Briefing the Senior Staff

Posted on Sat Sep 12th, 2026 @ 2:38pm by Lieutenant Commander Serenity Triannth [PPC] & Lieutenant Nerinath zh'Rhilror [Lalor] & Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Captain Gary Taylor & Commander Sthilg & Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik & Commander Kyle Reece & Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Commander Rin & Legate Andrinn Orin & Lieutenant Commander N'vok Holv & Lieutenant Anna Esquivias & Lieutenant Camryn Shepard

Mission: Season 6 - Episode 8- The Price of Home
Location: Briefing Room
Timeline: MD 1 - 10h00
5674 words - 11.3 OF Standard Post Measure

Phoenix waited until the doors had closed. For a moment she said nothing. The briefing room display behind her showed Circinus. Not the sparse, uncertain map they had possessed when they first arrived. This one was crowded now. Systems had names. Borders had appeared. Trade routes crossed between worlds. Governments and territories were marked in colours that would have meant absolutely nothing to any of them eleven months ago.

Niea IV was there. Galatonian territory. The region of space occupied by the Zynari. Thaih'ea space. Seelak Station.
And, close to the centre of the display, Zyphera Prime. Phoenix looked around the table. "September." She let the word hang there for a moment. "We arrived here in September 2397." Her eyes moved briefly toward the stars displayed behind her. "Nearly eleven months ago." There was a slight pause. "I know it feels longer." A faint smile touched her lips, but it didn't last. "We've buried people here. We've nearly lost this ship more times than I particularly care to count. We've been hunted, boarded, stranded, attacked, shot at, experimented on, imprisoned and, occasionally, welcomed."

She paused. "We've made friends." Her gaze shifted briefly toward the Romulan representation at the table. "We've made enemies." A beat. "Some of those distinctions have changed more than once." Phoenix stepped closer to the display. "When we arrived, Circinus was a place we needed to escape." She touched the controls. The map expanded. "Now look at it."
Dozens of names appeared. "This isn't empty space anymore." She turned back to them. "We know people here. We know cultures. Governments. Families. People have helped us. People have died helping us."

Her expression became more serious. "And whether any of us intended it or not, we've become part of this place." Phoenix let that settle. "Which makes what I'm about to ask of you considerably more complicated." She touched the controls again. Circinus disappeared. In its place appeared six enormous rings surrounding an empty centre. EREBUS

Nobody at the table needed the written briefing explained to them again. But Phoenix wanted them to see it. "This is the first viable model we've produced for getting us closer to home." She deliberately emphasized one word. "Closer."
Phoenix looked around the table. "Not home. The current model cannot take us thirteen million light-years directly to the Milky Way. We don't know exactly where it can take us. We don't know what conditions we'll encounter during transit. We don't know how precise the exit point will be. We don't know whether biological organisms will experience effects our simulations haven't predicted."

She glanced toward the model. "We haven't built it." A pause. "We don't actually know if we can build it." Then she looked back at them. "So before anyone leaves this room and tells their department that we've found our way home..." Her voice hardened slightly. "Don't." There was no ambiguity in the word. "Give them hope. They deserve that." "But don't give them a promise we haven't earned yet." Phoenix walked slowly around the table. "For nearly a year we've been asking how to cross thirteen million light-years. The answer, apparently, is that we can't." She stopped. "Not alone." The display changed.

RIN'THAR

"The Rin'thar have the spatial mathematics."

VARN ASCENDANCY

"The Varn can generate the power."

AEL'VEN

"The Ael'ven have materials capable of surviving stresses our own materials can't."

ZYPHERAN CONCORD

"And the Zypherans can make technologies that were never designed to work together stop trying to tear one another apart." Then another name appeared in the centre.

USS ELYSIUM

"We have the Thaih'ea telemetry. Federation science. Slipstream research. Romulan knowledge. Borg transwarp information." She regarded the collection of names. "None of them can build Erebus. And neither can we." A small pause.
"Together?" Phoenix looked toward the holographic gate. "We might." There was that word again. Might. She wasn't going to hide it from them. "That's why we're here. The summit is not about convincing four governments to help a lost Federation ship. If that's how we approach this, we've already failed." Phoenix changed the display. The gate remained, but Circinus appeared behind it. "A functioning Erebus changes this galaxy. Trade routes that currently take months could take days. Colonies that are isolated by distance might no longer be isolated. Resources become accessible. Borders change. Exploration changes. Military strategy changes." She looked around the room. "And eventually, if the technology develops far enough, Circinus and the Milky Way might cease to be isolated from each other entirely." That silence was heavier. "So we're not asking these governments to build our road home. We're asking them to build a road that will still be here after we're gone."

Phoenix folded her arms. "And that means we don't get to pretend the consequences stop being our responsibility the moment *Elysium* goes through it." The display changed again. More territories appeared. "The four governments at this summit are the ones we need." She indicated the others. "They are not the only ones who will care."

LONIAN HOUSES.

Phoenix's expression tightened slightly. "I'm not going to tell you what our relationship with Lonia is. I don't think any of us knows yet. But after Niea IV, we should assume they're watching us." She looked around the table. "And I want something very clear. The Lonians are not one government with one opinion. What Lady Sama did does not automatically make every Lonian our enemy. But neither are we going to pretend that Operation Sunrise, the removal of Teevs and Kerilia, and the deaths of two hundred and forty-eight people aboard that frigate simply disappear because we left the system."
Another region illuminated.

GALATONIANS.

"If they learn what Erebus can do, they'll want it." Her expression hardened. "We know what Galatonians do with access to vulnerable populations. They turn people into prey. Erebus in their hands isn't a road. It's a hunting corridor."

Then: THAIH'EA.

Phoenix stopped. "They concern me most. They've already had this technology. Something close enough that we're using their data to build ours. And we already know they were willing to destroy one of their own structures rather than allow someone else to take it." She looked directly around the table. "Someone on Zyphera Prime is searching for information about Thaih'ea transit technology. We don't know who. We don't know why. We don't know whether the Thaih'ea themselves know what we're doing." A beat. "I'd very much like to keep it that way for as long as possible." Phoenix touched the controls. The map became crowded. Smaller governments. Trade organisations. Independent systems. Unidentified territories. "Then there are all of these. People we've never met. Governments we've never heard of. Merchants. Corporations. Intelligence organisations. Criminals. Some will look at Erebus and see money. Some will see exploration. Some will see freedom. Some will see a weapon." She turned the display off. The room suddenly seemed smaller without the holograms. "So here's what I need from you." Phoenix rested both hands against the back of an empty chair. "I don't need thirteen department heads telling me this is a wonderful idea. I need you doing your jobs. If Science thinks the physics are wrong, I want to hear it. If Engineering thinks the thing is going to explode, I want to hear it. If Medical thinks going through it will liquefy everyone's organs, I would particularly like to hear that before we switch it on. There was the faintest trace of humour in her voice. "If Flight Control tells me nobody can actually fly a ship through the damned thing, we don't fly through it. If Operations says we can't build it with the resources available, we find another way. If Security or the Marines believe the construction site can't be defended, we don't put thousands of people somewhere we can't protect them. If Intelligence finds someone is inside this project who shouldn't be, tell me. If Counselling tells me this crew is falling apart because we've allowed possibility to become expectation, I want to know. If the Diplomatic Corps tells me the agreement we're considering will start a war five years after we've gone home..."

She paused. "Then that's our problem too." Her eyes travelled around the table. "And if any one of you thinks **I'm** wrong..." That earned a longer pause. "Tell me." Phoenix straightened. "I mean that. Don't look around this table and decide everyone else seems convinced, so you should be too. We didn't survive nearly a year in Circinus by agreeing with each other." A tiny smile. "God knows we haven't spent much time doing that." Then she became serious again. "We survived because people spoke when something wasn't right. Keep doing it." Phoenix moved toward the windows. Zyphera Prime filled much of the view beyond them. Beautiful. Impossible. Full of people who had no idea what the Federation was about to ask of them. "There's one other thing." She turned. "If we succeed, I do not intend to hand Erebus to the Federation." That statement she allowed to sit. "Nor the Varn. Nor the Rin'thar. Nor the Ael'ven. Nor the Zypherans. No single government gets to own this. I don't know what the alternative looks like yet. That's one of the reasons we're having a summit. But I will not spend nearly a year trying to get this crew home only to leave behind a machine that lets one government dominate everyone else." Phoenix looked back at the station.

"We came here because we want to leave. That's the irony of this. We're about to involve ourselves in possibly the biggest political and technological project Circinus has seen in generations...because we don't want to live here." She gave a quiet breath of laughter. "The universe has an interesting sense of humour." Then she faced them fully. "We have survived since September because this crew has done impossible things. We repaired an Odyssey-class starship on an ice world." We've survived the Thaih'ea. We've survived the Zynari. We've survived the Galatonians. We've lost people. We've found people. We've watched another ship die protecting us. We've made mistakes. I've made mistakes." That admission came without hesitation. "And we're still here." Her gaze moved from face to face. "So I'm asking you for one more impossible thing. Help me convince four governments that don't trust each other — and don't necessarily trust us — to build something none of us can build alone. Help me make sure nobody steals it. Help me make sure nobody turns it into a weapon. Help me make sure it actually works." She paused. "And when the time comes..."A small smile finally appeared. "...help me get this ship through it." Phoenix picked up the PADD she had left on the table. "Your departments have their individual briefing packets. Use them. Give your people things to do. I don't want this summit happening around the crew while senior staff handles everything. This is their way home too. Let them be part of finding it." She glanced toward the doors.

"The summit hasn't formally started yet. That gives us time. Meet the delegations. Learn. Listen. Find the problems before they become crises. And please..." Phoenix looked around the table one final time. "...try not to start a war before the opening session." A beat. "After that, apparently, it's on the schedule." The smile returned briefly. "Questions?"

"If no one government controls it, then how do we protect it once we're gone? If we can even get this to work, these governments will be at each other's throats for control. We should implement a fail safe that will destroy the device once we use it," Naxea offered.

"And if we destroy it, how will that decision affect the lives of the innocent after we are gone?" Kyle asked quietly from his place at Phoenix's left. "The ones who worked long hours gathering the raw materials, refining them, transporting them to the site, then building the installation? There is a very good chance that a project of this size could force any number of these governments to have to alter how their own resources are distributed among their own people." He glanced around the table, and asked, "How could we call ourselves advanced and civilized, if we knowingly chose, for the whole galaxy, to destroy the installation after we leave, and make all of their sacrifices for naught?"

N'vok had watched and made notes throughout the discussion. "If we build it and then destory it on our way out, that would turn allies into enemies. More importantly, it would not destroy the information that allowed for the creation of the technology. If we go forward with this project, we are creating a technology that will spread slowly or quickly and will create changes we cannot predict." He looked to Phoenix. "The Federation Council will not thank you for this."

"My worry would be the Thaih'eans. Once they learn that someone is trying to replicate the technology they use, they will use all of the force at their disposal to stop it," N'vok concluded.

" Before we decide on anything, I would like to run sssome sssimulationsss on what the transit could do to the crew." Sthilg added. As anxious to get home as he was he still had a job to do.

Alicia gazed at her father, they both had the job of looking after the health and welfare of the crew, anything that affected them physically would also affect them mentally.

"I know that you said something about it only going so far and not being able to make the trip all the way back to the Milky Way. But, do we know yet how far we're thinking it might take us? I can't remember if you hit on that yet or not?" Andrinn asked as he looked over at Lalor.

Phoenix listened without interrupting, her gaze moving from one officer to the next as each concern was raised. When the room fell quiet again, she rested both hands on the table and considered them for a moment.

“Naxea’s point is exactly why this can’t be treated as simply an engineering project,” she began. “A failsafe may be necessary. I would be surprised if we got through design review without several of them. But a self-destruct is not the same thing as a governance plan.” Her eyes shifted toward Kyle. “And Kyle is right. If entire governments redirect industry, resources, labour and political capital into building Erebus, we cannot use it and then decide, unilaterally, that none of them deserve the benefit of what they helped create. That would make us exactly what some of them already fear we are — outsiders who arrive, take what we need, and leave everyone else with the bill.” Phoenix straightened slightly.

“So no, I am not authorising a plan where Elysium simply destroys Erebus behind us because that is convenient for us.” She glanced toward N’vok. “And yes. The information is the larger issue.” The holographic model of the six rings rotated slowly behind her.

“Once we prove this works, even once, Erebus stops being a single installation. It becomes knowledge. Designs get copied. Principles get reverse-engineered. People improve it. People steal parts of it. People build cheaper versions, more dangerous versions, military versions, commercial versions.”

A faint grimace crossed her face.“And I am under no illusion that Starfleet Command or the Federation Council will be thrilled to discover that one of their missing ships has spent eleven months helping create intergalactic transit infrastructure without asking permission first.”

There was just enough dryness in her voice to make clear she was aware of exactly how absurd that future conversation might be. “But they are thirteen million light-years away. We are here. The consequences are here. We make the best decision we can with the people who will actually have to live with it.” Her expression hardened again at N’vok’s final point.

“The Thaih’ea worry me too.” Phoenix turned back toward the map and brought their region of space into view. “If they learn what Erebus is before we have political support, construction security and some idea of how to defend it, then we may never get the opportunity to find out whether the design works. And I don’t believe for a second that they would regard this as harmless scientific curiosity.”

She looked toward Rin and Kyle in turn. “That makes information control one of our highest priorities. Not secrecy for secrecy’s sake. We are already past the point where this can be completely secret. But we control what is known, when it is known, and who receives technical details.”

Then she turned toward Sthilg. “Doctor, run every simulation you can devise.” There was no hesitation. “Neurological effects, cellular damage, temporal displacement, radiation exposure, subspace stress, reproductive effects, long-duration consequences — everything. Assume the simulations are wrong until we have enough evidence to believe otherwise.”

She gave him a small, knowing look. “And if your conclusion is that going through Erebus turns all of us into soup, I promise you I will take that under advisement.”

The faint humour lingered for only a second before Phoenix looked to Andrinn. “As for how far it gets us…” She activated the gate model again. A long-range projection appeared beside it, showing Circinus, then a broad arc of uncertain space beyond.

“We don’t know yet.” Phoenix let that answer stand before elaborating. “The current simulations consistently show that a direct Circinus-to-Milky-Way transit is not stable. The geometry collapses long before we reach thirteen million light-years.”

She adjusted the projection. “What we do have are several possible exit bands.”

Broad regions appeared rather than a precise destination. “The best models suggest Erebus could move us a very significant distance closer to the Milky Way. Potentially enough to turn an impossible journey into a survivable one.”

She looked around the table. “But I am deliberately not putting a number on that yet, because we don’t have one I trust.”

Another adjustment highlighted a broad unknown region. “And there is another problem. Distance is not the only variable. We have incomplete information about what lies between here and home. An exit point that is mathematically closer but leaves us stranded in hostile space, dead space, or somewhere without usable resources is not necessarily an improvement.”

Phoenix folded her arms. “So the next phase is not simply ‘how far can Erebus throw us?’” Her eyes moved briefly toward Flight Control and Science. “It is ‘where can Erebus put us that gives Elysium the best chance of completing the journey?’”

She let the hologram fade slightly. “That distinction matters.” Phoenix looked back toward the group as a whole. “And all of you have just demonstrated why I wanted this conversation before the summit began.”

She gestured toward the table. “We already have four different problems and we haven’t built a single component.”

A slight smile appeared. "Ownership. Ethics. Information proliferation. Thaih’ea intervention. Medical safety. Navigation.”

She corrected herself. “Six.” Then her expression settled into something more serious. “So this is what we do next.”

Phoenix looked to Naxea and Kyle first. “Security, Marines and Diplomacy begin drafting possible governance and protection models. Not just who owns Erebus, but who can activate it, who inspects it, what happens if one signatory breaks the agreement, and under what circumstances the installation can be disabled.” She paused to take breath.

“Science works with Engineering and Intelligence on technological containment. I want to know what components can be independently controlled, what knowledge genuinely needs to be shared, and what parts of the design we can prevent any single faction from possessing in full. Medical begins biological transit modelling immediately. Diplomatic Corps starts talking to the delegations before the formal session. Quietly. I want to know what each of them thinks Erebus is for before we tell them what we think it is for.”

Phoenix looked around the table again. “And Intelligence starts pulling apart every rumour already circulating on Zyphera Prime. Especially anything involving Thaih’ea transit research.”

She paused. “One more thing.” The model of Erebus remained suspended behind her. “N’vok is right about something else.” Her voice became quieter. "If we build this, we do not get to control what happens forever.”

Phoenix looked toward the rings. “We can establish safeguards. We can build agreements. We can try to make misuse difficult.”

Then back to them. “But the moment we create this technology, Circinus changes.” She drew a slow breath. “So our responsibility is not to guarantee nobody ever does something terrible with Erebus.”

A beat. “Our responsibility is to make damned certain we don’t design the terrible thing into it ourselves.” Phoenix picked up her PADD again. “And that means every objection you have just raised stays on the table.”
She glanced toward Andrinn with a faint smile. “For now, Legate, the official answer to ‘how far can it take us?’ is…” Phoenix looked briefly at the impossible distance projected beyond the station.

“Far enough that we have to try. ”Then her expression softened. “But not far enough that I’m packing my bags yet.”

Gary had been silent as first Phoenix spoke and then others joined in. After the last exchange he decided to speak up. "I think anything we can get out of this is a plus and brings us days if not weeks or months closer to getting home."

"Yet, it is obviously possible for such a technology to reach the Milky Way," said N'vok, he paused and started tapping something into his datapad. "Permission to access all interviews with Thaih’ean captives. Something occurs to me, but I will have to do more research to confirm."

“I’ll assist my father with his simulations” Alicia added. “Anything physical inherently has links with mental welfare, I need to be sure what effects this could have on the mental welfare of the crew. Getting home quickly is obviously a giant matter, but not at the risk of any long term damage.”

Phoenix nodded. "Crew briefings are being sent out to all crew, civilians everyone. I want them read and I want you all to make sure your teams know what is going on, and no one is to make promises we cannot keep."

Rin leaned back in her chair, setting down the PaDD she had been flipping through. "What are each of these major powers hoping to gain? We can't control what they eventually do with it, But what are their initial hopes? What brought them here to consider the plan in the first place? Science? Trade? Military? We know our goal. What are theirs?"

Phoenix gave Rin a small nod. It was, perhaps, the most important question that had been asked yet. “That,” she said, “is what I want us to understand before anyone starts negotiating.” She touched the controls again. The four names returned to the display.

RIN’THAR

“The Rin’thar are probably the easiest to understand on the surface. Security. Survival. Their territory has already suffered because of the Thaih’ea, and distance has always limited how quickly they can move forces, supplies or civilians. Erebus could change that.” Phoenix paused. “But don't mistake that for them simply wanting a military highway. A transit network could allow them to evacuate threatened populations as easily as reinforce a fleet. It could reconnect isolated settlements. It could make another harvesting operation considerably harder to carry out without someone being able to respond.” She looked toward the next name.

VARN ASCENDANCY

“The Varn see opportunity.” There was the faintest hint of amusement in her expression. “Keth Varn did not come here because he suddenly developed a burning desire to help a Federation starship get home.” Phoenix expanded the Varn section of the display. “They have power-generation technology we need. They know it. If Erebus succeeds using Varn architecture, then every future gate based on our design potentially needs Varn expertise, Varn components, Varn maintenance, or Varn licensing.” She looked at Rin. “They don't necessarily need to own Erebus if they can make everyone dependent upon them to operate it.” Another name illuminated.

AEL’VEN ENCLAVE

“The Ael’ven are different. I don't think their first concern is what they gain.” Phoenix considered that for a moment. “They're asking what everyone else might lose.” She brought up the Ael’ven contribution. “They know their materials may be essential to keeping the aperture stable. That gives them influence, and they're using that influence to ask questions about safeguards. Civilian access. Refugees. Independent inspection. Who gets excluded. Whether a military power can close the road to everyone else.”
Phoenix folded her arms. “They're interested in whether Erebus can exist without becoming another mechanism by which powerful governments decide the future of smaller ones.” Then the final name.

ZYPHERAN CONCORD

“The Zypherans are perhaps the most complicated.” Behind the name appeared Zyphera Prime. “They're traders. Diplomats. Mediators. A functioning transit network could make Zyphera Prime one of the most important crossroads in Circinus.” Phoenix gestured toward the station beyond the windows. “Trade alone could transform this place.” Her expression became thoughtful. “But I don't think that's what worries their leadership most. They understand what happens the day after Erebus works.” She changed the display. Trade routes spread outward from the gate. “Borders that were protected by distance aren't protected anymore. A government that took three months to reach its neighbour might suddenly be three days away. Refugees can move differently. Armies can move differently. Markets change. Supply chains change. Entire systems that survived because nobody could conveniently reach them may discover that inconvenience was their best defence.”

Phoenix let the altered map remain. “So the Concord wants governance. Rules. Neutral access. Something that stops Erebus from becoming the possession of whichever government happens to have the largest fleet sitting beside it.” She looked back at Rin.

“And then there are the people who aren't sitting at this table.” The hologram expanded again. Smaller systems appeared around the four major participants. “Some want trade. Some want access to technology. Some want protection. Some are terrified that we're about to make their strategic isolation disappear. Some will want to make money from it. And I'm quite certain there are people on this station who haven't decided what they want yet because they're still trying to work out exactly what Erebus is.”

Phoenix paused. “Which is why I don't want us walking into those conversations assuming everyone shares our definition of success.” Her gaze travelled around the table. “For us, success is obvious.” The Milky Way appeared far beyond Circinus. “Home.” She looked back at the four names. “For the Rin’thar, success may mean never being helpless against the Thaih’ea again. For the Varn, it may mean becoming technologically indispensable. For the Ael’ven, it may mean proving something this powerful can be governed ethically. For the Zypherans, it may mean preventing Erebus from destabilising the very region it connects.”

Phoenix glanced toward Rin again. “And those are only our assessments. I don't want them treated as facts.” She pointed toward the station. “That's why I want you talking to them.” A slight smile appeared. “Find out what they actually want. Not what their diplomatic briefing says they want. Not what we think they should want.”

The smile faded. “What are they afraid of? What would make them walk away? What are they unwilling to surrender? And most importantly…” Phoenix looked around the table. “What price do they expect us to pay for their cooperation?” She allowed that question to linger before glancing toward N’vok. “As for your request, approved. Coordinate with Intelligence and access the Thaih’ea interview records we have. Anything involving transit structures, aperture technology, navigation, abandoned installations or gate operations gets flagged.” Her gaze shifted to Alicia. “And work with Sthilg. I want the psychological modelling treated as part of the transit-safety assessment, not something we consider afterward. We have already experienced enough phenomena in Circinus that affect perception, memory and behaviour for me to take that risk seriously.” Then she looked around the entire table once more. “Gary is right about one thing. Even if Erebus only removes months from whatever journey remains, that matters.” She took a breath.

“But Rin's question is the one I want everyone carrying out of this room.” Phoenix looked toward the four names glowing above the table. “We know why we need Erebus.” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Now find out why they do.” She picked up her PADD. “And if their answer sounds too good…” A small smile returned. “…keep asking questions.”

Once Andrinn's question, he nodded and smiled softly. He also heard the stuff about the talking to the various delegations. Seeing what they thought the device would basically be used for. Who could do what. When. All that. How to make sure that nobody basically got total control of it and left anyone else out of it.

"Something we could do too is if we wanted to make sure it's not being used by just one species or group is maybe almost have like a council made up of the various coalitions or something, maybe? Just throwing my diplomatic chops out a little bit and thinking out loud here. But, if we could get the various groups together, maybe we could have them bring like two or three people to a council and say, 'Hey! We need to use it for X, Y, or Z. What say ye? I don't know yet. I've got thoughts and need to flesh them out," Andrinn said as he put some commands into the PADD he brought with him to the meeting.

Camryn studied the holo, taking her notes. Keeping quiet, she listened to the senior staff as they discussed the next steps. The gate process seemed interesting. She added, "About the gate, do we have enough materials for this? I'd like to be a part of any negotiations if to add my input."

Looking over the information on her datapad, she noted the intricate workings of the Hall of Mirrors. It sounded fascinating.

"A comment rather than a question," Rin said. "The Commodore mentioned the example of what to do if we have concerns the agreement will cause a war in five years. Obviously, we address concerns, just as every party to this meeting will. And we should act in good faith. But some problems are far more likely than others, and we are not in the business of predicting the future. Will this project cause strife? Yes. Absolutely yes. New technology always does, particularly on this scale. This project will shift balances of power. Do not tell yourself otherwise. But you know what else shifted balances of power? The formation of the Federation. The Federation has had some pretty dark days, but overall it's netted a lot more good than ill."

Rin continued: "New technology also brings benefit, potentially a lot of benefit. Ultimately, the risk versus reward decisions are in the hands of the individual powers. Facilitating diplomacy and cooperation is one thing. Deciding not to go through with the project because we think it might not be in another power's best interest...at some point General Order 1 applies."

"As far as what the Federation's opinion with be," Rin added. "I think they'll be less concerned with what is developed in Circinus and more concerned with the Romulans acquiring this technology." She gave a slight smile as she nodded toward the Romulan at the table. "Which, to be clear, is not a suggestion we don't share it. Merely that I think that is the issue we should expect to be most questioned about."

"I think my biggest question and something we'll have to work on diplomatically and with the people involved is that shift, like Rin said. I know we can't predict everything? But, maybe we can make sure the shift of power isn't a negative one. It's something that can outlast even us or the Federation," Andrinn said.

N'vok nodded. "I will pull in all the science personnel and inform them of the situation and we will pool our observations and suggestions moving forward."

Olmex, as the senior Romulan aboard, sat at the far end of the table, where a visiting dignitary would be. He had been listening to the whole discussion with interest. To get home was a very addictive thought. He also agreed with what the senior staff had said. When everyone finished speaking, he added his voice to the mix. "What the Commander said is a valid point. Back home, our two governments are not full allies. After the Dominion War ended, the politicians, on both sides of our border, made mistakes, and the rift between us resumed, though, not as wide as it once was. There is much to be said about the bond that forms between two people, when they bleed together against a common foe."

He lifted his glass of ice water and tok a sip, before setting it down and continuing. "If it meets with yoyr approval, Commodore, once the time comes for thr Elysium to use the complex to begin the trip home, as a sign of my loyalty to you and your crew, I will remain behind, as a representative, not just of the Romulan Empire, but the entire Milky Way Galaxy. I will continue to carry on the work that we start here, with the new....Circinus Federation....and do everything in my power to ensure that the technology dies not fall into the wrong hands."

Phoenix studied him. “We cross that bridge when we come to it. That said, I do not want to leave anyone behind, Political considerations or not.” She looked around. "Everyone get to your departments. And good luck,"

OFF