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Graven XII Visitor Center

Posted May 19, 2020, 8:36 p.m. by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) (James Sinclair)

Posted by Civilian Vorraye Anders (Diplomatic Attache) in Graven XII Visitor Center

Posted by Gamemaster Wookius Furrius (Senior Gamemaster) in Graven XII Visitor Center

Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Graven XII Visitor Center
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻

snip

Biehl was eager to engage the group by the way he was just barely containing himself with (nervous?) energy. By contrast Maree had taken a seat and appeared as though she were putting up with Biehl as she might an overactive child. Biehl asked, “Counselor? Does that mean that you are primarily an adviser, giving counsel to,” his hand gestured to the Captain, “Captain Cochrane?”

OOC: EEEK!! So sorry I missed this opportunity for conversation!!

“Not entirely, First Minister. As ship’s Counselor, Commander Rollo is responsible for the crew’s mental and emotional well being. She only discusses personal issues if she deems those issues to be something that may effect the overall health or morale of the crew. She can advise me of any concerns she may have and offer solutions to address those.” Cochrane replied.

Biehl appeared confused, perhaps as to why the Counselor was there then and not with the remainder of the crew. “Are we then being assessed?”

Cochrane smiled a dazzling but friendly smile. “Aren’t we all, First Minister?” and he chuckled slightly. “The Counselor is here to assess, but not judge. Her experience and training in emotional and social cues allows her to advise me and the rest if the team how best to proceed, at times. In short, sir, she helps keep me from making an embarrassment of myself.” and he smiled again.

Maree murmured quietly, “Could use a dozen of them for Assembly meetings.”

Zef stepped in to assure the man her presence on the mission wasn’t aimed at finding fault with them. “If I might add, First Minister—I am only here to assist in our two peoples understanding each other. It might be something emotional, intellectual or a thing so nondescript that we can’t put our finger on it. My training, and years of observational experience with many species, helps me fine tune issues and find a way to help the parties work through them. I’m not only cultivating an impression of your people, I’m studying my own to make sure they follow proper protocals.”

—Rollo, CNS

At the end of that inquiry the doors opened and two others came in quietly. One was an aged man who bore a cane in one hand. His face was prune like with very bushy eyebrows but sharp violet eyes underneath. His thin hair was light and was combed across his forehead looking not unlike a wave breaking on a shoreline. The other, by considerable contrast was a young woman, trim and with very comely features. She carried files in hand; her eyes darting from one to the other of the away team. As Biehl was focused on the Counselor he didn’t notice the duo entering until the elderly man rapped his cane on a leg of the table.

Acosta let out a chortle at Biehl’s inquiry. “I daresay any politician would fail.”

Maree took up the introductions, “May I introduce Past-Minister Derren Acosta. He served in Minister Biehl’s position some years ago and is a source of wisdom for us.” And to the girl she gestured, “And Administrator Leema Dane. She would be a … lawyer I believe in your terms.”

Acosta moved forward and held up a hand in greeting and chortled. “I see you’ve not impressed our good Second Minister yet. Don’t worry. She doesn’t bite too hard.” Maree frowned but there was amusement in her eyes and perhaps a fondness between the two.
“You know me far too well for your own good, Acosta,” she replied. “Someone in our troop has to play hard to get.”
Acosta gave another short chortle, sitting. Leema Dane set the files down; the pile spilling across the table as she moved to get two cups of a hot fragrant tea like drink. One of these she set down beside Acosta.
- Wookiee

Raye had moved up to stand just behind and to the right of the Captain. As introductions were made, she listened and nodded when looks her cast her way. The civilization was truly intriguing. To be content and sated to merely perfect what one was rather than push the boundaries further. She privately applauded them, even as other in the group thought it was short mindedness.

Vorraye
Dipomat

bump 4.26.20

“Past Minister, it is truly an honor to meet you.” Cochrane said, and proceeded to introduce his team. “We are very happy that you have extended us this opportunity to get to know your people. I hope that we can be of assistance.”

Cochrane, CO

Acosta took up the reins to begin. “When Minister Biehl came to the assembly and said that you were offering assistance that caused no end of reaction. Your references were slim and not very stellar given that they were only found with the Kazon. Nonetheless you intrigued us. In short, you didn’t want to stiff us in trade agreements.” Maree rolled her eyes and muttered quietly ‘well that was diplomatic’. Acosta ignored her; Leema Dane hid a smile behind her mug.

Biehl added, “In the end to be honest we wanted to test your goodwill with simple things that frankly nobody else cared about outside of us and wouldn’t think to lift a digit to do so without compensation. It would also help us to see you as you are. We believe that one doesn’t really know another until they are working side by side. The intent of the heart, as a proverb goes, weighs nothing compared to the deed of the hand. On behalf of our world we thank you for your openness to help us. For when one is willing to help in the small things, the large things are not really so large.”
Biehl/Acosta

Cochrane nodded in firm agreement. “Well said. And exactly the philosophy we as member of the Federation strive to uphold.”

Cochrane, CO

Maree leaned in on the table and said, “You are a long way away from us. That seems a considerable effort to place in a forward mission. What are your aims in this sector of space?”
- Maree

Cochrane liked this lady. She was slow to trust and open with her hesitation to take things too easily. “An excellent question, ma’am. We are, at our core, explorers. As one of the more famous ships from our history’s mission statement said: We seek out new life, and new civilizations. We want to be part of the galactic discourse. We want to learn, simple as that. Many species and civilizations would send military vessels to scout ahead. Our ship, the Manhattan, is a science vessel by design. We are here to learn, to grow as a civilization by seeing what other civilizations have done and are doing. And we are here to show the quadrant that we do come not as conquerors, but as neighbors… as far away as we are, Ma’am, we still share the galaxy.”

Cochrane, CO

Maree took this in. She looked like she wanted to do a ‘finger swirl’ as though to say ‘lets cut through the propaganda’ but at the same time she was listening intently. “We respect science,” she said. “I began as an astronomer when I was young before moving to politics. Astronomy is a precise science. Stars are there, or they are not. Planets and asteroids move in this or that fashion. They rarely change. And we have a great deal of planets in our system. I recognized that we are mineral rich in the commodities that many space faring races want. I turned to politics in seeing a need to be a voice to not let us be taken advantage of.” She folded her hands together on the table and leaned in. “We have questions ..” she began, but Acosta broke in.

“We’re not a power in the sector,” Captain. “We’re a stop over. A footnote in galactic maps and a people with a penchant for hard haggling. Why choose us to approach? What do we offer your science ambitions?”
- Maree/Acosta

Once again, Rollo spoke up. “We haven’t actually noted anything we want from you.” Why were so many people immediately distrusting when they hadn’t been given any reason to be? “Like the Captain said, we are explorers. We were informed that your people were having some difficulties in certain areas, like crop growth and security, and our higher ups asked us to stop and see if we could help in some way.” Zef’s voice was conversational during the short speech, but she was practically sure Maree would find fault with her again.

—Rollo, CNS

Leema Dane spoke up, interrupting anything that Maree might have just said, “Forgive our surprise, Counselor. Every other race that has come here has sought out trade agreements, mining rights or simply tried to poach what wealth there is in system hoping we would not see it. Some of us have viable skepticism on that basis. Legally I am here to observe and, if it was to come, draw up initial agreements with your Federation.”

Zef inclined her head towards Leema Dane, accepting the explanation for their communal suspicions. Negotiations were sometimes touchy and it was important for the Graavinians to understand Star Fleet wasn’t there to take advantage of them.

Cochrane glanced at the Counselor, and then turned to the Ministers. “The Federation acknowledges that we are a guest in this part of the galaxy. To that, we wish to make sure that we are seen as guests who would be welcome, and not seen as a burden. And besides, what good would simply documenting an issue and filing it away do? None. So if we can help, we would like to. As far as what we want?” and he shrugged, “At this point, we just want to help. If we can learn about you and your people and your civilization in the process, so be it. Again, Ma’am… we are simply here to learn and explore. If we can make some new friends in the process… so much the better.”

Cochrane, CO

Biehl burst in. “And we welcome your help. It may seem minor to you but it is of significant concern to us. We have had a recent .. breakdown in negotiations with the Kazon. What we don’t know is if they are the cause of these things and if they are employing technology that we cannot detect. People are dying. Disappearing. The crops, power generation. We simply don’t know what it is. A pathogen? So we sent out a subtle request for help. You answered.” His hands fidgeted. “It may be nothing. It could just be something normal to the world. As an Assembly we are at odds.” He glanced at Maree.

Maree added, “First Minister is correct. The Assembly is at odds. We have attended to issues individually before, however the number and the timing of this is suspicious. I’m not a conspiracy seeker, Captain, however we do not want to accuse a significant player in the quadrant with something that is possibly not correct. Already we trust them very little. Their trade pacts are intact however we recently discovered they had an illegal mining operation in a far planet in Graven XXII. They claim it was not ‘theirs’ but a rogue group and not affiliated with them and the usual platitudes .. not responsible for rogue elements and so on.”

Leema chimed in. “Two other races are seeking to renegotiate agreements. This is sudden and the timing is again questionable. We are wondering if the Kazon are poisoning more than just a possible agro plot.”
- Wookiee for many

Cochrane’s face clouded slightly. “That is most unwelcome news. We have had some contact with the Kazon, trade delegations to the Event Horizon station. And I can say that I have personally seen many different factions within that particular culture. How far or how deep their differences go, however, I cannot say.” and he paused in thought for a moment.

“This mining facility… is it on a world you and your government lay claim to? I apologize for the question, but it needs to be asked. And are there any… competing claims… to that particular world? And how is the issue being addressed?”

Cochrane, CO

Mining rights and antagonism. Raye had left that Ambassador a few days ago in a similar situation. Were the Kazon a part of that as well? Perhaps in the background? She kept her public face as passive as possible, her fingers lightly typing over the PaDD to make notes to herself and for the Captain to review later. But something told her this wasn’t the first planet the Kazon were interfering with.

Raye
Diplomat

Suddenly, the planetary situation changed and became part of a larger problem. Instead of just helping figure out how to help improve certain systems there, now they were faced with a Kazon influence and mining negotiations. Zef wasn’t necessarily surprised with the new information, but she wondered how open the other participants would be to the UFP being involved.

—Rollo, CNS

Leema looked at the others in her group. Biehl nodded and she spoke up. In this case she spoke confidently; the legal arena was where she walked. “Nobody has pressed a claim, Captain. This world is inside our system and is recognized as our own. This claim goes back almost 11,000 cycles when we explored and mapped our system. At that time we had had no contact with any alien nations and there were no other ‘flags’ on the worlds. It was almost 2,100 cycles later when we encountered our first contact with intelligent life. Since our return to our home world and system there have been twenty two impromptu claims to this or that world in our system. All of these have been resolved and the Kazon are well aware of our territorial claims. In a galactic sense they are modest, only a billion or so of your kilometers out from the farthest world in our system. While we do not have far ranging travel at this time we do watch.”
Leema, legal beagle

Cochrane nodded in understanding. “Well… *if * that is that case, I would be happy to have our Ms. Anders contact the Federation Ambassador at Event Horizon and see if we could assist you in asserting your legitimate and established claim. In my experience, sometimes civilizations that do not have space faring ships of their own can have issues enforcing their interplanetary boundaries. The Manhattan could at least go and take a look at the mining operations on your behalf. And, if there is a need for negotiations between your people and the Kazon, we could offer a neutral setting for those discussions to take place. Again, these are simply offers of assistance. There are no conditions attached.”

Cochrane, CO

Raye smiled and nodded at the Captain’s suggestion, but remained silent. It was not her place to talk them into it. The Captain had to negotiate this deal. She was already tapping in notes into the padd for inquiries she would need to make once she could transmit from the ship.

Raye
Diplomat

Biehl inserted himself into this. “Out of all the races we have met the Kazon have pushed the boundaries the most, and our patience. However, they are good traders and span over a large volume of space and thus bring to bear things that are quite varied. It is not that we see them as a necessary evil; we want to be on good terms with the people around us - just to not be taken advantage of.” He looked at the others. “Having your presence here would add greater legitimacy to territorial enforcement.”

Maree’s brow rose. “We may be getting ahead of ourselves here, First Minister.”

Biehl replied, “Quite right, of course. If you do conduct a survey would one of us be able to come along? We don’t get off world and rely on drones and satellites for our information.”
- Wookiee

Cochrane nodded. “As Commanding Officer of the Manhattan, I would be happy to have delegation accompany us. That being said, I will tell you in advance that Star Fleet vessels adhere to strict security protocols. This is for the protection of ourselves as well as the visitors we bring on board. As long as you understand that there will be some areas of the Manhattan off limits to you, I see no reason why a small contingent from your people could not accompany us.”

Cochrane, CO

First Minister Biehl replied, “Of course. The delegation I was thinking of would only be Second Minster and Leema Dane. I don’t expect that the tour would last that long. We are only talking this system and not a visit to any surrounding space.” He shuddered as though that thought personally creeped him out. Maree jerked her head around to look at Beihl as though this was entirely unexpected, though she said nothing.

At this moment a young man came in. He was dressed in such a way as to mark himself as a member of the building security group. “My pardon Ministers. I’ve just received word from the PCC. The,” he began and looked at the away team, “Your ship contacted us for permission to transport casualties. There seems to have been an accident.”

Everyone started and there was a number of quick whispers that was in the line of ‘how could this be?’ and ‘who?’ and ‘what happened?’ … faces focused on Biehl who held up his hand. “Thank you Herrik. What do we know?”

“We are looking for more detail, First Minister,” Herrik said. “We have confirmation of all teams but for that with Scientist Tov.”

Maree let out a small cry and put her hand to her mouth. “Not Tov!” she cried.

Herrik continued. “Your ship has transported them by now,” he said to the away team in general.
- Wookiee for many ..

Zef looked at Cochrane. “I’ll contact the Manhatten now, Sir.” With that, she stepped away from the gathered group, out of earshot, and tapped her combadge. =/\=This is Cmdr Rollo. We have just been informed there was an accident with one of the away teams. Please report.=/\= Ever aware of body language, she kept her posture relaxed to encourage all eyes on her to believe everything was fine. Depending on the news, there would be plenty of time for for intense emotions.

—Rollo, CNS

Cochrane stood and said “Ministers and honored guests. I’m sure you will excuse us. We will see to the matter immediately. I will extend an offer to any of you who wish to come aboard immediately to transport up with us at this time.” He looked at Rollo and said “Counselor, we’ll get the report on board the ship.” He then tapped his comm badge =/\= Cochrane to Mr. Darach. Prepare for beam up. Myself, Ms. Anders, and the Counselor. Stand by for further instructions, possible members of Graven delegation. =/\= and he looked at the assembled individuals. “Who will accompany us?”

Cochrane, CO

Rollo cancelled her com to the Manhattan. It was the Captain’s call, but she felt it would have been more considerate to give the Gravenians some immediate news about the situation rather than wait any longer than was necessary. It might not even be a good idea to return to the ship just yet, since they had only been there for a very short time, but she wasn’t in charge. Her outward appearance was serene as she gave Cochrane an affirmative nod and once again took up a place near him and the others.

—Rollo, CNS

Raye lightly touched the Captain’s arm to get his attention from slightly behind him. “Sir… do you need me on the ship? I thought if I stayed here, I could learn more of what they need to settle with the Kazon and their desired outcome.” If he looked back to her, there was a bit of concern… or perhaps fear… in her eyes. “And I could easily relay to them as the rescue progresses as well.”

In her own mind, she wasn’t happy. This ‘accident’ while the Manhattan was present… it didn’t sit well with her. And the surprise on everyone’s face made her realize this wasn’t a common occurrence. In her profession, there weren’t any true ‘accidents’… only calculated missteps guided by outsiders.

Raye
Diplomat

“Excellent idea, Ms. Anders. I’ll have Commander Creed stay with you to assist with any… specific needs you or the Graven people may have while we attend to the injured and look into the Kazon issue.” and he looked to the Graven delegation. “Who will be accompanying us to the Manhattan?”

Cochrane, CO

=^= Standby Captain. We are in the middle of an emergency situation here. We will arrange transport as soon as we get our team back. And I’ll brief you when you return to the ship. =^=

WO Darach - COO (crosspost)

Unthinking, Raye’s hand reached to rest on the back of the Captain near his right shoulder. It was a comfort and a query. It was instinct and she hadn’t even realized how many might see it. She knew what the ship and crew meant to him.

Raye
Diplomat

Cochrane turned and said quietly “Yes, Ms. Anders?”, thinking she was trying to get his attention subtly.

Cochrane, CO

Raye just gave him a gentle smile. “Nothing…” she said softly for him alone, and nodded in reassurance. At least, she hoped it came out that way. She would have been more overt. But that wasn’t his style. She just wanted him to remember, in times like this, that he wasn’t alone.

Maree stood quickly. “I need to,” she said, almost pleading to First Minister Biehl.
“Of course, Maree,” he said quietly. The First Minister had paled and was working to regain some composure from this sudden turn of events.
“With your permission,” Dane said. She stood with her stack of folders still on the table.
Biehl nodded. “I’m sorry Captain,” he began. “We’ll help however we can.”
Acosta gripped his cane and stared at the tabletop, concern evident on his features.
– Wookiee

Cochrane simply said “We will assess and plan after we have all the information, ladies and gentlemen. Let’s not borrow tragedy from the future. First Minister, I will contact you as soon as we know the circumstances. Minister Maree, stand here please.” and he indicated the spot to his right. “Transport can be a bit disorienting the first time. Just relax. You will see some swirling lights, a brief sense of vertigo, and then we will be on the ship.” he nodded at Rollo and then to Raye and tapped his comm badge. =/\= Cochrane to Manhattan. One life sign to my right, myself, and Counselor Rollo to beam up. Emergency Transport to Sickbay. =/\=

Cochrane, CO


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