Post 9 - The Romulans In the Lobby

Posted on Tue Jan 5th, 2021 @ 12:09am by Rear Admiral Ojo Ris & Fleet Admiral Sturnack
Edited on on Tue Jan 5th, 2021 @ 12:13am

Mission: Episode 1: Acta Non Verba
Location: CinC's Office, SFC Complex
Timeline: Day 11, 1325 Hours

[CinC's Office Suite]
[SFC Complex]
[Day 11, 1325 Hours]

Fleet Admiral Sturnack had just returned to his office suite after consuming an afternoon meal in the officer's mess downstairs. He'd eaten alone, save for two security officers who flanked him on either side. For some, having two people standing guard over you while eating might be a bit unnerving. For the Vulcan, however, it had been of no concern, though he did notice the many odd looks that had come his way. After all, Fleet Admiral McGarry had always had his meals in the CinC's private dining room, creating some separation between himself and those under his command. People were not used to seeing their Commander-in-Chief standing in the replicator line and looking for an empty table as if he were the new kid in school on his first day. But, for reasons onlookers might not fathom, dining with the rank-and-file had been important to Sturnack.

"I'm pretty sure Vice Admiral Davies was going to throw an apple at your head," Marlena remarked, looking up from her work. She'd passed through the galley as well, though chose to bring her meal back to her desk. A tray littered with empty plates and a half-full glass of pomegranate juice had been set aside in favor of a stack of PADDs. "Did you see the dirty looks he was giving you?"

"His displeasure with me is not new, Marlena," Sturnack remarked, coming to a stop near the woman's desk. As his aide-de-camp, Glenn's workspace sat right outside of his office: a necessary position for the gatekeeper to the CinC. "Admiral Davies once expressed that Fleet Admiral McGarry should never have selected me over him as his replacement DCinC. Logic would indicate," he tipped his head slightly, "that such displeasure would intensify having been passed over for the CinC role as well."

"Making friends everywhere you go," Marlena snarked back before thrusting a PADD towards the Vulcan. "Rear Admiral Ojo should be here shortly. Ready for your first official Intelligence briefing as Commander-in-Chief?"

"Will it unfold differently than previous Intelligence briefings?" Sturnack asked, his right eyebrow drifting into an upward curve as he accepted the PADD. A quick glance confirmed that the display device was filled with contextual information for the upcoming briefing. "As the Deputy Commander-in-Chief, I sat in most of these meetings. Logic would..."

"'...dictate that little of the experience would change,'" Marlena mocked good-naturedly, smiling. "Yes, yes...I know. But you're the main decision maker now. It's on your shoulders that the weight of responsibility falls. That does tend to change the flavor of things," she shrugged lightly. "Plusssssss," Marlena extended the word, "the new dynamic could change your relationship with Admiral Ojo in unexpected ways. Have you thought about how you'll approach that?"

"Despite the new reality of my position," the Vulcan began, "I see little reason that..."

"'...the relationship would change, Commander,'" Marlena mocked again, this time smirking heavily. "Alright, clearly I'm not going to divert you from the expectations of logic. Just be prepared for unexpected things to happen. That's all I'm saying," she nodded, acquiescing the point. "Might wanna read that before he gets here?"

"Indeed," Sturnack nodded, not at all rising to the bait of Marlena's poor imitation of him. He moved then into his office proper, taking his seat and beginning to pour through the information on the PADD.

With the opening of the new Romulan Embassy in a few days, there were many security concerns to consider. While Federation President Najale Patel and the Federation Council had struck a diplomatic agreement with the Romulan Star Empire -- following in the wake of the Shinzon incident a year prior -- relations between the Federation and the Romulans weren't exactly on the friendliest of terms. While the new embassy would ensure a more formal exchange of information and consideration between the two powers on the galactic stage, not everyone was happy to have Romulans walking around the streets of San Francisco. In fact, some anonymous threats had already been made on the new Embassy -- threats that Homeworld Security was already working hard to investigate and proactively foil.

However, the greater concern was arguably Intelligence-related. Could the new Embassy diplomats and staff also be agents of the Tal Shiar? What kinds of intel could they gather and relay to their parent government? Might not these potential agents be well-placed to orchestrate chaos on Earth? In Sturnack's estimation, these were -- indeed -- credible questions that needed consideration. As such, he'd requested that Admiral Ojo brief him on the current status of and thinking on such concerns.

[Concurrent]
[Starfleet Intelligence Offices]

"Myles, I'd like an update from Oriole on the Kolar situation by the time I get back." Ojo Ris swiveled his chair and lifted himself out of it, shoulders rolling back to straight. He popped his neck, the long fringe of his dark hair swaying. He combed it behind his Bajoran earring-clad ear.

Ojo had been pouring over data since he had left Lakarian City on Cardassia two weeks prior, at the behest of some of his Cardassian contacts among the Detapa Council and street level. But that, for now, he pushed aside. It was not an immediate threat to the Federation so much as a punch to already bruised Cardassian pride." A Saurian turned scales in cool gray-greens and blues from a freshly molted face. Myles' eyes blinked their glossy black.

"Of course Admiral," Myles said in his throaty, deep resonance. The Saurian twisted back and then forth as the large Bajoran man passed beyond him. Myles returned to his dataflow, zooming in on footage of a deep green planet sprinkled with the city lights of night along its dark side. In view hoved a scarlet-rust-colored dagger-shaped ship- a Kolari destroyer. Such occurrences were not unusual and the emblazoned sigil of the Tha'qadi marked it as one of Kolar's.

A woman sidled up to Ojo Ris as he strode his fast, determined stride. Her black Betazoid eyes glanced at him, "Have you got a moment?"

"No," Ojo said in his deep rumble, "But tell me anyway."

She kept her voice soft and discreet, "I have an update about the Qualor II raid."

Ojo raised a brow, "With me," he said as he entered the turbolift. "He waited for the doors to close. "Secure." The turboloft made an almost icy sound and dimmed to a deep, glowing blue. "I'm on my way to a meeting with the CinC. We're probably talking Romulans. I assume this is relevant."

The Betazoid nodded crisply, "Subversive elements used the chaos of the Romulan Senate assassinations... a Miranda-class and two courier ships were taken. The..." she scanned her PADD. "Chinook and the Monsoon. And the Vaclav Havel."

Ojo sighed, eyes lost in a processing gaze at nothing, "Vaclav Havel was a towback from second Chin'toka, if I remember right. It's in bad shape. But if they're looking for parts, it might be worthwhile. The two Peregrine-class might be enough to dominate an outlier colony briefly. The real issue is, the Romulans are going to look at this as aiding an insurgency within their borders. Their eager to show its business as usual. The Federation's trying to open an embassy." Ojo paused and rubbed his chin, "What's the closest our of starships?"

The Betazoid tapped at her PADD, "NCIA-774. They're engaging in a data transfer and system upgrade with B19 Strawberry."

Ojo sighed, "Alright. Order Talis to the border and await further instructions. Send the data on the stolen ships. Dispatch NCIA-1031 to Qualor and round up the personnel who were on duty during the raid. Interview them and then relieve them of duty until further notice. Resume." The blue lights snapped off and the lift picked up. Ojo nodded when the turbolift opened, "Commander." He stepped outside and moved swiftly through the complex toward the office of the CinC.

"Ojo Ris," he stated to Sturnack's aide, Marlena. She smiled.

"He's waiting for you."

Ojo nodded a single bob, ushered himself toward the door, and touched the comm signal key at the door.

[CinC's Office]

The door slid open, triggered from inside. The Fleet Admiral had already risen and, as the Intelligence Director took measured steps forward, the Vulcan nodded in greeting. "Admiral Ojo," Sturnack began, gesturing to one of the two chairs in front of his desk, "Please, avail yourself of seating if you would like. Thank you," he took his own seat again, "For your time. With the forthcoming opening of the Romulan Embassy, I thought -- perhaps -- you might have some...perspective," the Commander-in-Chief paused, "on the challenges we potentially face now that the opening is imminent."

The last time Ojo Ris had heard Sturnack speak, he'd been addressed as Commodore Ojo, and that had been an update on the Reunification Movement on Romulus and elsewhere in the Empire. It had been quite awhile ago. The Bajoran studied the Vulcan intently, noting how he had aged- and yet had not in an especially Human manner. Vulcans aged differently and within longer timelines than many humanoids. The large Bajoran ushered himself into a seat, feet planted and hands folded, "Of course," the taciturn man stated. He sensed Sturnack likely had much more he needed to say. The Bajoran watched the superior for signs and subtleties.

Truth be told, these discussions had been ongoing for quite some time already. Concerns had been raised by many -- Sturnack included -- when the Romulan Star Empire had surprisingly said yes to overtures of diplomatic contact after the Shinzon incident a year prior. Under pressure from the Federation Council and the President, Starfleet had been tasked with helping to pave the way for the embassy's opening. And like all embassies on Earth, the ground given to the Romulans would count as territory sovereign to the Empire. Which meant no Federation or Starfleet eyes, ears, or security forces within the grounds themselves. And while Homeworld Security could certainly keep an eye on Romulan movements and activities without, it was Starfleet Intelligence that was most likely to contend with the possibility of a Tal Shiar presence within the embassy.

"There are," the Vulcan continued, "Two Romulan representatives waiting in the lobby at present. We are scheduled to meet not long from now," Sturnack explained, knowing Ojo was no doubt already aware of such. "Any thoughts you might be able to share ahead of that meeting would be welcomed," the Fleet Admiral finished, looking at the Intelligence Director expectantly.

Ojo glanced at the window and then back to the Vulcan. His brow rose in a quasi-Vulcan way. "They sent what Humans would call 'heavy hitters.' Both have been hand-selected by Praetrix Donatra."

Ojo raised his PADD to the edge of the desk and pinched and flung data onto the screen. He turned to face the imagery: a hawkish, harshly angled woman the same age as the Praetrix stared back at them, as like smoldering iron. She bore a scowl, her hair was the glossy back of raven's feathers. She wore a black version of the Romulan uniform.

"Consul Rikutha we have the most data on. It is also the most suspect. She was Donatra's first officer on the Valdore." And that meant, explicitly, that Rikutha was also the head eyes of the Tal Shiar on the Valdore. "As Consul she is one of the leads within the new Senate. She is the current Chair of the Commission on Internal Security," and that made her also de facto leader of the Romulan police force- Tal Diann. "She is a voice of skepticism toward the Federation, though we think she fought in the Dominion War. She is a patriot and she is conservative. Our Intel knows she has regular contacts with the Tal Shiar. He mother and grandmother are Qowat Milat. The fact that Rikutha was chosen suggests elements in the new Senate are looking at this as a fool's errand. Donatra needs to placate that faction and chose someone with loyalty to her as a compromise choice."

"Were I in the Praetrix's position," Sturnack mused from behind steepled fingers, "I might have done the same. The Tal Shiar was dealt a major blow during the Shinzon incident but they are still not to be trifled with," the Vulcan nodded slowly. "And the second of our representatives, Admiral?" he asked, leaning back slightly in his chair.

Ojo continued, pinching and throwing a new file up onto the screen, "This is Commodore Joteen, again handpicked by the Praetrix." Joteen was an older man, his hair an iron color. His heavily weathered features and mahogany-colored skin- coupled with his forehead ridges- placed him as a Romulan Northerner. His face too was a scowl, but one of arrogance more than contempt. His eyes were almost Betazoid.

"Joteen is not a diplomat. He is a soldier of the Empire. He is almost certainly here to try and glean our military readiness and resolve. His background is in Engineering. He will be looking at our facilities and, again, for any apparent weaknesses."

Ojo paused and flung the images of two younger men up on screen. Both had a certain resemblance to Joteen. "However, we suspect that Joteen has sympathies for the Reunification Movement. We believe two of his sons were members or had contacts within. Turek died in the Dominion War. He was the liaison officer to Admiral Ross and his Romulan counterpart, Admiral Sohoc." Ojo traced something on his PADD.

"Thilak perished in the Reman insurrection. That leaves Joteen with only a daughter. He has projected a desire to build a better future for Romulus. Donatra probably chose him because he is skeptical but open. Expect Joteen and Rikutha to be at odds. Rikutha's main weapon to keep Joteen in line is one of alien influences." Ojo raised a brow and cast gaze back to the Vulcan, "Look what happens when we lower our defenses to those who should be slaves... referencing the Remans."

The Fleet Admiral took all of this information in, his eyes tracing the features of Joteen's perished sons. "I am not a parent," Sturnack admitted, though Ojo would obviously be already aware. "However," the Vulcan continued, "the loss of two children would -- I imagine -- create a staggering impact on one's worldview. Logic would suggest that, given Joteen's history, he will prove the more likely partner in peace. However," Sturnack sipped from a tumbler of coffee sitting atop his desk, "I believe we will need to take great care in not broadcasting our belief of such. If the Romulan Senate believes Joteen is too amenable, they might work to replace him."

Sturnack stood then, moving to the large screen inset into the wall. The pictures of Joteen's two sons hung there like ghosts in the mist, staring back at him from the past. "How would you suggest navigating a conversation with both Rikutha and Joteen to avoid the appearance of preference?" he asked, not looking back at Ojo. He'd known the man for quite some time and while they were far from close colleagues, Sturnack respected Ojo's perspective a great deal.

The dark Bajoran cast a pensive if unfocused look across the table. His normal modus operandi in such a situation was not one of politics, but of strategy. Ojo would have not hesitated to play the two against one another, to divide an enemy and distract them. But that was not diplomacy. It was an alien mindset to the former agent who stayed quiet for a length of time after Sturnack's question. "I'm not a politician. Exploit the everyday situation that they are accustomed to: regiment a precise schedule, with dictated speaking times. Romulans don't freeform debate. One has a speaking time in the Senate, and then the opposition speaks. Senators reflect after. It's not endless, so keep sessions brief. A frustrated Romulan is going to fall back on tradition and safe points. Humans capitulate when tired. Romulans calcify."

He glanced to the window and back, "Joteen and Rikutha's relationship is not your concern. The Praetrix sent opposing views for balance. She can side with the stronger party and shore up her position, which is still weak. You may have to show an informal preference for Joteen, but also give Rikutha something she can take back as a victory for her side. Between the two, Rikutha is used to having a strong hand. An ally would strengthen and not hinder that hand."

It was, by necessity, an informational dump from Ojo but Sturnack found himself nodding slowly in its aftermath, untangling his steepled fingers. "I am appreciative of your insights, Admiral. You have given me much to reflect on prior to meeting with the Romulan representatives later today." The Vulcan rose then, turning his back on Ojo as he studied his own reflection in the window. The sweeping vista of the Golden Gate Bridge and the ocean beneath merged with his image, the waves washing over him like the perspective of his Intelligence director. Sturnack had much to ponder indeed, it seemed.

After a few long moments, the Commander-in-Chief turned back to Ojo. "Fleet Admiral McGarry was especially fond of your counsel, Admiral. We benefit from your continued efforts in-role. Thank you for your insights," Sturnack nodded with finality. It was a nod of dismissal, though not one born of curtness or frustration. The Vulcan had simply collected the information he had sought and was now ready to deliberate independently.

The laconic Admiral of Starfleet Intelligence stood and nodded. He rose, their meeting concluded, and collected the very few things he'd come into the office with, "Good Afternoon, Admiral." He stated, issuing himself out therafter.


=/\= A joint post by... =/\=

Fleet Admiral Sturnack
Commander-in-Chief
Starfleet Command

and

Rear Admiral Ojo Ris
Director, Starfleet Intelligence
Starfleet Command