<Captain Mortimer, Bridge>

"Incoming message from Slater's, Captain"

"On screen, Ensign"

On the screen stands one of the Slater's shapeshifters in their natural state.
[O.O.C. Sorry, don't know exactly what their natural state is, and didn't want to make it up in case someone else already has]

"Greetings, Federation representatives. I am Traltor, Master of the Doors of Lh'arc. By your standards, I am the closest thing to a leader on this planet. As you can see, I myself have now been struck by the plague sweeping across our planet, and my physicians tell me that I have only 24 hours to live. I fear not for my own life, but for my people. My successor has only just begun his training, and will be unable to take over from me. Without a Master, our entire race will be in terrible danger and our society will degenerate into civil war. I beg you, please come to our aid as soon as possible."

Mortimer looks at the poor creature, noticing for the first time what looks like the beginning of tissue degeneration on it's "face".
"Master Traltor, I am truly sorry to hear of this. Ensign, what will our ETA be at maximum warp?"

"Ten minutes, Captain"

"Master Traltor, we will be arriving in ten minutes. Please prepare for our away team's arrival. I promise we will do whatever we can to help."

"Thank you, Captain. You have my eternal thanks"

The viewscreen goes blank.

"Ensign, take us to maximum warp. Mortimer to Beata, looks like we're going to have to go into this without all the preparation I'd like. Away team, make any final arrangements you need and report to the transporter room in ten minutes. Mortimer out."