Official Visit
Posted on Wed Nov 23rd, 2016 @ 5:30am by Colonel S'er'in'e & Captain Liarra Von & Lieutenant Commander Thomas Byrne
Mission:
Indomitable Will
Location: Captain's Office
Timeline: TBD
Overseer Mar'ess had returned to the transport that she had arrived on quietly to see Samanthia and her Warrior, things having not gone well with Samanthia at all did not bode well with the Overseer. Having failed to get the information from Samanthia she opted to see the leader of this community to get what she wanted. She had sent a message which no doubt would have come as a surprise to Captain Von since she had no prior notification and only an hour before Mar'ess wanted to meet.
It didn't help matters that one of the few things Liarra hated more than surprises was diplomatic missions. Her last one, a trip to Myaz, did not go as planned, and she was blindsided by the Sojourners. She hoped this time would not result in her getting shot at. Still, the surprise visit and meeting with the Overseer did not leave much time for planning. She hit the comm panel in her quarters as she started to remove her duty uniform. "Von to Byrne," she stated to the computer while tossing her uniform tunic on the bed.
"Byrne here, Captain," the security chief responded over the open line.
"Commander, I apologize for the short notice, but we've been called to a meeting with Overseer Mar'ess, from Cait. We only have an hour before we're to meet. I only just found out myself. I need you to arrange for security escort for her. And get on your dress whites. I'll need you in the meeting. The Overseer is here to discuss the incident involving Colonel S'er'in'e that resulted in the death of another Caitian."
There was a brief pause as the commander brought up the relevant incident report on his console and call up a duty roster of the on-shift security staff. "Understood, Captain. I'll have the security escort ready and waiting."
"Thank you, Commander," Von replied, making her way to her closet. "Be in my office in an hour. Von out." With the transmission closed, Von let out an audible sigh. Her dress uniforms had been shoved to the back of her closet since they were so rarely used. She didn't have many options, but she tried to find the tunic and trouser combination that looked the least wrinkled. Having the uniforms pressed was just not going to work for the amount of time that she had. She didn't even have time for another shower, at least not if she was going to have time to go over some last minute protocol cramming. She'd just have to make due with what she had, and hope that the Overseer didn't notice. Even her boots were still scuffed from the action on Myaz, but she would have to make due. Formal occasions were not her cup of tea, but it was her duty. With uniform and insignia in place, Von tried to stretch out her collar before grabbing her PADD and hurrying for the turbolift.
-----Security Offices-----
"Rippon!" Byrne called as he stalked out of his office in the middle of the security bullpen, skimming through the details he had downloaded of the S'er'in'e case on a PADD as he walked. The officer he had called ran over, falling into stride beside the commander as he rapidly crossed the room. "Organise a diplomatic security detail for Overseer Mar'ess from Cait; have them ready to escort her from her transport to the captain's office in fifty minutes."
"Fifty minutes, Sir?" Rippon asked, as they came to the exit of the bullpen and Byrne continued heading briskly for the turbolift. "Don't we normally get more notice for diplomatic functions, Commander?"
"Yes we do, Lieutenant," Byrne answered, stepping into the turbolift and spinning on his heel to face the hatchway, nose still in his PADD. "But not this time. On the double; and make sure the detail are in their best uniforms. Deck 28!" The lift doors closed as he called out his destination, cutting off any further discussion on the subject.
The case he was reading was an odd one, given that it happened down on what he had come to learn had been dubbed the "Akiashiro Deck". He had quickly learnt that his security officers weren't welcome down there; not that it stopped him from sending them. As well as the regular uniformed patrols he sent down who got turned away, he had started sending non-uniformed personnel down. Sometimes they'd be noticed and the private security staff would move them on, but he felt it was worth the effort to assert a Starfleet security presence of some sort there, especially given the case he was reading up on. The situation was further complicated by Caitian customs and societal rules, which he had also downloaded a quick crash-course for himself. He doubted it would be enough to keep himself from putting his foot in his mouth, but he figured he should be able to let the captain do most of the talking.
As soon as the turbolift deposited him, he rushed into his quarters, and began changing from his duty uniform into his dress whites. Thankfully, they were still freshly pressed from when he came aboard the station, so he was able to dress quickly and head straight back to the turbolift again to head up to the captain's office, tugging at his uniform collar as he went.
-----Captain's Office-----
Byrne paused only momentarily outside the captain's office to use the reflective glass surface to ensure his rank pips and Starfleet insignia were straight, before pressing the chime and heading in. "Any idea why the rush for this meeting, Captain?" he asked, stashing his PADD out of the way and tugging on his sleeve cuffs. "The incident with Colonel S'er'in'e in the Akiashiro's bar was months ago."
Von was brushing up on Caitian protocol when she saw Byrne. She waved him in and her eyes went back to her terminal. "Yes, the incident was month's ago, but from what I have been told, once the Overseer has decided that she wants to look into something, that's what she's going to do. She is apparently a very powerful woman back on the homeworld, and is used to getting what she wants." Von looked up from the screen and gestured in front of her to offer a chair to Byrne. "I don't know what she's asking for, and access to anything sensitive will need to go through me. But we need to be accommodating. The last thing that I want to do is cause a diplomatic incident."
"The only problem I can see is we might not have what she's asking for," the security chief answered. "The incident report didn't include much detail; it looks like Commander Gunning's investigation was hampered quite a bit by the privacy the Akiashiros seem to enjoy in their establishment."
-----S'er'in'e's Quarters-----
S'er'in'e had taken a few moments in his Quarters to change and his choice of attire was an easy one. While Captain Von would have like him in his Starfleet uniform he knew that if he did then Mar'ess would view it that he was placing alien needs above those of his Caste and a fuss would ensue. While she could say that very thing about his joining Starfleet oh so long ago it was however a time before she became Overseer. Clad now in his Caitian black and green military uniform he wanted to avoid any issues that Mar'ess may complain about and even donned the headpiece that connected the ears across the forehead. He was still upset over what happened with Samanthia and Mar'ess and subsequently Mar'ess and himself since she had given him the token to return to the Homeworld.
She was well within her right and power to do so but deep inside S'er'in'e could only hope that she saw value and worth with having one of her warriors stationed on this 'alien' station. Nobody officially knew yet that Mar'ess had demanded S'er'in'e's return to the Homeworld beyond his Mate but in any case his aim was to cause the least amount of trouble for anyone, especially the Overseer. With everything in place, affixed, presentable and polished S'er'in'e left his Quarters and headed to the Captain's Office.
-----Captain's Office-----
It seemed he was expected as he was ushered straight in though not for several glances sent his way at the attire. When the doors opened he typically ducked his head under the lip of it lest he bang his head upon it, he saw Captain Von and Commander Byrne at the desk. "Captain." He bowed as tradition demanded. "Commander." He continued after righting himself.
During their time alone and trying to survive, Von had gained a better appreciation for S'er'in'e's culture. From what he had told her, she knew that tradition and the Caste came before all else. So it was no surprise to see him enter in a traditional Caitian garb instead of the Starfleet dress uniform that the other two officers were wearing. Liarra drew no more attention to his attire. "Colonel," she replied, nodding. "How have your meetings with the Overseer been going?"
"Troubling." S'er'in'e replied. He didn't want to go into too much detail about what had happened. "The Overseer and my Mate are.....at odds presently." He came to a stop next to the desk with the other officers. "Overseer Mar'ess is a difficult female to contend with, she has power, status and authority. She may seem rude or arrogant to your eyes." S'er'in'e wanted to avoid any issues that Mar'ess might take as insult of afront in her presence. "Commander, you should stand beside and slightly behind the Captain on her right. Females are the dominant gender on my world and Mar'ess will not view your presence equally as she would the Captain. She will have two bodyguards with her, do not approach the Overseer, do not offer your hand in greeting to her, let her do it. Anything else and the bodyguards will act, fatally."
At least they knew what was at stake. "I will bow as customary, Captain as a female you are not required to, Commander I would avoid looking the Overseer in the eyes. Males are beneath her, alien ones even more so and she will make her feelings very clear about the matter if roused to do so."
Von nodded along. She turned back to Byrne. "It would probably be best if you did as S'er'in'e says. I really don't want to have my office carpet cleaned again." Liarra took a deep breath. "Alright, how long do we have until she arrives?"
Byrne nodded at the captain's instruction and the Colonel's advice. It was strange and slightly unsettling to him to be told that he would be viewed as beneath the Overseer regardless of his position, but he had been part of enough first contact and diplomatic missions to know that often in Starfleet one just needed to swallow their pride, and obey the rules of the culture they were dealing with.
"Approximatly 27 minutes." His approximation was based on the time he left his quarters and how long it took to get here. "Is there anything else you wish to know of our customs before you meet the Overseer?"
"Is there any special way that I need to address the Overseer?" Liarra asked.
"Overseer only unless she states otherwise." S'er'in'e replied as it was clear he was not looking forward to this encounter. So much could happen and it was complicated by the view that Mar'ess held of other species.
"Gotcha. We'll just see what she says. Do you have any ideas what she may be wanting out of this meeting? I expected that she and I would meet before she left the station, but it would have been nice to have had an agenda. I don't suppose she's after a simple meet and greet."
"She is after information surrounding the death of Cr'erl, the disgraced Caitian I killed." S'er'in'e replied. "She failed to get it from my Mate and so she comes to you. I can not explain why or how the Overseer does things for she will do as she wishes, when she wishes. I should reiterate that what happens here will effect me directly, she could withdraw me from this base and Starfleet should she wish it."
Von nodded. "I suppose it goes without saying that you will abide by her decision, no matter what she decides."
"After our ordeal on the planet Captain, you know my position to females and now enhance that because she is the Overseer of my Caste. Her words are absolute." S'er'in'e replied. "We should depart, she is not known for her patience."
"Agreed," Von replied. "Let's not keep her waiting. The last thing I need is an angered official on the station."
"Angered officials?" Byrne commented dryly as they left the office. "You mean there are any other kind?"
Captain Liarra Von
Commanding Officer
Starbase 332
Lt. Colonel S'er'in'e
Commander, Air Group
Starbase 332
Lt. Commander Thomas Byrne
Chief of Security
Starbase 332
