Defining Our Careers
Posted on Sun Nov 6th, 2016 @ 11:22pm by Captain Liarra Von & T'qin Elliot
Mission:
Shadows and Whispers
Location: Commanding Officer's Office
T'qin had asked her assistant to let the Captain know she would be arriving at 1000, but she wasn't 100% sure he had relayed that message, as she arrived in the office complex, and nodded to the Captain's assistant.
"Let's try this again." She said, smiling at the woman. "Ambassador Quinn to see Captain Von, please."
Talelle looked up from her terminal and returned the smile. "Of course, Ambassador. The Captain is expecting you." The andorian woman closed out her terminal and came around to the front of her desk. "If you'll follow me, Ambassador," she stated before starting down the corridor. Instead of stopping at Commander Soleck's office, the yeoman led T'qin instead down a long corridor and to the commanding officer's secondary office entrance. She pressed the door chime. "Captain Von, Ambassador T'qin is here to see you."
Von had been working on finishing up some requisition reports, and had lost track of time. She pushed aside the rest of the reports and acknowledged. "Thank you, Yeoman. Please, send her in."
"Aye, Captain." Talelle turned to T'qin. "Captain Von will see you now. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to let me know."
"I'll keep that in mind, thank you, ma'am." T'qin nodded, entering. "And at last. The intrepid Captain Von. It's a pleasure to actually meet you this time. I had a very philosophical discussion with your executive officer in your absence."
Von rose from her seat and extended a hand. "Ambassador T'qin. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I apologize for missing your arrival. My trip away from the station ended up lasting a little longer than I expected. But I'm glad to hear that Commander Soleck served as a good host. Please, have a seat."
Instead of taking Von's hand, T'qin offered the Vulcan salute. "I know. It's the hair. Tricks people every time. Peace, and long life, Captain Von." She said, taking the offered seat.
"Apologies, Ambassador. I've had a lot on my mind these past few weeks." Von returned to her own chair and rolled it back up to the desk. "I hope you've been able to get settled. I know our diplomatic services office was a little underused, but hopefully you've been able to clear away the cobwebs."
"Mostly." T'qin said, scowling ever so slightly. "My assistant is quite... Unique, and finding adequate daycare is difficult some days. And don't worry about your habits, Captain. I'm accustomed to having to explain the limitations of touch telepathy. I'm an Ambassador. It's usually part of my job. I used to get so annoyed, though. Many years ago." She added, chuckling.
"I suppose you would get used to it after a while. I remember after I first joined having to answer a ton of questions about what it was like. Eventually I got to the point that I hardly notice it any more. I wish I could be more helpful about finding a good daycare, but I'm sure there are plenty of good places on the station."
"Well." T'qin laughed. "It wasn't a big problem when I first joined starfleet. All my patients were dead." She said, chuckling. "It wasn't until I got promoted to assistant chief of security, that I started having trouble with it." She tilted her head. "Sixty... Seven years ago?" She added, thoughtfully. "2315. About there."
"Ah, 2315, that was a pretty good year. I can still remember one of Niri's concerts. I've thought about taking up the violin again, but so far I haven't really shown much in the way of musical talent. It sounds like you've had quite the career."
"Quite the career." T'qin echoed, thinking back on some of the time she spent in Starfleet. "You could say that, yes." She added, quietly. "Not all of it was sunshine and roses. Enough of it, though."
"I've found that the sunshine and roses rarely gets to define our careers. It's what we are in the dark that seems to have the longest lasting impressions."
"Or an aversion for seafood." T'qin said, thoughtfully. "I do agree on that part. My darkest part is definitely a defining moment of my life."
"Perhaps I'll get to hear some stories some day. As for the seafood, you just haven't had the right kind. My father makes the most amazing Trill lobster in his restaurant back home. As long as you can get passed it being green. That seems to be strange for a lot of offworlders."
T'qin looked instantly quite ill, and slammed her fist in the desk. "Please." She said, sharply. "Stop. It's not a joke, and you weren't there."
Von was surprised by the sudden outburst. Clearly there was more there than she realized. "Apologies, Ambassador. It was not intended as a joke. Whatever happened can be a story for another time."
"When someone attributes something to their darkest moment," T'qin said, quietly. "It's not something one wants made casually made light of, Captain." She said, regaining control of herself.
"Again, I apologize, Ambassador. Clearly I'm not the best when it comes to working with people. I suppose that's the reason why Starfleet made sure I had a diplomatic envoy on the station. We certainly could have used your services a while back when we were swarming with refugees. Getting them off the station proved to be quite difficult. It would have been nice to have someone with your skills on Myaz as well, though admittedly that one probably would have ended about the same way. The Sojourners were intent to get what they wanted, one way or another."
"Every Captain I've met thinks back on times they could've used a diplomat on hand for." T'qin said, with a light smile. "And half of them don't use us when we're here."
"That's probably true. I bet most captains would say the same about a counselor," Liarra replied with a smirk. "I'll make sure you're involved next time I find myself in that situation."
"Oh, I have a rather unique way of showing up when and where I'm needed, to quote the late James Elliot." T'qin laughed. "I'll check in regularly, though."
"I'll be sure to keep an eye out for you then. In the meantime, if you need a project, perhaps you could reach out to the government of Archa IV. The issue with the Sojourners has left them worried about their safety, and the attack on the station didn't help matters. They're used to dealing with me. You might have more luck convincing them that having the station here is a benefit to them. Archa IV relies on tourism as their major industry, and tourism to this part of the Federation has been down. So they've been a bit antsy."
"Oh, good. I could use some work." T'qin said, quietly. "Help take down the headache from the screaming child." She added, with a laugh.
"That depends on the work. Politicians aren't always easier to listen to than screaming children." Von stood up from her desk, but this time did not offer her hand. "It was very nice meeting you, Ambassador. But if you'll excuse me, I do have some other matters to attend to. If you ever need anything, feel free to stop by."
"As you like." T'qin nodded, with a laugh. "And I suppose you're correct. Children usually have a good reason for screaming." She added, standing in turn. "I look forward to working with you."
Captain Liarra Von
Commanding Officer
Ambassador T'qin Elliot
Chief Diplomat
Warrant Officer Talelle (NPC by Von)
Commanding Officer's Aide
