[Backsim, JP] Second Secretary Aitas & Ensign Seleya - Intelligent Conversations
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Aitas
Jul 24, 2025, 2:52:26 PM7/24/25
to sb118...@googlegroups.com
((Risa - Late 2401))
Aitas was still wearing her costume. Given that it was for one of the more mundane holonovel scenes, she’d elected not to switch out of it. Brown pants, thigh-high laced boots and a matching sleeveless, petal-layered shirt weren’t exactly out of line on Risa, so much as the planet had lines.
Still, the pants were too long for the beaches.
But it wasn’t the beaches she was visiting, or at least not for a few more hours. Aurelio’s lessons would take that long at least. So instead she was on the deck outside a small bar, one of Sharkalis’ numerous properties. Waiting.
It had been a bit since one of her old instructors had directed a cadet her way, but Aitas certainly had the time for it. Even the recordings for the newest outing of Sultra Drax were nearly done.
She had done a bit of research on the Kazleti beforehand, but any real understanding of the subject would require far more in-depth study.
It was, at least, enough to pick the cadet out of a nearby crowd. Aitas motioned Seleya over and gave the cadet a small smile as she pulled out a chair.
The Kazleti cadet already knew she looked out of place in her cadet uniform on the Risan beach, but as she took in Aitas’ outfit, she couldn’t help feeling like a sore thumb. She had clearly missed the dress code for the meeting her professor had arranged. But she tried pushing those thoughts aside, clearing her throat and dipped her head to Aitas, then took the offered seat.
Aitas: Aah, welcome! Can I get you anything? They tell me it’s not Risa if you don’t have a drink in your hand at all times.
Mostly.
Seleya: Thank you ::she gave a brief smile, then looked over to the bar:: I see they have no shortage of choices.
Seleya shifted in her seat, her eyes drifting once again over Aitas’ outfit. She was starting to seriously regret not changing before the meeting. When her professor had arranged this, she had expected something far more formal. Now, she felt like a clueless Starfleet cadet.
Aitas: The place keeps a very good bar. But you didn’t come here just to talk about that. Or the beaches, though I could make you some recommendations there as well.
Seleya: If you have any drink recommendations, I’d be happy to try one. Or feel free to order for me if you’d like to surprise me. But yes, the matter at hand is your knowledge and experience in Starfleet Intelligence. At least, what you’re able to share.
Seleya was trying to keep her cool and not seem nervous. Pushing away thoughts of doubt and just focusing on the business at hand.
It wasn’t quite working, but then it was a hard thing to pull off in front of an empath. Aitas stood and stepped over to the bar, where she seemed to evaluate the selection as she spoke.
Aitas: Well, Intelligence is a rather broad subject. Where were you looking? Signal intelligence is the most common, of course.
Seleya: We have been learning a lot about Signal Intelligence. I’ve also found that I’ve enjoyed open source intelligence, it is always interesting how much information people may not realize they give away on the Net. But I am looking to go into Counterintelligence, specifically.
Aitas: Always a needed role. And it does give you a good general basis to work from; you need a broad understanding of what tactics might be used against you to oppose them. Starfleet does best with covering the technical aspects. They’re a bit weaker on personnel issues.
Seleya: Where is most of your career experience?
Aitas: With Starfleet? I was on Starbase 118 for several years, most of which was spent running the intelligence department.
How much of everything before that could be argued to be career experience was, well, arguable.
Aitas shook what looked to be a mixture of juice and some pale green alcohol together, then poured it out into a glass over ice.
Seleya: What brought you into the Intelligence field?
Aitas: The Dominion War. That’s not uncommon with Betazoids around my age.
And was solidly history for most new cadets.
Seleya: That makes sense. I understand the occupation of Betazed was not easy for your people, and your talents would suit the Intelligence field.
Aitas gave that a brief nod. It wasn’t a topic to linger on.
Aitas: I did a few different things before I joined Starfleet. Had a run-in with the Orion Syndicate, spent several years on Risa working for a friend…good way to learn about people, that. Made a lot of drinks.
Seleya: So you had plenty of experience. It is no wonder my instructor recommended we speak.
Aitas added a set of soft pink crystals to the rim of the glass, then set it down in front of Seleya.
Aitas: Tell me what you think of this. And, ::she smiled:: about what exactly caught your eye about intel.
Seleya returned the smile to Aitas before reaching for the glass set in front of her. She swirled it before taking a sip, letting out a pleased hum. Her gazes shifted from the glass back to Aitas.
Seleya: Very sweet, but good. Thank you. ::Seleya took another sip as she thought about her answer:: I’ve always tried to be a protector, and fighting can only get you so far. I feel like the work I hope to do in intel has the chance to protect more people than just one ship or space station.
Aitas returned to the bar and put together her own drink, some sort of pale blue concoction.
Aitas: Every ship and station in Starfleet benefits from accurate information and proper security. You have a very sensible perspective on the matter.
If these sorts of interviews hadn’t involved sensible cadets, Aitas would have stopped doing them. She picked up her drink and retook her seat.
Seleya: I think Frontier Day showed just how devastating it can be when our security measures fall behind the capabilities of our enemies.
Seleya frowned briefly as she remembered that day that wasn’t all too long ago. The fear was still fresh in her mind as she watched from the campus below.
For her part, Aitas was well-experienced enough to not let Seleya’s emotions bleed over to her. She still seemed perfectly calm, with perhaps a small touch of Vulcan reserve.
Aitas: I expect you’re not the only one rethinking your path because of that. I’ve heard of an abundance of changed roles, transfers, and resignations.
Seleya: May I ask why you left?
Aitas: My father had been missing for almost twenty years. We found him again. Spending time with him was a priority. And my son is only six.
Not just that, of course. But it covered enough of the explanations. And Aitas wasn’t about to get into the rest of them.
Seleya: I could think of no better reason. Do you think you may return once you feel ready?
Aitas: I’m likely to have a lot of time to go back to it. ::she raised an eyebrow:: Once they’ve figured out what changes they want to make in light of Frontier Day. I don’t envy them that process.
Probably a lot of admirals yelling at each other. Not a process she would have much ability to influence. Just, perhaps, be close enough to hear the reverberations of all of it.
Seleya: I imagine, or I would hope there are major changes, given all that came out.
Aitas leaned back in her chair, one hand still lingering next to her drink.
Aitas: Do you have any other particular questions? I can’t promise answers to all of them, but I know a few things. ::she gestured at the beach before them.:: Especially about Risa.
Seleya: I have a few more questions about Intel, and then the beaches.
Seleya gave a brief smirk, and leaned back in her chair as well, trying to look a little more confident in her cadet uniform.
Aitas just raised an eyebrow and gestured for Seleya to continue.
Seleya: What skills or training would you recommend having to get into Intel. What are some useful skills that people may overlook?
Aitas: It’s always good to have a strong comm/ops background as an officer. So much intelligence is sourced that way. Beyond that, keep an eye on what’s going on locally. If there’s a nearby economic crisis or some diplomat gets himself blackmailed you might be called in to assist.
It really was remarkable how many ways there were for people to get themselves blackmailed. Even in the Federation.
Seleya: What are some bad habits you would warn me against that you’ve seen some intel officers falling into?
Aitas: The work can be dull, taxing, and yet always retains the fact that any little detail might prove crucial. You can’t drown yourself in it.
She let her gaze sweep back over the nearby buildings, the swathe of flowers that trailed down into the sea. Risa did provide a great many opportunities to relax, and it was not the only such place.
Seleya:And where would you recommend going if you wanted a little privacy?
Seleya gave a playful smile. It may have been a long shot, but no harm in trying to flirt a little.
That earned a proper smile from Aitas in return: sharp-edged, amused. She held up one hand for Seleya to wait, and pulled out a small horga’hn on a chain with the other.
Then she slipped the chain around her neck.
Aitas: Ask me that again.
Aitas was still wearing her costume. Given that it was for one of the more mundane holonovel scenes, she’d elected not to switch out of it. Brown pants, thigh-high laced boots and a matching sleeveless, petal-layered shirt weren’t exactly out of line on Risa, so much as the planet had lines.
Still, the pants were too long for the beaches.
But it wasn’t the beaches she was visiting, or at least not for a few more hours. Aurelio’s lessons would take that long at least. So instead she was on the deck outside a small bar, one of Sharkalis’ numerous properties. Waiting.
It had been a bit since one of her old instructors had directed a cadet her way, but Aitas certainly had the time for it. Even the recordings for the newest outing of Sultra Drax were nearly done.
She had done a bit of research on the Kazleti beforehand, but any real understanding of the subject would require far more in-depth study.
It was, at least, enough to pick the cadet out of a nearby crowd. Aitas motioned Seleya over and gave the cadet a small smile as she pulled out a chair.
The Kazleti cadet already knew she looked out of place in her cadet uniform on the Risan beach, but as she took in Aitas’ outfit, she couldn’t help feeling like a sore thumb. She had clearly missed the dress code for the meeting her professor had arranged. But she tried pushing those thoughts aside, clearing her throat and dipped her head to Aitas, then took the offered seat.
Aitas: Aah, welcome! Can I get you anything? They tell me it’s not Risa if you don’t have a drink in your hand at all times.
Mostly.
Seleya: Thank you ::she gave a brief smile, then looked over to the bar:: I see they have no shortage of choices.
Seleya shifted in her seat, her eyes drifting once again over Aitas’ outfit. She was starting to seriously regret not changing before the meeting. When her professor had arranged this, she had expected something far more formal. Now, she felt like a clueless Starfleet cadet.
Aitas: The place keeps a very good bar. But you didn’t come here just to talk about that. Or the beaches, though I could make you some recommendations there as well.
Seleya: If you have any drink recommendations, I’d be happy to try one. Or feel free to order for me if you’d like to surprise me. But yes, the matter at hand is your knowledge and experience in Starfleet Intelligence. At least, what you’re able to share.
Seleya was trying to keep her cool and not seem nervous. Pushing away thoughts of doubt and just focusing on the business at hand.
It wasn’t quite working, but then it was a hard thing to pull off in front of an empath. Aitas stood and stepped over to the bar, where she seemed to evaluate the selection as she spoke.
Aitas: Well, Intelligence is a rather broad subject. Where were you looking? Signal intelligence is the most common, of course.
Seleya: We have been learning a lot about Signal Intelligence. I’ve also found that I’ve enjoyed open source intelligence, it is always interesting how much information people may not realize they give away on the Net. But I am looking to go into Counterintelligence, specifically.
Aitas: Always a needed role. And it does give you a good general basis to work from; you need a broad understanding of what tactics might be used against you to oppose them. Starfleet does best with covering the technical aspects. They’re a bit weaker on personnel issues.
Seleya: Where is most of your career experience?
Aitas: With Starfleet? I was on Starbase 118 for several years, most of which was spent running the intelligence department.
How much of everything before that could be argued to be career experience was, well, arguable.
Aitas shook what looked to be a mixture of juice and some pale green alcohol together, then poured it out into a glass over ice.
Seleya: What brought you into the Intelligence field?
Aitas: The Dominion War. That’s not uncommon with Betazoids around my age.
And was solidly history for most new cadets.
Seleya: That makes sense. I understand the occupation of Betazed was not easy for your people, and your talents would suit the Intelligence field.
Aitas gave that a brief nod. It wasn’t a topic to linger on.
Aitas: I did a few different things before I joined Starfleet. Had a run-in with the Orion Syndicate, spent several years on Risa working for a friend…good way to learn about people, that. Made a lot of drinks.
Seleya: So you had plenty of experience. It is no wonder my instructor recommended we speak.
Aitas added a set of soft pink crystals to the rim of the glass, then set it down in front of Seleya.
Aitas: Tell me what you think of this. And, ::she smiled:: about what exactly caught your eye about intel.
Seleya returned the smile to Aitas before reaching for the glass set in front of her. She swirled it before taking a sip, letting out a pleased hum. Her gazes shifted from the glass back to Aitas.
Seleya: Very sweet, but good. Thank you. ::Seleya took another sip as she thought about her answer:: I’ve always tried to be a protector, and fighting can only get you so far. I feel like the work I hope to do in intel has the chance to protect more people than just one ship or space station.
Aitas returned to the bar and put together her own drink, some sort of pale blue concoction.
Aitas: Every ship and station in Starfleet benefits from accurate information and proper security. You have a very sensible perspective on the matter.
If these sorts of interviews hadn’t involved sensible cadets, Aitas would have stopped doing them. She picked up her drink and retook her seat.
Seleya: I think Frontier Day showed just how devastating it can be when our security measures fall behind the capabilities of our enemies.
Seleya frowned briefly as she remembered that day that wasn’t all too long ago. The fear was still fresh in her mind as she watched from the campus below.
For her part, Aitas was well-experienced enough to not let Seleya’s emotions bleed over to her. She still seemed perfectly calm, with perhaps a small touch of Vulcan reserve.
Aitas: I expect you’re not the only one rethinking your path because of that. I’ve heard of an abundance of changed roles, transfers, and resignations.
Seleya: May I ask why you left?
Aitas: My father had been missing for almost twenty years. We found him again. Spending time with him was a priority. And my son is only six.
Not just that, of course. But it covered enough of the explanations. And Aitas wasn’t about to get into the rest of them.
Seleya: I could think of no better reason. Do you think you may return once you feel ready?
Aitas: I’m likely to have a lot of time to go back to it. ::she raised an eyebrow:: Once they’ve figured out what changes they want to make in light of Frontier Day. I don’t envy them that process.
Probably a lot of admirals yelling at each other. Not a process she would have much ability to influence. Just, perhaps, be close enough to hear the reverberations of all of it.
Seleya: I imagine, or I would hope there are major changes, given all that came out.
Aitas leaned back in her chair, one hand still lingering next to her drink.
Aitas: Do you have any other particular questions? I can’t promise answers to all of them, but I know a few things. ::she gestured at the beach before them.:: Especially about Risa.
Seleya: I have a few more questions about Intel, and then the beaches.
Seleya gave a brief smirk, and leaned back in her chair as well, trying to look a little more confident in her cadet uniform.
Aitas just raised an eyebrow and gestured for Seleya to continue.
Seleya: What skills or training would you recommend having to get into Intel. What are some useful skills that people may overlook?
Aitas: It’s always good to have a strong comm/ops background as an officer. So much intelligence is sourced that way. Beyond that, keep an eye on what’s going on locally. If there’s a nearby economic crisis or some diplomat gets himself blackmailed you might be called in to assist.
It really was remarkable how many ways there were for people to get themselves blackmailed. Even in the Federation.
Seleya: What are some bad habits you would warn me against that you’ve seen some intel officers falling into?
Aitas: The work can be dull, taxing, and yet always retains the fact that any little detail might prove crucial. You can’t drown yourself in it.
She let her gaze sweep back over the nearby buildings, the swathe of flowers that trailed down into the sea. Risa did provide a great many opportunities to relax, and it was not the only such place.
Seleya:And where would you recommend going if you wanted a little privacy?
Seleya gave a playful smile. It may have been a long shot, but no harm in trying to flirt a little.
That earned a proper smile from Aitas in return: sharp-edged, amused. She held up one hand for Seleya to wait, and pulled out a small horga’hn on a chain with the other.
Then she slipped the chain around her neck.
Aitas: Ask me that again.
Fin
Second Secretary Aitas
Federation Diplomatic Corps
Amity Outpost
O239307A10
&
Ensign Seleya
Tac/Sec Officer
U.S.S. Chin'toka
C240202SK1
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