Ensign Ivalyan Keros - Opportunism
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Leia Stretz
May 3, 2026, 8:13:00 PM (7 days ago) May 3
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((Small Conference Room - MTF Maximum Thrusters))
Sylvax: And if they realize that—if they feel manipulated—it won’t just close the door on this conversation. It may close it permanently.
Ivalyan: ....yes s-s-s-sir.
Sylvax: That said… there’s something in what you’re suggesting. ::He glanced briefly between them, thoughtful.:: Not the deception. But the idea that how we’re perceived will shape everything that follows.
Ivalyan: Sir? They are opportunists themselves. I st-st-stand by the thought that if we are-are seen as stronger, it c-c-could go bad for us. They could cut and run.
His fingers tapped lightly once against the PADD, more out of habit than thought.
Sylvax: If they see us as equals, we earn a conversation. If they see us as a threat, we earn resistance. ::A small pause.:: And if they see us as something to take advantage of… Then we’d better be very sure we’re prepared for that outcome too.
Ivalyan: I understand sir. I d-d-do. But...what is the mission? What is the end g-g-goal here? Are we looking to make friends? Or are we looking to get the c-c-c-cores to safer hands?
She could tell from the looks she had messed up. She thought hard about what she had said. she had placed opportunity over the humanity of it all. She went bright red.
Willow: Your perspective is commendable ::Taking a moment to evaluate her pips:: Ensign. However, I would like to make a counterclaim that it is unnecessary to deceive them in such a manner. Ineptitude and weakness do not gain trust, only the notion that those traits will continue. Yes, we should ensure we convince them what we have is ultimately better, but that’s only after a thorough examination of what they first have to offer.
Sylvax: There’s a difference between lowering someone’s defenses… and misleading them about who we are. ::His tone remained calm, but firm.: If we present ourselves as weak, and they later realize we weren’t, that doesn’t just damage trust... it reinforces every reason they might already have to distrust outsiders. Especially for a people who’ve survived this long by relying on their own judgment.
Ivalyan: ::quietly:: Umm...yes sir. I was thinking solely of this as a one off. N-n-not of the lasting reprec-c-c-cussions.
Willow: I don’t mean to undermine. Hardly my intention. I simply would like to evaluate the situation as a whole. What value do you see in convincing The Temurians of our ineptitude and weakness?
Psychologically speaking?
Moments like this...she hated being tall. She hated the bright hair and eyes. She wanted to fade back into the walls.
Sylvax: It creates a false sense of control. If they believe we’re less capable, less aware, or dependent on them, they’re more likely to relax their guard. They may share more. Reveal more. Because in their minds, there’s no risk in doing so. But it also changes the foundation of the interaction. ::A beat.:: We stop being guests… and become something closer to opportunists.
Opportunists...but weren't they? Wasn't the whole point of this mission to take something from someone? Weren't they trying to take something from a race that needed it, in their own fashion? She eyed her seniors, and thought for a while about what this mission really entailed. The Temurians had what amounted to weapons, and no real knowledge of what that meant, in her estimate.
Willow: Your perspective is commendable ::Taking a moment to evaluate her pips:: Ensign. However, I would like to make a counterclaim that it is unnecessary to deceive them in such a manner. Ineptitude and weakness do not gain trust, only the notion that those traits will continue. Yes, we should ensure we convince them what we have is ultimately better, but that’s only after a thorough examination of what they first have to offer.
Sylvax: There’s a difference between lowering someone’s defenses… and misleading them about who we are. ::His tone remained calm, but firm.: If we present ourselves as weak, and they later realize we weren’t, that doesn’t just damage trust... it reinforces every reason they might already have to distrust outsiders. Especially for a people who’ve survived this long by relying on their own judgment.
Ivalyan: ::quietly:: Umm...yes sir. I was thinking solely of this as a one off. N-n-not of the lasting reprec-c-c-cussions.
Willow: I don’t mean to undermine. Hardly my intention. I simply would like to evaluate the situation as a whole. What value do you see in convincing The Temurians of our ineptitude and weakness?
Psychologically speaking?
Moments like this...she hated being tall. She hated the bright hair and eyes. She wanted to fade back into the walls.
Sylvax: It creates a false sense of control. If they believe we’re less capable, less aware, or dependent on them, they’re more likely to relax their guard. They may share more. Reveal more. Because in their minds, there’s no risk in doing so. But it also changes the foundation of the interaction. ::A beat.:: We stop being guests… and become something closer to opportunists.
Opportunists...but weren't they? Wasn't the whole point of this mission to take something from someone? Weren't they trying to take something from a race that needed it, in their own fashion? She eyed her seniors, and thought for a while about what this mission really entailed. The Temurians had what amounted to weapons, and no real knowledge of what that meant, in her estimate.
Sylvax: And if they realize that—if they feel manipulated—it won’t just close the door on this conversation. It may close it permanently.
Ivalyan: ....yes s-s-s-sir.
Sylvax: That said… there’s something in what you’re suggesting. ::He glanced briefly between them, thoughtful.:: Not the deception. But the idea that how we’re perceived will shape everything that follows.
Ivalyan: Sir? They are opportunists themselves. I st-st-stand by the thought that if we are-are seen as stronger, it c-c-could go bad for us. They could cut and run.
His fingers tapped lightly once against the PADD, more out of habit than thought.
Sylvax: If they see us as equals, we earn a conversation. If they see us as a threat, we earn resistance. ::A small pause.:: And if they see us as something to take advantage of… Then we’d better be very sure we’re prepared for that outcome too.
Ivalyan: I understand sir. I d-d-do. But...what is the mission? What is the end g-g-goal here? Are we looking to make friends? Or are we looking to get the c-c-c-cores to safer hands?
Sylvax/Willow: ?
Ivalyan: I feel strongly here sir. If we d-d-d-don't get the cores...that's the worst outc-c-c-come. The Temurians are opportunists and scavengers, and I think we m-m-m-must let them see us the same way for the safest route. Alternatively... just b-b-buy them. They understand c-c-commerce. This d-d-doesn't have to be more than that...
Syvlax/Willow: ?
Syvlax/Willow: ?
She looked at her PADD, at the room around her. What was she doing here? She could have been anywhere. She swallowed a lump in her throat, hating what she felt then. This room, these people, they represented what she wanted to be but...not who she was.
Ivalyan: ::looking at each officer before gluing her eyes to the floor:: Sir...you wouldn't ask a c-c-c-counselor fresh from the academy. What p-p-plan exists already? I want...I want to help. Sir.
Maybe she could be an opportunist of sorts here too. And maybe this opportunity was one to be who she wanted to be.
Ensign Ivalyan Keros
Counselor
Starbase 118 Ops
O240304IK3
Counselor
Starbase 118 Ops
O240304IK3
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