[TEASER] PROTOCOLS

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Wil Ukinix

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Sep 7, 2022, 7:04:13 PM9/7/22

to Amity Outpost – StarBase 118 Star Trek PBEM RPG

((Conference Room C - Level 13, Copernicus Center))

Keehani calmly stood at the end of the table with her fingers clasped together in front of her red dress. In front of her were a mix of Betazoid nobles (including Ambassador Vataix) and several Starfleet officers, including Captain Roshanara Rahman. Captain Rahman’s vessel, the Kitty Hawk, would soon be ferrying those gathered to Idrustix. Next to her stood Tani Lekasa, the Betazoid non-noble who was serving as mediator on behalf of the Betazed government

Keehani: Thank you all for attending and finding times in your busy schedules. As you know this is a meeting to discuss the Betazed government’s colonisation efforts in the Delta Quadrant. We have a busy agenda so I’ll hand straight over to Ms. Lekasa, who has an update. ::Smiling, gesturing:: Tani?

Keehani smiled then took a seat next to Rivi, gesturing for Tani to replace her at the end of the table. She wondered how the Betazoid nobles would react to the news they were about to get…

As Tani stepped over to where Keehani had been standing, she saw the serious looks from the other Betazoids–some with uncertainty or suspicion, others with resolve–except for Rivi, her old university roommate who simply gave a reassuring smile and nod.

Lekasa: Good morning, everyone. After much careful deliberation, the Betazed government has decided to proceed forward with colonization on Industix.

Mavenni Siyel of the Second House was first to object.

Siyel: Ms. Lekasa, surely that’s a premature decision.

Lekasa: I appreciate that other candidate worlds have been submitted for consideration. The Betazed government is certainly continuing to evaluate them for future plans. But for now, with the inoculation developed by Starfleet, we believe that the next phase for Idrustix should move forward.

Lohani: ::To Mavenni:: Well, we are at the mercy of Betazed, aren’t we? And she always gets what she wants. ::To Tani:: It’s ‘safe’ then?

Lekasa: I would ask that you forward any questions about the inoculation to Amity’s chief medical officer Lieutenant Ikaia Wong, who developed it.

Mavenni returned a blunt look back at Tani.

Siyel: I certainly will.

Tani kept her cool though and in control of the briefing. She’d found working with various nobles–including her friend Rivi–that sometimes the best way forward was to stand firm with them. They would shamelessly push boundaries and authority otherwise if left unchallenged.

Lekasa: Now, as a compromise, the Betazed government will be proceeding with not just the single colony site identified by the 20th House. The 2nd and 6th Houses will also be given government contracts to set up two other colony sites on the planet.

Lohani offered a consoling and empathetic look to Mavenni which might have convinced an unfamiliar onlooker – but her words still dripped with typical condescension.

Lohani: All the better. ::Smiling, then turning to Dro:: The Twentieth House will have two competent examples to take inspiration from close at hand.

Dro: ::smiling placidly:: As soon as you find them, do let me know.

Keehani subtly put a hand over her mouth to quell the laugh that wanted to roar out from her belly. Lohani simply smiled back, content in her own superiority.

Lekasa: That’s what we’ll be doing shortly. Madam Ambassador?

Rivi nodded and then looked around the table.

Vataix: As requested by the Betazed government, this mission will be overseen by the Federation Diplomatic Corps, and as such, the USS Kitty Hawk, ::gestures to Roshanara Rahman:: under Captain Rahman’s command, will take us to Idrustix, where the 2nd and 6th House delegations can begin scouting the planet for their desired sites while the 20th House begins setting up for construction of its colony.

Mavenni looked over at Ucron Dro of the 20th House.

Siyel: Oh, so they get a head start on the rest of us?

Dro: ::nodding his head:: It makes sense that the best fitted for an event should be more prepared.

Lohani: Haste and perfection are rare bedfellows. The Sixth House is content to take our time.

Lekasa: Let me assure everyone that no colony ships will be sent to the planet until all sites are ready.

Rahman: In the meantime, the resources of the Kitty Hawk are at your disposal.

Lohani: That’s most generous of you, Captain. But are we sure this military escort is necessary? I thought ::rolling her eyes a little at the name:: Idrustix was the ‘safe’ choice.

Cassian had stood quietly at the side of the room near Ambassador Vataix, in the “Starfleet Corner” as it were. At the mention of safety he finally chose to speak up.

Iovianus: Yes, it is. Idustrix is a prime location near Amity. It is a short distance enough so that the trade routes, and patrol routes will be easy to monitor. We have some issues with Hirogen in the area at the moment so keeping everyone close is best for all of us. Also, since every ship will have to pass by Amity anyway it will do well to cut down on time for any supplies to reach the colony.

Dro: Well that certainly makes sense, especially given the nature of the bacteria found there.

Siyel: ::suppressing an eyeroll:: Perfect sense…

Lohani: Either way, the decision is out of our hands, isn’t it? ::Smiling, with a hint of malice:: Isn’t that right, Ms. Lekasa?

Tani looked back at the other Betazoid and smiled back, holding her own just as powerfully as any matriarch. She didn’t need the strength of a noble house backing her; she had the government.

Lekasa: In short, yes.

She turned to Rivi’s aide, Keehani Ukinix, nodding for her to continue the briefing.

Keehani: Which leads to the logistics of colonisation. The Second and and Sixth houses will need to select an ultimate location on Idustrix for their colonies. There are many small continents on Idustrix. Lieutenant Hopper is our science lead, and will now brief you on the different colonisation locations available to each house. ::Smiling at Robin:: Lieutenant?

Hopper: ::Standing, offering a small wave:: Hi everyone. Let me just… ::tapping at console::

A holographic map of the planet appeared before them. It spun, slowly, with various points highlighted in an array of colours.

Hopper: This globe has been superimposed with a habitability matrix developed with input from various Starfleet and Civilian Science teams. While nobody can predict the future, we’re confident in our assessment of the present state of things. Most of the continents along the planet’s central axial belt would be reasonable spots to start, though we’d recommend building settlements at least two-to-three thousand kilometers North or South of the equator to avoid the harshest solar radiation. The most optimal regions for settlement – in our opinion – are highlighted in green.

Lohani: In your opinion?

Dro: Yes, you know, the thing you can never stop offering even if people do not ask for it?

Lohani reached across the table with a smile on her face, patting Ucron’s hand. At the third pat, she rested her hand on his and dug her nails into his skin – just enough to send a message.

Lohani: ::To Ucron:: ~~Careful.~~

Mavenni merely watched the two with a bored expression before looking back at the young science officer.

Siyel: You were saying, Lieutenant?

Hopper: Well, expert opinions – based on factors such as climate, weather patterns, fresh water sources, soil composition, plate tectonics, solar radiation exposure, and so on… Much of the data was collected by Mr. Dro’s survey team. ::Correcting herself:: Uh, sorry, Son Dro’s team. You’ll all be receiving detailed copies of this report for consideration – this is just a briefing.

Dro: Don’t worry you can all thank me later when it is the best for you.

Hopper: I have also confirmed with Amity’s Chief Medical Officer, Lieutenant Wong, and the Kitty Hawk’s Science Officer, Kivik, that they will continue working to further refine and enhance the effectiveness of the treatment they’ve developed to counteract the deleterious effects of the local bacterial population. Currently, it will require ‘boosters’ to be administered annually.

Dro: ::nodding thoughtfully:: That is something we can get behind as a colony.

Lohani held her tongue and veiled her thoughts. Too much was already being said for her liking. It was time to play along, for now.

Lekasa: Thank you, Lieutenant.

Robin nodded and sat, feeling the lingering scepticism in the noble eyeballs that followed her.

The First Secretary got up from her seat, and once again stood at the end of the table.

Keehani: We arrive at Idrustix aboard the Kitty Hawk seven days from now. Mother Perennial Siyel, Daughter Vananz-Polgonz, your houses both have that time to select one or more candidate sites for settlement for your House’s colony. Once we arrive, Starfleet officers will accompany you to assist in surveying and exploration so you can make an assessment of suitability. ::To Ucron:: Son Dro, as the Twentieth House have already selected a suitable site, and it has been previously inspected by Daughter Ascendant Polgonz with Starfleet’s assistance, Starfleet engineering will accompany you to the planet to begin construction of the Twentieth House’s colony.

She once again clasped her hands together in front of her, then gave a warm smile to all three nobles.

Keehani: Ambassador Vataix will remain in orbit to liaise with Captain Roshanara Rahman. I will be personally assisting all three houses in their coordination with Starfleet. ::Warm smile:: Are there any questions?

Dro: Well, at least starting with a deep appreciation for the help of the Ninth House first I am certain my distinguished colleague, and likely Lohani as well, will have some questions so they should go first.

Keehani’s lips opened slightly, as her eyes opened wide in shock. She wasn’t a Ninth House noble yet, and even with an impending petition hearing a few months away there was no guarantee she would be. Saying what he had said *right in front of representatives from other houses*, including the Sixth who had partial control over the Ninth, was to use a word from her cousin Wil’s vocabulary, oO Awkies. Oo Keehani wanted to remind that all that she repsresented the Federation Diplomatic Corp, and not any of the Houses.

Lohani noted Dro’s unique perspective on this and wondered if it was a view held by the rest of the Twentieth House. She also sensed Keehani Ukinix’s appropriate level of discomfort. Yet she raised no objection. For this was a meeting about colonization - and other matters could be dealt with in their own time.

Lohani: I am curious how this decision will be presented to the people of Betazed. Perhaps Ms. Lekasa could enlighten us?

Lekasa: I will… in due time, madam.

Iovianus: It should also be pointed out that the quadrant is very focused on this sector at the moment, it is likely there will be plenty of opportunities to interact with the locals, even on Industrix.

Lohani: Well, if the reports are to be believed, contact with the locals will hardly be avoidable, will it? ::A look to Mavenni:: But with the House of Science and Mysticism in joint venture, I don’t see how that could go wrong.

Siyel: We’ll be sure that any locals get a proper welcome. And I’m sure with our… ::looks towards Captain Rahman:: escort, we won’t have to worry about unforseen intrusions.

Iovianus: The Hirogen have no centralised government so it is difficult to approach them all at once, some have had dealings with Starfleet and even treaties with us. I do not see it as a pressing concern but something that everyone should keep at the back of their mind.

Mavenni looked now back at Rivi, wanting to clarify something Keehani had mentioned earlier.

Siyel: Madam Ambassador, if you’re remaining in orbit, who’s in charge on the surface?

Vataix: Ah, good question. Lt. Commander Wil Ukinix, Amity’s Starfleet liaison and my first officer will be in command of all surface teams.

Siyel: I see… and which Wil Ukinix would that be?

Rivi returned a polite smile.

Vataix: The human one.

Siyel: Let us hope he shows better judgement than his grandfather.

Before Rivi could say anything back, Tani quickly stepped in, deciding that was enough for one day.

Lekasa: All right, well, thank you, everyone. There’s much to do in the next few weeks, so I will let you all get to it. Any further inquiries can be directed to my temporary office here on the station.

The blonde mediator looked at the gathered faces, a mix of happy, bored, frustrated, and confused expressions all around.

Lekasa: May the Four bless us for the journey ahead.

CUE OPENING CREDITS! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lP-_knWWgO91z3rxr4YOoIZ-IxrHWSOI/view?usp=sharing

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Lieutenant Commander Cassian Iovianus, Chief of Security, Amity Outpost
Ucron Dro, Son of the Twentieth House

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Lt. Robin Hopper, Science Officer, Amity Outpost

Lohani Vananth-Polgonz, Daughter, Sixth House of Betazed
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First Secretary Keehani Ukinix, Ambassadorial Aide, Amity Outpost

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Ambassador Rivi Vataix, Chief of Mission and CO, Amity Outpost
Captain Roshanara Rahman, CO, USS Kitty Hawk
Mavenni Siyel, Mother of the Second House of Betazed
Tani Lekasa, Mediator, Betazoid Government