We'll be Back

Posted on Sat Oct 15th, 2011 @ 9:14pm by Captain Benjamin Byrne & Ambassador Grintol S'Reln [NPC] & Arthur Schniedt [NPC] & Bann Edan Finn [NPC]

Mission: Kingdom Come
Location: USS Endeavour - Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: MD12 1013hrs

It had been nearly two full days since Benjamin and Gaius' discovery in the Nevarran Archives, and in that time, their contact with the Nevarran government had shrank to pretty much nothing, as the Witenagemot and the King had practically sealed themselves in their debating chambers, attempting to decide what to do about the discovery in the caverns; and indeed about the guardians still inhabiting it. Aside from the one who had greeted Benjamin with a phaser, there were still numerous more in stasis within the chambers. Obviously the old Queen Drust had intended for the secret of her era's technology to remain sealed away for a long time to come yet. Perhaps even a thousand years, judging by the number of guardians she had locked away down there. Remarkably long-sighted for a species with a lifespan comparable to humans; a thousand years was, afterall, a long time to expect to wait for something, or to even consider predicting in more than the strictly scientific terms. As much as he admired her for that, Ben had an odd nagging about the late Queen, based solely upon the fact that he found it wrong to seal so many men away in stasis for decades and centuries with no contact with the outside world. He had taken to reading what information they had received into their own databanks since they had arrived about her, and found that her critics of the era had thought of her as a very capable and forward-thinking monarch, but one who separated herself from the morality issues of what she considered as the 'crucial decisions of state'.

It was whilst he was reading through some of the data that he and Gaius had managed to catalogue and download from their trip to the archives that the door to his ready room emitted the cheerful chirp that signalled a visitor, and opened upon the slight gesture of his hand towards the door's sensors; it was a rather handy little feature that he was grateful for; in his years of command, he had learnt that the constant repetition of "Come!" became rather old very quickly.

"Mister S'Reln, Mister Schniedt," the captain said in slight surprise, as he stood to greet his visitors. Last he had heard, they were both still resident on the surface with the King's various political and economic aides going through the details of the trade agreement that they had come here to finalise. His surprise was heightened more when his third visitor stepped through the doors into the room. "And Bann Finn," the captain ammended, giving a very slight bow of respect to one of the more down-to-earth nobles he had met here thus far. They each nodded in acknowledgement of his welcome. "Please, have a seat." He gestured towards the long sofa that ran along one edge of his ready room, lowering himself into his own chair again once they had all been seated.

"I take it this means that there is news from Nevarra?" he asked, suddenly fearful that the Witenagemot would demand that he, as the man who opened the sealed chamber to the Cluster, leave forever and never return.

"You would be correct, Captain," S'Reln answered, the Andorian's antennae moving about slightly in a way that Benjamin new would indicate something, but at the same time understood too little of Andorian body language to realise what. "I am pleased to inform you that the Trade Agreement between the Nevarran Kingdom and the Federation has been signed today, resulting in the success of our mission here."

Finn chortled slightly. "I have learnt that Mister S'Reln here can be very single-minded when he has a goal," the noble said, smiling as he leant forward to rest his elbows on his knees. "I would assume, my friend, that the captain was referring to the situation regarding the Archives."

The Andorian nodded slightly to his Nevarran colleague, before turning back to the captain to dispense his information. "Indeed. The Witenagemot I am led to understand was rather split on the many options of what to do regarding this issue; the discovery of course has many repercussions to the Nevarran people, and they haven't even begun to study the data held within that chamber yet. The overall view though, and the view shared by the Royal Family, is that this discovery will ultimately have a positive outcome."

Finn took over, obviously eager to put across his views on the matter in a much less dry tone than the one S'Reln used. "The discovery of this chamber within the Archives opens up many possibilities for us, and most importantly the chance to answer many questions that have plagued us for the last two hundred years."

"I take it then that the King has decided that the chamber's contents are to be studied, not sealed away again?" Benjamin asked, excitement rising inside himself.

"Yes," Finn responded, eagerly. "The guardians still in the chamber will be brought out of stasis, and rehabilitated; hopefully working closely with our historians to provide their own views and experiences of events of their time." The noble paused, as he glanced at the two Federation negotiators. "Though I'm sad to say that the Witenagemot has requested that the Federation not take any part in the study of this chamber's contents. As I'm sure you can understand, this is a very important piece of lost Nevarran heritage, and we would like to be the first to have a chance to study and try to understand it."

Benjamin nodded. Though he had to agree with the rationality behind the decision, a lot of his excitement died within him. Still, perhaps in a few years there might be a chance for Starfleet to return to study the technology and the history for themselves.

"But at the same time," Edan continued, "they wanted to thank you and the Federation for your part in uncovering the hidden cavern. As such, the King will announce later today the official commissioning of a Federation Embassy on Nevarra. I believe he hopes that Mister S'Reln here will be the first Federation Ambassador to Nevarra."

Benjamin instantly perked up at this news. The news that the Federation would be gaining an embassy on Nevarra meant that the King had the full intention to keep up regular diplomatic contact with the Federation, which meant that there would be more about themselves that they would share with the Galaxy-at-large. It might even lead to Federation membership at some point a few years down the line. "Well, I suppose congratulations are in order, Ambassador S'Reln," he said, grinning at the blue-skinned diplomat. "Has the King asked anyone to become the Nevarran Ambassador to Earth at all?"

It was now Schniedt's turn to nod and smile as he released a new piece of information. "Yes, and he's sitting in this room with us," the German said.

Finn smiled almost sheepishly. "Yes, but I will be remaining on Nevarra for some time still, first. There is still much work for me here before I can free myself to visit Earth."

"In the mean time," Schneidt continued, a new confidence endowed in him, as Benjamin realised the human had just risen in position within the Federation diplomatic field, no longer a junior negotiator anymore. "I will be returning to the Federation as soon as possible, to relay this news to the Palais. How soon will you be able to recall your officers from around the Cluster?"

Benjamin had already moved to start keeping tabs on his various away teams, fearing that they might have been asked to leave rather rapidly if the decisions in the Witenagemot had gone the other way. "Most of them are already back onboard, and the rest will be returning within the day. We should be ready to leave orbit tomorrow, unless there is anything else that needs be done here."

"Tomorrow will be fine, Captain," Schniedt responded, smiling.

"If you will excuse us," S'Reln said, as he led the trio to stand. "There are a few things that we need to finalise on the surface before the King makes his announcement."

"Of course," Byrne said, standing as well to show his respect to the departing guests. "Feel free to call upon us at any time if you need us, Edan Finn, Ambassador S'Reln."

"Until later days, Captain," Finn said, smiling as he made a gesture oddly reminiscent to the human tradition of doffing one's hat, before the the three left his office.

"Byrne to Ballard," Benjamin said, opening the com channel as he sat back down in his chair.

"Ballard here, Captain."

"Tell our away teams to ensure they're back onboard by the end of the day, and get ready for departure by tomorrow. Our mission here is complete."

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Captain Benjamin J. Byrne
Commanding Officer
USS Endeavour

With the following NPCs:

Ambassador Grintol S'Reln
Ambassador to Nevarra
Federation Diplomat

Mister Arthur Schniedt
Federation Diplomat

Bann Edan Finn
Nevarran Noble
Ambassador to the Federation