LTJG Lhandon Joseph Nilsen - Diplomatic Guidance
Lhandon Nilsen
(( The Celestial Temple Pub, Deep Space 14 ))
Despite the previous embarrassment of knocking Captain Del Vedova over, and then a misguided attempt at diplomacy involving two traders whose meaning of the word "several" was ambiguous, the captain had decided to spend some time with the young lieutenant junior grade at this pub, which seemed to appeal to both of their aesthetic tastes. It was there that Nilsen told Del Vedova of the current happenings in the Gamma Quadrant and more specifically the Kissoben Reach, their current theater of operations. He was particularly proud of his involvement with the negotiations over Chey'd with the United Dominion of Planets and his role working with the first officer of the UDP Rij'dal'vak, one Fraya who really did make him work for it. Lhandon hoped that he had been able to show them that they had common interests and the common goal of helping the Chey'd people. There was also a part of him that hoped that he had earned her respect.
He had also hoped that he was earning Captain Del Vedova's respect, despite his previous blunder. The conversation had seemed to be going without incident and a question had been forming.
Nilsen: How do you do this? Like this whole diplomacy thing?
Del Vedova: How do you mean?
Nilsen: Well I just sort of stumbled into this, Alpha Brenkelvi making contact with those ancient Bajorans, the Chedy’langa and the UDP. (beat) How do I do this stuff…deliberately?
He couldn't work out what expression Del Vedova had exactly, but it was certainly a positive one as if the Captain was glad that he had asked.
Del Vedova: You know there are officers who devote their entire careers to diplomatic service? Academy classes, a major, assignment as a diplomatic officer, the whole shebang...?
Nilsen: I’ve definitely got some catching up to do. The thought of going back to the academy doesn’t fill me with that much joy.
Lhandon's time in the academy was not the most enjoyable, and it was an experience that he would rather not relive.
Nilsen: I suppose there is always the remote option. I’m retaking Dip101 already.
The captain shook his head. Lhandon figured he must have misunderstood, but Del Vedova then clarified what he had meant.
Del Vedova: No, no, that's not what I mean. Some of the best diplomats didn't go that route. Did you know that the Federation's Secretary of the Exterior was a Starfleet officer early in her career, and she didn't get into diplomacy until she'd been promoted to commander? Not that I'm saying you have to wait. It's a decision you can always make.
Nilsen: I didn’t know that. erm…I would love to learn more if I’m honest, like…how to make that jump.
Del Vedova called for the bartender to come over, and it seemed that the two of them had a taste for strong Klingon beer. The bartender was slight, with earrings and jewellery that, along with the stage in this pub, reminded him of Nera Ay, a fellow cadet who had been one of Lhandon's few friends in the academy, one who had helped him get through the course and one for whom Lhandon had cared for
Del Vedova: It sounds to me like you're looking for mentors. Is that it? (beat) Who's the diplomatic officer on your ship?
Maybe that was it, but who did he know? There was just one.
Nilsen: There is Ensign Qurgh'Loq Yinn, who I’ve gotten to know, but they are also an science officer…at the same time…erm…::thinking how to word this:: two people, a Bolian and a Klingon sharing one consciousness, doing two different roles…which, really brings a literal meaning to being in two places at once.
Lhandon had had a good friendship with both of them, and while they had started off not quite understanding each other, just sitting down to talk had been all that the two, and later three of them had needed to realize that they had more in common than they had realized. They had shared somewhat of the same energy, and Qurgh'Loq had made a great sparring partner.
Del Vedova: Response
Nilsen: We get on good, they’re just…dealing with this new development. But, I am going to see them later on, we’ve been looking over some of Picard’s negations with the Sheliak, it’s been good to slow down a little bit after the past couple of months and just read stuff.
Del Vedova: Response
Nilsen: But…erm…::putting his hand out:: this isn’t Ro’s fault, she’s been trying to fill the gaps, Starfleet just hasn’t sent her any other diplomatic officers, so if…I dunno, I can jump and fill that gap for her at some point?
Del Vedova: Response
Nilsen: That’s the thing, I love ops, I got to the Assistant Chief, in part because both Ro and Commodore V’Airu believe in me ::beat:: its like I said earlier…I’ve just fallen into this role, You don’t want the whole history, but I just want to do things deliberately for once.
He then thought for a moment before he asked his next question, his right-hand thumb unconsciously rubbing against his finger, not quite a nervous habit, but more his brain needing the stimulation it offered to help him focus.
Nilsen: How did you end up in Diplomacy? You started in medical right?
Del Vedova: Response
He knew that, at that moment, he had an opportunity to learn beyond that which could be found in textbooks or reports. People would kill (metaphorically speaking) to sit down with a captain and just pick his brain. He hoped, with his question, that it might just spark something in himself, if he could see or at the very least get an overview of how to make such a jump.
But of course, another question lingered, one that he moved to the back of his mind in this moment: should he jump to diplomacy? Does he want to? Or is the current coldness between him and Lt. Arlill causing the grass to look greener on the other side?
Tags/TBC
((OOC: This takes place before the awards so promotions would not have happened yet))
Lieutenant JG Lhandon Joseph Nilsen
Assistant Chief of Operations.
USS Octavia E Butler
O240007LN1
He/Him/His (Both player and character)