Malik Javad Mosta'An - True Peace
Jonathan
((Diplomatic Conference Room Blue, Deck 13, USS Thor))
One could describe Javad’s day in a number of fashions. Painful, shattering, horrifying, life-changing. Words and phrases associated with great bounds of realisation and growth, with a healthy dose of trauma thrown in.
Being a man who disliked exaggeration and disliked displaying his internal emotional state even more, he opted for a more reasonable description of “eventful”.
First, he’d narrowly survived an assassination attempt from within New Gaia, from the seasoned and supposedly loyal Redgaurds, a small division within the Society of Aegis, no less. His survival was in no small part down to the Federation representatives, who’d captured two of his assailants and transported him back to the marvel that was the USS Thor for treatment.
Instead of a peaceful recovery, he’d been subjected to what some might call flooding. Some of the crew members were green or blue, and had ridges. Clearly alien, but manageable. One of the medics, who was as white as a sheet of paper or Javad's own clothes, and displayed no bedside mannerisms and had not a single follicle of hair…was strange.
Waking up to the fuzzy face of a humanoid cat in a uniform hovering over him was unsettling. The 7ft insectoid he’d spied wandering the corridors, also wearing a uniform, had left Javad temporarily wondering if he had in fact died, and this whole thing was the afterlife equivalent of a fever dream.
He had later been assured by Commander Saa that this was in fact not the case, and that he was very much alive. And that those oddities, as he saw them, were just members of the crew.
The guided tour that Commander Saa had so graciously taken him on had, in some small way, acclimatized him to the oddity that was Starfleet and its intensely diverse crew. The ship was a marvel like none he had ever seen, putting their own space technology to shame.
Then there had been the truth about the attempt on his life, that it was not an isolated incident by any means, and was part of a larger problem that extended across New Gaia and Nova Terra. A movement to destabilise the fragile peace, and advocated for a return to their previous adversarial relationship.
Now, sitting in a pleasantly blue conference room with Commander Saa once more, and the ship's own Captain, one Trake Promontory, Javad again concluded that “eventful” was a good description for the day.
Promontory: Some sort of laser-blaster you say?
Saa: A dart gun actually, Sir. ::clarifying:: Loaded with a paralytic from a plant native to New Gaia, and a potent poison from an aquatic species very similar to a Terran jellyfish.
His own people had provided the ship with details of the species in question, and the effects, both long-term and short-term, of the poison. Somehow, the Federation medical teams had devised a treatment even without the files, leading Javad to again consider the slightly uncomfortable fact that he now owned these people. What price that would entail, he had yet to determine.
Mosta’an: The Briareos Dhow. A fascinating species, though sadly quite aggressive and territorial. No small thing to study them, or collect their poison ::taking a sip of water and smiling:: If not for the actions of your delegation, I fear I would not be sitting here now. You have my deepest appreciation.
Perhaps a suitably large ceremony and some awards would be in order when the business with the destabilising elements had been dealt with.
Promontory: Well, I’m glad we were able to help out one another. (beat) I wonder, Malik, what do you see as the biggest challenge facing your people?
Saa: We observed during our tour that your people appeared not to want for much…
Javad had gone to great lengths to ensure that, as had his predecessors. They had, over many years, worked to ensure that each citizen enjoyed a comfortable life, were surrounded by like minded people, and had a role in New Gaian society which suited them the most and would provide the most satisfaction.
It was the very basis of the Society System.
It was a system that encouraged control and conformity, and a lack of interest in anything other than what was needed for your own role…but perhaps that in itself would be their greatest challenge.
Mosta’an: You are correct, my people are comfortable and cared for. I have spent my term as Malik, as have those before me, providing for every want our citizens may have. Our culture is built around your Society, the role you fulfil in life ::pausing:: New Gaia’s citizens are, perhaps, uninterested in anything that does not pertain to their role. The biggest challenge they would face in this potential new era is actively engaging with Nova Terra, and even with yourselves, unless their role expressly calls for it. The insatiable curiosity that fuels your Federation is less prevalent on my world.
Promontory: Indeed! Let’s say I’m cautiously optimistic.
That made for one of them.
Mosta’an: Caution is prudent in most endeavours, I find, most of all when there is talk of politics. Perhaps now, with this conspiracy brought to light, New Gaia and Nova Terra can embark on a new chapter in our long history. Should these talks prove fruitful, of course.
The two who had been arrested following the attack were born on New Gaia, were members in good standing within their Society and Guild, had family members who were in turn, in good standing. Yet they so vehemently declared themselves as Nova Terrans. Were they so dissatisfied with the concept of peace, even the appearance of it, that they would turn to such violence, and betray everything they stood for?
When he returned to New Gaia, there would be many questions to ask these men.
Saa: Sometimes, hope is a choice.
He smiled, a small thing, appreciating the sentiment behind the phrase. Choose old aggressions and fueds, or choose to strive for something better, one action at a time.
Mosta’An: Very poignant. From one of Earth’s great philosophers? Or perhaps one from your own world?
The first step towards working through generations of isolation from anything that wasn’t strictly human. Ask, be curious, accept, and consider.
Promontory: Response
Saa: Naturally, trust is hard to rebuild, but neither of you are responsible for firing the weapon.
Tilting his head to the side, he considered the statement for a moment. It was true, neither of them were responsible for the firing of the weapon. While the facts showed this so obviously, that fact also relied on both he and Thornman being able to trust in each other's good intentions.
Mosta’An: Real trust has never been in great supply between our two worlds. To get even this far, we have had to rely on crutches, crutches so destructive that they could tear a hole in space, as you so closely witnessed.
Promontory: Response
Saa took a moment to refill his close and Promontory’s, while the conversation lulled for a moment. This Captain was an interesting man so far, not entirely what Javad had expected. Optimistic and welcoming, possessing an authority most certainly, but not in the same iron grip fashion that a Malik was required to keep.
Saa: What is it you would like to see achieved most between your two worlds?
Javad wanted the return of the comfortable existence, the illusion, as it should really be called, that he had enjoyed for so many years. New Gaia had been perfect, Nova Terra a far off world and a far off people, the disentors a quiet voice that none knew existed. It would be easy to blame Promontory for shattering that, for steering his gleaming ship into Solace and triggering everything.
But that would have been, ultimately, unjust. The Thor had simply provided a new means for this new faction to achieve their end.
Mosta’An: Why, rebuilding my good name of course!
He spread his arms, grinning at the both of them, chuckling.
He was more than aware of the view some Nova Terrans had of him, the aloof and proud dictator, lording over his subjects with an arrogant eye. Perhaps it was true, but anything he did, was done for the good of his people.
Promontory: Response
Mosta’An: Forgive me, a small joke. You pose a simple question, with a simple, lofty, answer. True peace between our worlds, not one that is only held in place by the threat of destruction. That is not peace; it is barely a tolerance for each other.
Saa / Promontory: Response
It was a high aim, he knew that much, and one that would test both worlds and both leaders, if they could find some common ground.
Mosta’An: The process will be long and challenging for my people, and Nova Terra. Perhaps we can begin with something smaller, baby steps, as they say on Earth. An expansion of what joint ventures New Gaia and Nova Terra have.
He watched both the Captain and Saa to gauge their reactions. They both brought a considerable amount to the peace talks and would no doubt act as a neutral party to help smooth any ruffled feathers.
More than that, though, Javad could see that there was as much to gain from the Federation in terms of knowledge and technology, and a connection to his people's past.
Saa / Promontory: Response
There was still the matter of the diversity of the crew and the galactic community at large. But that was a fight for another day, one that would need to be tackled should New Gaia wish to take further steps into the great unknown of space.
Picking up the glass his water had been served in, he turned the receptacle this way and that, watching the lighting bounce off its surface. Still staring at the glance, almost idly, he posed a question to the others in the room.
Mosta’An: What is your stake in the relationship between my world and Nova Terra? You sort us out, after all, and graciously offered to his the peace talks here aboard your vessel.
It wasn’t suspicion per se that prompted the question, more a way to get a measure of their intent. He knew the line they gave at this stage: explore and learn, render aid where they could. Was it really as simple as that? They saw the problems occurring in Solace, and wanted to assist. Or did it still tie back into the weapons?
Saa / Promontory: Response
Tags/TBC
Malik Javad Mosta’An
Head of the Assembly, Representative Voice of the Federation of Democratic Societies to the Stars
As simmed by
Lieutenant JG Nera Ay
Medical Officer
USS Thor
G240106NA2
He/Him/His (Player/Character)