Captain Nic del Vedova: Just a Drink

[Tony Colella]

(( The Celestial Temple Pub, Deep Space 14 ))

The place that Lieutenant Nilsen had chosen (with a covert nod from Vothaw before he returned to the Hirschfeld, which Del trusted because Vothaw did a deep dive on every location at every station and installation they visited) was a cute little pub in the modern Rakantha style, if he was any judge. The decor was demonstratively of Bajor, certainly, though Del spotted bottles of dresci, Saurian brandy, and warnog among the spring wine.

Del realized, too late, that his attention had wandered again, and he brought himself back to the moment. If he wasn't so intrigued by the bumbling lieutenant, Del would have put him off for the usual post-conference group get-together, but he was intrigued, and he prodded himself back into the present.

Nilsen: Exactly sir, we’re trying to build on that momentum from the United Dominion of Planets and what we achieved with them.

Del Vedova: Tell me more about that. You were a part of the UDP discussions, weren't you?

But how large a part? There were details that neither a personnel nor a mission record could provide, and that's what Del wanted to know. Nilsen was grasping toward something, and Del wanted to understand what.

Del Vedova: What'd you take from those negotiations?

Nilsen: It showed that we can work together, we just needed a common goal, and at that point, it was to support all the slaves who had been liberated from the King's Path and help them make their own choices, something both our people have in common. (beat) But they really need us to forget. Despite their name, they don’t want to be known as the Dominion.

Del Vedova: Yes, from what I've seen, they're one of several nascent states that have been building their bases of power from the bones of the Dominion since the Founders' isolation and the end of the war. (a smirk) You're lucky that your theater of operations in the Kissoben Reach is the home of the UDP. It could be worse, but even so...

He knew, from those mission reports he'd skimmed, that Nilsen's ships had experienced their fair share of adventure, up to and including that creepy affair with the Unity Dow.

Nilsen: Yeah, it ain’t quiet out here.

Del Vedova: Nor anywhere, I'm afraid. (beat) But I allow it's more so out here, on a frontier that largely overlaps with the former sphere of influence of an enemy power.

In fact, Del had considered requesting the Hirschfeld's placement with the Gamma Flotilla Expeditionary Task Force. The request went beyond his former assignments to the GQ, back when Aron had been CO of the Thor, and addressed a very real concern he had -- that the task force was under-supported by hospital ships. The Joseph M'Benga and Jonas Salk were good ships with good crews, but two ships for a task force of more than twenty was not a ratio he cared for.

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?

That was a very good question, and Del felt a surprising amount of satisfaction. This, at last, seemed to approach what Nilsen was after.

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: Response

Del shook his head. He wasn't trying to be discouraging, but sometimes -- still! -- his mouth ran ahead of his mind.

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: Response

Del signaled the bartender, a slight Bajoran man with a truly impressive collection of delicate earrings and other jewelry. If they were going wading in amongst the weeds, he needed some of that warnog.

Del Vedova: It sounds to me like you're looking for mentors. Is that it? (beat) Who's the diplomatic officer on your ship?

Not that Del was likely to know them, but he knew Lia Rouiancet, so it was possible that he could've met the diplomatic officer, too.

Nilsen: Response

Tags! and TBC!

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Captain Niccolò del Vedova
Commanding Officer
USS Hirschfeld
V238208LV0
he/him/his (player & this character)