Negotiations (Part 1 of 3)

Posted on 10 Sep 2021 @ 5:20pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Lieutenant Commander Ryan Alexander & Lieutenant JG Sofie Ullswater & Commander Andreus Kohl
Edited on on 10 Sep 2021 @ 5:26pm

3,292 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: Episode 17 - Crystal of Life
Location: Latari B III High Orbit, USS Galileo-A
Timeline: MD 05, 0021 hrs

Previously, on The Third Battle of Latari (Part 2)...

Nodding to Navrin and Allyndra, Commander Kohl shared his agreement that Allyndra should remain. It wasn't long, though, before Kohl's gaze shifted back to the Tholians, who were remaining eerily silent. Still, Lirha had insisted there was little time, and little point to any of the esoteric niceties of Federation diplomacy. Pivoting his gaze from the Tholians to Lirha Saalm, Kohl asked, "How do the Tholians intend to sterilize the system?"

"We will brief you and explain everything," Saalm covertly answered. "..With your permission, of course." Her deferment to Kohl's judgement was a formality meant not only for the other Starfleet captains, but also the Tholians. A primitive attempt to teach the humanoid concept of respect and hierarchy.

Only hesitating for the length of a breath, Kohl supposed he could gather Lirha's intent. "I'm in agreement, Captain," Kohl said. Squaring his shoulders, Kohl swept an arm towards the double-doors out to the corridor. "If you'll all follow me," Kohl said entreatingly, "We can plan our attack."

And Now, the Continuation...

[ON]

Deck 7, Astrometrics Lab

The door to the Nova-class starship's advanced planetarium hissed open and presented the dark interior of a bulbous holographic observatory. Members of the humanoid and silicon races collectively moved into the medium-sized room after which the entrance hissed shut behind them.

Taking the lead along the main walkway, Commander Andreus Kohl took up position at the freestanding LCARS console. Tapping the pads of his fingers against the smooth interface, Kohl activated the holographic projections. A flicker of light coalesced into a holographic representation of the Latari star system. Yellow LCARS brackets encircled the points of interest they'd spent so much time studying. Turning his back on the console, Kohl looked to each of the collected individuals to study where their attention was drawn.

Allyndra just watched as the astrometrics computer brought up the system. So far she did not say anything until more information but the talk of sterilizing the system did not sit well with her way of thinking.

The planetarium came to life with vibrant three-dimensional colors. The entirety of the Latari trinary star system was now displayed including the three different solar systems and their various satellite bodies, all slowly rotating in real-time. Galileo's position above Latari B III appeared marked with a gold Starfleet icon in proximity of the second star's orbit. As a quietness overcame the mixed group, Saalm stepped forward.

"I...apologize for my absence," she started in a respectful tone, turning around to address the other captains and her crew. Lirha hadn't seen or spoken to any of them in several days, which she truly regretted. She'd abandoned her duty to them in search of something else. They not only deserved an explanation for her desertion, but to also know the terrible truth she'd learned. The Orion captain's dark black hair hung loose over her ears and across the sides of her cheeks - down to the tops of her shoulders and slightly disheveled. To the trained eye, her green irises revealed a hardness and desperation rarely seen by any.

"You have many questions," she continued, "and I will answer them. But first," she pointed a green index finger up to the ceiling where their current position was located on the astronomical projection, "if we do not destroy the silicon organism on the surface of this colony before it reproduces again...all advanced life in the four quadrants will be destroyed."

Saalm looked each of the other COs directly in the eye. First Rasmussen, then Navrin, then Kohl. "I've given the Tholians all of Starfleet's information regarding Project Genesis. They now know what we know." Her betrayal was revealed. "They have been aware of USS Reliant's contaminated debris for some time, which led to their initial incursions into our territory."

Rasmussen's pale face was turning red, so Saalm continued before she was interrupted by one of his emotional outbursts. "In exchange for Project Genesis, I've negotiated an armistice and plans for a joint operation. And the Tholians have given us all their data of this proto-lifeform. They cannot defeat this creature by themselves -- and neither can we."

After the Orion captain finished speaking, Lagrange's CO retorted with boiled rage. "...You gave classified Genesis data to the Tholians?!" he roared. "Starfleet will have your head for this, Saalm!" he stepped forward towards her in a threatening manner.

Rasmussen's rage wasn't exactly unexpected and Captain Navrin could feel it boiling up in herself too. If Saalm was admitting to sharing Federation secrets with the enemy it all but confirmed the theory that she had shared tactical data too, something that would make her complicit in the day's deaths. "People have died today. Its good that we have a moment of peace." Navrin put on her best attempt at diplomacy and placed a hand on Rasmussen's shoulder to perhaps stop him from eating the Orion alive "And we should consider well that there are colonists, Federation citizens, on the surface of that planet."

A hint of irritation flashed through Ryan's eyes. "Sir, with all due respect, this situation has more moving parts than we are able to fully brief at the moment in time. My captain is correct, it is of the utmost importance that we work to neutralize the proto-Tholian." Ryan affirmed to those assembled.

The Science Officer in Andreus Kohl leaped out. From his line of questioning, the underlying mysteries of the star system had appeared to capture more of his imagination than the political intricacies of sharing secrets with the Tholians. "What even is this Proto-Tholian lifeform?" Kohl asked. "And what makes it so dangerous?"

Saalm warily regarded both Rasmussen and Navrin before shifting to answer Kohl. She could intricately sense the aura of anger towards her but time was short. It seemed Andreus understood, at least partially, the urgency behind her words and had driven straight to the point. His question was complicated in nature but even more complex to convey with the new knowledge the Tholians had implanted in her.

"The 'proto-Tholian', as we call it, is an ancient silicon-based lifeform native to the Alpha quadrant," Saalm revealed. "According to Tholian scientific records...it is the first life to ever evolve in the Milky Way galaxy. They existed for billions of years before terrestrial planets finished forming; evolving on small, new geothermal and geomorteous worlds. And they are," she let out a tense breath then gestured to the two armored Tholians standing in the rear of the room, "the original biological ancestors of the Tholians."

"So," Allyndra seized a moment while everyone let things sink in. "If these things existed before hand, long before, then if I understand correctly they may have been existing on these planets perhaps and thus not necessarily a result of the Genesis device, possibly just woken by it. Am I thinking correctly?"

Lirha was impressed by the Akkadian's doctor's swift deduction. Sharp as a nail, the blue-collared commander had demonstrated her proficiency in critical reasoning many times over throughout her years of Starfleet service. "Yes, and no. If you will allow," she pulled a small red isolinear optical chip from her pocket then held it up to Kohl and Warraquim, "I can show you."

Allyndra was intrigued but she could not give the permission to allow the access. She looked to Kohl and said, "Captain Kohl, that there is data that is willing to be shared from the Tholian Assembly is something that I think we should allow but of course sir, it is your decision ultimately."

Nodding with understanding of Allyndra's recommendation, Andreus Kohl's lips thinned to a straight line. "We're not exactly in a position to welcome even more blind spots than we already have," Kohl remarked. He also took it on faith that Lirha would never take the security of this ship lightly. Kohl nodded again, and he said, "I'll allow it, Captain."

Galileo's Orion captain handed Ensign Alexander the isolinear chip and gave him a nod. As the ship's chief operations officer, he'd not only endured her same experience of captivity aboard the Tholian cruiser, but also possessed the same critical knowledge.

Ryan took the offered chip and moved towards the console. He inserted the chip, letting the computer take a heart to read it, before letting his finger's fly over the console as he accessed the data contained within. He stopped his work as the console flashed a small warning at him.

The ship's computer vocalized a permission warning in its distinctive female voice. "=Data access Level 5 -- Command authorization required="

Lirha stepped next to Ryan at the room's primary LCARS terminal then entered her secure clearance codes into the console. The terminal emitted a confirmation chirp accompanied by another audible message. "=Access to foreign data granted="

With practiced skill, Ryan went about parsing the data. He typed in several quick commands, isolating the data, before bringing up the Tholian historical astrometrics records and displaying them for the assembled to see.

The planetarium's holographic star projections distorted for a brief moment then restabilized to interpret a mathematical dataset containing new astronomical information. Two previously-unknown Latari satellite bodies appeared within the system as <i>Galileo's</i> advanced computer algorithms slightly adjusted Starfleet's known planetary orbital patterns.

"Computer, incorporate new data with existing records then load best known evolutionary simulation of the Alpha Quadrant," Lirha ordered. The ship's central processor chirped and whirled while processing the request.

"=Define parameters="

"Age, one-half billion years old. Speed, one millennium per second. Prioritize star systems according to planetary evolutionary states and highlight new formations of Class A, B, E and F planets," she instructed.

Several silent seconds followed. "=Simulation ready="

"Begin."

The holographic starscape zoomed out at a rapid rate then stopped when the entirety of the known Alpha Quadrant was in view. Thousands of individual stars dotted the primordial galaxy, each in their relative infancy. It couldn't go unnoticed how empty this portion of the galaxy looked compared to its present-day iteration. Granted, the perceived universe would always be much older than its true state due to light speed limitations, yet the computer's simulation was now pushing past the boundaries of known astronomy.

Lirha pointed at a vacant area of space where the Latari system now existed. "Tholian historical data determines this to be our galaxy in its earliest observed form. At this age, the Sol star won't be born for another nine billion years and the Pleiades Cluster for another twelve. The first planets are thought to be almost as old as the universe...which means this predates all known scientific knowledge. Watch."

The simulation continued at a slow pace, counting a thousand years per second which seemed like an eternity on the galactic scale. "Computer, increase speed to one megaannum per second."

The ship's computer chirped then accelerated the time loop to a million years per second. A new red blip suddenly flashed within one star, then again in a different location. Then in multiple systems, as if watching a pan of popcorn burst. "Pause simulation." The displayed age of the galaxy was now a juvenile one billion years old - approximately 13 billion years ago.

"Each of these indicators," her green finger pointed to a star with a red ring now around it, "is a new planetoid forming close to its sun. These are not fully-developed planets but instead incomplete satellite bodies waiting to absorb more cosmic material. Eventually they'll turn into geothermal or geomorteous worlds...maybe Minshara class, but that won't occur for several more billion years. These are the origins of the first planets in the quadrant."

Saalm regarded the other four senior Starfleet officers. "It's here in this ancient time where the proto-Tholian lifeform evolved -- where all silicon-based life originated -- on these planetoids. Imagine a galaxy so young and so violent, with no atmospheres and surface temperatures of 500 Kelvin..." Lirha looked down to the floor and shook her head. "It created the perfect geological conditions for their kind to develop and spread. Every asteroid impact, volcanic eruption, and cosmic collision...exponentially advanced their evolution and spread their genetic material across entire solar systems."

"Do the Tholians believe they were instinctive beings in this time?" Kohl asked, trying to connect the dots in his head between the holographic representations, the proto-Tholians threatening all life today, and the reports he'd read of the Human colonist who had transformed into some proto-Tholian form of life. Finishing his question, Kohl asked, "Or is there reason to believe they were sentient? With purpose?"

"No. A much more basic life," Lirha answered. "But within another half-billion years... Computer, resume simulation." The planetarium unpaused the time loop and continued showing stars moving and birthing new worlds at an impressive rate. When the time counter hit 2.2 billion years, the program paused again.

"Here is when the first advanced form of Tholian life manifested. Sentient yet primitive - similar to the Humans' Homo habilis ancestor - yet capable of intersolar travel by ejecting their silicon spores into orbit." Lirha returned to the console Ensign Alexander was still manning and tapped at the terminal. She accessed the new classified medical data given to her by the Tholians then overlaid the visual information on a side projection.

The detailed hologram slowly rotated to reveal the most accurate depiction yet of the ancient life form. Its detailed shape and visual biology invoked instant similarities to that of modern-day Tholians, including a tall multi-sided vertical carapace containing obtuse triangular eye slits on the main face. Its crystalline honey coloration was complemented by two jointed appendages protruding from each side, similar to arms. The proto-Tholian appeared much larger and robust in form -- a crude iteration of what its ancestors would eventually evolve into. Most noticeably however, the proto-Tholian possessed no defined legs. Whereas the Tholians each stood on six limbs, their ancestor's lower body consisted of multiple silicon root-like tendrils designed to burrow deep into a planet's surface.

"This," Saalm continued, "is a proto-Tholian. The first advanced silicon-based organism, which evolved to feed exclusively on geothermal energy." She looked severely at all the assembled personnel. "To consume terrestrial planets."

Looking up to the holographic ceiling, Lirha pointed to the clusters of planetary bodies forming in select sectors of the Alpha Quadrant. "Computer, resume."

The planetarium's spatial simulation continued at a rapid pace. Hundreds of new worlds popped into existence each second amid the nebulous maelstroms, but then strangely, many of the oldest worlds started to darken on the projection. Like a slow wave, the expanding planetary population bursts continued to expand but were followed in their wake by an unrecognizable wave of geological depletion.

"Computer, pause." The projections halted in place. "What you are seeing is the propagation of proto-Tholian life, ten billion years ago. Along with the destruction left in its path." Saalm glanced to the deck plating. "The organism evolved on the surfaces of rocky worlds and consumed them from the outside - first through the crust then the mantle...eventually penetrating into the molten outer core. Like a parasite."

Allynrdra watched the presentation the bits of light sparkling off her facted eyes. "This would be an end to any such organism eventually. A bit like a virus if I may captain. The organism must find a new host to infect or it will die, if the new hosts get further apart then again the organism then dies, simple epidemiology thus such an organism would have to evolve to either consume less, go dormant until conditions improved, or evolve into something less destructive to its host," she waved a delicate hand at the paused display. "In this case various planets. So perhaps I am over thinking this but in one respect based on the term proto-Tholian, then perhaps some eventually evolved into these guests here and others perhaps then went dormant waiting to see if conditions would improve or in this case perhaps a seed or whatever form waited. Then when the remains of the ship with the device on board was either accidentally activated or whatever happened this dormant organism then reawakened thinking conditions ripe, then reproduced sending another to this world below us. I think I understand our guests use of the phrase infection now if I am thinking correctly."

Lirha curiously raised her eyebrows and regarded the chief medical officer. Warraquim's choice of vocabulary was precise but perhaps not the most diplomatic. Then again, neither had been her own description. A virus? she silently mouthed with scolding eyes.

At the back of the room, both Tholians moved forward and let out a piercing series of shrieks. The ship's computer did its best to give a broken translation -- "No. Human life...is inferior." The tips of their six-legged exoskeletons clicked angrily on the floor. More shrieks ensued. "Your evolution is the...virus."

Despite being a radically different molecular form of sentient organism, it was clear the Tholians were now agitated. Lieutenant Diego clutched his phaser rifle tightly in his hands and slowly maneuvered behind them. He didn't understand the intricacies of the planetary science theory being explained, but he sure could tell they'd said something to suddenly piss off a highly-xenophobic species.

Allyndra took the hint and said, "I was only making an observation that it is like an epidemiological process like a virus, there is no implication given nor any insult intended that any of the species here is anything like that. Especially to such a highly advanced species like the Tholians. Shall we just then continue with the problem? If I have unintentionally given an offence," she made a little curtsy, "I apologize. I am just trying to see if I am understanding the matter properly."

Not being much of a scientist herself Evry had been keeping her mouth shut for the briefing - letting those who knew what they were talking about ask the questions. But it was clear from the demeanour of their guests that this situation was getting precariously close to not being about science anymore. "We are all here in good faith." She said stepping up to just behind Galileo's medical officer in support. "None of us here want to see the destruction of our peoples and neither that of yours. In our cultures we frequently use these metaphors and comparisons to help us grasp difficult concepts." The Tellarite pointed in the direction of the simulation "Like this for example, with the scale of what we are talking about... But I assure you there is no intended judgement at all."

Kohl watched the Tholians' movement as Allyndra and Evry worked to shift the direction of the conversation. He kept his eyes on them, only glancing away to catch the point Evry was making about the simulation. Feeling Lirha's eyes on him, Kohl shrugged helplessly. All Kohl could think to say to the Tholians was the bottom line truth: "Plus... Biologically speaking, humanoid life is inferior. You're correct."

The two Tholians turned their bodies to regard each other in momentary silence. Their glowing white ocular polygons contained no discernible semblance of pupils making it difficult to interpret their interpersonal behavior or communication. One of the Tholians maneuvered its legs and re-faced the humanoids, then shrieked.

"Proceed."

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

All Crew, USS Galileo-A

Lieutenant Diego
Security Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Saalm]

CAPT Navrin
Commanding Officer
USS Kali
[PNPC Ullswater]

Captain Rasmussen
Commanding Officer
USS Lagrange
[NPC Saalm]

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