The Wisdom of a Friend

Posted on Tue Dec 10th, 2019 @ 6:12pm by Captain Abigail Laurens & Commander Ichiko Gail

Mission: Sounds of Silence
Location: Captain's Ready Room

Abigail sat in her ready room, reading over report after report of everything that had been discovered since they had uncovered the aliens among them. It didn't sit well with her, none of it did. The fact that they had been on her ship for the deities only knew how long without being detected, the fact that they had harmed her crew, it left her feeling angry, a frame of mind which was far from helpful given that she was supposed to be preparing to speak with them.

She needed advice. Sage advice. The advice of a trusted friend.

Reaching up, she tapped her commbadge and opened a communications channel. "Commander Gail, if you're available I would like to speak with you in my ready room."

Without waiting for an answer she closed the channel and stood up, replicating the tea and the ginger cookies she knew had become a favourite before returning to her desk to wait.

The door to the captain's ready room swished open, and allowed Ichiko her entrance within. She spied the tea, the cookies, and the Captain's face and gave a nod. "It's good to hear your voice." were the first words she said, still a little raspy, possibly from disuse. Her voice would return, full strength and harmony, in the fullness of time.

She took the tea, and snagged a ginger cookie with a smirk. "I never thought I'd miss the sound of idle chatter." she admitted, "So, what can I do for you? I assume it has to do with our..."

There was a long pause, "... guests?"

Abigail smiled, noting the palpable relief that came with the sight of her friend. She nodded slowly and took another sip of her chai, enjoying the soothing feel of the warmth against her throat. "I need your wisdom," she said softly, trying not to strain her voice too much. "I..." she sighed, her shoulders slumping. "Maybe it's just that I'm still recovering, but I don't know how I'm supposed to bring myself to negotiate with these...." she paused, clearly struggling to find the right word. "These creatures."

Ichiko gave a nod, "In the history of Ts'usu, a guest that struck against their host would be put to death." she cited, "We're slightly beyond that." she offered a smirk before sipping her tea. Ooooo, the feel of the tea on her throat was very, very welcome. "As for how to go about doing it, I believe the human expression is 'Good Cop, Bad Cop'?" she inquired with a smirk. "I'll be the diplomacy. You'll be the authority. We're in this together."

With a slow nod, Abigail agreed, remaining silent for several long moments before she finally spoke again. "It feels wrong to negotiate anything with them after what they have put our crew through," she said softly. "It feels like we're rewarding them for their actions against us."

"They've never been negotiated with. Plus, if we can help them, we can spare everyone in the universe this pain from this point on." Ichiko mentioned before sipping her tea. "Don't think of it as a negotiation, simply think of it as setting terms. We provide you with the means to conduct your research in peace, and in exchange, you never victimize anyone ever again."

A pause, "With the implication that should we hear otherwise, we'll be called in to negotiate again. And that the terms will not be favorable." a pause, "Were this the Empire, we'd already have gone to step two. Though, the Federation is the authority on this ship, and it is your authority. You are the shipmaster."

"We follow you into the dark." such a morose ritual, but she had a soft smile on while she recited it. "An affirmation, from home. I believe the gentle guidance of the Federation is more appropriate here than the iron gauntlet that the Ts'usugi Navy would slap them with." a giggle, that she regretted instantly.

Abigail managed a small smile before taking another sip of her latte. "I suppose we should get this over and done with," she finally said quietly. "No point delaying the inevitable and all that."

"I want your permission to be out of uniform." Ichiko started. "These creatures may behave differently if they feel they've acted against two governments that happen to travel together. And I imagine their leader hasn't actually seen any of us directly." she offered.

"Also, a Ts'usugi in Naval uniform is an intimidating image." she said with a smirk.

"You not only have my permission, you have my blessing," Abigail said with a slight smile before drawing in a deep breath. "Meet me in the brig in fifteen minutes? Is that enough time for you?"

"More than enough, I just hope I still fit. Federation food is... especially decadent." she admitted with a smirk, with a ginger cookie still in her grasp. A suspicious bite had been taken out of it, but who was the culprit? Certainly not Ichiko. Not with that innocent smirk.