Lin Xiao: The most noble employment of man

[r.rahman]

"Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful and most noble employment of man."
     --George Washington

((Colony Administration Building, New Shanghai, Donova IV))

Donova IV, like many of the older colonies of the Colonial Coalition, was originally an independent colony with settlers from United Earth, mostly from that planet's Asian and African continents and the Oceania region. The fourth oldest colony of the Coalition, it was founded before the Federation was even conceived, and the planet's relative remoteness in the Shoals lended itself to an independent spirit from the beginning. Even when the first three colonies of the Shoals banded together a century later in the mid-2200s to form the Colonial Coalition, Donova held out and actually joined the Coalition *after* Shadow's Edge, the fifth settled colony in the Shoals.

When the Mother Road was mapped out in 2303, it bypassed Donova just as it had Ketar. But whereas the First Colony of the Shoals suffered the economic impact of such a reroute of major traffic--and was still rebuilding itself to this day--Donova managed to hold on and even prosper in the century since. Part of that, of course, was that Donova had long established itself as the bread basket of the region. With rich, fertile lands, a temperate climate, and a diverse collection of native flora and fauna, Donova IV was an agricultural paradise. If the Mother Road had passed close enough to its system, there would be no doubt that it would have easily overtaken Meridian's boom.

But the people of Donova were resilient as much as they enjoyed the satisfaction of a life well-earned. While they might not have the towering skyscrapers of Meridian or the mighty shipyard of Ketar, they lived lives of relative comfort in an oasis from an otherwise inhospitable region.

Which meant Donova was perfect for the takeover.

As the Shoals continued to grow and more immigrants from all across the galaxy spread through, looking for fortune and opportunity, various criminal organizations began to sprout across the sector. With freighters filled with goods guaranteed to constantly stop by and then spread to other parts of the region and a relative remoteness that kept the Coalition Marshals presence low, Donova was the perfect base for criminal operations. Various human-led groups came and went over the centuries, but finally by the 24th century, one group, the Andorian-led Cobalt Clan, had secured its place as the largest and most powerful on not just Donova but across two sectors.

While the Cobalt Clan were ruthless when needed, they were also just as deadly efficient. Their rise to power on Donova was not just through sheer force but through careful political calculations. When a series of corrupt or simply inept governing administrations led the colony to near ruin at the turn of the century (especially in response to the recently mapped out Mother Road's impact on the entire region's geopolitical structure), the Cobalt Clan's own lieutenants quickly filled in to take on the crucial duties of meeting the colonists' needs.

And it turned out, they were *good* at it. Crime--well, petty crime at least--fell to near non-existence. Families could enjoy an evening in the Grand Overlook Park, watching the fireflies dance across the fields in the valley of the Viridian Mountains. The schools and universities of Donova became renown across the Coalition, now attracting thousands of applicants each year to fill the few hundred coveted seats in beautiful lecture halls.

The simple fact was that the Cobalt Clan had secured prosperity to the citizens of Donova. And while the Marshals and Starfleet might grumble, why would the average citizen want anything to change?

It was a question that baffled Lin Xiao, Chief of Staff for the Donova Governor. The Governor, of course, wasn't a Cobalt Clan member. That would simply be too obvious--and ridiculous. The Cobalt Clan hadn't survived this long by being that stupid.

But his chief of staff, a bookish-looking woman in her early 40s, was.

While the Cobalt Clan was mostly Andorians (and no one in the senior membership was of a hue other than blue--to be clear), they had found it useful to employ a few "associates" from the human majority population.

Lin Xiao appreciated what the Cobalt Clan had done for her and her family. Because of her work for them, she and her husband had been able to raise a family in the gorgeous Achebe Plateau. Their kids were guaranteed to go to the university in whatever program they wanted. Hell, if one of them wanted to get into Starfleet itself, Lin didn't doubt it was possible. Her whole life, she had witnessed the power of the Cobalt Clan.

So when Lin read the letter she'd received from a liaison from the Starfleet ship USS Veritas that had been sent to "assist" the fourth colony of the Shoals, she knew exactly what to do. She chuckled as she read it.

Dear Colony Administrators, 

Serving in Starfleet is more than just responding to situations; it is helping the planets within the Federation as best we can. As such I would like to meet with you to discuss if there is anything the USS Veritas can do to support you and your population. The Shoals can be a difficult place to live and be, and we want to offer assistance to you if we can. 

I look forward to hearing from you and setting up and time to meet in person. 

Kind regards,

Lieutenant Vanlith

Lin quickly composed a reply and sent it back to this Lieutenant Vanlith.

Dear Lieutenant Vanlith,

Thank you so much for your offer of assistance. We would greatly appreciate all the support you can offer as we know how rare these visits from a Starfleet vessel are in this part of the Shoals.

The Governor has authorized me to serve as your point of contact with the Colony, and I have been briefed on all of the Colony's needs.

I have reserved lunch for us at the Hanshui Restaurant in the North District of New Shanghai tomorrow at noon. I have included the transporter coordinates.

Please confirm you are able to attend. I look forward to meeting you.

Lin Xiao

Chief of Staff

Office of the Governor of Donova IV

((The next day - Hanshui Restaurant, New Shanghai))

Maitre d': Welcome to the Hanshui Restaurant, ma'am. Lieutenant Vanlith?

Vanlith: Response

The man in the tuxedo smiled with a nod.

Maitre d': Of course. She's been expecting you. She's right this way.

The man led the Starfleet officer through the luxurious restaurant to a small table by a window. Outside, one could see a wide plaza and a row of small shops. Unlike its namesake, New Shanghai was still a relatively quiet town, but the North District was one of the fancier and livelier neighborhoods.

Sitting at the table, Lin stood up to greet Vanlith.

Lin: Hello, Lieutenant. Lin Xiao, pleased to meet you.

Vanlith: Response

She gestured for her guest to sit before she sat back down herself.

Lin: Do you have any dietary preferences?

Vanlith: Response

Lin: I don't know how long it's been since you've had a non-replicated meal, but you're in for a treat here--or honestly any restaurant on Donova. 100% real food, grown right here on the colony from local farms.

Vanlith: Response

TAG! TBC...

Lin Xiao

Chief of Staff

Office of the Governor of Donova IV