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Joy

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About Joy

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    joymudd
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    http://polyticks.com/home/Joy/
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    blantyr

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    Mudd Embassy, The Presido, San Francisco, Earth
  • Interests
    Politics, Law, Artificial Intelligence, Sentient Rights, Dance, Human Jewelry, Martial Arts

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  1. The Science Channel is airing a show "Trek Nation" on the legacy of Gene Roddenberry. Y'all might want to try it.
  2. Hmm... It could be turned into an e-mail easily enough if that pleases you. I'd like to think she'd be willing to listen. Maybe not, though.
  3. Joy sighed, looking across the conference table at Rian. "I don't think you are getting the hive mind thing. Perhaps it is my fault. You know I am very strong by the standards of organic beings? Yet, do you recall the one time since I returned to the Republic when I used that strength? "I strive perhaps too hard to 'pass' for organic, to not be special, not be different. As I seldom flaunt my strength, I seldom flaunt the skills and memories I share with my sisters. I'll use them, but quietly. I think, this once, I have to be explicit. "I have a sister, Nine, who served as councilor for the diplomatic ship USS Lovisa. I have a sister, Six, who teaches artificial intelligence and law at the Academy, also mentoring and protecting a small collection of sentient holocharacters who assist in cadet training. "The Admiral's condition is much worse than you are letting on. It is not just the recent loss of old Republic. It has been building for a long time. There are drugs that can help, but she is over reacting emotionally and may need a much lower stress environment. "She ought to be under the care of a mature capable councilor. While Holly has the knowledge and the skills, I do not know that she has the maturity. Holly and the Admiral are generally good for one another. They need one another. While Holly should have the skills to do the job as councilor, she knows what is needed, knows what has to be done, she is still not entirely over her justifiable anger at how she was treated in her youth. In some ways, she is making it harder on the Admiral rather than giving her the environment she needs. "This ship needs a mature rational command staff. Between the Admiral's emotional outbursts whenever any glitch comes up and Holly's continued prodding and harassment, we have a problem. I don't think the answer is to pretend there is nothing wrong. A quiet word to a few folk to calm down and give the Admiral a little slack might be appropriate. "I have a sister. Ambassador Seven has been representing Mudd's interests on Earth for quite some time. One thing ambassadors to Earth do is pass judgement on rogue Starfleet captains. Kirk wasn't the first. Corizon won't be the last. The question is whether one should give the rogue a medal, bust him from Starfleet, or both. Neither generally isn't an option. Pardon, but I feel a need to vent a bit. "There are two basic perspectives and lots of variations in between. There is a Pragmatist faction who generally work for the best interest of The Federation. They tend to measure interests in material measurable way: territory, resources, fleets, production capability. They see The Federation as competing with assorted other powers, and are determined to win the competition. Starfleet is somewhat biased towards this perspective. "There are also Idealists. They see a large number of planets and races joined in a federation. Ambassadors, assigned by the member planets, often act in the interests of the planets and races rather than the abstract whole. The Prime Directive means the central government cannot meddle with their culture. The Guarantees means the central government has to leave their people alone. Pacifism means resources are not taken from the planet, and its citizens are less apt to die. When one looks at the interests of the various planets rather than Starfleet or The Federation, the old ideals aren't obsolete abstract philosophy but critical day to day goals. The Federation exists to enable and enhance the interests of the planets, not the other way around. "Neither perspective is uniquely true. While Seven is a well known Idealist, we understand the need for balance between the two perspectives. "Judging Starfleet captains after the fact is a political exercise. The Pragmatists are apt to try to make Corizon a hero. He will be doing something that arguably needs to be done. If the Republic prevents him from achieving said mission, they will turn someone into a scapegoat. The Idealists won't like unnecessary violence, and all violence will be considered unnecessary. If laws and treaties are broken, they won't like it. If relationships with our neighbors are disrupted, they won't like it. "There is also a question of division of powers. Offensive use of force requires approval of Council, by representatives of the planets. Recent Federation presidents have tried to usurp that power into the executive branch. Starfleet Intelligence and similar agencies have tried to usurp that power into secret cliques that strive to avoid civilian oversight. Individual captains, such as Corizon, will just make a rude gesture towards Earth, disregard chain of command, and do as they claim their conscience demands. "One problem is that sometimes the bureaucracy is wrong and the individual's conscience is correct. "Some suggestions for consideration. Before entering the Neutral Zone, confirm your ass is covered permission wise. Consider inviting a Romulan officer aboard. Consider working in tandem with a Romulan ship. On the other hand, consider that even asking permission to enter the Neutral Zone could draw attention to the area and thus put Corizon's self assigned mission at risk, endangering his ship and crew. Consider that it might be best to wait for him to come back out into Federation space before acting. "And you may wish to gather as much information as possible on what Corizon might think he is doing. Go for the basic what, where, why and how. If you have that, a rough plan, and that plan includes an exit strategy, this would be a good thing. If your intent is to sail into harms way and hope for the best, this is apt to be frowned upon. "I do have a sister. Ambassador Five is currently with the diplomatic corps at Camelot, Excalibur's home port. She will know something of Corizon's recent assignments, and might or might not be able to provide meaningful information about what has been troubling him of late." Joy sighed. "And that is a glimpse at how a Mudd hive mind works. Our form of government has been described as a 'wide area network.' The strength of a hive mind culture is in getting the right information to where it is needed. Military cultures have a conflicting virtue of secrecy, often keeping information isolated. By keeping communications secure, honoring Starfleet regulations, and remembering need to know, the opposing principles can be held in a reasonable balance. Mudd, Starfleet and the Federation Diplomatic Corps have had a satisfactory relationship for quite some time, except on rare occasion when Admiral Blurox's prejudices against hive minds flare up. That problem is unique to Admiral Blurox. "Five has entirely different problems with Captain Corizon. Pragmatist, idealist. Idealist, pragmatist. Round 27. Begin… "It takes all kinds. Idealists and pragmatists. Organics and artificials. Hive minds and individuals. Males and females. Felines and canines. Infinite diversity. Infinite combinations. If the admiral expects me to split off permanently from my hive mind, I cannot work with her. If she is not comfortable with sharing all the necessary information to run the Republic's science department with all my sisters, if her personal prejudice against hive minds trumps in her mind well established Starfleet regulations and procedures, then I will not be comfortable working with her. It will only be a matter of time before the issue comes up again. "We can work around it for now. She doesn't particularly need another headache at just this moment. However, I do want the issue understood and resolved."
  4. Subject : Resignation To : Captain Rian Kwai From : LtCdr Joy Twelve If you will not recognize my security clearances, then I do not believe I am the best individual to perform as your Chief of Science. I perceive this as a personal prejudice against my particular processor architecture. If after all these years you cannot respect and trust me and mine, it isn't likely to happen now. You give me a choice between belonging to a family or serving on this particular ship. This is not a difficult choice. I shall be at Heather's service if she requires me. I intend to leave the ship at the next appropriate stop. LtCdr Joy Twelve
  5. For some reason, I feel like reposting an old Dungeons and Dragons cartoon drawn by an old friend...
  6. Subject : Hive Minds and Corizon From : LtCdr Joy Twelve To : Captain Rian Kwai CC : Science Department Log Classification : Secret Captain I was designed to simulate an individual human being. I do this reasonably well. However, I am not an individual human being. I am part of a collective, a hive mind. When I encounter one of my sisters, and I will actively seek them out, we merge data bases. This is a complete process that is not interrupted and has no options. On finish, the two memory sets are identical. While the Admiral did not wish the crew to visit Earth recently, I insisted that I be allowed to visit my sisters. There are four currently on Earth, working as dancer, tour guide, Academy instructor and Ambassador. As the result of the merge, I could step into Eleven's place in one particular chorus line, or give Six's lectures at the Academy. To me, my trip was not a three day quick tourist visit to New York City. I have the benefit of living the lives of my sisters. I am now as much a resident of Earth as an explorer of the far fringes of Gamma Quad. Recently, due to concerns of security, the Admiral attempted to order me not to merge in this way with my sisters. She is not the first to consider the security implications of my design. Legally, the Joys are a hive mind. If any of us acquires a security clearance, the rest of us acquire the same clearance, along with the restrictions and obligations the clearance implies. I assure you, each of my sisters is identically capable of following the regulations as I. This approach has been considered satisfactory by both Starfleet and the Diplomatic Corps for some time, but is suddenly not satisfactory to the Admiral. Now, I would consider an order to keep a secret from my sisters to be equivalent to an order to a Trill to keep a secret from her host. One can only do this by severing the hive mind. This is not appropriate. I do not believe an order to do so ought to be considered legal. One of my sisters, Professor Six, is known as an advocate for the rights of artificial intelligences. Ambassador Seven is renown for her defense of the Guarantees. The Starfleet Joys, when we take stands echoing Six and Seven, have a reputation for being annoying space lawyers. I would rather not go into flaming space lawyer mode. I suspect the admiral just hasn't opened my personnel file in many years, and has forgotten about a few odd paragraphs associated with my security clearances. I am hoping a gentle reminder will be sufficient. Another of my sisters is relevant. When the climax battle of the Scorpiad War was fought at the far end of the Bajoran wormhole, Five was at Hops for the allied fleet flagship, USS Excalibur. Corizon was behind her in the big chair. In the process of her travels aboard Excalibur, Five came to learn something of Corizon. Do not underestimate Corizon. He is a superb tactician. His ships tend to carry marine companies and fighter squadrons. He knows how to use them. He has connections and influence within the intelligence, admiralty and political hierarchies of the Federation. He handles hot potato issues, problems too tricky to be trusted to most officers. Assume his is not insane. Assume his motivations are not criminal or selfish. Assume there is a mission that must be done, that it is Corizon's opinion that this mission is important to the Federation, and it is easier to achieve forgiveness than permission. Assume the mission is important enough that he will be willing to flush his career should he not get the forgiveness. Assume that always before he has gotten forgiveness. Also, assume that any rivalry between cats and dogs is mild compared to the difference between a by the book android and a whatever it takes free lancer. The Joys are not pleased by Section 31 thinking. I approve of a mission to enforce proper chain of command, not that the opinion of LtCdr Twelve matters. On the other hand, we may have been chosen to fail. This ship cannot execute a shore leave without getting banned from a planet, without slaying holy winged ancestors. We struggle to get an AT down and up without blowing the Prime Directive. We go through wormholes at warp. Our traditional assignment is to get as far away from the center of the Federation as possible. You might assume that it was politically expedient for the Admiralty to attempt to stop a captain that has apparently gone rogue, but the ship chosen to perform this mission was not necessarily selected because it is likely to succeed. If we should manage to catch up with him, expect some sort of grand mess. I cannot foretell the shape of the mess, but a mess it will be. LtCdr Joy Twelve
  7. SUBJECT: Scorpiad Freighter TO: Vice-Admiral Misha Abronvonvich, Commanding Officer, SGQC FROM: Ambassador Joy Seven CC: Captain Ah-Windu Corizon, Commanding Officer, USS Excalibur Admiral Hirokie M’Snia, Starfleet Command Admiral This communications might properly be considered unofficial. Androids are not supposed to have gut feelings, but none the less I have some conjecture that cannot be proven. Someone attempted to send damaged Romulan weapons through Starfleet channels to the resistance. It is my guess that whomever did this was not a friend of either the Romulans, the Federation or the resistance. There was an intended provocation here. If they had been good weapons, I would suspect a variation on the theme of Section 31, but as the weapons were bad the intent seems be to get everyone angry at everyone else. Immediately after this first provocation, a Scorpiad freighter broke down, and the Excalibur just happened to be the nearest ship in a position to rescue. This put the Federation into a position where we might be seen as interfering with a fight that hasn’t been ours, and which we are trying not to make ours. The most likely result seems similar to the weapons smuggling case. Everyone is apt to be mad at everyone else. At this time, I am not inclined to believe the freighter’s drive problems were an accident. Someone wishes to disturb the peace, and wants the Federation involved in the resulting mess. The ‘signature’ of the above incidents is ‘Let’s you and him fight.’ This reminds me of the Dominion. Their culture and recent history includes provocative incidents intended to draw their enemies into conflicts that might not otherwise have happened. The Scorpiad had the best opportunity to cause the second incident, but I don’t see the motive. Some Section 31 like entity could plausibly think we should join the fight, but they would need considerable ingenuity to cause the second incident. Then again, they have the ingenuity. But I see no complete picture. I would recommend an immediate and very thorough investigation of the smuggling incident, as any evidence on the freighter is gone. I would also expect the unexpected. I would like to be kept informed of any other incidents even vaguely fitting this pattern. Ambassador Joy Seven
  8. Subject : Scorpiad Freighter To : Ambassador T'Salik From : Ambassador Joy Seven CC : Admiral Hirokie M'Sna, Starfleet Command, Federation Diplomatic Corps, Vice-Admiral Misha Abronvonvich, Commanding Officer, SGQC; Ambassador We seem to have reached much the same conclusion by slightly different routes. My only minor quibble is that the protection of the Guarantees by the language I chose, or the principle of jus cogens as you chose to invoke it, are matters of law and treaty rather than policy. Thus, I would say not turning over the prisoners is a duty, and need not await any declaration of policy. No policy maker has the authority to overturn the Guarantees or jus cogens. But, alas, both the Guarantees and jus cogens are principles of Alpha Quad. While we are bound by them by long tradition, in Gama Quadrant these same ideas are new, alien, not intuitively logical, and in conflict with long local traditions and values. Thus, I would suggest you consider arguments of practicality and prudence as well as arguments by Alpha law. Not as easy. Ambassador Joy Seven
  9. Subject : Scorpiad Freighter To : Admiral Hirokie M'Sna, Starfleet Command From : Ambassador Joy Seven CC : Ambassador t'Salik, Federation Diplomatic Corps; Vice-Admiral Misha Abronvonvich, Commanding Officer, SGQC; Admiral After researching the situation, not only are there "options to avoid turning over the prisoners to the Scorpiads," but there is a duty to not turn over prisoners to the Scorpiad. I shall work through the situation as I perceive it. The Freighter, when it broke down, was in open space. There is no power claiming its laws should be exclusively followed within that area. By well accepted tradition, the Scorpiad freighter is ruled under Scorpiad law while it is in open space. With the beam out of the prisoners from the ship, and the subsequent destruction of the ship, Scorpiad jurisdiction vanished. With the passage of the prisoners onto the Excalibur, the only law relevant is the Federation's. By Federation law, all sentients on board Excalibur are protected by the Guarantees. The Excalibur's guests are to be treated well by our own standards, and are not to be punished without proof of guilt beyond reasonable doubt established through all due process. There is no extradition treaty between the Federation and the Scorpiad. Neither government has a procedure by which prisoners held by one power might be requested for hand over to the other. No such treaty is apt to be negotiated at any time soon. The Federation does not sign extradition treaties with powers that do not recognize the Guarantees (or something very much like them). Neither the Scorpiad nor the Federation recognize the Al-Ucard or Eratians as sovereign powers. Thus, the ongoing struggles are considered an internal criminal activity rather than part of a war. Thus, treaties regarding prisoners of war are not applicable, though the Scorpiad have not signed said treaties, regardless. The guests aboard the Excalibur have the Guaranteed right to freedom of movement. On the other hand, Excalibur is in part a warship. Restricting foreign nationals from critical spaces is a well accepted practice. Reasonable prudent security measures should be taken. Confining them to cells without probable cause of wrongdoing would be highly questionable legally. The Prime Directive demands that we do not interfere with what is going on in other power's territories. The Guarantees demand that we protect the rights of those within our own territory. It would be the Federation's policy and Starfleet's Duty to honor and implement both principles. This should be made clear to the Scorpiad. There are subversive elements within the Federation attempting to undercut both the Prime Directive and the Guarantees. The Council, at present, is striving to maintain them. Our actions should not be presented as taking sides in a struggle, but as an attempt by the Federation to maintain respect for the principles which prevent us from taking sides. It would likely be in the Scorpiad interests to support the Federation Idealists rather than the Section 31 militarists. This should not be considered a diplomatically clever lie. The Council does not wish Starfleet to take sides. The Council does wish a greater respect for individual rights in Gamma Quad. The Council does not wish Starfleet, however, to use force to change local cultures and values. If necessary, the Scorpiad should be assured that we are not going to start beaming people onto our ships and claiming legal jurisdiction over them. In this case, we were asked to beam them over, for humanitarian cause, at the request of the vessel's command. If they wish to discuss when and with what authority we beam people aboard our ships, we could hold such a discussion. If they wish to discuss a mutual extradition treaty, we could hold that discussion as well. I will offer my services if they desire either discussion. I would suggest that finding a long term home for the terrorists / freedom fighters should be an immediate goal. I does not seem prudent to hold them on the Excalibur indefinitely. Camelot might not be significantly better. What planet would accept them? I would suggest that asking our guests where they might wish to go would be a prudent first step. Ambassador Joy Seven
  10. Why Kahn? Why can't we re-imagine Cyrano Jones and Harcourt Fenton Mudd?
  11. This would get you a maximum number, but many of the regulars play in several games. If you want the number of players, you might cut the above number in half.
  12. Do Odri have names? Would anyone mind if I call mine ODRI Hepburn?
  13. "How did it go?" "Not well," Joy told her friend Crystal. "He considers the Prime Directive to be a platitude rather than a set of rules of engagement or a mission statement. He didn't understand how the Prime Directive applied to the current situation, and he used the R word." "Futz. Are we going to have to go through that again?" "Corizon may not be into abstract political philosophy, but he's trainable. On the other hand, he may have maneuvered himself onto the sidelines. He'll still have influence on the station, but he has waited a bit long to get the Excalibur back." Crystal nodded. "So where are we pushing?" Joy considered. "The orders that got out here are quite ambiguous, which implies the 3.0 people have someone in place between here and Council massaging orders. They seem to be trying to creating enough ambiguity to implement the 3.0 mission statement." "3.0?" "Sorry. With the monolithic militarist cultures unable to expand, the Federation is entering a new phase of basic strategy, or could if we aren't careful. 2.0 is a rule of engagement, a limit on what an officer is supposed to legitimately do. Do not interfere with the normal development of any society. 3.0 is a mission statement. Do not allow any society to interfere with the normal development of any other society." "Ah." Crystal paused. "Can we do that? 3.0?" "Frankly, in the opinion of Council, no. If we try to free all the cultures assimilated by the militarist powers during recent centuries, the militarist powers will unite to block us. The Federation is not strong enough to overtly try to free everyone who has been conquered. Corizon knew that at a basic balance of power level. We shouldn't be starting any wars that we can't win. Not everyone agrees. Some will be trying to promote uprisings, thinking the violence and death morally justified in order to free various peoples." "Isn't it justified?" Joy sighed. "Perhaps. How does one trade off the certainty of suffering and death against the possibility of freedom? The possibility of blocking interference with normally developing societies? It might be justified... if one can win. The problem is that neither the Klingon or Romulans are interested in Gamma Quad wars just now, or in helping societies develop normally. The balance of power is shifted. If we want to push wars of rebellion, we'd be pretty much on our own." "Ah. The Shogun principle," said Crystal. "There is only one justification for rebelling against one's overlord." "And this is?" "If you win."
  14. Subject : Alastair From : Ambassador Joy Two, UFP, Aegis To : Ambassador Drankum, Aegis CC : Administrator McDowell Classification : Confidential Ambassador Drankum I just had a long, emotional and not very cohesive conversation with Administrator McDowell. From her account, you extorted under extreme duress an 'agreement' with her on the handling of Alastair. It seems that much more effort at that meeting went into posturing and intimidating each other than consulting either the Aegis Treaty or the TKR 117 Charter. The Aegis Treaty forbids the station from acquiring territory, thus your becoming half head of state of Alastair is problematic. Further, the TKR 117 Charter provides a process by which a small group of explorers slowly grows into a fully sovereign self ruling democracy. There is no room in the Charter for foreign powers stepping in and half taking over. Nobody involved has the authority to rewrite the two documents governing Aegis and Alastair. Thus, the agreement must be tailored in accordance to the documents. At least, so says the android with 'obey the law' written all over her Asimov Processor. Thus, the following is not an attempt to write down the 'agreement' reached in the recent meeting. It is attempts to combine the essentials of what the two of you believe you require without trampling roughshod on the documents governing station and planet. Administrator McDowell has agreed in principle to the following. 1. Aegis has authority for security from external threats, including everything in space and security for the archeological site. 2. Aegis has authority for clean up of the trilithium spill. This authority is temporary, intended to last until the spill is well and truly secure and under control. This is not a permanent claim to a place on the planet. 3. Alastair has controlling authority for the science of the archeological dig, including who digs where, who writes what paper, and distribution of artifacts. Administrator McDowell welcomes participation in the dig by scientists from Aegis and shall not exclude participation of Aegis personnel in scientific endeavors. 4. The Alastair Charter provides a system of criminal laws, democratic procedures to modify these laws, and police authority to enforce these laws. Aegis shall not interfere with the Charter's scheme of government or citizens choosing how their planet shall be run. Aegis security may respond if they observe people on the planet in distress, but their job is defense against foreign threats not to police the civilians. 5. The Alastair settlement has been sponsored and financed by the Daystrom Institute. There is an understanding that Daystrom shall receive first consideration should any commercial opportunities arise. While it is possible and perhaps desirable that Aegis, Alastair and Daystrom might work together commercially to mutual benefit and by mutual consent, Aegis shall in no way coerce or demand a place in the existing relationship between Alastair and Daystrom. 6. The command staff of Aegis and colonial administration of Alastair shall do their utmost to maintain a spirit of courtesy and cooperation between their respective personnel. Security forces in particular shall not attempt to bully or intimidate people from the other organization. These points will not be sufficient. You are Ferengi. She is Irish. These cultures share tendencies to be stubborn, emotional, and to refuse to yield what one finds precious. If neither of you can back off of this, if neither can respect and honor reasonable requests of the other, no agreement or lack of agreement can produce a good relationship. There will come times when each of you will have strong concerns that effects areas primarily in the other’s area of operation. Both will need to seek to give the other what is wanted whenever possible rather than to fight for power at every opportunity. Administrator McDowell described grave threats from you should she fail to yield control of her planet. I advised her that the threats were sincere, that there was little doubt that you would attempt to implement them if you were thwarted. I also told her I was quite capable of making as much trouble for you as you could to her. You are incredibly stubborn for an organic being. I lack free will. The result collision would benefit no one. Please give the above serious consideration. Ambassador Joy Two. United Federation of Planets. Sky Harbor Aegis
  15. Subject : Alistair State of Medical Emergency From : Ambassador Joy Two, UFP, Aegis To : Administrator McDowell, Alistair CC : Ambassador Joy Eight, MMS Mudd Encryption : UFP39D Precedence : Immediate Security : Secret Hannah I believe the recent declaration of a state of emergency is in violation of interstellar treaty in many respects. However, some parts of it are a good idea. Unless you object the diplomatic courier MMS Mudd will soon be in orbit around Alistair. Their primary mission will be to observe the archeological site, to confirm that no looting or careless destruction of artifacts is taking place, to resolve any conflicts in testimony between your science people and the Aegis people, and to provide any assistance that both parties believe ought to be provided. The Mudd will leave the system at your request. Drankum's emergency directive says before and after any ships or personnel go to the surface of Alistair, they must visit Aegis for inspection. I believe he is exceeding his authority, but want to double check the legalities and evidence thoroughly before confronting him with this. However, should a third party ship not of the Aegis Alliance or Daystrom Institute come to Alistair, I think it would be a good idea to send it to Aegis for inspection and talking to. It might be appropriate for somebody to redirect such ships away. The sure (and perhaps only) way to make Drankum's order entirely and unquestionably valid would be for you to make a near identical state of emergency declaration that seconds his quarantine. If either of you issues an emergency statement, this would be profitable only for lawyers. If both of you issue statements, any common ground between the two would be much more valid, at least as far as any interloping third party is concerned. When you first came to Aegis, we had a number of conversations, including one where we discussed placement of the initial colony site. You gave me the impression that you could locate this site anywhere on the planet. While I was not specifically looking for that point, my first reading of the legal papers associated with the founding of the colony confirmed you had that right. Ambassador Drankum's declaration of emergency claims your territory is limited. This is in conflict with what you told me, and what I remember of the founding documentation. I have attached a copy of the founding documentation. Could you have your people confirm that the documentation is accurate, and make comment on whether your statements to me were true to the best of your understanding? During a recent incident, Drankum practiced a Big Lie approach, proclaiming something true which was clearly incorrect in the text of a treaty, nearly starting an sector wide war on the basis of his lie. It seems he is doing something similar again. I believe the problem should be solved by best scientific and engineering practice, rather than through political and military maneuver. However, Ambassador Drankum is not an ideas person. He very seldom negotiates or compromises with anyone save a certain retired Starfleet captain who is not immediately available. He solves all problems by throwing a temper tantrum, insisting he gets his way, with science, law, military balance of power and common sense ignored. He recently nearly brought the Ferengi into war with the Federation, Cardassians and Romulans. I do not know why he is mobilizing military assets now. Who is he intending to fight? Do you know if the Ferengi have an equivalent to the tale of The Boy Who Cried Wolf? Calling for military force when there is no need is a grave political error. What will happen when we actually need them? Do not expect good faith negotiation with Drankum, though from principle I believe it should be attempted anyway. The problem is likely technologically solvable. The problem is that Drankum's ego will not allow him to give any ground at all. It is not about what is best for the planet. It is about whether he will get his way. This is problematic to the crew of the station. He is issuing illegal orders. He holds a diplomatic passport. He cannot be held personally accountable for criminal acts. According to the Nuremberg principles, however, his crew can be held accountable. Obeying orders is not a legal defense. We are heading into a Prime Directive situation, where the station CO is ordering interference on a planet without the informed consent of the planetary government. We are going into a situation where the crew could face court marshal whether they obey illegal orders or not. There is another mechanism that might get invoked. If the XO, CMO and a quorum of department heads find the CO to be incompetent or acting outside of regulation and law, the CO can be relived. This is not a procedure to be invoked lightly, but Ambassador Drankum is clearly operating outside rule of law on several levels, and he is putting the careers of his crew at risk. But all of the above goes away if you can get the Aegis science and engineering folk to present a technical plan you can approve. I do know the archeological site is important. However, removing the hazardous waste is also important. One level of the conflict may be between your Federation scientific values and his Ferengi economic values. The two of you might never agree on what is important. My values are focused on law. I can see the importance of both economics and academics, but when they come into conflict, the issue should be resolved through rule of law rather than by who has more military force immediately at hand. I have a scientific question as well. It has definite legal and political implications, but I believe the question must be asked. Was the archeological site leaking radiation before your dig began, or did the actions of your people initiate the radiation release? I ask for technical reasons. If the entire release is new, it might be extremely beneficial to act promptly, before any strong wind storm might distribute radiation further, or rain wash contaminants deeper into the soil or water. If the release is old, then there is no emergency. The problem is in long standing. There is no reason to be declaring an emergency and implementing hasty and politically volatile actions. I have my suspicions that the release is new, that your people had something to do with it. If the radiation release were old, it should have been detected in the preliminary surveys. There is no way that a radiation hazard as large and deadly as this one should have been present on a planet cleared for colonization. Thus, it seems likely that the release is very new. Your people, well trained as they are in archeology, are not so expert in handling hazardous material sites, especially if there is no warning that hazardous materials are present. I may have additional questions. I am having my people dig into the legal aspects of the problem. If it becomes necessary, I will go into that further. For now, I am still in the vain hope phase. I believe we should try to seek a reasonable technical compromise, something that satisfies safety, radiation clean up and archeological integrity alike. I would far prefer to avoid a legal and military confrontation with Drankum. The last one was not fun. But we shall see what comes. Ambassador Joy Two, UFP, Aegis