Disciplined Discord Over Durotta (Part One)
Posted on Wed Oct 4th, 2023 @ 2:47pm by Lieutenant JG Ghemora & Lieutenant JG Montgomery Vala
Mission:
Repairs and Retribution
Location: Main Lounge - Deck 5
Timeline: Post Kanar Rescue
After the triumph of the most recent mission, Reeves had made a point during one of her regular briefings to remind Ghemora that she couldn't spend all of her time on duty in the Intel Office. Sooner or later, once they got over their ordeals and returned to their duties, Command would notice she had been living in it given how the SCIF tracked the entries and exits of personnel. It led the Intel Chief to finally take a break and head down to the Main Lounge for a much-needed drink. Perhaps, Ghemora could even strike up a conversation with her fellow officers, none of whom she'd made a proper introduction of herself to, yet.
Despite her aid part in the recent rescue, it seemed no one was particularly interested in introducing themselves or associating with the Cardassian. While the war had led to the usual discrimination, the most recent happenings with the Sunfire had added to the distaste of her species. After getting herself a very tall glass of Kanar, Ghemora had found herself an empty table to sit at after catching looks for those she'd come in proximity to as she moved through the Lounge.
She sat with her back to the window and her eyes on the main doors coming in - a habit that had long been conditioned into her - the Cardassian sipped her drink as her eyes scanned the room, picking up on the numerous happy faces and murmurs of friendly conversations taking place. She seemed to be the only one sitting alone in the lounge, and it was becoming clear no one was interested in taking that first step to engage with the woman. Sighing to herself and her boredom, drinking to the point of intoxication could have been an option to numb herself, but, instead, she decided to fill her time with a game as opposed to downing glass after glass of Kanar.
Using the interface on the side of the table, a Durotta set materialized in the center of it. While normally a two-person game of strategy and subtlety, with no opponent, the Cardassian was left to play against herself, which was a challenge not only in having to play against yourself but also in making sure she played both sides equally. Drinking alone, playing a two-person game alone, as the only person seated alone, Ghemora was sure she looked to be about the most pathetic and sad officer in the entire lounge…
...Vala still felt very new aboard the Sunfire. Despite the baptism of fire that was the rescue mission, he still had not really yet reacquainted himself with life aboard a starship. The cavernous labs of the Daystrom Institute had been his home for the past several years, and his last posting on the Asgard had ended very suddenly being half gutted by a one-eyed Klingon.
His time since the mission had mostly been spent in the lab, and barring a strange but pleasant breakfast with a security officer he had not really gotten to know many members of the crew. Therefore Vala felt it was probably time to honour the age-old tradition of awkwardly loitering around in the Main Lounge. He'd done it on the Antares, and he'd done it on the Asgard. Life-long friends were made. Eventually. It was time to do it on the Sunfire.
It was a popular night. Many people still reveling after the mission, Vala supposed. He wandered over to the replicator and picked up a glass of Kali-fal. It wasn't his favourite, but Romulan Ale remained a taboo in the Federation. He turned around sipping his drink: as usual, it was not quite right. It lacked the proper sinus opening aroma. He cast his eyes across the room.
Passing over groups of happy, chatting officers and crew, they finally rested on the lone Cardassian near the window. Lieutenant Ghemora. The enigmatic intel officer. He began walking in her direction.
She was playing something on the table. Vala was an avid boardgamer, and had passed many hours playing the various games of the species of the Federation, not to mention his own beloved Khariat. As he approached he tried to work out what she was playing. His mind flicked over a dozen different games to one he had only a little experience with: Durotta.
"Lieutenant Ghemora," He said as he arrived at the table, "May I join you?" He gestured to the empty seat opposite.
Having been passively tracking everyone who entered and exited the lounge, out of habit and not need, Ghemora hadn't been paying as much attention to her game as she normally would. It surely was proving less exciting than having an actual opponent. Catching sight of the Romulan Science Officer coming in, she'd dismissed him, believing he would join one of the other groups of officers before she realized he'd taken notice of her and suddenly approached her after grabbing himself a drink.
Looking up at the man at her name, the Cardassian seemed to appraise him a moment before finally replying, "Sure." Pressing a button on the table, the Durotta pieces placed on the board in front of her suddenly disappeared before reappearing just off each side, ready for the start of a new game. "You wouldn't happen to play Durotta would you? It's a game known for its complex strategy and subtly, so I'd understand if it's not of particular interest to you." The question was less a the woman asking honestly, and more a subtle challenge to the Romulan. While she had no particular issue with Romulans, they were one of the few empires in the galaxy known for being as adept at duplicity and subtly as those of her own species.
Vala placed his drink down carefully, its lurid blue providing a cool tinge to the table as light filtered through it. "Well Lieutenant, I can't say I am an expert, but I have played before." It was a game that revealed a lot about a person's approach to situations. They said that experts at the game could leave a table knowing someone's strengths, and weaknesses, quite well indeed. He kept a cool expression but was internally amused at how apt it was for an intelligence officer to proffer such a game. "Would you care to take the first turn?"
Offering Vala a shrug in response, it was only natural the Cardassian would be comfortable with making the opening gambit. Picking up the tall, round, hollow piece, she placed it on the board but seemed more interested in the man across from her than the board before her. "Do you always prefer to use one's rank or title when conversing? Even in a casual situation?" Unsure whether he had more experience with the game than her or not, Ghemora wasn't too concerned about her success on the first of what would likely be many games.
"I tend to err on the side of caution I suppose," Vala said whilst mulling over the choice of pieces. "And old habits die hard I suppose. I was raised to join one hierarchical organization or another." He selected the tall, square, solid piece and affixed it to a position. "You may call me Montgomery, or Vala. I do not mind."
Seemingly not in a hurry to select her next piece but to feign a study of the board given the man's choice of piece and placement, Ghemora didn't look up to meet his gaze as she asked, "Being that you carry Romulan blood but was raised by your Human parentage, which do you prefer? The two do tend to feel more comfortable with differing preferences as to which name is used."
Vala took a sip of his drink, once again feeling disappointed at his lack of strength. She knew a lot about him. He wasn't surprised. Every CO and CIO would have a more detailed version of his file. Starfleet didn't know everything, but he'd given a pretty good picture when he arrived in Federation space. "For me, it is a paradox. I once believed in the power and supremacy of the Star Empire. I was raised that way. My mother was a true believer despite her heritage." He put his drink down. "But Montgomery Vala is my assumed name. With it comes a certain... commitment to leaving the past behind." He looked at Ghemora, who was still studying the board. "I suppose we are not unalike in having such pasts... I assume you too are not originally from the Federation?"
"That is not a difficult assumption to make," the Cardassian replied as she picked up the matching piece to the one he'd placed and set it on one of the corners of the board. While her eyes fell to the board, she casually inquired, "But why the 'assumed' name? Even if you are Romulan, that name doesn't define you but recognizes the parts of you that others in the Federation have little understanding of. I may have become a citizen of Earth, but I am still a Ghemora, so as to remember every time it is spoken of the journey I was forced to make to arrive here." Glancing up from the board to the man, the woman's eyes came to study the Romulan and his reaction to the posed thought.
Vala met her gaze. It was a question he had not had posed to him before. It made sense though, why someone such as Ghemora would ask. "Many reasons I suppose." He kept his eyes on her. It was an uncomfortable subject in some ways. "I was advised to take it when I arrived. So I suppose I felt like I should be... pliant to the suggestions of the officers who debriefed me. They held my future in the palms of their hands, as it were." He glanced away, beginning to consider an appropriate move. "I was quite reliant upon being accepted as a peer within Daystrom too and it's a more publishable name." He selected a short, round, hollow piece and placed it towards the center. "A lot of reasons really." All and nothing. It reminded him of the bitter end of his time amongst his people.
Picking up the matching piece, the Cardassian rolled it back and forth between her fingertips as her eyes stared at the board. She seemed to be silently pondering for a moment but chose to voice a question instead, "So do you deny your heritage, your former people then?" of placing the piece she was idly fiddling with. "...Though it does seem in line with Romulan thinking to sacrifice yourself for the empire you've sworn your allegiance to," Ghemora added, glancing up at him to gauge his response.
He'd not played this game before. Durotta yes, but the probing 'curiosity' one. Vala's face maintained composure. "Surely it is evident to you that I do not." He gestured to the luminous blue drink. "What is it they say? You can take the man out of the Star Empire, but you can't take the Star Empire out of the man." He chuckled humourlessly. "I suppose it's fair to say that I gave everything to my people and in return they took everything. That is certainly very Romulan of them and fleeing was perhaps very Romulan of me." He selected the tall, round, hollow piece and placed it far from the others. "Tell me Ghemora, was your departure to the Federation a pleasant one?"
Ghemora only allowed the slightest of smirks come to her face as she listened to the man's words and watched him become distracted enough to play a piece despite her not placing the one she still rolled between her fingertips. "...Pleasant enough," she answered his inquiry as she finally placed her piece, uncertain if he'd realize either the folly he'd made or the trap she was setting. "Just some interviews, classes, and a test to become a citizen of Earth. Not many Cardassians follow such a route," she added as casually as simple as she tried to make it sound.
"But I'm sure you seeking your freedom and coming to join Starfleet was no simple undertaking. The Romulans' reach spreads far, and they aren't known for letting citizens leave quietly." The Intel Chief was eluding to something, guiding Vala towards a deeper explanation of how he came to be what he was within the galaxy…
[TBC]
