====== Royal Palace, Queen's audience room, Kzenti homeworld ====== Shane did two more steps forward and bowed sligthly before the Kzenti Queen on her high throne. "Its an honour for the federation that your majesty decided to invite us to this diplomatic meeting. I speak for the whole federation when I say that we hope that this meeting will end the long period of non-friendship between both the Kzenti Kingdom and the Federation." The Kzenti queen noded and said in an artifical tone: "Thank you Commander Guzman. The Kzenti Kingdom is glad you could come". With a hand gesture she dismissed him. Shane was a bit surprised about the obvious lack of enthusiasm that the Queen was even bothered with his presence, but on the other side, there were more races who's leaders regarded humans as somewhat lesser beeings ... but nonethless they've signed a non-agression pact with the federation. Personal pride had no place in diplomacy ... so Shane only bowed slightly again and retreated the two steps back. ====== Royal Palace, royal dining room, Kzenti homeworld ====== Shane stood in a far corner of the large dining room, a full plate in his left hand and thought about the audiency. The appearance of the Queen shocked him a bit. Sure, the Kzenti he's already seen hinted that way ... but he was quite unprepard for the sight in the Queen's audience room. The face was different, but the dress or better said the suit showed astonishing similarities to the Borg Queen's suit. The same organic-cyborg outfit, the same quirk for perfection. Shane could swear that few centuries ago the Borg Queen herself wore a dress like the Kzenti queen. It was a surely interesting cultural question. Are or are the Kzenti not a proto-Borg culture. Some clues were plain ... cyborg implants, artifical enhacements, similar annoyance with 'lesser' beeings. But on the other hand ... the Kzenti had no collective mind, The Kzenti soldiers were no drones, but individualities. Another thing that lifted Shane's mood was the fact that the Romulan delegation was wellcomed with the same boringdom/annoyance like his. Nothing hinted that the Queen favourised one side over the other. So there was still time for diplomatic negotiations and that was Martin's sandbox. The audience was quickly over and both delegations were told that the Queen will speak with them tomorrow again. But the day was not all lost, cause there was a celebration meal given and besides Shane's team and the Romulans, there were at least 10 Kzenti present that seemed to hold some influence on the royal court. Martin said that this was the first round ... like a 'know your enemy' game and with all energy he throw himself into the diplomatic soup. Shane saw his brother speaking to several of the Kzenti and even a Romulan delegation member, so he left his brother do his job. He watched the room with interest and focused maily on the Kzenti. {Remarkable beeings} he thought. He looked around for Athena, but saw her nowhere. {Maybe she's in the lady's room} he thought. Thinking about Athena ... Shane's mind returned to the accident when the Federation and Romulan delegation's met for teh first time. It was in a corridor, when both delegations waited for some Kzenti ceremony master. Two of the Romulans started to make fun of Athena and said things a woman should not hear. Shane was first not sure about the reason the two Romulans did such a plain go on Athena, but now he was sure. They wanted to provoke ... and they succeded. Hot head Walsh answered them back ... and sooner then Shane could stop him, the three of them were involved in a brawl. Shane wanted to stop that, but a Kzenti soldier was faster. With speed like Superman and without any visible strain, he pulled the two Romulans in one corner and Walsh ended in the other. After some small talk to the Marine Captain, Shane send the marine back to teh ship. He will deal with him later, but such a hot head like the ODA Commander could do more trouble then needed. So ... there were only three of them remaining on the planet. Athena was still nowhere to seen and Shane already started to worry a bit. He tapped his Commbadge: +TAPS+ Guzman to Wellington. Where are you Athena? No response. +TAPS+ Guzman to Wellington. Please respond counselor. No response. +TAPS+ Guzman to Wellington. Counselor where are you? Now Shane started to worry for real. {Where the heck is that woman? I hope there happened nothing with her ...} ===== End of log ===== Cmdr. Shane Guzman XO/ACO USS Chimera