HCA To Ar'a'Dal - Is Peace near?
D'Cyra Varati
((Bridge, USS Independence-B))
Aitas: Thank you, Captain. ::she turned from him to Ashwood and Ar’a’Dal:: I’ve no doubt this attack will be another factor in the negotiations, but I appreciate that we have gotten this far nonetheless.
Ashwood: It would seem that the UAW and the Zumardi will have a lot of work ahead of them. I just hope that this could be the start of something new, and collaborative?
Ertmo: It shouldn’t take them long…I’m sure we’ll hear back soon.
The First Secretary nodded and gestured to the two envoys to follow her and Captain Ashwood.
This ‘interruption’ didn't seem to be planned by any of the parties present... hopefully.
Ar’a’Dal: ::humming:: I don’t understand, what happened. We should be cautious and not jump to conclusions. Let's just move on.
Captain Ashwood promptly turned to handling the recovery teams and First Secretary Aitas returned her attention back to the two envoys.
Aitas: I can get a new batch of refreshments, if you’d like.
Ertmo: I enjoyed the…yellow and red juice, if you could obtain that again.
The hole in the wall was impossible to miss... luckily, no one had been injured or any vital systems – like bioneural gel packs – damaged. It was still unsettling; just in case there was some traitor who had only now dared to emerge from hiding.
Ar’a’Dal: ::humming::Understandable. Refreshments would be good; we should keep a cool head now that we're so close to a breakthrough. If we can present the others with an agreement, there will be no further reason for hostilities.
Ashwood: Nothing a lick of paint won't fix.
Aitas: Very good to hear Captain. Thank you.
The First Secretary returned with various refreshments; hopefully, this would ease the tense atmosphere somewhat. No one knew what was happening out there at that moment; one wrong move and all the painstaking negotiations, the effort to assert their own positions, would be for nothing – that simply could not happen.
Ar’a’Dal: If only we could solve all our problems with a few splashes of paint...
Captain Ertmo stood, and reached out to take the glass from the First Secretary. He held it in both hands.
Ertmo: What are you going to do about the explosion?
Aitas: Let us see first what the teams uncover. None of us will be well-served by rushing to conclusions, especially around a battle.
Whoever or whatever may have triggered this small explosion was not allowed to disrupt or set back the negotiations at that point.
Ar’a’Dal: We cannot allow the negotiations to be interrupted at this point. We are on the right track; we absolutely cannot afford setbacks, not now. We don't know who or what caused the small explosion – let's simply classify it as a technical malfunction that does not affect our negotiations. We must not allow any third party to interfere now. ::humming:: I hope that’s understandable?!
Ashwood: Response
Aitas: The UAW clearly had the capacity for negotiation before this. Perhaps this will be a reminder to them to expand it.
The UAW should have considered this idea sooner, before breaking agreements and resorting to violence to impose their will. Everything could have proceeded peacefully and harmoniously; after all, the Zumardis and their allies were only interested in the UAW to the extent necessary. They hadn't wanted to isolate themselves, but apparently, the UAW hadn't grasped the sector's policies.
Ar’a’Dal: As I said, let's not jump to conclusions and let's continue our work. ::humming:: Hopefully, it's understandable that we mustn't allow ourselves to be distracted?
Ashwood: Response
Ertmo: We didn’t know as much as we thought we did, certainly.
Cpatain Ertmo’s head turned back and forth as he took another sip of his juice.
He cautiously sipped one of the chilled drinks that the First Secretary had brought and then nodded to the other people present.
Ar’a’Dal: We must send a positive and, above all, peaceful signal with these negotiations. Small but effective gestures, so that progress is visible to all sides. The Federation wasn't created in a day, as you say? ::humming:: Did we understand that correctly?
Ashwood: Response
Time was running out, and according to the latest report from General Byu’I’Vera’s staff, the situation was on the verge of escalating. This had to be prevented at all costs, lest an unwanted spark ignite the raging embers.
Ar’a’Dal: Captain Ertmo, would the UAW accept an official apology from the High Council? If we officially affirm that the pathogen could never have mutated – and this is confirmed independently by Federation scientists? ::humming:: Would that be in the spirit of mutual understanding?
Aitas/Ertmo/Ashwood: Response
Compromises would have to be made somewhere, yes, perhaps even reparations in the form of dilithium would have to be paid, but that would be the task of the other negotiators. First, fundamental things like a ceasefire or something similar had to be confirmed.
Ar’a’Dal: ::humming:: I understand. If we are fundamentally in agreement on these points, then yes. Our technicians will hand over the data on the pathogen to the Federation’s scientists.
Aitas/Ertmo/Ashwood: Response
That sounded "acceptable." Even if the conditions were to change again later, a quick solution was needed now. Because nobody wanted to mess with the Vaadwaur, the Hirogen, or those guys with their cubes without warp-capable allies...
Ar’a’Dal: Then we should issue a general communiqué as soon as possible. Would you be willing to undertake this task, esteemed First Secretary Aitas, esteemed Special Envoy Ashwood? ::humming:: I hope this is done with mutual understanding?
Aitas/Ertmo/Ashwood: Response
Tag/TBC (End of Act 3?)
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