[[Act III Start]] Lieutenant Commander Sevantha Saa - Hope is a Choice
Sevantha Saa
(( Diplomatic Conference Room Blue, Deck 13, USS Thor ))
Sevantha spent the last hour and a half providing a tour of the USS Thor to Malik Javad Mosta’An. Since he was already familiar with Sickbay, she showed him the bridge, stellar cartography and astrometrics, hydroponics bays, the arboretum, holodeck, and some of Deck 5’s establishments to offer insight into how Federation officers spent their off time. The Head of Health also made sure to emphasize the Morale and Welfare Center's efforts to ensure all their crew felt supported on board. Once she’d finished the tour, she guided him to the blue conference room. Trake had arrived shortly after the tour had ended to make introductions and speak with Javad.
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.
The details of the event had been in the initial report she wrote, but analysis of the poison had only recently received information from New Gaia regarding the species it matched.
Mosta’an: Reply
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…
But the population didn’t seem to engage with one or their guests much either.
Tito, Veylek, and she had all observed the orderly crowds of people fixated on devices in their hands as they walked across the city, barely acknowledging one another. The most conversation they had was with the concierge, whose job was to serve, and the Malik himself.
Mosta’an: Reply
Promontory: Indeed! Let’s say I’m cautiously optimistic.
Mosta’an: Reply
Sevantha, sitting up straight in her seat, laced her fingers together as she looked down at a report the security offices had delivered. Both arrested individuals, while declaring Nova Terra allegiances, had been confirmed to be New Gaians by birth. Stacked with reports from a conspiracy the other team endured, the third party had truly sought to dissolve any relationship between the two worlds.
Saa: Sometimes, hope is a choice.
It was a quote from one of the Federation’s most decorated and legendary captains, Christopher Pike, and in this situation she felt the quote particularly fitting. Hopefully, Thornman and Mosta’An could find common ground. Though Sevantha silently prayed, it was not in their xenophobia of the greater galaxy and species out there.
Promontory/Mosta’An: Response
Saa: Naturally, trust is hard to rebuild, but neither of you are responsible for firing the weapon.
Promontory/Mosta’An: Response
Reaching for the pitcher, Sevantha took it upon herself to refill both the men’s drinks instead of simply replicating a fresh glass. Trake brought optimism, which helped counter the nearly unreadable air surrounding the Malik, but she suspected the unexpected betrayal had shaken him. A man who spoke to his people as if they were his children, with such intense security and control, to have it all ripped away suddenly?
Few men of power emerged from such an encounter the same as they had been, yet, it was still too early to tell if this had changed the Malik for better or worse.
Saa: What is it you would like to see achieved most between your two worlds?
Promontory/Mosta’An: Response [[TBC]]