Lucinda approached Christine about working for the Camelot Broadcasting System on the surface. Christine has not had the best of luck with associates including Brittany Brown, the Antican hybrid who tried to kill her or her own half sister Padme T'Nley who died in the role.
The Tellarite would have an advantage on the surface. Because of a strong association with Branson over previous attempts to stay relevant, many Tellarites continue to follow the human despite the deplorable record. Christine reluctantly allowed the Tellarite to join her staff encouraging the Tellarite beauty to star small simply detailing the activities, exploration and actual beauty of Carlisle Asteroid.
Lucinda had given up a lot to join CBS. She had turned a political assignment, literally assigned to seduce Nicole Branson into a couple of station ops postings and even command of the Plato. She wanted to be more than just a nature photographer.
She asked Christine if she could sit down with Vincent and Bell about the reconciliation. At this point, Christine was still pissed with Bell over the betrayal. She had no desire to sit with the Antican but it could make for a compelling interview. Christine agreed to the process and allowed Lucinda to do her own hype.
The "Lucinda Listens" promos were especially compelling. The Tellarite did a fabulous job.
Lucinda sat with Vincent and Belvedere directing the pair to share stories about the refugees from Antican B7 turned fierce fighting force. Although enjoyable, reminiscing is fun, it was not that original.
Lucinda then did what any good interviewer does, engaged in controversy. She looked at Bell and asked him to ask Vincent a deep routed question, "What has always bothered you?"
Bell looked at Vincent, "You are a decorated naval officer who has served as the Head of Starfleet Command. You are a tactical genius who has played five ships like cheese pieces against superpowers like the Klingons or Romulans yet you continue to associate yourself with Nicole Branson who has provoked visceral responses from these same powers with her all inclusive politics. Her politics has cost you your reputation and yet here you are again. Your association has cost you the Andorian Gateway, driven a fissure in the King's and even between you and I. Why do you stay working with her?"
Vincent was shocked with the barrage. Vincent looked at Bell and Luci, "Standing up for the ideal of a place for everyone is a founding principle of the Federation. Inclusive politics is never popular. Allowing your enemy to live next door to you means that all past actions or even betrayals must be forgotten and left in the past. This is a cultural struggle that may take generations to change but it is a fight that is essential to the survivability of the universe. Nicole believes in these principles and I stand by her. Many in Starfleet used to have these ideals too but they have abandoned them because as you say, it is often a losing battle wrought with failure. We understand that. We press on forgiving our friends and making our enemies new friends."
Bell smiled and extended his hand to Vincent. The pair shook hands. Bell grabbed Vincent and hugged him. It was a powerful moment. Christine was watching from her broadcast operations office and was very impressed by her new colleague.
Lucinda got them seated and rebooted the interview, "Political questions aside and well done Major Brown."
Lucinda highlighted the rank of the busted General to recreate her preset mood. Luci asked, "On a more personal level, do you have a question for Vincent?"
"You and Nicole preach an all inclusive society; a lofty and admirable goal yet each time you uncover a male-male relationship, you and your society encourage one partner to dress as a female maintaining the appearance of a male female relationship to hide your problems with a male male relationship. The double standard assuredly exists because you encourage Grace Gra'Naarg to dress as a grand lady in her relationship with Nicole Branson. How do you explain Ro Marino and Thua'ra Varno when the Bajoran officer was in a perfectly fine male - male; male dress relationship with Marcus Montgomery and now Marino is parading around in dresses like Paul Warren or Patrick Hatherton?", Bell, himself known for a brief fling with Tanus of Gorn.
Vincent was flabbergasted. He paused for a moment, "It is not Fleet leadership practice to get involved in the personal in the personal lives of its staff or the colonists."
"That aside, there has no direction from Governor Branson or anyone in the King's Fleet to Ro Marino. His choices are his own. He did so to help Ambassador Varno with his own preconceptions about relationships. Paul Warren is the son of dear friend of mine. I would never direct someone to adopt a lifestyle that would put outside the norms especially in a military structure. Paul suffers for his choices but he is welcome to serve here. His skills as a pilot helped saved countless lives in the wormhole exodus to the Andorian Gateway. He is a hero because we have chosen to focus on his skill set and not how he dresses.", Vincent smiled.
Bell had no rebuttal.
Later that evening, Vincent discovered Nicole standing on the edge of a canyon on the backside of Carlisle Asteroid watching it green up. The atmosphere was continuing to expand.
Vincent looked at her, "Thank you."
"For what?", Nicole asked.
"For pressing on, even when we have failed. For telling Alexander and Illyan that you can't sit in Paris and claim to be building an all inclusive culture you have to be out here trying to do it.", Vincent put his arm on he shoulder.
Nicole put her hand on his, "Thank you for continuing to protect me and all this even when your friends struggle with it."
"The right thing is never easy.", Vincent smiled.
Posted by:
Christine T'Nley
CBS Operations
Hatherton Station
King's Fleet
Admiral Vincent Viceroy
Commander in Chief
King's Fleet
Governor Nicole Branson
Carlisle Asteroid
King's Fleet
