Are we doing the right thing?

Posted on Fri Oct 29th, 2021 @ 12:00pm by Captain Maia Sterling & Ambassador Amanda Blake & Lieutenant Commander Sheena Toran-Blake & Lieutenant Commander Havri Belbre & Lieutenant Kasey Tanger & Lieutenant JG Marina Tanger & Fleet Admiral

Mission: The Riixian Insurection
Location: Diplomatic Chamber
Timeline: 239410.3

[On]

Captain Sterling had asked Lieutenant Tanger to arrange a meeting with the diplomats for the purpose of discussing taking the mental abilities of the caliphate prisoners away. She had also asked for her specialists to be present to answer any professional or technical questions.

Marina arrived at the Diplomatic chamber, to say she felt at odds with the crew of the Leto was an understatement. No one was saying it to her face, but she knew she was viewed as being part of the caliphate for a lot of the crew, not that she could blame them after what she’d done prior to taking up her Starfleet career again. She had to earn the trust of those around her. For now she had some use of her Betazoid abilities back, but she still wore an inhibitor to block any attempted powerful use of them.

Maia nodded to Marina, She knew that she was uncomfortable, and she could probably feel she was as yet untrusted. She wore the inhibitor, but the fact that she wasn't in the brig with the other caliphate terrorists was a testament to her first and second officers belief in her. Maia trusted her senior officers who were in her opinion above reproach.

Saagu walked into the meeting and saw others have arrived. "Greetings Captain, hope I am not intruding. I wanted to come and see what is happening right now. And also bring you this report from Betazed personally.

It shows the Caliphate control only small areas of Betazed and they have to keep moving around to prevent being captured. Some how they got word of Our attack on the ships here and are trying to figure out their next move. It appears they don't control very many ships and this is a huge blow to them."

"They had a good game plan, but they underestimated us." Sterling said.

Tanger had coordinated the meeting and was keeping to the edges of the room, as he knew that he needed to keep aware of what Monroe was up to and he had to mentally be reading the room for the tension of the diplomats and to keep them safe. While Monroe and him had formed a small bond, he did not know fully what she would do with all the diplomats in the room together. Tanger was just monitoring and observing while still being a diplomatic liaison for the ship.

Marina turned to look at Kasey, in the short time she’d been aboard she’d discovered that he was not just her brother, but her twin. Now she had her abilities back she could feel the strength of bond between them, it was something she’d been searching for her entire life. She had to earn Kasey’s trust too as he was one of those she’d been responsible for hurting, but she yearned for that connection, to learn about her real parents too. She concentrated on talking to him telepathically. ~~ You don’t have to be my watchdog Kasey, I don’t intend to hurt anyone. ~~

~~ I don't intend to be your watchdog, I merely hope to help you without actually helping you so to think. ~~ Tanger was in the chambers to help with other diplomates while Marina was there to share her knowledge of the Caliphate with those that could make a difference.

Sheena walked in with a troubled look on her face. She waited to speak quietly to Maia before she sat. She had received word about her parents that did not go over well at all.

"Whats wrong Number one"? Maia asked.

"My parents have both been captured by the Caliphate and are being held separately. Add to that I have a death warrant on my head," Sheena said holding her emotions back.

Tanger immediately sensed the deep trouble Sheena was feeling but could not speak of the burden in Sheena's mind.

Looking at their captive, "Marina do you know where my parents are being held?" Sheena said very bluntly.

~~ Keep calm and be considerate, you are the closest thing to the root of the issue she is facing and so she will reach out to you. It is the time to remain calm and be honest and willing to help. ~~ Tanger thought to his new sister, Monroe.

Marina looked at Sheena, she didn’t know the Caliphate were planning to kidnap people. “I didn’t know they were being held, but...” she looked at Kasey then back at Sheena. “I know where they’d most likely be holding them. It’s what you might refer to as the inner sanctum of the Caliphate, only the senior members are allowed there.”

~~ Great job and this is a great way to build trust among the rest of the crew and the diplomats. ~~ Tanger thought to his sister. Monroe was calm and he was impressed by how she handled herself when confronted.

LT Brannon replied, "I am assigning complete around the clock security to all key personnel. I will double the security around everyone as well. I am also asking for and increase in Marines to aid in security as well. My security teams are spread thin. But with help from the Marines we can poll it off. Also Commander Toran, when we get to Betazed. We can do a double attack to rescue you mother and father at the same time once we lnow their positions."

"Very good Lieutenant." Maia replied.

That was exactly the correct course of action that needed to be taken. Maia thought.

Once the principle crew were there, they began.

"Thank you for coming to this meeting. I am Captain Maia Sterling, and I have called this meeting to discuss with you diplomats, especially the Betazoids, if what we are doing is the right course of action. I am more than willing to entertain different viewpoints on this matter but I wanted to go over the plan. Earlier we boarded three Caliphate ships and acquired certain technology that amplifies and focuses their psionic powers. With this technology and their own natural abilities they can control what we see and do. They can also cause physical and mental damage to those they choose to attack even those without latent telepathic abilities. The course of action I have chosen if to attenuate those powers in Caliphate members by chemically castrating their psionic abilities. I wanted to know how you all felt about the morality of that decision, and if you had any alternatives that we might discuss." Maia said.

"Ma'am, if I may add something here." Tanger replied. "As a Betazoid, I would be completely lost without my telepathy. However, to save the many, the few who have swore to malice with this Caliphate movement should be exiled and stripped of their abilities. I hope that with Marina Monroe's assistance we can work out a way to get the Caliphate wiped out and those that are willing to assist us will be spared and allowed to join us without the loss of their abilities." Tanger offered this to help make sure his newly found sister would be allowed to remain fully Betazoid and thus allowed to fully integrate into his life.

Marina looked towards the gathered Ambassadors. “I’m Marina Monroe, up until now I was a member of the Caliphate. Like others I was put into training when I was young, had mental enhancement in the form of drugs and put through physical training you’d expect a super soldier to endure. I didn’t know what the Caliphate was truly planning, now I do I will use my training to help put things right again.” She looked around those gathered. and offered a polite nod then sat down.

Ambassador Saagu noted in, "I have some areas of operation on Betazed that we know are hotspots for the Caliphate. With your permission Captain Sterling", as she pulls ups the map on the large view screen. "As you can see this is the most active areas of operation for the Caliphate. Perhaps Marina Monroe can show us the most likely areas to have the most senior levels of command for the Caliphate. And let us know where we can find the parents of Commander Toran's parents. And also help in other ways as well."

"Number One, what is the current status of your parents?" Maia asked.

Marina looked towards Toran waiting to see what her answer would be.

Sheena was deep in thought, " No.....still being held," she said bluntly.

"Here is an interesting piece of news. Captain Gorebets has been found on his quarters with his head blown off. There was no weapons residue. All indications are that he was psionically attacked." Captain Sterling said.

"If that is not proof that what we are doing is right then I don't know what is." She added.

[End]

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A post by:

Captain Maia Sterling
Commanding Officer
USS Leto NCC-80916

&

Lieutenant JG Marina Monroe
Infiltration Specialist
USS Leto NCC-80916

&

LT Angelina Brannon
Chief of Security
USS Leto NCC-80916

&

LT Kasey Tanger
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Leto, NCC-80916

&
Lt. Cmdr Sheena Toran
Executive Officer
USS Leto NCC-80916