Opinions - Everyone Has One - Part II

Posted on Thu 8th Jul, 2021 @ 11:59pm by Daeren Iril & T'Vala & Tessanna (Tessa) Valeri
Edited on on Fri 9th Jul, 2021 @ 6:11am

874 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Waging Peace
Location: The Great Hall, Helicon III
Timeline: MD 1, 1725

[PREVIOUSLY]

"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.

[And now, the continuation...]

T'Vala read for several hours, learning as much as she could about the origins of the planet and those who settled it. It was enlightening, but there was little about the other settlements, except for noting when they were settled and who split off from where. She finally turned to Daeren. "I find too many gaps where I would expect to find what I seek."

"There's not much on the mountain's ownership at all," Daeren said. "From my readings, it seems the Tangari have no claim to ownership of the mountain, so its property rights are apparently a matter of indifference to them. It speaks well for their neutrality but doesn't help us determine whom the mountain truly belongs to."

"Yes," T'Vala said. "That is my conclusion as well."

Lt. Regos read only Standard and Klingon, neither of which was a help with Daeren already reading the Standard. Nevertheless, she thought she would read a bit of the Standard and see if she interpreted events the same way the man did. As it happened, she pretty much did. Her suspicious mind still wondered why, if the Tangari were not really involved in the dispute, they had involved themselves in solving it.

Tessanna came in with a tray of juice. "I think you should take a break now. There's a dinner planned with the other dignitaries," she said.

"Oh, thank you," Miadze said as she glanced up from a computer screen. "I was so engrossed, I had no idea I was thirsty."

Lissi stirred herself from her musings and said, "I think I'll go to my guest quarters and prepare for that dinner. Things are sure to be ... interesting ... with all parties gathered."

The Vulcan glanced at her. "I concur. Tonight is going to prove most interesting."

"That's putting it mildly," Daeren muttered. He glanced at T'Vala. "It will give us plenty to observe. I plan to spend much of this dinner observing."

"Good thing you are diplomats and have lots of experience with that and interpreting what you see. As more of a security type, I think I'm also more suspicious of everything I observe, and may miss some things you don't. And perhaps vice versa. I'll see you this evening." Lissi nodded at Tessana as she left the archives and wandered upward in the building. She soon found some sort of steward or maybe a guard who led her back to her temporary quarters, where she took a leisurely bath with scented petals of some sort native to the planet. It didn't take long to dress afterward, and she caught up on ship's news as she waited for time to leave for the dinner.

"Yes. It may take all our observations to see through centuries of deception." T'Vala nodded to the records. "Or perhaps, lack of information." She had yet to decide if data had been left out by accident or omitted later.

"My symbiont, unfortunately, has no insights, either," Daeren said. "Iril isn't familiar with this world or its people at all, though he has heard of the spore additive for medications. It seems to extend the shelf-life of medications quite a bit. The wavelengths of the bioluminescence deter spoilage."

"Fascinating," the Vulcan replied. "So clearly of great value."

"Very great, especially if this is the only place in the Alpha Quadrant where the spores grow. I can see why the rights are worth disputing." Daeren forwarded a copy of the article he'd been reading to the computer he used for diplomatic work and exited the file. "I had thought this was a minor squabble, but it could have far-reaching consequences."

T'Vala looked over the article and raised an eyebrow. "Indeed. This puts the problem in a rather different light. Is it such a secret that they do not even tell us?"

"It's not too much of a secret--if you read medical journals and encyclopedias. If those aren't your typical fun reading, then you have to dig." Daeren stepped away from his computer. "Shall we meet after the reception to compare observations? Will you get enough rest if we do that, or would you prefer to meet in the morning?" he asked T'Vala.

"After the reception is acceptable. It is better while things are still fresh in our minds," T'Vala said.

 

RSS Feed