Cultural Misunderstanding

Posted on 28 Feb 2020 @ 3:04am by Civilian J'Tan & Lieutenant JG Rosaline Belikov

Mission: Mission 3 - Whom gods destroy ...
Location: Intelligence Office
Timeline: Pre MD1
1703 words - 3.4 OF Standard Post Measure

OOC: so i'll just get things started

ON:

Sitting in her new office, Rose was setting up her intel feeds along with a console dedicated to internal security. Now that she'd transferred back to Intelligence, the CO had asked her to cover both Intellgence and Security until a replacement Security officer could arrive.

She'd already started an investigation of her own into the information they'd picked up from their previous missions as well as the Intel they'd been given by this J'tan character. To be honest, she didn't really trust him, but all leads had to be pursued to their logical conclusion. Pulling up the internal sensors, Rose quickly located J'tan so she could have a quick chat with him.

J'Tan was in the lounge. This medusa's head was nice but not home. He had ordered some food. The barman had suggested some more new cuisine to try out. It was different. Certainly not space weevil. He might be able to cook up something similar. The desert however that was a winner. If he could get this stuff at the Agora Crossroads he imagined his fortunes would sore.

"What is this again?" he asked one of the waiting staff.

"Chocolate puff sir,"

He nodded and noticed one of the officers he had been dragged into rescuing from the slavers walk in. She seemed to head his direction. He did the obligatory "hello". These aliens seemed to talk a lot more than where he was from.

"Mr J'Tan, could I have a moment of your time? I wish to discuss the information you have given us" Rose said, choosing to be diplomatic and repress her more paranoid tendencies.

J'Tan had stuffed a spoon of this "chocolate puff" in his mouth. Swallowing hard he wondered if this would be similar to the Executive officer wanting to "discuss" things. Was this how the Federation got things done. They sent in their females.

He looked her up and down and decided yes she was attractive. He wasn't sure of the public aspect of it all but hey they were the aliens. "Okay," he said slowly eyes flickering to her pointed ears.

Rose gave a sigh before sitting down at his table, “thank you Mr J’Tan, I assure you I will make this as quick and painless as possible” she said, sorting the couple of PADD’s she had on her, “first things first, what can you tell me about yourself?”

"Additional to what you already know that I divulged to the XO?" he asked confused. "Well I suppose you could say I am a fan of this stuff," he indicated the chocolate dessert. “Not so much some of what the Captain served at that odd dinner party thing."

“Fair enough, but I was looking for something more personal, perhaps you have a family?”

"Why do you need to know if I have a family?" J'Tan asked suspiciously.

“Just making small talk” Rose said, hoping to make his feel more comfortable around her in hopes of getting more information out of him, “I believe that we can be friendly if not cordial”

"Small talk?" J'Tan repeated the odd alien phrase. "I was not aware one had to go into detail of their personal life to be friendly. Also I have concerns that it would be silly for me to divulge anything to people who are still pretty much strangers to me that could be used as weakness or liability for my life. Perhaps though, as its your custom you could share first"

“Very well than. Well my family has a strong tradition of serving in starfleet, my mother is an admiral and my father was a marine. I grew up moving from posting to posting as my parents were transferred” Rose answered, hoping this little bit of information may prove to be enough.

"My parents are dead," J'Tan said simply. "What is a posting to posting?"

“Apologies, a posting is an assignment of military, or in this case Starfleet personal. As my parents were given a new assignment, they would take me with them as the changes ships” Rose explained.

"So your saying," J'Tan rationalised it in his head, "You moved around a lot? Is that the life of all your peoples children?"

"not for civilians, however children of Starfleet personnel generally move with their parents" Rose answered, "surely it is not that strange"

"Very strange. Our children we rear collectively," J'Tan commented. "Do you have children?" he asked.

"I do, I have a daughter" Rose replied, "do you have any?"

"I had a son. His mother took him away from the crossroads," J'Tan stated. "I do not know where."

“I am sure he is safe” Rose said, unsure what else to say.

"I would like to believe that. Perhaps if you come across him in your travels you can relay that news to me. He is called Me'Tan," J'Tan stated. She was after something. He gave her a bargaining chip. Not because he believed in any way they would find the child but because he wanted to get to what was the point of her seeking him out. He supposed in his allegiance to this Reynolds, if they did find the child it would be a big bonus.

Rose nodded, quickly making a note of the name, "I will be sure to pass on your message." she said, looking up at him, "now to business, What can you tell me about how you came to the information you have provided?"

Oh they were rehashing things again. Okay, he leaned forward playfully.

"I own a bar in a very busy marketplace. People drink and they have loose lips. I am in the know on many secrets. I contacted your ship as its the closest Federation one because I felt you needed to be warned certain parties are dabbling in dangerous waters. I was being a good citizen," J'Tan told her. "Obviously I had to do it so not to have attention on me. Said parties are not friendly and to be honest you guys don't have the best rep in my area of space."

"So why Starfleet? I know you just said we have a good reputation, but you know you will receive no monetary reward from us? Why not go to the Klingons, or the Orion Syndicate, someone who could give you a reward?" Rose asked.

"I didn't say you had a good reputation. You have a terrible one. But they are going to try hurt a lot of people in your space. Okay you guys are annoying and we don't trust you and you know that coming in dress up pretending ...…. but trying to destroy a whole species of people …. that scale of loss of life is not something I want on my conscience.

Go to the Klingons …. No thank you they are even worse than you lot? the Orions …. buggers who think they are more they actually are? Try to seduce and control you ... oh hang on your XO is into that …..

"A reward …. what can you give me to make my life better? My life is on the crossroads. Always will be. I'm happy with my bar there. Now I'm suckered in with the dons because of you people … but I'm making the best of it. Reward! Ha. You lot just made my life more complicated just cause I don't want to see a ton of people die. I like how you have decided I am only motivated by monetary gain and have no personal code of morality Lieutenant."

"Than why do It at all? It sounds like you would've been better off ignoring what you heard and while morality is all well and good, most people wouldn't put themselves in danger for strangers" Rose asked, deciding to push a little. knowing his true motive might reveal a great deal more than most might think.

J'Tan shook his head. This Federation thinking ….. "Because," he said simply. "If they get that power they could also turn on us and alter the balance of power at the crossroads. I like my home but we do not have the tools and resources to deal with them like you have. And they are your responsibility, hailing from your space."

Rose smiled, “fair enough” she said, started to be satisfied J’Tan could be trusted. “I’m glad you trust the Federation enough to rely on us. To that end, Is there anything you may have left out of your reports?”

"No," J'Tan stated firmly. "And there are no further secrets I wish to share with you at this time."

"that doesn't seem very sporting. I am sure you are gathering whatever information you can while you're here" Rose said, looking at the food before them, "either that or you're just trying some more fancy foods"

J’Tan merely smiled. “Jealous?” He asked stuffing a spoonful of puff into his mouth. “Anything’s a step up from space weevil.” Of course he was making notes of every square inch of this place that they let him see. He wasn’t a fool.

Rose’s smile widened with amusement, “hardly, I just thought a trading post would’ve had access to all kinds of fascinating foods from all over the sector. Though I have never eaten space Weevil before”

“Oh we do but you require means of payment,” J’Tan informed her. “You Federation seem to have abolished that aspect of society. If you wish to sample space weevil though I can make that happen for you the next time you come visit.” He chuckled. Clearly she didn’t know about the parasites and how it had affected her XO.

Rose nodded, “I’ll have to take you up on that offer, however I am currently a little busy” she said, somewhat satisfied with what he had told her, “well that seems to be all, thank you for you cooperation. If there is anything I can do to make your stay more comfortable, just let me know”

"Thank you Lieutenant," J'Tan smiled taking another bite of his chocolate puff.

OFF:

○● Lieutenant JG Rosaline Belikov
Intelligence Officer
USS Andromeda

J'Tan
NPC Jonathan Reynolds