Opinions - Everyone Has One - Part I
Posted on Sat 19th Jun, 2021 @ 10:23am by T'Vala & Tessanna (Tessa) Valeri & Commander Zed & Daeren Iril & Miadze Palel
1,154 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission:
Waging Peace
Location: The Great Hall, Helicon III
Timeline: MD 1, 1525
Tags: T'Vala, any
Previously, on Helicon III:
"Of course." Anthon said before bowing respectfully, "Whatever I can do to aid you and resolve the conflict." He was happy for the arrival of the outsiders even though they were very late and hostility between the affected parties had grown in recent days. Anthon was worried that all out war would be coming to his planet if the crisis could not be averted.
T'Vala bowed in return. "I would like to hear your opinion of your planet and its people."
Anthon nodded before scratching his chin, "Could you be a little more specific on the question?" He wasn't quite sure what she was asking since both topics were very broad. He could spend hours talking about each one and they didn't have quite that long.
"I can read your history, but what is written for off-worlders is not the same as what a local would feel important," T'Vala said. "You know these people, these...factions. What is your opinion of them? What is your opinion of how this planet was settled? It is a complex question, yes, but the answer can be simple, if you wish."
Anthon smirked, "My opinion of the other people is irrelevant, and if I'm not mistaken, my own biased opinion, in fact, could sway the ideas from the neutral party, and I don't wish that. My opinions are based off of only what I have read in the archives and are of one side of the story. Now, that being said, if it were up to me to come up with something of a compromise, I would have another party, such as a Federation mining consortium, take over the operation and sell the spores at a fair profit and the funds would go back into improving the mining operation. That way, no one faction would be in control of the monopoly. After all, a compromise is a situation in which no part is happy." Anthon smiled, hoping that his answer was satisfactory.
T'Vala wished she had the time to look at these archives. "Thank you," she said, inclining her head.
Daeren glanced at T'Vala. She looked as impassive as ever, but he suspected she was frustrated. "Nice to know he's committed to neutrality," Daeren said to her under his breath. "Good try, though."
There was a brief twinkle in her eye. "Thank you," she replied, equally softly.
Aloud she asked Anthon, "Would it be possible to look at the early records?"
"That shouldn't compromise neutrality," Daeren said to Anthon, "and it would give us a clearer historical perspective than we have."
Lt. Regos was of a suspicious nature, and she wondered what might be in the archives that this so-called neutral party didn't want them to know. He was quick enough to propose a solution ... one which he could have proposed without ever calling in Federation negotiators. That might not have the cachet of the Federation suggesting it, of course, but he'd gotten his idea in early in the game, before they even met the other members of the negotiation. She wasn't a diplomat, and she could be wrong, but something stank to high heaven here.
Anthon smiled, "Of course, I think we have enough time to peruse through them now before the others arrive, and they can also be available to you for the remainder of your stay. Please, follow me."
T'Vala bowed in acknowledgement and gratitude. This was a most fortuitous opportunity to gain a greater understanding of where the conflicts--and the colonies--began.
Lissi followed the others trailing behind Prime Minister Dajir, wondering how she'd gotten shunted away from her main responsibility onto this little diplomatic jaunt to Helicon III. It was barely within range of her responsibilities, and definitely outside the edge of her experience. She'd do her best to be useful, which for now, meant being suspicious of everything. And keeping her own counsel.
Anthon guided the small group through a series of catacombs under the city. The catacombs were clean and well lit. The place was impeccably maintained with a constant temperature that was comfortable for most beings. The group passed by several rooms that contained priceless artifacts for this civilization. As they walked, they passed a tour group that was also viewing the various rooms of the catacombs. "Here we are." Anthon said as he reached the door.
T'Vala remained outwardly calm, but she found the catacombs--and the artifacts--fascinating. She would recommend a tour to the Vulcan Science Center when she returned to the Starbase. "Thank you."
"You're very welcome." He said as he opened the door for them to enter. After they walked in to the sanitary room, he looked around and indicated the computer terminals and books ... lots of books ... that held the history of the Tangari before computers were invented, and thousands of years before they came to this planet. The books were kept in sealed containers and had to be taken to another room before they could be removed from their protective coverings.
Regos was both impressed by the library of ancient history and disturbed by how much there was. There was no way the information could be absorbed in time for the talks to begin, not if each of them became an expert in only one section of the information! She was more and more convinced that this prime minister was both clever and setting them up for ... something. She wasn't sure what. Their help had been requested, but was it really desired?
"The information you seek is on the computers," Anthon indicated. "The books date back thousands of years and contain the accounts of our people."
"This is quite a library. Thank you for allowing us to see it," Daeren said to Anthon. He wondered for a moment if he would be able to read their computers and then decided that Anthon would have warned them if the material was only accessible in this planet's languages. Sure enough, he found a list of language selections.
"T'Vala, would I be correct in presuming that you will read what you select in Vulcan? If you do, I'll read the same thing in Standard, and we can compare notes. Or I could read something else, whichever you think would make the most efficient use of brief time."
"A logical suggestion," the Vulcan said. "I admit to a mild curiosity about the first settlers and their species." She was also curious to see if there was anything different in the Vulcan records than those in Standard.
Daeren nodded. "Show me what you want to read, then, and I'll see how it translates into Standard."
T'Vala took several minutes to find what she wanted. "Here it is. The first settlement." She showed Daeren the proper file. "I admit to some curiosity as to how the two logs compare."
"I'm eager to find out," Daeren agreed and began reading the article that T'Vala showed him.
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