"An eating fork is safe, yes? But not if I stab you in eye with it," answers Brutus. "The difference is one of itent. The creatures in the intitial footage were intent on wiping out all life. The ones here are intent on peaceful cohabitation and learning. That's a world of difference. That is a lot of words to say 'yes', but I felt it important that you understand."

In reply to Brutus Cartwright (msg # 368):

He acknowledges your illustration and it's meaning.

"True enough. It is hard to be sure of human intentions, and we have known them for time immemorial. How can you be sure about their intentions?"

05 Oct 2188, Rita's Place, Supplies: 5600 person days, Vatfacs can cover all, $87,496,300, 18/18 Cargo, Life support 97/120 with all bugs, food growth 97/100

"Certainty about something that has not yet occurred isn't something I can comment on," answers Brutus. "For probability or belief you need a scientist or a priest. I am neither. But risk? You need an expert in Security. That, I am, and a damn good one. This is about judgement, and in my judgement, these are safe: a risk, yes. But then, so is getting out of bed every morning."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:00, Sun 21 Apr.

In reply to Brutus Cartwright (msg # 370):

"So what makes these different from the ones you killed? How do you know they are different? What can you give me so i can say they pose a low risk?"

05 Oct 2188, Rita's Place, Supplies: 5600 person days, Vatfacs can cover all, $87,496,300, 18/18 Cargo, Life support 97/120 with all bugs, food growth 97/100

"Parentage, nurture and philosophy," answers Brutus. "Hate to be rude, but that's my job: I know. I'm sure you don't mean to second guess me. The first contact bugs, I would shoot on sight by reflex. These ones, I will happily have dinner with. Come meet them? Or do you want to talk to their collective parent first?"

In reply to Brutus Cartwright (msg # 372):

"Yes, that would be good. Please understand that it is also our job to ensure the safety of the colony. Therefore we also need to gather as much evidence as possible."

"Of course. This way, please," says Brutus who then leads the fellow to Gloria. "The parent."

In reply to Brutus Cartwright (msg # 374):

The customs official has a clearly puzzled expression on his face...

"Not even the same species..."

05 Oct 2188, Rita's Place, Supplies: 5600 person days, Vatfacs can cover all, $87,496,300, 18/18 Cargo, Life support 97/120 with all bugs, food growth 97/100

"But similar values and aspirations."

Gloria Shakes her head ... The Queen was an egg along with several of her kind. We captured hem and she left the egg soon there after. She sought her mother to teach her, but her Mother was dead of course. So I am her teacher and she leads her fellow bugs. She can read your mind and sense your feelings, you are forewarned. But her Bugs will do any sort of mundane tasks quite happily.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 377):

He is wary, but understanding.

"Ok, then. I expect there will be many who want a full report. But you have clearance to land for now."

He heads back to his ship unless there are other matters you wish to discuss.

05 Oct 2188, Rita's Place, Supplies: 5600 person days, Vatfacs can cover all, $87,496,300, 18/18 Cargo, Life support 97/120 with all bugs, food growth 97/100

We Land

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 379):

As one might expect, your arrival is greeted by a number of local political and military types, each with a long list of requests for information. The presence of the bugs attracts a lot of attention that is a little intimidating for the new bug colony, and the queen has her hive gather around her as she requests you limit the visitors to one at a time.

The local military commander also want an audience with you as well. Privately.

Anyone else doing anything?

05 Oct 2188, Rita's Place, Supplies: 5600 person days, Vatfacs can cover all, $87,496,300, 18/18 Cargo, Life support 97/120 with all bugs, food growth 97/100

We introduce the Bugs first, too one functionary at a time... Once things seem settled I hand this task off to Brutus and go see what the Military commander wants.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 381):

The slowed pace of the introduction makes it a little easier for your young guests. It is a couple of hours before you feel the queen has relaxed enough to not cause an incident in your absence.

The meeting with the local military is a little tense as he asks you about events, through the planet that is close to the bug Homeworld is considered very attractive for an outpost. Problem is people, as always for outposts. Especially at this time. The issue he is having is that the local Vilani provinces are also trying to attract people, and they are not keen on the competition. Focusing on intelligence gathering, there have been a number of scout vessels even beyond the Vilani borders. Further, amount the few colonist they have recruited from nearby, at least one spy has been found.

05 Oct 2188, Rita's Place, Supplies: 5600 person days, Vatfacs can cover all, $87,496,300, 18/18 Cargo, Life support 97/120 with all bugs, food growth 97/100

Well we left a small group of volunteers there, and have found another potential world as well. 1739 wasn't it?

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 383):

Yes, 1739 had two potential planets, and 1539 was where we left a group.

05 Oct 2188, Rita's Place, Supplies: 5600 person days, Vatfacs can cover all, $87,496,300, 18/18 Cargo, Life support 97/120 with all bugs, food growth 97/100

We could add to the team we left, I am not sure they won't want to stay  and start a colony.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 385):

"A valid concept.

A second colony in the other system you mentioned would also be very good as a support. However we would need a capable warship there, and people. The locals are very primitive, you say? Do you know of any other options?"

05 Oct 2188, Rita's Place, Supplies: 5600 person days, Vatfacs can cover all, $87,496,300, 18/18 Cargo, Life support 97/120 with all bugs, food growth 97/100

Not off of the top of my head, let's ask my team on the ship.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 387):

They respond by asking where the local Vilani provincial border is. There may be a way of getting folk from other provinces...

Or training up some of the local races that survive. Giving them the tech to defend themselves would also build strong allies.

05 Oct 2188, Rita's Place, Supplies: 5600 person days, Vatfacs can cover all, $87,496,300, 18/18 Cargo, Life support 97/120 with all bugs, food growth 97/100

She just shrugs  Guess it's not something any of us are up on.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 389):

The discussion goes on with a lot of back and forth wit ideas. Everyone acknowledges that a military base near the violent species is needed. They also acknowledge that there is no population to man it.

The number of bugs you have brought back is also a matter of discussion. Most agree they should be kept close, in case they turn hostile. But the recognition of their potential contribution to the populations of the scant colonies is also recognized.

As for Vilani provinces closer coreward, you are provided a reasonably good map. It indicates there is indeed a local provincial border between the Vilani worlds nearby and those closer to the bug homeworld. This may offer potential benefits, or may not, depending on the politics of the coreward province. Intelligence officers are detailed with finding out more.

Local governors come to the conclusion that a bug colony on a large nearby island would be a suitable solution, with a couple of scientists from your ship who are familiar with them detailed to live amoung them and help them grow into a mature and friendly colony.

For your part, your are detailed with escorting small craft, a trio of modified Iiken cargo vessels, to the colony you have established. These craft are loaded with additional colony members that will help train the locals into forming a colony. Two of the craft will make one-way trips, before being cannibalized for spares while the third will make regular cargo runs. Your own small craft will be resupplied with what they have.

1 x Ships Boat Rescuer III 42.5 B Solars, 30 dTon Needle/Wedge
2 x AK Light Modular Tank, M$ 13 Solars, 6 dTon Flattened Sphere
1 x AK Auto-Miniminer, 7.4 M Solars, 6 dTon Flattened Sphere

You are to swap out one of the tanks with the Modular Surveyor when you get back.

You are also provided with replacement crew, including 10 members for the new colony in Low berths. Some of the crew may also be swapped out with members of the crew there.

Then you are directed to conduct a more thorough assessment of planets that may contain life, with a view of looking for races that could potentially be trained up as allies. Three specialists in humanitarian sciences, including two linguists, have been added to your crew specifically for that purpose. you are to look at all planets that are around the bug homeworld, neutralizing any bug colonies you can and evaluating all potential colony sites, with a view of containing the violent bug problem.

The suggestion of leaving small teams on planets that do not have bugs is considered a good option from a scientific perspective, and when you are getting short of small craft and personnel, you would return to here. In the meantime, they will continue to gather suitable individuals for such remote endeavors.

It is the next day before discussions are concluded. There is plenty of chance for your contributions...

06 Oct 2188, Rita's Place, Supplies: 5600 person days, Vatfacs can cover all, $87,496,300, 18/18 Cargo, Life support 97/120 with all bugs, food growth 97/100

That is a tall order for one ship, but we shall do our best.
Leaving small teams on remote planets seems a very poor idea to us, as they have no way to call for help and are just prey for large carnivores or a bug landing.

The bug island here seems a good plan, but be aware that they can multiply quickly; whether they will is something to ask the queen.
She would also like access to our libraries to learn history, philosophy and many more mundane tasks. Her bug folk can do repetitive tasks without becoming bored and to a vey hi standard of work, what limits there are to how complex the tasks can be is something we have not determined.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 391):

"We are aware we are asking a lot of one ship. Unfortunately, we have a significant shortage of capable ships in this area, as well as people. Part of the challenges of a frontier far from Terra. Leaving a Light tank will enable a small group to survive well enough against small incursions, and we have determined that the bugs still do not have hyperspace drives. Therefore they will take years or decades to get anywhere, giving us lots of warning with sensors. As long as we are vigilant with sensors and the bugs are not already there, we would expect the small groups to stand a very good chance of survival. That is why it will be important that you do a thorough investigation of the planet to ensure there are no bugs or obvious threats before you leave them.

With the group here, naturally we will give them as much history as we can. We have very little to hide, so it would be best to have a more open and honest policy, so no-one gets surprises later. The idea of limiting them to the island for now should limit the amount they can reproduce, until we build a relationship of trust."