Cultural Exchange (Part 2 of 3)

Posted on 06 Jun 2012 @ 2:10pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Captain Jonathan Holliday & Lieutenant JG Kestra Orexil & Ensign Im'er Mor'an & Ambassador Si'tar Del'an & Ansen Pawlak

3,328 words; about a 17 minute read

Mission: Episode 01 - Project Sienna
Location: USS Galileo - Observation Lounge
Timeline: MD 05 - 1945 hrs

Previously...

"Actually ma'am, I was born on Mars, or Sol IV as its otherwise known, I only went to Earth when I attended the Academy. Whilst its true that Earth was an important founding member of the Federation, I personally do not believe it would never have formed if we hadn't originally brought the other founders together. Somewhere, somehow, people would have banded together in the same way."

"In the same way?" Del'an repeated, sipping her drink. "Perhaps... but I have come to know some of your history in the beginning of the Federation, such as the war between the Andorians and Vulcans. Such a founding explains much about the history of your people. Earth was a stone, Commander, and the ripples wash over the Alpha Quadrant from then until now and into the future."

And Now, the Continuation...

[ON]

As she happily ate away at the wonderful meal their chef had prepared, Lirha smiled as she listened to the cultural exchange developing before her. If there was ever a time to be proud of her mission as a Starfleet captain, now was one of them. Seeing the different races all assembled at the same table and pleasantly conversing was a humbling sight to behold. After taking a few more bites of her fish and buttery pastry, she brought her napkin to her chin and delicately wiped her mouth before speaking. "I'm inclined to agree with Si'tar Del'an," she said, "Perhaps the Federation would have still been founded, but it would only be a shadow of what it currently is." she added, giving her opinion on the matter. "Humans are a very resilient and resourceful species, and their greatest strength lies in their curiosity and desire to understand the unknown. Out of the original founding races of the Federation, only Humans were able to bring them all together and help set aside their differences. A very impressive feat, in my opinion." she said, then took a long sip of chardonnay.

Ansen smiled to himself as he refilled glasses, pouring water and wine, and silently offering to take finished glasses away. Resilient and resourceful. Weren't they all? Wasn't that how every Federation species had managed to devise some method of space travel, some means of communicating and collaborating with other intelligent species? It was also interesting to learn that the XO wasn't from Earth. How many humans, he wondered, were wandering around space without real roots to their homeworld? Taking his tray, he slipped back into the kitchen to prepare the next course.

Mor'a silently listened to the happenings around her. She didn't speak much during gatherings such as these, but now she felt the need to speak up and agree with her captain.

"I lived in Arun R'Lantha my whole life," she said, "Until I joined the Academy. I knew other species existed, but never had the honor of meeting them. Once on Earth I could simply not believe the intensity of the human need to discover. I was reading about their history and the fight to be the first to reach the Moon. So intent were they to learn and discover that nations were against one another. But you are correct, Captain. Human are one of the most resourceful races I've come in contact with."

"They are a resourceful people," Kestra agreed, sipping from her glass. "Part of what makes the Federation great is that, in working together, all our races have joined hands for the betterment of the space we inhabit. And because of that, we are encouraged to put our noblest traits to the fore. In time, with the addition of more and more minds, one hopes we will continue to hone our interests and abilities, and deepen the wisdom that guides us on how to use those skills."

"What do you do when you encounter a race which has its own star systems under their control?" Del'an asked, "I know that much of your territory is unexplored."

Kestra sipped her wine silently and took a bite of the feast, allowing her commanding officers to take the field of answering political questions. The oscoid was cooked perfectly; firm to the touch of her fork and melting like butter as it touched her tongue. The young man certainly seemed to have a gift.

"The Federation currently happens to be in a period of expansion, mostly due to the recent collapse of the Romulan Empire." Lirha explained as she looked up after taking another bit of fish. "Because of this, even more unexplored systems are now under our influence, and it is the job of starships like Galileo to explore these territories and conduct planetary surveys. The Federation has a prime directive, also known as General Order One, which prohibits all Starfleet and associated civilian personnel from interfering with the affairs or natural development of another culture." she said, then paused to take a long sip of wine.

"Ah, yes, the Prime Directive," Del'an said with a slight smile, "I have never seen a first principle like that of the Federation. How do the Romulans feel about Starfleet entering what was once their territory?"

The captain cleared her throat as she prepared to speak. It was interesting that the Ta'rkan observer had asked about the Romulans, as Lirha had spent the last several years as an intelligence officer dealing with that same question and had a rather unique opinion on the matter. "With the destruction of their homeworld, the Empire was dealt a crippling blow. They lost most of their government and infrastructure, and are currently struggling to maintain control of the few worlds still under their influence." she explained. "The power of the Romulan Empire has always been their fleet, which is still mostly intact but scattered across their territory with too few resources for efficient command and control. The Klingon Empire knows this and has begun a campaign of conquest, invading and claiming entire sectors for themselves." she said, then paused to take another long sip of wine and empty her glass. "I suppose what I'm trying to say is, that when put in perspective, the Romulans have much greater concerns at the moment than the few colonies they have lost to the Federation."

Ansen peeked out of the door, checking on plates and glasses. Quietly, he began to retrieve the empty plates and refill the empty glasses, then headed back into the kitchen to bring out the next course. "Lummi Island Spiny Lobe-fish, with lemon thyme, in a squash blossom," he explained as he set down the plates and poured the third wine course, a light pinot gris.

Del'an gave Ansen a smile as she directed her conversation to the captain. "But do the Romulans accept this? What authorities remain, do they attempt to fight both the Federation and the Klingons?"

Lirha looked down at the new course in front of her and silently hummed to herself, anxious to cut into the delicious-looking filet. Looking back at Del'an, she attempted to answer her question before taking a bite. "The Romulans will fight if provoked, but a prolonged conflict is not in their interests at the moment, as they do not have the resources to be successful. It is a volatile situation, to say she least." she said, then cut into the moist lobe-fish and closed her eyes as she began to chew. "Mmm.." she muttered.

"I understand," Del'an said. She too picked up her utensils and prepared to enjoy the next course that had been set before them. The Tarkannan woman's movements were quick, deft. She remained elegant even in eating her dinner. Her eyes remained raised to her dinner companions, however.

"If anything, the biggest threat the Federation is likely to face any time soon is from any sort of destabilization in the Klingon Empire... as far as I can see anyway."

John chimed in as he made his first attack on the next course. He had to admit, regardless of how fancy and unusual the food may have been, it certainly tasted good to him. Probably not as nutritious as a ration pack or a standard nutritional supplement that was preferred in the field, at least by tactical officers, but it was good to let go of rules and enjoy the finer elements of life.

"With the amount of territory that they suddenly have access to without the full weight of the Romulan Star Empire holding them back, it seems our allies are becoming as bloodthirsty and conquest-orientated as they ever were. I just hope they remember the Khitomer Accords..."

"The Klingons are warriors," Del'an noted, "Do the Khitomer Accords allow them to attack others who are not allies? If they do not, I foresee war with the Klingons again some day. You have tasted it here already, have you not?" How she knew what had transpired between the bridge officers and the Na'vi she did not say.

Kestra left her lower lip on the wine glass, her mouth slightly agape; she was breathing in more than the fragrant scent of the fermented grape juice. Del'an was an interesting woman, still and serene as the black expanse of space and just as hard to read. What was she up to, Kestra wondered. "The Empire left the Khitomer Accords behind once without a second thought. If the Accords are no longer valuable to their needs, they'll leave them behind again," she said thoughtfully. "At the very least, we can count on the Empire to give notice before it breaks the treaty. They did so before. There's no honor in shooting an enemy in the back." She looked at the others calmly. "However, for the time being, I believe reason still trumps bloodlust on the grand scheme in the Klingon courts. Let us pray it remains so."

"Klingons were never ruled by bloodlust," Mor'an said, "As war-like as the Klingons are, they do not fight without a reason. That, too, is dishonorable. The Klingon people are ruled by nothing other than honor."

Del'an nodded, the tiniest smile directed at her student. "Mor'an is correct. To deal with the Klingons, you must understand them. It is not that they maintain the Khitomer Accords through a sense of their usefulness, but rather through a sense of honor. If they break them, it is likely for what they see as honorable reasons. They are your greatest allies, but if they see war with the Federation as honorable, they will become your greatest enemies." For someone who was not a member of the federation, the Tarkannan woman seemed to have a great deal of knowledge about Alpha Quadrant politics.

No one else may have seen it, but Mor'an caught the tiny little smile that her mentor gave her. After years of training with the woman, Mor'an could read her facial expressions better then anyone. That is to say, when Del'an allowed her face to be read. Right now, she did. And she was pleased with her student.

"I did not say that they were ruled by it," Kestra murmured with a slight tilt of her brow to the two Tarkannan. "But for the Klingon, there is no shame in taking pleasure from the kill. It is a show of their prowess and a great honor to their ancestors to be strong and successful in battle. There are those among the Empire who fear that the Khitomer Accords weaken the empire by reigning in the natural instinct to expand and rule justly. More than a few, from what my mentor has told me. They chose to break the treaty before because the Federation condemned them for invading the Cardassian Union when they felt compelled to do so. Now they begin to invade the Romulan Empire. And just as before, the Federation will likely condemn them if they expand on that wish. And so," Kestra returned to her original point, "the question becomes one of the leadership of the Empire. Whether they will honor a treaty once broken that seeks to hold them back from their natural impulses and the expansion of their nation, or whether they will seek instead the honor of battle. They are both honorable paths and worthy ones, but which choice they make will make a great of difference to the rest of us. I do not believe that they wish for war with the Federation, but if their will is to conquer the remains of the Romulan Empire, the Federation will likely take a stand against them. And in that, we risk chaos. It is a circumstance not to be taken lightly."

Del'an sipped her wine, regarding Kestra thoughtfully as she spoke. When the girl had concluded, she lowered her glass to the table. "Is it true, though?" Del'an asked, "Do the Khitomer Accords weaken the Empire? Does peace weaken the Klingon people?"

"I don't believe there is an easy answer to that," Kestra said solemnly. "I only know that there are those that believe it to be so. They are a mighty force. Their traditions and beliefs remain strong. But an army without war leads to civil unrest. They are denied the right to cultivate subspace weapons. They are denied the right to seek the honorable battles where they are to be found. I worked alongside many Klingons on my last ship. There are many concerns, over whether the Empire will dissolve into civil war as they once did, over whether they will break off from the Federation alliance and how that will affect those who have found an honorable life in Starfleet. Perhaps neither will happen, and they will simply find new paths to honor in peace, but that, too, is a kind of death in a way."

"In any regard..." John piped up, having allowed the conversation to develop a little since his last retort. It was certainly interesting to see the degree to which personal opinions could sway political viewpoints. He personally looked at it from a combative point of view, whilst their honoured guest seemed to have a more sociological or political view to the problem. As far as Holliday was concerned, the Klingons could find honour in anything if they put their minds to it, regardless of the outcome. Invading a people who were already weakened by a natural disaster was in no way honourable as far as he was concerned, but to the Klingons, they were getting revenge on an enemy that had been waiting for many years to finally come around.

"We are not here to debate our own viewpoints on Alpha Quadrant politics... that's what the diplomats are for... as long as we do our bit not to cause any offence or set off any conflict ourselves... and as long as the rest of Starfleet do the same... I do not foresee any... immediate problems."

"Perhaps not, commander," Del'an conceded, sounding quite distinctly like she knew something more than everyone else did on the subject. That may or may not have been true, but she kept it to herself and swiftly took the conversation in another direction. "Commander, were you not in security before taking a command position? Men and women like you, and you, Lieutenant Orexil," though she was looking at Mor'an, "fascinate me, devoting your lives to the arts of... battle."

Kestra sipped her wine, flattening her bare feet on the cool floor under the table. The Tarkannan played a long, complicated game, but her goals were shrouded in mystery. Still, while the misunderstanding included her, the question had been aimed at the Commander, so she held her peace and her own inscrutable expression for now, taking a bite of the fish on her plate and luxuriating in the subtle flavor and texture of it.

Mor'an caught Del'an's gaze. Was she displeased with her pupil's position on the ship? "It is not the art of battle that we are devoted to," Mor'an said, "It is the art of taking our cremates lives in our hands and being able to protect them."

Across the table, Kestra's eyes gleamed with pride and she lifted her glass, just a bit, in a subtle toast to her bright cadet. She knew the young woman wasn't hers - not really; technically, she belonged to Command, and that was fine. But she was Security, too, and she understood the point of her work that so few people really grasped. The point beyond the phasers and the torpedoes and knowing the right combination of hand to hand moves to throw a larger opponent. She had the heart for it. And that pleased Kestra to no end.

Del'an smiled, unphased by what might seem to be a rebuttal, of course. In fact, she seemed pleased with the younger Tarkannan's response. "You understand, Mor'an, this is what the true art of battle consists in, fighting to protect. It is not the work of war but the fire that purifies the disease war."

Taking a sip from his wine glass, John allowed the flavour to linger on his tongue for a few moments before swallowing, thinking back to his previous postings within the fleet. He had indeed worked in a few different disciplines in his time, security, tactical, the academy, and now command....it had indeed been a change of fortune that his much younger self could never have seen coming.

"You are indeed correct ma'am... I started my career in security, before moving to Tactical, and eventually to where I am today. People may not like it... but there is always a need for soldiers, they may not always be used, or want to be used, but they make an effective deterrent against further aggression... that's why I serve. Not necessarily to engage our enemies or to wage war, but to prove that Starfleet is here to protect it's people... that we're more than just the words coming out of our mouths."

"I should enjoy seeing the Galileo's security forces," the Tarkannan elder declared. She looked back and fourth between her student and the two other security officers. "Has Mor'an shown you what our Order teaches in the ways of battle?"

"I've had the pleasure of seeing her in action many times during tactical exercises; she's quite keen," Kestra smiled at Mor'an as she spoke. "Is that what you mean?"

"It depends on what she has chosen to reveal," the woman's eyes turned to Mor'an questioningly.

Lirha finished a forkful of food and looked up from her plate with an inquisitive look directed towards the young cadet. She was now interested to know what secretive knowledge Mor'an possessed about combat techniques. Wiping her mouth with her napkin, she took a long drink of ice water then clasped her hands together in her lap in curiosity.

If there was one thing Mor'an did not like about her mentor, it was when Del'an put her on the spot. It kept her on her toes, to be sure. The young Tarkannan sat for a moment in thought as she normally did before speaking in front of Del'an. "Combat is not all physical," Mor'an said eventually, "Most think that it is, but in reality everything is in your mind. Your mind is the most difficult part of yourself to train, but once it is, it is also the hardest for your opponent to overcome. A strong mind and a strong will turns into a strong body. As long as you remember that, you will be a formidable foe."

Del'an nodded her head in consent, granting her student a smile.

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

CMDR Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

Lt Cmdr Jonathan Holliday
Executive Officer
USS Galileo

LTJG Kestra Orexil
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

Ansen Pawlak (pNPC Lilou Peers)
Chef
USS Galileo

Si'tar Del'an
VIP
played by Chauncey William Remington III

Cadet Senior Grade Im'er Mor'an
Red Squad Intern
USS Galileo

RSS Feed