Lieutenant Vexa Lor: The Federation Way
Lael Rosek-Skyfire
She was still less than pleased with Commander Taelon that he would even think to offer a concession. Whether the UAW had instigated this or not, supporting the Zumardi wasn’t the way to end this. Who was to say that if they helped the Zumardi, they wouldn’t turn around and use their newly realized biological weapon to wipe out the UAW completely?
No, perfecting the Zumardi pathogen was the same as taking sides in a way and violating the very spirit and letter of the Prime Directive.
Was she interfering by pushing on the Zumardi to provide their research to help the infected of the UAW? Yes.
But the Commander’s proposal was the equivalent of handing the Zumardi a bomb. At least her interference was clearly to save lives.
She focused on her breathing to calm her chaotic thoughts. She would need to spend several days in isolation processing the events of the day and seeking absolution for doing nothing, because there was nothing she could do. Orders were orders. She could lodge a protest with Captain Ukinix and Commander Hopper after the fact, but openly questioning Commander Taelon in front of Ar’a’Dal would only get her court martialed. At least that would be a valid defense with the Captain and First Officer asking why she’d done nothing.
Taelon: My, um, apologies, Ar’a’Dal. The diplomatic dance is ongoing…but, um, if you think my proposition works…the planetside research facility would be a good place to continue, I, um, think.
Ar’a’Dal: ::to Taelon:: Commander... I beg you; contact Captain Ertmo or your medical and scientific staff... If we are to help you, we must finally find out what happened to the gel packs on the Enterprise. ::humming:: Otherwise we can’t understand.
Asking both sides to come to the table to solve a problem was one thing. She could completely support that. However, the fact that the Commander had needed to promise to help them attack their enemy wasnt’.
She shook her head, but kept her mouth shut. Nothing she wanted to say would make any difference.
Saavei: Response
Ar’a’Dal: All I can say is that the original pathogen was man-made and specifically adapted to artificial tissue, particularly the bioneural gel packs. Someone from the group who was forcibly beamed away was able to collect and smuggle out relevant data from the gel packs on board the UAW ship. Therefore, an attack on living, humanoid tissue is impossible. ::humming:: I hope you could understand?
It didn’t take something with extraordinarily high intelligence to decode that. For a long moment, Vexa just stared at the Zumardi, not wanting to believe what she was hearing. At last, she seemed to find words.
Lor: Are you telling us that you are protesting the forcible removal of your people, and you did the same thing to the UAW…to help you create this weapon?
In times of war. She knew that. But it still stunned her to hear that there were species that would set aside morals and ethics rather than try to talk. Had the Zumardi and the UAW even tried to work things out?
Saavei: Response
In theory, it made sense. Disarm the UAW fleet in such a drastic way that it seriously damaged their ability to continue their campaign. Her frustration with the Zumardi didn’t mean she agreed with everything the UAW was doing. She wasn’t about to take sides because, honestly, both races were being quite stupid and ignorant. The situation reminded her of two Human toddlers fighting over a fascinating toy. Neither side was willing to concede…and somebody always got hurt.
Ar’a’Dal: ::humming:: Do you understand? Whatever went wrong must have originated on the Enterprise and with the UAW. They need to help themselves by telling us how they handle or manufacture the gel packs. Otherwise nobody could help. We too are ultimately powerless if we don't know what we're looking for. And time will run out on us...:humming again:: I hope you understand…
Lor: ::hesitantly:: While it had unintended consequences, the fact remains that it was the infected bioneural gel packs that started all of this. Without those, there’s no inciting incident.
Taelon: Our medical teams have some of the gel packs, I, um, think. One moment…
She nodded, knowing this for a fact because she’d been part of the team that procured them.
Taelon: =/\= Um, Doctor? Pardon the interruption, um, I need - we need your data on the gel packs. And, um, one you could spare, ideally…? =/\=
Wong/Varati: =/\= Response =/\=
Taelon: =/\= For, um, a countermeasure, yes. Since the Zumardi made, ah, made their pathogen to target only the artificial tissue used in the, uh, the packs, we need - =/\=
Wong/Varati: =/\= Response =/\=
Taelon: =/\= They’re - what?! =/\= ::That was not what he’d expected to hear. It took Taelon a moment of standing stock-still, hand on his badge, as he turned to look at the others in the room.:: =/\= That…..explains a lot. Um. We’ll take a spare pack… =/\=
She’d heard well enough and resisted the urge to facepalm. There wasn’t anything wrong with what the UAW had done. How could they have known that an enemy would try to infect the packs, unintentionally creating a bioweapon? She still firmly believed that this was primarily the responsibility of the Zumardi. Without them infecting the gel packs, none of this would be happening.
Some would say the same of the UAW were the instigators, forcibly removing the Zumardi.
Her gaze narrowed. She still didn’t know how much of each side’s narrative to believe.
Taelon: Unbelievable. ::He looked at the others, unsure how much they’d heard.:: They made the gel from their own DNA. The tissue is just a mix of cloned DNA, reproduced for the packs…
Saavei/Ar’a’Dal: Response
Taelon: The pathogen is still mutating, but the reason for the mutation must be different than we surmised. The mutation isn’t in the jump to the crew - it’s in the change to a fungal mold….
Lor: ::to Ar’a’Dal:: This doesn’t make sense. If you programmed it to attack the tissue in the bioneural packs, it should only target that. Were there any other parameters when this mold was created? ::brow furrows and looks to the others:: I think we need to look at commonalities with those who were infected. Does it only target UAW DNA or does this have the potential to mutate and affect other species?
Ar’a’Dal / Saavei / Taelon: Response
Lor: ::tilts her head slightly to one side:: If the answer to my last question is yes…this may be a larger problem than we originally suspected. We need to answer that question definitively before this gets even more out of hand.
Ar’a’Dal / Saavei / Taelon: Response
Lor: ::to Ar’a’Dal:: With this recent revelation, in the interest of all parties involved, it’s time to trust us. You don’t need us to help perfect your weapon. You need us to fix this then go to the negotiating table with your people and the UAW to resolve this the Federation way–through talks, discussion, and compassion. It’s the only way we’re going to end this for good and keep it from coming up again in another decade or two.
Ar’a’Dal: Response
Lor: ::nods sagely:: Yes, trust is hard. You don’t know us very well. But the way to solve that problem is to talk to us. You also should hear the UAW out. I know you don’t want to. They weren’t morally justified in their behavior. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t show compassion. Both of you are trying to get back at the other, and that just creates a vicious cycle where nobody wins, and nobody feels safe. Let us do more than help you get even. Please. Let us help you stop this once and for all–the right way. The Federation way.
Ar’a’Dal: Response
Saavei / Taelon: Response
Duty Officer
Amity Outpost
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