Posted by Civilian Cort Belanger (Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.) in Sloane Square- Contemplations (open)

Posted by Civilian Joseph Karlson (Police Commissioner) in Sloane Square- Contemplations (open)

Posted by Civilian Cort Belanger (Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.) in Sloane Square- Contemplations (open)
Posted by… suppressed (6) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Joseph considered the question, taking the time to finish the first half of his sandwich “I think I might, at least long enough to see things grow green again. I’ve been considering getting some land to settle down on whenever I retire, since space is at a premium on Earth and Trill me and Neema always considered settling down on a colony” He paused then smiled “I guess it depends on how much my grandchildren enjoy being here.”

Commissioner Karlson

“The terraforming would certainly be something to bear witness to, for sure.” Cort was quiet for a moment, gathering his thoughts., things he hadn’t been ready to admit to anyone else, let alone himself. “I think I can see myself staying here, you know, settling down, getting married, maybe having kids. I could see that happening here, but I’m not sure when exactly that changed,” he said with a chuckle.

Cort Belanger, Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.

Joseph smiled “I know the feeling, sometimes it just hits you, the need or want to start a family. There’s something about Oed that I find fascinating, for me it’s the challenge of building a fringe civilization. Why live in paradise when you can create it.”

Commissioner Karlson

Cort nodded. “I definitely think there is something to that. For me though family is complicated. Are you close with yours? I’ve gone great lengths to get distance from mine.” He almost laughed given how far he was from Vega, and that he had originally joined the Federation Red Cross to get out from their reach.

Cort Belanger, Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.

Joseph nodded slowly “Oh yes quite, both parents and in-laws. Four children five grandchildren. My brother of course and his daughter, then a whole cadre of cousins and whatnot. Although I left for the Marines the day I turned eighteen I always stayed in contact with my family. I had quite a privileged life back on Earth, I grew up in the thirties, a very calm period compared to the next few decades.” He started the second half of his sandwich “So bad family life?” He asked

Commissioner Karlson

Cort shook his head. “No, not the way you might be thinking. Mine too was very privileged. But therein lay the problem. With great privilege comes high expectations and I just reached a point where I didn’t feel the need to try to fulfill them anymore. I left home looking for space to find my own path, and it worked. Rather well.” Cort snorted ever so slightly.

Cort Belanger, Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.

Joseph nodded “I get that, known more than a few people who did not feel that need. I suppose my meaning of privilege was somewhat different. Do you stay in contact with your family?”

Commissioner Karlson

Cort nodded. “I do. I have a generally good relationship with them so long as we keep our conversations very general and we don’t delve into personal topics. It just works better for everyone. Not that they would think to ask very personal questions but…” He shrugged. “I have a grandmother I’m more close with though. I do try to call her separately when I can.”

“You sound close with yours.”

Cort Belanger, Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.

Joseph considered the statement as he consumed the sandwich “I suppose so, now mind you, my parents are reaching their hundred-year mark soon. But I’ve always had a decent relationship, my mother was a Marine, she took the enlisted route whereas I went through Officer training. My father ran a bar most of his life, and never really left Earth.” Joseph chuckled “They refuse to leave Earth, citing the fact that their reaching their hundredth year, I can promise you this, they’re healthier than half the residents of the Tower”

Commissioner Karlson

Cort grinned. “You know, I can believe it. And they know what they want- That I can understand too. It does seem to me that by the time you reach a certain age you’ve earned the right to have things how you like it, if you’re able. Life goals, right?”

Cort Belanger, Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.

Joseph chortled “I’ve been at that age for a while now and let me tell you, it’s fantastic, haven’t let a Vulcan smartmouth me in ages. It’s funny how respect for the elderly is almost a universal thing” Although he spoke about being in his seventies he did not look it, it was a popular topic of gossip on Oed how he hadn’t seemed to age in the decade since he’d first arrived and even then how he hardly looked over mid fifty.

Commissioner Karlson

Cort considered the man. “You don’t find yourself needing to play the public opinion game in order to do your job here well? Or does past experience give you enough clout that people let you do your thing?”

Cort Belanger, Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.

Joseph smiled at the question. It was a good question, especially for a place as politically volatile as Oed V where careers were made and ended on the sharp edge of public opinion “I have two things in my favour with the public, the first is that I’m not a former Starfleet Officer, and ten years ago that made all the difference, Fleeter and Civilian relations were at the lowest point since they were originally stationed here after the Asteroid, Starfleet Security was immensely unpopular and the Governor had just been assassinated.” He tapped his thigh as he thought back, it had been chaotic, panic-inducing and some of the most fun he’d had since the war. “Although I was criticized it was more fair than some other former Fleeters received for similar actions taken” He took a small bite and chewed

“The second thing in my favour was a few years ago when the then Governor was kidnapped, Starfleet went to the rescue so the local criminal elements decided now was a good time to attempt a coup, just cause chaos. They started a riot, took hostages, wanton destruction. I declared a state of emergency and started cleaning up. By the end of the night, two of the largest organized syndicates on Oed were no more, the third never recovered and the fourth” He half smiled “Well they maintained a truce and didn’t participate. By the end, I had the leader of the so-called coup cornered, and things had quieted down enough that the press had managed to get several good shots of the arrest” At that thought Joseph smiled a toothy grin, the smile of a predator “So I tossed a sword at him and told him if he could beat me he could leave without being stopped. Oed saw a sixty-year-old man beat a man half his age, him with a sword and me with a cane.” He looked at Cort “Generals don’t fight on the front lines, it’s a risk to the command structure, whoever is in command is needed to make decisions and stay safe. People don’t understand this but they do understand a dramatic fight man against man and all that macho nonsense” He didn’t say it out loud but it was clear that that fight was a stunt.

“Every now and then whenever public opinion goes against me someone always brings up the time that the Commissioner fought for Oed.” He chuckled “That paired with rather popular police reform and increased cooperation with other agencies. I make it known that I’m to old and too impatient to play political games which buys me all the political capital I need.”

Commissioner Karlson

Cort grinned. “I’m sure it does. And I feel I’ve seen a lot more government workers less inclined to play the games people want them to, my boss included. I will say it is rather refreshing. I did aid work for a time, and the worst places were the ones where either the government leaders didn’t have the ability to get anything done without kowtowing to someone else, or there was simply plain corruption. For all its complications and nuances, Oed has always been rather up front and in your face about its expectations. The leaders who thrive are the ones that understand that. Or so it seems to me.” Cort was enjoying the conversation and finding a nice break from the chaos and stress that swirled around them all right now.

Cort Belanger, Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.

Joseph nodded in agreement “This is even more obvious with the new direction the government is in, less Starfleet overall involvement, the declaration to the Federation, the creation of several new local agencies. I haven’t seen such a proactive approach in years, I have high hopes for our top brass.”

Commissioner Karlson