Negotiations- the first meeting

Posted on Sun Apr 28th, 2019 @ 1:09pm by Captain Taliserra Tigran & Lieutenant Commander Radak & Lieutenant Anthony Edwards Ph. D
Edited on on Sun Apr 28th, 2019 @ 1:11pm

2,955 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Negotiations and Apothecaries
Location: Conference room - Deck 4
Timeline: 1st March 2395

ON:

Taliserra paced the conference room, both the Ambassadors would be coming in a few minutes and she was doing last minute discussion with Radak.

"Captain, I know you are nervous, but your pacing will not make this any easier," Radak said, in his flat, Vulcan tone. He was seated at the table and despite his appearance of a calm and collected exterior, he was also nervous. Their delay had already caused added tensions to an tense situation. Although, with the information presented to them the solution should be simple enough.

"Never was good at diplomacy," Taliserra replied. "Hopefully, Vian can help me out a little."

"Vian?" Radak asked, curiously, looking down at the PADD in front of him. It contained his notes for the meeting that was about to take place. The only thing that was making him uncomfortable was that the information he had on Kurai was still significantly small. "It is not my strong suit either, yet it seems a continual theme. Sometimes it is like... wading through mud. Uncomfortable, cold, messy... but necessary to continue forward."

"It was Vian's strong suit, he was my last host," she explained. "He'd negotiate hundred bar Gpl trade contracts for breakfast and a hundred brick ones for lunch. Could talk you into trading your most dearest of things and easily talk himself out of any trouble he would get himself or his crew into."

Radak lifted his eyebrows slightly. "Those must have been very useful traits and probably still are. I have to admit that I have always wondered how much of that is retained from host to host... and how it is retained. Is it like remembering a memory? Or is more like something you just innately know how to do now?" he asked. He thought if maybe he could get her mind off the task at hand it would go a long way to calm her nerves.

"It's a little complicated," Taliserra explained. "I have access to his memories and experiences and to some extent how to use the skills he had. Hopefully they will be useful but you can't teach diplomacy very easy."

Radak nodded. "I see. I have always found it useful, in most situations, to remain calm and make sure that I breathe. It is often something that people forget to do when they are experiencing anxiety. Believe it or not... proper oxygen intake helps to keep your head clear."

"Simple Vulcan logic." Taliserra sat down in her chair, she took a few deep breaths exhaling heavily. "Right, I'm ready." She tapped her combadge, =/\= Anthony, Miranda bring them in. =/\=

The door at one side of the conference room opened and the Kurai ambassador and his much larger aide stepped through, followed by Miranda who quickly stepped off to the side. "Captain, Commander," the ambassador said before taking a seat, his aide sat beside him. Their unusual leg and tail configuration making them look a little ungainly on the human designed chairs.

Just before the door closed Anthony came in with Ambassador Al’mek, showed him to the table, then took his own seat at the table near Captain Tigran. “Good morning Captain Tigran, Commander Radek, Ambassadors,” he said.

Radak nodded to all of the arrivals, standing until people were seated. "Good morning all." It was rather amazing that after all of their struggled to get here that they finally had everyone in the same room. He looked sidelong at his captain with the tiniest of smiles of encouragement. "Are we ready to begin?"

Ambassador Al'mek took his seat and nodded. "I believe so. More than ready, perhaps. I would like to thank the Kurai Ambassador for his extensive patience though all of this."

T'ekko nodded his head slightly towards Al'mek.

Taliserra took a sip of her tea before speaking. "First, I think we should establish just what each of your governments' want from these negotiations."

T'ekko spoke first. "We want an end to this fighting and to know why the Yatal were hanging their dead up on Tequocia."

Ambassador Al'mek looked a little surprised. This was actually the first time he had really been able to communicate with the Kurai for any length of time. "We wish to end the fighting as well," he responded with a nod. He also tipped his head to one side. "You do?" he asked curiously.

Anthony sat a little stunned as he thought, At least we know they're both here for the right reasons. Now to bring this to a fair conclusion for them both. Even though he was stunned he still ran the automatic filters his brain put in place to pick out dialect and linguistic nuances that might have stopped this happening right at the start. He didn’t get much yet but he still listened with his linguistic ear focussed.

"Yes, you started this war by a misunderstanding. We are ending it my making you understand," T'ekko said.

Ambassador Al'mek nodded. "Very well then. I would very much like to see the end of this. Please. Enlightening me." Even though his words might have sounded a little harsh, it was not his intention and that was easy to tell by his tone. He was willing to listen and willing to learn.

"First I want to know why you were hanging your dead up on Tequocia," T'ekko said reaffirming what he initially mentioned.

Al'mek nodded. "We believe that our deceased find rest away from where we live. It is a very old tradition... we have always found a planet that was uninhabited and placed our dead there so they could be among the stars. Our living bodies provide distraction for the spirits and if they find us or see us then they will not pass on..." Now that he was explaining it outloud it seemed rather old fashioned and superstitious. Not that Al'mek didn't acknowledge his own people's shortcomings. This was a practice that made more sense when their technology wasn't quite so advanced. Al'mek speculated that at some point and time they had probably practiced these things to keep away disease.

T'ekko inclined his head slightly, he had seen the hanging baskets that held Yatal bodies. "And you checked the whole of the planet was uninhabited or just the area's you wanted to hang your dead?"

"I, personally, did not check the planet. Although, I am feeling now that maybe I should have..." He sighed heavily. "We sent scouting parties... they found ruins, but that was all that they reported. We honestly didn't know that your people were inhabiting the planet."

"That planet was our original homeworld," T'ekko explained. "We were driven from it over a hundred years ago by a natural disaster, three of the planet's volcanoes erupted at the same time."

Al'mek was sort of surprised and sort of not surprised. They had seen at least two of the volcanoes. He wondered briefly if the third had blown apart in the eruption. "Your homeworld? Why do you not live there now?" He caught himself. "So, you changed planets... to save yourselves from the volcanoes, but it is still your homeworld." He nodded. "I see..."

Taliserra let the ambassadors talk and just listened, she was only here to mediate and advise, not direct things too much. She was also making sure Miranda was taking notes, Tequocia being the Kurai's homeworld was an unexpected twist.

"It was not just our homeworld." T'ekko's aide Chakax spoke, his voice coming across rougher than T'ekko's. "It was the birthplace of our old ones and housed the pools from which they will be reborn."

Al'mek sighed again. "I now understand why you were so offended... we did not know and by the time any of us could communicate it was way too late for many of our populace. People were so angry and ready to be offended that everything from that point on was offensive. I ask you ambassador... how do we repair this damage?"

T'ekko stood and walked around a little his legs having gone slightly numb from the unusual seating. "We were trying to repair this damage ourselves until more of your kind prevented us."

"My people believe that burying the bodies in the ground will trap their souls. It is why we fought you so strongly. We did not want our ancestors angered. We didn't understand what was happening," Al'mek said softly. "All we wish to do now is try and salvage something out of what has happened. We do not wish to be at war with you or your people. I believe that we could even stand to learn a few things from each other."

“Captain, sorry to put my nose in where is may not be welcome, but I have a simple question that Ambassador Al’mek and the Yatal may have missed. Which is are there any other ‘uninhabited’ planets that are acceptable to their needs in the local area.” Lieutenant Edwards said before he added, “If Starfleet allowed we could even help them find something, and maybe even transport the ones currently polluting Tequocia.”

Al'mek nodded. "Of course, Lieutenant Edwards. Any help that Starfleet can offer would be appreciated, at least from my people's standpoint. I cannot speak for Ambassador T'ekko. From our own research, the nearest planet would be months away for us, although, I do admit that it is very possible that we have missed something, or that your sensors are much better than ours."

"I have a question of my own," Taliserra said. "If the Yatal have no other place to put their dead then Tequocia, is there a specific place the Kurai would allow them to be put? Somewhere not considered religiously or culturally important to you."

T'ekko stood behind Chakax for a few moments and exchanged a few chirps and klicks that the UT didn't translate. "That is an interesting suggestion Captain, there may be a few areas they could use."

Listening to the chirping Anthony noticed it similarities to Xindi but not similar enough for him to pick up what was actually being said. What he did get was that they did like the captain's question.

Al'mek nodded. "Either of those things would be acceptable to us. I cannot persuade my people to move the bodies back to our own planet, such is the strength of our beliefs, but exceptions and other ideas or locations are acceptable."

"Would your king agree to something like this?" Taliserra asked, while T'ekko had a lot of influence she had a feeling their king would have the final say in any outcome.

T'ekko nodded slightly. "I believe he would, it would satisfy the priesthood that the bodies are not spoiling our sacred pools."

"Then that is what I propose we do," Taliserra said turning to T'ekko. "If your king allows it the Yatal may place their bodies on Tequocia but only in areas dictated by the Kurai." She paused for a moment looking back and forth between the two ambassadors. "Any objections?"

Al'mek put his hands out, palms up, in a non threatening gesture of goodwill. "This would be very acceptable to the Yatal people. Would we be able to assist you with moving our deceased to these areas?" He knew that it probably wasn't the best decision to not allow the Kurai Ambassador to answer before he asked another question, but it was something that had been on his mind, considering the recent illness and its cause. "I have another question for Ambassador T'ekko as well... We sent a delegation to your planet to try and meet with your king, but... well. We never heard from them again. I was wonder if you know what became of those people?" Al'mek didn't ask as if this would be a point of contention, he asked out of concern.

"You mean the ambassador called Torval? The last time I was informed, he remains a guest at a camp on our planet," T'ekko replied. "His aide was caught trying to access classified information."

Al'mek made a face. "Please accept our most humble apologies. Some of my people have become very confused about why all of this is going on between our people. They have had inappropriate reactions and turned this conflict into something it never should have become. Is there anything we can do to have these people returned?" He didn't expect to have them actually returned, especially the aide and was prepared for the Kurai to deny his request.

T'ekko nodded slightly, he expected Al'mek to ask for their prisoners to be returned. "If you will also do the same, we will release him and the other prisoners we have."

Al'mek nodded eagerly. He was pleasantly surprised and relieved. "Of course. Part of my allowed negotiations was to offer you a trade. Our prisoners for yours." Al'mek smiled.

Anthony smiled at how well this was going. He almost expected something to go wrong. He was glad the captain was leading this investigation.

Taliserra had a similar feeling, things were going suspiciously well, hopefully things would remain well though, she was glad that she wasn't having to take too much of an active role just guide the discussion in the right directions.

An appreciative chrip came from T'ekko's mouth. "Good, I hope we will find them in good health?"

Al'mek nodded. "I hope so too. Our planet does not quite have the same environment as yours, so it has been rather difficult." He shook his head. "Both sides have had their fair share of our destruction though. I am definitely ready for it to end. Thank you Ambassador T'ekko for being patient and being willing to talk even after all these delays."

"So long as none of them have died through preventable means or by the hands or their guards," T'ekko said, while the Yatal ambassador seemed alright he doubted every Yatal would be the same, some of his people probably had experiments done on them.

"I do not know of that happening. I hope that it has not, but I will not lie, some of my people are very angry. Not that I am making excuses for them," Al'mek explained. "This became something I don't think either of us wanted or intended. Some people are slow to let go once they feel they've been slighted. It's convincing them that they weren't slighted that is difficult."

Feeling the conversation about prisoners was getting a little heated and accusations were potentially about to be bought up Taliserra stepped in. "I think we should take a break." She told them, "You can use the time to update your governments on proceedings and get some food, I always find things go smoothly on a full stomach."

Ambassador Al'mek nodded in agreement. "Thank you, Captain. A break would be much appreciated." The words came out of his mouth, but he looked a little lost. He stood from his chair. "Captain, would you might if I used one of your computers to contact my government?"

"Certainly," Taliserra replied. "Anthony will you assist the ambassador."

Anthony smiled and said, “Certainly, Captain.” He was always interested when non UFP Ambassadors were on the ship, they alway requested the assistance through the commanding officer allowing them the right to say no. UFP Ambassadors could learn something like humility from that. He got up and said, “This way Ambassador Al’mek.”

"Thank you, Lieutenant Edwards," Al'mek replied and followed Anthony to whatever computer console he could use. He wondered briefly what his government would say. The Yatal were ruled by a counsel. It often took a long time for them to decide anything. These negotiations were far from their normal comfort zone.

"I agree," T'ekko said as he bade Chakax to stand and follow him. "We will return soon." The pair swiftly left the conference room.

Taliserra let out a sigh of relief then turned to Radak. "So how did I do?"

Radak raised one eyebrow slowly. "You did exceptionally well, Captain. Although, I do believe that these people are ready for peace. Ambassador Al'mek spoke very passionately about how much peace meant to him. Although, I also have to agree when he said that not all of his people were on the same page... considering." He took a deep breath before continuing. "Even if these peace talks are successful, both sides still have a long road ahead of them as far as recovering from this conflict is concerned."

"You are right, I think the Federation will have to send a more dedicated team of diplomats to help with the follow up from our discussions." Taliserra picked up her tea and took a few sips. "Thank you for your vote of confidence."

"Of course, Captain," Radak replied with a nod of his head. "I would not still be here if I did not have confidence in your abilities. This was a difficult situation, that fortunately was ready for a peaceful resolution."

"I hope we can help give them their peaceful resolution, we've helped set the foundations now they need to follow it through."

Radak nodded in agreement. "I hope so too, Captain. If both sides are truly willing then they will see it through."

"Now then." Taliserra finished her tea and stood from her chair. "Will you join me for lunch? I hear Ms. Haugen has something special planned."

"I would welcome that, Captain," Radak said with another nod of his head. One corner of his mouth twitched in the tiniest of smiles and he rose from his seat, prepared to follow the Captain to lunch.

:END

Captain Taliserra Tigran
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Commander Radak
Executive Officer

Ambassador Al'mek
(Radak NPC)

Ambassadors T'ekko and Chakax
(Taliserra NPC)

Lt(jg) Anthony Edwards, Ph.D
Chief Science Officer

 

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