Posted by Captain John Tiberius Glen (Captain) in Main Sim-Confrence Room A-Briefing &Meeting the Ascended
[snip]

”..It sounds as if your Federation has laws against the manipulation of naturally occurring life as you know it. In this case though, the lifeforms the VA stations create are not natural they are artificially created and can in almost all cases reproduce as your other officer stated. They are not clones however, but nor are they naturally occurring life forms, they were in essence artificially created by your terms but allowed then to breed, live, die, and evolve based on the criteria the station sets out for each revision of experiment in question. As for us sharing knowledge with your Federation, regardless if you see it as useful or within your legal purview at the current time those of the Ascended would not wish to share it. Similar to your Prime Directive we Ascended have a similar binding law of sharing technology or knowledge, in this case your Federation and its organic people are not yet to a level of organic evolution that we deem acceptable for sharing if we so choose..” Josan explained.

“I think that is understandable, and we will not try to interfere in what you are doing here,” Glen replied, even though he thought that might sound presumptuous, given they had limited powers, if any, to stop them. “Our laws prohibit genetic alterations of humans, because in our past eugenics has lead to the creation of a genetic “overclass” with unfair advantages over those who parents did not or could not afford to endow them with the right biological dispositions and traits. We not only found this kind of experimentation to be immoral, but the genetically engineered super-people also caused devastating wars on the planet Earth, and the legacy of that continues to inform our present policies.”

”..I can see why you such manipulation given such history. Our own people limited such use on our bodies when such was developed long ago. We also instituted a careful use of this on our society but also made sure such treatments were free and available to all regardless of what you term class level or such.” Josan stated.

”..In time we found as we neared our next evolutionary step to Ascension this technology now far more developed was used to create life to continue our research and desires to the plans of building the VA stations and the planets they would oversee. The organics on all of these planets you must understand were never naturally evolving on these planets to begin with but created as we said artificially on the stations then seeded for the experiments to come..” Josan explained.

Glen continued, “Before I fell ill, the question that I wanted to ask, was that I had just signed a trade agreement with the Elders on planet 19, and so I wished to know if this was acceptable to you? We would give them limited medical and agricultural technology in exchange for the 2(5)6 dilithlum 2(:)l diallosilicate 1:9:1 heptoferranide crystals that they mine. These are rare and valuable to us because they are vital to our starship drives. While any technology given could be reverse engineered, we would restrict weapons technology to them, and while we might study them, we would also not interfere with their social and cultural development. In addition, this sector has recently become the jurisdiction of the United Federation of Planets, and the UFP would have protected them from other threats, such as the Klingons and Rostar Alliance. It sounds as if you would not have any problems with any of this to continue?”

Josan looked at the list of minerals and exchange, “..This is acceptable to the Ascended within the scope of the VA station experiments on Planet 19. Given the former organics who were controlling the natives did similar this worked into the VA station’s favor for experiment revisions, your presence will also allow further revisions to Planet 19’s inhabitants. The only stipulation we must press on that does not occur is any inter-species breeding with the natives, and every reasonable strict efforts be taken to avoid non-native animal or plant life being introduced.” Josan said.

”..As for your offer or protecting them, that is fine, again so long as any changes implemented by the VA station is not inferred or prevented. Now or anytime in the future without prior approval from an Ascension representative such as myself. Any such requests for such can be directed to the VA station comm matrix AI you spoke to before to be forwarded to us..” Josan went on.

“.Given your own limited means of study at present, if you wished to observe or interact with Planet 19s natives such is allowed, so long as you do not interfere with any of the VA station’s changes or alterations or elimination if such is chosen of the native populace in the decades, centuries or more to come..” Josan added, “..What if any information you would derive from your own studies that you create of your own or by naturally observing or scanning the population while the station does its own work is fine however..”

“Thank you,” Glen replied. “We would certainly have moral problems with genetic alterations, and most certainly with the elimination of an entire species, though we are quite unable to prevent you from doing whatever you choose to do. We believe genocide to be a heinous crime, and although we are aware that we have also often been guilty of the offence in the past, we constantly try to ‘be better’. If I’m honest, I think we would try to persuade you of the same, and though you would probably politely tell us where to go, this is a large part of who we are!”

Josan inclined its head, “..The elimination of any of the experimental natives on any such planets overseen by our stations is without pain or suffering. If or when a time comes that the station deems a completed elimination of an organic species it is done so as quickly and painlessly as possible. In this case usually by seeding a fast acting mass spread use of a deep sleep agent, to the populace at the same time, within minutes all such organics targeted would fall asleep and soon after pass away. Automated drones sent by the station would use high energy lasers to disrupt the remains and any developed structures, technology or the like and then begin replanting and reseeding for the next experiment. Given your interactions with the natives a warning will be issued by the station to any of your Federation ships so you may remove any members from the planet ahead of time. But no information to the natives why you are leaving must be given of their impending end, such information would contaminant their last days or the like and undo suffering that would be avoided otherwise. Otherwise you are free to evolve and expand as you wish, as we have no interest in your Federation or those nearby for our needs or studies..” Josan stated.

Glen was shocked, although he tried not to show it. He had believed that the genocidal idea of elimination of the EP19 species was just a hypothetical question for moral deliberation, but the Ascended was talking now as if it had already been done before, a general practise that had possibly been quite regularly enacted on many different experimental planets. He was at a loss of quite what to say in reply to this.

There followed a silent pause. Not only did Glen not know what to say in reply to this, but none of his staff seemed to know either.

Glen realised that faced with such a powerful race of beings, there was probably only one solution available now. There was precedence for such a solution - General Order number seven that stipulated secrecy and non-contact with Talos IV. He thought that he should recommend to Starfleet Command that a new General Order along the same lines was suitable for EP19.

• Glen, CO

Salek sat in something of a stunned silence not aiding in the pregnant pause. He had his hands half covering his face, however his eyes shown through breaking his normal mask with his concern. His mind reeled at their indifference.
Lt. Salek, CSO