An offering in good faith

Posted on Sat Jan 16th, 2021 @ 7:33am by Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor & Commander Arrianna Salannis an Vantar

Mission: Season 4: Episode 3: Guided by Starlight
Location: Convoy Ship
876 words - 1.8 OF Standard Post Measure

Arrianna had beamed aboard the convoy ship with a PADD. She was looking for their faith's leader, and decided to maintain a low profile until she found him. She had something to give him, something of a offering of compassion.

Sensors and his bridge staff had alerted Avonaco Quispe of an intruder on his vessel, he walked into the section and found a Star Fleet Officer standing in the corridor. "A female! First a lizard now a female! What are you doing here? And why have you ignored our request not to board our ship?" He stood waiting for this Star Fleet woman to respond.

Arri handed a padd to him. "I have something of interest that might be of use to you." She noted. "Two hundred years ago. The Borg Decimated my people's old empire. We were forced to leave our worlds to find a new home in this part of the galaxy, and during this exile, we developed knowledge in sustaining a large group of people in our refugee fleet. Including the challenges we faced building a successful colony world. I thought this knowledge would be of use to you, as we have something in common."

"This is the knowledge of your people? Why would you give it to a stranger so easily?" Avonaco glanced around to see if anyone else was there, "My people are not known for accepting change, how could I make them see this as a gift from a friendly people?"

Arri blinked. "Because I offer this to you without any expectation of reward. My people are kind without coercion. We view good acts as their own reward. Once the splendor of our old homeworld was limitless because of one single virtue; we were kind to each other." She noted. "I want your people to reach their destination, and I want them to thrive."

Avonaco now shook his head, "You wish my people to thrive, yet you hand me their destruction". He handed the PaDD back to Arri, "How did your people gain their knowledge?" Quispe walked away from Arri and then turned to face her, "That device and the knowledge upon it could bring my people happiness, or in the wrong hands bring them heartache and slavery. What if I die? The next leader may not take his duty towards the people so diligently, this device could give him the means to enslave and exploit the people".

Arrianna spoke. "We do not have the numbers to conquer you. I spent my childhood in a ship as well. Life was difficult to bear without a homeworld, but somehow... We endured long enough to settle our new home." She mentioned. "i guarantee you. I feel quite strongly about your need to find a home of your own. You feel overwhelmed by technology and progress, yet you fear you may lose what it means to be you." Arrianna stated. "Many would not understand that motivation."

"Motivation for some requires us to walk away from the easy answers, that technology you hold is that easy answer. Your people gained their knowledge through adversity, my people must do the same. Will we loose loved ones in the learning? Of course we will, but life isn't always about the easy answer". Avonaco paced as he spoke, his love and care for his people uppermost in his mind. "You think us backwards, narrow minded. Perhaps we are, but we will live or die by our own hand. Not by the hand of technology, nor by that of another".

"I must admit. Out of all the people's I've encountered, I doubt my people will truly understand you. The Alindari prefer rationality over all. In fact, I don't see you as backwards at all. My people live our lives as students of... everything. Art, Science, Literature. We are intrigued by enlightenment itself. Endlessly pursuing the fruits of knowledge and wisdom just to know its flavor." Arrianna mentioned. "Very well, and I was endlessly curious about you. You would have eventually met my people, we are a very social race. Very welcoming."

Avonaco look at Arri and smiled, "The knowing of a people takes time, and curiosity can lead a people down the wrong path. Your people remained on the right path, so shall mine with a guiding hand from their leader". He now came closer to Arri, "Our people may meet one day, but I would wish it as equals not as we are now".

"An intriguing and very philosophical point. So you seek enlightnement not through rapid technolgical proliferation. Some in the College of Philosophers would be endlessly intrigued by you. That's if I decided to tell them about your people." Arrianna smiled. "I think I will spare your people the meddling and interference of the philosophers. If you met them their endless debates on metaphysics, theology, and philosophy will bore you for hours, if not days." Arrianna noted. "I am so thankful I pursued the Scholar's college, Were far more realistic." Arrianna mentioned. "Until the day we truly meet." She tapped her combadge. "an Vantar to Elysium. One to beam back."

As the star fleet Officer vanished, Avonaco simply smiled and shook his head. *An interesting individual, her people have served her well*, his thoughts concluded.