Away Team: To The Forum We Go [1/2]

Posted on Sat Nov 14th, 2026 @ 12:51pm by Commander Cornelius 'Kit' Hanlon & Lieutenant B'Lakkam Slichez & Lieutenant Xey & Lieutenant JG Lovisa Montague

1,674 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Mission 1: Behind the Curtain
Location: Selo, Apsloe
Timeline: Day 1

[ON]

The sound of the marketplace reached them before the marketplace itself did. Melodic voices carried through the broad colonnade ahead in a language the universal translator struggled with, blending into a low, almost musical murmur that grew louder as Laietta led the away team around the curve of another waterway. Commander Hanlon, Chief Counsellor Slichez and Lieutenant Montague had not walked far from where the Apsloens had served them food, but once the tour had begun it had made sense to divide the away team into three smaller groups. It allowed them to see more of Selo without arriving everywhere as a single crowd, although Kit suspected their uniforms and unfamiliar faces would attract attention regardless of how they arranged themselves.

The colonnade opened onto a wide open square, its smooth white paving descending in shallow steps towards a circular space at its centre. Tall pillars surrounded it, supporting sweeping balconies of pale metal and blue-tinted glass where more Apsloens stood watching the activity below. Between the pillars were rows of market stalls beneath translucent canopies, arranged in careful arcs rather than the uneven lines Commander Hanlon might have expected from a place where people gathered to buy and sell.

Their counters displayed folded fabrics that changed colour when the light touched them, delicate vessels of glass and metal, sculpted foods, jewellery, artwork and small devices whose purpose was impossible to guess from appearance alone. Apsloens moved between them in flowing layers of colour, stopping to speak with vendors or one another, their golden faces turning towards the Starfleet visitors with open curiosity. Nobody called out to attract customers and nobody seemed to push or hurry through the crowd. Even the marketplace carried the same strange sense of control as the rest of Selo.

At the centre of the square stood a broad, raised platform, currently empty except for a slender column rising from its surface. The paving around it had been left open, creating enough space for a considerable crowd to gather without blocking the market stalls around it. Beyond the large square, rising above the surrounding white-gold structures, stood what could only be the centre of Apsloen government. Its broad lower levels curved outward in gleaming terraces, while golden spirals climbed above them towards the dome, catching the light and throwing it back across the market in warm flashes.

Laietta smiled as she looked around, stopping them for a moment. "This is where Selo speaks to itself," she explained, lifting one hand towards the square, and the steps leading up to a platform. "Our people come here to exchange what they have made, to purchase what they require and to hear news from beyond their own districts. Announcements concerning the city are made from the central platform so that all who gather may hear them together." Her amber eyes shifted briefly towards the golden spirals beyond the market. "The House of Accord stands there, where those entrusted with the guidance of Apsloe meet. Those who serve within pass through this square, as everyone else does. It reminds them that the city is not only its buildings, but the people who live within them."

Kit looked across the market again, taking in the stalls, the balconies and the empty platform at its centre. "So this is more than somewhere people come to shop," he said, glancing back towards Laietta. After they had split up, Lieutenant Junior Grade Xey had transported down.

"Much more," she replied, her smile warming slightly. "Commerce brings people here, but news, conversation and community keep them here. It is where questions are asked, where changes are announced and where the people of Selo are heard."

Something tickled at the back of B'Lakkam's brain. Certainly he had become more relaxed but something still did not feel right. Everything was too orderly, too neat, too...too nice? Was that the right word. No, there was something more. It was like everything was arranged. Where was the haggling? Where was the noise? It was just too quiet. Something was just not right but he could not put a finger on it. Finally, he observed, "You seem to have a rather orderly society. Was it always so?"

"Like most people...we have had our history," she said and inclined her head to him. "But it makes the peacefulness so much more vital to us. For who would know tranquility without having known chaos?" she giggled, a melodic sound, her hand gesturing towards him. "Is it not so as well in your Federation?"

Peacefulness more vital? Based on what? History is missing. Did they simply execute or rid themselves of dissenters? It could not be that simple, could it? B'Lakkam wondered. "How long has this tranquility that you speak of been in place? If you would not mind telling me more of your history. I think it is important to understand where a culture has been. It makes it easier to understand."

He then paused for a moment and explained, "For the Federation is not always tranquil, as we see here. There are disagreements. There are votes where matters are considered. Furthermore, unlike here, the Federation is made of many different races, cultures, and beliefs. It is only natural to have these disagreements. Then there are those like me, who the Federation welcome in, that do not have races or species that are Federation members. So, as you can see, understanding your culture and your history would be very important to us."

B'Lakkam favored Laietta with a winning smile, "After all, we would not want to accidentally have any missteps with your people. That just would not do." If possible, the Blue Orion counselor smiled wider.

Laietta listened with the same gentle smile, her amber eyes remaining on B'Lakkam as he spoke. "Of course," she said, inclining her head to him. "And there will be time for you to learn more of us, just as we hope to learn more of your Federation." She looked around the marketplace, one hand lifting lightly towards the people moving between the stalls. "But history is a long story, and not one I would wish to tell poorly while standing in the middle of Selo." Her smile warmed, although something distant remained behind it. "You have only just arrived and there are many wonders for us all to experience together."

Another deflection, but why? And that look.... Is she putting on a show? Does she want to say more? Is that why she cannot say it here? The thoughts continued to run through B'Lakkam's brain. "I'm certain that you have an agenda that is laid out for us," the counselor observed. "I would not want you to run awry of it. However, if possible, could you take us somewhere off the tour?" Belatedly he added. "If you have time, of course."

Laietta looked at him before she tilted her head, slowly, her amber eyes on him. "After the tour..." her finger moved slowly, before she put an elegant touch against his shoulder. "I am happy to take you anywhere...B'Lakkam Slichez..." she pulled her hand back and looked down, almost demure, before continuing.

B'Lakkam was a bit surprised at the touch. He did not know much about the culture but generally speaking, touch was an opening and if he read this opening correctly, she was now overtly flirting with him. He could be wrong, though he doubted it. So, B'Lakkam would certainly explore the issue. He took slightly more than a momenary glance at Laietta and considered his options. His orders were to discover more about this place. This tour was nothing more than for showing them what the leaders of this society wanted them to see. So, if he wanted to discover more, getting to know Laietta was of primary importance.

The Counselor favored Laietta with a sly smile and said, "I will look forward to that after the tour. Please continue. I will try not to interrupt as much."

Laietta smiled at the words, bowing her head a little before she looked around. "Each stall trades different items. Beauty should be functional, and useful things should always hold beauty in it."

Lovisa was looking around with wide eyes, her tricorder beeping in her hand. She didn't know where to look first. At the readouts that would give her a better idea of what their town square was made of, how it functioned and why there was no greenery in sight? Or the people and stalls, filled with beautiful flashes of colour that were hard to ignore.

Finally, Lovisa gave in to the temptation, drifting closer to a stall that held reems of sheer fabric with colours shimmering, almost like the rainbow in a bubble. She reached out, touching one of the lengths of hanging fabric, smiling warmly with how soft it was. "It's beautiful..." she looked to the stall owner, to see how she wore a similar fabric, but in layers, so that the sheerness obscured more of her figure underneath than a single layer would.

The stall owner looked at Lovisa and reached for a sheet of fabric, moving around. She gently draped it over Lovisa's shoulder, so she could feel it against her. "This would look fetching as a gown for you, a contrast to the pale of your skin and dark void of your hair."

Lovisa smiled bashfully, colour on her cheeks at the compliment she wasn't used to hearing. "I would love to wear such beautiful clothing. We...do not have any of your currency to trade though," she could only be honest.

"You do not need any, it is a gift," the stall owner said and smiled, before looking over at Xey. "Your spots are remarkable...how far down do they go?"

To Be continued in Part 2

Lieutenant B'Lakkam Slichez
Chief Counselor
USS Fenrir

Lieutenant Xey
Chief Science Officer
USS Fenrir

Lieutenant JG Lovisa Montague
Science Officer
USS Fenrir
[PNPC Blake]

Commander Kit Hanlon
First Officer
USS Fenir

Laietta
Apsloen government
[played by Hanlon]

 

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