From: "Melvin Pollack" <pollack@enews1.nrl.navy.mil>
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 1997 09:07:05 -0400
Subject: USS CHESAPEAKE:  Only the loony....

[Second Officer's log, Stardate 90827.0830.  The reception had been rather
interesting.  Unfortunately, I had failed to learn much in the way of possible
leads.  Furthermore, it would appear that my actions have sparked a few
complaints from the delegates themselves....]

Scene:  Observation Lounge
MD 15.0800

	th'Tellan watched Brennan sit down at the head of the table, and then
sat down to his left.  "Before we begin this meeting, I think that you ought to
be debriefed a little quickly.  I don't know precisely what their complaints
are, but I can bet that they have something to do with my actions during the
reception."

{Really?  Nah.}

	Hey, where have you been, anyway?  I was trying to contact you
yesterday.

{Oh, that.  I've been freelancing for Greg.  Why do you ask?}

	No reason, Dave.  Just curious.  Freelancing.  Oh, boy.

	Brennan nodded.  "Would you like to explain it?"

	"That's why I mentioned it.  You see, I've gotten some mind imprints,
and I don't think either side intends to play it straight.  In fact, two of
them, Falgor and Yoshida, don't seem to be here entirely for this mediation."

	Brennan raised an eyebrow.  "You think they have seperate agendas?
 <Pause.>  I don't suppose you could be more specific."

	th'Tellan shook his head.  "I don't have much to go on.  Some vague
mind imprints gleaned from a weak telepathic connection.  A sensitivity from
all six delegates.  Some strange sensor readings and science data.  <Pause.>
 Oh, and I checked many of the ShipOres records, and there isn't a Mr Yoshida
listed anywhere in the payroll documents."

	Brennan rubbed his temples.  Why couldn't these missions ever go
according to plan?

{Because nobody would want to watch it?}

	You know, you should really do freelance work more often.

	Brennan looked at th'Tellan.  "You realize that the nature of this
mission requires a gentle hand...."

	"Don't worry, I'm not going to start a war.  In this kind of game, you
want to push hard enough to shake them a bit, but not hard enough that they can
block your efforts.  <Pause.>  Unfortunately, I'm a little rusty, so I'm
getting some reactions that I didn't anticipate...."

	"Like Meredith's jealousy?  I thought he was going to strangle you
right in the reception room."

	"So did I.  That might actually work to our advantage if played with
enough subtlety.  What I'm more concerned about is that Meredith seems to have
recognized the kind of game I've been playing.  If he hasn't accessed my
records yet, he probably will soon.  Also, I didn't anticipate Livia's
explosion when I mentioned the rebels.  I can't really glean...."

	"All right.  So how do we smooth things over?"

	th'Tellan smiled.  "That actually isn't a problem.  I majored in
Engineering.  My only other post was as Science Officer on a ship that never
participated in a diplomatic mission.  I'm relatively inexperiencerd, so I'm
bound to make an error here and there.  <Pause.>  If they accept that, I may be
able to wiggle a bit of leeway in further encounters.

	"I just want to point out that it may be nothing.  And I intend to keep
that fully in mind.  I'll be talking to Keyrin today at 9 to see what she
thinks about all this.  Oh, and course, niether delegation has to know any of
this."

	Brennan was about to say something, when Meredith walked in....

NRPG:

All:  Just a short post to touch base.

Greg:  Next week - A joint post between Fabian and myself.  ;-)

Trevin:  Your turn.  Somehow, I didn't think corporate goons got listed in the
payroll office.

Lynnaea:  Good luck in college, and I'm waiting for you to start the meeting.

Submitted by....

Melvin Pollack
Lt Cmdr Avikar th'Tellan
OPS USS CHESAPEAKE
mpollack@glue.umd.edu

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