subtly harmonized by unseen systems. “You are far from the stars that shaped you. We understand that you did not arrive here by choice. Nevertheless, I extend a welcome to our corner of the galaxy.”

“We appreciate your welcome” the Captain smiled and continued “let me be the first to welcome you to the Federation starship USS Concord” the Captain was hoping and praying that he didn’t mess this up. They could use an ally or two being so far from home. If you will follow me Speaker var’khel and the two of them leaving the transporter room and toward the turbo-lift. As the entourage continued Tyler decided a great ice breaker would be to answer some of the Speakers questions. “We are in fact approximately seventy thousand light years from our home planet.”

By this time they were exiting the turbo-lift to see each and every officer in dress uniform. “and that’s a very very short synopsis of our mission and the reason we are in your space.” The Captain gestured toward the conference room and took in a quick observation of the bridge before entering the conference room. A smile flashed across Captain Driskill’s face, he was proud of the officers before him.

"Yes, it does seem as though your journey has been inadvertent. Your First Officer and Security Chief are joining us? Will any of your scientists or engineers?" asked var-Khel. "If we are to speak of energy, necessity… and what you are prepared to give in exchange, I will want to meet those planning on implementing our technology."

“Indeed” Captain Driskill let Nixie and Gulati go ahead of them. It would give everyone a chance to get to their designated seat and get their nervousness shaken off if they needed to. “If you would follow me to our conference room you will be meeting a few more of our fine officers.” Of course it only took a few seconds to make it into the conference room. “Speaker Aesohel var-Khel it’s my pleasure to introduce you to our Chief Science Officer Lieutenant Rehman, Mister Sledge my Chief Operations Officer and from our engineering department Lieutenant Kahlin. Of course you’ve been introduced to the rest of the present officers.”

Lieutenant Tyler Rehman absently scratched at a spot on the underside of his wrist. He thought the dress uniform - which he had to replicate from ship's stores - was a bit overdoing it, but he also understood what Captain Driskill was going for. His mind wandered for a bit as he sat there waiting for the rest of the senior staff and the guests that would be boarding. The door to the observation lounge opened, drawing him away from his wonderings. When he saw Gulati and Wilde, he stood. Then his captain and the delegation came through the doors. He stared, observing, taking in this new species that he would have never met otherwise. When he was introduced, he nodded.

Lt. Kahlin wore the dress uniform the same way she would have worn battle armour. She looked at the Speaker before inclining her head to her in greeting. "Speaker," she acknowledged and then straightened, taking a slow breath as the woman walked past.

Speaker Aesohel exchange a brief gesture of greeting and gratitude, taking a seat at the table in the Federation conference room. It was far less extravagant than the places she was used to representing her people. Already, she knew these people had technology that was advanced for where they came from, but paled in comparison to the technology of her people and others out there in what these...Humans (or some of these people) called the 'Delta Quadrant,' and that intrigued her and unsettled her.

"You believe your technology is compatible with our own, and yet from what I have seen aboard this starship of yours..." Speaker Aesohel var-Khel looked around.

Lieutenant Commander Gulati let out a long exhale. "Speaker, what you see around you is only what we can show visitors upon initial contact. The technology aboard our starship is not entirely our own. If you are familiar with the Borg-"

That triggered a glower from the Speaker. "Theft and scavengery. We have encountered them in the past, and recognize some of our own technological distinctiveness integrated with others. My own people... taken and turned into..." the Speaker shook her head. "You have taken from them? From the Borg?"

“Our people have had dozens of encounters with the Borg” Tyler let out a sigh “and yes we have taken from them, but the loss to many of the species in the Alpha Quadrant. So I’m not sure the few things we have taken from the Borg were worth it.”

Lieutenant Commander Sledge watched the exchange between Gulati and the Speaker. He kept to himself for the most part as he watched the initial exchanges while he attempted his best at not fidgeting in the stiff and tight dress uniform. At mention of the Borg, Joseph chimed in "We've lost many to the Collective, but have paid them back twice fold. They seem to not like that we resist so well."

Lieutenant Commander Gulati had a PaDD sitting next to her that she picked up and and reached across the table to hand to the alien representative, the 'Speaker' as she was addressed. "Speaker var-Khel, basic schematics of some of the Borg technology that we have, our experimental engines that got us here. It was a blend of our technology and what we've come to view as Borg technology."

Speaker var-Khel glanced through the data. "And you believe this technology would benefit from our siphoning?" She handed the PaDD back across the table to Gulati.

Gulati looked at Tyler Rehman. "Lieutenant Rehman, our Chief Science Officer. He's been studying what you've provided us about your siphoning technology. I will turn it over to him."

Lieutenant Rehman gave a quick nod. "I do believe it could work, especially since our engines are a hybrid." He looked around the table, and said, "though we would need to make some modifications to our engines in order for this to work." He reached for his PaDD and tapped its controls and the main viewscreen on the bulkhead came to life. "Starfleet has encountered this type of technology in the past, several years ago, one of our starships encountered a Dysons Sphere, which works on someone on the same principle as your own engines, Speaker."

"Very well," replied the Speaker. She looked to the man who was leader of his people. "Captain Driskill, we will share our technology and work with your scientists and engineers, but we require compensation. Your technology is of little use to us, but you have mentioned being in search of this... Voyager, one of your lost vessels. They've traveled far. You have information from them about this quadrant. We require this information."

Captain Driskill took a few seconds of silence after the Speaker made the offer to trade their siphoning technology that would provide a very efficient method of fueling the Concord in exchange for the information that Captain Janeway and her crew had collected since they arrived in the Delta Quadrant. “What information could a Federation starship have to offer that your people hadn’t collected themselves?”

"We are not as adventurous as your Federation seems to be" the Speaker prefaced. "From what I understand, you are out here trying to make contact with and rescue your sister ship, Voyager. They've been in this quadrant a few years now?"

Captain Driskill shifted slightly in his chair, he knew that the speaker was correct, that many Star Fleets Captains seemed to have exploration and a sense of curiosity in their makeup. Captain Driskill gave a nod and continued to listen to their guest.

The Speaker placed her hands on the table. "You have received starcharts, astrological studies from Voyager. They've undoubtedly met species my people are unaware of. That information would be of value to us" stated the Speaker. "You may know more about this quadrant than my people do."

“Lieutenant Commander Sledge will get a data transfer prepared” Driskill was speaking to the alien visitor, but shot his Chief of Operations a nod and smile. “However any information deemed classified” there was a few seconds before the Captain focused back on the Khelvari speaker “we wont be able to share, I’m sure you can understand?”

The speaker nodded. "That is not preferable, but acceptable. We do not know one another well, Captain. I am sure your Federation has reasons to conceal some information."

Sledge nodded his head as he pulled out a PADD and started to get the necessary information prepared, condensing it in a standard data packet that was nearly universal. It would take a bit of time to transfer the information. He spoke as such "It will take roughly an hour to transfer all this data without knowing your computer systems and if it is compatible with ours, Speaker."

“Indeed speaker” Captain Driskill replied as a smile flashed on his face. “Do you have any questions, concerns or request from my people?” Tyler asked the Khelvari Speaker before he adjourned the meeting.

She nodded. "Perhaps a bit of a cultural exchange. I welcome your people aboard one of our ships to study the technology closely. We would like some of ours to come here and partake in foods from where your crew come from."

“We can arrange that” Captain Driskill smiled. “Commander Sledge will lead the team to your vessel. Mister Rehman will accompany the team and one of our doctors will over see any medic needs and supplies as may be able to offer.” It was interesting that a species with the technology the Khelvari possessed they didn’t my invest in medical equipment and technology. The Federations surpassed that of their potential new allies.

The Captain stood up and addressed his crew “you all have your orders.” Turning back to their alien visitor “how about a tour of the Concord” it wasn’t really a questions as he gestured for the Speaker to join him on the bridge.

 

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