| SUBMITTED: Stardate: 98619.1 | FILED BY: CAPT Jadrys Itana | SECURITY: Level 1 - Open |
LOCATION: Lytaxan System
MISSION: Continuing Deep Copernicus Expedition initiative.
OUTCOME: The Copernicus encounters a planet recovering from a brutal Ustavan occupation.
KEY PERSONNEL:
CAPT Jadrys Itana
LT Nazona Liell
LT Elyxia Sudet
PO2C Stephen Holzerman
PO1C Adam Pillstrom (RIP)
CMDR Vesek, USS Vainamoinen
Gen. Thaxan, Lytaxan Guard
Amb. Veriar, Lytaxan Governing Council
After conferring with the other ships, I recommended to CMDR Vesek of the Vainamoinen that the ship accompany the Copernicus for a short time, recognizing the potential for further Borg incursions. With authorization from RADM Quistra at Starbase 91-Lyonesse, I ordered the resumption of our mission, with our next target being the star catalogued as Hipparcos 69770.
We have long known that HIP 69770 is a main-sequence yellow star of spectral type G5V approximately 72% the diameter of Sol, of comparable temperature (5,603 kelvin). Recent surveys from Lyonesse Observatory identified exoplanets orbiting this star, one of which lies within the Goldilocks region of the star's habitable zone. We prioritized this system, which lies outside the border of the Ustavan Starleague's claimed space, as a potential life-harbouring area.
Long-range scans as we entered the system seemed to confirm this: We identified radio traffic originating from the system and detected emissions consistent with cold fusion energy around the second planet (that in the habitable zone). However, as we approached the planet, the Copernicus was locked on to by several long-range orbital weapons platforms, which rapidly deployed several low-warp rocket projectiles. These weapons are of little effect against our shields, of course, but I nevertheless ordered red alert and for the weapons to be intercepted with phasers, at which point we began to broadcast standard friendship messages on all frequencies. Additionally, I ordered the Vainamoinen to cloak and maneuver to an offset position in the event of a conflict.
Our hails resulted in a cessation of weapons fire, followed by a long pause from the planet. After several minutes, we received a voice communication from an individual identifying himself as General Thaxan of the Lytaxan Guard. We confirmed our identity as a Federation starship on a mission of peaceful exploration, at which point the General issued an apology and stated their staff had mistakenly identified the Copernicus as an Ustavan vessel. He explained that the planet, known as Lytax, had constructed its defense networks to prevent the Ustavans from overrunning their system. While he did not elaborate further via voice comms, he invited us to dispatch an informal team to the planet to conduct an introduction. While I agreed, I stressed that the Copernicus was on a mission of peace and not aligned with any interests in the sector beyond the interests of peaceful exploration. This seemed to disappoint him, but he accepted the statement.
Our scans of the planet Lytax revealed an M-class world of approximately 0.88 Terran radii with a curious dispersion of technological development and a significant pattern of ecological damage. While several regions of Lytax include extensive bases powered by an eclectic mixture of subspace reactors and cold fusion energy, with visible starports and airstrips, most of the population appears to live in settlements more consistent with Earth's medieval period. Similarly, while the bulk of the orbital network appeared fairly antiquated in its armament, we detected several planetside defensive sites capable of launching interplanetary missiles with yields comparable to a large tricobalt warhead. We also identified numerous open-surface dilithium mines, large areas of cratered terrain consistent with orbital bombardment surrounding many of these sites, and several orbiting satellites in various stages of decay that seem to have once operated as orbital collectors. Atmospheric particle counts indicated significant presence of greenhouse gases consistent with heavy industry.
Myself, Coun. Sudet, LT Liell and PO2C Holzerman transported to a facility on the second-largest continent, where we met with General Thaxan and an individual who identified himself as Ambassador Veriar, a representative of the Lytaxian Governing Council. We conveyed the well-wishes of the Federation and exchanged pleasantries, agreeing to an exchange of basic information. Among our learnings from this meeting:
* The Lytaxans are approximately 6.7 billion in number and operate under a representative government, though members of the military appear to be a distinct political class. This is likely explainable by some of the other things we discovered.
* The Lytaxans have a small fleet of defense ships. Most of these are subwarp vessels, but some of the larger ships are capable of Warp 7 and armed with heavy projectile armament and significant hull armour and shielding.
* Until approximately 200 years ago, Lytax's level of development ranged from hunter-gathered societies up to complex societies at a Terran medieval level. The planet was then invaded by an Ustavan mining corporation, and the population was largely enslaved in a series of large tiberium, dilithium and diburnium mines intended to service the broader Ustavan economy.
* Approximately 50 years ago, a group of the more technologically adaptable Lytaxans launched an organized resistance against the Ustavans. After nearly three decades of guerrilla warfare, during which several cities and their occupants were wiped out by orbital bombardment, the Ustavans ultimately gave up the planet and withdrew.
* Much of the advanced technology operating on Lytax is either inherited from the Ustavans or reverse-engineered by those Ustavans who understand how to use and manufacture it. The fusion-based technology represents an independent stream of technology developed during the insurgency by rebels trying to manufacture weapons that would do anything at all against the Ustavans. The latter is utilized mainly because it is considered cheap and easy to understand.
* Most Lytaxans continue to live a lower-technology existence. The society is deeply divided between traditionalists who wish to rediscover their old way of life and a new generation who see Ustavan technology as essential to their continued independence.
* Ambassador Veriar confirmed many of our earlier speculation about Ustavan behaviour, but added further illumination.
As Ambassador Veriar describes it, the Ustavans essentially operate on a form of eco-fascism. Their polity ended all resource extraction and high-polluting industry on their homeworld centuries ago as a means to mitigate devastating climatic degradation. However, rather than developing technologies such as carbon capture or weather control, the Ustavans simply exported their industries to uninhabited worlds, prioritizing the fastest and easiest ways to extract enormous quantities of natural resources without impacting settled planets. The atmospheric degradation on Lytax, he said, was the result of both open-atmospheric blasting and of large-scale refineries operating with no mind towards pollution control.
At this point, Ambassador Veriar asked us if the Federation could offer protection from the Ustavans. In keeping with the Prime Directive, I noted that it is not the policy of Starfleet to intervene in the politics or conflicts of other species. However, with further discussion, I judged that it would fall within Starfleet protocol to provide relief of medical supplies to assist populations struggling with respiratory conditions attributable to atmospheric pollution. These treatments are based in science known to the Lytaxans and would not constitute an exposure to a new technology.
Upon the away team's return to the Copernicus, I ordered the supplies beamed down and informed the Lytaxans we would be on our way. I recommend a regular diplomatic mission be established to this planet; for now, I judged that remaining in orbit for too long ran the risk of placing the Copernicus in the middle of an ongoing regional war. We and the Vainamoinen set a course out of the system and on towards our next point of interest.
As we exited the system, we received a long-range broadcast from the general direction of Ustavan space. This consisted of an automated message informing us that the Copernicus had been identified as "in communication with known terrorists" and that we would be denied entry to Starleague-controlled space heretofore. While we attempted to respond to the hail, our attempts to make contact were bounced back by what seems to have been an automated station. We have no evidence that the Lytaxans have committed terrorist activities, and furthermore we have taken no action to abet any sort of military conflict. Nevertheless, I have conferred with Starbase 91-Lyonesse on the topic, and we have agreed that the Vainamoinen will remain in formation with the Copernicus for the time being.
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ADDENDUM: Dr. Yulia Zvizdaryk, CMO, USS Copernicus
In coordination with medical officers aboard the Hurutam, I can report the following concerning the individuals we were able to rescue from the Borg.
We identified 47 individuals with sufficient organic-to-mechanical ratios that dissimilation surgery could be practical, of whom four were deemed viable to operated on aboard Copernicus. The remaining 43 were transferred to Hurutam. Of these, we have identified mostly individuals from known Delta Quadrant species, predominantly Hirogen, Brunali, Octanti and Nihydron individuals. A smaller proportion represent individuals from the Alpha and Beta Quadrants. We estimate that we will be able to save virtually all of these individuals.
Four individuals were retained aboard Copernicus for restorative surgery. The individuals are as follows:
* Individual A: Cardassian male, estimated age approx. 30-40 years. Individual appears to have been assimilated roughly three years ago. Extensive reconstructive work was required to remove a large cranial implant that had replaced his entire right eye and orbital structure. He was able to regain sufficient memories to recall that he was a Gil and a member of the Cardassian Union military, but not his name.
* Individual B: Pakled male, estimated age approx. 45-50 years. Individual appears to have been assimilated roughly two years ago. This individual has suffered the most extreme mental and bioneural trauma of any of the four who remained aboard, likely a result of a series of cortical shunts implanted to accelerate his motor functions. He is currently undergoing specialized treatment with Dr. Phillips and Coun. Sudet to repair extreme aphasia, hyperactive delirium and derealization.
The other two individuals come from species we have never seen before:
* Individual C: Adult male, humanoid. CMDR Quispe identified him as a member of Species 9389, Narappan, from a system she located in the Delta Quadrant - about 55,000 light years from Sol, a few sector blocks from the Wolf-Rayet star WR 49 in the constellation Musca. Appears to have been assimilated only a few months ago and is capable of dialogue and self-individuation. After three conversations, he was able to identify himself as "I," and he recalled the name Thuyun Sappar. He has since begun to recall fragmentary memories of a Borg attack on what is described as a farming colony. He appears highly receptive to the dissimilation process and has begun to recognize what was done to him as a violation.
* Individual D: Adult female, humanoid. CMDR Quispe could not identify a species number for her. Appears to have been assimilated about four years ago. While she initially attempted to attack the surgical team and demanded to be returned to the Collective, she has since responded well to treatments and has begun to refer to herself as "I." However, she has been unable to recall anything about herself, her species, her home or the circumstances of her assimilation. Her biometric data does not match anything in the Alliance database. We attempted to contact New Talax via subspace, but a representative there was also unable to identify the individual's species. She continues to refer to herself by the appellation Four of Twelve.
RECOMMENDATION: Dispatch a regular diplomatic mission to Lytax.
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