Set phasers to kindness
Posted on Sat Aug 16th, 2025 @ 9:38am by Petty Officer 1st Class Ayol & Ambassador Oriath Velt & Commander Alex Flynn & Lieutenant JG Nimah & Ambassador Tabris Mataan & Legate Malak & Dal Plask & Dalin Kerish & Gil Daskam & Ciron Malak
Edited on on Sat Aug 16th, 2025 @ 9:53am
1,188 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission:
Shoreleave [3-4]
Location: D-Dock Ops, DS13
Timeline: 2000 - MD01
Alex’s first full day in charge was uneventful. She’d even agreed to take on another half-shift when the Lieutenant meant to take over as duty officer was needed elsewhere. By 1900 though, she was beginning to nod-off in the oversized chair.
Saa and Gaz had done a fantastic job getting the room to look like there hadn’t been a shootout between insurgent Jaffa and Starfleet guerillas, though there was the odd panel here and there that was still looking a bit scuffed.
By 2000 hours, she was 75% asleep, but still awake enough to be startled when Chief Aitrell reported that a shop was decloaking off C-dock.
“Yellow alert!” Alex called out instinctively, trying to focus her vision on whatever was turning from invisible to visible on the viewscreen. The aesthetic was immediately obvious, it was Cardassian.
As it became completely visible, it was obvious that it was no mere cruiser, this was a dreadnought, Hutet-class. One of the big boys.
“They’re hailing Commander.”
“Put them through.” Alex said calmly, wiping her mouth in the event she had missed unnoticed drool.
The gaunt face of a Cardassian commander appeared, and began immediately to speak. “Greetings. I am Legate Malak of the Second Order. I come bearing the Cardassian Union’s Ambassador to this facility.” He explained clearly and quickly, in a refined, erudite voice.
“Hello Legate. We had no idea you were coming. Or that cloaking devices were permitted under the terms of the treaty of Ferenginar.” Alex told the man.
“I can assure you Commander that the dictates of the Ferenginar treaty remain unviolated. While they may forbid the construction or research of cloaking technologies, they say nothing of taking it from the wrecks of Romulan vessels.” The Legate explained with a thin curve that bordered on a smile at the edge of his sharp mouth.
“I’ll take your word on that.” Alex said. “We’re happy to welcome you aboard at Delta dock if you require docking.”
“A transporter room will suffice. We do not intend to stay long. There is much to be explored in this region of space.” Malak said.
“A Hutet-class Dreadnought seems to be overkill for exploration, no? I understand the union only has the three of them.” Alex asked.
“If we are intending to invite Federation scrutiny on our force deployments Commander, I assure you that you will be the first to know.” Malak responded curtly.
“No doubt. Transporter room seven, ten minutes.” Alex said.
“Acknowledged.” The Legate said, and the channel closed.
Alex tapped her combadge. “Ayol, get Ambassador Velt to transporter room seven five minutes ago. And see if you can’t find Lieutenant Nimah, have her meet us there.”
“Right away, ma’am.” Ayol’s polite, whispery voice promised.
Outside Transporter Room Seven
Flynn and Velt’s party encountered one another outside the door to the transporter room.
“You weren’t warned about this and forgot, I hope?” Alex asked the Ambassador.
“Warned? Goddess no. If I’d known the Cardassians were coming I would’ve gone back to Earth on the Swiftsure.” Velt said. The smell of him suggested he’d just come from a meal at the spot where libations flowed freely.
“Well, let’s get to it.” Alex said, leading the party through the doorway.
Nimah was already waiting for them in the transporter room. She'd swapped her uniform for a clean blue one and a clean pair of boots; she smiled at the others as they stepped through the door.
"I should inform you, sirs, that my Kardasi is a bit rusty." She stated with a slight smile. "I haven't had to speak it in quite some time - but I think I will manage conversationally."
“Thank you for your honesty Lieutenant, but I don’t expect it will be an issue. They’ll be using the universal translator, same as us. Out of interest, have you had much to do with your people’s government? I understand you were born in the Federation.” Ambassador Velt asked.
"Risa, sir." Nimah said with a smile. "Yes, I know, it's hardly standard."
“Cardassian party beginning transport.” The voice of Officer Seth at the control panel announced. The distinctive blue shimmer and hum of transporter energy filled the transporter pad, solidifying into the Legate, the Ambassador, and her staff.
"Hail to our conquering Federation masters." Ambassador Mataan said in a silky tone, stepping off the transporter pad. "I can assure you that my team and I comply with all the demands of the Ferenginar treaty, as does the good Legate here. I trust you will not feel the need to violate our civil liberties in order to prove it, or to allow us the right to represent the Cardassian people to any newcomers through this anomaly of yours." It wasn't quite completely disdainful, but her intention was obvious.
Velt was just soused enough to roll his eyes at the greeting, and left responding to it to Flynn.
"We're so pleased to have you here, Ambassador. Please let us know if there's anything we can do to assist you. Anything at all." Alex said with a ingratiating but convincing affect, almost entirely ignoring the Ambassador's passive aggressive greeting. After her earlier repartee with the Legate, she decided etiquette should probably be observed. "I'm Alex Flynn, acting Commanding Officer. Please feel free to reach out to my Yeoman, day or night." She said, deliberately omitting that her yeoman was a 2-meter tall Gorn.
"I'm lieutenant junior grade Nimah. Rest assured that you'll be well taken care of." Nimah said with her best customer service smile and tone of voice. The benefit of living and growing up on Risa and working in its various touristy establishments: the acquired ability to put on a sweet, disarming smile and way of speaking at the drop of a hat. Her Kardasi may have been rusty, but at least she could hopefully redirect their guests' attention away from that.
"Please, follow us." She added, holding out a hand in a causal 'this way please' manner.
Ambassador Mataan was slightly taken aback by the welcome. She'd expected polite disagreement and/or bewilderment, but it was as though they hadn't heard her at all. She knew she had already put on the show that the Legate expected, there was no need to drag the unpleasantness out further. "Thank you." She finally said, stepping down the transporter platform, her retinue in tow.
Four Cardassians followed her off the platform. The first was an imposing goliath of a man, the next a lean, vulpine man with long hair. After him came a man who looked like he'd just stepped off a propaganda poster, the vision of a diligent, handsome Cardassian soldier. Behind them came another woman with dark grey skin, she was tall and strong. Her tight-coiled hair was cut short and geometrically.
The Legate remained on the platform, he disappeared in a cloud of yellow particles after tapping a button on his belt.
Ambassador Velt kept up behind the two Cardassian women but stayed silent, letting their conversation flow naturally.
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