Upset Masses

Posted on Mon Jul 31st, 2023 @ 12:48pm by Lieutenant Commander Tiandith 'Tia' Tobru & Lieutenant JG Osil Haistro

1,980 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 6 - Point Of Enlightenment
Location: Security, then a Promenade location

ON:

"Commander," Bobby said a little nervously approaching the El Aurian officer. "We are getting reports of Federation staff being refused entry into Promenade services. And we have had several of the vendors show up outside ops demanding to see the Commodore. In relation to our search of the Ferryman and our arrest of Niska,"

Tia pinched her nose. Ever since the arrest of Niska, and that wasn't even more than a couple of hours ago, she'd been getting reports of unrest on the rise, disturbances between Starfleet and natives on board and now this... a small moment passed her mind where she thought she'd prefer the simplicity of fighting against the Dominion back in her own universe.

She sighed and rose, "Well Ensign, I guess we better go put our face on it... or mine." she walked up to him and gestured for him to begin the walk to the Promenade. "No-one is to bother the Commodore with this until it becomes something we cannot solve ourselves. Agreed?" she looked at him in all seriousness.

In the back of her mind she wondered if her relationship with Niska would go in her favour here, or be a detriment to the upset masses at their proverbial door.

"All of us Ma'am," Bobby said. "Its everyone's face. The first person to start with would be the acting president of the vendors association. Niska is president but her assistant Zoe stepped up and called an emergency meeting. Even Chef attended. People got to see him fully ... " Bobbys said excitedly then shut up on that seeing peoples faces. It was an amusing joke no one got to fully see that chef.

He cleared his throat and carried on, "It seems, ermm that they voted to solidify with combined action."

"Where as I do agree that this is security's mess, I am the face of the department and I will protect you all as best I can." Tia emphasised her view on how to run departments. She was always of the belief that if they protected her, she'd protect them. This investigation had taken so many bad turns, in her opinion hadn't been handled correctly and if she'd been in charge then a more subtle investigation and action would have been taken.

"We'll meet with Zoe, if she wants others to attend then that is fine. I won't keep people out if things need to be said. An open forum is probably best to get the opinions of all as opposed to hearing them second hand." she thought on the go as they both entered the turbolift.

Bobby nodded and ordered it to the same floor as ops. "Zoe is someone who also followed Niska from SB50. She gave her a job and a chance. I'm lead to believe Zoe's life wasn't the best up to that point. She's very loyal to Niska. In fact all her staff are. Sorry Ma'am, I probably don't need to tell you that,"

The door opened and there were several people shouting. "Appointment... you tell that Haistro!

"And any other officer ..." someone else demanded.

"We demand to be seen .....

"This is bullshit ....."

"Zo maybe we need to get the legal lady to file some paperwork. They respond more to bureaucracy then people..."

Tia had nodded softly at Bobby's comments. She had met Zoe only once and truth be told they didn't chat long, but she sensed she was a strong and capable woman. Tia didn't dive into Niska's past all too often and Niska the same of Tia's, but she knew little snippets that had been spoken of as they got closer and their relationship deepened.

She walked into the space where the group of promenade merchants, civilians and those unhappily treated had gathered and the room suddenly became quiet as heads turned.

"Tia," Zoe said walking right up to her. "Niska is innocent. She needs releasing. The way that officer treated her was disgusting."

"And we will not allow our services to be accessed by Starfleet officers until this issue is sorted," a booming voice of the unusual alien stood behind her stated. He stomped his foot, the chefs jacket he had on waving violently.

"And why are your fleeters monitoring everything we do conducting our businesses?" someone else shouted out. "Spying on us. Not trusting us."

Casually, Osil strolled up, keeping a small distance so he could oversee the place just in case. He'd been patrolling the promenade and keeping a casual eye on proceedings. So far, barring a lot of shouting, things seemed to keep a peaceful sense though so he remained relaxed as well. "Why would we spy?" He asked, "aren't we here for your protection as much as our own?"

"Protect us. Your lot can't even keep the vole population in check," Zoe said sharply. "Keeping an eye on all our accounts to be able to decide if something is unusual is not trusting us and prying into the businesses here. Don't label it spying then. I know your game. Strutting in here and trying make the language more positive so your in a more positive light."

It was irritating this man was so good looking she though annoyed.

"If you call that a strut Zo," someone muttered. "Sure he's got the looks but he's not really got the moves."

"Or the silver tongue,"

"He's just a small man with a big sidearm,"

Laughter erupted around them.

The tall Betazoid turned his head to look directly at Zoe and winked playfully at her. "Voles are for pest control ma'am, not station security," he said, smiling good-naturedly, "and security doesn't strut either. I agree though, I do look good. Thank you."

Tia shook her head at the interaction. This was not what she'd wanted, especially when she'd came down here to smooth things over.

"Zoe, I know she is innocent." Tia responded softly as Zoe's attention shifted back to her as she had intended initially. "And Lt. Read will be spoke to by me once I have spoken to all of you. If I had known this was going to happen I'd have nipped it in the bud long before it got to this point."

"What about spying on us then!" one shouted.

Tia turned to face a larger crowd but moved to stand side by side with Zoe. Thus trying to show equality of presence and that she was not in between anyone.

"We monitor a lot of things that come in and out of the station, that much is true. We monitor ships as you know, their cargo as you all know. That is why we have customs teams on board. If you think we are allowing the free flow of goods through this station without checking then you don't realise how dangerous that would be. Many of you have had spot checks done, this is nothing new and claiming ignorance on this process is not an excuse to close businesses to those that do protect your property... and you know that too."

"So you admit it!" Tamin yelled and moved closer.

"I admit to what you already know sir. Did we not detect and stop Red from infecting your batch of seeds and powders that you use for your homeopathic remedies last month?"

"Well, yes." Tamin replied.

"That was due to an irregularity in the route the transport ship that transported your goods had taken en route to the station. If we had not 'monitored', not spied, the transport and then inspected the goods then your establishment would no doubt be closed completely due to the infection of red to your product you would then use to make your remedies and then give to station personnel and public. A reputation can take a lifetime to build but can be destroyed in mere seconds, Tamin."

"And Vel, did security not assist you in breaking up that bar fight last week? The one that your own internal security couldn't cope with?"

Vel looked at her feet.

"I know a group of drunk Klingons can be hard to deal with and I do not blame you for calling for help. If you start closing yourself off from Starfleet services then you are open to this type of abuse and danger. This is not a threat by any means but a fact. I want to protect you, I want to help you and be here for you not only as Security Chief, not only as the XO of this station but as your friend. Once we resolve this dispute I will be going to security and releasing Niska without charge but I have to know where we stand here first before I do. Know that no matter what you decide here and now I will still do what I have to to protect you all from harm, and if you need security they will still be there for you."

“If I may chief,” Bobby said speaking for the first time. He could see what the chief was doing but even in mentioning friendship he didn’t feel the rapport they were looking for was getting to where they wanted it. As they couldn't straight out admit it had been a disaster. Federation face was needing to be saved. But they were not engaging with the masses allowing them any input in how they decided to handle things.

“I think the issue is more how the incident today played out. Its not about what we do. The language around things could be better and we are certainly getting wound up and caught up in the nuisances of it.

It should have been a conversation in private not public. Niska should have been allowed to get dressed before shackled and the whole party should have been beamed to security not one of you paraded in that manner through the station. We understand that whatever the situation that's not nice.

Perhaps going forward we can agree some better procedures for both parties in dealing with these types of matters. Perhaps chief we could arrange a proper liaison from our team to work with your vendors association. I would be happy to volunteer,”

He looked at Tia to see her reaction.

"If you want to volunteer for that position Ensign then I'm more than happy for you to do it on a trial basis and see how we go from there." Tia nodded to the young man. "As for processes, we have them in place... they just weren't fully understood by our newest officer and certain etiquette was not followed." she felt like she needed to justify that it wasn't security as a whole that was at fault but the actions of a few.

This is what happens when someone from another department takes on a new role and doesn't fully understand how to act. That they cannot act like an intelligence officer when dealing with the public so openly, but that was another matter altogether.

Zoe coughed to try get back the fleeters attention. "We would like a liaison. And you are now going to release Niska?" she asked hopeful.

"Of course. I just wanted to be the one to bring her back... for obvious reasons." she implied to Zoe. "And Ensign Matthews will be your liaison as he has so eagerly volunteered for."

Zoe nodded and looked at the rest. "Niska is being set free. The appropriate people are handling this now. We have been listened too and now have a voice to a liaison so its now time to...

"Reopen the kitchen," Chef yelled happily.

"Go back to normalcy," Zoe said with a nod to Tia.

"Thank you Zoe." Tia smiled knowingly that it hadn't been an easy decision to make given how difficult day it had been. Tia herself had a tension headache that was proving hard to shift.

OFF:

Zoe npc Mel D’BrooNi

 

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