Looking into Things

Posted on Fri May 23rd, 2025 @ 12:25am by Captain Shran dh'Klar

799 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Cead Mile Failte
Location: USS Washington

Shran exited the conference room onto the bridge and made his way purposely down to the Ops station where Deanna sat. She was diligently working, coordinating sensor readings and juggling various science reports with Inara currently on the surface.

"Deanna, come with me please" he said in that quiet stoic voice of his.

The Betazoid set the controls into standby, looked over at Lt Ibarra, and then stood and followed the captain into his Ready Room.

As the door closed Shran stood in front of Deanna and handed her a PaDD. "Imik has made some interesting claims. I honestly can't say how valid they may be, but I believe in following up on such things when my officers bring them to mt attention. I think she is correct that these Tuatha are not all powerful, though they have never claimed to be. She seems to think they use technology to do what they do, that they have a power source, likely on the planet, which they use collectively. I want you to determine if that is in fact true. That is the easy part. I believe I may have the more difficult part in determining if her assertion that Arianrhod and Brigid are one in the same."

Deanna looked at the PaDD and listened, a bit in disbelief. She was unsure why Imik would make such claims. Perhaps it had to do with whatever happened while they were off the ship. Regardless, she had been given a task to perform, and she would do so. "I understand sir. I'll get right to it." She nodded her understanding. He didn't have to tell her that he wanted this to remain confidential.

As Deanna exited Brigid appeared. "She will find no power source. You are a fine commander to trust your subordinates enough to look into things when they bring them to you however."

Shran looked at the woman he had met only a few times over the last year. "I have to let my people know that I will back them, even when they may be wrong. Perhaps that is a flaw you see in us mortals."

Brigid gave a softly stern look to Shran, "Not at all. If anything, it is a strength. I will tell you something that not many like me would or even care to admit to themselves...we are not immortal, and we are not infallible. We do have limitations, they just aren't within your realm of understanding, at least not at this time. You have other factions that go about things in their own ways; the Asgardians are a collection of characters constantly in turmoil with one another, as you have seen firsthand. The Olympians, now that is a group that epitomizes the word dysfunctional. The worst are the Shakespeareans, which sadly you have encountered a time or two as well. And then you have the vaunted Q, arrogance personified, though not entirely without merit. Each of us so-called god races, we simply are what your races will become in time, should you survive long enough."

"I approve of such humility" Shran replied with a smile. "If I were in your position, I am not sure if I could resist the temptation of such power. Thankfully, I am just a simple StarFleet captain." He considered his words before speaking further. "Brigid, I believe a conflict has happened due to a simple misunderstanding. It does not matter what I believe in this moment, I have a duty to look into this matter as you know. Please, truthfully, does Imik's assertions hold any validity?"

"She is correct in her belief that we are not all powerful, but you already believed that much" Brigid replied. "I will allow you to discover the truth regarding the power source, because only through your own investigation will you be able to make things right. Her belief that I and Arianrhod are one in the same is a false path, and one that she arrives on based on poor assumptions and faulty data. When Arianrhod has completed her task, she will be free to return here and set the record straight. We do not do things the way others might. We have always tried to be more restrained with what we can do. The Olympians would've simply blasted the core fragment into nothingness, the Asgardians would've simply diverted it, the Q would've made it disappear like some grandiose magic trick. That isn't how we do things. We prefer to keep things within the natural order whenever possible."

"I thank you for your words. Exactly what I expected to hear for the most part, but nonetheless important to hear the words. We'll speak again on this matter, of this I am sure" Shran replied. "For now, I have a ship to command."

 

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