CPT Mei'konda Delano & LTCDR Lael Rosek - Loyalty (Part 2)
Lael Rosek
((Captain’s Ready Room, Deck 3, USS Chin’toka))
{{Time Index: Day 3 of Shoreleave}}
Rosek: Honestly, sir? I’d like to have him aboard until I can find a more permanent place that will offer him equal security.
Mei’konda shifted slightly in his seat, withdrew his hand from Odin’s head, and nodded slightly.
Mei’konda: I see. Well, if I can help, I will. It depends on how aggressiively the Al-Leyan council is pursuing them. If they are willing to commit a waarship in order to try to get them back, then you realiize, I cannot risk an incident that would put this entire shiip, or the Federation’s relaations with the Al-Leyans, at risk.
She nodded. The Council was determined, but she didn’t believe they’d reached that level of recklessness yet. They did, after all, pride themselves on control and thoughtful action. A wry, unamused grin twisted her lips. They were more like Vulcans than she was certain they would admit if they ever met one.
Rosek: I don’t believe it’s quite reached that level yet. They won’t risk a war with the Federation. Their isolationist mentality means they aren’t near technologically advanced to take on a Federation starship. Unless they’ve had breakthroughs that we don’t know about.
Mei’konda agreed, though the risk was still there. Leaning back in his seat and setting his tea down on a side table nearby, he glanced back up toward her.
Mei’konda: Commander Raga is the only other Al-Leyan I’ve ever met who serves in Starfleet. Is he awaare of this?
Rosek: ::sighs and runs a hand through her hair:: Tor--Commander Raga knows bits and pieces of what’s going on. With my dad I mean. Not this recent thing with Kellan.
Her lips thinned slightly at the thought. She wanted to trust Toryn. But the fact was given how tightly he held to the beliefs of their people, it was a big risk. All he’d need to do is accidentally let something slip and the conflict that they were trying to avoid could become very real. It was enough that she was risking Mei’s reputation without putting Toryn in a position to choose between his devotion to the crew and his devotion to their people.
The Caitian government had been peaceful, open minded, and accepting of differences between people and cultures for much longer than the Federation had existed. It was a concept so ingrained in Mei’konda that the sorts of things that the Al-Leyan government found disturbing, and other cultures like them, were hard for Mei to wrap his head around.
Mei’konda: I see.
Rosek: I’m not sure it’s the best idea to get him involved any more than he already is, sir. Though I’ve confided in him about some things, I’ve deliberately kept information from him about where my father and brother are at any given point.
Tilting his head slightly, Mei’konda asked what seemed to him to be the obvious question.
Mei’konda: Then, he will certaiinly find out once your brother is aboard. It sounds to me as if that would maake this one of the less desirable places for them to seek asylum, Commander.
Rosek: He wouldn’t purposefully put either of them in danger, no. But I’m concerned that if he let something slip--I just don’t want him to carry any more weight of responsibility than he already does.
Mei’konda paused, tapping his clawed fingertips together.
Mei’konda: Let’s thiink of alternatives, Commander. What about arranging asylum for your brother aboard Starbase 26, instead? No other Al-Leyans, and it’s still a secure facility with a Starfleet presence.
This whole thing had her in knots and it took a good amount of self-control to hold her temper. It wasn’t the outcome she’d wanted and she honestly wasn’t sure how she felt about Mei’s proposed solution. The point was to have Kellan under her watchful eyes until she could find a place with less eyes to notice him or what he was doing.
She took another sip of the drink, grimacing at the bland flavor. It just wasn’t cutting it. She had the feeling she’d need something a lot stronger tonight. It was a good thing she’d brought aboard a shipment of her favorite brandy. If this conversation was any indication, she’d be dipping into it over the coming days just to hold on to her sanity.
Rosek: ::nods slowly:: I suppose it’s worth considering. ::takes another drink:: Though I’m not sure how I feel about him being someplace so crowded, secure facility or not.
Mei’konda shrugged his lean shoulders.
Mei’konda: All riight. I’m getting the impression you are not willing to let your faather play much part in this decision making process.
Rosek: ::grins unamusedly:: Dad’s got bigger things to worry about. ::pauses:: Our mom wasn’t around much when we were kids. ::sighs:: I guess I figured he needed someone looking after him. ::grins unamusedly:: Problem is I didn’t know a damn thing about mothering.
Her gaze dropped to the deck and she exhaled a slow, heavy breath. She was emotional, but this was her brother. Certainly Mei would have done the same if it were his family? Though she’d need to let go at some point and let him live his life, now wasn’t the time.
Mei’konda picked his tea up off the side table, and finished it off with one more swallow. Licking his lips, he glanced toward the modestly sized windows that looked out into space, as the bluish ripple pierced by warp streaks rushed past the starship at warp five.
Mei’konda: I am new to this situaation, Lael, but there are a thousand other options available. Remote outposts deep in the Federation. If it was done officially, the Diplomatic Corps proviiding them with security on Starbase 118. This is an official, political situaation, is it not?
She nodded slowly. He was right, of course. But it was damned hard for her to separate politics from family. She hated the position her dad had put her in. How in the hell was she supposed to protect her brother, but save face with her commanding officer at the same time? It was just impossible. At some point, something was going to have to give. As much as it killed her, she was just going to have to trust that Mei knew what he was doing.
Rosek: Of course, sir. ::runs her hands through her hair and sighs:: I’m not going to lie. The fact that it’s family makes this that much tougher. I trust your judgement. I just need a bit of time to work it through. :: grins unamusedly:: Unfortunately, that’s not something me or Kellan have much of.
Odin turned his attention over toward Rosek, trotting over to push his snout up against one of her arms. Mei smiled slightly at the intentionally therapeutic attention from the canine.
Mei’konda: ...He’s trying to tell you that it’ll all be okay, in his own way. We all have our weaknesses, Lael. I thiink yours is a desiire to handle everything yourself. But when you joined Starfleet, you took an oath to not only do anything for your fellow officers, but to let them do anythiing for you as well. We’ll fiind a way to help them that will not endaanger this crew.
Rosek: ::nods and smiles wanly:: I know we will. ::exhales shakily:: Thank you. For not exploding on me over the encrypted transmission. ::chuckles:: I was expecting a dress down more thorough than the one Captain Rahman gave Luna Walker and I not long after I came aboard the Veritas. ::smirks::
Mei’konda decided he’d avoid letting her know how close he’d come. He smiled instead, and tipped his head slightly toward the Al-Leyan woman.
Mei’konda: Please don’t let it happen again, Commander. We’re all in this together.
The Caitian rose to his feet after that.
Mei’konda: I’ve got a few more reports to siign. Is there anything else that you need?
Taking the hint, she downed the last of the drink in her hand and rose.
Rosek: No, sir.
Mei’konda: Very well. Haave a good day, Lael. See you in Engineering tomorrow.
Rosek: ::smiles and inclines her head:: See you tomorrow, Captain.
She turned on her heel and stepped through the doors as they parted, feeling as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Relief flooded her. The worst part was over. Now came an evening of mulling over Mei’s suggestions. It wasn’t ideal, but it was certainly better than nothing. After all, he couldn’t go doing her favors just because they were friends.
========================
Captain Mei’konda Delano
Commanding Officer
USS Chin’toka, NCC-97187
M239002M10
And
Lieutenant Commander Lael Rosek, Eng.D.
Chief Engineer
USS Chin'toka, NCC-97187
I238110RH0