A Self-Guided Tour
Posted on Sat Apr 25th, 2026 @ 7:47pm by Lieutenant JG Varinity Atoro & Lonian Royal Sovereignty
Mission:
Season 6: Episode 7: Crossroads of Destiny
Location: Niea IV
Timeline: MD2, morning
2329 words - 4.7 OF Standard Post Measure
Varinity couldn't wait to get down to the surface. She pulled up her copy of the planet map on a personal PADD. With so many things to do, she wanted to use the first visit to explore some of the options so she could decide what to do tomorrow. Teevs had given almost too many options, and she promised some people that she'd scope out some areas while they were waiting for their shifts to end. She entered the transporter room in her obnoxiously purple shirt and some tan pants that would be comfortable for potential walking. Looking at the transporter operator, she smiled, "I’m going to Tafavera, please." It was simple enough to program in, and soon enough Varinity was on her way.
Tafavera sat on the cliffside on the west coast, just north of the Lontune Peninsula. Tall conifers created a cosy, cabin-like environment around the town and the landing pad. A moderate sea breeze rustled the grasses and shrubs around the landing pad. Signs for hiking trails could be seen on the edges of town, as well as a sign for shuttle racing with a footnote disclaiming that the races were managed separately from landing pad operations, and participants would still need to communicate with Niea Ground Control. The town had grown over the last decade, but the original infrastructure was preserved as an historic artifact. The information from Teevs had said that this place had some of the most scenic hikes on the planet.
Varinity looked around the landing pad, unsure of why she was expecting to see anything other than a massive circular disc on the ground. Yep, that is a landing pad, she thought, stepping off the transporter pad when someone asked her to clear it. She watched cargo ships about the size of Teevs' ship come in to land, and was surprised to see the ship be transported away once the passengers were off the ship. A curious, and perhaps slightly startled, question or two to some locals revealed that the landing pad would transport the smaller ships to a parking bay as some sort of shuttle valet parking to keep the landing pad available. Oh, she had to tell her engineering friends about this place, because transporting a runabout-sized vessel was an insane concept.
Recovering from the surprise, Varinity wandered into the town. She admired the architecture, especially when she got to the historic sites. Even with the modern 24th century technology, they somehow made it feel cosy and in tune with the surrounding nature.
Something protruding out of the ground by a bench caught her attention, and she wandered over to it. It was a grey pillar, only about a half-metre tall, near one of the benches and newer than anything else in the area. Etched into each wall near the top was a symbol, something that looked like crosshairs with a diamond in the middle, enclosed in an intricate circle. Varinity looked around, wondering if this was some kind of marker for a scenic spot. It made sense, because she could see down multiple streets from this vantage point. A small park was also visible. She made a note in her PADD about these scenic markers and moved on.
By the time she got back to the transporter pad, she had documented 7 more of those small pillars. She thought it odd to have so many scenic spots but stopped at them anyway to check out the areas. Some views were less impressive than others, but all of them provided rather expansive visibility. Maybe they were highlighting Lonian culture or history. With a shrug, she stepped onto the transporter pad to go to the next place on her list.
The transporter pad to Irela was, surprisingly, outside the city, though once visitors laid eyes on the view, it became clear why it was designed like that. The glacial wall glistened in the red sun, showing off intricate buildings and structures that were all made out of the ice. The orange light from the sun mixed with the blue-white of the ice to give the city a natural warm mauve colour on the exterior.
Once inside the city, the city took on a classic glacier blue tint. It was surprisingly warm, yet the ice showed no signs of melting. Tours to the top of the glacier were announced on a timetable, along with advertisements for rental equipment suited for the ice and snow. Many of the markets sold ice-themed or cold-themed consumables, including a local favourite called bishe, which was cubed sweet cheese on a stick and wrapped in thin strands of caramelised fruit syrup.
Varinity stepped off the landing pad and took about a minute to take in the feat of engineering. It took ice sculpting to another level. She was wondering if she’d need a jacket, but she didn’t see many people dressed in warm clothes so decided to chance it. She entered a sky shuttle with a couple others who had transported in, and within about 2 minutes they were touching down at the giant arch that marked the entrance to the city.
Spotting some rental ice cleats, Varinity headed over to borrow some because she knew she was going to fall on her ass if she decided to risk it. She just got her freedom from medical checkups, and she did not need a new excuse to visit sickbay. Using a nearby bench, she secured the cleats to her shoes before beginning her curious wander. She was surprised at how comfortable the temperature was, and she asked an information desk about it. The technical answer went way over her head, so all she got from it was "we embed technology into the ice to keep it from melting."
Varinity actually liked this place. Stopping at a vendor, she got one of the items called a bishe out of curiosity. She watched someone else who got one to see how it was eaten, then dug in, using her teeth to pull each little square off the stick. Oh, damn, that was good. She’d have to see if she could get the recipe.
As she explored, she found more of those bizarre pillar things. These ones were blue-white to blend in with the glacial ice, but like in Tafavera, they had the same marking. She also began to notice guards on patrols. Their uniforms were dark grey with dark blue accents, and they were usually in pairs. She easily recognised their route as a standard patrol and didn’t give it much thought.
Jekasp was a very obvious coastal town. Boats were parked in front of homes, fishing supplies already packed. Several places served various kinds of seafood, and they emphasised that their food was freshly caught. Situated in the background were what the locals called the Spectral Mountains, a range known for its multiple colours. Grasslands sat to the north of the town, with shuttle bus tours advertising trips to nature reserves. To the south, humid rainforests, with ziplines and hot springs buried deep in the trees. Not far from the town was one of the planet's many beaches, with fine golden sand and the steady thrum of waves crashing into the shore.
Varinity was almost surprised that Teevs ever left this place. It was cosy, and with so many scenic options one could probably spend their entire shore leave here. She perused the vendors in the main part of town, then took a shuttle to the beach. Needing a bit of sand between her toes, she took off her socks and shoes and wiggled her feet into the sand. Oh, she was definitely coming back here, and the forecast tomorrow said it was supposed to be nice and sunny. Her skin was desperate for some sun, even if it was alien sun.
The landing pad to the Equatorial Range took visitors to a small mountain town called Deala, which sat at the base of the mountains on the south side. The landing pad into this town was placed so the mountain range towering above the town was the first thing seen. Often visited as the last pit stop, this town had everything one could need on their adventure into the mountains. Stores in the town provided supplies for hiking, climbing, camping, and more, and each store had their own recommendations for sights to see. The whole town was themed around mountain activities, and pictures of Mount Deala, the tallest peak the town was named after, could be seen almost everywhere.
"Holy shit..." Varinity breathed. She had to crane her neck back a little to really appreciate the view. It was almost daunting to see mountains this close. Off to the east stood Mount Deala, its peak glistening with snow.
What surprised her was that some of the buildings were actual log cabins. Some pamphlets she picked up emphasised a more natural approach to relaxation and a chance to get away from technology. One place, which offered hot tubs and saunas with magnificent views, even included little safe boxes in their lockers for keeping technology safe. She wasn't the person to risk parting with her communicator on an alien planet, but the description did mention that it was completely optional but that the premises wouldn't be responsible for water-damage.
Again, those small pillars. Some of them had been repurposed to allow a holocamera to sit on top, clearly giving in to the demands of the people. She squatted down slightly to see the view, noting that it provided quite the glamour shot of Mount Deala. She’d have to come back here and take a photo.
The city of Pomei was bustling with activity. Aliens of many races were present, chatting with each other and with locals about certain trades and other business. Street vendors were scattered around, offering food and trinkets. Despite the advanced technology around them, the streets themselves were a sort of cobblestone, preserved and maintained throughout the centuries. Museums, tours, and playgrounds provided various elements of interest to visitors. Lake Arone and Lake Vashe on either side of the city provided ample water activities, such as boating, kite boarding, and swimming. The lakes also left a distinctly humid tang in the air.
No matter where one stood in Pomei, the government buildings were always visible. Standing almost like futuristic castles, each of the four buildings had a holographic image of different crests, one representing each House. When closer to the government buildings, a series of pillars several metres tall could be seen surrounding the buildings, and a faint blue hue gave away the presence of forcefields serving as walls to the grounds.
Varinity looked at the warning on the PADD about protests in this city. Civil unrest had her on edge, but Teevs had assured that they tended to stay near the government buildings because, as he put it: "someone always has something to be mad about.” Looking up, she could just see the tops of the government buildings, and she raised a brow when she noticed the holographic symbols.
There were more guards here. Between the government buildings and the market, it made sense. More of them wore dark blue uniforms with silver accents, and a curious question asked around informed her that those were the royal guards.
"Excuse me," she asked, stopping a Lonian who was passing by. "I keep seeing these small pillars around. What are they, if you don't mind my asking?"
The woman paused as she looked at the alien, then at the pillar she was referencing. "Oh, those are security beacons," she explained. "Lady Sama's House uses them to identify crime. It doesn't happen very often, but sometimes people do try to steal from the vendors. Those simply alert the guards."
That made Varinity's heart skip a beat. They were... cameras? Sensors? "Oh gosh, I thought they were to point out historic or cultural things here. I've seen them in some really scenic places and thought they were to help tourists take pictures or something." It seemed like overkill with the number of guards she'd seen around.
The woman chuckled and shook her head. "Some do have nice views, but I'm afraid it is not their intended purpose, miss."
Varinity nodded slowly. "Thank you for saving me from the embarrassment of trying to balance my holocamera on top of one," she said with a smile. She glanced at the pillar again before asking, "because I'm not from this area of space, do you mind if I ask what was going on at the government buildings yesterday? I don't want to put myself in the middle of something."
The easygoing expression on the woman's face vanished. Her eyes darted around, spotting guards nearby, and she swallowed. "If you see a crowd like that," she replied, her voice low. "... avoid it."
Varinity caught on to the woman’s tension and subtly checked their surroundings, spotting some guards almost within earshot of normal conversation. "But why?" She asked, dropping her voice.
"Do not ask this so casually," the woman whisper-hissed through her teeth. "Just avoid it." Her eyes flicked to the guards again before she walked past Varinity and into the crowd, the conversation decidedly over.
Blinking, Varinity stared at the space where the woman was for a couple seconds before turning around. Maybe she could follow the woman to a safer area, but she was long gone, the moving people making it impossible to even try to track her. Her gaze went back to the pillar, the crosshair design giving her the paranoid impression that it was staring back.
