((S’zurak’s Quarters – USS Narendra))
S’zurak had been given a short reprieve before the away mission. He spent it curled beneath his heated blanket in the cramped quarters, a PADD in hand. The more he read, the more fascinated he became with the world of Capricalia. One comfort was knowing the planet’s ecosphere would be pleasing to his cold blood. He longed to bask in the embrace of a star once more.
((Transporter Room – USS Narendra))
Foster: Everybody ready?
Ross: Let's go.
S’zurak straightened up.
S’zurak: Aye, ssir.
Foster: Alright everyone, look professional and friendly, we got this.
S’zurak glanced to the others, observing how they made small adjustments to their appearance. He found nothing that required correction in his own.
Ross: ::quietly, to himself:: ...a walk in the park.
~*~
((Capitol City – High Council Offices))
The trio materialized on the platform outside of the High Council Offices. In the middle of a large city, the industrial buzz of people moving, working, trading – and protesting – was visible all around.
There was an electric buzz to Capitol City, the hum of the mobility rails that sped passengers to their destinations, the thrum of the electricity that powered the skyscrapers, the conversation of millions of people all moving and working around them.
And then off, in the distance, on the horizon, was the Capricalia of yore. The deep green mountains glutted with trees and wildlife. Hiding caves and rivers and lakes. Just a hint you could see, like a distant dream – none of which was reflected in the city. Everything around them was steel and stone and duratride, shining, white and silver. It was attractive architecture, but it was striking in what it lacked.
There was no dirt. No plants. No greenery, no animals. Maybe in other parts of the city there were parks, but this section felt completely cut from anything natural, like a section of a starship was cut from space and plopped into the planet.
Foster: Well, this is… something.
It was not the environment S’zurak was hoping for. He had read of the natural greenery and wildlife, and seemed to have neglected to read up on the urban environments.
Ross: It's busier than I thought.
Almost immediately after materializing, as if on cue, S’zurak involuntarily let out his signature rumbling from deep in his throat.
S’zurak: It ssertainly iss… sssomething…
If the others were perceptive, they could catch a note of disappointment in his hiss.
They ventured inside the building using the clearly delineated walk, and found the man they were looking for on the lower levels.
Zilo: Enter.
The odd-looking trio of Starfleet officers stepped into the office. At first glance, all three noted that a closer inspection revealed the technology here was somewhat antiquated.
Foster: Yes, greetings Secretary Zilo. I am Commander Foster, and this is Lieutenant Ross and Ensign S’zurak.
Ross gave a respectful nod.
Ross: Thanks for having us, Sir.
S’zurak: ::bowing his head:: It iss an honor.
S’zurak remained deliberately cautious in his positioning, keeping himself just behind the other two officers. He wished to avoid appearing in any way threatening or intimidating with his large and alien form. At least, not yet.
Zilo: Commander. Lieutenant. Ensign. Welcome to the Capital. I trust your arrival was… uncomplicated.
Wyn’s antennae dipped.
Foster: I understand you filed several complaints with the Federation Trade Commission and they did not answer any of them until your most recent complaint.
S’zurak followed Ross’s lead and held his tongue. This was a time for delicacy. No accusations, not even a hint of one.
Zilo took a slow breath, folding his hands behind his back as he stepped toward
the viewport.
Zilo: I did not count how many times I filed them, Commander. At some point, one loses track when every message vanishes into the same void.
He turned back toward them, expression even.
Zilo: My daughter captained a freighter that ran Federation-protected lanes. The protection did not hold. The pirates came, and the response never did. Since then, I have made it my business to ensure no other family endures that silence again.
For a moment, the air felt heavy in the room. Then, Zilo’s tone
steadied once more.
Zilo: So yes, Commander. I filed my complaints. And at last, Starfleet has decided to listen. The question is... for how long?
Zilo gestured toward the chairs opposite his desk, though he did not sit himself. S’zurak sat only to find himself still eye level with Themem Zilo.
Zilo: I am aware of the complaint you reference, Commander. It is the only one your Trade Commission acknowledges. The others… vanished.
He paused, letting the weight of that statement settle in the room. His gaze drifted briefly to a holo on his desk, then back to the officers.
Zilo: I will speak plainly. My people’s commerce is suffering, our shipping lanes unsafe, and my reports to the Federation were ignored... ::purposeful beat:: or erased. I cannot say which.
Ross: Frankly - We've been wondering the same, Sir.
S'zurak: We have been looking into thiss topic, and have ssome leadss.
Foster: ?
Zilo: I will not mince words for politeness. If Starfleet expects
Capricalia to remain a member of the Federation, it must act. Words
alone are insufficient.
Ross: I am very sorry to hear of your loss, Secretary. We had no idea.
S'zurak: We will act. And will find out why communicationss have not been received so that we may continue to act in a timely manner.
Foster: ?
Zilo: The question before us is simple. Will you listen to the
entirety of my reports and address the threats we face… or will
history repeat itself?
Ross: I can assure you, we are here to listen.
S'zurak badly wanted to growl. Not to show any hostility, but the thought of painstakingly going through the entirety of years of reports made him wish he was somewhere else. Anywhere else.
S'zurak: ::sounding defeated:: We will… go through the reportss.
He really didn't mean to show any disdain externally, but to him, this felt like punishment.
Foster: ?
Zilo’s eyes lingered on them for a moment. His tone softened only slightly, tempered by years of measured diplomacy.
Zilo: I am willing to believe in the Federation again. That belief,
however, must be earned… not assumed.
Ross: Let us know how we can be of help and we will do our best to make up for recent failures.
S’zurak felt a faint spark of hope. He thought, rather than parsing documents, he might be assigned something more tangible; something that required strength, not patience. That, he could manage.
S'zurak: Yess. If you require muscle, I am at your ssservice.
Foster/Zilo: ?
Ross: We have gathered reports on recent attacks around Capricalia. Ensign, would you like to share some of our findings?
He gestured at S'zurak, encouraging him to speak up.
S’zurak prepared himself to report his findings by acquiring his PADD in hand.
S’zurak: ::tapping through the PADD:: We have documented enough cases to esstablish ssome trendss. Multiple vesselss reported communicationss failuress. ::offering Zilo the PADD to review::
Foster/Zilo: ?
Ross: Are you aware of any other cases of pirates interfering with communications?
S’zurak was almost certain there were many more undocumented cases. They only had a small sample size.
S’zurak: The communicationss failuress may alsso be related to the compmlaintss not reaching the Federation. Though… thiss remainss idle sspeculation.
Foster/Zilo: ?
Ross: Is it possible that your communications might have been a target of attacks as well?
S’zurak nodded slowly.
S’zurak: Yess, that iss an important quesstion.
There was certainly someone out there who wanted to paint the Federation in a negative light. Could this be a method to hurt its reputation?
Foster/Ross/Zilo: ?
S’zurak: Do you think it’ss posssible that the piratess have an agenda, or are hired by ssome other faction?
He studied Zilo’s reaction carefully, trying to discern hesitation or evasion.
Foster/Ross/Zilo: ?
S’zurak: Do you have any intel on these piratess? We have a ship in orbit patrolling the ssystem. Any information you provide could be relayed to them, and any new data we gather can be shared in return.
Foster/Ross/Zilo: ?
S’zurak: I ssupposse that bringss another question… the Phaethon Nebula. Do you ssend shipss through it, or avoid it entirely?
They would have to forgive S’zurak for interrogation, but he wanted to be thorough and leave no question about their loyalty.
Foster/Ross/Zilo: ?
Ensign S'zurak
Tactical Officer
Starbase 118 Ops
O240205S13