RP Log: A Very Vexed Diplomat
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Stardate:
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| 2023-12-29 13:53 | |
- Chief of Diplomatic Corps Office
- The burgundy carpets, the three small armchairs to one corner and the large desk in the opposite corner give this room a sense of dualitythe large tan and burgundy desk with its large, high backed chair behind it and the two smaller seats in front imparts a sense of professionalism. This is offset by the cream coloured and cushioned armchairs in other corner, suggesting that more personal meetings are also often conducted here. A replicator is set into the wall near the armchairs, and on the opposite side of the room are several shelves. There is an LCARS panel behind the desk.
Svetzvani looks up from her desk to see who it is.
T'Shaav pauses in the doorway. "I hope I am not disturbing you, Commodore. I was leaving to assume my duties at Deep Space 9, and I thought to greet you before I departed," the Vulcan captain says.
Svetzvani jumps to her feet. "T'Shaav!" she exclaims. "I heard that you were being assigned to DS9, but I didn't know you were here on Spacedock. How are you?" She comes around her desk to greet the Vulcan and usher her to a chair.
T'Shaav sits down, more relaxed than she was in the last office she visited. "I am quite well. I was here to receive a briefing from Admiral Somyk," she explains. "And you?"
Svetzvani blinks. "Admiral Somyk," she says, then circles back to her own side of the desk. "Are you at liberty to discuss your meeting with the Admiral, by chance?"
"I am afraid not," she says. "He began by informing me that my brief was most highly classified. So I had best err on the side of caution. Suffice it to say, even if I could suffer the state of mind, I would not experience boredom there."
Svetzvani glances at the open door, then the rest of the office. She lets out a small sigh, then asks, "Would you be willing to come with me to my ship for a moment? There's something I'd like to talk to you about, and I'm not sure this is the right place."
T'Shaav stands. "Of course," she says.
Commodore Svetzvani taps a control on Desktop Terminal.
Svetzvani gets to her feet and leads the way.
- Conference Room <USS Da Vinci NCC-60456>
- The conference room is situated in the center of the deck, and therefor has no external viewports. Instead the walls have been adorned with various artwork, nearly all of which is of historic engineering feats, such as the launch of the first rocket from Earth, Spacedock's construction, an early Vulcan cruiser, and so on.
- In the center of the room is a large rectangular wooden table surrounded by ten high-backed leather chairs. In the center of the table is a retractable viewscreen, controllable from any of the tabletop consoles at each chair.
"I am understandably curious," T'Shaav says as she enters the room and the door closes.
"No doubt you are," Tink replies. She motions to a seat near the head of the table, then takes the seat at the head herself. "Please, make yourself comfortable and I'll explain."
T'Shaav takes the indicated chair and sits in an attentive, but not necessarily military-like posture. She steeples her fingers before her and gives you her undivided attention.
"I'm going to tell you of some things that have come to my attention which have sparked some concerns. If there's anything you are able to say or do to alleviate some of those concerns, you're welcome to do so. If not, then not. Are we clear on that point?", Tink says.
"As Delevian Crystal," T'Shaav says, nodding. "Please continue."
Svetzvani leans back in her chair. Just as she's about to start speaking, the door swooshes open and a steward enters with a tea tray. He sets it down between the two officers and looks to Tink with a questioning expression. She laughs lightly to herself and shakes her head. The young man nods, offers a small bow, then turns and leaves the room. On the tray is a kettle full of water kept at a boiling temperature by a hot plate, a couple of cups and saucers, and an assortment of small containers with various species of tea leaves, including a few Vulcan varieties. Tink gestures to the tray. "After you," she says. "Please help yourself."
T'Shaav considers, pours some water, and sets a Bajoran blend to steep. Perhaps appropriate. "Thank you," she says.
Svetzvani waits until you're done, then she starts pouring for herself. "It all began," she says. "When I was approached by a member of the Klingon High Council recently. He first congratulated us on our recent expansion of territory, as he put it, into Cardassian territory. This was news to me." She finishes preparing her cup and sets it on a saucer in front of her, letting it cool. "And then it was pointed out to me that the previously unclaimed space one would normally cross on a direct path between Bajor and the Lya system has been claimed now by The Federation. Another expansion? Or perhaps part of the same one? I have no idea." She pauses to give you a chance to interject if you like.
T'Shaav listens. "Please continue," she invites.
"Even more recently," Tink says. "I've learned of a great many more officers being turned out by the academy than is usual. Combining this with the fact that we're building new shipyards, presumibly so we can build more ships more quickly, and the fact that our Klingon friends have also expressed their concern about the fact that we're building what seems primarily to be combat vessels, ships of war, and we have what looks like an aggressive territory grabbed followed by a military build-up that we haven't seen since the days of Admiral Hauser and his humanists." She picks up her tea cup and sips lightly.
T'Shaav nods. "I am," she says carefully, "newly aware of all of these items. I can tell you, as it was explained to me, that the people the academy is being encouraged to recruit are of the engineering and science types. Admiral Somyk believes that Starfleet is intent on revitalizing exploration, not militarism or offense. I know of the formerly unaligned territories now under Federation jurisdiction, and the admiral suggested that the Klingons are uneasy."
"Well, he should. I told him as much," Tink says dryly.
T'Shaav nods. "Just so," she says. "How uneasy are the Klingons and Cardassians?"
Svetzvani sips her tea again. "I haven't spoken with the Cardassians yet," she says. "That's something I intend to do very soon. I'm hoping they're still monitoring the frequency we established between us and the Detapa Council back during the Sorod fiasco." She sighs and sets down her cup. "Look, I understand classified. I'm not trying to stick my nose where it doesn't belong. If anything, I'm trying to get people to realize that my nose belongs in whatever the hell is going on. Somyk won't tell me anything other than it's a need-to-know situation, and I don't need-to-know, apparently. I disagree. Our neighbors, the Klingons, have already begun asking questions. Others will be doing the same very soon, I'm sure. As Chief of the Diplomatic Corps, I'm the one who ultimately, in Starfleet at least, will be charged with fielding the questions that our activities are going to precipitate. But I can't do that effectively if I'm not in the loop. How can I set our neighbors' minds at ease if I have no answers to give them? If I make up an excuse that then turns out to be obviously untrue later, then our relationships have been damaged. All I'm trying to do here is to the best job that I can, and I'm getting no support from those who are apparently intent on carrying out policies without giving their own people a warning about what might be about to happen." She frowns and stops talking. She's said too much already.
T'Shaav nods. "I understand your concerns, and I do not envy you the position you are in," she says. "I know about the corridor between Lya and Deep Space 9 of which you are speaking, but not ultimately why it was created." A beat. "I recall a time when we could not be sure whom to trust in Command. When many admirals were suspect. And rightly so." A beat. "There were times when I took things to Somyk because I did not know where else to go, and I was not disappointed. I do not think Somyk intends to oversee a militaristic Starfleet. And I agree with you that your being briefed in more would help you."
Tink's lips twist as if tasting something sour. "Yeah, I know. I sound like I'm just complaining. Maybe I am. But here's the thing. Now that you're taking over at DS9, and congratulations on that by the way, I would ask that if you observe anything that concerns you, something that you believe may indeed fall into my professional sphere, that you'll keep me informed. Maybe I'm being paranoid. But I prefer to see it as exercising an abundance of caution, given our not-so-distant past."
T'Shaav nods. "My command gives me broad latitude in certain areas," she says. "I will inform you of anything I am able to. I hope you will come there to visit the sector at some point."
Svetzvani grins. "I make the rounds," she says. "I was just recently out at Kressari I and Capella IV. And depending on what the Cardassians have to say, I may be stopping in at DS9 as a temporary base of operations if I need to meet with them in person." A slight pause and she asks, "Will you pass on my concerns and request for information to Ki'Vek as well? I saw that she's taking over at Antares."
T'Shaav nods. "I will do so," she says. "Her command is under my station's zone of protection. Which is to say, if she comes under attack, I have explicit orders to do something about it. I have to tell her this, and I will pass on your concerns in full."
Svetzvani sighs. "I'm probably overreacting, but thank you. I appreciate your time and your cooperation, should it become necessary."
T'Shaav gazes at you for a long, level moment with zero trace of expression. "You are my superior officer. You are also my friend. I have been, and always shall be yours." She stands.
Svetzvani smiles and gets to her feet. "Thank you, T'Shaav. How are you getting out to DS9? Do you need a lift?"
T'Shaav shakes her head. "No, thank you. I brought the USS Monitor from the station."
Svetzvani says, "Will you be beaming directly to your ship from here then? We're in orbit of Earth, not in a docking port at Spacedock."
T'Shaav says, "I should be able to transport from this location. If that is agreeable to you."
Svetzvani reaches out her hand. "Thanks again, T'Shaav. And I wish you the best in your new assignment."
T'Shaav bows slightly and touches her badge.