Learning from History

 Episode Name:  Learning from History

   Written By:  Daedalus

         Cast:  Channa, Daedalus, Goodwin, Hayyat, Laco, Moulin, O'Rielly, Phipps, Rome, Shamash and T'Pral.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Daedalus

     Aired On:  Mon Jul 04 02:14:08 2005

     Stardate:  55089.3

Time: Sun Jul 03 18:05:04 2005

Stardate: 55088.5

The sun is shining overhead, an orange ball, a touch darker than Sol, spreading light over the standard Class M atmosphere, seventy-two-percent hydrosphere, and mineral-rich arable soil of the battered-but-unbroken world of Occa Prime. Flowing down through breaks in a large tree canopy, the light filters into the courtyard of a rather large building complex, diffusing somewhat in the way light does when something at once more solid and less material than tree-leaves get in its path. A glowing force field, in fact, covers the courtyard, altering the light and also muffling the noise of the crowd gathered outside the complex's gated walls.

"Justice delayed is justice denied!"
"President Morgensen is a war criminal!"
"Minister Hayyat, how can you stand with these people?!?"
"Federation delegates, don't listen to their lies!"

These are just some of the shouts muffled from the protesters who have gathered around the opening of the Occan Humanity Heritage Complex, a large museum and cultural centered dedicated to honoring the ties of genetics and culture and history between Earth and Occa Prime, despite the iconoclastic little world's xenophobic self-recusal from the United Federation of Planets.

The Federation's finest, or at least some of them, are led into the courtyard from a side door, by some some armed security staff of the Occan Militia's Presidential Guard Detail. They are in full dress whites, or the equivalent, or at least some of them are. A dignitary, already waiting, having been caught in mid-frown at the continued protestor shouts, bustles forward to greet them, hand outstretched. "Good evening, good evening, all of you. I'm Doctor Brom Hayyat, Minister of Education. The President has asked me to begin the tour with you while he finishes up some business with Ambassador Rome."

"A pleasure, Doctor Hayyat," says the leader of this delegation, Lieutenant Commander Joshua Goodwin. This is, if anyone bothered to look, his first real mission leading in the field. He shakes the minister's hand firmly. "Commander Josh Goodwin, on behalf of Starfleet," he introduces himself. He frowns slightly at the protestors, but then redirects his attention to their host.

Ensign Moulin's features are schooled into placid impassivity, though she seems to miss little. She stands to the Lietenant Commander's right and slightly behind him, at parade rest, and acknowledges the Occan Doctor with a humble nod and murmured, stock ettiquette.

Channa steps out of the door and recoils slightly as the waves of emotions hit her from the crowed, keeping her smile pleasent and no outwards sighs of her destress she turns her black eyes onto the man. She stays behind a little being a shy soul, and lets the others see to the introductions. When the commander speaks she nods her head as if in agreement and lets her eyes wonder a little.

Shamash looks around the courtyard, trying not to take too much notice of the force field and the people gathered without. Following after the delegation leader he switches on a studied though at least half genuine looking smile. He nods to the minister, staying silent except for a muttered greeting, either expecting to be ignored or introduced at a later time after the initial greetings are done.

O'Rielly is like his fellow officers wearing his dress uniform, ocassionally messing with the combat medal he's really wearing for the first time. He has a shoulder case for holding PADD's hanging off of his shoulder for his current job of 'attache to the Dominion Mission Specialist'. Unlike Shamash, O'Rielly's attention turns towards the forcefield and the people outside who are currently shouting, giving them perhaps the most heed, or at least notice, of the Starfleet delegation.

Phipps looks rather as if he enjoys being in dress uniform, although his disciplined, almost stoic expression isn't what suggests that. It's more the way he holds himself, posture straight and careful. He stands near to but behind Goodwin, slightly off to one side from the group - not quite isolated, but in space. One hand rests behind his back, the other hangs 'loose' at his side - the side where his Type I rests.

Hayyat says, "Yes, excellent. Might I be introduced to your retinue then, Commander? I do not see Commander Edwards, Lieutenants Poole or Nolte, Doctor Malloy, Ensign McTiernan, or anyone else I know from the groundbreaking last year." A frown. "I'm told Ambassador Meridian is no longer representing you, either. A shame. The man had good taste in properly aged booze."

Goodwin chuckles and gestures. "Of course, Doctor Hayyat." He makes introductions. "Lieutenant Agrim Shamash, our assistant science officer, Lieutenant O'Rielly, who is staff to Lieutenant Laco." He gestures to each in turn. "Ensign Isabeau Moulin, my colonial affairs liaison, and Ensign Phipps is assisting Lieutenant Vimes with the security team." He nods his head. "Also, on behalf of the Diplomatic Service, Ms. Channa T'erij, who is staff to Ambassador Rome."

Channa looks over at Hayyat as she's introuduced and nods her head respectfully. She doesn't say anything as she slowly steps back into place behind the others. Though her eyes look at the faces when The commander says their names, she has yet to meet half the team.

Ensign Moulin offers the Minister of Education a lovely, subdued smile as she's introduced, then returns to neutrality, an unobtrusive extension of her CO. The highly observant may notice her stealing furtive glances at the protesters--information gathering?--though only her eyes move.

Phipps nods respectfully towards Hayyat (even quirking his lips towards a smile just enough to be more than polite) when his own name is mentioned, but, of course, remains silent, focused. Watchful.

. o O Phipps thinks, "Noisy bunch. - Nice tux."

Shamash's smile becomes now completely genuine at the mentioning of aged booze by the minister. As he is introduced, he makes one step forward, gives the dignitary another firm nod, being prepared for a handshake if the man so desires, speaks a short "A pleasure to meet a fellow academic, Sir." and steps the same distance back after he is done.

O'Rielly turns his head back for just a second to nod. He spends more time watching and listening to the crowd.

. o O Shamash thinks, "if it comes to aged booze, i sure know my malts..."

. o O Phipps feels calm, focused. Relaxed. And - happy.

. o O Channa shy, weary with a little undertone of pain.

Hayyat says, "Excellent, excellent." Handshakes all around to those who offer hands. "So good to meet you all. You have an additional Alma Mater besides Starfleet Academy, Lieutenant Shamash?" Exceptions to the handshakes are for Channa and Moulin. The former gets a brief smile. "Charmed." And the latter gets a full blown bow over the hand. "Ensign, enchante." He even pronounces it 'on-shon-TAY', old-school, as if he were about to kiss her hand. But he doesn't. Though, as he releases it, he adds: "If all Isabeaus and all Moulins had been so lovely, my ancestors might never have left the Magreb."

. o O Hayyat thinks, "A Betazoid ... Well, I suppose not much can be done about that. They have them in their service. Stiff upper lip, Brom. They're hardly the devils you've heard them called, after all. They simply could not be."

Goodwin chuckles lightly as his assistant is fawned over so. "I assure you her competence is the equal of her beauty, Doctor," says the second officer, politely. "We are looking forward to tour the Heritage Center." So as to move the tour along, and away from the angry protestors.

Channa lets her mouth give a weary smile because the attention on the Liason officer are amusing and refreshing to see. Her eyes how ever keep darting back to the crowd, she blinks a little and debating speaking up but knows it may not be welcome so she just stands there.

. o O Hayyat thinks, "Besides, it's not like she's a *Vulcan*."

Laco is escorted into the area by an Occan guard. His hands are tucked behind his back, and he is watching the ground before him. Something seems to be bothering him.

Phipps does the Security thing still: which is observing, at the moment. His eyes catch on Laco, then flit to the guard, head tilting slightly. His hands remain steadfastly still.

Excused from the Federation Ambassador's side, Consul T'Pral joins LT. Laco in the journey to the outer compound, and the company of those others assembled. Her hands rest together peacefully, fingertips kissing as the moves along, with that patently Vulcan expression of deep thought, or at the very least that expression that passes for the noton that someone is home. She walks between the Lieutenant and the Occan chaperone, never more than a few strides from either.

"As it is, I do, Dr. Hayyat. I hold my doctorate in physics courtesy of the University of New Delhi before I entered Starfleet Academy. It is a long story better told over an aging scotch", Shamash replies to the minister as he answeres his question. The gentlemanly bow towards Moulin receives a twitch of a corner of his mouth that even seems to apprechiate the courtesy and charm the minister displays.

. o O Phipps thinks, "Hmm. Wonder what -that's- all about. - I guess I'm not the only one who stops short of kissing hands."

Ensign Moulin's features light up at the use of 'enchante'. "Merci, Doctor," she murmurs, clearly abashed and blushing just slightly at /someone's/ praise, though whether it's the Doctor's of the Lieutenant Commander's, it's difficult to tell. "You're far too kind."

. o O Phipps feels curious.

O'Rielly heads over towards Laco as he comes out. As observant as O'Rielly is, he can't help but miss the look. He doesn't say anything upon approach, he just watches his boss.

Hayyat says, "Nonsense, I am a horrible, horrible ogre. Ask anyone." He gestures towards the main doorway. "Come, this way. Obviously, you've already seen the Embassy wing itself, since you beamed down there. This main hall is my domain. One of my Underministers staffs it personally, as its Director, but since I outrank him, I receive the honors of running the to----" He stops in his tracks, about a meter away from the control panel to the door, staring at Laco and T'Pral as move up to the edge of the group. For a moment, he looks ... horrified, or at least, shocked. "Is that ---" For a moment, it might lead the mind to *reel* at whatever epithet these Occan humans have for Vulcans, bracing for the racism in advance, but then it's apparent it's not *quite* T'Pral he's looking at. "Excuse me ... are you ... Philip James Laco? You are, aren't you? The Voice of Freedom himself!"

"And, of course, you know Lieutenant Philip Laco fr --" And well, that attempt at introduction from Josh is just trampled over as the minister rushes over to the 'Dominion Mission Specialist.' He simply folds his hands behind his back and indulges the minister.

. o O Shamash thinks, "the voice of... What? My, i knew that Phil had an agenda, but that is ... even stranger."

. o O Goodwin thinks, "Well, he /is/ the hero of the Battle of Occa Prime."

Channa looks over her shoulder when the Vulvan and human come over, she smiles a soft greeting to T'pral and is almost relieved to see the woman. Laco gets a nod before her attentions turn back to the others.

. o O T'Pral thinks, "Another wrinkle in time, perhaps? Or something else we do not know about our Lieutenant Laco?"

Laco glances up at the red-headed officer. "We'll talk about it at home." And then, there's the Minister. A bit of a sigh. It isn't pleased, but it is....diplomatic. He gives the fellow a short bow. "Indeed. Pleased to make your acquantance."

Hayyat says, "Oh, *everyone* knows Lieutenant Laco, Commander, I assure you. I've made sure every schoolchild knows the words." He is in motion towards Laco as he says it, both hands out as if he can't decide whether to shake Laco's hands or give the man a hug, but at Laco's bow, he sees the formality involved, and lowers his arms, bowing himself. "Could you ... would you ... say it, just once?" Whatever 'it' is. "I promise I'll not ask again."

Phipps blinks quicker for several beats at the current goings-on, but otherwise his reaction consists simply pf sidestepping to one side, assuming a slightly different position.

Ensign Moulin steps up a bit closer to Goodwin and, in true attache form, whispers something nearly inaudible to her CO, her head inclined in his direction but her eyes on Hayyat and Laco.

. o O Phipps thinks, "'Voice of Freedom'? That's an unusual... thing. Huh. Perhaps the weirdness just follows the uniform."

Shamash prepares to follow Hyatt however stalls that attempt at the rest of the delegation joins the main group, taking this time to let his eyes wander both near and far. At the continued speech of the minister, his eyebrows start to ride up.

. o O Shamash thinks, "what now..."

. o O Phipps feels vaguely bemused.

Channa can't help but smile as the man gets excited over Laco, she has not really spoken with the Lieutenant very much but makes a point to over the next few weeks. "T'pral. " She says softly to the Vulcan woman. "Have you anything for me to assist with. " She says very quietly, stil uncetain of her place here.

Laco chuckes uncomfortably, then clears his throat. Spreading his arms, he states with a bit of the flourish, but none of the hip-just-vaporized pain present in the original statement. "Laco to Fleet Command...the shields are down. Six to beam up; Occa is yours." He raises his eyebrows in a friendly manner, as if to ask 'Good?'.

. o O Phipps thinks, "Ahhhh. Right."

"Who can possibly forget, Minister, the famous words?" asks Goodwin, turning and nodding to his delegation. A small smile from the lead Fleet officer as Laco does the hero schtick.

O'Rielly can't help but grin a little bit. He remains quiet for the time being, letting the Occan minister bask in the glory that is Laco.

T'Pral steeples her fingers, and joins the space near Channa, serenly observing the goings-on. Particularly the goings-on beyond the field. "Miss Channa," she says in her flat tones quietly. "No, not at present. Matters with the Ambassador have surpassed our... abilities for the moment. Who is this gentleman?" she asks, gesturing toward Hayyat obliquely.

Phipps' eyebrows flit upwards slightly, as if to say, 'Ahhh.' He appears to be slowly readjusting his position in reaction to the change in the overall 'formation' of the group, albeit subtly, with small sidesteps here or there. And of course, he clearly remains vigilant.

Channa nods her head at T'Pral then speaks softly tell her the man's name and post. "Doctor Brom Hayyat, Minister of Education. " She says. "Our guide it seems. " she explains.

Ensign Moulin gives Laco a considering glance, a smile tugging her lips at his discomfiture with celebrity. She steps forward to make introductions, now, directing Doctor Hayyat's attention gently to T'Pral and Channa with a light touch at his elbow.

"Dr. Hayyat, may I present Channa T'erij and T'pal, aides to the Ambassador. Ladies, this i--" she grins as Channa is already, it seems, quite in the know. "Just so."

The Minister of Education looks delighted, for his part. "Thank you, Lieutenant. For saying them now, and for saying them then." He looks, in fact, like he is going to give a happy little cry. But he turns. He nods at the introductions, absently, his good mood from Laco's kind gesture unshattered by the presence of aliens on Occan soil, at least for the moment. "Come, all of you, inside, please." He moves to the doorway again, and punches in the code. A metallic seal in the center of the double doors rotate until notches line up, so that the notches go from incomprehensible runes to the words: 'There is no greater honor we can pay our history than learning from it.' He pushes the door. It opens. And he steps inside, slowly enough for the others to take everything in as they follow.

Inside, the vaulted hall is ... quite large. And murals line the walls, mosaics the floors. Scenes from human history, only a few recognizable at first glance to any Federation-educated mother's child, key battles, key political and diplomatic moments such as building of the Pyramids, the signings of Magna Carta and the Declaration of Independence, the Armstrong moonwalk, the elderly veterans of the Grey Panther Brigade laying seige to Beijing's Forbidden City and ending the Eugenics Wars, the proud profile of Zephram Cochrane's Phoenix. The tilings of the floor similar are a list of names and face shots in mosaic -- Julius Caesar, Mohandas K. Gandhi, Martin Luther, Benjamin Franklin, Nikola Tesla, Emile Hanta, and many more.

Goodwin steps through the doors and nods his head, looking about the great hall. "It is very impressive," compliments the second officer, taking in the hall. "It seems that our tireless efforts to build this Center, despite the terrorism of the Dominion, were not in vain, Doctor Hayaat." It's both diplomatic nicety and a reminder of the blood shed for this event.

Shamash follows his tour guide in a solemn and slow pace, probably with the rest of the group. Once inside, his eyes go around the hall, stopping here and there on a detail. As he spots Ghandhi's likeness he walks more upright than before, stiffening his spine in homage to the Gujarat philosopher.

Laco spins a little, taking in all the murals. Not bad. He pulls a PADD out, and inquires of Hayyat, "Minister, do you mind if I and my assistant record a few images? For my own collection?" A...what? Laco is smiling? Smiling pleasantly? And since when does a Laco need pictures to remember something...

Channa steps inside also, relieved to be away from the crowed and the raw emotions coming from them. She matchs pace with T'Pral remaining quietly at her side. Once inside she takes a deep breath before to look around. She seems to be impressed by all the sights some of them she doesn't know. "Very becoming. " She says quietly, nodding her head and moving her body around a little to take in everything.

Phipps glances around in a cursory fashion, at the murals and tiles, eyebrows arching slightly with obviously unfeigned curiousity. Oddly, he blinks more rapidly while he looks at the images, giving a vague impression of...something. But his attention remains on the group, and so he walks a little to one side, still, varying speed. The result is, of course, that his position changes relative to the group, allowing him to watch both fore and aft.

Ensign Moulin, having moved to Doctor Hayyat's side to make introductions before entering the hall, retains her position there without fanfare--though she's within arm's reach of Goodwin should he need her to fall back and rejoin him. She watches Shamash, her eyes drawn briefly to the image of Ghandi by his reaction, then murmurs quietly to Hayyat, "My father was a historian. He would have liked to have seen this place, I believe. Most impressive... and moving."

O'Rielly glances curiously towards Laco and smiles, then looks to the Minister, curious what he'll answer."

GAME: Goodwin contests his History/Human vs Routine and Succeeds.

T'Pral trails in the midst of the others, keeping her presence as low key as possible.

. o O Phipps thinks, "Quite pleasant, but this all seems too ostentatious. Too Human-centric, if that's even a word."

. o O Phipps feels calm, in deep concentration. And also...there's a faint whiff of disgust.

Hayyat shakes his head and gives Laco a mild patpat gesture in the air. "By all means, go ahead, Lieutenant. There will be more formal recordings taken later, but I understand your last trip here did not have that allowance for recording for posterity." A laugh. "Except, of course, the famous words, I suppose. By all means, yes, go ahead."

GAME: T'Pral contests her Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Goodwin smiles politely as O'Rielly takes images of the area, for, ah, posterity. Right. Posterity. He steps forward near Moulin, but otherwise continues to take in the exhibits, moving towards one to read and glance it over, from the later period in human history before the Federation.

Laco inclines his head towards Hayyat in a gesture of gratitude, then leans in to O'Rielly. His voice is mostly air, barely even a whisper, and all he says is a single word. "Eavesdroppers." Breaking away from the other redshirt, Laco moves about, occasionally pointing his (slightly oversized) PADD at a mural for a few seconds.

GAME: Goodwin contests his Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Fails.

GAME: Laco contests his Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Fails.

O'Rielly nods and smiles to Laco after the minister gives his permission. He takes out a similarly slightly different PADD and starts to look around for pictures to take.

GAME: T'Pral contests her Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Fails.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Fails.

GAME: Moulin contests her Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Fails.

GAME: Shamash contests his Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Succeeds.

T'Pral spends a long moment looking up at the images of the first human encounter with her people, unmoving except to blink and to breathe. Though her face remains expressionless, there is a sort of... disappointment to her posture. But it is hardly surprise. Her hands join together behind her band as she turns her face away from the mural.

GAME: Channa contests her Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Fails.

Shamash gives just a tiny wink towards Moulin as he relaxes back to a more normal gait and his eyes continue to scan the hall, following the rest of the troupe. He holds in mid stride before continuing just a tad later peering towards one of the entrances to the hall. Quick look to the leader of the gang whether he shows any reaction that he saw similar.

Channa seems to stop at one of the picture and examines it for a few moments before moving to another one. She stays alittle apart from the other as she wonders and looks totally taken on by the sights her eyes are treated with.

Moulin continues engaging the Doctor in pleasant small talk, conent to play Official Starfleet Ornament for the moment--in the name of Diplomacy, of course.

. o O Shamash thinks, "The protestors give me a queezy feeling. Why are they forcefully removed from the premesis... gagged, no less."

GAME: Phipps contests his Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Fails.

Goodwin is standing near a mural depicting the end of the Romulan-Human and Klingon-Human wars, back to back treaty signings. They are xenophobic, or at least mildly so. The Klingon at the treaty signing has a knife behind his back. There are no Romulans in the mural of that signing, and exaggerated alien features on the Andorian, Tellarian, and Vulcan allied representatives. If he saw anything, he does not show it.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Laco contests his Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Moderate and Marginally Fails.

Hayyat smiles likewise at Moulin. "I myself am an historian, in a sense, yes. My doctorate is actually a dual one in medicine and pharmacology, mind you, but I taught for awhile, before entering politics, and between teaching and politics I'm afraid I'm not much use to anyone with horse-sense as a physician anymore, so I've relegated myself to my second love, studying the history of science and medicine. I've even written a book or two on the subject." He drifts away from her, towards Goodwin, concluding to Moulin with an, "If you'll excuse me." As he reaches Goodwin, he says to the Station 419 Second Officer, "Ending with the Omega of our commonalties, Commander, and working your way backwards?"

. o O T'Pral thinks, "A seed of hate will find these soils fertile ones. It is unfortunate. Do we really appear that way to humans?"

Phipps continues to simply move around alongside the group, slowly, staying out of the way, for the most part. He does not show much interest in the murals, but instead watches both ends of the hall.

"Indeed," says the Commander. "Though I would say that we have far more in common than the ending of this war." Josh gestures at the mural. "I would say that though distance and philosophy may separate us, the human spirit of rugged individualism and sacrifice for the survival of our people, where common people possess uncommon valor, remain." A beat. "The sacrifice and heroism of the Occan people under Dominion rule made that more clear than ever."

Channa seems saddened what she notes the wars, the humand and her people have been in so much blood shed and needless deaths and for what. It to be repeated again a few years down the line, most all peace come with war. She happends to stand near the one where Goodwin is, her expression the same.

Shamash listens with one ear to the converation Hayyat is having with Moulin and draws nearer in order to be able to listen better to the spoken words. Though the moment he reaches them, Hayyat finishes his conversation. Bad luck.

GAME: Laco contests his Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Fails.

GAME: Moulin contests her Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Marginally Fails.

GAME: Goodwin contests his Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Fails.

. o O Shamash thinks, "note to self: brush up in command sign language. Or get subcutane comm devices implanted before such a mission. A private line of communications at this time would be a real benefit."

GAME: Channa contests her Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Fails.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Shamash contests his Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Fails.

. o O Goodwin is intentionally pushing a pro-Federation agenda.

GAME: Goodwin contests his Diplomacy/Intragalactic Affairs vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: T'Pral contests her Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Succeeds.

O'Rielly looks around for a minute while 'taking pictures' and heads over to Laco. "You should like this one Lieutenant."

Laco heads over to Bristol, to see what he 'took a picture of'.

Shamash raises his PADD to begin some idle typing on it, as if taking note of some of the displays. Some while later, he lowers the device again.

Phipps suddenly stops, blinking quickly. His head turns, in small, sharp movements, for a single moment - then fixes. His head tilts. He pauses in place, peering directly at what has attracted his attention - and then moves, slowly, towards a an exhibit display case. He pauses about halfway, then gestures slightly towards the case, and then towards himself, apparently indicating to someone in that direction that he has no intention of moving away from the group. The hand behind his back lifts, remaining behind his back still, but subtly closer to his phaser.

. o O Phipps thinks, "Suspicious. Why not simply come out and talk to me? Then, perhaps protocol. Still - vigilance. Perhaps call Lieutenant Vimes? No, not yet. Initiative, boy."

. o O Phipps feels slightly concerned, suspicious.

Ensign Moulin frowns, a fleeting expression; blinks and covers a double-take with a twist of her body as though working out the kinks after a long day. Yep. Juuuuust stretching. The fact that she appears in what seems to be the next instant at Goodwin's elbow, looking exceptionally alert and blocking the clear line between... whatever she saw or didn't see... and the spot where the Occan Doctor and her CO converse... it means nothing. Move along.

O'Rielly shows Laco the picture he took, and motions to look at the picture that Laco took.

Channa hasn't noticed anything so doesn't seem to react as some of the other seem to be. She studies the picture and frowns.

Hayyat simply says "Amen," to what Goodwin says. Then, after a moment, "Reasonably soon, even if the President and Ambassador Rome continue to be delayed, I shall have to have the cameras turned on and give the full and formal speech, so if you have any more questions, please, feel free to ask. We'll say ... 15 minutes?"

Laco trades PADDs with O'Rielly, and takes a moment to browse the little album he assembled.

Phipps frowns, an expression of deep annoyance passing over his face. He glances around the group for a moment, then raises his PADD from its secure place at his hip, tapping on it quickly, glancing around every now and then as he does. Then, without fuss, he replaces it again, resuming his slow, vigilant patrol.

GAME: Channa contests her Receptive Telepathy vs Challenging and Succeeds.

GAME: Channa contests her Receptive Empathy vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Goodwin nods his head. "Of course, Doctor Hayyat." The second officer's PADD beeps and he glances at it for a moment and looks over towards the exit for a moment, nodding at something. "Have you had much trouble from protestors on the project? I would imagine Charter and allied loyalists were aggressively opposed to the embassy." It's a polite inquiry as they wait.

"If you'll forgive me, Doctor?" Moulin inserts smoothly into the conversation's slightest pause. Then, to Goodwin, ever so official down to her shiny boots: "Sir, if I might deprive the Doctor of your company for just a moment, you asked me to inform you when there was a report on the delayed members of our party?"

All charming, apologetic smiles for the Doctor, she takes the Lieutenant Commander's arm and does her best to coax him off to the side, her PADD in hand.

Channa head snaps around and she seems a little distracted, she then picks something up and seems to dive towards the secuirty office. "Lt. Phipps. " She calls, her voice soft so as not to alarm everyone.

O'Rielly glances to Laco for a minute while looking over the PADD. "You know Lieutenant, if you took this picture from the angle over here, you might get a better turnout."

Goodwin seems a bit surprised by the touch on his arm, but seems to trust Moulin to follow her lead. "Of course, Ensign. If you will excuse me, Doctor Hayyat, but I would be honored to offer brief remarks on behalf of Starfleet."

O'Rielly's PADD beeps while he's looking it over. Eyebrows raise. A glance at Phipps. "I need to use the restroom," Laco declares, before heading off towards the security officer.

T'Pral changes direction, walking to stand near to Moulin now, her eyes straying every now and then to the doings of Laco and O'Reilly, who seem veeeerrry much engrossed in trading the ways in which they are currently being enlightened. "Are you well?" she asks formally of Isabeau. She is careful to keep her voice low and controlled.

With Hayyat busy, Shamash drifts over to a different section within the hall, taking his attention there.

Once she has Lt. Commander Goodwin off to the side, Moulin situates her PADD so he may view it, her stylus moving rapidly over the surface as she highlights, it seems, different information in the communique.

Phipps adjusts his path just -so- to neatly intersect Channa's approach and minimize the distance between himself and Laco (it just so happens), eyes still alert. Very softly, to Channa, "Movement?"

Channa nods her head as Phipps. "I heard something. " She says very destressed her voice low. "Pain. "She say slooking around. "Something is about to happen. " She adds, looking a little frantic. "Get the commander out of here. "

Moulin's PADD shows an image of the case where she briefly saw something--In any event, she takes the stylus and draws a quick, crude stick figure with a gun behind the case. The words WE HAVE AT LEAST ONE--CLOAKED? OCCAN.

GAME: Goodwin contests his Intellect/Perception vs Routine and Fails.

. o O Phipps thinks, "That sounds a bit overly dramatic. Then again - that figure was suspicious. Lieutenant Laco?"

GAME: Moulin contests her Intellect/Perception vs Routine and Fails.

Laco strides towards Phipps, not seeming as if he plans to stop. His voice is quiet, but loud enough that the security grunt should be able to hear it. "Which way to the...restroom, Phipps?"

Hayyat watches all the myriad comings and goings, waiting patiently, with a smile. In the absence of anyone further striking up conversation, he seems to be practicing his speech under his breath, pacing back and forth over a section of mosaic displaying the name and likeness of the late 20th century President Franklin Delano Roosevelt of Earth's United States of America.

Goodwin nods his head once and glances to Phipps, so as if to see if he's aware. "All right," he tells Moulin, patting her on the shoulder. "No scenes, okay?" His voice is soft, making his way back towards Hayyat, though he is more alert. "Doctor Hayaat, might we perhaps have the speeches outside? I was thinking it may be helpful to have even those who protest this opening to hear our words. Perhaps some might open their eyes." And he can get out of DeathTrap.

Phipps nods slightly to Channa, and replies in a quiet but clear voice to Laco: "There's a door behind that display case, sir," motioning with his PADD vaguely, "perhaps over there?" He adds, softer, a faint incline of his head indicating Channa: "She senses pain," he relays, "so perhaps that explains your question." A wry smile lifts to his lips, for an instant, in an effort to add an air of normality.

. o O Phipps thinks, "This feels decidedly wrong. Either that or your paranoia gene is acting up, Phippsy. But he sure responded fast, as if he knows something I don't; hmmm. - Come to think of it, that guard might have been trying to draw me away, just as I was trying to prevent."

. o O Phipps feels a deeper concern, bordering on actual 'worry', tempered by discipline.

"An excellent idea, Commander," observes T'Pral with her features as placid as ever.

Channa nods her head clarely still a little destressed, she placing a hand on Phipps arm trying to get a little calm. The pain brought back memories she didn't wish to explore. "I'm sorry. " She says, taking the cue from the other two men and trying to look normal.

Shamash has not been spoken or PADD-ed to, nor does he have the accute hearing in order to overhear the mutters. He remains maybe the only good natured one in the group, oblivious of all dangers.

No scenes? Moulin, apparently, had no idea she came off as the hystrionic type, and evidences this with a mild, bone-dry perk of her eyebrows before trailing along to second--third--the Goodwin's suggestion. "What a splendid idea. Don't you think, Doctor Hayyat?"

Laco continues straight towards the door. Pain doesn't sound particularly fun, but 'Who dares wins', after all.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Challenging and Fails.

Phipps heads north.

Phipps has left.

Phipps approaches on the road from the north.

Phipps has arrived.

GAME: Phipps contests his Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Routine and Succeeds.

Hayyat says, "Hrm. Highly irregular, and I'd need to have our security team set up the cameras, plus there'd be the angry mob of protestors outside our gates. Very irregular, indeed, Commander. I'd need the President's approval for that, sur----" He looks to the side door, where one of the grunt security ensigns in the detail with Vimes and Phipps emerges, looking about, and then making a beeline for Goodwin, while making a 'c'mere' gesture to summon Phipps, as well. Hayyat looks puzzled. "I should perhaps let you attend to business, Commander, but please make this quick, as I *do* have to begin the formalities soon."

O'Rielly lowers his PADD slightly and looks into his case. "The bathroom before the speech might not be that bad of an idea."

"Yes, of course. There were simply some security concerns inside as I noted your forces removing a protestor from the interior, which, I believe, was supposed to be sealed." Goodwin waves his hand. "But, of course, the system worked well if he was re --" When the security ensign walks up, Goodwin steps off to the side, and nods. "Yes, Mister Adler?"

Phipps' brow furrows thoughtfully for a moment, and then his PADD is carefully replaced, slowly, with his tricorder. The PADD, obviously, goes to its former slot on his hip. First silencing the device, he holds the tricorder relatively low but extended, and scans. The furrow deepens for a moment before he reports the results to Laco at barely above a whisper, "I'm not getting any weapons aside from Adler's, one clearly belonging to the Occan guard by the main door, and mine, sir." The tricorder is pulled back, close to his body, where hopefully it will be concealed by Laco and Channa's bodies.

Channa moves closer to the officer, not at all sure what's going on. "I hear "Oh my god no" In my head and then the pain. " She says. "Someone is hurting badly and I'm not sure what it was. "She scans around with her mind hoping to sense something else and be helpful.

Shamash notices the increased commotion and rejoins the group, moving to Laco though staying somewhat away, trying to determine if its okay to come closer.

Adler hears the brief exchange as he approaches, and speaks quietly -- not a whisper, and those who strain to hear can do so, but not a shout, either. "Apologies, sir, yes. That's what I've come to tell you. I didn't want to be unsubtle about it." He looks a bit sheepish there. "Lieutenant Vimes asked one of our Occan counterparts to summon Ensign Phipps so we could notify him and have him notify you without disruptions, but apparently something detained him here." Ah, the diplomatic approach. "There has, as I think I just heard you mention already being aware of, been a security breach." Mindful of how awkward that sounds, he rushes to continue: "We've got it covered. Apparently, one of the Red Shield folks was kindheartedly stupid enough to let a security card slip away from him. Lieutenant Vimes is working with the President's guard right now to change the force field frequency just in case. We should be good. But ... well, the Red Shield is now protesting the arrest of one of their people."

Moulin moves in concert with Goodwin, switching to walk at his other side as it becomes necessary to keep herself 'in the way' with regards to the case she spotted something near. Right now, she's seen--sort of seen--only one. Lone Gunman is the theory she's going with until she finds out otherwise. Tense as a long tailed cat at a rocking chair convention, she forces herself to breathe easily and move with a semblance of calm, neutral smile on her face. The smile takes on a slightly stony set for the security grunt, as though to say, //I go where he goes. Just try and make it otherwise, mon ami. I'll bite your kneecaps off.//

GAME: Goodwin contests his Diplomacy/Intragalactic Affairs vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: T'Pral contests her Diplomacy vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Moulin contests her Diplomacy vs Moderate and Marginally Fails.

Laco steps through the doorway near the exhibit case, and out of view of the rest of the Federation party. Once there, he raises O'Rielly's PADD and begins to work with it.

GAME: T'Pral contests her Diplomacy/Intragalactic Affairs vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Moulin contests her Diplomacy vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Phipps apparently -does- strain to hear what his fellow security officer says, because his frown deepens for an instant, with what appears to be irritation. Then the expression clears, giving way to one of neutrality leaning towards sympathy; his attention turns to Channa again, murmouring to her, hopefully, "Can you tell if it's coming from the crowd outside, maybe?"

"If there are protesting sympathizers in the Red Brotherhood, then I would suggest that they've lost their neutral status, or at least that gentleman has," remarks Goodwin, quietly, to Adler. "Starfleet, of course, appreciates the Red Brotherhood's work to maintain a free and open public debate here on Occa Prime, but that must also be balanced against legitimate security concerns." That, see, is the 'diplomatic line'

GAME: Phipps contests his Presence/Empathy vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Channa contests her Receptive Telepathy vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Adler nods. "Of course, Sir. Understood. I just wanted to let you know where we stood. I apologize for breaking the mood in here. We were trying to be subtle and all." He waits for his dismissal.

. o O Phipps thinks, "Now why couldn't the guard have come the rest of the distance to tell me that? Damnit, now that Laco chap is off hunting for someone who was bringing -me- a message. Stupid! Foolish. At least Alder made sure not to make me look a fool; I owe 'em a drink, methinks. - Still, move on. Think. Okay, so maybe there's a crush in the crowd outside, and that's what she's sensing?"

O'Rielly definitely is starting to look worried at the moment. He just holds back, now near Phipps and company, looking out and about.

Channa shakes her head and she clings to Phipps, she closes her eyes for a few moments then opens them her voice quiet and a little calmer. "It's gone. "She whispers. "Or out of range I'm not sure, something is very wrong here. "

As Laco distances himself further, Shamash shrugs once and closes up to the next group after a sidelong, questioning glance to O'Rielly.

Goodwin nods his head once. "Carry on, Mister Adler. Good work." He makes his way back towards Doctor Hayyat. "I apologize, Doctor Hayyat, but it seems like there are those individuals that would disrupt the opening with theatrics to get attention rather than engage us in open debate on the matter."

T'Pral holds the edges of her sleeves with pinching fingers, and advances more towards the knot around Goodwin and Moulin, her posture very... vertical. Straight.

Moulin maintains her place near Goodwin, making no pretense at being relaxed or neutral for the moment--plainly out of sorts over the security issue and hyper-vigilant.

O'Rielly glances to Shamash and whispers over to the man, "Things aren't all they seem. Keep an eye out."

GAME: Laco spends a courage point.

GAME: Laco contests his Personal Equipment/Tricorder+A vs Challenging and Fails.

Hayyat says, "Indeed," to Goodwin. He laughs. "Still of a mind to hold this in the open courtyard, Commander?"

Hayyat's laugh is not a happy one. Indeed, somewhat disappointed.

"I will follow your lead, Doctor Hayyat," says Goodwin with a nod of his head and a gesture to the Education Minister. "Shall we have the cameras set up? I am not sure the Ambassador and President will be joining us in time."

Laco wanders back into the exhibit hall, tucking his PADD away. He forms up next to O'Rielly, and gives the man a little shrug.

Phipps frowns, somewhat. Motioning with one hand, he murmours to Channa, "I think you ought report all this to the Commander; and I need to be able to watch everybody properly, with all my attention - you understand?" Sympathy for her glitters in his expressive eyes, but his voice is firm.

Shamash gives O'Rielly a minute nod at his words before taking up the position in the party he originally helt.

GAME: Moulin contests her Presence/Empathy vs Moderate and Succeeds.

O'Rielly frowns and offers Laco's PADD back to him.

Channa nods her head she looks over towards O'Rielly frowning a little before squeezing Phipps arms. "Thank you. " she says meaning for his support. She then turns and makes her way gracfully and quickly towards the commander.

GAME: Moulin contests her Diplomacy vs Moderate and Succeeds.

. o O Phipps thinks, "Good - now I can watch properly. Still - not that I'd admit it to anyone, but the personal contact brought a little extra calm. I hate waiting."

. o O Phipps feels pleased, worried, but with calmness still the dominant force in his psyche.

Hayyat says, "Well, then." He motions towards one of the cameras, giving some sort of 'okay' sign. "Everyone take your places just over there or over there or over there." Again the slightly embittered laugh of a man who is trying not to let things run away from him on what should be his most glorious day. "Unless, of course, you want the back of your heads to be immortalized on camera rather than the more noble profile views."

"I assure you, Doctor, that this will be a wonderful opening. You cannot let the protestors see it gets to you - it is exactly what they want. To shake confidence in our mission." Goodwin smiles to Hayyat reassuringly, then turns his head towards Channa when she approaches.

Channa comes to stop near the commander and smiles faintly. "Sir, I beg a word." she says quietly looking towards Hayyt apologetically.

"Quickly, please, Ms. T'erij," says Goodwin, nodding his head and taking a step to the side as the cameras do final set-up.

Moulin touches the Doctor's elbow once more, this time just long enough to convey a look of understanding and a smile of sincere encouragement. She then follows Goodwin, once more vigilantly watching the room.

Channa gives the man a look, but lets it pass for now. "Of course. " she says, lips twisting she leans in a little more and quietly tells him what she felt. "I felt a little pain from where where and the words "Oh my god no" I'm not sure where from it's gone now but I think someone is in danger or is being hurt. " She says softly.

"Well, there was an arrest, Ms. T'erij. I would imagine that individual would not be pleased to be arrested or discovered," points out the Commander. "But I thank you for your diligent work. It seems Mr. Phipps has the security situation well in hand." He nods his head, that matter settled, as he turns back towards Hayyat. "Where would you like me, Doctor?"

O'Rielly looks to Laco, letting the Crystal-faced Lieutenant choose the place where the they'll stand.

Channa stands there when she's dismissed looking a little angry but she doesn't say anything. Slowly she walks back to Phipps and asks. "Found anything?"

Shamash chooses one of the 'over there's and moves to that locality or in this case being the center of the room where he rolls his shoulders once, bringing them to a close to perfect balance, resting his hands behind his back, locking them with their thumbs. He awaits the others to join him on either side in their own time.

Phipps moves into position near the side door, now, but removed from it in such a way as to be half-turned. Quietly, to Channa, "Nothing beyond what we already know. If you're standing here, take up a position on the opposite side from me to the door." Hopefully, Adler will observe his position and assume one at the opposite side of the room, as would seem prudent.

Hayyat says, "The holo-cameras get an overlapping feed, Commander, and our media people will select which portion of which feed syncs with the audio, or so I am led to believe." He motions. "Any one of the three spots is fine. Wherever you feel most comfortable. Were you going to follow me or wait for Ambassador Rome before saying a few words of your own?"

. o O Phipps thinks, "IF anyone attacks, I bet they won't come through the door. No, that would be too obvious. But still - best to be safe."

Laco noves towards Commander Goodwin, being The Voice of Freedom and all.

. o O T'Pral thinks, "The Ambassador is usually not this... thorough in his sit-downs."

O'Rielly chooses to take up his position on the side opposite the case with the door.

Moulin stands back and to Goodwin's side, stylus flying over her PADD as she works like a vigilant Staff of One.

Goodwin nods his head. "I will offer some words after you do on behalf of the Federation. I cannot know how long Ambassador Rome would be detained, and think I would be remiss if someone did not speak for the Federation during this wonderful occasion for you." He takes a step back to the center area, so he can be seen behind the minister on the feeds, with Laco.

T'Pral gives a slight inclination of her head, and moves away from Goodwin's knit, toward the position opposite Phipps, where he appears to currently be gesturing Channa.

Moulin checks her PADD.

Channa nods her head at Phipps greatful for something to do, her mind is still open trying to catch a hint of that pain again. "I don't like it, it didn't seem right. " She says softly.

Channa looks down as her pocket organizer bleeps.

Channa smiles at her padd, then seeks out the message giver. She nods once at the person before going back to her scanning.

Moulin meets Channa's gaze with the flicker of a smile, a near-imperceptible nod, and then continues letting her eyes make sweeps of the room.

Phipps resumes his earlier smart posture - one hand behind his back, the other hanging loosely at his hip. This time, however, the arms are reversed: his right hand, behind his back, is within easy grasp of his phaser, without making it -too- obvious that that's why it's there.

O'Rielly reaches into his pack that holds his PADDs for a moment, just rumaging through it apparently.

By this time, clearly based on the signal given the cameras, a few other stragglers -- staffers who'd been giving the Minister the clearly important courtesy of private time with the VIP guests -- enter from the courtyard. They take up places, as well. A few of them give Hayyat polite gestures of greeting, one or two even seem senior enough to say a few words without annoying the Physician-Politician. As everyone takes places, he begins: "People of Occa, and our dear friends, welcome to this historic occasion, the final dedication and grand opening ceremonies of the Occan Humanity Heritage Center, and its attached United Federation of Planets Embassy." He looks around the room, dramatically sweeping a gaze over the crowd like a trained speaker is wont to do. "It is, indeed, fitting, that I use the word 'historic', for if my service to our civilization as an educator has taught me anything, it is that *history* is the finest teacher we have. I hearken back to the greatest and simplest of lessons, which symbolize themselves in this mural right here." He gestures to the mural behind and to the left of him, a scene showing the tail end of the Grey Panther mural, fading into a related mural of some bizarre mountaintop fortress-temple. "It is in the Himalayan mountain range on Earth, in fact, and its immediate surroundings, that we learned the two greatest lessons about the metaphors of life -- the wheel of karma which always turns, and the Silk Road which stretches an entire continent, bridging space as well as time. None who walk the soil of Occa Prime live today who remember these places as anything more than text and holovideos, but those lessons guide us still." He continues to look around, smiling at Goodwin and his retinue in the center of the room. "We know that life is a wheel, which delivers us to where we began until we learn to break the cycle and free ourselves from it. We know that life is a journey, from the horizon behind us which birthed us to the horizon ahead with mysteries yet unexplored. We learned that Earth was too small to contain all that Humanity has to offer, we learned that there has to be something more, something better, and yet we learned to balance the lessons of East and West by realizing that wanting more to the exclusion of simply being a good person can be as dangerous as fat, satisfied contentment..."

Goodwin assumes a position of 'diplomatic polite interest' which is the position of looking like what the good doctor is saying is the most interesting thing there is to hear in the whole wide world.

Laco tucks his hands behind his back, tilts his head to the side a little, and listens to the Minister make his address.

Channa isn't really listening to the speech her mind is else where looking searching. She knows that pain was from an innocent and that something is not right here. She looks around, her hand sweaty her posture not very alart.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Energy Weapon/Phaser+D vs Challenging and Succeeds.

Phipps glances back and forth between speaker and door, subtly, or as subtly as he can manage, wearing a disciplined, stoic expression once more. Might as well look -good- for the cameras while doing one's job in the crisp clean white, after all.

O'Rielly keeps ruffling around in his bag as he watches and listens. He doesn't seem to be finding what he's looking for, though after a moment he takes his hand out of his bag and just stands there, waiting.

. o O Phipps thinks, "I suppose I should be listening to the speech, but he's probably not really -saying- anything, anyway. That's what politicians usually do: say nothing. Probably say the important thing at the end; I'll listen to that bit."

Shamash locks himself into his own version of parade rest, listening through the speech with what looks at least as genuine interest.

GAME: Channa spends a courage point.

GAME: Channa contests her Receptive Telepathy vs Difficult and Fails.

GAME: Shamash contests his History/Human vs Routine and Marginally Fails.

In the silent lull accompanying the dramatic pause, there is a sudden boop-a-doop of Phipps' combadge. "Vimes to Phipps---UNGH!" And then the rushed words stop, followed by a series of noises: a soft heavy whump like a body hitting the floor, a struggling and tearing, and then the staticky screech of a combadge being vaporized or otherwise destroyed. There is a heartbeat after that, of sheer shocked and stunned silence, in the great hall of the Occan Humanity Heritage Center, and then...

Goodwin takes a deep breath and then says, "Doctor, I think we have a situation." He keeps his voice under control, but then simply nods to Phipps. "Do your thing, Ensign." There's not much to Command, simply let his people do their job.

Channa moves back and tries to keep herself out of the way, her federation training seems to kick in as she edges away from the door. She heads back other to the starfleet personal not sure what to do. "I have medical training. " She says softly. "If it's needed. "

. o O T'Pral thinks, "The Ambassador is no longer secure, if he is even still alive, and neither are we. If they have managed to disable Mr. Vimes, then logically whoever is doing this is already in numbers to the conference room, and is potentially in a good position to let down the Security shields. What's more, the video feed from this room will inform anyone watching as to our location from separate vantages..."

O'Rielly reaches into his bag again and holds his hand there. He looks to Phipps, "Ensign, if you would."

T'Pral backs herself up against the wall on the one side of the door that Channa is moving away from, turning a bit to be ready, should it be forced open. "Now would be an excellent time to alert the transport, Commander Goodwin."

Phipps' reaction to the boop-a-doop and ensuing communication, firstly, is to grunt. He sounds displeased, to say the least. Secondly, he draws his phaser. It seems wise, after all. Then, he observes, loud enough for all to hear: "I suggest it would be wise to remove any persons from within a ninety degree angle from the centrepoint of the doorway, sir." Well, that's fairly obvious. "And anyone unarmed should take cover." He motions to the other Security man, pointing to the other side of the door, and a position that gives a better line of fire to the -side- of the entranceway, where the cover of the display case potentially lies for incoming enemies to take and hold, rather than the entranceway itself. He takes up position on the other side of the door, focusing his own attention on the actual entrance, phaser at the ready.

. o O Phipps thinks, "I knew it. You can't take these Command and Diplomacy types -anywhere- without someone wanting to shoot them."

. o O Phipps feels amused - in a dark way that covers underlying fear. This, in turn, brings a blanket of calm, apparently allowing his focus.

Channa hear what Phipps suggest and not wanting to be a hero or dressed for it that matter she backs away behind the security officer and keeps out of the way. She does turns an amused looks at Phipps but says nothing.

"Let's take some cover, folks," says Goodwin, calm, though he does make his way for an area beneath some cover, choosing one of the planters, gesturing for Moulin to join him. "But I'm not leaving now, Consul. They're not going to run us off that quickly."

Shamash leaves the center of the hall, a wry glance up to the ceilling, and moves towards the far reaches of the room, however trying to stay in one group with his fellow officers and not to be parted from them.

The Occan security man who came in with the other local VIPs for this shindig, replacing the dismissed and departed Adler, takes up a stance as indicated by Phipps. For the moment, professional reflexes to do the smart thing outweigh any territorialism. He readies his own phaser-like weapon. And then, promptly, drops to the ground as some kind of shot hits him from within the very crowd he is protecting.

"Now that I have your attention," says one woman, wearing the same kind of formal garments as the Minister of Education. "Please stay calm." She is a tall woman, though clearly young -- no older than middle-to-late 20s, just the right age and social bracket that idealogues love to subvert. And she is holding some kind of small, holdout energy weapon, herself. "The People's Revolutionary Council has taken this building, and seized President Morgensen for trial by our Revolutionary Court. We do not wish to harm any more of you than is necessary for our cause." For his own part, Minister Hayyat looks absolutely stunned as he recoils back towards a display case in a mixture of fear and ... something more. "We are taking command of the Presidential Command Unit even now, and we expect compliance with our directives." It appears she is not alone. Three other members of the crowd do not look surprised, and each of them now displays either a similar weapon, or something that looks like a detonator of some kind.

. o O Phipps thinks, "Now this is inconveniant."

Shamash slips in between the crowd of the other spectators. Instead of keeping together, he is now reconsidering. That way trying to make the group a less easy target.

GAME: Goodwin spends a courage point.

GAME: Goodwin contests his Diplomacy/Intragalactic Affairs+A vs Challenging and Marginally Fails.

Phipps instinctively whirls at the sound of the voice, and also takes a single step backwards. His phaser, also instinctively, levels on the sound of the voice - but his thumb lifts away from the contact, no doubt at the sight of what look like detonators. A faint grin - somewhat disturbingly - forms itself on his lips. He adjusts his grip, slowly, keeping his thumb high and in sight. The phaser does not lower an inch, however.

. o O Phipps feels angry, amused, distressed, and definite violent tendencies. Err, aggression.

. o O Shamash thinks, "by the thousand gods and the four deities... What is happening now? I hope i don't get any stains on my dress uniform. Like... blood. or worse... my own. ...why could i not bring a knife. right. as if someone would permit me carrying one. Maybe these natives in front of me will soak the majority of the blast..."

. o O Shamash's brain starts to spin up, churning out ideas. only that more than half of them are just utter rubbish.

GAME: O'Rielly spends a courage point.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Stealth/Stealthy Movement+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Moderate and Succeeds.

O'Rielly just remains standing where he is, looking very calm with all that is going on. His fingers move ever so slightly on his PADD which is currently in his left hand, but leaning against his leg so that it could be glanced down at. His other hand just remains where it was at the bag.

Laco suggests, in his best Voice of Freedom voice, "How about we put the weapons down?"

GAME: Laco spends a courage point.

GAME: Laco contests his Persuasion vs Challenging and Dramatically Fails.

"Try to raise Forbes on the Paine. Send text via PADD," whispers Goodwin to his minion, er, staffer, next to him, Moulin, in a soft voice as he, too, begins to stand up and face the attacker. "Put down the weapons," he urges, as well, in his command voice. "You can threaten here, but there's no way you can hold this place. You'll be surrounded and this is going to end one way or another. Don't make more problems for yourself."

GAME: Goodwin spends a courage point.

T'Pral speaks from her position, "We have just heard a member of this team attacked from a location near to the conference room. Are the other members of our party still alive?"

GAME: Goodwin contests his Persuasion+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.

Moulin's eyes dart over to Laco, her expression pale and drawn. Voice of Freedom though he might be... well, darn it, there's one in every movie and popular novel, isn't there? That Guy--the one who tries to reason with the militant psychotics and gets shot or stabbed for the trouble. She goes from ashen to stark white when Goodwin throws in HIS bid to be That Guy. Teeth clenched, she narrows her focus to her orders, doing as instructed because it's all she /can/ do.

Channa doesn't seem to know what to say, think or feel at the moment. She wasn't expecting this but maybe she was since the moment land here she has the feeling something wasn't right. Ducking away to keep herself out of sight and danger Channa waits for instructions and possibly a use for herself and her talents.

. o O Goodwin thinks, "I was captain of the Academy debate team. I can do this."

GAME: Hayyat contests his Coordination/dexterity & Energy Weapon vs Laco's Coordination/reaction & Dodge and Fails.

. o O Moulin thinks, "Notre Phre qui es aux cieux, que ton Nom soit sanctifii, que ton rhgne vienne, que ta volonti soit faite sur la terre comme au ciel. Donne-nous aujourd'hui notre pain de ce jour. Pardonne-nous nos offenses..."

And, in fact, Laco then promptly becomes 'That Guy', for several reasons. Firstly, well, he's not very good at asking nicely for things. Secondly, at the wrong angle, that crystal does make him look less like the Voice of Freedom and more like a freak. Thirdly, well, who the hell knows what evil lurks in the minds of revolutionaries. One of the spokeswoman's companions -- the other one holding a weapon -- starts to fire at the Voice of Freedom, perhaps ignorant, then, of who he is. The shot, clearly meant to be a torso hit, gets jarred as the companion next to *him* shoves him, shouting "No!" The shot goes wild, missing Laco by no more than a centimeter.

The woman raises her own voice. "That's enough, you two! I meant what I said before. Except for the war criminals, no-one is to be harmed."

Hayyat continues to look stunned. "What have you done, Marta? What have you done?"

"That's Major Patrick now, Doctor. Please, stand with the others." The woman eyes Goodwin. "Commander, my apologies. Not all my men are as patient as I am. Please believe me when I say that your Federation, in so many ways, has no more sincere admirer than myself, and when this is done, you will all be let go freely, and unharmed, provided you cooperate."

Shamash's attention turns to Goodwin as mission commander. He does not initiate any action now that could be considered hostile by the .. hm. however to name that group of people.

. o O Shamash thinks, "now that /sounds/ reasonable"

O'Rielly already has a hand in the bag, and looking resigned, especially after Laco is shot at. In the interest of being cooperative he starts to remove his hand from the bag, though it's just slightly not straight. He leans back against the wall upon pulling his hand out, letting the hand rest near his side and the wall.

Well, that didn't work. And it consumed all the charge in Laco's diplomacy batteries. And getting shot at, of course, made him mad. Laco does bad things when he's mad. "I didn't bring those shields down so that you and your little group of malcontents could sieze this wretched dirtball. You claim to admire the Federation, yet attempt to get your way with a phaser's snout. Perhaps you have us confused with the Klingons, or perhaps the Romulans. This," Laco makes a sweeping gesture with his hands. "is much more their style. Or maybe you picked up a few tips from the Dominion while they were here. Perhaps I did you a disservice by helping to pry you free from their duranium fist." He raises his brows, inviting a response.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Coordination/dexterity & Stealth/stealthy movement (claiming Advantage) vs Hayyat's Intellect/perception and Marginally Fails.

Goodwin shakes his head. "You know it doesn't work like that, Major," he calls the woman by the title that she called herself. "You've got a President and an Ambassador. You're going to be surrounded by Federation and Occan forces and they're not going to negoiate with you." He keeps shaking his head. "Talk to me. I'm the only friend you've got in this room. You may have hurt one of my officers. Can I send someone to go check on him?" He shoots a glance to Laco. 'Shut up, Laco,' it says.

. o O Goodwin thinks, "SHUT UP, LACO"

. o O Goodwin thinks, "There's a reason why I'm the lead diplomatic officer and you're the pretty creepy Intelligence person that we don't let the public talk to."

Channa moves to Goodwins side slowly almost crawling. "If there's a medical kit, I can assist. " She says softly at him. "I can't fight but I can give first aid. " She says.

The woman, Major Patrick, shakes her head. "No, I'm sorry, but no." She gives a long, lingering look at Laco, frowning, then, to both him and Goodwin, says, "There's so much you don't understand, really. Just like Doctor Hayyat. You would all be very good company, and in a month or so, once his retirement takes effect, you will be." A pause. "You *will* be allowed to retire, Doctor. We know that despite your rubbing shoulders with the criminals like Morgensen, you're still basically one of us at heart. The Revolutionary Council agrees that while your taint is too much to continue in your position for the long term, while you have failed as an educator and a minister of state, you did not fail out of malice or out of negligence, and you will be permitted to resign quietly once all this is sorted out. I give you my word on that. You failed, Doctor, because you allowed yourself to believe the party line of the OPT 'majority' in your coalition." She shakes her head, again, this time with more disgust, disbelief. "You failed because you allowed yourself to believe the Social Justice Party was beaten down by its failures, that those of us who left all left out of shame at being wrong. But that's not why we left. We left becuase we knew we were right, and you haven't fought hard enough for us. Well, now we're fighting. We have the President. We have his Security Detail. They wrapped themselves up for us when they arrested the Red Shield and confiscated their medical bags and recording equipment. There's at least two other protests around the world right now where the same thing happened. We knew it would. We smuggled our weapons in right past security by letting security smuggle them in for us. We're not fools, Commander. We're not just stupid young idealists. We are getting rid of the old guard that doesn't see the truth, and you will soon have a government in place more ... enlightened, for dealing with the rest of the galaxy. That's our primary plank, in fact and --- you, over there, stop fiddling with that bag and put it down or I will have to order you stunned and tied up."

O'Rielly let's the bag go and keeps his hands at his sides, nodding to the recolutionary lady person.

Laco shrugs, and turns his gaze towards the shooter, attempting to stare him down.

Goodwin takes a deep breath. "If we were on the street, Major, I'd agree with you any day of the week and twice on Sunday. But you've got my security team and my Ambassador, and I need to help them," says Josh, shaking his head. "You can threaten all you want, but when the Rapid Response Team comes down here and puts an end to this, the government's just going to crack down. No one's going to be allowed to protest; they'll disband the Reds. And you're not going to get your message out." He nods to her. "You sealed your fate when you pulled that gun, but do you want to go down as the woman who killed the hostages, or the woman who's going to stand up and take responsibility for her actions and accept the consequences?"

GAME: Channa contests her Receptive Empathy vs Moderate and Marginally Succeeds.

Channa seems to mutter darkly and isn't at all impressed by the stations second officer. She then licks her lips as some of the peoples emotions starts to leak to her. "There nervous. " She mutters. "Keep going your making them edge and starting them thinking. "

Hayyat says, "It's no use, Commander. Marta --- Major Patrick -- she knows your Federation well enough to know your people in orbit will do nothing as long as you and your people are released unharmed. Your Prime Directive will forbid it from going any further once you're released." He pushes away now, from the case, and moves a bit forward, to the center mass of Laco and Goodwin and Channa and so forth. He moves slowly, to show he's not doing anything stupid as he complies with the woman's earlier commands. "You're going to be let go, and I'm going to retire a failure, and our coalition party will fall apart, and this place will be a pyrrhic victory. She knows that."

Patrick counters, "I know all of it except the last part, Doctor. You know so much about history, but you forget your own lessons: We *do* learn from it, Doctor. It's you who've forgotten. People can only stand for so much before they stand *up straight* and demand no more. Well, we're demanding. We're demanding after years of crackdowns, of dissidents disappearing, and of you and the respectable souls who have co-opted the SJP standing by and doing nothing except asking for more spoonsful of sugar to make the medicine go down."

O'Rielly glances up to Hayyat as he remains non-chalantly leaning against the wall. "And as long as they hold us here at gunpoint and threaten us all with explosives, the ship in orbit can do something."

Laco continues to stare at Mister Triggerfinger. Then suddenly breaks and lunges towards Major Patrick, beginning what appears to be a Starfleet Martial Arts move that generally results in either an empty hand or a broken wrist. He barks one word, "O'Rielly!"

And in this moment, Goodwin just loses his top. For those here who know Josh, this is probably he maddest he's ever been or is ever going to be for a while. He's just this side of screaming, his voice ice. "Lieutenant Laco, you stop /right where you are/ or I swear you are going to be seeing the inside of a cell for the next years of your life!"

GAME: Goodwin calls Social Advantage over Laco for a Presence-based contest. See 'news social' for more information.

GAME: Goodwin contests his Presence/empathy & Command (claiming Advantage) vs Laco's Presence/willpower and Succeeds.

GAME: Laco contests his Coordination/reaction & Unarmed Combat/Starfleet Martial Arts vs Hayyat's Coordination/reaction & Unarmed Combat and Succeeds.

GAME: Laco contests his Fitness/strength vs Hayyat's Fitness/strength and Marginally Succeeds.

GAME: Hayyat contests his Coordination/dexterity & Energy Weapon vs Laco's Coordination/reaction & Dodge and Succeeds.

Unfortunately for Goodwin, in the time it takes him to get out his angry cold command, Laco has already moved. Unfortunately for Laco, Major Patrick seems to have some kind of guerilla training. She slips her arm from his grip, and fires the gut-shot, point blank.

It is a truism, well known to Starfleet medical and security officers alike, that 'stun' setting on a weapon is no guarantee that the shot will be ... gentle. A stun setting is still a nervous-system jangling, cell-shocking blast of nadions. And at point-blank range, it can seriously injure, perhaps even kill.

And Laco was at point blank range.

And Major Patrick suddenly looks horrified at what has occured. One of the men, with a detonator in hand, looks likewise stunned. The other two, with detonator and phaser, respectively, seem not to quite be *understanding* what has taken place. Seeing only the rush of motion, they drop to ready positions.

. o O Goodwin thinks, "...Okay. I can work with this."

Shamash, with the sudden commotion, spots the nearest assailant and is already half in motion before he stops, reconsidering the expression on the Major. He straightens again and lifts his hands in a non-threatening expression, moving slightly to the side. Quick glance to Goodwin.

Channa seems to be speechless as the man is shot at, she scrambles from her place besides Goodwin not even thinking as she rushs towards the man. She frantically reachs out for him hoping he's not dead. "You shot him. " she says glaring up at the shooter.

GAME: O'Rielly spends a courage point.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Coordination/dexterity & Energy Weapon/phaser (claiming Advantage) vs Hayyat's Coordination/reaction & Dodge and Succeeds.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Coordination/dexterity & Energy Weapon/phaser (claiming Disadvantage) vs Hayyat's Coordination/reaction & Dodge and Fails.

The second that Laco calls out his name, O'Rielly jams the fingers of his left hand into his PADD, sending a message to Starfleet's waiting ship. However, certain phaser shots to certain crystal faced bosses isn't a way to make Bristol O'Rielly happy. In a rush of energy, he raises his right hand, which reveals amazingly enough, a phaser. Though this phaser is a little different then normal in that it's missing it's outer casings. O'Rielly takes his first shot, aiming and pumping hot phaser beam towards the guy who is holding one of the detonators, and not a remote one at that, letting it sit for a moment longer than normal. Then he moves his phaser beam around, going for his compatriot with the phaser. And somewhere, Bristol O'Rielly is hoping that the ship, having received his message and started scanning, will respond really quickly.

Laco drops to the ground like a sack of lifeless meat. Those lungs? They aren't moving.

. o O O'Rielly thinks, "Oh my god, you killed Laco, you bastards!"

. o O O'Rielly thinks, "I'll make you pay for this. I don't care about your revolution, but you're paying for this!"

There's something close to disbelief on Josh Goodwin's face. "O'Rielly, put down the phaser!" he shouts. "Put it the hell down!" So much for him actually being a mission commander. "Major, your men just shot and possibly killed the Voice of Freedom. Even if you win, even if you take over, that's going to get out and what's the public going to think about that?" He's trying not to shake with rage, keeping his voice really quiet. He gestures to the mosaics of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Ghandi. "Do you know who those are?"

GAME: Channa contests her Medical Sciences vs Moderate and Succeeds.

One of the men O'Rielly shoots falls down, letting go of the detonator. Fortunately for O'Rielly, the device was so small that it didn't have room for the proverbial Dead Man's Switch -- no muffled retort occurs. One of the Occan VIPs tries to scramble and grab for it, which means that Laco's example seems to have inspired someone. The other O'Rielly target ducks further behind a display case, and the phaser fire caroms off it harmlessly.

Major Patrick steps back, falling into a crouch. "He ... came at me. You all saw it. I promsied you all you'd be let go, and he came at me. I ... fired in self-defense. You all saw it. The cameras saw it...."

Shamash looks over to Goodwin. The man is doing a goood job at the persuasion routine. He pushes through the dignitaries, not caring about the two more armed insurgents and approaches Lacos body.

GAME: Goodwin calls Social Advantage over O'Rielly for a Presence-based contest. See 'news social' for more information.

GAME: Goodwin contests his Presence/empathy & Command (claiming Advantage) vs O'Rielly's Intellect/logic & Behavior Modification/resistance and Fails.

GAME: O'Rielly spends a courage point.

O'Rielly keeps his phaser levelled at the guy hiding behind the case, hoping for a chance to fire. He doesn't look to Goodwin, but he definitely doesn't comply with the order. "You may like to be held hostage by people holding bombs in your face Commander, but I don't. If these people are so bent on saving their planet they're willing to murder their own hero's, they're not better than terrorists. Last time I checked the regulations, we don't negotiate with terrorists. The ship is aware that we've been held hostage by now, so either the Rapid Response Teams will be deployed, or She can surrender herself and the rest could drop their weapons."

GAME: T'Pral spends a courage point.

GAME: T'Pral contests her Coordination/reaction & Unarmed Combat/taroon-ifla (claiming Advantage) vs Hayyat's Coordination/reaction & Dodge (given Disadvantage) and Succeeds.

GAME: T'Pral contests her Coordination/dexterity vs Hayyat's Fitness/vitality and Fails.

Quiet and still so long, T'Pral sees an oportunity in being paid little attention to... Moving with fingers outstretched in a very deliberate, very precise manner, she falls on the other ... activist with the detonator, and clamps down on a above the seventh vertebra.

Channa tries to find a pules, a heart beat, anything, tears run down the woman's face as she begins to realise that the man is dead. She looks up her face tear strained her voice weak and wobbly. "He's dead. " The two words come out in a sob, the empath appears to be rather affected by this. Memories of her dead husband comes flash into her fiind as she wonders if this man has left anyone behind.

GAME: Goodwin contests his Intellect/Logic & Persuasion/Debate+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

As the second detonator-carrier falls, Major Patrick's resolve wavers. "Damn you, it was his fault! You people were guaranteed to be released!" But she takes another step back. She looks up for a split second at the camera dome, as if reaching for something, anything. She may just have it, or she may be wavering.

Hayyat, for his part, kneels down next to Channa and Shamash, over the fallen Laco. He is weeping.

Goodwin presses his advantage, what little he has, at that announcement of death. It's the only chance he has right now, to salvage anything out of this. "Give it up," he says, shaking his head. "You know how the media spins this. Put down your weapons, all of you. You sealed your fate when you pulled your weapons." He looks around. "Now Phil Laco's dead. I can't stop what's going to happen to you. But I can try to make it so your trial's fair and you get to tell people about your ideas instead of a staged kangaroo court." He points at the mosaics. "Those people stood up and said, 'Let them arrest me for breaking the law. The people will see the law is unjust, and the truth will set me free.' Are you willing to learn from your history, Major, are you going to try to be like every other dictator with a gun and some bombs? Those people made a change for a stable and healthy democracies. Terrorists rule through fear. You're going to jail for the rest of your life, but you get to choose your legacy. What's it going to be?" He lets that just hang.

. o O O'Rielly thinks, "I can't believe it... I'll need to send a message to Commander Ghorev. He doesn't need to wait to hear this in a report. Despite his dislike for me, he told me when my best friend amazingly came back from the dead... I owe it to him to let him know what happened to Phil..."

Major Patrick steps back again, her weapon lowering. "I ... I ..."

"Not so fast there, either of you," the local who picked up the discarded remote detonator says, then adds, "Don't make promises for us you can't keep, Commander." Ah-so, another voice in the debate heard from. "My people *have* learned from history, and we've learned that mollycoddling these people only encourages them." It seems someone *else* is holding the trigger now. "Do you see now what your Starfleet has encouraged on our world? This isn't the first time they've taken advantage of your presence, and this is why the Occan Popular Traditionalist Party must sometimes get serious with people like this in a language they pretend means nothing to them, but which deep down they speak as fluently as any mother tongue."

O'Rielly glances over to Goodwin, then to the local. "Are you going to hold us hostage now, or are you going to do the right thing with this. At least one person has already died. Yes, sometimes revolution is needed, and sometimes it's such a small portion of the society that it causes more danger then it would be to let it be. Everyone here claims to have learned from history." He lowers his phaser now, looking to the man with the detonator now. "But the time for learning from history is over. Right now is the opportunity to make history. You've learned, and hopefully you learned enough to make the best choice for Occa."

Goodwin for once, actually piggy-backs off of O'Rielly. "History tells us that the best and most stable society is one that resolves its disputes in the public forum with words and not weapons. Changes government at the ballot box and not with bombs. It's freedom that makes the most stable society, not tyranny." A beat. "Now, the Occan government can take the tragic death of Lieutenant Laco as an opportunity to have a fair and open trial for even those people that oppose it, or I will end up in front of the first camera I can find and tell it how Starfleet mourns the loss of the Voice of Freedom, but knows that he worked his whole life for freedom and justice, and would want to see even his passing used to unite the people of Occa behind a banner of free speech and justice for all."

. o O O'Rielly thinks, "Are you talking about Lt Laco commander?"

. o O O'Rielly thinks, "That's definitely not the Phil Laco I knew... wow, this timeline must have been screwed up!"

T'Pral bends down, listening to the words of the officers as she slips the detonator safely away from the reach of those capable of retaking it, or coming to. Stony-faced, she looks on, saying nothing-- any word spoken to break the tone could be the end of all...

Channa looks at the doctor and lays a hand on his arm hoping to comfort him. She bows her head and also cries, she didn't know the man but any death is a sad one. Life is precious, everyone single one weather it be good bad right or wrong.

"I have no intention of holding you hostage, Lieutenant. The OTP valued Lieutenant Laco in our own way, just not as effusively as the bleeding-hearts. I suspect that *Miss* Patrick and I" -- he emphasizes the lack of use of her rank -- "are now in what our ancestors would have called a Mexican Standoff."

At this, Patrick raises the weapon again, but this time at the OTP man with the grabbed detonator. "Yes, I suppose we do." She keeps her eyes on him, but turns her face slightly to a security dome. "My people will lower the top of the force field in ten seconds, for three seconds," she says, loudly enough. "I suppose that you've broken the cycle enough to get the Traddies and the Revolution to see eye to eye on one thing, Commander Goodwin. Neither of us want you interfering in this moment, right now, any further. We've all disappointed each other, it seems. If I need a witness for the defense, and I'm allowed one, I'm sure we'll meet again."

And it is, in fact, a scant heartbeat or two after that that the ten second mark is hit, and almost immediately, there is the wine of a transporter.

Rome has arrived.

Cut to, the interior of USS Thomas Paine, the transporter bay. The party appears on the dias, including Laco, down and not breathing, Shamash and Channa on pads on either side of him. Including Vimes, also down, but apparently breathing, and Adler, likewise. Rome stands on the last pad, off to one side, a bit disheveled but none the worse for wear otherwise.

"That was... unpleasant." Rome does his best to compose himself once he realizes he's safely aboard a starship. Best not to let anyone know he can get his feathers ruffled, so to speak. "Oh dear." he murmurs, noticing the downed Laco. "Is he... ?"

Goodwin takes a deep breath and looks over the transporter pad. "Mister Laco was killed in action," he says finally. "Please have the corpsmen transport him to sickbay for transport and autopsy on the Station, please." He keeps his voice very soft, eyes downcast. "O'Rielly you're under a --" He then thinks the better of it. "Just go to quarters. We'll sort it when we're back home." Josh seems just emotionally drained, all of his energy sapped from maintaining his composure down there.

O'Rielly taps his combadge and says, "O'Rielly to Commander Ghorev. You should report to sickbay. Phil's dead..." He looks over to Goodwin with a look of contempt, before looking to the corpsemen who enter and says, "Allow me to help." And he procedes to help with the transport of his boss, and the one officer who trusted him more than any other on the station.

"I didn't like the man." Rome, warm and compassionate gentleman. "Still..." he steps forward, off of the pad, and looks back to the fallen officer. "Rest in peace, Lieutenant." He shakes his head. "I need a drink." On that note, he moves to make his exit.

"If there's one thing we learned from history," says Goodwin, ruminating, as the corpsmen and O'Rielly remove the body of the Lieutenant from the room. "It's that one man can change the history of a nation; even a planet." He sort of trails at that, as if unsure what lesson to take from it, watching the stretcher leave the room. He reaches for his commpin, letting out a puff of air. "Goodwin to Bridge. Mission accomplished. We can go home now." And home, indeed, they go, the U.S.S. Thomas Paine streaking towards Station 419; only now the Voice of Freedom has been silenced forever.

...Forever, however, is an awfully long time...