Calithra's Fate

Posted on Sat May 2nd, 2026 @ 3:32pm by Captain Rovak & Petty Officer 1st Class Ayol & Lieutenant Director Iliana Raaku & Commander Alex Flynn & Lieutenant Commander Intharia T'Zor & Lieutenant Rune Thul & Master Chief Petty Officer Gaz & Ramielos Volsunga & Calithra-Esmarill-Tiranas & Polyphron

1,480 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Shifting Shapes [4-5]
Location: Delta Docking Lounge
Timeline: 48 Hours after 'The Third Totem'

Forty-eight hours after Calithra-Esmarill-Tiranas had been released from her totem, Rovak had called the senior staff and anyone trustworthy from another universe to help make an assessment of their new arrival.

"The Commander tells us there will be no chance to return her to any Galaxy in the K-11 universe, let alone find the home of Calithra-Esmarill-Tiranas. With that in mind, we have no reason or authority to contain her now that she has cleared quarantine. Does anyone have any concerns, or thoughts about how we might manage her unique conditions?" Rovak asked.

"Nothing here." Gaz said. The shapeshifting centaur didn't specifically factor into station operations, so Gaz was glad to not have had to devote much thought to the subject.

Volsunga remained quiet in his large, custom-replicated seat. He wanted to wait to see what the others offered before giving his advice.

Alex also stayed quiet. She had questions and observations, but wanted to hear from the specialists first.

"We will have to ask her what her skills are to help her fit in," Rune's tone was curious.

"We could always use another shapeshifter in Intel." The intelligence chief Raaku said.

"I think we have a lot to learn from her, shapeshifting aside. She is certainly a proud warrior, and her people are quite unlike most sentient species I've encountered, either in my own universe or in your databases. But her abilities do represent a serious concern, and opportunity. They seem to be DNA-based, once she makes contact with a subject she can become them, quite literally. I let her acquire my form, and she could almost immediately use biotic abilities inherent to my species. She could be an even greater tactical asset than Mr Volsunga." Intharia told the group. "No offence." She said, realising that Volsunga was in the room with them.

Volsunga nodded ever so slightly to her, as if to say 'none taken.' He agreed with the assessment. He wondered what would happen to her if she were to touch something as genetically diffuse as a Tyranid or as far beyond mortal comprehension as a Daemon. Perhaps it was best they did not find out.

"The Goa'uld would do unspeakable things to acquire such a host." Polyphron observed.

"Perhaps her presence on Deep Space 13 should be classified and only those who should interact with her for her future role among us be the only ones to know?" Rune put in, "I understand this is rather extreme but as you say should she feel the desire to use her abilities there'd be a limited number of people that she can become to contain any security breaches. Alternatively, Medical and Sciences should work on an inhibitor device to help prevent unauthorised forms acquisition on a daily basis and for when the ability is for our missions and her safety it can be deactivated." He explained a little animatedly with his hands.

"We will monitor her respectfully until such time as we are certain she is using her abilities responsibly. But I cannot sanction the restriction of her biological processes in the name of security. As the only centauroid aboard, I imagine she will be easy to locate when untransformed." Rovak responded, approving a small measure of concern for potential treachery. He could not explain why he trusted her based on her martial certainty, but he did. It would be easy for her to lie. But hers was a shameless honesty. There was something of the old Vulcans in her, and he thought, in these Andalites.

"The Imperium uses shapeshifting assassins. They're sometimes used against the Highest Lords of Terra, if appropriate. They're monitored only by the Grand Master of Assassins. I think it would be wise to have some ability to monitor her, even if it's only available to the Captain. But I understand it might conflict with your... ethics." Volsunga said, actively stopping himself from using the descriptor 'feeble'.

"I am confident internal sensors will suffice. We will add a subroutine to alert us if she disappears suddenly from passive tracking. We will take one more opportunity for open discussion with her before the official decision is made. Let us bear in mind that she has already agreed to allow us to study her shapeshifting once she is given her freedom." Rovak pressed a button on the conference table, opening a channel to Ayol. "Please send her in."

The doors opened, and Calithra appeared.

Calithra walked proudly into the room, her tail moving carefully around her, she did not want to convey aggression or impatience, even though the situation had started to make her feel impatient.

"Thank you for your time, Calithra-Esmarill-Tiranas, and your patience. Our procedures are thorough, and that thoroughness can be weighing. We have brought you here so that we may ask each other any final questions before a decision is made about your quarantine status." Rovak told their guest.

"I do not have any questions for you. Your computer and Commander T'Zor have already answered them all." Cali told them. "But I will answer you in the best way I can."

"If anyone has any questions for our guest, please ask now."

"Assuming you've had a chance to review our laws and foundational ethics, do you think you'll have any issues following and abiding by them while you're here?" Flynn asked when nobody else spoke up immediately.

"Your laws are simple and sensible. It is the way of Andalites that each warrior should serve a Prince. If you will have me, I would serve your Captain as my Prince. I obey my Prince in all things." Cali said to Flynn.

A chuckle from Rune at the word 'Prince', he had his own experience which such a similar title. He wanted so badly for her to call Rovak a Prince, he continued to suppress a laugh. "How many Princes are there and what is a common shortening of your name that we may address you or do you have a title of your own?"

"A Prince is a rank. They are subordinate to War-Princes. The nearest comparison would be your Admirals. My rank in the Andalite Empire was Officer. You may call me Calithra." Cali told them.

"What is your preferred field of service?" Rovak asked. "I imagine any of our departments would find you an agreeable addition to their ranks."

"I served on the battlefield. Your security department would be the best place for my skills. I am also trained in providing healing, but I would be more use in security than medical." Cali said.

Rune wondered about Calithra, his hands next to each other on the table surface. "Officer Calithra, would you be interested in expanding on your healing knowledge and training while serving in Security, we do encourage cross-departmental training for any who are interested in gaining as many skills and knowledge as they can?" He inquired gently.

"I will learn to do the first thing properly before I put my focus on a second." Cali said. "But thank you."

"Do you have any other loyalties that would supersede any duty you undertook here? If your previous Prince somehow told you to work against these people, would you do it?" Volsunga asked.

"Never. I would always tell my Prince if they no longer had my loyalty." Cali explained, almost offended by the question.

Another interesting idea came to Rune. "Would you be willing to tell us about how your people fight and about how both our weapons compare to each other?" He was rather intrigued and then blinked. He glanced over at the others. "I suppose that can all wait until later, apologies Captain." Rune looked at Rovak last with an apologetic smile.

"Indeed. There will be time later to discuss comparisons and assess our guest's skillset, but discussions of weaponry are best left for parties on more cordial terms." Rovak said. "But, I believe the discussion has gone on sufficiently. Calithra-Esmarill-Tiranas, I know of no reason to keep you further contained in Delta Dock. You are free to move around the station, however I ask that you please inform us if you are to 'sample' any more of our crew."

Cali was surprised. She expected tests, or oaths. "Thank you, Captain. I will do as you ask. And I am grateful to have my freedom. You have kept your word, and it shows your honor."

"You are welcome. We ask only that you keep any changing of your form restricted to private areas, and maintain confidentiality about your nature and abilities when speaking with those who are not Starfleet officers or serving as part of this station's crew. Otherwise, the station is yours to explore. Lieutenant Thul will contact you once arrangements have been made for your service with security to begin. Until then Calithra, welcome to the team. Please do not hesitate to ask if you require anything."

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