Expansive Problems

Posted on Thu Dec 31st, 2020 @ 10:35pm by Federation Diplomat Briya Valriya & Admiral Audra Milne

Mission: The Gauntlet
Location: Carnwennan Station (DS11)
Timeline: Current

ON:

Out of nothing was born a multitude of light as the transporter pad invested particles and atoms to reconstruct Briya Valriya & Haylay Bralay’s forms. The energy field dissipated and they arrived aboard the Station to the exclusion of any luggage; that being beamed directly to their assigned quarters. Briya stepped down from the transporter pad with a high-spirited gait, almost a prance. It was her natural way of walking, but had been mistaken as triumphant or boastful on more than one occasion. As she moved to greet the Ensign on duty, each step sent the dark wave of her hair bouncing like a court of giddy electrons. “Consul Briya Valriya, with the Federation Diplomatic Corp. Would you kindly direct me to,” there was the briefest of pause as she collected the name from the feed displayed across the interior of her eyeglass lenses, “Admiral Milne. With the Pandora away, the Admiral may wish to update my assignment.”

The Ensign nodded, "The Admiral is looking forward to meeting with you." His tone was happy but professional. "She has scheduled a visit in her office on deck two in half an hour. Would that be adequate time for you?"

Briya dipped her head slightly in a nod of approval. As she and her aide moved past the Transporter console, Haylay gave the Ensign a crowning smile. “Thank you, Ensign. You have been most helpful.”

Out in the corridor, Briya shook her head in playful criticism of her aide. “We may need to have a discussion as regards your readily available camaraderie.”

“Friendliness is a Diplomat’s first tool of the trade,” Haylay tendered triumphantly.

“Where on Earth did you amass such a notion,” Briya asked.

“On Risa,” Haylay answered.

“Ah, that makes sense.” Briya chewed it over for a moment. “In that case, I agree.”

~~~

As it turned out, half an hour had proven to be more than enough time for Briya and Haylay to take a seat at a small table in one of the busier lounges, leaning over two steaming cups of tea as they casually listened to the other patrons. They overheard gossip, jabber and genuine concern from those trying to relax in the establishment’s ambiance. People were on edge; conjecture and wild theory was being spouted everywhere. After a time, the two women looked at one another and made their way back out into the station to answer the Admiral’s call to convene.

As the Risian diplomat and her closest friend and colleague neared Deck Two, there was an unspoken feeling between them that this was to be their last minutes together before being parted. Since those many years ago when The Hedony had appointed Haylay Bralay to Briya as her aide-de-camp, Briya had always assured her aide that she would not put her in danger; that if the Federation dispatched Valriya to an unsafe post, her aide would not be asked to accompany her. And over the years there had been unsafe assignments no doubt, but Haylay had volunteered to come with and it had all become second nature. But Briya Valriya was not a member of Starfleet and she concluded that her oath to the position she held should not compel or allow her friend to likewise pursue a perilous path. Some may argue that decision should lay squarely in the hands of Briya’s aide, but Briya could not take that chance. The two were parted so rarely that it was equally exciting and sad. And there was statecraft to discuss, which was not always sophisticated or humanitarian in nature.

“And find a new florist,” the spindly diplomat was saying.

To her left, Haylay was taking notes on a handheld slate. “For your office or home?” she asked.

Briya considered the question then responded. “Both, but find them work elsewhere - if you can.” She skimmed through a few files on a separate slate handed to her by Haylay then, signing off with her thumbprint, handed the slate back.

Briya wasn’t familiar with the station or it’s layout, but schematics and hull designs weren’t the brand of technicalities she dealt in. Rather than consulting one of the station’s schemata systematically posted along the walls of the corridors, the Risians stopped a crew member to ask for directions and were soon guided, personally, to the turbolift that would take them to Deck Two. Briya glanced at Haylay and caught her sharing a bashful smile with the crewman. Briya sighed because Haylay was not the bashful sort and had never been. Briya turned to the young man. “We thank you for your service as guide and convoy. We will undergo the remaining distance without the benefit of your brave protection.”

Haylay waved goodbye to the departing man then felt her boss’ eyes on her. “Sorry, Briya. But he’s so cute.”

“That he is and now he is gone. May we continue on to meet with the Admiral or have I interrupted something?”

“Sorry.”

Briya smiled. “I’m beginning to think I should have brought Noelle Aponte in your stead.”

“Oh you don’t mean that, trust me. Noelle would have found her way to rendezvous with that young man in a broom closet by this time.” Haylay’s tone sounded as if that exact scenario had indeed happened before. The two of them stepped through the swooshing door and onto the lift.

“Do these stations even have broom closets?” Briya asked her aide.

“Well I haven’t seen any brooms,” Haylay pointed out, and after both women smiled, the banter and companionable behaviour between them was immediately suspended. The lift door opened and Valriya stepped out. Her aide tapped the Lift’s panel and disappeared behind the swooshing doors; she would not be attending this meeting.

Valriya crossed in great strides to the Admiral’s office and stood before the receiving desk. She looked down at the Federation Security Officer staffing the desk and gave a wide smile. “Good wishes to you. Admiral Milne has extended an audience to Consul Briya Valriya, and I am she.” And...now - the dimples appeared on Briya’s cheeks right on cue.

The security officer at the door nodded simply, not saying much at all. The gold shirt Lieutenant had one goal and one goal only - to watch and guard this door to the Admiral's office with his life. The phaser rifle on his side was charged and always ready. In this instance, however, the Lieutenant had been notified of the Diplomat's imminent arrival and he'd been given clear instructions to let her in without delay. There had been several of these urgent meetings lately, but it wasn't his job to ask why. He just silently pressed the chime on the door and allowed it open before returning his steely gaze to wall opposite.

Being the less plucky of the two transient hollows, the dimple on Valriya’s left cheek withdrew, routed from her smiling face by the stoic Security Officer’s unflappable demeanor. As she carried on to the Admiral’s office, she pondered - not for the first time - one of her favorite mysteries of the vast galaxy; charm. Unlike the laws of thermodynamics, charm was not governed by empirical facts or physical quantities. Charm could be quite subjective from one species to the next. Yet despite the regard that charm almost baffled definition, it was quickly recognized by those who were receptive, regardless of the diversity that separated the two parties. Briya found it remarkable that anyone could manage to detect or appreciate charm given the striking differences between cultures. This member of the Admiral’s security detail, however, was not one such anyone. He neither exuded nor conceded to charm. Fortunately, a lifetime of pondering could be had in a moment so Valriya’s flash of brooding introspection was over as it began. Or else she’d have looked like a complete fool standing for long moments in contemplation at the Admiral’s door.

Admiral Milne was sitting at her desk, hands intertwined together with a small smile on her lips. Her eyes brightened when she saw the Diplomat enter but she didn't stand up to greet her. "Welcome, Consul Valriya," Audra said warmly, "I'm so pleased you were able to join me so soon after arriving."

“Admiral Milne,” Valriya responded with a polite dip of her head. The Risian had agile eyes, but she knew better than to let them roam the Admiral’s office. Shifty eyes may garner more information, but Valriya was no spy and knowledge of intel too far above one’s security clearance had a way of complicating one’s life. She removed her specialized specs as a symbolic signal of this pledge to secrecy, and folded the temples together. “I have not been updated on the latest situation - not officially - but it’s clear the Pandora is at the center of it all. How may I help?”

"Right to the point." Milne smiled, as she indicated for the diplomat to take a seat. As she pulled her own chair underneath her again and was seated, she tapped a few buttons on her computer console. The room had to be secured for this chat; it was not one for prying eyes, ears, or minds to know about. Her security officer on the door took a deep breath and started running telepathic interference. Milne turned to Valriya and nodded, "It is true, the Pandora has become the Quadrant's biggest target. What most people do not know, however, is the reason why. The Pandora is returning from her mission in a region called Hesiod, where they discovered a secret and illegal science facility running dangerous dark matter experiments. Pithos - that's the name of the facility - was operating in direct violation of the Prime Directive and a wide-range of other Federation laws. The Pandora managed to arrest the person responsible for the facility; my predecessor Admiral Thac. Now the Pandora is en route to Earth to deliver Thac, their evidence of the Pithos disaster, and blow the lid on corruption within the higher ranks of Starfleet."

Valriya sat rigidly on the edge of her seat. The truth of the Pandora’s situation was far less fantastical than the rumors spreading around the station, and far more problematic for the Federation. But that’s not why she was sitting on the edge of her seat. The truth was, her legs were far too long for the chair and it’s edge was digging into the underside of her thighs.

Milne stared intently at the diplomat to see how she was taking the deluge of news, but she didn't relent before adding, "And that's why some people want the Pandora stopped."

Valriya pursed her lips as she considered the best way to respond. “So the safe passage of the Pandora is the priority here? I understand the need to bring errant Admirals to justice; Starfleet regulations - if not Federation Law - govern their behaviour no matter where they are stationed. But I was not aware the Federation held any authority in the Inconnu Expanse.”

"You are correct there," Audra replied with a nod. She'd had the feeling before this meeting started that Valriya would be the right person for the mission, and that was already proving to be true. Audra felt like the Diplomat was going to understand the predicament they were in, and why there would be an extraordinary request of her quite soon. Returning to the question, Milne responded, "The Alrakis Pact now claim full sovereignty over the Expanse. We believe the Pithos facility was founded before the Pact announced their existence, but that argument would not hold water in our current climate. Not only did Pithos violate Federation law, but its mere existence threatens the very fragile peace agreement we hold with the Pact. If they were to capture the Pandora and find out about Pithos, they would use that knowledge to start a galactic war with the Federation immediately."

“In the right hands, any argument can be made to hold water in court, though justifying a war and preventing it tend to rely on mutually exclusive lines of reasoning.” Valriya gently lifted a hand to show she was not looking to agitate the matter. “I’m not advocating semantics, Admiral, but if this Pithos facility had been established and run by an indiginous species to the Hesiod region prior to Admiral Thac’s influence, cleaning up his mess would be rather straightforward. However, I’m worried his capture will not bring a stop to these dangerous experiments throughout the region. There may be additional secret facilities in operation and quarantining the revelation of Pithos from the Alrakis Pact will do very little if those other facilities are discovered. Where there is serpentine science being hatched, there must exist a framework for illegality to enshroud those proceedings. Especially, I would think, when it involves such a complex operation as dark matter experiments.”

Audra nodded, "That is my suspicion, as well. We believe Admiral Thac had been working with the Second Fleet's previous CO, Fleet Admiral Lastey Vincent. It is likely that Vincent rubber-stamped Thac's facility and managed to cover-up its true purpose and even the real location from the rest of Starfleet. They went to extreme lengths to hide the movement of resources and people into the Expanse in order to build and run Pithos. I have no doubt that this could lead to further revelations of corruption within Starfleet. I do not know who I can trust or who I can even speak to at this point. As far as the wider Starfleet community knows, I am merely visiting here at Carnwennan to audit the station's safety protocols. Few people know that I am running an operation to bring the Pandora back home and expose the corruption within."

Valriya considered her steepled fingers. “We already know that at least two Admirals are embroiled in this gross violation of trust, honor, duty and law. If we cannot trust enough to bring this matter to others in Starfleet, that complicates the situation to say the least. How can we help, from Carnwennan Station, to bring the Pandora home?” Realization dawned on Valriya’s face and she looked up at Milne. “I was appointed to the Pandora, she is not here, yet you’ve brought a Federation Diplomat into your confidence. You’re hoping to elicit support from native members of the Expanse.” Valriya sat up straighter and nodded resolutely. “With your consent, I will meet with sympathetic delegates from this region. I’d suggest they be discreet about this meeting and stagger their arrivals to the station. It may be unwise to utilize your offices for this forum so I’ll find a suitable place to assemble.”

Smiling, the Admiral dipped her head into an acknowledging nod. "Exactly what I was thinking, Consul. We know there is a coalition building within the Expanse who wish to resist against the Alrakis Pact. We also know they are favourable towards the Federation, due to working with the Pandora in previous encounters. We need your diplomatic prowess to convince them to help the Pandora." She paused for a moment and then sighed, considering the weight of her next statement. "Unfortunately, we cannot hold any such conferences here. There is one delegate from the Expanse onboard currently, and that is only because she managed to slip past the Pact's border patrols. Alrakis forces will not allow any wide-spread movement between Federation Territory and the Expanse. So, we must send you into the Expanse."

Valriya’s shoulders dropped ever so slightly. She didn’t look crestfallen, but there was a downcast tone when she responded. “You said send me into the Expanse. Am I to understand that to mean this travel will not be aboard one of your Starfleet vessels? No, obviously we cannot take the risk.” Valriya was in rhetorical mode, working out what any trained officer likely would have observed from the start. “This delegate who slipped past the border patrols, they will conceal my passage? Admiral, I do not normally commend sly maneuvering, especially when it marks the expectant inception of an official peace accord. But as the ramifications here threaten to devastate the Federation’s peaceful prestige through the galaxy… I’m more than willing to overlook the irregularity of it all. I need to know, though Admiral Milne, that the end product of our handiwork here - at least our genuine aim and hope - is for long term harmony between The Federation and the native species of this region. Which is to say, Starfleet will commit crucial resources to protect these people from the backlash that will surely come. Can I count on you for that? I believe I know the answer, but my conscience requires that I ask.”

"We are already making such plans," Milne replied with a warm tone; she was impressed that the Diplomat was so concerned about the welfare of the Expanse already. "It will be difficult with the Pact still claiming control of the region, but we are making some in-roads again. It will be largely up to the people of the Expanse to make their intentions clear and invite us in, but we will help them." She gave a slight shrug, "Although, for any of that to happen, we need the Pandora back home safely. You're right, you'll be travelling with Queen Katya of Paradise Outpost. We have adequate security to ensure you'll come to no harm. She is departing late this evening, we have a rendezvous time and location already settled."

“Will you send me the relevant information?” Valriya gave her closed spectacles a wave. “I’d like to bring myself up to speed in advance to avoid being overwhelmed by the excitement of meeting Inconnu royalty. I’ll sidestep making too many commitments, but negotiations for peace will require some assurances on the part of the Federation.” Valriya let the rest go unsaid; she had no reason to think Milne would not understand what diplomacy entailed: compromise, exchange of contributions, charity and assurances that the future held more of the same.

"Of course, I'll send it to you as soon as we have all the details," the Admiral replied with a gracious smile. "Anything we can do at this point can only help our position in the Expanse."

Valriya unraveled herself from the chair and stood. “There is one other matter. I’ll be leaving my aide here on the station; covert missions don’t warrant an assistant. Please find her some suitable task in your service while I’m away? It’s not an official request for reassignment, just something to keep her useful.” And to keep her from complicating the lives of the men on this station. But Briya wasn’t about to admit that aloud.

"Certainly," Milne nodded, "There is plenty to do here on Carnwennan Station." The Admiral walked the Diplomat to the door, "This may be the last time we're able to speak. I know I am asking too much of you given you've just arrived and we hardly know each other, but we require bold steps if we're ever going to get in control of this situation. You'll be doing good work in the Expanse, Consul, please know that."

“I’m only too happy to go where I am needed, Admiral.” And Valriya meant it, mostly, but she’d be misrepresenting the truth to imply that all assignments were equal. She was apprehensive over the shape of this mission’s dawning. She was unhappy with the decision to leave Haylay behind, even though it had been her own decision. Though it was likely the Admiral would have insisted on that arrangement had Valriya not volunteered.

"All the best on your travels." Milne nodded in response.

OFF: