**Back Post** Reporting for Duty

Posted on Thu Apr 1st, 2010 @ 7:48am by Lieutenant JG Nava & Commodore Samantha York

959 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: What Lies Beneath?
Location: Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: Prior to Mission Start

On

Nava had arrived on the shuttle, dropped her bag off in her quarters, checked her uniform to make sure she was in order and headed for the CO's ready room to officially report for duty. Nava was slightly nervous as she headed for the lift and the appropriate deck.

Once the lift stopped and Nava stepped off, she was a completely different person, calm, confident and somewhat serious. There was, however, a gleam in her eye, a spark of mischief that could escape at any time. Walking to the door, Nava rang the chime and waited for the Captain to answer.

Sam was finishing up the last-minute paperwork before leaving for Tiberius IV. When she heard the chime she set the PADD down and stood. "Come in," she called.

Nava walked in and came to attention "Ensign Nava reporting for duty." She said as she took in the Captain before her and the ready room.

"Have a seat," Sam said with a smile. She'd been expecting the new Ferengi officer. "Can I get you something to drink?"

Nava sat down "A glass of water would be fine." She said feeling a bit more comfortable. "I hope that I will be able to provide you with some assistance in any diplomatic needs you have." She said with a slightly toothy grin.

Sam got two glasses of water. She set one in front of Nava and took the other with her as she walked around her desk and sat down. "I'm looking forward to the reaction you get when I do need you. I don't think there are many Ferengi diplomats in Starfleet," Sam said with a grin.

Nava grinned "No there aren't. One maybe two. As you know we are more into business for profit rather than diplomacy. However I've found that the Rules of Acquistion apply to diplomacy just as much as they do to business." She said accepting the water "How do you feel about having a Ferengi diplomat?" Nava asked as she took a drink.

"If I had a problem, you wouldn't be there," Sam stated bluntly. "So I think you can do the job. However, I would like to hear how the Rules of Acquisition apply to diplomacy."

Nava smiled "Diplomacy is simply a business transaction without the latinum." She explained "Rule of acquisition 5: If you can't break a contact, bend it. I take that to mean that there is always a compromise somewhere, its simply a matter of finding the loophole."

"That's an interesting way to look at it. I think you would deal well with the Romulans and Cardassians. They tend to think along the lines of winning and losing," Sam said. Perhaps even more so than a human, Nava would be able to relate to some of the non-Federation species.

Nava looked at the Captain "I see life as a business deal. If you are on the right side, you make a profit. You're on the wrong side, you lose profit. As a Ferengi, it is disgraceful to lose profit." She chuckled "I go into any diplomatic situation with a goal in mind. Hopefully it is to the benefit of everyone, but bottom line, profit."

Sam nodded, smiling. "I like to know where my people stand. As long as you can take a few losses, I think we'll get along just fine."

Nava smiled "Where do you stand?". She asked "What is your philosophy on diplomacy and the diplomatic corps?"

"I'm a scientist. Diplomacy is working together for a common goal. Or coming from two different viewpoints and meeting somewhere in the middle. I don't like posturing and preening, I prefer honesty. I know diplomats need to behave a certain way, which is fine, as long as they truly care about what they're doing and not just their position. Sarek was one of the best. I've read a lot about the man and his life. He honestly cared. That's how I see diplomacy," Samantha replied. "With Ferengi, in general, you know where you stand. They're out to make a profit and you're their next victim. It makes things simpler."

Nava smiled "That's very true. And while I believe in making a profit where possible, I also like the fact that I can compromise with people. I hope that any interactions I have are positive and meet the needs of the many." She said "I too have studied Sarek and I like his philosophy and policy. I have worked it somewhat into my own philosophy. It's rather difficult merging Vulcan and Ferengi philosophies into one that works." She said as she took another drink of water.

"What is our current mission?" She asked moving on to the bigger topic "And what do you see as my role in it?"

"A mining ship and a Federation shuttle have disappeared on Tiberius IV. We're going to investigate," Sam replied. "It's a desert planet. There's been no communication from the two ships and no sign of wreckage."

"Interesting. The last communication from either ship give any indication of a problem or did they just vanish?" She asked thoughtfully.

"None at all. You can't scan beneath the surface of the planet because of the sand, so the ships landed. Or went into the atmosphere. Nothing after that." Sam grinned. "A great mystery. We'll also get to see what's in the sand that keeps us from scanning under it."

Nava nodded "Understood. If you have nothing else, I'll go get settled in my quarters." She said with another toothy grin.

"I have nothing else. Good luck," Sam replied.

Nava stood and walked out of the Captain's Ready room and headed for her quarters.

OFF

Ensign Nava
CDO
USS Calypso

and

Commander Samantha York
CO
USS Calypso

 

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