The Council Has Left the Building
Posted on Sun Oct 15th, 2023 @ 11:57am by Seshi Macae & Lieutenant Commander Sofia Nikedoros & Caithlin t'Leiya & Lieutenant Colonel Shaun Bradley
2,358 words; about a 12 minute read
Mission:
Pressure
Location: City Hall Meeting Room
Timeline: Post Staff Meeting
The soft thud of a jacket hitting the back of a chair as Shaun all but threw himself into the chair after it. The Council had been a mess, the discussion of the missing Captain kept behind closed doors was enough to make most of the work themselves into a tizzy. They'd prepped the small meeting room, adorned with four comfortable looking (less so feeling) leather arm chairs for private discussions. That left Shaun, Caithlin, and Seshi the space to take a moment to get an actual plan of action to tell the colony at large. "How do the Fleeters do it?" he asked, mentally putting up a wall to push out the panicked emotions from the room over. "Politics is not a game I am suited for, less of all the amount of time I am spending in this duty uniform."
It was a joke - most Aerospace Marines, even when they flew a desk rarely wore the uniform that made them blend in with the Fleet. "Okay, the Council knows, they are horrified and panicked, which gives us a good bead on the community at large. So we need an idea to not have that happen."
"You have a half a human hour or so to prevent it, then, at most." Caithlin said with a tone that somehow managed to be both piercing and certain but also the equivalent of a verbal shrug. "They do not seem the type to be well at keeping such to themselves; so we can assume it is a limited timeframe until we lose the opportunity to control the release of the information and people instead learn of it how and in whatever form or version they share, instead."
"Oh a half an hour is being generous. I'm sure word got out the moment the words left your lips." Seshi stroked her chin, brow knitted in thought. "Nevermind that the Captain is missing. How missing?"
"I think the issue is that we don't know how, or why," Sofia put in gently. "Given the recent ...experience... with the dome, this will play into quite a lot of anxiety. Fear of the unknown generally does not bring out the best in people."
Seshi shook her head. "If we announce it soon while we are in the early stages of this search, people... are less likely to panic right away. As luck would have it, minds in the colony are a little more pre-occupied with civilian leadership at the moment. Missing the one person who the council looked to as a mediator, so to speak, while we figured out what to do without a Director to bridge the gap has left many... questioning the future of the colony as a whole. So I believe this news may not be received as horribly as it just was in the council itself."
Sofia folded her hands. "I was not arguing for withholding the information. At this point, I agree it would be counterproductive, both because some version will get out - and likely morph into God alone knows what as it gets passed around - and because concealing it beyond the initial time for investigation could make it appear that leadership may be hiding information that is worse. You may be right that the average civilian takes little notice of Starfleet personnel coming and going, but one gone missing under suspicious circumstances is like to make folks worry. Particularly the Captain, whom they might perceive to be somewhat more well-guarded than themselves."
"As it so happens, the Colonel approached me earlier as to some...preemptive positioning on that. We have a set of short tapes making the announcement ready to release on the broadcast channels; all that is required will be to select a version from the options we recorded." Caithlin passed a pair of PADDs to Seshi and Sofia. "All three feature an appropriate pairing of civilian and fleet personnel to attempt to insinuate there is not a divide in play, and a contact line for anyone with relevant information to provide it to. The tone and level of detail vary somewhat, however. I'm afraid none of them currently feature the council; though. I had hoped to edit one of them in, but that may be...inadvisable given the reactions. Few things spread panic in a population faster than panic in its leaders."
"I'll be glad review them," Sofia offered, adding with an amused smile. "I am passingly familiar with group psychology, after all. And while I'm a Starfleet counselor, as a minister, I also serve the civilian community. It would be best if I know the tone and detail we're putting out, as some are bound to approach me with concerns."
"As far as I'm concerned, we all serve each other," Seshi pointed out, taking the offered PaDD. "And I will be more than happy to find our civilian law enforcement forces and see if they'll lend their services. Surely they have at least one detective who can assist in some way. And it'll do them some good to do some good; after our last debacle, quite a few civilians are angered at our law enforcement for not stepping up. Not that there was much way for them to do that, but the right mindset will complain about anything in front of them."
The councilwoman looked to Caithlin thoughtfully. "Perhaps it should be the pair of us who assists in aiding this announcement and helping to field concerns? Sofia, you are an excellent counselor and chaplain, but I do believe the amount of questions and concerns may be larger than anticipated... and, if anything, we have all proven level headed. Not that I believe the Colonel cannot handle that, but I also believe he will have his hands full. And one council member is better than no leadership."
"I have no objections to you taking this on," Shaun said, nodding to Seshi, "though formally from Starfleet, we would like someone assisting. If you have the space for Lieutenant Commander Nikedoros to be a part of this discussion and to support the civilian side, then we will take them." He looked to Caitlin, "If there is going to be a large capacity for the civilian side to field responses with a limited Starfleet oversight, I would then think option three of ours is the best. It places a lot of trust in the Council and the overall civilian leadership, and will be the least likely to cause interference. Then we can make sure that we have everyone on the same page." He sat up a little more straight in the chair, before reaching up and giving his neck a good crack and shaking out some of the undue stiffness. "This whole affair is going to be a mess, and I expect it to get worse. If the civilian law enforcement members want to help, they can provide screening services at your station, and pass that information along. Their detectives are best chasing the geese that will come with a public ask for support. Starfleet Security will secure all Starfleet facilities, and the Marines will remain in reserve."
He paused, thinking over his next words. "The colony is officially under lock down. No one in or out until this is resolved, that is going to cause some panic as well. As this is a Starfleet matter, I will do my best to keep the civilian population informed and feeling placated. For the moment then Nikedoros will be my liaison to your side of things. I will ask, with the exception of those in this room, any civilian side requests get fielded through her before coming to me. I'll operate out of the Captain's office until he either returns or I can be replaced by a fleeter." He stopped short, like something caught in his throat as he went to say it, momentarily thinking better of it.
"If there is an incident like the caves," he said, his voice cautious "and considering the severity of this situation, Starfleet regulations allow us to institute Martial Law. I do not want it to come to that, and it will be a last resort, but it is my belief that if there will be civilians involved in this discussion, it is only fair they know what they have riding on it."
"No." Caithlin's voice was flat and expressionless in a way that seemed to make the words jump out all the moreso, probably deliberately. "Do not put that in any announcement at the moment if you want to have any hope of avoiding escalating anything. You may think people will approach it as 'knowing what they have riding on it' and adjust their behavior accordingly to avoid it being required. They will not. They will focus on it and increase the fear and chaos and discord within and between. We keep it simple and focused: What has occurred; what we are doing to address it; what we need from the public. And we do it now, rather than aiming for debate of perfection; before the posse of disorganized morons in there - " Caithlin jerked her chin towards the direction that led off to the room where they'd left the council " - can rob us of the opportunity to steer the direction of the situation." She indicated the whole rest of the room, Seshi and Sofia and Shaun alike. "So. The four of us, now, record anything we want to add to or change about the videos the Colonel and I had made earlier. Then we release them, before we or the nitwits in there leave this building, in order to control the narrative as best we can. After that, the cards will fall where they may and we manage it as required."
"I'd never tell the general public, but it's imperative that the people in this room understand it's a line in the sand," Shaun corrected himself. "As for - as you put it so eloquently - those morons, they are going to cause us the biggest headache. Mrs. Macae, do we have some kind of provision to keep them from causing too much ruckus, a temporary leader of your lot you can assign? Scared panicked people often are less scared and panicked when they have someone they can attach themselves to."
"It is a line we should be loath to cross except for clear necessity," Sofia put in, agreeing very much with Caithlin that even the mention of that particular cure was as like to cause worse than it might remedy. "As to the ...individuals who are struggling with the concept a sense of perspective, a leader would help. Someone who can direct them toward tasks where they can feel useful." She did not say important, though a brief glance at Caithlin confirmed that the one person here most used to dealing with political types understood that the subtext. Which instantly suggested who was best suited to lead. "Caithlin would, I think, be well suited for the role, if willing," she added with a slight inclination of her head to the Romulan lawyer. "Someone who can so clearly keep her head may thereby inspire, or in some cases shame, others into attempting to keep their own."
At least no one is likely to need to actively remove anyone's heads from keeping here. Caithlin thought. Perhaps they have no idea exactly how far ahead of the game they still are even now, to be able to say that much; though the gap and the unawareness of it perhaps stem from the same amateur nature.
"I'd be willing to back that recommendation," Shaun added in. "From my time here I have noticed there is a lack of cohesion from the civilian leadership. A solid, single voice might help put people back on track and in line. Even if it's temporary until some kind of election on the matter can be held, Ms t'Leiya would be an ideal candidate."
"She is," Seshi agreed, but she held a hand up. "And while I believe we are aware of the tensions in the council, it would be foolish of me not to say so; the public's view on simply slotting someone in as 'temporary leadership' may be viewed unfavorably without their input. So, while I do also agree, we will have to find... a way to break it to the public... gently." There were a number of reasons Seshi stated it, but the general reception of having something 'forced' upon the colony tended to be, at best, negative. Not that everyone was prone to riots, but the councilwoman did not wish to have another on her hands. "But, considering the rest of the council is likely trying to plan an escape from the planet instead of helping, I can easily assist."
"Some type of abbreviated dossiers on the idiots would be a decent start." Caithlin sighed. "Hopefully to tease out the best angles by which to manage each. Until they are rather more calm than that, however, they should be kept off of broadcasts and as far from public view as feasible."
"I can help with that while Seshi lays that out for you," Sofia offered. She had a fair idea with respect to those dossiers, but she preferred not to speak ill even of the worst of them, while Seshi would have no compunction about not holding back. "It strikes me that distraught people may be in need of comfort and spiritual guidance," she said, pious tone betrayed somewhat by a sly smile, as she rose from her chair. "I hope I can get them to stop and think things through more calmly, but if not ...well, even the atheist political types are loath to walk out on a minister."
Standing back from his seat, Shaun dusted off his jacket and pulled it back on. "Then, if there is nothing else?" The question hung for a second, and Shaun allowed it to be there. "Good, I'll inform Starfleet of what is going on."
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