An Odd Call

Posted on Fri Sep 25th, 2026 @ 12:45am by Yui Kudo {Meji} {Scientist}

Mission: CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT 09/26
Location: M-69
Timeline: Current

ON:

In her private, personal lab, Yui was sitting on a low stool with wheels on it, a section of her Mejilorean armor plating laid out before her on a low table. Her tea pot sat on a hot plate to remain decently hot while she spent the past few hours with her welding/magnifying goggles on to make all the connections for the nanites. Even for someone with a feline body it was getting uncomfortable, but it was the only position she could be somewhat relaxed in. Standing while doing this would be a pain. Kami, her BB droid, was working on the programming algorhithm and quantum computing software. Nano, the AI within the suit, provided input if either of them asked, able to run a diagnostic on itself to provide necessary data for upgrades, maintenance, and repairs. The whole idea for her armored suit had come from two sources. First, her mother and her stay in the Pallean galaxy many years ago. There, in that galaxy, was a group of warriors called the Mandalorians, broken down into clans, but soldiers for hire who were considered some of the best combatants that galaxy had to offer. According to her mother they could even take on fully trained Jedi, the Order that mom had based the Meji Order on, and defeat them.

Second, Yui's desire was to have that Mandalorian tech mixed in with the tech from the old MCU movies; namely Tony Stark and his alter ego Iron Man. At the time of those films the technology was purely fictitious but, as the centuries passed, it became a reality. With her quantum mechanics education from the Quazi Concordium and the Q Continuum, Yui had decided to reinvent the Mandalorian armored suit into a Mejilorean one. The bells and whistles would be various but effective once the prototype was finished and she took it on testing runs to look for needed tweaks. "Miss Yui," said Kami. "You have an incoming call requesting visual communication."

Without stopping her current run on connections, Yui responded. "From who?" She was not really in the mood for a conversation, even if it was Griffon calling.

"Director Norman Bowden, Federation Science Bureau."

"Ugh! It figures." Yui took her goggles off and set them next to the forearm armor for her suit. Standing, she quickly glanced around until she spotted a large shop towel, taking it up and then spreading it out over top of her project and the goggles before sitting back down. She gave a lazy, cynical motion towards the screen on the wall in front of herself. "Open the channel." Within moments the grinning face of Dr. Norman Bowden appeared, leaning back in a rather comfortable office chair which was set behind a large desk that was rather ostentatious in its own right.

"Yui! Glad you had a minute to chat."

~Be nice~ Yui told herself. ~He can make your break your future in Federation sciences~

Deciding to be half-truthful, Yui gave a grin she actually felt. "It's fine, Dr. Bowden. Just fine tuning some of my equipment. What can I do for you or the Bureau?"

Bowden rubbed his stubbly chin. "Just seeing where you landed on M-69. And, how you wish to proceed one way or the other. Remember, Starfleet falls under the Federation. They serve the people. The Starfleet Science Division, and Starfleet Medical both have to answer to the Science Bureau in the event of negative incidents."

"I'm aware, Sir." Answered Yui, wondering where this was going. "How do I fit in?"

"Well," Bowden sat forward to make sure his gaze went directly through the transmission and into her eyes. "How would you like to be out there as an independent? No Starfleet bosses, answering directly to the Science Bureau? We have a few researchers out that way who could be handlers if you need someone to talk to. I know you're currently working on a few PhD's for yourself and we can expedite those goals if you decide to remain in this family rather than join another."

Yui was floored. Was he actually jealous of Starfleet, so much so that he was willing to bribe her with baubles? She kept her face stoic, as emotionless as it would be when playing a game of GO with her father. "I do like the sound of being independent. But, as both my parents serve in Starfleet I can't simply ignore them, or not be helpful. My intellect is used for the good of all, not just a few." She began to fall into this line of thinking, with clarity. She could use this to her advantage, and possibly see to Dr. Bowden's removal as the Director. Ex Astris Scientia; the Starfleet motto, also applied to all scientists the galaxy over. The UFP was a peaceful government, more open to diplomacy and peace than to aggression and conflict. "I'll be independent, Dr. Bowden, as far as that goes. However, I cannot see the need to alienate Starfleet while also seeing to my own research and exploration. It would be bad form to not share my findings with Commodore Sureth and his people."

"Share some of your discoveries," Bowden said with a snide grin. "But, let the Bureau have the lion's share. We will decide when Starfleet needs to know more. As long as you let them have a few bites all will be well. Especially if those bites are necessary to keep everyone safe and sound."

~This man is a narcissistic creton~ Yui thought to herself. "As I said, Doctor. I will remain independent, a civilian aiding Starfleet and the citizens. That being said, I don't know the social terrain here as well as I could, so any chance of being involved in current projects would be slim and none."

Bowden gave a bit of a frown, sitting back again. "I'm not asking you to bang a drum and befriend everyone. I'm asking you to keep your loyalties here with the bureau. This way you have autonomy to go where you will without waiting for a starship that may be available to take you to certain locations. I know you have your own ships and gear, so that is a non-issue." He then gave a grin, which looked to be genuinely friendly. "Plus, you are a Quazi now, or Catfolk, as you say you like to be called. We would love for you to make some introductions, see if they would be willing to pass some of their knowledge on to a few of our more brilliant scientists."

"At this time, I can tell you no," Yui stated. "Chancellor Barnephous is not ready for that just yet. The Celestial Bloom has been of interest to several governments already. All of whom were summarily taught a painful lesson and sent away with their tails tucked. Should Starfleet try the same thing they too would be whipped and sent packing. Acting like you just stumbled through the nebulas and found us is not a very convincing story. Lessons are then taught. We are a peaceful people but we do have claws."

Dr. Bowden gave a chuckle at that. "No chance at all?" He got another shake of the head. "Can you try to talk to him?"

Yui gave a mild sigh. "I can try but don't get your hopes up. Currently, the thorn in our paw is the Cardassian Union. They see the Celestial Bloom as a possibility for mass resources. And, being resource poor, the Union will push to claim at least a portion of it. The only saving grace is that their territory is in the Alpha Quadrant, while the Bloom is in the Beta Quadrant. A long distance to be sending any kind of war fleet across, especially considering passing through UFP space, and close to Klingon space would have to be done."

"I'm sure you will do your best to get a diplomatic meeting of some kind, Miss Kudo. If you can do this I can assure you that an accolade will be added to your name. Doctor Yui Kudo does have a nice ring to it." The Director sat quiet for a few moments. "Anything you need, let me know. If you're on board with my proposals."

Needing to play along, Yui gave a nod and became pleasant. "Well, this lab is rather small. There's a connecting doorway arch to the one next door, which is currently unclaimed. Secure that for me, afford me more research space, and I can get to work on your requests and stay ahead in my own doings." She gave him a grin. "My labs, but under the authority and protections of the Federation Science Bureau. You get what data I give you and cannot just show up and take what you want. Agree to those terms, I agree to do what you have asked. It may take time to get things truly rolling but I will effort to get it done as you have requested."

"Your terms are accepted," Bowden said, grinning and nodding. "Your lab expansion will be handled by the end of the day. It is a private lab, not a Starfleet one?"

"It is," Yui replied.

"Good. Makes it easier to obtain for our needs. Or, should I say, for the needs of our independent researcher. Looks like you have a bright future with us, Yui." He leaned forward, hand disappearing to the side of the screen towards the off key, even as he gave her another even gaze. "Don't disappoint me, Miss Kudo." The transmission cut and the monitor went dark.

"As per your orders, Miss Yui, that entire conversation was recorded in my memory banks." Kami informed her of this. If he could smile like the Cheshire cat, Yui was pretty sure he would be.

"Good. Lock it away for when I'll need it." Yui then sat up, shook off the anxiety of the conversation and got back to work on her armor and body glove that would go with it. If things became too intense she knew she would need to speak to Mister Wallace and see what he thought. She could not see treason, but definitely corruption.

OFF: