Talking Points
Posted on Sun Aug 31st, 2014 @ 9:16am by Hyram & Captain Liarra Von & Captain Jeff Smith
Mission:
Aggressive Negotiations
Location: Myaz Capital, Sovereign's Palace
[ON]
It had been a few hours since Hyram decided to leave the Federation delegation to stew in his throne room. Confident that they were surely being watched, Liarra had to refrain from digging through the piles of junk strewn about the room. She had never seen so much clutter, not even when she was a young girl Come to think of it, none of her past's hosts every really made a mess like this as a child. It had seemed that the Myaz had taken hoarding to a new extreme, as if it was impossible for them to throw anything out. It was a society built around just collecting stuff, with apparently no regard to rhyme or reason. They wanted it because it was there. Though how she could use that to her advantage, she had no idea.
With the away team stuck in the throne room, there wasn't much else to do. There was no exploring the city or the palace grounds since they were told to wait there. It was never made clear how long Hyram intended to be gone, or if he even planned to return. Liarra was close to just giving up and going home.
'Well isn't this just dandy, cooped up like a sardine' he thought to himself and then Smith pressed a hand to his ear to receive some information via his sub-dermal implant, when it had finished coming in he stepped forward and whispered in Von's ear.
"Captain, news from the Carthage, a Captain Vaishaa has arrived on the Vekk and is sending a party down, she requests that you refrain from shooting first, I am just the messenger Captain" He said and lightly double tapped the spot where is implant was to acknowledge the info.
Von let out a long drawn out sigh. Neither Captain Smith nor Commander Reed had had any interaction with the Sojourner leader. Liarra had only met her once, and it was across viewscreens shortly before Vaishaa ordered her ships to open fire. For what it was worth, Liarra blamed her for everything that had happened since Thane, including the attack on the station and Alexander Gunning's death. "Acknowledged." Liarra thought about following up with a quip about trying not to shoot first, but decided to refrain. She didn't want to stoop to that level.
Looking at Von with an inquisitive look "So Captain, what's with this Vaishaa, I get the distinct impression she is as about trus-worthy as a Romulan and as slimy as the New Orleans Bayou mud?" Smith asked.
"That's one way of putting it," Liarra answered with a nod. "I've only ran into her the one time, at Thane. She seemed pretty ruthless, and didn't hesitate to fire on our ships. She's bold too. I'll give her that much."
There was an echoing click from the double door entry to the throne room and the majestic doors swung open. The Starfleet contingent turned expecting their hosts, but shocked expressions crossed their faces when a small phalanx of Sojourners, with Vaishaa at their apex, strode arrogantly into the room.
"Ah, Captain Von!" the Sojourner leader called out in a strangely theatrical voice. The almost sounded ... pleased to see the Federation envoy. "It is so good to see you," she continued as she approached, extending a hand to the captain.
"Captain Vaishaa," Von replied with a wooden tone. She did not act nearly as excited to see her counterpart as Vaishaa acted to see her. She made a glance towards the outstretched hand, debated, and decided that it was better to try to be cordial than to snub her. She extended her hand in response. "How's Thane? I hope you've been making yourself comfortable."
"Our partnership with Thane grows ever stronger," Vaishaa responded, paying little attention to the jibe. She squinted at Von before firing back, "I trust you are not too overwhelmed by your new position. Alexander Gunning must have some significant shoes to fill."
The stab at her mentor's death certainly stung, but Liarra wasn't about to fall into her trap. "He did indeed leave big shoes to fill, but he taught me well. I've managed just fine. Still, it was such an unfortunate accident that that bomb just happened to explode. You wouldn't happen to know who planted it, would you?"
“A monstrous crime,” Vaishaa said with a shake of her head. “Just monstrous. But alas, I fear we are us much in the dark about the perpetrators as Starfleet. There are a great many in the Galactic South who are … displeased with the Federation’s policies here. It could have been any number of disgruntled groups.”
The Myaz announced their return to the room with the slamming of the majestic double doors against the wall. There were significantly more of them this time. Five or six equally disheveled robed figures strode authoritatively into the room, flanked by the unthreatening soldiers.
At the front of the group was Sovereign Hyram who had changed his robe to a vibrant purple satin and wore slightly tatty crown which was surrounded by myriad little planets, all of which seemed to represent a Myaz world. Some of them seemed held on by glue.
"You have all come for the Creator!" He announced grandly as he swept through the middle of the two groups and hopped up onto the top of one of the piles, making it clear that the junk had been arranged in such a way that it was a makeshift throne. He gestured to Von and Vaishaa in turn. "I know your face. What is your face?"
Hyram glared down from his perch where he could see the stoic look on the faces of Vaishaa's adjuncts and the wry grin on the face of one of Von's. His eyes narrowed into a sneer.
'Oh great we got a comedy show' Smith thought but said nothing and just remained quiet.
Vaishaa bowed in a curiously supplicant manner that belied her usual dignity. "Your Majesty," she said in a sweeping tone. "I am Vaishaa, of The Sojourners. I have come in the spirit of friendship to discuss a proposal that my Government believes will bring tremendous benefit - and resources - to our two great cultures."
The Sojourner leader paused and glanced sidelong at Captain Von and her people before adding, "If it please Your Majesty, perhaps we might discuss these benefits away from the intimidation of the Federation's military forces? My delegation has already been threatened by Starfleet once today, and I fear they may attempt another provocation."
Liarra tried to stay stoic. If the Sojourners' presence here was unexpected, maybe that would win points in the Federation's favor. Though based on what she had seen so far, it was difficult to figure out what would help them in winning the Myaz's trust, if anything.
Hyram's expression flipped as the diplomatic pleasantries floated through his head. He rose from the makeshift throne and opened his palms to both delegations. "I have never heard of Sojourner, yet you come to me and offer benefits to me. I have heard of these." He motioned dismissively to Von and her team. "You will both talk."
Leaning forward to whisper in Von's ear "why do I get the funny feeling that our task just got harder to complete Captain?" Smith whispered.
"It could be worse," Liarra whispered back. "At least we get to stick around and hear what she has to say." The Trill moved away from the marine and towards Vaishaa and Hyram. "Your Majesty, I'm sure that whatever she had perceived as a threat was a misunderstanding. I'm here on a mission of peace. I have no desire to start a fight." But the look she gave Vaishaa said But I'm not afraid to finish one.
"Mistakes, mistakes and misunderstandings!" Hyram said gleefully, clearly trying to giddily applaud. "Tell me what you bring to offer the great and bountiful Myaz Sovereignty!"
Liarra smiles at Vaishaa and gestures for her to go ahead.
Vaishaa smiled that predatory smile and bowed her head at Von, accepting the invitation to speak first. It was exactly what she wanted.
“Your Majesty,” she began, stepping closer to the throne and holding her hands out at her sides. “I do not need to tell you that the Myaz Sovereignty is at a crossroads. Your great and bountiful Sovereignty grows at an inspiring rate, but with that growth and glory comes the attention of foreigners.” She gestured around to the other occupants in the throne room, “As evidenced by this audience today. It is the inevitable consequence of such extraordinary growth.
“Your Majesty, you and your people need to make a choice. A choice between to starkly divergent courses,” Vaishaa continued. She turned and gestured to Captain Von, standing proud in her black and red Starfleet uniform. “On the one hand, you have the Federation. Over two hundred planets and a fleet to rival most powers in the galaxy! But what is that members of the Federation trade to join their exclusive club?” She allowed a dramatic pause to linger, her eyes fixed on Von’s with a menacing glint. “They surrender their sovereignty.”
She turned back to Hyram, “They fall in line, Your Majesty,” she said, levelling an accusing finger at the Starfleet crew. “You would become a vassal to the Federation Council and they would not permit your continued growth. The great Myaz Sovereignty would be forced to kneel before Earth and you would be restricted from further expansion, your borders locked and meaningless.”
Vaishaa’s voice changed as she continued, what was harsh vinegar was now sweet honey. “The Sojourners, and our partners in Thane, offer you a different path, Your Majesty. Where the Federation wants to contain the Myaz, we would rather see you stay strong. We offer you a partnership of mutual benefit, just like our partnership with Thane. Where both of our great cultures are encouraged to grow and develop as we determine. Ours is the choice of freedom, Your Majesty. Theirs … servitude.”
Von watched with curiosity, not really sure where Vaishaa was going at first. But the longer she talked, the more Liarra regretted letting her go first. She wanted to be able to react and counterattack, but now she felt she was on the defensive. "Your Majesty, I assure you that we are not planning to force you to give up your sovereignty. We don't want to force you to do anything. We don't create vassals. We create friendships. No planet is admitted into the Federation unless they wish, and it is up to them to request membership."
"No, what we're offering is a chance for us to form a mutually beneficial relationship. As Vaishaa so eloquently put it, the Federation is vast and with over two hundred member worlds and countless colonies, there possibilities for trade are endless." Liarra strolled forward to stand closer to Hyram than Vaishaa. "The Sojourners offer you a path for growth, but it is a path that they dictate. With countless worlds come countless opportunity. The Federation has abundant resources that we would love to share. But we don't ask that you join us to reap the benefits. There is an entire galaxy out there full of trinkets and treasures, marvels that you have never seen. Cooperation between the Myaz and the Federation will bring those marvels to you."
Liarra did not have much confidence in what she was saying, and she silently prayed that it wasn't showing. She decided to take a risk and hoped that it paid off. "We offer you a chance to grow and increase the great bounty of the Myaz Sovereignty, and have the resources and reputation to back that up. All Vaishaa and the Sojourners have are words. Words that they are using to gain their trust, only so that they could steal the Creator. And while I know that Your Majesty would never allow that to happen, they will still try."
Hyram went from giddy excitement to stoic resolve as the issue of the Creator was brought to the fore once again. Vaishaa's expression seemed blank. If Hyram could have conceived of a situation where she didn't know about the Creator, he would have been more sympathetic toward her but how could she not know.
"You're lying." He said abruptly and seemingly to no-one in particular.
Von realized that she had probably made a mistake. She knew that Hyram was sensitive about people bringing up the Creator, whatever that was. She had hoped that he would have turned against Vaishaa. But as she considered this, she considered the Sojourners. Myaz did not seem like a high value target. She had order indiscriminate attacks on other worlds, so why the peace angle here. The Myaz didn't seem to possess anything of strategic value, unless Vaishaa did know what the Creator was, and that was the reason she was here. Liarra took a quick glance towards Vaishaa to see if her expression had revealed anything further.
The Sojourner leader continued to look pleasantly at Sovereign Hyram, her expression unchanged since the accusation was fired to nobody in particular. She didn't flinch; she would not flinch. If she calculated correctly, the first to flinch would lose and though she couldn't see her, she was confident that Von had moved first.
Liarra's eyes shifted away from Vaishaa. She was good at staying stoic, but she would have loved to be able to read her mind. But Liarra wasn't about to fold under pressure either. While Von didn't consider her glance a flinch, she wasn't about to speak first. That could be seen as a defensive measure, and a defensive measure make that person sound like the liar. It was a silent standoff.
"I've never heard of you Sojourners." Hyram's disheveled little aide suddenly piped up from the periphery of the group.
Hyram seemed to nod sagely, but didn't add anything.
Vaishaa's gaze shifted suddenly to the aide, but her expression remained cordial. "I can assure you that we have heard of you," she said, before turning back to Sovereign Hyram. "You Majesty, my people are in awe of the Myaz Sovereignty and your grand empire. We, and our partners in Thane, know that our great work can only succeed if we have strong partners like the Myaz. We offer you only the chance to join with us, as equal partners, because together we can resist the Federation's imperial ambitions in the Galactic South."
She glanced over at Von and her people one more time before continuing. "The fact that they send military officers to intimidate Your Majesty, speaks volumes about how much they fear an alliance between our cultures. Because if you were to become our partners, they know that they could not control you and take from you."
Liarra tried not to smirk. Vaishaa certainly had a way with words. Even though Von knew that she was full of lies, she couldn't help but admire her delivery. "Your Majesty, Starfleet is much more than military. We're peacekeepers, yes, but we're also explorers. We're not expanding to conquer. Our interests in the Galactic South are that of curiosity. We want to learn more about other civilizations, such as yourselves." Liarra glanced over at Vaishaa. "But we also provide aid and shelter for those who come on to hard times. The Federation isn't invading other worlds, like the Sojourners have been. Just in the past month, three more systems have been invaded and conquered by the Sojourners and their allies. If the Kintarans, N'Veci, and Amollans didn't see the Federation as a beacon of hope, then why are refugees fleeing the Sojourner attacks coming for us, and asking for help? Vaishaa claims that we're the ones with imperial ambitions. So why is she the one who has been flexing her military muscle?"
Hyram sat with his head in his hands, clearly trying to process the information- the spin- he was being fed. He looked through his fingers as though he was trying to hide from the Sojourner and Starfleet delegation. He suddenly seemed to lack the outgoing nature he had previously displayed. It was as though everything was too much for him.
He balled his hands into fists and tapped them against his head. "Too much, too much. Can't think! Want to be partners, don't want to roll into big Federation. Don't want to be refugees from Sojourners. Sojourners who kill and kill and kill but smile at us. Make eyes at the Myaz Sovereignty. The Myaz are strong. The Myaz are the guardians of their destiny. Get out, get out, get out! All of you! I will not be led into your games."
Captain Liarra Von
Commanding Officer
Lieutenant Commander Drewe Reed
Chief Counselor
Captain Jeff Smith
Company Executive Officer
'G' Company
Sovereign Hyram [NPC: Gunning]
King of the Myaz Sovereignty
Vaishaa [NPC: Deakin]
Sojourner Leader
