"Babel One"/"United"/"The Aenar" Line-by-Line

Hello, Welcome!

We recently finished our "The Enemy Within" Line-by-Line over in the TOS Forum!

After each completed thread, we're randomly picking someone who participated to choose the next episode we do. The lucky winner this time around was LeadHead! And LeadHead has chosen the "Babel One"/"United"/"The Aenar" Arc as our next Line-by-Line challenge!

For any unfamiliar with our "game," you are asked to post only a single line (defined as one character speaking without interruption by another character) per message. You can post as often as you like, but someone else must post a line in between your posts.

Our "rule" is that if the episode has a "To Be Continued..." on the end, it is done in a single thread, but if it's just an arc of related episodes, each episode is a separate thread.

As before, at the conclusion of this thread, I or CoveTom, BlueStuff, Enterprise1981 or leandar, will run the randomizer to determine who will pick the next episode and get it going.

And now, lets see return to the 22nd Century!

 

The Andorian Ship, Kumari, we've seen it before in good condition, today we see it nearly destroyed, with metal debris and Andorian corpses on the floor. There are scattered fires around the bridge.

Commander Shran manages to get up from the deck and use a console.

Shran: Bridge to Engineering. Engineering, respond!

There is no response. Shran goes to another console.

Shran: This is the Warship Kumari calling Imperial Command. We've been attacked by a Tellarite Vessel. Primary systems have failed! Request immediate-

Shran is interrupted by an explosion.

 

Computer: Alert. Warp containment breach in two minutes.

 

Shran: Tellarite Swine! They will pay for this. This is Shran. All crew to the escape pods! Abandon ship.

 

[Captain Archer's Ready room]

Hoshi: The food on this ship isn't fit for animals! That mangy pet of yours would probably taste better. You can either take me home or find a new chef, it's that simple. Oh, something else. I want new quarters.

 

Archer: Is that so?

 

Hoshi: For one thing, my room is too small. There are plasma conduits running across the ceiling. It's noisy, it keeps me up all night.

 

Archer: Maybe you'd sleep better in the Cargo Bay.

 

Hoshi: What did you say to me?

 

Archer: This is a starship, not a luxury liner. If you're not satisfied with your accommodations, we can leave you behind in a shuttlepod. Maybe you'll have better luck with whoever picks you up. And if you don't like Chef's food, don't eat it. From the looks of things, you should probably skip the dessert table while you're at it.

 

Hoshi: That was a nice touch.

 

Archer: I can't believe I'm supposed to speak to their ambassador like that.

 

HOSHI: Tellarites always have a litany of complaints. It's how they start arguments with people they've just met.

 

ARCHER: Even if they have nothing to complain about?

 

HOSHI: In that case, they'll just insult you. Whatever they say, you have to respond in kind. Otherwise, they'll take offense.

 

ARCHER: A species that actually thrives on arguing, they'd probably make good politicians. Thanks for the dry run.

 

HOSHI: Sir. I wasn't kidding about Porthos.

 

ARCHER: You think he's mangy?

 

HOSHI: No, but you might want to keep him out of sight. Tellarites consider canines something of a delicacy.

 

ARCHER: Captain, Starlog, November 12, 2154. We've arrived in orbit of Tellar Prime. Starfleet's ordered us to transport their ambassador to a neutral planet designated as Babel, where Earth's mediators will try to settle a long-standing trade dispute between the Tellarites and the Andorians.

In the corridor.

ARCHER: Everything ready for our guests?