Mission Briefing Part One

Posted on 04 Jun 2009 @ 11:42am by Commodore Da`nal of the House of Varal & Colonel Stadi Andrus

1,656 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: M2: Aggressive Negotiations
Location: Observation lounge
Timeline: Day 2 14H00

OFF: If you receive this twice, we apologize, it had disappreared from the site and had to be reposted.

ON:

Da`nal and Isha, the Romulan Ambassador, were in the observation lounge as they awaited the arrival of the rest of the senior staff. Da`nal was at the head of the table and Isha was at the opposite end.

He was reviewing the last of the report that his new Yeoman had organized for him. After endorsing a few requests he handed the PADD back. "Thank you Mr. Nelson, that'll be all for now."

"Aye sir." As the Petty Officer stepped up to the door the first of the senior staff began to arrive.

Da`nal turned at the yeoman's 'Excuse me' to see who had arrived first.

Elek smiled at the yeoman and nodded, then looked into the room. He nodded to Da'nal and gave a small smile.

Looking at Isha, he nodded courteously, noting she was sat at the far end of the table from the captain. He deliberatly sat down in the seat to Isha's left, and carefully busied himself with the padd in his hand to ignore any looks she gave him. He wanted her to not feel uncomfortable around him, especially how their conversation had ended earlier.

Very well, Isha thought, tightening her fingers in her lap as she returned Elek's acknowledgement with the briefest nod and continued to gaze into the middle distance.

Da`nal raised an eyebrow. He had expected there to be a cool reception to the Ambassador's presence, but he'd also expected a more diplomatic response from his diplomatic officer. Especially considering his family ties. He wondered how the rest of his officers would react.

T'Pal walked onto the briefing room and immdiately became aware af a rather cool atmosphere. Her eyes went from Da'nal, whom she greeted briefly, to Silonez and then came to rest on the Romulan diplomat. She was inside the prisoner's mind and he had memories of this woman he wanted to hide. She studied her openly, but not unfriendly, simply watched her as she walked to her. "I am Lieutenant T'Pal, Chief of Security," she said introducing herself. She was interested to see how the diplomat would respond to her.

Isha half rose, it would still be a day or so before she could make the movement freely, particularly if protocol insisted on straining her ribs at each given opportunity. "e-Khellian i-Ramnau t'Illialhlae," Isha said breifly as she appraised the woman before she dropped back into her chair. T'Pal, she thought, Knows a little more about me than I do about her.

"Please forgive my indisposition," Isha said out loud, "There is only so much improvement that the best medical attention can achieve in one night."

T"Pal nodded. noticing that the woman had sharp observation skills, which she liked to hide. "That is understandable. I would like to see you after the meeting if it is possible," she asked her.

Isha swallowed and risked a glance along the table. "I see no reason why not, Lieutenant T'Pal," she said with a nod.

T'Pal caught her eyes briefly with a 'good" after which she proceeded to set her padd at the seat she intended to use. She went to the replicator to get some Vulcan spice tea, which she sipped as she stood at the viewport,while waiting for the rest of the crew to arrive. She wasn't very good at waiting, for that her Klingon half was just too restless.

Mari entered and looked around, her face unreadable as she took an empty seat and remained quiet as the others entered.


Elek leaned forward in his chair. "Ambassador," he said quietly, so that no-one else would overhear, hoping that the Romulan visitor had had time to adjust to his presence, especially after their earlier conversation, "how are you feeling now? Are your injuries healing?"

"My doctor has repaired the worst. Indeed, if I were less inclined to be myself I should probably be almost as good as new by now," Indeed, had she not thrown the padd at Gabriel she would not have torn the newly repaired muscle in her side.

Elek gave a wan smile. "I'm happy to hear that," he replied. He paused for a moment, then said, "Must have been a good shot."

The slightest smile twitched at the corner of Isha's mouth, "It was worth every twinge," she said. Isha knew he was part El-Aurian, he had told her that himself, but from his remark she thought that she had just worked out what his other part was; how else could he have known that it was a throw that had exacerbated the injury?

Elek shared the smile. It had been worth revealing his telepathic ability in order to even get that.

"I apologise," he said. "My Betazoid half comes with telepathic abilities. I live by strict guidelines that prohibit me just going into someone's mind and rooting out. That particular image, though, was right there, at the top of your mind." He tried, and failed, to hide the smile. "You must have vented some ... frustration ... by doing it."

"Causing Gabriel to bleed was remarkably satisfying," she admitted, "I don't think I've ever met a person whose company becomes less appealing with each and every meeting. Still, in future I shall be sure to think only the dullest thoughts in your presence; what will you think of me if you learn what great delight I take in such savagery."

Elek hesitated. "Dull thoughts don't become you, ma'am, and I mean that as a sincere compliment. But please be rest assured, I won't go delving in your mind without your express permission." The smile returned. "And I doubt that would be forthcoming."

"Nor would there be any need," Isha smirked. "I am quite the open book."

Elek smiled broadly at that statement, and leaned back comfortably in his chair. Despite himself, he liked the Romulan ambassador.

Rachel walked into the room next. She was sent by John, to represent engineering, for this briefing. She made her way to the back of the room, as she didn't know anyone, outside of engineering. Her goal was to take the notes Lieutenant McPherson would need, so he could devise up a game plan for their part of the mission.

She looked back to where the Captain was seated, and took her seat. He looked like he was about ready to begin the briefing.

Melanie had been confined to her quarters and sickbay since the incident with the pistol and this was the first time since then that she had wandered anywhere but those two places. Her eyes were sad, not filled with anger. As she walked into the room she closed her mind completely from everyone's thought. She sat away from the Ambassador to set the Captain at ease.

Da`nal turned his head as the doctor walked in. Noticing her selection of seats. The pistol which was nonfunctional was a small matter the hypo on the other hand....that was another matter. Taking his goblet and tapping it on the table. "Alright people...Down to business." He waited a moment as everyone refocused their attentions on him. "First I want to introduce, to those who have not yet met her yet, Ambassador Isha e-Khellian i-Ramnau t'lllialhlae of the Romulan Empire." Several heads turned to look her way. Some nodded, some didn't and the expressions that turned to face him were mixed....as he had expected.

"The Ambassador has requested the Federation transport her to Romulus to testify before the Romulan Senate concerning the attack on the station and the events leading up to it. We have been tasked with not only seeing that she arrives safely but to present the Federation's position. During the journey we will be examining evidence of the explosions from the sabotage on the station, data and communctions logs both provided by the Ambassador, and recovered from the debris surrounding the station. At this time Lt. Silonez is collecting the evidence as well as the bodies of those recovered.

"The position of the Romulan government is that this was; one - a nonsactioned act and two an internal power struggle of a prominent Romulan family. The Federation shall 'request' the Romulan Government's assistance in bring those, not only responsible for carrying out the attack, but for planning, supplying, or otherwise supporting this attack.

"As most of you have heard the station was infiltrated by Romulan agents. To that end I want securtiy on this ship tightened. If they were able to infiltrate the station it is very possible there are or have been agents aboard the Freedon as well." Looking to T'Pal. "I want all vital areas rechecked and place under 24 hour guard. I also want the Ambassador assigned an escort.

"We will be getting under way at 2100 hours tomorrow. During the voyage I want Engineering, Science to scrutenize every scrap of debris that we have for anything that might pin the sabotage to Romulan methods. Operations, begin analysis of the data recovered and the communications logs provided by the Ambassador. Medical, one of the bodies that will be transfered aboard was an agent killed in an attack on my children. I want him examined and identified, coordinate his identification with T'Pal. I want to know everything...who he was, who he was supposed to be, and if he was replacing someone. Security, your duties are obvious the safe guarding of our guests, physical evidence, and this ship.

"Mr. Silonez, Mr. Elek, and T'Pal; will continue their questioning of our other guest." Looking over to his Diplomatic officer. "Mr. Elek, in addition you and I will prepare our case, adjusting as needed, as other information comes to light.

T'Pal listened, making notes and acknowledged her tasks, her mind already working on whom to use where.

"Questions?"

TBC

 

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