It's All About...

Posted on Wed Oct 14th, 2026 @ 5:03am by Subcommander Kaiae t'Lien & Jerant van Rijn

4,334 words; about a 22 minute read

Mission: Chapter IX: Shady Business
Location: Bridge, Ourainavassa
Timeline: 2387-10-20

As a civilian, Jerant had worn a rank-less operations uniform most of the time while serving on a Starfeet vessel. Here, he had shed that notion rather fast as soon as he was relocated from the colony to the Ourainavassa. He wasn't quite sure what he was supposed to show up in now so he wore simple pants and shirt that at least somewhat matched the uniforms of the present Romulans. He smiled brightly as he approached his 'target', making sure he was heard before he was even near her. "Hello subcommander," he greeted, perhaps a little too formally.

Kaiae dipped her head slightly to Jerant in a return greeting from her current spot near the comms station on the bridge, waved a hand slightly at the chair for him to take, and decided to tackle two issues at once by switching languages into Federation Standard again - hearing it spoken much more frequently of late with so many native speakers of it around relative to most of her life, she was judging her own atrocious accent in such more and more each day, and there was in the end only one way to improve that. “Hello. As long as we are still in transit, this seems an ideal time to start showing you how the comms on a warbird work - I figure we will start with letting you familiarize yourself with the interface; then move on to more specific issues such as encryption, troubleshooting and adjusting for issues transmitting or receiving signals, monitoring for unauthorized transmissions and such, and then eventually to troubleshooting hardware issues or bypassing and repairing damage.”

Nodding, the Betazoid took the indicated chair and allowed his gaze to wander across the console. "It's a good thing I can read Rihanssu," he grinned, "well...mostly anyway, reading is more challenging than speaking to me. I assume we're on a sort of comm silence as we speak?" He accommodated her for now by speaking Federation Standard but was if a mind to switch soon to improve his own linguistic skills.

“Yes, it’s standard while under cloak. The ship’s operating routines will actually activate it automatically when the cloak is engaged in fact, and it takes an explicit override by the comms officer to switch it off. I have it set up for now such that we can do some simulated work without actually engaging the real systems and risking transmitting anything; I have that setting locked with a passcode so no matter what you end up hitting on the controls it will not run the risk of breaking it.”

"Wouldn't want to give us away by accident," Jerant agreed with a grin, "best make sure all failsafes are in place though. How do we account for that? I mean even if locked out, accidents have been known to happen and I'd rather not trigger something unwarranted on my first day."

"To trigger anything with such an accident, you would first have to know the codes I locked the setting with. You do not; therefore you will not be able to do so." Kaiae shrugged her eyebrows, unconcerned. "However, rest assured I tested that in advance, earlier, and the lockout held. Let me know once you feel you have sufficiently familiarized yourself with the layout and location of the basic settings, and I will move on to explaining the more advanced ones."

Nodding, Jerant studied the console, making a few notes here and there on a PADD. "What does this mean?" He asked, pointing at a particular interface which he couldn't decipher just now. "The script seems familiar but I can't place it."

"That's for downloading or uploading messages from a dropped comms bouy or other prearranged source - it's a pretty common thing for a warbird to do when it comes out of cloaking for a bit, but I know Federation ships can do it too, so that may be where you've seen a similar setting before." Kaiae tapped a finger at another nearby setting. "This one is for sending a message more directly, but on a prearranged delay, at a certain time or when a ship reaches a certain point in space."

"Could be, but Federation starships don't label things in a language nobody can read," he grinned as he copied the glyphs and added a translation to it on his PADD. "Delay huh...that's smart, actually."

"Useful for a situation where you know what you want to say and to whom, but do not want it said until a certain time or until a certain region in space has been reached - for example, once reaching a particular rendezvous point, or once back across one's own border. And speak for yourself as to what no one can read." Kaiae chuckled. "For most of my career I would have been one of only a handful of people on any ship I served on who could read anything else." Her finger came down on a different setting, which opened a new screen of options entirely. "This one opens the controls that are generally the first set of things to review and adjust if you are having issues with a message not sending or receiving properly, or a live transmission breaking up. Controls and displays the level of how certain things are configured; it's common for adjustments to have to be made depending on the frequencies that work best in any given area of space, or at different distances, or to overcome different types of interference or stellar phenomena. Would also be the first thing you work to try and break through anyone trying to jam you, or that you monitor to minimize potential signal leakage of internal messages within the ship while under cloak, but those are both more advanced skills so we'll save that for later."

"I see...As for you knowing another language I recommend reading books." Jerant smiled as he made a few more notes. "My head is already spinning at this wealth of information. I don't think I'm going to remember it all on one go."

"Oh, that would be quite impossible, yes. I was trained for years, for example. There are manuals, however, and other materials I studied while training that I can likely find copies of. I will have sets of them translated into Federation Standard for you to study and reference." One eyebrow pulled up slightly at the mention of reading books for language learning purposes. "Though I am curious now, as to reading books that are not technical manuals - have you read any of ours, then?"

Jerant tapped his PADD. "I did, actually. But as I said reading and speaking are two different things so it's very, very slow reading as I'm translating as I go. Up side is that I'll probably remember things better if I do the translating myself."

“Ah. That makes sense. In my case, my reading is actually better than my speech; as is my comprehension of others speech, given those were both stressed significantly more by my language instructors. I have considered perhaps watching Federation entertainment or news broadcasts to help improve pronunciation; but I admit I gave up after the first few…sessions?…no, ‘episodes’…of the few we’ve picked up incidental broadcast of so far; whomever wrote the plots for them should find a new vocation. Preferably quickly.”

"Well if it's speech you want to improve, I'm happy to help there, if you help me with mine?" He smirked happily at her. "As far as entertainment goes... they're not my cup of tea either...I'd rather go freerunning if I'm honest. Though here on the ship that is somewhat of a challenge."

"Somewhat unusual for a warbird of this model, there is a holodeck on board, mostly used for training. Within reason, it could perhaps be used for such an endeavor. Though the issue of ensuring not to consume excess power under cloak would require monitoring." She tapped a finger on the controls again to exit out of the sub-menu they'd been in back to the main one. "I would actually desire your assistance with a different sort of improvement, at some point; one which by its nature may also serve to improve yours during the process, as well. I have been considering how best to go about teaching Savin to speak and lip-read Rihannsu. The difficulty presented primarily being that without the ability to hear what is being said, he is unlikely to be able to learn to connect certain lip movements with certain words, nor develop proper pronunciation of anything. You, however, can hear what is being said, and neither of you appear to have an objection to a telepathic link with one another."

"He knows some of your language because I've taught him. With your assistance I can certainly provide the telepathic connection so he can well...hear, I suppose...the words. It's how he learned to speak to begin with, through telepathic connection, first his parents and brother, and since I was sent to his family, me." A more private smile now as he looked at her. "He's as good as family you know, his bond with me is better than with his brother. And, while I adore my sisters, I really do, my bond with them makes compared to what I share with him. We may as well be brothers and, don't tell him that, but I'd do almost anything for him."

Kaiae nodded at this last bit with a wistful expression. "I had two younger brothers, Soren and Telik - we were fairly close in age, they were three years and seven years younger than me - though I am sure, looking back, that the neighbors perhaps wished we had been spaced further apart given the level of noise and mischief we got up to." Regret tinged her tone and face alike. "They did not survive the war with Dominion."

Against all better judgement, he reached out and touched her hand. "I'm so sorry to hear that," he offered genuinely, "what were they like?"

Kaiae tensed and pulled her arm back instinctively at the unexpected contact, eyes widening slightly as her breath hitched for a moment. "I...please do not do that. It is...uncomfortable."

"I'm sorry," Jerant apologised, pulling his hand back too. "You don't have to talk about them if you don't want to and don't worry Savin won't hear a word from me. Believe it or not, because I'm his aide, I'm actually bound by the same ethics as he is."

"The topic is not the issue." Kaiae said with a semi-raised, quizzical eyebrow. "Though, I am surprised that many years on Vulcan did not train you out of making such contact..."

Jerant shrugged. "That I lived there doesn't mean I gave up my human or Betazoid emotions, I'm still an emotional creature." He smiled. "But, duly noted...I'll...try not to do that again but... it's human custom to reach out if someone's hurting. At least that's what mom used to tell me, despite her being full Betazoid."

"I am certainly not about to give up mine, either." She chuckled again. "But while you'll find emotional expression to differ quite significantly from what you probably experienced on Vulcan, I would suggest that when it comes to making physical contact with people, operate by similar rules to how you would have behaved there: Save it for matters of need and expediency - for example, to spar, to perform some necessary task, or to assist an injured comrade or the like - or for those you are quite close to and know very well. Also - " here a small but sly, amused almost teasing expression crossed her face " - where possible, even under those circumstances, save for the last one, favor making contact with an area other than hand-on-hand, such as hand-to-arm or shoulder." The amused look became a more pronounced grin. "That is, unless you would like gossip to spread about your intentions towards people."

"Oh...you're the same about the touching hands being intimate," Jerant realised, "and while I believe you are a handsome woman...I mean no offense but...you're not a man..." He had the grace to blush a little at his confession. "Not ready for someone new though, my last break-up is a few months ago and it wasn't pretty. I broke it off, I had to because I was very unhappy. He was a Betazoid, but he shut me out telepathically because he was hiding something from me. And his behaviour changed for some reason...I loved him but shutting me out when clearly something was wrong with him wasn't fun. So I walked out."

“Rest assured you are not my type, either, though for somewhat different reason - I have courted both men and women in the past, though none seriously or successfully enough to propose pairing with permanently. But you are, no offense, lacking in a a rather essential trait in a mate.” Kaiae traced the tip of one elegantly pointed ear in demonstration of the trait in question, then paused, considering the rest of what was said. “I do not pretend to understand how such things would work among Betazoids, but if one cannot trust their intended mate - however trust is defined for those in question - then it is perhaps best that a pair part ways before something more irrevocable is in play. Though I..apologize, that may have been too forward an observation; it is…difficult…to consider what must be said where it would normally never be, to account for differences in understanding or behavior alongside aliens; and what should still not be, where both groups would consider it verboten.”

"Well...first he wanted me to open up...and then we lost our telepathy to an illness. And after that it felt he was hiding something and it got worse when I told him I loved him and he closed off completely." He cast her a sad look. "I walked away. It hurt, but it was better for me."

Kaiae nodded. "'Bad' Betazoid breakups sound like there are less broken housewares, broken bones, or threats to kill one another for some betrayal involved in them than the variety I am used to, then."

"He was an officer...Wish he had yelled at me in return but I did all the shouting really. I don't know what bad breakups are generally like. This was my first altogether. Savin has one up on me on that score. And I don't know what Vulcan or even Romulan breakups are like. I know a good deal about the language but precious little about the culture."

"I have no idea what Vulcan breakups are like, but it would not surprise me if it resembles a thoroughly boring staff meeting. As to ours...to put it simply, I am personally aware within my own former social circles, even, let alone society at large, of instances where one or the other of the participants did not survive the experience." She shrugged her eyebrows at a languid speed. "Assuming it is done properly - for reasons of some betrayal or infidelity or such rather than simply to, if I recall the human phrase, 'be an ass', and the party involved is properly challenged and given the chance to defend themselves and such - it is not considered a crime. A more garden variety 'bad breakup', though; everyone leaves alive, but a decent portion of one another's possessions may end up in pieces and/or one or both parties may end up with a variety of broken bones or bruises. Shouting at one another is about the best one can hope for, save for a truly amicable, mutual parting of ways. When I split in my early 20s with my first boyfriend for...cause he gave, let's just say...his eye was swollen shut for over a week."

"Yikes," Jerant remarked, "remind me never to get on a Romulan's bad side....I'm not a fighter at all. I know some bare bones basics but that's it." He smirked at her breakup reaction. "Good for you, he probably deserved it. I just got mad at Xavier, I think I yelled at him, but I like to think I remained civil. Do you think I have any chance here? Not that I'm looking but...you know?"

"Hard to know. The degree to which people would be willing to match with an outsider or an alien will vary." It came to Kaiae's mind that Nveid's mother's seeming dalliance with a Betazoid was a definite example of this, though given it had occurred decades ago near the height of the Empire's period of isolation, she had no idea exactly how the woman had even encountered one. "If you do receive interest, however, then I highly recommend discussing with one another the social expectations for the pairing early on, to avoid misunderstandings or inadvertently inappropriate behavior."

"We'll see if I do first and set the rules when it happens," Jerant noted, "can't very well announce rules on possible dalliances before they even occur right?" His bright smile returned, dark eyes sparkling. "And otherwise...I'm a very fast runner, we'll see if anyone worthy can catch up."

The eyebrow notched upwards again slightly; this was perhaps a more challenging-things-positive view of life than she would have expected from a Betazoid given what little she'd ever read about the species. Then again, he also liked running around on people's roofs, so. "As to the other 'catching up'; I suggest we schedule time each day - say, an hour or so - to continue this training on a regular schedule, and that you study the manuals and materials provided at other times, as well; as stated before I would not expect anyone to be able to fully grasp the material in less than a few months, generally; so this will take time. Though the most basic of issues regarding sending and receiving simple messages without interference or additional security concerns can likely be mastered quickly, especially if you have so before on Federation vessels."

"I'd like that." Jerant nodded. "I have assisted with shipboard operations," he confirmed, "I mean I needed something useful to do when Savin had no need of me. And I doubt he'll need me much here, because he'll do his damnest to catch up and learn. He's very stubborn, trust me, I know."

The eyebrow rise this time was paired with a rather amused look on Kaiae's face. "Those are - curiosity and 'stubborn' perseverance alike - rather standard traits in the species, you might have noted. Though there will undoubtedly be some need for you still in that mode until he perfects his ability to lip-read Rihannsu. I am fairly certain none of the Romulan crew aboard know how to sign beyond whatever they may have picked up watching Mila; and few are full speakers of Federation Standard yet, either, though I expect they will become so from exposure - the younger ones already have." She looked thoughtful for a moment. "I would almost, in fact, suggest he focus on learning to lip-read with more urgency than to speak, if one has to be focused on more urgently - in a pinch, the translator can at least relay his Federation Standard to those who cannot speak it; there are less alternatives for the reverse for him to understand the others, save some type of speech-to-text display."

"Savin does use text to display in the event of multiple conversations going on, but he prefers telepathic contact with me on those instances. It's kind of what I'm here for anyway," Jerant explained. "So, whatever need there is, I'm available."

The idea of preferring that was downright bizarre to Kaiae, but then, most of her entire life was bizarre these last few years. "Ah. Speaking of availability for various needs - as you are a linguist by training, perhaps you could at some point suggest or develop a curriculum for those of my people who wish to learn Federation Standard, as we discussed briefly on the colony? I know several of the younger officers and crew, like our pilot, have learned to speak fairly well already simply from the combination of exposure and the skill of youth in picking up new things, but it seems to me in a mixed-species, mixed-origin crew such as this one, there would be an advantage to working towards establishing more crossover between the native Federation Standard speakers and the native Rihannsu speakers in ability to speak and understand one another's tongues in both directions." That she was at this very moment coincidentally using Jerant to practice and improve her own pronunciation went without mention; given his trade, it was something he would likely already grasp and appreciate, and she was halfway expecting him to start speaking back at her in her own language any moment now to work his own skills in the opposite direction.

"I'm happy to help anyone who wants to learn ma'am," the Betazoid smiled, then downright grinned at her. "Don't think I didn't notice your switch to Standard," he continued, "and I think we're probably drawing an audience with us speaking two different languages at each other. I don't mind though, I expect everyone to correct me if I get it wrong."

"You're doing fairly well for someone lacking the correct vocal cords for the language." Kaiae reached out a finger and swiped to a different part of the comms station interface for Jerant to study. "I used to draw some amusement back during the war with the Dominion from hearing various comms officers on Federation ships in joint task forces, while trying their best, completely butcher the names of myself, my commanders, and various warbirds...then one day we were called by a ship with a Vulcan comms officer, and it eerie how well he did so with them."

"Vulcan and Rihanssu do share the same root language," Jerant mused as he did study the indicated section, trying to figure out what it was supposed to do. "So it is not unthinkable that said Vulcan was able to get your names right. I mean, Savin isn't having much difficulty, is he?"

"He is not. I would not be that surprised if it turned out there's a few names here and there still in use in both groups as well, actually." She pointed at the top of the screen display. "This screen is probably more important on most warbirds than most Federation ships - it is specifically for reviewing any message attempted to be sent from elsewhere on the ship. The system will not let them send without first routing them here for review; the officer on duty at the time will review for both whether the ship is in an operating status at the time where is is permissible to send messages without risking the mission, as well as for if anything in the contents of the message needs censoring; the comms officer can then make edits directly to the message before sending, if need be; or stop the message from sending entirely."

"In case anyone tries to sneak a message out while we're cloaked?" Jerant asked as he studied the current telemetry. "Like that one over there?" He pointed at a blinking line somewhere halfway down the screen. "It doesn't look like a priority message and it seems to come from the crew quarters section, am I right?"

Kaiae tapped the line in question, pulling up what seemed on opening the message to be pure gibberish, and sighed, closing it again with a exasperated look. "Classic problem there, with the unreadability. The other thing about most warbirds is that among most of the officer ranks, at least, people are well aware of this practice; and it's common for them to carry some type of personal encryption key, with the other half in possession of their family or such. Meaning when you intercept the thing it's not decipherable. The classic remedy in this case is exactly what I'm going to do with it - it's just going to get permanently blocked from sending. Some people eventually get smart enough to work around things in a sense; forgoing classic encryption entirely and just developing a variety of prearranged, innocuous sounding code-words or phrases with their spouse or such. That one is, inevitably, very hard to catch. 'If you build a better mousetrap, someone will build a better mouse', as I heard one of the humans say once on a similar sort of issue. Had to look up what a 'mouse' was after that, but it's a fairly apt metaphor."

"You don't build mice," Jerant laughed, dark eyes sparkling in amusement. "Mice are bred. And mice are very clever creatures, you should have some as a pet sometimes and build them a whole maze of tubes...they're very smart."

"So are most officers in our fleet; smart and clever alike." Kaiae returned the amused look. "So if anything that only makes the comparison more accurate. Within the other stations, aside from the command staff, you will likely find a fair bit of coordination required in this role sometimes with ops, as well as various overlap sometimes working with security or engineering, and occasionally science as well. On a normal warbird there would also be a reasonable amount of such coordination with intelligence as well, but we do not have such, so that will not be a concern."

"All in due time ma'am. Let's get my head wrapped around this first.... it'll take time but I promise I'll get the hang of it," Jerant grinned, "and perhaps a little clever too, who knows."

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