JP: Lt Nilsen, Ens. Halloway, Prelate Rolo’Illini, Lwr. Ten. Domeni’Dolce, Achi’Trinot — Unexpected Events (Part 1)
Lhandon Nilsen
JP: Lt Nilsen, Ens. Halloway, Prelate Rolo’Illini, Lwr. Ten. Domeni’Dolce, Achi’Trinot — Unexpected Events (Part 1)
(( Outside the Diplomatic Conference Rooms, Deep Space 14 ))
The doors to the second conference room had just whisked shut, affording two of the Chey’d’s diplomatic delegation a brief moment of privacy after what had been a relatively trying talk between them and Starfleet. Rolo took advantage of the opportunity.
Illini: This one would appreciate if that one did stay in contact. It would be good for this one as well as that one.
Trinot: ::motioning to the room:: Those ones can wait; this one wants to ask something more discretely before there’s any more talk without the double-speak.
As they took a few steps further into the corridor, the doors again slid open and the two officers emerged.
Illini: Ah, returned already.
Halloway: ::glancing at Loq:: Of course, we can move somewhere private if you like.
Trinot: You can very much move somewhere else and wait on these ones for as long as deemed necessary. While you may hold some authority over this station, that same privilege does not extend to this one’s feet.
Achi shook his foot in a rather violent motion towards their hosts.
Illini: Achi, what are you, a hatchling? Show some respect.
Using the simple ‘you’ was as disrespectful as Illini was willing to behave. You wouldn’t catch him shaking his foot in front of potential trade partners—at least while he was this sober. He didn’t care if the others understood the gesture or not. Still, it was a good reason to get Starfleet out of the way for a moment.
Illini: Please do leave these ones alone, as it’s clear there are things these ones must discuss.
Trinot: ::eyeing Clara:: Now take yourself and your uninspired outfit somewhere else.
Halloway: Please, no need for insults.
Achi huffed and walked several additional paces before turning to the right and facing Rolo.
Illini: Shaking that one’s foot, really?
Trinot: Better than wholly acting upon the feelings felt within, if there was a pulse weapon or even a dagger around, this one…
He was halted mid-sentence by Rolo’illini, who seemed to have no time to indulge in his hallway partner’s idle fantasies.
Illini: This one’s point is simple. But these ones are almost certainly still being observed. So how can this one speak in an unguarded manner?
Trinot: Not all the King’s Path’s toys were lost in the Mongar’s looting of this one’s base.
He withdrew a signal jammer that both dampened their voices while also providing an envelope of white noise. The combination of the two proved powerful; it was how their former faction operated without much friction as the King’s Path amassed their previously impressive cash of weapons. He flicked a switch, and a small light illuminated.
Illini: The caste was once a movement, and movements are fluid. If these ones are to survive, these ones must be fluid again. That doesn’t mean giving up the work—just working in such a way that those ones can’t be sure these ones are even doing it.
Trinot: While it may appear that this one doesn’t appear to live in reality, it’s obvious that there will be concessions. The thing to avoid is giving everything away in the first meeting, particularly to the individuals who disrupted the Chey’d order. This one can have some flexibility on castes, but make no mistake, the thought of non-servant aliens again on the homeworld seems unpalatable. Is there another angle to explore?
Illini: This one doesn’t have all the answers. But these ones have the old masters and prophets as examples.
Trinot: The Fraternal Order of Kings and Princes…
Illini: :: gesturing from himself to Trinot :: This one likes that one, and this elderly one knows how to make opportunities for the ones this one likes. But these ones should avoid this topic for now. There is always after these ones return to the homeworld.
Trinot: It would be better to return with the Order, but that would be too obvious. Would there happen to be associates that have been… inserted into the Mongar government complex? That might be a discrete avenue to exchange messages. For now, ::turning to Clara:: You!!! Is everyone else seated? I don’t want to waste my time waiting in chairs. This one has better things to do.
Clara rolled her eyes, her patience wearing thin.
Illini: :: to Trinot with a wink :: This one hopes that one stays in contact, but that that one keeps his feet to himself!
Halloway: ::under her breath:: Oh great koala, I need a drink…
Rolo nodded at Halloway in agreement.
Illini: This elderly one must use the little hatchlings’ hole before moving on.
And in this manner, Illini waddled off down the hallway.
(( Outside the Diplomatic Conference Rooms, Deep Space 14 ))
Nilsen had checked in with the other group and found that the prelate had gone on a walkabout. More importantly, he discovered that Loq had to deal with all of it. The canny Klingon had managed to keep them from (a) killing him, (b) killing themselves, and (c) flipping a table.
Lhandon felt a pang of guilt for unintentionally giving Loq the harder, more belligerent group to handle. But as he had learned, perhaps that was a good thing—it was clear that Achi had been sent to keep an eye on Domeni.
Before Nilsen, in the corridor was Achi'Trinot. He had given up politely waiting for Illini to return and was going back to hopefully reach an end of some sort with these talks. As he got closer to Nilsen, he keep casting suspicious glances to the man.
Nilsen: This one understands that, that one wished to discuss something. This one is at your disposal.
Achi eyed the weak nosed individual, he’d been warned to heed his words should they ruin the fragile and freshly born alliance that had been created only moments ago.
Trinot: Educate this one on how you decided to split up the group.
Lhandon nodded unconsciously, only slightly as he listened to the question and he felt his heart slightly sink as a sense of dread came over him. The response from Trinot came pointed like that one was one click away from being personally insulted by the entire Federation, Starfleet and that potted plant in the corner of the room Trinot has just left.
In this moment, he was faced with a choice, to tell the truth, or say a lie that will make Trinot calm down.
Nilsen: I split the group the way I did because I could see that, that one and Lower Tenente Domeni’Dolce were erm…
He searched for the words as he told the truth.
Nilsen: and I don’t mean this as a slight, but that one ::nodding in the direction of Domeni:: was causing you some stress, so this one thought that it might be a good idea to give that one :gesturing to Achi: some space and allow that one ::to Achi:: to be able to talk freely.
Achi wasn’t radiating the energy of a man who had been thoroughly placated by the diplomat’s attempt to smooth ruffled feathers. But the earlier conversation with Illini helped him think before speaking, and in this absence of conversation, tidbits were volunteered.
Nilsen: This one can assure that one that it was all to make sure that one got to have their voice heard.
Trinot: Well, that seems to have been accomplished.
Listening was easy, landing on a collective agreement was another matter entirely.
Nilsen: Quite
END PART 1
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Lieutenant Lhandon Joseph Nilsen
Diplomatic Officer
USS Octavia E Butler
O240007LN1
He/Him/His (Both player and character)
&
Ensign Clara Halloway.
Tactical
USS Octavia E Butler
D239910AF1
&
Lower Tenente Domeni'Dolce
O240107KL4
&
Prelate Rolo'illini
Fraternal Order of Kings and Princes
Simmed by O240108JN2
this one/that one
&
Achi'Trinot
Begrudged Diplomat and Unwilling Absorbed Member of the Mongar
O240005JH3
he/him/his (player/character)