#61: What's Past #1: Progress
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Star Trek: S.C.E.
eBook / March, 2006
XSCE000061
Written by Terri Osborne
Excerpt:
FEDERATION COUNCIL
Report on application of fourth planet in the Selcundi Drema System for Federation Protectorate status.
Commander Jan Siok, filing
Stardate 45998.3
On Stardate 45624.2, a low-band audio-only transmission was received by the U.S.S. Landry, Admiral Jameson Tucker commanding, from the Selcundi Drema System. Enhanced audio on the transmission indicated that it was a specific request intended for the United Federation of Planets. The transmission was determined to have originated from the fourth planet in the system. Admiral Tucker notified Starfleet Command, and it was determined that--in consideration of the past observation by the U.S.S. Enterprise-D, Captain Jean-Luc Picard commanding [Mission report, Jean-Luc Picard, Captain, U.S.S. Enterprise, NCC-1701-D, Stardate 42865.6 linked here]--Prime Directive protection was no longer to be afforded the Dremans, and the initiation of official First Contact protocols should begin.
Federation Ambassador Lanara Diol was dispatched to the system to begin talks. Her report on the first meetings indicates that the people of Drema IV had already been in contact with outsiders, people they referred to as the Exiles. According to Ambassador Diol, the Exiles descended upon Latik Kerjna [Drema IV's capital city] en masse and, through superior technology and weaponry, were able to force the otherwise passive Dremans into servitude. The first dilithium mines had been excavated less than a decade prior, and the Exiles forced the natives to work in the mines to provide dilithium for Exile ships. After approximately ten months, the Dreman people worked up the courage to rebel, and through superior numbers, were able to deal the Exiles a solid defeat. According to the current Guardian of the Dreman people, no Exile survived what they refer to as the Uprising. [Report of Guardian Shalkara, filed with Federation Council on Stardate 45954.4 linked here.]
It was at this point the Dremans chose to attempt to contact the Federation. Their technology is not at the stage where they are able to protect themselves from invasion before the incoming force lands on the surface. They fear Exile reprisals.
Their culture remained pre-warp, but Ambassador Diol likened their situation to the planet Bajor after the Cardassian withdrawal, an opinion with which the Federation Council agrees.
The Dremans have offered their considerable resources of dilithium in exchange for consideration of protectorate status. They desire nothing more than protection from another outside invasion, protection which they are not capable of mounting themselves at this time.
A sample of Dreman dilithium was returned to Starfleet Headquarters for examination, where it was discovered that the focal energies produced by one three centimeter by three centimeter crystal were roughly three times the energies produced by a standard dilithium crystal of the same size, with a recrystalization rate twice the norm. It has been determined that the addition of Dreman dilithium to the Federation supply line would increase the lifespan of Federation dilithium at least twofold, possibly more. Dr. Leah Brahms, speaking for the Theoretical Propulsion Group at Utopia Planitia, stated that the group believes that adjustments to standard warp drive technology will be required to allow for optimal use of the new resource.
Ambassador Diol, speaking before the Council, argued that while the offer of the dilithium is quite generous--and she cannot deny that we should consider such resources and their potential contribution to the Federation in making our decision--she cautioned the Council against greed. The Dreman people have already shaken off one oppressive regime. They do not need to trade the Exiles for another oppressor. The Federation should take cautious steps toward the use of the dilithium resources of Drema IV, and we should consider enlisting the assistance of the native workers in that endeavor. Such a move would help benefit the Dreman economy, and it is Ambassador Diol's position that they should benefit from the presence of such a resource, not work themselves to death because of it.
Application is currently being considered with a favorable status.
Record Update--Stardate 46147.9
By a vote of 124 to 29, the Federation Council has approved Drema IV for protectorate status. In a good-faith show of support, the Council has also commissioned the construction of a starbase to orbit just outside the asteroid belt that is believed to be the remains of the fifth planet in the system.
It is the Council's considered opinion that Federation presence should be felt, but not oppressive. A starbase constructed in-system, but not in orbit around Drema IV itself, should provide the recommended level of presence.
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