To their pleasant surprise, work had started to terraform Vega VIII three years after the initial terraforming of Vega IX. Due to instabilities in the initial devices, the terraforming process was halted. Thirty of the planned fifty stations had been built. Once all stations on Vega IX were operational, the corps of engineers planned to complete and restart Vega VIII, which would become habitable within three years.
Portable shield generators had already been transported down to Vega IX and activated over the site of the original colony. Unfortunately, due to humidity and ground saturation levels, it would still be at least two days before any building foundations could be laid. According to the information archives the Enterprise had processed, the initial contruction began under a massive series of tarps with plastic sheets on the ground. Still, that didn't prevent the Federation machine from continuing. Several ships, mainly transports, had been converted into makeshift construction facilities. The survivors, who had nicknamed themselves the 'remnant', were now busilly creating rugs, curtains, furniture, walls, doors, ceilings and windows for various types of residential and commercial structures... and all this within twenty-four hours of disaster. For the most part, people had little to no time to grieve.
The USS Challenger had arrived, making the compliment of Pathfinder-class starships totalling ten. The USS Frontier was the only known Pathfinder left. It was still thirty-nine minutes away. Since the immediate viscinity of the vegan sun had been designated clear of potential threats, other starships from the five other refuge points had begun streaming in. They had also received word that the New Federation may attempt to take away their vessels and figured a centralized location would be beneficial... for whatever happened next.
"Enterprise, Enterprise!" a delighted voice screamed across the communications channel. Enterprise immediately recognized it as belonging to Director Eladra Khent.
"Enterprise here, Director Khent. What can I do for you?" it responded quickly.
"I have great news, Enterprise!" She announced gleefully. "I need you to get Admiral Greer and Ambassador V'Driss here immediately. Oh, vi me into your bridge. I don't have time to come up with a clever place to meet."
"Understood, Director," Enterprise replied. Within moments, the image of a tall, thin denobulan woman appeared on the sparsely decorated bridge layout. Her long hair was pulled back into a long braid. Her clothing was quite unusually informal... in earth terms it would have been described as a jumpsuit. Despite her normally aristocratic disposition, she seemed almost giddy. Enterprise quickly contacted the USS Archimedes and the USS T'Pau. Within seconds, they were both present within the virtual reality of the Enterprise's bridge. Admiral Greer was in his usual uniform, but V'Driss was, apparently, not expecting a meeting. She was dressed simply in a robe.
"Alright, what's all the..." Greer began. Then, he saw the form of the barely dressed vulcan ambassador. "I had no idea this was a REALLY informal meeting," he offered with a smile.
She stared at him coldly, clearly unimpressed, before turning to the interim president of their soon-to-be splinter faction Federation. "Enterprise mentioned you wished to see us urgently. Please forgive my attire. I was showering."
Eladra was practically jumping in place. "I have a diplomatic solution to our problem with K-oth'rek!"
Greer sat himself down in the captain's seat, causing a moment of discomfort for Enterprise. Aside from two overzealous engineers while Enterprise was being built, only Captain Blackburn had ever sat in that chair. "I'm all ears," Greer said eagerly. V'Driss took the opportunity to sit down in the science station seat.
"Okay," Eladra began, "first I need to know who's in charge of the Vega colony."
"Right now... nobody is," Greer replied.
"Well, someone has to be," she retorted flatly. "Do we have someone from either the Earth United Nations or at least an earther Federation councilman still alive?"
Greer nodded. "Yeah, a couple. Why are you asking these questions?" Greer clearly seemed confused. "I thought we were the remnant of the Federation."
"Well, we are... in a matter of speaking," Eladra offered. She began pacing. "But, K-oth'rek was right. According to the Federation Articles, only planetary social systems can be members. Without a planet, most of us non-earthers don't have a voice. BUT..." she exclaimed as she spun on her heel, "there is one MAJOR difference. Because Vega still exists, Earth still exists!"
"How do you figure?" Greer asked cautiously.
"You have to do some reading. Chapter two, article three of the Articles say Earth's planetary social system was a founding member of the Federation. Chapter five, article twenty-three says that Earth is not only a member, but a permanent member of the Council. So, as long as Earth exists, it's a member. Appendix four of the Articles defines a planetary social system as 'A planet-based form of self-determination identified as a pattern of relationships and governance that is shared by a clear majority of beings on the planet. Such systems are identified not only by their parent planet, but by satellites, colonies, off-world territories, or other organized collections of beings sharing the same pattern of relationships and governance as the parent planet.'" She smiled broadly.
Greer was still quite obviously confused as he scratched his head. "I hated this stuff in school. What does that mean?"
"It means that when Earth was incorporated into the Federation, all its colonies were, too. Vega was listed on the initial charter as an Earth colony. It may have been abandoned, but it was never removed from the charter! Unfortunately, humans were among a very small percentage of races who colonized worlds beyond their home system, so it looks like Earth is the only founding member to survive. Anyway, as long as Vega exists, Earth exists. As long as Earth exists..."
"K-oth'rek isn't in control!" Greer exclaimed. "That's all I need to know." He stood up.
"Wait, wait... not so fast," Eladra began offering out her hands, "Earth's remaining government needs to set up leadership on Vega. Then, they need to appoint representatives to the Federation. As the only apparent survivors of the founding members, he or she will, obviously, swing a lot of weight... but you'll have to share power now. At least you'll get to keep your job in Starfleet," she added.
V'Driss nodded. "Logical... perfectly logical. Well done, Director Khent."
"Yes, well... I'm afraid I'm just Eladra now. I still don't have a voice."
V'Driss raised an eyebrow. "That's not necessarily true. If what you're saying is correct and Earth is still part of the Federation, you could request the Earth government make you a citizen. If they accepted your request, you'd become an earther. There is no law that states an earther must be a human. In fact, throughout Earth's history, many non-humans sought asylum and citizenship on Earth. Where most worlds were very hesitant to accept other races and cultures into their own, Earth was known throughout the galaxy as being unusually open and accepting."
Eladra's expression became quite serious. "We need to find whoever is left from Earth's government and formally announce them as leaders of Vega."
"Right." Greer spun around to face forward. "Enterprise, do you have the personnel listing for the Remnant?"
"Yes, Admiral, I do." Enterprise was actually quite happy to know this just might end without confrontation or desertion.
"How many Earth civilian government people do we have?" Greer started tapping his feet impatiently.
"Sixty three, Admiral."
"Dang... that's not bad." Greer looked up. "Find the top-most three and get them on the horn. Vi them into the bridge. We need to talk."