A Higher Power

Posted on Mon Feb 27th, 2023 @ 5:46pm by Captain Taliserra Tigran & Lieutenant Commander Tyrus Acevedo

Mission: The devil wears tripolymer
Location: deck 1- ready room
Timeline: following binary back and forth

After replicating a cup of tea Taliserra plopped herself down in her ready rooms chair and turned her computer screen to face her. the screen was lit with the Starfleet insignia and flashed 'standby' as her requested communication request swept through subspace attempting to connect with whatever starbase Captain or local Admiral passed for the sectors highest commander.

The screen changed as the connection was made, Captain Taliserra Tigan found themselves greeted with a woman with a darker complexion and black silk hair and a flash of a pleasant smile. "Captain Tigran," the woman said leaning forward in a chair, evidentially in a office setting, their ready room perhaps?

She was not exactly in uniform at the time, but the undershirt did appear to be Starfleet issue. "You caught me in the middle of my morning calisthenics routine" explained the woman with a small giggle. Youthful looking as she was, there was definitely a sense of experience and maturity to her.

"Doctor Coco Moreau," she said calmly introducing herself. "Though I suppose you're contacting me in one of my more tedious capacities in which case, Captain Moreau at your service."

"I apologize Captain," Taliserra replied, she checked the clock on the console; whatever time zone they were operating on was different to the Wolff's. "But I need some advice and ideally freedom to act, neither of which I believe can wait until a more appropriate time."

"Oh?" replied the woman. Captain Moreau pushed her long black hair back over her shoulders, out of her face. This ought to be interesting she thought to herself. "Vice Admiral Tolek left a few days ago on an expedition. You know Vulcans...the only thing that arouses them is studying a nebula up close" she teased explaining the man's absence.

She pressed on. "Rear Admiral Sograni is under the laser scalpel at the moment. Knocked out like a Tellarite at after a holiday party" added Captain Moreau. "Unfortunately, that's put a damper on my plans, and as ranking officer in the sector..." she shrugged. "I'll see what I can do to assist you."

'Great' Taliserra thought somewhat sarcastically. "There is an... unusual situation developing on Alpha Trionus."

The planet's name was not unfamiliar to her. "That's an independent world, Captain" responded Moreau. She reclined a bit in her seat and made an audible sigh. "I don't need to tell you that though. You already know it is. Thus you needing to speak with someone."

"We responded to a distress call from the planets government," Taliserra began to explain their situation, not surprised that the Captain was aware of Alpha Trionus. "They are well known for their robotics and for creating androids. It seems those androids have developed self awareness and are slaughtering the population."

"I know of the planet, but I've never been there myself. Vulcanoids if memory serves me right. They thrived technologically, but this situation sounds alarming" Captain Moreau replied. "Self-awareness? A malfunction in their programming?"

Taliserra shook her head slightly. "Their government has told us they're unable to find any fault or malfunction in their programming, they are not certain how they developed self awareness but it seems clear to us that they have indeed developed it."

"And because it is an independent world..." Captain Moreau looked at the screen. "Prime Directive getting in the way of taking action. You are wrestling with what is appropriate?"

"Yes. We were able to speak with a representative of the android.... community they explained the situation from their perspective and have requested our assistance." Taliserra continued. "They do not want to be slaughtering the population but it was decided by them as the only way to try and force them to negotiate with them."

Captain Moreau had reached for a steaming mug which she brought to her lips and her eyes widened. It was the response that Raktajino was known to caused among those who drank it for a bit of a wake up call. "You are in a precarious situation, Captain." Coco shook her head. "Not one I would want to be in if I were sitting in your chair."

Coco took a sip of the beverage and placed it aside to pick up a PaDD pulling something up. "We do not generally get involved in independent worlds, especially ones dealing with an internal problem; however, you responded to a distress call and the planet in question is one that has had contact with the Federation before."

"You would have been negligent not to respond to the distress call," proclaimed Captain Moreau. "Taking a side in this...conflict would be a serious problem and throw Starfleet Command for a tizzy to say the least; however, if you do not act, you are leaving a society to be annihilated. What is your training and experience telling you to do, Captain?"

"I referenced the JAG hearing of Lt commander Data in my discussion with the android, I feel this is a similar situation, they are clearly self aware but the minister of Alpha Trionus see's them as property as they created them. They want to exist but the government is actively trying to destroy them. I feel we should help them to gain self determination."

"A wise course of action by weighing the JAG hearing of Data," replied Captain Moreau. "However, Data had been an officer in Starfleet for years during that time. These Androids have differences from Data no doubt. I can understand your want to help them, but you aren't exactly dealing with Federation citizens. As an Independent world, would helping these Androids not interfere in the government of the planet, of their established laws?"

Captain Moreau smiled. "Understand that I am not saying no. What I am doing is hoping that you've prepared answers for Starfleet if you do act and they wish to inquire about your actions."

"Exactly why I placed this called intended for him." Taliserra said, she wished she had been talking to the admiral directly rather than the bases' Captain. "I wanted to give my reasons for intervening, the androids have directly asked for my and by extention the federations help in solving this crisis, if I refuse them they will continue to wipe out the vulcanoid population until they either begin to negotiate or are completely wiped out, I can't just fly away and let an entire populus get destroyed because of their own stubborness."

"Stubborn logic," replied the woman. "I don't believe you have much time given what you have described. You certainly don't have enough time to wait for us to arrange for an Ambassador to reach you."

She took a deep breath. "Intervention needs to be delicate, Captain. I cannot begin to express that enough. You need to get these people at table for talks before one wipes out the other."

Taliserra nodded glad the woman was agreeing with her. "That is my intention, they need a long term solution to resolve this issue, the only other option is emp'ing the whole planet to wipe out the androids and let the vulcans begin anew but that isn't really an option. They will just find themselves in this situation again in a few years time."

"Then you need to see to it that this problem does not resurface in a few years time, Captain" she responded somewhat pointedly. "This is your call. You are out there right now...in the moment. These are the missions that will affect how you are remembered, and whether or not you get a nicer office one day."

"I could go for a nice office..... one day." Taliserra remarked, she hoped she'd have many more years before she captained a desk rather than a ship though.

Captain Moreau smiled. "Good luck and God speed, Captain. I certainly don't envy you. You are in a difficult situation. "

Taliserra exhaled heavily, the woman was definitely right.. "Tell me about it, please relay my situation to the admiral when he's sufficiently recovered. Thank you for your help Captain Moreau." She said with a pleasant smile.

"Oh, I will this is exactly the stuff they live for" she teased. "Moreau out."

Sitting back in her chair Taliserra mulled over her options. Wiping out the androids would be simpler but potentially only a short term solution, finding a way for them to coexist was going to be a lot harder but would be a more appropriate solution for all involved.

After several long minutes and after finishing her tea she clicked her computer off and headed back to the bridge with a purpose.

OFF:

Captain Taliserra Tigran
Commanding Officer

LtCmdr Tyrus Acevedo
Executive Officer
Writing as Captain Moreau