Diplomatic Mission to Vein ll. Part 3

Posted on Friday August 12th, 2022 @ 5:40pm by Lieutenant Commander Niali Deval Dr & Lieutenant Finchley Kerr

Mission: New Worlds
Location: Halls of Audience. Vein ll
Timeline: Current.

[ON]

Minister Valev’s First Aide beckoned him over from his conversation with Ensign Grant. He bowed to her. “I must leave you for a moment, Ensign. Military matters of State.” He walked over to his Aide and pulled him out of the way of people around them.

“Have they contacted you yet?” Valev whispered urgently. The conference would be beginning any minute and he had had no contact with the soldiers he had hired to interrupt the conference and kill First Minister Ara in front of everybody. This way the quorum could be frightened into keeping the military program alive. The soldiers would remain a fighting force and no one would conscience removal of the genetic enhancements. Then he could work on becoming First Minister on everyone else’s fear. They had no need for the Federation, only him. Valev looked around suspicious of everyone. He saw Ara talking in earnest to the Federation Commander, Valev had never liked her with her politics of peace and planetary harmony. What their world needed was military strength, He laughed. “Try our contact again, we need them before the meeting ends, promise them anything,” Valev added as his aide disappeared.

"Very well First Minister" Finchley replied to Ara's message for Tor. He walked towards the table set up for the meeting, and turning back to Ara he said "Shall we be seated and begin First Minister?"

Jo had overheard Minister Valev's sinister plans and moved towards Mr. Kerr.

"Excuse me, Commander Kerr, may I please have a word with you? Jo asked.

"Of course Ensign" Finchley replied to Jo, and turning to Ara he added, "Please excuse me for a moment First Minister."

Walking a little distance away from the table, Finchley turned to Jo and asked "Is everything alright Ensign Grant?"

"Sir I have to report that I overheard Minister Valev talking to his aide. I believe he is going to make an assassination attempt at this meeting involving mercenaries. He seems to be having trouble contacting them though. He wants to rule himself and eliminate the first minister in a very public way." Jo reported.

Finchley was shocked to hear the report, but at the same time, it seemed something Valev was capable of.

"Thank you Ensign, take up a position by the door to the west door over there" Finchley said, nodding his head "Be ready!" he ended.

"Aye Sir" Jo said subtly. She moved over to the west door. She was alert and took up a defensive position.

Ara had walked over to Valev to let him know they would be starting and noted he seemed to be distracted. Some of the participants had begun to sit in their designated places at the table, the great doors had been closed and the security measures prescribed by Valev began to be put in place.

Finchley walked back to Ara and quietly said "Ara" using her first name to show he meant business, "I want you to walk over to where Ensign Grant is, make it seem as though you want to consult her on a Security measure, but be ready to make a sharp exit from this room. Something has come to light that puts your life at risk and I want you out of here and safe with our people."

“So, it is happening at last as I knew it would but did not think he would be so bold as to do it here. Very well Commander, thank you. Ara stood and drew her robes around her. She looked over to Valev as several of his militant personal guards entered. She walked over to Ensign Grant and put her hand on her shoulder. “Ensign, I am in your hands.” She looked at Commander Kerr and she was suddenly afraid.

"Be brave First Minister. I will do my best to see that no harm befouls you." Jo said.

Ara nodded and swallowed. She gripped the small projectile weapon she had removed from the pocket in her voluminous cloak. She had never been very good with weapons and she believed that maintaining a dialogue with one’s enemies was by far the best way to keep the peace. No one else apart from the Federation team seemed to know, or even suspect that there was something wrong and were taking their places around the table.

Valev distanced himself from the two would be assassins. “Minister Ara, are you ready to join us?” He called as the pair approached Ara.

Finchley came between Valev's men and the First Minister, saying "Ah gentlemen, it's kind of you to want to escort the First Minister to the table, however, there's a small Security procedural matter that I need to discuss with her first before we can take our seats. As it's a conditional matter, my officers and I are required to speak with the First Minister in private, I'll escort her over to the table myself very shortly."

The two men looked at Valev, unsure of what to do next.

Valev almost imperceptibly moved his head and the assassins melted away to wait. He sat down in his designated chair to wait.

“What happens now Lieutenant Commander Kerr?” Ara asked, “we need these talks?”

"Well First Minister, we could concoct a reason to dismiss the talks here and reconvene them on the USS Oberon where you and your Government Officials should be safer, or, we can walk over to that table where the only thing that could possible save you is if myself and Ensign Grant throw ourselves in front of you when the assassins fire on you" Finchley replied.

Ara smiled at Kerr, “we have a saying that sometimes to retreat is is the better part of valor. But we need Minister Valev with us. What do you need me to do?”

"Indeed First Minister, we have a similar saying where I'm from" Finchley replied "What I'd suggest is that you say to Valev and your other Officials is that the Federation Council have some last minute concerns and need to speak to you about them, and the only way you can get a secure line is on the USS Oberon, so you've decided to change the venue from here in the Halls of Audience to the Conference Room on our ship. That way, there's no interference, we guarantee your safety, and you have a direct communication to the full Federation Council to plead your case."

Ara nodded, “excellent idea Commander Kerr.” She whispered to her aide to ask Valev to speak to her as Ara did not feel safe walking over to him. If she had to she would use her weapon but she had never before killed anyone let alone a minister in her own government and maybe institute a civil war.

Valev looked unsure but walked over to the pair. “Minister Ara, Lieutenant Commander, why are you not joining the table?” He asked with seeming concern.

Ara wanted to slap him at that moment but forced a smile on her face. “The Lieutenant Commander has just informed me of some last minute questions the Federation Council would like answered and, it would be easier to do so if we moved the meeting to their Starship. I have no problems with that and would like to see their ship. I am sure the Quoram would be happy with us doing so.” Ara moved away from him a little disliking even being near him.

Valev was immediately on alert. There was no way he wanted to be on a Federation ship, if that were to happen he might have to kill her himself. He felt that would be satisfying but then he would be tried for her murder. He sighed. “Are we able to bring our guards with us, if so then that would be acceptable?”

"Minister Valev, what you think is acceptable or not in inconsequential in the grand scheme of these talks" Finchley said, turning and walking up to Valev and standing literally nose to nose with him "Your First Minister has given you an order, so unless you want to scupper these talks with your...effrontery, I suggest you take your thoughts and shove them in your back pocket if you have one, is that clear!"

Valev turned scarlet. “You are extremely rude Commander Kerr, you seem to have nothing of the diplomat in you but I will take the First Minister’s wish under advisement and my Aides and I will repair to your Starship in order to continue the talks that are so important to my government.” He walked away to collect his Aides.

"Minister Valev" Fihcley called out loudly so everyone could hear him "As per orders given when we beamed down here, you will NOT take any weapons onto the Oberon, is that crystal clear when you beam up, all weapons will be neutralized and you will ALL be body searched for concealment of any weapons. Don't make the mistake that I'm a diplomat, I'm not, I'm a Federation Starfleet Officer and I will not stop any of my crew from forcefully detaining you if you or any of your aides cause trouble, is THAT clear enough for YOU?"

Valev stood his back to Commander Kerr his hands balled into fists of rage. Nobody had ever dared speak to him like that. The room was silent until there was a slight giggle from someone. He looked at the two men waiting for his orders and indicated Ensign Grant with his eyes.

“Thank you, Commander Kerr,” Ara whispered. “The Quoram are listening. If he goes against this they will respond. Most of them are heartily sick of his war mongering.”

"He's a bag of wind First Minister" Finchley replied. "Yes, people like him only look out for their own interests, but they only have that ability if you keep them in the powerful position they're in. Take that Security position away from him, saying something to the Quorum like you feel the Security measures he had in place were woefully inadequate, and the pack of wolves he's been running with will turn in on him and devour him."

“I have been investigating him for many years Commander Kerr, I have repeatedly brought my evidence to the Quorum but, as you say he runs with powerful members who have their own agenda. However the tide is turning and many of the Quorum are now siding with me, hence the application for help from and to join the Federation.”

One of Valev’s men began to move towards Ensign Grant.

Jo readied herself for the attack but would not attack unless provoked. She was well trained in how to fight, and despite her size, she was a skilled fighter. Also, she was extremely quick and agile.

Finchley stepped in front of Valev's man before he could reach Jo. saying "Take one more step towards my officer bub and it'll be seen as an act of aggression towards the Federation, and an act of war, that's something you won't want here. Now, there are three things you can do...one, turn round and skulk back to your boss, two, attack my officer and bring the wrath of Hades down on your planets head, three, be very very dead after I kill you for attacking my officer. So, what's your choice then?"

Valev's man shrugged his shoulders and walked away pushing passed Ara.

Valev called his Aide to him and waited.

“Please let us leave for your ship Commander. Each of us will have one Aide and I will rely on you for our security.” Ara said.

"You'll all have round-the-clock Security First Minister" Finchley replied "and I'll be with you wherever you go on the ship. I'll have a double guard outside Valev's quarters, and they'll follow him and his aide wherever they go. Nobody but yourself will be allowed anywhere near any sensitive parts of the ship, and even the ones you go to will be low priority, I hope you understand."

“Yes, Commander I do understand. All I want to do is get these talks underway and do whatever I can to end this terrible military slavery and have our world join the Federation. I know they can help us build a better world. Then, and only then will I retire.” Ara looked over to Jo. “Ensign Grant!” She said in a loud voice. “Will you please stand with me?”

"As you wish First Minister, we come to serve," Jo said moving next to the First Minister.

Finchley contacted the Oberon and had them all transported up. Once on the ship, he assigned the Government officials quarters and had Security escort them there. He himself, along with Jo, accompanied Ara to her quarters. Once inside, he closed the door and said to Ara "Ensign Grant here will remain with you just now for your safety, I'll go and make sure all the proper arrangements have been made and I'll be back shortly."

[OFF]