To See A Dragon

Posted on Sun Dec 28th, 2025 @ 5:04pm by Captain Elijah Rutherford & Lieutenant T'seng & Lieutenant Commander Johnathan "Jack" MacGyver & Lieutenant Commander T'Par & Lieutenant Orin Sempton & Lieutenant Cadence Tyree & Lieutenant Tahlira Serin & Chief Petty Officer Jemimah Weatherly & Lieutenant Junior Grade Tara Marsh & Lieutenant JG Vanya Karolyi

2,241 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Scientific Diplomacy
Location: Briefing Room
Timeline: MD001 0900

After having that unexpected meeting with Admiral Adler, and having had spoken to Muldoon, Elijah moved to the briefing room calling for those who he wished to go check on Guardian.

=^=Commanders T'Par and Macgyver, Lieutenants Serin, Tyree, Karolyi, Sempton, Marsh ,T'seng and Chief Weatherly. Please report to the briefing room.=^=

Tahlira arrived a few minutes after the call. As the doors to the briefing room parted, she stepped inside and gave a nod. “Captain.” She greeted, her tone professional but warm enough to convey respect. She moved toward one of the open seats along the table, and settled into it.

Hesitant, Cade approached the briefing room with some trepidation as well. He wasn't sure what this was about and he was equally unsure if he could expect another broiling, possibly verbal, at the hands of the Captain. Still, he squared his shoulders as he entered. Pausing, he said, "Lieutenant Tyree, reporting sir." Then made his way to what he decided was the furthest seat from the Captain, without making it obvious.

T'Par dutifully arrived in the briefing room. "Captain," she greeted in her usual impassive tone as she headed for a seat. She set a PADD in front of her and folded her hands on the table. She briefly inclined her head to the others present before turning her gaze to the Captain Rutherford.

Tara bound into the briefing room. Her hair was in its usual state of half-done/half-mess as she arrived. She beamed a smile as she walked into the room and said, "Morning, Captain." She looked at all the others settled in and continued, "Good morning, Commander T'Par, Lieutenant Tyree, and Lieutenant Serin. Did any of you save a seat for me?"

Seeing the intel officer and deciding it was a good opportunity to meet more people aboard, Cade said "My bad for not knowing I was supposed to, but either seats are open." Gesturing to his left and right, Cade smiled and said, "All sorts of choices, though I'm sure the Captain would appreciate your counsel closer to him."

Tara looked over at Cade and her smile fell somewhat. Nobody wanted her to sit near? Maybe the combination of security and intelligence was bad for her. She walked over to the seat next to the Captain and took a seat without another word.

T'Par nodded to Tara. She gave no sign of noticing the emotional subtext between Tara and Cade.

Elijah watched as the officers arrived at his call, definitely noticing that Cade was trying to stay out of his line of sight. He raised an eyebrow noticing the expression in Tara's eyes. He raised an eyebrow at this.

Vanya slipped in and looked around for an empty seat. She wasn't sure what this meeting was for, so took the nearest empty seat.

JK entered the room. "Sorry, for my tardiness, Captain, I was making adjustments to a holonovel, and accidentally locked myself in holodeck 3." She said. "Security, you might want to reset the security parameters on Deck 3, I'm afraid I overrode them."

"You had gotten locked in the holodeck?" Elijah raising an eyebrow, then he shook his head, "I am certain that can be fixed up." Looking towards Tara.

"I did not know until just now," Tara answered. "We will get that fixed up after this meeting between Security and Ops."

Orin walked in, saw he was one of the last to arrive and mumbled an apology before taking his seat.

"The reason why I have called all of you here, I have been asked by Mr. Muldoon, a scientist who has had dealings with the dragon Guardian, aka Rystix. A request has been made for several of the crew to go see him." Elijah began.

Tara, who was sitting next to Elijah at this point merely nodded, taking in all of the information. "For what purpose?"

Vanya met Rystix on the Majestic, but she wouldn't mind meeting him again. She was fascinated by him and his history.

Tahlira looked toward Tara. The same question crossed her mind, and likely shared by others in the room. Her gaze returned to the Captain.

"A dragon? Wow, I've heard about dragons living on Berengaria VII and some other worlds, but I never got around to visiting any of them." JK said, her voice filled with child-like wonder.

"Rystix is not quite like those creatures," T'Par noted, though she did not yet elaborate. They were still waiting for people.

Cade kept his peace, trying to discern his role in this, wondering idly if it was just an excuse for the Captain to get rid of him. While Cade was conceptually aware of the mythical creatures known as dragons. and equally aware of creatures that inhabited some planets that resembled said mythical beasts, he wondered if someone's flight of fancy was at work here.

Leaning back in his chair, Cade decided listening was his most prudent move.

Elijah determined that he'll catch Jack up on the proceedings as things moved forward.

"The dragon, Rystix, was found upon Adna station, caring for Lieutenant T'seng while she was in a stasis chamber. It was discovered that he is-for lack of a better word sentient? I am sure Commander T'Par , Lieutenant Sempton and Lieutenant T'seng can give more information. "

HIs eyes panned around the table his gaze stopping on each one as he addressed them. "

As for why you are going down there Lieutenant Marsh, I wished to have some security to go down. Lieutenant Tyree, I wish you to go there to see if you can read any emotions from Rystix. Lieutenant Karolyi I do know you had created a bond with Rystix, which is important as well. Lieutenant Serin you will need to get to know Rystix to familiarize yourself with him."

It was clear that the Captain misunderstood what Tara was asking. She was wondering why people wanted to get to the dragon. However, having someone from security go down to safeguard matters made perfect and natural sense.

Tahlira nodded. “Understood, Captain.”

The question of why lingered on her mind, but she held it for now. Still new to the ship and ship operations, she didn’t wish to overstep. She listened carefully and considered the possible reasons. Though she decided that if the purpose remained unclear, she would ask later. It might prove important for how she approached her assignment.

Vanya looked forward to meeting the dragon again. She'd been curious to learn more ever since her first meeting. But, as the others knew boht more and less than she did, she remained quiet and listened.

"Before I go on." Elijah having seen some unspoken questions in the eyes of those there. Decided to open for them to ask. " Any questions?"

As if on cue, Jack walked in and froze at the sight of the monster? Device? Vehicle? He couldn’t quite decide. “Huh” was all he could manage to say.

Having had the image of the Dragon up on the viewscreen for those there to see, he looked towards Jack. The image showed Rystix his head down upon his paws with steam coming from its nostrils, intermittently. "He is sleeping in this video." Elijah remarked calmly. "An extraordinary entity."

"Does he snore?" JK asked.

"I haven't gotten any reports as to him snoring, I do know that he does purr while sleeping. I am sure Lieutenant Karolyi can confirm that." his eyes drifted over to where Orin was then his gaze drifted towards T'Par.

"Commander T'Par would you give some information as to how you and Lieutenant Sempton had come across Rystix.

T'seng was quiet during all of this, she was looking forward to seeing Rystix again, especially since he had been the one to keep her safe from the AI Adna. She also had been missing him, since he had been sent down to Earth for the science community could examine him. She fidgeted a little bit as she listened to what was being spoken of.

T'Par glanced to T'seng briefly. She folded her hands in front of her. "We discovered a seemingly automated station, but, unbeknownst to us, the holograms that were apparently there for recreation had come to resent organic lifeforms who they believed used them in an abusive fashion. We managed to encounter a program in the form of a dragon who, at that time, simply used the moniker Guardian. He was charged with being just that, a Guardian, and he helped rescue us. In turn, we were able to transport him to the Majestic. Further interactions revealed that he had an origin prior to the other programs and was an altogether stronger and more independent entity. He had protected T'seng and he had a fascination with creatures of Earth folklore. Vulcans reminded him of Elves."

Cade listened and tried to pick through the mission details and wondered idly if he was going along for any legitimate counseling needs or if the Captain was trying to get him off the ship. He could feel the buzz of curiosity and intrigue from those assembled.

“So he designed himself after old earth folk lore? Not the worst choice. I guess.” Jack commented, fascinated by the idea of an A.I. Designing its own body.

T'seng spoke up,

"No he was created by someone else. I don't know where he is from. Just that Rystix kept me protected. I had asked him where he was from, he didn't know."

Elijah spoke up, "That information I do know. He was made by a race nemed the Ithenites. Right now I do need you to go check on him. I feel there might be something more, and I would like to find out what, if it is possible, that might be."

Tahlira listened quietly, absorbing the details. An ancient species, a sentient guardian, a dragon who protected T’seng and didn’t know his own origin. Her gaze lingered briefly on Rystix’s image, curiosity stirring. Whatever they were walking into, it was clearly more complex than a simple check-in. She said nothing, but she sat a little straighter, ready to learn more.

"The Ithenites were once not so mysterious," T'Par said. "They were members of the Federation and prominent participants in the Babel Conference of 2268, on the admission of Coridan to the Federation. Since that time, however, they have become more and more isolated. Decades ago, they ceased regularly sending a representative to the Federation Council. No one is sure exactly why. The Ithenites pose their own mystery."

Cade kept a wary eye on the Captain as he broke his silence, "Isolationism by a race can mean a few things, not the least is a change in views toward other species. I'm surprised the Council hasn't pushed contact to see what is going on. At the very least, the Intelligence services would be sticking their noses in to make sure there weren't any surprises."

"That all depends on who gets the intel first," Vanya replied blandly.

Rutherford was keenly interested in what they had to say, looking one to another. "Any other thoughts as per this before you go see Rystix?"

"There was initial interest from Starfleet Intelligence but, in the absence of any evidence of a threat, interest waned," T'par volunteered. "In person intelligence work is especially difficult on Ithen. Even with surgery, most humanoids are too large to pass for Ithenites. Undercover work is reliant upon agents and officers drawn from Little People communities."

"I will see what I can find out," Vanya said. She had connections, and she could get what information was available. It wouldn't help the current situation, but she liked having all the details.

"I do have some additional details," T'Par added. "We know their world is saturated with metals and metallic salts, given their skin its lustrous bronze shimmer. Again, a difficult world for other species. There is among them a polyamorous religious sect known as the Menu, though most are monogamous. They only live to be roughly seventy-five standard years, on average. They tend to wrinkle early. An alternative name for the species is the Dayen. There are, of course, many more details in the file. We once knew them well. But we no longer even know who leads them. Perhaps Ensign Karolyi might uncover more form her intelligence sources. However, ultimately, I believe we must find the answers for ourselves, on Ithen."

Vanya nodded. She would definitely find all the information she could. But she was also interested in having a look at this planet for herself.

"I'm puzzled by the Ithenites' isolation, I worked on a Ithenite freighter for a few years and I always found them an open and welcoming people." J.K. said. "I remember long nights just talking with the Captain, one Ignoris Kelent, lovely woman, very curious about the Galaxy and its inhabitants."

"Then it looks like the next step is go down and go see Rystix." Elijah stated "time to get this show on the road." giving a crooked smile.


END

Captain Elijah Rutherford
CO
USS Orcrist

Lieutenant JG Tara Marsh
Assistant Chief of Security/Intelligence
USS Orcrist

Lieutenant Cade Tyree
Counselor
USS Orcrist

Lieutenant T'seng
Diplomat
USS Orcrist

Lieutenant JG Vanya Karolyi
Data Analyst/Archivist
USS Orcrist

Chief Petty Officer Jemimah Weatherly
Chief of Boat
USS Orcrist

Lieutenant Commander T'Par
Chief Science Officer
USS Orcrist

Lieutenant Orin Sempton
Alien Archaeologist/Anthropologist
USS Orcrist

Lieutenant Commander Johnthan MacGyver
Chief Engineer
USS Orcrist

 

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