JP Lt. Ceciri Ariadust & PNPC Lt. Selene Faranfey - Voices of Authority (2/2)

[K Nakamura]

((Deck 17: Holoconferencing Room 1, Deep Space 285))

 

::Ceciri had reached the room, and patiently waited for the time.. and well, for Faranfey. Holoconferencing had really taken off after the Dominion War, although it wasn’t as frequently used on starships as it was on starbases.  It helped a lot, and it was possible to load in pre programmed data of the participants on both sides to reduce the bandwidth that was needed. Although, in this situation, it was going to be a reasonably high bandwidth conversation. Hopefully a short one.  Soon after Faranfey arrived ::

 

Faranfey: Is it going to be the whole counsel, or just this Kezeria?

 

Ariadust: It should be, but at minimum it will be two people. Kezeria is the head of my clan, and cannot face me alone without a witness for legal reasons. The council has five members, so we could see all 5.

 

Ariadust: oO Also because if it’s an issue with her clan, she’s going to want a second person. Oo

 

Faranfey: Well, the time is approaching, anything more I should know?

 

Ariadust: Well. There isn’t enough information to honestly make any kind of conclusion.. But hopefully not.

 

:: The comm went off, indicating an incoming connection. Two female Cygnians manifested, one of them an older woman with strains of gray appearing in her black hair and pale green cat like eyes, and the resemblance of Ceciri to her was a bit marked. The other one, who had short brown hair and pale yellow eyes, looked completely different. ::

 

Kezeria Ariadust: ::the older woman started first:: I am Kezeria Ariadust, Speaker of the Council of Matriarchs. This is Sereia Hakashri, the Matron of Knowledge, also on the Council of Matriarchs. I recognize Ceciri k’Ariadust ::she emphasized the k’ in the sentence::, but for the record, can I please have your name, rank if you have any, and relation to Ceciri in this matter?

 

:: Selene stood there, looking the Speaker in the eyes, as she determined exactly how far her answer should go. ::

 

Faranfey: I am Lieutenant Selene Faranfey, with the Federation Starship USS Doyle-A. I am sister to Captain Faranster, and one of the ship's doctors. More importantly, I am Ceciri's doctor.

 

Kezeria: ::raises an eyebrow, but nods.:: That is an acceptable relationship.

 

Hakashri S.: ::has a small smile, but it goes away fast.:: As the witness to this rite, I will start the questions.

 

::Ah, good old formality. Time to seize some control of this situation before it could get worse. ::

 

Ariadust: Before we start, may I know why I am subject to this rite? There are no mentions of the dishonor my birth-mother has incurred, nor a public notice like is normally required.

 

Kezeria: That is a matter of planetary security and we cannot share it with the public, or even with you.. :: her tone makes it adequately clear she refuses to go any further on this subject::

 

:: That was where Selene had to disagree. In her mind, if whatever happened affected Ceciri, then it was important to know what was going on. ::

 

Faranfey: Is it standard to seek to separate someone from their home, without giving them the opportunity to know why?

 

:: Kezeria turned to give her a piercing stare, but she’s unexpectedly interrupted by the younger Cygnian.::

 

Hakashri S.: ::an odd curious smile on her face:: May I ask why you expect this is not standard?

 

Faranfey: Well, for one, it would defeat the purpose of this hearing, considering as you are giving her the opportunity to discuss with you, and hopefully defend her ability to call Cygnet XIV home. As you stated in your letter, giving her the opportunity to discuss this rite, is part of your law.

 

:: Selene hoped she was right when she thought that a law wouldn't be created just to rub a citizen's face in the fact that they could do nothing about it. In the Federation, they had the right to know what they were being charged with, to have a defense, and to speak up against their accusers. ::

 

Ariadust: Not to mention it’s not compatible with Federation Regulation 1299 FRC § 9125(c)(f). All member worlds must be able to present their citizens with a legal mode of redress.

 

Ariadust: oO And you have no clue how buried that was in the legal library. Thank you, computer assist. Oo ::Ceciri mused. Still, there was something about that smile there. ::

 

Hakashri S.: ::nods, a smile as if Ceciri had passed some kind of test:: Precisely so. You may have read of a break in on Elenia, but I’ll go ahead and share a bit more, as both of you are Starfleet officers. The break in was in our biohazard vault, where several experiments from the Dominion War were still stored. Several of the guards, both Starfleet and Cygnian were killed, and some records indicate a cloaked bird of prey helped the attack.  We identified the figure as your mother, but she destroyed a lot of the on-site records and we’ll need some time to identify what it was that she took.

:: Since the crime affected Starfleet officers, the secrecy they requested was almost a laugh. Even if it were top secret, it was likely that those in ranking Captain would have access to the information, and those with special clearance. Because Ceciri was on the Doyle, she had absolutely no doubt her brother would know what was going on. ::

Kezeria: And you absolutely cannot speak of this outside this room. For such a crime, she was immediately exiled. And because the shame flows to you as well, we will have to exile you as well.

 

:: This was another point where Selene had to speak up. ::

 

Faranfey: Whoa, you are offering her no alternative to this exile because her mother committed a crime? For a speaker, you keep cutting to the end as if you've made up your decision already. Lieutenant Ariadust is an outstanding officer, one that should make your people proud.

 

::Sereia looks at Kezeria oddly, but returns to looking at the two. ::

 

Hakashri S.: Patience, Kezeria. She is correct, this rite is to determine what our response should be. Ceciri, where were you three days ago?

 

:: That seemed to be the question they expected. Selene kept her eyes on the speaker, she wasn't very pleased that the woman already made her judgement and was doing everything in her power to impose the sentence. ::

 

Faranfey: Lieutenant Ceciri was manning her post as the helm officer at the time. We were on route back to DS285.

 

:: While the secrecy of their last mission was imposed on those involved, it seemed like it was non-existent. Regardless, Selene wasn't going to cough up details for an unscrupulous person, who hid behind secrecy in effort to prevent Ceciri from being able to defend herself. ::

 

Hakashri: ::noting it down:: And she was out of contact entirely?

 

Ariadust: oO … This rite has no real legal component to it, since our legal system handles that. It’s a .. what is she playing at? Oo

 

Faranfey: If this happened 3 days ago, we had been out of contact with anyone for a couple days prior, and the day in question we were 2 days into our three day travel back.

 

:: Kezeria was silent, perhaps in contemplation. ::

 

Hakashri S.: ::notes, then takes a deep sigh:: To be entirely honest with you, I doubt you had anything to do with this. We interviewed your aunt and several other cousins, and they all report back that you and her have been strained over your decision to join Starfleet.  The difficulty is that while we can’t report as to what happened, because it would spell absolute disaster if it became widely known. To be clear - this is a directive from both us and Starfleet Command, you are not to speak of this incident to anyone. You may inform your captain, and that is it.

 

:: That.. was a very severe restriction. And this seems to be imposed on both of them, which is really odd. Also, why was she even *here* if she doubted that Ceciri had anything to do with it? This seemed more and more a move born of politics than anything else. ::

 

Ariadust: oO Kezeria seems bound and determined to kick me out. Whatever happened means that it’d also mean domestic political backlash. Oo

 

Kezeria: And despite.. your interpretation of Federation law, my right to dictate who is and is not in my clan is absolute under Cygnian Law.

 

Ariadust: It is. But you aren’t within the law, you are using a rite from the Third Karelian Dynasty. Under this rite, I have the right to challenge unfair exile - since the only reason you want this for me is so you can disavow my birth-mother from the clan entirely.

 

:: Selene wasn't sure why they would use an outdated law, but outdated laws were usually that because they were silly or inhumane. There were old laws in every world that, if someone felt strongly enough, they could be imposed, but it would be beyond foolish, and would show a prejudice against the person if they were. ::

 

Faranfey: So, you have to go back to an old law to make it happen, sounds entirely reasonable to me. :: The note of sarcasm hard to miss, if it were a torpedo, it would have destroyed a starship. ::

 

:: Kezeria did not like being challenged, at all, her eyes fixing on Ceciri with a particular intensity, before Sereia quietly started::

 

Hakashri S.: Actually, I may have a solution that is.. less harsh. ::speaks up.::  The rite was used originally in a way to separate a non mating bride from her mothers family, and to add her to her wife's family. Such pairs were established during the Third and Fourth Karelian Dynasty as a way to consolidate the numerous clans and eliminate sources of conflict. However, during the Seventh Secherlian Dynasty, this fell into disuse as the non mating pairs were largely shunned.  However, the original intent of this rite may be honored.

 

Ariadust: oO Still technically illegal, but it’s an interesting fig leaf. Also, something from a thousand years ago? When the clans got consolidated? Oo

 

Faranfey: Pardon me, but you will have to explain.

 

:: It finally hit Ceciri, that she was more than likely going to be kicked out. It was a bit more difficult for her to maintain her poker face, but.. it was still hard to do so when you know you’re about to lose your family. ::

 

Hakashri: Quite honestly, we cannot take the blow to the Ariadust clan with the current governmental situation. The clan IS the majority clan in the lower house as well, and we’d like to keep this under wraps until the general election in one standard year. However, it is also unfair to you to separate you from your people when by all indications you have nothing to do with this and represent us well in Starfleet. Your honor balances your mother’s dishonor. Correspondingly, I’d like to welcome you into my clan, since you are no longer part of the Ariadust clan. We do prefer resourceful women in our clan, but I have no doubt that with your connections and the fact you had the foresight to look up the rite, you’ll have no problem finding out what happened. ::The last said in a dead serious tone to Ceciri.::

 

Faranfey: Well, Miss Speaker, sounds like you are getting your way, I hope you are pleased with yourself and your corrupt manner.

 

Ceciri: ::recognizes the implicit well.. condition in the statement.:: I.. understand.

 

:: Kezeria looks incredulously at her for a moment, then regains her composure::

 

Kezeria: Well, that works for me. As a reminder, you are forbidden from talking about this. Stay in peace with the Goddess.

:: Selene was contented by the woman's expression when she said it. The woman wanted them to do her a huge favor by not speaking of what happened, and at this point, it lit a fire under Selene to find out the details. The woman couldn't throw threats at her, but Selene knew that whatever happened would affect Ceciri. ::

:: The two immediately disconnect. Ceciri slumped, sagging a bit against the walls. It seemed to be finally setting in that she has been kicked out of her home clan and her new clan wasn’t exactly welcoming her with open arms. Ceciri looked down, gathering her thoughts for a moment. ::

 

Hakashri C.: … well, that could have gone better.

 

Faranfey: The house speaker for the Ariadust clan seemed to have a vendetta against you, would love to know what that was about.

 

Hakashri C.: ::bitter:: I like how they ask me to figure out something they can’t. I think that’s one of these doomed to fail things.. ::calms, visibly working to smooth her tone out, and calm her general posture down, her shoulders slumping:: Well, I need to figure that out.. I still have the meeting for my department.. ::sighs:: I guess I’ll work it out.

 

Faranfey: I wouldn't necessarily say doomed to fail, but it looks like she gave you the key...

 

Hakashri C.: Yeah.. ::straightens up a bit.::

 

Faranfey: First, find out where the bodies are buried. That Kezeria woman wanted to banish you, that's clearly because you don't know anything yet, and being connected still, makes you dangerous. I've seen enough conspiracies to see that something is going unsaid, and they seem nervous. So, find out where the bodies are buried, grow your connections, and make sure your new clan, and that Kezeria woman knows that you know. And stay in StarFleet, out of their reach.

 

Hakashri C.: Oh, believe me. I have no plans on quitting.. and now I’m qui te curious as to the nature of the collaboration between Cygnet XIV and the Federation during the Dominion War. I get the sense it’s from there I need to look. ::turns and takes a deep breath:: Thank you for helping me. I don’t know if I can ever fully repay it, but .. thank you for standing with me. I appreciate it. ::she deeply bows, then looks at a panel.:: .. and now I think I had best eat something before doing anything else. I need to .. think.

 

Faranfey: You're welcome. Wish I could have helped you more. .oO But least they know you brought someone who wasn't going to let them roll over you. Oo. Get up your strength, sounds like a lot of research will be needed.

 

:: Selene stepped for the door, knowing that it wasn't something, at this point, either of them were dropping. It irritated her to no end how unjustly someone she called family was being treated. ::

 

::Ceciri nodded, and headed out. She had some calls to make.. and some food to eat.::

 

 

Lt. Ceciri Ariadust

HCO Officer

U.S.S. Doyle-A [NCC-80221-A]

(OOC: Opinions of the character are strictly IC. Resemblance to living or dead persons is strictly coincidental.)