To solve the impossible equation, I could in theory invoke imaginary numbers and send in the holograms that are currently toiling at Semma. Let the two sides sort out whether the holo-ambassador really is the two-year-old vigorous AI, or the 27- and 85-year-old ambassadors it portrays on alternate days, or perhaps the sage bicentenarian Vulcan the AI draws its inspiration from.
However, I have no patience for such nonsense. My diplomatic staff, along with my other personnel, was expected to receive the best in young whippersnappers, and I assume their coming aboard is what delayed my fleet from arriving in time for Question 3. (Either that, or then only the fleet's desperate "404 not found" message made SF HQ realize they had made a minor clerical error in despatching the ships to my starbase.) My best and brightest negotiators will be shipping to Dorza to assist Capt. Henschel, quite regardless of their age.
Their ride will be the Balmoran, one of my Saber troubleshooters. Also shipping on the Balmoran is a strike team from the Veracruz, rather more combat-hardened than the troops Henschel had available. I reiterate my angle on this: safety of the UFP hostages is paramount, my mediator services are universal, and any attempt at endangering the hostages with military antics will be met with a warner from my phasers.
==Q4b,c==
The Gorn fleet is easily contained by my other two vintage cruisers despatched to the scene. As my starbase does not appear to be under direct threat, I also send away my other troubleshooter Katana and the Veracruz to effect a blockade around the Zemch reservate. The fighters from the latter vessel will help in expanding the blockade across an entire system, although I will wait and see before deciding on which system to protect. At first, the ships will face the Gorn side of the protectorate, but they can swiftly move to intercept the Semman expedition as well.
Is there no headway in my efforts to approach the Semman cultures yet? At least my resident starship in the system should have been able to tell me a bit about the status of their starfleet, even without any close-up scans from untrustworthy informants. Perhaps I have actually found out that their ships can outrun a Nova, which is why my attempts in Q3 came to nought? Also, it would be crucial to know exactly where and at what speed the Semman expedition was observed.
No matter. I believe I can handle the incursions one at a time. The Dorzans will not be involved, and their fleet will have more than enough to do with the rebellion anyway, now that the UFP also finally has a credible naval presence there and, despite my assurances to the contrary, might take sides if the Dorzans misbehaved.
The Gorn in the first wave are agreeing with my terms so far by halting their advance. I now call for the second wave to do the same. If they do not comply within a time window that still allows me to deal with the Semmans separately (that is, if they will cross the sector border), I will accuse them of openly hostile intent, then proceed with neutralizing the initial three Gorn combatants and limpet-mining the transport. My hostages will be my first line of defense, my very public request for Starfleet assistance (and my underhanded disinformation campaign about its ETA) the second.
As matters stand, I find it quite unlikely I will have to resort to the third, the hot ends of my own phasers. If push truly comes to shove, though, the three Gorn warships will be completely immobilized, and my local fleet will consolidate around my cruisers. The Runnymede and the Balmoran will move to extract the hostages, then be diverted to assist the fleet...
...And the Humason will be sent to the Zemch reservate to initiate contact. By the time she arrives, it will probably be high time for the Zemch to find out about the interstellar war looming above their heads. (In case matters develop too fast, the Veracruz can also initiate contact, as well as deploy defenses around the Zemch home rock.) But before the Humason sails out, she will directly engage the Sh'sh'l and the Zznjlii on the issue of their expedition to Zemch. What are they up to? In case of Gorn assault, are they interested in joint defense, even if the UFP will not promise any privileges on the Zemch reservate?
posted
Time to schedule a court martial. Looks like several admirals need to be charged with dereliction of duty!
-------------------- “Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — Isaac Asimov Star Trek Minutiae | Memory Alpha
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3a1) Timo�s scenario- I�m afraid I�m going to have to deny the Doctor�s request. The Zemch should achieve warp capability within 300 years and the resources of this system may be important to their development. In addition, the risks of the research involved seem disproportionate to the level of confidence in the theory behind it. His ship will be intercepted.
3a2) Paladin�s scenario- If the youth managed to construct a subspace transmitter, then I�d certainly begin to accelerate planning for First Contact with the Zemch and investigations of their culture as outlined previously. Perhaps institute strict communications controls within their system to minimise future incidents of this sort. Perhaps fake a message from someone on the Zemch planet claiming responsibility for the messages and insert it into their planetary coms network.
3b) Emphasise the Federation�s wish to act as negotiators, hinting to the Dorzans that a peaceful resolution would be beneficial to future membership negotiations. Likewise continue to offer Starfleet services as mediator to the rebels but quietly drop in the information about what would happen if any Federation citizens were harmed.
At the same time I�d prepare a low impact retrieval mission and try and ascertain exactly where the Federation researchers are. Security forces would be deployed aboard Runnymede for this purpose.
3c) I�d like to know exactly what price the crew member has in mind before deciding for certain. I�d slip him a couple of bottles of Romulan ale or a character reference if he�s nicked for being drunk in charge of a spacecraft something, but nothing too much. After all, I doubt a civvie ship would be able to match the sensor acuity of a Starfleet vessel or probe and seeing as how one of my Novas is going to be in system, I�d hope to get more definitive scans soon.
3d) Given the established nature of the ZTZ and the Federation presence in the area, I will politely point out to the Gorn that they don�t really have much in the way of legal grounds for their claims. In addition I will make it clear that the Federation is willing to negotiate for systems that are uninhabited and not reserved for the Zemch.
I will, of course, be doing this with the Palmerston, Thermistocles, Katana and Stormbringer in system. I will offer to escort the Gorn ships out of Federation protected space, in the direction of AJ-948 (which would probably be ceded). I may hint that it would be a pity to damage any of their nice, shiny ships and allude to the combat experience of my crews, but only if I have to.
Question 4
4a) Assuming no fancy xenobiological options are available (I don�t suppose there are any energy beings among my crews. No? ah well�) I�d just inform both sides that I was going to enforce a compromise and just split the difference and send someone in their late thirties. I would also make it clear that failure to accept these terms would not go down well with either me or the Federation. That would hopefully be enough to prod the two sides into negotiations.
4b) Oh joy; more trouble with the green scaly ones. Well, either they�re bluffing or are serious about taking on the Federation. Personally, I�d guess the former; despite the losses of the Dominion War, Starfleet is still vastly more powerful than anything the Gorn can assemble. As a result I need to hold them off for around three days before reinforcements can arrive.
All combat capable ships are to report to the area where the Gorn advance party is already sitting. Fortney will be dispatched to gather information about the size and composition of the Gorn force. Scott will do its best impression of a bit of vacuum around where the Federation fleet would be expected to come out of warp. If all else fails it, and as many EW drones as possible, will play the part of a Starfleet task force.
I will also try to head off any confrontation by threatening the Gorn commander with pre-emptive action if his reinforcements do not turn around. My ships should be able to take his and hopefully he�ll recognise this, especially with a vulnerable colony ship to protect.
Dorzan vessels will be called up to patrol the ZTZ and I will request help from any nearby allied combat vessels.
4c) I�ll give them the benefit of the doubt for now. Runnymede will transfer the security teams holding in her to Adrianople and will head out to explain the status of the ZTZ and escort them to a safe area.
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted
Charges against Wraith have now been dropped in exchange for his cooperation with the investigation. Now to bring Harry, Neutrino, and Paladin to justice!
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted
Hmm, damn you Minutiaeman. I saw your post and thought the next question had been posted, but I�m still ahead�
QUESTION FOUR:
1. Why does there need to be one mediator? I propose two mediators of different ages. Or 10. The more mediators, the more moderation. Another solution would perhaps be bringing mediators that are older/younger then the limits, but younger/older in terms of developmental maturity. I wonder: would the rebels be willing to accept a younger mediator from the Federation, being told that the mediator�s sympathies lie with them? Finally, maybe the rebels are older, and can prove they have certain advantages over the younger people by being more mature and compromising closer to the governments point of view. Otherwise, previous Federation directives remain.
2. Well, there�s really only one way to solve this. Me, and the Gorn admiral, on the contested planet� with lots of sulfer, saltpeter, and charcoal scattered about�
Otherwise, this looks like a tricky situation� The Federation rapid reaction force should definitely be called for, and reinforcements are recommended to be sent from reserves to all sectors bordering the Gorn. Meanwhile, if the situation remains the same, and the Gorn reinforcements arrive and cross into the Zemch area, action must be taken. To protect Federation borders, a rapid strike on the colony ship will be enacted, targeting its warp systems. The warp abilities of other faster Gorn ships might be targeted as well. Then, a retreat would be conducted. If it appears that the Gorn could still have a powerful fast force (enough to hunt down the fleeing Federation ships), then a fake distress call could be sent from the starbase, and the slower ships dispatched to deal with it.
In the mean time, it looks like there might be other options. The Dorzans are certainly trying to get Federation membership, and they would most definitely care about what goes on in the sector. Thus, their government would be informed of the situation. The Federation should not order their forces be mobilized since this does not directly affect Dorza. However, we will encourage them to take part in the defense of the sector. Furthermore, this could be an excellent excuse to the Dorzan government to push their rebel problem to the sidelines, out of public view, possibly allowing them to compromise more on that situation.
3. Finally, the Semmans are welcome to help defend the sector. However, a good defense requires coordination, so unless they sent five Sovereign-equivalents, they might be willing to communicate (the attempt would certainly be made � over a secure, direct channel to prevent the Gorn from gaining any information). Of course, the Semmans might be going there to claim the sector for themselves. In this case, the Federation should institute a major buildup in this sector, with a conflict between the Semmans and Gorn hopefully buying enough time to do this.
posted
I wasn't feeling to insipred when I first read the question, so I put it off and then put it off some more. Now I feel like I have some worthy responses.
Q4a: In order to compromise I will appoint an officer of my staff that is the median age, but also two officers one young and one old who will also be present to be direct mediators with each side. I would still be the final say in all matters, so this officer would be more of a representative. The older delegate will try to connect with the rebel Dorzans, establishing contact with them; while the younger delegate will try to ascertain the Dorzan governments potential actions and punishment for the rebel leaders.
Q4b: I would call for the Starfleet Quick Response force, better late than never. The Gorn already in the sector would be held there by my forces and told if they move one iota they�ll be fired on. My Nova�s that are acting as a shadow fleet on the Gorn�s flank will continue to give this impression until I would ask the Dorzan military to send some ships, as well as moving my Istanbul�s at 403, to link up with the Nova�s and continue the ruse. The Nova�s would then move to intercept the Gorn reinforcements and gather intelligence. Once the Nova�s had collected significant intelligence they would move closer into Gorn sensor range, creating a network around them, and then blasting them with as much interference as they can. This is in hopes of slowing and confusing them enough for the RRF to make it for the big party.
Q4c: I�m assuming this is happening at a different time then the Gorn incident. As such, I would divide my forces in to two groups. The Intercepting Group, made up of the Runnymede and Minigamo, will meet the Semman ships and inform them of the Reserve status of the ZRZ. The Blockade group, made up of all the other combat ready ships would move into the space just outside of the Semman homeworld. They would also inform the Semmans that the ZRZ is reserved. The Semman task force is welcome to pass back into Semman space, but no ships will leave the system until they return. The blocking group will move in closer and closer until the either the task force returns or the blockade group has to demonstrate its firepower on some local asteroid or defense platforms.
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Shik
Starship database: completed; History of Starfleet: done; website: probably never
Member # 343
posted
You need to answer Question Three yet, good sir.
Question Five will post pending my receipt of a requested resource & my ability to get to a computer. Things are...wonky.
-------------------- "The French have a saying: 'mise en place'—keep everything in its fucking place!"
Registered: Jun 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Shik: "...a combustible flying human shield..."
Man...you REALLY hate that Miranda, don't you? Makes me giggle.
It's called hyperbole. It's a valid literary device used to establish and underscore an opinion or statement through exaggeration, often also designed to evoke a reaction.
-------------------- “Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — Isaac Asimov Star Trek Minutiae | Memory Alpha
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posted
Also: Neutrino gets let off with probation in a plea bargain, and Paladin gets sent to the stockade for contempt of court. We've got an APB out on Harry, now, too.
-------------------- “Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — Isaac Asimov Star Trek Minutiae | Memory Alpha
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posted
Update: Paladin's citation for contempt is overturned on appeal with the presenting of new evidence. The court researcher who reported that he hadn't answered question three will be fired, then mummified in red tape and shot out of the starbase's torpedo launcher. Oh, and we're preparing to issue "shoot to kill" orders in the event that we finally track down Admiral Harry...
-------------------- “Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — Isaac Asimov Star Trek Minutiae | Memory Alpha
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