Chapter Four
First Officer's Log
Lieutenant Commander Jay Gordon recording
I have welcomed the negotiators on board the Enterprise. I
found them disgusting. Sel Rahc Selaw of Bresa and his aids
tried to sneak weapons on board. Sel Rahc Ekael of Troac brought
an archaeological treasure to try to bribe the Captain. And
finally Sel Rahc Akros of Sobnia came aboard equipped to seduce
the Captain.
All of these have or will fail as soon as they see Captain
Picard. The weapons were picked out during transport by Chief of
Security, Patterson Supra and Assistant Chief Engineer Shayna
Sachs. The remaining plots will be foiled by the nature of the
Captain Picard they are dealing with. I'd give almost anything
to see the looks on those ambassador's faces when they find out
that the Captain Picard that will be mediating their dispute is
not Jean-Luc Picard, a man in his fifties, but Marrissa Picard,
his 12 1/2 year-old adopted daughter-- but I have to be on the
bridge.
I am not hopeful as to our successfully completing this
mission. The deck seems to be stacked against us. I'm not sure
that the regular crew could pull this off, let alone a ship load
of kids, but then again we have been in more impossible
situations then this.
The sounds of arguing were already coming from the
conference room when Marrissa entered. The Bres negotiator was
asserting his position with a quiet drone. Ignoring that, the
Troac negotiator was bellowing his position at the top of his
lungs. The Sobnian mediator was trying to 'charm' her way into
an agreement with soft coo-ing tones.
"Good Morning, everyone," Marrissa said. "Sorry I'm late."
"WHO ARE YOU?" bellowed the chubby Troac negotiator, Sel
Rahc Ekael.
"Weren't you the pianist at last nights concert?" Sel Rahc
Selaw said.
"Yes I was," Marrissa replied. "I am also Captain of this
vessel, Captain Marrissa Amber Picard at your service."
The tall negotiator from Bresa got up and walked toward the
door. Sel Rahc Ekael blew up and said, "GOD ALMIGHTY, I'M NOT
LETTING A LITTLE GIRL MEDIATE THIS DISPUTE AS LONG AS I AM A
NEGOTIATOR."
Marrissa said softly, "No one walks out of this room without
my permission."
"You can't stop me," Selaw said turning.
"Don't be so sure," Marrissa said as Selaw turned to rush
out the door. He hit the door which refused to open.
"I'M NOT GOING TO LET SOME CHILD ORDER ME AROUND," Sel Rahc
Ekael said.
"I agree, at least the other mediators had the sense to
treat us with respect," Sel Rahc Selaw said, approaching
Marrissa.
"Perhaps to much," Marrissa commented, "but as for respect
from me -- you will find that you get as much respect as you show
for me and you fellow negotiators. At that you haven't shown
much yet."
"RESPECT A HUMAN CHILD," Ekael sneered. "WHO HASN'T FOUGHT
IN ANY BATTLES OR VANQUISHED ENEMIES. NEVER!"
"Don't be so sure," Marrissa said, calmly. "I've commanded
starships against Cardassians and Romulans. I was in command of
the Maine when she destroyed the Romulan Warbirds at Vulcan and
Neptune. I commanded the Enterprise saucer at the Battle of
Bajor. Before you make another accusation do a little research.
It saves you some embarrassment."
The wind was taken out of Ekael's sails but not Selaw's.
"That Troac slob may allow you to mediate this dispute but I
will not," Sel Rahc Selaw said, throwing a punch. She side
stepped it. A second punch impacted her left shoulder sending a
flash of pain across her face. Marrissa replied with a quick
kick to Selaw's ankles. A muffled crack was heard a Selaw fell
to the floor.
"Now if you would return to your seat we can get on with the
negotiations," Marrissa said rubbing her shoulder.
"But my legs hurt," Selaw whined. "I need medical
attention."
"So does my shoulder," Marrissa replied, "But you should
have thought about that before you attacked me."
Selaw crawled back to his seat and into it. "Why are you
smiling?" he asked Sel Rahc Akros of Sobnia.
"Because all of our plans have been neatly squashed by this
young girl," Akros replied. "I planned to seduce the Captain,
Ekael bribe, and you bully. I won't seduce a young girl and I
doubt Ekael's archaeological treasure will get him far. As for
bullying, you've already failed once."
Selaw grumbled and moaned.
"Now perhaps we can get down to business," Marrissa said.
"We'll begin with your statements of what you want and don't want
from these negotiations. The order will be alphabetical by
planet name. Bresa."
"My planet simply wants Sobnia as part of a Greater Bresa,"
Sel Rahc Selaw moaned. "As for want we don't want, that is
simplicity itself. We want no one else controlling Sobnia."
"UNEXCEPTABLE," Ekael yelled standing up.
"Sit down, be quiet and have some respect from your
neighbors," Marrissa said. "If you are done Selaw we can go one
to Sel Rahc Akros statement of Sobnia's position." Selaw
indicated he was done with a nod.
"Sobnia wishes complete independence," Sel Rahc Akros said.
"We do not want anyone else controlling any part of Sobnia."
"Troac," Marrissa prompted after a moment's silence.
"TROAC WANTS A COMPLETE BRES WITHDRAWAL FROM SOBNIA," Sel
Rahc Ekael said. "FURTHERMORE WE WISH TO CONTROL IT AND NO ONE
ELSE."
"Do to the fact not one of your positions even remotely
match and the fact it is nearing lunch time," Marrissa said, "we
will break for lunch. This afternoon at 1400 hours we will each
propose how we would go about peacefully achieving your
objectives. We will continue in that fashion until a solution
which all of you can agree on is found. Even if it takes until my
hair turns gray." Marrissa exited the conference room, leaving
the Sel Rahcs amazed at her determination and Selaw moaning in
pain.
Marrissa entered Sickbay with a tight expression of pain on
her face. "Doctor Johnson," she called.
"What can I do for you?" he asked turning and picking up his
tricorder.
"I think my shoulder is shattered," Marrissa moaned.
"Sit up here and I'll have a little look," Doctor Johnson
said he ran the tricorder over the shoulder. "It's just a
hairline fracture. How did you come by this injury?" A nurse
handed him a piece of equipment and proceeded to run it back and
forth over her shoulder.
"I started the Naklab Negotiation today," Marrissa replied.
"Sel Rahc Selaw decided that he'd rather I visit Sickbay. He
threw a couple punches and I sent him to the floor. He crawled
back to his seat and we continued."
At that moment Sel Rahc Selaw entered supported by his two
aids. "Doctor fix my legs," He moaned. "NOW!"
"As soon as I am finished with the Captain," Doctor Johnson
said, "I'll be glad to treat you all. Nurse get him on a bed."
"Now, Doctor," Selaw moaned loudly as he was laid up on the
bed.
"Yelling ain't gonna speed me up one bit," Jackson Johnson
said. "Done Captain, be sure to eat a large dinner with lots of
fruit tonight."
"Thanks Doctor," Marrissa said. "Inform me if the Sel Rahc
will not be able to attend the afternoon session so I can cancel
it."
Captain's Log Supplemental
The afternoon session of mediation has been canceled due to
Sel Rahc Selaw's medical treatment.
In other news, four Miranda class starships have been found
adrift and crewless. The Hood has been sent to retrieve them.
The cause of the disappearance is unknown. Captain De Soto of
the Hood believes that at least the Hemingway's crew are the
guests of Q. Starfleet has put all its vessels in the sector on
yellow alert until the cause is known.
First Officer's Log
Lieutenant Commander Jay Gordon recording
I have welcomed the negotiators on board the Enterprise. I
found them disgusting. Sel Rahc Selaw of Bresa and his aids
tried to sneak weapons on board. Sel Rahc Ekael of Troac brought
an archaeological treasure to try to bribe the Captain. And
finally Sel Rahc Akros of Sobnia came aboard equipped to seduce
the Captain.
All of these have or will fail as soon as they see Captain
Picard. The weapons were picked out during transport by Chief of
Security, Patterson Supra and Assistant Chief Engineer Shayna
Sachs. The remaining plots will be foiled by the nature of the
Captain Picard they are dealing with. I'd give almost anything
to see the looks on those ambassador's faces when they find out
that the Captain Picard that will be mediating their dispute is
not Jean-Luc Picard, a man in his fifties, but Marrissa Picard,
his 12 1/2 year-old adopted daughter-- but I have to be on the
bridge.
I am not hopeful as to our successfully completing this
mission. The deck seems to be stacked against us. I'm not sure
that the regular crew could pull this off, let alone a ship load
of kids, but then again we have been in more impossible
situations then this.
The sounds of arguing were already coming from the
conference room when Marrissa entered. The Bres negotiator was
asserting his position with a quiet drone. Ignoring that, the
Troac negotiator was bellowing his position at the top of his
lungs. The Sobnian mediator was trying to 'charm' her way into
an agreement with soft coo-ing tones.
"Good Morning, everyone," Marrissa said. "Sorry I'm late."
"WHO ARE YOU?" bellowed the chubby Troac negotiator, Sel
Rahc Ekael.
"Weren't you the pianist at last nights concert?" Sel Rahc
Selaw said.
"Yes I was," Marrissa replied. "I am also Captain of this
vessel, Captain Marrissa Amber Picard at your service."
The tall negotiator from Bresa got up and walked toward the
door. Sel Rahc Ekael blew up and said, "GOD ALMIGHTY, I'M NOT
LETTING A LITTLE GIRL MEDIATE THIS DISPUTE AS LONG AS I AM A
NEGOTIATOR."
Marrissa said softly, "No one walks out of this room without
my permission."
"You can't stop me," Selaw said turning.
"Don't be so sure," Marrissa said as Selaw turned to rush
out the door. He hit the door which refused to open.
"I'M NOT GOING TO LET SOME CHILD ORDER ME AROUND," Sel Rahc
Ekael said.
"I agree, at least the other mediators had the sense to
treat us with respect," Sel Rahc Selaw said, approaching
Marrissa.
"Perhaps to much," Marrissa commented, "but as for respect
from me -- you will find that you get as much respect as you show
for me and you fellow negotiators. At that you haven't shown
much yet."
"RESPECT A HUMAN CHILD," Ekael sneered. "WHO HASN'T FOUGHT
IN ANY BATTLES OR VANQUISHED ENEMIES. NEVER!"
"Don't be so sure," Marrissa said, calmly. "I've commanded
starships against Cardassians and Romulans. I was in command of
the Maine when she destroyed the Romulan Warbirds at Vulcan and
Neptune. I commanded the Enterprise saucer at the Battle of
Bajor. Before you make another accusation do a little research.
It saves you some embarrassment."
The wind was taken out of Ekael's sails but not Selaw's.
"That Troac slob may allow you to mediate this dispute but I
will not," Sel Rahc Selaw said, throwing a punch. She side
stepped it. A second punch impacted her left shoulder sending a
flash of pain across her face. Marrissa replied with a quick
kick to Selaw's ankles. A muffled crack was heard a Selaw fell
to the floor.
"Now if you would return to your seat we can get on with the
negotiations," Marrissa said rubbing her shoulder.
"But my legs hurt," Selaw whined. "I need medical
attention."
"So does my shoulder," Marrissa replied, "But you should
have thought about that before you attacked me."
Selaw crawled back to his seat and into it. "Why are you
smiling?" he asked Sel Rahc Akros of Sobnia.
"Because all of our plans have been neatly squashed by this
young girl," Akros replied. "I planned to seduce the Captain,
Ekael bribe, and you bully. I won't seduce a young girl and I
doubt Ekael's archaeological treasure will get him far. As for
bullying, you've already failed once."
Selaw grumbled and moaned.
"Now perhaps we can get down to business," Marrissa said.
"We'll begin with your statements of what you want and don't want
from these negotiations. The order will be alphabetical by
planet name. Bresa."
"My planet simply wants Sobnia as part of a Greater Bresa,"
Sel Rahc Selaw moaned. "As for want we don't want, that is
simplicity itself. We want no one else controlling Sobnia."
"UNEXCEPTABLE," Ekael yelled standing up.
"Sit down, be quiet and have some respect from your
neighbors," Marrissa said. "If you are done Selaw we can go one
to Sel Rahc Akros statement of Sobnia's position." Selaw
indicated he was done with a nod.
"Sobnia wishes complete independence," Sel Rahc Akros said.
"We do not want anyone else controlling any part of Sobnia."
"Troac," Marrissa prompted after a moment's silence.
"TROAC WANTS A COMPLETE BRES WITHDRAWAL FROM SOBNIA," Sel
Rahc Ekael said. "FURTHERMORE WE WISH TO CONTROL IT AND NO ONE
ELSE."
"Do to the fact not one of your positions even remotely
match and the fact it is nearing lunch time," Marrissa said, "we
will break for lunch. This afternoon at 1400 hours we will each
propose how we would go about peacefully achieving your
objectives. We will continue in that fashion until a solution
which all of you can agree on is found. Even if it takes until my
hair turns gray." Marrissa exited the conference room, leaving
the Sel Rahcs amazed at her determination and Selaw moaning in
pain.
Marrissa entered Sickbay with a tight expression of pain on
her face. "Doctor Johnson," she called.
"What can I do for you?" he asked turning and picking up his
tricorder.
"I think my shoulder is shattered," Marrissa moaned.
"Sit up here and I'll have a little look," Doctor Johnson
said he ran the tricorder over the shoulder. "It's just a
hairline fracture. How did you come by this injury?" A nurse
handed him a piece of equipment and proceeded to run it back and
forth over her shoulder.
"I started the Naklab Negotiation today," Marrissa replied.
"Sel Rahc Selaw decided that he'd rather I visit Sickbay. He
threw a couple punches and I sent him to the floor. He crawled
back to his seat and we continued."
At that moment Sel Rahc Selaw entered supported by his two
aids. "Doctor fix my legs," He moaned. "NOW!"
"As soon as I am finished with the Captain," Doctor Johnson
said, "I'll be glad to treat you all. Nurse get him on a bed."
"Now, Doctor," Selaw moaned loudly as he was laid up on the
bed.
"Yelling ain't gonna speed me up one bit," Jackson Johnson
said. "Done Captain, be sure to eat a large dinner with lots of
fruit tonight."
"Thanks Doctor," Marrissa said. "Inform me if the Sel Rahc
will not be able to attend the afternoon session so I can cancel
it."
Captain's Log Supplemental
The afternoon session of mediation has been canceled due to
Sel Rahc Selaw's medical treatment.
In other news, four Miranda class starships have been found
adrift and crewless. The Hood has been sent to retrieve them.
The cause of the disappearance is unknown. Captain De Soto of
the Hood believes that at least the Hemingway's crew are the
guests of Q. Starfleet has put all its vessels in the sector on
yellow alert until the cause is known.
