In Good Faith
Posted on Tue Oct 1st, 2019 @ 2:34am by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke
Edited on on Tue Oct 1st, 2019 @ 2:37am
1,446 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Episode 8 - The Silence
Location: Captain's Ready Room - Deck 1 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD002 0920 hrs
Richard took in a deep breath as he chimed the Captain. He was just outside the ready room and was holding onto a PaDD. There was a smile on his face, a genuine one from the pride he had in the news that had just been given him. As usual, the uniform was crisp, too crisp perhaps and the doctor was feeling like his old self.
Tyler had been reviewing all of the departmental readiness reports. In truth with all of the commotion of what happened at Cardassia he forgot about the mundane work of being a Captain. The chime went off and he almost wished that Sofia had been there to tell whoever it was to go away. Tyler was in a rather melancholy mood. However, the disturbance in the paperwork was welcome to some extent. "Come on in..."
The door opened and Richard stepped in giving the man behind the desk a broad smile, "Captain, I have some news that I hope will be of interest." He tilted his head slightly, "I think we all could use some good news."
"I would agree that this crew can use some good news. Have a seat Doc tell me what kind of medicine you have for me." Tyler could tell that the Doctor was excited about something. He only hoped that it would somehow alleviate the high stress that had been circulating the ship.
Richard handed the PaDD to his commanding officer tilting his head as he did, "Ambassador Lei'hallah has made arrangements as to where on the station the Azzians and Cardassians are to meet and Ambassador Afli’okti has arrived on Empok Nor."
"That is excellent news Doc. I know that this is fairly important to the Cardassians. I hope the Azzian delegation is being received with all the honors that they deserve. How are they settling in?" Tyler did like this news however, something nagged at his head. Cardassia facing and internal struggle and they reach out for peace, it just did not add up in Tyler's opinion.
The smile fled from Richard's face as he studied the captain for a moment before answering, "I afraid there were several times that there was nearly an incident Captain." He tilted his head slightly and nodded, "as the Ambassador's ship exited the wormhole they were met by three Keldon class starships. They were ordered to surrender the vessel to the Cardassians, to prepare the be boarded and that the Ambassador would be taken into custody."
Richard breathed out and let a faint smile cross his face, "Luckily, the Ambassador was wise enough to forgo an Azzian Escort but chose instead to have the Federation fill that role." When they saw for Federation ships come through the wormhole the three vessels went to warp, that was the first incident Captain."
Tyler placed his elbows on his desk and folded his hands together. He then leaned forward, this was indeed an intriguing development. The Cardassians asked for the Azzian delegation, why would they then threaten an attack. However, tactics like that to hold true for Gul Prenar. "Doc, continue please..." Tyler would not speak on the subject until he had all of the facts.
The physician nodded and began his tale again, "Once they arrived at Empok Nor the Ambassador was forced to wait almost seven hours before they were allowed to board the station." Richard tilted his head and then continued. "It took them another eleven for lodging to be found for her staff. " Richard smiled and drew in a deep breath, "One last incident was on the promenade, apparently a member of the station's security sprayed Ambassador with some sort of bleaching agent. I'm not exactly sure why but according to Lie'hallah it was unprovoked."
Now nothing made sense, things just did not add up. There was a part of Tyler that hoped he was still in some sort of parallel universe. "Did the culprit state why they attacked the Ambassador? My guess is that they were apprehended and are in the Brig on the station. I am also sure that Captain Hood had a good reason for keeping the Azzians waiting. I am hoping that these incidents will not spoil the negotiations."
Richard smiled and drew in a deep breath, "Lei'hallah has been working to smooth things out," He raised an eyebrow, "I have to say the CO has been rather helpful in getting things resolved but I cannot say Ambassador Afli’okti hasn't been as willing to forgive and forget. The negotiations are still on but I cannot say the Cardassians have helped their position any."
Tyler nodded in agreement, "I can imagine the Cardassian penchant for wanting to be superior is an problem in diplomatic circles. Well it sounds like everything is well at hand as far as these negotiations are concerned. I would caution the Ambassador to be on her very highest of guards."
"Afli' okti has requested extra security under the circumstances and has accepted security postings outside her quarters," Richard replied, "they are to travel with her wherever she goes but is determined to have these negotiations." He drew in a deep breath as he continued, "the thing is Captain is the Cardassians are playing with fire and will get themselves burned if this keeps up."
"If that is the case then let them. I did the Detapa Council a favor by asking you to bring the Azzian government to the table. The fact is if the Cardassians do not want to play the diplomatic game then they can pay the price. However, I am happy that you are keeping me appraised of what is going on." Tyler thought pensively for a moment as he wondered if Azzian technology would be able to assist Quinn in any way. He made a mental note to talk to Quinn about it. "Tell me have things settled down on Azzia. I know in the past the Klingons and the Romulans have had their issues."
"I'm afraid not," Richard shook his head, "Captain, I'm going to mention something to you, something that most Azzians have not come to grips with the fact that some of their claims may be true."
He drew in a breath and began his explanation, "you see Captain when the temporal anomaly was accident formed there were colonies scattered threw out various quadrants as well as many ships." The physician furrowed his brow slightly, "there is no history as to what happened to those on the outside."
"What do you mean those on the outside? Those that were outside the temporal anomaly, those colonies I am presuming. Why has no one attempted to find them?" This was a mystery, one that Tyler could sink his teeth into and one that was a lot better than the Cardassian problem at the moment.
Richard nodded, "I was referring to all the Azzians that were no within their planetary system at the time of the accident that created it." He tilted his head slightly and began to answer the next question, "since their emergence I understand that they have tried working with the governments that now control the regions of space their historical records indicate they had colonies." The physician raised an eyebrow, "you can imagine the mixed results they have received but they have found a few, all apparently abandoned or destroyed and the temporal technologies that were there seem to have been purposefully eliminated."
"Well that is good, as we would not want that technology falling into the wrong hands. My hope is that this diplomatic overture will open the door for us to visit the Azzia." Tyler said with a broad smile. "But for now it is off to Wren IX for some surveying. Speaking of make sure we have some medical staff assigned to the survey teams. This way we can see any potential life threats there might be from colonization."
Richard smiled and his eyes twinkled slightly, "of course sir, and I would be honored if you and the crew could come to Azzia at some point." He nodded and drew in a breath, "thank you for seeing me, sir."
"Anytime Doc you know my door is always open. I look forward to that visit." Tyler smiled as his CMO left. Tyler rather enjoyed the little political updates from Richard, it seemed to him that Richard enjoyed them as well.
A Joint Post By
Captain Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Commander Richard Ballston M.D. PsyD
Chief Medical Officer, USS Pioneer
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