Sovereignty, Security, and Welfare

Posted on 05 Jun 2014 @ 8:48pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Lieutenant Asahi Kita & Commander Scarlet Blake & Lieutenant Commander Dea Mialin & Lieutenant Min Zhao & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Commander Norvi Stace & Lieutenant Jacob Pendleton & Captain Jonathan Holliday & Gul Verrok & Lieutenant Commander Amynta Markos & Lieutenant JG Wakeham Paul Alasia Ph.D. & Lieutenant Theron Rhodes & Command Master Chief Markum Quinn

2,454 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Episode 06 - Legend of Souls
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 7, Observation Lounge
Timeline: MD 02 - 2000 hrs

Previously, on Final Preparations...

"I'm sure we will have many... cultural issues to discuss Gul Verrok. If you are ready to eat would you be so kind as to come this way?"

John grimaced as he broke into a smile - a fake, hollow smile, but a smile nonetheless. Stepping back he ushered the Cardassian delegation to proceed towards the door and on to the Observation lounge.

Quinn didn't say a word, instead kept his eyes forward, his shoulders back and his back straight. But in his mind he was thinking of the best way to shoot this son-of-a-bitch Gul out the airlock. Quinn would probably have no lip left to chew by the end of the night. Providing he could keep his trap shut that long.

And Now, the Continuation...

[ON]

Deck 7 - Observation Lounge

Asahi found the dress uniform to be extremely itchy, compared to his normal work uniform. Why the Captain found it necessary to have the engineer attending a fancy dinner with everyone else made absolutely no sense to him, senior officer or not. He was all for parties and learning about cultures, but usually Asahi got to choose what he was wearing.

As he entered the Observation Lounge, ignoring the fact that he seemed to be one of the first of the senior staff there, all the petite engineer could think about was how he couldn't wait to get himself out of this uniform when this was all over.

"You look very smart," Scarlet Blake said softly from one of the seats on the other side of the Observation Lounge. She'd arrived early and sat in the room in silence, watching the view. The calm before the storm. She'd needed it. It had been a struggle, coming to terms with the idea of breaking bread with Cardassians. Her parents would be turning in their graves.

Scarlet's face was cool and stoic, her emotion locked carefully back, even if she was even paler than usual for it. She had taken time to look her best though. It seemed important. To face this at her best. She also wore her dress uniform and ribbons, but her long, dark hair was worn down in loose curls across her shoulders, which she would never have done on duty. Her lips had been carefully painted a shade of darker red that matched her name sake, and her eyes had been attended with a smokey dark eyeshadow and black kohl eyeliner and mascara. Battlepaint? Maybe. Either way, the look seemed somewhat at odds with the controlled coolness of her expression.

Dea hoped this dinner would go ok. After checking her dress uniform and ribbons quickly she entered the observation lounge. There was something about events like this that were unsettling for her however that went with the territory given her career history. For now Dea took a deep breath waiting for the others to arrive.

Min stepped into the observation lounge. Like the other's she was dressed in Starfleet's dress whites but her uniform jacket included an allowance for her baby's bulge in her stomach. It wasn't the most comfortable uniform, but according to Jared made her look cute. A little bit of makeup to brighten her face and she was ready.

Finding a seat near Dea Mialin she sat down. "Evening Commander."

Asahi's cheeks flushed at the compliment, caught off guard by the XO's words. He opened his mouth to respond, when others flooded right in, causing his mouth to clamp shut. A small smile and nod of thanks in Blake's direction acknowledged her compliment, but he kept quiet otherwise.

Greeting Min and the others with a nod and a smile, "Good evening everyone." Nodding to the others present. Directing her attention back to Min for a bit. "I hope you can relax a bit this evening."

Min shrugged. "Never enjoyed Dress Whites but I'll make it work."

"They've never been my favorite either," Dea commented, "It part of duty though."

"This is true. And duty tonight is the dinner, as awkward as I suspect it will be."

Stace ran through the corridors covertly, stopping rather quickly as a golden shirted crewman came into view around the corner. The Gally was only eight decks thick and she still managed the need to rush to the dinner. If Norvi had attended a diplomatic dinner once she's been to a hundred. But she was also eager to peruse the nibbles. She strided to just outside the Observation Lounge door and halted, smoothing her embered hair down just before it opened. She spied a gaggle of familiar faces and made a beeline for them. "Evening," she said with a flustered smile.

Allyndra took a final look in the mirror before proceeding. She would not be late, too many raps on the hands had cured any apprentice of that habit in their youth. However, she wanted to make a suitable impression. As such, she had put on the rare bit of makeup, and to top it off had dusted her long gossamer wings with a bit of sparkle. She had combed her hair out and it lay in long soft folds the electric blue highlight shining against the black. The few that had ever met Akkadians found them to be by humanoid standards exotic but she had emphasized those looks. The uniform itself was mostly regulation but with the allowed modifications to accommodate someone with wings, it was the only concession to the occasion from being as exotic as possible.

Satisfied she made her way to the Observation Lounge, keeping her head and posture as she had been taught. She finally arrived just a little before the official start of the function. The only thing that would be awkward would the dinner itself.

Jacob was never late but in this case it was almost his first blemish. Having been caught up in the various findings and data they had gathered so far, he had lost track of time. Still, he dressed in his finest uniform, complete with his medals and regalia. He walked through the door at the last possible moment; his formal uniform enhancing his massive frame. He nodded to all as he made his way to the last open seat. His game face was on as he knew this dinner could be very important to their mission.

Led by Holliday and Saalm, the observation lounge doors swished open and a collection of Cardiassian officers slowly entered the expansive briefing room-turned-dining hall. With Quinn and Rhodes following them from behind, the newcomers stopped and took in the sight of their surroundings, then lingered for a short moment while introductions began.

John let go a sigh of relief as he spotted his assembled senior staff. There were a half dozen Cardassians but the Captain felt somewhat more at ease knowing that the bulk of his officers had assembled to join him.

"Gul Verrok I believe you know the majority of my senior staff? My First Officer, Commander Blake, my helmsman Lieutenant Commander Mialin, Chief Medical Officer Lieutenant Commander Warraquim, Chief of Ops, Lieutenant Zhao, Acting Chief Engineer, Lieutenant Kita, Lieutenant Stace our science officer, Lieutenant Pendleton - Chief Research Officer, Lieutenant Markos, my Intelligence officer, and Lieutenant Alasia, my Diplomatic officer."

John spoke, motioning to each of his senior officers as he worked his way around the gathering. After a moment he stepped aside to introduce the Cardassian delegation to his own team.

"For those of you who have not met our guests, this is Gul Verrok, Dal Glevon, Dalin Nentar, First Glinn Tratar, First Glinn Jamon, and Second Glinn Risot. I am sure we will all have much to discuss. If you and your delegation would like to take a seat?"

John motioned with his arm to the vacant chairs reserved for the Cardassian party at the table beside the place settings for himself and the Commodore.

Allyndra just watched the Cardassians, making a small polite curtsy as she was introduced. She had not been at the first meeting so he was new to her. Allyndra could not help the slight tension in her face as she was introduced. It had nothing to do with the Cardassian's, Akkadia had not been a participant in that altercation with them like the others and unlike the worlds that most of the others came from was not a member of the Federation. No, her tension was that everyone kept using her Guild House affiliation like it was some surname. She knew that most defaulted that way but it still hit something odd with her nerves.

Jacob nodded with respect to the Cardassian delegation when he was introduced. He could not wait to hear what they had to say.

Markos gave a small smile as she watched the Cardassians, but her eyes had an almost unnatural shine to them. Cardies. She could hide her hatred for them easily enough behind a smile. It felt almost irrational, watching them, that she could feel so much anger. So...like all feelings like that, she put it into a little box in her mind and shut it away.

Asahi felt like the odd man out, what with everyone else seemingly having some form of bias one way or the other. If this were ship talk, the engineer had a million opinions about how Cardassians built their ships and how their tech could have possibly benefitted from some form of upgrade, but this was not the place, especially if they were trying to make a good impression. Instead, he smiled and nodded as he was trained to do.

The group of Cardassians exchanged quick glances and a few nods with their Federation counterparts, after which Verrok took the indicated seat which Holliday had offered. The rest of his personnel followed suit, and soon they were sitting on their side of the table. An awkward silence began to briefly manifest before the Gul initiated some casual conversation.

"Thank you, Captain. Your accommodations are very elaborate," Verrok remarked as his dark eyes observed the silver cutlery and cloth napkins on the table as well as some nearby chafing dishes. "Do you often entertain foreign delegations on board your ship?"

Paul could barely stifle his laughter at the word "elaborate" but despite some red cheeks and his biting his lip, managed to hold it together.

Dea greeted the Cardassians when she was introduced. It was after all proper protocol. One way or another she responded with proper professionalism.

John cleared his throat before taking a gulp from a glass of water thankfully nearby, it's cool, refreshing presence soothing the desert that was currently his throat.

"Not often Gul Verrok - however it is Starfleet protocol to be able to support diplomatic functions on any vessel as the situation requires. Do Cardassian vessels not have similar protocols?"

Quinn kept his comments to himself, but his mind was racing with rage. These animals didn't know the first thing about diplomacy.

One of Verrok's aides, Tratar, seemed to almost scoff at the question... albeit with restraint. "Aldara is a warship, one which takes pride in striking fear into insurgents and anyone else who would challenge the Cardassian Union," he responded with a deep, firm, and confident voice. "Our mission is not one of diplomacy...that is a duty for the old men at Central Command to take care of."

Tratar's remark elicited some smirks and chuckles amongst the rest of the Cardassians, including Verrok who eventually turned to Holliday to clarify.

"I believe what my tactical officer is attempting to say, is that diplomacy is not our primary mission. We are not explorers like you, captain. Our priority lies within the Cardassian Union and our efforts to rebuild it. We do not concern ourselves with meeting new species, hosting conferences, or entertaining delegations...we have much more pressing matters to attend to. Our starships -- the Galor Class -- are an extension of our empire, and reflect our needs," Verrok explained in quite possibly the vaguest terms possible.

Scarlet arched an eyebrow at the reply, but wasn't surprised. She knew something of Cardassians. She also knew there had been a hope when the Cardassians had been forced back and put in a position of having to rebuild that they might end up rebuilding in a way that softened their culture and foreign policy. Scarlet, however, wasn't convinced that had happened. She supposed this mission could be a testing ground for that theory. "And what would those... needs be?" she asked lightly, a small smile pulling at her crimson painted lips as she tilted her head ever so slightly, holding his gaze without trouble.

Verrok looked at the blue-eyed first officer with intrigue but also cautiousness. Holliday had been easy for him to understand; a man of duty and (what he perceived) only duty. But Commander Blake...she appeared wiser and more competent than her attractive looks suggested.

"The needs of the people, of course," he answered with his own small smile as he locked eyes with her. "Sovereignty, security, and welfare."

Scarlet pursed her lips for just a moment at the words, keeping his gaze as she contemplated it. "And who could argue with such fine principles," she finally looked to Holiday and Saalm instead. "If I may, Captain and Commodore? It seems the right note on which to base the first toast of the evening..." she picked her glass up, already half full with the first wine of the night. "To sovereignty, security and welfare...." she lifted her glass higher in the toast, to invite others to do the same and join the toast, but waited for both Captains and Commodore to take the first sip.

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

CDRE Lirha Saalm
Mission Advisor
USS Galileo

CMDR Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo

LT JG Wakeham Paul Alasia
Diplomatic Officer
USS Galileo

LT Asahi Kita
[Acting] Chief Engineering Officer
USS Galileo

LT Jacob Pendleton
Chief Research Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Norvi Stace
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

Lt. Theron Rhodes
Chief Security Officer
USS Galileo

Lt Cmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

Command Master Chief Markum Quinn
Chief of the Boat
USS Galileo

CAPT Jonathan Holliday
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

LCDR Dea Mialin
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Galileo

LT Min Zhao
Chief Operations Officer
USS Galileo

LT Amynta Markos
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Galileo

Gul Verrok
Commanding Officer
CDS Aldara
[PNPC - Saalm]

First Glinn Tratar
Chief Tactical Officer
CDS Aldara
[PNPC - Saalm]

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