The Formican government, as it was had only existed for approximately 60 years. Before that different ant colonies operated in various shifting and flowing sets of alliances. Wars were not uncommon and sometimes even ended with wholesale slaughters of entire colonies, as was the case with the unfortunate Colony 899 eighty years prior. Colony 874s A-1 remembered the stories his father had told him about those days as he walked up the large sandstone steps of the hollowed out sandstone spire that served as the site of the world government. The spire straddled the border between Colony 40 and 41, and was a symbolic meeting place for the original 80 colonies whose originals stretched back in the time before a written language had been developed.

899 had been an ally of 874 during a 4 year long war between a few ‘old guard’ colonies and their supporters versus a coalition of ‘new radicals’ that included 707, 714, 848, 874, and 8899. It had publicly been a war over agricultural rights and the old guard colonies accusing the new radicals testing weapons of massive destruction, as it turned out there were in fact testing fusion rocketed for orbital flights, but for peaceful purposes. The war had ended in a concrete peace accord that brought about a new era of global cooperation that led to the species heading into orbit and beginning their exploration of space 20 years later. Colonies 17, 506 and 874 had led the charge to space, and had also led the largest components of the First Great Fleet(the one that was decimated at the final battle over Derganix when the ceasefire was signed 48 years ago).

The council Chamber had been built in a colosseum style with a large 24 metre wide circular sandstone platform where the Grand Council of Formica sat. The Grand Council was the top 21 A-1s(or their representatives)and were elected to their seats by the Planetary Council every 5 years. All of the Colonies on the Grand Council currently were a part of large alliances or coalitions except for Colonies 137 and 506 who sat as independents but often sided with Progressive Agriculturalists or New Radicals. A further 120ish of 1074 colonies had no representation on the Planetary Council at all as they fell below the threshold of 1.2 million citizens that was required to hold a seat. Though many of them maintained close economic or military ties with one of the major factions.

The large, square, 4 panelled colourful sign above the central platform showed the different voting blocks with ‘yes’ and ‘no’ column to the right of each. It read:

(Red)Loyalist Union-8

(Blue)New Radicals-5

(Brown)Progressive Agriculturalists- 4

(Yellow)Conservative Alliance- 2

(Green)Independants-2

What brought him and his lead diplomat A-8 to the chamber today was the newcomers who had contracted them from this ‘Federation’. Their Ferengi partners were recommending that they refuse to see a delegation from them, but the Ferengi were known for their duplicitous and xenophobic nature already, and most Formicans were curious to here what the new newcomers had to say. A-1 had made several calls that day and knew that the ProgAgs and Indies were with him. As the leader of the New Radicals he had urged them all to vote to make contact. They were a sovereign people and were free to associate with whoever they wanted.

The Ferengi’s domineering ways were becoming apparent even to the Loyalist/Conservation block. The information packet that the Blythe had included in its communique included info about the Federation, its premise, its values and its plans for a regular presence in the Expanse. It also listed several different types of aid or assistance they were willing to provide, though curiously no mention of a cost for the aid was included. As hyper capitalists the Formicans all found this to be a glaring omission.

The Formicans were reaching an evolutionary bottleneck though. The moon they called home could only support another half a billion of them at the most. Some of their finest scientific minds had figured it out years ago. They would either need to get off of Formica and spread into the stars or they would habe to have some form of population control, either artificial or otherwise. Even some Loyalist clans recognized the need for off world colonization, but they were usually whipped in line for votes in the chamber or urged a more cautiously aporoach.

The voting was swiftly as it always was, especially on days where theybwere sitting in emergency sessions like this one. On Formica all bills and amendments were to be posted by 0800h the day of the vote, the votes were held at 1400h that day and the decisions were binding, though a vote to reverse a decision could be made, rare as it was. To the surprise of no one the Loyalists added an amendment to the proposal to receive the Federation Delegation. Not quite a poison pill, but an issue none the less. The amendment stated that a representative from the Consortium be present for their first meeting. The Bill would pass 12-0 with the New Radicals and most of the ProgAgs abstaining.

The ProgAgs disliked the Ferengi more than most due to the lack of respect or assistance they have been provided with. The agricultural belt of the planet wasn’t just known for its food production, they were also master pharmacists and biologists, as well as being home to a large minority who followed ‘the Path’, a semi religious traditionalist movement that focused on hard work and a connection with the soil itself. This was something the Ferengi had shown open loathing for on more than one occasion and often in a very publicized fashion.

((The Next Day))

In a move of political astuteness the A-1 of 874 waited until 0759h the next morning and introduced a bill. It was a simple Bill and it  proposed a second meeting with Federation representatives a day after the first meeting. It specifically mentioned disallowing any Ferengi from attending THAT meeting. After 2 tense morning meetings with one of the independents and the ProgAg rep who had voted with the Loyalists the day before, the vote for his bill passed 11-10.

In the end it was decided that the A-1s of colonies 17, 506, and 874 would represent Formica at both meetings and then report back to the entire Planetary Council, as they had during their original meetinf with the Ferengi 5 years before.

At the end of that day’s session as he was scurrying away from the central platform towards one of the stairwells leading up to the main concourse, his diplomat following close behind said “Well played boss.”

“Fuck those race traitors, we’ll be leaving this planet soon enough my friend. Nothing’s gonna stop that now.” The A-1 glare over as several of the loyalist reps scurried over to their obviously disfruntled Ferengi handlers who were always seated in the observers gallery of the chamber.

((USS Irrawaddy, Cockpit))

A few minutes after launching from the Blythe the Slivin formed up her wing. Kerak choosing to remain uncloaked to dissuade any of the Ferengi shuttles from making a run a at her.

Formica was a large moon roughly half the mass of Earth that orbited one of the outer gas giants. Duwalla 4, its parents planet orbited its sun at a range of 18 AUs, and the surveys showed that the vaguely resembled the planet Saturn in the Sol system, thought it was roughly 25 the mass and was on the cusp of what could be considered a Brown Dwarf star, though due to the low amount of helium being fused its core it was still technically classified as a gas giant. The trip there would take about 5 hours at full impulse.

“Happy to get out of the ship for a bit Mr. Singh?” Wong asked. He had chosen the young Lt.JG as his co-pilot because the man had proved himself enough that his department head, Ingram had reccomended him for the job.

“Oh yes sir. Not that I dislike my duties as tactical watchstander, but as a non alpha shifter, even when we do find some action I’m usually stuck in a duty office waiting for someone to go to the bathroom so I can get some console time on the bridge or Im in charge of Anti-Boarding Party Team.”

“I’m not about to complain about not requiring those anti boarding party services, but I get where you’re coming from Lt. Less then 4 years ago I was bouncing between fighter pilot and tactical billets like you. Keep an eye out for you chances to prove yourself, but don’t try to hard though. I’d prefer to see an officer keep his head down and do his job then a showoff.” The XO had gotten the lowdown on Singh from Ingram and he’d have a few days to see if he was the right man for the new bridge officer role that he and Tyler had been considering.

The idea for the Head of Communications had come about since the ship had been paired with other vessels and for the majority of the past month and would be for for the forseeable future. Given the mission they had just started here and the shere volume of comms the shop was sending a recieving daily, on Ingrams urging Wong and Tyler had been discussing seperating responsibility for communications away from the Tactical ans HCO station on the bridge.

“Always sir…I’m detecting 4 vessels launching from the surface of Formica sir.” Singh was interrupted by the warning signal on his console.

Wong accessed the sensor feed from his console and after watching for a few minutes he commented “it looks like more of those big boxy Formican ships, taking up a position in orbit near that old D’Kora hulk the ferengi are using as a space station.”

It was more Formican ships, specifically 4 more produced by the shipyards of Colony 874.

Just then the Klingons hailed as they had just seen the Formicans launch as well.

“We see it too Captain.” Wong said as he opened the channel.

“Perhaps these ants intend to out uo a fight after all Commander Bwahah.” Kerak said half in jest.  The ship’s the Formicans launched, all looked the same, and had about the same internal volume as the Blythe, but in the form of a simple cube with some engines slapped on the side of them.

“Perhaps, but I doubt it. Its kike just trade ships going to dock at the station, likes like theybare headed there. It may even be the welcoming party for us. As we get closer though well get a better read on their tactical capabilities.”

“Prudent plan as I’ve come to expect. With your permission I would like to have my second officer beam aboard and represent my crew in your talks with the Formicans.” Kerak said.

Wong, looked over to Lt. Tutti, Commander Aruins deputy attache, who would be serving as his advisor on this away mission. Tutti shrugged in indiference.

“We’d be happy to have them along Captain, signal us when the they’re ready to beam over.” Wong nodded and closed the channel.

“Klingons joining a diplomatic mission hmmm, for the times thyere are a changing, I spoke.” Tutti added as he sung the line from the old 20th century folk song.