<snip>

“Since you’re currently at peace with your neighbors, may I presume there’s a place you or your ambassadors have to meet and discuss any issues?” Thomas asked, hoping to finagle a way to meet with all the world’s leaders at once. He hoped neither of the others knew about the impending approach of the Lesscoo, but if any of them had noticed and not bothered warning the others of a possible invasion, that would be good to know.

COS

OOC: Sorry for the absence again.

IC: “We have a detente with our neighbours,” explained Mean. “Your visit may cause and unbalance in the relations. Have you been to the other continents?”

GM

“We have not,” Thomas said. “Our ship didn’t detect anything like your engine there.”

COS

Menn looked a little worried, “Our intelligence sources tell us that the Northern Continent is also developing an engine that can move faster than light. However, the technology is rather dangerous, involving large gravitational fields focussed on a single point. We have decided to pursue our own technology. Did you not detect the Northern Continent’s experiments?”

OOC: Just to mention that there was evidence of a development of artificial quantum singularity technology detected by the sensors very much earlier on in the sim.

GM

Ben just stood silently waiting for this meeting to conclude.

Park

Thomas consulted his tricorder. “Hmm. Yes, apparently we did, but disregarded it because your experiments are closer to our own technology base. We’re familiar with the method your northern neighbors are attempting, it’s the preferred method of one of our adversaries, but we don’t use it ourselves.”

COS

“We have a fair idea of what they are doing,” replied Menn. “However, we find the experiments a little too dangerous. Thus, we had never gone into it other than in theoretical physics and mathematics. If anything were to go wrong …” Menn stopped abruptly and shook his head.

OOC: Sorry for the absence. RL had given me another one of those weeks. I didn’t have time to check email!!

GM

Reia nodded in agreement with him. She had seen similar experiments go terribly wrong but that matter was classified.

• Reia, CIO/Comms

“Do you believe that we can actually reach faster than light travel this time?” asked Menn hopefully.

GM

“The design looks sound to me, but then I’m not an engineer,” Thomas replied. “Barely passed my required warp mechanics classes at the Academy, if I’m honest.”

He paused. “Is it just you and your northern neighbor doing these sort of experiments, then?” he asked. “What about the southerners?”

COS

“The southern continent develop weapons and they are just lying in wait to see which continent they can infiltrate to steal the technology,” replied Menn. “We believe that we do have a use for the other technology that we have been developing. It is a sort of forcefield to keep particles from infiltrating the hull when travelling at high speeds. We would be able to use that for defensive purposes.”

GM

OOC: Adding AJ’s contribution … :)

IC:
“That sounds very promising. Are you close to testing your theory out?”

Park

“Yes,” said Menn, “We are to test launch our craft in the day after tomorrow.”

A warp core and rudimentary shielding technology? Rather impressive for a barely-warp-capable society. Thomas tried very hard not to let that show on his face.

“You would, at that,” he confirmed.

The detail about the southerners trying to steal tech was concerning. Might they have invited in the lizard neighbors?

“Can I have a moment to confer with my team?” he asked.

COS

“Of course,” said Menn. His face showed a slight flush indicating an excitement and some amount of pride.

GM

Menn allowed the away team to speak. He seemed very interested in the outcome of their discussions.

GM

Thomas put his arms around Park and Reia and pulled their heads in close, allowing him to speak in a quiet whisper that their hosts hopefully wouldn’t be able to hear.

“Thoughts, gang? I feel like I’m starting to get in over my head here.”

COS

“My thoughts Lieutenant is stick to the Prime Directive. The minute we feel that this craft is going to attack the neighboring areas we leave for the Genny immediately and leave orbit. We cannot interfere with this under any circumstances. Ask questions and get as much information as possible . I don’t feel the need to offer our assistance, due to the fact that we have no idea of their intentions.”

Park

Reia wondered if they would already be an obscure foot note in somebody’s daily log that would make it onto a history book somewhere so, hadn’t they already interfered?

“I tend to agree with Park in this situation. Ghost in ghost out basically.”

Reia wasn’t used to working in teams so hadn’t really had much to say during the whole mission.

• Reia

“I think we’re a bit past that,” Thomas replied. “But I suppose I can try to get more information out of him. I think the only way we’re going to get all the answers we need, both for ourselves and for the diplomatic team that will eventually follow us though, is to wrangle a summit between the three continents and meet all their leaders at once.”

COS

Reia made a face at that.

“While I agree with your idea in theory, somehow I doubt that the leaders of these three continents will and we don’t exactly have three ambassadors to spare aboard the genesis.”

• Reia, CIO/Comms

“I agree with Shandy here Lieutenant. There’s too many uncertainties that could happen aboard the ship. I’m speaking as your subordinate in security.”

Park

“Alright, no to the summit. Should we ask to stick around for the warp test?” Thomas asked. “No, scratch that. I’ll ask Minister Menn if he’s got a project engineer we can talk to directly about the test, and their ship, Lt. Shandy, you duck out for a moment and call the Genny to give them an update on our status. Text me the result, if they want us back I’ll make our excuses.”

COS