A New Path

Posted on Thursday, 6 May 2021 - 2:08pm by Lieutenant T'Lanna Vali & Commander Soral

Mission: Operation: Neu Reich
Location: Soral’s Office |USS Standing Bear
Timeline: 2394 MD 07

ON:

Having accepted her new roles aboard the Standing Bear T’Lanna was being kept busy with learning everything she needed to know. Having decided to go and see Soral for some help with her role as Diplomatic Attaché for Vulcan she paused to straighten her new command coloured uniform. It felt very odd to be out of the medical teal. Taking a deep breath she headed for Soral’s Office PADD in hand to ask for his help. Arriving at the office a few minutes later T’Lanna pressed the chime and waited for permission to enter.

Soral looked up. "Enter." He called as he stood to meet his visitor. In a sense it was nice to have his office back.

Walking into Soral’s Office T’Lanna offered a warm smile. “Commander, I was wondering if I might ask for your help?”

He motioned for her to sit. "Of course, please have a seat."

She took a seat in front of the desk, and made herself comfortable. “As you know I’ve accepted the position of Diplomatic Attaché for Vulcan, it was my father’s final request that I be chosen.” She paused for a moment. “I want to do my father proud, and I’m going to need all the help I can get.”

"Indeed." He stayed standing and walked over to a pot. "Spiced tea?"

“Please” T’Lanna nodded. “I haven’t had much of a chance to say thank you for all your help, I don’t know what I’d do without you. I will master my demons that I swear!” She offered a more determined smile.

"Slow, and steady," He said. He brought over the tea pot and the cups placing them down gently on the table. "Have you ever had the chance to go through a Vulcan tea ceremony?"

T’Lanna shook her head. “Not that I can recall. What does the ceremony involve?”

"Let us go through it. Diplomacy will require it. First the informal one amongst friends. Sometimes you will be called to use it on those that are not friends...a hazard of the job." He took up the tea pot and poured a cup. Placing the tea pot down he took up the cup in both hands, then placed it in front of T'Lanna. "Now you will do this for me."

T’Lanna watched with interest before taking her turn. One upside of not having the drone voices always going on in the back of her mind was she was solely focussed on what Soral had been doing. Picking up the tea pot she poured a cup, then placing the pot down she picked up the cup in both hands, before placing it in front of Soral. “How was that?”

"Perfect. That is the more informal way. Now the formal way." He got up and brought two more cups. He picked up the pot, stood, bowed. Poured half a cup, bowed, poured the rest. He then placed the tea pot down, sat down and picked up the cup with two hands. He bowed his head, took a sip, and then placed the cup in front of her.

"Now you, do you wish me to verbally walk you through it?"

T’Lanna nodded. “Most definitely! I’m going to need coaching for all this so I remember it all.”

"Alright. Stand and pick up the pot."

T’Lanna stood and once again picked up the teapot.

"You now bow to the person across from you and pour only half a cup of tea. It is a sign of respect with the bow. Then you bow again."

Bowing being careful not to tip the teapot she carefully poured half a cup of tea. Following it with another bow.

"Now set the pot down and pick up the cup with two hands. You bow just your head and then take a small sip. It is a show that you are willing to share the fate of the cup with those with whom you are negotiating. A way to tell them you are in this together. Then place the cup in front of me but with the side that you sipped from facing me."

T’Lanna nodded as she listened to Soral’s instructions. Picking up the cup with two hands she followed Soral’s instructions, taking a small sip before placing the cup in front of him with the side she’d sipped from facing Soral. “This is going to take some practice just to remember it all.”

"We will study it. I will assist you in any way that I can."

“I was hoping you’d say that” T’Lanna offered a relaxed smile. “I wasn’t expecting this.” She paused for a moment. “I didn’t know my father had plans to recommend a position for me. He never spoke of it.”

"Would you not have tried to talk him out of it?"

“Probably!” T’Lanna nodded. “He knew that hence why he didn’t mention it. Though he probably thought he’d have many more years before it’d happen.” She sighed.

"This will not be easy." Soral said.

“No it won’t, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to fail.” T’Lanna gave Soral a determined look. “I will be the best Attaché Vulcan has ever had ... in memory of my father.”

"Indeed but things are not so simple." He looked at her. "T'Lanna have you heard of the V'shar?"

“I have heard mention of them, yes” T’Lanna nodded. “I don’t know much about them though.”

"They are like the Tal Shiar on Romulus...or rather what was Romulus, they are Section 31, the Obsidian Order, but Vulcan." He looked at her. Weighing if he could trust her. "Some are even scattered through Starfleet and must play a dual role a duty to the fleet yet a duty to Vulcan. This is the line you will walk. You are a Starfleet Officer, yet you must bare in mind the good of Vulcan and sometimes those two things will be in conflict."

T’Lanna nodded. “It sounds pretty complicated. As for the V’shar I’m surprised they haven’t shown an interest in this ship. One of the few in Starfleet with not just one but two Ex B’s onboard. I think part of the reason I affected people like I did when I lost my father, was because I’m augmented with Borg technology. I still have a lot of tech intertwined with my system.” She sighed. “So how do you know so much about the V’Shar?”

He sighed. "I am V'shar." He said, deciding to trust her.

T’Lanna gave Soral a surprised look “Are you serious!? ... forget I said that, of course you are!” She smiled. “Don’t worry your secret is safe with me. Am I likely to come up against the V’Shar, or you on their behalf, during the course of my duties?”

"No, the two hold different objectives. The captain knows of my...dual purpose, he is not happy of it, but I cannot blame him for that. But I merely tell you as you will sometimes be forced to choose, the good of Starfleet or the good of Vulcan and in the end one must always be betrayed. It will...weigh heavy on you."

T’Lanna nodded. “I used to notice that from my father. There were times he seemed particularly weighed down by the work he was doing, even for a Vulcan. He used to spend hours on end locked away in his office at our home on Vulcan.” She paused. “My home... it’s my home now.”

"Indeed. Are you sure you can handle betraying one for the other." He sighed. "I speak from experience that it is not easy. For me it was a non issue until Alexandra. Now it is difficult."

“I guess I won’t know that until I’m faced with the situation.” She frowned. “This is all new for me, I’ve got so much to learn.”

"Indeed, but as humans say, Rome was not built in a day."

“Indeed it was not” T’Lanna gave Soral a very Vulcan gaze. “It’s going to take time, time that will be well spent.”

"Yes, I understand that you will have remote learning to do as well."

T’Lanna nodded. “I’ll be able to fit that in while Jayce is sleeping, that makes it easier to fit in my day.”

"Good." He studied her and waited to see if there was anything else she wanted to cover.

“I guess I should be letting you get on, unless there’s anything else?” T’Lanna looked at Soral curiously.

"On my end no, is there something you wish to speak about?"

“Not at present” T’Lanna smiled. “Thank you again” with that she headed on her way leaving Soral to get on.

{OFF}