Recall

Posted on Mon Oct 5th, 2020 @ 4:46am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen

Mission: Diplomatic Masquerade
Location: Liberty

Captain Kaylen Rhenora sat comfortably in her ready room, a long couch underneath the large viewport offering a spectucular view of the ongoing repairs. Starbase had advised the majority of the repairs would be completed within the next six hours. She sipped the coffee and mulled over the latest reports, not feeling any pressure but more a sense of purpose and energy she hadn't had for a very long time.

"Captain, incoming communique from Starfleet Command" The duty ops officer announced, "Coming through to your ready room"

"Very good Ensign" Rhenora swung her legs down off the couch and placed the padd back on the side table, grabbing her coffee cup and heading to her desk. Admiral Bryson was waiting and carefully explained the situation unfolding on Orias III. A mediation meeting had been organised with both the Cardassian Central Command and the Federation to discuss the indigenous population and how the planet had been so-called uninhabited. Rhenora and her diplomatic team would represent the Federation, and the Cardassians would be sending their own team. Names of Cardassian parties would be disclosed shortly but hadn't been finalised yet. Rhenora's stomach began to tie itself in knots - she had history with many Cardassians from her days in the resistance. She had killed and wounded many of them and their families, her name was spoken with scorn and distaste whenever mentioned. Still she was the most qualified and had the best diplomatic team on board, time to be put to good use.

"Commander Savar - please report to my ready room" She paged her first officer and mulled over the situation whilst she waited for him to arrive.

Hearing the Captain's summons, Savar exited the center seat and made the soft trek to her ready room. Pressing the chime he awaited admittance.

"Come in Commander" Rhenora called, leaning back in the highbacked chair behind her desk and stretching her arms overhead. A series of quiet pops could be heard as her spine and shoulders released.


"Take a seat, it appears we have new orders" She turned the desk monitor around and replayed the message from Admiral Bryson.

Savar took a seat in one of the chairs in front of Rhenora's desk. "Orders? So soon? Our repairs have not yet been completed." He pointed out.

" 234 confirms the essential repairs will be completed within the next 6 hours, we will have to undertake the rest ourselves whilst on route. " The Bajoran started, picking up her coffee cup and taking a sip. "I have concerns regarding this mission, I won't lie to you there. I have history with a lot of Cardassians - not a good history mind you" She explained sagely. There's stuff that no Starfleet Dossier will tell you."

Savar nodded, "Very well Captain. We will endeavor to repair free before we reach our destination whatever that might be. Though if I hazard a guess it would be somewhere along the what was once the Federation-Cardassian border as well as your remark involving Cardassians." .

"Orias III is the planet in question - I'm not sure of the exact location of this meeting yet. It may be there or somewhere nearby. I'm sure the Cardassians will pick a location strategic to them" She mused, regarding her XO with an keen eye. "I also have a feeling whoever that choose to be their mediator will also be strategic. As soon as we find out I need yourself and Lt Vitari to undercover everything that you can about them"

"Orias III. Latest information says it is a populated planet. has that changed?" Savar asked. "I will begin going through the files we have on current Cardassian military leaders."

" That's the catch, Cardassia claimed it as uninhabited, however it now appears to be inhabited with an indigenous population advanced enough to send a distress call against their mining operations. So now they either violate half a dozen interstellar agreements and treaties and continue to mine there, they try and forcefully relocate the population or... they try and destroy them." Rhenora explained, bringing up a starchart and pointing out the location of the Orios system as well as the population location on the planet inself.

"It would seem that the Cardassians are then up to their old tricks in regards to lightly populated planets. Being eliminated the local population before anyone knows they were there." Savar replied as he studied the starchart.

" I believe that was their intention - however we will have to prove it with hard facts if the negotiations head that way. I believe the USS Garim is in the area making sure nothing progresses until we get there" Rhenora turned the starchart back around. " They've done thing sort of things before - numerous times as you would be aware. I an incident with a
Glin Maccet about 7 years ago doing exactly that"

"Glin Maccet who is now Gul Maccet." Savar commented. "He has a reputation as a hawk even among other military leaders.
You refer to the incident when you commanded the Sunfire."

"Yes, he tried a similar move to destroy an outpost - except that incident involved a Federation planet. He was defeated and sent humiliated back for punishment. Sadly he only served about 6 months of his sentence before being pardoned. Something I never agreed with." She admitted, recalling the incident as though it were yesterday. " He was a young and cunning Glin back then, I doubt much has changed."

"May I inquire why he served only six months of his sentence?" Savar asked. "If we do have to face him in these talks, we must take nothing for granted and overlook nothing as well."

" There was some kind of pardon arrangement between the Federation and Cardassia, I'm not sure of the exact details. I can only hope that he isn't a part of the Cardassian delegation otherwise things may get messy. " Kaylen mused as the traced the rim of the coffee cup with her finger " The apple doesn't fall far from the tree though, I don't trust any of them to be honest. Which is why I will be relying heavily on your impartialness. "

"It would complicate the talks if he was involved. However I am sure we can overcome any negatives he would bring." Savar answered. "It would be illogical to trust them Captain given their past history. Leopards do not change their stripes and you have my complete impartialness."

"Thank you Commander, I have a feeling we will need every ounce of your logic. If you could brief the diplomatic team as well as Lt Vitari and begin some preliminary works, I'll start reseaching on the Orias system and see what we can uncover. Schedule a senior staff meeting for this afternoon and we can brief everyone" Rhenora rose, rounding her desk and recycling the cold coffee. It was time to get their teeth into something solid.

"Certainly Captain. I will take care of it immediately." Savar answered. "Is there anything else?"

" No thank you Commander, I think we have plenty to keep us busy for the next few hours" She jested, heading out onto the bridge and making a beeline for the command chair.

" Helm, set a course for the Orias System, as soon as Starbase 234 signals the repairs are complete and their people are back we need to head out - Warp 6." She instructed, plonking into her chair and bringing up the display on the armrest. This was her home, the bridge of a Starship, the place she belonged.