We have been diverted from our planned botanical survey on Dragan-8 to provide emergency protection and aid to the Twin Colonies. In the wake of their latest conflict, a promising negotiation was disrupted by an internal power struggle on the Andorian side. Starfleet Command have made it clear that they want an agreement on paper, so we intend to prioritize security for the negotiating parties. The landing party w–
[ANDORIAN FEMALE] Commander, why wasn't I selected for the landing party?
Lennos... I didn't hear you knock.
[ANDORIAN FEMALE] I'm obviously the best choice. I'm not just the security chief; I was born here.
I know, Len.
[ANDORIAN FEMALE] But instead of me you're bringing half my officers and a yeoman.
It's not–
[ANDORIAN FEMALE] He didn't even know whose colonies they were. I'm not convinced he knows what colonies are.
Oh, don't be overdramatic. Didy's not a genius, but he's a good kid—and he grew up on Luna, so if he knows anything he knows colonies.
[ANDORIAN FEMALE] And, if I know anything, it's that humans from the moon don't know their ass from their elbow.
Do you want me to answer your question, or would you rather yell some more?
[ANDORIAN FEMALE] ...I'm listening.
There are three good reasons why I'm not bringing you, and one bad reason.
[ANDORIAN FEMALE] Let's hear the good ones first.
Firstly, this is a matter of diplomacy. You and I both know that's not your strong suit.
[ANDORIAN FEMALE] I can't deny that. What else?
Secondly, we're going to be guarding negotiators from both sides. If we bring an Andorian, the Tellarites might think we're favoring the other colony.
[ANDORIAN FEMALE] I suppose a Tellarite can't avoid a degree of short-sightedness. –Yes, all right, I'll grant that's not a diplomatic attitude. What's the third reason?
There's a chance we might need to beam up in a hurry. If that happens, you're the one I want on the transporter controls.
[ANDORIAN FEMALE] Flattery will get you nowhere, commander.
Maybe, maybe not. Don't you want to hear the bad reason?
[ANDORIAN FEMALE] Maybe, maybe not.
If a good-looking Andorian is in our party, the rest of us will look like crap by comparison. I don't think my vanity could take it.
[ANDORIAN FEMALE] Now you're just being ridiculous. ...You really think I'm good-looking?
Sure I do. –For an Andorian.
[ANDORIAN FEMALE] Ahem. I accept your explanation.
Very gracious of you, I'm sure.
[ANDORIAN FEMALE] But I expect you to stay in close contact. Otherwise I won't have the chance to rescue you when you end up in trouble.
If, not when—but I'll keep you updated as often as the situation allows.
[ANDORIAN FEMALE] Good. I'll see you in the transporter room.
Knock next time, Len.
[ANDORIAN FEMALE] Yes, sir.
For God's sake, Len... Oh. Strike my previous remark.
To continue: the landing party will consist of Lieutenant Commander D'naar, Chief Medical Officer; Security Officer Tanar and her team; Security Officer Dawn Kerrigan and her team; Yeoman Didymus Lopez; and myself, leading.
End log.
First Officer's Log, Supplemental:
Having beamed down to the designated neutral territory without incident, we were welcomed by the negotiators with obvious relief. Despite their tendency to mistrust each other, the Andorian and Tellarite sides are in agreement regarding their desire to survive.
I have assigned Kerrigan's team to protect the Tellarite negotiators while Tanar's team guards the Andorians. I'm coordinating the teams with assistance from Dr. D'naar and Yeoman Lopez.
Despite my assurances to Lennos, I can't help but be a little concerned about our yeoman. He's polite and good at following orders, but this is his first trip out of the Terran system, and I keep catching him staring like a dopey tourist at any old thing that's even a little different from what he's seen at home. To his credit, he doesn't stare at people, probably because he's seen all sorts pass through Luna. I can only hope that his scrupulous adherence to Starfleet regulations will suffice to keep him focused on our mission.
I've had plenty of time to worry about Didy because there's little else for me to do. Kerrigan and Tanar are so competent that I hardly need tell them what to do, and D'naar seems to be too busy tending the negotiators' wounds to exchange more than a few words with me. I've seen them in action before, but they seem unusually focused and subdued. When one of the Tellarites asked them to dance for him, they just ignored him—they didn't even mention their running tally of Orion stereotypes.
It's been quiet for a while, so I'm sure–
Yep, there it is. –Enter.
[HUMAN MALE] Commander, sir!
Yeoman Lopez, report.
[HUMAN MALE] It's Dr. D'naar, sir.
Are they hurt?
[HUMAN MALE] No, sir. The negotiators are demanding that the doctor return to the ship.
Have they given a sensible reason?
[HUMAN MALE] They claim that the doctor was providing aid to enemies of the colonies.
I can hardly believe they've been able to agree on a common enemy... Oh, no. Please tell me D'naar hasn't been helping the insurgents.
[HUMAN MALE] I'm afraid so, sir.
Is D'naar in the complex now? If so, escort them here immediately—and give the negotiators my sincere apology for failing to control my people.
[HUMAN MALE] Right away, sir.
Dismissed.
Computer, close log and prepare to record and transcribe on my command.
[[THE FOLLOWING IS FROM A COMPUTER TRANSCRIPTION. THE RECORDED PARTIES' NAMES HAVE BEEN ADDED AS ATTRIBUTIONS AFTER THE FACT.]]
CMDR BECKER: Thank you, yeoman. Dismissed.
LT CMDR D'NAAR: Commander–
CMDR BECKER: Yes or no: did you provide aid to members of the Andorian insurgent faction?
LT CMDR D'NAAR: Yes.
CMDR BECKER: For fuck's sake, doc...
LT CMDR D'NAAR: It was the right thing to do.
CMDR BECKER: Choose your next words very carefully.
LT CMDR D'NAAR: I'm a doctor, Bec. There were wounded people who needed my help.
CMDR BECKER: And, in helping them, you've jeopardized our position as a neutral party.
LT CMDR D'NAAR: I'm sorry for that, sir.
CMDR BECKER: Best case scenario is that the negotiators believe me when I say you were acting on your own.
LT CMDR D'NAAR: Do you want me to testify–
CMDR BECKER: You are not to go anywhere near them. We'd be lucky to leave without them demanding reparations.
LT CMDR D'NAAR: Punish me as you see fit.
CMDR BECKER: Believe me, I will. –Actually, I'll let the captain make that call.
LT CMDR D'NAAR: The captain might understand my rationale.
CMDR BECKER: You're not even the least bit remorseful.
LT CMDR D'NAAR: My conscience is clear.
CMDR BECKER: Must be nice. Now I have to keep you safe, appease the negotiators, and brief the security teams. If nothing else goes wrong, we might be able to avoid a bloodbath.
LT CMDR D'NAAR: It won't come to that. Verron promised there would be no further violence.
CMDR BECKER: Who? –Actually, I don't want to know. I'm going to pretend you didn't just admit to discussing politics with the rebel faction.
LT CMDR D'NAAR: They're not bad people, Bec. They used to be miners, but the new governor traded away the mountains to the Tellarites to get more fertile valley land, with no compensation for those who then lost their livelihood—their home, their whole way of life.
CMDR BECKER: It doesn't matter.
LT CMDR D'NAAR: You can't be serious. They–
CMDR BECKER: We're not here to interfere with the governance of a free colony. Our only mission is to facilitate peaceful negotiation. That's what they requested, and that's why we're here.
LT CMDR D'NAAR: I can't just stand idly by as these people are backed into a corner and forced–
CMDR BECKER: Doctor.
LT CMDR D'NAAR: I'm sorry, commander, but I must do the right thing.
CMDR BECKER: Don't lecture me. I have to do the right thing, too—the right thing for our mission, our crew, our authority as a neutral arbitrator. If that means locking you up to prevent you from interfering. I don't have the luxury of choice.
LT CMDR D'NAAR: My duty as a doctor outweighs any other orders. I've betrayed that duty once. Never again.
CMDR BECKER: I know. –Becker to Placid. Dr. D'naar is with me. Beam them up and confine them to quarters. I'll be in touch via secure channel to the captain regarding the antecedent events. Over. –Sorry, doc.
LT CMDR D'NAAR: Bec...
CMDR BECKER: We'll talk when all this is over, one way or another.
LT CMDR LENNOS: [...] Dr. D'naar is aboard, being escorted to their quarters.
CMDR BECKER: Thanks, Len. Becker out. –Becker to Captain T'Pin.
CPT T'PIN: Receiving.
CMDR BECKER: D'naar ran afoul of the locals by doctoring the wrong people. Recommend confinement to quarters until the mission is complete.
CPT T'PIN: Recommendation accepted. Is the landing party in danger?
CMDR BECKER: Not at the moment, sir. –What was that??
First Officer's Log, Supplemental:
A direct attack on the neutral complex by the Andorian insurgents complicated an already tense situation. To my surprise, it was our Yeoman Lopez who came through in the clutch and defused the political powder keg.
The attack was dramatic, but there were relatively few injuries, the worst of which was a broken arm—on one of the Andorian negotiators, so there may be medical complications later, but we were able to provide treatment in a timely fashion due to the yeoman's actions.
Immediately after the initial breach of the compound, the security teams swung into action to protect the negotiators. We were retreating into the main conference room when the attack stopped. Yeoman Lopez had identified and captured the leader, an Andorian named Verron who could give our security chief a run for her money. Lopez got the insurgents' attention, then—and I admit this very nearly made me laugh out loud—he turned to me and asked what he ought to do next. I relieved him of his captive and began direct negotiations with the insurgents.
At first, Verron tried to incite the others to further violence, but she grew very quiet when I told her that Dr. D'naar would be disappointed to hear about the attack.
Even though we had the upper hand, the negotiators were surprisingly willing to include Verron in the inter-colony negotiations as a representative of the displaced miners. Even the Andorian with the broken arm seemed to find Verron's dedication to her cause very impressive. I don't think I quite understand the nuances of their culture, but I may have gained some insight into our security chief's thought processes.
Once the situation was sufficiently stable for the security teams to handle, I took Lopez aside to praise him for his quick thinking and decisive action. Lopez took my commendations with a degree of humility rarely observed in the human male. He credited his experience in animal husbandry for his ability to home in on the instigator of unrest as well as his instinct to separate troublemakers from the herd. He's a very promising young man. Perhaps I could be forgiven for patting myself on the back for bringing him along.
We'll remain in orbit until the captain deems our mission complete, but, barring further violence, I shouldn't be needed on the surface anymore. As charming as the Twin Colonies are, restful they are not. With any luck, we'll only ever return here if Lennos wants to spend her next shore leave at home.
...Apparently I can't record a log entry without an interruption this week. –Enter.
[ORION NONBINARY] Hey, Bec. Do you have a minute?
Hopefully. Captain let you out?
[ORION NONBINARY] I got permission to visit you, then it's back to my room until further notice.
I see. ...Why?
[ORION NONBINARY] I owe you an apology for putting you in a tough spot.
At least you know. Everything worked out well in the end.
[ORION NONBINARY] No thanks to me.
Actually... You making friends with Verron gave me an edge in de-escalating the situation.
[ORION NONBINARY] Really? I wouldn't have said we're friends. I just treated her for shrapnel injuries.
Maybe she has a crush on you.
[ORION NONBINARY] Hmm. It's possible, but I don't think that's it. Maybe she just needed someone to listen to her, and I just happened to be there.
That's feasible. Either way, mentioning you got her to cooperate.
[ORION NONBINARY] Well, I'm glad of that, at least. Does that mean you forgive me?
Sure.
[ORION NONBINARY] Thanks, Bec. ...I should head back.
Okay. –Hey, doc?
[ORION NONBINARY] Hmm?
If you were put in the same situation again, would you do anything differently?
[ORION NONBINARY] You want the truth?
...Forget it. It's been a long day. I'll stop by your quarters sometime for a proper chat.
[ORION NONBINARY] I'll look forward to it, sir.
Bye, doc. –Continuing the log: recommend formal commendation for Yeoman Didymus Lopez, minimal disciplinary action against Lieutenant Commander D'naar and a note on their record.
...Maybe I really am tired. Too much effort, too much adrenaline. It'll be nice to get to that botanical survey, even if the plants turn out to be toxic or carnivorous.
