Diplomatic Meeting

Posted on 11 Jun 2021 @ 7:21am by Lieutenant JG Jarzo Chtissi

Mission: Patching up the Copernicus
Location: Deck 11: Diplomatic Suites
Timeline: Current
1636 words - 3.3 OF Standard Post Measure

On:

Jarzo had finished his work on the bridge and knew what his next step needed to be. Find his office and meet the staff; that is if he had any staff. The Diplomatic Staff on most ships seemed to always be well, lacking. Next to meeting the Captain, meeting one’s staff had to be the most awkward. It was always hard to introduce yourself to those who you wouldn’t be supervising. Typically he was tension-filled chaos till the newest wore off.

Jarzo made his way to what he considered to be the main Diplomatic area. Most ships didn’t have a dedicated office so he wasn’t expecting much. Perhaps a meeting room, a storage closet for an office, and maybe if he was lucky a lobby of some sort to greet visitors in. If he was lucky. But as he traveled deck 11 and found his destination he was rather surprised. “Definitely not a storage closet,” he muttered, not really paying attention to see if anyone was there.

A dark-haired woman wearing the purple color of diplomatic services was perusing a stack of padds and some maps on a table. When she heard someone speak she spun around. “Oh hello, I’m Commander Natasha Blackthorn, may I help you with something?” she hadn’t been told about the new arrival as of yet.

Jarzo was a bit confused at first, “Purple and a Commander,” he smiled, “I seem to be at a loss for words here, “I am Lieutenant Jarzo Chtissi just transferred here as the head of the department,” he paused, “Ma’am. I admit I didn't really have enough time to read over the current department staff, my apologies.” He moved his chair over to were she was standing as he extended his hand, hoping he didn’t sound rude. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he smiled.

She took his hand, her own hand gentle and warm. “Likewise, and well I was looking for another place to serve and Captain Reynolds was gracious enough to provide me another place here. My former ship, the USS Europa was used to take down a Planet Killer. It was the only way to stop it. I didn’t feel like being an XO on another ship, so here I am, a diplomat. And you are now my boss.” giving a chuckle.

“You’ll forgive me if I admit that is a bit odd,” Jarzo looked at her, “typically someone of your rank and status would have been given head of the department. You clearly have more experience than me,” he admitted. “However, it is what it is. Starfleet just had a little fun with this department I guess.” He looked around the room for a bit as he took in the sites. “So, tell me, Commander,” he asked, “what do I need to know about our current assignment? At the moment, I feel like I jumped into the middle of something and I am not sure what that something is, yet.”

“Yes you did arrive in the middle of something, we had to go to a planet to find out what happened to the colonists and also make some diplomatic overtures to the wise woman upon the planet. Some of our people had become child-like, and it seems that you had also been involved with a bit of a stand-off between two traders. I got the information from one of the intel officers. Long story short, a cure was found. Now we are headed to rendezvous with the USS Copernicus which has taken damage from a previous mission. Sorry, I just mashed everything together.” Natasha paused for him to catch up on her information.

“Well that was a far better briefing than I have received yet,” Jarzo smiled, “Copernicus is a Nova Class starship if memory serves me correct. Do we know what damage they sustained? Or how they received it?”

“Apparently they came across a planet that had been once inhabited by the T’Kon. And the damage they took, it came when trying to get off the planet. There was a dampening field which from reports had caused things to not fly. They lost their runabouts, the deflector shields and there was some other damage to the hull as they clipped a mountain as they gained altitude. I am rather surprised they managed to get off the planet.” Natasha stated.

“Other reports are, that there were multitudes of creatures who were in sleep mode, some had woken up to attack as a security force.” her face grew slightly pale on the next part. “They lost someone there, one of their scientists Petty Officer 1st Class Yelena Sidorov. A few of them took grievous damage. Their Counselor, Peter Horn, lost his hand, and the same for Ensign Jelani Olowe of security. Two of their flight control officers took bad damage, one was protecting his wife, and the other injured flight control officer. Their runabout got dropped from the sky due to that dampening field. Captain Haistro and Commander Horn had been mentally drawn into some machine, which controlled the defense systems of the planet due to their psionics. There is a bit more of what happened, as it is, I had talked to the XO of the Copernicus. I utilized my former status of being an XO to get more knowledge and also, they did send the information of the planet and what happened as well.”

"Sounds like they need a bit more than repairs," Jarzo stated, "situations like that take their toll even on the most determined, thick-headed Officer. Loss of life is a challenge, especially for those who survived," Jarzo commented. He began to think over the crew of the Copernicus, "it seems you have a bond with this crew, already. Have you served together before?"

“No I haven’t, it's just how I operate. Commander Holt, she is the XO of the USS Copernicus. And I caught her in a talkative mood, plus the reports of what happened to them, it is terrifying. I thought facing that Planet Killer was terrifying but the attack the Copernicus had gone through it was even more so. The ship was attacked, the bridge destroyed, Holt had just gotten off the bridge right before whatever had hit them, she was in the turbolift when it happened.”

Natasha looked at Jarzo. "Yes, it can take a toll, much like the loss of a ship. To pick up a stray thread of conversation, your comment about Starfleet having a bit of fun with this department. They are not. I am still waiting to see if, I am going to face punishment, myself and Captain Keading for the loss of the ship. For using the ship to take down the Planet Killer. We didn't consult with anyone, even though we had a group of ships working together to deal with it. We just did the Keading maneuver as in, getting the crew off the ship, not one person being lost. Captain Reynolds, in essence, was the lead on this particular detail. We didn't consult with them we just did it. I don't know if we will stand trial, but that essentially will be a black mark on our records. Sure we saved planets, hadn't any loss of life on the ship, still, we lost our ship. I don't have the desire to be in a department head position, I don't want to be an XO either. I am done. When Reynolds had offered for me to be in diplomatic service and stay here on the ship. I said yes."

"That's a fair answer," Jarzo replied, "still, it will be an adjustment for me that is until we get to know each other, Sir," he winked. He wasn't used to having someone serve under him with such a higher rank. Sure, it happened on ships but it was rare. "However, I am sure this also an adjustment period for you. If there is anything I can do to help, please don't hesitate to ask." He smiled, "I firmly believe in trying to make things a team, we work together, we succeed together, and at times we fail together. But even in those failures, we find ways to grow and learn."

"Definitely, Sir. And don't worry about me pulling any rank. Your position is Chief Diplomat Officer, that means you outrank me." a smile going ear to ear. "Honestly though ranks do not matter to me unless they are absolutely necessary, then they are just tools to get certain things done. That is all, unlike some who feel that ranks give them entitlement, my rank does not. Therefore you are Chief and I am not." giving a shrug. "I am looking forward to working with you."

"As do I Commander," he smirked, "your experience I am certain will be most useful." He winked, "just don't expect me to call you Sir," he openly laughed. He was kidding after all but something told him that he was going to need her. She had more experience, more time in the position than him. He would be stupid to not take advantage of that experience. "For now, I think it's time to get settled in and figure out what has been going on. I definitely think I am a bit behind," he looked at her, "but at the moment I think I need lunch. Care to join for me a bite, I think that's the phrase, in the lounge?"

"Yes that is the phrase and I am agreeable to that." her stomach giving an answering growl. "Well, I have an agreement there as well." giving a light laugh and a radiant smile not seeming to be embarrassed.

Off:

Lieutenant JG Jarzo Chtissi
Chief Diplomatic Officer

Commander Natasha Blackthorn
Diplomatic Officer