((The Council Colosseum, Formica))

The base of the massive hollowed out sandstone spire was filled far beyond its designed capacity. As a testament to the engineering and construction capabilities of the Formicans, the site of the Planetary governing Council had nearly 4000 people clamouring about the stadium style structure that was designed to hold about 1800.

It was to be a momentous day for their entire species, as it was the day that the A-1 of Colony 874 laid out his plan for the colonization of other worlds. Within the next few weeks the last of the 50 planned colony ships would be complete.

Most Formicans were of the opinion that he would lay out a plan to take his and his allies’ colonies and begin searching the surrounding systems that had similar solar types and favorable conditions for a new home.

But aside from the 3 Grand Council members who had received the diplomat communiques from the Federation newcomers, no one else was aware that a perfect target world had already been identified.

As an audible beep was heard throughout the chamber signaling the beginning of a session, the crowd all quieted down. Everyone in the galleries who wasn’t used to the official proceeding took an extra few seconds to end their conversations and still themselves. For a brief few seconds before A-1/874 began his speeches, the room was eerily silent, all the Formicans in attendance stared as the central dais in the middle of the room. There was no podium, desk or chairs. It was just a 10 foot wide circular elevated step in the middle of the stadium.

“My fellow Formicans, the day has arrived for us to prepare to venture forth, to the stars. 50 ships capable of carrying 750 Formicans each have been prepared for a journey. We have a target moon, in a neighboring system that appears to be capable of supported our species, indefinitely. Furthermore, this world in question also has several large deposits of dilithium as well as being rich in iron and duranium. My plan is to form a new colony there, and immediately begin building a vast array of shipyards. The trip to the new world will take only 2 months, round trip. This means that every 60 days we can transport nearly 38000 Formicans to this new world.” He paused and circled around slightly on his 6 legs, and faced an area of the stadium where many of his alliance’s historical rival colonies representatives sat.

“I plan to offer to take volunteers from any colony that wishes to join us on a new world. I will offer 10 of the colony ships to any members of any Clan who wishes to begin a new life among the stars. On our new home, we will form a single colony, until we reach a population level of 2 million, which we all know serves as standard limit on populations where inefficiencies and societal divergence become a major concern. As the new shipyards come online we will begin a search from other suitable worlds in the surrounding region of space. We will also open formal trade relations with Federation newcomers, regardless of any decisions made here on Formica, as is our right as a sovereign colony…as is all of your rights, as sovereign colonies.” he circled and stared at the thousand gazing upon him.

The A-1 had just made a power play that would have massive repercussions for his entire species. Though they had been a part of world government for the last half a century. The law that decreed the sovereignty of each Colony of Formicans was never repealed. And though many of the older, established colonies favoured dealing with the Ferengi because of the technological benefits and the clout they provided, the A-1 of Colony 874 has just kindly reminded all of those present, that they could choose to open relations with other newcomers whenever they wanted.