Concerns

Posted on Thu Oct 14th, 2021 @ 3:55am by Captain Calypso Skyie & Lieutenant Syrial J'naii

Mission: The Dexic Negotiations
Location: Conference Room
Timeline: Directly After "Prior Preparation Prevents..."

Syrial had said during the conference that they had no concerns.

That was a lie.

It was not an easy to solve concern though. Not a "I think we should have an extra guard on the away team," or "we should pack winter clothes, just in case" kind of concern. It was a deeper rooted worry, and bringing it up in front of the ambassador in front of anybody - it wouldn't fix anything. The decision to bring these folk into the Federation was a decision made far above Syrial's level. They had been in Starfleet for over two decades, and at the beginning they had really cared. They had tried and they had cared. A younger Syrial would have protested in the meeting. An older Syrial knew that nothing a random doctor could say would change that political decision. Mentioning it would only serve to divide the crew, which was not something they needed right before a mission. Besides; the J'naii was aware that their views were perhaps not in line with the average Federation member. They came from a peaceful world, yet not a Federation world; and in their mind, any Federation world should be even more peaceful than their own. Hearing about a world run by capitalists, with active protests and dissent did not fit into their idealist image of a Federation world, an image that Syrial's parents had so painstakingly painted throughout their childhood. Syrial knew they were perhaps a touch too cautious, but that didn't diminish their caution.

"Sir," the doctor approached their Captain as the rest of the crew filtered out of the conference. "Can we speak in private for a moment?" It was a strange moment of formality, coming from the seemingly goofy doctor.

Cally looked up from the table at the address from the doctor, put on a smile and nodded, "Of course, Syrial, anytime at all. Did you want to talk here, or somewhere no one will walk in on us? Whichever makes you more comfortable."

"I'd rather talk in private, if possible." The J'naii chuckled. "Now that's something different. A private conversation that isn't a medical appointment? Now what was it that humans say about things like that? When dogs run?" They giggled. Whatever idiom they had been attempting there was beyond the point of recognition - that was what they got for learning the language themselves, instead of using a translator.

Cally chuckled, "I'm Betazoid, so I'm not quite sure what it is myself. I've heard about raining cats and dogs, but still..." She pondered for a moment, "My ready room is closest, just through that door in fact... Let's go there, something to drink once we get there?"

"You'll have to teach me some Betazoid sayings, then, one of these days." Syrial grinned. "Your ready room would work." The J'naii started walking towards the door without waiting for confirmation. "And no. I'm not really thirsty. Unless you happen to have lemonade. Like, real lemonade, not from a replicator," they chuckled. "Barring the very strange off chance that you have a random earth beverage, I don't want anything to drink."

"Then we don't need anything, no fresh lemonade in there, unless we get really lucky." Cally sighed, "That sounds really good though." She was right on Syrial's heels as they got through the door and it closed behind them, "But one of those sayings you're looking for is this: 'Being polite costs nothing, being an asshole costs you everything.'"

"Oh, that's a good one." They paused and thought for a moment. "I don't really know the translations for any of the sayings from my homeworld." They grinned. "Maybe one day I will have to go change the settings on the Translator, let it translate J'naii automatically for a bit, so we can see what it decides the best translation is." Syrial looked back at the door behind them, seeing that it was closed.

"About the mission," Syrial started. "I would, uh," they paused, trying to figure out what exactly it was they wanted to say. They gave an embarrassed grin. "Well. I didn't think it would do say this in front of the Ambassador. But I am worried about this, uh, this mission." Man. How long had it been since Syrial had had a relatively serious conversation? Usually they did their best to seem as unserious as possible, lest people get the wrong idea and think of them as somebody who needs more responsibilities. "I don't really think a society that still has protests and violence, even minor violence, about it is ready to join the Federation. And before you say anything-" the J'naii spoke quickly. "I know. I come from a peaceful planet, and my view is biased, and I'm not qualified to be making that assessment and, well, we all know I'm a coward. But," they sighed. "I think we should tread carefully. As if we weren't already."

"Where you come from doesn't mean that you're not bringing up a valid point." Calypso gestured to one of the chairs in front of her desk, taking the other one herself, "I think you're still rather well qualified to make the observation, because one of the best things about the Federation is that it gives us a lot of points of view to look at situations from. I'm not being callous when I dismiss the protests we've heard about. In their base form, they are just people expressing their differences of opinion. And some fist fights, even some of the knives that have been reported? When people argue with each other, emotions get heightened and some people lash out as a response. Generally, from what we've heard, because we've not witnessed them, the protests are largely peaceful, because not everyone will agree with everyone else, no matter how hard we try."

Syrial sat down in the chair. "The J'naii are a passionate people." They gave a sort of half-smile. "And people get in arguments, and fights, they lash out all the time. We're not perfect. We're not even a Federation species. But, well, I'd say a random citizen, one of their protestors, knows a lot more about their planets' politics than we do." The J'naii shrugged. "Eh. I'm not really sure where I'm going with that. Can I just... Can I request not to be sent down to the planet? Unless it's an emergency. I am afraid that my personal opinions on this matter would interfere my performance. And I know that I should leave my personal opinions out of this, and I'm willing to face whatever discipline for doing otherwise, but I think it would be unfair to both of us for me to not share this." They sighed. It wasn't at what they had said, though, it was at the way they said it. This was something the old Syrial would say. The Syrial that people put too much faith in, the one who seemed to have it all together just to let everybody down one too many times. They didn't want to come to this ship and make the same mistake, but it just felt wrong to stay silent about this. Maybe they were doomed to feel wrong either way.

“Why would I have to discipline you for asking not to be sent to the planet?” Cally asked with a soft smile, shaking her head, “I wouldn’t even consider it. I happen to know, well, suspect that if it were an emergency situation, you would be one of the first trying to get on the transporter pad for that trip down. You say you’re a coward, yet you have the courage to come and ask me something you think might land you in hot water? Not a cowardly act in any way.” She leaned forward and placed a hand on Syrial’s knee for a few moments in reassurance, “But I do want to know what those protestors are saying, preferably straight from one of them, with the why they’re saying it. That’s why I’m sending people down. Our orders are basically to merely be the taxi for the Ambassador, but I try to be thorough when I can be.”

Syrial nodded, glad to hear that. They realized then that perhaps they were a bit thirsty but it was too late now to ask for something to drink. The absurdity of such a thought, chock right in the middle of a serious conversation, made them smile. "Their government is wanting to join to get our technology. We all see that. As soon as they join the Federation, and get our support, this will no longer be a level playing field within their internal politics. Whatever the protestors had to say might as well be a moot point, so I'd rather they say it, and get it heard and addressed, so matter how small their point, before we bring them in." The J'naii shrugged. "But I really don't like talking about politics. I'm here to be a doctor. A coward of a doctor. Running into danger, hiding behind 'medical oaths'. That's easy for me. It doesn't excuse me from being a coward. Everybody has a different kind of bravery." The doctor took in a long breath. "And I don't think I'm ready to be brave." Syrial's point started to wander, becoming less and less coherent as they started talking to themselves, rather than to Calypso.

"But, uh..." The doctor looked down at their hands. "Can you not tell the crew about my concerns? Not that they came from me at least. I don't want them to see me as somebody who worries."

“Not to worry, your secret is safe with me.” Calypso promised, “Besides, it’s my job to do the worrying. I know, I saw it in the contract right before I signed it. ‘All public worrying is to be done by the Commanding Officer. Any other officer caught worrying in public will be punished severely.’” She giggled at the joke she just made.

Syrial smiled at the joke. "Well," they clapped their hands on their upper legs before standing up. "I guess that's all I had to say. Thank you - for listening." Then they remembered they were talking to a superior officer. "Ma'am."

Cally stood up as the J’Naii did, “Thank you for bringing your concerns to me, Syrial. I always like to think that others aren’t just listening to what I’m talking about and using what’s between their ears, but until someone actually comes to me like you did, I really never know for sure.”

Syrial chuckled, opening the door, "Oh, I wouldn't say that. Everything I got 'between the ears' is filled with random quotes from, like, romance books and stuff. Not really something to be used in a case like this." They smiled. "But thanks for listening."