To The Palace

Posted on Tue May 26th, 2020 @ 10:36pm by Lieutenant Junior Grade Amanda Turell & Lieutenant Junior Grade Shras th'Zarath & Fleet Admiral Donatella Figueroa & Lieutenant Commander Michael Essex & Lieutenant Thavus th’Koruh & Lieutenant Nella Hawthorne

Mission: S01E05 ConQstador
Location: Various

ON:

Looking back occasionally to ensure they were following him Jessop led the away team through the capital towards the palace looming in the near distance, with the light slowly fading most of the citizens were leaving the streets and going back to their homes, several spared glances at the team as they passed quickly by avoiding the gaze of Jessop, he was well known as one of the Queen's heavies.

Chief Petty Officer Thavus th’Koruh or Casn, as he liked to be called, was an observant Andorian. Very observant. He noticed how the people looked at the team versus how they did not look at Jessop. He wondered briefly what the break down of the social economic status was with these people. Did Jessop simply outrank the common folk and their lack of eye contact was out of respect? Or was there something more sinister at hand? He was always paranoid, so he didn't put too much stock in his opinions, but observation was important.

Essex studied the surroundings as they walked. He was trying to memorize every stone, every road. He noted faces and details. He didn't know if they'd have to run, but if they did he'd be damned if he lost one person.

Casn stepped forward until he was side by side with Essex. He eyed the human, trying to pass on his nervousness about the situation. He glanced to the people and then Jessop and then back at Essex, trying to get his point across without saying anything or making his communication too obvious.

Essex caught the look, even understood it. He tried to convey confidence. He was nervous too, but having been an Admiral he'd learned how to keep it from showing.

Amanda lagged near the back with Nella watching the interaction between Casn and Essex, they looked nervous. "We're going to have to keep an eye on the guys aren't we. Make sure they don't do anything stupid if there are slave girls," she said, half jokingly half seriously.

Nella Hawthorne flashed a smile at Amanda and nodded. She looked around at 'the guys' which included one Human and two Andorians. Essex was the highest ranking among all of them and the was aside from the fact he had been demoted from the tier of admiralty. "You can pretty much count on it," she said to the engineer. "Men have a tendency to get us all into trouble, but we have to be the ones to get us out of it," she added.

Soon they reached the steps of the palace; a huge building of carved stone with a large gatehouse flanked by towers. National flags and drapes adorned the walls and armed guards patrolled the exterior.

"Impressive isn't it?" Jessop remarked.

"It's rather... large," Casn replied simply. It wasn't that he wasn't impressed, but he had always been a man of few words and right now that was what he had.

"Indeed," Shras added, eyes quickly darting to the guards. "But very imposing to the say the least."

"It is lovely," Essex said, and it was. The architecture was imposing yet had shadows of beauty. "Can you tell me a little about the regent? Are there any customs we are to observe. We do not wish to offend her graciousness." All was vital information both the offending and non offending.

"Use an honorific unless she lets you otherwise," Jessop said, pausing at the base of the steps to allow the rest of the team to catch up, he knew what could happen if the queen was displeased with someone, so spending a little time telling them what not to do was probably a good idea even though it would be fun to see them screw up. "A small bow when you approach or leave her."

Casn's eyes were on Jessop, as he listened intently to what the aide had to say. It was usually important to follow other people's traditions, unless you were fighting. The Andorian's antenna, however, seemed to be still paying attention to everything else around them.

Essex gave a nod. "Understood. What is the title she prefers?" he asked. It had been a while since he'd practiced his diplomatic skills.

"Your majesty or your highness would be sufficient," Jessop replied. "I will warn you though, her mood can sometimes change a little suddenly. I would keep an open mind."

"Yes, that's me, Mr. Open mind." He sighed. "Alright, time to practice my diplomacy." He looked the rest of the team. "I can totally do this," he said, while shaking his head.

Casn snorted. "I offer my assistance. I served as a ship's captain, although that was a long time ago and I too am rusty." He faked a little bit of a smile. "I have not forgotten how to be... friendly or polite."

Amanda smirked slightly, Essex looked a little out of his depth, not that she'd be any better.

Jessop was about to lead the team up the steps when he stopped again. "You will hand over any weapons to the guards before you enter the palace." He'd noticed right from the start that they were rather well armed for a 'diplomatic' group. "They will be returned when you leave."

Casn growled softly.

Well that was that. Essex was not liking this. He hoped to go they knew hand to hand. "Very well. But I ask in return that you follow a custom of our when we hand over the weapons."

"It is our custom, when escorted by those who have their weapons to walk on their right side. You must also carry your weapons on the right as a sign that we gave our weapons but unwillingly." He hoped he bought it. For that matter, he hoped his team picked up on the fact that he was positioning them for an easy grab if they had to.

"You really think we're going to kidnap you and sell you to the syndicate or something like that Commander?" Jessop asked with a wide smirk. He wasn't one of the queen's heavies just for his attitude. "So you want to be able to grab our weapons just in case? The queen is excited to meet you, keeping her happy is the only thing you should be worried about, not the syndicate."

"Let's just say that I worry about both. Humor a middle aged man. I need assurances for my people. If it was just me... pfft. But, my wise friend, it's my people I worry about." He shrugged. "As for the queen, I am quite interested in meeting her as well. Not every day you get to meet a beautiful Monarch."

Jessop simply smirked and started to walk up the steps.

Casn looked at Essex and shrugged. He followed Jessop up the stairs and at the top handed over his hand-held phaser and his phaser rifle. After handing them both over he seemed to pause for a moment in consideration, his eyes on the guard he was giving his weapons to. Finally, he sighed softly and knelt down. He pulled a very large, very wicked looking knife from his boot and handed it over. "That's all of them... you want to check me?" the Andorian asked.

A few paces behind Casn, Amanda handed her phaser over to one of the guard.

Nella was reluctant to hand over her weapons. "This is not place known for its high level of security" she said insultingly as she took her phaser and very reluctantly turned it over. "I better get that back eventually" she said. "I like that one" added Nella.

Essex didn't like this one bit as he watched his people hand over phasers. He sighed and he looked at his people. "Stay behind me," he said. He looked at Jessop. "I don't like trusting others with my people. Before we proceed I want your word they won't be harmed."

Sighing slightly, Jessop looked directly into Essex's eyes, if that's what it'd take for him to shut up and follow him. "Neither you nor your away team will be harmed."

Casn frowned. He didn't like staying behind anyone, especially someone he was supposed to be protecting, someone that currently outranked him. He fell into step next to Essex and eyed the human. "Are you going to let me do my job?" he asked Essex in a near whisper.

Essex sighed. He handed over his last blade to Jessop. "Fine." He motioned. "Lead the way." He looked at Casn as they walked. "Indeed. You protect the rest of the party and I'll cover you... up front," he said. He sighed. "Look, as team leader, I want to make sure everyone is okay. I'm sorry, I'm used to the protector role, but that's not fair to you."

Satisfied the away team were not carrying any more weapons the guards opened the large double doors into the palace and Jessop led them through into an open courtyard then through another set of doors into a long corridor. The corridor was well furnished with carpets, drapes and ornamentation. Gilded picture frames hung every few metres along either wall.

Essex admired the images. He wondered of the people. It was something he often did. Who were they? Not what is known of the their rein or person with respect to history, but who were they, what were their motivations. He grinned as he thought of what Seleya would say.

Casn eyed the people on the walls. They were watching and he didn't really like it, even though they were just paintings or pictures. He didn't understand the humanoid need to make images of themselves. Sometime he would have to ask one why they did so. Dead was dead. He imagined all these people in the images were probably dead. Long forgotten fathers and mothers of the past.

Amanda checked out the pictures as she passed them, she had no idea that the Orions had a royal family in; judging by the age of the pictures their ancient history though if earth history was anything to go by most societies had a monarchy or two in their time.

Eventually, they came to another set of double doors, Jessop turned to the group. “The queen is beyond these doors, best behaviour,” he said, chuckling slightly before turning and pushing the doors open.

"Before you open those," Essex said. "Has your Queen ever used the phrase, 'Off with his head?' or anything of the sort," he joked, knowing that some had read Alice in Wonderland. "Or does she own a Cheshire cat?"

Casn gave Essex the side eye, unsure as to what the man was on about with the heads and the cats. He hoped that Essex didn't have anything else clever to say once they were in front of the queen.

Jessop looked at Essex visibly confused, he had no idea what the human was talking about. "No," he simply said before pushing through the doors.


TBC