First Secretary Keehani Ukinix - Get Out
Wil Ukinix
((Keehani’s Pod, Level 14, Copernicus Center))
Keehani was standing at her console compiling a report for the Ambassador, while listening to the latest “Diplomatic Overtures” fedcast using her neural audio transmitters. She stopped when she sensed the presence of a Betazoid approaching.
A dark presence. She knew who it was straight away…
oO Etraax. Oo
She took the audio transmitter from behind her ear, placed it on her desk, then with a smile clasped her hands in front of her and turned to face the noble woman – the second announced arrival to Amity in almost as many days.
Keehani: ::Smiling:: Daughter Etraax. Welcome back to Amity Outpost. I wasn’t aware you were returning, but please, if there’s anything I can assist you with-
Etraax: ~~You will communicate with me telepathically, or I will not listen to what you have to say. ~~
Keehani’s eyebrows pulled together and formed into an almost straight line, before she nodded, and then looked down, allowing her smile to return. She lifted her chin as she addressed the Second House Daughter.
Keehani: This is a ::gesturing with palms upturned:: Federation Diplomatic Corp workplace, Daughter Etraax, and our convention is to use non-telepathic means to communicate with each other.
The noble woman bobbed her head back and forth. Keehani could swear she sensed some level of enjoyment in Daughter Etraax.
Etraax: ~~ A little birdy told me your friend isn't getting what she wants. ~~
Keehani: Is this a diplomatic issue, Daughter Etraax?
Daughter Etraax simply gave a small shrug.
Etraax: ~~ It's a pity. Ariadust and Polgonz would have made such a great couple. But now your twentieth-house friend is reconsidering. A shame. It's all about the title for her, isn't it. I had really hoped she hadn't turned out to be a disruptive power-seeker such as yourself. Not everyone can be a noble, you know. ~~
Keehani’s smile turned into a shocked yet impressed smirk, before she closed her eyes, raised her eyebrows, and slowly shook her head with incredulity. She composed herself again, before opening her eyes and addressing Daughter Etraax. Again.
Keehani: I am happy to discuss formal Betazoid matters with you in an appropriate forum, Daughter Etraax. Perhaps we shall move to a meeting room?
Etraax: ~~ I suppose there is a way you might be able to help her... ~~
Keehani lifted her finger, then turned to her pod console, swiping through the holographic displays to bring up a resource schedule.
Keehani: Ah, wonderful, meeting room A is free for the next twenty-seven minutes. Is that enough time to discuss the matters at hand, Daughter Etraax?
Etraax: ~~ Terminate all contact with Tri'lea immediately. Let us know that the two of you won't be getting into any mischief together. I'll know. We’ll all know. ~~
With that, Keehani stood up straight, and turned to eye the Second House noble woman. Her jaw tightened a little, as her eyes narrowed, and her black pupils pierced the very fibre of Deexila Etraax’s dark, polluted soul.
Keehani: ::Slightly terse, yet polite diplomatic tone:: As I am a Federation Citizen, Daughter Etraax, my personal relationships are mine to choose.
It had seemed she had accidently lifted her voice a little too, her colleagues in the pods nearby stopped what they were doing, and turned to look at Keehani, firstly in shock, then watching closely to see if their colleague needed assistance. Feeling herself blushing a little, she brushed her hair behind her ear, then clasped her hands in front of herself.
Keehani: Unfortunately, Daughter Etraax, my schedule is suddenly full and ::turning to look at *unchanged* meeting room booking calendar:: it appears that someone has hastily just booked Meeting Room A. ::Turning to next pod:: Second Secretary Corall, would you please request that a Starfleet Security Officer attend to ::turning back to Etraax:: our dignitary’s needs? ::To Etraax:: My apologies, we will have to schedule another time to meet.
Adog Corrall, a Bolian man who was part of the diplomatic personnel on Amity, nodded quietly and then turned to his console, tapping a few times.
Etraax: ~~ My dear, you have much to learn about being a noble if you don't want to wilt away your House like it’s an overwatered rose. I don't think uprooting it will work a third time. ~~
Keehani slowly blinked her eyes, and could not help but form a smirk that turned into a knowing smile. It appeared Etraax hadn’t heard the news yet…
Keehani: Once again, Daughter Etraax, I respectfully request that you use verbal communication as is the custom on all FDC floors and other related work areas.
Etraax: Response
Keehani: Uh-huh.
Etraax: Response
Keehani: I see.
A gold uniformed security officer made their way out of the elevator and on to the floor. Upon seeing the female officer, Keehani lifted her hand and smiled, to get the officer’s attention.
Keehani: ::Smiling:: Lieutenant? Over here, if you please.
Etraax: Response
Keehani: I see. Well, Daughter Etraax, it’s been wonderful to see you again, but I’m afraid I have much to attend to. Lieutenant Iko here will be able to escort you to your accommodation or any other part of Amity you would wish to see. ::Smile, nod to Bec:: Hello, Lieutenant.
Iko: Response
Etraax: Response
Keehani: In fact, Lieutenant, as Daughter Etraax is a dignitary, I will accompany the both of you to the foyer. Then you may escort Daughter Etraax to anywhere she would like to go, that is not in Copernicus Center. ::Smiling, gesturing towards elevators:: Shall we?
Iko/Etraax: Response
((A few minutes later, foyer, Level 7, Copernicus Center))
The ride down in the elevator to level 7 had been silent. Keehani had given Bec a sideways look, then nodded to silently indicate to her that everything was okay, and to thank her.
Keehani knew that Daugther Etraax would have sensed the intent and sentiment of that silent exchange with Bec.
Keehani didn’t care.
As they stepped out of the elevator, the First Secretary smiled to Bec.
Keehani: Could Daughter Etraax and I have a moment please, Lieutenant?
Iko: Response
Keehani then turned back to the Second House noble. Her smile disappeared. Her eyes, once again, went a darker shade of black, as she looked straight into Etraax’s skull.
Keehani: ~~ By the Four, how *dare* you come into my workplace, and tell me what do with my own personal life. Telling other nobles who they can and can’t have relationships with might be convention in other Houses, but it certainly isn’t in ours. ~~ ::Lifting chin, switching to verbal communication:: *Get out*. ::back to telepathy:: ~~ I am putting your name on our “dignitaries requiring escort” list. Any time you need to come back into Copernicus Center, either FDC or Starfleet sections, you will need explicit permission from either myself, Envoy Kizat, or Ambassador Vataix, and you will require a Starfleet security officer to escort you at all times. ~~
Etraax: Response
Keehani: ~~ And by the way, even if I *wanted* to “terminate” my friendship with Tri’lea Polgonz, that will be made very difficult given she is additionally now a Daughter Ascendant of the *Ninth* House. And if you don’t know what I’m talking about? ::Lifting chin:: Go and ask Mother Perennial Vataix. And I don’t like your chances of being on Tri’lea’s pending wedding’s invitation list. ~~
Without taking her eyes from Etraax or changing her facial expression, Keehani signalled with her hand for Bec to return.
Etraax: Response
(OOC: Can backsim here!)
Keehani took in a deep breath, before her smile returned for Bec.
Keehani: ::Polite nod, smile:: Thank you, Lieutenant Iko. ::Turning back to Etraax:: Enjoy your stay, Daughter Etraax, Lieutenant Iko will now take you to wherever you need to go.
Etraax/Iko: Response
Keehani, now fuming and shaking a little, clip clopped her way back into the elevator. Her next task was to provide an explanation to her colleagues about the harassment she had just experienced...
...and to put Etraax on the “dignitaries requiring escort when in Copernicus” list.
Tags/TBC?
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First Secretary Keehani Ukinix
Ambassadorial Aide, Amity Outpost
Federation Diplomatic Corps, United Federation of Planets
V239511WU0