Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Live from the Government Tower

Posted by Civilian Ana Caputo (Governor’s Chief of Staff) in Live from the Government Tower

Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Live from the Government Tower
Posted by… suppressed (7) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Eddie smiled and nodded. “There are things you can say, and things you can’t. I get it. If you don’t object, let’s get started.” He pressed record.

“Hello there everyone, to the first and already a special edition of ‘Out of the Dome’. That’s right, we came up with the title before the dome was opened, but I think it still works. Here with me today is none other than our Lieutenant Governor, Eela Dasca. Welcome to the show.”

-Podcasters

“Thank you for having me,” she said. “I’m honoured to be your first guest. I’ve never done anything quite like this but I think it’ll be a really interesting experience.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

“I certainly hope so.” Eddie said with a coy smile. “Now. You’ve been Lieutenant Governor for, certainly longer than it seems, but how long exactly?”

-Podcasters

“About four months now. Though you’re right, it feels a lot longer,” she said with a chuckle. “I’m not sure if it’s being in on place for a longer duration or the job itself, but I definitely lose my sense of time.” Eela folded her arms on the table, her demeanour relaxed.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

“I’ve heard that before, from people in politics. It’s hard to tell a Tuesday from a Saturday without checking because every day is some degree of workday.” Eddie matched her relaxed behavior. “Do you think you and the Governor make a good team?”

-Podcasters

“I do,” Eela said with a smile that translated through her voice. “On the surface it might seem that both the Governor and I are unusual choices for our roles, and perhaps we are, but I think that’s what makes us rather effective. We both have had a variety of experiences and we bring that to the table every day.”

She paused, thinking through the rest of her response. “When I arrived, it was during the protest following the events surrounding the attack on Harris and Holloway’s shuttle. So I got to see first hand how the Governor handled an intense situation like that, which is not something you always get to have. And during our first meeting we were very open and honest about our expectations and the issues that Oed was dealing with. A couple days later he got to see how I handled a potential crisis on my end and so very quickly we were able to understand how the other operated. And I can tell you from experience that being able to figure that out quickly is rare and not easy. I attribute that to our ability to be bluntly honest wth each other and listen. We don’t always agree, but we do factor in the other person’s perspective. And that allows us to be a team, not just a leader and the person next-in-line supporting them.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Eddie nodded thoughtfully. He liked the Lieutenant Governor. Unlike a lot of political figures she gave something resembling an answer when asked a question. “Politically, the Lieutenant Governor is often seen as a figurehead, someone who exists to look good and wait to inherit the big job. If you and Governor Hyrushi make such a strong team, how does that change your role and how does Starfleet figure into that?”

-Podcasters

“So, there are aspects to our jobs that we operate more independently on, things that are more strictly our own domains, as it were. Starfleet is one of those for me. But, we make great use of that funny little thing called communication,” she said with small chuckle. “And because we talk to each other a lot, we know what’s going on in the other person’s realm. We offer feedback where needed and where areas are more general we make those decisions together.”

She was finding her groove and really, this was what Eela had hoped for: a conversation. “Now, Starfleet is a bit of an odd beast for me these days, because obviously I’m not an active duty officer anymore. That’s why we brought Captain McBride in as Commanding Officer. We then shifted my role to that of Commander-in-Chief. I liaise with Starfleet Command, and McBride and I run Starfleet Operations here on Oed as our own team. It actually works quite well, all told, and I believe that’s because I am not the same as the others who have come before. And once people could start to see that I was here to roll up my sleeves and do real work with everyone, I think they’ve been more willing to go along with this unusual set-up.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Eddie didn’t wish to seem confrontational as he proceeded, but journalism required pursuing answers. “The Governor has gone on record declaring that the Federation needs to ask permission to use OED space. Is it ever a problem that, as much as you are a colonial political figure, you have significant connections and authority within the Federation? Have you considered or been asked to step wholly away from Starfleet?”

-Podcasters

Eela arched a brow, though as ever such a gesture was masked by her forehead ridges and bulges. “Well, for starters, that statement to the Federation Council was made by both of us. It bears both our names. And that is an important point because it goes back to the point I made about us being a team. The Governor didn’t make the decision to even write a statement and declare our position on these matters alone. We made it together, considering all the possible ramifications for both of us and our duties, and on Oed and the Federations as well. So if anything, my status as a former Starfleet officer is a help rather than a hindrance. I know how it as an organization operates, and I understand the BS that can come along with bureaucracy.”

“Undoubtedly an insider perspective could prove invaluable.” Eddie said.

“Now, I don’t know quite what you mean by stepping away. I’m retired. I’m not in reserve and they can’t recall me. Starfleet doesn’t give me orders in the way you might be assuming. And quite frankly if I had wanted to I could have accepted a promotion and taken an administrative position within the brass. I did not. It wasn’t what I wanted. I was a starship captain and being out in space was what I wanted for my life. I couldn’t have that as I had had and so I walked away.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Eddie had the distinct sense he had struck a nerve somewhere adjacent to where his point actually lay. “Now hang on. In the course of this conversation you’ve changed your relationship with Starfleet from ‘not an active duty officer’ to ‘retired.’ The two are different, at least from where I’m sitting. In either case, you are in charge of Starfleet Operations, and the principal point of contact for Starfleet Command, so I don’t think it’s out of line to ask if you’ve considered, or been asked, to set aside your Starfleet roles and become a solely civilian political figure.”

-Podcasters