Secure Negotiations

Posted on Mon Jul 16th, 2012 @ 7:23am by Captain Alexander Gunning & Buluc Chahtan & Tammy Olinski & Captain Liarra Von & Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Gifford & Hunab Ku

Mission: Worlds Away
Location: Archa IV Cabinet Rooms [Capital City - Archa IV]
Timeline: MD01 - 1300hrs.

[ON]

[Talon Class Runabout]

The pilot readjusted the Talon's course as the small craft pierced the atmosphere. The Captain and the other representatives of the Starfleet group sat around a small table in the rear of the compartment. The pilot reported, during a lull in the conversation. "We should be landing in about fifteen minutes, Captain."

"Okay, thank you Ensign." The Captain responded before he turned to his collected group. Commander Liarra Von and Major Jon Gifford looked back at him with a mixture of good-humoured smiles and underlying irritation. By now Liarra would have been used to sitting next by his side in ineffective conferences but the Major was not. Still, he had something to cheer him up. As for the new Counselor, Lieutenant Sophia seemed quite content with having been drafted into a diplomatic situation straight off the bat.

"When we arrive, we'll be greeted by the UFP Ambassador, Buluc Chahtan who will take us through the Parliament Building and into the Cabinet Rooms. Because this is a political appeal, there is a need for our meeting to take place in a more public setting and we'll be giving short releases to the Archan Press and also to the FNS upon the completion of our talks." The Captain produced a small box from underneath the desk.

"In addition to convincing the Archans of our needs with a military base, they will also seek assurances from the highest ranking military officer in the party of the strategic and operational uses of the base. It will be up to you to convince them that the whole Archa Four is not going to become a Starfleet Marine Base. Can you do that, Colonel?" He asked Gifford as he slid the box across the desk.

Gifford inspected the contents of the box. It had been a long time coming but there it was. Lieutenant Colonel. "Thank you Sir. May need a bit of assistance getting these on as my arm isn't working to well yet. The matter of the Archans has surprised me. That they would even consider a base. The Federation must be rewarding them greatly."

"We're offering them exactly what they want. A priority in Federation Tourism. They'll be above Pacifica on the Shore Leave listings." Gunning looked up over his PADD at the two officers who sat opposite him. "Seriously. That's what they wanted."

"I guess you can never really judge the intent of others. I can only imagine the outrage the first time someone on Pacifica notices they've been bumped." Sophia said with a chuckle

Liarra nodded. "They certainly could have asked for more. Secretly though, I think they're afraid that Archa IV will become a target, being the center of Starfleet activity in this region. I think having a military base here helps put aside some of those fears. They just don't want to take an official stance of being afraid. I can't really blame them."

"I agree." Gunning nodded. "Right, we'd best get into dress uniforms."

Sophia struggled a bit with the clasp on her jacket. "I don't remember the last time I was this uniform. I have always despised it and have gone to great lengths at times to get out of wearing it."

[Parliament Building - Archa IV]

"You'll be meeting with Miss Olinski from the Institute and Ambassador Chahtan." The Vice President's Chief of Staff told him as she struggled to keep up with the pace of his strides. "The Federation already have a renumeration package on the table but they're looking to expand the operational staging of their Marine Training Camp at Cizin."

The Vice President stopped short and turned to face her. "What do you mean, 'expand the operational staging'?"

"In addition to the construction of the camp and the defensive entrenchments they feel they'll need to keep it safe, they'll also be looking to take on rights to use the surrounding sixty square kilometers for training engagements and survival exercises."

The Vice President nodded slowly, processing the sheer amount of information that was coming to him."And what does Miss Olinski from the Institute have to do with Starfleet Marines having a training base on Cizin?"

"The Archa Institute has a number of environmental and zoological staging areas on Cizin and I believe she will be representing their interests throughout the negotiations. She should be waiting for us in the Cabinet Rooms."

The Vice President tried to put his finger on a time when he may have encountered Miss Olinski in the past. Olinski certainly wasn't an Archan name but it didn't help narrow it down any. In the last few years the Institute had openly welcomed academics from all walks of life.

As they rounded the corner, the doors of the Cabinet Rooms were drawn back by the Ceremonial Guards who stood on either side.

Tammy waited to be announced and entered the large chamber. She was wearing a traditional Archan colored vest, She smiled as she approached the Vice President and bowed in respect.

"Miss Olinski," the aide whispered in his ear as the Vice President returned the bow.

He spoke without missing a beat, "Miss Olinski. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, I've heard a lot about you."

"Thank you, Sir. It is a great honor to be here with you today and the opportunity to discuss or proud culture."

"Hopefully it will be of some mutual benefit to us all." The Vice President said just as he was handed a glass of Gaav Juice by his aide. He took a drink and looked across the comparatively small conference room. "You know, if I was president, we wouldn't even be having these discussions. I'm not a fan of Starfleet and their... pervasive influence."

"As an Archan myself I share your resistance. But we have the chance here to showcase our culture to these people. It has always been my design to make them understand we aren't inferior to them at all. Archan Scientists and scholars can teach them many things. But for the record I have never trusted them."

"In the grand scheme of the Federation, everyone is inferior to Starfleet. Or so we are to believe." He said with a hint of resignation in his voice. He moved towards one of the large decorative windows that dwarfed the interior of the room. "That sounds like their craft coming into land in the courtyard."

[Talon Class Runabout]

"We're coming in for landing, Captain." The ensign reported as the reassuring clunk of the landing gear locking rumbled through the cockpit. "Archa Control tells us that you will be met by Buluc Chahtan, the Ambassador to the Federation who will escort you all to the state room."

Gunning shifted uncomfortably in the white jacket of his dress uniform and could feel the slight discomfort of his companions doing the same. As the craft placed its alloy feet upon the surface, the external doors began to cycle through their atmospheric testing algorithms, doing their best to ensure the safety of those standing nearby. The light turned green by Gunning's hand and he pressed the panel, casting a golden ray of sunlight into the chamber.

Ambassador Buluc Chahtan was a small, fumbling man whose relative inability to keep his thoughts in order made him the perfect pawn for the game of political chess between the governments of The Federation and Archa IV. While their membership made them an intrinsic part of The Federation, it was always felt that their government exacted much more respect and nodding obedience from the council than on many other worlds.

"Captain Gunning, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance once again." Chahtan said, holding out a gloved hand to the Starfleet officer. His neat suit resembled something that would have been found in 21st Century India and was much more modern and sleek than the usual attire of Ambassadors. They usually chose to wear flowing cloaks and ostentatious robes to impress those they came across. Buluc Chahtan knew that he was not an impressive man.

"Ambassador Chahtan." Gunning reciprocated in the handshake and allowed the Ambassador a polite nod of the head. "Allow me to introduce my associates. This is Commander Liarra Von, my first officer, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Gifford who is head of our Marine Detachment and Lieutenant Sophia, our station's Chief Counselor."

"Pleasure to meet you Ambassador Chahtan." He should the Archans hand warmly.

Sophia cleared her throat gently and greeted the Ambassador in a very close approximation of the traditional greeting of his people. She had been working on it ever since she had been tapped for this assignment. "I hope pronounced that right and didn't just offer some terrible insult."

"It truly is a pleasure," Chahtan said embracing the Colonel's hand before scooping Von's into his own and planting a delicate kiss on the back of her hand. The Ambassador went to do the same to Lieutenant Sophia but thought better of being overly familiar with a Klingon officer. Gunning did his best to catch their eyes and raise an eyebrow but there was not much he could do about it. "Come, come," the Ambassador said, "the Vice President and Professor Olinski are waiting for us."

Gifford walked behind the group closely he was impressed with the security who seemed to be few but very capable. The Ambassador seems very friendly. He hoped the rest of the Diplomats would be as receptive.

[Parliament Building - Archa IV]

Tammy watched as the party of Starfleet Officers entered the building. She caught a glimpse of the Colonel. She was surprised he was moving around so well after his recent illness..

They disappeared out of sight and before Ku knew it, the massive doors to the room were thrown open and the delegates from Starfleet swept into the room preceded by Chahtan. He drove himself onwards towards them with outstretched arms. He knew as well as they did that these negotiations would be largely ceremonial.

"Captain Gunning! It's a pleasure to see you again!" He exclaimed as his hand closed around the Commander of Starbase 332's.

"Mister Vice President." Gunning replied, adding a small nod as a mark of respect. "Allow me to introduce my officers; Commander Liarra Von, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Gifford and Lieutenant Sophia."

John shook the VP's hand. "Pleasure to meet you Sir."

Sophia gave a small bow. "Lieutenant Sophia, Sir. Head Counselor. It's an honor to meet you."

The Vice President nodded to them politely and turned partially to face his companion. "This is Ms Tammy Olinski from the Archan Institute. I'm sure many of you will have already met. Now we'd better get on with these negotiations." He said, his tone turning somewhat impatient.

[OFF]

Captain Alex Gunning
Commanding Officer

Commander Liarra Von
Executive Officer

Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Gifford
Commanding Officer, 14th Battalion UFP Marine Corps.

Lieutenant Sophia
Head Counselor
Starbase 332

Tammy Olinski
Faculty Member
Archan Institute

Hunab Ku [NPC: Gunning]
Vice President of Archa IV

Buluc Chahtan [NPC: Gunning]
Archan Ambassador to The United Federation of Planets