Ruffling Feathers
Posted on Sun Aug 25th, 2019 @ 8:10am by
Edited on on Sun Aug 25th, 2019 @ 8:36am
Mission:
For Whom The Bell Tolls
Location: Diplomatic Offices
Timeline: MD04, 1030
1093 words - 2.2 OF Standard Post Measure
Cassie sat in the middle of the floor in her office, a bowl of steaming café au lait cupped in on hand, a PADD in another, and multiple others strewn about her. The diplomatic package she had been provided with may have been sparse, but it offered much more than what she had been able to dig during her visit to the Utopia Planitia Fleetyards prior to her arrival. She had divided the collected information on separate files, for further perusal.
Every PADD on the floor around her contained an aspect of the negotiations. One contained a file on each of the governing species of the Claddin system: the Crustillians, who had called upon the Federation to act as mediators; the Mai’Aiud, or as the Federation called them, the Felev, who seemed to be the most hostile of the three; and the Lai'Adi, otherwise called the Bordere, of which much wasn't known at all.
Another PADD contained the complete history of currency in use within the Federation, complete with an annex pertaining to gold-pressed latinum. As the Crustillians were said to value trade as much as the Ferengi, Cassie had also thought useful to include a copy of the Rules of Acquisition book for reference.
A third PADD included several means of creating a form of currency, should the Crustillians be interested in doing so. One file outlined the steps taken towards the creation of a physical currency, and another was more specific to crypto-currency. Both were valid and technologically possible for the Claddin Empire to implement. Cassie, however, wasn't exactly certain how this would be useful to the negotiating parties, so she set it aside for the time being.
The last PADD, and perhaps to the most important to her inner linguist, included etiquette guides, dictionaries, and files full of common phrases of all three main languages used in the Claddin Empire. Each language also had various dialects, but Cassie only concentrated on the main dialect of each language, as she doubted any other would be useful or appropriate during the proceedings. She kept this one to herself: Lieutenant Tadez hadn't mentioned anything about studying any of the empire's languages, but she always made a point to learn a few of the more common phrases to better ingratiate herself to whomever she was addressing, which was always useful. As neutral as the mediation team needed to be during the negotiations, she had found that various parties were more receptive to advice or suggestions when she or someone else had made some kind of effort to speak the local language.
This was the PADD she was looking while learning the rudiments of the Mai'Ae language and practicing her pronunciation with the computer when a request for a video conference came in through her computer, startling her. She wondered why such a request would come in, until she remembered that she had sent notes the previous evening to the Felev and Bordere representatives so that individual interview could be set up before the negotiations began.
She rose from the floor, walked around her desk, and sat on her chair before accepting the request.
"This is Cassandra Leblanc of the USS Majestic, how may I be of assistance?" she asked.
The man whose face was displayed was obviously Felev: humanoid, but with colourful plumage. Shimmering feathers of various shades of blue, green and violet framed his slender face. His hawkish nose and thin lips seemed to complement, rather than clash its overall structure. His eyes seemed also change colours: ocean blue one moment, lavender the next. Cassie was completely enthralled for a moment before regaining her composure and sitting straighter in her chair.
He finally introduced himself, almost surprised he was dealing with a woman. "I am Dor'dalus ai'Ho'sidia, aide to High Matriarch Ho'sidia Excin'vodia. I understand that you sent a message requesting an audience with my patron prior to our trade negotations."
Cassie smiled, but otherwise kept her face neutral. "Indeed I did. Lieutenant Tadez and I have been appointed as mediators during the forthcoming proceedings. In order to be better prepared, we have sent messages to all negotiating parties to arrange individual audiences before the start of the negotiations," she said with a confident, if not an authoritative tone. She had learned earlier that the Felev were a matriarchal society, so she wasn't at all surprised that her aide would be male. She guessed that since males were considered second-class citizens, he would be dealing with someone of the same gender, hence his slight surprise.
"The main purpose of the audience," she continued, careful not to call it an interview, "is to gather grievances from all parties, and secondary to that, simply introduce ourselves."
"Who would be speaking with the High Matriarch, you or this Lieutenant?" the aide asked. His feather slightly ruffled, but Cassie didn't know what the body language meant.
"It has been agreed that I would," she responded. Dor'dalus' feathers seemed to calm somewhat, in relief perhaps? She could only guess.
"I see. Am I safe in assuming that this audience would take place on your ship?" he asked.
"As it is considered neutral ground for the negotiations, it would be preferable, yes. If the High Matriarch prefers to meet elsewhere, it can be arranged."
The aide nodded. "In this case, I will consult with the High Matriarch. May I contact you again within the hour?" he asked deferentially.
"Of course," she answered. "I'll be waiting. Have a good day, Dordalus ai'Ho'sidia." She cut the contact, without waiting for answer. It would be expected of her to do so.
As promised, she received another request within the hour. She wasn't met with Dordalus when she accepted the request, but with the High Matriarch herself. Like her aide, she had plumage, but unlike his, hers was a pristine white, and her mesmerizing eyes were the colour of drops of pure gold. "Good day, Diplomat Cassandra Leblanc. I am High Matriarch Ho'sidia Excin'vodia. I accept your audience request. We will meet exactly one hour following your arrival at our station. My aides will escort you to my suite," she declared in a tone that did not broker any opposition, then cut contact.
It was Cassandra's turn to be mildly surprised at the governor's curtness. She sat straight on her chair for a moment, before releasing a breath she hadn't even known she was holding. "Well, good day to you, too," she said to a blank screen.
This would possibly be a very unpleasant meeting.
Cassandra Leblanc-Reed
Diplomatic Officer
