Commander Lia Rouiancet: Prospects

[Tony Colella]

(( Walking the Promenade, Deep Space 14, in orbit of New Bajor ))

As she and Lhandon strolled, enjoying their snacks from the food shuttle (or, in Lia's case, enjoying the post-snack haze), Lia decided that it was time to razz Lhandon a little.

Rouiancet: (a smile) No, no, you don't get out of it that easily. What was that about looking good in purple? There's diplomatic, and then there's dodging the question!

Nilsen: (laughs) Alright fine ha, so. I mentioned Melvinson and Taggart. I’ve been taking tutoring from them, they’ve been teaching me some diplomatic techniques and I’ve signed up to a distance learning course.

Even on 'Oumuamua, when she'd encountered Lhandon as a fresh ensign, Lia might have predicted that this route was one he'd explore. Not diplomacy specifically, though she wasn't entirely surprised, but rather expanding his horizons generally, seeking out new opportunities and bettering himself however he could. As an officer with a higher rank on 'Oumuamua, she would've done what she could to mentor him -- and now, as both his CO and his friend on the OEB, she wanted to make sure he had whatever resources he needed and could pursue any opportunity he wanted to.

Rouiancet: That's wonderful! I'm sure you'll learn a lot. (beat) If you don't mind me asking, why diplomacy?

Nilsen: Well it started when I was kid. Gault gets a lot of trade from Klingons, Federation, the Nausicaans and anyone else you can think of. So I figured out quite quickly how to talk others peoples' languages. But I forgot about all of that when I was in the academy. Which was a bit stupid but, eh. Then you remember Alpha Brenkelvi II?

Rarely had Lia experienced so topsy-turvy a mission, and she nodded with feeling.

Rouiancet: Vividly.

Nilsen: That restarted this whole thing. When I was in V’Airu’s mindscape, I ended up talking on the Bajorans' behalf and helping to translate some of the meaning of their speech. Then when I got that ribbon from V’Airu, the diplomacy one, she said that I helped to bring justice to a long forgotten people and I dunno, things started to clicked.

In the ensuing moment, Lia felt her own click. Not the same one Lhandon had experienced, but a revelation -- or a reminder, at least -- of just how much a CO could do. With the bestowal of a ribbon, one that Lhandon had fully earned, the commodore had potentially changed the trajectory of his career. Her role was minor, as Lhandon had just explained, but she had perhaps been the pebble that began to split the river.

Rouiancet: (marveling) And now you're considering how to follow that up.

Nilsen: Then I thought I could repeat that with the King's Path mine. That (small laugh) …well you know what happened there. But…it lead to you assigning me to the UDP talks, and they by all accounts went well, I got to understand them a little more, Peri let me take the reigns there and we got them on side.

Another pebble! Because Lia had made her decision in part based on how Lhandon had acquitted himself in the mindscape, hadn't she? And perhaps the commodore had even made her decision regarding the ribbon based on Lia's recommendation. For a moment, Lia stopped as she boggled. It was a lot of responsibility, once she unfolded the network of implications. But she knew that, and she'd thought bare minutes before about doing whatever was needed to support Lhandon.

Rouiancet: I think we all have a lot of faith in you. The commodore, Peri... I know I certainly do.

Nilsen: So yeah, purple might be a thing for me, though, gold also suits me. Purply gold maybe? (smiles) Gimme a couple years, I’ll be begging for Etan’s job.

Even then, as he laughed (and Lia joined in), she saw in that a thread of truth. Perhaps more than he knew? The knowledge that Iljor was assigned as CO to the relaunched 'Oumuamua wasn't commonly known yet, but once it was, Lhandon might recognize something that Lia already saw in him: He would be an excellent command officer, when the time came.

Rouiancet: (a final laugh) You might find yourself on a runaway starship of responsibility, if you keep carrying on with this excellent work and pushing your limits.

Lia kept her tone light, as Lhandon had, but she also spoke with complete confidence. She wanted him to know that she had that faith in him.

Nilsen: Response

Rouiancet: Well, who knows? Maybe we'll even add some burgundy to your gold-purple swirl, eventually.

She turned to give him a wide smile.

Nilsen: Response

Rouiancet: (still light) But don't think I didn't notice that you avoided my earlier question! What do you think about your new captain?

She paused to turn to him and offer a brief curtsy, then laughed again.

Nilsen: Response

Tags! and TBC!

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Commander Lia Rouiancet

Commanding Officer

USS Octavia E. Butler

V238208LV0

she/her/hers (this character)