Motives
Posted on Oct 15, 2017 @ 5:10pm by Lieutenant Eve Dalziel
Edited on on Oct 15, 2017 @ 5:10pm
Mission: The Romulan Way
“Motives”
(Continued from “Reflections”)
=/\=
Location: USS PHOENIX
SD: [2.17]1014.1700
Scene: Dalziel’s Office
Eve relished the silence as she continued to catch up on the details of what happened to Captain Kane, Lieutenant Von, and Lieutenant Yu while they had been under the Warhawks’ control. While it was true the Bridge was the hub of the ship, and Command Certification was something that she pursued in her spare time, she couldn’t deny the comfort of being below decks at the moment. The responsibility would come soon enough.
“Look who finally decided to show up,” Owen said to Eve as he entered her office, carrying one adorably wayward pug. Jasmine was trailing just slightly behind them, looking both a little amused and a little like she felt out of place as she rubbed her freshly washed hands together.
The Counsellor put the PADD down that she was reviewing and smiled. “I understand now why Smooshy isn’t a Flight Control Officer. His sense of direction isn’t the best.” She walked over and patted him on the head. “Are you the one I need to thank?” she asked Lieutenant Yu.
“I guess,” the Sec/Tac responded. “Though, he didn’t seem to be in distress.” The dog glanced at her with lively, dark eyes.
“Calm under pressure,” Eve said, scratching behind one of his ears. “I suppose any therapist worth their salt should be.” Jasmine wasn’t sure, but it looked like Smooshy’s tail wagged more vigorously upon receiving praise.
“On that note, I’ve got an appointment. If you will excuse me-” Lieutenant Arion gently placed the pug on the floor, giving it a kind but authoritative eye. “Let’s go.” As if on cue, the furry helper dutifully followed the assistant Cns.
That left Jasmine and Eve. “Thanks again for Smooshy. Actually, I’m glad you’re here.” The Cardassian-born woman made herself a cup of double-everything coffee and took her seat.
“Oh?” Jasmine’s thoughts temporarily wandered to possible reasons, but the other woman didn’t leave her in suspense.
Eve gestured towards the reports that were on her desk. “I’ve been going over the events that occurred while you three were on the ‘station’, or whatever it is we’re calling it. Do you mind talking about it?”
Lieutenant Yu sat across from Eve. “I’d be happy to clarify anything in my report. I’d start by agreeing that calling it a station is somewhat lacking. It was a manned weapon.” Her honesty was bracing, but necessary.
“Do you have any idea how it worked?”
Jasmine inclined her head. “Yes, and no. Engineering and Science aren’t my strongest suits. I understand the principles but it would have taken a great deal of study to unlock its secrets. But, it couldn’t be allowed to remain in existence.” She was still reeling from how close they’d come to Earth’s destruction… again.
“Of course not,” Eve agreed. “You didn’t mention the Praetor very much in your description.”
“Because it was mostly about Nevar and his assertions. He was clearly running things. Praetor Radaik, she was as much of an observer as the rest of us, at first.”
“Until she wasn’t.”
“Exactly.” Jasmine shuddered as she recalled how quickly the Praetor’s alliances flipped. “Her transition from witness to participant was insightful.”
Lieutenant Dalziel tapped the PADD against the desk, not pleased with the opinion she had formed, and a little hesitant to give it credence. “Forgive me if I’m drawing the wrong conclusion, but I get the sense that the Praetor cannot be trusted?”
Jasmine met Eve’s gaze. “That’s one way of looking at it.”
Eve leaned back. “You have another way.”
“I saw a woman that could be trusted, but only in the sense that she will do whatever is in the best interest of the Romulan people, whether right or wrong in our eyes. I don’t envy whoever they decide to send to oversee the negotiations process. I don’t know if she and the Senate can accept peace.”
The Cns looked thoughtful. “It’s not a matter of them deciding on peace or not, as abstract as that might sound. It’s being able to convince them that peace is best for D’era.”
Jasmine Yu folded her arms. “Obviously, that’s a harder sell than we believed.”
“We weren’t the only ones who learned something from this. It’s proven to be a much harder and more divided path than the Praetor knew. Let’s hope she doesn’t forget.”
=/\=
NRPG: Getting caught up ever so slowly.
Ranjani: I hope I found the right tone for Jasmine.
Susan Ledbetter
Writing for
Lieutenant Eve Dalziel
Cns
USS PHOENIX
