Chapter IV: Prisoner Exchange

A few hours go by uneventfully as all four ships in the system wait for the arrival of the Veron vessel that is carrying the humanoid prisoners.
Eventually, that ship arrives. It is not of the same design as the Four. Instead, it seems to be just a captured freighter. Darcy informs everyone on the bridge that the scanners do not read any weapon systems on the ship although it does have shields, which are turned off at the moment.

Shortly after the freighter’s arrival, the bridge receives hails from both the Four and the Dove pretty much simultaneously. Alex and Cass are on the bridge at that point, together with Darcy and Mezron.
Moira is in the transporter room, finalizing the program that will restore the slugs that were biofiltered out. She’s in contact with Davis, who is in the hangar bay from which the shuttle carrying the restored Verons will leave. Your tests have concluded that you will only be able to restore the parasites inside the Potential so you will have to do the restoration while the shuttle is still in the hangar bay. Moira is informed of a communication for her from the Four regarding last arrangements for the exchange.
Lorq, Marbo and Zephyr, you are still sitting together, discussing possible alternatives to the current Veron lifestyle as well as giving occasional help to Moira for her preparations, when you unexpectedly receive a communication from the Dove, asking specifically to speak to the doctor and/or science officer of the Potential

Cass, Alex

The viewscreen lights up to show Captain Thompson who has a very serious expression on his face. "Looks like the parasites have brought the prisoners in and they aren't even sporting any shields. Let's just get this whole thing over with right now. We'll beam everyone to our ships, including the guards. Then we blow up the other two ships. They're not expecting anything. No need to go through with this stupid exchange, right?" He pauses for just a tiny moment before breaking out into a grin. "Just joking, Junior. I know our orders are to give them the slugs back. Any last minute decisions to be made? You need some extra security? Are we meeting the slug captain or just doing it all over comms?"

Cass, Alex

"We have security teams standing by to guard the hangar bay during the rematerialization. I don't see a need to have an armed shuttle accompany the transport but if the two of you think that would be helpful...", Darcy explains. Before she can even finish her sentence, Thompson interrupts her: "It's settled then. I'll send some shuttles to accompany all transports carrying prisoners from either side. Just for extra security. Good suggestion, Cassie!"

Cass, Alex

"Now listen, Junior, do I have to read the list of previous encounters with this race to you? There's been a whole lot of bloodshed going on. I know you're new and probably a bit emotional about these negotiations but with some more experience you'll learn that being careful always pays off. I'm not saying we'll shoot them down right away but if they try to eat someone's face again, I'd like to be ready."

Moira

You're sitting at a smaller screen and take the communication from the Four. The screen lights up and reveals not the captain but a woman in civilian clothes. Her hair is greying which wouldn't be unusual for her age but could also be the result of the Veron inside of her. "Bruce. You are your ship's head engineer, in charge of the revivification of our people, correct? I was ordered to make sure the exchange will proceed without problem. Please let me know the details of the proceedings that your crew has decided on. And I would appreciate it if you could send me the code and blueprints for everything you are using in the revivification so that I can have my team look it over."

Cass, Alex

Thompson frowns at Cass' reply, an expression that looks much more natural than his smiles do. "Well, Commander Shawna Cassano, I think the risk of escalation exists regardless. Let them deploy some extra arms as well if they want. We can have our shuttles armed with photon torpedoes within the hour, making them vastly superior in weaponry than what the slugs, excuse me, the Verons, could be using, fast enough to use them during the exchange."

Moira

The woman nods. "Please get the plans sent over to us as soon as possible. I want some people to look over the schematics before we attempt the revivification. Once our people are rematerialized, we will have to put them back into host bodies, children for the most part, immediately. For that reason, I would like to ask permission to send a number of medical shuttles into your hangar bay so that you can revivify our people onto them and we can implant them into the hosts without delay. Of course we can send over a list of crewmembers and equipment for these shuttles beforehand for your approval." She pauses. "As for a name, you can call me" She performs a slow series of clicking noises that would not be easy but also not impossible to replicate for a human. "If you prefer to call me by a name in your language, I will not be offended but I'm not overly familiar with your naming conventions. You can call me whatever you want."