Lieutenant Commander Lael Rosek: Keeping Composure
Lael Rosek
(( Time jump - Port Airlock, Deck 25 ))
::She’d managed to get dressed quickly enough that there’d been time to spare. It was time well spent as she’d been able to do a bit more research. The nerves had faded and she was feeling more confident. Watching Riley’s interactions with the man would be helpful as well. On her way here, she’d caught her first glimpse of Michael Goodwell in years. He looked well enough, though she knew better than most that appearances could be deceiving.::
::Clearing her throat, she snapped to attention, tucking her hands together behind her back as she waited the remaining minutes for the minister to arrive. A moment or two after her arrival, Riley arrived and she offered the man a nod of greeting.::
Rosek: ::smiles:: Commander.
Riley: Response
::Not a moment later, Mei arrived as well, greeting them both. They talked to kill time while they waited, Lael saying very little, too focused on her tasks following the minister’s arrival. She had the Pagrati lounge chef and waiters on standby just in case the minister seemed hungry and had the quartermaster preparing VIP quarters in case the minister was in need of rest while he was aboard. Anything and everything to offer him a good first impression of the Astraeus crew’s hospitality. She noticed how Mei tugged at the edge of his dress uniform collar. It seemed she wasn’t the only one who was anxious for the minister to arrive..::
Mei’konda: Any last minute adviice, Commander? I don’t beliieve I’ve ever met a Bajoran Minister before.
Riley: Response
Mei’konda: Mmh. I’ll do my best to keep that in mind.
::As Mei finished speaking, a man, Bajoran by the earpiece, came striding toward them with two security escorts behind him. She paid little attention to the women accompanying him, instead focusing on the minister himself. Dalen Martov. He was older if his salt and pepper hair was any indication and stood at least four inches taller than her. The man was not surprisingly good looking with the exception of a partially healed scar on the left side of his jaw.::
Mei’konda: Minister Dalen. I am Captain Mei’konda Delano. Welcome to the Astraeus.
::The smile didn’t quite reach Dalen’s eyes and Lael suspected the man wasn’t thrilled about Starfleet’s presence here. But then it wasn’t surprising. Given what the Bajorans had been through in the last century, they had a right to hesitate in trusting outsiders.::
Dalen: Hello, Captain. Thank you for being here. The station commander has been telling me that Starfleet has been unable to assist our investigation until now. Something about the Defiant undergoing a refit. At least they’ve sent someone.
Mei’konda: I assure you, my crew and I will be doing our very best for you, Minister. May I present my first officer and my mission specialist, Lieutenant Commander Lael Rosek and Lieutenant Commander Riley Delar.
Rosek: ::smiles and inclines her head:: Minister Dalen. It’s a pleasure to meet you.
Riley: Response
::Lael fought the urge to arch her eyebrows in surprise as she noted how the minister focused on Riley and the change in his expression that followed. It was as though the man had de-aged twenty years in a single moment, the warm smile brightening his features. There was something in his eyes that if she hadn’t known better she would have sworn was fondness. It caused her to wonder if these two had some kind of history.::
Dalen: Commanders. Riley. It’s very good to see you again.
Riley: Response
::Clearly she wasn’t the only one who’d noticed. She watched Mei’s eyebrows shoot up.::
Dalen: The fact that you have Riley Delar on your crew gives me a lot more confidence than I had an hour ago, Captain. You’ll be making a mistake if you ever let him get away.
Mei’konda: ::smiles:: You and I already agree on somethiing, Minister. It’s a good start to our paartnership.
Riley: Response
::She saw the man step out from behind the minister and wasn’t sure what to make of him at first. He was older, of the age that she wouldn’t be surprised if he hadn’t lived through the Occupation and the Dominion War. Lael would have been scarcely five or six at the time with no clue about the goings on outside of Cedar Springs much less on another world as distant as Bajor.::
::It wasn’t until she’d began classes at the Academy that she’d even known very much at all about the Occupation of Bajor. It just wasn’t standard curriculum for civilians. The only people who seemed to care were those who worked for Starfleet or the Federation and those families on Earth who had lost loved ones to the Dominion War.::
Lixa: Lixa Dansha, FNS Reporter. I've been assigned to report from the ship for the duration of this. I.. will probably be trying my best to remain from being underfoot, Captain, Commanders, Minister.
::Lael tensed slightly. It took everything for her to maintain a neutral expression. She hated reporters. But then, she hadn’t met an honest one in her life. The ones at her trial as a teenager had been constantly in her face, asking their questions in such a way that any answer she gave would make her look like the worst sort of person.::
::It had been a crime of passion, brought on by years of bullying and psychological abuse. Even after realizing what she’d done, she hadn’t been sorry, still too filled with rage. If law enforcement hadn’t showed up when they did, she might have done something far worse than break his arm. Shaking the thoughts from her mind, she refocused her attention on the older Bajoran man who had introduced himself as Lixa.::
Mei’konda: Response
Rosek: ::smiles tightly and offers a hand for Lixa to shake:: Mr. Lixa. Lieutenant Commander Lael Rosek, first officer of the Astraeus.
Riley/Dalen: Responses
Lixa: Ah, while I am always eager to get opinions of those serving for my reports, I don't allow them editorial oversight aside from classified redactions. And I promise to be silent when you talk to the Cardassians. ::wryly:: I would be a detriment, not a boon, to your efforts if I was even present. My opinions are well known about several Cardassian politicans.
::Those last two statements set off alarm bells in her head. The thought of Lixa being present at all for those conversations given how delicate the situation already was bothered her. He shouldn’t be involved at all. She only hoped that Mei would refuse to allow him to be present.::
Riley/Dalen/Mei'konda: Responses
::She decided, for the sake of her sanity and her professionalism, to refocus her attention on the Minister. His comfort and his needs were her primary concern. How could they gain the trust of the Bajoran people without having the trust of their minister? Dalen’s support could be key in persuading the families of the missing to cooperate in their investigation.::
Rosek: ::smiles:: If I may, Minister? Our chef and his staff are at your disposal if you would like a meal or a beverage. We have recipes for several fine Bajoran dishes that you might enjoy. Also, if at any point during your time aboard the Astraeus you would like to rest, VIP quarters have been arranged for your comfort. Beyond that, please don’t hesitate to let myself or Commander Riley know if there’s anything we can do to make your visit more pleasant.
Dalen: Response
Rosek: ::nods:: Of course. It’s our pleasure.
Dalen / Riley: Responses
Mei’konda: Response
Galven: =/\= Galven to Commander Rosek. =/\=
::She somehow managed a smile, though she was certain it appeared forced. German really did have the worst timing. After apologizing to the minister and excusing herself, she stepped just out of earshot and sighed before tapping her commbadge once to open the comm line.::
Rosek: =/\= Go ahead, Commander.=/\=
Galven: =/\= I need to speak with you as soon as possible, ma’am. Where are you located? =/\=
Rosek: ::pauses:: =/\= I’m with the Captain greeting Minister Dalen. Is it critical or can it wait? =/\=
Galven: =/\= Well, I think we might have a bigger problem. Possibly renegade Cardassians. Have you ever heard of the Kalla-Nohra Syndrome? =/\=
::Her brow furrowed. The name sounded familiar, though she couldn’t quite place it. That fact alone irritated her. How was she supposed to help keep control of a very tense situation if she didn’t understand what her teams were trying to tell her? After a moment, she replied.::
Rosek: =/\= It sounds vaguely familiar. =/\=
Galven: =/\= Response =/\=
::Unable to help herself, this time she did grimace as German explained. Well, hell. German was right. That definitely complicated things. For a moment, she remained silent uncertain of what to say. Finally, she spoke.::
Rosek: =/\= Once I’ve gotten the minister settled in his quarters, I’ll meet you in your office and we can discuss it in greater detail. =/\= ::gaze flickers to Lixa:: =/\=Rosek out.=/\=
::Tapping her commbadge twice, she closed the line before returning to the others.::
Dalen: Response
Rosek: ::smiles and nods:: Just an update from our CSO. I don’t have full details yet, but as soon as I do.
Dalen: Response
Mei’konda / Riley / Lixa: Responses
Rosek: ::to Mei:: The observation lounge is available whenever you and Minister Dalen are ready, sir.
Dalen / Riley: Responses
Mei’konda: Response
