[Kova Sh'qaleq - Temtibi, Promenade]

This was either a joke, or a trap. Of course, the Andorian could think of no one with such a poor sense of humor, so it had to be the latter: a trap.

Kova had seriously considered not going at all, and blowing the invitation off altogether. Of course, that would deprive her of the opportunity of telling the admiral exactly what she thought of the invitation and the woman herself for that matter. Yet, there was a hint of curiosity in all of this. The woman actually had the nerve to offer Kova what: a compensatory dinner after condemning her and the others to the Pit all out of political preference. Kova could almost swear the woman had green blood running in her veins, and must have trimmed her ears years ago.

It wouldn't take long for Kova to say what she had to say, so why not do so in person? Besides, it would probably be worth it to see the look on the woman's face when Kova revealed her mastery of derogatory Terran terms. It certainly wasn't an affair that Kova planned to get all dressed up for. The stroll from the turbolift to Temtibi wasn't a long one. The Andorian's eyes were attentive to her surroundings. She doubted that Ellis would show up to this alone. After all, Kova wasn't one of her uniformed fleeters that heeled on command. As the doors parted, Kova stepped inside, her eyes surveying the area as she waited for the trap to spring.

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Tag: Felicity Ellis (Adm. Ellis)

[Kova Sh'qaleq - Temtibi, Promenade]

Kova simply stood there stoically as Charis, the proprietor of the establishment greeted her. She then turned and offered to lead Kova to the admiral, whom apparently was waiting. Kova could have cared less. In fact, she had contemplated keeping the woman waiting a little longer. Yet, she didn't really care to spend the majority of her evening in a holding cell after assaulting whatever muscle the admiral would have eventually sent to collect her. As they weaved their way towards the admiral's table, Kova was oddly preoccupied with the geometry and physics that were keeping Charis' dress held in place. As the introductions were made, Kova pulled a chair from a neighboring table up to the one that the admiral was occupying. She spun it around, with the back facing the table and then straddled the seat, her hands holding either side of the chair's back. "I'm fine," Kova said simply to Charis' question of getting her a beverage.

Kova simply stared across the table in the Admiral's direction. The woman mentioned that she was glad to meet Kova. That was a lie. How could one be pleased to meet someone they'd never actually met before. It was likely one of those human niceties that were often uttered and a waste of breath. She then mentioned that she'd heard a great many things about her. Now, that was probably true, though one had to be careful about their definition of 'great.'

"Whatever you've heard about what I'm capable of is probably true," the Andorian said flatly. "Now, what I've actually done... has probably been exaggerated." The Andorian continued to sit there, glaring in the direction of the admiral. Most people felt it prudent to address the admiralty with the upmost respect. Perhaps that was why Kova was in no hurry to do that. Besides, she couldn't think of a single admiral that had ever done her a favor. "Are you going to tell me why you asked me here, or are you planning to blow more smoke up my ass. If it's the latter, I can save us both the trouble."

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Tag: Felicity Ellis (Adm. Ellis)

[Kova Sh'qaleq - Temtibi, Promenade]

The best way to get someone to admit anything about themselves, was to fill in the blanks on your own, and force them to correct you. Admiral Ellis had stated that Kova had an ego. The human was right, but by her own admission, so did the admiral apparently. She had made it clear that trying to stroke the ego of someone else was seemingly beneath her and she treated herself to only the finest where dining was concern. She liked to pamper herself. Was this information remotely valuable to Kova? Only time would tell. It also didn't take long for her to reveal why she had invited Kova. "A debriefing?" Kova repeated.

The Andorian scoffed audibly and rolled her eyes. "Naturally, it's all about you and your agenda," Kova said. It wasn't as if she expected anything to be different. Yet, it couldn't hurt Ellis to know that Kova saw right through this little charade of hers. It would take more than a meal at some fancy restaurant to set things right with the Andorian. Yet, this meeting clearly wasn't about that.

"We were prisoners... not convicts," Kova corrected the admiral. "There was no trial... no formal charges... and no effort on Starfleet's behalf to liberate us." A heavy sigh left Kova's lips. "Is there a point to this, other than to check some box? Or is this damage control? Are you trying to make certain the Andorian is going to sing the same song as the rest of your little soldiers?"

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Tag: Felicity Ellis (Adm. Ellis)

[Kova Sh'qaleq - Temtibi, Promenade]

Well, that had to be the company line: her agenda and the Federation's agenda were one in the same. Then again, perhaps that was what the woman truly believed. That was a dangerous state of mind. Kova had once believed that she was Starfleet back when she was a cadet. She had received quite the reality check in her third year at the Academy. If Ellis was lucky, she'd be spared that reality check and find a moon to retire to and spoil her grandchildren. If that was her delusion, Kova wasn't going to burst that bubble. Her attention moved on to what else Ellis chose to share.

She stated that the others hadn't all sang the same song, that they were different. Kova tried to think what could be different. They were different people, but they had all experienced the same thing, right? A long sigh left her lips. Was that an invitation to volunteer information? Though, Ellis made it a bit more obvious, stating that this was possibly Kova's only opportunity to share any grievances she had to someone with actual authority.

Kova scoffed. "As if my grievances actually matter?" Kova said. "The Federation has what they want. Continued negotiations with Caldonia and their precious ore. I doubt my grievances rate even a sincere apology in the grand scheme of things. Believe it or not, I can live with that. I've learned to live with that." Kova averted her eyes for a moment, leaning a bit closer to the back of the chair, which was actually in front of her with the way her chair was positioned.

"What do you want to know?" Kova said. "You said this was a debriefing. That means to me that you have questions you believe I have the answers to. So... ask." Experience had taught Kova not to volunteer anything. If there was something that Ellis wanted to know, she'd have to fish for it. Kova wasn't a green ensign eager to please, nor was she a seasoned officer with 'duty' stamped on her forehead. Those were paths that had been abandoned by the Andorian years ago... and not necessarily by choice.

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Tag: Felicity Ellis (Adm. Ellis)

[Kova Sh'qaleq - Temtibi, Promenade]

And just like that... honesty.

Admiral Ellis was very direct in revealing to Kova that there would be no public apology. No rosy attempt to mend fences. It seemed in the eyes of the Federation they were still fugitives. A slight smirk slid across Kova's face. Just like that, Ellis had made her first show of power. A very subtle strip of protection, making it obvious that there was no other recourse than through Ellis herself. Kova was tempted to literally applaud the performance as it unfolded before her.

And then, came the opportunity for Kova to play her only bargaining chip it seemed: information. She wanted to know how Kova and the rest of the Caldonia Five had escaped. The Caldonians were insisting that damages and loss of life that they were responsible for. Kova thought for a moment. Information was the only bargaining chip that she had, so she wasn't about to just let it all go so easily. "We escaped on a ship," Kova said easily. "Guards were called away to another location in the Pit while we were working. We took advantage of their absence and ran for the ship."

It was the truth for the most part. Yet, Kova doubted she'd be satisfied with only those facts. Still, it would be interesting to see how she reacted to what she was being given. "Sounds to me like the Caldonians are trying to play you," Kova said. "Blame us for their incompetence... and make you feel obligated to acquiesce to their terms, Admiral."

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Tag: Felicity Ellis (Adm. Ellis)

[Kova Sh'qaleq - Temtibi, Promenade]

Ellis was right. Kova was well aware of the Caldonians greed. They had gone to great lengths to secure their greed and prominence. Their agenda to keep the Kurjarians beneath their boots or worse had nearly cost Kova her life twice. She'd be damned if that race ever got another chance. Though, the issue with that was that each time, one could argue that her endangerment had merely been happenstance. An Andorian being in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, Kova didn't believe in coincidnece, and from the sound of Ellis' voice, neither did the admiral.

She posed the question to Kova of whether she expected her to believe her detail-free version of events, as the result of divine intervention. "I expect that to be the truth that you spin," Kova answered honestly. Her blue eyes rose to meet Admiral Ellis'. "It's a nice story that makes everyone that hears it feel all warm and... fuzzy inside." Why anyone would want to be warm or fuzzy, much less both, Kova didn't understand. Still she persisted.

"The narrative you have is the one that benefits you most," Kova said. Kova shrugged. "Keep tapping at the chip in the ice, and you may find yourself falling in." 

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Tag: Felicity Ellis (Adm. Ellis)

[Kova Sh'qaleq - Temtibi, Promenade]

Kova observed the slight chuckle that slipped from Admiral Ellis' lips. The Andorian hadn't realized she had uttered anything amusing. As the Admiral stated that perhaps her reputation wasn't what she thought it was, Kova scoffed and smirked slightly. If anything, the woman's reputation was well intact. "Oh, your reputation is quite well known," Kova said. "You are phaaph'noor[fn]Andorian for puppet master[/fn]... puppet master." 

"You control everyone," Kova said. "They are like marionettes, dancing blissfully ignorant and at your mercy while you pull the strings... unseen... unheard." The Andorian's blue eyes continued to peer across the table at the admiral. The Andorian's smirk widened. "It's probably even comical when people act out against you as if they actually have a choice."

Kova took a deep breath and exhaled. "As I said, your reputation precedes you," Kova said. "However, I am not one of your marionettes. I am the string. Flexible... seemingly insignificant in your production, but absolutely necessary. The ultimate asset, or a dreaded curse, because if pulled too tightly, a string may snap. And that is when you have more than one problem on your hand." 

Charis arrived shortly after that and began to prepare the dish before them over hot stones. The Risian had Kova's attention momentarily, and the scent from the stones was rather appetizing. Kova looked over the back of the chair once more in Ellis' direction. "An interesting choice," Kova remarked. Though whether she was speaking of the entree or Charis was unclear. "Most people in your position would delegate a task like this. Should I be flattered or fearful that you decided to meet me personally?" 

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Tag: Felicity Ellis (Adm. Ellis)