Lt. Lhandon Nilsen - His best mistake yet.
Lhandon Nilsen
((Diplomatic Conference Room 1, Deep Space 14))
Lhandon would have been lying if he had said he did a perfect job, even if his ego demanded him to say he was the most amazing and fantastic person to ever live.
But it wasn't a failure - progress had been made, and these things took a long time. He'd lost track of how long he had been in this room now but at least... progress.
One of the objectives was met, to find out why they came here. From what he had pieced together, Dolce was the driving force behind that. That one wanted more than what life had offered... and that one was willing to travel all the way to DS14 to get it.
Lhandon couldn't help but feel a certain level of respect and admiration for such a act- to want to escape the circumstances of one's own birth and take control of their own destiny.
There was an agreement made that should be offered as well
Nilsen: Well, there is one thing this one can guarantee: any Chey'd who comes to DS14, or any Chey'd who wants to have peaceful contact with us, will be welcome. After all, DS14, while a Federation starbase, is open to the entire quadrant to come here to do business or, in our case, diplomacy.
Dolce: This one appreciates that. It would possibly help with changing minds. If Chey’d come, possibly those ones can see what is possible.
Lohkina: (considering) Yes, that is a real possibility.
That one was right. Lhandon felt his rebellious spirit kick in, the one that flew recklessly. He saw the pain and torment the caste system could do to a person, and he'd be quite happy to see it dismantled.
For the Federation, this was good, at least to some degree. The Chey'd were at their peak in the Dominion, expert shipbuilders, and the Dominion used their space as shipyards. He was sure some admiral somewhere was rubbing their hands with glee.
Did he intend for this?…he couldn’t tell you.
Dolce: This one knows it will not be perfect. However, this one hopes it can be useful.
Lohkina: Even so...
Was he aware of what he had done? Opening this floodgate... word would spread... perhaps his best mistake yet.
Lohkina was maybe more sceptical than Lhandon, or maybe she was just keeping a certain distance. There were so many times today Lhandon wanted to turn to her and say "can you do this?" but at the same time, Lhandon knew he was in the right place.
Nilsen: People having free movement is good for all involved.
Dolce: This one firmly believes that what that one has offered can be helpful. However, this one’s companions need a bit of work.
Lohkina gave a look towards Nilsen, it took him a second but he understood.
She ****exchanged a look with Nilsen, in the hope that he might be able to communicate why that was so. There was context in the brief, of course, but not enough to explain if the crew of the Butler had perhaps made the wrong choice in opening a dialogue with Domeni'Dolce a year before.
Lohkina: Why does that one say so?
Nilsen: This one recalled some of the more xenophobic Chey'd taking this one prisoner, and this one remembered being somewhat taken aback by the sudden order to leave the system - not by the government, but rather, by a fleet of civilian ships. This one is sure that there are those who do not wish to have erm…connections with the outside world.
Dolce: Those ones think this one is not smart. This one knows where those ones' loyalties lie.
Lohkina: Well, perhaps more time on Deep Space 14 will convince them otherwise, particularly that this one made the right choice in opening more formal dialogue with Starfleet.
And this was it. While they had not been greeted with a high-level diplomat or a political leader, but rather one person who wanted change and was willing to travel halfway across the galaxy for it. The others with that one were less enthusiastic. He couldn't shake the feeling they were put there against both Dolce's and their own will.
But these things took time, they needed to be built up too...and any step forward was a good step, or at least he believed that to be...maybe one day he would be proven to the contrary.
Nilsen: Exactly a dialogue between our…
He was interrupted by his PADD lighting up as it seemed Lohkina had gotten a notification.
Dolce: Response
Lohkina: It appears the other team has concluded. Perhaps these ones would like to join them in browsing the station's businesses and cultural centers?
Nilsen: This one thinks that will be a great idea.
Dolce: Response
Lohkina met Nilsen's eyes and spoke with earnestness.
Lohkina: This one believes the captain will be satisfied, and that one should do as he sees fit.
A smile came across Lhandon’s face, just a little one, followed by a nod.
Nilsen: Thank you Lohkina, that means ::beat:: a lot to me.
Dolce: Response
Nilsen: This one is going to check in with ::beat:: this ones colleagues, this one is anxious to know how the other discussion went.
Dolce: Response (optional)
Lhandon had a lot to think about. It was always drilled into him the responsibility of diplomacy, why diplomatic staff take their time, and why the process is so slow? There were times when learning and reading that he wished for the document to speed up as there seemed to just be page after page of talking — but now, he got it.
Whether they knew it or not, this delegation taught him that lesson. They had first been uplifted by the Dominion before they were ready. After the Dominion collapsed, they were, by all accounts, able to at least find their footing, but many of the old ways and beliefs still remained, and those beliefs took time to change, regardless of the desire of those wanting to change them.
The cat was out of the bag, and the Cheys were on the galactic stage, whether they like it or not. Perhaps the Federation will be judged on what they do next.
End scene for Nilsen
((OOC: Diplomacy simmers. I will be spooling up a JP to sync up the teams and maybe tease something for the future. Hit me up if you’d like your character to be a part of that))
Lieutenant Lhandon Joseph Nilsen
Diplomatic Officer
USS Octavia E Butler
O240007LN1
He/Him/His (Both player and character)