PO2 Lohkina: Measurements

[Tony Colella]

(( Diplomatic Conference Room 1, Deep Space 14 ))

Lohkina: If this one may make a recommendation: Tell us about that one's experiences, Lower Tenente. These ones understand best by understanding the experiences of others.

That, though a few of her new Starfleet colleagues didn't believe it, was something she had learned in her long years as a public servant throughout the Romulan Empire. Especially when she'd been in positions of leadership, she'd found few strategies more effective, including her long years spent on Benzar.

Dolce: Like this one said, there was a lot of upheaval. There are those that wish for more strict castes, but it has been somewhat good.

Nilsen: This one is glad to hear that your people are getting back on (beat) those ones feet and that things are somewhat good, If this one can be so bold, how are the Mognar doing?

Dolce: That one has a good handle on what has happened. It has not been easy for these ones.

Hm. An interesting response. Domeni'Dolce could mean any number of things, including that he didn't know anything else -- that he knew, but didn't think it worth saying -- that he knew, but thought it worth keeping from them -- and plenty else, besides. Again, Lohkina reflected that they desperately needed more information. Which was exactly what these sessions were meant to do, but also she was sure that the Cheydalanga were playing the political game, she just didn't know why, or to what end.

Nilsen: And how are the former members of the King's Path dealing with that? Has it been peaceful?

And while Lohkina had only the most tenuous of reads on Domeni'Dolce and the Cheydalanga, she had a much stronger sense of Nilsen. He might be young and inexperienced, but he was -- she had to admit -- doing well. Until, that was, moments like that, in which he gave away just how much he wanted the answer. That wasn't so awful with Domeni'Dolce, who seemed relatively friendly as diplomatic interlocutors went, but hopefully he wouldn't be so transparent in a more fraught situation.

Dolce: This one almost didn't make it to this meeting with those ones.

Nilsen: Lower Tenente, forgive this one; that sounds like, erm…

Lohkina: (a glance at Nilsen) Distressing, perhaps.

Thankfully, at least in this, she seemed to have Domeni'Dolce's measure.

Dolce: Disheartening? Unhelpful? This one knows how it sounds.

In fact, Domeni'Dolce seemed almost -- bashful? He was certainly avoiding their gazes, though Lohkina was as careful as could be not to read more into that than she ought to. She had no idea what it might mean for a Cheydalanga, after all. Domeni'Dolce was providing a useful primer.

Nilsen: Is there anything these ones can do to help those ones? To help all the Cheydalanga?

Dolce: This one would need an indoctrination camp to help all the Cheydalanga. These ones need an almost complete cultural shift.

Lohkina: (dry) That would certainly violate several Starfleet tenets.

Not that she wasn't sympathetic, but both she and Nilsen were there specifically as representatives of Starfleet and the Federation it belonged to. There was no point in having Domeni'Dolce get the wrong idea and then needing to pull the proverbial rug out from under him later.

Nilsen: And please forgive all the questions — what has the United Dominion of Planets' relationship been like with those ones' people?

Dolce: Those ones…Those ones have been trying to come back like those had been before. This one is not a fan of those ones.

Lohkina: (still dry) Yes, this one got that sense.

Dolce: This one apologizes. This one did not mean to bring down the mood.

Nilsen: Response

Lohkina, however, shrugged. Domeni'Dolce wasn't to blame for the news he brought, or how he represented himself in the internal political games on Cheyd'lang. Or, if he was, then at least he wasn't answerable to them.

Lohkina: These ones are here to listen and learn, that's all.

Dolce: This one thanks those ones. Like this one said, things have not been easy. The King’s Path may be gone, yes, but ones who still think like those ones are still around.

Nilsen: Response

Dolce: Did those ones completely stop thinking of the Dominion as enemies after the war?

Lohkina laughed, and while she could've stopped herself, she chose not to. May as well show her hand here, at least.

Lohkina: Not likely. Even now, decades after the armistice, it's difficult for these ones to liaise with the United Dominion of Planets.

But, then, the Federation and the Romulan Empire had been enormous states in open war with the Dominion, unlike the annexed Cheyd'lang.

Dolce/Nilsen: Responses

Lohkina: Then, Lower Tenente, let this one again be bold. What do you want here? Why have you come to Deep Space 14?

There were more and more Federation starships, Starfleet and non-Starfleet alike, in the Kissoven Reach, and a few had even made stops at Cheyd'lang, even if the Octavia E. Butler hadn't returned since its first mission. Yet Domeni'Dolce himself had come all the way to Deep Space 14.

Dolce/Nilsen: Responses

Lohkina: (with an eyebrow raised at Nilsen) A laudable goal, to be sure.

Dolce/Nilsen: Responses

Tags! and TBC!

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Petty Officer Second Class Lohkina

Captain's Yeoman

USS Octavia E. Butler

V238208LV0

she/her/hers (this characters) & he/him/his (player)