In Troubled Waters (Part 2)

Posted on Sun Mar 16th, 2025 @ 4:04am 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 @ 4:10am

1,239 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
Timeline: After "In Troubled Waters (Part 1)"

Previously, on Star Trek: Deep Space K-9:

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..."

And now, the continuation:

Once everyone was situated, Rally took her place at the head of the table and loudly cleared her throat.

"On behalf of the United Federation of Planets, I hereby call this meeting between the Eifie Republic, the Rheuysian Reich, and the Federation to order," she began. "The goal of this meeting is to review and accept the Republic and the Reich's joint application for Federation membership. This includes all rights and privileges afforded all members, including mutual assistance in times of need. We shall begin by addressing the concerns of both respective parties."

She first turned to Barkh and nodded. "I hereby cede the floor to Ambassador Gert'Rudd Barkh of the Rheuysian Reich."

Barkh rose from her seat. A common practice in Rheuysian meetings when one had the floor ceded to them; as a method of having the granted speaker 'asserting dominance' over the others gathered.

"My friends, my prospective comrades:" Barkh began. "Fifteen years ago, my people were on the verge of a second Annihilation War; one which would have doomed us as a species. Our first warp flight was a last ditch attempt at unity. And one could not have possibly imagined that an act of desperation would lead to the Rheuysian people's salvation: For nine years, the divine being known as the Kaiser from the Stars ruled over us, and taught us to embrace the ways of the ancient alien kingdom known as 'Prheuysia!" In those nine years, I watched our people go from bitterly divided to unified like never before: We became strong, disciplined; and in those nine years, our military might was unrivaled!"

Barkh placed a hand down on the table harder than usual.

"However; five years ago, our golden age came to an abrupt end:" She said. "The Kaiser from the Stars was shot at diplomatic proceedings not unlike these ones: Despite the best efforts from our doctors, the Kaiser from the Stars slipped the surly bonds of this material plane to claim her throne in the Afterlife. All the while, the assassin got away."

Barkh then leveled an accusatory finger at Tekina.

"The assassin's movements were tracked to the Eifie Republic. However, our repeated requests for his extradition were denied by the Eifie." She snarled. "If it is peace with us that you and your people wish, then our demands are simple: Hand over the Kaiser from the Stars' assassin, and we can drink Bi'er and Wei'n arm in arm as he swings from the gallows on Rheuys!"

Tekina's expression visibly paled at the accusation. Sensing her unease, her guards quickly moved to flank her, in case Barkh or any one of her Rheuysian contemporaries thought to try anything funny.

Barkh then turned back to Rally.

"Thank you, Commander: I yield back." Barkh resumed her seat, indicative of her yielding.

Rebecca had to admit, the Rheuysian certainly had charisma. There was little doubt in Rebecca's mind that Barkh had grown up seeing some serious shit. It couldn't possibly have been easy growing up in a civilization on the verge of war. As was also expected, Barkh had been quite up front about the allegations, and framed the repatriation of the assassin as a matter of national pride.

Making a note on her PADD to hide the frown deepening on her face, Michaud noted the particular problem of execution as a form of punishment - something not allowed in Federation law.

Damien made extensive notes; after all, writing the official report would be his responsibility. In a very real way this felt like a look through a looking glass into history. He'd read extensively about similar fascist states that once existed on Earth.

Looking at the commotion in the room. Hunt simply watched taking it all in. Clearly these folks were not ready for Federation membership. Not even sure why it was even in air for discussion. These two neighbors were on the verge of killing each other and possibly about to go to war.

"Thank you, Ambadssador," Rally nodded, before calmly shifting her attention over to Tekina. "I hereby cede the floor to Ambassador Tekina of the Rheuysian Republic,"

"Thank you, Commander," Tekina expressed as she was helped by her guards into a standing position.

She turned to the gathered assembly and cleared her throat. "I must confess, I am deeply troubled by Ambassador Barkh's accusation that we have harbored a violent fugitive for no less than five years. Contrary to what those allegations would insinuate, we are a peaceful people, and to offer safe harbor to someone who has committed something as egregious as the assassination of a political figurehead goes against our most intrinsic values. Together with the Reich, we have gone into this alliance under the pretense that the Federation would offer us protection from the encroaching threat of the House Khartan, and we cannot afford to stand alone in such dire circumstances. To lose the goodwill of the Rheuysian Reich here and now would spell the end of our Republic as we know it, so with the Council's permission, I would like to propose that we set up a joint board of inquiry to look into these allegations with the intentions of identifying and apprehending the fugitive- provided the Reich is willing to let us in on their investigations."

She turned to Rally and nodded. "The Republic yields the floor."

Clearly, something wasn't connecting in Rebecca's mind: How could the Eifie representative possibly be so unaware of her government's actions against the Rheuysians? Rebecca's security instinct was telling her that the corruption in the Republic went far deeper than Tekina was aware.

Letting out a soft sigh, Michaud made a note of Tekina's reference to only feeling that the Federation would offer a pretense of defence against the renegade Klingons. What exactly do the Eifie want, then? she doodled on her PADD.

Damien kept writing notes, brow furrowed at the nature of the Eifie intervention. A joint inquiry was something either side could have proposed years earlier. Doing it only now, with the Federation in the room, served political purposes that he would need to think on further.

Rally glanced over at Barkh. "Ambassador Barkh, do you concede with Ambassador Tekina's proposal, or is there anything else you would like to add?"

"That was... Certainly a lot easier than I was expecting:" Barkh admitted. "However, given the high priority of this matter; Kaiser Roth will want to put all available resources towards the assassin's capture. This will include giving our military unrestricted access to Eifie space, and for the Republic to turn over all data on the Eifie males for faster identification and apprehension."

Rally turned back to Tekina. "Ambassador Tekina, do you concede with Ambassador Barkh's terms?"

To be continued...

 

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