Trillium Coup — Caldonia Withdraws; Devinoni Claims the Prize
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Bhavani officially opens the negotiation session, calling attention to a request from the Caldonian delegation.
Leyor announces the Caldonians' abrupt withdrawal from the negotiations, stunning the assembly.
Riker attempts to salvage the situation by proposing a trade agreement for Trillium 323, only to be blindsided by Leyor's prior commitment to the Chrysalians.
Riker confronts Devinoni with thinly veiled suspicion about his premature acquisition of Caldonian resources.
Devinoni counters with diplomatic finesse, securing Trillium 323 for the Chrysalians and implicitly challenging Federation dominance.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Calm and disciplined; outwardly unflappable though privately assessing the political consequences for her people.
Bhavani convenes the session, calls for explanation, and maintains formal control of the room; she listens, prompts Leyor, and bears witness to the diplomatic reversal with composed authority.
- • Ensure the meeting follows diplomatic procedure and obtain a clear reason for Caldonia's withdrawal
- • Protect Barzan's negotiating position by understanding who now controls Trillium 323
- • Official procedure and clarity are necessary to legitimate any transfer of sovereign assets
- • Barzan's long-term interests depend on neutral, enforceable guardianship rather than opportunistic transfers
Resigned and pragmatic; speaks with sober finality, masking any relief or regret with diplomatic language.
Leyor stands, formally announces Caldonia's withdrawal, gives an excuse about maintenance burdens, then states that Trillium 323 is already promised to the Chrysalians and leaves the room, ending Caldonia's participation.
- • Remove Caldonia from proceedings in a way that avoids confrontation
- • Ensure Caldonia's sovereign decision (and promised transfer) is recorded publicly and irreversibly
- • Caldonia cannot responsibly assume the administrative burden involved with the wormhole
- • Public, formal announcement is necessary to protect Caldonian sovereignty and honor prior agreements
Surprised then frustrated; masking alarm with fast, practical negotiation maneuvering as he seeks to salvage Federation leverage.
Riker reacts quickly: his eyes narrow, he proposes a tactical trade offer to incorporate Caldonia's Trillium 323 into the Federation bid, and exchanges a searching look with Devinoni when the transfer is confirmed and accepted by the Chrysalians.
- • Recover Caldonia's vote and Trillium 323 for the Federation to preserve bargaining power
- • Expose or discredit any back-channel manipulation that undermines the negotiating process
- • The Federation must protect procedural integrity and maintain collective leverage
- • A direct offer and transparency can reverse opportunistic diplomatic moves
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The meeting table anchors the session physically and ritually; delegates sit around it, lean on its rim, and use it as the stage for proclamations and exchanges—Leyor stands beside it to announce withdrawal and Riker addresses the assembly across it.
Trillium 323 functions as the contested bargaining chip whose public transfer decides which bidder gains decisive advantage; its promised conveyance to the Chrysalians is verbally declared and thereby removes it from Federation negotiations.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Devinoni's manipulation of Leyor leads to the Caldonians' withdrawal from negotiations."
Part of Larger Arcs
Key Dialogue
"LEYOR: Madame Bhavani, Caldonia withdraws from these proceedings."
"LEYOR: It has been made very clear that the maintenance and administrative requirements are beyond our ability..."
"RIKER: Mister Ral, you either had very good instincts -- or foreknowledge of the Caldonian withdrawal."
"DEVINONI: ((to Bhavani)) Some people just don't wish to transact business with the Federation, Commander. The Chrysalians hereby add the Caldonian Trillium 323 to its bid, Premier..."