Posted by Civilian Jason Reilly (Assistant Director - Colonial Intelligence) in Government Tower, Press Room- Breaking News

Posted by Civilian Kenzo B’tren-Hyrushi (Governor) in Government Tower, Press Room- Breaking News

Posted by Civilian Zerbo (Colonial Finance Minister) in Government Tower, Press Room- Breaking News
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Mathis moved over closer to Hyrushi so they could share the podium. Her pale blue eyes took in the crowd with finely honed skills of assessment.

Lumolzby was a long time resident of Oed. He was a respected business owner, family man with grandchildren, and had been on Oed since before the strike. He was old and respected. He was often chosen to speak as a representative for the residents. He raised his hand and waited to be acknowledged. While he did he gathered his thoughts.

Kenzo spied the elder and nodded at him. “Mister Lumolzby, please.”

“Governor, Ambassador. I am concerned, and I think I can safely say we all are.” His eyes raised to the now blank screen, “But I understand how natural disaster, the threat of eminent death can put things in perspective. All of us that survived the strike know that. So putting aside their past aggression, how can we help them. We are still recovering from our own disaster, we still struggle, and we only recently have taken down the dome. Our planet is still dust and rock. What do they want from us, from Oed, that we can afford to give and still continue forward in our own recovery?”

Lumolzby

Hyrushi nodded and said “Thank you, sir. A very good first question. For now, all that is being asked of Oed is to allow a safe space for diplomatic talks to commence between the Federation and the Vren, permission for the Vren to travel into Oed space and for Federation-registered vessels to travel in Vren space, and the help of our scientific community to develop a solution for the immenent disaster. Nothing more has been discussed at this time. Does that answer your question, sir?”

Hyrushi, Governor

Lumolzby nodded once, “Yes thank you, Governor.” He looked around at the people near him, “Not so unreasonable is it.”

Another person spoke up among the crowd on the other side of the room. “What is this guft? How do we know it’s not a trap? What if they are trying to trick us?” And that caused a lot of yelled comments and questions.

Suspicious Citizen

Jeanette held up her hands and waited till things calmed down before she spoke. “Those are great questions and ones we’ve been sure to consider. The safety of Oed is a large concern and not one we take lightly. This is why Sindra Hal was asked to verify the status of the Vren’s home system. We’ve all just seen with a live feed exactly what they are dealing with. That can’t be faked. I know it is hard based on previous experiences to trust the Vren. Right now all we’re asking from you is to give them some benefit of the doubt, and trust that your leaders have been taking all of these variables into consideration before taking any steps forward. But at the end of the day, this is all up to you as a collective group of citizens. The fate of an entire people is in your hands.”

“And to your question- ” Hyrushi added, “-the gift the Vren are presenting is a material that will help us accelerate our terraforming efforts. And know that while we truly appreciate the generosity if such a gift, we are taking every precaustion to ensure its safety and viability. Scientists from both Oed University and Star Fleet are working side by side to ensure there is nothing amiss.”

Another report chimed in. “And what about these negotiations? What will hat look like if they are allowed here? Will they just be walking around the colony, and what sort of precautions will you be taking?”

~Ambassador Mathis

Kenzo looked at the reporter and asked “Since when does this colony segregate individuals based on species?” with a quizzical look on his face. “I mean to say, why would we not allow them to walk amongst us? To see who we are, what we are capable of, and what kind of neighbor we can be? Unless you are, of course, referring to the past. Because I for one, and I am sure the Ambassador is as well, more than capable of looking forward- albeit with a degree of caution- and try to build something new here. And Oed is a place known for second chances. I have walked these streets. I have seen human and Breen talking over business. Klingons and Romulans dining together. We have Cardassians in our law enforcement agencies and no one has bat an eye at them. Why should we do anything different for the Vren? And to be clear… we are not saying thousands of Vren are coming. They are sending a delegation if diplomats. A dozen, maybe twenty. A single ship. Honestly sir… if those few numbers of a new species frighten you, I might suggest you are in the wrong place to live.” Hyrushi’s last remark was met with subdued laughter and a few outright guffaws. He glanced at Mathis and nodded slightly. It was going okay.

Hyrushi, Governor

Another concerned citizen raised his hand and spoke. “Govenor, I was not here when they attacked but I know of the aftermath. If their world is dying already because of a loss of humidity, then why send US the very thing that they need to restore their own ecosystem? I do not know what the big issue is here. If they have the technology to have warships to come after the people here, then they have the same capability to blast those asteroids into very small debris that will burn harmlessly in their atmosphere and if they do not, then we do. It is just that easy. And what you ask of us by giving them and us a place to do negotiations, then when will we know when the next part of the plan will be? When will we be addressed like this again to talk about what we need to do after the negotiations? Or is this just a blanket consent from all of us so you all can do as you wish?”

Concerned Citizen

Hyrushi nodded and said “Excellent question, and a genuine concern. Allow me to get slightly technical, if I may. First, it is not a loss of humidity threatening them, humidity is a symptoms of a larger priblem; that being the debris field blocking out the energy of their sun to such a point that life will not be sustainable. The debris field we were just shown is the mass of an entire planet. And while we have the capability of turning the pieces into even smaller pieces, that will only exacerbate the issue and make the Vren’s decline that much faster by making the field larger. As far as it burning up in their atmosphere, the trajectory of the field is taking it between their sun and their planet… so the planet and the field won’t ever intersect. Now the gift they sent is not ‘the very thing’ that can save them. It is a biological compound that accelerates growth, not a life-creation matrix.” He took a breath so the information could be digested. “And lastly, once a scientific and logistic consensus is rea hed as to how the field will be dealt with, a public announcement will made describing it. At no point are we asking for carte blanche to simply do as we wish. Far from it. I hope that clarifies and answers your questions, sir.”

Hyrushi, Governor

Another voice sounded out. A respectable looking Denublian male stood and said “A question for the Ambassador, if I may. Madame, how did this request from the Vren even occur? And do you know why they went to the Fedration first and not us? And how long has the Federation known about this threat to the Vren; and when were our colony’s leaders told about it?”

Concerned Citizen

She had expected this question, though how she might have responded a few days ago would not work. Jeanette knew this and also knew that no mater what these people would not respect her if she waffled. They would get the truth.

“The Vren reached out three weeks ago to a Starfleet vessel passing in relative proximity. A science vessel was sent to confirm the issue they are having. At that point the Vren sent Ambassador Kek to make diplomatic contact and I was brought in from a different assignment to do just that. I arrived at Black Rock a few days ago and made contact with the Governor and Lieutenant Governor to explain the situation. Myself and my attaché arrived on Oed two days ago to help prepare for this announcement. In diplomatic terms, this has all happened rather quickly, but the nature of the impending disaster required a swift response. However, the Federation did not want to take unnecessary risks and wanted to evaluate the situation before we brought the situation to all of you.”

Jeannette gave a sad sort of smile. “As to why they didn’t reach out to the colony directly, there are a lot of variables at play but I think you do know the answer for yourselves. My feeling is that they knew given the past that it was a lot of ask. They didn’t want to just show up to their nearest neighbour and ask for help, though they very much need it. But to hesitate for too long would only make their situation worse, so they took the chance that felt most reasonable at the time. So here we are.”

Another reporter chimed in. “How soon can we expect the Vren to arrive and are there plans in the works for what that will all look like?”

~Ambassador Mathis