Lt. Dakora - Memories, Threats and Travel Plans

[Travis]

((Talos' Quarters - Deck 03 - USS Artemis))

((Time Reference: The Day the Galaktoboureko Returned to the Artemis))

Following Talos' triple-length shower, he'd thrown on a pair of khaki rip-stop tactical pants and a (now) classic black t-shirt with the word "EXCAL" printed in gold across the chest. Somewhere along the way a grumbling in his stomach had reminded him that it had been nearly 24 hours since he'd last eaten. He'd replicated himself a bowl of cereal with little dried uttaberries in it and parked himself in front of his personal terminal.

He scrolled through the handful of messages that had landed in his personal inbox; An automated mailer informing him that a band he liked --Anomaly51-- was coming to DS224 on the final leg of their All Booster, No Payload tour. A cryptically titled message from an old Marine buddy that just said "Open This." When he tapped on the entry, it opened to reveal a holo-image of several members of his old unit laughing and smiling, seemingly at some kind of reunion get-together on some beach with drinks in their hands. Letters were painted on each of their shirtless stomachs that read "TALOS SUCKS." Beneath the image were a single sentence and a signature.

===================================================
// Begin Message //
Missed you at the FORECON re-u this year, Romeo.

--Love,
Porkchop, Stix, Teeny, and all the rest.
// End Message //
===================================================

Talos smiled and shook his head at the picture and the attached message. He missed those guys and girls more than they knew, but he'd been in the middle of the changeover from the Excalibur to the Artemis and had to skip the reunion on Eschevarria. With any luck, he'd be able to make the next one. He continued scrolling, past several messages from his grandmother, --his Govanna-- no doubt complaining about the lack of great-grandchildren he'd provided for her thus far or an attempt to set him up with one of her gardening society friend's rather plain-looking grandchild. He lied to himself and said he'd come back to those later. The next message however, was unusual; It bore an official header that identified it as coming from someone within the Great Houses on Betazed. He tapped the message curiously.

===================================================  

// Begin Message //

From: Lohani Vananth-Polgonz, Daughter, Sixth House of Betazed

To: Talos Dakora, Lieutenant, Starfleet

Mr. Dakora,

After careful consideration of evidence recently uncovered by researchers at the University of Berazed, I have been convinced that there may exist a link between your matrilineal family line and the Sixth House of Betazed.

Unfortunately, during the Dominion Occupation of our mother world, many such records were destroyed by the occupiers in an attempt to destabilize our society’s governance and erase our traditions. We are only now beginning to heal these wounds and re-graft fallen branches to our family trees with the help of dedicated researchers and investigators.

It is imperative that, without delay, we establish whether or not this evidence can be substantiated by expert testing and – if so – whether or not you will rightly inherit the title of “Son of the Sixth House of Betazed’.

As I have been charged with overseeing this investigation on behalf of the House, and I am currently working on colony-building efforts in the Delta Quadrant (accessible via Amity Outpost), I will require you to take time within your next available leave to rendezvous with me here as soon as possible. You may find relevant travel recommendations attached to this letter.

Please contact my office when you have determined your date of arrival to schedule a meeting.

In Good Faith,

Lohani Vananth-Polgonz,

Daughter of the Sixth House of Betazed

PS: When my initial attempts to contact you were unsuccessful, I reached out to your available family members. Please give your Govanna my best. She had much to say about your work and accomplishments… Since I have little time to spare, I would appreciate not having to contact her directly again.

// End Message //

===================================================    

Again, Talos found himself laughing, but this time at the absurdity of this Lohani Vananth-Polgonz's claims. Talos Dakora was a lot of things but he was certainly not a Nobleman. But Just as he was about to move the message to the trash a string of messages, again from his grandmother, began to appear rapid-fire in his inbox. They started by asking nicely; "Tally will you please contact Daughter Vananth-Polgonz about this issue." but began escalating as he must have triggered some read receipt. Eventually, his Govanna's messages turned to outright threats; "If you don't contact Daughter Vananth-Polgonz TODAY, I will pack my bags and be on the next shuttle to DS224, where I will live out my remaining years asking you each and every day about when I'll be getting great-grandbabies IN PERSON."

Unwilling to test her willingness to follow through on that particular threat, Talos reluctantly fired off a quick response to both his Govanna and Vananth-Polgonz. 

It seemed he'd be taking a trip to the Delta Quadrant in the near future, lest his Govanna turn his life into his own personal version of the trial of the Great Fire.

With an exasperated sigh, he snatched up his commbadge and tapped it.

Dakora: =/\= Dakora to Osuna. Is now a good time for that drink? I'm suddenly feeling very thirsty. =/\=

Osuna: =/\= Response?=/\=

He slumped back into his chair, wondering how he was going to work this trip into his busy schedule.

Dakora: =/\= Sounds like a plan, I'll be there in five. ::He paused.:: What's the bar called on this ship anyway? =/\=

It was almost embarrassing to admit that he hadn't made it down there yet.

Osuna: =/\= Response?=/\=

He pulled himself up out of his chair and moved towards the door.

Dakora: =/\= I like the sound of that. I'll see you in a few. Dakora out. =/\=  

TAG/TBC

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Lt. Talos Dakora
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Artemis-A
O238811CD0

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke