SD 960903.20 Cmdr Tobias "Toby" Blake - Pressing Concerns and the Princess.
Tana Ragsdale
Sitting at his desk with his elbows on the desk and his head in his hands as his fingers massaged his temples Toby never heard the aide, yes he actually had one not that Toby knew if he was trustworthy or not, come into his office not reacting to his presence until the aide spoke, “Sir, it would seem that Captain Dama…whatever” Toby muttered “Dharmajiva.” The aide cleared his throat, “Yeah, him. Well it seems he wants you to be the first contact with the press. And it would seem that they’re impatient to hear from someone in charge.”
Toby raised his head and looked at his aide, a young man who looked barely old enough to have graduated the academy and not even Starfleet, he was what was scathingly referred to as a Sympathizer, “Thank you…” He paused trying to remember the young man’s name, “Lucas. Have you heard anything from the bar owner yet?” Lucas shook his head and reached up to brush hair in need of cutting out of his face, “No sir, he’s still refusing to speak with you. He says he won’t be trapped.”
A sigh escaped as Toby sat back and nodded. “Very well. Do we at least know how far we’ve gotten on the rescue situation? Or are we still having to rely on old fashioned methods of getting information?” Lucas grinned a bit, “Mostly the latter sir. However, rumor does have it that the newly assigned department heads are starting to look into things, and that they should have their recommendations to the Captain shortly.”
Just about then Toby’s young daughter made her way into his office followed by one of the daycare workers who looked rather apologetic, “I’m sorry Commander, but she wouldn’t settle, insisted she had to go, now, and somehow made her way here from the daycare.” As the woman spoke he caught up his daughter and settled her on his lap, where she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him and patted his back whispering, in a loud child’s whisper, “You otay Da. You otay. You ken do its! You otay!”
He couldn’t help himself, he smiled and hugged Rose back murmuring, “You’re right Princess Rose.” He kissed her cheek and her forehead then put her back down, “I’d love for you to stay, but Daddy has more work to do, you go back to the daycare, and stay there until your momma or I comes to get you.” She nodded rather solemnly and made her way back to the daycare worker, “Otay, we go back now.” At the woman’s startled expression Toby suppressed a chuckle and with a smile explained, “Her mother and I are both part Betazed and empathic, while she’s not shown any budding empathy anywhere else Rose has always been sensitive to her mother and I. I just didn’t realize she was that sensitive to pick us up from such a great distance.” The woman scooped up Rose who grinned and laughed and took off with her with a nod to Toby, saying to her young charge, “Come on let’s go play with some colors!”
Feeling better, even though his head still pounded and he really wanted to relax with a little wood carving and perhaps Ali Saffie wrapped around his neck and doing her little lizard-like purr at him, Toby stood up and moved to go with his aide, “Alright let’s get something for the press done, and tell that bar owner that I will meet with him on his turf alone, and unarmed.” In anyone else, such a move was foolish, but in rescuing Admiral Spartan Toby had learned that he had gained enough control of his empathy that he could use it as a weapon, and best of all, it didn’t kill. Though those affected by it might end up doing something that gets them killed as they run away in fear.
“Sir he’s not going to trust you, and he’s not going to trust me.” Lucas sighed, “But I can put together some facts for you to make a statement to the press with.”
Toby nodded, “Yes, I understand the lack of trust, even those who work with Starfleet don’t always trust, but one step at a time, and facts are good. And any information you can get me on the reporters that will be there, and who they work for.” Now if he could only get a mug of his wife’s coffee, but that was a luxury he could live without until she managed to find a way to plant some of her plants and get them producing more beans. “Also, let’s find out what areas were worst hit by the latest set of quakes and what they need, and what we have that we can provide, to ease the pains.”
Lucas frowned, “Sir, I know of several shipments that Starfleet meant for the locals that ended up being hijacked and stolen. And many put the blame on Starfleet saying they hadn’t really meant for people to get those shipments.”
“Of course…” He muttered with a sigh, “Nothing is ever easy, not like it is on a starship.” He looked skyward seeing only the ceiling that looked like it came from an old apocalyptic movie, “This is why I didn’t want to be executive officer here.” He looked back at Lucas, “Well we’ll do the best we can, and we’ll see about starting some negotiations.” He slapped the young man on the back in friendly fashion as they moved off to prepare for the press.
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Cmdr Tobias “Toby” Blake
Liaison Officer