From: Takako Nagumo <tnagumo@pop.pitt.edu>
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 16:16:12 -0400
Subject: USS CHESAPEAKE: And So It Begins
MD 14.1350
Scene: Observation Lounge
D. J. Brennan surveyed the room as Counselor Stavay Tats-Marush
supervised the two stewards, who were finishing the arrangements. At
the table, each of the eight places had two PADDs and a lightpen. Along
the side of the room, opposite the portholes, two pitchers of water, a
coffee and tea service, and the necessary china sat on a long, narrow
table.
In a few minutes, the two delegations would enter the room, and the
talks would start in earnest. He had participated in mediations before,
but only as an advisor, never as the main mediator. He could feel his
heart's rather loud beating, his shallow breathing. A knot threatened
to tighten in his stomach, and he realised what was happening.
He was nervous.
"Captain?"
It took him a moment to realise that someone was addressing him. He
turned around and looked at Tats-Marush.
"Yes, Counselor?"
She gestured to the arrangements. "Is everything satisfactory, sir?"
"Oh," he said, gathering his thoughts quickly. "Yes, thank you,
Counselor. Quite satisfactory. In fact, quite excellent."
"Good. I think everything is in order now." Tats-Marush dismissed the
two stewards, looked around the room, then looked back at Brennan. "Are
you all right, sir?"
"Yes, thank you," he replied, softly. He glanced at the Counselor, and
realised he must still sound a little odd. He smiled, trying to
reassure her. "Just... thinking about the rather unexpected series of
events today."
"I don't wonder if you're still a little disoriented," said the
Counselor. "None of us expected this to happen, and, although it
affects the entire crew, it has affected you more, by several orders of
magnitude."
"Indeed." He slowly walked around the table to a porthole and looked at
the vastness of space outside. "I wonder...."
"Wonder what, sir?" the Counselor asked.
His reply was more to himself than to her question. "I wonder...
whether I am prepared for command."
"What brought you to think that?"
He turned to look at her. She was looking not a little surprised.
"I...." He looked away. "I suspect it is the sudden nature of this
change of command," he replied, somewhat reluctantly.
"That is *not* to say," he turned back around again, "that I cannot
fulfill my duties, nor that I believe I lack the abilities to excel in
their accomplishment. But... in starting any new activity... there is a
certain... discomfiture that lingers, that perhaps one has not prepared
sufficiently."
"Sir, with all due respect," she said, "you're never going to know
whether you're prepared or not unless you try your hand at it. Any new
endeavour requires some period of adjustment."
"But I don't have that luxury, Counselor," he said.
"No, you don't." The Counselor came around to join him by the
portholes. "You just have to jump in and see if all those swimming
lessons have paid off."
Brennan paused, then looked down at the Shrevashal officer, who was
still looking out at the stars. He let his eyes linger on her for a
moment longer, then smiled.
"You're right, of course." He looked out, and found one star that
shined particularly brightly. As it slowly flickered, he found himself
grinning.
"And, as you well know, Starfleet gives excellent swimming lessons."
He saw Tats-Marush turning her head to look at him from the corner of
his eye, then heard her laugh. He tried not to laugh, but he could not
contain it.
The door to the corridor swished open behind them, and they both turned,
still laughing. It was Ensign Keyrin. She walked into the room
briskly.
"Captain, Counselor," she said, then stopped. "Something funny, sir?"
"No, no," Brennan reassured her, "it's nothing. Please excuse me." His
expression became a little more serious. "Are we ready?"
"Yes, sir. Waiting on your orders."
"Thank you, Ensign. Please escort the delegations here."
* * * * *
After some informal pleasantries and the securing of refreshments, the
two delgations sat, three to a side, across from each other. Brennan
sat at the head of the table and Tats-Marush at the foot. From the head
of the table, the Corellians sat to his left, and the ShipOres
representatives to his right, closer to the portholes. As the PADD
shuffling came to a close, Brennan coughed lightly, then began.
"Ladies, Gentlemen," he nodded, "once again, on behalf of the United
Federation of Planets, I welcome you all aboard the USS Chesapeake. We
are indeed honoured to host this meeting between the Regency of
Corellis, and ShipOres, Limited."
He gestured to his left. "Representing the Regency of Corellis is the
Duchess Livia, Minister of External Affairs for the Prince Regent
Kadaris, assisted by Mr. Menary Coltair, Senior Vice-President of the
Corellis Mining Guild."
He turned to his right and continued. "Representing ShipOres, Limited,
is Mr. Taylor Meredith, Administrator for the Delta Corellis Sector,
ShipOres, Limited, assisted by Mr. Yoshida, of ShipOres Limited, as well
as Ms. Manisha Dixit, ShipOres corporate attorney."
The two parties nodded to each other.
"The question at hand which we are to address presently is the rightful
ownership and management of two planetoids in the third system of Delta
Corellis, identified in the Federation Astronomical Database as 4 Delta
Corellis III Alpha and 4 Delta Corellis III Beta. Please consider any
and all issues not relevant to this question as not subject for our
discussion at this time."
He looked at the two delegations. That was interesting. Nobody raised
an objection to that -- he had thought there might be some visible
indication on either side about the separatists, or the Federation
membership application. Then again, he thought, we haven't even started
the opening statements, yet.
"Please direct your attention to the first PADD." He pulled over his
own copy as the others around the table did the same. "I would first
like to begin with the presentation of the lists of terms. Each
delegation will be asked to present the items on your respective lists
clearly and concisely.
"We will then ask each party to address them point by point, indicating
possible compromises and alternative solutions. With the goodwill and
cooperation on the part of both delegations, I anticipate that we will
be able to reach some mutually beneficial agreement before very long."
"Each delegation is now invited to present their lists of terms. The
representatives of the Regency of Corellis will begin, first, then we
will move to the representatives of ShipOres, Limited."
He turned to his left. "Duchess Livia? If you would please
proceed...."
Respectfully Submitted,
Takako Nagumo,
CDR Daniel J. Brennan
CO, USS CHESAPEAKE (NCC-31813)
Task Force Bravo, Green Fleet
NRPG:
Greg, Trevin: Now, play nice. <G> Greg, you're up first. :) Please leave
an opening for the ShipOres people at the end of your post. Trevin, if
you would leave an opening for Brennan to move the meeting to the next
phase, it would be great. I don't plan on RPing the entire session...
will probably cut toward the end.
Matt: You're up next. :) Miris will have the Bridge during Alpha shift
(0700-1500) on MD 15, but she doesn't *have* to stay there the entire
time -- feel free to drop in on the different departments and meet the
senior staff.
All: Brennan, Tats-Marush, and the delegations will be in negotiations
MD 15.1000-1200, then 1400-1600. Feel free to post to MD 15, the second
day of negotiations, up to about 1430 hours, or so. <G>
--
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Takako Nagumo <tnagumo@pop.pitt.edu>
http://www.oocities.org/TimesSquare/6318/
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CDR Daniel J. Brennan CO USS CHESAPEAKE, Green Fleet
LCDR Sian-Mairead Flynn, MD CMO USS ALEXANDER NEVSKY, Green Fleet
LCDR Duncan A. Morrell Instructor ALB Holodeck 4
CDR Julianna M. Sforza COMREC Commander, Starfleet Records
Civ Meyran Cates Semple Undersecretary UFPDOCA
Civ Director-General UFPESCO
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"In our darkest moments,
it is always good for a little light to fall."
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