[End Mission] Lt. Cmdr Robin Hopper - The First Step

[Robin Hopper]

((Bridge – USS Kepler, over Zumaris))

The situation over Zumaris could perhaps be described as a warzone – but it could just as easily be described as a chaotic dance of diplomacy, or as a testing ground for the kind of last-second science and engineering miracles that typified so much of Starfleet's history. 

While the team on the ground prepared for a UAW ground assault, the Kepler was doing everything in its power to disrupt the Astrofleet's ability to land those troops, courtesy of Lt. Seleya's harmless (but intimidating) bursts. In the sickbay, Wong and Varati were getting down to the wire on curing this pathogen while treating patients. On the Enterprise, Saavei and Juriton were trying to freeze the pathogen out of the ship's gel packs. And on the Indy, Aitas and Captain Ashwood were trying to get representatives from the Zumardi and the UAW to finally reach an understanding.

Robin's mind was swimming with everything that was going on, and trying to keep track of it all, in hopes that any moment one (or several) of her teams might reach the conclusion they needed in order to stop this conflict before it escalated beyond any hope of return.

Hopper: =/\= USS Kepler to USS Independence-B. Aitas, Captain Ashwood, and Representatives – we're nearing a tipping point here. I think if we have something tangible we might be able to sway enough officers in the Astrofleet to pause the invasion... but if we've made no progress, we might be out of time. =/\=

There was a momentary delay in communications, and Robin tensed, wondering if everything was, in fact alright on their end – but she didn't wait long before Wong's team responded to Bec's earlier hail. Hey, any update was better than no update.

Varati: =/\= Varati to Bridge: We may have a problem… =/\=

Robin closed her eyes and put a hand on her forehead. Another problem? Okay, maybe no update would be better.

Wong: =/\= Response =/\=

Iko: =/\= What? =/\=

Seleya: Response

Hopper: =/\= Tell me you've found a way to deal with it. =/\=

Fortunately, Robin's wish was granted.

Varati: =/\= We may have a somewhat unusual solution… =/\=

Wong: =/\= Response? =/\=

Hopper: =/\= I'll take a solution – unusual or not. Anything. =/\=

Iko: =/\= Keep us posted, and do what you can. =/\=

Varati: =/\= If everyone who can could maybe go to the toilet briefly... with that, we could use the ammonia and phosgene supplies on board to produce highly concentrated urea, add ethanol or choline, and then hopefully have a hypospray that will literally thwart our "mosquito macrovirus." We just need the help of the healthy crew... Sorry… =/\=

Robin's eyes widened, and her mouth hung open. That was not an order she could give. Especially given the present situation. "Leave the bridge in the middle of this fight," was not something she was going to tell anyone to do – especially not for... that.

Hopper: =/\= That is... more unusual than I expected, D'Cyra.  ::Pondering::  The Science labs should have sufficient samples and ability to produce whatever chemical outputs you need using their specialized replicator systems. =/\=

Wong: =/\= Response =/\=

Bec closed the comms channel to sickbay. Robin looked at her XO, head tilted to the side in bewildered curiosity, then at Seleya.  oO Well, that's a new one. Oo 

Seleya: Response

Fortunately, their time to speculate was cut short. Now that Sickbay had reported in, it was the Indy's turn. However, Robin was surprised – pleasantly surprised – to hear Captain Ertmo's voice.

Ertmo: =/\= This is Captain Ertmo to the USS Kepler. To Ar’a’Dal has agreed to share pathogen research with your people; in response I am asking that Admiral Mokto be placed in protective custody at least until Captain Peronis and myself are able to pursue a diplomatic solution with the Zumardi government. I am attaching the details. =/\=

Robin looked to Seleya, who ought to be receiving the details on her console (given the sensitive nature of the request).

Hopper: Confirmed, Lieutenant?

Seleya: Response

Hopper: =/\= Understood, Captain... Since your ship is currently undergoing evacuation procedures in order to freeze out the pathogen infecting your gel-packs, we will attempt to temporarily take custody of Mokto on your behalf, for transfer to your vessel after the immediate emergency situation is resolved. =/\=

Robin wasn't entirely sure that her disclaimers would nullify the likely repercussions of those actions – but then again, this was an extremely unusual situation that she didn't think was directly covered by Starfleet regulations. Maybe they'd have to sort that out after all was said and done. 

Hopper: Helm, bring us into transporter range of the Exelsior... Seleya, how are their shields? Assess our chances of of getting a transporter lock on the Admiral that won't kill him.

She hoped that, given the Kepler's superior technology, their knowledge of the systems the UAW had tried to emulate, and the current deteriorating condition of the Astrofleet ships that they might have a window.

Iko: =/\= Bec to Taelon’s crew, report. =/\=

Moore: =/\= We read you! =/\=

Taelon: =/\= Um, we were hoping to find a way to delay the shuttles… =/\=

Iko: =/\= We're attempting to jam their sensors with photonic sparkle kind of things. =/\=

Robin was going to offer a more detailed explanation – but, truth be told, Bec's evocative description was about all the ground crew really needed to know at this point. So she held her tongue. 

Moore: =/\= Yeah, you just need to make a big enough cloud, run the torpedoes dirty, more charged matter than antimatter, so you spread the charged particles in all directions when they explode. =/\=

Taelon: =/\= Um, torpedoes? =/\=

At that, Robin furrowed her brow, but tried not to prejudge whatever it was Kaito was talking about. The fact that Taelon seemed surprised by it as well was disconcerting – but her orders had been clear, and there were ways to modify torpedos to be more 'show' than 'substance'. She hoped that's what Kaito was talking about... or else she (and probably he, and maybe Lt. Commander Taelon) would be looking at court martials.

Hopper: =/\= Just... No shooting anyone... Right? =/\=

The lack of elaboration in response to her question left her feeling ambiguously somewhere between comforted and concerned.

Seleya: Response

Iko: =/\= Kaito you don't happen to have your e-war suite on you, do you? =/\=

Moore: =/\= Umm… No, it's built into The Indy’s jamming systems. You should have access to it. I know we haven’t gone over how to use my suite yet, but I designed it to be user-friendly. That being said, Commander Taelon has an idea that the e-war could be key for it to work. =/\=

oO Unfortunately, we are not on the Indy right now... Oo  They might, however, be able to get access to that information – depending on what Bec had in mind. 

Zakrem: =/\= It is not a plan of observation though. Have talks fallen apart that badly? =/\=

Taelon: =/\= Well, I - ::Zakrem was right. If they were going to do this, it’d have to be something they showed the Zumardi how to do.:: Um, if the talks have gone that badly, then we should… =/\=

Iko: Stupid idea: Diplomatic talks want Mokto in custody, no?

Hopper: That they do.  ::To Seleya::  Possibility of interrupting the Excelsior's systems long enough for a stable transporter lock?

Seleya: Response

Iko: We have something called a brig, and something else called a transporter.

Seleya: Response

Robin nodded.

Hopper: =/\= The talks seem to be going well, actually. Captain Ertmo has requested our assistance in... detaining Admiral Mokto so that he and another UAW Captain can continue the diplomatic approach with the Zumardi High Council without the current threat of combat... But we're having some trouble getting a safe lock.  If that doesn't work, what is your suggestion? =/\=

Moore: =/\= By my estimates, we would just need access to the secondary processing, but this could stop the UAW dropships dead in their tracks. Hopefully not in a decaying orbit. The other option is to start shooting down their dropships from here. =/\=

((OOC – I have changed "Zumardi dropships" to "UAW dropships" as I am quite confident that is what Mack intended to say.))

Zakrem: =/\= Still not within our mandate. =/\=

Taelon: =/\= No, no shooting, not unless- =/\=

Iko: =/\= No shooting. Talks are still continuing. But a couple of UAW don’t wanna listen. We just need maybe two more minutes? =/\=

Hopper: =/\= Yes, what they said – but I take your point, Kaito. We're almost out of nonviolent options. If it comes to that, we cannot take that kind of action. Defend yourselves and civilians under direct threat only... I know it's a big ask for you all, but that is what we are able to do. =/\=

Standing by and watching dropships loaded with soldiers land and attack would hardly be something she'd be comfortable with... and she couldn't blame her tactical officer for offering a realistic estimation of the situation or their options. All their options.

Seleya: =/\= Response =/\=

Moore: =/\= Copy that. We’ll be ready. Hey, Bec! When you activate the suite, make sure to use the new audio noise, and try to record their comms traffic. I want to test the effectiveness of my upgrades. =/\=

Taelon: =/\= Hold on, if the talks haven’t fallen apart, we shouldn’t - =/\=

Taelon stopped himself.

Iko: Seleya what are they doing? Can you tell?

Seleya: Response

Hopper: Well, advising the Zumardi on how to defend themselves is an acceptable course... Let's just hope we can stop the ships before the local defenses have time to implement. In the mean time, let's grab Mokto and see how the UAW reacts. Can't be much worse than where things are now.

Iko: Heard back from Aitas and Ashwood yet?

Hopper: No time. We're going to just have to trust in them, and in diplomacy.

Seleya: Response

Bec nodded, making her way to a console.

Iko: Lets get this over and done with.

Hopper: Commander, Lieutenant, prepare to extract the Admiral. On my order, interrupt their shields and beam him directly to our brig... 

Seleya/Iko: Response

Hopper: Ensign Furo, are the other UAW ships in communications range now? I'd like Captain Peronis to know exactly what is happening.

Furo, the Vulcan comms officer, tilted an eyebrow but nodded.

Furo: They should be able to receive us, ma'am, though they may have trouble broadcasting with enough power to respond.

Hopper: That'll have to do. Open a line now – all available channels. I want the Astrofleet to see this, and the Zumardi High Council.

Furo: The line is yours, Captain.

Robin stepped forward, addressing simultaneously everyone and no one, as the screen before her still showed only the planet and the ships around it.

Hopper: =/\= This is Captain Robin Hopper, of the USS Kepler to all people now present in the Zumaris system. With support from the United Federation of Planets' Diplomatic Corps and Starfleet, representatives of the Zumardi High Council and the United Alliance of Worlds have met and conducted negotiations for a ceasefire in the current conflict. While these conditions are temporary, and will require continued negotiations between all parties in good faith, your people have already shown that this kind of collaboration is possible, despite your history... =/\=

She stepped forward, a little closer to the viewscreen.

Hopper: =/\= The Zumardi High Council have agreed to share their research on the pathogen that is now affecting the UAW's ships and crews. Our scientists are close to synthesizing a cure, and we've found a technical solution that should render the virus inert... With the Zumardi's help, I'm confident we will be able to provide aid that will stop this pathogen in its tracks and prevent further loss of life.  ::A brief pause::  The Alliance has made concessions as well. Captain Ertmo, of the Astrofleet's flagship, Enterprise, has ordered the arrest of Admiral Mokto, until diplomatic talks have reached their conclusion. Under his authority, the Federation is now doing exactly that... =/\=

Robin nodded to Seleya and Bec.

Seleya/Iko: Response

Hopper: =/\= Admiral Mokto is now in our custody, in accordance with Alliance law... Captain Ertmo, representative To Ar'a'Dal, I'd like to invite you now, along with First Secretary Aitas of the Federation Diplomatic Corps and Captain Nicolette Ashwood of Starfleet, to speak to the ceasefire agreement that has been negotiated and to call on your people to stop military action immediately. =/\=

A nod to Furo, and the viewscreen shifted to the Bridge of the Indy.

Ertmo/Ar'a'Dal: =/\= Response =/\=

Aitas/Ashwood:  =/\=  Response =/\=

Robin looked to Bec and Seleya once more.

Hopper: Situation on the planet? Are the UAW shuttles returning? Are the Zumardi allowing them to safely leave?

Iko/Seleya: Response

Robin turned back to viewscreen.

Hopper: =/\= What was accomplished here today was just the first step in a long road to mutual respect. But the first steps have been taken... Great civilizations – those that value peace, prosperity, and equity for all – are founded on these kinds of agreements. The Federation is proof of that. Now, I hope that you will allow us to support you as your worlds find your own path to that... greater understanding. =/\=

With a sigh, she gave Furo a nod to close the comm line.

The work was far from over, but outright disaster was averted. For now. There was still the chance that it could all fall apart. That the Zumardi and the UAW would never see eye-to eye, that the Alliance would fall back into its patterns of colonialism, that the Zumardi would continue to proliferate bioweapons. There was the chance that someone like the Vaadwaur would come to stoke the fires of war again. 

But today at least, cooler heads had prevailed – if only by a sliver – and the groundwork had been laid for a lasting peace. Now the hard part, the really hard part, could begin. The disease could be cured, people and relationships healed, and with time and effort minds and even societies could change for the better.

END Mission

((OOC – Scene Leaders, please aim to wrap up your scenes within the next 1-2 sims. If everything is not 100% resolved, that is okay, as we can continue to explore some of these things during shore leave – but the most immediate matters should be resolved.))

((OOC PS – Thank you everyone for joining me in my Command Practical. It has been a joy and a great learning experience for me, and I hope you've all enjoyed the story we created together!))

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Lt. Cmdr Robin Hopper (she/they)

First Officer, Amity Outpost

Character Wiki Page

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