Posted by Ensign Aatami Myasnikov (Helm / Science) in Main Sim - Freedom Colony - Mayoral Building

Posted by Rear Admiral CockRoach (Storyteller) in Main Sim - Freedom Colony - Mayoral Building
[snip]

Carolina spoke up, “..Councilors, with all respect, as we saw the Star Empire had better supply lines at the time during that war. Then what the Coalition did, not to mention they were trying to fight on multiple fronts as you all knew!..” she said.

”..Oh come now Mayor.” Another man said, this on the former Lord Byrons they met earlier. “..The Vulcans from what we heard with their ‘great ships’ hardly contributed to the war effort! Wanting to remain neutral, the Andorians and Tellarites from what we heard were mostly keeping to their own system this Coalition was hardly united as they tried to put up, and Earth’s Starfleet and their MACOs surely werent cut out for defending us alone! I personally can not believe this Federation is any different, same faces, different name, same sad ending if you ask me!” He said.

Carolina it seems didn’t have much to reply with and the grumbles and mutters of the other Councilors in agreement with Byron, the woman and Charles seemed to be putting the meeting against the offer of help.

Naana was getting irritated. Did they think that she and her people did nothing in the war? “Councillors, there are countless families from Andoria, Tellar and Vulcan who have lost people in the war so please stop acting like humanity are special. Perhaps the news didn’t reach all the way to this backwater here but we gave it our all at Cheron and managed to force the Romulans to negotiate. We did that together. Vulcan, Andorian, Tellarite. Human. Infact, that is why the Federation exists. Because it is better to work together than it is to not. The Coalition was an alliance. This is a political and military union. An attack against Andoria is an attack against Earth. An attack against Earth is an attack against Tellar. There are people back home who would love to connect and meet with you again but if you are content to stay alone here then that’s fine. Don’t come crying to us if someone else takes a shining to your world.”

It seems for a moment Naana’s words had so shocked the assembled Concilors into silence!

The doors opened just as Naana was finishing up. Myasnikov took a look around, gauging reactions and trying to assess the overall mood in the room to the Tellerite’s somewhat ‘unconventional’ diplomacy techniques. He assumed by the terseness in her word choice the discussion was going… well, not easily. He moved next to her and said in a normal tone loud enough so those around them could him hear “Um, hey Commander. What did I miss while I was fixing the sensor and comm systems? They are fully functional now, Ma’am. Oh, and the derelict ships are being towed into stable orbit as we speak. That should help these fine people salvage much more efficiently.”

Myasnikov’s entrance seemed to break the sudden dead silence, and Carolina took the moment to speak up, “..Ah Councilors you see? These folks are already helping us with asking for nothing in return. The salvage alone being moved to a stable orbit would mean an easier time for us to stand on our own in the future. Now too with the long and short range comm and sensor systems online we can better prepare to protect ourselves too if we wanted. I am sure their efforts elsewhere would also bore fruit to help us would you not say?” the Mayor said.

There was a moment of mumbling among the Councilors across the table from them, one of the men who had not yet spoken stood up taking the center of attention for now, “…If I may speak then,” He said getting nods from the others, the man seemed in his late 80s maybe early 90s even. Yet still seemed quite hearty for such an old man. “..I remember unlike many of you the days growing up on Earth, times and years not long after the Vulcans first made contact with us. These were times as our history books in the school here at the colony Earth and humanity was still recovering from World War 3 that had almost wiped us out from existence by our own stupidity. Now..” he said hitching his fingers in his worn suspenders, “..I admit I was one of the first to balk at helping the Coalition in the War with those Romulans, and I also admit after the attack felt justified in our agreement with them to remain isolated once more. But it seems to me unlike the Coalition that wanted us to join whether we liked it or not if you ask me, given how forceful that Captain Stimpits was on the SS Colly was. These folks…” he said with a gesture, “..seem a bit more hospitable to me.” he said pausing for a moment.

”..What is your point Councilor?” Lord Byrons said.

”..My point Lord Byron, is that whether we choose to join this new Federation of there’s or not shouldnt matter, what does matter is what form our colony takes in the galaxy around us. Whether we join or not the galaxy will move on around us. We lack any sizable means of expanding without help, and you must admit if the Orions or those Naussicans ever chose to act on their strong arming ‘words of peace’ they keep saying the past months when they ‘were just passing by’, we are ill equipped to defend ourselves. No matter how much you think otherwise..” He went on.

”..Bah, the Orions are but merchants! Tough I admit, but they just want to see their bottom line met, a bit of true negoiations with them would see us cut a fair deal for both parties I am sure!” Byron said.

”..Maybe so, but what about the Naussicans? What if they are not so willing to tow the line that their seemingly Orion masters set hmm?” the old man challenged.

”..Bah, those brutes hardly had the ships to challenge a decently armed Earth Merchant ship before we came out here! Only in groups or whatever were they a threat. We can handle them..” he said.

The old councilor was about to reply again when a chirp came from the XO’s communicator....

OOC: Still waiting on the XO!

Myasnikov cleared his throat and said “Gentlemen, if I may… Orions are not simple merchants. They are known slavers and smugglers. There have been a few… incidents… concerning them over the past years. And it is not out of the realm of possibility that the Naussicans are, perhaps, in their employ. This arraignment would not be uncommon for the two cultures.” and he looked around, trying to get a feel for what the people in the room were feeling.

“I do not say this to try and scare or intimidate you, gentle-people. That is a foolish path that only serves to waste both of our times. I merely want you to have a clear and concise understanding of the cultures you find yourself dealing with. ” and he looked at the XO and then back to the assembly. “Ladies and gentlemen, we were sent here to establish contact and offer any aid that we can. Not to tell you how to live your lives. That being said, you have to acknowledge that your colony is isolated from most other governments and cultures at the moment. But not forever, as our presence and that of the Orions and Naussicans can attest to. These entities are not stagnant in their growth, and you already have evidence that you will not be left alone by some despite your requests. We will honor whatever decision you make. But you need to make your decision based on all the available information.”

“In the years since you last spoke to Earth and it’s allies, many things have changed. Some for the worse, but mostly for the good. We are not perfect, and we are not trying to appear as ‘saviors’ of any kind. You do not need to be saved. You have created a viable and vibrant community that has lasted long on it’s own. We are only offering you a chance to have a voice in what happens beyond your own skies… a say in what effects your future; because what happens out there will undoubtedly effect what happens right here. But we are here only offer you that choice, and to assist you as one neighbor to another. It is up to you to decide. We simply want to be a part of your future, as much as we want you to be a part of ours.”

Myasnikov, Helm / Science

Myasnikov’s reply seemed to mute the mutterings of the Council for a moment, finally the old Councilor that had earlier voiced his thoughts to Byron spoke up, “..Councilors, Mayor Carolina I would make a motion that we call a vote on whether to further accept any help these fine folks might offer us..”

After a pause Byron seeming smug still said, “…Yes I agree, one way or another I would second the vote to end this debating. There are more important things for one of my stature to attend too anyhow!”

”..Very well..” Mayor Carolina said, “..the motion for a vote on the decision of accepting the aide of this Federation of Planets, from the Unity is made, all in favor?” she asked raising her own hand, the old man did also.

After a moment she added, “..All oppose?” she asked. This time Byron, and the other woman with him raised their hand, two to two in each camp, but then surprisingly and perhaps most frustrating to Byron as he glared, the remaining 5 members present spoke up one by one abstaining from voting, abstaining until they had a better read on what this Federation and the Unity could provide and they in exchange provide. “..It would seem for now this call of vote is dead locked, until such time as as clear majority better learns of our future with this Federation. Until then it is my continuing choice that the Unity and the Federation are for now welcome here, and their help if offered is still accepted..”

Byron rose with a ‘bah!’ followed by the other woman both leaving in a huff of annoyance. The rest quietly filed out too after a moment, the older man in support bowing to the group politely with a reply of. “..Until later then..” he said, nodding to Carolina who remained behind.

Another comm chirp echoed from the XO’s comm unit, then followed by another for the rest of the team

GM CockRoach

Myasnikov sighed and looked at the XO as the communicator chirped, then gave a startled look as his own did so as well. He opened the device and said =/\= Myasnikov to Unity. Go ahead. =/\=

Myasnikov, Helm / Science

Wonder what this is =v= This is the XO. Send it.=v=

Lt Cmdr Naana Bav Glindorsh