RP Log: We Fight
| Roleplay Log | |
|---|---|
| Participants: | |
Location(s):
| |
Stardate:
| |
| 2025-11-15 16:39 | |
[Anewan's Commbadge] Toran says, "This is Major Toran."
Anewan says "Major, I am waiting outside of your office. We have things to talk about."
[Anewan's Commbadge] Toran says, "I will see you inside then. Toran out."
- BDF Office 1 <Emissary Station>
- This dedicated office is large and designed to meet the needs of the officer and billet assigned to it. The carpet is an almond color with a sand colored trim, with the bulkheads, walls, and furniture in a subdued beige. The room is bathed in a soft glow from the overhead lighting panels, and a glossy black panel set into the bulkhead opposite the door provides access to an LCARS interface. A sizeable desk is positioned in the center of the room, with a tall backed swivel chair behind it. A display curves out of the desk with a touchpad set into the desk at its base, and on the opposite end is a tall, built-in lamp. In front of the desk are two mid-sized chairs, and two workstations are built into the bulkheads on either side of the room in small cubicles. Displayed on an interior bulkhead wall is a beautiful painting of the Bajoran countryside.
Toran is seated behind his desk, already rising when the door opens once more.
Anewan enters in less than a good mode. He enters and walks to about a few feet from Toran's desk, "The Vulcans are here and they have been vague about why they want Tikar back. Are you aware of where we are having the hearing?"
Toran nods. "Central park," he says. "And please have a seat. I hear the hearing is going to be public, but the final arrangements as to who is representing who have yet to be finalized."
Anewan moves to take a the offered seat., "Yes. I insisted that the hearing be public in a public space, I will make the announcement to Bajor myself and Tikar has yet to choose counsel," he settles in. "You wanted to talk about something before the vulcans came. What was it?"
Toran nods to Anewan. "There was one matter which somewhat surprised me relating to the arrest captain, and I wanted to briefly discuss it with you, because I share your feelings on the matter, just not the method in which they were expressed."
Anewan nods, "I spoke to Tikar about it and he knows why. The Vulcans said something about him misusing that technology that he got on Vulcan. It's vague."
Toran nods. "Though, there is one thing I learned at the Bajoran military academy that I figured Starfleet shared. When a superior or commanding authority does something you don't like, you typically disagree with it in private, or at least in the company of just your fellow officers. Is that not the case in Starfleet?" he asks.
Anewan nods, "Generally, you present a united front to everyone and disagree in private. I questioned why this was such a public interaction and why it couldn't have been quieter. I didn't really get an answer HOWEVER if the Vulcans wish to do it in public. I will out public them."
Toran smiles and nods. "That is why I was a little taken aback by our interactions during the actual arrest, including when we took Dr. Tikar to the brig. You were vocal at the time, and while I agree with your concerns, I didn't feel comfortable having them expressed in front of the prisoner in public. I hope you can understand that." He shakes his head. "There are a lot of Bajorans on this station who are going to be more than upset by the turn of events, even if the Vulcan's reasons are purely logical, legitimate, and not manipulative. It's all about optics, and it looks bad. Our job is to get to the bottom of the whole thing, insure transparency, and keep tensions from bubbling over." He sighs. "Honestly, we should have just beamed to the brig. There was nothing gained by walking through the open deck, and it almost started a fight. I could see it in people's eyes. Imagine what the every day Bajoran feels right now. I know you can, because we both feel it to some degree. It makes our jobs tough. But we have to do them regardless, whether we like it or not." He smiles. "I just make sure to let people know when I don't like it, in private, of course."
Anewan shakes his head, "This is different. This is a founding Federation member flexing its muscle on a newer Federation member. It's bullying and the people of Bajor have to know that someone recognizes and addresses it," he shrugs. "A Bajoran hero comes to Emissary then disappears, no Major. The people should know AND the Federation should feel their anger," he pauses. "Either way, there is nothing we can do because the Commander of this station, whom I know very well, will do exactly what she is asked to do."
Toran considers Anewan for a moment. "So, answer me this then. If a Vulcan committed a crime say, on Emissary Station. Not likely, but not entirely unheard of either, and the Vulcan returned home, only for Bajor to attempt extradition immediately after the fact, would you pose the same objections?" He sighs. "Bullying, typically isn't the kind of term I would ascribe to a Vulcan. They don't show that level of emotion. A human maybe. The thing is, national hero or no, if I was in charge of extraditing someone who committed a crime on this station against my people, I would want to see justice done. I would also be a bit more vocal in how I expressed it too." He shakes his head again. "Feel their anger, you say? Tell me captain." His voice grows a little louder and he rises from his desk, slamming a fist down upon it. "Do you know what my people do when we get angry? Have you seen it? Trust me, you don't want to see my people angry, and neither do I. Because yes this angers me, but that type of response only hurts Bajor in the long run. Can't you see that? We've had enough trouble from Bajorans already uncomfortable with Federation membership, and willing to fight and even die over that fact. What do you think angering a bunch of my people right now will do? Making a public scene when we don't even have all the facts yet, we're just lucky we didn't get a brawl on the admin level that night, because my people are fighters, and we are willing to fight and die for what we believe in. And fighting the Federation will only isolate and hurt Bajor." He sighs, takes a breath, and shakes his head. "If this had happened a few months ago, I would have said it was a Dominion plot. What a perfect way to drive a wedge between Bajor and the Federation, precisely the kind of thing the Dominion would seek to do. We can't afford to be divided, even over controversial issues like this one. We have to fight to fix them from within, because fighting from without doesn't help anyone."
Anewan is taken aback a bit and says calmly, "Yes, if the situation were reversed. I would have to same reaction. And Yes, bullying because they know that no one will stop them," a pause. "And this is not division, Major, this protection. If there were a brawl on the promenade, it would have been earned. Parading a national hero through a public space to the brig was the wrong thing to do. Not protest the actions of the Vulcans."
Toran nods. "I agree, parading was the wrong move. It should have been done discretely and quietly," he says. "And protests have to be carried out legally. I've heard that an extradition hearing is often waved. The fact that we're having one at all is because the prisoner refused to wave it, obviously, and because of the unique circumstances of this situation. Suppose the Vulcans have evidence of an actual crime that has been committed. Should someone's status as a national hero, put aside race and planet of origin for a moment, protect them from the consequences of their own actions?" he asks.
Anewan agrees, "No, they should not. But this instance is unique and as you said before, the problem is that they have not provided the evidence. He was locked up on hearsay," he crosses his legs and twists his fingers, "It makes me angry. And the reason? Because you can trust the vulcans."
Toran considers. "Yes, they should provide the evidence," he says, resuming his seat. "And if they do not, we are going to have problems." He pauses. "And suppose the evidence merits extradition captain? Then what."
Anewan shrugs, "We smuggle him to Bajor?" he jokes. "No, then we let him go BUT I go with him. Or we go with him."
Toran nods. "The BDF will likely want someone to monitor the trial and see to it that his rights are protected, and to protest the manner in which this was done. But that being said, let me make one thing clear," he glares. "If there is a fight on the promenade, it damn well better not be started by one of my people, or one of yours. Our job is to try and keep the peace, regardless of how difficult the Vulcans make it, and insure that Tikar's rights are protected in the process. We can do this without fomenting violence on this station, Prophets willing. That means keeping the peace in Central Park when the hearing happens, and if the Vulcans prevail, keeping the peace after the fact. And yes, I fully expect that one or both of us will be going to Vulcan if Tikar is extradited." He pauses. "Have you considered offering yourself as council to Dr. Tikar in this matter? Are you proficient enough in Federation law to serve as such?"
Anewan shakes his head, "My law knowledge is good enough. Of course, if he asks? I leave that up to him and my main concern, as I mentioned originally, was security. I was worried about -his- security," he pauses once more. "I find it telling that an so unpopular, knowing that it might cause strife, if being done anyway. However, Major, my job is to be mostly impartial but this just smells wrong to me."
Toran nods. "It smells wrong to all of us captain. We just have to keep in mind how we express ourselves about it, and how that effects everyone around us," he says. "This thing has been stinking since it started, and there is a right way to fight it, and plenty of wrong ways. I just don't want my people to get caught up in a wrong way to fight this, because Bajor has a lot more to lose here than a national hero."
Anewan shakes his head, "All the ways to fight are the right ways. You are Bajoran, its what Bajor has always done."
Toran sighs. "Not all of them are right at the right time," he says. "There have been times were our planet almost went to civil war and destroyed itself, all because a couple of hotheads thought all the way to fight were the right way. Vulcan isn't a cardassian oppressor. We shouldn't be blowing up civilian transports and Vulcan dockyards in response to this captain. I'm surprised to here that sentiment, from a diplomat of all people. Keep in mind what, all ways to fight, actually means for us. We're not afraid to kill anyone who gets in our way when it truly comes down to life and death. In many ways, the occupation brought out the worst in us, and we've spent many, many long years trying not to become that again, because it was necessary once, but we shouldn't make a habit out of it."
Anewan raises an eyebrow, "Who said anything about blowing up ships?" he leans forward, "Do you know what a diplomat is Major? Do you know what I really do?"
Toran nods. "You make and keep peace," he says. "You try and get the best outcome for those you represent, and keep things from getting violent when possible. You know what my job is captain?" he says. "I'm a militia officer. When we talk about fighting, we mean, fighting. You are on a Bajoran station captain, dealing with a people who are not afraid of violence when it is necessary. When you say something like, all the ways to fight are the right ways, it means something completely different to us, because we have fought in ways that the average Starfleet officer would be horrified to have to do."
Anewan shakes his head as he stands up, "I make threats with very nice words. I make it sound pretty while getting across what I mean," he takes a step back. "Oh, I know what you do Major. You protect yours. I'm here trying to help you do that. Here to embrace all of the ways to fight."
Toran nods, rising to his feet as well. "Your job is to keep me from having to do mine captain," he says. "Don't forget it." He leans forward. "Because if Bajor is called upon for the kind of things we had to do during the occupation, it will rip this sector apart, will not be pretty, and will hurt everyone. Use that diplomatic know how of yours. Talk to your superiors at Starfleet command, and figure out just what the hell is going on. You have your own ship and command. Why not use it. Go to Vulcan yourself if you aren't satisfied with their answers, and raise some hell. You have the freedom to do things that my role and position deny me. You can dispute this from the inside better than anyone else on this station, but if Tikar has really committed a crime, well. I'm no elitist, and while it is bad optics for a national hero to go to prison, if he's truly guilty of a crime and he knows what he did, then justice should be served. Until that point though, you're probably our best chance at getting to the bottom of all this. Channel that passion and anger of yours." He shakes his head. "Why am I telling you this. You're probably already doing it anyway. Just, let's not let this get actually violent." He slides a padd he had sitting on his desk to Anewan. "Some light reading for you captain. It details a military operation that occurred a couple years after the occupation, when our planet almost went to civil war, all because one power hungry individual launched a province-wide military operation, all over a couple of soil reclamators. One man's life is worth something for sure, but is it worth Bajor's future with the Federation? Consider that."
Anewan smiles, "Bajor's future is secure Major. I just don't want any other federation planet to simply come and grab citizens. That's what I am fighting for. Federations Citizens have rights."
Toran nods and smiles. "In that case captain, I wish you a good day," he says, resuming a seat at his desk and pulling out some latent paperwork, the meeting over.