[snip]

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.

[snip]

Glen wrote another message on one of the PADDs and then passed it across the table to Lieutenant Max Mullins, the CE. It said:

How difficult would it be to delete your surveys of the EP19 mines and your confirmation of Dilithium on the planet in your mission reports to Starfleet? I want to suggest to Stargate that a new General Order is instigated that stipulates secrecy and prevents anyone else ever having contact or coming near this sector. However, if we mention economically viable reserves of Dilithium, that isn’t going to wash with the more conservative wings of the Federation. I also appreciate that holding back some of the truth might be against your personal ethical code. That’s why I’m asking. Don’t feel pressured!

OOC: In regards to “fudging the reports”, I can report about the “stone” but not say 100% what it is. I am not going to flat out lie but if it needs to be classified to not have the traffic present due to some other rule in star-fleet, I can do that. I am hoping this is what you expect from me.

Lt Mullins
CE

OOC: Sorry, but I think we’ve kind of moved on from this now as I don’t think Josan has given Glen much choice. I think he would ask Mullins to flat out lie now because if we go back home and file a mission report about a huge Dilithium deposit here, then I don’t see a cat in hell’s chance of this region getting a Talos IV style General Order from Starfleet. Remember that General Orders carry the same weight as the Prime Directive or #1, and that #7 came with he the threat of Capital Punishment. Just as soon as the Cardassian Wars begin (in a few years time) they’d tear it it up and come to trade for it. The economic security of an uninterrupted supply of Dilithium far outweighing any other considerations.

However, I think that I took this subject way further than the GM ever intended. I think he expected us to pass it up the chain of command for someone higher up to deal with. It is just Captain Glen’s doggered senses of duty and honour and justice and fairness coming into play here. He wouldn’t want to leave it to someone else. Captain Glen would want to get this sorted out before we left (especially as a face to face with an Ascended might never happen again). So, he would be just as fixed and unyielding about this as he appears, even if it upset some crew, and I’m sure that it would upset people like Lt. Mullins to be asked, not just to be economical with the truth, but to flat our deny the truth.

• Dave