Ask away

Posted on Fri Feb 22nd, 2019 @ 5:23am by Candy Templeton & Dreyem Taga
Edited on on Mon Mar 11th, 2019 @ 2:28pm

1,955 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Mission 2: Into The Breach
Location: Captain’s Lounge and Governor Taga's office
Timeline: MD05 - 1951

The Starfleet visitors left the office as Dreyem turned her attention to the one that stayed behind. Candy Templeton, the woman was a beast when it came to news reporting and Dreyem was not going to let that get to her, she learned quite a bit from her own reports on the woman and the news article she gracefully published about Captain Refelian. Let's see what she has in store "Miss Templeton, you seized the opportunity to get my attention. I am impressed by your tact, but I do have also an agenda, so time is not on your side.”

Candy bowed her head momentarily acknowledging the situation. “I appreciate your time, Governor. So much has happened in such a short time and I was hoping that you would illuminate some issues. I also was hoping that you would permit me the ability to come and go so I could investigate your claims and those of StarFleet’s more thoroughly. Unfortunately, as you heard, StarFleet did not take kindly to my very thorough report on their officers at the station. Apparently, they claim to value the freedom of the press only when it is convenient to them. I trust the same is not true of your government.”

“Is that so?” Dreyem looked at the woman curiously and wondered what her first attempt would be. “Well, freedom of press is something to be valued on Faltan. You are free to walk in our cities. But I do state this with certain urgency, do not interfere with any Faltean business.” Dreyem knew that the urge was too high for this woman to comply with that very request. It was after all in her nature to be picky on getting what she wants.

"I would never dream of directly interfering with Faltean business," Candy said honestly. After all, my job is to get information and report it. "Can you tell me what the StarFleet officers were doing in your territory? Do you have any idea what they might be looking for?" she asked sweetly.

“That is something you need to ask them, Miss Templeton, if I would knew, I would have had a better reason to throw them in my prison. Thought maybe I was to nice to Commander Prescott to give her those officers back. I mean the incidents tend to pile up.” looking at Candy, Dreyem smiles “Something you concluded already.”

"Are there current or ongoing incidents that you are aware of, Governor?" Candy asked sweetly.

Looking a bit curious at her “There are various incidents going on, the government is trying to rebuild our lost contacts in the west and somewhat smaller incidents in our cities. But nothing we can handle ourselves “ Dreyem was not lying, just confirming what was already known.

"What kind of incidents? Why are they occurring? I would have thought that your government was very stable. Though, I understand that you just came to power. Untimely death of your predecessor, I believe. What was the cause of death? It seems rather sudden for a man who Refelian's crew say was in good health when they were here."

Dreyem smirked. She knew that the woman was playing tactful. “Incidents do not per definition connect to lack of governmental power miss Templeton. It is not worth mentioning what they are and even do, they are of Faltean concern, not of outsiders” She placed an extra tone on that large word “Our biological setup is something not fully understandable by Starfleet. Don’t let their judgement mislead you miss, you should know better. But my predecessor sudden death is unexpected and I respect the family choice to keep the way of his death confidential. It is after all in our culture a sacred thing to not talk about one passing.”

"Why do you believe that your biology is beyond the understanding of StarFleet?" Candy asked curiously. "Do you not believe that its technology and medical science is the equal of yours?"

Letting a moment of quiet come in the room as Dreyem continues “Starfleet might have the technology to scan our people and make their judgement. But so far I know that our planetary jamming system prevents any of these scans. Plus we see it as an personal invasion of our privacy.“

Privacy again. Everything is private to Taga. Does that not make things seriously convenient? "I am sorry. I did not mean to intrude. However, it is a requirement of my profession to ask questions. It is a foreign way for me to think, with everything being so private. It would seem to make things very difficult for a civilized society to know things, at least to this admitted outsider. Would there be a way that someone like me could learn more? I would hate to think that any question that I would ask would be a breach of privacy."

“Mmm” Dreyem let out as she rubbed her chin. “Your best bet is to go to Jaifnard. It is a mining city north of here, the people there might be able to answer some questions and yet those that they don’t find in breach of their privacy,“ a way to get the reporter away.

In other words, they are all loyalists, Candy considered. Of course, if I want more information, it is best to play along for now. Sometimes, one can find information even when someone is trying to hide it. And, if I do not, no loss. It will give him more confidence in me. "I will definitely make a point of going there before my master, Mint, forces me back. You heard her threat, as well as I did," she said with a visible shudder. That was really good, Candy. That was a nice touch, the shudder.

"Tell me, Governor, do you have any relationships with other groups than the Federation? I mean, we all know that your predecessor leased the land with the Station to Starfleet. But it would seem that if I were in your position, I might want to have relations with other groups, like the Romulans or Cardassians or maybe even Klingons or Ferengi."

“There is another misconception, my predecessor never leased it. It was longer ago that someone thought it was wise to create a deal with Starfleet to give them that land or as you call it leasing it. As for the other empires, we only have interest in our fellow Raeya Sector Block people. Romulans and Klingons have there own problems to deal with...”

"So, what is your position with regard to the Station, then? And what would you know of the problems of the Romulans and Klingons if you are solely concerned with the people in the Raeyan Block?" Candy asked acutely.

She thinks a moment on that as Dreyem blinks a few times as if she was actually thinking "It is a thorn in my side, the people of Faltan demand it to be removed from our soil and yet I am bound to the 100 Act, a silly contract that was made between my old predecessor and Starfleet that grants them that soil Miss Templeton" Dreyem spoke "The Romulan Empire has their own fush to deal with in their chaotic state of space, while the Empire is dealing with a civil war. They are of no concern to us as of yet."

"Yet?" Candy asked curiously. "That implies that you expect them to be a concern in the future. What exactly do you see your position in this block, Governor?" She's a megalomaniac.

The woman was dissecting everything she was saying, Dreyem had some level of respect for that "The forces in the Raeya Sector Block are in continuous movement, Miss Templeton. I got no mirror or some device to know what the future might bring in regards to diplomatic status with the other species. Faltan III, one of the big three within the Reaya Sector Block, will stay strong on its mining operations in the region."

She's being evasive. There's something there. "But you must have some thoughts. I understand that you cannot predict the future but one who does not plan for it could be caught unawares."

The woman was fishing, typical for a news hunter like her "I can't give you a clear answer on that Miss Templeton, so rewording the question won't help" Dreyem spoke with a blink and stayed quiet further until "Anything else you want to know?"

"Many things," Candy admitted. "However, perhaps I could speak to some other members of your government to find them out. I would hate to continue taking up your time. You seem to have so many things to be doing." Let her chew on that.

Dreyem smiles at her and tapped on her side panel “Who do you desire to talk with miss Templeton? I can make the right arrangements for you “ she knew that the whole staff was hand selected by herself and knew their loyalty.

The right arrangements? In other words, you only want me to talk to the people who are loyal to you. "Perhaps I can look through the government list and find the people that I am interested in."

Looking at the reporter for a few seconds as she finally smiled “As you wish, but don’t be disappointed if they decline you. We are running a government here” Dreyem pointed out “Now if there is nothing else, I still have other appointments."

"Of course you do," Candy replied politely. "I merely was under the impression that you had some other things for which you desired my presence. Certainly, it was not just to report on two insignificant Starfleet individuals making an incursion into your territory."

Crossing her hands over each other and looking curiously at her "What would you offer in regards to news that is interesting enough for me to actually be able to use?" Dreyem blinked at her a bit.

"That all depends on what you believe to be useful and what morsels you are willing to parse out for me," Candy replied, now certain there was much more to the Governor than met the eye.

Nodding slowly to her "I am slowly getting a bit tired of this guessing game. Spill it out miss Templeton, I got places to be" Dreyem spoke and looked at the time "Actually I got to leave for Reaya III soon..." Dreyem smirks and exhaled a bit annoyed.

"What will you be doing on Reaya III? It certainly seems a lot less lively than here. Can you really afford that with all of the problems going on here?" Candy inquired.

Taking a deep breath "I am not going to explain every action I am doing, but for your information, it is a regular meeting between governors of the Raeya Sector Block. Discuss topics that have an effect on our planets" Dreyem explain "Now, not be rude, but I do have more to do Miss Templeton."

"I perfectly understand," Candy replied pleasantly. "If you could just transport me to Jaifnard, then...?"

"...of course miss Templeton, enjoy your stay at Jaifnard" Dreyem spoke with a smile on her face looking at her. The woman made her exit as Dreyem sighs as the door closes and she received the signal from her assistant that she left the floor "That woman is going to be problem ma'am?" Dreyem looked at her side seeing a man stood there "Vokti...no she will not. Actually she is playing right into our hands. Go and inform Aasag that miss Templeton is coming" The man nodded and stepped backward only to disappear in the shadow.

 

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