ASUS Zendrive Not Recognized on USB - C; Shows Through a Dock

Using MacOS Somona on a MacBook Air M2.

I have an ASUS Zendrive (Model V1M) USB-C external optical drive.

It does not show up when connected directly to the Thunderbolt port.

It is reported as a USB device in system settings, however.

It does not show in disk utility.

The power light illuminates and it will spin a disk, but doesn't show anywhere.

Same on either of the Thunderbolt ports.

Works like a charm on my Windows 11 PC.

The odd thing is that it will behave normally when connected through any unpowered USB-C dock. I can connect it using the USB-C data passthrough port, or I can use a USB-C to USB-A adapter, connect to the dock and it will also show. These docks have no external power. The drive functions as it should through the dock.

I tried a new user account in case I had some setting off with the same results.

I purchased this particular drive for an easy, direct connection. Any ideas?