A good, or rather great morning and a warm welcome to IDS-Daily News. It is oh-nine-hundred hours and the chronometer keeps ticking as we countdown to what may be the long awaited answer to the Federations financial crisis. Final votes or vetos on Starfleets rigorous reforms will be coming in straight from the Presidium -with us to discuss todays pending proceedings is the canny, capable but most of all captivating admiral Kathryn Janeway. Goodmorning admiral and welcome to the table.
My wife appears on the screen and offers the flirtatious host a friendly nod. I lean forward in an attempt to deduce her state of mind off the unrelenting panelscreen. My still steaming mug is put down on the kitchencounter and I shift to the tip of my high stool. Undetectable by the untrained eye, the tension between her eyebrows betrays the slightest of apprehension in her pleasantry -she had had a long day.
I don´t much like the hunched over anchorman of this fastpaced bulletin; he leans as heavily on populistic one-liners as he does on his silver-taupe table. It occurs to me it might also be jealousy and frown at the thought. The nature of her tasks and activities have changed drastically since our return home and her promotion into formal distance others had always respected towards her had given way to forward journalists and peers that hadn´t existed while on voyager, where every crewmember had been her subordinate. My being second in command had entailed I enjoyed somewhat of a monopoly on her informalities and intimacy. The forward way in which new spectaters sometimes treated her caused an unease in my gut. An unwelcome and unforseen novelty that I preferred to keep far from her.
I shake my head at the idea. No, it´s his superficiality I don´t like. Intelligent as I know Kathryn to be, she won't be seduced into simplifying her statements. It does cross my mind however that she´s not used to adressing the general public. Armed with bulletproof logic, a clear tactic, and an inspiring vision Kathryn had usually managed to win over scientists, specialists and even intimidating aliens. The target demographic of this sketchy newscast, however, would probably prefer short and simple anwers over some extended analysis.
You were up earlier than me, admiral, my breadmaker was still heating up by the time you were presenting Starfleets proposition of reforms to the Federation High Council.
Tel me though, was this not a job more suitable for an elected official, a member of parliament perhaps?
Kathryn had been specifically chosen to break these tough reforms to the Council. Some political advisory comittee had expressed the belief that an acclaimed and prominent messenger might sweeten the otherwise bitter news. I know she is determined not to share this sample of political tactic with the sharp-tongued people-pleaser, worrying that her authenticity might be questioned.
Of course, none of this is to be detected in the calm but decisive manner in which she offers her answer.
Earths political institutions have worked closely together with Starfleets admiralty in devising this strategy to enforce economic stability. My representing them is a reflection of that cooperation.
Well put, I think proudly.
Instead of wearing her usual uniform she wears a black jacket with a high collared red blouse. Her hair had been curly since she had stopped straightening it and it´s fashioned more loosely than it had been during her speech this morning. I figure she must have had good reason to dress so differently for her appearence on this newscast.
She looks more feminine like this. I like it.
...Defeating this crisis will be the Federations largest internal challenge since its formation. Earth must play its part and that includes the Fleet. We are willing to invest in the stability and unity of the Federation and, by doing so, have to make substantial budgetcuts in research and exploration.
I consider this a personal loss, but also a loss to the Fleet as a whole. Research and exploration is after all our mission, our core business if you will. None the less, Starfleet has never left room for doubt in its determination to see the Federation through this ordeal.
"Can I bring my porto-viewscreen to Dorvan?" My daughter, Layla, snaps me out of my concentration as she stands in the kitchendoorway holding up a flat device.
Unwilling to shift my attention to what might turn out to be a long discussion I decide to humor her "Sure, just don't pack too much, we'll only be gone for four days". Before returning to the interview however, I notice her being suspiciously excited. My mug was almost raised to my mouth as it lingered in mid-air and a realisation hit me: "...why? What did mom say?". Apparently my daughters life-happiness is based solely on this device because in a split second her shoulders drop and her eyebrows shift into a pyramid-like shape. Her voice hightens by at least an octave as she pleads against this severe injustice "But you just said it was okay! The connection from Dorvan is always so bad, how else am I going to talk to Miral?". It´s a futile attempt for my focus had already returned to the interview.
"Just listen to your mother" I add.
... Klingon Empire has not managed to act on its promise of reform and weighs heavily on our economy. For example, the amount of exorbitant military bonusses has grown with a factor of 12 where plans of social security have not been executed. We can be clear and honest about that. This however is no reason to reevaluate Kronos' entrance into the Federation. We knew of our vast cultural diffences from the get go and shouldn´t be surprised to find it´s a rocky road we have embarked on. And don't forget Chancellor Mo´Ros has repeatedly clarified his willingness to remain in the Federation and has declared to enforce corruption-laws so that Kronos will no longer bring down creditstrenght. Also, the Empire has shown its ability to change, just look at the percentage of represention by vote in the Klingon Council, it has grown from 42% to 86% in only one year. That's a truly astonishing feat.
I can still feel my daughters presence behind me, apparently not yet done pleading her case. Reluctant to tear my eyes from Kathryns appearance I look over my shoulder and am about to appeal for some extra time when her brother slides past. My socks prove to be effective skates on the smooth wooden floor. "Dad, where are my skis?" he yells, waving his arms in an effort to steady himself next to his sister.
Secretly amused by their inability to pack, I turn around and surrender to their demands. "You won't need your ski's" I say as I squat down in front of them. "There's no snow where we're going." The boy lovingly named after my father in law raises his shoulders "..but you never know, do you?" He looks at me with big brown eyes, filled with hope and genuine goodwill. I melt at the sight but realise that arriving on Dorvan with a pair of skis would be a dead giveaway of my struggle to be strict. "We'll only be there for two days and we'll be on the shuttle for two days," I repeat "..so we don't need to bring that much." Eddie processed this information and gives his short fingers a pensive look "..two plus two..equals..five..". Layla who is two years his senior leaned in close to his ear "Four" she says, "...but you were so close".
Unwilling to waste their precious time on futile negotiations with me they run upstairs. Presumably to pack skis and a porto-viewscreen. I linger in the doorway where my son and daughter stood before and smuggle in one last look at the mediapanel, desperate to catch some more of my wifes explanation.
... concensus about the origin of the crisis; excessive interplanetary-dept but also a flawed enforcement of financial law and Federation rules of commerce. The federation will be crippled if the value of our credit dwindles further. I feel we need to take a good look at ourselves and tackle these problems integrally.
"DAD, do we have bigger luggagecontainers?!" Edward shouts down from the top of the stairs. I make a mental note to watch the interview later that day and head up to oversee the chaos. In the false hope of catching some of it upstairs I leave the player on, leaving my wife's carefully constructed plans to fall deaf in an empty kitchen.
...in part by the substantial support of Starfleet and the four most affluent and stable planetary systems. Their input is needed to bring Kronos to a point of balance and stability, and become a valued, contributing member of the Federation.
A bath leth would sure butch up some of Starfleets slick digit-dwellers! I just hope I can get used to their constant growling if they were to become regulars on the show.
In that case you might like the contraption I was given as a keepsake during my last visit to Kronos. My children can't get enough of it; it's a comunicator that automatically scoffs whoever you hail. Isn't that hysterical?
Ha! Its in dire need of promotion among Starfleet personell. It would liven up the lot, no doubt about it! And with that priceless proof of Klingon wit we conclude our broadcast for today and may I extend my warmest gratitude to our much anticipated guest: admiral, I've enjoyed our conversation and it's been, as our Klingon friends would say: an honour. IDS-Daily out.
