Outreach

Posted on Tue Jun 23rd, 2020 @ 5:49am by Ensign Emmanuelle Larose
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:33pm

Mission: Death in Paradise
Location: Tellarite Freighter
Timeline: After "Securing the Ship" -1400

Ensign Emmanuelle Larose was surprised to receive the invitation.

Despite her uniform colour, she was not a Diplomatic Officer. She did security; she didn’t negotiate anything herself. But this invitation was for her, and was non-transferable. When it came in the previous evening, she presented it to Lieutenant Sandoval and he advised her to attend.

Since just before the Pandora had arrived at Paradise Station, her life had changed significantly. A new position in the Diplomatic Department. Opportunities to learn from old and new mentors, Lieutenants Griffin and Sandoval. New friends like the girls she went out dancing with (which led to a fun night, though she was fairly certain she’d never again see the pink-haired woman whose name she never learned). And now here she was, doing a solo mission in a purple diplomat’s uniform.

After helping Lieutenant Sandoval evacuate all Pandora personnel from the station, and after reporting into security and helping Lieutenant Griffin's team work, she returned to the diplomatic office for a quick briefing before her mission.

Per the instructions in the invitation, at 1400 hours, she beamed alone over to the Tellarite freighter housing the Irokari delegation, where she was greeted by Chief Rivain herself.

"Ensign Larose," Rivain said, giving a polite bow. "Thank you for coming."



As Lieutenant Sandoval and the rest of the department had explained it, the Irokari valued, above all else, balance. When Irokar had its industrial revolution, most nations immediately put in place measures to absorb the chemicals released into the environment. For every ton of CO2 released, an equal amount was collected. They had gender equality for centuries, though racially and culturally the planet had become rather homogenized, obviating the need for that sort of balance. For reasons not yet understood by Federation scientists, nonbinary sexes and genders were virtually unheard of on Irokar. There were still numerous nation-states, usually divided along old clan lines and political ideologies. A body similar to the United Nations from Earth's history had formed, with each nation sending one male and one female delegate.

The nations were moving towards transforming their super-national body into the framework for a single planet-wide government when engineers from one nation completed and tested a warp engine less than twenty years ago, which prompted a visit from a Talarian observation vessel. Shortly thereafter, a Starfleet vessel made first contact between Irokar and the Federation. Though for many worlds, the existence of sentient life from other planets is a unifying force, on Irokar it began a fierce debate as to whether the planet should expand its influence to the stars or stay put and focus on domestic issues. Different nations took different sides. Blocs formed in ways that reminded Sandoval of the Cold War of Earth's twentieth century. Talks to build the united government collapsed, and seven years ago, war broke out, mostly among smaller nation-states, supported by the larger ones.

Despite so many years of violence, balance remained a top priority. People died, but suffering was kept to a minimum. People working to help victims were given free reign of conflict zones. But now the Breen were, in all likeliness, giving arms and tactical information to different parties on Irokar, which has made the war escalate, all because the nations of the planet rejected the request to align themselves with the Alrakis Pact. More damage is being wrought than is warranted. Balance is being lost.

When Chief Rivain heard the Federation was going to provide aid, her spirits were lifted. However, she was partially deflated when she met Starfleet's delegation. Three senior males and one junior female. They met again on the Tellarite ship, and the junior woman was forced to stand while the others sat comfortably and did all the talking. So now, to improve good relations with the Federation and give them a chance to save face, Rivain had invited Ensign Emmanuelle Larose, and only Ensign Larose, to meet.



"We have a ritual in the nation I'm from," Rivain said to Emmanuelle as they sat at the former's desk. "A drink we share to signify friendship. I'd be honored if you joined me." Rivain began pouring a hot liquid from what looked like a teapot into two cups. She set the pot down and passed a cup to her guest, taking the other for herself. She held it with both hands and sipped the liquid. Emmanuelle did the same, mirroring her host. The drink was sweet, but with just a hint of bitterness. Like fruit and the tiniest bit of very pure chocolate. Two extremes balanced against each other.

"Thank you, Chief," Emmanuelle said, putting her cup down. "And thank you for your invitation. Though I need you to know that the Federation is a balanced society. We don't always insist on things like gender-equal delegations or command crews, but on average it works out that way. Many ships have all-male command crews, others all-female, and others split, or include those of nonbinary genders. Terrans are the most common but not the only species. To force perfect balance is not practical in our culture, but it works out over the long term. I'm not offended by being the only woman on a delegation, and until I get more experience I am among the most junior. That sometimes means standing while others sit."

Rivain listened to the woman defend her crew. Emmanuelle continued. "Plus, my job is one of security. I do that best when standing at alert. During that meeting here yesterday, if someone were to barge into the room with a weapon, it would be my responsibility to take him out or get my superior officers to safety. I do that best standing near the door, not sitting by the desk."

Rivain nodded, seeming to understand. "Aside from things like this ritual, virtually everything we do on Irokar is done in pairs or quads. A man and a woman at the desk, another man and woman at the door. But I see your point. I appreciate the opportunity to learn from you, Ensign."

Emmanuelle smiled. "And I from you. I hope that I've been able to brighten the image of the Federation that my colleagues tarnished, through no one's fault aside from cultural ignorance, which you and I are resolving today." She picked up her cup. "May I share a ritual of my own people?" Rivain smiled and nodded. She picked up her own cup. "On Earth and throughout the Federation, we share a drink and commemorate something. An important milestone in life. The birth of a child. A new friendship. Anything, really. We then clink our cups and drink. In the nation where I was raised, we say santé, which is a wish for good health." Emmanuelle lifted her cup high. "To our new friendship, and to one day improving ties between the Federation and Irokar." She clinked their glasses. "Santé!" she said, finishing her drink.

Rivain could not help but chuckle at the ritual, but repeated "Santé!" and consumed the last bit of her own tea. "Ensign, I appreciate you coming down. Please report back to your superiors that these are desperate times for the Irokari. We cannot resist the Alrakis Pact. I know you cannot interfere with our affairs, nor would we want you to, but if the Federation can defeat the Pact, force it to dissolve, or otherwise reduce its ability to operate in the Expanse, then they may leave us alone. Please, Ensign. Do what you can. And thank you for sharing these rituals with me."

Emmanuelle gave a polite bow. "I'll do what I can. But unfortunately, duty calls. I should return to my ship. Thank you for the invitation, Chief Rivain. I hope the next time we meet, it's under better circumstances." With that, she was escorted back to the Transporter Room and beamed back to Pandora. After a quick exchange with Lieutenant Sandoval she promptly returned to the security office to resume working with Lieutenant Griffin. If they didn't find this murderer soon, they risked being unable to help themselves, much less the Irokari.