HCA To Ar'a'Dal - No effort without reward
D'Cyra Varati
((Medical Conference Room, Deck 2, USS Independence-B))
Saavei: Sovereignty is a right the Federation respects. Your desire for the UAW attacks to cease and for them to withdraw from your space is understandable. Your requesting the Federation enforce such as a condition of providing medical assistance to our own people, who have not harmed you, is less understandable. ::A brief pause:: Forgiveness is a difficult process. Your anger is justified. Many of my own people have struggled with the concept of forgiveness in the past centuries, between Vulcans and those who chose a different path who became the Romulans. The Romulan Star Empire was a hostile entity to the Federation since before the Federation was founded. It was easy for prejudices to exist on both sides. Forgiveness is not a quick process, especially if one does not perceive the other side as regretting their actions.
Saavei: History is always ongoing and developing. Both your people and the UAW will have a number of difficult but important decisions to make shortly. Wars often begin and end with words. They also begin and end with one or both sides entirely destroyed. It would be a loss to the galaxy if the latter is what happened here. Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations is a value many Vulcans embrace. The loss of part of that diversity removes something which cannot be regained.
Ar’a’Dal: ::to Lor:: To answer your question, esteemed Lt. Lor: We have no reason to defend ourselves or even attack – unless we are attacked. As long as Starfleet doesn't attack us, we won't attack you either – why would we? We are not seeking hostilities or expansion. We have created a sector that can exist in near-balance and are happy to trade with anyone interested in equally peaceful commerce. ::to Saavei:: You are also right, Ensign Saavei – words can start and end wars. In this case, we were trusting and believed the UAW – their words – until they followed up with actions that could not go unanswered. ::humming:: I hope you could understand?
Lor: Response
Saavei: Ar'a'Da', as you stated you wish for the Federation to make sure the UAW withdraws, and that they cease their attacks and demands on your sector, are you formally requesting the Federation act as mediators between your people and the UAW?
He couldn't and shouldn't make such decisions alone, nor was he authorized to do so. It was unfortunate that the UAW had called on the Federation for help. It was to be expected that they would no longer be neutral as a result. However, an escalation had to be prevented; it would help no one.
Ar’a’Dal: ::to Saavei:: I cannot decide this alone; it is a matter for the High Council. I can only report results and make recommendations. However, an initiative from a third party in this direction could certainly be helpful… ::humming:: You understand…?
Lor: Response
Taelon: I’m not sure either of us have the ability to make diplomatic promises. ::He spoke without a stutter for a moment, realised it, and it returned.:: That is - I mean - that our purpose here is to, um, handle the pathogen’s mutations. The wider war is, um, best left to the diplomats - they have a better grasp on the whole picture…?
Saavei: Given that the UAW has taken inspiration from Starfleet, I find it logical they may be receptive to the Federation assisting in mediation themselves.
It could only happen step by step... the UAW had used force first, so they had to be the first to take a step in the right direction.
Ar’a’Dal: As I said, a move in this direction would certainly not be rejected if the obvious prerequisites are met. The abducted residents must, in any case, return unharmed to demonstrate good faith. ::humming:: Hopefully understandable for all parties…
Lor: Response
Taelon: Perhaps. ::He chewed his lip, and made a spur-of-the-moment decision. It was probably going to be a bad one.:: Ar’a’Dal - the mutations pose a danger to your own people if they continue. But - ::Taelon glanced at Lor. Given the look on her face, she wasn’t going to like this. Neither was Saavei, probably….:: The base form of your pathogen is a sufficient weapon. Can we work to counter the mutations in exchange for refining the weapon’s original purpose?
As in; can we refine your blade rather than deprive you of it?
He wasn't yet sure whether it was just a stalling tactic by Starfleet or not. But he and his team had indeed been completely surprised by what had supposedly happened on the Enterprise. They had feverishly searched for errors – because this was the worst-case scenario – which they absolutely wanted to prevent.
Ar’a’Dal: ::to Taelon:: I certainly agree with you, which is why we need to find out from the UAW what really happened. Otherwise, we can't help anyone… ::quiet humming:: I hope that’s understandable?
Lor/Saavei: Response
Taelon: You - they - are at war; to disarm your best weapon without an equal concession from the UAW is not a - it’s not, um, a reasonable ask. But we have experts in this sort of warfare, and the UAW is basing many of their designs on our technology. So - an exchange. We counter your current mutating weapon, and in return, we help you make your concept more effective…?
But before they could discuss any other matters, the combadge of Commander Taelon chirped.
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. =/\=
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.
That was interesting... for the first time, the commanding officer of Starfleet spoke up and revealed a few new details about the other teams, which he had not known about before.
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.
Lor/Saavei: Response
He could only make vague assumptions himself, because he had no reliable data. And the UAW would blame Zumardi one way or another.
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?
Lor/Saavei/Taelon: Response
As long as the UAW didn't come clean with the truth, they could search for solutions forever, but time would run out.
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/Saavei/Taelon: Response
Tag/TBC
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