Socio-Tele-Path
Posted on 31 Dec 2020 @ 3:05pm by Commander Calliope Zahn & Captain Corvus DeHavilland & Lieutenant Commander Godiva Kimberlye & Lieutenant JG Rhiannon Hokir & Major Declan Finn
Mission:
M1 - Emergence
Location: Infirmary, Recovery Ward
Timeline: MD05 1700
1822 words - 3.6 OF Standard Post Measure
In an attempt at appearing respectable, Liv refolded her blanket to form a shawl for her shoulders and sipped calmly from a hot cup of tea provided with a meal in her recovery room. Momentarily she regarded her reflection in one of the health monitor's glossy surfaces. Her hair had been brushed out so the dark locks streaked with silver fell over her shoulders. She only ever made the pretense of dying it if there were reasons to do so, though never out of vain desire for her youth. Her youth, she was still as yet trying to put behind her. No one would really ever allow her to however, least of all people who liked reading records and running background checks. Such people, she sensed, were on their way right now to greet her.
She watched the door with great interest as she carefully examined the landscape of their surface thoughts. It was to her a tasting plate with a variety of flavors, and as always, it was tempting to break with law and etiquette to search without permission deeper into their motives, their memories, their desires and fears...
Liv's hand touched a necklace charm, a Cardassian symbol for fidelity. She smirked as she toyed with it. It was only ever sporting to let people have a chance to show their colors themselves.
"Alright, listen," Captain DeHavilland said to the group assembled, glancing briefly at Finn who seemed closer than he should have been to her, or was she imagining that. She tried to brush that out of her head, "The trick here is that we need them more than they need us. But the minute we let them know that, we've lost," she said quietly. "Godiva, I'd like you to lead. You have the most information on the Rangers and what's going on in these parts. We need their buy-in here so that they can sell it to their friends. We can't do this alone," Corvus all but pleaded, looking to Lieutenant Commander Kimberlye.
"Of course ma'am," replied the Intelligence Chief, shifting a PaDD in her hands. She wasn't a fan of the Rangers, but wasn't above admitted they needed what they had. She had her own reports, Esquimalt coming online and therefore several Vesta-class and Merian-class vessels near by. Esquimalt had also just received its fighter compliment and apparently has an old Normandy sitting near-by. Technically within Rapid Response range was enough vessels to hold their own - on paper. Plus, there was the creative element of lying.
"I looked up our friend," Declan chimed in, smirking at the looks of surprise on their faces that he was participating in the conversation as more than just that guy in the corner glowering with his arms folded. "Her rap sheet is extensive. Not really the freedom fighter sort, by the looks of it. More of the opportunistic criminal with a serious issue following the rules for telepaths. I'd recommend you be on your guard," he said, gesturing to Lieutenant Hokir. "A beta without a filter's going to work the room before we even realize they're doing it. We're going to need a canary."
Standing a bit back from the group, Rhiannon followed along with the conversation as her mind put together the dots. Frankly, she'd been a touch surprised to find herself on this assignment, but as she listened to the Captain, the game play began to take some shape. "I can provide something of a buffer; granted, if she catches on that I'm doing it on purpose it could get a bit dicey. How familiar is this woman with Fleet protocols?" Her main concern was visually sticking out from the group. "Operations typically doesn't provide back-up on diplomatic affairs..."
----
As they filed into the room, the diminutive elder lady didn't look up from her tea. She sensed them each well enough without having to lay eyes on them. The intense scrutiny of what she knew to be an intelligence officer, opinions already calcified against Liv. The nervous tension of a younger Betazoid, uncertain of the measure of her own inborn capacities. The steadfast hard-line of a marine, proved through trials physical, mental, and emotional, and unwilling to let anything out of his control. She inhaled the warm vapors and sighed at the flavors carried to all her senses.
"Godiva, Declan, oh poor dear Rhian." Liv shook her head as she named them. She knew the intended order of things. The officer would lead the questions, the marine maintains the direction of the discourse and the little canary would let them know if the air was poisoned in the mine of their minds... Instead, she wished to redirect things another way. She was surprised to feel the resistance the other telepath suddenly put up. Surprised and a little bit pleased, like watching a child wield a battle shield.
Without appearing to focus on Hokir at all outwardly, telepathically, she spoke to the girl.
~~It's quite unfair, to be put up to such things. But so it is in the service of the Federation. We are what we are, be that an obstacle or tool in this season or that....~~ she allowed the hopeless sense of her own past imprisonment locked in her own mind to surface as a flavor to the other Betazoid, and then to the sense of purpose and viciousness of being employed by her captors instead as a weapon— it was a memory of wild, unleashed freedom. ~~Caged and released, caged and released. Why have they let you out of the cage and led you here? What is it they want from me, this time?~~
Rhian, blinked slowly as she registered the hit. Relax, she told herself. ~~They didn't exactly let me in on the party details, just gave me a sparkly hat and said I could play along. You'll have to ask him,~~ dark eyes cut to the stiff-shouldered Marine, ~~what he wants.~~ Thankfully, for all the woman's reputation, she wasn't sensing any nefarious attempts so far.
"Very well. There's only one reason for an entourage of this kind. You have terms to dictate," She looked now between the Marine and the Intel officer sharply, "demands to meet. You've healed us and you want a return for the favor. Out with it, already."
"And they say Marines lack diplomacy," Finn smirked, looking to Kimberlye.
Godiva had relaxed her own mind, a trick she'd picked up years ago to let the pool of thoughts grow calm, keeping the surface easy to see, and the bits at the bottom a little more obscured. She was no telepath though, so she didn't stand a chance of keeping the woman out if she really wanted in. "Nonsense, Marines can be plenty diplomatic," she said, he face turning to a grin as she looked at the woman. "No point lying to you then miss. Rangers have been active here for a long while in the absence of Obsidian Command," the Intel Officer said with a note almost cheerily. "In that time you have been instrumental in the support of protecting people who needed it, and as we are reestablishing we wanted to reward that generosity you have shown."
Dubious of the cheer, Liv refrained from reacting. On the one hand it seemed natural for the redheaded young woman, a very integral form of her personality. On the other, she didn't have to look into her very far to tell that even though it was her own nature, she was hiding something behind it. "Starfleet has rewards for Rangers, now?" Perhaps ones with a hook for the lip.
Producing a PaDD, Godiva placed it in front of the woman. "We're looking for an exchange, a small bit from you, and in return something from us." Her eyes moved to the PaDD again, and then leaned back against the wall. "Rangers are low on resources, low on supplies and in need of repairs more often than not."
"That much I can confirm," Liv admitted.
"Obsidian Command offers support and strength, and a resource hub for civilian vessels to meet in the middle." It was true, the Rangers as of late had been suffering under poor maintenance, it was clear as their numbers were being pecked away at, small as it was to begin. "Before we can start helping, we need to know the state of things. Mostly we're concerned with locations of civilian populations and an areas where added Federation support could be generated." A lie, technically, and no doubt one the Ranger would see through with ease, but to the room and to the sensors recording it was a truth. The Federation was always looking to help, but Starfleet Intelligence, and Corvus, would want to know where the group had been operating.
"Ms Kimberlye, I'm impressed. I truly am." Liv sounded not unlike a school marm congratulating a pupil. She put the tea cup down. "You've managed to make your demands sound like some kind of generous opportunity granted to us, an outstretched hand of friendship and aid. But what you really want is for me to divulge our network and movements in exchange for parts and bandages. Knowing comes with trust. The Federation has only ever treated me as a means to an end. How is your offer any different?"
The woman's eyes twinkled a little. She'd expected to get this from the woman, she had done the cursory reading of course. Liv wasn't likely to be so easy to give up her secrets and information. "You're not dealing with the Federation right now," Godiva replied. "You're dealing with Starfleet Intelligence. You know as well as any that our rules are more flexible than most. We both represent means to an end for each other, the question is, what end do you want?"
"You should know one thing." Liv leaned forward. "The recovery of your station is a very inopportune time for some very ambitious people. Shadows in this sector have been gathering and the rumors are flying. I'm not going to expose any Rangers to you, but there are some common enemies I wouldn't mind helping to unmask."
Now they were headed in the right direction, and Godiva hoped that Captain DeHavilland could see that. Enemies of a neutral entity always had a way of shaking up things as they came along. If Liv had something she wanted taken care of, then it was a whole lot easier to leverage the whole situation. Nodding, Kimberlye cocked her head. "Very well, an exchange of information and services, with a good faith show on our part." Tapping the PaDD, she left opened a new window for the woman to work with. "Tell me what you need, and I'll see what resources I have to get the gears turning."
Liv settled back comfortably against her inclined hospital bed, resumed her tea cup, and began ticking off her wish list.
