Ensign Kell Bakk - You take it to the Heart

[Kell Bakk]

[[Holodeck]]

(( Main Bridge, USS Buffett ))

Ensign Bakk had been approaching the mysterious comet from a decidedly aggressive standpoint. He was definitely taking his role as security seriously. But he was about to get some lessons in diplomacy.

Bakk: The last idea is to slowly peel the shield apart with increasing levels of phaser fire, but that risks damaging the comet, the minerals, useful information, and bringing upon us the wrath of a border-hopping Romulan ship.

Rouiancet: (slight smile) Maybe not that one yet. (turning back to Ragh) I suggest we try to establish that these are Romulan devices, or ships, or probes. For all we know, this could be some third party spying on both the Federation and the Romulan Free State.

Ensign Bakk nodded in response. 

Nis: Response

Rouiancet: I'd prefer to establish what we're dealing with. The sensors say that it's a comet, except for the half-centimeter device. That's some very powerful trickery.

 

Ragh: ::to Rouiancet:: I agree, we need to determine who's handy work these 'comets' are.

Bakk: We could approach that from trying to determine unique minerology patterns, seeing where the comets share patterns with. Or we could analyze the systems on the comet, which have their own unique signatures and behaviors we were not expecting.

Nis: Response

Ragh: Well let's lay out the facts: We know the Romulans were making frequent visits to this area and we know that there were similar comets at those times. Now is that enough to start a confrontation, probably not, but I would say that it's more than a pretty good hunch.

Bakk: Are you proposing there may be a third party involved?

Nis/Rouiancet: Response 

Ragh: ::said suddenly:: If you want to know if someone is there, give them a call.

Ensign Bakk looked at the captain. oO This should be interesting. Oo

Ragh: Open hailing channel: =/\= This is the USS Buffet of the Federation, to any and all nearby vessels, we come in good faith and seek open dialogue. =/\=

Minutes passed with no response.

Ensign Bakk continued to perform non-invasive scans on the comet during the wait. He hadn't anticipated this choice of action. He was treating it as a learning opportunity; instead of viewing every situation through the lens of security, why not consider diplomacy instead? When faced with questions that had answers known to others, he could simply ask. He began contemplating how best to ask the Zet to explain their shield harmonics to him the next time he wanted to break through their shields with phaser fire.

Bakk was concerned that the downside to this approach was that they had traded the element of surprise, timing, and preparation in exchange for an entirely diplomatic approach. Kell was not an amazing diplomat. With preparation time, he was passable. In the heat of the moment, he worried that he lacked the agility required for good diplomacy.

Nis/Rouiancet: Response 

Ragh: Okay, change of-

Unknown: =/\= USS Buffet, we heard your message. What we do here is our own concern. (A pause) But we are.. open, to further conversation. Give us thirty minutes and await our hail. =/\=

Ensign Bakk waited until the comms line was clear.

Bakk: From a security standpoint, I have concerns about this course of action. A Romulan or potential third party wants us to wait for thirty minutes. They could be assembling reinforcements.

Nis/Rouiancet: Response 

Bakk: We could assemble our own reinforcements, but the timing window is not large. Also it would be viewed as aggressive, and we are already tending away from that sort of approach.

Ragh/Nis/Rouiancet: Response

Half an hour was long enough for Bakk to plan a proper diplomatic plan, if only he knew what they were dealing with. He did not. He inwardly resolved to continue passive comet scans and hope that one of them eventually gave him an idea. Bakk did not disapprove of his captain's decision in any way, but he was concerned that the crew could soon face difficulties. Bakk contemplated his own situation for a moment. oO Well, it still beats managing government contracting on Brikar. Oo

The stony ensign tapped at his console, performing various scans in silence.

Ragh/Nis/Rouiancet: Response

Tags/TBC

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Ensign Kell Bakk
Security Officer
USS Octavia E. Butler
O240306KB2