LtCmdr. Talos Dakora - The Slow Churn of Bureaucracy
Travis
(( Outside RSF Headquarters - Risa ))
With the mouthy Bajoran NCO on her way back to the Artemis, Talos turned his attention to the Andorian whom she’d try to implicate in… whatever it was she was trying to do.
He felt bad for the nervous kid, but he also knew that if he didn’t learn from these experiences and grow some backbone, he’d wind up here again before long.
Dakora: I’m Talos Dakora, by the way, the Artemis’ XO. ::He frowned.:: Sorry to meet you this way. This sort of thing is my least favorite part of the job.
The other Bajoran present, Ops Chief Vailani Zoyara, didn’t seem as ready to let him off the hook. Her voice kept its sharp quality as she spoke.
Vailani: I'll reintroduce myself too. Lieutenant Vailani Zoyara. Chief of Operations.
As his anger and frustration with the situation Ral had set in motion dissipated, he felt a new sense of dread at the potential amount of paperwork this Intel Petty Officer- Damien Black– may have caused with his unauthorized use of a cover identity.
Talos wondered if he’d ever make it back to finish his massage.
Dakora: Since both of you are here, let’s go ahead and retrieve this pain-in-the-ass Petty Officer.
He turned with one brow raised as Vailani stopped him with a hand on his shoulder mid-step. When her gaze snapped to the jittery Andorian Ensign, Talos saw a fire burning in her green eyes. Not anger, exactly, but he could tell she meant business.
Vailani: Ensign, what is proper procedure for the hand-off of a Starfleet crewman involved in petty crime? We've established that a senior officer needs to be present, and the command team of the ship should be notified, in all instances. Now, what else do we need to do before we enter that building?
Talos turned to face them, forming the third point of their triangle with his arms crossed across his chest.
Tho’Bi: Eh… I (beat) don’t know (beat) ::tilts head:: I-I’m an engineer (beat) The (beat) The Chief just told me to stand there ::straightens head and looks at Vailani:: a-and say nothing. (beat) I just want fix things.
The Ensign shifted nervously, like he didn’t know what to do with his hands. Again, Talos felt for him, but at the same time knew he needed to learn– and quick.
Dakora: It seems, Ensign, you’ve followed that last order to the letter—commendable, in a very specific sense. Fortunately, the rest of us came prepared.
With a nod to Zoyara, she thrust the PADD containing their lawful orders to transfer custody of Starfleet Officers and other personnel from an authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) within a Federation member world to Starfleet Security, under the authority of their Commanding Officer.
It wasn’t a get out of jail free card– in fact, Talos would be willing to bet any officer or enlisted crewman would probably rather do the time wherever they were being held than deal with the consequences after being returned to their vessel.
Ensign Tho’Bi scanned through the Padd and, after a minute or so, looked up at the two of them nervously.
Talos hoped he’d been able to absorb some of that information.
Vailani: Very well. Let's go in.
Feeling the practically nausea-inducing waves of nervousness rising off the Ensign and battering his empathic senses, Talos replied.
Dakora: Right behind you.
The trio entered the building, their boots echoing sharply against the marbled floors. Talos kept pace just behind Vailani, his gaze sweeping over the artwork that lined the hallway, mentally filing away details—more out of habit than interest. The place was polished and proud of its civic identity, but he doubted its holding cells were quite as picturesque.
He registered the friendly smiles of the Risan security officers who approached, but his expression remained neutral—polite, but not warm. The last thing he needed was to give the impression this was a social call.
Vailani: Good morning officers. :: to Tho’Bi :: Ensign, you want to hand them the PADD.
Talos watched the exchange, pleased to see Tho’Bi remember the basics—orient the PADD, offer it respectfully. That was progress.
Taking a deep breath, Talos stepped forward, opting to just rip the bandage off rather than try and dance around the problem.
Dakora: I’m Lieutenant Commander Talos Dakora, First Officer of the USS Artemis. We’ve received a report that you have one of ours in your custody– a Petty Officer Damien Black— though he’s likely in your system under an alias.
If the on-duty Risian Security Officers were caught off guard by the situation, they did a good job of concealing it.
RSF Officer: I see. Um, one moment please.
The officer in charge– an appropriately handsome man for Risa with an especially chiseled jaw– began to interrogate his terminal.
Dakora: Of course. I’ll also need access to his file– charges, possessions, holding log, the works– transferred to Starfleet custody along with the prisoner.
The RSF Officer glanced up at Talos over his terminal.
RSF Officer: Understood Commander, there will be substantial paperwork required to authorize this transfer, will that be going to… you?
Talos cast a forlorn look back toward Vailani, before turning back to the RSF Officer.
Dakora: Yes. ::A frown tugged at the corners of his mouth.:: This will be under my authorization.
As the Risian officers exchanged glances and began pulling up records, Talos resisted the urge to rub his temples. This wasn’t going to be quick. Between confirming Black’s identity, reviewing the incident report, filling out transport clearance, and no doubt navigating at least one jurisdictional miscommunication between Starfleet and Risan Security, they’d be lucky to have Black back aboard the Artemis before dinner.
He exhaled slowly, folding his arms as he leaned against the nearest wall, watching the slow churn of bureaucracy grind into motion as he gave up all hope of rescheduling his massage.
This was going to take a while
((OOC: Going to end this one here, so we can all put this one behind us!))
[End Scene]
LtCmdr. Talos Dakora
USS Artemis-A
O238811CD0