Posted by Gamemaster CockRoach (Gamemaster) in Main Sim - Native Village - The Elder’s Council
[snip]

=/\= My officers are telling me that I must also warn you. The objects that you mine and call ‘sun crystals’ are very likely to be something we call Dilithium. It was probably the reason that the Klingons first came here. Those crystals are very rare and very valuable, because they are used to help power almost every starship. Now, these ‘sun crystals’ could make your planet very prosperous if you trade in them, but equally, once this is known, they could submit your planet to every pirate, every rogue, and every criminal that ever lived. If the Klingons treated you well, then that is great, but other races could come here in starships, with superior weapons and in large numbers, and you would be defenseless against them. They might simply take what you have and rob you of them. Whether you want us here or not, you do need Starfleet to protect you from these threats. =/\=

Just before Cross’s call came in, one of the lower stepped Elders spoke in rough Klingon =/\=..Our sun crystals were in demand by Va’s Agents, who enlightened us upon their discovery on how to mine and harvest them, for this they taught us much of Va’s Wisdoms and in the Sciences and how strength of Va’s blessings were an honor and could be used to expand across our home plains both here and further to those who shunned and resisted Va’s agents to the south for many cycles of generations. You speak of others who would come, Va’s Agents those you call Klingon spoke of how you would come just the same..=/\= He said probably about to say something when the priestess raised her hand for silence, leaning down to listen to the High Elder.

Dr. Cross made contact with the Captain =/\= Sir . the comet shall be approaching within an hour or so and if you’re standing at the correct angle should be able to locate it, we’re keeping a close eye on it =/\= .

It never rains but it pours! thought Glen, and he replied =/\= Acknowledged! =/\=. Was Cross flying the ship again? Glen thought, Maybe we are Fed-doomed after all?

Verity whispered to Captain Glen, “Is Cross in charge?” Not that she didn’t think Cross wasn’t capable of being in charge it’s just at times she knew her to be kind of eccentric. Not wanting the question to come across the wrong way she rephrased, “I mean, it’s great she has stepped up to take charge of the ship. I am sure she can handle everything.”

“She is the most senior officer aboard right now,” Glen replied. “Don’t worry about Cross though. She might do things instinctively, without thinking them through first, but I’ve trusted those instincts with my life several times, and they’ve never let me down… Still, you will see that I have trained up Hercules Kahuna to be able to take the conn in any emergencies, and he is as steady as they go. In any emergencies, Cross is better placed in the Sickbay, as she excels there.”

Verity nodded. She had seen Cross in action before and admired her skills in the Sickbay. It made sense to have her focus on her strengths during emergencies. “I understand, Captain,” Verity replied. “I apologize for the inquiry. I was just…surprised, I guess.” Although she didnt quite know who Hercules Kahuna was, she continued, “Its good to know Hercules is prepared to take charge if needed.” Verity felt helpless on the planet as the Merrimack awaited the arrival of the comet. Please let them be okay. she said to herself.

“Surprised?” Captain Glen asked, “Do you mean, ‘Surprised that a CMO can be capable of assuming command of a starship?’ Like any senior officer they are also eligible to take the Bridge Officer’s tests. Dr. Cross has begun that process too.” Glen glossed over the part about the attack on the ship while they were docked at a space station and while Cross had been left in temporary command. “Hercules is only recently promoted from Ensign. I wouldn’t like him to be left in charge without any other senior officer. He doesn’t have enough experience. Most of his logged command hours have been very routine. Quite honestly, I would trust Dr. Cross more if any situation arose. She has more gravitas!”

After that short interlude, Glen thought that they should get back to speaking to the Elders. The warning from Cross reminded Glen that he still wasn’t sure about the relationship between these people and the periodic comets that had been flung their way. When he had mentioned it to the natives earlier they had not seemed particularly bothered, however that may all change when they actually see a comet in their sky. In Earth culture, comets were seen a portents of ‘doom’, and while that wasn’t necessarily true in this culture, he was concerned about all this continued talk of ‘Fedoomers’ and how they would react.

Hunter could not help but look up at the sky, wondering if he’ll be able to see the comet ‘’I sure hope it shall pass by safely and not decide to drop just where we’re standing’’ he then glanced at the Captain and Verity ‘’I guess the word ‘Fedoomers ’ compliment me just fine ‘’.

The usual impeccable doctor was a real sight ,wearing only a pair off trousers ,smudged with dirt and soot, while his shoulder length hair looked more like a bird’s nest.

“Well, let’s hope the comet decides to keep its distance. But I have a feeling we’ll be just fine. We’ll weather this comet, along with any other challenges that may come our way,” Verity remarked optimistically.

She smiled mischievously as she glanced at Hunter. “I must admit, being called a ‘Fedoomer’ does suit you,” she teased, playfully nudging him with her elbow.

With their lighthearted moment concluded, Verity refocused her attention on the Elders. They had crucial information to gather and important decisions to make before the comet’s arrival. The safety and well-being of both the crew and the native population relied on their actions and understanding of the situation at hand.

Hunter gave Verity his usual small smile in close proximity at the corner of his mouth and ended by shrugging his shoulders .Now he wondered if the CE was still alive due to the fact that they had not heard from him ‘’I do hope he has not injured himself by falling down those mines ‘’ the doctor uttered.

Glen wondered if Dr. Hunter had a pill to cure ‘Fedooming’? He’d heard that on ancient Earth they took Hopes ‘Anti-Comet Pills’, “an elixir for escaping the wrath of the heavens” and only 25$. However, there was no suggestion that the comet would touch the planet, not even from a brush of it’s tail.

Glen was still waiting for McMullins to report about the state of the mines and for the Elders to finish weighing up what he had told them.

He decided he couldn’t wait any longer and called Lt. Mullins to check on his team’s progress. =/\= Lieutenant? How is your team getting along? Are the mines safe? Can we make improvements? And are ‘sun crystals’ what I think they are =/\=

The CE replied, /\=Lt Mullins here. The first two levels are pretty safe but the third is not so hot. I would like to write up a report on what can be done with their tech in order to help out. This will help improve the mines as they are now and what can be done to help moving forwards. In regards to the sun crystals, they are what we believe they are and they are half decent. They expect the masters to come back to get the crystals but I don’t think they will in the end. I think it might be in Star-fleets best interest, especially to help with the relations between our two people. I am not 100% sure on how to go about it but it might be something which can be worked over time. I am going to be relaying some data up to the rest of my engineering team to help come up with a safety plan. Is there anything else you need me to look at while I am down here? =/\=

Captain Glen replied, =/\= Thanks for the update. I look forward to the full report. I’m in the middle of talking to the Elder Council here, just waiting for them to discuss something and to reply, so I will catch up with you later. Take care if you are thinking of going underground. =/\=

Following the Captain’s conclusion of his conversation with Lieutenant Mullins, Verity grew weary of her role as a Starfleet diplomat and let out her frustration, exclaiming, “So… are we expected to simply sit here and wait? It’s quite evident they have no desire for our presence. They’re likely anticipating that we’ll abandon our mission and leave.”

She fanned herself with a slight sense of exasperation and added, “I mean, it wouldn’t be too much to ask for them to extend a gesture of hospitality and offer us something to drink, even if just as a small gesture.”

“It wouldn’t,” Glen replied, “and even considering the way that the Klingons have manipulated them, I think they have been extremely rude to us from the moment we set foot here, but look at it this way: if the Klingons had never visited this would be classed as a pre-Warp civilisation and General Order Number One would have been enacted. We would never have come anywhere near here. Except that they did, and we have, and if we didn’t, then someone else would come along and dominate them, because Dilithium is such a valuable economic resource. As such, we cant allow that to happen, and for the mines to fall into the hands of an enemy threat. We have little choice but to suffer their ill-manners.”

Hunter pondered on what the Captain had just said ‘’ Sir , then may I ask how we can stop anyone else do the same to the inhabitants as the Klingon’s ? ‘’ he rubbed at his chin thinking ‘’ Ditlithium is indeed valuable but not to these people ......em you’ll probably tell me to go to hell with my proposal. As long as the mines are here they will come , so why don’t we blow up the mines and shall stop them operating in a few words cease to exist. These people have no use for Dilithium, at least not in a couple of centuries from now, farming is better suited for them ‘’.

And for us to get back to the ship and be done with the stubbornness of these people .

Glen actually admired Hunter for being open, and for ‘thinking outside the box’, despite what Hunter thought that Glen thought about him, but unfortunately, Glen’s orders where always contained squarely within the metaphorical ‘box’. “We can never stop pre-Warp planets outside of Federation controlled Space from being exploited,” Glen replied. “And even inside Federation Space, we’ve made a hash of some First Contacts. Few in Starfleet will mention those to you, but search in the Library Computer for Sigma Iotia II or Ekos ,” Glen added. “There will always be some galactic ‘Conquistadors’ seeking their fortunes in metaphorical Cities of Gold, and this system will always be of interest to them from now onwards… So, yes there is some merit in destroying their mines, and kicking that particular development a few decades away, like kicking a can down the street, but that doesn’t fall within my remit from Starfleet… And I’d get into a huge amount of trouble if I did, probably even a demotion to Commander. You see, the Federation itself is in dire need of Dilithium! When we talk about our high values and morals, and laud our reputation, actually they are often merely words. We regularly downplay our own transgressions, and we readily employ condemnation as a strategy to demonstrate our righteousness to others… However,” Glen appeared to seriously consider Hunter’s suggestion for a moment, “even if I tried your proposal.. it would only delay the inevitable for a few decades. It cannot be helped that they are sitting on a Dilithium mine anymore than it could be helped if they were sitting on an active volcano.”

• Glen, CO

Hunter listened to the Captain, occasionally nodding to let him know he was following ,at the mention of an active volcano the doctor replied ‘’As the case of what happened in Pompeii , long inactivity of the volcano naturally lulled the people of the region into a false sense of security, though they were aware of the signs of burning at the peak of the mountain, had they prepared beforehand in the sense of escaping or leaving the region altogether it would not have been written down in history’‘.

’’ Captain you have found yourself in quite a dilemma , tell the Elders what can or cannot happen and let them decide for themselves .Your orders were given while the Klingons were here but they have left , for now the inhabitants are free and they are the ones in charge of their future .You can only explain through your knowledge, insight, and concern of the Federation about what their future might hold.....you cannot shoulder the burden of their own destiny’‘.

Hunter Dr.

After what felt like long minutes during their heady exchanges quietly, the priestess spoke again, =/\= The High Elder has heard enough, he has chosen to believe your words of warning Captain Glen. Though you are a Fed Doomer as Va’s Agents proclaimed, his many years of generational cycles has also made him Wise to many facets of Va’s Ways. How Va treads His footfalls across the plains of our homes, how the tribes to the south shunned His Agents life style that we accepted. =/\= She said pausing to lean down again from some nods of a few of the Elders, and again from the High Elder.

After a second or so more the priestess spoke once more, =/\= The High Elder says that our lives come upon many different paths upon which Va has guided us, it has split many among us into different visions and interpretations of Va’s Words. It is his choice however, to follow those that will unify once more the people of this northern tribe. We will remain strong, and he has directed that it is Va’s will while you spoke for him to have a vision of a coming sign from the Heavens. This sign has come times before, many long cycles of generations past. Each time it has heralded a change in our society and in how Va guides us and blesses us. He believes based on your words he understood that the object you spoke of coming is this sign.=/\= She said again pausing to listen to the High Elder.

After another nod she rose and spoke once more, =/\= So it shall be that by the High Elder’s declaration, your aide may continue, your help in securing our mining of our sun crystals and to store them for whoever wishes to respect Va, his Blessed People, and His bounties we harvest may pay a fair trade for them. So the High Elder has asked if your Federation wishes trade of our sun crystals as you say others would wish, what is it you would offer in exchange? =/\= She said. It seems perhaps Glen and those about had probably missed an important detail, the Higher Elder it seems those quite aged, probably based on the details said by the priestess had heard them clear as day even through their soft speech, and probably had learned enough common and klingon during his life to also understand their intents. It seems that despite his weak stature he was still quite strong of mind and hearing which he had now used to make a choice on the destiny of his people’s future....or least the northern tribe here. How he had a ‘vision’ of the comet coming and those in the past though was up in the air, perhaps some ‘blessing’ allowed him foresight? Or was it something else? Either way seemed the High Elder wanted to know what the Federation had to offer if they wanted to trade for the sun crystals if at all.

GM CockRoach

Verity listened to the priestess as she conveyed the High Elder’s decision and the offer for trade. She recognized the significance of the High Elder’s willingness to believe their words and the importance of unity among the people of the northern tribe. Verity had some thoughts of her own but took a moment to organize them in her mind. While she did that, she looked at Captain Glenn and waited for him to respond.

V. Aphelion