| TO F.CAPT Perim CC CAPT Morton SUBJ Terix Supply Inspection - STANDARD LEVEL 3 ENCRYPTION - |
Captain,
On Stardate 92232 (Saturday Afternoon), Captain Morton assigned myself and Lieutenant S'Slaask to form one of two teams conducting a review of the Federation relief supplies to Terix. The purpose of the review was to determine whether or not the intended supplies had been received, and to ensure that the supplies were being distributed equitably amongst the whole populace. Ambassador Taev Tr'Velal accompanied Lieutenant S'Slaask and myself, and we were instructed to visit a farm and a drydock. We proceeded first, by shuttlecraft, to the farm.
We arrived a short distance from the farm and made our way over land to the entrance, guided by a series of pillars which are erected by the farmers as landmarks. Along the way, we found small invertebrates and the cocoons of beetles, which are farmed for their shells. We found the farm house was primarily an underground structure, and when we entered, we were met by two farmers. The supplies were found in the correct quantities and in good order, and the farmers reported that their wants are satisfied. However, Lieutenant S'Slaask detected the presence of other humanoids in the facility and, after some prevarication, the farmers admitted that they were renting space to soldiers of the Free Terix faction. The farmers claimed that they were not providing supplies to the soldiers, and the quantity of supplies on hand was consistent with normal usage by the farmers alone.
We prepared to depart, but when we informed the Romulan Enriov, Tal'Aura, locally in charge of the expedition, that soldiers were present, she ordered us to arrest them, or else she would send a military unit to destroy the farm, including both the soldiers and the farmers. I initially postulated that we might be considered to be on detatched duty, and that arresting the soldiers would prevent a military action resulting in their deaths and the deaths of the farmers. However, Lieutenant S'Slaask did not believe us to be on detatched duty. After some thought upon the Lieutenant's objection, I reversed my decision, and refused to confront the soldiers. My original orders from Captain Morton were restricted specifically to evaluating the equitable distribution of supplies. When I informed Enriov Tal'Aura that I would no go beyond the remit of those orders, she informed me that she would order a military intervention, and that the blood of the farmers would be 'on my hands'. We then departed for the drydock.
Upon arrival at the drydock, we were greeted by an overseer and granted access to the drydock computer systems. The records indicated the arrival of supplies in the correct quantities and types. However, in response to Lieutenant S'Slaask's questions about why the drydock required relief supplies, the overseer admitted that some of the supplies had been used there for economic purposes. As before, the supplies were legally theirs, and I did not intervene. However, I did notify the overseer that I would indicate the diversion of supplies in my report. Shortly thereafter, a T'Varo class warbird crashed nearby, damaging the drydock. We left with the Ambassador via shuttle and met with the other away team aboard the Enriov Tal'Aura's ship.
I observed the officers on the bridge whilst awaiting a return to Deep Space 13. There was an altercation between the Enriov Tal'Aura and Ensign Shiarrael T'Lhoell, who was observed using a tricorder on one of the bridge consoles. She desisted when interrupted, and shortly after that, I returned to the station with Ambassador Taev and Lieutenant S'Slaask. During the debriefing, there was another period of strained relations, this time between the Ensign and the Ambassador. The Ambassador required the Ensign to hand over the data scanned on the ship; this she did, briefly, before departing with the tricorder, and asserting that she would decode the raw data contained therein. The meeting then ended.
This completes my report of this mission.
//SIGNED//
Lt. Commander Caspius
Asst. Chief of Operations, Deep Space 13