Complicated
Posted on Tue Jul 4th, 2023 @ 9:10am by Seshi Macae & Caithlin t'Leiya
Edited on on Wed Aug 9th, 2023 @ 4:40am
2,245 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
Pressure
Location: Sumi Saloon
Timeline: MD -05 : 1503 Hrs
It came as a surprise to Seshi that the Romulan ambassadors she was hosting were easier to get along with than she was set up to believe. The only person who seemed to be of the belief that Romulans were likely one of the easier races to not offend was her son, who confessed to only meeting a grand total of maybe ten of them in his life.
At least they were not Klingons. Seshi was fairly certain she was not going to be able to keep up with that energy.
But this Romulan delegation was from the current Free State. She knew little of the inner workings of the politics behind that statement. Even with the Federation's wealth of knowledge behind the topic, she decided it would be much easier to get a more experienced source than the Federation's Diplomatic Database. Files and paperwork could only tell her so much.
"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me," she stated to her Caithlin, whom she had guided to a private room well in the back of the Saloon itself. The bar had seen an uptick of business since the 'Bubble Poppenining,' if only from the sort who were inspired by swords and sorcery. She may not have shared the sentiment, but the back rooms were going to be perfect for the solitude they desired, and snacks if they felt peckish. "I want to make sure that if the ambassadors agree to start a settlement here, it is as seamless as possible, but I'm not certain of the inner workings of the Romulan political climate as of the moment. I'd rather not accidentally stick Haumea into a tense situation. The colony tends to do that all on it's own."
"Depending on what they intend, that is unavoidable." Caithlin's voice was flat in a deliberate way. "The political climate..." She hesitated, as her hand flipped the switch on the tiny jamming device inside one pocket, considering: This was the sort of information she by reflex preferred not to reveal, especially to an outside party. Those first months and years first revealing some of it to Federation intelligence had been a pain and shame she simply had to live with. More recent developments over the last few years, however...Exactly who and what was an outsider or not was shifting in complicated ways as she and her family had taken their oaths of Federation citizenship, but also as more of her own kind did similar, gaining residency or citizenship alike and leaving her feeling sometimes as if now any duties to her people could be fulfilled still through some mode of defense of those who had sworn, through choice or necessity, to the same flag she now had.
Caithlin's words picked up again after a moment with a sigh. "...Is complicated. Of the various successor states to come out of the collapse of the Empire, perhaps the two most well-known, largest, and best organized are the Free State and the Republic. They are not fond of one another; though both have relations of a sort with the Federation. There are likewise various other smaller players, and areas of disputed space. If the Free State is attempting to settle people here, my first instinct is to advise against it: They are back heavily by the Tal'Shiar, as an overall entity; who hold significant political influence within; more significant than in the Empire even. It would not be beyond them in the slightest to settle agents or observers here disguised as ordinary settlers. That said - " Caithlin paused again; and all her obligations warred with one another: To protect her kin; versus the lingering embers of feeling the need to protect her people overall. " - some of what my brother-in-law has gleaned seems to indicate that they may in this case be seeking to settle elements they find undesirable, and wish to be rid of; or feel themselves unable to control or provide for in the longer term and so feel they would do better without. If so, that might be worth considering."
"Precisely why I asked - oh, are you hungry? I'm not sure of anyone's dietary concerns, but I hear we have a guest chef from somewhere in the Alpha Quadrant who's had praises lauded in pubs across galaxies. Not that that necessarily fares well outside of pubs." Seshi gave a small chuckle, before settling her hands on the table in front of her. "But, that was what I was concerned with. Having whispers of Tal Shiar spies in the colony - whether this group means well or not, is likely going to cause a potential riot. Again. And it's one I would like to avoid."
Seshi smiled. "But the idea of expanding this planet's habitability is ideal for a number of reasons; commerce, diplomatic relations, all of that. My current concern is the lack of leadership of the colony. An absence of a figurehead has had many coming to call as if they were going to take over themselves. Not that I expect this group is, but this is also not the first time we've had this request. This is simply the most pleasant to work with at the moment."
"Not the first time? Of what other sorts have requested to settle here of late, then?" Caithlin said curiously.
"Oh, you know," Seshi started, gesturing toward one of the wait staff to come over. "Aside from Federation groups who want to locate themselves outside of Haumea, there is the Bolian Culinary Symposium who wants to host events, and I've had a number of gifts from Cardassian and Bajoran outreach embassies, though I'm not entirely certain those are requests to settle. The Gorn have been rather pushy as well. I have quite a few more, and I'd be happy to have another set of eyes on it. Most of the other council members are currently installed on a temporary basis. Or, well, they would be permanent if they agreed upon it."
"The Cardassians and the Gorn would both hate this place; I've been warned about the local winters after all." Caithlin's tone seemed to imply that she found it a positive in both cases that the species in question would probably not be showing up anytime soon due to their respective cold aversions. "As for the Council; if no one on it is actively trying to eliminate anyone else on it; you're ahead of the game." She shrugged her eyebrows up and down.
"We don't have time for political intrigue on this colony," Seshi stated in jest, "We're too busy making sure we're not sent back in time, or the local wildlife isn't trying to eat our homes." She rolled her eyes. The new 'designer' thought that people could domesticate a mineral-eating pest had her concerned, no matter how cute the pest was. "But we would also have to have solid members of the Council to exist. There have been talks to elect a Civilian Director, but the headache that would cause- Which is why I'd like to see if we can viably live amicably with this group before any elections become a reality. The last thing I think any of us desire is to dangle a supposed group of 'others' in the middle of some political back and forth. Regardless of political affiliation, they simply want to find a home."
"Rarely is anything actually 'regardless' of political affiliations. Whether or not anyone has time for it, it is generally a constant of the universe throughout space and time that it exists. It merely takes different forms." And those who cannot recognize and adapt to those forms when they change...inevitably wind up on the losing side of them, Caithlin appended silently to herself.
"Yes, but one can remain hopeful," Seshi mused. "But that's why I've been playing diplomat, to make sure I'm aware of it all. As good as everyone's intentions seem to be, there is a vulnerability on this colony. And I'm certain it has not gone unnoticed by anyone aware of this colony's existence." The number of talks she had were indicative of that. "That being said, having someone who is more experienced in politics that I am not myself experienced in is quite a relief, especially considering how volatile the opinions on groups such as the Tal Shiar seem to be. If the Free State is associated with them, I do believe the caution is well-worth it. But, if I may... setting aside the rest of the colony, what of you and your family? Would bringing this group pose any sort of trouble for you?"
"Potentially; depending on its nature and makeup." Caithlin considered exactly what was and was not beneficial to share, and how. "The general consensus of most of the Tal'Shiar is that I should be dead; and while I seem to have slipped far enough down the target list in the last ten years to have avoided it to date; should they manage to place an agent on the colony, he or she will attempt to make good on that. Outside of them...once again, it's complicated."
There were other elements and political enemies or members or society beyond just the Tal'Shiar who would wish her dead for one reason or another; either for old vendettas or for a more recent, blanket vengeance on any who had been in power in the past. There were also, she knew, those who would still seek to look to her as a source of guidance, power, or support. And plenty, likely, that if they truly sought to settle in the Federation, would perhaps simply no longer care one way or another, either.
"I would wish to vet any potential arrivals very carefully, before approving them." Caithlin continued. "Likely I would wish to run them by others, as well." Exactly which others she left unsaid; but she found it likely her silent protectors in Federation intelligence that she had sold herself to a decade prior would be more than willing to put themselves to the task. "But within those cautions, I am unwilling to advise against allowing any of our people to settle here. There are many who still need a home." It was, in the end, something she could not do; to entirely turn away from the people she had been taught to guide and protect at her grandmother's knee; nor could she see herself living the rest of her own life and the lives of her children without any contact with others of their own kind. Nearly ten years among aliens had only reinforced to her that such avoidance could be a temporary measure; but could not be the long game; it was untenable to call such isolation living if it was meant to be life for the next century and a half.
"Oh I had no thought in the slightest of simply saying yes without multiple layers of verification." A waiter returned with a charcuterie plate, filled with oddball cheeses and meats that were very clearly picked by someone with more experience in smokey, bold flavors. The waiter made a swift retreat, promising to return with some form of beverage or another. Seshi shook her head, but continued on. "Diplomatic relations I can do, but the security and technical matters behind much of those movements require a more experienced eye or so to look into, especially after the chaos that seems to happen here. The last thing we need is to discover that Haumea ended up a stop on any political party's major resupply list. From anyone at all, really. But if it happens that you discover that this group is going to put you and your family in danger, I can make calls. There are other places they can look into. I would not want to turn them away, but you and your family are part of the colony as much as any other family settling here." She offered a smile. "So, that being said, would you like to vet them in person?"
"Eventually. But initially, no; generally if you suspect a man of perhaps wishing to kill you, it behooves you to verify or disprove it from a distance." Caithlin grinned, putting on display that any fear or concern for herself or her family or the literal deadly-seriousness in such dynamics mixed with the thrill such intrigue gave her. "Though, there are exceptions to that rule, occasionally." She shrugged her eyebrows again. "Best would be to have a significant amount of the initial such work done before anyone sets foot on the planet. They will have to clear certain measures to gain lawful permission to reside in the Federation anywhere; we should arrange for any...additional verifications...to happen in concert with that."
Seshi crossed her arms, a thoughtful frown crossing her face. "They will, won't they? I always forget the legal part. We had an expert who was well-versed in all that, and they worked quite well with Starfleet. It would be good to have some consultation on the matter, for certain." She gave Caithlin that wry smile. "We would happily compensate you, of course. Or, I would. I would hate to have well-intentioned travelers have to leave because of some legal oversight that we could have easily avoided."
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