A Piece According to Paris

Posted on Fri Jul 22, 2022 @ 2:49pm by Lieutenant JG Sydney Friedman Jr & Fleet Captain Rhea Kennit

1,098 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: We Will Take Care of You
Location: Ready Room
Timeline: 0930

Sydney walked into the ready room and sat down at the Captain's desk immediately, crossing her legs. "Captain please give me your recounting of what was just discussed."

For her part, rather than immediately sitting at her desk the Captain instead walked to a small side cabinet where she opened a door and reached inside. Sliding sounds could just be heard as she moved items about, searching for what she wanted. “My recounting?” Kennit echoed. “All right. A delegation from Planet Mudd traveled an astonishingly long distance from the Alpha Quadrant to our location here in the fringes of the established Federation presence in the delta Quadrant, ostensibly to speak with me based on the belief that I would be more open minded toward them due to my own rather unusual Starfleet career. Upon opening talks with the delegation, led by a male appearing android named Oscar 12, Oscar 12 got right down to business which is not unexpected due to his own unique identity as an advanced self aware artificial life form and expressed that he was sent to make contact with the Federation through us, and request to join the Federation as a fully accepted member world. He offered an exchange of technology as gesture of good will.”

Having found what she wanted the Captain closed the cabinet and moved to take her seat. Opening a small glass jar, she used an equally small fork to scoop out several pitted green olives from inside, placing them on a plate. “Would you like an olive?” she asked. “They make a great snack. These were harvested and processed in a brine from the olive grove at home back on Earth.”

Sydney smiled and held up a hand to politely decline. "No, but thank you. I never really developed the taste for them." She glanced at her padd. "Perhaps I missed something in my notes, but....exactly when did he say they wished to join the Federation?"

“Only Federation members are allowed Embassy grounds.” the Captain said. “Non-Federation Ambassadors are provided a temporary location from which to conduct business. Therefore, a request for an Embassy is a request to John the Federation based on the admittedly limited information I was provided when assigned this task.”

Sydney nodded. "That makes sense, I suppose. It's odd, though...."

“There a number of ‘odd’ developments in this moment. To which are you referring?” The Captain replied.

"Well, if we're looking at them as a people, then theirs is a culture without sarcasm, inflection, inference or subtext. They are emotionless, straightforward, and they say what they mean. So why did they not just say 'we wish to join the Federation'? In point of fact, they avoided saying it in any form or fashion. And they have to know what an embassy would mean. So is it a deliberate omission or an error? And if it's an error, how could they make such an error?

“As you said. They are quite straightforward. They wish for an embassy. The rest is inferred by logic and knowing that being allowed an embassy means being part of the Federation. Much like with the Klingons who have no word for hello or such niceties as ‘please’ or ‘thank you’. They just ask ‘what do you want?’. In this case, they want an Embassy.”

"There's more I'm curious about," Sydney said. "As you said, they traveled an astonishingly long distance to see you. Why? What's so special about you--no offense," she said, giving an apologetic smile.

Kennit just raised an eyebrow at that, prompting the Councilor to continue.

"You said it was due to your unusual Starfleet career. What's so unusual about it? That you're a former Borg? So was that admiral we met. So is Captain Picard, and he has far more experience with diplomacy, again, no offense. So what about your career is of interest to them?"

“The Borg encounter which I survived has little to do with it I am sure. More likely it is related to a classified incident involving another ship years ago when I was a science officer.” Kennit answered. :Or more truthfully, because one of their own is a valued member of my crew.: she thought, but did not say aloud.

Sydney's eyebrows bobbed. "Well there's an interesting theory. They've accessed classified files." She tapped her stylus on her padd. "So, our explanations are either one: they deliberately misled us by using the word 'embassy' to give us the impression they want to join the Federation, two: they made an unforced error that implies something wrong fundamentally with their processing, or three: they could be genuine, but they've been accessing classified information without our knowledge." She eyed the Captain. "Do any of those scenarios sound good to you?"

One eyebrow rose slightly, and the Captain said mildly “There were two Androids from Planet Mudd involved in the classified incident I refer to. And no, their presence is not why the incident is classified.”

*So this isn't their first excursion,* Sydney thought. *Wonder how many other times they've slipped by us.*

The Captain paused, shook her head , then continued. “I don’t know why they requested to speak with me as the initial liaison officer for Starfleet. We were ordered here, so we are. We will do our best to initiate negotiations and the requested embassy and trade with the Federation, and hand this off to Starfleet Diplomatic Corps officers and Federation Councilors as soon as possible. In the meantime, we...I...will do my best to ensure no breach of protocol is committed, and at the same time, also stand guard against deception, which with these beings...is damn hard to detect.

"I might suggest that before we go to Starfleet Command with the good news, we get more information," Sydney said.

“That’s what we are trying to do..” the Captain answered.

"Then may I suggest another meeting with our new 'friends', and allow me to pose a few questions? Coming from myself, it may sound more like I'm a Doubting Thomas that you need to quell, rather than you, their chosen contact, questioning them."

Thoughtfully, the Captain answered. "We can arrange another discussion to provide additional information requested by the Federation and give you your chance then."

Sydney nodded. "I'll start making a list."

The Captain gave a short nod as she answered, “I would appreciate a chance to review your questions, just so I know what to expect.”

"Aye Ma'am," Sydney said, standing as she made notes. "I'll have a list within an hour." She walked out quickly, heading for her office.

 

RSS Feed