JDL | Cpt Dhej, Cmdr Rinehart, Princess Xue'Daio, Ambassador Ilex - "Save The Princess, Kick A Droid, Fly The Falcon Through An Asteroid"

Posted on 241504.06 @ 5:28am by Commander Tierney Rinehart & Civilian Xue'Daio Nox & Civilian Pal'Maar Ilex

Mission: Holy Cow

"Rinehart to Dhej, sorry to wake you but there seems to have been a diplomatic issue between the Stenellian Ascendancy and the Romulans. Arrain tr'Verelan has the Princess in holding. I'm on my way." Tierney spoke clearly into her combadge as she power walked the hall with the lift in her sight. Dealing with that green-blooded miscreant was the last thing she'd wanted to do and she silently prayed the arrogant son of a bitch had gone to sleep. "Security." She ordered as she stepped into the lift and sighed heavily, folding her arms and tapping her boot against the floor as it chirped in compliance and sped off.

—

The first thing the Starling noticed when she stepped into the brig was the distinct lack of tr'Verelan. A preemptive glance between the players of this odd little game of political tug of war revealed two security officers, a pissed off male Stenellis, and the albino Princess tucked into a cell. "Oh sweet Jesus." She sighed under her breath and shook her head, holding up her hands to show she was most certainly coming into the situation in peace. "Captain Dhej is on his way, your Majesty. We'll have this sorted out as quickly as possible." She offered and met the body guard's eyes. For the most part he could be deemed a reliable witness. He wasn't one of the Romulan's cronies and, from what she'd ascertained, he was a relatively level headed being, "Want to tell me what happened while we wait?"

Karim groaned as he heard the summons. He'd barely been able to grab 3 or 4 hours sleep, but he knew duty called. Rolling out of bed, he grabbed his combadge off the side table and said "Dhej here. On my way. Out." Without having time to clean up, he slipped into a fresh uniform, brushed his teeth, and made his way to the brig. Entering, he walked over to Rinehart and said quietly "Would you mind explaining to me why a guest of the Federation is currently sitting in one of our brig cells?"

Tienery looked up at the sound of Karim's footsteps and offered him a weak, bemused smile. "I believe Ambassador Ilex was just going to explain that." She said, gesturing to the massive Stenellian male.

Xue watched silently from the cell's cot. Through half open and hardly curious eyes she observed the two new faced enter from stage right, or was it left? One of them was the Captain, the other was a peculiar lavender haired woman that she'd satiate her curiosity about at a later time. For the interum the Princess was more than 'happy' to remain horizontal until she was freed — tired, hungry, and at the high point of done with the entire situation, she'd realized that no amount of pacing and demanding would see to her freedom and energy was too precious of a commodity to waste on these creatures — especially now that she was trying to control and metabolize whatever it was that the Romulan had done to her.

Turning to face the Ambassador, Karim calmly said "What happened Ambassador? Please fill me in on what happened between Princess Nox and Arrian tr'Verelan. I want to know why there was a possible interstellar incident aboard my ship."

"I am unsure of what exactly lead up to this incident, my lady had slipped away unnoticed for a midnight stroll, and when I awoke, I went searching for her as soon as I could. My search led me here where that vile green blooded tyrant had locked her up, insisting that he had no idea where she was getting the idea that she was entitled to diplomatic immunity from, and left her speaking in tongues," Pal'Maar insisted. "I am worried for her well being, I am worried that such a man who lets his delusions of power go to his head is in charge of the security your ship is supposed to provide, and I am worried about the extended period of time I have been awaiting assistance to set this matter to rights. In the end, I am very disappointed in the welcome we have received aboard your ship." Pal'Maar sighed deeply, crossing his arms and looking down upon the spotted Captain and the purple haired one. His gaze lingered on her longest, curious about the familiar and alien way she looked at once.

Tierney met Pal'Maar's eyes with a raised eyebrow in response to his lingering gaze, firmly tightening her trademark throw around her shoulders, "Speaking in tongues?" She asked incredulously, "I assure you that the Arrain is likely just dotting his 'I's and crossing his 'T's, but we'll have the situation looked at in greater detail and review ship logs to see just what we can ascertain from them concerning the issue." The Starling did everything she could not to sigh. The Romulan was leaving more and more of a bitter taste in her mouth and she looked to Karim for a measure of strength, "I believe the first thing we should do is release the Princess to your care, Ambassador and follow through with our investigation without impeding on your privacy." She offered diplomacy in the face of great ire, knowing Karim would believe the same. "And extend our extreme apologies for the situation. Sometimes different cultures clash and there's no amount of foresight that can prepare us for that." Her shoulders raised slightly in punctuation of her point, "The Arrain is a recent transfer from the Romulan Star Empire... They handle things with anything but a gentle or delicate hand. Be assured he was trying his best to handle things in the correct way." It almost physically hurt the young Commander to say such a thing, to praise the Shadowprince for anything he'd ever done or would do in the future. It was abundantly clear, however, that something had gone drastically wrong. She cast an eye to the silent Princess, watching as she rose from her cot and smoothed out the elaborate coral and ivory colored robes that she wore.

"Forego the investigation." Xue'Daio commanded gently, holding one delicate palm up. "It was nothing more than a misunderstanding between cultures, as you said." She said, coming to rest just out of the force field's biting reach. "No harm, no foul. Simply time wasted and experience earned."

Tierney could hardly believe her ears, her jaw dropped slightly. This was the one chance she had to end the Romulan's stay on the Enterprise, to rid herself of him for good -- and the sparkly albino diplomat was disinterested in throwing the book at him. Something had gone horribly wrong, indeed. "Did he threaten you into this decision?" She asked, stepping around the mountain of a body guard to stand in front of the Princess.

Face to face with the 'worthless ilk' of her people, Xue couldn't help but take inventory of the other woman for herself. Up close and in person, it was ever so easy to see the traits of both halves of her blood. Most of her was uniquely Stenellis, though tempered by more of a blush to her skin and squarenes to her jaw that seemed to promise a ready degree of strength. She'd need it, the Princess smirked. "Threaten me into doing something?" She scoffed and rolled her eyes, "Hardly. I would simply rather not see someone injured for racial differences." Xue's blush colored eyes bore into the blue of the Intel officer's as if to direct her point straight home. "Release me. Send whatever texts you need to send to the Romulan boy, and call the matter tabled. Neither the Stenellian Ascendancy or the Romulan Star Empire need to hear of it... Or else there will be an interstellar incident none of us will be able to end or control. He is of the house of the Praetor. I am the crowned heir to the throne. I'm sure you can see why this needs to be squashed and left alone."

Biting back a sigh of frustration, Karim took a moment to calm himself before replying. Calmly, but firmly, he replied "I will agree to let the matter drop and release you subject to a few conditions. Firstly, any and all concerns or disagreements regarding my crew will be brought to me directly and addressed. Secondly you will refrain from referring to any member of my crew in a derogatory, belittling, or rude fashion. You will not use any words or phrases that are offensive regarding their species, background or abilities. Any deviation from these conditions will result in an immediate request for both of you to leave my ship. Furthermore I will report the incident to both the Federation and your government." Pausing, he held a hand up to ward off any comments, and added "Think carefully how you respond to these conditions. Unless the next phrase is yes, of course Captain or a variation thereof, you will remain where you are. Am I understood?"

"Yes, of course Captain." The Albino smiled demurely, wrapping her lips around each word and syllable. There was a darkness in those pretty pink eyes as she leveled her gaze on the Trill, one that was best left found in the glare of a hungry jungle cat and not painted within the glittering fathoms of a young woman. He was a nothing. An impotent flea nipping at the hide of a pariah hound, and she wouldn't be thwarted by his indignant protest against the power that flowed so succinctly through her pink tinted veins.

Tierney watched, her head turning to face towards the Captain even though her eyes remained on the Princess, her brow knit with a mixture of frustration and concern as she watched what happened. Threatening the diplomat of a nation considered by every known Intelligence operative to be dangerous at best seemed risky and irrational, but he spoke more as a father ready to lay down an ass whooping on an insolent teenager than as a Captain and she couldn't help but clear her throat to contain a chuckle and smile. Ducking in close behind Karim's shoulder, being sure to block her lips and face from eyes that may be able to read them, she whispered; "Let it go." and nothing more, praying he knew and would understand where she was coming from even though she legally couldn't say anything more on the matter a foot.

Nodding slightly, he called to the officer on duty and said "Lieutenant Collins, release Princess Xue, and please escort our guests to their quarters." As the trio left, and were out of earshot, he sagged against the bulkhead and quietly said "I'm sorry, Tierney."

Watching them all slink off into the night, Tierney rested beside Karim and found his arm with her hand. "Why? You put her in her place." She chuckled lightly, "Half the crew is terrified of her, but..." The Starling sighed, "I worry. We're supposed to be protecting the Federation's interests with the Ascendancy and so far all of the intelligence reports coming in are saying that we need to remain friendly. A war between the Romulans and the Stenellis wouldn't be a good thing. It would spread, first by dragging in the rest of the Ascendancy members and we just haven't the foggiest idea as to who they are. It could be the start of another Dominion scenario." She mused, turning to catch Karim's eyes. "My suggestion is that you report what she said, that there was an issue but it was all a minor cultural misunderstanding that was resolved amicably. Fluff it. Sign it. Send it, and keep a sharp eye on interactions between the two of them from here on out."

Nodding, Karim sighed and said "I just reacted to their pompous attitudes. I kept myself polite, but I was sick of their attitude. I will file a report on what happened, and move on." Pausing he smirked and said "You did very well defusing the situation Tierney. Have you ever thought of a career change to the diplomatic corps?"

"Good. That's the best course of action." The Starling patted his arm before rubbing it, letting the tired Captain know she was on the same page he was. "Diplomatic corps?" She parroted with the hefting of her eyebrow, "Not for all the tea in the galaxy, Karim. Dealing with over privileged teenagers and pompous royals just doesn't bode well for my sanity." Tierney chuckled brightly and shook her head. "C'mon Karim, let's get a cup of tea and a slice of pie. I've heard rumor that the key lime variety in the main lounge is really out of this world."

Smiling, he replied "That sounds great. Maybe I'll get some relaxing tea to help me sleep after we're done." Pausing he said "Remind me to share my recipe for ukaberry pie, I mean, one of Dhej's previous hosts recipes."

"I don't plan on letting you forget." She chuckled and slowly began to lead the way, knowing he'd fall into stride beside her.

---

Captain Karim Dhej
Commanding Officer
USS Enterprise NCC 1701-F

&

Commander Tierney Rinehart
Chief Intelligence Officer/Second Officer
USS ENTERPRISE, NCC 1701-F

&

Xue'Daio Nox
Crowned Princess of the Stenellian Ascendancy
Lady of Aleine
Regent of Apsha
Stenellian Ambassador to the Federation

&

Pal'Maar Ilex
Caste leader; Makta
Royal Guard