And there is the spanner

Posted on Mon Jan 14th, 2019 @ 8:30am by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Captain Gary Taylor & Consul Toran - Son of Thopok House of Thopak & Lieutenant Wynter

Mission: Season 2: Episode 3: Determination is not always a good thing
Location: USS Elysium- Captains ready room
Timeline: MD5 08h00 - Ship side time
1376 words - 2.8 OF Standard Post Measure

IC: Phoenix's Ready Room

Gary sat in one chair directly in front of Phoenix's desk. Jess sat in another to his left. They were there to discuss the incident at the spaceport and the attempted hijacking of the freighter.

"Captain," Gary began "These people are scared. They are scared of us and their absolutely scared and distrustful of their government. They fill they have been lied to and are being kept in the dark about the relief efforts. In fact they lump us with their government in not being high on their trust list."

Jessica spoke. "I managed to get a good taste of their emotions boss. I sensed a great amount of desperation combined with fear, and it isn't just recent. This kind of fear has been brewing for a long time. Boss, something else is going on here, and it just isn't the planet. We leave this place, it will be Turkana IV all over again.""

Gary nodded in support of Jess's statement. "Their almost in fact I think some are sowing signs of borderline paranoia."

"So suggestions?" Phoenix said softly. "I have teams down there looking into the earthquakes and teams of medical and security helping survivors... What are your suggestions and thoughts?"

"I would think we need to talk to the government leaders, hold their feet to the fire so to speak and see if we can find out the reason(s) for all this distrust." Gary replied decisively.

"And while we do that?" Phoenix asked. "What do we do about the crews planet side?"

Jess spoke. "If we withdrawal the relief teams, we confirm the distrust and paranoia that is gripping these people. If we keep them down there, we risk the situation boiling over again when they see a Starfleet Uniform. There's just no way to win here."

"We have to make the best of a bad situation. Unfortunately our people on the ground are right in the line of fire should violence break out." Gary added somberly.

Phoenix stood and with one hand she slapped the comm. "Lieutenant Wynter to the captain's Ready room. Commander Toran to the Captain's Ready room" with Lia planetside, Phoenix chose the two officers she believed would be of most help. She looked at the two in front of her. "Send more security down there, dressed in medical colors. I want all personnel armed, hidden if needed and the guards on the gates doubled commander. I am going to get our chief intelligence officer and chief diplomat in here and the 5 of us are going to work out a plan."

"Right away Captain." Gary answered, The weapons will have to be hidden if they go down as medical personnel. They will have to be armed with just standard phasers as anything will draw attention.'' As he finished talking to Phoenix, he tapped his com and issued orders for more security to beam to the planet's surface dressed as medical personnel as well at guards at the gates to be doubled. When he finished he looked back at the Captain. "Done." He said simply.

Toran hauled himself out of his chair where he had been reading and started to head to the door taping his com badge. "Toran here ,On my way Captain." He made the short talk down to the turbolift and then up one level and to the bridge, then to the door of the ready room. Coming in right after Winter did.

Wynter entered a moment later. "You summoned me Captain?"

Phoenix nodded and waved the two to seats. "Gentlemen we have a problem on the surface which is likely to blow up. Commander Taylor, please brief them."

Gary turned in his seat to face the two newcomers. "A short while ago there was an attempt to hijack a freighter at the spaceport. Lt. Vaii and I were successful in preventing that. However as we were telling the Captain, the hijackers had no political agenda, no cause they wanted to get recognition for. This was something all together different. They were scared. Scared of staying on the planet. Scared of their own government, They were desperate to leave the planet so much so they attempted a hijacking. Moreso this feeling has been building for a long time. Gentleman something is amiss on the planet."

Toran seamed to think for a moment, his mind going to his own vocation. "Are there any thoughts or possibilities of actually requests for asylum or granting it? Even temporarily housing people in a third party location like a Civilian ship in orbit?.. I know the only offer of help I could get from the empire was a few ore freighters, but that might help in the short term" He knew that, that ideal also came with a entire collection of complications. "It's not ideal, but if we fear open violence, it might help to stave it off for a while."

Gary spoke again. "I'll go with the Ambassador. The ship can function without it's XO. Hopefully no one will find us tempting targets."

Wynter shook his head briefly. "We don't need a mess in orbit, or on the ground. I know we seem to already have this, the question is why." He paused for a minute. " Why are they fleeing is it persecution, or something else perhaps something worse. What is this something. If they are as scared of as said why risk this what is it that has them so spooked. Violence is a risk and a serious issue, and we need to avoid it, but until we know more that maybe the least of the issues."

Jessica spoke. "Before we go and bring more ships to this planet, we need to figure out the playing field here. We know who the planetary government is, but we need to know who the other players are. If Qortic VI's government is corrupt, there will be people opposing it."


"Jess is right." Gary spoke from his place. "We need to know who all the players are and we can't do that without a scorecard so to speak. Who is actually in charge? Who are just figureheads or yes men? We need to speak with the decision makers, right now their nameless and faceless."

Phoenix took a breath. "Then that means the Ambassador and I will need to go down there personally."

"Are you sure that's wise Captain? Especially with what we've been seeing among the local population? And how they feel about their government. Those same feelings of distrust might also be direct that anyone they think is associated with their elected officials." Gary observed.

Wynter listened for a moment or two before looking at the captain. " I do not believe it is wise for you to go to the surface at this time. We need more information before that would be deemed prudent."

Toran gave a slight nod. "While I trust in your judgement captain. They may have a point, sending down the captain might be a bit much. But I of coarse support your call on the matter also."

Phoenix crossed her arms. "Sending the captain shows we are serious and want this resolved and that we are here to help them all."

Wynter looked at Phoenix squarely. "Or a high value hostage. There is just to much we don't know at this time Captain. I should have more information in the next 24 to 48 hours."

"Do you think the situation down there will be stable for that period of time?" Phoenix asked carefully.

Wynter shrugged. "To be honest I cannot say, I need this time to evaluate and then hopefully I can advise better, but at the moment this situation is in flux."

"Is there anything I can do for you, Lieutenant?" Jess noted. "Because we can't sit around and let the situation stay in flux. Maybe we can get some civ clothing on, go planetside, and find out what's wrong with this planet. Even some of the local rumors will have a hint of truth."

"At this time Lieutenant, no. I have a bit more information to crunch before we send an Intel team planetside. I will let you know in a few hours." Winter replied.


OFF

((http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Turkana_IV))