Aid Planning

Posted on Tue Jun 23rd, 2020 @ 12:49am by Lieutenant John Sandoval & Lieutenant Krysia Kaleri-Smith
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:20pm

Mission: Death in Paradise
Location: Sandoval's Office
Timeline: After “Subterfuge Most Helpful” and “Lessons from Rubicun III”

A Mission Post by Lieutenant John Sandoval & Lieutenant Krysia Kaleri
Mission: Death in Paradise
Location: Sandoval's Office
Timeline: After “Subterfuge Most Helpful” and “Lessons from Rubicun III”
Sun Nov 4th, 2018 @ 3:26pm

The Diplomatic Department of USS Pandora was doing excellent work. John's team gave made contact with the Irokari, began working through their needs and determining what aid the Starfleet vessel could give, and was already putting it in crates. The Federation government had given them diplomatic accreditation for the mission. They had a new security attaché, who was studying Paradise Station's plans and identifying emergency exits. And they learned a bit about Irokari culture, including offensive taboos to be avoided.

John's team aboard Paradise would probably be led by the Captain, at least initially. He would be the alternate head of delegation. Ensign Larose would provide security. Intelligence would want to have someone on the team that delivered the aid crates; he would have to talk to Smith and Parrino later.

Another body at the table with him would be useful.

=/\= "Sandoval to Kaleri. Could you report to my office, please? I want to discuss the mission at Paradise Station." =/\=

Krysia was sitting at her desk in her office when Sandoval's voice came over the comms.

=/\= "I'll be right there Lieutenant." =/\=

Getting up from her desk she put her padds away before heading to the diplomatic offices. It didn't take her long to get there, arriving at the door she pressed the chime and waited for Sandoval to answer.

John got up to greet Krysia at the door. His entire staff was working in the cargo bay, so it was easier to simply greet her rather than call out from the adjacent office.

"Thanks for coming," John said. "Please, step into my office?" John guided her into his own private workspace. The door was presently locked open, and given they were alone, he saw no need to change that. He motioned to a chair and walked around his desk. "My office isn't quite as comfortable as yours, I'm afraid," he said with a smile. "But I'm trying to make it mine." He'd already put his diplomas on the wall, and a photo of he and Katherine on his desk.

"The reason I asked you to come here is to talk about the Paradise mission. I want you on the delegation."

"Me?" Krysia looked at him in surprise. "I'm not exactly up to spec on the diplomatic side of things but saying that I'm a fast learner. Besides my mother would never forgive me if I didn't say yes." She grinned. "My Mother is an Ambassador for Drax." She made herself more comfortable in her seat before continuing. "I would be delighted, if Captain Temple approves of me going to Paradise with you. I know there'll be restrictions to my duties during my pregnancy, but when those restrictions start I'm not sure."

"I'll be providing Captain Temple with my mission plan later today," John said. "On paper, we'll be negotiating a short agreement to hand over medical supplies to the Irokari people. They have a group of civilian aid workers seeking medical goods to help people displaced by a civil war. I can send you the file."

John leaned back in his chair. "We're fairly certain that this group will keep good track of the supplies we give them and make sure they get to those in need. They've told us as much so far. One thing we'll be negotiating is assurances that none of the goods end up in the hands of warlords. I need another person to help read the room and make sure everyone is sincere."

"We're also worried that the Ravagers, the Pact, or other antagonists don't steal the medical supplies or implicate us in anything negative," added John.

"Finally," he started to finish, "there's a cultural issue as well. The Irokari value balance in all things. They'll want to give us something in exchange for our aid. I want to make sure what we accept is safe and won't negatively affect them by giving it up. They'll also highly value a gender-balanced room. Two men, Captain Temple and me, and two women, you and my security officer."

"Then I will be happy to provide you with what insight I can into the Irokari." She smiled. "It take it they have no cultural issues with telepaths or empaths? I wouldn't want to be causing any unintentional offence not that they have to know about my abilities. I can inform you of any impressions I get in private."

“There wasn’t anything in their file about telepaths,” John said. “My team and I studied their practices closely. But like you said, we will not broadcast it. If they ask where you’re from, we won’t lie. And if they know Drax are telepaths, then that’s fine.”

"Agreed" Krysia smiled and nodded. "Are we wearing our normal uniforms or do we need to go more formal?”

“Probably normal,” he said. “But I might ask that you wear either Command Red or Diplomatic Purple. A scientist raises questions, and a Counselor is only there for one reason.”

"I'll wear the Diplomatic Purple. I'd rather blend in than stand out in Command colours." She smiled warmly. "How soon will you be planning on going aboard the station?"

"Probably one of the first orders of business after we arrive on station," John answered. "I'll ask the Captain to bring you along when we board the station. Oh, and you'll be responsible for capturing the image for the press reports. I'll be responsible for staging the scene, so you'll need to take the photo. I'll bring the holocamera."

"Not a problem" Krysia smiled warmly. "The only time I ever get to use one otherwise is when we're on shoreleave or holiday." She grinned.

"Well, there's a lot to do before we arrive. I recommend you read the Irokari file. I'll message you the file." John stood stiffly, grabbing his cane from a small rack near his chair. He smiled at his obvious discomfort. "Error in judgment earlier today," John explained. "I wanted to test my new security officer's combat abilities, so asked her to knock me down. It was a good fight. Neither of us held anything back. But she pinned me by going for the leg. She's a smart one."

"Oh dear" Krysia gritted her teeth and sucked in a breath. "I have no doubt you had to bite your tongue when that happened."

"Worth it to know her capabilities. One more thing," John added. "A bit more personal, if you don't mind. Can you tell me anything about Lieutenant Aeryn Jameson?"

"Aeryn?" Krysia looked at John curiously. "Very well, she used to be ship's Counsellor prior to our departmental move around. She was recently in a relationship with our previous Chief Medical Officer, she's taken it quite hard that they're no longer going to be together. She's also ex-Borg but I think her implants have probably given that one away somewhat. May I ask why you want to know?"

"She and I have been having meals together these past couple of days," John replied. "You served with her longer. Maybe you could share an interest or two that she has, or advise me of some eggshells I shouldn't step on."

"Mainly the Borg ones" Krysia smiled. "Oh...one more thing!" Krysia smiled warmly. "Aeryn is also half Betazoid. A lot of people tend to expect Betazoids to automatically have the dark hair & eyes, she's an exception to that rule."

"I had noticed that," John replied, returning her smile. "I was actually taken aback when I saw her. Slight differences in hair colour aside, she looks a lot like Katherine." John turned the photo on his desk toward Krysia. "On a more serious note, given her telepathic abilities, I'm wondering if you can give me some advice, as a Counsellor and a telepath yourself. Given the initial similarities to my lovely wife, my immediate first response in my head was how beautiful she was. I then ended up mostly naked in her office as she examined my leg. My mind wanders, and I've heard that particularly powerful thoughts or emotions can penetrate mental shields. Do you have any advice for me to control that?"

"It can be difficult for non telepaths to learn to shield themselves from those of us with abilities. I'd just suggest being more....cautious about what comes to mind. Easier said than done I know but we telepaths don't take what comes to mind as what's really inferred. We try not to read minds without permission but like you said some images just pop into our heads."

John had been practicing this very advice during their conversation. He intentionally hadn’t mentioned the amazing night he’d had with Aeryn, and was trying not to think about it. Yes, he was sure he could trust Krysia’s professionalism as his Counselor, but he still didn’t think it was appropriate to discuss. Yet.

"Good advice, Counselor," John said with a smile. I'll let you read the report I'll send you imminently, and in the meantime I need to finish getting ready. See you on the bridge at mission time."

Krysia nodded. "I'll be there in my Diplomatic Purple" She grinned. "See you then."

OFF