Joy

(OOC) Oh, dear. If I read between the lines correctly, Holly recently blackmailed Blu into getting reinstated as councilor. Red flags to the councilor might not be good. Is Holly into shock therapy?

Autonomous command has terminated. My scout mission of three seems completed with both the Admiral and XO in the area, assuming command. The original mission was to locate the missing away team and Lt. Kawalas without excessive risk. In addition, we were to locate the shuttles if possible. Rescue was only to be attempted if the opportunity was clean. The stated intent was to scout, to provide information for a much larger follow up operation. Insertion was careful. We entered the atmosphere over the horizon from the target location. To avoid detection, we flew through valleys, always keeping mountains or ridges between ourselves and the target base. This did not eliminate all risk, as remote sensor sites could conceivably have been planted, but it would appear that we were able to insert undetected. There seemed to be no search for us during our approach. We located the base first from orbit, by observing both of our shuttles vanishing into the side of a mountain. Second, after landing, we located a slag heap, remnant waste minerals dumped after valued ores were extracted. We approached these two sites with caution using woods cover, and soon located an small containment facility enclosed by a wire fence. Those held included members of our away team, in addition to many Bajorans. The guards were Jem Haddar and Cardassian. We assumed that we had located the missing prisoners we had been seeking, but this has yet to be confirmed. Within the wired enclosure were several small metal cells, seemingly used for punishment. We heard some familiar voices from the enclosure, from a watch position about 80 meters from the wire, but were unable to locate all members of the away team. I assumed some of the AT, at least, were in the enclosures, but was unable to confirm. Treatment of the prisoners was harsh, but not life threatening. Labor was desired, and there was no source of replacement workers. The guards outnumbered the scout party. Thus, patience seemed the correct course. We contacted the Republic, described the situation, and waited on reinforcements. Admiral Blurox suggested scouting precise locations of the stolen shuttles, but this would have required penetration of the unknown tunnel complex. Such a penetration would have been very high risk, putting the rescue mission in jeopardy. Thus, I held the scout team 80 meters from the wire. The assault team did not copy our over the horizon entry followed by low altitude stealthy approach. They came in hot and fast. The base opened fire, resulting in the loss of two shuttles and the Admiral's yacht. With surprise lost and the assault team attracting fire, I authorized the scout team to use their weapons. David Johnson was able to suppress at least one anti-air heavy weapon. I was able to knock down the wire fence enclosing the prisoners. We were then able to provide small arms fire support for a combined prisoner revolt and escape. We distributed extra weapons, brought for this purpose, to the prisoners. The revolt was well underway as the assault team came up. One small small craft lifted from the base. Republic was alerted. At least one of our crew is still missing, Lt. Kawalas, and might possibly have been on the small craft. There was a final incident as the guards attempted to surrender, but the former prisoners continued to use force. Admiral Blurox and others including myself used stun set phasers to stop the action. For the moment hostilities have ceased. The situation is not fully stable. We must be sure all sentients on the base are fully accounted for. There seems to be some sensor jamming equipment in operation, which might best be located and neutralized. The shuttles must be located and recovered. We must confirm the history of the site. To this end, I anticipate providing science support for a party exploring the base. Finally, the scout team's small shuttle, which we landed some distance from the base, needs to be recovered. LtJg Joy Twelve

Subject : Re:Anti Scorpiad Weapons Modification Projects From : Ambassador Joy Five To : Admiral Day, Captain Corizon, Captain Sorehl It is not unusual for my kind to have sleepless nights. In fact, this is the norm. However, as I am awake anyway, should I not keep everyone else awake too? A few more thoughts. I do not foresee grave problems fabricating the new anti-phase torpedoes and integrating them with existing Federation guidance and targeting systems. However, Federation torpedoes will not be compatible with our allies' ships. Technology sharing teams might best be readied. While the larger Federation ships, designed for long term exploration missions, might fabricate and fit their own warheads, our smaller ships and most of our allies' ships are going to need manufacturing support from Camelot and other fixed stations. I anticipate that a very heavy stun (VHS) phaser setting might be developed for Federation ships with existing phaser systems. Much might be done with software changes only. Changing a disruptor battery into a phaser bank is a different problem. The energy weapons of our allies, which work on entirely different principles, will likely not be easily altered. A remove and replace refit cycle might well be required, which could delay deployment considerably and take the ships being converted off line during the modifications. I would also not be surprised by cultural resistance to altering weapon mixes. Other cultures do not believe phasers to be sufficiently, well, might I say... masculine. If we do not modify the allied ships for VHS phasers, we might have to consider integrating the fleets. All ships might reasonably have anti-phase torpedoes. Some ships would have the very heavy stun neutralizing weapon. As we are not sure of the effectiveness of VHS, whether it will be a disabling or a destroying weapon, we may find ourselves with no knock out weapons. For this reason, I am becoming more enthusiastic about a nannite virus development. Even assuming we do develop a knock out weapon, the tactics of a three tier offense might prove challenging. It is easy to say immobilize them first, disable them next, then close for the kill. Doing so with mixed fleets, not all of which have all the necessary weapons systems, might be less easy. My last question is whether we should seek a preliminary encounter. It would be to our interests, in some respects, to deploy the new weapons in mass and seek a decisive encounter before they know what is coming. On the other hand, it does not seem prudent to seek a decisive encounter if we are not sure of the effectiveness of our new weapons systems. If these factors have already been considered, I am sorry for bothering you. Joy Five

STSF has a healthy an academy system as you are likely to find, but, yes, too often there is only one member in each department. You did good in creating a subplot in keeping the AMO busy without disrupting the main plot. Yet, when the main plot resulted in injury, we dropped everything and joined the main plot. Or tried to. When the CO and XO kill themselves off to see how the players react and solve the problem, there often isn't much the medical department can do about it. Thus, when creating department subplots for medical, one has to allow for the away team that is apt to form a half hour into the sim, which will often need medical support, or the battle scene that may or may not break out forty minutes in. A holodoc would be interesting but tricky. Think it through. Choose a ship that runs in a 'post Voyager return' time frame. Talk to the captain to see what he or she thinks of your ideas. Portable holodeck projectors seem to be a plausible technology in that time frame, but are essentially miniature Q continuums. Reality within their zone of influence would be subject to change without notice. Could one enable safeties on a portable holodeck? Could one beam a portable holodeck anywhere on the ship that an injury occurs? I'd also be reluctant to try to portray the personality of the classic Trek holodoc. The actor that portrayed him just did such a dang good job that I wouldn't dare try to duplicate the personality. I'd concur that one should try to avoid unusual abilities that come into play very often. The Vulcan cultural inhibition against mind meld is a fine example of a way to avoid over using a plot device. Joy's Laws of Robotics, fed through her emotion chip, makes her want to avoid violence. Thus, even if she is fast and strong, she doesn't like to hurt people, doesn't want her superiors to think of her as an asset in combat. In simply role playing a character who doesn't want to hurt people, who embodies the principle that violence ought to be the last resort, that all other possible means should be considered first, it simply never comes up that Joy just happens to be fast, strong and trained. Personality, if played well, can be enough of a limitation. A character designed as a holodoc might well be programed to abhor violence and injury. But it is also a matter of finding the right captain. Some like exotic characters more than others. It might or might not be best to play a more conventional character the first time out, so you can get a feel for the environment of the 'advanced' ships, and so the command staff can learn your style and get to know you. Anyway... see you about the galaxy!

Welcome aboard. I was your AMO Monday. I've been a around a good while, but usually at science or Ops. I informally rated you as a veteran CMO helping an android not used to biological stuff on track. You seem to be a natural. Have fun, and hope to see you about! Bob / Joy

Subject : Re:Anti Scorpiad Weapons Modification Projects From : Ambassador Joy Five To : Captain Corizon Classification : Secret Captain I do not in the least doubt your authorization to use viral weapons. However, Admiral Day was rather firm at a recent meeting, in your absence, that we shall not use them. As you and he seem to be in agreement, this is not overly important, but I thought you should be aware that the development team has already heard one no-go on viral development. Joy

(The Following would be burst transmitted encrypted by Joy as soon as she clears the event horizon, and jamming is sufficiently cleared for communications to resume.) Subject : Ghost First Contact Preliminary Brief From : Ambassador Joy Five To : Captain Windu Corizon Precedence : Flash Encryption : UFP 138:D First contact with 'Ghosts' established. Advanced technological. Cyborg. Designed as anti-Borg by Scorpiad. They asserted dislike of former masters and the Dominion. They demonstrated control of local environment almost compatible with Q, somewhat compatible with a Federation technician controlling a holodeck. Do not know if they can extend similar control outside of their own areas. Considering the possibility of cyborg implants, I would assume considerable potential. On initial contact, they demonstrated a 'might makes right' value system. Unfortunately, some of the AT responded in kind. I attempted to outline Federation values while waiting for a diplomatic contact, hoping they were listening. They parroted back said Federation values quite nicely, thank you, when talks resumed. The degree of sincerity is unknown. They can definitely listen. Whether they are really so flexible as to shift value references so quickly is less certain. Potentially a very useful ally. Politically and militarily, cooperation would make sense from both sides. I would feel better about welcoming their representative to Excalibur if I thought the LCARS operating system vaguely secure. Joy

I'm no libertarian. The crash and boom economies so common before Keynesian economics proposed ways to soften the curves empirically shows the advantages of some government meddling in the economy. But there is the old saw that 'power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.' This too has been observed empirically often enough to make me distrust any autocratic form of government. I see current representative democracies as a failure if the goal is to have the government serve the people, but it is a partial success in allowing the People to get rid of the current bunch of bums when they travel too far down the path of corruption... as they always seem to do. But on a Star Trek web site, one might also consider that other species might not be as corruptible as humans. It is possible to hypothesize a race where concern for the entire species might be stronger than concern for one's own power and status, or one's immediate peer group. It is legitimate Science Fiction in the Roddenberry tradition to discover a Libertarian planet with minimal government, or a post Communist utopian planet where the state has withered away. I'd just want any author considering creating such planets to think through what genetic modifications or values driven education system might be necessary to create a world where power doesn't corrupt. Oh, yes, and if the Star Wars people didn't want us to call the human looking humanoids human, they ought to have created a different name for them.

I see communism as just another form of autocratic rule. Sure, if the people on top really had the interests of the working people at heart, it would be a good system. And if the kings and nobility had the teachings of Christ at heart, the divine right of kings would have been a good system too. The problem, of course, being that there are no mechanisms in either system to prevent the power hungry from acquiring power. Representative democracy is hardly perfect. In principle, human rights limit the power of governments, and democracy provides a means short of revolution to get a ruling clique not showing sufficient concern for the interests of the common man out of power. These are sufficient advantages that democracy was a much more effective form of government than communism. Our economy ground theirs to failure. They could not compete. In Star Trek role playing, Joy figures the Federation's most powerful tools driving the Federation's continued expansion and its major role in the galaxy are... the Prime Directive and the Guarantees. If one does not interfere with the development of other cultures, they feel free to join. While the martial cultures in the Star Trek galaxy must launch wars of conquest and occupy newly taken areas, the Federation can assimilate the diversity of numerous cultures without destroying said cultures, without dampening their energy. If the Prime Directive protects cultures from outside interference, the Guaranteed Rights of Sentient Beings protects the individual from excessive control by governments at all levels. If the Prime Directive, if consistently practiced, allows diverse cultures to join the Federation, the Guarantees if reasonably enforced gives similar protection and confidence to the individual. In various political sims, Ambassador Joy has clashed with various characters, both Federation and foreign, who think they know how to run other planet's cultures and other individual's lives. Joy aggressively preserves, protects and defends the Prime Directive and Guarantees, in part because she is an android lacking free will and she sort of has to at Priority Three, but also in a pragmatic practical knowledge that willing cooperation is the key difference between the Federation and the military cultures. The abstract ideals are the Federation's primary military advantage over the military cultures. The energy and diversity of an alliance of independent star systems trumps uniform forced autocratic systems. In other group's political sims, the players seemed naturally to divide into two camps. Joy would be with the Idealists, the Doves, the Roddenbery fans. The opposition would be the Pragmatists, the Hawks, the Berman fans that cared more for immediate results than long term principles. This cultural tension seems to exist in many sims. I expect to run into Pragmatist characters who scorn the Idealists as naive, innocent, and unaware of how the real world has to work. Joy in turn finds many of the Pragmatists lazy or corrupt, seeking the easy way out rather than doing what is best for both the Federation and the specific cultures involved. Anyway, that is one of the primary dialectics that defines Joy's political perspective. End rant. Sorry to ramble on...

I've always thought Star Trek at its best explores ideas in the science fiction tradition, where Star Wars is more in the fantasy tradition defining and exploring Good and Evil. For quite a while, when role playing The Force, I've assumed that emotions amplify power, but are also addictive. Whatever emotion a psi uses to push is abilities becomes a crutch, and one keeps going back to it, depending on it. This isn't quite SW canon, but is close enough. I've had a character I've tried to play several times, but haven't been able to find a stable campaign. She would come from a family strong in the force, started training in the old tradition, fell in love, abandoned the training out of fear of strong emotions, and retired to an out of the way nature world to raise a kid. Kid kidnapped by a Sith looking for a student. Mother pissed. Really potentially angry. We basically have a very good person, knowing she is walking a very dangerous path, but who isn't willing to stay in the woods and let the situation be. The base theme is that being addicted to power wielded even for the sake of love can be dangerous. I played her a few times under the D6 version of Star Wars. I told the games master my little girl had a little curl in the middle of her forehead. When she is good, she is very very good... When she is bad... Well. There is that Hulk line. You are making me angry. You don't want to make me angry. The few times I played her, while the rest of the gang was practicing combat skills, solving mysteries and slaying bad guys, she would spend a lot of off moments running through the woods, meditating, keeping herself centered, knowing what might happen to her if she looses control. Anyway, I'm more a Trek guy at heart, but there are ideas to be explored under the flash and high special effects spending of Star Wars.

USS Lewis, this is Joy Eight of courier MMS Mudd. Given the destruction of Mudd's Aegis consulate, we have received instructions from Coordinator Norman One to retrieve Ambassador Joy Two, and return to Mudd for debrief, coordination and reassignment. We request permission to come into transport range and take Two aboard. We would appreciate advice on a recommend course to return to secure Federation space at minimum risk. Thank you and best of luck, USS Lewis. Joy Eight, out.

Nick sighs as he stands up. "Excuse me, Ambassador, but I have other things to tend to since we've arrived back home." He steps towards the door leading from the ready room but as he reaches he pauses and says over his shoulder "I do have one suggestion though. I suggest you look up the 20th century's Soviet Union and their practice of assigning political officers, or zampolit as they called them, to military units and naval ships,...and how well that did not work out. Good day, Ambassador." Joy returned the sigh, but decided she and the captain had fenced sufficiently that day. She knew the traditional interaction between diplomatic and military personnel. Civilian control of the military. Military officers assigned as attachés and liaisons under ambassadors. Objectives and force authorizations being passed to the military, with the diplomats keeping their hands as much as possible off of how the military objectives are met. Diplomatic protocols such that the military officers are required to maintain and sustain friendly relationships between powers, and never letting their militaristic antagonisms and prejudices adversely effect diplomacy. But the normal pattern would not hold here on Aegis. Here, officers wave weapons in the face of ambassadors and crews are kidnapped off ambassador's ships. She doubted she would see Drankum, Sidega or Dukor again. The Aegis pattern of insulting diplomatic personnel was too strong. Which meant her own mission was likely over as well. Aegis would not become a diplomatic Hub so long as Goran and Ayers insisted on blatantly exposing their prejudices and animosities, and Ayers had just firmly stated an intent to stay the course. Joy shook her head.

(For the record, this communication would be encrypted. I do not anticipate players or hosts making free use of information they should not have in character.) "Sister mine?" "Two?" "Have you been talking to unspecified foreign governments about rebuilding Aegis without Federation involvement?" "That was not supposed to become public knowledge." "Uh huh. Captain Ayers just ordered me in no uncertain terms that I was to do no such thing." "Did he mention me?" "No." "OK, then." "Right. Tell me, were you intending to draw the Federation back to Cardassia? Goran issued orders to Starfleet that the Federation is to defend Cardassian Prime and immediately rebuild Aegis. Ayers showed me the orders, and they seem to be following them. Were you being cute?" "Ohhh.... I wish I could claim credit for that one. That would have been really clever. No, I just figured that if the Federation had rejected the Aegis treaty and abandoned the system in the face of two hostile fleets, somebody had to defend and refortify. If the Federation was abandoning the treaty and the Cardassians, somebody would have to fight the war." "Well, it seems Goran is suddenly interested in doing his duty again, if only to protect himself from defaulting on his authority." "Wait... Were you specifically accused of talking to other powers?" "Not quite explicitly. We were doing diplospeak. We both managed to avoid getting angry for once, but the resultant conversation was polite, indirect and occasionally convoluted. Still, he seemed to think I had arranged a multi power conspiracy without leaving the Lewis." "I had asked t'Hes'tral not to attach my name to the new Aegis effort, and she assured me she would not." "Interesting. Captain Ayers told me there were contacts between Goran and the Rihannsu of which Mudd is not aware. Apparently, someone in the Rihannsu chain of command is much more favorable to Goran than either t'Hes'tral or tr'Aeolix has given us reason to believe." "So... Either t'Hes'tral broke her word, has been misleading us badly, or she has a security problem?" "Or Goran could be communicating with the Rihannsu through a channel other than the Senate approved ambassador?" "Knowing Rihannsu habits of intrigue, that last would be dangerous, not necessarily to Goran, but to his alternate channel." "Hmm..." "Definitely." "How do you intend to play it?" "Let me give it some thought."

Joy thanked her Rihannsu guide, and stepped into the room. "Good evening, Hes'tral. Impressive ship you have here." The Romulan smiled faintly, gesturing to the interior of the conference room almost absent-mindedly. "Aefvadh. Welcome aboard. Our warbirds are rather intimidating if you've never been aboard one before, as well." A smilel flickered for a moment. "Otherwise they can be rightly appealing." She motioned to a spot to her right at the long table. "Do take a seat." Joy smiled as she sat. "I must confess to finding them intimidating from the outside as well. I am pleased, this time around, to be cooperating with them, more or less." "Yes, it's always good to be on the side that's holding the warbird," she replied, smirking. "And how do things fare aboard the Mudd?" "The Mudd escaped the conflict without damage," Joy said. "We were lurking on the edges of the system, ready to implement shuttle diplomacy if required, and just went very very quiet when the second hostile fleet came in. It is well we are good at holding our breath. Alyce 258 was caught on the Midway when Aegis came apart. We also had to zeroize the consulate computer system, which means Bruce lost a few days of memories. Other than that, our personnel came through. Most of our people are aboard various Federation ships, though we picked up 258." "Very good luck," t'Oryla noted. "Our casualties have been limited, as you are no doubt aware, and no Romulan personnel were on Aegis upon its destruction." "I heard one report of 200 casulties during the evacuation of Aegis. This feels exceedingly low given that torpedoes were flying while escape pods were in use. I suspect the attackers wanted captives, though Cardassian and Federation reinforcements also showed up to distract the attackers during the height of the evacuation. From the outside of the system, it seemed that 300 plus enemy ships came in, while 200 plus left in more or less functional condition. Thus, from an attrition point of view, it would seem that the enemy would have suffered much more severely. On the other hand, Cardassia's political center is now lightly defended." "I concur with the assessment. The Federation could have suffered much more heavily than they did. They are also fortunate." She relaxed backwards in the chair, looking contemplative. "Have you heard whether or not they are planning on an effort to repair or rebuild Aegis?" "I have heard nothing official from Starfleet. Joy Two reports the rank and file personnel from the station are asking themselves the same question, not knowing what their short term assignments are going to be. When we retrieved 258, we quickly scanned the station. Pylon One might be salvagable. Much of Pylon Two is gone. Politically, economically and militarily, I think Aegis will need to be rebuilt. There ought to be a neutral station while the Cardassian occupation is still in place. I am concerned that the voiding of the original Aegis treaty might make that awkward." "Which species would participate in its reconstruction is another matter entirely." Hes'tral sighed. "I, for one, am uncertain on the Romulans' views on assisting once more in such a cooperative procedure." "Understandable," Joy said. "I wouldn't think you would be the only ones with reservations. Still, I think the Cardassians would feel far more comfortable with a joint neutral station than a single power station. What are your concerns? What guarantees would you want in place to make you more comfortable with a new Aegis?" "For one thing," she preambled, ad-libbing a bit, "I'd like to see a fair amount more control of station operations." A grim smirk. "Not to mention the ability to withdraw our contributed technologies should relations between our respective governments go downhill. I'm concerned about the Federation elbowing its way in again, pushing a new Aegis' coventurers to the sidelines." Joy sighed. "I don't think that will be acceptable. The last station was built assuming continued cooperation, Ferrengi power, Federation shields, Romulan and Klingon weapons. If you were commanding such a station, would you find it acceptable if a major portion of the station's functionality could be withdrawn with scant or no notice? Any contributing power could neutralize the station given any political disagreement? On the other hand, I can agree that one power unilaterally assuming absolute operational control is problematic." Tapping her fingers lightly on the desk, she narrowed her eyes, thinking. "There would be a necessity for some moderation of power by the other governments. What might you suggest to accomplish that?" "I would start with establishing a list of expected rights, of what services each power might be expected to have access to. These might include commercial, transit, repair, spare parts depot, embassy and sensor rights. I'm open to having that list tuned." Joy paused in a way that implied more would have to come. "Of course. And undoubtedly my government will assist with a list of its own, as well." She sighed. "With luck there will be some sort of arrangement agreeable to all. At least, in a perfect world." "The problem is that Starfleet has been suspending such rights without presenting cause or leaving a course for appeal. They feel it is their right to suspend shipping, monopolize sensor access, freeze diplomatic traffic, and otherwise make arbitrary decisions. After they voided the last treaty, I'm not sure how to proceed writing the next one." Joy hesitated, looking at Hes'tral for a bit. "Just before the last attack, I tried to summarize the diplomatic nicities to Captain Ayers. I tried to keep it short and basic. Do not search, scan or detain diplomatic vehicles, spaces or personnel. Always be polite. Make requests rather than giving orders. The next time we spoke, he denied permission for the Mudd to undock, and ordered my people to the shelters. That is just representative of the Starfleet Aegis lack of regard for interstellar convention. Would it have hurt him to insert the 'please' in there somewhere? How does one deal with such an disregard for treaty, convention and law?" "They are... brutish, and rather uncivilized," she pronounced, speaking slowly. "And I believe that the only way to respond is in kind. They understand threats and force, and I understand why many species -- including, yes, the Rihannsu -- first greeted them with a show of arms. Perhaps they would recognize strength more than niceties come a new treaty." Joy did not look entirely pleased, but neither could she disagree. "The Federation is not always like this. In other places, in other times, I have been well pleased to represent a Federation world and the Federation itself." She hesitated. "I might suggest a gambit. Mind you, I'd prefer you make it your gambit rather than labeling it the 'Joy Maneuver.'" She smirked. "I would never attach your name to something possibly inflammatory, Ambassador." Joy smiled, slightly. "The Federation has renounced the Aegis treaty. With the destruction of the old Aegis, perhaps those powers still interested in Aegis, still honoring the treaty, should get together to decide how to rebuild it, and who should man it." She crossed her arms, considering it for a long moment. "I doubt my government would be opposed to it." "To make it work, even as a bluff, you'd need the Cardassians. Up until the last time I spoke with Legate Dukor, he and his superiors had been tying themselves closely with the Federation. Since that time, the Rihannsu have been much more firm in their defense of Cardassian space than the Federation, while the Federation seems to have missed few opportunities to insult Cardassian pride. I also doubt the Cardassians will be pleased that the Federation left their home system undefended in the face of two hostile fleets. I know I'm not. From there... Well, I don't think I need to teach intrigue to the Rihannsu." Her eyes danced for a moment, as if she was holding back a laugh. "Na, my dear ambassador, au most certainly do na." She stood, inclining her head slightly. "I will advise tr'Aeolix on your recommendations, Ma'am. I'm certain that they will be of much value to him. And to me," she amended. "Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any more thoughts on the issues..." Joy stood. "When have you known me to hesitate before sharing thoughts? Even if you don't have a network port? I will stay in touch. Jolan Tru "Indeed. And I appreciate your openness, Ambassador." "I just hope it might contribute to the Federation becoming once more what it ought to be." "And what it most likely still is, I suspect, under its current veneer," the Romulan admitted. "I hope so." Joy smiled sadly, and retreated.

Subject : Neutralization of Sky Harbor Aegis From : Joy Eight To : Ambassador Gem Rhee, San Francisco CC : Ambassador Joy Seven, San Francisco Classification : Secret Priority : Flash Encryption : UFP:88D Cardassia Prime system was attacked by a force of 300 plus warships, apparently of Breen design. Sky Harbor Aegis is no longer effective, and is not apt to be so soon. An engineering review will have to take place to determine if it would be easier to repair the station, or start from scratch. The station fought without giving quarter, seeking attrition, to destroy as many of the attackers as possible, continuing to fire even after ordering civilian personnel evacuation. (Secret) The Aegis defense included use of twenty plus tri-cobalt devices by Sky Harbor Aegis. Initially, the entire opposition force concentrated on the station, leaving other targets in system alone. Late in the battle, reinforcements came to the aid of the station, first a group of 20 plus Cardassian warships, then two Federation task forces. Approximately a third of the attacking forces were destroyed or disabled over the course of the battle. That force is thus significantly reduced, but is still operational. Thus, there are at least two actively hostile fleets in the area, including the pseudo Dominion force recently driven off by the Rihannsu. I would not assume for certain that the attacking force is Breen. I am still confused that three feints were directed at Cardassia Prime, followed by a brute force attack at Cardassia Prime. Feints usually serve to distract attention from the main blow. Yet, if the attack that destroyed Aegis was the main blow, what the feints achieved was to warn all concerned that something was happening in the area. While I am not up to date on fleet movement, the presence of two Federation task groups within an hour of Cardassia Prime seems very unlikely. I find it difficult to believe the Federation relief force would have been so close if the enemy feints had not drawn them near. Thus, there are missing pieces still. I would strongly urge examination of the damaged ships of the pseudo Dominion and 'Breen' fleets to confirm that this is not yet another attempt at misdirection. Simply, the Federation, Rihannsu and Klingons recently defeated the Dominion, Cardassians and Breen. What has now changed that the Breen alone wish to take on the Federation, Rihannsu, Klingons and Cardassians? Yet, if it is not the Breen, who else has the resources to create two large fleets, and trade off approximately a third of these forces against the loss of one station and smaller losses among the allied fleets? It seems that they counted on creating a division between the Federation and the Rihannsu. When this did not succeed, the whole operation might prudently have been abandoned at that point. Still, large acts of aggression cannot lightly be cancelled. Once their elaborate plan had been set in motion, it would have been difficult to cancel it, or even delay. Once the Rihannsu fleet began their demonstration against Aegis, Federation forces should have started to concentrate on Aegis. The longer the opposition waited before attacking, the better concentrated the Federation would have become. If the opposition had delayed even an hour more, the two Federation task forces may have arrived in time to save Aegis. Given the tight timing, it seems possible that the attack on Aegis was launched when the approaching Federation task forces were detected. Perhaps the hope was to destroy Aegis, then turn on a task force, only to find themselves facing two task forces. This is, of course, conjecture, but my best effort to make sense of a rather convoluted plan which seems not to have served our enemies well. Their plan seems to have been too complex, too convoluted, too inflexible, to have survived contact with the enemy. Thanks are owed to the small Cardassian force which came to the support of the station against an overwhelmingly superior force. While they were too few and too late to protect the station, they arrived as the station was being abandoned, and were likely crucial in diverting attention from civilian and crew evacuating the station. Many unshielded pods and lightly shielded small craft were exposed in the midst of a major fleet action. At that time, it would have been reasonable for the Cardassians to have continued protecting their home world, and not to have exposed their home world to the wrath of a superior fleet. It is likely that they were aware of the approach of the Federation task forces, which somewhat reduces the heroism and potential sacrifice of their engagement. Still, all proper expressions of respect and thanks are due to the crew of those ships and the commanders who authorized their mission. Similar appreciation might be expressed to the Rihannsu for their support in the pseudo Dominion encounter. To my knowledge, no apology was given for what seems now to have been a baseless accusation of Rihannsu involvement in terrorist activities. No thanks were given for their defense of the system from the prior pseudo Dominion fleet. This may or may not have influenced their decision to withdraw their forces from the system before the Breen arrived. The local Starfleet officers are not into the exchanges of respect and ritual necessary to maintain good diplomatic relations. It would be prudent to make sure such protocol is honored through other channels, at San Francisco, and on the Rihannsu home worlds. Do not assume it will be handled here. The initial conflicts caused more damage to the enemy than to the allies. The enemy's advantage of surprise has been lost. My major concern now is cementing a Federation Rihannsu Klingon Cardassian alliance. The enemy has committed acts of war against at least three of these powers. This should be the immediate diplomatic priority. With the destruction of Aegis, Mudd's consulate has also been destroyed, as were the other foreign embassies based there. I am not confident they will be rebuilt. While I have heard no word of ambassadors being formally recalled, given the local command staff's unusual concepts of protocol, hospitality and information flow, the foreign ambassadors seem to be finding reasons not to be here. If a foreign power wishes good diplomatic relations with the Federation, this is clearly not the best place to achieve it. This has become quite obvious to the entire diplomatic corps. Ambassador Two and I intend to work out of our courier for the time being. If other diplomats do return, we shall set up a consulate near theirs. If they do not, there is no purpose in our remaining. If Council thinks it important that diplomatic channels be active and healthy in this region, it would be prudent to send someone with authority Starfleet respects to make it so. Joy Eight

Subject : Rihannsu - Dominion Battle Abort and Time Loop From : Joy Eight To : Ambassador Gem Rhee, San Francisco CC : Ambassador Joy Seven, San Francisco; Ambassador Joy Two, Aegis Encryption : UFP : 88D Precedence : Flash The battle between the Rihannsu and apparent 'Dominion' force was abruptly aborted when some interaction between the two force's technology combined to create a major energy wave front and time loop effect. Cardassia III and Aegis Station were destroyed several times and the system's sun went nova once before the Rihannsu found a way of breaking the time loop without a major lasting effect. As of now, the time loop seems ended. There were some casualties among the Rihannsu and 'Dominion' fleets inflicted before the time loop. Both fleets are damaged but operational. None of the damage from the energy wave front survived in this time line, though other time lines were observed. The 'Dominion' force fled the time loop effect, and does not seem to be returning. The Rihannsu do not seem eager to pursue. For the moment, at least, the conflict seems to have been suspended. Everyone in system has memories of at least one death. The area of effect of the time loop has not yet been determined, but would include at least the entire Cardassia Prime system. Long term implications are unknown. It seems clear that someone, whomever was behind the apparent 'Dominion' force, intended to start a war. War suddenly doesn't seem like such a good idea. I suspect the tension between the Federation and Rihannsu is likely to ease. There does not seem to be a need for urgent reinforcement, though major acts of war have been committed, and a still operational hostile fleet is in the area.

Gloria Fulton of Galactic Network News considered herself to be a professional. She did manage to hold her sensor-recorder steady, her 20 megawatt smile active, while every single blonde hair was still in place. She wasn't quite sure, however, that she could convey to her viewing audience that she understood what Ambassador Joy had just said. She was a reporter, not a astrophysicist. "Could you simplify that somewhat, ambassador?" Joy Two parsed what she had just said. OK. Perhaps her more exotic theories ought to be held up, waiting for the science conference that would likely be called to analyze the disaster. Simplify. "The Rihannsu were fighting someone in Dominion ships. There was a large explosion, physically comparable in power to Praxis. The explosion also created at least five alternate realities. People in system may have memories of things that happened in all five mirror universes, but the physical reality we are now living in has extended from the least damaging of the possibilities. In this reality, the energy wave was greatly weakened by the Rihannsu, Aegis did not take any damage, the station is entirely intact and undamaged, Cardassia III is entirely intact, and the Cardassia Prime sun was not effected at all. "In short," Joy concluded, "in our current timeline, the only timeline we have real reason to care about, the explosion was a dud, but people in the system have memories of other realities where the explosion was very powerful." "Is the situation likely to repeat?" "Rihannsu have fought Dominion technology many times. It has not happened before. Perhaps one fleet or another has developed something new. If so, the results pleased neither fleet commander. The two fleets were battling with the intensity one would expect in a Rihannsu Dominion encounter. After the explosion, both commanders broke off the engagement. I don't expect anyone is pleased with what happened, though there is no net damage done in this the only observable reality." Gloria considered. "An absolutely harmless doomsday weapon?" Joy shook her head. "We don't even know if it was a designed weapon or a freak accident. Regardless, negotiations among rational races to prevent anything similar from occurring again seems worth considering." "What were the two fleets fighting about?" "It seems very likely that whomever planted the terrorist bombs, and whomever is behind the Dominion equipped fleet, wishes to start a war. It seems likely that one group is behind both incidents. At the moment, we do not even know who crewed the attacking fleet, though this is likely to change soon. We do not know their intentions, though they are clearly using both deception and violence. They have committed acts of war against Cardassia, the Federation and the Rihannsu, among others. "The Rihannsu have recently expressed the desire to honor the alliance that won the Dominion war. They have an obligation to defend Cardassia while they are occupying part of it, and while the alliance is limiting the size of Cardassia's military. They might also have a historical dislike for most anyone who shows up uninvited in Dominion ships. I do not know for certain which of these reasons, or what other reasons, might have motivated the Rihannsu. I suspect they will be making their own announcements in time." "The Dominion proper is rather distant. Could they really support a fleet operating this far from Gamma Quadrant?" "That is a good question," responded Joy. "I am reluctant, however, to openly conjecture on who is behind the Dominion technology fleet. We are likely to learn more when we examine the wreckage of some of the attacking ships." "What role did the Federation take in the battle?" "None," said Joy. "The Federation did not engage." "Why was that?" "You had best speak with Starfleet for that. Their relations with the Rihannsu were strained at the time of conflict. I know Mudd picked up a signal that we interpreted as a possible threat, or, given hindsight, it may have been a feint or decoy. That might also have played a role. There may have been other considerations as well." "We have also heard stories of abusive behavior towards civilians by Starfleet personnel. Have you any comment?" "Starfleet should honor and respect the Guaranteed Rights of Sentient Beings. However, when there is a clear and present danger, it is quite proper for Starfleet to declare a state of emergency. In this case, they declared a Class Two Alert. The Guarantees can quite properly be suspended in the interests of public safety. An ongoing major fleet action certainly counts as a clear an present danger. I saw nothing in the shelter area during the battle which I would call abusive. Still, since I have been here, Starfleet has acted as if a state of emergency is permanently in place, when no clear and present danger has been perceivable. The diplomatic corps has had our own problems, similar to a few of the circulating civilian stories. While I would urge civilians to honor Starfleet's directives during an emergency, I can also understand civilian frustration at Starfleet's constant ongoing use of emergency powers." "Thank you, Ambassador Joy. This is Gloria Fulton, reporting from Sky Harbor Aegis."

Subject : Search, Rescue & Witness From : Joy Eight, USS Mudd To : Hes'tral t'Oryla CC : Joy Two, Aegis Hes'tral I suspect you have sufficient resources at hand that one courier scout will not make a large difference, but we are required to prevent the loss of sentient lives, and thus an offer of search and rescue support is proper from our perspective. Two and I are also most curious as to what race is crewing the Dominion ships. Even if rescue support is not required, you might wish a witness. Joy

Subject : Apparent Dominion - Rihannsu Battle at Cardassia From : Joy Eight, MMS Mudd, Cardassia Prime System To : Ambassador Gem Rhee, San Francisco CC : Ambassador Joy Two, Aegis; Ambassador Joy Seven, San Francisco Encryption : UFP:88D Priority : Flash A fleet of 100+ ships, of mixed size, apparently of Dominion design, appeared outside Cardassia Prime system, and paused. The Rihannsu fleet of 19 Warbirds it attacked shortly after. Federation forces have thus far not committed. One would normally expect the Rihannsu to be at a disadvantage given the difference in numbers, but neither side has achieved a decisive edge. The Dominion weapon that disables power plants seems not to be playing a role. One might assume improved Rihannsu shielding. It seems inconceivable that a Dominion force could have come through the wormhole, thus these ships, if they are indeed of Dominion construction, are most likely remnants of forces provided to the Breen and Cardassians during the late war. That they are less effective than one might expect might be attributed to poor supply, maintenance, crew training or command skill. This Dominion equipped fleet has likely been too long isolated from the Dominion to be fully effective. Conceivably, the Rihannsu may also have made improvements. The rapidly escalating sequence from a lone assassin, to multiple terrorist bombings, to fleet frontal assault has been very fast. The timing is so tight that coincidence seems unlikely. The difference in methods is notable. Terrorist bombings are a tactic used when one is at a disadvantage in conventional conflict. Frontal assault against a prepared and alert enemy is a method used reluctantly when one has a significant advantage in conventional conflict. That one approach was used immediately before the other indicates someone was trying to be cute. My guess is that the terrorist bombings were intended to provoke a Rihannsu - Federation conflict. The Dominion remnant fleet was intended to arrive late to take on the winner. If so, while from our perspective, the situation was tense and confusing, from the other side this may look like a disaster. While they may possibly have sufficient force to take the Cardassia Prime system for a short time, if Klingon and Federation reinforcements arrive reasonably promptly, it does not seem likely they will be able to hold the system. I suspect the Rihannsu will not be pleased that the Federation is not supporting them. However, we picked up a yet unexplained sensor burst coming from an entirely different direction. Holding the Federation forces in reserve might be prudent given the pattern of escalation. Each threat arriving has been much more potent than the one before. We have escalated from a man with a knife to a major fleet action with only one step in between. The opposition command clearly likes misdirection, and thinks himself clever. I am thus far not impressed by 'clever.' If the Dominion force had come in with surprise, neither the Rihannsu nor Federation fleets would have been here to defend. Either the enemy has badly erred, or they had some reason to believe these forces could be defeated, and the expected reinforcements as well. Given a large force in Dominion designed ships, one would naturally have to suspect Dominion, Breen and/or Cardassian involvement. Given the degree of misdirection thus far observed, I would not be in a hurry to jump to conclusions. Joy Eight **************************************** Subject : Aegis Political Situation From : Joy Eight, MMS Mudd To : Ambassador Joy Seven, San Francisco CC : Ambassador Joy Two, Aegis Encryption : JOY8:FA549BC9DF99 The pattern of interaction between the diplomatic corps and the Aegis command staff is becoming rather obvious. If one attempts to get them to honor the Guarantees, they lecture on the importance of martial law. If one attempts to get them to honor interstellar treaties, they lecture on martial law. If one tries to help them acquire allies when war is imminent, one gets a lecture on martial law. Their interactions thus far with the diplomatic corps have involved issuing of reprimands, issuing of orders, and recently the making of an accusation which seems likely now to prove unfounded. What is lacking is any willingness to listen. In short, they are very impressed with their own authority, but dismissive of honoring their constitutional and treaty obligations. They seem to perceive of diplomacy and politics as one way streets. The notion that authority is tolerated only to enforce mutually advantageous relationships seems much too abstract for their way of perceiving the universe. This is problematic in and of itself. For the occupation of Cardassia, it is particularly problematic. Centuries ago, Cardassia was a reasonably well balanced civilization. They fell into an economic decline. In order to buy their way clear, they initiated a series of conquests. They invested in their military, took over other's planets, and used stolen resources to prop up the failed economic system. Of course, as this did not reform their basically flawed economic system, this was a temporary fix. More invasions proved necessary. Conquest became a habit. The system more or less worked until their expanding borders met the Federation and the Klingon Empire. A return to a balanced culture comparable with the Cardassian First Republic period seems a desirable goal. I do not see that emphasizing martial law as the dominant tool for solving all problems will be helpful in shaping the new Cardassian culture. But I am at a loss as to how to suggest this. Any communications with the Aegis command staff that does not slavishly follow their policies and bow to their authority gets no thoughtful response, only lectures on the importance of martial law and emphatic assertions that the command staff is not obligated to listen to anyone else's perspective. They may be able to make it work so long as Federation military force is required to stabilize the region. If they continue, however, making demands while not fulfilling responsibilities, the situation can only deteriorate. Eight

Subject : Information Flow From : Joy Eight To : Captain Nicholas Ayers CC : Admiral Goran, Ambassador Joy Two, Captain Sorehl Classification : Confidential Priority : Routine First, while this note is not unimportant, it is not urgent. It it too late to make corrections with regards to the current fleet actions. Feel free to put this aside until the situation is stabilized. Captain, I have been trying to avoid debating legal differences, but of course we disagree. Everywhere else I have traveled in or near Federation space, all embassy personnel carry diplomatic passports, and are subject to the persona non grata tradition rather than local justice. Mind you, I have seen persona non grata abused. It is an arbitrary system, sometimes capricious, far better suited for sending diplomatic 'messages' than for justice. On behalf of Mudd, I am not concerned about this particular Aegis oddity. The problem is the disconnect in how Aegis insists on its own unique protocols that causes confusion and distress among the diplomatic corps. Again, if you intend to implement unusual regulations and laws, it would be courteous at the very least to inform people. If the laws you are abandoning are part of interstellar tradition or treaty, do not be surprised by difficulties. But I am more concerned by your impression that ambassadors are fleeing Aegis at the first sign of trouble. You should know better. I have spoken of my own programming. I mentioned the military experience of the rest of the diplomatic corps. I would not assume the Federation has any monopoly on courage. Imagine yourself on some foreign station, representing the Federation. There is trouble in local space. You host is denying you all access to local sensor information, and seems to be keeping you isolated from any information on the local crisis. From time to time, your host calls you into his presence, and asks or demands that you as representative of the Federation approve his plans. Would you feel comfortable in committing the Federation to any position, given that your host was denying you information on what is going on? When the MMS Mudd left Aegis, most of the rest of the ambassador corps had already left. My purpose was to remain in contact with those outside, while Two remained in contact with Starfleet and those inside. I am also providing information to Two, such that she might be informed enough to represent Mudd in a knowledgeable manner. I expect that the other ambassadors also left for good reason, nothing to do with personal courage, much more to do with Aegis policies. Again, consider creating a diplomatic situation room. Make it possible for the diplomatic corps to maintain situational awareness without leaving the station. Also, if you want diplomats on the station, you might act as if you want diplomats on the station. You could do better in the realm of hospitality. And yes, I know, Aegis is under martial law. The precise strength of military dictatorship as a form of government is that a dictator with sufficient armed force need not concern himself with the perspectives and opinions of others. I do not truly expect you to appreciate alien values and goals. You have made this clear. I am just required to go through the motions.

Subject : Request for a Position Paper From : Joy Eight To : Captain Ayres CC : Admiral Goran, Ambassador Joy Two, Captain Sorehl Classification : Confidential Captain It is rapidly becoming traditional, at the end of our conversations, that you remind us that we have no authority. We suspect, as you keep emphasizing this point, that you have noted how irrelevant we consider this to be. We doubt, however, you understand why. Thus, please forgive a mild diversion. I might also make a small request. You could not possibly have reached your current rank without going through courses in alien values and first contact. If you could kindly step into that mode of thinking for a while, it might be to your benefit. Your method of perceiving he world and manipulating it is not uniquely true. Even if I do not expect you to embrace a new value system, an officer of your rank and position should at minimum be able to comprehend other value systems. My sisters and I have long served Starfleet. We know the military 'chain of command' paradigm, though 'pyramid' would be more accurate. A few at the top make decisions, to be rapidly implemented by those below. Such a system is so effective in conflict situations that most cultures adapt it for their soldiers, even if it is anathema to the culture as a whole. Diplomacy presumes an assumption of equality. In addition to serving on Starfleet, my class has considerable experience serving on Council. There, everyone is presumed to be of equal dignity. While each planet might have some advantages in such areas as seniority, technology, economic strength or some other gift, it is dangerous or presumptuous to count on using such to manipulate or coerce another ambassador. Instead, each ambassador is assumed to have varied ideas, goals, resources and information. The culture is one of pooling these things to achieve common goals. The culture is one of cooperation and respect, rather than one of authority. In a diplomatic environment, no one has authority over another. There were times when the Chairman of Council believed he had or ought to have authority, and tried to manipulate Council by withholding information, manipulating the agenda, bypassing parliamentary procedure, or otherwise forcing an issue. The result, quite properly, was often a new Chair. Military and diplomatic value sets do not mix cleanly. Ambassadors see it as their duty to preserve and protect the dignity and sovereignty of the governments they represent. In general, any attempt by one sovereign power to establish authority over another sovereign power will generally be met be an instinctive, emotional and yet quite rational resistance. Thus, it is improper and dangerous to assume a position of authority when one is involved in diplomacy. Thus, your repeated warnings that I do not have any authority are quite irrelevant from my perspective. When dealing at a diplomatic level, seeking authority over other ambassadors is dangerous and counter productive. As the command staff of Aegis seems determined to act as if they are members of the diplomatic corps, it is proper that you at least understand the diplomatic value system, even if it is alien to your normal perception of how the universe ought to work. My sense is that 'someone on Aegis' equates in your mind to 'someone under my authority.' This is a dangerous assumption when applied to representatives of foreign governments. It has led to much of the difficulty we have seen in recent days. It is as if you were trying to dicker in gold plated latinum with a Klingon, while speaking of courage honor to a Vulcan. There is a profound values clash in progress. End preamble. I recently solicited from Ambassador tr'Aeolix a brief summary of the Rihannsu position. A copy of the result was sent to Admiral Goran. As Two was with Admiral Goran at the time, I assumed I would get a similar summary from the Federation. This did not happen. At this point in a potential conflict, my objective would be to prevent the conflict. If this is not possible, it would be to justify the conflict to other nations such as to acquire allies while denying allies to the other side. Ambassador tr'Aeolix is playing this game. In withholding information from other nations, in not making your position clear, you are leaving yourself open. I know I do not speak for the Federation. I can only advise. Ambassador tr'Aeolix made a will not fire first pledge. If at all possible, a similar pledge, under whatever limits you consider necessary, would minimize any impression that the Federation is the instigator. It would also reduce tensions and help prevent a minor accident from escalating into conflict. Ambassador tr'Aeolix asked for an independent third party to review any evidence of Rihannsu involvement. He also promised a Rihannsu investigation if some fringe Rihannsu group is acting outside the authority of their Senate. I would advise you make this reciprocal, asking that the same independent third party be given equal access to both investigations. Ambassador tr'Aeolix alleges a violation of treaty to which the Klingon Empire is signatory. It may become very important that you defend voiding the treaty without suggesting that your word of honor is not important, or suggesting that the Klingon Empire did not live up to their word of honor. When Two spoke to you last, she spoke of Mudd values, that preserving unique lives is more important to us than preserving individual nodes within a hive mind. Thus, to Mudd, preventing war is more important than the safety of our embassy staff. While the other members of the diplomatic corps are not hive mind nodes, many are former military. I feel safe in saying that most will consider their duty to understand and manage this crisis, to keep their governments informed, is worth taking the same sort of risks that Starfleet officers are taking. In disrespecting their dedication to duty, in withholding information, in isolating them from communications, the impression given is that you wish diplomacy to fail, that you are striving to force your own agenda, that you are trying to prevent other powers from influencing your plans. A sincere effort to inform them and at least a pretense of listening to the opinions of other governments could significantly impact the course of any upcoming war, or even of any peace. Your manner of treating the diplomatic corps will be remembered, regardless of the short term outcome of this crisis. If you wish assistance in wording your responses within the traditional norms, I am certain Two will make herself available. Joy Eight

Subject : Request for a Position Paper From : Joy Eight To : Captain Nicholas Ayers CC : Admiral Goran, Ambassador Joy Two, Captain Sorehl Classification : Confidential Well, we differ. In my experience, this is precisely the time when it is important to keep diplomatic channels open, and precisely the time that military organizations need to remember treaty obligations.

I guess I should also include the po-po platter of conspiracy theories... the rogue Federation group pretending to be a rogue Rihan group financing a rogue Rixia group deliberately using Dominion equipment. Rearrange to taste, make the word 'rogue' optional, and add sweet and sour sauce if desired. <_<

The STSF map ( http://www.stsf.net/map/ ) shows the Federation running down the center with (top to bottom) the Romulans, Klingons and Gorn on the right, with (top to bottom again) the Breen, Ferrengi, Cardassians and Tholians on the left. I would be tempted to go 3D. Lift the Federation up. Push most everyone else down, and mush the lower guys together towards the center. Thus, everyone on the right could exchange fire with their counterparts on the left. This would allow Klingon and Romulan encounters with the Breen and Cardassia, and Klingon and Gorn encounters with the Tholians. Something like this, though you could mush the grey circles in closer together... It's still a bit tricky to let the Klingons go at the Breen (as Memory Alpha says they once did) while having the Romulans abut Cardassia. Still, borders might shift over the years, and an extra dimension opens all sorts of possibilities. This scheme would also give the Federation the high ground. B)

Subject : Cardassian Crisis Update From : Joy Eight To : Ambassador Joy Seven, San Francisco CC : Ambassador Joy Two, Aegis; CSec Lee, Aegis Classification : Secret Encryption : JOY8:1FE8DC932CAB Things are getting no clearer protocol wise. When last Two spoke with Captain Ayers she attempted a simple summary of the diplomatic protocol. Do no search, scan or detain diplomatic personnel, vehicles or spaces. Use courtesy. Make polite requests rather than giving orders. Last time I spoke with Captain Ayers, he denied launch clearance for the courier, and ordered all embassy personnel to a shelter area. He did so in a reasonably courteous fashion, so perhaps not all is totally lost. The Mudd has launched. Immediately after I stated an intent to protest, the shipping ban was lifted. As this prompted an immediate reversal of what Captain Ayers had just ordered, I can only assume Admiral Goran intervened. As the civilian crews of the merchantmen are also being held in the Aegis shelter areas, the lifting of the shipping ban has thus far effected only the Mudd. I suspect there is a message or two in this somewhere, but as the shipping ban was objected to by most of the diplomatic corps, I just launched the Mudd without immediate comment. Two told Ayers that Mudd embassy personnel "with bodies" would withdraw to the shelters. He didn't ask clarification, so hopefully he figured out that making a holo sentient safe by forcing him to leave the holodeck wouldn't work. This leaves me in free space, able to communicate with Dukor and tr'Aeolix. Two is in the shelters, where any other ambassadors still on Aegis might be. Bruce is manning the consulate, and should be able to reach anyone still on Embassy Row. I am not sure where Drankum and Sidega are, but we have covered our bases in terms of trying to maintain diplomatic communications as best we can... In spite of the efforts of the Aegis command staff. It is getting harder to assume that Starfleet's efforts to disperse, discourage and disable the diplomatic corps are not deliberate. A Rihannsu shuttle is currently heading for Aegis. I have vague hopes that the Rihannsu will keep the diplomatic corps informed of the result. I shall forward what I hear. Eight