Lieutenant Seleya- Kill them with Kindness
EmpressKitsune
((Mess Hall, USS Kepler))
Seleya: Then we at least have a chance to prevent those deaths. The Zumardi do not want this conflict either.
Hopper: Right. ::Eying Ertmo with curiosity:: Our views on our responsibility as a technologically-advanced civilization differ from your own… Our own Prime Directive prohibits interference with less-advanced species, whereas I understand yours takes a more– ::seeking a non-inflammatory word:: –custodial stance. You weren’t seeking conflict either.
Ertmo: I’m starting to understand that this isn’t how you usually do things. But no, we weren’t there looking for conflict.
Ashwood: It seems to me that you have a knack for finding it :: raised eyebrows :: In the name of peace and goodwill I'm sure.
Seleya subtly glanced at Ashwood, She liked the Captain’s tact. If this wasn’t a high stakes negotiation, Seleya would let out an amused hum.
Seleya: I think a cease fire to work on the cure for the pathogen would be beneficial. Have any of the Zumardi been removed from their homes by the UAW already?
Ertmo: A few, yes. We were told there were specific medical needs, and some who had applied for refuge…I am less certain what the Zumardi would say, now.
Seleya was starting to wonder what the government of this Alliance was like. Seleya of course expected there to be two sides of every story, but it seemed even the Astrofleet Captain may have been misled.
Ashwood: I think they've made their feelings very clear, if we believe they infected your ship with the pathogen.
Hopper: I’m not sure the Zumardi see it the same way – negotiating any sort of agreement while they still feel under imminent threat from your people, whether that’s military threat or the threat of forced relocation, is going to be fraught. ::Hands out, in an invitational gesture:: If there was a chance of easing their concerns about their citizens’ wellbeing, it might go a long way towards building a bridge.
Seleya nodded to Hopper, it would be very hard to bring anyone to a negotiating table if they felt there was a phaser pointed at them the entire time.
Seleya: May I ask, and I apologize if you are repeating yourself Captain Ertmo as I was not here for your earlier conversation. But where was the UAW planning to relocate the Zumardi? And what were the UAW’s plans after the three planets had been relocated?
Truth be told Seleya was already almost certain what the UAW’s plans were for the planet after the population was displaced. However she wanted to see if Ertmo would be truthful, or only give them the rehearsed excuse. She was also curious about the type of planet they would relocate these people too. Was it some planet the alliance wouldn’t colonize? Was it already crowded with all pre-warp species that had done the same too?
Hopper: Yes, your records mention some sort of ‘technological quarantine zone’ procedure – but we’re unclear on the details.
Ertmo: One of the other planets in their system, from what I heard. We were told it’d be the least destructive option, as it was only Zumaris that had the dilithium, and thus the risks to them. Quite a bit of time had been put into considering what sort of accommodations they’d most enjoy. We don’t usually build organic cities.
Seleya tilted her head, she noticed that Ertmo did not mention the mining would result in the destruction of a second planet as well. Something Ar'a'Dal mentioned to them. Seleya was trying to keep her bias in check. But once they had time. Seleya would very much like to investigate both claims.
Hopper: There’s another Earth phrase, Captain, that comes to mind. “There’s no place like home.” Has the UAW ever encountered a species that seemed happy to relocate – or have you always encountered some level of resistance?
Ertmo: At least one of them seemed grateful, afterward. But they were being quarantined away from the remnants of a Borg cube. That is the first case of a relocation I know of.
Certainly an extreme scenario that depending on the circumstances, even the Federation may involve themselves if it was a major threat.
Ashwood: And the others?
Seleya: I doubt many people appreciate being taken from their homes.
Hopper: The UAW is still young, for an interstellar organization. You may not have made too many friends yet, but at least you haven’t made too many enemies either. There’s still time to turn this around… Just how many other planets, species, have you quarantined in this manner?
Ertmo: There may be more I wasn’t told about…but three.
Seleya briefly narrowed her eyes at Ertmo, if the Zumardi claims were true there were quite a few details Ertmo was not privy to. Seleya may actually feel bad for the Captain a little.
Ashwood: You don't sound too sure :: sighs :: Which means there's likely more. I do wonder what else you don't know about?
Seleya once again briefly glanced at Ashwood, seeming she had a similar thought.
Hopper: I hope, Captain, that whether or not you agree with your government’s previous decision to attempt annexation of this sector and to relocate the people here, or with the insurgency’s response, you’d agree that the Zumardi were here first… and that the UAW’s actions ultimately provoked this conflict?
Ertmo: We were more compelled by the promise of resources than our own responsibilities. It seems the Zumardi were not as unaware as I was led to believe. ::his eyes flickered in color:: So yes.
Ashwood: Captain, you now know. Is there anything you can do? You're the captain of the flagship, surely you must have some influence?
Ertmo: What did you send to the Astrofleet? I can try to speak to them again, there are some old backup systems closer to the Zumardi that might still work.
Ashwood: That's a start. I think you'll understand when I tell you that this ship cannot interfere directly in your conflict.
oO But perhaps we can influence how this resolves if we play our cards right. Oo
Hopper: Response
Ertmo: Don’t know what the Admirals are thinking, but the Federation would count for a lot with most of the Astrofleet. Especially if you had something solid to offer them.
Seleya eyebrow perked up, as Ertmo said the Federation would have a lot of influence. It gave her a few ideas, but she wanted to remain silent as the Captains continued their discussions.
Ashwood: Offer them?
Hopper: Response
Ertmo: I doubt they’ve changed the codes for the old system. If anyone wants to yell at me about it afterward, then I can hope they’ll be alive to do it.
Ashwood: Our teams are still working on the pathogen. Our research and information will be freely provided. There is no trade. We don't leverage lives, that's not how the Federation works.
Hopper/Ertmo: Response
Ashwood: Lt. Seleya would need to verify the contents of this message?
Seleya: I can do that, Captain. But Captain Hopper, Captain Ashwood, may I have a quick word. If you don’t mind Captain Ertmo.
Hopper/Ertmo/Ashwood: Response
Seleya bowed her head to Captain Ertmo, before taking the two Captains aside, lowering her voice to not be overheard.
Seleya: I think Captain Ertmo brought up an interesting point. The Federation has a lot of influence. I think we can leverage that.
Hopper/Ashwood: Response
Seleya: Well for resources, we are bringing the Talaxians into the Federation, they are well known traders through the Delta Quadrant. We could utilize their connections to offer secure trades. Potentially subsidizing, or trading at a loss for it to be favorable for them. But material gain isn’t our goal. We get them to make some concessions such as ending this conflict, maybe try to push for their prime directive to match ours. But the trade is so they open their borders, and what we bring is information about the Federation, perhaps offer officer exchanges. I mean they wanted to copy us, who better to copy from than the authentic original. Maybe at some point they make so many adjustments they stop asking ‘how can we mimic the Federation?’ to ‘why not actually join the Federation?’. Fight the misinformation with undeniable truth. The human saying is, ‘kill them with kindness’, yes?
Of course this could be a risky idea, and Seleya herself had no authority to bring it up herself, but her hope was it could give her captains some leverage to use in the situation. If these people were modelling themselves after Starfleet and the Federation, who better to learn from and be guided by than the Federation itself.
Hopper/Ashwood: Response
Seleya: I still suggest caution, there are many inconsistencies between their version and the Zumardi’s version of events and information being shared. The Captain, if the Captain is truthful, as he mentions there may be much he and the rest of Astrofleet are not being told. I am still in the middle of my investigation about all the claims being made from both sides. But something I wanted to bring up.
That did raise some red flags for Seleya, she didn’t want to point fingers yet, or start entire conspiracies. But the reality of the Alliance could be different than what was sold to these three species' general public.
Hopper/Ashwood: Response
Lieutenant Seleya of Khanda
Intel Officer
Amity Station
C240202SK1