uvek
Task Force Crewman
Joined: 10 Jul 2009
Posts: 1417
Location: bluffton ohio
|
 Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 11:03 am Post subject: Lillian Rayle - A little Bird... |
 |
|
Stardate: 2372 - Alpha Quadrant negotiations with the Dominion and its trading partners.....Babel Conference planetoid
"NO NO NO!" cried Minister Orridor, slamming his fist on the table to punctuate his anger. Things had not gone particularly well. The Ferengi representative (a rather unpleasant fellow named Quana), insisted on their share of the profits from the upcoming technology transition negotiated aboard DS9 some months before. Claiming First Contact and Introduction Rights, the Ferengi was simply being unreasonable. Quana threatened to withdraw the entire Ferengi Alliance from future trade talks if they didn't receive what could be profitable credits resulting from the sale of torpedo components and some previously classified tech related to the Jem'Hadar.
"We are here negotiating in good faith with the Federation! Not the Ferengi." Insisted Orridor. "Our two paths will not entwine!" Quana shook his head. "We ARE part of the Federation!" He responded. "We introduced you to this opportunity, it seems only reasonable that we partake of its fruits!"
In the INFERENCE TEAMROOM, Rayle removed her earpiece and leaned back sighing. Universal translators were catching all the verbage involved but Rayle was part of a specialized team, The Inference Department, assigned to listen to the original language of races and learn by inflection what the message behind the words meant. Rayle was a natural listener and an experienced translator, having been born on Mars colony but spending her formative years near the Neutral Zone on K-7a, an updated Klingon/Federation joint-mission station. Her mother Velda was a proficient scientist and linguist working on expansion of the federation database of languages for a holograph program envisioned through Starfleet Medical School. Lillian spent year after year listening to stories of other races and beings, and dreaming of the day she could go and meet them herself.
Now was that day. Immediately upon graduating from Starfleet Academy, she was assigned to Babel and had spent the past year working with the Andorian council through the Translator's Union. Her current assignment was truly a source of pride and promotion, as she had received the rank of Ensign and was named Team leader for the long-term trade negotiations. It was tedious work, but Rayle enjoyed the lyrical sound of the Karemma and the blunt, forceful chunks from the Dosi. She replaced the earpiece, and began reviewing the most recent comments.
Minutes later a threatening tone came through. Through the Universal Translator, the Dosi Iltala was saying, "Of course, of course, we will gladly meet that requirement." to Quana. But Rayle heard something else. She leaned over, and tapped a console, bringing up an old file from 2370, part of the DS9 First Contact report on the Dosi...Inglatu was heard a moment later; His typically deep Dosi voice secretly recorded talking with a Ferengi named Quark. There in the faint sound of the HD recording was the threat tone she was hearing here in Babel. The words didn't add up. Immediately she hit a red switch on her right side, activating a small yellow LED beside Admiral Becks. He stood immediately.
"Gentlemen, please." He said. "Let us take a moment to reflect. Excuse me." Becks moved to a non-descript side door and passed into Rayle's room. Ordinarily he would have hated to be interrupted in the midst of difficult talks, but he had come to trust his Inference team's instincts. Rayle had made a name for herself around the center. She was called "Big Talker" by her Andorian counterparts. Not because she had a lot to say, but because she aspired to heights of new learning, and she had been right much more than wrong when reading an alien's intent through conversation. Big Talker was an homage to those she had exposed as "saying alot, but meaning little."
"What is it, ensign?" he asked. Lillian looked up and said simply. "Iltala's lying. He means harm either to Quana himself, or the process. He won't pay the tribute." Becks nodded and smiled. "Well then, we'll just change the playing field."
In the end the Federation secretly negotiated a suitable increase in other trade with the Ferengi in lieu of payments from the Karemma or Dosi, helping pave the way for future business with both. Publically, Becks was able to get a concession from Quana at the table, and close the deal. Some months later, Iltala was overheard asking Admiral Becks, "How did you know we were not going to pay the tribute and stop the trade if Quana had not relented?" Becks simply smiled and said "Well, let's just say a little bird told me."
_________________
  
Live a life of action...not reaction.
Last edited by uvek on Sat Feb 27, 2010 2:01 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
