Posted by Civilian Kenzo B’tren-Hyrushi (Governor) in Governor’s Office- Diplomatic Overtures

Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Governor’s Office- Diplomatic Overtures

Posted by Civilian Kenzo B’tren-Hyrushi (Governor) in Governor’s Office- Diplomatic Overtures
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

“I agree,” Eela said. They both had an understanding of psychology and this was more than just a tactic, but the approach mattered. “Approaching individual members and building intentional and long-term relationships should be high priority. When we talk about the Federation, we’re often talking about the bureaucrats on Earth, those that make up the Council and the subcommittees. But we are the Federation, Kenzo. As is Cestus Three, and Iadara, and Caldos, and a whole host of other worlds. But we’re not in the core of the Federation, and that means that, yes, we get forgotten about or given less consideration at times. And it’s not right, but it is at times understandable how it happens. So we can help ‘adjust’ their thinking as you say, and this is one way. I have other ideas percolating, just warning you,” she said with a smirk.

“Duly noted.” Kenzo said.

Dasca reached for her glass and slipped the remaining liquor down her throat. “I am going to be honest with you. We all need something like this education program. I need this. We need some small wins that are lower stakes than diplomatic incidents and dealing with old foes. I personally need to be involved in some projects that leave me not perpetually worried about the target I’m painting on my back. Because honestly, given the rate of assassination attempts around here, I’ve just come to the conclusion it’ll probably happen at some point and I’ll stay saner if I just accept the possibility.” She wasn’t being flippant either. She was currently trying to take down an Admiral and even if she had just cause, people could be down right petty when they wanted to. And that was just the pople off world she might be pissing off. “I will be able to handle the tougher days here if I have something positive to look forward to.”

~Eela

Kenzo wordlessly filled her glass again, and his own, and he settled back into his chair. “Start the preliminaries on this exchamge program as soon as you can. I would recommend terraformimg as a specific specialty withing planetary science. It will tie into our efforts here and give the participants a planet sized laboratory in which to study. And consider doing a similar program within the confines of Star Fleet. I’m sure such an opportunity would be looked upon favorably by Command.” He sipped his drink slowly and then sighed heavily.

She simply nodded even as she noted his sigh.

“Now then… how do we tell the people that their most feared bogeyman is coming to visit?”

Kenzo

Dasca drank from her glass and set it back down, her demeanour shifting subtly. “Okay, so this is where I put on my Diplomatic Corps and Psychologist hats. Firstly, when we get the Vren reports and profiles from Mathis and her team, they are likely to be… clinical. I have no doubt you’ll be able to read between the lines, but there are some quirks to the diplomatic reporting that I think you would benefit from me translating. I can do an accompanying file that basically does just that: I pick out areas that might have more to them that are assumed by the reader to be known but others might not pick up on. We’re talking really nuanced stuff. It’s the kind of assessment that is done when another diplomat has to take over a situation already in progress.... which we are sort of doing, actually. So let me do that for you and together we can pool our thoughts when we meet next.”

Kenzo looked at her for a moment and then leaned slightly closer to her and said softly “You do know I have advanced degrees in psychology and inter-species crisis management, yes? As well as having been the Chief Negotiator between multiple hostile factions?” and he chuckled and leaned back. He knew that she did, of course. But one must never pass up an opportunity to remind someone of things they knew when it would funny to do so.

Always one to roll with the punches, as it were, Eela blinked. Her face shifted into amusement and she nearly laughed. “Wow. You’re right. I knew that.” It was late and while she was tired it was much more likely that that the whole talk of the Khari muddled her more than she’d like to admit. She shook her head and reached for her drink.

“Now, how to proceed, I believe, is based on psychology. The Vren are historically our enemy. If we just say ‘Hey, the Vren want to make nice’, it will go terribly. The basic need of the colonist that you and I need to meet is safety.” She held up a finger. “Physical safety; they need to know that we have given serious consideration to the risks and that we are prepared to counter those risks with clear preparation and action.” She held up another finger. “And psychological safety; this is going to be a process of emotional shifts. They need to feel safe as they go about their lives. They need to know that we haven’t forgotten the past, that it does factor into our decision making process, even if we aren’t going to let that fear determine all our actions. So I would propose the following steps:

“Once we have solid information on the ecological crisis, we approach this situation not so much as a diplomatic one but a compassionate one for a people who are asking for mercy and help. Not everyone will care, but I have walked around the Farmer’s Market and talked with people and I can feel their good hearts. I do think if we handle their concerns with care, they will be more likely to be open to helping. Which leads me to the part where you and I actively seek out and listen to their concerns. So after they learn about the crisis and they are given not only the context for the Vren ritual, we then host a Town Hall. I know the logistics could be a bit tricky, but it will do us no good to be seen as being up in the Tower making decisions for everyone. They need to believe that we are a part of this colony too, that we care about how they feel. And yes, something like a Town Hall might open up lines of questioning we can’t answer, but I think if we tried to tell them we have all the answers they’d know we’re lying. It’s very important that the people of Oed Five never feel like we’re trying to con them, that we’re trying to get away with anything. So we be as honest and transparent as we can.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov

Kenzo was silent as he thought, but he nodded and said “I agree with everything you have said, Eela. But I think you may be missing one key component in your plan. Oed V has millions upon millions of people scattered across not only across this city… but on the orbital platforms and across the entire planet. Getting the word out to them, listening to their concerns and their fears, and hosting. Town Hall- all noble and quite necessary- will take time. And lest we forget… we still have to wait for the Vren to vote, the file to be generated and compiled, the Diplomatic Corps to receive it and review it, and then the twous- as well as the CCDA, CIA, Star Fleet Security, and the Cabinet- to finally get it and digest it to a point of more than passing familiarity. We have three days. Less, actually. And if Ambassador Kek’s optimism about thir ability to secure approval from the Vren is misplaced and they say no? That particular possibility precludes us from starting early. So not only do we not have the time to do all that… we also cannot save time.” He stared at the skyline for a long moment. “Unless…” and he looked at Dasca with a contemplative look on his face.

“We don’t tell anyone about the ceremony. We record it and wait to release it until we have laid the groundwork you suggest.”

Kenzo

“We can do that,” Dasca agreed. “But you’re assuming that we only have three days. Kek said it would take three days for their Senate to debate and vote on it. Not that we had to act publicly in three days. The timeline is a lot more fluid and up to us than that. Keep in mind that Federation scientists will still be working on the issue they are having, regardless if we allow the Vren to be at Oed or not. Remember what I said about psychological safety? If we move too fast, people will not trust this process. We both know that. And we don’t have to drag our feet, but we let everything take as long as it will. Mathis will be here in a couple days and we can work through the logistics with her, but we get to determine how this plays out, even if not all the variables are up to us.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.