RP Log: Propeganda? Who knows?
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| 2022-12-18 19:07 | |
Pure darkness. Perfect stillness. Empty silence but for a continual rumbling hum, ubiquitous and inescapable. No living thing makes a home here. No inanimate objects rest in storage, discarded or forgotten. It's a dormant and sepulchral place where nothing happens. Until it isn't. The darkness is suddenly banished by a wash of soft light, the silence impaled by a sharp hiss and a heavy mechanical whine which quickly rises in pitch to a steady drone of gears and electrical actuators. This drone lasts only a second or two before winding back down to nothing, yet everything has changed. Beings have invaded, moving quickly and with purpose. Their footsteps echo in the open space. Their chattering voices and gesticulating extremities bring disturbance and disorder to what was, only moments ago, a near sensory depriving example of the condition of profound unchange.
Ketrinca Svetzvani steps onto the holodeck carrying a PADD in one hand. Her long red hair is tightly and neatly arranged in a braid that starts high on the back of her head and hangs straight down her spine, its carefully manicured end resting at the slight dip in the small of her back. Those who are familiar with her might detect in her bright blue eyes some signs of mild fatigue, but most others would likely see in those same eyes the unmistakable presence of focused determination. "It doesn't have to be elaborate, Woody," she says. "It just has to look official. Simple is better in this case."
Smiling down at her, Woody asks, "But Tink, if it only has to look official and not fancy, why are you wearing your dress uniform?" His high pitched, almost squeaky voice surprising to most people when they first hear him speak. It seems remarkably incongruous spilling out of his thin, but wide-shouldered and nearly seven-foot tall frame.
Tink rolls her eyes. "That's different and you know it," she says with a shake of her head. "We're trying to get a message across to some people who have difficulty trusting us. The more formal I can appear, the more convinced they are likely to be that I'm in a position to keep any promises I make."
"But Tink, why can't I just..."
Svetzvani stops as she reaches what is roughly the center of the holodeck, then turns to face her very tall companion. "Because, Woody, there aren't going to be any awards for creativity in set design on this. It's business, not one of your off-duty theatrical holoplays." Seeing his smile fade into a hurt expression she sighs. Instinctively reaching out to take his huge dark black hand in her small pale one, she peers up at him. "Listen, I'm sorry," she says in a softer tone. "I'm not knocking your recreational activities. It's just that this isn't the time for tapestries and flowing drapes, or ribbons and bows and glittering golden tassels. I'm giving a speech. I just need a solid background and a podium with the Federation and Starfleet insignia on it. Next time, you can spruce things up a bit if you want. But right now, I just need it to be simple."
The big man nods, resigned. "You know this might damage my good name? I have a reputation to uphold. Woodlyn Jakes doesn't put out amateur-quality material."
Smiling, Tink says, "I know, Woody. And maybe because of that, no one will recognize this as a Jakes product. Your secret will be safe with me. Now come on, let's get to work."
In only a few more minutes a small stage has appeared. It has a dark blue backdrop and a matching podium trimmed in silver. Tink takes her place at the podium and looks over to Jakes at the arch control panel. "Ready, Woody?" she asks, then at a nod from her engineer she orders the computer to begin recording. She takes a deep breath, looks at the visual target that keeps her gaze in the right place, and begins to speak.
"Good evening. My name is Ketrinca Svetzvani. I am the Deputy Chief of the Starfleet Diplomatic Corps. I bid greetings and well wishes on behalf of the Federation to the people of the Cardassian Union. I'm speaking to you tonight in an effort to promote understanding and cooperation between our two governments. We in the Federation are your neighbors, concerned for your welfare, but also respectful of your sovereignty and right to determine the path upon which to pursue your own destiny. We recognize that whatever choices you make in that pursuit are yours alone, and we make no claims to influence over you in such matters. We would, however, like to draw your attention to some options at your disposal of which you may otherwise not be aware."
"We are well aware that many Cardassian colonies are in great need of food, medical supplies, and other humanitarian aid. We have heard their calls for help. We have no greater wish than to deliver what supplies we have to those desperate and starving worlds. Indeed, many of our citizens have done so without official authorization from either government, often at risk of their own lives and livelihoods, out of individual compassion and personal principle. Those people represent the best intentions and compulsions which are at the heart of the Federation's founding philosophies."
"Also integrated into that foundation, however, is a constraint, placed upon ourselves at the conception of our government, which insures that we avoid imposing our beliefs, our values, our ideals, onto societies and civilizations unwilling to accept them. It is a safeguard that stresses the sanctity of the right of other peoples to self-govern, rather than the perceived needs of our own damaging special interests. It is a vital tool which is designed to keep us from interfering in the natural development of other cultures. This constraint, well-intentioned as it may be, is also a double edged sword. For in situations such as the one we currently observe in the Cardassian Union, inflicted upon the Cardassian people by those who claimed for themselves the responsibility of those same people's welfare, we are prevented by our own philosophy from carrying out independent actions which may influence the civil, military, or societal development of the affected systems."
"There is a relatively simple solution to this problem. Though we are forbidden to take independent action, our charter allows us to step in when or if we are asked to do so by the recognized government of the people whom would be directly affected by any actions we might take. Although the Detapa Council has been exiled by Sorod and the military forces loyal to him, the Federation still recognizes the Council as the legitimate governing body of the Cardassian Union. Should the Detapa Council, or members of that body, request humanitarian aid from us, we stand ready to engage in open relief efforts. These efforts would include as many ships as we can find to carry as much cargo as they will hold, as well as the escort vessels to help insure their safe arrival to their intended destinations. Any relief efforts we undertake will continue only until it is no longer needed, or until we are asked by the legitimate Cardassian government to discontinue those operations."
"I speak now directly to the Cardassian citizens. The suffering inflicted on you by Sorod and his military followers is nothing short of a travesty. Our hearts go out to you in this, your time of deepest need. It is our fervent hope that your civilian leaders will accept our offer of aid and allow us to begin to mitigate your pain. We have no interest in claiming territory from the Cardassian Union, nor do we expect compensation for any aid we are permitted to provide. Your health and survival is our only concern. Please, if you are willing to accept our help, we encourage you to peacefully urge your appropriate leadership to contact us. The people of the Federation are with you in spirit. Should we be allowed to do so, we will also be with you in body, arms loaded with the supplies you need for yourselves and your suffering families. Our hands are extended in friendship, as are our hearts. The Federation stands ready and waiting to help you. With deepest respect and our very best wishes, I bid you farewell."
After a few seconds, Jakes speaks up. "Recording stopped," he says.
Tink lets out a long breath and steps down off of the little stage. "Let's have a look," she says, and the two officers watch the recording together. When it's finished she nods to herself. "Alright, get it transferred to comms and issued on the right frequencies. I want it broadcast to Cardassians and Federation feeds alike. Repeat it once every two hours on the Cardassian feeds for the next 36 hours. We want to make sure that every Cardassian citizen has a chance to receive it for themselves."
"yes, Ma'am," Woody replies. "It will start playing to the public before midnight tonight."
Svetzvani smooths out her uniform jacket and nods, thanks the big man once again, and heads out of the holodeck with a little more hope in her heart than she had when she came in.