[snip]

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.”

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’‘.

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.

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.

“Yes, the offer of trade with you is real and will be upheld; we won’t steal away your sun crystals, and we can protect you from those who would,” Glen replied. “However, you are right to beware the influences of outsiders, and I could easily offer you many trinkets and baubles, and manufactured goods that would be devastating to your society. I also promised you that I wouldn’t force your society to change, but I must warn you that things such as weapons to protect you from your enemies, can also become weapons of murder, of robbery, and of armed uprisings against the Elders themselves. There are weapons that can even destroy entire worlds. Drugs to cure illnesses can also lead to addiction and dependence, and other recreational drugs can result in great social and economic problems. So, rather than any of these things, we would rather offer you agricultural and mining equipment instead. We could also teach you how to set up the factories to make these manufactured goods for yourself, so that you become independent, and do not depend upon outsiders for these goods because that is simply another kind of slavery. I am a merely the captain of a ship, not a diplomat or negotiator, and others from the Federation of Planets would discuss this with you, eventually offering to you the choice to join our Federation. I hope that is acceptable to the Elders.”

Glen waited for an answer, but still wondered whether destroying the mines and leaving the people alone wasn’t a better option, even if it would end his career.

• Glen, CO