[Cargo Bay One - Deck 6 - USS Challenger]
As Wey'nir arriving with two scientists had set the standard, three members for each nation that wanted to participate in negotiations became the standard for the number of delegates each nation-state could send. And all twenty-four nation-states along with the Land Moot Council wanted to attend. It took all ten of Challenger's shuttles two lifts to get all the delegates aboard. As seventy-seven people, counting the two Landser astronauts, were far too large a number for any briefing room on the ship, the conference had to be in Cargo Bay One. Ops was busy replicating chairs and security was at capacity ensuring there were escorts on the shuttles and for scanning the attendees for weapons and electronics. The few weapons that were discovered were confiscated, but electronics were nullified by a dampening field that rendered them useless.
Each nation-state had sent either their head of state or a senior ambassador to represent that country. Some nations sent two scientists, some sent one scientist and one 'assistant' who was invariably an intelligence officer. Zhuk had the bridge as acting First Officer, thus all the security arrangements for the conference fell to Lieutenant Davenport. By the time the entire group was gathered, Ian had had time to take a quick sonic shower and change into a fresh uniform. Ian stepped to the podium set up in the conference room, took a deep breath and began to speak.
"People of Land-Ta. I am Captain Ian Galloway of the Federation starship Challenger. I welcome you. Our meetin' today was not scheduled. Because of the devastatin' consequences of contactin' a species before they are capable of interstellar flight, our most sacred law involves the non-interference in a people's natural development. There is a very specific benchmark we look for before we make contact and for all of your tremendous accomplishments, you have not attained that threshold. Normally, would nae have even entered your system.
"However, your remarkable Fold Space technology, your 'Great Work' created a detectable effect that drew us ta your system and ta discover what was causin' what we had noticed. Our technology is no longer limited ta radio frequencies and that is what made us aware that your Fold Space was causin' ripples in time as a core principle of its function. Simply put, you cannae fold space without also foldin' time.
"The problem that we have detected is that this foldin' is affectin' the very fabric of space around your world. As best as my science department can describe it, this affect is blocked by your planet's atmosphere, thus you have nae noticed it. The critical issue is, continued use of your technology will eventually weaken the structure of the space/time of your system. What happens then is unknown. You could end up in another time, past or future, or you could enter into a completely separate pocket of space/time. All I know for certain is all of Land-Ta will cease ta be part of this space/time continuum."
At this point the crowd began to murmur its discontent.
"I fully understand the 'Great Work' is the effort of three generations and here is a stranger tellin' you just as you are on the cusp of bein' able ta use it, that you cannae. As I mentioned earlier, our most sacred law, the Prime Directive tells me I cannae order you ta stop usin' your technology. All I can do is warn you. If'n you choose nae ta listen, I will set up warnin' buoys twenty light years around your world and leave you ta whatever happens next.
"I have my science chief and his deputy here, please, have your scientists talk ta mine and have them discuss our findin's. It is my fervent hope that our two people can come ta an understandin' based on facts and that this threat ta Land-Ta can be avoided. Thank you."
Ian nodded to Jettis and Randall as he stepped away from the podium. He hoped that the facts of the science would be enough to sway the passions that were running high at the moment to some sort of understanding.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Bridge - USS Challenger]
For Zhuk, the bulk of what he had to do was acknowledge reports from the ship's departments regarding ship's status. The vast majority of systems were now fully functional with only a few tertiary systems still not quite at 100%. As Wu monitored ship's systems, Lieutenant Booker at Ops was broadcasting a live feed of the conference down to Land and monitoring how the Landsers were reacting to, what was heartbreaking news regarding their 'Great Work'.
Neva had made it to Engineering and found that the warp core was back online and all critical systems were nominal. Lieutenant jg Rebecca Fisk had really stepped up in her absence and had Challenger humming.
In Sickbay, Dr. Kartos continued to monitor Kyan closely as the Onlie rested from his psychic ordeal.
Whether the conference would smooth things out or if things were already beyond smoothing, remained to be seen and which would happen, would happen fairly soon.
"Captain, the Mjolnir has arrived at the Land Moot. Currently scanning for thy position." 
