Mission: Death of the Deathless (USS Octavia E Butler)
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The USS Octavia E Butler has been ordered to the Koreli system, a nonaligned, binary star system in the Kissoben Reach nearest to the United Dominion of Planets sphere of influence. Even so, this is not the first time the Koreli system has been of interest -- the system's indigenous sapient species, the Danni, live on Koreli IV and applied for status as a Federation protectorate about two years ago, a few months after the disappearance of the Caboto, although they withdrew that request about a year ago. Commodore V'Airu informed me that Starfleet had meant to follow up, but the matter wasn't pressing until recently: Starfleet received an invitation to Koreli IV, but not from the Danni. Instead, the invitation came from a Zet, Ma’det’ain’ths’ng’in’Grend, warlord and monarch of the subjugated world. Normally, we would have nothing to do with him, apart from assisting in his deposition, but this King Ma’det’ain’ths’ng’in’Grend had the gall to ask for our help.
I did not believe it when I received orders to ship out, but Commodore V'Airu assured me that we're not going there to help Ma’det’ain’ths’ng’in’Grend. Instead, we are to help the Danni -- covertly, if possible -- as well as to learn why Ma’det’ain’ths’ng’in’Grend would ask us for assistance. Moreover, Ma’det’ain’ths’ng’in’Grend appeared to belong to a Zet cult or sect known as the "Deathless," and the commodore believes it may be possible that both the Danni and the "Deathless" Zet are being confined by other Zet. She didn't come out and say so, but I suspect the commodore may be interested in making inroads with any Zet faction that opposes their ongoing expansion, which these Deathless may.
I will lead a diplomatic team to the surface of Koreli IV myself, and I've selected Colonel Greaves, Commander Moydol, Lieutenant Saa, and our newly appointed diplomatic officer Lieutenant Nilsen to accompany me. There, I hope that we will be able to speak directly with Ma’det’ain’ths’ng’in’Grend -- although I hope too to make contacts among the Danni. However, that may best be left to a second team that has been approved for a surface visit, to be led by Lieutenant Richards. This team will visit Maiton, a mining town of about 15,000 people -- at least prior to the Zet arrival. He'll supervise a team that includes Lieutenants Herrick, Maxwell, and Salo, the lattermost of whom is standing in as chief medical officer of mental health, just as Moydol took the last-minute posting as chief of physical health, after Lieutenant Toz was recalled. We should prepare for slightly unsual conditions, because although Koreli IV is an M-class world, its gravity is 1.2 time Earth standard and its parent stars are quite a bit more luminous.
Commander Promontory will lead a shipboard team to assemble all information available on the Deathless and the situation at Koreli. He'll be assisted by Commander Katsim and Lieutenants Kessler, Forsyth, and Lahl. Their immediate goals will be to collate all recent developments with the Zet, synthesize all knowledge regarding the Deathless and the Danni, and pull any relevant background on Ma’det’ain’ths’ng’in’Grend.
Finally, we have been experiencing some bizarrely elevated data transfer rates among several shipboard systems, including power distribution and communications subsystems. While this may have a simple explanation, I've asked Commander Arlill to lead a multidisciplinary team that includes Lieutenants Yinn, Caras, and Nis to determine if this is indicative of a larger problem.
We arrived at Koreli IV about three hours ago, and I have only to report to Transporter Room 1 to begin the investigation. I will update as necessary and as I can.
End log.
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- Lieutenant Commander Moydol, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Physical Health
- Lieutenant Nesre Salo, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Mental Health
- Second Lieutenant Ithri Sh'shelor, Marine Intelligence Officer
- Da’ni’Grend, son of Ma’det’ain’ths’ng’in’Grend (self-imposed ruler of Koreli IV and now deceased)
- Toal’Dius, rival of Da’ni’Grend
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| Summary |
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Act I
The Octavia E Butler has been ordered to the Koreli system, a non-aligned, binary star system in the Kissoben Reach, and home to Koreli IV where an indigenous sapient species called the Danni live. A couple of years prior, they had requested admittance into the Federation, only to withdraw a year later when a Zet, Ma’det’ain’ths’ng’in’Grend, turned warlord and declared himself monarch of the subjugated world. Now, he has requested assistance from the Federation, and while the Butler answers the call, the hope is not to help him, but the Danni it in secret and see if there are ways to create a more positive relationship with the Zet at the same time.
Diplomacy with a Dictator
Captain Rouiancet, Colonel Greaves, Commander Moydol and Lieutenant JG Saa head to Koreli IV to discuss matters with Ma’det’ain’ths’ng’in’Grend. As they gather in the transporter room, Transporter Chief Isslai passes along a message that Ma’det’ain’ths’ng’in’Grend is dead and they will instead be meeting with an ‘interim monarch’ by the name of Toal'Dius. Nilsen points out that the new monarch has not been ‘reborn’ as much as the other, and usually the deathless rehusk, which means that Grend did not get the opportunity to do so and thus perished. He warns them that a younger, less experienced monarch might be more unpredictable. Greaves agrees and cautions that security will likely be heightened and they’ll be under a lot of scrutiny. Saa also agrees and notes that delay could be seen as an insult, but suggests if they can get access to the body, that Commander Moydol performs a scan to try and determine the cause of death. Moyal agrees and indicates he’s ready to go to the surface.
The group beams to the audience chamber, and Rouiancet gives a respectful greeting and introduces everyone before asking about their initial invitation from Toal’Dius’ predecessor. Nilsen asks if they are in a state of mourning after the passing of the former king. Toal’Dius indicates they are moving forward and lets them know his brother thinks they would be helpful as a shield because other Zet have their eyes on the planet. Saa tries to establish a rapport with the king and mentions a common habit among Federation species of a viewing of the deceased so those in mourning can pay their respects. Toal’Dius realises they think he killed his brother and mentions the assistance they offered. Greaves willingly offers to help coordinate Starfleet assistance where needed and offers to go to the site to see what they can do. Greaves, Moydol, and Saa all take the opportunity to see how they can help while Rouiancet remains behind with Moydol to continue speaking with the king. Before he leaves, Greaves withdraws a hidden type I palm phaser and secretly passes it to Captain Rouiancet by shaking her hand, ‘just in case’.
Taking Rouiancet and Moydol into the rebirthing room, they see the body of a Zet in a vat, tiny fish nibbling at his flesh, and Toal’Dius informs them they are witnessing a sacred event. He further explains under normal circumstances, Grend’s essence would be removed and placed in a new husk, but his essence was damaged. He also informs them that they do mourn, even the Deathless, but it is foolish to waste a life over the death of another. Moydol scans the body and indicates he’s found something akin to a katra but has nowhere to go - and it’s as if a ghost is haunting someone. Riouancet offers to help finish the rehusking process, but Toal’Dius says they’ve lost too many datapoints to accomplish it.
Chief Reeve enters and asks to speak to the king privately. They step to the side and the king is shown a video of Greaves passing Rouiancet a small, easily hidden weapon, which he finds distasteful. Reeve says he’ll send in security, but Toal’Dius tells him not yet.
While the king talks to his aide, Moydol runs a scan and notes other materials and machines haven’t been touched, which makes him doubt that they even tried the rehusking process. Returning to the officers, the king tells them he received security information from his homeland but doesn’t give details and states it’s all encoded. Moydol mentions the Federation has excellent decoding abilities and Rouiancet tells him they’ll have to go back to the OEB to be able to help. As things turn sinister, both officers try to find a mutually beneficial solution, but Rouiancet contacts Greaves. Unfortunately, the connection won’t connect and Rouiancet orders that they be restored and seeks a way of escape, but though Toal’Dius insists they aren’t hostages, he also tells them the makeup of the room blocks their transporters. When they claim to be there for peaceful purposes, he points out that Rouiancet has a weapon and they plan to take the planet away from him. He states they either agree to a contract or work under him with fewer benefits. Either way, if the other Zet get a hold of the planet, their access to the Kissoben reach would be in jeopardy.
Unwilling to take any deal offered by Toal’Dius, Rouiancet takes the phaser and puts it on maximum, then blasts the door, which melts it enough for her to open it, leaving her and Moydol free to leave. Unfortunately, Toal’Dius tells his guards to take them, and Rouiancet and Moydol are dragged through the palace and thrown in jail.
To Kaej and Back
Greaves, Nilsen, and Saa head out ot the site of recent floods to see how they can assist the Danni. Stepping outside, Nilsen updates Promontory on what they discovered and says they’ll activate the Operations Center to help with relief efforts from the flood. Saa asks if they know how the Zet viewed the former king. After the call, she suspects the flood's timing was not coincidental. She wonders if other Zet are trying to devalue the land to make it worthless to the king and force him to sell it at a much cheaper price. While trying to figure out what about the world makes Koreli IV valuable to the Zet, Greaves had noticed some Zet earlier and realized that one is missing. He points them out to his companions and suspects the Zet are tailing them. With a couple of options, including visiting the flooded town, Nilsen suggests they try to connect with the local Zet government in Kaej, where they are planning to move supplies to the flooded town, and notes if the Zet they saw show up, then they know it’s a tail.
After touching base with the OEB, the trio beam over to a flood relief operations center in the city of Kaej. Greaves notices Saa not taking the situation well. They introduce themselves to a Zet who says their name is Jowel and that if they wish to help, they can move crates before he spits and mocks the propaganda written on the supplies praising the new King. However, Jowel seems jaded as Saa questions him and he expresses disdain over the mismanagement. As he walks off, Greaves and Saa notice the two Zet from before, confirming they are being followed. The marine suggests they should talk to the Danni and take any opportunities to ambush the Zet and interrogate them. Nilsen agrees and tries to contact the ship but cannot do so. Nilsen then suggests they head to the Northern site and picks up a crate to help stack them in the proper place, glancing over at the lingering Zet watching them. Once the crates are where they belong, the group heads North.
As they walk, Saa starts to scan with her tricorder but also senses another presence in the same emotional state as their stalkers. The North brings them to higher ground and an area less affected by the floods. An old Danni named Etea, accompanied by two younger Danni, steps forward, claims they can not go any further, and asks if they are working with the Zet. Tricorder scans reveal children and medical chemicals, and Saa uses her telepathy to communicate this along with her observation that they are dressed in uniform-like clothing.
Suddenly, Saa hears a buzz in her head that she recognises as devices to thwart telepathic activity. Suddenly, an entire advertisement touting Toal’Dius runs through her thoughts. As it repeats, Etea asks again if the officers are friends of the Zet. Greaves insists they are enemies and asks for more information about what’s happening. Nilsen states they wish to assist the Danni and asks how they could best help. He also asks why that place is so important that they will not let supplies be left there. One of the Danni, Dhanna, tells them the Zet promised help, but after entering into agreements, they pillaged the Danni’s technology, and floods ravaged the town. In answer to the question on the place, another Danni, Etea, explains they are the Gardens of Harmony, and their job is to find harmony in trying times.
Since they entered the Gardens, Saa and Nilsen have been free of the telepathic advertisements of the Zet, and Dahnna explains it’s the stones which absorb the frequencies of the advertisements. The Danni then tells them that the Zet are mining for a valuable mineral compound for the Deathless, though they don’t know why. Since they are not working with the Zet, they agree to allow supplies to be moved to places outside the temple and wish to speak to Rouiancet, but attempts to contact the Captain fail, and Greaves fears the worst.
Mining In Maiton
Lieutenant Richards is joined by Lieutenants Herrick, Maxwell, and Salo, tasked with making contact with the residents of a small mining town. The group materialise in a wet basement cellar. On the roof, they see an automatic hatch with a keypad that Richards prepares to shoot in hopes of opening the hatch. Herrick agrees it would work but is concerned it won’t send a peaceful message. He asks if he’s sure it’s locked. At that point, the officers begin grabbing crates and stacking them to reach the hatch to try and open it. Salo manages to do so and gets up to the main floor of a house. Richards suggests she finds something to help them up there.
After climbing to the second level, she discovers it’s dark and empty. Utilising the little light from below, she finds a cable, attaches it to a staircase and throws the rest down to help the others up. Maxwell then heads to the window to assess the situation and sees several Danni. Taking point, he steps out, but the natives barely look at them. Using her tricorder, Nesre notes that the ground is overly saturated, there is evidence of recent floods. However, Richards can't understand how that could have happened with their level of technology.
As the group think about finding local government, two men begin a heated argument, which turns physical. Maxwell intervenes before it can get too severe and the man he’s detained, who goes by the name of Kilik. Salo and Richards ask how they’ve struggled and admit needing mine plating. The counsellor says they’ll help if the Danni will show them what they need, and both Kilik and Tano do so. As they walk along, they see how downtrodden the residents are, and Richards comments that he hadn’t realised how bad it was. He then asks what the King has to do with it all. When Kilik tries to share, Tano tries to shush him, but Kilik complains about disasters and people dying, and yet quotas never change. When Herrick points out they seem to be less technologically advanced than initially, Kilik tells him to read the Danni-Zet contract to find the answers he seeks, particularly around the clauses around mining, quotas and consequences.
The group moves on and comes to a place where the dead lie on the ground. Together, the officers cover them with blankets to regain their dignity, one being Kilik’s daughter, Alena. Richards tells the Danni to take them to the person in charge. They take the officers to a gated facility, but it’s locked with electrically charged fences. Herrick decides to transport, but reckons they must try another way when the OEB is incommunicado. Then, one of the Danni suggested they become ‘bait’. As the group attempts to work on their plan, some soldiers approach and order the officers to return to their ship. Herrick tries to bluff saying they are there on business, but the soldiers don’t believe them and the next thing everyone knows, they open fire. Soon, everyone but Salo is stunned, and they are all taken into custody.
Bridge Over Troubled Waters
Commander Promontory remains on the ship with Lt. Commander Katsim and Lieutenants Kessler, Lahl and Forsyth to try and glean as much information about the Deathless and the Danni as they can, including files from the Thor and Oumuamua as well as accessing TidBitter™. Lahl asks if there’s anything in particular they should look for and wants to know what TidBitter™ is. As they talk, they receive word that King Ma’det’ain’ths’ng’in’Grend is dead and a King Toal’Dius is now in command and Promontory orders the information to be spread to all the teams, but they are to continue with the mission as ordered.
As Katsim reviews TidBitter™, she finds an advertisement about Toal’Dius exclaiming his praises. Promontory asks exactly how many Zet lifeforms are on the planet. Lahl notes that the new king seems popular, though that might not be true. Forsyth asks if there’s information about the former king and what the people thought of him, then asks for more details about rehusking. Kessler describes it as encrypted messages are discovered, asks if Promontory has any tricks up his sleeve, before telling Forsyth to run a defensive analysis of the planet. At the same time, he works on getting information about the space port. Unfortunately, the computer slows down, and soon everyone’s research has reached a standstill.
The group decide to split up, and as Promontory heads to the bridge with Lahl to investigate the computer issues, they share what they've learned when a call comes from Nilsen, who updates them on the situation planetside. Promontory and Lahl then go to the bridge proper.
Once there, Lahl discovers the slowdown is due to some sort of communication happening with the core. Promontory tried to contact Arlill and his team to get more information, but they could not. He sends an Ensign down to check on them physically, then asks Lahl if turning the computer off then on again would help. Lahl worries that doing so would mean they couldn’t get it back on, and wonders if isolating a specific core might work.
Kessler, Forsyth, and Katsim briefly pass through on their way to the shuttlebay, and they briefly tell Promontory what they’re doing, and he asks Peri to send a science officer to support them if she sees someone. Neslan returns to tell Promontory and Lahl about the Zet Prince who broke the system when trying to send a message to the planet. They need to get systems back up and running and decide to focus on essentials first. Lahl suggests they focus everything on the two unaffected warp cores to take the affected one out of the picture and cautions them not to rush so they don’t make any mistakes.
Katsim returns indicating she sent someone else to assist Kessler while she provided the scientist Promontory desired. As the group prepares to partition out the cores and designate specific systems to the ones not compromised, the computer warns them about an intrusive software with a possible lockout in five minutes. Promontory asks if they can achieve their goal within that time. Lahl states they can, but things might be backward or upside down. Promontory states it’s a better risk to take than the alternative. She emphasises that things need to be done in order. As she works, she discovers Caras is also working on an issue and something substantial is being stored on the core that’s not working.
Their attempt fails, and Arlill focuses on restarting the system to get the core fully functional. Desperately, the Prince promises them riches and fame if they can save his father, but despite his pleas, Caras collapses and the computer goes into lockdown.
To The Shuttle!
Kessler, Forsyth, and Katsim remain in the meeting room off the bridge, and Kessler works with Forsyth who expresses frustration about dealing with a computer that won’t work. Kessler suggests they use the shuttles because their systems don’t run on computer power and Katsim agrees. The group head off to the shuttlebay, passing through the bridge and briefly tell Promontory what they’re doing, and he asks Peri to send a science officer to support them if she sees someone and the three then head to the shuttlebay. Thinking over what the First Officer said, Peri decides to head back and assist, then suggests that Kessler recruit Sh’shelor to join them. Kessler calls the Andorian marine as he and Forsyth board one of the shuttles, and Forsyth brings over the information from the conference room.
Sh’shelor arrives and Kessler tells the women to prepare for launch. He eases the runabout out of the bay and sets it on the belly of the Butler to have a clear view of the planet for communication scans and sensor sweeps, but anyone scanning them would think they were merely part of the OEB. He then asks Sh’shelor to hack some coms to discover what’s happening on the planet. As Sh’shelor listens, the UDP is discussed, and a few minutes later, she overhears that some ships are headed to the planet. Concerned, Kessler gives everyone armbands that will allow them to transport back ot the shuttle using the shuttle’s transporters, then they transport back to the Butler.
Communication is Key
Lt. Commander Arlill and Lieutenants Yinn, Caras, and Nis are tasked with investigating elevated data transfer rates among several shipboard systems. When Arlill arrives at the computer core entrance, he cannot gain access and a faint vibration shudders through the bulkhead. When he tries to override the lock, the computer says the security protocols have been overwritten. He cannot execute a manual release by opening the panel to the right because of a forcefield. Nis suggests extending the blade of her laser scalpel to cut through. Caras approves and asks engineering to beam over a prototype modulation unit he’d been working on with ranking NCOs to help identify patterns for shield modulation, then modifies the scalpel so they can adjust the length of the blade and the frequency.
At that point, the prototype appears as Yinn offers to monitor the frequency with her tricorder. As she does so, she realises the field is modulating and they won’t be able to get a match for longer than a split second, worrying about how and why this has happened. Arlill thinks the computer is trying to protect itself and protection protocols are in place and notices a signal from the planet, data packets attacking their communications channels. However, he’s unsure if it’s genuinely malicious, and wonders if they should head down to Operations.
The group decides to head to Ops, but as they approach a lift, the doors struggle to open, and the computer states that processing time for specific non-essential tasks has been reduced until the transmission is complete. After attempting to get the door, they cannot do so wide enough to let anyone through, and Nis suggests a site-to-site transport. Caras asks Arlill to let him try again, hoping he can find a weakness or break through. As he tries to work, he’s hit by a release of energy. As the doors begin to close, he tries to keep them open with brute strength.
Someone appears, and Yinn tackles them, demanding to know how they got there. Prince Da’ni’Grend, the intruder, indicates he hadn’t meant to hurt Caras, he was just trying to send a message to the Danni to inform them that Toal’Dius murdered his father, Ma’det’ain’ths’ng’in’Grend. Caras states he should have asked, and they would have been willing to help, but he can’t understand how the Zet got in there in the first place. Despite being unable to move, he notices a device on Zet’s wrist, which Arlill removes. He tells Yinn to keep an eye on him. Ensign Neslan arrives, indicating Promontory was concerned when they could not be reached. As Arlill finds a video on the device, he informs the ensign to tell Promontory he’s working on it, that they have found the Prince and the Prince wishes the OEB to transmit a message.
The prince tells them the device proves that Toal’Dius killed his father and prevented his ‘e’Tezel’ from transferring so he could rehusk. He tried to save the e’Tezel to his computer, but it didn’t work. He explains that when a Zet dies, they produce a biomolecular cloud which computers can then ‘catch’ and turn into millions of datapoints. However, they can only be held temporarily, so they try to have a new husk ready. Yinn wonders if it’s possible to reconstitute the information if he has part of it. Regardless, it’s in a computer down on the planet below, which is now Toal/Dius’. Yinn indicates they don’t like sabotage but want to solve problems. She suggests they wipe the holodecks clean and use it to store the e’Tezel, and that the bynars in the cybernetics lab might be of assistance.
Nis checks on Morro and pulls himself up, using his arms to support most of his weight despite her insistence. He likes Yinn’s idea, but wonders what they would do for a body if they were to get his spirit back and asks Nis if Starfleet would frown on them making one. He suggests they start working on a containment algorithm and see if they can bring the original Grend back. As they begin to work, the computer warns them about intrusive software detected and a possible lockout in five minutes. He asks how long Caras needs. The prince indicates he has the unsorted code, but the sorted code is back on the planet in the hands of the traitor. He struggles to describe the process to them.
Nis asks if she can scan Grend to get a better idea of his genetic makeup, then asks Yinn if she thinks the bynars could create a temporary host. As they work, isolation protocols go into effect, but the computer announces they have failed and a possible lockdown is in two and a half minutes. Still, Caras tells them to ignore it and it will continue to complain, but the subroutine will get in the way of what they’re trying to do. He notices Lahl is trying to help, but as he continues to work, he realises one of the King “parts” is locked in the sequence with the secondary functions and to retrieve it, they would have to start all over with less than two minutes left. He then realises that the King will permanently be part computer.
Interlude
Although the Prince’s father could not be saved, Arlill can secure a message from the data and gives it to Grend. It calls for revenge against his brother who killed him, and the Prince begins to think of a plan.
Arlill talks to Yinn and asks if there was a different way she could have handled the discovery of the Prince on the ship. Although Yinn says she’s still recovering from the merge with Loq, she doesn’t think it is affecting her. Instead, her concern for Caras and how the intruder threatened him and the ship spurred her emotional response. She did not wish to lose a crewmember. His gentle admonishment, which he points out is a chat not a formal inquiry, makes her realise how much freedom Katsim gives her.
Act II:
Detained in Maiton
The Zet captors carry the men and lead Salo into the compound. Once there, they force her to change and put new suits on the others before leaving. Although they took her tricorder, they considered the medkit harmless and left it. Upon awakening, Herrick rises and walks around the room, spurring displays to light up with advertisements praising the new king. They don’t know why they were brought to what looks to be a nice, if sparsely furnished room, nor what they wish to do with them. Little did they know, Chairman Ualara, a Danni put into power by the Zet, has plans to send them to the king, but not before she interrogates them over diamond dust cocktails. Studying the badges, a call comes in from Kessler, and she responds, informing him that by the order of the Supreme Director, any Starfleet officer will be labeled as Foreign Agent and detained no matter the infraction. She then heads down to meet those currently in her custody.
Richards also awakens after a disturbing dream involving the Zet and begins to verbally posture confidence in their ability to escape the room. Herrick wonders if they want something more from them to use as a bargaining chip, and after asking for thoughts from the others, suggests they could hack the local software and see if they’d overlooked putting it on an insulated network and hopes they aren’t being monitored. He then inspects the monitor, but they hear someone unlocking the door before they can make any real progress.
Chairman Ualara enters and states she wishes to talk. Maxwell suggests they move somewhere with more room, and she allows them to do so, leading them down to a conference room. Salo mentions that the Federation like to talk because they feel it’s better to handle conflict peacefully when possible. Still, Ualara insists they lack the understanding of the necessary processes to apply to give aid. She proceeds to explain the ‘process’. Richards asks if the colleague she mentioned having a weapon is being held in that location. Still, Ualara told him no, it happened at the Royal Headquarters, and she’s either being held, put to work in the mines, or being used as a negotiating hostage with the Federation.
Ualara declares they have no idea what they’ve stepped into and need to be educated. She insists the Danni aren’t being exploited. Still, they willingly signed contracts with the Zet and the flooding is a result of sabotage performed by other Zet families, and lets slip that though they contain a material essential to the Zet rehusking process, the mines are poisonous to the Zet, but not to the Danni.
Herrick suggests that unionizing could benefit the Zet, and Salo agrees. However, she also notes that Ualara wanted something for them, otherwise she would have sent them to the king already, and Maxwell echoes the sentiment that she’s playing for time. Ualara admits she is concerned about enforcing the contracts without the promised carry through. She doesn’t want the King and Zet to rip up the contracts yet continue exploiting her people for their benefit. She admits the Danni were promised the technology to transcend death and that doing so will make them a more prominent figure in the galactic community. She also points out that the Zet had not only come to help them immediately rather than waiting through the long drawn out process of acceptance into the Federation, but with Federation tech in hand, which meant they had beaten Starfleet before. She wants assurances that the crown will carry out its promise and that the resistances will be convinced to play along for the greater good.
Herrick asks how they would know if the promise wouldn’t just send them straight to the afterlife? She then shows him the bodies of Danni, who volunteered in their attempt to try and ‘rehusk’, but no one can tell whether or not they are alive or dead. Richards and Salo offer assistance, but Salo also asks Ualara to visit her people to let them know what she is doing for them. They agree, and go with her, Maxwell remaining vigilant. As they come to a lift, Richards asks his companions if this seems like a bad idea. The entourage gets on the lift, and when it stops and the doors open, they find themselves near the town. Herrick asks where Kilik and Tano, the Danni they were assisting, are, and Salo reminds her it was Kilik’s daughter who was killed in the floods.
The group approached the town, but the Danni there aren’t happy to see them. Maxwell warns Herrick to watch a couple of Zet that approach carefully. Ualara begins a broadcast and asks the Danni people if the Zet have kept their promises even as the Zet aim their guns at Ualara, but it doesn’t stop the Danni people from raising their voices in protest. Then, Tano and Kilik appear, evidently released, and the crowd grows bigger. Richards takes the badges that Ualara didn’t hand out and asks if they should bring Ualara with them.
Ualara is dragged by the Danni and the Zet open fire, but are overwhelmed by the crowd. Searching, Herrick spies the chairwoman, but she disappears again. Richard and Maxwell attempt to contact the Butler. Ualara is overwhelmed and wonders if, perhaps, she deserves her fate. Upon finding her again, Nesre dives into the crowd.
Stellar Officers
With backup systems initiated, and systems primarily intact, Promontory takes Caras and Forsyth along with Prince Grend to Stellar Cartography. According to the transmission intercepted, the Zet are at a nearby, unlabelled star system and he asks the Prince if he can give them any insight. Grend states if he does, he’ll be killed and will provide information if certain conditions are met. First, he wishes a pardon for the damage he inadvertently (and apologized for) caused. He then asks for political asylum. He then tells them that the system is the safest route to and from Zet space, and that he has told them, he will be considered a traitor.
Caras doesn’t think it’s enough to go on, and with power still fluctuating, systems are unreliable. Morro asks Forsyth if they could do a single, targeted strike on any oncoming ships and wants to know if tactical is functional with the power issues. He also thinks they might be able to bunny hop from place to place to avoid detection, and the prince says the moon has deposits of metal that mess up sensors. Promontory asks the prince why the Zet have mobilised, then asks Caras if he can give a little extra to long range sensors. He then demands to the prince to know everything about the situation with the planet and the Zet.
Grend claimed they were going to protect the Danni, not exploit them, since they were their closest neighbour and are considered allies, and he cares for them to the point that he even put their name into his full one - Prince Da'ni'Grend. He tells them about an accident that rained hellfire on the planet, spurring them to ask for assistance. He insists he is not like other Zet and wants things to be different, but his uncle wants to return to the old ways. He asks the officers to help him catch Toal'Dius's conscience so he’ll admit to the murder and put him on the throne to do the ‘right thing’ for the Danni, but Promontory states that Starfleet is not in the habit of staging coups, though they are willing to mediate.
As they talk, Forsyth wonders if they could launch some torpedoes and modify them so they show up on sensors as the Butler, but then be detonated like a flashbang, allowing them to disable shields and weapons. Caras likes the idea, and wonders if they should treat the Zet like pirates. Caras diverts power from currently useless systems for long-range sensors and then asks the prince if he knows anything that would buy them some time or give them an advantage. Promontory finds that the fleet consists of six ships of various unknown classes, though if they were at full power, wouldn't be much of a threat to the vessel, though certainly to the planet. He then decides that they’ll arm and set the torpedoes at specific points so they will become mines to buy them some time.
Grend says if he can access TidBitter™, then he can be of help because he can contact those loyal to him who have access to the Royal Headquarters, and they can use one of his private connections to access the network below. He has no idea if it can be used to contact the Starfleet officers on the planet, but he does request to have his computer returned to him. Forsyth suggests they use an isolated system if they wish to connect to the network, and wonders if they can access the security feed to find their crew, and Caras states they can use the trick Lahl suggested for the warp core to isolate processes, and containerize the process for scanning through the media posts. He also warns that forcing access to the planet’s communication systems could be seen as a hostile act.
Caras hooks up the prince's computer to the access layer and suddenly advertisements pop up all over the screen, surprising him, until he realizes they have advertisements on their access codes. They have to press on and simply deal with the ads with no way to stop them. They brought up a grainy image of some of their officers and discovered they are ‘WANTED’. Irritated, Promontory then tells them they are going to the Operations center.
When they get there, Grend asks the names of the officers in the image and finds a video that claims they fired on a Zet named Gi'We'Atyu'Ka'en'Hale after saying they came in peace, and that an Ephemeral perished while another killed Nilsen. Caras, shaken by the report, calls all of Ops to rally together and filter through all the ads and contradictory posts to find the rest of the crew. Promontory demands that the prince help and tells Forsyth to focus on the torpedo defence grid. Caras asks the prince if they have a place to hold prisoners and Grend tells him there are cells under the throne room. Promontory then tries to call the marines, but it’s unsuccessful. A crewmember says the only successful calls can be placed from a coms interface, and there’s one in Arlill’s office. He tells the others he will deploy the marines and asks them to notify him immediately if they confirm a location for any of their people on the planet.
Grend asks what Nilsen meant to them, and explains they don’t have friends, just business partners. He tries to make them feel better by explaining the TidBitter commentator often spouts rubbish. Eventually, he managed to get into the system to show all the external cameras of the headquarters, which his uncle had forgotten. As he works on hacking into the internal ones, he finds himself conflicted with the difference between his culture and response to death and theirs.
As Caras looks at the footage, he finds the picture of the Delta Moydol drew. Unfortunately, a couple of cameras of internal footage are scrambled. When it clears up, he sees a security force dragging a body, and the room with the window that had the delta is empty. Caras realises they have escaped and feverishly begins to search the feeds for them. Meanwhile, a ping pops up on an unoccupied console.
Forsyth asks the Prince if they can use a map of the palace. Shen then tasks an ensign with sending a message to Engineer for an extra pair of hands. The ping is discovered and Saa’s voice comes through the line. Caras answers and after she gives them a medical evaluation of those with her, as well as a warning that the Zet are honing in on their location, Caras tells a crewman to inform Promontory they’ve made contact and to get Sickbay ready to receive injured. Caras then tells Saa they are readying the marines.
Nilsen tells them the Zet blew something up in the atmosphere and has been using it to exploit the Danni since. As Caras contacts Nilsen, he informs Promontory, who rushes back to the console and tells them help is on the way. When he sees Grend’s feed, the prince tells him that’s all the soldiers Toal’Dius has on the planet and Promontory notices how small it is before remembering Kessler mentioned only 238 Zet lifesigns. Caras asks if that many Zet at the palace is normal, but Grend tells them it’s usually only that many when someone escapes. When the prince hears about the marines, he suggests they storm the palace, but Promontory reminds him he’s not in charge. Forsyth says she is preparing the torpedoes, and there is footage of guards looking for the Captain. A crewman turns and tells Forsyth Engineering that they are awaiting instruction, and she asks Promontory what they should do.
Even as he attempts to help, Grend secretly publishes a video on Tidbitter telling the world about how Toal’Dius assassinated his father and claiming he is now king. He also receives a text from Nilsen asking him to move metal from a specific location to Maiton and the Garden of Harmony. Forsyth informs Promontory that she heard Nilsen, and as she asks what they should do, Grend states he wishes to help and they made him ‘better’. He suggests he could see who is still loyal to him and maybe they can pick up the crew on the planet.
At the end of his patience, Promontory reminds Grend that his people caused the problems to begin with and their entire culture is based on a lie. While they will still grant him asylum, it will be from the brig, which he shifts to house arrest and orders security to take him. Refocusing, he tells Caras to try and find a workaround for their computer issues and asks Forsyth to ready the torpedoes. Although nervous, Forsyth is determined to do her best as she prepares the torpedoes.
Harmony in Kaej
After talking with the Danni, the officers discovered that something had been destroyed over the planet, which rained fire down upon them, destroying buildings and crops. When the Zet offered assistance, the Danni accepted, not realising how much it was to their detriment. Now, Nilsen, Greaves, and Saa find themselves in the Garden of Harmony, a place where the Danni strive to preserve their history and support each other. Unable to contact Rouiancet or the ship, they decide to simply remain where they are and help as best they can, which includes Saa giving medical attention to those who need it while Greaves and Nilsen assisted with consolidating supplies in better storage. Nilsen then asks Elder Etea if they can contact Zet headquarters on the planet and ask if they have any information about the captain, and remembers about the Zet that had followed them.
Etea tells them that a Zet named Reeve works at the Headquarters and has taken a liking to a Danni who is a local caterer and serves there. She has been feeding them information regarding administration changes. Taking them to a back room, the officers wait for her to make the call. Saa wonders if they should try to reach the ship again, but if the Zet listens to communications, they can trace the transmission and find them, which might give them reason to stop respecting the grounds. Greaves suspects something malicious has been done to Rouiancet and Moydol.
When Etea returns, she tells them six foreigners have been detained, four in Maiton at the protests, and two of a foreign queen with a weapon and her personal doctor. She also mentions there are orders to detain three more - meaning them - and they should expect bounty contracts on them soon. Saa insists they try to find a way to convince Toal’Dius to release Rouiancet, but Etea warns they shouldn’t expect any negotiations without strings attached. Nilsen fears that it may be time to use brute force, and as Greaves suggests, they find some leverage against the king, he indicates hesitancy to use intel that isn’t theirs to use. Greaves comments that a platoon of marines is standing by, but then realises it would only escalate issues. He then wonders if they could find some leverage on the king, or if they could find a way to tap into the planetary communications and contact the Butler.
Nilsen then wonders if they could persuade the Zet that the planet isn’t profitable, but Saa thinks there’s something more than just profit at stake to be worth regicide. However, they decide to attack the Zet communications node instead. The group heads for the node, and when they arrive, Nilsen asks Greaves what he can tell about their response to threats. He replies that the last altercation they had launched a theta radiation missile at them.
As they approach the node, Saa thinks the king is scared of something and there must be some sort of external pressure for him to have murdered his brother, and Greaves wonders if it could simply be a desire for power. As they come to a hill close to the node, the Betazoid counsellor feels the presence of irritated and exhausted beings ahead of them, prompting Greaves to arm himself. He suggests that he takes a vantage point overlooking the others to allow them to approach while he covers them. Nilsen gives his tricorder to Greaves to assist him, and he and Saa wait a few minutes to give him time to get into position. As they move onward, Saa gets a hypospray ready in case she needs to knock someone out and crouches in an attempt to hide. Meanwhile, Greaves moves carefully along some shallow gullies on the hillside where rainwater had eroded the earth into uneven, winding trenches. He uses them to get a higher position and has a clear line of sight of the building.
The diplomat approaches the node and the guards immediately aim their phasers at him - Starfleet issue ones. Among them was a single Deathless named Gi'We'Atyu'Ka'en'Hale and two Danni in chains with collars around their necks. Nilsen claims to have a message from the king that Starfleet has hacked the node and shouldn’t be used, and to return the Danni to Kaej. She questions the message, then asks who Saa is, catching sight of her. She insists she’s merely a doctor and the hypospray isn’t a weapon but a physician's tool while telepathically speaking to Greaves that the situation could get hostile quickly.
The Zet grabs Saa’s hand, but when he sees it’s empty, he demands to know where she hid it. Bringing her other hand around, she quickly drugs the Zet. As the other takes a shot at Saa, Greaves shoots and stuns him. The Deathless begins to shout and the winged Zet take flight and dive toward Nilsen. With his view obstructed by the moving bodies, Greaves continues to shoot to confuse the Zet and buy more time for Nilsen and Saa.
Nilsen manages to take cover, but Hale shoots the rock he’s behind. He decides to go for a discarded rifle and suddenly aims for it as Greaves fires cover. He gets it and aims at a Zet just as the Zet aims at him and they both shoot. Nilsen manages to get out of the way and strike the Zet in the wing, but it lands and advances to take him out. Greaves’ fire makes the Zet dive for cover.
As the firefight occurs, Saa creeps around doing her best to remain under cover and out of sight. Eventually, he can come behind Hale and hold her at rifle point. Executing a martial art technique, she gets the Zet lower and uses the hypospray to knock her out. As she rushes to tend to Nilsen, another Zet comes at her, but is immediately shot by Greaves.
The group's only choice is to hack into the communications node and get a message out. As they check out the unconscious Zet, they discover they have Federation rifles. Saa tends to the Danni who tell them they were arrested as thieves and murderers, but they were framed - at least, about the murders.
Greaves checks out the node and forces open an access panel. Saa states the Danni need supplies and wonders what they should do about the four Zet currently out cold. When they tap into the network, he’s sure the Zet will send a team to investigate and can take care of the casualties, but if they can get a hold of the ship, they can return and get help for the Danni as well as throw the Zet in the brig, but if they can’t, they need to conserve resources. He then checks Nilsen’s progress on getting a combadge to work.
Using his knowledge and skills, Nilsen hacks the combadge to accept third party signals while Saa tears her cape to create a makeshift sling for him. Attaching it to the node, he successfully manages to hack into it and starts working on communicating through the Zet systems. He sends out a ping and hopes that a ‘pong’ is returned, which would verify network connectivity. As they wait, she helps Nilsen with the sling and offers some pain medication, but warns it could make him drowsy.
Saa checks on the Danni, one of whom suffers from Stockholm syndrome, for he has Hale’s wrist computer and is trying to communicate with the Zet. The other tackles him, knocking the device to the ground, and the two weakly wrestle each other. As they do, a message plays over the small computer and shows the report that indicated Nilsen was dead. Pausing it, she takes the device over to Nilsen and Greaves and tells them about the feed, warning them the Zet are on their way and have their eyes on them the entire time. Greaves thinks it must mean they don’t have transporter tech since they haven’t used it to get to them.
Nilsen gets a connection but it’s spotty. Saa calls, and after Caras answers, she communicates their situation and says that Zet is closing in. Nilsen informs them that Danni noted the Zet blew something up in the atmosphere and has used it to exploit the Danni. He then texts Richards to transport metal from disassembled Great Mall to suitable locations in Maiton and the Garden of Harmony. The call gives Nilsen hope even as he fights unconsciousness.
Zet began closing in, and Greaves and Saa tried to fend them off. Suddenly, Nijal and Katsim join them and take cover with them. As the Zet continued to advance, the group continued to shoot, with Saa stunning one. When it seems they will be overtaken, a Starfleet shuttle zooms down from the sky firing, and the marines arrive, coming to their rescue.
Jailed Diplomacy
Although thrown into jail, Rouiancet and Moydol found themselves in a comfortable room complete with beds, windows, a desk, and tables, and they were also well fed. She takes advantage of the comfortable couch while planning her escape. Although her phaser was confiscated, she is confident they have options - for their badges are still on them, even if communications are blocked.
Using their past experiences to hide his intentions, Moydol talks about a girl they had helped once who escaped from captivity by tying bedclothes together. If nothing else, they must find a way to let their crewmates find their place. She tasks Moydol with writing a message while she strips the bed. He draws a Starfleet insignia. Thankfully, the windows crack just enough to slip the paper outside.
Looking around the room, Rouiancet notices there are things prisoners usually don’t have access to and wonders if someone was trying to equip them because they didn’t agree with how Toal’Dius ruled. Moydol decides to test the theory by announcing that if anyone wants vengeance for the deceased king, they tap on the door thrice. A guard comes in and lets them go, telling them how to get to a service crawlway, which will lead them down to a storeroom three floors above the ground, where they must find their way.
The two head down the hallway and find the hatch indicated, then head into the dingy tunnels. They reach another hatch and tumble into a room where they are met by Ok'gara'ell'ini'erras'Areth, the late king’s chamberlain whose operatives had helped them escape. He agrees to help them return to the Butler, but only if they help give the throne to Prince Grend. Rouiancet agrees to make resources available, but doesn’t explicitly say she’ll help him gain the throne. As the two follow the Chamberlain, Rouiancet seeks input from her friend. Moydol
Diplomacy With A Dictator, Take 2
Arlill is joined by Commander Katsim and mission specialist Lieutenant Zi Nijal, who is down on the planet to try and make a second attempt to negotiate with Toal’Dius. All the officers are cautious and concerned about falling into a trap for themselves. When they arrive, a couple of Zet meet them and state the king wants to see them immediately. Scanning as she walks, Katsim notes the building is only a few months old, and the tricorder can’t detect what’s inside. Nijal notes this seems to be technology more advanced than the Zet should have considering their tech level when the Federation first came across them. She also wonders why the King wishes to see them immediately.
The group goes inside, follows the guards through the gilded halls, and greets the king upon arrival. The king accuses them of not fulfilling their promises and claims that Rouiancet fired her phaser close by, nearly striking him. Other officers also encouraged the Danni to rise up against him and gave sanctuary to his renegade nephew. However, he also desires the Butler to face the oncoming Zet fleet.
Katsim asks for a moment to discuss with her fellow officers and suggests they take it. Eventually, they decide to do so and agree with the king. The science officer suggests they have a written contract, and after some materials are found, she translates it and signs it - with a false name. The others follow suit, also signing false names. As they wait for the return of their Captain and their doctor, Arlill checks the Tidbitter feed and sees a video of Nilsen lying lifeless on the ground and states they can’t leave yet. Nijal suggests they split up with two going to assist, and she says that she can go. Katsim insists that she also go. Arlill allows her and Nijal to go while he and Yinn remain to speak to the king.
As Toal’Dius prepares to speak to Rouiancet and Moydol, he is informed they have escaped. Hurrying back out, he demands to know where she is. Arlill says they haven’t seen her and then asks if that means the king won’t be able to uphold their part of the agreement. As the king Arlill, Yinn pretends to fiddle with her tricorder, and Arlill indicates there are 62 quantum torpedoes aimed at the compound and that if he didn’t return in 60 minutes, to lay waste to it. He asks again if the king will honour the contract, and Yinn begins counting down. Toal’Dius demands to see the ‘one in purple’ and that he’s the only one he’ll speak to, but Arlill informs the king that Nilsen was killed - and its his responsibility. Toal’Dius states Nilsen isn’t dead and if he wanted them dead, they would already be so.
Arlill accuses the king of creating a ruse about the escape of the prisoners, and that his hold upon the throne was tenuous. Annoyed, he calls the guards to seize them, but they point their weapons at the king instead, while weapons fire echoes in the other hall. Toal’Dius then claims that the former Grend exploded something in the atmosphere, but the guards continued to point their weapons at them. Realising he’s trapped, Toal’Dius drops to his knees and begs for asylum. Arlill tells the Guards that Toal’Dius will be tried if they take him and if found guilty, he’d be sent back to Koreli IV and Yinn tells them they don’t believe in mob justice, but they will ensure he receives justice. Arlill then leads the so-called king away at phaser point.
Support Our Troops
Kessler, Nis, and Lahl, head planetside to contact the away teams and provide support where necessary. As they head down there, Kessler discovers a faint power reading that looks like Federation technology and asks Lahl to take controls while he studies the scans. Since their priority is contacting the away teams, he notes it for later, though Nis wonders if the Zet might be pirating Federation tech. Lahl asks where to head first, and Nis suggests they find the captain. As they descend, Nis points out the buildings; some are likely Zet, not Danni. She then asks Kessler what they should watch out for since he has more experience with the Zet than her or Lahl.
Kessler, who had been monitoring combadge signals, realizes that their relative location means they’ve been captured. He decides to head to the Federation tech signal in the mountains after being unable to reach any of the captured officers. Suddenly, they receive a message from Chairman Ualara of Korelite Jewels stating that she has Herrick and his team in her custody and informs him that by the order of the Supreme Director any Starfleet officers will be labeled as Foreign Agent and detained no matter the infraction. Despite attempts from Nis, there is no further communication from the chairman, and the officer wonders if the Federation tech in the middle of nowhere is a way of isolating more of the crew, and that the Zet position must be precarious in the face of a Danni resistance.
The group lands in a clearing near the Federation tech, and while armed with both phasers and equipment, he insists they transport back to the Butler should they encounter heavy fire. Trekking through the foothills, they discover a large lake, power generators, and a force field. When Kessler scans them, he finds they are tractor beam emitters from a Federation starship. Drawing closer, he opens an access panel and scans the isolinear chips inside, discovering they are from a ship called the USS Suesser.
Lahl makes a connection between the lake and the flooding in the mining town, states certainty that the flooding wasn’t part of the area's natural water cycle, and wonders if it’s the Zet’s attempt to make the Danni dependent upon them. Nis scans it and finds that it’s only a few months old, then suggests they modify it so it ‘leaks’ about a kilolitre of water every four hours so it drains within a few days without flooding and takes away the Zet’s bargaining chip. Suddenly, the tricorder beeps a warning that several Zet are approaching.
With diplomacy no longer an option, they decide to take a more direct approach. Kessler tells them to return to the Sower if it goes wrong and tries to creep up on the Zet. When he does, he realises he’s stepped away from cover and comes face to face with a winged Zet. Shooting, he stuns the creature, and insists Lahl and Nis get back to the shuttle while he covers them. As they move, the Zet strike almost shooting them, and the two women get separated. Nis finds herself in a fight with a female Zet, but as the creature's fingers contact the emergency transporter controls, she’s suddenly whisked away.
Lahl can’t find Nis and reports to Kessler, then is attacked by a Zet and his collarbone is broken, but she manages to stun it. She finds Kessler, provides suppression fire, and tells him she can’t find Nis, but thinks they were transported away because the Zet hit her transporter band. Kessler states she should be back at the Sower and the two take cover behind some rocks. They discuss how to get away from their attackers and back to the Sower, and while shooting is an option, they seek out other methods. Nis contacts them to tell them the position of the Sower is compromised and she will bring it to them. Lahl then wonders if they can use the Sower as close air support. He doesn't think it's possible because he believes Nis to be pinned down.
Using his phaser, Kessler sets it to overload then throws it at an outcropping, but though they wait, there’s no explosion. Sneaking a peek, they see a couple of Zet, one of whom has dismantled the phaser. He asks for Lahl’s phaser to cover her move to another area of cover. Once she is there, she covers for him. The two continue to move and cover, move and cover, then make a break for the Sower. As the two find it and climb inside, Kessler orders Nis to get them out of there and asks Lahl to assist. Then, he ponders over how he failed the mission.
Act III
Rouiancet has returned to the Butler and takes Kessler, Lahl, and Saa on the bridge as they await the arrival of the Zet fleet. Promontory, Nilsen, and Arlill have brought Prince Grend and Toal’Dius aboard and will ascertain what to do next. Katsim along with Caras, Nis, and Yinn will render aid as best they can where they can. Greaves along with Forsyth and Sh’shelor have launched a Valkyrie flight to offer assistance wherever necessary. Herrick, Maxwell and Salo remain on the surface, attempting to aid Chairwoman Ualara.
Conference Room
Rouiancet is joined by Kessler, Lahl, and Saa, reminds them of the situation and asks if they have options to suggest. Lahl points out that Promontory and Forsyth had worked on getting a net of torpedos while Kesslers expression concern for the officers left on the surface. Rouiancet admits she still doesn’t have a clear idea of what’s happening between the two species, and Kessler shares their discovery of a lake modified to purposefully flood towns like Maiton. Saa shares the theory of sabotage to drive the Grend family into a forced sale of the planet to larger companies and notes that a compound in the mines of Koreli IV is very important to the Zet, but they don’t know why.
Rouiancet asks what’s most important and Lahl thinks it’s fixing computer issues as well as figuring out who the fleet is coming to support while Saa suggests it’s arming themselves with as much knowledge as possible so they can stall the fleet and avoid firefights until they get the rest of their crew aboard. Kessler asks if the asylum seekers could help and Saa suspects they will do so, but for a price and they can’t put faith in them. She also points out there is a resistance they could tap into, and reminds them that there one of the Zet prisoners arrested at the communications node is an agent for someone outside of either of the two claiming the throne.
Lahl suggests they bluff and say they have a contract with whomever’s in charge of the planet and that the fleet is in violation of their terms, but Saa notes that both Grend and Toal’Dius have asked for asylum and their loyalists are clashing with one another. Kessler wonders if they can use the Zet’s desire for power and status to their advantage, to which Saa suggests they review the contracts with the Danni, and that the death of one leader might mean another inherits.
Writing a quick overview of the royalty, she notes that Toal’Dius is likely to be wanted by the Zet for the murder of his brother while Grend will have charges of harming a Starfleet officer, but also notes they are missing reports from Maiton because the officers there have yet to return. She also points out that they don’t know who sent the message to the fleet, but using the wrist computer she got from the Deathless ‘Hale’, they could possibly hack the system and find out because of how the Zet keep recordings and documentation of everything, which she hopes could bring some negotiating power to the table as well as stall the fleet.
Rouiancet mentions the late King’s chamberlain who assisted them and who might be willing to help them in Grend’s name. She sets Kessler and Lahl to hacking the system while she and Saa try to contract the Chamberlain, and suggests Saa take point on the contact.
When they connect, Saa thanks the Chamberlain for the help in retrieving Rouiancet and Moydol, then states they need extra information if they are to assist Prince Grend, specifically about who inherits the contract with the deceased King’s death. She asks for a copy without advertisements and whether or not Toal’Dius can legally enforce the contract if he’s not heir to his brother’s business. She explains they’re trying to stall the fleet while working on Grend’s legitimacy as heir. She notes there is evidence the Grends were being set up for failure and needs any and all documentation regarding the lacking infrastructure, third party Zet interests, and the like. The Chamberlain provides the documentation requested as well as a file that contained evidence of suspecting machinations against the deceased king.
The connection breaks up and Saa loses the chamberlain, but receives the documentation. Noting the contract the Starfleet officers signed under false names, she wonders if it can be used as a base for Lahl’s plan.
As Lahl tries to hack in, she’s stopped by an advertisement, but brushes it off and note that the trick is to not jump in too fast. Kessler retrieves a couple of tricorders from a storage locker, disconnects them from the ship’s connection, and hands it to Lahl to use and prevent anything from getting into the ship’s computer again. He scans for anything explosive and, fortunately, finds none. Lahl attempts to hack in using the tricorder, gets in and Kessler links his for recording purposes.
Meanwhile, Saa discovers that Grend inherited the Danni as people, but Toal’Dius inherited the mines with select companies to go to his wife. She also discovers more about the approaching fleet which Rouiancet comments is more of a planetary assault force.
The group move to the bridge, then asks for scan information about the fleet. She then has them open a channel and tries to contact the fleet commander, Tzarn asking his intentions, and he responds mismanagement of corporate assets warrants immediate restructuring. He asks if Rouiancet will interfere or respect Zet law. He then tells her that her assistance is no longer required, for his word is law. Lahl gets information about the ships and wonders if they can effectively hit and run the larger ones which would make it easier to deal with the smaller ones and Kessler states they have type 14 shuttles that can warp right through the larger ships if necessary . Meanwhile, Tzarn states if Toal’Dius is wanted from crimes against Zet society and that she should transfer him to his guards’ custody. Saa telepathically communicates with Rouiancet about her suspicious that the man is too ready and this must be a plan set into motion before the previous king’s death. He gives them 15 minutes to comply, and is told by one of his officers they are working to dismantle the torpedo net. He orders his ship into the atmosphere and to defend his property - the planet.
Saa notes they can’t come face to face with him without a plan, and that people on the surface could get caught in any crossfire, not to mention what the fate of the Danni would be in Tzarn’s hands. She suggests that if there is a possibility of diplomacy, they would need to play by his rules or at least have the perception they were.
Kessler suggests they use the shuttles to damage some of the ships and take them out of the equation. Rouiancet thinks they’ll need a multi pronged approach, utilising the Valkyries as well as Kessler’s warp-jump attack in the hopes Tzarn might be more willing to talk. Lahl gets the engineers going and creates a program to control the shuttles. Rouiancet decides also to deploy the Valkyries and send an encrypted message to Deep Space 14 for assistance in the hopes there will be other ships nearby who can assist. She receives a response that they will have reinforcements in three hours, but wonders if it will be enough.
Saa states documents show recent votes were close, a 4-5 in favour of the Zet, and the deciding vote was a Chairman Ualara whom she recognises as the executive with the officers in Maiton, and was the deciding vote in all votes save the one that allows the Danni contract to transfer outside of the Grend family. Since Rouiancet was recognised as a Queen to the Danni, she could technically throw her hat in according to the fine print which states it can go to the Deathless or someone with an equal status. She also points out that because the contract lists teh Danni as assets, they could invoke General Order 20. Rouiancet wonders if they can hold out for three hours in order to ensure the Danni are protected under that order by the ships arriving in that time.
A call from Greaves comes in and wants to know if they should stand by, fire on any Zet landing craft, or hold ammo to support the OEB. Kessler suggests a fly-by on the fleet and Rouiancet tells Greaves to proceed with the suggestion. Rouiancet merely wants to show force and hopes the Zet will run rather than engage.
Another call from Tzarn comes through and after it ends, Lahl says she’ll get the program ready for insertion. Tzarn accuses of Starfleet of overstepping and Rouiancet points out that since the Danni sought out protectorateship earlier and were listed as commodities, they were therefore entitled to Starfleet protection and it required their direct intervention. Tzarn states he only sees a powerplay and he will not allow such interference in the sector. Rouiancet says there are several Starfleet ships enroute, but he refuses to withdraw.
Rouiancet sends Kessler to the Gator deck to coordinate with the marines, Lahl to take tactical, and for Saa to broadcast her findings to the executors armada. They go to red alert, and Lahl releases the first shuttle which warps close to the Zet ship. As she readies another, she notices Zet fighters were deployed and set up a defensive perimeter around the mother ship.
As Saa communicates with the away teams, Lahl prepares another shuttle and Rouiancet tells her to fire. She repeats the warp in and out, which then impacts a carrier and destroys it. Tzarn calls again, stating that htey have inspired him and prepares to deploy multiple ships of his own to do the same move. Promontory tells Tzarn that the prince is in their custody, Toal’Dius has died and can not rehusk due to a poison that affects all Zet, and tells him to think about that. Rouiancet confidently states that the Butler shields will protect them from any warp blasts, and asks if he’s confident his can also do so. Promontory then recommends to Rouiancet that they call his bluff as Saa expresses the belief that Tzarn will gamble with all lives save his own.
Realising that there is no profit in continuing a fight, Tzarn withdraws. For now.
Asylum Seekers
Promontory is joined by Arlill and Nilsen to speak to Grend and Toal’Dius. After introductions, Nilsen lays out all the charges against Grend - who attacked an officer, sabotaged the ship, and made it impossible to beam up their away teams - and Toal’Dius - who blocked all communications to the ship and away teams and falsely accused Starfleet Officers of made up crimes. He tells them they are both criminals according to Starfleet law. Grend tries to get out by saying he apologised and eventually helped, but is stopped from trying to leave by two guards. Arlill points out they are not usually ones to get involved in internal affairs, but as soon as they involved the Danni, they made it a Starfleet problem, and encourages them to listen to the discussions, not just talk. He admits Grend did help and Toal’Dius did eventually unblock communications, but their transgressions outweigh the harm they did.
Toal’Dius claims he had every right to doubt Starfleet’s motives, for while they were signing a contract, they allowed flood relief efforts to be disrupted by Grend posting incendiary material on social media. He also claims that the project is in danger, and whatever he did, all that matters is the material is boxed up by the time the Guildmasters arrive. Promontory reminds them that though they have been granted asylum, that doesn’t entitle them to make demands.
Arlill wants to know what right they have to rule over the Danni, and that through their greed, they’ve suppressed an entire race. Seeing his friend is upset, Nilsen suggests they get a drink. Nilsen encourages Arlill to put his feelings aside and remain calm, otherwise, the Zet will toy with them.
Meanwhile, Grend said that his father wanted Starfleet to play arbiter with the Zet fleet that is even then on their way to Koreli IV. He insists again that they loved the Danni and he even took that as his name Da’ni Grend. Nilsen encourages them to make names for themselves by being the first Zet to cooperate fully with Starfleet. Promontory states he wants to find a solution that will allow them all to remain true to their values and work together.
Arlill asks if there’s a place in Zet society to accept the Federation as an ally, not an inferior. Dius states Starfleet is a threat to the stability of the Zet culture, but that he is a leader they know and can improve the Zet relationship with the Danni and, with Starfleet’s transporter tech, improve safety of the mines. However, if he does not remain ruler and someone like the captain of the Corporate Raider is in charge, then they will really see how quickly the Zet can strip a world of its resources.
Promontory states they are not installing either of the Zet on the throne, are willing to give sanctuary from their people, but they will not fight their battles for them. He then tells them they’re taking a break, and leaves the Zet to the security officers to regroup with Arlill and Nilsen. After stepping out, he shows the proof of Dius murdering Grend’s father. Arlill wants to know how they can verify its authenticity and Nilsen comments their possession of it gives them an advantage in dealing with their ‘guests’. He also wonders if they could use them to force their own forces to defend the Danni, which Arlill doesn’t think would happen. The Ops officer then wonders if they should call in the rest of the Gamma fleet, even if it starts a war.
Salo calls and communications information about inheritance, thinking it might be something they can use to negotiate with the prisoners. With the information that Saa provided, he thinks there might be a way to use it for a resolution. Promontory reminds them they are bound to protect the asylum seekers but are not required to reinstate them on the throne. Nilsen points out that the Zet and Danni are neighbours and that needs to be factored in how they proceed.They decide to try and get a confession from Dius, an agreement for the Zet to work with the Danni and also insist on a third party to arbitrate.
Meanwhile, Toal’Dius and Grend discuss matters between themselves. Toal’Dius points out he has no heirs and has made no attempt to sire any, so his nephew would inherit anything should something happen to him. They both agree Starfleet doesn’t have their best interests at heart and are on the side of the Danni. Grend has no desire to reconcile and that he will wage war against his uncle. However, they agree to work together so they can get rid of Starfleet and prevent the planet from falling into the hands of the Guildmasters, and then once they have Starfleet convince, they’ll enact the other part of the plan.
The officers return and show the video evidence of Dius destroying the former king’s body, and Grend demands he be given the footage. Dius states it’s a deep fake and accuses starfleet of trying to destroy their family and steal Koreli IV. Then, as Nilsen tries to take a sip of water, Grend knocks it out of his hand and spills the rest of the pitcher Dius. It begins to burn him, spurring Arlill to call for medical assistance, and the Zet pulls out his ceremonial dagger, but only manages to bury it in the table. To Grend, he tells him that his father condemned them both and if he had been given more time, he could have saved them both. Lifting his dagger again, he starts toward Grend, but then collapses and dies.
Arlill tells Grend to explain what happened for it’s far too convenient that his uncle died. Arlill then pulls up a video of the room which shows Dius putting something into the water. As Moydol checks Dius, he states there is nothing he can do for the Zet, for he is gone, then takes the pitcher for testing. Promontory thanks Grend for saving Nilsen, then asks what the Zet will do now.
Grend notes his uncle will simply rehusk, but that he fears for Starfleet and indicates he still wants to work with them as his father did before him. Nilsen is suspicious, finding the entire situation too convenient. Arlill asks if he’s willing to work with them and requests a show of good faith. Even as he asks how Grend is willing to work with him, he remains suspicious, and Promontory notes it’s Grend’s last chance.
Grend claims that his father’s etezel has infiltrated the system and the entire ship now belongs to him, but when he calls to it, nothing happens. When he realises that he has no power, he tries to backpedal and agree to working together.
Suddenly, the ship goes into red alert and Promontory asks Grend pointedly what he did. Knowing he has to get to the bridge, he puts Arlill in charge. Arlill tells security to take Grend away who screams that his father’s consciousness still lives in the computer and it isn’t over. After security takes Grend away, Henri appears to both Toxin and Nilsen, telling them that he and Stella were good hosts to their guests.
Green and Gold
After establishing a base of operations, Greaves goes over plans with Forsyth and Sh’shelor, and mentions to Forsyth that she’ll be at the controls of the expeditionary torpedo launchers should Zet get past the OEB and aim for the planet. The group strategise how they would handle an attack, particularly if the fleet got past the OEB and torpedo net. Ithri suggests they scatter several small groups that remain hidden so the group manning the temporary base looks smaller and the Zet are taken by surprise. She then wonders if there’s some sort of weakness they may have missed about the Zet.
Greaves things many Zet might defect to the Federation if given reason to believe they will have better lives, but it’s not guaranteed.Their tech is piecemeal and ad hoc, but they don’t know how proficient they are at using it, and their troops are marginally trained and half equipped, relying on large numbers in the past. Forsyth suggests overwhelming their system with a virus or similar bombardment of advertisements. The idea is well liked, and sent to the Engineers on the OEB. As she does so, she receives updates on the situation above the planet and Sh’shelor shares it with Greaves, who immediately contacts the OEB to ascertain the Captain’s desires. He asks specifically about the Valkyries and indicates they can do a force fly-by on the fleet, but also points out they wouldn’t last long. Rouiancet states she wants a show of force only and hopes the Zet will run in response.
Greaves tells Sh’shlor to get the Valkyries airborne and for Foryth to get a target lock on the biggest ship to let them know they’re here and they have teeth. He admits if it does come to blows, they will almost certainly get hit by an orbital bombardment followed by Zet craft landing and seizing their position. He assigns Forsyth to the orbital fight and Sh’shelor to the ground fight. As Greaves assesses the enemy’s forces, he discovers they brought a carrier and likely automated small craft which will force them to pick between landing craft, automated fighters, and their capital ships. Forsyth suggests they target the fighters, Sh’shelor suggests they target the carrier. Greaves tells Forsyth to target the carrier for the moment. As the Valkyries roar into position, the Colonel tells the other two to trust in their training and in each other.
The Zet them bombard the base, causing injuries and several deaths, as well as starting fires. The marines scramble to move critical equipment, and Forsyth works on a launcher. Unable to fix it, she sustains some burns and reports to Greaves. Sh’shelor states she’ll use the shuttle’s tractor beam to drag water over the fires and put them out just as the Butler says that the Zet have withdrawn.
Best Way to Help
Katsim brings Caras, Nis, and Yinn to a science lab and shares that scans have shown several lakes like the one Kessler and his team discovered, all modified to cause flooding in Danni towns. Caras admits he’s not a civil engineer, but is determined to help as best he can. Nis suggests draining the lake slowly over a period of time, but Yinn expresses concern this will still cause flooding, just in different areas. Ironically, it seems the Zet are putting the mines in danger, but it’s thought that they could be doing this to protect their hold on the more valuable resource - the Danni themselves. Nis suggests they get the Danni involved and the people would likely want to see local leaders take action, but joining the Federation too quickly could cause more political upheaval. Nis suggests they head to the surface, and Yinn wonders if they should bring along security or a marine. They decide to bring a security officer, and Katsim tells them to get what they need and meet her in the shuttle bay.
Once gathered, they all head to the planet. Caras apologises to Nis for his reaction to her professional calls, and Yinn thanks her for taking down Grend. As they fly, Nis points out that scanners have detected a life sign, and Katsim tells them to remain ever alert. When the group arrives on the planet, Katsim orders everyone to take a phaser, then makes a beeline for the modifications made by the Zet.
As they approach, Caras spies a large birdlike lizard creature sitting just along the path. Concerned that it might pose a threat, he suggests some of them go off to the side to distract it. Katsim and Nis do so, but the creatures spy Caras and rush to him. Caras falls face flat in the mud and the creature stops and begins to nuzzle him, proving to be friendly. Realising the creature isn’t a threat, Yinn asks how she can help. Nis discovers another life sign and the bird-lizard hurries in the same direction. Nis wants to investigate and asks who will go with her. Yinn joins her and Katsim remains with Caras. As Caras works, he is uncertain they can redirect unless he knows the land better. Katsim adjusts her scans and gets the geological history, indicating how the water used to flow before the modifications.
Nis and Yinn continue on and register more life signs. They come to a clearing filled with a dozen or more of the same bird-lizard that Yinn thought looked like a Bolian tavri. A large, reddish one lay on the ground under a low-hanging canopy. Nearby, a stone tool with a curious three-toothed shape lay in the dirt, and smoke wafted from the ground. Yinn thinks they have just entered a Prime Directive situation.
Nis tries drawing a picture to communicate with them, but they don’t understand. Nose scans the one lying down and realises it's pregnant and about to give birth, and as she looks around, she notices many shiny objects.
Caras disconnects any access the Zet have to the dam and the two join the others. Four of the creatures flock to Caras, who headbutts them, which seemingly satisfies them and they leave him be. Saa calls and tells them fires are heading their way. Katsim tells Yinn to try and get the birds to safety while she, Caras, and Nis warn those in nearby towns.
The group split, and Caras, Nis, and Katsim come across a shuttle with some Danni trying to escape the fire. As Nis cares deals with their smoke inhalation, Katsim sees another shuttle dragging water over the fire using the tractor beam. The officers resolved to do what they could to help the Danni restore the lakes to their natural state.
Still in Maiton
Herrick, Maxwell, and Salo remain in Maiton but have lost Ualara. Taking refuge in a home, she manages to broadcast a message and they find out she’s in a mine with the last currently mined cache of the mineral the Zet want and is ready to blow it up. Salo finds out there are more mines with more materials, but states they need to find a way to end it once and for all. Herrick suggests they permeate the atmosphere with material and radiation, making it impossible for the zet to land on the planet.
Expressing concerns about the impact such an idea might have on the ecosystem, they continue to brainstorm, when Salo, having learned that Grend is on the ship, wonders if there are inheritance laws in the Zet society. Ualara states there are, but it depends on how the contracts were written out, and reminds them there is also Toal’Dius to contend with. Richards, still angry, insults Ualara who gets upset. Eventually, they calmed her down, and she told them to meet her at the mine.
As they go, Salo connects with Promontory and updates him with her idea of using the inheritance as a bargaining chip with Grend. When she finds out that Toal’Dius is also there, she wonders if it would work on him too.
As they walk, Herrick’s tricorder picks up life signs and they hear the sound of weapons fire. With the Zet still looking for them, they wonder if there’s a more secretive way to get to the mine, such as a tunnel. They quickly and secretly make their way forward, hiding when necessary. Suddenly, Richards hears something, and a Danni named Fandin appears, offering to help and insisting that Ualara’s safety is essential to him. The group follow and he leads them to a hatch. They manage to get it open and get inside.
Ualara remains where she is and is discovered by Kilik, who blames her for everything. She points out eight others and asks if he’ll hunt them down, too. She states she was doing what she thought was right for her people. She notes that if he’s going to do it, simply do it because she’s the closest thing to the Zet she’ll ever get.
The officers show up and as Kilik starts to attack Ualara, Maxwell puts himself between the two, Danni and takes a knife meant for the chairwoman. Turning to Ualara, Herrick asks for the detonator, indicating she still has an audience demanding an encore. She gives it up, and asks Kilik to cause no more bloodshed. Richards suggests they report back.
Suddenly, an earthquake hits. Seeing his chance, Kilik lunges at Ualara, but Fandin blocks him. Racing away, Kilik heads for the exit, but Fandin follows and catches up to him. As the other officers make their own way out, they see the two Danni in a fight, and as the two come together and fall to the ground, rolling over, Kilik seems to prevail. But suddenly, Kilik falls over and goes still, and Fandin remains gasping on the ground, metal deeply embedded in his flesh.
Ualara doesn’t know how to improve things, but Fandin believes in her before he dies. She asks Starfleet what to do next. The entire group beams to the Butler.