In Troubled Waters (Part 3)

Posted on Sun Mar 16th, 2025 @ 4:08am by Lieutenant Commander Rebecca Bluegarden & Gert'Rudd Barkh & Commander Irene Vincent "Rally" & Lieutenant Commander Damien Maillet & Lieutenant Commander Sergei Zaigraev & Lieutenant Commander Malcom Hunt & Lieutenant Freya Michaud & Tekina
Edited on on Sun Mar 16th, 2025 @ 4:10am

1,384 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Season 1, Episode 2: War, Peace, And All That Jazz
Location: Deep Space Station K-9- Conference Room, Deck 9
Timeline: After 'In Troubled Waters (Part 2)'

Previously, on Star Trek: Deep Space K-9:

Rally glanced over at Barkh. "Ambassador Barkh, do you concede with Ambassador Tekina's proposal, or is there anything else you would like to add?"

"That was... Certainly a lot easier than I was expecting:" Barkh admitted. "However, given the high priority of this matter; Kaiser Roth will want to put all available resources towards the assassin's capture. This will include giving our military unrestricted access to Eifie space, and for the Republic to turn over all data on the Eifie males for faster identification and apprehension."

Rally turned back to Tekina. "Ambassador Tekina, do you concede with Ambassador Barkh's terms?"

And now, the continuation:

Tekina bowed her head. "While we understand the urgency of the matter at hand and and are willing to lend our assistance to the Rheuysian peoples in whatever way we can, I am afraid that we are not at a point of stable population growth that we would feel comfortable in granting the Rheuysians access to our males. As it stands, the Eifie people have an extremely low male-to-female birth ratio- approximately 1 male to every 12 females- and therefore we are extremely protective of our male populous; any accidental contamination that their immune systems are incapable of withstanding would not only prove catastrophic to them, but to the greater Eifie population as a whole. If the Rheuysians are willing to meet us a compromise, however, our breeding program has kept an extensive record of all males borne within the last 300 years, including genetic information that we have used to determine compatible breeding partners; provided the Rheuysians have kept a usable genetic sample of the assassin on file, we would be willing to grant them access to our archives, with some minor restrictions."

Rally glanced back over at Gert'Rudd. "Ambassador Barkh, do you concede?"

Barkh shook her head.

"I do not:" She said. "Trusting the Eifie to extradite the fugitive that has evaded capture and execution for five years is not on the Kaiser's agenda. We understand the risk to cause a cataclysmic event to your populace, and as a counter offer, we will undergo any and all health and safety protocols you might require of us. However, this matter will be handled by the army of the Kaiser, and she will accept no less of an answer."

Leaning forward, Michaud got the attention of the senior officers and asked in a low voice, 'why don't we offer to do the legwork as a neutral party? We can run the tests on any evidence the Rheuysians have, and extradite any Eifie suspect identified? We have the resources.'

"That's not a bad idea," Rally nodded. "Ambassador Barkh, provided that you furnish us with the case report, would you be willing to allow Starfleet to conduct the investigation as a neutral third party?"

Barkh shook her head.

"Due to the high priority of this matter, the Kaiser wants involvement." She said. "She is willing to travel out here to oversee it personally, if need be..."

Rally tilted her head to one side. "And why, may I ask, does the Kaiser insist on being directly involved in the investigation?"

"You fail to understand the impact the Kaiser from the Stars had on our people, and on our ruling Kaiser." Barkh responded. "Not only did she save our people from ruin, but she was a good friend and mentor to Kaiser Roth. It is because of this personal connection that the Kaiser wishes to deliver her people the justice they deserve."

"So would it not be unreasonable to assume that Kaiser Roth carries some degree of bias pertaining to this investigation?" Rally pointed out.

"And you suggest that the top matter of national security for the past five years is insignificant?" Barkh countered. "My orders are clear: If Rheuysians are not involved with this investigation, the Kaiser will be here personally to demand answers."

The point had been conveyed clearly enough to Rebecca, and she leaned in close to Rally:

"Perhaps we should just let the Kaiser onto the investigation, if that's what it takes to get them to back off..." She suggested at a whisper level.

"And risk allowing an influential and highly-biased individual to skewer the outcome?" Rally pointed out. "Granted, Commander, the Eifie seem to be hiding more than they're letting on, but given her connections to her predecessor, I wouldn't put it past Kaiser Roth to tamper in the investigation to achieve the narrative that she wants her people to believe."

'You can't show favour,' Michaud interjected. 'Starfleet is neutral in the case of both powers - I'm not entirely sure why they can't see that. Having the Kaiser personally lead the investigation is a notion that should not be entertained. Roth was the successor to the victim. Even if an Eifie assassinated the Rheuysian's leader, there's no telling who commissioned the crime. This could be used as pretext for war.'

“Could some kind of remote, live viewing work?” Damien suggested in a whisper. “Starfleet investigators, neutral as we are, with body cameras and microphones, transmitting to where the Kaiser and any senior Eifie leaders can watch and comment? Unedited, freely given, and then it’s our people undergoing the medical clearances needed to see the Eifie males, or our people who are stuck in EV suits while working.”

Hunt couldn't help but think Starfleet getting involved in the investigation would be a nice neutral solution. But if things went the way they didn't like. It could very much get messy real fast. The Rheuysian's came off very demanding and unreasonable. And at times, even came off like bullies.

"I think we've reached an agreement, then;" Rally sighed before turning back to Barkh. "Ambassador Barkh, in the interests of upholding sociopolitical neutrality in this investigation, we cannot in good faith grant your request to directly involve the Kaiser in our proceedings; given by your own admission that Kaiser Roth holds previous ties to the victim, there lies a clear and present motive to tamper with the evidence to potentially suit her agenda. We will be willing to provide her with live video and audio feed of our investigation for her peace of mind, and if she requests an audience with which to air her grievances, then I will be more than willing to hear her out. However, in upholding the best interests of both the Republic and the Reich, we cannot allow one party to potentially interfere in the affairs of the other."

"Understood." Barkh bowed. "Though do still plan on the Kaiser paying a visit once she hears of this."

"Whatever it'll take to appease her majesty." Rebecca said, nodding in Rally's direction.

Michaud was pleased at the turn of events. At least now they had a better chance of conducting an investigation free from prejudice and interference. Still, the visit of the Kaiser to the station was clearly intended to intimidate and influence the Federation.

Damien was actually pleased by the prospect of a visit from the Kaiser. Their operation on K-9 was new but a diplomatic visit from someone at so high a level might get them the recognition (and resources) they badly needed. And the chance to rub elbows with royalty! Who wouldn’t love that?

"Well, then, if we're all in agreement..." Rally remarked as she turned her attention over to Tekina. "Ambassador Tekina, do you have anything that you wish to add?"

"Before we proceed to the next stage of negotiations, I think it would behoove both parties to consult with their respective governing bodies, so that they may be brought up to speed on the pending investigation," Tekina suggested. "Communication will be critical if we stand to gain one another's trust in this matter."

"I believe we can honor that request, Ambassador," Rally nodded before turning to address the greater assembly at large. "Per the the request of Ambassador Tekina, I hereby grant a recess period of 24 hours for both parties to get in touch with their respective governments; we shall reconvene here at this time tomorrow. This meeting is hereby adjourned."

To be continued...

 

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