Is This New Texas or The Old West?

Posted on Sat Dec 1st, 2018 @ 1:22am by Commander Rita Paris & Lieutenant Commander Sonak & Lieutenant Asa Dael & Ensign Avendar Jurot & Lieutenant Alex Sexton & Baroness 2nd Class Schwein von Alcott

Mission: Escaped Pantheons
Location: New Texas Capital City, New Texas City

As the runabout approached the main settlement of the New Texas colony, the Baroness shook her head. "You had to pick this one, didn't you?" she muttered, her face a little red. "Couldn't use any other craft..."

The view of the settlement indicated that it was a combination of prefabricated and pueblo-style buildings arranged in a semi-grid street manner and that the locals preferred a simpler way of life. There was a landing pad in the middle of the town near a control tower but judging by the condition of the colony ship that had been landed next to it and the three shuttles, they hadn't even used them in quite a few years. They weren't even current models, meaning that they had been travelling from their homes for quite some time before finally settling here. Either way, their tech still worked, which was how they had contacted Starfleet about the strange happenings they had been experiencing.

As for the welcoming wagon, two elderly gentlemen and a younger woman were waiting near the landing pad to meet them and for all intents and purposes, it looked like a cowboy, a tribal, and a member of Starfleet in the old red 'maroon monster' service jacket - a strange mix if there ever was one.

"We come in peace, but a war wagon makes sure we can keep it, Baroness," Paris explained as she swung the Gryphon-class runabout into a tight landing on the pad, as there was a limited amount of room available. But she'd honed skills in simulations, and Rita Paris was a pretty darned good pilot, in this or any other age. "We call it speaking softly but carrying a big stick. Let's see if it works, shall we?"

"Conner, Palmiotti, you two button up behind us and stay out of sight- if there's trouble, we'll give a shout. Let's go engage the locals... get some scans, see the sights and offer what are hopefully not offensive gifts to the locals. Starting with the bar joke here," Paris chucked a thumb out the viewscreen at the three elders.

"You know what I mean..." Schwein muttered as she left her seat and headed to the landing hatch and started the cycle on it. "Air is a bit dusted. Recommend handkerchiefs, ja?"

As the door opened, a light blast of dust entered the runabout, proving the Baroness' point. Just outside the cowboy, tribal, and the antique uniformed Starfleet woman stepped towards the now open hatch to greet those inside, the woman in front presumably being the de facto leader of the trio.

Stepping up, Paris extended her hand in greeting. "Howdy! I'm Commander Rita Paris, first officer of the USS Hera." Gesturing behind her with her left hand, Rita continued the introductions. "This is Mr. Sonak, Doctor Dael, Counselor Jurot, Lieutenant Sexton and the Baroness von Alcott."

"Hi, I'm Lexi, Mayor of New Texas City," the woman offered as she stepped up with a handshake and a bit of a drawl. "These are Brother Bear Paw and Doctor Clint Hussein, representatives of our Parliament and Law Enforcement, respectively. On behalf of the people of New Texas, welcome to our home."

"On behalf of the UFP and the Starship Hera, we thank you for your hospitality," the cheerful commander inclined her head to the Texans in a nod of respect. "In the spirit of which, we brought gifts. Baroness, Doc? Reckon this is the time for gifts?"

Doc Dael popped up from the back of the craft with a parcel in each hand. They cheerfully walked towards their new hosts and said, "Hi ya'll! We wanted to share a bit of tastiness with you fine people, if you will allow us. Fancy some pecans? I hear they make a great pie! Or maybe something...stronger" they concluded, waggling their eyebrows in a ridiculous manner.

With that introduction, the Doctor made their way around passing out goodies to whomever was interested. Once outside the vehicle, they remained standing outside the craft, milling about with the locals.

Schwein brought out a small crate of various aged liquors and did the same, smiling and nodding as she offered the gifts of whiskey, bourbon, and scotch from Earth and one or two other worlds.

While the introductions and pleasantries were performed, Sonak studied intently their surroundings and the people they were meeting. He didn't use his tricorder, not knowing yet how showing their technology would be interpreted; or if doing so would be seen as prying or even spying. So for the moment, he only used his keen senses and eidetic memory to register everything around them.

From the get go, it was certainly... intriguing.

Someone here is not what they seem to be, Avendar thought. How to tell the Captain?

"So we heard you've had some strange experiences with gods in these parts recently?" Paris got to the point using what she hoped sold as Texas vernacular. "I imagine that leads to some tall tales?"

"Yes, actually," replied Doctor Clint. "We've collected the reports at the Sheriff's office if you'd like, but knowing Starfleet I'm sure you'd love to question everyone that's seen one of these beings."

"Which is where the Parliament comes in. We'll be monitoring any such questionings to make sure the rights of the people are not infringed upon, if you don't mind." Brother Bear Paw was a serious sort, but was a bit smiley at the gifts.

Lexi cleared her throat. "All merely formalities. The commodore that visited... It seems that Starfleet seems to have changed a bit since we left Earth so I'm sure there won't be any trouble. If you'd like to visit the city and speak with the people themselves, please feel free to do so, but I have to ask that any official inquiries be routed through one of the three of us. The folk here are simple and prefer to stick to simple ways, ma'am. On that note, if you'd like to head into the capitol building with us we can get those records for you? Might be a good place to start at least."

"We'd very much like to see those records, thanks," Paris kept it agreeable. "Do you mind if we take some scans along the way?"

All the while, Alex monitored and observed.

Looking between the two others to see if they would object, Lexi smiled back. "As long as you're not bothering anyone, I don't see why not. Please, follow me and we'll get ya'll set up with our records."

With a nod to their hosts, Sonak took out his tricorder and started recording and analyzing the area. And Alex did the same.

"Scans confirms our previously recorded data. I detect no anomaly in the immediate vicinity of this agglomeration."

Counselor Jurot remained silent, but looked directly at the Captain, hoping she would take the cue.

Body language said a lot, and the Counselor looked worried.

After a short walk into the old colony ship and a few corridors later, they came to the records room which was filled with an old duotronic computer system that looked as old as the ship itself. It was amazing it still worked, but obviously it did. Lexi unlocked the system and motioned to the consoles. "Most of our records these days are on paper but we use our old computers for important things like this. It should make it a bit easier, I hope."

At the sight of the old computer, the bright blue eyes of Rita Paris were alight with excitement. "This is one of the new- I mean, one of the first of the LCD touch screen model Excalibur computer systems! These were revolutionary in their day," Paris stroked the flat screen monitor, still bulky and thick for technology of the modern day, but quite the improvement back in her day. It was evident on her face the fondness she held for the antique technology, being something of an antique herself.

Sonak raised an eyebrow slightly, then turned to address Lexi.

"I hold a class A7 computer certification and was initially trained in this specific kind of system. If you so wish, Madam, I can look at your system and see if I could help you enhance it to optimum level."

Sonak was careful not to suggest upgrading it to late 24th century gel-pack technology but to simply optimize it. The Prime Directive might not apply here with the force of law, but for Sonak, the Prime Directive was more than just a directive; it was a philosophy. A philosophy that dictated to respect every culture and species' right to make their own way without interference by others arrogantly thinking they would know better. But if he could offer help and gain the confidence and entice the good will of the natives without doing so, it was only logical to make the offer.

Unless of course their first officer objected. By he knew her beyond her mere rank. it was his estimation that she would welcome any initiative that could smooth out this encounter.

"Mister Sonak's offer's genuine," Paris took her cue, stepping in with a distracting and hopefully reassuring smile. "Our chief science officer knows those systems from recent training. That's aside from him being a Vulcan. An offer of assistance never has harmful intent from a master of logic, and he really is pretty good, I'd give him a shot at it in your shoes. How many experts on that system range this far out?"

Suddenly all of those stupid Saturday afternoons Rita had spent with her father and brother watching westerns was paying off in speaking the language. The universe really was an odd place.

"If you can at least extend the life of our systems, we'd be grateful," replied the Mayor with a smile.

Jurot subtly edged over to the Captain. "Captain, could you look at this reading over here?" she said, indicating an area where no one was standing.

"Doc, the Counselor's talking to herself," the first officer observed. "Could you be so kind as to lend her a bit of medical assistance," Paris asked as solicitously as she could. "About those files...?"

The diminutive doctor moved to stand directly next to Counselor Jurot, where the two of them could speak with no one casually overhearing. They glanced at her tricorder and saw nothing was displayed that was not expected. Worried, the doctor turned to Jurot. "Yes, that is interesting, what is your conclusion?" they inquired.

~tag Jurot

But apparently there was someone standing there. Suddenly there was an old sailing pirate with some horrible hygiene standing amongst them. "Unless she's not speaking to herself but to me. In which case, I should speak with her or she might seem crazy. Or maybe she is crazy and I'm not here. Or maybe you're not here and I'm the one that's crazy." Tilting his head back, he made some freaky motions with his eyes and fingers. "But I'd like to think we're all crazy and hallucinating each other. Savvy?"

"Captain Jack..." the Baroness muttered, moving over to Rita. "Every pirate knows of his legend..."

"O-kayy, this just took a step to the left," Paris muttered, then leaned into the Baroness, her voice low and consipratorial. "Wanna fill in the non-pirate? Izzat a ghost or a piratical Q or something...?"

"Ah... Captain Jack is..." the Baroness started but was interrupted.

"Is filthy pirate scum that watches over those that ply a decent hard working trade sailing the... Seas, as they are... Pillaging and ransacking and drinking rum. My skills include protection from scurvy, finding your lost booty, weighing your soul, and making sure your grog isn't watered down. Savvy?" As he spoke, he wandered around the room inspecting the various gizmos and screens, tapping a few in his peculiar mannerisms. "And I'm not too keen on slavery, mates. The pirate way is freedom."

As for the three locals, the Mayor facepalmed, the Doctor took his hat off out of respect, and the Tribal bowed his head out of respect. When one of the locals spoke, it was the Mayor. "Since one of your people summoned this sacred spirit, we'll leave you to speak with it and just watch."

The first officer raised an eyebrow and looked disgruntled. Sacred spirit. Swell.

"So what brings you here, Captain?" the out of time officer asked, looking pointedly to Sonak and his tricorder. Even if the savvy pirate turned out to be a terrible conversationalist, this still might prove enlightening.

Sexton still did nothing aggressive, but continued to monitor the situation.

As for the Vulcan chief science officer, he took his tricorder, still facing the obsolete computer; but despite his angle away from them, the sensor array of his apparatus was aimed at the newcomer.

For their part, Doc Dael was looking quizzically at the animated gast of the pirate. They felt drawn to this figure, although they were not sure why, and took a few steps closer.

Counselor Jurot said "Doctor, stop. This isn't who they seem to be."

“Okay, someone come clean with a straight answer,” Paris growled, her patience clearly coming to an end. “What. Is. Going. On. Here?”

"No, I'm not who I seem to be, unless I am who I seem to be, in which case I am who I theretofor am who I may not be who I may not be who I am." Looking confused himself, Captain Jack motioned to Rita with both hands. "Look lass, I'm about as confused as all of this as you are. One moment I was sailing along and suddenly I'm here slipping through the minds of this fine lass..." At that he motioned towards the counselor. "And now I'm standing before you all, talking and existing and..." thinking on it a moment, he looked around, then waved his arms. "Waving my arms apparently for no reason now. Savvy? So. Is there something I can help you finely dressed folk with so I can get back to my ship?"

Looking left to right and taking in the room, Rita Paris drew herself upright and offered her hand like a graduate of charm school. "Why no, Captain Jack. You've actually been a most fortuitous visitation, and we're ever so glad you could come by. But let us not keep you from your bonny pirate ship, to sail where the winds take you."

Here's hoping I'm not laying it on too thick. Sonak will get readings as he dissipates, and we'll have another piece of this puzzle. Fortuitous indeed.

Flashing a rather toothsome grin, the swarthy pirate looked around like a mad buccaneer. "Well, then if all you needed was some scans, may you all remember this as the day you met Captain Jack Sparrow." And with that he reached up and grabbed a rope that seemed to dangle out of nowhere and swung himself up into seemingly nothingness, vanishing almost as quickly as he had appeared.

"He knows how to make an exit, ja?" the Baroness asked, still a bit awed at the experience. She did have her tricorder out and was scanning the area though.

Sonak however was already ahead of her.

"Commander, I did not have much time to gather data. But what I have seems to indicate that this was a construct of some sort; although it registered quite human on all readings, for a split second it registered as... something else, still indefinite. Something material, possibly organic yet definitely not carbon-based. The only things I have matching such a manifestation are from the 23rd century geology expedition of the USS Enterprise on planet Excalbia, where they met recreations of historical figures like Abraham Lincoln and Surak. Another example would be the imaginary creations of the Q entity."

"Now that is interesting. Well, let's give this old beauty a tune-up, Mister Sonak," Commander Paris turned to part the old duotronic computer console fondly. "Then let's see if we can't get those reports of similar phenomena, then we'll start making some sense of all this."

"Acknowledged," simply answered the Vulcan, pocketing his tricorder and going to the antiquated computer to start working on it. "I estimate five point three minutes to bring this system to nominal status and another four point seven minutes to enhance it by 153% efficiency."

"Outstanding, Mister Sonak- thank you. With that in mind," the curvaceous commander rubbed her hands together briskly, eyeing their hosts. "Since we've got ten minutes or so while your computer learns how to purr like a kitten, do you maybe have a cantina or saloon about where you could regale us with some of the tall tales that have inevitably come about due to your recent... visitations?" Paris asked sweetly

Counselor Jurot looked thoughtful. "I researched myths of Texas. Among the later inhabitants, it seems they worshipped Guns and someone named Landrey. However, the Indigenous peoples had multiple gods. This manifestation, especially what I felt earlier, reminds me of the trickster god "Coyote" who was known across that continent by multiple tribes."

With a shake of her head, Commander Paris exited the office, bringing the locals along. "Doc, keep en eye on the Counselor if you please, and help Mr. Sonak parse the data."

"If the trickster god Coyote shows up next, I'm blaming you, Ensign..."

"Speak of the devil and he shall appear," Jurot thought.

The back of Doctor Dael's skull felt like it was being tickled, but then again it had since around the time Captain Jack showed up. Nonetheless, the doctor was already on high alert for Counselor Jurot's welfare, not being entirely convinced this mission was best for the ensign's recovery. However, needs are what they are....

"Of course, Commander," was all Dael replied.

Sonak's voice hen resonated from behind the old computer unit as he stood up.

"Commander Paris; this unit is now fully restored and upgraded as planned."

By that time, the curvaceous commander was already gone.