LtCmdr Kettick: If it's all the same to you, we'd like to go back home

[Darwin Awkward]

((Chief Minister Zishi’s Office, Voth City Ship Ruttu, Delta Quadrant))

The Chief Engineer, the one in the room still worthy of the title, shook his head sharply.

Kettick: I am not a duly appointed representative of Starfleet. My Captain, his First Officer and our diplomatic envoy are still on the Igirni.

The Voth official closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. 

He understood the situation, then. Good. Kettick would see his crewmates safe, or he did not care how much time, efforts and hardship it took but he would make sure these Voth would not be a menace to another crew.

Zishi: But you are the ones I have here. ::sighing:: My sympathies. I know what it’s like to be separated from  your family - it’s why we brought the Igirni home… But it was a one way trip - I can’t send you back.

Stapledon:  You utilized an existing wormhole?

Despite the tense situation they were in, the Remmilian could feel his facial feelers twitching in amusement. Of course the thing Lieutenant Stapledon would break protocol about would be a hard science question. 

Xarrin : Response

Zishi: We only had the power to open a single wormhole; it was a once in a generation opportunity. Which I suspect is why… Xarrin, was it? Why Xarrin brought you along - it was too risky not to.

The Lieutenant-Commander kept his composure in front of the government official, but the urge to tilt his head in puzzlement was strong.

Kettick: With due respect, Minister, the whole situation sounds like a purely internal Voth matter. 

If their presence was just an unfortunate collateral damage to the real objective of the Voth - the retrieval of the Igirni, then perhaps they could walk away from the whole sorry show with the blessing of both factions.

Hah. And next he would find the secret to Warp One Hundred in his breakfast cereal.

Still. It would change their position, and their options, considerably. 

Xarrin : Response

Zishi:  Response

Stapledon: For what purpose?

Not that it was their business in any way, but Kettick had to admit that he was curious as well.

Xarrin : Response

Zishi:  Response

Kettick: The final decision rests with our Captain, but unless and until one of your factions calls upon our help, I believe we have no business interfering. As long as our crew is retrieved safe and sound, we will be content to leave you in peace and be on our way to the nearest Starfleet outpost.

He really hoped that both factions would choose to be left alone. Because otherwise? Right now, he was the highest ranking officer at the negotiation table.

He had no sweat glands and he wanted to sweat bullets.

Stapledon: Response

Xarrin/Zishi: Response

Kettick: Begging your pardon, Minister, but unless it happens to be a state secret, where are we exactly?

Tags/TBC

--

Lieutenant-Commander Kettick

Chief of Engineering

USS Eagle-A

G239107LR0

Your Engineering department kindly reminds you that you are supposed to read the flakking manual.