Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2016 19:49:58 GMT -8
Henri probably shouldn't have taken it personally when G'ran took the liberty of reminding Henri of Starfleet's chain of command. She took a deep breath and simply glared back at the alien as he went on. Still, Sig found the opportunity to reveal a very valuable piece of information. The Ga'rik Alahr were dying. At least why they were interested in medical personnel was quite a bit more obvious now.
Sig attempted to convince G'ran that Grace lacked the knowledge that Sig did, making her a less attractive acquisition. Though, if the Ga'rik Alahr were truly desperate, something was easily better than nothing. Even Sandoval's attempt to suggest that Sig could teach their people fell on deaf ears. Just how dire was the situation if they couldn't take the time to learn? Naturally, that was when things went sideways.
"You are a Fleet Commander. Can you not decide for yourself what is-"
G'ran's hand flew out and struck Sandoval in the temple, knocking her out. He then raised his weapon and fired at Eden dropping her just as quickly. By that time, the remaining Starfleet officers, Henri included, had her weapon drawn and trained on G'ran. But he had taken precautions to prevent them from striking out.
Nicholas wasted no time getting Eden to safety. He soon re-emerged once she was secure with his phaser in hand, and also trained on the Ga'rik Alahr diplomat turned terrorist.
“STOP! I will stun both you and Grace if I have to! I don’t know you or your culture, Commander. But I see this as an opportunity to learn. If the good doctor can help your young, by all means let him. Maybe you are a conqueror. Maybe you are a good man trying to do what is right by your children. Let us help you. Let us be friends.”
"If you fire upon me, my hand relaxes and the weapon fires."
A deadman's switch. That was certainly going to make things much more difficult. Henri kept her weapon trained on G'ran.
"I have upheld my end of the bargain and you stand in my way. Give me the younglings. You may keep him. I will take this one as compensation for my time."
"The hell you are," Henri said. She then turned briefly, her phaser pointing at the the Ga'rik Alahr prisoner that had been in their care. Once she was certain that he was unconscious, she turned back towards G'ran. The last thing she needed was a wild card at play. "You've just attacked three Starfleet officers, you're refusing to return the one you held captive and promised to return and you're expecting me to just let you walk away?" Henri shook her head. "It's not going to happen. And as the ranking officer here, you're negotiating with me now."
Henri continued to stare into the eyes of the Field Commander. She took a deep breath, and only spared a momentary glance in Barnes' direction. She made a simple gesture for him to move to put a little distance between the two of them. If G'ran attacked again, he'd at least leave himself open to attack by the other. After taking a few steps, Henri glanced at Williams who simply nodded after checking on Nivans.
"Whatever agreement was in place before is gone," Henri said. "You said that you must do what is best for your own... well so must I. You will release both Doctor Ericson and Ensign Cunningham into my custody. Otherwise, you will have to explain to your superiors how you managed to return with no younglings, and no means to secure the longevity of your people. You will also have to explain how you managed to make an enemy of an emerging power in this Quadrant, as well as alienated the only people with the means and the willingness to come to the aid of the Ga'rik Alahr."
Henri allowed a moment's respite for her words to resonate with the Field Commander. Yet, she dared not allow him too much time to consider any other options. She paused and listened for the familiar chime of her tricorder. For the time being, the distortion field was still holding.
"My voice holds more weight than you may believe, G'ran," Henri stated. "My father is a Starfleet Admiral." It wasn't a fact she cared to advertise, but she couldn't simply make such a claim and expect him to take her at her word alone. An element of risk was involved. "I can inform him that Ga'rik Alahr are petty, opportunistic and belligerent. That they are duplicitous, cruel and have no regard for the safety of anyone save themselves." A long breath slipped past Braddock's lips. "Or, I could tell him that they are a reasonable people. A people that we could learn a great deal from in an exchange of science and technology, and likely through that exchange our two peoples can build a lasting alliance as we both thrive for years and years to come."
"So, tell me, G'ran," Braddock went on. "Which report will I be making? And before you get any bright ideas, if I don't make a report, there's a lot of people that will assume the former." Henri was hoping that G'ran would see reason, because there were only so many cards she had left to play.
TAG: @sig, Lieutenant Eden Nivans, @nicholas, @grace, @thenpc
Sig attempted to convince G'ran that Grace lacked the knowledge that Sig did, making her a less attractive acquisition. Though, if the Ga'rik Alahr were truly desperate, something was easily better than nothing. Even Sandoval's attempt to suggest that Sig could teach their people fell on deaf ears. Just how dire was the situation if they couldn't take the time to learn? Naturally, that was when things went sideways.
"You are a Fleet Commander. Can you not decide for yourself what is-"
G'ran's hand flew out and struck Sandoval in the temple, knocking her out. He then raised his weapon and fired at Eden dropping her just as quickly. By that time, the remaining Starfleet officers, Henri included, had her weapon drawn and trained on G'ran. But he had taken precautions to prevent them from striking out.
Nicholas wasted no time getting Eden to safety. He soon re-emerged once she was secure with his phaser in hand, and also trained on the Ga'rik Alahr diplomat turned terrorist.
“STOP! I will stun both you and Grace if I have to! I don’t know you or your culture, Commander. But I see this as an opportunity to learn. If the good doctor can help your young, by all means let him. Maybe you are a conqueror. Maybe you are a good man trying to do what is right by your children. Let us help you. Let us be friends.”
"If you fire upon me, my hand relaxes and the weapon fires."
A deadman's switch. That was certainly going to make things much more difficult. Henri kept her weapon trained on G'ran.
"I have upheld my end of the bargain and you stand in my way. Give me the younglings. You may keep him. I will take this one as compensation for my time."
"The hell you are," Henri said. She then turned briefly, her phaser pointing at the the Ga'rik Alahr prisoner that had been in their care. Once she was certain that he was unconscious, she turned back towards G'ran. The last thing she needed was a wild card at play. "You've just attacked three Starfleet officers, you're refusing to return the one you held captive and promised to return and you're expecting me to just let you walk away?" Henri shook her head. "It's not going to happen. And as the ranking officer here, you're negotiating with me now."
Henri continued to stare into the eyes of the Field Commander. She took a deep breath, and only spared a momentary glance in Barnes' direction. She made a simple gesture for him to move to put a little distance between the two of them. If G'ran attacked again, he'd at least leave himself open to attack by the other. After taking a few steps, Henri glanced at Williams who simply nodded after checking on Nivans.
"Whatever agreement was in place before is gone," Henri said. "You said that you must do what is best for your own... well so must I. You will release both Doctor Ericson and Ensign Cunningham into my custody. Otherwise, you will have to explain to your superiors how you managed to return with no younglings, and no means to secure the longevity of your people. You will also have to explain how you managed to make an enemy of an emerging power in this Quadrant, as well as alienated the only people with the means and the willingness to come to the aid of the Ga'rik Alahr."
Henri allowed a moment's respite for her words to resonate with the Field Commander. Yet, she dared not allow him too much time to consider any other options. She paused and listened for the familiar chime of her tricorder. For the time being, the distortion field was still holding.
"My voice holds more weight than you may believe, G'ran," Henri stated. "My father is a Starfleet Admiral." It wasn't a fact she cared to advertise, but she couldn't simply make such a claim and expect him to take her at her word alone. An element of risk was involved. "I can inform him that Ga'rik Alahr are petty, opportunistic and belligerent. That they are duplicitous, cruel and have no regard for the safety of anyone save themselves." A long breath slipped past Braddock's lips. "Or, I could tell him that they are a reasonable people. A people that we could learn a great deal from in an exchange of science and technology, and likely through that exchange our two peoples can build a lasting alliance as we both thrive for years and years to come."
"So, tell me, G'ran," Braddock went on. "Which report will I be making? And before you get any bright ideas, if I don't make a report, there's a lot of people that will assume the former." Henri was hoping that G'ran would see reason, because there were only so many cards she had left to play.
TAG: @sig, Lieutenant Eden Nivans, @nicholas, @grace, @thenpc