Nequencia III Complex Debriefing

[Cptn Elias Moore 0]

Official Starfleet Communique

February 15, 2156

 

To: Starfleet Command

From: Captain Elias Moore, NX-05 Challenger

Re: Nequencia III Complex Debriefing

 

The "Nequencia mysteries" have been resolved, and, as per Admiral Gardner's explicit orders, the Nequencia colonization effort will proceed unimpeded. Several unique considerations arising during the course of this mission--the nature of the newly discovered alien complex beneath the surface of Nequencia III, the apparent shift in the formerly neutral L'Traisan government's alignment toward Earth, said government's possible acquisition of genetic engineering capabilities, and the disturbing development in Earth's relations with the Romulan Star Empire--are addressed herein. The mission resulted in one casualty, the fall in the line of duty of Ensign Stephen Connor; his family has been contacted. Damage was extensive--the Deep Space 1 construction frame and a significant portion of the colonial excavation site were lost and will require reassembly.

 

We now control the security systems of the Nequencia III subterranean complex, including its primary surface-to-air energy weapon. Since my last report, it has been discovered that the tomb and its defenses were being used by an ancient L'Traisan faction known as "The Alliance" (ref. the attached historical records) to conceal the remains of their genetically engineered warriors. A leak in one of the stasis capsules storing these bodies was the origin of the mutagenic Nequencian illness. My medical staff has developed and distributed an innoculant against the illness, rendering the colony site safe. The innoculant is not permanent, but it may soon be unnecessary as the genetically-modified bodies have all been burned.

 

The aims of the L'Traisan government are unclear. My first communique with L'Traisan Ambassador Miriola was of a cooperative nature and indicated little interest in Nequencia III on her part. This stance either changed or was originally a ruse. A fleet apparently under the Ambassador's direct command arrived in the Nequencia system ignoring our hails, prompting a tactical alert. The fleet acquired and transported out of our custody the L'Traisan soldiers indicated in my last report; it is now my belief that these soldiers were not remnants of the ancient House Bo-Fang, but were acting on behalf of the L'Traisan government. The L'Traisan fleet made an aggressive push for Nequencia III and their first communique with us lay claim to the tomb and demanded that Nequencia fleet pull out of the system. They reinforced their demand by transporting me to a holding cell aboard their command ship. Their actions must come as a sign of alarm to Starfleet, particularly regarding our presence in the Nequencian system. I would recommend that diplomatic channels with L'Traisa be pursued in haste, as this could entail the rise of new hostilities toward Earth.

 

We are not certain how much the L'Traisan government knew about the Nequencian tomb prior to our discoveries. Commander Cole believes that they possessed complete knowledge of the tomb and of the genetic tampering, and that their actions since our first communique have constituted a coverup; our evidence of the tampering was, thus, an effective tool for blackmailing them away from the planet. This being the case, the L'Traisan threat level can be considered negligible. It is my belief, however, that the L'Traisans only suspected or possessed off-hand knowledge of the tomb's secrets, and that our discovery of the tomb aided their search for these secrets; their departure from the system may be a result of their successful acquisition of data which could be used to replicate the genetic engineering process. This would indicate a desire to apply genetic alterations to their people. Their fleet stood down and departed only after a L'Traisan team in the complex located the chamber housing the augmented soldiers; we have since discovered that this team destroyed the stasis capsules and incinerated the augmented soldiers. This, again, does not clearly indicate either coverup or acquisition. Determining the L'Traisan agenda will be a task for the previously recommended L'Traisan embassy or the Starfleet intelligence corps; close attention must be paid for any signs that genetic augmentation is taking place.

 

I have communicated to Admiral Gardner my recommendation that this project be terminated in light of the Nequencia weapon's destruction of a Romulan craft. The Admiral has assured me of Starfleet's determination to continue with construction. I still believe, however, that it would not be prudent to stand by and wait for a Romulan response. It is vital that we communicate to Romulan leadership that the destruction of their ship was not our intent, and that the weapon was not under our control at the time. The possibility of gaining their trust would be greatly diminished if Romulan agents were to observe us establishing a colony around the weapon. I press Command to consider the aggressive diplomatic foray into Romulan space suggested by Commodore Moose at the onset of the Challenger mission. This approach was abandoned after last year's shipping lane raids; if the Romulans were responsible for those attacks, certainly we can consider the destruction of their ship above Nequencia a counterbalance. Otherwise, we could find ourselves forced into a tragic escalation of hostilities with this major interstellar power.

 

This is my final report on the Nequencia III Complex mission. Let the record reflect the attached commendations of all officers involved in the mission. Also let the record reflect the promotion to Lieutenant of Aaron Westler; it is my recommendation that Lt. Westler be considered for command-level training. Standard Nequencia fleet operations are resuming and the Nequencia colonization project is back underway.