| SUBMITTED: Stardate 95012.4 | FILED BY: CAPT A. A. Timoreev, U.S.S. Attar | SECURITY: Level 2 - Confidential |
LOCATION: Doza Sector
MISSION: Multi-vessel sector patrol. Later, negotiations with Azedi representative.
OUTCOME: Release of detained POWs, including the body of one victim; agreement to withdraw from Tower Keep.
KEY PERSONNEL:
CAPT D. Amburg-Larz
CAPT A. Nimitz
CAPT T. Thiessen
CAPT A. A. Timoreev
CMDR R. Phoenix
CAPT A. Nimitz
CAPT T. Thiessen
CAPT A. A. Timoreev
CMDR R. Phoenix
NARRATIVE: On Stardate 95011.1, ships U.S.S. Akari, U.S.S. Atlantis, U.S.S. Attar, U.S.S. Melquart, and U.S.S. Zulu, were deployed in the Doza Sector for an in-depth patrol as part of our fleet plan for enforcing security from further hostilities in the sector.
After a few, uneventful, hours, a neutrino surge was detected by all vessels on their vector. All ships immediately went to red and yellow alert, in the hypothesis it could be trace of an Azedi wormhole: hypothesis which proved correct when two Azedi dreadnoughts emerged from the wormhole. While some of the ships powered up their weapons for a possible battle, I decided to hail the dreadnoughts in order to ascertain their intentions. The Azedi, now represented by Senior Captain Erit, claimed to come for negotiations. In order not to waste a possibility to put an end to hostilities, I accepted, proposing the Attar as the place for the negotiations, proposal which was accepted by all captains, including the Azedi representative.
Once all of us had gathered in the designated conference room (with Capt. Nimitz participating via holo-communication from the Akagi), Senior Captain Erit emerged from a small wormhole (the same kind used during our first talks with Azedi representatives), and almost immediately brought on the table his proposal: to exchange the Tower Keep system with Federation POWs.
Of course, the proposal was at first welcomed with skepticism. Capt. Thiessen asked for evidences that the Azedi had in fact POWs, and that they were alive and reasonably healthy, as claimed by the Senior Captain. The confirmation came in the form of a communication from Dr. Jarnefelt. However, it was impossible, due to Azedi's choice, to communicate back with the group in order to better ascertain their conditions. Capt. Nimitz also asked about Republic personnel eventually into Azedi hands, and Senior Captain Erit confirmed they Subcommander Llaiir had been among those captured, but that she didn't survive. At this point, connection from the Akagi was interrupted, possibly due to computer processing issues, although it was later re-established.
It shall be noted at this point that the Azedi representative also ominously made references to the prisoners having being wounded, though he did not disclose any detail.
Due to the seriousness and gravity of the issue at stake, I proposed a delay, in order to give us time to discuss what to do, and to inform Command. However, the request was denied, and we were left with no other choice than to take an immediate decision. Also, attempts made by Capt. Thiessen to link our acceptance to an Azedi's promise to resume talks as before the attack against Deep Space 13 proved equally fruitless, as my request for establishing an emergency communication protocol to avoid further misunderstandings and incidents.
Understanding that there was a consensus among the other captains into accepting the bargain, and personally strongly believing that the safety of our own personnel was paramount, I then accepted the deal: we agree to withdraw from Tower Keep, and immediately another wormhole opened, bringing in front of us the missing personnel; Subcommander Llaiir's body was transported on the Akagi as per Capt. Nimitz's request, and the Azedi representative immediately left, the two dreadnoughts leaving the area at the same time.
After greeting our missing friends and colleagues, I ordered a thourough medical check-up, while arranging for VIP quarters for them to be assigned on the Attar until reaching K-7. Also, a security detachment was deployed both near sickbay and the quarters, though I wish to specify that for no reason the former POWs were treated as prisoners, or detained in some way.
RECOMMENDATION: First of all, I would like to commend the behavior of all participating captains in such a difficult circumstance, and particularly Capt. Thiessen, whose help and diplomatic ability was critical in ensuring the successful conclusion of the negotiations.
Though, as already mentioned in the report, there was consensus among our captains into accepting the deal, I wish to underline that the final decision was mine, and as such I take full and exclusive responsibility for it. I understand that withdrawing from Tower Keep is a serious commitment: however, also due to the strategic reason of our occupation of that system, I considered the safety of our surviving personnel to be of paramount importance, and more relevant and in line with the principles that inform this fleet. Though no explicit reference was made during our talks, I also had the distinct impression that the Azedi would have had no problems in further forcing our hand, possibly through a direct threat to our personnel lives and well-being. Taking also into consideration what the prisoners told us about their captivity, I personally believe this was the best choice.
However, I would also like to recommend a change of posture after this event. Though they released the prisoners as promised, from what they told us, they had previous been forced to reveal informations about our technology (see Cmdr. Caspius report for further details) as part of the agreement (unknown to us) for their release. Clearly the Azedi believe to have deceived us, and they didn't show any intention to rectify their mistake in attacking Deep Space 13, or our vessels, and to have caused the death of thousands of innocent people. Their refusal to accept Capt. Thiessen's proposal for resuming talks as part of our deal could be considered as evidence that they still do not consider this to be among their interests. If we want to achieve a lasting peace with the Confederacy, this attitude must change. And in order to reach this goal, we need to reconsider our strategy.
Thus, my recommendation is as follows:
- Withdrawal from Tower Keep should be honoured, as part of our deal; however, the deal itself didn't specify anything about the way such a withdrawal was to happen. In order to avoid, or at least postpone, the use of the system for furthering hostilities against us, whatever is left of its infrastructure should be demolished from the ground up; also, other ways could be devised to render the use of wormholes inside the system more difficult. I shall note here that Cmdr. Phoenix asked me to add at this report her personal recommendation that Starfleet should not, in fact, honour its part of the deal and withdraw from Tower Keep.
- From this moment on, further talks and negotiations with the Azedi should proceed at our own pace and at our discretion, not theirs. This means, in practice, a thourough, even pedantic if necessary, respect of Starfleet procedures and protocols, even in front of clear and explicit Azedi's refusal to accept that.
- We should ensure the well-being of the former prisoners. Though, after the recent events, the fear of Azedi's ability in manipulation and brainwashing is understandable, for no reason we shall abide at our duty in ensuring that our friends and colleagues are welcomed as such, and not as potential sleeping agents or whatever. However, it is of paramount importance to ensure that whatever they suffered during their captivity doesn't result in any permanent or debilitating health issue.
- Patrols should be increased both in numbers and strength, and taking into full consideration Federation claims in this area of space, regardless of Azedi opposition. This is intended to show our resolve in protecting both our interests and assets. It also means that we should be ready to answer in kind to any further hostility brought against us by the Confederacy.
//signed//
Captain Andrej A. Timoreev,
Commanding Officer, U.S.S. Attar
Commanding Officer, Gemini Squadron, 38th Fleet
OOC: This is the AAR for the event "Duplicity". If I've unintentionally misrepresented your character's actions, misspelled their names, got their rank incorrect, et cetera, please send me a PM over enjin and I'll make the necessary edits.