MSNPC Themem Zilo - Not until the Romulans answered

[Ryden Kel]

((Capitol City – High Council Offices))

Themem Zilo regarded the trio of Starfleet officers from behind his
desk, his hands clasped loosely before him. The Gorn’s towering form
filled much of the space, the light catching the smooth green scales
of his jaw as he spoke.

S’zurak: Yess. If you require muscle, I am at your ssservice.

The attempt at humor—or reassurance, perhaps—was lost on Zilo. His
expression did not shift, save for the faintest tightening around his
eyes.

Zilo: The last time Starfleet promised muscle, Secretary-General
Vira’s cargo still burned in orbit. Strength is nothing without
follow-through, Commander.

Foster: ?

Ross: We have gathered reports on recent attacks around Capricalia.
Ensign, would you like to share some of our findings?

Zilo leaned slightly forward as the Andorian gestured toward the Gorn,
who retrieved a PADD from his side with surprising delicacy. The
Capricalian’s gaze followed the motion, careful and unblinking.

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::

Zilo accepted the device, scanning through the summary. The pattern
was undeniable—missing freighters, scattered timestamps, overlapping
reports of silence where there should have been help. His jaw
tightened.

Zilo: This aligns with my records. Or it would… if the Federation
hadn’t lost half of them. You see the problem, Commander. I have
evidence. You have absence.

Foster: ?

Ross: Are you aware of any other cases of pirates interfering with
communications?

Zilo’s gaze flicked briefly toward the viewport, where a shuttle
drifted through the dusky clouds of The Capital’s upper atmosphere.

Zilo: I am aware that the pirates have grown bolder each season. As
for communications… when silence becomes this consistent, it is rarely
accidental.

S’zurak: The communicationss failuress may alsso be related to the
compmlaintss not reaching the Federation. Though… thiss remainss idle
sspeculation.

Zilo’s eyes narrowed at that.

Zilo: Speculation or not, Ensign, it’s the first reasonable
explanation I’ve heard in years. The Federation ombudsman insists they
never received my messages. I sent six. Only one was answered... after
Capricalia began talks with the Romulans.

Foster: ?

Ross: Is it possible that your communications might have been a target
of attacks as well?

Zilo set the PADD down, his fingers tapping lightly against its surface.

Zilo: Possible, yes. Convenient… certainly. Someone wanted my
complaints buried. Perhaps pirates. Perhaps someone with more
political ambition.

S’zurak nodded slowly.

S’zurak: Yess, that iss an important quesstion.

The Gorn’s steady stare felt less like intimidation and more like
curiosity, but Zilo had learned long ago that curiosity was often the
sharper weapon.

Zilo: If you’re suggesting Federation interference, Commander, I’d
remind you that I have no proof. Only patterns. But patterns speak
when silence becomes policy.



S’zurak: Do you think it’ss posssible that the piratess have an
agenda, or are hired by ssome other faction?

Zilo met the Gorn’s gaze squarely.

Zilo: Everything has an agenda. Profit, power, protection. The pirates
are not ideologues—they are tools. The question is whose hand wields
them.

Foster/Ross: ?

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.

Zilo considered before responding, his tone softening just slightly.

Zilo: You will find a packet of reports on my console—vessel
registries, sensor telemetry, fragments of distress calls. My
daughter’s ship was among them. The Mercy’s Run. She never made it
home. If you find anything that explains why, I will see to it that
Capricalia listens.

Foster/Ross: ?

S’zurak: I ssupposse that bringss another question… the Phaethon
Nebula. Do you ssend shipss through it, or avoid it entirely?

Zilo’s gaze drifted to the viewport again. The nebula’s faint violet
shimmer was visible even from orbit, a reminder of danger wrapped in
beauty.

Zilo: We avoid it when we can. Those who enter rarely report back.
Whatever is in there… it hides its purpose well.

Foster/Ross: ?

Zilo drew a slow breath, clasping his hands behind his back.

Zilo: You asked for cooperation, and you’ll have it. But understand
this... Capricalia’s faith in the Federation is already fragile. I
will not have it shattered again by silence.

Foster/Ross: ?

~-~

MSNPC Themem Zilo
Secretary of Commerce - Capricalia

As simmed by

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Lieutenant JG Ryden Tarus Kel
Medical Officer
StarBase 118 Ops
O240109RK1