The Chaotic Good pt 1

Posted on May 26, 2014 @ 6:59pm by Captain Siobhan Reardon
Edited on on Jun 05, 2014 @ 8:37am

Mission: The Tangled Webs We Weave
Location: Various
Tags: Siobhan

"The Chaotic Good, Part 1"
(Continued from "14-2")

=/\=

"It is possible to commit no errors and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life."
-Captain Picard to Data, Star Trek: The Next Generation, “Peak Performance”

=/\=

Location: STARFLEET ACADEMY
Stardate: [2.14]0413.1045
Scene: Classroom

It was a beautiful spring day outside, but it didn't appear that any of the cadets noticed. They were focused on the lesson. Some were focused because they needed a Diplomacy credit to round out a course load heavy in Tactical or Command classes. The majority were specializing as part of the Counselor career track. Of course, a few decades earlier, the idea of a "Counselor career track" was laughable, but not any more, thanks to their instructor, and several others before her.

Captain Siobhan Reardon looked up from the PADD that contained her lesson plan, her emerald colored eyes bright and ready. Her copper hair was gathered in a loose twist, a few unruly tendrils escaping on the edges in silken curls. She would turn 41 later this year, but she easily passed for someone five years younger.

"When approaching a negotiations situation, whether it be under peaceful or hostile conditions, it is imperative that you determine two things. The first thing is clear understanding of what the other party is asking for. The second is careful study of any ulterior motives or desires that are not expressed."

Siobhan Reardon brought up a simple chart for the class. "There are many possible positions that can result from these factors. The first is what I like to call 'Honest but withholding'. This means that while the motives are pure, your alien race wants or needs more than what they are presenting."

Cadet T'lon raised her hand and stood up, her Vulcan face purely serious... as always. "What is the disadvantage for negotiating with this group?"

"It may not be an immediate disadvantage, but the indigenous people themselves can revolt against their leadership, under the opinion that they did not receive proper compensation in the matter. Also, this could cause an attempt later on for resources to be obtained using illegal means or subterfuge."

"Like what happened on SUPAI PRIME?" T'lon asked with uncharacteristic hesitance.

Sio took a short sharp breath, as her mouth drew up in a grim line. That still hit a nerve. Even now. Perhaps it always would. "Exactly." Trying to change the subject, she turned her attention to a Tellarite Senior Cadet who had raised his hand. "A question, Sklaii?"

The stocky, bearded male stood up, referencing the chart with his hooflike hand. "No, an observation. Pardon me for saying this, but it sounds like you're discussing classes in a dice based game. Lawful good. Chaotic Evil. Neutral."

Sio smiled. "Good observation, Cadet. Have you been reading ahead?" This caused a murmur of laughter in the classroom. "Just wait until you see the piece on charisma," the redhead riffed before continuing with her lesson.


=/\=

Location: Planet CI-43
Scene: Open air market
Time Index: 2 years ago

The woman known as Glendora H'ris walked through the produce market, examining each fruit and vegetable with eager eyes. The colors were so vibrant and unexpected compared to what she was used to. The tomatoes were violet, and a cruciferous plant somewhat like broccoli was a light blue. The scientific part of her mind was lit up like a Christmas tree, wondering what part chlorophyll might have played in their creation, or if there was another chemical process at work. Her stomach wanted to know how to prepare them and whether or not they were all safe for her to ingest.

She filled a basket with various samples, paying each merchant, trying not to act out of place. Luckily the universal translator had been able to piece together the language without too much trouble. And she was a quick study, out of necessity.

After getting one last piece of fruit- an apple, or rather the approximation of one according to the Science department, she glanced down at the chronometer on her wrist. It was outdated for what she was used to, but it was standard for where she was. And it told her she still had a little time before heading to the rendezvous point.

She sat on a nearby bench and watched some children playing in the courtyard. They were probably a brother and sister, judging by how close together they were running about. The little girl had plum-colored tresses, while her presumed brother had lilac hair. Like everyone else on the planet, their skin was various shades of warm yellow.

The planet was a pre-warp culture, but Starfleet expected them to be capable of warp travel in less than ten years. Therefore, some recon was needed. Some saw the observation as invasive, but getting a feel for the similarities and differences between this new race and the existing members of the Federation was important. You couldn't expect to make peace among such a diverse group without first striving to understand the others.

**First understand, then seek to be understood**, she thought as she bit into the 'apple', brushing curly strands of aubergine hair away from her face. The scene was so idyllic that it almost didn't feel like work... almost.

She munched on the fruit with an air of absent-mindedness, while fully assessing the situation around her. A shadow along the eastern side of the courtyard indicated someone was approaching. Her hand clenched around the remains of her snack ever so slightly, as if to prepare herself for a fight.

"I thought I'd find you here," the man posing as Glendora's husband Be'tram said as he touched her shoulder.

As quickly as she had reacted, the moment passed in an instant. "Done early?" she asked, clasping her hand over his in a gentle squeeze.

"Yes."

She took one last look at the children playing, then stood to follow Be'tram to the extraction point.


=/\=

Location: USS ANZIO, NCC-2012
Scene: Transporter Room 2
Time Index: 15 minutes later

As they coalesced in the transporter room of the ANZIO, their demeanor relaxed considerably. "Three days left," Siobhan Reardon said to nobody in particular, stepping down from the platform and turning to face Commander Mitchell Adams, her partner on the planet below.

Mitch grinned. "That's a good thing. It's not easy being yellow."

Sio groaned at the botched saying, handing the basket of samples off to Lieutenant Delphin who had been waiting for their arrival. "That was not funny at all."

The man laughed anyway. "I have skin the color of a canary and purple hair. I think I'm entitled to make a few jokes about it. Even bad ones."

"Perhaps..." Sio grudgingly admitted, "but *this* is nothing." She gestured to her own appearance. Her complexion was the shade of an old Terran taxicab. "You missed the mission where all the away teams got antennae."

"What? How?" Mitch asked with surprise.

"Trade secret," Sio said dryly.

"Captain," Transporter Chief Mariye interrupted, "Admiral Bell would like to speak to you immediately. He's been waiting on a secure channel until you arrived back shipside."

**JAG? What does JAG want with me?** she thought. Sio mentally shrugged. "No rest for the weary. I'll take it in the Ready Room. Mitch, you have the conn."


=/\=

Location: USS ANZIO
Scene: CO's Ready Room
Time Index: 5 minutes later

Sio leaned back in the upholstered chair, reaching for her command tunic and realizing her mistake as her hands met the olivine sackcloth material that her civilian outfit was made of. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Admiral," she said contritely.

{{Reardon,}} Bell started with authority. {{When your Operations officer said you were in the middle of something, I see he wasn't exaggerating.}}

Sio waved him off. It didn't seem like small talk was on the agenda today. "Just the standard pre-contact mission. We're almost complete. So, more importantly, what does the Judge Advocate General's office want?"

{{Your mission's being cut short,}} the silver-haired man said. {{We need you and the ANZIO at SUPAI. Post haste.}}

Her brow furrowed. It had barely been three years since her first visit to the planet to begin their application for Federation membership. "Something's wrong."

{{We have evidence to support SUPAI has committed capital crimes against the Federation.}} Bell transmitted the classified information to allow Siobhan to have a look.

She perused the information silently, then shuddered. Such a promising people, but their actions had potentially cut them off from growth and development as far as the galaxy was concerned. That is, if the allegations proved true.

As if to respond to her thoughts, Bell continued. {{We also have a confession from Kieghe, the former Minister of Medicine on SUPAI. He's cooperating with us.}}

"What does he want in return for this 'cooperation'?"

{{He didn't ask for anything. But he's a very old man by his race's standards. Maybe he just wanted to die with a clean conscience.}}

Sio bit her lower lip, something she often did when she was thinking. "Why the ANZIO?"

{{It was a specific request by both the Ministry and Kieghe. It's one of the few things they can agree on. Siobhan,}} Bell continued in a more grave tone, {{it looks like many of the materials used in the illegal activities were taken unknowingly from you and your crew. If you don't go we may never get all the answers.}}

She felt a hard lump of nausea in the pit of her stomach as she stood. Her people being used as pawns was not something she took lightly. "Consider it done. I'll update you within the hour with our arrival time and course trajectory."

{{Understood, Captain... and I'm sorry. Bell out.}}


=/\=

Captain Siobhan Reardon
Instructor
Starfleet Academy

"I savored those stories; I read them slowly, one each day. And when I was done, I wished I hadn't read them at all. So I could read them again... like it was the first time."