Mysteries, part the second

Posted on Tue Mar 18th, 2025 @ 5:34am by Lieutenant Anna Esquivias & Lieutenant N'vok Holv & Avalon [ADMIN NPC]

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Holodeck III
1321 words - 2.6 OF Standard Post Measure

Anna walked into the crowded mess with N'vok. As she entered, she remembered how argumentative humans and Vulcans often were in the 22nd century. Some, of course, still were even in the present. "I just think that emotions also offer us valuable guidance," she said. "Evolution selected for those responses for a reason. Isn't that logical?"

"They can, they can also lead you astray or provoke dangerous action," replies N'vok. "That is why they must be tightly constrained Uncontrolled emotions are dangerous."

He scanned the room, looking for any of the people in the brief, as well as getting the general layout.

"Yes, but can logic truly be used for means as well as ends?" Anna asked, getting philosophical as she dredged up what little she remembered from that class at the Academy. "Didn't the Earth philosopher David Hume say reason is and can only be the slave of the passions?" She grinned at him, though she wasn't sure she'd gotten the quote right. She was trying to make it convincing even as she also scanned the people in the room, looking for any of those they had marked as suspicious or anything at all unusual.

"Perhaps such is true . . . for humans," N'vok said dismissively. He rarely cared to play the aloof Vulcan but this seemed to call for it. "We are masters of our emotions and guide them with the light of reason. "

He nodded almost imperceptibly to a table that was mostly empty apart from one of their potential suspects.

"Guide them towards what?" she asked. She had an impish grin. She was enjoying the role a little, though she hoped she wasn't pestering him too much. She followed him towards where Moffat Yaz sat. Perhaps the Tellarite could be easily drawn into an argument!

N'vok grabbed a tray and set a salad and a glass on it. Part of him marveling at the historical detail. "Let us continue this discussion over a meal, it is the logical thing to do."

Anna grabbed some grilled chicken and some rice and did the same. "On that, my friend, we can agree." She went to sit down with him. She smiled to Yaz and the others at the table.

Yaz gave a curt nod to Anna and ignored N'vok.

N'vok offered a polite nod to the others as he took his seat. "Logic remains the best organizing principle of any life or any organization. Providing structure and order to what would otherwise be chaotic and inefficient."

"But you still haven't answered my question," Anna claimed, looking intently at the Vulcan and then having a bite. She was trying to stay focused on N'vok, let things happen organically.

"To guide them toward a life well lived," said N'vok. "The unexamined life is not worth living said your Terran philosopher Socrates and logic allows us to do just that."

"A soulless and joyless life is not worth living," said Yaz. "Which is all I see from you Vulcans."

"Oh, I think Vulcans appreciate more than you know," Anna said, her tone light and playful, as she turned towards Yaz. "tellarites, on the other hand, never seem to enjoy much. Have you ever had anything positive to say about...anything?"

"Yes, this coffee is excellent," Yaz retorted. "We are a people of firm opinions and we are not afraid to express them. Why should we be afraid to do so?"

"Just so," said N'vok. "While we may not pursue life with such . . . vigor as your culture. It does not make us soulless or unhappy."

"Hmph."

"I am N'vok, by the way," the Vulcan said.

"I'm Anna," Anna added.

"Yaz," said the Tellarite. "Newly posted here? I have not seen you before."

"Yes, recently transferred in," said N'vok. "As you know, the hub of the Federation is always expanding."

"Too quickly," said Yaz. "We need to consolidate before we expand."

"We are explorers," Anna pressed.

"Yes," agreed Yaz. "But every new culture we meet does not have to be invited to join the Federation immediately. We are a democracy and must ensure that new members share that ideal."

N'vok raised an eyebrow, that was not the tack he was expecting. "We serve as an example of a functioning democracy. By joining the Federation they would be pulled towards such an idea whatever government they have now." While he was not personally convinced by that argument but he had heard it advanced more than once.

Apparently, Yaz was not either. "Cultures are prone to inertia and keeping the status quo. Too many kingdoms could upset the balance," the Tellarite replied.

"None of our cultures are new to the Federation," Anna pointed out, not sure if that really mattered or not, but she said it. Getting the Tellarite to argue had been easy. Now she had to figure out how to actually get something useful out of him.

"We all had representative forms of government before the Federation," said Yaz. "Just because a government accepts the trapping of the Federation does not mean they are less reactionary."

"That is a worry," agreed N'vok. "But the Federation will serve as an example, their people will demand a more representative form of government."

Yaz laughed. "They can demand. But will it be given?"

"The Federation was never designed to be one size fits all. There are many different cultures and societies within it and the Prime Directive tells us not to interfere with others. If a society qualifies for admission, they have the same right to determine their own institutions as Earth or Vulcan. If they don't, their affairs are still their own, just outside the Federation." She shrugged slightly.

"Do they?" Yaz asked. "We fought the Romulans. Would you admit them?"

"We were defending ourselves," said N'vok. "And I doubt the Romulans would ask. But your concern is understandable, a conservative or even reactionary block of Planets in the Federation Council could prove counter to the stated goals of the Federation."

"Exactly," nodded Yaz.

"Some worlds already in the Federation are fairly...traditional..." Anna said delicately.

"Not enough to upset the balance," replied Yaz.

"There is an extensive application process," Anna said. "The Federation is about pluralism and coexistence, not cultural assimilation, even in the name of..." She suddenly paused and looked at N'vok. "Sorry."

"No, please continue," said N'vok. "We need to be both open to new members and encouraging them to accept at least some important aspects of what could be termed a 'Federation Norm'."

Yaz nodded. "We need to promote our values."

Anna lightly tapped N'vok with her foot. "You're right. We're on the same team. No need to argue about this sort of thing."

N'vok nodded and looked to Anna and then back to Yaz. "How are you finding the Station, Citizen Yaz? We have just arrived. The scale is magnificent."

"It works. The food is a bit bland though," the Tellarite replied.

"Such is the service," Anna said, a little disappointed her ploy hadn't worked.

"I blame both of your species, lacking the understanding that food, like everything else, should be a challenge," Yaz said. "Strong flavors, sharp spices, interesting textures, something to get you going. Eat so you know you are alive not just to survive."

"Humans don't eat just to survive," Anna insisted. "I think you just lack knowledge of human cuisine."

"Perhaps," said Yaz. "But it is not on display here," he gestured to the food service. "Contact me if you get them to serve something interesting." He stands. "Thank you for the talk."

"Thank you," said N'vok.

"That didn't go like I wanted," Anna whispered after he left.

N'vok nodded. "It is hard to find the right angle of approach for Tellarites. Perhaps we will find it before next we talk with him." He looked at his food. "Though perhaps he is right about the food."

"We can go get something spicier after we leave the holodeck," she suggested.