Lunch With Vanei

Posted on Mon Jun 15th, 2026 @ 10:19pm by Lieutenant Commander N'vok Holv & Legate Andrinn Orin & Lieutenant Anna Esquivias & Lonian Royal Sovereignty

Mission: Season 6: Episode 7: Crossroads of Destiny
Location: Elysium
Timeline: MD3
1330 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure

As the luncheon commenced, people grabbed food and groups naturally began to form. Their guards melted into the background, silently staying out of the way as they kept eyes on their respective delegates. Vanei brought her plate, which had deliberately sized samples of various food items that interested her, to a table with some of the senior staff.

N'vok sood and gave Vanei a half bow. "Please be welcome, honored guest. I am Lieutenant Commander N'vok, chief of the science department aboard the Elysium."

Orin wandered over and said, "Lady Vanei, Commander N'vok is a actually one of the Vulcans onboard. His species was one of the founding members of our Federation in 2161."

Vanei's eyes slightly widened with intrigue. "That is fascinating. Please..." She gestured for them to take a seat. "I would love to hear how your Federation formed."

Orin thought about it for a moment before replying, "Well, the founding of the Federation came after the Earth-Romulan war, the Xindi attack on Earth a few years before that, and several battles between Earth Starfleet and the Klingons. There was so much conflict during that period and I would like to say that what brought people together was.....hope. The hope of something bigger than themselves. That there was something better than constant war and strife. I don't know what Commander N'Vok might say, but I'll definitely say hope had a little bit to play into that."

N'vok gestured for Vanei to join them. "It was a defensive response to an existential threat," he began. "We, the worlds that would found the Federation, had encountered an alien polity called the Romulans . . ." [He would give a summary of the Romulan War and the foundation, among former enemies, of the Federation. It seems like an awful lot to type, though.]

Anna joined them, taking a seat next to N'vok and offering a smile to Vanei. "The Earth-Romulan War? It is amazing we got through that entire conflict without anyone on our side seeing a Romulan."

Vanei had taken a seat at the table and listened with intrigue as N'vok explained. "What a fascinating development! It sounds, and looks, like this alliance continues to benefit its members. Has your Federation documented its framework? If it's permitted, I would love to see it; there are alliances between species here, but they're usually between a small number of species and only benefit their personal interests. I could only imagine what a unified quadrant could accomplish."

N'vok nods. "Of course, the Federation is entirely open about its processes and requirements for member polities. It tries to keep secrets to a minimum as a transparent government is best for all."

"We could get you a copy of the Federation Charter," Anna said, "or proceedings of the Federation Council so you can see how it works in practice. With some exceptions for security, those are generally matters of public record."

Vanei smiled at them. "Oh, that would be wonderful! The only time you really see peace, or the closest one can get to peace, here is at trading outposts, and even then it's more a mutual understanding than it is acceptance. Outside of trading spaces, it's rather divided. Lady Emeyr and I have been considering trying to form alliances with some other species, and maybe your charter could give us ideas."

"We would be pleased to do," said N'vok. "We have records of many types of alliances, defensive, commercial, and other. Should you wish to cast a wider net."

Vanei perked up a little at the phrase. "Oh! I remember reading that phrase in the database the Legate had shared with us. It's a fishing term, but here it means to consider more options, right?"

"Indeed," said N'vok. "One of the strengths of the Federation is that we look over a wide amount of information and past precedents and choose the best options."

"Plus, no one species takes precedents over another one in regards to anything. We have an entire Federation Council that's made up of species from every member world, where we talk about what's going on. What the issues at hand might be and how we can move on from that," Orin added onto what N'Vok said.

"We also have some of the organizations the Federation developed from," Anna said. "The Coalition of Planets which was a precursor to the Federation and different political organizations on the founding worlds."

"Oh, I would love to read whatever you are able to share," Vanei replied with intrigue. "I'm sure your people have been made aware that some of the species here are aggressive. We believe many of them are just territorial. My more skeptical daughter thinks we need a quadrant-level crisis to bring everyone around a meeting table." At that, she offered a slightly amused chuckle.

N'vok raised an eyebrow. "You already have one of those; you have just lived with it for so long you do not recognize what it is. The Slavers and their facilitators. If you were to do a deep analysis of the damage they cause, not just directly, but by their very existence, disrupting trade, settlement, and communications, you would find it is a crisis worthy of confronting as a group"

"The Slavers are..." Anna took a deep breath and took another bite of her food. "He's right."

N'vok reached over to lightly touch Anna's hand. "I am sorry Anna, I did not mean to evoke your memories of that time."

Anna smiled at N'vok gently. "It's ok," she said. She looked at Vanei. "I have some experience with the slavers."

Vanei’s expression softened into one of empathy. "I'm so sorry to hear that." She looked to N'vok. "I for one agree that the slaver species should be enough of a reason to form an alliance against them. We've tried holding meetings with some of the other species, even offering to help them upgrade their shielding so their vessels have a chance, but people have found it..." She them grimaced. "I hate phrasing it like this, but some find it easier, convenient even, to just give in to their demands. Lady Emeyr is hoping to try again, to relay just how invasive the slavers are."

"We have media, thousands of hours of it, gathered from what the Slavers themselves broadcast," said N'vok. "I am certain our commander would be happy to share them with you. Even the least of it is horrifying. Yes, fighting the slavers will be costly, but it will force a resolution. I believe we can provide certain defensive technologies, but that would require an agreement between the Commodore and your government."

Vanei nodded. "The four of us have a session tomorrow, where such things can be discussed. I'd like to see if we can get some of that media before then."

"I will do so, along with my analysis of their culture," says N'vok. "Though, again, I warn you, the actual media is quite harrowing. I will do a search for interactions with your people and include those as well."

"It's a nightmare," Anna added.

"We have thorough defenses, thanks to Lady Sama's efforts. I will speak to her to see if we can provide an incentive to others," Vanei pondered. "If they join our alliance, we can help them upgrade their defenses."

N'vok nods. "The Federation works because it is a system of peer polities aiding each other. Together, we are all more able to cope with challenges."

Vanei gave a respectful nod of the head. "I sincerely appreciate your insight. Both of you. You have given me much to think about." She enjoyed conversing with these two. It was always refreshing to hear another perspective on something. A long line of listeners came before her, and she intended to uphold that tradition. She turned her attention to the food she had decided to try and took a bite.

While N'vok turned to Anna to make sure that she was well as the evening continued on.