Making Plans

Posted on Sun 11th Jan, 2026 @ 3:51am by Magnus Temple & Commander Heriah Rex

1,488 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: From The Ashes
Location: Operations

ON:

Magnus had just finished up with his initial meetings with some of the senior staff on SB109, including the Captain. He hadn’t been on the station long but he was ready to get started on his plans for the new Federation Embassy and his direction as Chief Diplomat. Of course, those plans included finding his way back to his office via the Turbolift. He was so sure that he had turned left out of the lifts when he first arrived, but now found himself in an entirely unfamiliar area that was currently under construction. He wondered if he had seen this before but it didn’t look like anything he had passed by.

Magnus turned up the corner of his mouth as he looked around for a computer terminal or a sign to get himself back in the right direction.

He came upon an operational terminal. It was more like a just-rebooted terminal. Three Starfleet personnel were hard at work finishing up work in that area. One, an enlisted engineer was going through the many screens of the terminal ensuring it was operating optimally. Another was talking from inside the wall while he finished up making sure everything was connected properly. Another Starfleet personnel was holding the wall paneling.

"Hurry up you two," a feminine voice said. She was holding the panel longways obscuring her from Magnus' view.

"Done, Commander," said a voice from within the wall. He came out of it, stepping carefully. "Let me take that from you, ma'am."

As he took the paneling from her, Heriah stepped back and wiped her hands against each other, taking a look at the finishing work. She noticed a new arrival, male, civilian attire. He looked official enough however. He was a new face, but Heriah somehow felt an ever so slight familiarity with the man.

"Afternoon," she greeted him. "Commander Heriah Rex." She pointed to the terminal. "If you require this, these two will be done..."

"Right now, ma'am."

"...They will be done right now," she said turning her attention back to Magnus.

"Oh well yes." Magnus blinked, "I'm Magnus, the new Chief Diplomat. I did need the terminal, but mostly to direct me back to the turbo lifts. I could've sworn they were around this way somewhere."

"A set of turbolifts, yes," she said. "But they are being worked on at the moment. Only one is functional and I guarantee there is a line and a 5 minute wait. This way," she motioned with a nod of her head in another direction then turned in that direction. "I'll show you the STLs...Service Turbolifts. They are meant for Engineering and emergencies, but upper brass can use them." Heriah regarded the man up and down. "As well as our Chief Diplomat."

“I’m honoured.” Magnus smiled as they walked, “How long are you expecting these renovations to last?”

"Unsure really," she said as they strolled down the corridor. "Right now we are working on lights, terminals and turbolifts being at 100%. The cosmetic stuff is on the backburner. Being out here so far from Starfleet, on the fringes of Federation Space, it is not like we get regular resupply runs complete with equipment to keep this place in top shape. We replicate what we can and repurpose what we can. This panel right here," she pointed as they passed by, "came from a defunct Romulan cruiser. It's been reshaped and painted over but..." she let that thought drift away. "We work with what we have. With a dedicated diplomat," she regarded the man again. Something about him spoke to her. "...Maybe you can help smooth over some relationships with nearby systems; help me out...help US out, with some trade negotiations."

Magnus nodded gently at the Commander’s comment about their situation. “Certainly seems like I’ve come at the right time.” He looked at the works in progress and then the former Romulan panel. “And it seems like there’s a lot to do still. So much we want to achieve.” An absentminded thought popped into his head and he said it instinctively. “If wishes were horses then beggars would ride.”

Heriah smiled at the quote as she continued down the corridor. "Cannot say I've heard that one before."

'Wait.'

"Wait," she said.

'Maybe I have.'

"I think I have actually," she said as she guided him around an intersection of corridors. "It feels like there is a long lost memory where I have heard that quote. But I just can't put my finger on it." Heriah tried repeating the words to herself but the memory, being so faded, disallowed the words from popping in her mind. Neither were they popping in Rex's mind.

"Say that again, please," she said.

Magnus grimaced internally. The utterance had been completely an impulsive thought, a saying he had heard long before that he wished he’d never repeat. Apart from being an old phrase, he had heard it from someone he’d rather forget and certainly not mention again. With a slight frown, he replied, “Oh it’s just a saying. “If wishes were horses then beggars would ride.’ It means that everyone has dreams, even the poorest of people, but not all those dreams can come true.”

Heriah spend a few seconds pondering, only to conclude that, "Nope. I can't remember. Is that a famous saying, something many would have heard?"

Magnus shrugged a little, “Probably not too many. The reference to beggars is entirely antiquated now. I’m sure there’s some modern version going around.” He wanted to move on, “I guess I just meant we have a lot to do and there’s no one but us who can make it happen.”

"And you are certainly right about that," Heriah said. "That is why you saw me helping with some of the work back there," she motioned backward with her head. "Too much work and not enough hands. And you cannot expect leaders to lead if they don't want to get a little dirty time and again."

Heriah guided Magnus around another intersection putting them in front of one of the Service Turbolifts. "The STL," she said. As they were strolling up, the doors slid open and several engineers exited, pulling along with them several large items for various jobs on the deck. "Just in time to too. Where are you headed Mr........or should I call you Magnus?"

“Magnus is totally fine in informal settings.” Temple replied warmly, “And shall I say Commander or Heriah?”

"Heriah," she smiled at Magnus. "I prefer Heriah.

'Or Rex. He can call you Rex.'

"I also answer to Khat." She made a clawing motion in the air. "Like a cat."

She stood to the side allowing Magnus access to the spacious STL.

“Very well, then.” Magnus smiled, “I’m heading back down to the Federation Embassy. We have our own works going on at the moment but I don’t want to waste any time. I’m expecting the rest of the Diplomatic team to get together for a briefing and introductions.”

The Computer recognized his destination are started moving.

"The diplomatic team," Heriah repeated. "I am not sure how much experience you have with Ferengi, but do not ever accept any of their proposals immediately. Bargain with them and talk them down to about half of what they demand. They will respect you that way. But not to your face. They will never respect you to your face." She let that sink in a short second. "Also, the non-Federation members who you will inevitably meet. Tread carefully with them. You will need to massage the rules. I'm not saying be dishonest. Just..."

“Political?” Magnus suggested with a wry smile.

The Rex symbiont squirmed in her gut.

'Oh I hate that word.'

Heriah squirmed likewise. "Oh I hate that word. I actually had to head a meeting or two to meet demands and make people happy. Trust me, I took a real shower afterward. Thankfully," she regarded Magnus, "we now have someone with your talents."

Magnus laughed, “I don’t always enjoy the back and forth either, or the endless negotiations, but I guess I much prefer chess over fencing - let’s put it that way. I’m hopeful I can at least help avoid any conflicts coming to our doorstep.”

The pair stepped upon the diplomatic wing of 109 and were in the vicinity of the embassy. "This is as far as I go Magnus," Heriah said as she stopped in her tracks as though something impelled her to go no further. "With you here, I want as little to do with the diplomatic circus as I can manage. Though, I hope this is not our last meeting. Outside of official matters that is."

"Me too," Magnus said genuinely, "Thank you for your assistance, Commander."

OFF

 

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