“Actually a litre of pure latinum at 1 atmosphere, or 14.7psi of pressure is equal to roughly 1024 bricks of gold pressed latinum.” Tyler read directly from a padd.

“Slips, strips, bars, and then bricks right? That’s how their funky denominations work right?” Mee IH asked.

“Yep.” Tyler replied.

“Pheeeeeeew! That’s enough to buy a few moons or even a small mineral rich planet.” Mee IH exclaimed.

“Indeed, and uh based on the figures that the President relayed to me, the total Dergan debt with the Ferengi, including all uh fees and interest, works out to roughly 980 bricks of latinum. So, uh as compensation for the transfer of the orbital station to the Dergans, I figure we should uh, offer this canister to the Dergans as payment for them graciously allowing us to use the park as a temporary camp and rally point after the Blythe’s hard landing. If that works for you Captain.” Tyler proposed.

“I have no objections; actually, I wonder if we shouldn’t offer the Dergans the details for those latinum deposits Culver City found on Vekrun 2’s moon?  The canister would get the debt paid, but mining those deposits and processing them could help them with getting any resources they can’t get on their own.”  K’lev shrugged.  “Just a thought, sir.”

“That’s a good idea Captain. But let’s hold that card in our pocket for now. The Dergans don’t seem to have any ambitions of doing any offworld colonization any time soon. The Formicans on the other hand might be interested in one of those Dilithium rich moons you found on your survey patrol.” Tyler proposed.

“The third moon orbiting Tisalfa 3,” K’lev said after a moment, casting his memory back to that wonderful survey opportunity before things had heated up in Duwalla.  “When we surveyed it, it had both significant dilithium deposits, and caverns that could probably be relatively easily terraformed for the Formicans to colonize.”  He took a breath.  “Not to change the subject, sir, but you said that our Consortium prisoners, and the shuttles we captured, could play a role in negotiations; may I ask what role?  The prisoners went through a bit of a rough patch,” he trailed off for a moment, visibly embarrassed, “and I’d appreciate it if their role would end with them going home.”

“And it will, we’ll uh, repatriate them and the shuttles at the outset of the conference. The Ferengi should arrive in about an hour and a half. The uh Dergan delegation will be beaming aboard shortly. It will you, Captain Kerak, Captain Priax, Ambassador Krey and I represented the Federation and the Klingon Empire by proxy.”

K’lev nodded, looking down – a bit self-consciously – at his duty uniform.  “Very good,” he said simply.

“That’ll give us some time to work on crew rotations for our new assignment I guess then won’t it Number One.” Danny said to Mee IH with a grin.

“Wait what!?” Mee IH wiggled himself into and upright position on the couch without even using his flipper repulsors and glared at Wong.

“You’re making me your XO? Not your fighter jock demi-god buddy Ingram?” The pygmy Beluga was in a state of shock.

“I was thinking of having Ingram at operations and as our Second officer. What do you think?”

“Uh pffff, fuck, uh, yeah, he’s done wonders with the tactical department, he’d be great at Ops…wait do I get to wear a red uniform now?” Mee IH said excitedly as Wong laughed and nodded in the affirmative.

“Fucken sweet! I’ll look great in red.” Mee IH replied as he pumped his flippers like they were fists.

As they carried on their discussion, Tyler went and had a seat on the edge of a Caitan ottoman near K’lev.

“The court martial for your officers will convene at 1800h just after the first diplomatic session ends. Priax, Krey, and I will be on the bench.”

K’lev nodded.

“You and your CMO will be called as witnesses, potentially others too like your Chief Tactical Officer and your XO, let them know. The JAG is already collecting statements from the accused and with your permission she will be beaming over to the Culver City shortly to get statements from the Ferengi as well. Starfleet officers abusing prisoners…” Tyler shook his head in dismay. He thought they were beyond all that nonsense.

K’lev nodded again; as Tyler was on the panel, he kept his silence, for fear of both accidentally prejudicing one of the judges and also possibly getting himself into trouble.

“By reporting this right away and acting as swiftly as you did, you should know you probably saved your ship and crew from a formal inquest. I know it couldn’t have been easy for you, I don’t even know what I would have done in your shoes, but you did the right thing son.” Tyler broke with his usually formality in that moment and reached out and patted K’lev on thigh. He spoke to the young Orion as friend, they and their crews had been through alot together the past few months going back to them being paired on the first patrol along the Tholian border.

After a moment, K’lev finally found his voice.  “I hope I’m never in that situation again,” he said in a near-whisper, “but I’ve seen what it’s like when justice gets miscarried; just couldn’t let that happen.”

“Well. I guess we should probably go and meet the Dergans and give this to ’em to they can payoff he Ferengi and hopefully buy us some civility in this system.” Tyler said as he smacked his own thigh and stood up.

“You two can have the room as long as you want.” Tyler said to Wong and Mee IH who continued their conversation about why ‘clothing optional mondays’ would not become a thing on their new ship.