Jerad threw his glass of wine on the ground in disgust, allowing the glass to shatter on the hard floors and the wine to spill everywhere. And on Draloos IV, all wine was expensive. Commander Stevens and his team from the U.S.S. Ion that were sent to the alien planet of Draloos V had not been heard from. Jerad could only presume that they were dead, like everyone else who had stepped foot onto the planet. And since there was no way that he or anybody else from Draloos IV would even get close to the alien planet, there was no way to verify it until the U.S.S. Ion had returned. He had to find a way to restore the cargo shipments. As a major political leader on Draloos IV, he had a responsibility to the people.
“Jerad,” began one of his subordinates, just entering the room.
“What is it, Yavin? Do you have anything to report?”
“The U.S.S. Ion has sent us a transmission. Their away team is dead, and they are withdrawing from our system.”
“So they have solved nothing,” Jerad replied. This was not unexpected, but he was disgusted nonetheless.
“They said they were only a small scout ship with limited capabilities. They are ill-equipped to handle a situation like this; they won’t transport to the planet again. They said that they will need to return to the Federation to bring in other, more capable ships.”
Jerad grunted. More ships. More probing.
“We have already lost several of our cargo ships. Without more biomatter shipments from Draloos V, our food supply will run dangerously low. We estimate that we will begin to run out of food in two weeks. After that, we will have to start converting material supplies through the replicators to synthesize more food. Eventually, we may have to evacuate.”
“Understood.”
Yavin stepped forward in a more forceful tone. “The people are starting to panic. They know that something is afoot. Shops are already being raided and theft is increasing. It won’t be long when the people resort to violence.”
“I know, we need to proceed carefully. That’s why we need the Federation’s help, for now. We need them to help restore the cargo shipments until we can get the situation under control.”
“But Jerad, if the Federation finds out—“
“They won’t find out, Yavin,” Jerad told him sternly. But even Yavin could tell that he was lying. There was no way to be sure.
Yavin nodded in reluctant agreement. “The captain of the Ion said that the Federation will return with more ships in several days.”
“Very well, then,” Jerad said. “We wait.”
