Posted by Captain Molly Holloway (Commanding Officer) in Main Sim - Briefing Room - Senator Belgrande’s call

Posted by Gamemaster Alias Smith N. Jones, Esq. (GMT) in Main Sim - Briefing Room - Senator Belgrande’s call

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Renveer (Executive Officer) in Main Sim - Briefing Room - Senator Belgrande’s call
Posted by… suppressed (6) by the Post Ghost! 👻
As the doors to the Briefing Room slid open, Holloway could already see the incoming call warning on the screen.

This was the first time Holloway was dealing with someone so high profile, and she was unsure of what to do, what to say, how to behave, where to put her hands even. Straightening her uniform and adjusting her hair slightly, she opted to remain standing.

(OOC: Crossposting Ben’s post from the Bridge thread)

Once inside, Renveer’s expression turned quizzical. “Senator Belgrande… well I must admit I’m a bit starstruck. She’s influential, and if she’s not happy with us…” he trailed off. “I’d recommend a gentle hand.” Renveer didn’t intend to imply that Molly might need the reminder so soon after the spat with the admiral moments before, but he hoped she would heed the advice. They had enough troubles without this mission turning political as well.

“Still,” Renveer said as he pulled his PaDD out of its holster, “I’m not sure why she’d be contacting us now, even if she somehow caught wind of our mission… I don’t know of any interested she has with Julian Echo Station.” He quickly called up whatever official records were available, hoping to re-familiarize himself with the senator’s accomplishments before speaking with her. “Sorry give me one second,” he said over the PaDD to hopefully pause Molly for a moment from accepting the call.

(Lt. Cmdr. Renveer, XO)

The Senator was the epitome of an activist politician: cause after cause, mostly concerning curtailing of government expenditures and equality (and the advancement thereof), flooded the PaDD. She was a member of several Senate committees, not the least of which was the Budget and the Ethics Committees.

An interesting note was the frequency with which Belgrande’s name and Special Projects came up together. And not at all in an adversarial manner.

Focused on the task at hand and deep in her own thoughts that were somewhat similar to the what Renveer had just verbalized, Molly nodded absentmindedly, staring at the incoming transmission alert on the screen. She waited for a moment, giving him time to look up what he was looking for.

Ordering the computer to take the call on screen, Molly smiled as politely as she could. By this point, Renveer might know that is was likely not the most sincere of smiles, but at least she was trying. Finally, when the screen lit up with the image of the senator, Holloway spoke in the most jovially polite tone she could muster, especially since she had been told the Senator didn’t seem happy. “Senator Belgrande, I must say we were not expecting your contact. This is my First Officer, Commander Renveer, I hope you don’t mind him being present.” She said gesturing to the Trill. “To what do I owe you the pleasure?”

Holloway, CO

The Senator would have been fairly attractive without the perpetual sneer plastered on her angular features.

“Can it, Holloway. I see through fake platitudes and insincerity like the transparent aluminum in your ship’s windows. Now you are gonna tell me here and now why the Dresden, one of the most over-engineered and over-resourced ships in the fleet is being deployed. We aren’t at war, Captain… in case you failed to notice. So what… Admiral Tulo’t wanted to trot you out for a dog and pony show somewhere?” she asked (demanded) derisively.

GMT

OOC: I am assuming Admiral Tulov is Admiral Tulo’t from the first main sim thread and that it was a typo rather than a completely new Admiral? If it is a new Admiral, I will correct my post accordingly. :p – Joana

OOC: Typo, indeed.

The surprise in Holloway’s expression was evident, and for a moment she was not exactly sure of what to say. “My apologies, Ma’am, but I am simply following orders. I am perfectly aware that we are not at war and we certainly are not looking to start one. However, I am afraid I am not at full liberty to disclose our mission, but I am sure Admiral Tulo’t can fill you in on the details.”

Molly was trying to be as diplomatic as she could. Her tone was calm and collected, and possibly the most polite Renveer had ever seen coming from Holloway. Without knowing Senator Belgrande’s interest on the mission she was not going to just hand out information. She had mentioned Admiral Tulo’t, which might mean she was not aware they were under Admiral Hallsley’s orders instead, so she mentioned the former instead.

Holloway, CO

“I am a Federation Senator, Captain. So consider yourself - ” and she made air quotes with her fingers, ” - ‘at liberty’.”

GMT

Molly inhaled slowly, not daring to look at Renveer, lest the Senator notice the shift in her gaze. She didn’t like it. She didn’t like it one bit. As an Intelligence Officer, Holloway was well trained to withstand the harshest attempts at information extraction, and it wasn’t the threat of a higher rank or title that was going to change that. She couldn’t shake the question that kept popping up in her mind – why had Senator Belgrande not gone to Tulo’t or Hallsley for information, and instead come to her? If she hadn’t, then she should speak to them before calling her; if she had, then she hadn’t liked their answer. Either way, she was bypassing the chain of command, that Molly was sure, Belgrande was very familiar with.

“With all due respect, Ma’am.” Holloway finally said. “The information you are requesting can be supplied to you by Admiral Tulo’t, who is also at liberty to discuss it with you for the same reason you just presented to me. I will ask you that you speak to him as I will not comment on an ongoing mission without the express consent of my immediate superior officer.” Molly was perfectly aware that Tulo’t was not her immediate superior officer anymore, but as before, she did not know whether Belgrande was aware of it being Hallsley’s mission now, so she decided not to volunteer any information. “If you want me personally to brief you on this mission, then I will request that you speak with Admiral Tulo’t and have him call me. Only then will I disclose the information you are requesting. I hope you understand, Ma’am, that I can not simply discuss an ongoing mission with whoever I please, even if that person is a Federation Senator.”

Holloway, CO

There was a moment when the glare coming through the screen was almost palpable in the Briefing Room. Slowly and with great deliberation, the Senator spoke after a long few moments.

“Captain. I am not someone you want to get on the wrong side of. I can be your staunchest defender or the biggest pain in your backside ever. I give you that piece of advice freely. And I do not want to hear yet another Star Fleet brass make excuses for why they are wasting resources and manpower on a whim. I am well versed in Star Fmeet double-speak, and I am sick and tired of jumping through hoops just to try and get a straight answer out of anyone above the rank of Ensign. So I will give you one… one… last chance to tell me what Tulo’t is doing. Last chance, Holloway. I suggest you take it.”

GMT

Renveer was accustomed to dealing with the Starfleet brass Belgrande spoke of, but had little experience placating someone quite so passionate or intimidating as the Senator herself. He resolved to put his nerves aside. Here was his first test of being a good executive officer, and he intended to pass it. Although he was worried that his decision to throw Belgrande a bone might contradict the captain’s resolve to stand her ground. He glanced down at his PaDD one more time to make sure he had the information correct.

“Excuse me, Senator Belgrande,” Renveer interjected from over Molly’s shoulder with a disarming smile, “I hope you’ll pardon the interruption. I’m Lieutenant Commander Renveer, executive officer of the Dresden. I appreciate, as always, your vigilance in ensuring that the Federation is using its resources wisely and with good intent. I think we can at least assure you that this mission is indeed a special project in need of our immediate attention.” He hoped the emphasis he placed on the words would signal a desire to maintain a level of discretion while also allowing the senator to determine his meaning for herself through the double-speak she alluded to. Perhaps it wasn’t the straight answer she wanted, but maybe it explained why the straight answer wasn’t an easy one to give.

(Lt. Cmdr. Renveer, XO)

Belgrande opened her mouth to object, but something clicked in her expression and she stopped and paused, looking at both Dresden officers. Her head tilted slightly to the side and her eyes bore into Renveer.

“You don’t say, Commander… you don’t say.” she said thoughtfully and then her eyes snapped to Holloway. “Captain, is Tulo’t who I should be asking about this? Or did your orders come from elsewhere? That much you are free to answer, I would hope.”

GMT

“Uh…” For the first time in the conversation, there was a hint of nervousness in Holloway’s tone. Her pride was on the line now, as she had to admit to Senator Belgrande that she had been telling her to speak to the wrong person all along. Molly shot Renveer a quick yet menacing glare, before settling her gaze back on the Senator. “Our initial orders came from him, yes. And I am sure he would be able to direct you to the right person to brief you in more detail about the present situation, Ma’am.” She paused before working up the courage to ask what was on her mind. “What I don’t understand is why a Federation Senator is so interested on a mission that they would bypass the chain of command to gather information about it. Maybe you could tells us what is your particular interest in this mission? Because, as I mentioned before, I would not be doing my job if I was disclosing mission information to anyone who asks, including a Federation Senator.”

Holloway, CO

Belgrade’s lips twitched into a smile… a wholly unpleasant one, though. “My interest is in making sure precious resources aren’t being wasted on some Admiral’s pet project when they couod be put to better use elsewhere. And now that we ha e established that you are giving me the runaround and aren’t unknowingly obtuse or just plain dense, let’s drop the game of twenty questions. Who ordered the Dresden out, and why? One or both of you better start talking, or this will be the shortest mission in history.” The Senator looked away and said loud enough for both officers to hear “Get me the Star Fleet Inspector General’s office on the line.” and there was the sound of acknowledgment from off-screen. Belgrande looked back and said “Perk of being on the Sentae Budget Comittee, Captain. I can call for an IG audit any time I want. So I’ll leave it up to you: Tell me who ordered you out, or you are going to be docked again and swarmed with accountants and beaureucrats for the next three months. Your call.” the Senator added with a finality in her tone that left no doubt she was not joking.

GMT