Respect is Earned, Not Given

Posted on Wed Nov 30th, 2022 @ 10:12pm by Fleet Captain Maxwell Culver & Colonel Galen s'Khev

2,562 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: A Deserted Planet Is No Tragedy
Location: Triton Tower
Timeline: MD8: 1400 hours

Max looked up as the announce chime rang, alerting him that someone had arrived for their meeting a half hour early. Despite the warmth, Max had gone for nearly a full uniform. Starfleet uniforms were designed for comfort in many climates, but he might have to recommend something for the tropics. The doors to his first floor office weren't open - he had a bar to rebuild for...reasons - and while he suspected the Romulans had purposely left him on the ground floor, or Level Thirteen, and not in their midst, didn’t bother him at all.

The office was well maintained in the absence of Starfleet, having a very tropical touch. Splashes of tropical colors; teal, yellow, green, reds and pinks came together to build a much more vibrant office than most Commanding Officers ever had.

Adjusting the vest he wore, going with the variant while on duty in the Tower, Max stood and called, “Come in.”

Galen stepped into the office and stood with his hands at his side. He did not understand why he had to ring the chime when he had been summoned. Surely, if you expected someone to arrive you would leave the door open. "You summoned me?" The tone in Galen's voice made it both a question and a statement.

Max looked up at Galen and a genuine smile crept across his face. “ I hope that wasn’t how the invitation was presented, Colonel. I don’t want you to feel you need to drop everything at the beck and call of - well, let’s face it - an alien, not just from another world, but another fleet because I outrank you. I can understand that this has been your world, well, for quite some time after we abandoned it.

“No, this was meant as an apology for several reasons.” Max had already stood and made his way across the expanse of the office. “First, I believe an apology is in order from Commander Paxidor and I about our behavior in the bar last week.”

Galen cocked an eyebrow in what most would call the Vulcan fashion. This was a curious reason to summon the XO. Galen had made no secret that he did not like the Captain and yet here they were. "Yes I believe you do. Conduct like that is not something that Romulans would take kindly. I will tell you that if you wanted to earn any friends or favors with the residents here that act did not help."

Max motioned for Galen to sit in one of the opulent side chairs. “Can I get you something to eat or drink?,” he asked his Romulan XO. “I was about to get another Aesollh tea…”

Galen thought that at least the Captain had good taste in beverages. "Thank you captain I would enjoy a good cup of tea." Galen took the seat offered and crossed his legs neatly. He had taken great care to make sure that his real emotions did not get the better of him.

Max moved to the side table and opened the drawer. He removed two tea steepers, measured the dried tea leaves and poured the hot water over the steepers. Knowing the Colonel - at least as little as he did - he knew that replicated tea would never do. Not to mention that he had access to the best Romulan tea; grown, picked and dried on the planet, that it would be extra lazy to not make it himself.

He set the tea cups down on a tray with some cold cream and a cup of Romulan sugar, sourced off planet where growing conditions were better. Moving to the two side chairs, he set the tray down between them. “I wanted to apologize for our initial meeting. As I’m sure you’re aware, a conversation between us as a Starfleet Captain and a Romulan Commander in the open bar would have drawn more attention than our undercover operation did. And we both know that even that was too much attention.”

Max sipped the tea without either cream or sugar. “I would prefer we had been able to meet in these circumstances. Even if there is a bit of construction noise,” Max mentioned. There was a rebuild on the ground floor where the children’s school used to be. “Otherwise, my doors are literally open.”

Galen allowed the tea to steep for precisely one minute. As the tea steeped, he listened to what the Captain had to say. Before the Romulan spoke, he sipped the tea and closed his eyes. That first sip of Aesollh tea always reminded him of home, his family and the tea they grew. It was fond memories and in this moment he appreciated the Captain for bringing the memories to him.

When the moment passed Galen began to speak. "I understand your point, and that your position was precarious at best. However, you have to understand that what made your position in the bar worse was the vulgar display you and Commander Paxidor put on. Public displays of a sexual nature are taboo in Romulan society. If I am totally honest, it is that for which I seek an apology."

“I can offer you an apology, Colonel. You certainly deserve it, but you should also know that Commander Paxidor were playing our parts in a crowded bar, full of species other than Romulans. The kiss and displays of affection were orders directed by me. Personal displays of affection, as you well know, make most people uncomfortable. It was a necessary tactic to determine our true opponents.

"If it makes you feel better, you’re not considered an opponent, but an ally. You are the first Romulan to take a position on a Starfleet vessel. The first of many, we hope.”

"I am here at the behest of my superiors. This is, of course, because of the rapport that I have developed with a lot of the people who reside on this planet. They figure that I can ease the transition into being led by Starfleet.

“However, I do not think I can do that if I have no faith in the people that Starfleet sent here." Galen paused to sip his tea. This allowed for his words to sink in and for him to choose his next words carefully. "I accept your apology and can chalk the incident up to a misunderstanding.

“The crew of this installation will have to understand that I run things differently than you or most people. When I am in command I expect them to act accordingly. I have the utmost faith that they will, nevertheless, I felt that the words needed to be said."

Max laughed. “I expect, with the exception of myself, that you’ll find the crew will serve above and beyond your expectations, Colonel. Starfleet does not choose its officers for their insubordination or laziness.” Max took a sip of his own tea, leaving the words to hang between them as Galen had done just a moment ago.

“The only reason I leave myself out of that statement is that I may often join the science teams in the water, collecting specimen for study from the surface level. You may find me having tea on the deck or just enjoying the clean air. Starships do sometimes get stuffy despite the recycled air. I’ll consider those moments captain’s discretion.

“That said, I will never leave the ship unattended. Suitable officers will be in command during the times I am with the science teams. During those times I am alone on the upper deck, I’ll use the secondary navigation systems to make sure we are running efficiently.

“I expect the same level of efficiency and professionalism from my crew as you. Though our command styles may differ slightly, remember that you are working with a Starfleet crew, they are used to working for results, not because they are under someone’s watchful eye, or worse, because they are under someone’s heel.”

At least there we are in agreement. Galen thought. "Last time I read through your Starfleet regulations, I do believe I saw one that stated Captains should not go on away missions. Something about not risking a ship's commanding officer." Galen paused and, probably for the first time since meeting Max, genuinely smiled at his own joke. "I will make sure that I am ever ready to stand in when you decide to go exploring." That was something else that Galen would have to get used to. Romulans did not explore they investigated, Starfleet had a habit of detouring to look at everything.

“As for this planet being led by Starfleet, I’m confused. Triton Seabase will be led as a joint Starfleet/Imperial crew, but the planet will be recognized as a new Romulan colony and a Protectorate of the United Federation of Planets. We have no desire to force ourselves into your government or ruling council.

“It is our hope that Ihhuein ei'krih will choose to join the Federation, being among the first from the New Romulan Empire to join us,” Max told Galen.

"There, Captain, I believe your hopes are too high. I do not see any Romulan colony joining the Federation without the Empire stepping in to stop it. There is a lot going on across the NZ, and that boat should not be rocked.

“There may come a time when the Empire raises its hands with the Federation as friends and allies. But full members, that is something I do not see ever happening. My people are too proud to do something like that." The fact of the matter was Galen believed everything that he had just said. He did not however, tell the captain that he was one of the people that would be against the Empire joining the Federation.

“That sounds a lot like what the Bajorans said when we first started working together, Colonel. It may take some time, or it may never happen. That decision will be in the hands of the Imperial Senate and the future. For now, we’ll just take it one day at a time,” Max responded. “The future will just have to take care of itself.”

Galen cocked an eyebrow in the Vulcan fashion at the Captain's sentiment about the future. "How can it take care of itself? Are we not the architects of the future. Was it not someone from your planet that once said the future is what you make? There is a large difference between the Bajorans and my people.

“When the Federation came to Bajor they were greeted by a people who had been under an occupation for so long that they had no idea how to govern themselves.

"The Romulans, on the other hand, remember the Empire and its might. These are memories that will not fade lightly and will not go away." Galen paused and exhaled sharply through his nose. "In order for the future to take care of itself, we are going to have to lay the groundwork here on Triton."

Max smiled at the Romulan. When the smile diminished, he also cocked his eyebrow like the Romulan had. “I knew you weren’t just an apathetic Romulan, living in the days of the Empire past,” Max paused as he stood up and moved to sit on his desk, so he could see his XO face to face. “First, the Terrans spouted the future is what you make, colonel. Second, the El Aurian civilization was as vast and powerful as the Romulan Empire once - if lacking in the might makes right ruling body - and we, too, were subsumed by a great tragedy.

“The Borg found us, not naked and afraid, but an ancient people with tens of thousands of years of history and technology. Like your sun, the Borg washed over our governance. Our colonies fell, our ships,” Max paused, his chest getting tight as he felt the old stories, the old fears eliciting anxiety. On the verge of tears or mania, or both, Max reigned his emotions in. Just taking a minute to breathe as he turned his back to Galen. He felt like throwing a PaDD at the imperious Romulan's head.

“I know you won’t see it this way, but you were lucky,” Max managed to say quietly as he turned back around. “Your people died. Mine were assimilated. Billions assimilated into the great Borg Collective. If they are lucky, they’ve died by now, but our people…our children, can live for a millennia.

“So don’t come in here telling me how hard it will be to rebuild because there are billions of Romulans that escaped. Millions just on this one planet, barely capable of supporting half that amount. And the ones that died, at least they died. You don’t have to worry about your father or mother coming to assimilate you. You don’t live in that never ending fear.

“But the El Aurians, we found a new homeworld. We worked hard and built it to be a peaceful place. Gods willing, no one ever finds the El Aurian’s homeworld again. That would be the end of us.”

Max could feel almost all the emotion drained from him. “You be the architect of the future, Galen. The future is what you make, Galen, so get off your high-horse'd Romulan bullshit and start making the future you want.”

Max blew a frustrated huff of air through his nostrils. “Get out, Colonel,” his voice was icy cold.

Galen stood up and placed his hands behind his back. "And you just proved my point, Captain. You, like the rest of El Aurians, yearn for the world that was taken from you. Do you not think that Romulans yearn for the same. I ask you, do you not believe that you would have your world back if you could. So we will not go quickly into your Federation."

Galen moved to the door and stooped adding over his shoulder. "Do not begin to speak to me of loss. Your family may have been assimilated, but there is still hope of finding them and bringing them back. My family simply put no longer exists. Like many Romulans, they are gone and never coming back. No hope..." When Galen left he knew that he would have to work here for a while, but he and Culver would never be friends.

Max already hated his Executive Officer. 'Hope,' he thought. 'The idiot sees being Borg for over a hundred years as hope. Even if they were freed from the Collective, the children - now adults - will have no memory of what being El Aurian is like and the adults will want to be euthanized for their crimes while in the Collective. We would not dare deny them that right!'

Max laid down on the couch in his office. Once the doors closed again, he flung a PaDD so hard, it shattered against the wall. "Strength of will is the only thing that will keep me from strangling that asshole. When that day comes, he better hope someone is there to stop me," he said to the empty room.

 

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