Episode 2.03: The Trill Question

[Davy, aka GM]

Voshen
Greetings are passed around, and the third aide in the group (a woman named Sholaan* Naske) is introduced, as well. They graciously accept Voshen's offer of assistance, and give him nameplates to put around the table (and a padd with the arrangements) - the nameplates include members of the Trill and Novan delegations, along with Tobin, Miguel, Chev, and himself. The navigator notices the placement of each attendee isn't haphazard, but follows some form of protocol for rank (ambassadors in the center, facing each other, with other senior diplomats flanking each, and the Starfleet personnel to one side - the seating to the opposite side is left unassigned, which the staff say are for aides like themselves - but is also where Tobin, Voshen, and the ambassadors will meet ahead of the first session).

Ord is very familiar with poker and is keen to get in a game. The others are less so, but are willing to learn.

* Sholaan is pronounced shoh-lay-ANN. -Ed.

Tobin
"What was the old quote? 'We fear what we cannot know, the uncertainty of the unfolding of events.'" Tobin recognizes this from one of their philosophy textbooks back in school - a quote by a founder of the Symbiosis Commission. "It was about accepting a future we can never truly see or predict - that the chaos of a billion souls acting independently makes any prediction suspect, and that we must let go of that fear of not knowing.

"I'm sorry for your friend, that he can't accept the private aspects of our culture," she adds. "I hope we can convince him that we are not an oppressive society - to the contrary, we've long been a strong meritocracy."

The legate smiles slightly. "Not that I have to prove that to you."

OOC: If you gents want to take your conversations further, let me know; otherwise, we'll get to the next scene.