Captain Allensworth, Commander Merriell, Lieutenant Commander Hoshi Zofchak and Lieutenant McKenzie stood with Captain Stork, as well as Mickind and the council of the Malkins. Not even an hour had passed since the Alexandria had entered orbit of a dark orb in space that was one of the remaining Malkin cities after the destruction of their planet.
The city erected a shell over itself and launched itself into space to avoid destruction. There were several other orbs like it as well but Mickind claimed there should have been more but some were caught in the planet's explosion and destroyed.
Captain Allensworthe was not at all pleased to hear Mickind tell him that he and his ship would not be permitted to leave now that they knew of the existence of the Malkins.
"You can't just keep us here in these cities." Merriell said.
"We are in the process of locating a a suitable, uninhabited planet that will fit our needs. You will be able to live there as well."
Captain Stork rolled his eyes. I don't understand how you can't just let us go. You saw what happened when you kept my crew prisoner. Whose to say that a few from Captain Allensworth's crew wouldn't do the same?"
"We would not give them the chance." Demo said.
"So you will keep us as prisoner?" Allensworth said.
"More like guests." Demo said. "Or we can displace you on the far side of the galaxy."
"History just repeats itself unless you learn from it." Merriell said.
Mickind gave the Alexandria's first officer a curious look. "Is that a term used by humans?" He asked.
Merriell nodded. "Yes. It is clear that you have not learned from your past mistakes so you want to make whole new ones. Displacing us is not the answer."
"We need to keep the integrity of the Malkins as well as the existence of our race a secret." Demo said.
"While I understand and respect your ideals. They won't be upheld unless you let us go." Allensworth said. "You have to look at this from the bigger picture. Look what happened when you kept the crew of the Thunderchild here. Not only was your society thrown into chaos, but another starship came looking for them. Now suddenly, two ships and their crews are gone and you think you've solved the problem but you haven't. You've just made it worse. More starships are going to come looking and then what? Are you going to keep them here too?"
"If it gets too out of hand, we'll have to displace you." Demo said.
"Then you're gonna have to displace the whole Federation because the disappearance of one ship will cause others to look for it and then you displace the whole Federation which will cause factions to wonder what happened to the Federation. Even our enemies will wonder and then investigate the disappearance and then you've got a bigger problem. A group of people who will take your technology by force. You jeopardize everything you hold dear by keeping us here."
"We'll have to displace them too." Demo replied.
Allensworth sighed. He felt as if he was getting no where with the council leader. "Then what? Are you going to displace the entire galaxy? Just to keep your little secret? The best way to keep a secret is to sometimes tell others."
Demo didn't reply. He looked away as if something else had caught his attention but in reality he was pondering the captain's statement. The dark skinned human had made a valid point. If others came, they'd have to displace them and then it would lead to the Malkins displacing everyone but themselves. If the Malkins were to keep what they had then they would have to trust this Federation and its members with their existence and their privacy which both Allensworth and Stork claimed would happen.
Demo finally returned his gaze back to Captain Allensworth. "Captain, I understand what you speak. I will allow you and your people to return to your ship on the notion that we will remain in secret."
"I will advise Starfleet Command to initiate General Order Seven on your people, which forbids any contact with you or approach by any starship to your world." Allensworth said.
"Has there been any world that has such an order placed on it?" Mickind asked.
Allensworth nodded. "Yes there is. Another world visited by Starfleet was deemed too dangerous to be visited and this order was placed upon it. The breaking of this order is punishable by death."
Demo nodded. "It is agreed. Your people are not to return here."
"Agreed." Allensworth said.
"I'll inform my crew to prepare for departure." Stork said.
Allensworth nodded. He then looked to his away team who straightened their posture as they knew the next course of action. The captain tapped his combadge. "Allensworth to Alexandria."
"Alexandria here, sir." Ra'chel Johnson's voice replied through the combadge.
"Prepare the transporter rooms to begin beaming up the survivors of the Thunderchild."
"Aye, sir." Johnson said. "Are you ready for beam out, sir?"
"Yes, we are. Have the transporter room lock on to us and energize when ready."
"Aye, sir. Alexandria out."
Allensworth and his away team dematerialized in a display of light and an almost melody of sounds.