ST:TTV320 | "Relay 49"
Updated: Mar 18
Stardate 95186.5
The Valley Forge receives a reply from the New World concerning the diplomatic offer made to the 'Branded Lady' Vora. However, instead of the expected setup for talks, the Arshai have an unusual request...
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Keliaya@anncarise PREVIOUSLY ON ST:TTV Keliaya@anncarise Perim@bobisgod171: “You're a Starfleet Captain. You're a diplomat by definition. Unless there are any other suggestions, let's pursue that, then. Make an inquiry, - Keliaya@anncarise - show that we're interested in talking. Even if the OSN isn't able to provide a contact, directly, it's not impossible that word of our intentions will find the right ears, regardless." Keliaya@anncarise Keelah@crystyll: "To that end; Command would like to formally invite you, the OSN, and perhaps even as speaker for the... 'researchers and politicians' of the Arshai to come together at the table - Keliaya@anncarise - and speak openly as one.” Keliaya@anncarise The Branded Lady@annpc#5570: "It might take some persuading to get them to send a Council representative offworld. But I've talked the Council my way before, and I can do it again." Keliaya@anncarise The Branded Lady@annpc#5570: "I can't promise how long it'll take. You know what politics can be like." Keliaya@anncarise | AND NOW... Keliaya@anncarise | The Valley Forge cruises along in space on its mission of exploration. Keliaya@anncarise is at the engineering console, tapping away and occasionally making comm calls to various ops personnel. Charlie@drcrippler is sitting at his new seat since he had to move. He doesn't like the big screens. Keelah@crystyll sits back relaxed, one leg crossed over as she looks around the smoothly operating bridge with a contented smile Charlie@drcrippler silently appreciates that he's not one of the chumps who has to stand Keliaya@anncarise is not jealous at all. Charlie@drcrippler [Ellie] flies the ship I guess Keelah@crystyll | Crystyl stands at the back opposite Kelly, tapping and chatting away on internal comms liaising with various departments Keliaya@anncarise | T'Quila: "Captain, we are receiving an unidentified communication. It's not on any channel I recognize." Keelah@crystyll sits up a little, "let's have it, Tee" Keliaya@anncarise | TQ: "Putting it through." Charlie@drcrippler: "Captain, I believe I know the channel. It's Son'a," Keliaya@anncarise | The message plays: "This is Vora-Orion Dos Shaie'Foree Nos Zona speaking on behalf of the New World. The Council is willing to accept your request for a diplomatic meeting if the Federation - Keelah@crystyll looks over to Charlie with a quirked brow Keliaya@anncarise: - demonstrates serious intent for non-hostile relations. A reply message is expected in four of your days, or this offer will be rescinded." Charlie@drcrippler taps his console and frowns. Reaches over to hit the right button to transmit the data across Keliaya@anncarise | Message: "The only way to reach the New World is using the Son’a communication network dispersed through the Alpha and Beta Quadrants." Keliaya@anncarise | Message: "The message must be identifiable and not bounced through neutral channels. You may locate the nearest communication relay by tracing this message. Do not delay." Keelah@crystyll: "Vora..." she smiles a little, looking back, "Ensign, get a fix on that on that nearest relay. I've been waiting a long time for this call..." Charlie@drcrippler: "Yes ma’am," he gets to work doing intel stuff (tm) Keliaya@anncarise: "A Son'a relay? I remember talking to Mia about this. She mentioned it was the only way to contact the Arshai as well." Keelah@crystyll turns back to Kelly, "May be worth getting her up here for this too then" she nods Keliaya@anncarise: "But...according to the information Mana gave, Federation signals are automatically rejected, and we /have/ to bounce it through a neutral source..." Keliaya@anncarise: "I'll call her in." Keliaya@anncarise taps her console, <C> "Kelly to Mia." Keelah@crystyll: <C: Mia> Ooh, 'Allo Ms. Kelly! This is a surprise, are you not on duty at the moment? Keliaya@anncarise: <C> I am, and we might need your information for what's going on. Keelah@crystyll: <C: Mia> Sounds important Ms. Kelly, we will report to the bridge immediately! Charlie@drcrippler: "I've tracked down the relay, MA'AM," he clears his throat. There was something stuck. "Sorry, I've tracked down the relay source ma'am, and we can send a message at any time," Keelah@crystyll: "How far out is it?" Charlie@drcrippler: [Ellie] "Two days at high warp," Keelah@crystyll: "Ensign Ruby; lay in a course and engage at warp 8. Just in case this ends up with us needed to do some work there, I don't want to be caught in a race against the clock as well..." Charlie@drcrippler [Ellie] grins. "Yes ma'am," she cracks her fingers. "I'll get her there in one piece," Keelah@crystyll perks a brow, "One piece would be good, Ensign..." she chuckles, looking to the turbolift as the door hisses open and... nobody is there Keliaya@anncarise glances to the lift as well. Keelah@crystyll | Miadrone comes whooshing out and speeds over to Kelly's side, Mia rippling into view as it approaches, "Allo Ms. Kelly! We are here to assist!" Keliaya@anncarise smiles, "Hello Mia!" Keelah@crystyll watches from one side of her seat then the other, shaking her head with an entertained smile Keelah@crystyll: | Mia: "So how may we be of assistance today?" Keliaya@anncarise: "We've gotten a message from the New World, and they want us to contact them through the Son'a comm network." Keelah@crystyll | Mia's eyes brighten, "Ooh, then we must find a neutral broadcast site that the network will accept!" Keliaya@anncarise: "That's the issue...apparently our message has to be identifiable as being from us." Keelah@crystyll | Mia hrms, "Well that should not be too difficult. We can encode the message using old Arshai code. the New World should recognize similarity, while seeing it is not their own and if Ms. Mana is + Keelah@crystyll: + there, she will know it is from us! The question is, where to broadcast from as the signal is still on a Starfleet carrier wave..." Keliaya@anncarise: "Exactly, and there's no known neutral station in range, at least not within the 4 day deadline they've given us." Keelah@crystyll listens to this, turning to Charlie, "Mr. Rivett, anything on long range sensors that could fit the bill for a neutral broadcast site?" Keelah@crystyll | Mia meanwhile almost bounces with excitement, hovering around Kelly's console, "Maybe we will get to see Ms. Mana again!" Charlie@drcrippler: "There's another relay that's set six days away. The one that I detected earlier which is two days away, but there is no other one closer. As for any neutral transports, I cannot detect any, but we Charlie@drcrippler: also do not know this region of space..." he stops. "Does the Eon not have a comms system? Can we not use that one. It is not Federation," Keliaya@anncarise smiles at Mia's excitement, "That's certainly a possibility!" Keelah@crystyll 's smile slowly broadens, "Yes, that's it! It is only a short range transmitter so we will either need to close on the relay, unless..." looks back to Kelly Keelah@crystyll: "...any way we can link it through our main dish to amplify the signal strength?" Keliaya@anncarise: "If we amplify it with our subspace comm system, it'll be carried on our wave. We'll definitely need to approach the relay." Keliaya@anncarise: "We could modify our comms, but that'll lead to complications as none of our signals will register as Starfleet. Other Starfleet ships will still know who we are if we send the right clearance codes - Keliaya@anncarise: - but civilians and foreign powers might not trust us if we do that." Keelah@crystyll: "Well then, that gives us two days to prepare a suitable message" Keelah@crystyll: "We have 4 days and only need 2 to get there. I am comfortable with bringing us into Eon's comm range, and I'm sure Jenni won't mind us borrowing it" Keelah@crystyll: "Mia, you're with me. Time to draft a message home! Kelly, you have the conn" Keliaya@anncarise nods. Keelah@crystyll & Mia disappear into the Ready Room Keliaya@anncarise | TWO DAYS LATER Charlie@drcrippler ponders the situation. Keliaya@anncarise | Vrolmacht is currently the ranking officer on the bridge, though he is not using the command chair. Kelly is on duty in Main Engineering, and Lieutenant Erik Thorkildsen currently mans the - Keliaya@anncarise - bridge engineering station. Keliaya@anncarise | <C - TQ> ETA to the relay is fifteen minutes, Captain. Keelah@crystyll: <C> Thank you Tee, on my way Keelah@crystyll steps off the turbolift a few minutes later... Keelah@crystyll | Crystyl pipes up, "Captain on deck!" Keelah@crystyll looking to Vrolmacht as she moves to take her seat, "Status report?" Keliaya@anncarise | Vrolmacht: "We are nearing the relay, but there are Son'a ships heading to the same position as well. I'm counting four at varying ranges, far too many to be a coincidence." Keliaya@anncarise | Vrolmacht: "Nearest Son'a vessel will arrive approximately five minutes after us." Keelah@crystyll looks to Tee, "Mia should be standing by in the Eon with the message ready to transmit, seems we'll have to make this a quick call" Keelah@crystyll sits in the captain's chair. Keliaya@anncarise | TQ: "I will inform her as soon as we are in range, Captain." Keelah@crystyll nods, "5 minutes should be ample time to get the signal out and clear the region without breaking pace. To the Son'a sensors we'll look to be simply passing by" Keliaya@anncarise | A minute later, TQ taps her console, "T'Quila to Mia, we are approaching the Eon's transmission range. Be ready to broadcast in 30 seconds." Charlie@drcrippler nods once he's done the thing he was doing and sits in his chair Keelah@crystyll sits back, calmly observing as things happen, "Ensign Ruby; hold course and speed. Nice and steady..." Charlie@drcrippler [Ellie] "Yes ma'am, nice and steady is what I can do," Keliaya@anncarise: <C - TQ> We are in transmission range. Keelah@crystyll: <C: Mia> We are broadcasting now! Charlie@drcrippler: "The transmission has gone through Captain, and is now being broadcast to the Son'a communications network," Keliaya@anncarise | Vrolmacht: "Captain, the Son'a vessels have diverted to a direct intercept course towards us." Keelah@crystyll lets out a heavy sigh, "Of course they are... can we get out of range before they close?" Keliaya@anncarise | Vrolmacht shakes his head, "Unlikely, Captain." Keelah@crystyll: "Then standby shields. Tee, open a channel" Keliaya@anncarise | TQ: "Channel to the Son'a ships open." Keelah@crystyll maintains a calm and collected demeanor, "Son'a vessel, this is the Federation starship Valley Forge. I can't help but notice that you've altered course towards our position. Is there some way we + Keelah@crystyll: + can be of assistance?" Keliaya@anncarise | It takes a few moments before the classic wrinkled face of a Son'a male appears on the main viewscreen. Keliaya@anncarise: (https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/images/0/03/Gallatin.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110117202259&path-prefix=en) Keliaya@anncarise | Son'a Commander: "I am Ash'ur. Why have you come in such close proximity of Relay 49? Is this another Federation sabotage attempt?" Keelah@crystyll: "Nothing so sinister Commander, I assure you. We are simply updating our stellar cartography for this region and moved to investigate the unknown anomaly that was your relay. As soon as we saw that + Keelah@crystyll: + it is your property, we registered our maps so future surveys know not to encroach on your assets and are continuing on our way" Keliaya@anncarise | Ash'ur: "Ah yes. Starfleet, always poking your noses where they don't belong. You will not mind, then, if we bring our relay network temporarily offline to scan all recent messages?" Keliaya@anncarise | Ash'ur: "If your claim is true, then you have nothing to be scared of." Keelah@crystyll signs for Tee to mute the comms before speaking, "Will that interrupt our message, or even detect it?" Keliaya@anncarise | Tee mutes the comms. Charlie@drcrippler: "Captain, if they shut down the network now, then I do believe there is a possibility that the message will not reach the New World. I do not know if they will recognise the message however," Keelah@crystyll: "Very well..." she thinks a moment then nods to unmute Keliaya@anncarise | Tee taps the button and unmutes Keelah@crystyll: "Commander, I would not be so presumptious as to tell you what to do with your network. Though I do note that a number of your allied vessels are operating in this region and with identified threats + Keelah@crystyll: + on the prowl, I would not want to see you risk leaving any of them out of contact on our account. Perhaps instead, I may offer a gesture of good faith to assist you in this without your needing to + Keelah@crystyll: + take your system offline?" Charlie@drcrippler tests if he can get a benchmark for how long it would take for a message to get to the end of the relay system Keliaya@anncarise | Ash'ur: "And what might that be? The last time your Starfleet offered us something it ended with three starships destroyed and our greatest leader killed." Keliaya@anncarise | Ash'ur: "Not to mention the complete failure of an operation years in the making." Keelah@crystyll: "Regrettable events of the past for which I claim no right to contest. No, I simply thought that we might show you a scanning method we use that will perform the same task without you needing to + Keelah@crystyll: + disable your system" Keliaya@anncarise | Ash'ur thinks for a long moment. His channel seems to also be muted for a bit before he turns back to the screen, "Very well. Hold position where you are." Keliaya@anncarise | Ash'ur: "If this is a trick, my ships are inbound. And I know my ships, even Starfleet ones. You are no match for four of us." Keelah@crystyll nods and smiles, "Helm, all stop. Commander, we will have a datapacket ready for you with the details. Valley Forge out" Charlie@drcrippler [Ellie] presses the stop button Keelah@crystyll: "Alright Tee, put together a little care package for our son'a friends. Show them how to scan their network, and make a point of indicating in the method how it flags up Federation carrier waves" Keelah@crystyll smiles, "Explain that it's what we use in SAR missions to track errant signals from lost ships, that should sell it nicely" Keliaya@anncarise | Tee nods and gets to work. Charlie@drcrippler turns to Keelah and speaks when the comms are off. "Captain, by my estimates, it will take another sixteen minutes for our signal to reach the end of the network, assuming that the New World is Charlie@drcrippler: located at the end of the network chain," Keelah@crystyll: "Then let us hope at least, that our bluff can hold them at bay for that long" Keelah@crystyll turns to V, "Tactical assessment?" Keliaya@anncarise | Vrolmacht: "The Son'a commander is correct, ma'am. We may be able to take on two of their ships, but four will likely overwhelm us." Keelah@crystyll: "eta until all four are in range?" Keliaya@anncarise | Vrolmacht: "Thirty minutes, but two more will be in range within fifteen." Keliaya@anncarise | Thorkildsen: "I'm also reading signs of illegal subspace weaponry on at least the nearest vessel. They're highly unpredictable if employed." Keelah@crystyll: "Alright, we can work with that if it comes to it" she looks back to Erik, "Make sure Kelly is ready for combat manuevers, and tell her we need to keep primed for a prompt exit" Keliaya@anncarise | Thorkildsen: "It might end up being friendly fire, or it can throw us halfway across the galaxy in one hit, if we're very very unlucky." Keelah@crystyll: "This just keeps getting better and better..." Keliaya@anncarise | Vrolmacht: "Or just disintegrate us." Keliaya@anncarise | Thorkildsen: "That, too. That's the obvious result." Keelah@crystyll speaks up, "Ok people. We've got a job to do, and a tight timeframe to do it. Now all being well, they will accept our aid and we'll be on our way" Keelah@crystyll: "But if they don't... we have to delay them long enough for that signal to get through. I'm not interested in standing toe to toe with the Son'a, so Mr. Rivett; watch that clock and as soon as we + Keelah@crystyll: + are clear, we are out of here" Charlie@drcrippler sets the clock for 33 mins Charlie@drcrippler then sets it for 16 because this is the wrong universe for that stuff Keliaya@anncarise | Tee: "Package is ready, Captain." Keelah@crystyll: "Good job, Tee. Standby to send when they resume contact" Charlie@drcrippler watches the second hand tick round Charlie@drcrippler wonders if the Captain wanted Vulcan minutes or Earth minutes Keelah@crystyll probably wanted Bolian minutes so Chag didn't feel abandoned Keliaya@anncarise | Tee says after a few seconds: "They are hailing us." Keelah@crystyll leans back in her chair, "Open a channel" Charlie@drcrippler [Ellie] is also glad that she's on the VF and not on a ship like the Endeavour because at least the VF can move without losing any parts Keliaya@anncarise | Tee: "Channel open." Keliaya@anncarise | Ash'ur reappears on the viewscreen. Keelah@crystyll smiles diplomatically, "Commander, we have the promised datapacket ready for you" Keliaya@anncarise | Ash'ur: "We're ready to receive it." Keelah@crystyll nods over to Tee, "Send the packet, Chief" Keliaya@anncarise | Tee: "Packet is away." Keliaya@anncarise | Ash'ur looks offscreen to one of his own before giving them a nod. Keelah@crystyll looks back to the viewscreen patiently, "You should see Commander, everything is laid out quite distinctly there. I only hope this serves to aid your efforts, and demonstrate our sincere intentions + Keelah@crystyll: + here, maybe even take a step closer to mending once burned bridges of the past" Charlie@drcrippler checks the time left Charlie@drcrippler turns to Keelah and holds up three fingers and then taps his wrist Charlie@drcrippler or does that the other way round since it makes a lot more sense Keelah@crystyll acknowledges with little more than a glance, but definitely does so Keliaya@anncarise | Ash'ur: "Hm," he glances offscreen again, "Use this to scan our network." Keliaya@anncarise | The Son'a are silent for a moment. Keelah@crystyll holds a polite smile as she looks back to the viewscreen with a confident poker face Keliaya@anncarise | Vrolmacht: "Two more Son'a ships are now in range." Charlie@drcrippler checks time again Charlie@drcrippler he needs to know when to take his pizza out of the oven Charlie@drcrippler turns to look at Keelah, tapping his wrist and then holding up 1 finger Keelah@crystyll acknowledges as before Charlie@drcrippler wonders if he can put the timer up on screen to the corner so everyone can see for dramatic effect (tm) Keliaya@anncarise | Vrolmacht: "They are powering up weapons and...locking on their own ship." Keelah@crystyll: "Raise shields. Yellow alert only..." Keliaya@anncarise | Ash'ur finally speaks after his delay, "Well." Keelah@crystyll looks to the front, "Commander...?" Keliaya@anncarise | Ash'ur: "It seems that wasn't a trick after all." Keliaya@anncarise | Vrolmacht: "The Son'a have powered down weapons." Keliaya@anncarise | Ash'ur: "Maybe you're not all dishonest oathbreakers." Charlie@drcrippler checks the time Keelah@crystyll dips her head, "I am pleased to see we have found an accord. Is there any further assistance we can offer? We did detect a brief power surge in your weapons array there..." Charlie@drcrippler holds up five fingers. Four. Three. Two. One. Wait, he miscounted. Two... One... he closes his fist. Keelah@crystyll resists the urge to eyeroll at the miscount Keliaya@anncarise | Ash'ur: "I cut off my access to the relay and ordered my other ships to blow us to oblivion if it was a virus. Then blow you to oblivion after that." Charlie@drcrippler [Ellie] stifles a giggle Keelah@crystyll smiles plainly, "A prudent precaution" nodding offscreen to V, "Stand down yellow alert" Keliaya@anncarise | Ash'ur: "My people's safety come first. I won't compromise anyone else if it was another Starfleet trick. But I'm glad I don't have to." Keelah@crystyll looks back to the screen with a smile, "As am I, Commander. If there is nothing more then, we will leave you in peace" Keliaya@anncarise | Ash'ur: "Good. Get out of here. If I see another Starfleet ship near our relays again I might not be in such a good mood." Keelah@crystyll: "We will be sure to mark this region as a no-go area for the fleet, Commander" she raises her right hand in a Vulcan salute, "Live long and prosper" Keliaya@anncarise FX | The channel cuts. Keelah@crystyll grumbles, "...'Peace and long life'" Keliaya@anncarise | Thorkildsen: "I've met Klingons more charming than him." Keliaya@anncarise | Vrolmacht smirks, "You're right about that." Keelah@crystyll: "Indeed, but let us not outstay our welcome. Ensign Ruby; set course to the rendezvous coordinates and engage at warp 7" Charlie@drcrippler: [Ellie] "Yes ma'am," she presses the big red button that says "warp" after tapping in the coordinates Keliaya@anncarise FX | VF warps away! Keelah@crystyll eases back with a heavy sigh, almost deflating as the streaking stars signal an ease of tension pressure Keliaya@anncarise FX | Over half an hour of uneventful travelling passes... Keliaya@anncarise | Then, Tee glances back to Keelah again, "Captain, we are receiving another message from the relay network." Keelah@crystyll: "Let's hear it" Charlie@drcrippler hopes someone took his pizza out of the oven Keliaya@anncarise | Message: "This is Vora-Orion Dos Shaie'Foree Nos Zona. We have received your reply. I apologize for the convoluted procedure; it was not my idea. The Council needed reassurance that the - Keliaya@anncarise: - Federation is willing to deal peacefully with former adversaries. Since I have not received word from our Son'a friends of an unprovoked Starfleet attack, and you're still alive to receive this - Keliaya@anncarise: - message, I'll assume all went well. The Council has taken your resolution with the Son'a as sufficient proof and accepted your request for diplomatic talks." Keliaya@anncarise | Message: "We will meet on neutral ground. I propose the independently run Drozana Station in the Donatu sector. Further replies may be sent through the Son'a network on a neutral channel, so - Keliaya@anncarise: - long as the same identification system is employed." Keelah@crystyll scoffs, "So much for our proposed rendezvous point" Keliaya@anncarise FX | The message ends. Keelah@crystyll: "Tee, can we send an acknowledgement without attracting unwanted attention?" Keliaya@anncarise | Tee: "We will have to travel to a neutral location, or gain permission to use the comm system of an unaffiliated vessel." Keelah@crystyll: "Mr. Rivett, scan for any suitable locations between here and Drozana. If we can, all well and good. If not, I guess we'll just wait until we get there" Keelah@crystyll: "Ensign Ruby... turn us around and take us to Drozana!" Charlie@drcrippler scans Charlie@drcrippler [Ellie] flies Charlie@drcrippler: “Captain, the Legia system is now far off our current route” Keelah@crystyll smiles, “Good thinking, Ensign. Ensign Ruby; alter course. Tee; call ahead and let Ambassador K’Taum know that we’ll be dropping by with a small favour to ask” Keliaya@anncarise | Tee: "Yes ma’am”
View Log Entry
SUBMITTED: Stardate 95186.5 FILED BY: CAPT K Se'Lai SECURITY: Level 2 - Confidential
LOCATION:Son'a Relay 49
MISSION:Respond to diplomatic outreach from Arshai New World
OUTCOME:Contact established & meeting setup
KEY PERSONNEL:
CAPT Keelah LCDR Keliaya LCDR Vrolmacht (NPC) LT Thorkildsen (NPC) ENS Rivett ENS Ruby (NPC) MCPO Tyr CPO T'Quila (NPC) Miyata LaRouche
NARRATIVE:During our routine patrol, the Valley Forge received a direct communication from the Arshai New World representative - Vora-Orion Dos Shaie'Foree Nos Zona - declaring a successful negotiation with the governing council to consider opening diplomatic relations with the Federation, per our previous discussion held in conjunction with the OSN.
The elusive nature of the New World Arshai presented a number of challenges to this otherwise simple request however. Firstly being that they set a 4-day deadline to receive our acknowledgement and agreement to meet on neutral ground. Secondly being the communication method as these Arshai remain overly cautious of the galaxy beyond their established borders and so, the only means of communication was to route a message through the Son'a comms network that is used under agreement by the Arshai. The problem inherent in this is that the Son'a remain unwilling to allow Federation transmissions through their network, requiring us to seek an alternative to a direct response.
After careful consideration, balancing the specified timeline and resources available, we determined that the only viable means of replying within the set parameters was to use the Eon's comm system to send our response via the Son'a network on a non-Federation carrier wave. Unfortunately with the Eon being a short range vessel, it's communication range is limited which meant we would have to travel into close proximity of a relay in order to broadcast. Identifying one within travel range of our timeline we set a course whilst preparing the response message.
Upon arrival at the relay, sensors showed a small number of Son'a vessels patrolling the region with one on a course that would bring it into range of the relay as well. Not wanting to sacrifice the long awaited opportunity to establish communication with the New World proper, I ordered the signal to be sent as planned while we passed within range of the relay. This was successful, though not before our presence drew the attention of the approaching Son'a vessel who moved to challenge us. The ensuing dialogue was understandably cautious on their part, given their history with Starfleet, however we maintained a cordial approach. Though deception was undesirable, I determined that it yielded the more promising likelihood of a favorable outcome, and so avoided telling the Son'a Commander about our use of their network.
This was met with further suspicion and a threat to disable their network whilst scanning it for any signals sent by us during our presence. I encouraged the action, though warned against the risk of leaving allied vessels out of communication range given the increased hostile activity in that region of space; instead seeking to bolster our tentative relationship with the offer of assistance by providing them an alternative scanning method which would not require disabling their network. This was determined as necessary since we calculated a 16 minute window before a guaranteed delivery of our response to the Arshai, and so we committed to preventing their disabling the network for this minimum timeframe. While the first Son'a vessel moved to close on our position, an additional three closed from longer range; the Valley Forge held position in accordance with the request from the Son'a Commander.
Upon the vessels arrival we sent them a datapacket detailing this purportedly 'advanced' communication scanning method - which was in fact nothing special and simply a manipulation of standard practice as we see it, which was dressed to appear as a special method used for tracking errant distress signals. The Son'a vessel accepted our gift and promptly put it to use in scanning their network. A brief scare arose as they were seen to be powering weapons, though this promptly subsided once they clarified that the approaching ships were simply targeting the one we liaised with as a precaution against us attempting to attack them with a virus. The Commander confirmed that our method worked and he detected no Starfleet signal through their network. Though the dialogue was ended abruptly, I believe the overall interaction was cordial and stands to bolster relationships between our respective peoples in spite of outstanding hostilities held towards Starfleet.
RECOMMENDATION:A second message was promptly received from the Arshai confirming our adherence to their specified requirements and calling for a formal diplomatic meeting on neutral ground which they specified as Drozana station. The Valley Forge is already en route and will divert to Legia IX as the Olelian's homeworld is not far off our travel path, and has the means to send a long range response confirming our presence at their proposed meeting point. Given that this is the continuation of an Admiralty directive to bolster diplomatic relations with this particular species, I believe it would be prudent to send further regional representatives from the Diplomatic Corps to formalize our commitment to the negotiations.