Instead of talking over a comms channel, Azras thought best that they meet in the conference room of the Saratoga. They had made sure that there were plenty of refreshments available to their guests. Once everyone had arrived and taken their seats she began the meeting.

“I am sure you know what’s been going on within the Paulson Nebula and that Starfleet has declared it a state of emergency,” Azras began looking at the parties that were sitting in her observation lounge. 

“To get straight to the point we need to evacuate the planet as an ion storm is due to hit here within a matter of hours,” she finished looking at them. Jeesa was at the meeting to be able to present the current facts of the situation at hand.

“We are not leaving,” replied an older Caitian man named S’Res who seemed to be their planet’s version of a governor. The others attendees nodded in agreement which bewildered both Azras and Jeesa.

“Sir, with all due respect you are going to be condemning everyone to death if you don’t!” Jeesa said with shock and confusion in her voice.

“How do you know that it will hit us and not just pass?” S’Res asked her.

Jeesa began to tap a few buttons on the controls padd in front of her on the table, she pulled up all the data they had on the storm. “As you can see here that it is coming straight here.” She replied while pointing to the map that showed the trajectory of the storm. “We have about eight hours give or take before the storm will hit,” she added before being cut off.

“That doesn’t mean anything,” S’Res replied.

“It certainly does mean something, once the storm hits particles from the nebula will mix with the atmosphere turning it toxic, you will all die within days if not hours.” Jeesa began taking a breath before she continued. 

“I don’t want to sound insensitive or anything but if you stay that will be a very slow and very painful death which can be avoided by evacuating the planet,” Jeesa replied pulling up the information on another such planet that this same thing happened.

“As you can see here, the same thing happened to Coronal just as these storms began, the only difference, in this case, is that no one got there in time to rescue them. Unfortunately, no one survived, we can prevent that from happening here!” she exclaimed in a pleading voice for them to change their minds.

“So you want us to leave our home, the lives that we have had over a century? Where would we even go?” Asked one of the other members of the delegation.

“To put it bluntly yes,” she replied which shocked the delegation a bit with her brut honesty. “Look, I know these are unusual times right now and we’re asking you all to leave what you have always known,” Azras replied taking a pause for a few moments before she continued.

“There is a colony world outside of the Paulson Nebula that has agreed to take on refugees temporarily.” Azras spoke up before Jeesa could, “our goal is to get you back here after all this is over.” She said looking at them then at Jeesa as well.

“If the atmosphere becomes toxic how can we return?” S’Res asked looking at them.

“Once we get the all-clear and the storms have ceased, we would return to begin the cleanup process so we can get you all back home,” Jeesa spoke as Azras was about to talk like she knew what she was going to say. 

“It will take a while but we will do all we can to get you back home,” Azras added looking at them, she understood that they were hesitant about leaving their world behind.

“What if you can’t what happens then?” S’Res asked looking at Azras and Jeesa.

“If it comes to that point we would then find you a more permanent planet to colonize,” Azras replied.

“So we would have to start all over, what supplies and buildings?” Asked another member.

“We would supply you with everything you will need, as well as assist you with the buildings. We will not abandon you, either way, we will get you either back home to Aarius VII or a new home.” Azras added as the others looked at each other for a few moments.

“Do you mind if we have a few moments alone to discuss this amongst ourselves?” S’Res asked looking at them.

“Of course, we will be right outside when you’re ready for us to return,” Azras replied as the two stood up and walked out of the conference room. The two security guards that were standing outside the door were about to head in until Azras held up her hand to stop them. They nodded and stayed where they were as Azras and Jeesa stood on the other side of the corridor.

Jeesa sighed as she looked at Azras, “do you think they will change their minds?” Jeesa asked with some concern in her voice, which she had every right to be.

“I hope so,” Azras said with a sigh hoping that they got their point across enough where they would change their minds.

“I understand that they don’t want to leave their lives behind, I do but to condemn everyone to die because of that is wrong,” Jeesa said in frustration. Jeesa could pick up a slight sense of fear of the unknown in the delegates and she understood why they were feeling that way.

“I just hope they will make the right decision,” Azras replied as they waited.

After what seemed like hours, which was only a few minutes the doors opened to reveal one of the dignitaries in the doorway. “We have finished discussing the situation, you may return,” came the response. The two nodded before walking back into the conference room taking their seats, she hoped they would see it their way.

“After much discussion and looking through all the evidence you have presented, we have decided that evacuation would be the only solution to this problem,” S’Res replied looking at the two who took a huge sigh of relief when they heard the news.

“So, what happens next?” S’Res asked as there had to be a plan in place or things were going to get chaotic.

Azras closed what was currently up on the screen tapping a few buttons she pulled up the layout of the planet below. “I have taken the liberty of getting the layout of the land as one needed to have a plan in place,” Azras began as they watched the screen change to that of the planet below.

“Alright, we have four ships in orbit, with my ship taking the majority of the evacuees due to its size. I will be sending several of my officers down to these key areas to assist with evacuations.” Azras began pointing to each of the areas both shuttle and transport areas.

“As you can see here, the red dots are the transporter sites, we will be setting up transporter enhancers at these areas,” Azras said pointing to the dots on the map, she then pointed to the blue dots on the screen. “These are where the shuttles and runabouts will land, with this one here,” she pointed to the larger dot on the screen. Being the USS Oneida an Aquarius-class escort that will be able to handle 50 people at a time,” Azras replied before taking a breath looking at them.

“I would suggest making sure that all families stick together during the evacuation, as each transporter site and shuttles areas will be going between the different ships that are currently in orbit,” Azras said before continuing. 

“I don’t want anyone to get separated if we can help it, though we’re all going to the same place I rather keep them together as much as possible during this time of crisis.” She finished speaking, she covered everything that she needed as she looked at Jeesa to see if she had anything more to add. She shook her head before Azras turned her attention back to the others.

“What would you need us to do to start the evacuation process?” S’Ress asked looking at them.

“I would like you to send out an alert to everyone to the situation at hand, sending them to the evacuation sites.” she began pausing for a moment, “Our teams will start landing the shuttles and runabouts as well as setting up transporter enhancers,” Azras replied looking at them.

“Understood, is there anything else?” S’Res asked before they all stood up, they were ready to get back down to the planet to start the process.

“No not at this time, one of my officers will escort you all back down to the transporter room,” Azras said as an officer walked into the conference room to escort them. Once the delegates had left the conference room Azras let out a huge sigh of relief, “I am glad they came around.” Azras said to Jeesa who was still sitting there at the table.

“You and me both, I don’t think I could have lived with myself if they had refused,” Jeesa replied as they sat there for a few more minutes before standing up.

“Well, let’s get this show on the road shall we?” Azras asked looking at Jeesa who just nodded in agreement, they both headed back to the bridge. Once they arrived she turned to Ritru to open a channel to the three other ships and explained the plan of action. Once she finished she ended the channel before turning to Odan.

“Open both shuttle bay doors,” Azras replied.

“Aye sir,” Odan replied tapping a few buttons as both shuttle bay doors opened. “Attention all shuttle crafts you have your coordinates, disembark from the ship immediately,” Azras replied as the shuttles began to move out of the shuttle bays heading to the planet below.

Once the shuttles had left the Saratoga she tapped her commbadge, “Dex to Oneida you are clear to for departure.” Azras replied over the comm channel to Commander T’Prel.

“Understood sir,” T’Prel replied as the Odan released the docking clamps on the Aquarius-class escort. The ship slowly started to back out of the Saratoga, once it was away from the ship they began their descent to the planet below. The other ships had also launched all shuttles as well.