Maraht's Story
Maraht Post #1
Mission: All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray
Stardate: 2407.02.04
(Deep Space - Cabin of the Shuttle Magellan - Ensign Maraht - 1400)
Day 1
Maraht was enthralled with seeing the stars at warp speed from deep space and never seemed to tire of peering out of the starboard view window of the shuttle. He had dreamed of getting this close to the stars ever since he had gotten interested in old Samuel's stories about traveling in space. He could feel the warp engines throbbing with power as they sped between the stars.
He was so glad to finally graduate from the Academy. He had somehow managed to prove to all those doubting stalks that a Horta could serve and contribute to the Service. ~Just because I am closer to the ground doesn't mean I can't serve somewhere in the Fleet,~ thought Maraht as he peered out of the small round window with his longer phalange. ~In fact, most of those doubting stalks seemed to think that the only thing I could do was be in Security, until I proved them wrong. Security might have been Ok since an immovable salivating Horta was pretty intimidating to many of the younger stalks, but I know I will be happier in the Science Department. Just because I am rocky in body does not mean I am less agile of mind. And Mama was so proud to know that I graduated with honors!~
"Well, we are makin' good time Mr. Maraht," said Lt. James Montgomery in his brogue. "We aught to have you and these extra supplies to the Geneva space station in another five days. To what ship have you been assigned?" asked the tall lanky human pilot, coming back into the passenger area of the cabin. "Don't worry. I have the shuttle on autopilot right now and everythin’ is pretty clear sailin’ out here." He sat down on the seat opposite from Maraht.
Maraht had squeezed himself as close to the small round window in the cabin as he could in spite of the passenger seat which faced out into the cabin underneath it. He politely pulled in his phalange, coiling it away underneath him and rumbled himself reluctantly away from the window. "I have been assigned to the USS Mystique, an Akira class ship. I am told they are heavily armed, but small and very fast. What else can you tell me about it?"
The shuttle pilot smiled and said, "Ah the Mystique!" He nodded his head. "She's a neat quick little ship all right and got a right good crew aboard her. I know she has a cloaking device and some of the firepower had to be sacrificed to make room for it. She's not as heavily armed as some of the other Akira class ships, but she has a lot of strategic advantage as a ship's cloak is not standard issue for an Akira."
They talked for a while about different ships and their classes, maneuverability, armament and firepower. Lt. Montgomery knew an extensive amount about the 52nd Fleet. But he had been piloting supplies to the Geneva Space Station for about a standard year now.
"Mr. Maraht, I'm going to get something to eat. Could you keep an eye er...watch out of the cockpit for me?"
Eagerly Maraht said, "I sure would! I was hoping to get a look out the front cockpit window, but I didn't want to be in the way. I have been trained in shuttle basics, but I'm afraid I am no great gravel as a pilot. I only know how to fly in a straight line and slow and speed up. I'll start watch right now! “ Maraht rumbled quickly up to the front view window in front of the pilot's seat and got as close as he could in spite of the two chairs bolted to the floor. James Montgomery watched curiously as Maraht extended his phalange above his rocky body up to the controls and higher towards the viewing window. He shook his head in amazement that nature could equip an obviously intelligent living creature with such a strange form.
~Incredible!~ thought Montgomery . ~Such an eager young mind in such a strange body. I think I like him. At least this particular milk run won’t be so borin’. Wait til I tell the fellas on the Geneva about this Starfleet graduate!~ He shook his head, bemused. He stood up, stretched his tall lanky form and went aft to get a meal.
Day 5
On the fifth day out from the Academy, the subspace communications equipment crackled to life. =/\=Shuttle Magellan, this is Geneva Space Station. Do you read us?=/\=
Lt. Montgomery answered promptly, “This is Shuttle Magellan. We read you loud and clear, Geneva.”
-/\- We have orders for you to divert course to an unexplored region of the Beta sector to rendezvous with the USS Mystique. It will add some time for your trip, but you should be able to reprovision with supplies from the Mystique if you need it. Then come back to deliver your cargo to Geneva PDQ. We’re sending the coordinates in a scrambled electronic burst. -/\-
“Copy that Geneva. Got the new coordinates. See you when I get back on the return trip. And say ahoy to my buddy Charlie Rhondell for me. I’m lookin’ forward to that drink he owes me. Montgomery signed out. He sighed and looked down and over to Maraht. “Sorry Maraht, I know you were looking forward to seeing Geneva , but we’ve been diverted to meet the Mystique directly. I guess that might be good news for you though. You’ll be getting there sooner.” He smiled.
“I had to go to Starbase 32 for testing prior to getting in the Academy, so I have seen a facility like that before,” Maraht said cheerfully. “Nobody was sure that there was a way that a Horta could be in Starfleet, and they had no idea if a being structured physiologically as I am could function on board a humanoid based vessel but I overturned their rocks on it.” Maraht swayed his long phalange in front of him in a way that the shuttle pilot had come to know was indicative of laughter.
“And it seems, from my studies, that many star bases are much the same, each with an engine or power room, drinking and socializing common area, a section for businesses and shops for trade, various computer systems, shields, some type of weaponry and so on. The design and layout differ depending on who built it and when. But the basic ideas are much the same. They all stay in the same places they are constructed in."
"Ships can so widely differ in structure, layout, size, crew complement and speed, but most importantly, in destination," continued Maraht. “It’s one reason why I decided to ask for a posting on board a ship. I found myself more fascinated by the ships coming and going at Starbase 32 than the station itself. I couldn’t help imagining what strange new worlds those ships could be going to and what their crews have seen. If you stay on board a space station, you don’t get to explore the universe for yourself because the view never changes!”
Maraht waved his longer phalange again in good humor. “I might as well have stayed in my own tunnel! I wanted to get out there to explore and experience the universe for myself. What wonders and terrors exist out there to be discovered?”
“Besides,” said Maraht, “It is truly amazing to me that such stalky graceful creatures as yourselves would build ships to travel between the stars out of such rich Horta delicacies as metal! Compare it to flying about in a carved out giant apple, cucumber or loaf of bread or any of your other foods. It’s funny when you think about it that way, isn’t it?”
Maraht waved his phalange again while James Montgomery threw back his head and laughed. “I never thought about it that way before, but yes, I suppose that could be true. There’s often something out there that can eat you if it’s big or hungry enough, but I think the most dangerous are the ones with two legs!”
After waving his phalange again in humorous agreement, Maraht said, “You know what the Vulcan motto about life in space is, don’t you? IDIC. Infinite diversity in infinite combinations. I would have to say that we Hortas are proof of that ideology.”
“Yes,” agreed Montgomery, smiling. “You certainly are!”
Time passed pleasantly for the two alone in the tiny shuttle in the vastness of space.
Day 7
By the middle of the seventh day the officers had gotten to know each other fairly well. Maraht had more of his many hundreds of questions answered about human culture and mannerisms, while James Montgomery learned more than he ever dreamed about the Horta species.
~Imagine their surprise on Geneva when I tell them, “From under what rock did you crawl out?” is a popular Horta pickup line! Who’d a thunk it?~ chuckled Montgomery to himself.
“We’re about to drop out of warp at the coordinates, Lt. Montgomery.” The stars stopped streaming past and Maraht felt the warp engines quiet down.
“We are heading to the fourth planet in this solar system. That scrambled burst Geneva sent indicated it was a Class M planet in a solar system of six planets. Look, there they are! And it looks like they are towing another Akira ship!” said the shuttle pilot.
The ship was framed against the swirling colors of the planet below. “Oh Lieutenant, she is a lovely ship! She looks so sleek and graceful. But it looks as though she’s seen some action. Look at those cargo doors. They look crumpled. How will we dock?” asked Maraht.
“I don’t know, Ensign. We better hail them. Would you like to hail them yourself?”
“I would be delighted Mr. Montgomery,” said Maraht with a small crisp snap of the tip of his phalange. He reached up to the communications console and deftly tapped buttons. “Calling USS Mystique, this is the Shuttle Magellan. Calling USS Mystique, this is the Shuttle Magellan. Come in Mystique.”
(Reply CO, FO, CONN, Any)
(Posted by Sheila)
