Caspian Wormhole Debate

# Summary

The Caspian Wormhole Debate was one of several major negotiations that fell under the **Outback Diplomatic Summit**, which was convened in order to allow the powers of the Milky Way Galaxy to gain a common foothold with the major powers of the  Outback (otherwise known as the Futara Mundi). This congregation, while not originally summoned to solely discuss the Wormhole, debated the grievances towards the Federation regarding their authority over the artificial singularity, especially when it came to the traversal of trade through it. Despite that the debate brought certain matters to the forefront once more, such as the boycotting of trade relations with the Meethraken Chamber of Ministers and the subsequent blockading of their planet, the Representatives involved were able to come to an agreement regarding the use of the Caspian Wormhole.

After some deliberation between each party, a treaty was agreed upon, which would, fundamentally, declare unrestricted passage through the Wormhole to any civilian transport that is registered to a power residing within the Futara Mundi, allowing them to trade with worlds within the Milky Way. While other specifics are involved, the basis of the Caspian Convention for Free Trade will allow civilian ships the ability to proceed past Starbase 381 *"Praetorian"* without being intensively scanned by any vessel assigned to the  26th Fleet or that of the  52nd Legion, along with any Romulan personnel assigned to the Task Forces respectively, during peacetime.

# Representatives' Standing

## Diplomatic Manager Zektan; The Futara Union

**Diplomatic Manager Zektan** was the assigned representative for the Futara Union during the Outback Diplomatic Summit. During the course of the Negotiations, Zektan ensured that it was known that one (if not the most) major reason the Union were wholly against the presence of the 26th Fleet in the Futara Mundi was due to the employment of Federation Trade Laws to all civilian vessels that were travelling through the Wormhole, regardless of whether they were registered to a Federation member or not. For them - The Futara Union - this was a convolution on their beliefs of unfettered trade.

Possibly the sole function Manager Zektan had at the Caspian Wormhole Debate was to make the point known directly to the Federation Representatives, rather than to a civilian reporter, and wished to see the Wormhole come directly under Futara Union control. The initial point was expressed cohesively, despite being called out by the Meethraken Representative, Fer'dalang Ter'ought, who was openly rebuking much of the claims Manager Zektan had made regarding the Union's wish for unfettered and undisturbed trade when it was them who pressured the  Asheran Union to boycott trade with the Meethraken people, and began to blockade their world.

## Minister Stirn; The Royals

Not to be confused with Captain Stern, the Commanding Officer of the Futara Union Station,  Waypoint, **Minister Stirn** was the assigned representative for the  Royals and her Majesty during the Outback Diplomatic Summit. While the Royals had an interest in the prospect of trade with species inhabiting the Milky Way, Stirn voiced that they were content with the 26th Fleet maintaining the Federation Alliance's jurisdiction over the territory they already occupy within the Futara Mundi, as well as that of the Starbases already present. The Majesty's Representative also expressed the Royals' interest in the potential to begin trade relations with the Alliance but did express similar desires as Manager Zektan did - that the Wormhole is declared a free trade zone, along with the Federation Alliance's territory. Despite similar wants in the usage of the Caspian Wormhole, the Minister thought lowly of the Manager's position, stating him to be big-headed and oblivious to the larger picture whenever he - the Manager - jabbed at  Ambassador Harrowman's responses.

Aside of the Wormhole itself, Minister Stirn also spoke of the duplicity that the Futara Union has exhibited in the past, such as with the Meethraken people, and as well as how they welcomed the Fallen Colonists openly, who originally came from the Milky Way to begin a new life, as result of being technologically inferior to that of the Federation Alliance; the Minister confided in the Representatives, and others present, that the Futara Union were simply fearful of a more advanced power, and is the primary reason as to why the Union has been so passive-aggressive to the Alliance.

## Representative Ferr'kuj K'Zhen; The Klingon Empire

**Representative  Ferr'kuj K'Zhen** was ordered to act as the diplomatic representative for the 52nd Legion and be responsible for delivering the voice of the Klingon Empire to the other parties at the Debate. His argument had a subtle backhanded demeanor when he made his defense of the Federation's principles; clarifying that the Federation - especially Starfleet - could not claim to have total control without jeopardizing agreements it had made with the other powers, including the Romulan Republic and Klingon Empire. He reinforced this with something that is generally known among the majority of spacefaring species: They are not conquerers, thus would never consider any notion that would forcefully annex populated worlds.

It was clear where the Empire stood without it needing to be stated openly. The Representative's goal at this point was to clarify any misconceptions, that had been generated over the course of the Futara Union's growth, regarding the Federation and their intentions and their mission to explore new worlds and meet new species. He also pointed out the problems that could occur for the Futara Union if they were to continue sourcing new devices and technology from seemingly unreliable sources, though he assured the Representative of the Fallen that it was not meant as a direct accusation.

## Minister Fer'dalang Ter'ought; The Meethraken Chambers of Ministers

**Fer'dalang Ter'ought** is one of few who come from the Outback to be heavily exposed to the cultural vices and operations of the Federation Alliance and was also responsible for the original request for the Meethraken people's induction into the Federation, primarily as a means to save his people from being annexed into the Futara Union after they pressured the Asheran Union to boycott trade with the Meethraken. While they are now a member of the Federation, their previous involvement with the Futara Union required the Chamber of Ministers to send a representative to voice their concerns and grievances independent to that of the Federation's. Minister Ter'ought made the grievances towards the Union very concise and well known.

Fer'dalang was the first to recall the catalyst that caused the great tensions between his people and the Futara Union and went further, accusing the Union to be also responsible for the attacks on their ships by the Outback Raiders who were, at the time, being led by  Fennec Vulpes, "The Fox". While the Meethraken Minister was adamant about the claim, the Diplomatic Manager dismissed it, saying that while they had communicated with them before, the Futara Union had no hand in what happened.

## Ambassador Jayashree; The Asheran Union

**Ambassador Jayashree** has been the Representative for her people for the majority of direct encounters with the Federation Alliance. While feeling that the majority of the grievances expressed aligned with the Asheran Union's, the Ambassador had previously made it known that the Asheri withdrew their request to be made part of the Futara Union shortly after the trade boycott and blockade of the  Meethraken Homeworld. Since then, the Asheran Union have been furthering relations with the Royals, with both powers recognizing one another's claims to various systems, as well as forming a defensive pact with each other and hope to expand on this pact so that it encompasses trading and other various matters.

Despite past conflicts of interest between the Futara Union and the Asheran Union, Jayashree has confirmed that her people are still open to the possibility of trade relations with the former. She also made everyone aware that the Asheran Union recognized the Federation Alliance's claim over the Caspian Wormhole itself, but would also like to begin trading with them and proposed the facilitation of a 'fling beacon' system close in proximity to Starbase 381 *"Praetorian"* in order to accomplish this.

## Crusader Rhiza; The Illuminate

While **Crusader Rhiza** was present, representing the Illuminate, she had nothing to say on behalf of her people.
*((This will be modified accordingly to accommodate what the Illuminate's wishes actually were during the Debate.))*

## Representative Sindari t'Lareth; The Fallen

**Sindari t'Lareth** acted as the official Representative for the Fallen, a collection of individuals who have colonised a world on the otherside of the Dark Matter phenomenon commonly known as the Dark Expanse; their only means of reaching the other affiliated powers and the Wormhole is a corridor that runs directly through the smog of Dark Matter. The Representative made it clear that she understood the reasons as to why the 26th Fleet acts so vigilantly when it comes to civilian vessels coming and going through the Wormhole, but then countered the statement, balancing it with the point that the almost oppressive approach towards ships, with the purpose to trade, is deterring ships from coming to the Milky Way as well and vice versa. t'Lareth added to this argument that it is also increasing the time it takes for the Colony to develop, having to wait for vessels carrying cargo to have completed regulated searches and scans, before proceeding on to their destination. This has meant that certain technologies, such as weaponry, is unable to reach the Fallen Colony, and that has made it somewhat difficult for them to develop further as they have had to rely on other sources, some of which unreliable.

While understanding that the Federation wish only to reduce the chances of weapons and other illicit goods from falling into the wrong hands, Miss t'Lareth believes that the Caspian Wormhole and the surrounding area be made neutral territory to allow all varieties of ships to pass through without falling subject to Federation Trade Laws. She, like Representative K'Zhen, clarified on any misconceptions regarding the Federation, especially when Manager Zektan claimed that the Milky Way power had threatened to declare war on the Fallen.

## Ambassador Alyssa Harrowman & Captain Jyana Kai; The United Federation of Planets

**Ambassador Alyssa Harrowman** was responsible for representing the interests of the Federation during the Summit after former Ambassador and Administrator, Lorien Toprill, passed away. She was assisted by **Captain Jyana Kai**, who acted as diplomatic attaché during the course of the Caspian Wormhole Debate, and had been acting as attaché for the late Lorien Toprill when he was heading the Federation's interests in the Diplomatic Summit. The primary argument brought forward by the Ambassador involved clarification of the Federation's methodology in such proceedings. This opened an avenue for Manager Zektan to reinforce his point regarding the Trade Laws the Federation have utilized when managing the Caspian Wormhole. In response, Harrowman called out the Futara Union's misdeeds, summarizing that both herself and he were in the wrong on this matter. As a result, the Ambassador proposed a treaty, which would open up the Caspian Wormhole to the unfettered trade that, realistically, most of the powers involved desired.

Realizing that there was no way of finding a means to appease the desires that the Representatives of the Outback held through conventional methods, Ambassador Harrowman offered up a proposal that was advantageous for all present. Despite this, the Manager could only heckle the sudden, apparent, change of heart the Federation's Ambassador had, only to be silenced by Minister Stirn's intervention. Once further clarifications were made by Captain Kai to allay further worries, all parties agreed that the proposal was sound, and the meeting was adjourned.

# Concluding Statement

While not all parties involved were wholly pleased by the outcome of the Caspian Wormhole Debate, a victory was earned this day as the first steps towards furthering relations with several key powers within the Outback. After the meeting was adjourned and everyone made their way to the Mess Hall, Ambassador Harrowman performed a speech that she recalled hearing; one that was said by a human long ago:

*"The downfall of the attempts of governments and leaders to unite mankind is found in the wrong message - that we should see everyone as the same. This is the root of the failure of harmony, because the truth is, we should not all see everyone as the same. We are not the same. We are made of different colours and we have different cultures. We are all different. The key to this door is to look at these differences, respect these differences, learn from and about these differences, and grow in and with these differences. We are all different. We are not the same, but that is beautiful and that's okay. In the quest for unity and peace, we cannot blind ourselves and expect to be all the same. Because in this, we all have an underlying belief that everyone should be the same as us at some point. We are not on a journey to become the same or to be the same. But we are on a journey to see that in all of our differences, that is what makes us beautiful as a human race, and if we are ever to grow, we 'ought to learn and always learn some more."* ~ C.JoyBell C.