A familiar face [Backpost]

Posted on Sun Jul 19th, 2026 @ 4:07pm by Petty Officer 1st Class Ayol & Ambassador Oriath Velt & Lieutenant Eldan 3 & Lieutenant Commander Onda Duros & Consul Kwaa

1,145 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Histories
Location: Federation Embassy - DS13
Timeline: MD01 - 0940 [Mission 2]

While Admiral Gali briefed the station's regular staff, Ambassador Velt and Lieutenant Onda had summoned Ayol to join them for their first scheduled meeting with the new diplomatic staff. The first meeting scheduled was with the Vorta who would be Assistant Chief Diplomatic Officer, Eldan 3

"The three that means there's been two of him before, right?" Onda asked Velt.

"Yes, exactly." Velt clarified as they approached the outer door to the Embassy.

"So he remembers dying twice?" Onda asked the Ambassador, obviously finding the idea quite peculiar. He hadn't had the same experience with the Dominion that Velt and the Starbase 51 crew who'd normalised relations had.

"I hope not. Maybe try and find a tactful way to bring it up. Later. Let's get acquainted first." Velt said.

Ayol remained quiet. He was an Epsilon Vorta and the first of his line. Many didn't even clock him as Vorta until they were told. His knowledge of the original varieties was purely academic.

Within the Embassy, Consul Kwaa was waiting for them. "Gentlemen, welcome. Your new assistant is waiting in your office, Lieutenant." Kwaa told Onda.

"Thank you, Consul," Onda said with the nod, and the trio made their way directly there. The doors to Onda's office parted, and the new arrival awaited.

"Lieutenant Eldan, a pleasure to meet you. I'm Lieutenant Onda. This is Ambassador Velt, and Mr Ayol, the Commander's - er, the Captain's yeoman." Onda said, offering his hand to the Vorta as he corrected himself, remembering that the CO had just been promoted.

The corners of the Vorta's lip curled up into a faint smile, and he stood a little straighter, something between attention and parade rest with his hands held loosely at his side.

He hesitated for perhaps half a second before extending his hand toward the Chief. He wasn't trying to be rude; it was just that sometimes, he forgot that other humanoids, except for Vulcans, touched as a form of greeting.

"Good morning," he said, "It is good to be here."

"A pleasure to have you here," Ambassador Velt said as he shook the Vorta's hand after Onda, "We know from experience that Vorta are worth their weight in latinum. Have you had a chance to see the embassy yet?" The Caitian asked as Yeoman Ayol bowed politely to his fellow Vorta.

Eldan returned the bow before replying to the Caitian. "I've not had the pleasure," he replied. I just unpacked my things and rearranged my quarters a bit before I came here."

"I'm looking forward to seeing them soon. In the meantime, what can you tell me about them?"

"Oh, my dear boy, it's a marvel. Everything you could possibly need! Priority slipstream radio rooms, extensive holographic cultural archives, accommodations for every species you could think of, from Tholians to Brikar to Phylosians, and every kind of Xindi. And, none of this aesthetic minimalism dross. We're here to impress people! Nobody's going to want to have diplomatic relations with us if they think we cheap out on the exteriors." Velt said with his usual bombast, gesticulating as he moved back towards the entrance.

"But, I digress," Velt said, turning back to Eldan. "So, where have you joined us from?" Velt asked, not having taken any time to review the new arrival's file. Duros sat back, leaning against his desk, knowing better than to interrupt the Ambassador when he was on a roll.

"I was on the Resistance," Eldan replied, "I was the Assistant Chief Diplomatic Officer there as well. She is an Intrepid class. It will be a little different being on a station."

"But I am ready for the challenge."

"Ah yes, the Resistance, Captain Pierce still cheating at dom jot?" Velt said with a laugh.

"I can neither confirm nor deny those rumors. The only thing I will say, is that the woman hates to lose"

"Well, anyway, I must be off. Meetings, meetings, and more meetings. A pleasure to meet you, Mr Eldan. I'm sure you'll fit in fine." Velt said, patting the Vorta warmly on the shoulder as he departed.

"I look forward to working with you," the Vorta said as he watched the other officer leave.

Lieutenant Onda pushed himself away from his desk as Velt departed. "So Lieutenant, I have to ask. Have they told you yet about what makes the anomaly here in Dreizhen so interesting?"

"Not really, I'm a diplomat, not a spy. But I've heard enough to know that this is no ordinary posting."

"That's putting it mildly. You might have heard of quantum fissures, like the one Starbase 80 is in orbit of. Intersections in quantum realities. Where one can physically traverse into another universe where things are different. Like maybe the Andorians never joined the Federation, or maybe the Dominion won the war." Duros tapped a few keys on his desk to bring up a holographic display of what he was describing, in case it was all new to the Vorta.

"This isn't like that. From what we've seen, the realities the Dreizhen anomaly connects us to aren't just different possibilities from our own reality; they're entirely unique universes, going back as far as recorded time goes. Species, worlds, even the nature of the universes themselves aren't as we know them. The only thing we've learned that's in common so far is the presence of humans. But who knows, we might find one where the only thing we recognise is the existence of Bajorans. Or even Vorta. I hope this doesn't change your mind at all about your assignment here."

Eldan shook his head. "No," he replied. It doesn't change my mind at all. If anything, it only strengthens my desire to be here. "Curiosity is one of my strengths, or perhaps weaknesses, I'm not sure. But this does sound like a fascinating post."

"Glad to hear it. Now, I hope you've had experience with Klingons, because they're having all kinds of problems in their new embassy trying to get their systems online, and treating our engineers like spies while they try and help. Chief Gaz is already getting the work done, but he's asked that someone from diplomatic get down there and try to get in the Ambassador's ear about the difficulties the Klingon staff are causing for our teams. I think you're that someone, Lieutenant." Duros said, assigning work as a goodbye, as was his way.

The corners of the Vorta's lips curled up. "I appreciate your confidence in me. Negotiating is part of my prog... part of who I am. I will, as you say, get in the Ambassador's ear."

“Good luck, Lieutenant.” Onda said, realising he wasn’t quite sure if he should be calling him Lieutenant Eldan, or Lieutenant 3. Or a combination. Questions for later, he told himself as he rechecked his schedule, groaning internally at the density of it.

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