Parties Revealed

Posted on Thu Oct 8th, 2020 @ 3:49am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen & Lieutenant Commander Shylow Vitari & Lieutenant T'Strella Drake

Mission: Diplomatic Masquerade
Location: Ready Room

Captain Kaylen Rhenora paced the length of her Ready Room, an unusual display of anxiety that was normally concealed behind a tight veil of confidence and self assurance. The news she had received was not unexpected, but made their pending mission and negotiations that much more difficult. At least for her. She was sure her team would handle it without a hitch, she still needed to fill them in on the detail.

" Commander Savar, Commander Vitari and Lt Drake please report to my ready room" She paged the three officers who would be the key players in these talks. They needed to know.

"At once Captain." Savar replied from where he was on the bridge. Leaving the bridge, he headed for the Captain's ready room and pressed the chime for admittance.

The pacing paused as the chime rang " Come in" She called, her attention still on the stars as they streaked by the viewport. She watched the reflection of the door on the window. It was Commander Savar. He would have been on the bridge whilst she worked in her office.

" Commander Savar" The pacing resumed, slow steps that helped settle her mind.

"Captain." He acknowledged as he watched her pace. "Is this a new form of exercise you can do in your ready room? He questioned.

" Not something that is generally beneficial, a rigorous run around a holodeck is much better cardio, it's not my legs that are in overdrive at the moment though " Rhenora replied, taking a deep breath to calm and centre herself. She needed to be at the top of her game for this one.

"Aye Captain, on my way." Drake said as she rose from her desk. Handing Della more work to be transcribed and readied for signature. Lieutenant T'Strella Drake then made her way to the Captain's Ready Room. Ringing the chime she entered after being beckoned.

"Come in" Rhenora ceased her pacing and headed for her desk via the replicator.

"Captain...." she said as she strode in and took a chair.

A softly metered step preceded Vitari into the room, measured pace she wouldn't admit she had taken time to practice after 'unexpectedly appearing' behind people and proven 'disconcerting,' the soft click of her step breaking as she inclined her head upon entry to the other officers in the room before she slunk into a spare chair and languidly draped herself into its confines, "Hope I'm not late,' she demurred as she shut away the niggling reports demanding her attention.

"Thank you all for coming, I wanted to brief you as you will be the key personnel in the upcoming negotiations." She started, eyeballing all of them.

Vitari allowed a slight raise of her brow as she imagined herself seated at a negotiation, not quite bringing herself to interrupt as she let her own internal amusement at the idea pass through her mind.

T'Strella sat with a stoic face. She, PADD in hand, listened to the Captains briefing.


"The Cardassian have sent through the names of their delegation. Most of them I've not heard of however one name I have had dealings with in the past." There was a foreboding in her voice that she hadn't intended.

She made notes, quietly. Only raising a slight eyebrow with certain inflections picked upon. She looked briefly and what she read confirmed her conclusion.

She quietly stated. "No new intel for us. We know to prepare for any eventual happenings where certain Cardassians are concerned. " She, used to the art of diplomacy with an illogical race bent on deception rather than true Diplomatic solutions.... Or as the humans say. a good ole Mexican hat dance.... she thought as she listened.

"So there is a party of 5 attending. A Gul, two of his aides and two of the Cardassian's Diplomatic Attache's. I have no information on the majority of these people, however I have history with the Gul who will be in charge. Maccet attempted a similar maneuver some years ago, he wiped out a Federation Colony on in the Tarsus system. We had a run-in and he then answered for his crimes. Whilst the optimist in me hopes that he has changed and this is an unfortunate misunderstanding, the realist in me says otherwise" Rhenora sat her coffee cup down on the desk, not realising she had been holding it quite so tightly.

"Captain, leopards don't change their spots nor do Cardassians change their behavior especially their military commanders. They stay with tried and true tactics that have brought favorable results in the past." Savar pointed out.

"This is one of my concerns, particularly with Maccet. The last time I saw him he was being thrown into a Federation penal colony. I don't think his opinion of Starfleet's hospitality is the best after that incident. I don't trust him, at all" Rhenora elaborated. "7 years ago he was brash and would do anything to further his career, even if it meant destroying a Federation colony"

"Interesting," Vitari mused almost to herself, "I wonder how he managed to maintain his personal rank and influence after being incarcerated. I wonder if he's already running on thin ice."

"A clever masque they do hide beneath." Drake whispered quietly. She looked up as emotional commentary flew in verbiage.

She accessed the stress levels in the room. Heart rates, carotid arteries straining against skin. She could smell the rise in cortisone levels. She continued to watch the paces, the stressed out conversation.....

The Captain drew a deep breath and regarded the three before her, each picked for their unique talents. Drake was well versed in all things diplomacy, Vitari was a master of uncovering that which remained unseen, and Savar was the steadying impartial force that would cut through the crap the Cardassians threw at them.

"T'Strella, can you work with Commander Vitari and uncover as much as you can regarding the delegation. I will work with Commander Savar and see if we can determine any further information regarding Gul Maccet. There's 7 years of history there that may give us an insight to his mindgames" Rhenora instructed, making some notes on the padd in front of her.

"Of course, I can work up an indiscreet cover for this Rex Masque intel...." T'Strella's mind already working the angles...

"I would appreciate any intelligence diplomatic or otherwise we can get before we meet with these people." Kaylen explained, taking another sip of her ever present coffee. She hoped Savar wasn't keeping track.

"We'll reconvene tomorrow morning with anything that you have uncovered. Until then I don't think we have a moment to lose. Dismissed" She nodded towards the gathered officers. "Commander Savar, if you could remain, I think we need to do some digging into the Federation Justice System files"

"Of course Captain. I think that is a prudent and worthwhile endeavour." Savar agreed.