Stardate: 70904:2135
Title: A Bluff
Author: Chief of Operations Autumn Falls
Time: After ‘Second Guesses’
Scene: USS Horizon


Autumn had no worries about leaving the Operations Department in Alex Ross very capable hands whilst she joined the away team on the trip down to Rennas to partake in some evening celebrations. She had probably taken more care than usual getting ready, not that she thought her poor apparel was what started the downfall of the Federation, but she wasn’t willing to risk it.

The invitation had been open to as many guests as Captain Deadilus wished to bring and, looking around the transporter room, she could see that Scott was using some kind of 'safety in numbers' theory. Perhaps he thought with so many crewmembers on hand, 
one of them might be able to spot the flaw or characteristic in this race that could bring down an alliance as strong as the Federation.

She nodded and smiled at the assembled team, trying to give off a confident air. Pre-knowledge of an event could really knock you off your game! She usually tried to be herself in all situations but maybe now, for the sake of everyone, she needed to act like someone else. *Perhaps someone taller and thinner and smarter,* she thought with a smile. 

This line of thinking ended as Scott entered the room in his usual confident manner, and she wondered if he was having the same self-doubt. But as he addressed the group and told them that this was like every other function of its sort, it was obvious he was coping well.

The door opened as Scott finished his speech and in walked a woman unfamiliar to Autumn. That meant she must be the other Captain. As Lily looked at Autumn it was as if a vibration had been struck across time and space and for a few seconds the whole universe stopped. 

"Lieutenant... Autumn..." Autumn snapped too as she heard the Captain calling her.

"Sorry, Sir?"

"Are you ready to go with the first group?" Pulling herself together she nodded and took her place on the transporter pad.

~

As the familiar light faded away the COO was at once awed by the beauty of the stark structures around them. It was barely a minute before the second part of the away team arrived. Lily had dematerialised next to Autumn and the Captain next to her.

Nakra'Mel approached the group and, almost as a reflex, Autumn put her hand up to stop Lily. It was just as well, as Lily made to move forward and the touch made her pause, in those brief few seconds Scott gave her a warning look that conveyed the message for her to be on her best behaviour.

"Welcome honoured guests to this evening’s celebrations. Please follow me."

Walking through the magnificent structures the light of the three moons, each with their own purplish tinge, was enough illumination to make any other lighting redundant. As the gentle moon rays hit the crystalline buildings a warm hue seemed to make the walls shimmer.

Entering what appeared to be a huge banquet room, Autumn was overwhelmed by the huge amounts of food piled everywhere. It seemed that when the Rennas people celebrated, they did so with excess amounts of food.

The Captain renewed acquaintances with Darka'Tal, who encouraged them all to be at ease and tuck into the food. Autumn found herself seated next to the historian Metla'Clan, who seemed to attack his food with a gusto that made Autumn feel slightly queasy.

"Eat, eat! You need to put some flesh on those skinny bones," he encouraged as the Chief of Operations gingerly moved some of the unknown things on her plate around.

"Metla'Clan, I have been looking over the history of your race that you were kind enough to give us. I have a few questions if you wouldn’t mind?" Autumn pushed another bit of food around her plate.

The historian seemed reluctant to stop eating but appeared happy to carry on with his mouth full.

"Go...a...head," he said between great bites of food.

"All your historical records start one hundred and fifty nine years ago; there is nothing before that, and no real explanation of how you as a civilization has evolved. Why is that?"

"Not important! We are much the same now as then, just smarter." For the first time his attention shifted from his food and Autumn to the floor. If this was poker she would have said she had just heard a bluff. 


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Lieutenant Autumn Falls
Chief of Operations
USS Horizon
NCC-72400
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