Let's All Do the Bump

Posted on Thu Mar 19th, 2020 @ 11:07pm by President Gruzy of New Xindus & Lieutenant Commander Lily Snow PhD, MD

1,429 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Genesis
Location: Corridor, Starfleet One
Timeline: 2430-01-07, 22:15

President Gruzy of New Xindus stared at the holovideo on his PADD with anger growing throughout his entire body. The President had been informed by his office that Ambassador Caxl had recently appeared on Illuminating the City of Light and pretty much spilled the beans on their entire diplomatic mission involving the Dominion. Just knowing that this had happened had left him sick to his stomach because, perhaps most damaging, it had created a strong rift already within the Federation Council over the whole process. While the Federation Council was the legislature of the Federation and had a say, diplomacy was his purview.

And now it was all burning down around him as the other major players in the galaxy parlayed for their say. The Klingon Empire had been practically shut out of the process by Weyoun before this all began. Now the Romulans were pushing their way in. He really should've been having this conversation in private, but he hadn't had the opportunity to delay Ambassador Obim. A survivor of the destruction of Romulus and from the Northern latitudes, the Ambassador remained a Senator in their government before being assigned by Praetor Tei to serve as their Liaison to the Federation.

"I must again protest the exclusion of the Romulan Empire from the negotiations! You and the Dominion have excluded every great power in the Alpha Quadrant and that is intolerable to my government," he charged forward almost verbatim to his earlier argument.

Gruzy responded almost exactly as he did before, "I am aware of your objections, Ambassador. I have made every effort to include as many of the 'great powers' as you call them. Weyoun has refused. Rest assured that the Federation is doing everything in its power to include your government in these negotiations. Make no mistake..."

Obim interrupted, "No, Mister President, the mistake is thinking the Romulan Empire will just stand idly by and allow your betrayal of your neighbors in this quadrant to go unpunished. More and more of your worlds realize the tyranny you rule them with with each passing hour. The Confederacy of Vulcan saw you for what you are and became one with us. Leaders like Ambassador Caxl of Benzar will continue to shine a light on the treacheries of your government."

"Your objections have been noted and logged," the President plunged his finger so deeply on the disconnect control that his clawed finger broke through the display and caused a spiderweb crack to appear. He wanted to scream, to curse, to do everything that his instincts told him (starting with going back to Earth and ripping Caxl's head off). Instead he had to be the diplomat that was expected of him. He had to remain composed, controlled, dignified. He represented a plethora of worlds and he would not betray them. Despite what others had thought.

Looking again at the broken datapad he turned the corridor and walked right into someone.

She took the hit, and didn't even budge at it. She was about to tear the person a new one, but when she saw the President of the Federation standing in front of her. She wondered where his guards where and why thy where not jumping on her. She shrugged before she spoke. "Mr President."

"Commander," he struggled for a moment trying to recall her name. He felt a little guilty as he was usually good with names. "Commander Snow!" He remembered hoping he was correct. He almost addressed her as Commander Winter. "Nice to see you, sorry about that."

Lily only shrugged. "At least you didn't call me Commander Winter, like the last time we meet." She said. "Besides it would take more then a sheer bump to dump me unceremoniously onto the floor." Then she cocked an eyebrow at the broken PaDD in the man's claw. "So you need my assistance with something?"

He looked at the PADD in his hand, "Oh this? This is the result of a Xindi temper." He smiled disarmingly as he said it. "One of the Federation Council Members had some rather negative comments about our efforts out here and it's had an impact." He didn't say much more. While the crew of Starfleet One had the highest levels of clearance in Starfleet, there were somethings he could not bother them with. "So where are you headed, Commander?"

"No where special." Lily said with a slight hint of her icy tone. "Just heading back to my office to review reports on the various parts of my department." She said. "Does this Council Members know that now is a time for unity. If the people at the top disagree openly with each other, the rest of the citizens start to get restless. Besides the Federation is built on peace. So a powerful enemy coming to the table, should be a moment of celebration, not a time of fighting." She pondered quickly. "If I remember my history correctly. Which I do. The same thing happen in 2293 with the Klingon Empire and the destruction of the Moon Praxis."

"If only the worlds of politics were as they once were," he answered. "The Federation isn't as idealistic as it once was. The Dominion War, the Destruction of Romulus, the fight with the Klingons, Reunification, a whole smattering of other things. They take a toll after a while." He took a moment and looked around, "So, sure you want to go to your office? I wouldn't mind some company for a stroll aboard the ship."

"Well you are my Commander-in-Chief." She said. "Perhaps you should have this Council Member's background checked for any Section 31 ties." Lily said with a shrug.

He chuckled at the suggestion, but part of him wondered if that wasn't the route to go. The way that things seemed to be disrupted as of late an outside party could have been manipulating things behind the scenes, "Not necessarily a bad suggestion especially with how that evil entity seems to pop up from time to time." He remembered the briefing and the situation facing the Commander, "Present company excluded of course. I don't lump you into the evil category. Nor the Admiral."

"I'm sure you have read the report about me being contacted by them on the Atlantian mission?" Lily asked the President.

"I may've heard something about it," Gruzy answered. "It took a lot of courage to admit your involvement with them to anyone, let alone a warship with a God complex. Impressive."

"I was ready to seize control of the AI and plot the ship into the star." Lily said. "Because I was protecting my sister from another needless war." She stated. "This also opened another avenue of personal growth and exploration." She said as her cheeks reddened.

The Xindi nodded compassionately, "I understand completely. We would do anything for family, things we may not otherwise consider. I know I would for my son at very least. I never knew you had a sister," he continued. "You probably didn't know of my son," he added.

"No I didn't know of your son." Lily said. "That is how Section 31 got their claws into me. They threatened to have my medical records doctored, so I would be arrested and imprisoned, while the same would be done to my mother, and they would have seen to getting my sister into a truly horrible place."

"Fortunately for the galaxy they are not as active as they once were," he commented as they walked. "My predecessor spent a lot of time and effort on that project, enlisting Admiral Teagarden to assist in that." He didn't mention his supposition that they were just buried deeper and that Control was very much still alive and well just waiting in the wings. She herself had just mentioned having been contacted by them, but Starfleet Internal Affairs had spent a lot of time too keeping an eye on them.

"How are your family now?"

"The last I spoke to my mother, she and my sister are doing well." Lily said. "My mother is still seeing her counselor, thank god. I don't wish to take my sister from my mother."

"Let's hope that it never comes to that," Gruzy answered sincerely as they approached the door to his quarters. He nodded, graciously, "Thank you for the company to my quarters, Commander Snow. I hope that all goes swimmingly for your family and you."

"We will see, Mr President." Lily said with a simple nod. "If you pardon me, but I do have some work to do."

The President nodded, "Thanks for the company. Adieu."

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