Posted by Civilian Kenzo B’tren-Hyrushi (Governor) in Government Tower- Ambassador Mathis & Co Arrive

Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Government Tower- Ambassador Mathis & Co Arrive

Posted by Civilian Kenzo B’tren-Hyrushi (Governor) in Government Tower- Ambassador Mathis & Co Arrive
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

That was the tricky bit. If they left anyone out, someone would be offended, but if they had everyone involved at once, it would be chaos and hard to keep under wraps. “Yes, but not yet. Maybe we leave that bit till the Vren have done their ceremony.” Eela leaned forward slightly. “Look, this was going to happen before the Vren entered the picture and I understand the optics. We can keep it discreet between us for now. Maybe the best way forward is to do all the brainstorming and then take it to the people who need to be involved once we know things are stable here. Best case scenario it wouldn’t be in place for months; more realistically, much longer. So there’s no rush, per say. But I do want us at least working on it between us. On top of everything else , just for fun,” she said with a grin.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Kenzo gave her a rare partial-smile and said “I am pleased you find the process enjoyable. I’m sure at some point you will regret that stance.” and he mailed slightly more.

“I thought that was a given?” she bantered back.

Composing himself, he said “From a macro perspective, you understand, or at least have more familiarity with, defense systems themselves. My expertise lies in infrastructure planning and development. I believe, in this arena particularly, that those knowledge bases are quite complimentary. That being said, I also believe that you and I are going to create something that has never been done before… at least, from my knowledge. A full planetary defense plan that is both effective and non-invasive to the populace. Additionally, it has to be able to be expanded and future infrastructure put into place as the planet changes due to terraforming, which means that identification of strategic and critical points are the main priority… even as those points are coming into reality as our natural world changes our urban areas. It will be a most complex and ever changing project.” He looked at her for a long moment and then he suddenly leaned forward and set his hand on hers, allowing for her to feel, just for a moment, that he had decided to trust her as a colleague and even, perhaps, a friend before he pulled his hand back.

Coming from anyone else, it would have been a a simple gesture, but from Kenzo, knowing how vital touch was for a Haliian, for her, it meant everything. Beyond even the touch, it was the certainty that they had found their level ground with each other, that they truly had each other’s backs. How that would fare in a crisis, they would see, but it was at least very obvious that they were a good match as Governor and Lieutenant Governor.

“But I do believe that you and I are the one’s best suited to drive this forward. The only ones, for the near future.”

Kenzo

Her smile was warm as she nodded. “I’m glad we’re in agreement. But I’m curious about your take on Mathis and Jones.” She had given hers already but she was curious how his thoughts might have shifted (for better or worse) since that first conversation they had with Kek.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Kenzo removed his hand and sat back, black eyes thoughtful. “I want to believe them. That in itself is a better beginning than most other Federation representatives would get from me. But I do not trust her, not Mr. Jones. That is not a reflection of them, I must say. It is a reflection of their superiors whom they serve before anyone in this colony. I suppose I will reserve my full judgement until they either show us they are sincere… or they show us they are the same as the ones before.”

Hyrushi, Gov.

“I suppose that is fair,” she said with a soft smile. He was allowed to have his misgivings so long as it didn’t hinder their progress. “And I guess that makes me good cop this time,” she added with a gleam in her eyes. “I’ve been these people, Kenzo, so I know what it’s like. I’m going to give them more benefit of the doubt than others because I know what they’re up against and because I’ve already experience Mathis righting things that were wrong. I can appreciate it because I know she was sincere and it was’t some stunt.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Kenzo inclined his head in acknowledgement and then said “And I have not experienced that. What I have experienced is Federation representatives coming here with the best of intentions and then causing more problems than they solve. So both of our perspectives are founded in conflicting histories, but both are valid.” He put his hands in his lap and then said “Perhaps we both should take a more… ‘neutral’… position. You and I will do as we have done thus far. Do the best we can for the people regardless of anything else. We let the Ambassador do what she will, and support her as we are supposed to in so far as she is working to the benefit of the people of Oed. If her actions are beneficial, then we win and I owe you a dinner. If she causes more problems than solves them, we are there to interven and we still win… but you owe me a dinner. Fair enough?”

Hyrushi, Governor

Delight passed through her and onto her face. “Oh, a wager! My we’re making things more interesting already? I thought we’d have to get to the six month mark before we did that. I learn something new everyday,” she said with a throaty chuckle. “You have yourself a deal, Governor.” But the thing was that Eela trusted her instincts about people and after her discussion with Jeanette, she was placing her odds on the Ambassador and her attaché. Humility, after all, said a great deal about people. To admit that you were wrong and work to make amends was not easy and took setting aside your own pride. So in this particular case, she was going to trust that Mathis and Jones were the people to see them through this rather intense turn of events.

Dasca braced her hands on either side of her and pushed herself up carefully. For a moment she studied Kenzo, all too aware that something important had shifted. Somewhere along the way she became a part of this place and Kenzo’s true acceptance of her here felt like Oed’s acceptance, despite his insistence that it wasn’t him that determined these things. He could say it, but she knew better. “Onwards,” she said, feeling a tiny surge of excitement. Yes, these were difficult and potentially treacherous days ahead, but all she knew for sure was that Fate hadn’t brought her to this colony to go down in flames. No, not her, not after everything she’d been through. And in that realization was a helluva lot of hope.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.