PLOT - JDL | Com Ivanova, Capt Dhej, Cmdr Dahe'el, Cmdr Hunter, Empress Psy'Daio, Princess Xue'Daio - "Last Coke In The Desert"
Posted on Sun Jun 28th, 2015 @ 9:25am by Admiral Rochelle Ivanova & Xue'Daio Nox & Commander Almar Dahe'el & Commander Adrianna Hunter
1,394 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission: Agua Mala
For Xue’Daio, Aleine was more than just home. It’s massive array of art and architecture combined with tropical flair and zeal stood as a pinnacle for the civilized world. It was a symbol of hope and prosperity that had erected itself as a sentinel for another set of worlds long since hidden from view of the garish light of the Federation… Until now. The Royal city had been more than just infiltrated, it had invited the Terrans and their miscreants alongside them deep into the heart of her republic and she… She simply walked out before them as graceful and birdlike as ever. Deep inside Xue smiled, knowing that very soon there would be a tide of ultimate revolution, and the powers that be would surely shift in favor of the bold and the brave.
She could hear the foot falls of the two command teams matching the pace of her heart as they graced the strangely colored sun-stained patterns on the throne-room floor. Each symbol matching the religious relics of the past and highlighted by the single burning hot day-star as it seared through the meticulously grafted colored glass panels. Her white and champagne day gown glittered and changed hue with every step, like some chameleon or magnificent bird of paradise yet to be seen on her world, or any other. Each step brought her past lines of courtiers – though this time they didn’t linger their gaze upon the moon-child nearly as long as they had in the past; and for that she was eternally thankful. Instead their eyes were drawn to the foursome that flanked her.
The Cardassian was no great spectacle; his kind had become more than accepted by the populous of the Ascendancy over the last four years. The Trill was cause for a stir, so few of his people had ever graced Apsha in the past and even the ‘snobbish’ Princess had to admit that his spotted visage was one of supreme beauty and likely would be highly prized by the posh ruling caste members. The two human women, however, would be the ones to garner the most attention. One walked with the same effortless grace and charisma the Empress and herself did; her hair, however stunted by the sharp and severe twist she kept it in, glittered with threat of fire and highly shined copper. It was a rare trait, one that soon wouldn’t be forgotten… And then there was Hunter. Around the same height as the Vindicator’s brazen Phoenix, but dark in color and broody of mind. Their run ins had been anything but a pleasure. The Princess blinked, chasing away her own thoughts with the quick fluttering of white lashes over rose hued eyes. Just in time to stop just short of the Empress’ throne.
“Your Majesty, Empress Psy’Daio Nox, it brings me great honor to present you with delegates from the United Federation of Interstellar Planets.” She began, sweeping to her knees and keeping her eyes on the marble floor as a sign of respect. One graceful hand reached out in the general direction of the Phoenix, “I present to you Commodore Rochelle Ivanova and her first officer, Commander Almar Dahe’el of the USS Vindicator, Your Grace, as well as Captain Karim Dahej and his first officer, Commander Adrianna Hunter of the USS Enterprise. They have accepted your most gracious invitation and have come a long way to behold Apsha and the bounty we have to offer as a whole.” Her words, and actions, quickly fell to their own deaths as the sound of the Empress’ emerald colored robes hissing with movement reached her highly sensitive, shell-like ears.
“As Empress, I am honored to welcome the Federation to Apsha, and more-so, to Aleine.” The aging blue-haired woman responded with a smile that seemed genuine enough. She rose to her full, and hardly impressive, height to open her arms in an all-encompassing fashion and the raw silk of her massive sleeves sighed as they fell prey to the planet’s gravitational forces, “You and the people of your ships are to be our guests. No expense will be spared and we implore that you take the time to see what it is that makes our home world grand. I believe that the only way for us to begin is to see to it that there aren’t any secrets between the people we represent as these talks embark. What say you, Commodore Ivanova?” Her eyes, the color of unrefined turquoise, lanced into the cryptic and icy blue of the young red-head. Xue didn’t need to look up to see the knowing smile hidden within them. News of the Commodore’s own royal blood had been among the first things she’d made known.
Rochelle nodded, standing squarely beside Almar with no hint of hesitation or concern alight within the façade of power and poise she portrayed, “I concur, Your Majesty, the invitation will be sent to both crews and I suspect they’ll arrive within the next hour or so.” She replied with a smile of her own, though knew better than to trust words and pretty pictures – she’d seen them all go to Hell in a hand basket more times than she could count, nor was she foolish enough to believe that the Empress, or her people, were ignorant of her titles in Starfleet or on Atlantis Prime. Intel had shown that the Ascendancy was powerful and growing more-so with every passing day cycle. With the Cardassian Union, and the technology they held from both Dominion Wars, at their disposal, there was no telling what the elusive race was capable of.
“Splendid. And what say you?” Psy’Daio asked, gesturing languidly towards the other three members of the welcoming party. “You’ve done me a service in seeing to my daughter’s safety and I can see that while in your continued care, we will be able to learn much about one another. I’m interested in hearing what you all have to say.”
Karim nodded to the Empress, and slowly said "It is an honor to meet you Your Majesty. I believe this meeting will be the first step in what I am confident will be a strong friendship between the Federation and your people. I share the Commodore's beliefs regarding openness between our peoples. I can speak on behalf of my crew that they are eager to learn more about your people." After he finished speaking, he supressed a chuckle about how fake his words had sounded. He knew better then to trust these people at face value, but he wouldn't show it. If they were going to present an open dialogue, he would to, to a point.
"Your Majesty, As a Cardassian who has grown up within the Federation, I'm looking forward to hearing what your people have to say about your interactions with my race, as the Federation's have mainly been negative," Almar replied with a bow of the head in the direction of the Empress.
Psy'Daio's turquoise eyes glittered with a mirth best left unseen as she gazed down at those who answered, then shifted her attention to the one who had not. The voiceless 'first' of the Enterprise was either frightened, or insolent. One could be forgiven and the other was best left undetermined. Regardless, the woman would be watched and her behavior highly measured by the Empress and her men. "How marvelous." She finally replied to the Cardassian and the Trill, "We'll call it a learning experience for us all. Now come. I've seen to it that supper has been prepared for us so we can chat quietly on a more personal level. Send for your crews, tell them that their accommodations at our resorts are complimentary, and then join me." The elegant woman gushed, moving past her still kneeling daughter as if she simply didn't exist, and touched each of her new 'friends' on their shoulders much the same way a grandmother would greet her grand children after an absence from their presence.
=/\=End Log=/\=
Commodore Rochelle Ivanova
Exploration Squadron Commander
Cheydinhall Sector Quad
Commanding Officer
USS Vindicator, NCC 78213-E
Commander Almar Dahe'el
Executive Officer
USS VINDICATOR, NCC 78213-E
Captain Karim Dhej
Commanding Officer
USS Enterprise, NCC 1701-F
Commander Adrianna Hunter
Executive Officer
USS Enterprise, NCC 1701-F
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