Meeting The Neighbors

Posted on Tue Sep 14, 2021 @ 1:15am by Captain Larisna Koralova

Mission: Mission 1R - Vigilance Be Our Shield
Location: Observation Lounge, USS Hornet
Timeline: M1D1, 1145 Hours

General Turek and Ambassador Yesezk had spent the last hour and 45 minutes arguing to no avail, and then taken a break to the VIP quarters to consult with their respective delegations. In the meantime, Larisna sagged in her seat and let out a sigh of frustration. She then tapped her commbadge.

=A= Koralova to Malloy. Commander, please report to the Observation Lounge. =A= She said, hauling herself up to her feet and going to the replicator, requesting sweetened ice tea while she waited.

=/\= On my way, Captain =/\=

Amanda was supervising the pod refit as she had been doing for close to a week, many of the fittings, cogs and sprockets needed to be re-forged and reinstalled to get the optimum fit, but the structure was now even more stable with the addition of the structural integrity field, the pod would actually enhance the structural integrity of the entire ship.

The observation deck wasn't too far, and the walk only took her maybe 5 minutes.

Malloy strode onto the observation deck.

"You wanted to see me, Captain?" Amanda asked.

Larisna stood up, nodding, "I did. We're currently having to hit the ground running, unfortunately. I hope what leave you were able to take was enjoyable?"

"Yes Ma'am, I caught the baseball bug, nothing I cant handle though. Have you ever played?" Amanda asked.

"Can't say that I have." Larisna replied, taking a sip from her drink, "More horseshoes and poker." She grinned a little at that, given she did those activities in the Old West program she favored on the holodeck.

"Well, go ahead and pull up a chair, Commander. We've got quite the situation on our plate and not a lot of time. Generak Turek and Ambassador Yesezk are taking a little break, thankfully." Larisna said, "But I'd like you here when they come back. Just so you know as well as I do what the situation looks like."

"Yes Captain they seemed very animated when they left. I take it negotiations aren't going well?" Amanda asked.

"We're not really negotiating anymore, we're just trying to hold back the tide long enough for us to do our jobs." Larisna replied, "The problem is there is a lot of distrust. I mean, Starfleet has a habit of interfering when it says it won't. Typically, as a result of ships bearing the name Enterprise. Which, interestingly, two ships that bore the names Hornet and Enterprise were sister ships."

"Yes the Constitution and excelsior classes weren't they?' Amanda stated.

"But one thing I need to stress, and I'd like your help in making sure we stick to it - we cannot be the cause of the Federation joining this conflict." Larisna stood up and walked to the window, looking out at Cestus III.

"How can I help to maintain that neutrality Captain?" Amanda asked.

"...Amanda, I served during the Dominion War, as you know. Had my first posting shot out from under me by the Breen at Chin'toka. Turek was the one who saved the survivors off the Savanah." Larisna took a breath, "I know a lot of officers of the younger generation feel like they missed something by not fighting that war. Missed out on a chance at heroism, glory, whatever. I still can close my eyes and vividly remember the Evacuation of Betazed. Watched a young Saurian next to me get hit in the face with a polaron blast. Sometimes I wonder what he would have done had that Jem'Hadar's aim had been different."

She turned and faced Malloy, "I will not indulge such desires for glory. We'll make our names with some big discovery, solving a problem, a new breakthrough. In true Starfleet fashion. We won't sign our names in the book of history in the blood of those who would be sent to fight this war. I hope you understand, even if you don't agree with my motives, and will help me to dissuade anyone from thinking this is their big chance."

"Captain, I grew up during the Dominion War, all I remember was death and destruction. deprivation and disease. If there is a desire for glory you wont find it here."

Larisna smiled, "I'm glad we agree. I don't think anyone else will disagree too much either, but above all else, we have to set the example that we expect. And if we're unified, well, perhaps we can do this in a quick manner and then move on to bigger and better things."

She called up a holographic map of the area in question. "These are the places in question. The Alameda will take care of the dig sites, the Tahoe has the trading post and will follow up on the relief sites with the Divya Iyer. The Zaikov will handle the agricultural cooperative, too much to move with transporters alone. We'll remain close enough to respond mainly to the Alameda, the Windhoek will watch the Tahoe and Iyer. And I don't think anyone is going to pick a fight with the Zaikov, she can hold her own." Larisna explained. She also called up holographic displays of each ship in question, and that helped make more sense. Alameda and Tahoe were California class and the Iyer was an Olympic hospital ship, whereas the Zaikov was an Akira and Windhoek was a Steamrunner. It was obvious who were the lambs and who were the guard dogs.

"The Federation Council has made it clear to those at these places there is no middle ground here - either you leave with the evacuation ship or you take your chances when the Klingons and Gorn start shooting again. We're not here to stop the conflict and we're not going to go on some errand to go chase down the Preservers or something like that. Not this time." Larisna said, "Hopefully, the people at these sites got the message and don't drag this out. Among the things the Klingons and Gorn are known for, patience is not one of them."

"Captain, what is exactly the nature of the dispute between the Klingons and Gorn. I mean you've been talking to them or at least in the middle of them shouting at each other. What do you see as the problem? I mean from my perspective it seems like both sides want to fight. it almost seems like a blood feud more than a territorial dispute?"

"In a way, that's exactly what it is. The Gorn have been shunned for the past 20 years because they chose not to take a side in the Dominion War. In retrospect, I can understand. The Gorn didn't trust the intentions of the Dominion, but they didn't want to be on the losing side by throwing in with the Alliance. The problem is then that people saw inaction as guilt. Trade deals fell through, the Gorn became very isolated. So, in the Hegemony, leaders began to grasp at straws, play on people's fears. Claim that they were victims of past transgressions and the enemy was the Klingon Empire." Larisna explained, "Naturally, by this point, Romulus was about to be lost and Mars was set ablaze, so attention was elsewhere. The Klingons more or less ignored it, and what started as a skirmish here and there led to one of the Great Houses losing their leader in an ambush and calling for blood."

"Martok entertains it likely because it gets his opponents out of First City for a while and lets his people blow off some steam. For the Gorn, it's asserting their pride and frankly, it was either they went after the Federation or they went after the Klingons. The KDF is undergoing a massive overhaul of their fleet, they had to drag out antiques during the Dominion War like we did after Wolf 359, so they were seen as more vulnerable." Larisna said, taking a sip of her iced tea, "So, it's really just a blood letting and we have to stand back on this one."

"I think maintaining our neutrality will be difficult. We are bound to get caught up in the crossfire. Personally I think the Gorn were smart to stay out of the war. At least they still have there culture and territory intact. Other than bloodletting what do the Klingon's think they can get out of this conflict?" Amanda asked.

"In all honesty, to them, it's responding to a perception of an insult. A barroom brawl, basically. For Martok, it's a distraction, it buys him time to figure out how to resolve the Romulan refugee crisis and shut up his worst detractors for a moment." Larisna smiled, "Sorry, my Strategic Ops background had me study this from several viewpoints. But Martok would have used a heavier hand if there was a real threat. Instead, this is just the Klingon version of where in the Federation, someone runs a sensational story. I mean, there is a difference between this and the Zebulon Sisters adding or removing a Chu from the Chu Chu dance." That got a laugh from her.

"Well Captain the pod installation will be completed within 2 hours, testing will be done later today, I think we can get underway in 6 hours." Amanda said.

"We leave at 0600 tomorrow. The other ships are taking on mission specialists and we still have to finish recalling the crew. So we should have plenty of time." Larisna replied, "Actually, on that, can I have you take a look at the duty rosters and make sure they're ready? I'm concerned this meeting may run over and I still need to check in with the senior staff before the day is out."

"Understood will there be anything else, Captain?" Amanda asked.

"Just be ready for a long week, Commander." Larisna replied back with a smile.