Caliburnite, Part 2

Posted on Wed 3rd Oct, 2012 @ 8:52pm by Lieutenant Colonel Tallus Karikkar & Commander Paul Graves PsyD & 1st Lieutenant Ian Knapp

658 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: http://sb109.sim-station.net/index.php/sim/missions/id/2

Undersecretary of Protocol Barneria had come to a stop in front of the group of Starfleet officers, observing the last bit of interplay among them. Hummmm. Such lack of discipline would never be found among Caliburnites, she thought. The rest of the delegation - minus the ambassador, of course - came to a stop behind Barneria. The Undersecretary waited to see who would greet them. If indeed, anyone noticed their presence with the drama playing out.

Tallus looked to the newly arrived delegation. "Greetings, I am Ensign T'Vek. We send our apologies for not sending an official diplomatic delegation but we have duties. I am the security chief in charge to guard your lives. Please follow me."

The Undersecretary didn't move to follow the Ensign. Infusing her voice with great disapproval, she spoke, as if to a Caliburnite underling. "This is not a proper greeting, Ensign. The Exalted cannot appear until protocol has been followed. Where is your base commander? Or at least your ambassador? We understood we were to meet with our equals here on the starbase."

"Our commander has more important duties and our diplomat is preoccupied. I assure you, I am an equal. Now, follow me to the reception hall. We cannot be crowding our halls with a delegation of diplomats. Now, walk." Tallus said hoping that what the Commander said was correct.

Barneria felt a sense of danger. Caution was clearly called for here. The Caliburnite delegation had little knowledge of these people, and the Undersecretary's sense of self-preservation was strong. "I sense we have come at a bad time, Starfleet. This mission is important to our people, but not as important as the safety of the Exalted One. We will return to our ship and wait off your starboard bow for one of your days. Perhaps in that time, you will be able to solve your difficulties and greet the Exalted One correctly." She turned and made a motion to the few who had followed her. All looked distressed, but whether it was that they saw a chance for diplomacy slipping away or whether they were concerned for their leader, Barneria neither knew nor cared. Tomorrow was also a day, and Caliburnites believed in giving second chances ... but not more than that.

"Ambassador, if every single person waited for all problems to be solved then there would never be anything done. Say that the problems that we do have now get solved, tomorrow we could have difficulties with our docking bays or a robbery. This is a Starbase. There will eternally be problems that we have to attend to," Tallus said letting his logic run free.

Undersecretary Barneria turned back for a moment. "I am not Ambassador, only Undersecretary to one. I'm sure you have many problems, Sir. However, I have only one ... the safety of my Ambassador, as well as his dignity. Not to be greeted by the commander of the station is bad enough," she said frostily. "Not having even your diplomatic corps available is completely unacceptable. I will explain matters to the Exalted, and he will decide whether we stay or we leave entirely." She turned her back on the Ensign and made her way into the shuttle from the Caliburnite ship.

"Pilot, close the door and request clearance for departure," Barneria said before turning toward the door leading to the small room where the Exalted waited ... no doubt impatiently.

Tallus took a deep breath. "I am sorry but you are not allowed to leave the ship. There are currently no outgoing ships allowed to leave. And no incoming. So will you get in here and attend the conference." Tallus said making the request more of a statement.

As the door closed between them, Barneria replied, "I do not believe we will. The Exalted One is not safe here. We will remain in our shuttle until you see fit to release us. We have nothing further to discuss."

 

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