Nothing is Free
Posted on 01 May 2024 @ 6:55pm by Commander Calliope Zahn & Lieutenant Commander Maurice Rubens
Edited on on 07 May 2024 @ 9:29am
Mission:
M4 - Falling Out
Timeline: MD24 ~1430hrs
1839 words - 3.7 OF Standard Post Measure
The gift had been unexpected. Inimik had learned long ago never to look a gift yathaki under the wing – and the opposition research was just that. The message just quoted a Romulan proverb about benevolence toward strangers from far away lands. Soon a communique from a Federation Ambassador appeared in her asking for a meeting.
Before the Romulan star had gone supernova and burned away the Empire with its fury, she’d never expected to be anything more than a low-level bureaucrat serving whatever Senator assigned to her. Now, however, she found herself a power broker. She’d played her cards right joining the upstart Vi Party allowing her to rise faster than if she’d joined one of the more traditional political organizations. Still, the way was risky, fraught with dangers. So, she was willing to give this Federation Ambassador the time of day and turn it to her advantage.
The name had been unfamiliar. She poked and prodded her way through the database to find the Human’s name: Gordon Stillwell. A famed diplomat by any account, although one who’d long been retired. Nothing in his biography suggested he’d sent the information – quite the opposite in fact. As honest as a Vulcan, this one. The identity of her benefactor remained a mystery, but there could be no doubt as to why. Whomever wanted her to listen and be kind to this man.
She would listen, but already had begun feeling out for any other opportunities around the Senate. Radak had been particularly interested in this man’s location orbiting Loki III. That family thing again. The man was obsessed, but equally as powerful - a good combination for Inimik to exploit.
The Federation had “gifted” (Inimik considered nothing free) the Free State with a holographic system that allowed two people lightyears apart to appear in the same room. The appearance of the older Human suddenly appeared in the seat in front of her desk as soon as she allowed the transmission through. She bowed her head slightly at the image.
“Minister Inimik,” he said pleasantly, the human’s age-weathered face creasing along all of his smile lines. He lifted and resettled himself in his chair, giving away that while he had been intent on making the call, he had maybe had his doubts that the other end of the line would truly go through to his query. “Thank you for taking my call. I understand you have a busy session underway.” Rebuilding an empire while under all the political turmoil it entailed made for more debates and proposals than any individual could actually track or follow up on.
Inimik’s nose, chin, high-set cheeks, brow ridge, and even her traditional Romulan haircut were sharp to the point that she looked more like her features had been chiseled and radiated a coldness. She attempted a smile nonetheless, “Greetings, Ambassador. Your request caught my attention. New species at war with each other. An opportunity for both our peoples. I was intrigued to say the least.”
Impressed that Inimik had gone to the effort to familiarize herself with the brief he had sent ahead, Gordon nodded. “It is newly come to light, although the Pyrryx are possibly a very old interstellar power, one of which we had just not encountered until recently. They have been operating closer to our shared border, being twenty years on the Korinn homeword, and, I’ve only just learned, having been of interest to Starfleet intelligence in the past few years. Did you also have the opportunity to read the Pyrryx profile I compiled for you?” He didn’t want to go and repeat himself unnecessarily, but he needed to know Inimik was aware of the gravity of the situation with a war-like race who made the Klingons seem downright sociable, for the mere fact that they would at least answer a hail and invite you out to a keg party before bleeding your jugular.
“Indeed. Fearsome. I see why you need allies. How can we help each other?”
“The simplest way forward, for the security for both of our peoples, would be to form a coalition on the northward border. It is hoped that projecting strength might deter further aggression, perhaps cause the Pyrryx to rethink extending claims into our region.”
“That very well may be a problem,” she sighed. “The so-called Republic - in truth a rebellion against the Free State - claims that area of space, along with a number of minor warlords. Are you suggesting the Federation will help us put down these rebels?”
Here Gordon knew he must be the most careful. They both knew that he could say no such thing, but the Free State had to maintain those interstellar claims, which made this channel of conversation necessary in the first place, in the effort to stay above board in Gordon’s own government. “We continue to recognize the Free State, which is why I’ve sought an audience with you on these matters. The destabilization of the northern border weakens us all, opening up the region to further incursions from other interests such as the Pyrryx. But the Federation cannot take any part in matters of Romulan internal affairs.”
“Ah. Then I don’t know of what service we can be to you,” she said intoning sadness with an apologetic shrug. Her downcast landed on her desk and noted some dust. She nearly forgot herself and glared. She would have words with the cleaning staff. “The Vi Party may be a member of the governing coalition, but we are only a small part after all. I am sympathetic to you, Ambassador. Your brief on the Pyrryx does convince me that they are a threat to us all, but my colleagues…” she shrugged. “Some are far more focused on securing our borders first.”
Gordon scratched the back of his own head, and feeling sympathetic looked aside and into the distance-- into his own past at the outset of the Dominion War. “It was difficult enough for me in my time.. as part of an administration governing in a period of relative internal peace when we were confronted with enemies at the gate. How much more daunting it must be in your time. It will take a great deal of strength and insight. But I believe even the smallest influence can make the greatest difference.”
“I hope to be that, although small nudges take time.”
“Perhaps you can present our brief and the Federation's request for a defensive coalition in committee. I do have a little something that could help to stir the pot with your colleagues, should you have need of it.” Gordon lifted an old dominion war era data rod and gave it a little shake in the air before he set it into a converter, hitting send on the data transfer. “Some of the Federation’s unreleased technical findings under the late director Hugh, original research from the Artifact.”
“Indeed?” Inimik questioned as she calculated who would be the most interested in the findings. To be sure, the findings were less interesting than Gordon’s phrasing of them as ‘unreleased.’ Despite being positive that this data probably lived somewhere in the bevy of information the Free State had seized from the Artifact, all sorts of political hay could be made from the Federation “keeping” secrets. The Federation superiority in technical and scientific expertise was useful in all sorts of ways.
“I would gladly approach some of my colleagues with this information. They can help plan our next steps. If we plan carefully, it will only take six or seven months to…What is that Human phrase? Ah! ‘To see how it plays out.’”
“That is a longer timeline than I might have hoped for.” Gordon said, disappointed, although not surprised. It was the speed of politics, after all. “It may be by then that the session does not extend long enough for more than deliberations. And then, realistically, we may not see a resulting determination until the following year.”
“You would agree that small influences take time to build, would you not? A few months is very quick, all things considered. But you’re interested in speed?”
“As for myself, I am in no rush. Only the Pyrryx won’t determine future movements in deference to committee. Is there some way to impress the urgency of the situation? To prioritize it?”
“Speeding things up can require more than what you offer. A Federation pledge to support us militarily if we were to make moves into rebel space would significantly increase support in a short amount of time.”
Gordon opened his hands. “The principles derived from our Prime Directive forbid the kind and level of interference you’re suggesting. Once again, I can only say that I am charged with discussing the external security of our two states. Internally, I am not empowered to negotiate.”
Inimik sighed sadly for effect. “Your vaunted Prime Directive only seems applicable when your leaders want it to be. A shame. Let me think…You know there is something smaller…nevermind. It is too personal, I think.”
“Let’s hear it, at least. With so much on the line, we should entertain whatever possibilities we have at our disposal to raise the priority of the issue.”
“Very well, I was going to say that there is a very powerful senator who could sway minds. He’s been looking for family for many years. The diaspora from the supernova being what it is, it’s been hard going. He recently confided in me that heard rumors they might be among the refugees that recently settled on Loki III. If you could confirm that they are indeed there, why I do believe that might do wonders.”
It seemed a heartwarming notion, although Gordon found it curious why they would have sought refuge in the Federation with a powerful family member to turn to in their own interstellar space. “Do forward their names. There can be no harm in us aiding in the reunion of family.”
“I will. Khnai’ru rhissiuy.”
“My gratitude, Minister.” Gordon nodded, not taking his eyes from Inimik’s until the communication closed. Then he relaxed in his seat once more, scratching an elbow in thought, quietly reviewing the conversation. He could not be sure how far Inimik’s help would take them, but he was fairly certain she would present the defense issue. If she didn’t she’d have to invent some other plausible reason by which she’d come across the information he’d given. It was strange, he thought, how open she was to his proposal from the outset. Gordon had anticipated much more convincing would be required, perhaps over a series of conversations.But, he supposed, the Pyrryx alone were convincing enough as a cause.
Hopefully this wasn’t going to be the dead end that Admiral Harshman no doubt expected him to find with the Romulans.
