From: Kenneth Field (envision_at_fidalgo.net)
Date: Mon Jan 22 2007 - 18:54:27 PST
"Eating Mud, Thinking Steak"
(continues from Kim's "When Logic Dictates," and Sarah's "Diplomatic Three Card Monte")
Location: GS-2
Stardate: 2.7?
Scene: BORG Embassy
"The thing is, Consul Jono, that the Ambassador here actually sort of likes the BORG," Commander Gene McInnis flashed that disarming grin that had worried a number of CO's in his past. "As you know, Vukovic is her Chief of Staff. And I have to say, that seems a very poor move on your part, pushing him out the way you did. But I digress. See ... I *don't* like BORG. You knew that, right? We've had dealings in the past. I served in the DELTA on the USS SUTTNER, and I've worked with BORG before. A lot. I don't trust them. So I have to say, I'm sort of biased on the matter of Mr. Vukovic's ... shall we say disappearance? If I were you, I'd work with Ambassador Bonviva on this. She's much more amenable."
"She insulted us," Consul Jono reminded him pointedly.
"Consider it her attempt at BORG bluntness and move on, Consul. The matter at hand is the abduction of her Chief of Staff, Tomas' Alexei Vukovic. I'd try to get on her good side. You have to face her on the floor of the Council."
It was one of his Grampa Devlin's sayings. **Diplomacy is the art of feeding someone mud, and making them think they're eating steak.** He hadn't lived all these years without learning something.
"It would be advantageous to have your support in this matter," Consul Jono frowned without actually changing any facial expression.
"If you want my support," Xana said, her arms folded, her stance stiff and angry, "then I need to know what you know about the disappearance of Tomas' Alexei Vukovic."
-------------------- =/\=
Location: BORG Cube 97233, mission designation 004
Scene: Communications Module
(bit of a backpost here, sorry, folks)
"Ambassador," Tomas' spoke gravely to the three-dee image of Xana Bonviva hovering before him, her feet not quiet touching the deck.
"By the gods of Serendip, how many times will I have to tell you to call me Xana?" the Bolian fumed at him.
"As always, Ambassador ... just once more," he said so straight-faced that she almost did not catch his intention to tease.
"You're all right then?"
"I am well," he nodded. "Though I'm sorry to say there are a number of sentient beings who are not fine, and may not ever be fine again."
"And this is all due to Rixx?"
"Affirmative. We would appreciate anything you can do to support some kind of justice in his regard."
"He gives Bolians a bad name," Xana agreed. "Certainly the Federation will brand him an outlaw. But I have to warn you, there may be little if any assistance coming your way from the Federation or Starfleet."
"Even though it was a Starfleet crew that instigated this situation?"
"Even so, Tomas'. You have to understand. Even the mention of the BORG gives many in the Federation the shudders, and we've been living in peace for decades. To find a functioning Collective with the same goals as the early BORG is just too much for them to accept. They don't want anywhere near the problem."
"Then I will work without their help. The Federation may be surprised by the resources the BORG can bring to bear on this problem. But in the same vein, I can't assure them of the safety of the Starfleet crew. It may already be too late."
"I hope not, Tomas'. I hope not. Good luck."
"And you, Ambassador."
Tomas' cut the connection, but not before Xana grimaced once again at his use of her title.
He smiled.
-------------------- (llli
Location: GS-2
Scene: Corridors near the hangar of the USS PROPHECY
"Admiral Ranta, a moment of your time, sir?" Gene fell into step beside the man.
He was not happy to see the Bajoran/Scot ExO of the GATE. It was evident that he had plans.
"Make it quick, Commander. Places to go. People to see."
"Of course, sir," Gene nodded, looking down at the floor. "May I caution the Admiral against any plans toward ... incautious use of certain vessels in the area of the GATE?"
Ranta stopped dead in his tracks. Gene stopped smoothly with him, turned and gazed placidly at the man, waiting for him to speak.
"What in hell do you mean by that, Mister?"
"I mean, sir, that our security department noticed some unusual preparations going on in the vicinity of a certain ship which shall remain nameless. It was our understanding that the vessel in question was forcibly drydocked at this time, and no release has been given in a formal capacity. Just to be certain, security has established itself around the hangar. Everything is locked down. We fear that it may be the target of well-meaning, but misguided persons wishing to charge to the rescue."
"You are insufferable, Commander!"
"Yes, sir. I am. I also have experience stealing ships, Admiral. I know what that looks like when I see it. So does my security force. And I don't want you shot in the process of a huge misunderstanding. I happen to appreciate what you're trying to do, and I'm just selfish enough that I want you to continue your career in this position on the GATE. Things work much better under your mentorship, if I may be so bold."
"You're warning me away?"
"A shot across the bow, sir. One friend to another. Don't play this hand, sir. There are other forces at work."
"And if I persist?"
Gene reluctantly showed him his side arm in its holster.
"Your CO know about this?"
"Hopefully not, Admiral. If something goes wrong here, I'll be the one that takes the fall. Just an ExO exceeding his authority. Plausible deniability and all that. The GATE is my concern. And the vessels she shelters."
"Some day, Commander, you're going to make a fine politician."
"Thank you, Admiral."
"It wasn't a compliment," Ranta frowned, turned on his heel and walked back the way he'd come.
Gene breathed out long and slow.
"Hannibal?"
[[I heard. I'm on him.]]
"Don't hurt him if you don't have to."
[[You want me to warn you?]]
"Plausible deniability, Ensign. If you screw up, it won't be my butt in a sling."
[[Well put. Hannibal out.]]
-------------------- =/\=
Location: BORG Cube
Scene: Holding Facility
"Ronnie Zanders," Tomas' looked into the eyes of the BORG queen and spoke with conviction.
"That designation is irrelevant," she replied through the shimmer of a BORG force field. "You are BORG. You will be assimilated into our Collective. Your distinctiveness will be added to our own."
"You'll pardon me if I choose differently."
"Choice is irrelevant."
"No," Tomas' disagreed. "It's not. At this moment your small Collective is on the verge of destruction. You are a parasite that kills its host."
"That is an incorrect metaphor. Death is irrelevant. All those assimilated live on within the whole. Why do you resist us? We simply want to improve all species. We can achieve perfection through this process."
"Assimilation lacks focus," Tomas' insisted. "You amass huge amounts of information, but use it only for pure survival imperatives. If all of your knowledge only feeds you or clothes you or heals you or defends you, it is not enough. There is more to life than simple survival."
"More will come in time."
Tomas' wasn't absolutely sure whether she meant more BORG would come in time, or that more civilization would evolve in time. He wasn't sure he wanted to get stuck on this point. She was the mind of the Collective, the driving force, the focus. If he could turn her, he might succeed in turning the Collective.
"Perhaps," he nodded. "But there is so much waste until then."
"You are a unique mind."
"We are all unique minds. That is the point. Assimilation devalues such uniqueness. The Vulcans speak of Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. This is the weakness of assimilation. There is no diversity among your Collective, just beings in servitude to a common goal."
"This is not a selfish quest."
"Depends on your goal, doesn't it? Do you have one? Have you thought that far ahead? Because if you don't, then you're leading these beings to certain destruction."
"You suggest disparity where none exists."
"Are you not the queen? Do you not provide the focus for the Collective?"
"You misunderstand us still," she smiled at him. "Surrender yourself to us, Tomas' Alexei Vukovic. We will provide you with purpose. And the means to achieve that purpose. We will assimilate you. Your resistance will be futile."
"Resistance is never futile," Tomas' sighed. "Resistance may fail ... but it is never without worth."
-------------------- (llli
NRPG: Brave Souls, a little something for both venues. Hopefully this helps a little with Tomas'. Gene has done his bit to stop Ranta. That will be his sole contribution to the PROPHECY story line. Tomas' will continue as long as he is able.
-------------------- =/\= (llli
Kenneth Field
envision_at_fidalgo.net
aka Commander Gene McInnis
ExO/GS-2
aka Lt. JG Mowree Nurunyon
CNS/GS-2
aka Tomas' Alexei Vukovic
Aide to Ambassador Xana Bonviva
Terran Embassy
GS-2
aka Maury R. Tee
Professor of English (Retired)
Proprietor of "Impulse Drives,"
a little shop of horrors
GS-2, Promenade
"I start fighting a war, you're definitely gonna see something new." Malcolm Reynolds -- "Serenity"
From HyperNews_at_youth.net
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