Editing The Lesser Evil (section)

==Part I : The Engulfment==

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| style="background:black" align="center" colspan=3 | '''Summary''' 
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| align="left" style="font-size: 90%; background:black" colspan=3|''Because of the presence of the extremely rare mineral [[Aeghon]] on the planet, in the last year, Quezal has become a strategic location and challenged territory for both the Federation and the [[Romulan Star Empire]]. So when the explosion occured, almost destroying the entire planet, not long after the Quezalth Government decided not to join the Federation and to cease all commercial activities with them, all evidences points towards a Genocide committed by the Federation to prevent Aeghon to go in Romulan's hands. 

'The newly formed USS Soval is given the mission to lead an undercover investigation of the explosion that led to the almost annihilation of the Quezalth people. Their mission, to find out the truth about the explosion, which is believed to be a tragedy caused by lack of proper maintenance. However, what they discover is very far from that. Not only do they discovers it wasn't an accident, but a Genocide, but they also discover their own DNA trace at the site of the explosion. Starfleet believes they are now mass murderer. As they realize they have been framed (but by whom?), Starfleet security is already there to arrest them. With no way to prove their innocence, they panic and flee, with Starfleet in pursuit. But will they find a way to prove their innocence before it is too late?"" 
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[[File:Quezal.jpg|thumb|left|100px|[[Quezal]]]][[File:Quezal_underground_access.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Quezal Underground Access]] (PS: It is recommended to read the page on [[Quezalth]] before reading this). 


Arriving in orbit of the planet, the senior staff is invited to visit the installation within the Medical Station in orbit of Quezal. They experience first hand the suffering and despair of the Quezalth survivors. A once proud and very resourceful specie has become almost extinct and on the verge of total collapse.

While their CO, Captain [[Syuvik]] is in a briefing with the admiralty, the First Officer, Commander [[Steven Wade Matrix]] organize a senior staff meeting to explain what is going to be done on the surface during the first few days. 

As Syuvik returns and reveal to the selected few attending the meeting, they now understand the real issue behind this mission : they are in fact here to investigate the explosion. Indeed, some Quezalth leaders among the survivors are leading groups that accuse the [[Federation]] of being behind the explosion. The accusation has already spread into the Alpha and Beta quadrant. As a result, the reputation of the [[Federation]] is in jeopardy, with several complaints or threat of leaving the [[Federation]] made by different species and huge pressure on the Federation Council to make a public and neutral investigation related to the Quezalth allegations. As the crew of the USS Soval just learned, while the Quezalth had welcomed the Federation help after the explosion, collaboration since has progressively diminished and reached a critical point where there is even the risk they are expelled, once more. The Quezalth now refuse both an independent investigation or a Federation-Quezalth joined investigation. According to [[Vice-Admiral Thinn]], a specialist of [[Romulan]] from Starfleet Intelligence in charge of the current mission on [[Quezal]], the [[Romulan]] could have returned to [[Quezal]] (after having left following the explosion that destroyed the only motive of their presence : [[Aeghon]]) and be behind the false accusation, seeing it as a great way to irremediably damage the Federation's reputation in the quadrants. Considering what is at stake, the absence of any further collaboration from the Quezalth, and not willing to risk [[Romulan]] dictating the outcome, Vice-Admiral Thinn order Syuvik and his crew to lead a secret investigation to discover what caused the explosion, and potentially the Romulan involvement in the matter. As the Federation cannot bear such atrocity, it is revealed that if the Soval crew are discovered, they will be on their own as Starfleet will deny having given them such mission, mission which only a selected few actually know, the other believing the "covert story" of being there for the relief effort as being the real reason of their presence.   


The next day, several teams (medical, engineering, security, tactical, science) are dispatched. Since most of the Quezal population were living in underground cities, the crew are sent in shuttles through underground tunnels to the capital city. In the capital, their task is to help remove all the rocks and debris that has collapsed on the underground city, as well as to help find dead or miraculous survivors. They also have to insure the integrity of the upper part of the underground city by using forcefields. Since it is anticipated the mission will last a very long time, the engineering team also has to work on the installations of temporary facilities (command, medical and security). 

On the ground, the situation is as terrible as anticipated. While a path was liberated giving underground access to the capital, the city has not only exploded, but it is also buried under rocks which had fallen from the top of the huge cavern where the city was built. [[File:Quezal_capital_postexplosion.jpg|thumb|left|200px|One of the few buildings in the capital which have survived both the explosion and the cavern collapse]]

[[File:Government_building_gate.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The (only) gate entrance to the government building area giving access to the industrial sector and the antimatter reactor that triggered the explosion]]

After several days, much progress are made. The facilities and forcefields are operational and the crew has succeeded in removing the rocks from most of the residential areas and government building area. The medical staff are working hard gathering the remains of the millions of Quezalth whose bodied are buried everywhere in the capital city. As they continue their "covert" story of helping the Quezalth, the investigation team try to reach the antimatter reactor without luck. Once the government buildings had been cleared, a group of Quezalth policemen have moved toward the only point of entrance giving access to the government building and industrial area, and are refusing to let in any Starfleet officers. The diplomats of the USS Soval try their best, but with no result... the collaboration between the Federation and the Quezalth are almost inexistent. Following this refusal, the investigation team meet in private to discuss how they are going to solve this issue.

After several ideas are proposed, the away team led by Commander [[Steven Wade Matrix]] agree to a 'Trojan Horse' subterfuge. Thanks to her very small stature, Ensign [[Jessica Signos]] is hidden within a crate filled with medical supplies and rations. As soon as she gets in and there is no one around, Jessica leave the crate and try to open the Gate. With too many guards to handle, she is forced to use diversion, blowing up a container, and stunning the last guard. While the away team finally get in, the Quezalth are now alerted of their presence. The investigation of the Warp Reactor goes well, but as the away return with the evidence, they are cornered by Quezalth soldiers and outnumbered with no way to escape. A brief crossfire start until, almost miraculously and suspiciously to beautiful to be true, the guards withdraw despite their superiority. 

Meanwhile, Captain [[Syuvik]] welcome his new chief of security, Lieutenant [[Tujav Vlaklor]] and receive a very strange visit, Dr. [[Katherine Knight]]. She reveals hard to believe information on [[Jessica Signos]] past and dangerous secret of Lily. She also informs him of the danger that awaits him...and how little he knows his crew. Realizing she knew too much not to be a threat to him and Starfleet, Syuvik tried to get our talking while security install security measure to capture her. But despite all the time spent at talking and all the security measure, [[Katherine Knight]] is gone.