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// Written by Jonathan Lau
Chapter 2
Captain Alyson Eden looked over the orders from Starfleet Command. They had been ordered to meditate the peace negotiations between the Kolaaneans and the Mafoarites. The two races had been at war for centuries and a ceasefire was only declared recently. Tensions were still running high, and hostilities could erupt at any moment. The Federation Council had put high hopes on this negotiation succeeding and in hopes to one day accept the inhabitants of Kolaan IV and Mafoaria VII as Federation members.
Captain Eden exited her ready room and stepped onto the bridge. It had been a few hours since they had arrived and there was no sign of the Kolaaneans or Mafoarites. She sat down in her chair and waited.
As she sat down, the tactical station on her right began beeping. "Captain, two ships are decloaking off the port and starboard bow," reported her Bajoran chief tactical officer, Lieutenant Usimov Katerina. "It's the
Kolaanean and Mafoarite ships."
Captain nodded an acknowledgement and turned to her left and addressed her operations manager, Lieutenant Raine Cailand. "Ms. Cailand, open a channel to both ships." Lieutenant Cailand nodded an affirmative and the image of a
Kolaanean and Mafoarite were on the viewscreen.
The Mafoarites were a reptilian race much like the Gorn. Except they had a longer face and their scales were more grey than green. They wore a uniform that resembled an environmental suit but it appeared to be more like armour. Captain Eden could not see the face of the
Kolaanean on the viewscreen. The Kolaanean was wearing a hooded cloak that shrouded all features.
"I am Captain Alyson Eden of the Federation starship
Geneva. I have been assigned to mediate your peace negotiations. We are prepared to transport your delegations aboard our ship whenever you are ready."
The Mafoarite spoke first. "Thank you, Captain. My name is General Kaydile. I have been authorized to speak for the Mafoarite High Council. I will be to only one of my people attending the negotiations."
"I am High Archon Djezard, of the First Order. I too have been authorized to speak for the Parliament of Kolaan. I will be the only one of my people attending the negotiations," said the Kolaanean in response.
"When you are ready for transport signal us and we will beam you aboard. Eden out."
The channel closed and Captain Eden looked at Usimov and her counselor, Lieutenant Zach Bauer. "Lieutenant, Counselor. Report to Transporter Room 1."
Both of them nodded in agreement before heading for the Turbolift. Captain Eden waited for them to enter the Turbolift before turning to her Andorian First Officer. "That seems pretty odd that each delegation is a member of one."
Commander Shras stood up and looked at Captain Eden, "You know. If I were either of them I wouldn't trust each other either. These people have been at war for centuries. They've learned to distrust one another. I wouldn't be surprised if they kill each other and the negotiations fall through. You'll have your hands full with this one, Captain."
Eden nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I'm sure I will," she said as she headed for the Turbolift.
The operations console began to beep again. "Captain, I'm receiving a hail," reported Cailand.
"Source?"
"Unknown, Captain."
Eden looked to her Science Chief, Lieutenant Taal. "Do you detect any ships in the area?"
"Negative, Captain," reported Taal. "Sensors do not pick up any other ships in the area."
Eden looked at Shras then turned to Cailand. "Open a channel." Cailand nodded an affirmative. "This is Captain Alyson Eden of the Federation starship
Geneva. To whom am I speaking with?"
An image of a Ferengi appeared on the viewscreen. "This is the Ferengi Marauder Righteous. We have been sent by the Grand Negus on Ferenginar to observe the peace negotiations. Daimon Haik would like to transport over with a small delegation to present them with gifts to help accelerate the negotiations."
Eden thought for a moment. "Permission granted, beam your delegation over at your convenience. Eden out."
"Commander, you have the bridge," she said as she stepped into the turbolift.
As the doors closed in front of her, she wondered about the Ferengies. Ever since the end of the Dominion War, the Ferengies were on good terms with the Federation. Policies on how Ferengies were to conduct their business were put in place and enforced by the Ferengi Commerce Association. In addition to that, Ferenginar had new leadership in changing the Grand Negus. No longer did they have a power hungry and ruthless Grand Negus. Now they had a gentler and kinder one. Eden laughed at the thought.
The turbolift stopped at her destination and she exited the turbolift and headed for the Transporter Room. As she entered, the transporter chief reported that the two delegations were ready for transport. She nodded to her and the transport had begun. General Kaydile and High Archon Djezard materialized without incident and looked at each other before stepping off the transporter pad.
"Welcome, gentlemen," greeted Eden. "This is Lieutenant Usimov, she is in charge of the ship security, and this is Counselor Bauer. He'll be assisting me to mediate the negotiations. If you'll follow me this way, let's head over to the lounge where the negotiations will take place."
As the five of them walked towards the lounge, Kaydile and Djezard walked on opposite sides of the corridor. Both making sure neither was in front of the other. What would normally have been a short trip, turned out to be longer than Eden had expected. When they finally arrived in the lounge Kaydile sat down at the nearest seat and Djezard walked to the opposite end of the table. Captain Eden sat down and Counselor Bauer sat down beside her.
Eden cleared her throat, "Shall we begin?"
"Captain, if I may?" interrupted Djezard. "A millennia ago, my people were being torn apart by civil war. Our most renowned leader, Byhinn ended the war by negotiating a peace treaty. Legend has it that he wore this ring to aid him." Djezard extended his arm and opened his hand to reveal a ring. "I present to you, Captain, The Ring of Prophecy. May it bring to you, the wisdom to mediate our peace treaty as it did for Byhinn in the past."
Eden stood up and accepted the ring. She examined it and carefully put it on her finger. "I am honoured, thank you."
Kaydile snorted. "Don't be too honoured. All they do is talk about great powers and it is all just smoke and mirrors."
"Even with our smoke and mirrors, the Mafoarite Fleet has yet to conquer us," snapped back Djezard.
"Thank you, gentlemen," interrupted Eden. "I don't think this will take us anywhere productive."
"You are right, Captain. My apologies," replied Djezard. He then turned to Kaydile. "As the representative of the Kolaanean people I present to you the Orb of Forujich."
With the flip of his cloak, a small bluish Orb appeared in Djezard's hand. He placed the Orb on the middle of the table. Kaydile stood up and approached the Orb. As he did so, the ship shook and the lighting to the lounge was turned off. The red alert klaxon sounded and the red lighting lit the room. Eden looked at the table and the Orb was gone.
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