Captain Nicolette Ashwood - Action to Take
Ava Munro
((Mess Hall, USS Kepler – Contested UAW Territory, near Zumaris))
Ashwood: Lt. Seleya would need to verify the contents of this message?
It had been agreed or at the least suggested that Ertmo try to communicate with Astrofleet that was currently on a course to them. For what? They still had no real idea and by the sounds of it neither did Ertmo.
Seleya: I can do that, Captain. But Captain Hopper, Captain Ashwood, may I have a quick word. If you don’t mind Captain Ertmo.
Ertmo: Not at all.
Lettie was more than a little curious as to what the Kazleti woman could want from them. In private, away from Ertmo.
The trio of Starfleet officers stepped aside, moving to the other end of the room and forming an inward-facing triangle of red-and-black uniforms.
Hopper: Let’s hear it, Lieutenant.
Lettie nodded as a sign for encouragement.
Seleya: I think Captain Ertmo brought up an interesting point. The Federation has a lot of influence. I think we can leverage that.
Lettie already didn’t like where this was headed but she couldn’t blame the intelligence officer for going down this route.
Hopper: We do seem to have some influence, yes, but the Alliance, or at least their leaders, seems to be cherry-picking for their own convenience. What exactly are you proposing?
Ashwood: I think we need to be careful about how much more influence we wish to have on these people.
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?
As Hopper looked to her with some form of expectancy she only frowned. She was aware of the Talaxian situation and had done her research before coming to the DQ.
Ashwood: The Talaxians aren’t independent of the Federation. As a member species they will in effect represent the Federation. Also, we’re overlooking the significance of this forced relocation. The Talaxians still bear horrendous scars from a war in their own history. I don’t know if I would feel comfortable facilitating trade routes for the UAW without knowing what we’re looking at. These forced relocations are not something I would like to appear to condone :: sighs :: Neither should we seem to condone the use of bioterrorism from the Zumardi.
Hopper: To me it feels a bit like rewarding bad behaviour. The UAW has been operating in bad faith with the Zumardi and at least three other worlds – probably more. If we start offering up resources in exchange for them to back off of this conflict it sets a dangerous precedent that they can get what they want from us by causing trouble.
Hopper: I’m not suggesting we stand back and do nothing… Whether we want to be involved or not, the Federation has some level of indirect responsibility for what’s going on here. I want to help them – both of them, if possible – but not in a way that risks being taken advantage of.
Lettie didn’t glare at Hopper but she again didn’t like where this path could take them.
Ashwood: Our responsibility is limited and so far as we know entirely anecdotal :: raised eyebrows :: A passing ship, some files from a database that have been grossly misinterpreted is not compelling evidence, Commander Hopper. I would steer clear of notions of responsibility on our part, they are not our children. We should help them with the pathogen and remain out of this conflict as much as possible or we could be altering the political dynamics of this entire region of space when we hardly know a thing about it.
Hopper: Still, we could be misjudging the UAW. Maybe they’ll be more reasonable than expected. I’ll take your recommendations under advisement, Lieutenant.
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.
Robin nodded.
Hopper: Noted. For now, let’s see whether Ertmo can reach the Astrofleet and get a clearer picture of what their plans are, and whether they can be dissuaded from further escalation… But, at this point, I think we need to start forming contingencies for the likely possibility that they’re on the warpath. We can check in with the other teams soon, see if they’ve made any helpful progress.
She gestured back to the table, encouraging Seleya and Ashwood to go first.
Ertmo: Ah, there you are. I was trying to think of the best message to send.
Hopper: Let’s see what you’ve got, Captain.
Ertmo: We want the Zumardi returned to their people, ::he wasn’t quite sure when it had become ‘we’, but he wasn’t going to argue with the thought:: and you are going to share your research on the pathogen freely.
Hopper: I think that’d be a good start. Agreeing to return the Zumardi who have already been relocated would be something we could take to the insurgency as a meaningful show of good faith on the UAW’s part.
Lettie agreed.
Ashwood: Captain, I should make it clear that you are drawing the terms of this agreement. Not ourselves, we remain neutral and as I have said our help with the pathogen has been offered freely. There ends our assistance, we will not be party to forced relocations or aggressive acts against the UAW or the Zumardi people.
Ertmo: I can give you the codes now, but I think the Astrofleet would take it more seriously if the message obviously came from a Starfleet bridge.
Hopper nodded.
Hopper: That can definitely be arranged. I’ll ask Lieutenant Satrapi, the Kepler’s Operations Officer, to meet you here and make the necessary modifications to our communications program. When you’re ready, she can escort you to the Bridge where we’ll be waiting.
Ertmo: Response
With that arranged, Hopper indicated with a quick nod of her head towards the door that Ashwood and Seleya should follow her. Leading the way through the door and into the hall that would bring them to the turbolift.
Hopper: Before we make contact with the Astrofleet, assuming we do make contact, I want a full deck of cards. Or as full as we can get anyways. We haven’t heard much from Aitas, Taelon, or Wong but I’m hoping they’ve all had some success… This is all happening very fast.
Seleya: Aye, Captain.
Ashwood: Indeed it is and some caution would be wise before we commit ourselves to any action. If we even do.
((A few minutes later – Bridge, USS Kepler))
Furo: Ah, Captain. I was about to inform you that we’ve received a relayed message from Chief Petty Officer Zakrem via the USS Independence. First Secretary Aitas is requesting an update on the status of the Zumardi currently in Alliance custody.
As they entered the bridge, Lettie nodded towards Furo and several more of her loyal officers.
Hopper: Well, speak of the devil.
Lettie smiled when she saw the confused expression on Furo’s face.
Furo: I beg your pardon, ma’am?
Hopper hovered over the captain’s chair and Lettie wondered if the young officer felt unworthy of the seat. She also wondered if that was justified or not, she wasn’t entirely sure of that herself.
Hopper: Nothing. Never mind. Contact Chief Satrapi and ask her to meet Captain Ertmo in the Mess Hall. We’re preparing to contact the Astrofleet using some of the Alliance’s old infrastructure… In the meantime, hail the First Secretary and Commander Taelon, send them the following priority private message…
Furo: ::A nod:: Ready when you are, Captain.
Hopper: =/\= Hiya Aitas, Taelon, hopefully you’re somewhere secure to listen to this message. We’re going to make another attempt to contact the Astrofleet using some old UAW infrastructure that Captain Ertmo believes may make a difference. He seems prepared to recommend their leadership returns the Zumardi in their custody in exchange for our research on the pathogen – but we can’t be sure they’ll respond well to that. Once we have more information about their intentions, we’ll let you know. Hopefully you’ve been making progress. When you can, contact the Kepler to provide an update. =/\=
She turned to Ashwood and Seleya.
Hopper: Anything to add?
Lettie shook her head as did Lt. Seleya.
Seleya: Nothing from me, Captain.
Hopper: Alright, Ensign, send it… then get me Sickbay.
Furo: Communication has been transmitted, ma’am, with the requested priority private flag. Sickbay is responding.
Hopper: =/\= Ikaia, Bec, how’s it going down there? =/\=
Lettie noticed Seleya’s apparent surprise at the casual nature in which Hopper addressed her officers and she had to share in the sentiment but not the surprise.She had already figured that Hopper was the type of person that had a desire to be liked which always led to a more relaxed command style, which in her view only made the job harder for everyone. Blurred lines made people hesitate and slow down.
Wong/Iko: =/\= Response =/\=
Hopper: =/\= I’m sure you did everything you could. ::Brow furrowed in a troubled expression:: Ikaia, have you learned anything about this pathogen that might help us find a treatment? Before there are any other casualties? =/\=
Lettie crossed her arms, this situation just took a whole other tone to it. Death had a way of sharpening any event.
Wong: =/\= Response =/\=
Hopper: =/\= Well, keep at it. All other considerations are secondary. Figure out how this pathogen works and find a way to stop it. Contact Commander Taelon and see if he’s learned anything useful too. =/\=
Wong: =/\= Response =/\=
Hopper: =/\= Bec, hang in there. I’m going to need you on your feet, especially if the Astrofleet doesn’t respond to our attempts at peacemaking. =/\=
Iko: =/\= Response =/\=
Hopper: We likely have just a few minutes before Ertmo comes up here to send his message and I have to tell him one of his crew is dead… The Zumardi seem reluctant to come to the table without assurances I doubt the UAW is going to make, especially now that the pathogen has started killing people. Worse yet, it seems to be mutating. Our hands are a bit tied, but I don’t think the Zumardi or the UAW really understand just how bad things are about to get… I think we need to adopt a more active approach here.
Seleya: I think we need to make it clear to the UAW that more death is going to be expected if they continue their aggressions.
Lettie nodded in agreement with Seleya.
Ashwood: I think they have to come to terms with the fact that they are engaged in a war. And they no longer have the advantage. They should talk, the Federation can act as a mediator but I don’t like the insistence towards, and I quote, ‘a more active approach’.
Lettie noticed how some of the officers moved awkwardly in their seats as they shared nervous glances. She understood the complexity of the issue but she also understood that they could unfairly tip the balance of power either way in this region unless Hopper was suggesting they become the dominant force - which would be preposterous.
Hopper: Response
Seleya: I am not sure how much more active we can get Captain. We are toeing the line on our own Prime Directive. Getting too involved would seem hypocritical. Unless we can get both of them to come to the negotiating table, instead of using us as a go-between.
Ashwood: That would be the most sensible option and I think Captian Ertmo would be open to that but I suspect the UAW and the Zumardi might be more difficult to convince.
Hopper: Response
When Captain Ertmo entered the bridge and a respectful quiet came over the space. She looked to Hopper and she didn’t envy her the task of letting him know of the death of one of his officers. She had felt that pain. She had felt the pain of losing someone she loved. Lettie pushed the thoughts aside, as she had done so many times before. Her grief was endless but it was private, it belonged to her alone.
Seleya made her way over to the HCO console, checking the modifications that were made, then nodded to Captain Ashwood and Hopper, seeing nothing wrong.
Lettie nodded in return.
Seleya: Captain Ertmo, ::she dipped her head:: Communications modifications have been completed. Ready to open channel on your order Captain..s
Lettie took her position at the mission ops station.
Hopper/Ertmo: Response
Seleya/Hopper/Ertmo: Response
Ashwood: There’s an issue with the transmission :: looked to Ertmo :: The relay you routed through is blocking the transmission. We’ll need to override. I’m detecting anomalies in the transmission, it’s not secure.
Seleya/Hopper/Ertmo: Response
Ashwood: It may be the Zumardi, if it triangulate the anomalies and cross reference against the database, the signal codec is consistent with Zumardi channels.
Seleya/Hopper/Ertmo: Response
Captain Nicolette Ashwood