In Troubled Waters (Part 1)

Posted on Sun Mar 16th, 2025 @ 4:01am by Lieutenant Commander Rebecca Bluegarden & Gert'Rudd Barkh & Commander Irene Vincent "Rally" & Lieutenant Commander Damien Maillet & Lieutenant Commander Sergei Zaigraev & Lieutenant Commander Malcom Hunt & Lieutenant Freya Michaud & Tekina
Edited on on Sun Mar 16th, 2025 @ 4:03am

1,243 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Season 1, Episode 2: War, Peace, And All That Jazz
Location: Deep Space Station K-9- Conference Room, Deck 9

Rally had a splitting headache.

The revolving door of staff members in such a short time- most of them promptly reassigned without her prior knowledge- had not bode well for the Commander as she counted down the literal minutes as to when talks between the Republic and the Reich were scheduled to begin. It was no small feat presiding over the pending membership of one civilization, let alone two, and at the same damned time; if Starfleet was expecting these talks to go smoothly, she needed 1.) a staff that they were willing to post here for more than a week before sending them off on their merry way, and 2.) a staff that was properly debriefed on the damn situation going into their assignment! She couldn't afford to keep doing this shit, especially when she had so little time before she was set to preside over a major diplomatic summit to get her new recruits oriented!

She sighed. It was at times like these that she wished she weren't several sectors away from Starfleet Command so she could give those pricks a piece of her mind, but for now she was going to have make do with the cards that had been dealt her way.

The Conference Room across the way from Rally's Office had been appropriately set up for the occasion, with a trio of flags strategically positioned in the center of the room to symbolize the three powers that were coming together- hopefully once and for all- through this summit. a small cart containing both Eifie and Rheuysian Hors d'oeuvres- recommended at the behest of Lieutenant Michaud on the basis of their respective dietary requirements- was situated in the corner of the room, a small gesture of hospitality from the Federation that both powers were welcome into their organization. And lastly, microphones and ear pieces had been set at every seat along the ovoid table. Everyone would be able to see and hear each other, and universal translators would provide live interpretation for each listener.

"All set?" Rally inquired as she adjusted the collar of her Starfleet dress uniform.

"Just about as ready as we can be." Rebecca responded, also lightly tugging at her dress uniform. Due to the short notice that she would be needing one, this was the first time she had worn the thing after its issuance had been expedited, and Rebecca swore that it felt tight particularly in the chest and hip areas, as if her measurements had been off ever-so-slightly when uniform services had received them.

"Ready, Commander," Damien said, nodding to the Captain and First Officer. It had taken no small effort to get the room just right, but it was prepared, and so was he.

Adjusting the fit of her uniform jacket, Michaud lamented that her Lieutenant's uniform wasn't as flash as the other senior ranks - Commanders, after all, got that gold stripe down their front. Though most didn't have a few of the medals she was forced to keep quiet due to the nature of her past work. That was a comfort. She checked her trousers were spotless and boots sufficiently shined before nodding her satisfaction.

Having caught a glance of Bluegarden's uniform fit, Michaud was trying her best not to stare, looking in every other direction possible. 'All good here,' she said, looking at the ceiling.

Sergei, meanwhile, had been on board all of 15 minutes before he received orders to report a conference room, dress uniform. He had barely dropped his crates to the deck of his sad looking quarters before he was forced to disrupt the tightly packed containers to pull out his dress uniform. Knowing his luck it was going to be a rumpled ball in the bottom corner of the heaviest container.

Thankfully, that wasn't the case, but this was a most unusual beginning. Show up as a new transferred department head to a gathering he had no data on, having not even been formally accepted on board...could anything possibly go wrong here?

After some consideration while putting on the rarely used uniform, Sergei decided he would slip in at the last minute and take up any available spot as far away from any potential light--lime or otherwise--until it was safe to escape.

His entry, however, did appear to go notice as the eyes of a number of officers already assembled darted over to the new red-shirt--and ridiculously gold encrusted--engineering officer who tried to rather low-key ooze on into this unprepared for gul'anka - shindig / party / merrymaking gathering.

Malcom Hunt had literally stepped into his quarters and began unpacking when he received word to get to the conference room ASAP in his dress uniform. The doors opened as he entered the room. The Commander hated being late. It was a bad look, especially being new. Even though technically, it wasn't his fault.

Entering the room, Kate resisted the urge to pull at her collar with one hand and scratch her legs with the other. Why was her dress uniform so uncomfortable? She saw no reason for

Once the Starfleet personnel had arrived, the ever-punctual Rheuysian ambassador; Gert'Rudd Barkh, was the first of the foreign representatives to arrive, humming a popular Rheuysian marching tune and using her feet to keep time to the tune. As such, she appeared to be marching as she entered. Once eye contact had been established with the Starfleet personnel, Barkh stopped and proceeded to quickly salute the gathered officers (banging a clenched fist on her chest and extending her right arm outward at a 45 degree angle before quickly lowering it) before stepping over to the food cart.

While her back was turned, Rally shuddered in disgust.

Barkh grimaced at the disgusting Eifie food being placed alongside the glorious Reich cuisine, and decided she wasn't in the mood for a snack, instead proceeding to take one of the final available seats, setting the binder that had been under her left arm onto the table before seating herself.

Last but certainly not least to arrive was Ambassador Tekina, flanked by a company of at least four personal guards; her hands were wrapped around the underside of her stomach, offering a form of support for the child of which she carried.

The arrival of Tekina under guard was not lost on Barkh, whom had arrived by herself. The fact that the Eifie felt their representative needed protection showed just how much less trusting the Republic was...

"Commander," she greeted as she was helped into her seat. "On behalf of the Eifie Republic, I would like to formally extend our gratitude for your presiding over these talks; we look forward to the opportunities that this proposed alliance shall bring."

"Not a problem, Ambassador," Rally nodded.

Tekina shifted her attention to Barkh, who was seated directly across from her. "And you must be the Ambassador appointed to represent the Reich," she remarked, offering the Rheuysian her outstretched hand. "I wish us both the best of luck, in the hope that the governments of which we represent here today shall not come into a conflict of interest."

Barkh hesitated for a moment, but soon accepted Tekina's outstretched hand, applying extra pressure to see how well an Eifie would handle a firm handshake.

"I hope for similar results." She responded. "For both our sakes..."

To be continued...

 

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