Briefing the Diplomatic Team

Posted on Mon Mar 16th, 2020 @ 10:39am by Commodore Jacob Kane & Commander Taeler Santu M.D. & Lieutenant Dessame Sar & Lieutenant Commander Savin

Mission: In the Family
Location: Conference room, Deck 1, USS Athena
Timeline: MD-4
1222 words - 2.4 OF Standard Post Measure

[ON]

The conference room didn't really look like it's normal serene self. Santu was pacing the length of the room, PADDs were shrewn all across the long table, and the smell of strong caffeinated drinks permeated the air. She had done all she could in order to be ready for this briefing. Hamilton and she had to make sure that the team they were taking with them wouldn't be creating more trouble in an already very volatile situation. That meant taking every precaution they could. A security team would join them, with the Chief Sec leading them herself, as well as their Chief Counsellor.

At the moment all there was to do for Santu and Hamilton was waiting for the two Chiefs to arrive so that they could get this underway. She looked over at the young diplomat and smiled, trying to instil in him some sort of confidence. He'd need it. They'd need it if this was going to be successful.

Savin paused in the doorway as he saw the disarray of the room. "Commander, are you alright?" he asked as his senses picked up on the abundance of coffee in the air, as well as the disquieted of the first officer.

Santu turned to face Savin, "I'm fine, please come in, sit." She made a conscious effort to face the Counsellor when talking to him. She grabbed a PADD that they had prepared that summarised some of the most important talking points for this briefing, "please take a moment to familiarise yourself with this while we wait for Lieutenant Sar."

Dessame had a small sense of anxiety within her bones. She was never the best at diplomacy and was also labelled a hyper-emotional Betazoid by her therapist and grandparents. She entered the room and gave a small smile, her security team followed her inside and stood by the door. "Apologies for my timekeeping. I was going over the mission and what has recently happened with the team." She said as she looked across the table. "A little light reading ma'am?" she asked.

"For those of you who are not currently aware, the Ambassador was injured during the attack. They are recovering but will not be available for the scheduled talks with the Queen." Santu also handed Dessame a PADD before clasping her hands, "that means it falls on us to conduct this conversation." With us she meant herself, but she liked the feeling of having some backup, "Savin, I need you to be there without your Aide, we want to keep the number of men present for the meeting to a minimum." With that she turned to Dessame, "That also means we'll have to be picky on which security officers we'll take with us."

"Are there any guards who are familiar with sign language?" Savin asked quickly, "if Jerant cannot come with me, I will need someone else to step in for him. Would it help to know, that Jerant has no interest in women?"

Santu looked at Savin and shook her head, "It doesn't really. They're more focused on the plumbing than lifestyle choices." She hadn't really considered that the counsellor would need him for sign language, "is it possible to take up a position in the room that you wouldn't need an interpreter?"

"If all face my way when speaking, that should not be an issue," Savin acknowledged, "unless we have any telepathic guards? Full Betazoid would work too, they could communicate telepathically with me. Jerant often does that too if sign is not an option."

"Hamilton, do we have the layout for the conference room somewhere? can we see if we can subtly place the counsellor somewhere to face the bulk of the people present?" Santu looked around the PADDs on he table, she knew she had seen it somewhere but couldn't readily remember the pile that was specific to their visit anymore. Their filing system was flawed, she was the first to admit that, but it was the best she could do on such short notice.

Hamilton picked through a few until he discovered what he was after.

"Ah yes! Oh. I mean...not exactly. Court tradition dictates that the Queen's royal guard protect her from all sides. So it might be possible to position someone in view of both parties, but I don't know how it will be received. Particularly if it's...well, a man."

"Well if me being a man is an issue...." Savin shrugged though there was an odd twinkle in his eyes. "... then perhaps I should dress as a woman instead."

"I think we want to avoid stepping into that minefield," Santu was plenty uncomfortable with the notion that they had to pretend that she as a woman was more of a person than the male colleagues on the ship, "the situation is very delicate and volatile at the moment, as you can imagine, we can't really afford a political incident."

"Then perhaps my handicap can be helpful. That and my profession. It is my duty to ah...listen, and being someone who needs assistance in doing so, perhaps they are willing to accommodate?"

"If need be I can communicate with you Counsellor. I am as you may require a full Betazoid." she stated simply. "I think not taking a man would be a mistake. I understand the matriarchal society but we are not one and if they are to join the Federation then they must see us for what we stand for. Equality." Dessame added with more feeling than she may have intended. "I'm not saying we take lots of male team members and I will ensure my security team is full of female officers I know are capable for ease of transition on the ground but I believe a complete female team shows weakness..."

"Thank you ma'am," the Romulan answered gratefully, "and I do agree with you on equality but on a first meeting we may have to look to accommodate them, especially if we are on their turf."

Dessame smiled. "I am accommodating them. I am taking a female security team." She replied strongly. "I would not cause an incident because I do not believe wholly in the way they govern. I admire them to a certain extent, females are strong creatures, but not to the point where they subjugate the male species."

"Am I to be the only male in your team?" Savin asked, somewhat uncomfortably. It just didn't feel right.

"Uh...hello." Hamilton waved at the two Starfleeters. "Not just you. And I'm not too excited by it either."

"Apologies sir," Savin answered contritely, having seen him wave and just barely caught his words. "I was not aware you were part of the away team sir. You are...?"

"Envoy Hamilton Broll." The young man grinned helpfully. "I'm...well, I suppose I'm the Federation representative at the moment. With your Lt Commander Taeler, here, that is."

"Well then we shall be the minority..." Savin cast the young man an encouraging smile.

"I'm sure you'll manage, let's get read up and ready for tomorrow morning." Santu motioned for the PADDs available on the table, "we leave at 10, local time. Be there on time."

[OFF]

Lieutenant Commander Taeler Santu
Executive Officer

Lieutenant Savin
Chief Counsellor

Lieutenant Dessame Sar
Chief Security/Tactical Officer

Envoy Hamilton Brol (NPC)
Diplomatic Attache
(PNPC Kane)