Diplomatic relief

Posted on Wed Oct 19th, 2016 @ 3:43am by Commander Bertrand Cuprum & Captain Elijah Michaels

Mission: Smoke and Mirrors
Location: Andrasi VI

The Andrasi colony had been going for around 200 years now. This was plenty of time to have built a well established culture and infrastructure. However, the colony has remained small and clustered around a number of large mining facilities. The main city has been positioned as a central hub to all of the mines and so it made sense for the majority of the relief effort to be centred there, with wounded being shipped in.

By the time the diplomatic team from the USS Victory arrived it had been three days since the disaster hit. Much of the most serious damage had already been addressed but the Andrasi had very little in the way of infrastructure to handle such a widespread disaster as this appeared to be.

The main government building stood high enough to provide a commanding view of the city and some of the mines in the distant hills. It was here that the governor and his cabinet awaited Captain Elijah and his team

Elijah and Bertrand beamed in with a small team from the Diplomatic Corps assigned to the Victory. The two Red Uniformed Officers and their purple uniformed colleagues materialized in front of the Andrasi Cabinet.

"Captain welcome to Andrasi VI, I am Prime Minister Ralian Kern," he said extending his hand to the Captain.

"Captain Elijah Michaels," the Captain said shaking his hand. "This is my Executive Officer, Lieutenant Commander Bertrand Cuprum."

Bertrand gave the appropriate recognition. He could feel the mix of tension and release in the room. Everyone was genuinely happy to see them but they were politicians in the middle of a crisis; never a comfortable place to sit.

"Thank you for responding to our Distress Signal Captain, the last three days have been tough on all of us." The Prime Minister said with a look of deep sorrow on his face. "My people are hurting but we are strong."

"We're happy to be of assistance, Prime Minister," Bertrand provided, handing him a report. "These are the areas we have deployed our people, as per your offices suggestions. We will support the local efforts there, as well as provide specialist aide where it is lacking. We're making infrastructure a priority; communications, food and water, power..."

"Well, fortunately, power will not be an issue," Kern managed a smile. "Thanks to a relatively recent discovery in Mine 15 we have been able to produce large amounts of energy freely and cheaply."

"Oh," Bertrand prompted, sensing the eagerness in the politician to speak of successes.

"There is a particular crystal formation we have affectionately named Andrissian. When placed under pressure it stores the potential energy which is slowly released as light and heat over time. The crystal is stable to transport, then on arrival it can be pressure cooked and power a small home for a week. It has been the first real exportable product we have managed and we think that may have been what prompted the attack fro..."

Another member of council coughed loudly at this point and the Prime Minister's mouth snapped shut. Elijah didn't need Bertrand's extra sense to realize more had been shared than was intended.

Elijah noticed it, but for the moment he kept quiet at what he saw. "So is there a place we can set up?" He asked looking towards the Ministers. "I'd like to coordinate with my teams effectively."

"Er... of course," The Prim Minister gathered himself again. "We have set you up with a desk and control surfaces in the Main operations room. This way."

The group moved quickly through a few corridors and came to a large pair of doors which opened to a room full of wall monitors and scurrying people. It was like the operations room of a dozen space ships or colonies and had all the trappings of disaster status even three days after the event.

As the doors opened however Bertrand cried out suddenly, holding his head.

"Argh! So...sorry, sir. Ah!" the XO took a couple of steps back from the room. "Splitting head. Ngh. Permission to check on the other teams."

Elijah nodded. "Permission granted XO." He said showing concern for Bertrand.

One of the diplomatic aides came up to the Captain, "Sir, we have a request from the medical team for you to make contact, and Lt Cordale has ordered a halt and closure on Mine shaft 15 for health and safety reasons."

"But... But.. he cant!" the Prime Minister exclaimed. "Shaft 15 is our primary source of Andrissian for the city. We've just upgraded out Weapons battery to run off it; even our payloads are charged with it. We need that shaft open as soon as possible."

The Captain cut him off. "With all respect to you, Prime Minster, if my Chief Engineer has closed your Mine." Elijah paused and looked directly at him. "He has a damn good reason for doing so."

Only slightly mollified the Prime Minister responded, "Yes, of course, Captain, but that mine represents our livelihood. When we came here 200 years ago, fleeing persecution, we had barely enough to survive. And we have remained that way for generations. With the discovery of large Andrissian deposits we have begun to open trade negotiations with neighboring systems. Our defence minister believes that this may have angered our former homeworld who are, even now plotting our destruction. If we close the mine we are playing right into their hands."

"You never mentioned this before." Elijah said to him, the Captain was not a man who liked to be lied to. "There wasn't a disaster was there Prime Minister?" He asked him, flat out and straight to the point.

The Prime minister looked offended, "Of course there was! We have buildings destroyed all over the city, people in general panic. This is not the first Earthquake the city has faced, you know. Some of us are old enough to remember the one that hit fifty years ago."

The minister for defense spoke up, "Captain Elijah. There HAVE been scattered accounts of fights with alien races, but they are confused and do not correlate. Two people in the same area will blame two different races for destroying their home, despite there being no bodies of any alien race. Meanwhile the destruction of the buildings is obvious for all. We are putting it down to the ravings of a confused and frightened population, which is WHY we do not voice our concerns publicly until there is some evidence."

The Captain looked at them both. "I am not here to offend people, remember we answered your call in good faith." He knew that things didn't add up but he wanted solid evidence first. "I will have all relief efforts do their best."

"Of... course, Captain," The Prime Minister responded. "We will leave you to your work."

The Captain nodded as he watched the Ministers leave him to it. He didn't like this, things just didn't add up properly.

The com link to the ship chimed, "Captain. Call from one of our medical teams for you."

After a short moment the channel reconnected. "Michaels here, Doctor. What's wrong?"

"Sir, my medical teams are in place and we're working on the wounded, but I've come across dosens of cases that aren't consistent with what I would expect from an earthquake. I've got stab wounds, disruptor blasts and several other strange injuries. If I had to guess, It looks like injuries from combat. I'm keeping track of the injuries, but this doesn't look good"

After a short pause, Sara continued, "I ask that you send a few security teams or marine squads down here just in case the worst should happen"

"I'll see to it," Elijah responded, cutting the channel and then sending a message to Bertrand.

A short time Later Bertrand responded, "Sir, I have visited a number of sites and something here just doesn't add up. I suggest we gather the command crew to discuss what we have found so far."

"Acknowledged, best we do it in private Commander." He said looking around. "Things are certainly not what they appear to be."