Chasing their tails

Posted on Mon Sep 3rd, 2018 @ 3:56pm by Commander Abigail Prescott & Captain Horatio Refelian & Lieutenant Colonel Ethan St Clair JAGC & Commander M'Mira

1,055 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Mission 1: The Return to Faltan
Location: Captain’s Lounge, Command Deck, Falton Station
Timeline: MD05 - 1015

Mint strode into Refelian's office, she'd called M'Mira and the new JAG, whom she'd yet to meet, there to discuss the legal teams getting involved in the Faltan's investigation. Maybe they'd have more luck than the diplomatic team, or maybe the two teams working in tandem could get the ball rolling quickly. As she waited for them to arrive, she began a series of slow deep stretches for her shoulder, as the Doc suggested. It felt stiff, but didn't hurt quite as much as it had the day before, which she was taking as a good sign.

M'Mira strolled into Refelian's office. She knew that Mint was there before M'Mira arrived because of Mint's strong, pungent smell, at least to M'Mira. While M'Mira adored her BFF, M'Mira was having second thoughts regarding taking this post at Faltan Station. She had hoped that she would have been able to repair the station, get it operational and then have a great deal of time for luxurious naps and spoiling. Everything but that had been true. Weariness started to show in the Caitian's eyes. She entered and still managed to say cheerily, "I'm here, Mint."

Mint gave the Caitian woman a warm smile, glad she wasn't in this alone. "Hope you slept well, M'Mira?" she asked more than stated. She finished her stretch and moved to sit on one of the couches. Before the other woman could answer, the door chime went off and Mint called for the person on the other side of the door to enter.

Colonel St Clair arrived at the Captain's Lounge and pressed the chime. Entering when called he nodded to the two women. "Commanders, I hear you require legal advice?"

M'Mira nodded but gave Mint a knowing look. This was her show now. She would speak when necessary and give the appropriate advice as her Acting First Officer but for now, she needed to listen and take in the information that was to be divulged.

"Lieutenant Colonel St Clair," Mint stepped forward and held out her hand. "I'm sorry we have to meet under these circumstances, but it is nice to meet you. Now, as you are fully aware, Captain Refelian was shot yesterday while we were in the Faltan's Government building. They have banned us from assisting in their investigation. I've asked the diplomatic team to speak with the Faltan's, but I want your opinion as well. Is there anything we can do to get in on this investigation, or at the very least make sure it's conducted in good faith?"

"The short answer is no. Under the terms of the treaty signed between the Federation and the Faltans they maintain full sovereignty over the planet, they granted us the use of the land for the station for a period of 100 years. To be blunt we have zero authority the moment we step over the perimeter of the base." The Colonel replied. "The remaining aspects such as the joint medical protocols and aerospace operational guidelines establish framework agreements but they all hinge on Faltans making a request to us for aid."

"Yeah, like that's going to happen," M'Mira replied sarcastically. "I also doubt they will rrrenew a lease."

"Well that's a matter for about 91 years down the road." The Colonel replied. "For now, legally, we have limited avenues."

"Is there anything we can do?" Mint felt completely exhausted already. "Any way we can at least be kept informed of their investigation? I don't like this situation. Someone there attempted to assassinate Captain Refelian and we can do nothing but sit here on our hands and hope they are actually investigating the incident."

"We might be able to make a case for having an observer assigned to the investigative team. Under the Federation Charter, a representative of the Federation can be assigned as an observer to any criminal proceedings that occur on a non-member world but involve Federation citizens. I don't know if the Faltans would go for it but perhaps if we spin it that if they don't let us assign an observe it would anger our political overlords who would then send diplomats and ships to scan their settlements and investigate and suddenly Faltan would be crawling with Federation bureaucrats. " Ethan said, "Make it seem like they can let one little officer watch, or deal with the wraith of Federation bureaucracy."

M'Mira uttered a low growl of contempt. "I tried to do that and they threw my cute tail out of their city without so much as a rain check for a reduced priced manicure."

"Well, those are basically are choices. Unless you're going to go in with force, we are left working the diplomatic and legal channels. The Faltan Civil Aid Society, basically non-profit lawyers who assist the poor when they have legal issues, apparently they had a decent relationship with the previous Starfleet presence. They're regarded pretty well by the Faltans if we can get them on our side it may help. It seems a lot of what's going on with the government is to get the people on their side, they may not want to alienated a group like the FCAS." St Clair suggested.

Shaking her head, M'Mira doubted that would be a good idea. "Mint has already decided that we should play this on the up and up. I think it would be best if she just dirrrrected her plea to the goverrrnorrr. He, at least, seemed mostly rrreasonable. That Deputy Goverrrrnorrr on the other hand...."

"See what you can do, Lieutenant Colonel," Mint frowned. This was not shaping up well at all. "I do not want to damage any relationships. We play this by the books, get what information we can and go from there."

"Aye ma'am, I will contact FCAS see if we can get any traction." The Colonel replied.

"Thank you," Mint said, rubbing her temples. She was starting to get a headache from lack of sleep and over using her brain. "Unless there is anything further, you are both dismissed."

"I'll brief you once I hear back from FCAS." St Clair said with a nod to the two women.

"Thank you," M'Mira told St. Clair. "In the meantime, I still have rrrepairrrs to complete and a Rrrrromulan Ambassador's wife to please." She shuttered as she started to stalk out of the lounge.

 

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