Why the Federation Must Fall
Durian Sol sat down in the captain's chair on the bridge and tapped the communications panel, "Assemble the senior staff in the conference room, deck one." Sol leaned back in his chair and turned his face toward the operations station on his left. "Commander Suran, is there someone available to take your station?"
"Aye sir, one of the chiefs is on his way up," the Hekaran went back to tapping at the panel before turning around to the wall console behind him.
"Good, I'll be in the conference room." Sol pushed himself up from the chair, squeezing the leather of the armrests. He hopped the three steps to the upper level and slipped between the doors to the conference room. He sat down in the chair at the head of the table. He picked up his padd and started to skim it again. He was rereading the orders from the admiralty.
The doors hissed open and two officers walked in; two women, one human and one Bajoran wearing operations-yellow. "Good morning, sir," said the Bajoran.
"Good morning, Lieutenant Paro." Sol nodded to each, "Lieutenant Black." Sol resumed reading over the briefing, quietly.
"Larren, seriously, you've never been to Earth?" Lt. Black asked as she sat across the table from Paro.
"No, I haven't."
"How did you get through the Academy?"
"I didn't."
Sol looked up to watch the exchange. Lt. Black still didn't appear to believe Paro Larren's claim about not attending the Academy. "It really is simple," he said. "She was given a field commission by Starfleet Command. Lt. Paro was a captain in the Bajoran Militia."
Lt. Black looked back and forth between Sol and Larren, "I didn't know you could do that?"
The doors slid open admitting Lieutenant Commander Suran and the ship's chief medical officer, Commander Sovank. Suran took a chair to the left of Sol, while the Vulcan took the first chair by the doors.
"Yes," Larren said. "With my commission in the Bajoran Militia and the new military alliance between Bajor and the Federation, it was an exchange program of sorts."
"Good morning, Doctor." Sol said, and nodded to Suran. "The lieutenants, here, were just discussing how Lieutenant Paro was given her commission without attending the Academy. Well, let's get this show on the road..."
"Sir," Sovank interrupted, "forgive me, but it would appear that our executive officer is not here yet."
"Ah, yes," Sol said. "Commander Alexy is bringing the final member of our staff to the bridge. They'll be along shortly. Before they arrive, I'd like to explain a bit about what his role will be. The war has been over for several years, and ship development and exploration has been the driving factor of the Federation for the past several years.
"The Romulan Empire and the Klingons have finally stopped being at each other's throats. With the Romulan civil war between the old and new governments, there are dissenters on New Romulus and our early intelligence says that the new faction has begun calling themselves the Imperial State and carry the backing of a good portion of the Romulan military.
"The technology on this ship is crucial to our ability to reestablish ourselves and be on hand to protect our allies near the borders of the Klingon-Romulan empires."
The doors hissed open and the executive officer, Commander Dummas Alexy entered the conference room followed by an older man wearing a yellow dress uniform and a single rank marker. Sol stood up from the table, "Ah, Ensign Oswald, welcome aboard." Sol extended his right hand and offered to shake.
Alexy gave Sol a look of disappointment. *The ensign isn't very friendly, I suppose.*
Sol lowered his hand, "Well, Ensign, please sit down." He waved a hand toward the open seat at his right. "I was just bringing everyone up to speed on why we are going to have a MACO detachment stationed on board."
The captain returned his attention to the five officers that had been sitting at the table as Alexy took the last empty seat between Oswald and Black. "As I was saying, with the state of the beta quadrant and the activity of the Borg on the other side of the Romulan Empire. There is always the risk that they will end up in a multifront war to save themselves.
"The Federation President has issued that we will support our Romulan allies as requested, but we're to stay clear of the conflict as much as possible. Our peace with the Klingons is shaky, and we don't want to enter into a new war ourselves.
"The MACOs will be on hand to protect the ship and its secrets from non-federation hands. Let's just say, it is a reminder that we can't risk another Prometheus event."
Sol nodded to Alexy, who picked up the briefing, "Our first order of business is to take the Halsey on her maiden voyage. If we are successful, we'll bring the ship back to Earth for her unveiling. Admiral Johansson will be on board with us for the initial flight to observe the new engine. Lieutenant Black, the admiral will be taking up residence in the quantum engine room, you'll be assigned as his liaison.
"We'll be picking up a few more crew members once we arrive at Vulcan. Suran, make arrangements in the shuttle bay, we'll also be picking up two peregrine starfighters and the new Delta-class shuttle from the Eridani A Construction Yards.
"Lastly, Lieutenant Paro, you'll be assigned as the MACO liaison." Larren jerked her head to look at the XO.
Sol spoke up, "We want you to work with their officers and integrate them into the security teams. They won't stand tactical, but we will utilize their expertise and their skills as part of the security rotation."
Larren simply nodded and then glanced back at the XO then her CO. A tinge of apprehension on her face.
Sol again sat down in his chair, "Now then everyone, let's hear your reports.."
Commander Alexy reported first, "Sir, of the ship's personnel, we have the 54 of the skeleton crew we're assigned to take on the trip to Vulcan. Additionally, we have 4 Vulcan scientists, 3 Daystrom personnel, and Rear Admiral Johansson. I've issued the lock-down order for this evening at 1900 hours, all personnel assigned to depart with us in the morning will be accounted for and all base personnel will be off-ship."
"Thank you, Commander."
Black spoke second, thinking that it would be a simple matter of going around the table. "Both engineering chiefs are reporting that everything appears to be up and running accordingly. We are still coordinating with base engineers to finalize our status. It would appear that the systems are all good to go. We're planning on firing up the warp core this afternoon, and the quantum drive in the morning before the flight."
Alexy cut in, "How early are you wanting to start the quantum drive?"
"We are scheduled to launch at 0830, and we thought that we'd light off no sooner than once we're 1000 kilometers from Jupiter Station," Black said.
Alexy asked another question, "Is that going to keep us on schedule?"
"Yes sir. My estimation is that from start-up to launch ready, the system only takes about twenty minutes. If we start the fire-up process immediately at safe distance from the station, then we'll only be on site for maybe 5 minutes before we're ready to go. That is, sirs, if there _are_ problems with the process."
"Thank you, Lieutenant, anything else?" Sol asked.
"No sir."
"Very well. Doctor?" Everyone's attention moved to the Vulcan in blue.
"Sickbay is set up, we have minimal medical personnel, Captain." He was known for keeping his comments short. Sol worried about the Vulcan's bedside manner.
"Thank you, Doctor." Sol turned to Larren. "Lieutenant Paro?"
"Sirs, we have enough security personnel for two full teams. Currently, I am the only officer reported for duty and will be at Tactical for our launch in the morning. If I may ask, when are the MACOs reporting?"
Sol looked at Alexy, "Commander?"
"They're all waiting at Vulcan, I sent them a message to brief the entire unit and the wing commander on our role aboard the Halsey."
"Thank you, Colonel. Commander Suran, what's the ops report?"
The Hekaran sat forward and leaned his elbows on the table, "Sir, all systems appear to be working correctly. All sensors have passed diagnostics and the astrometric navigational system has been cleared. Commander Posan has volunteered to pilot us out in the morning, if that is acceptable."
"I'll leave that to Alexy."
Alexy said, "That's fine by me." He looked at Sol, *Sir?*
Suran continued his report, but Alexy and Sol weren't listening. *I know Commander Posan very well, he's a good friend of mine. If I give him the approval, then I risk showing favoritism.*
*Well, I just gave the approval.*
*Yes, that's fine. What did Suran just say?*
"Sir?" Suran asked.
"I... sorry, I got distracted. What was that?"
"There was a minor diagnostic discrepancy in the port aft long range sensor, a second diagnostic didn't show anything."
"Contact the base, have one of their folks come take a look at it."
"Yes sir."
"Is that everyone?" Sol looked around the table, "Okay then, you're dismissed." Sol turned to his XO and Larren, "Would you like to join the Commander and I for lunch?"
"If you wish sir," she said while pushing herself to her feet.
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A few hours later
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Dummas sat at the captain's table in the wardroom. He was absently picking at his salad when Sol came in. One of the deck crew called out `Captain on deck.' Dummas looked up, but went back to picking at his salad. Sol ordered a Cobb salad from the replicator and sat down in his special seat at the head of the table. "Commander, is everything okay?"
Dummas looked up at Sol with weary eyes, "Aye, sir. It's just been a long day." His voice was flat and quiet.
"You'd better get some good sleep tonight, Dummas. I'm counting on you to get us to Vulcan in one piece tomorrow."
Dummas let out a heavy breath, "I don't think that will be a problem, Sol. We've ran hundreds of simulations, everything should be fine. The fail-safes are all in place, I know because I spent the last 6 hours double checking each and every one of them."
"And we all appreciate that." Sol leaned forward over the table and whispered to his tablemate, "We'll be fine. We have one of the best crews available. Almost every single member of the crew has been involved in this ship's design and construction at some level in the past two years. Just relax, Dummas."
Cmd. Alexy cracked a one-sided smile, "I am relaxed, and that is why I feel so damn tired." Both men laughed together. "We're still waiting for the Admiral's assistant to arrive. She's a Bajoran woman, fresh from the academy and just recently assigned to the Admiral. I hope she hasn't gotten lost between Earth and here."
"Dummas," Sol chided him. "Come, now. You, too, were an ensign once."
Dummas pushed himself back in mock anger, "Blasphemy! I renounced such wasteful youth days and all the history that went with it." The two laughed again.
Chirp. =/\= Captain, there's a priority two message incoming. =/\=
Sol tapped his combadge, "Put it through to my ready room. I'll be there in a minute." He tapped his badge again. "If you'll excuse me, Dummas."
"No, please, I remember why I never wanted your job. At least I get to eat my dinner."
"Ha! You haven't taken a single bite since I came in."
Dummas smiled wide and shoved a huge forkful of leaves and egg white in his mouth. He nearly started choking on it while the two laughed one last time.
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Captain's Ready Room - a few minutes later
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Lt. Cmdr Eras Posan was sitting in the XO chair as the beta shift watch officer. He seemed to be humming to himself as he watched data streams course across the middle console. Sol gave him a friendly nod and stepped into his ready room.
A screen integrated onto the desktop flashed to the Federation Seal and then to the familiar face of the Dr. Leah La Forge, Director of Theoretical Propulsion from the Daystrom Research Institute. "Good evening, Dr. La Forge," Sol said as he sat down behind his desk and pushed his salad to the side.
"Good evening, Captain." Her sharp, blue eyes peered through the screen at him. "I'm calling wish your crew well on your trip."
"Thank you, Doctor. If you'll hold for a minute or two, I'll summon the staff and you can address them all at once."
"That isn't necessary, Captain Sol."
"I think it would be greatly appreciated by the crew if you'd say a few words."
She looked away from the screen for a moment, "Very well."
"Excellent," Sol said with a bit of a flourish. "One moment." Sol tapped a button, "Assemble the senior staff on the bridge." He turned back to the image on the desk, "See you on the bridge, Doctor." Sol stood up from his desk and walked out onto the bridge. Sol stopped in front of his command chair as Eras Posan stood.
Eras turned to Sol, "Sir?"
Sol lifted his hand signaling Eras to sit back down. The cat-man curled his tail around the left side of his legs and sat back down. He looked across the bridge to the ops console, "Chief, please bring Doctor La Forge on the main viewscreen."
"Aye, captain."
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Very Early Morning Hours
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At three o'clock in the morning, the ship sat silently docked alongside Jupiter Station. The sun glimmered like an over-sized star in the distance. A small dark line eclipsed the southern edges of the inner system. Dark behemoths drifting slowly around, endlessly slumbering and waiting for time to spend itself out. One system among dozens, among thousands of dozens circling the center of the bar-spiral galaxy we call "the Milky Way."
Somewhere else, a small ship was barely noticeable from anywhere outside of its own hull. A small smattering of life-signs may have been noticeable, if any other ship were in the sector and just happen to take notice and scan the ship for life-signs. Each life-sign was moving around in little box compartments, some pushed buttons, others stared at diagnostic screens, and others just shuffled around corridors and passageways going from one place to another.
There was one, however, that was still. He sat very still and brooded alone in his chair. A dull, reddish star loomed outside the ship. His viewscreen filtered out the harmful levels of light radiation and intensity. Even then, the lone being narrowed his eyes at the screen. He was troubled with his orders, he wasn't military, so why was he instructed to this task?
Another being, a female, entered the bridge. The first glanced at her, she nodded to him. She stood behind a console and began doing what so many others already were doing, she tapped controls and looked at diagnostics. The computer chirps and clicks were becoming annoying. The male returned to his brooding, a couple of fingers pressed to his temple, rubbing small circles in an attempt to push the annoying ache from his skull.
He spoke only one word to the red star, "soon."
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0630 Hours
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A Trill woman materialized in front of Sol. Her graying hair looked more silvery than usual next to the black spots adorning the sides of her face. Her long tunic shirt was a simple pinkish-gray and reached down to her knees. "Oh, sweetie, good morning." Her tired voice echoed softly in the room.
"Good morning, mother," Sol said. He reached out and pulled her into a short hug.
"Morning? What time is it there?"
"It’s around six-thirty in the morning here."
"Are you leaving soon, then?"
"Yes, ma'am. We're supposed to get underway in about two hours."
"I'm so proud of you, honey. Your father said to tell you hello, he's out in the fields right now. I really wish you two weren't still angry with each other." Her green eyes began to glisten, like an early tear trying desperately to be born.
"I'm not angry, mom. He and I just don't agree on what I should be doing out here. He doesn't believe in risking my life to develop this type of technology, or risking Sol's life either."
"Honey, you know your father. He just wants you safe, and to protect his son. We're both proud of you, not only for starfleet but also for being the first joined member of the family in four generations."
"Mom...," Sol lowered his face to the floor.
"I know, sweetie," she said as she pulled him closer. "How is Dummas?"
Sol met her eyes, "He's fine and a good XO." She gave him a credulous look. "Don't look at me like that." He playfully pushed her back. "He's fine. I'll tell him to call you later."
"You'd better." She pulled him into another, final hug. "Well, our lunch is almost ready, I'd hate for it to burn. You call me again as soon as you get to Vulcan, do you hear?"
"Yes ma'am." Sol stood at full attention.
"Computer, end transmission," as she finished her words she fizzled away leaving Sol standing alone in the holosuite.
He walked back to the door and stepped back into his routine. It was time to get his ship underway. =/\=Bridge to the Captain. Sir, we're ready to start the undocking procedures.=/\=
Sol tapped his combadge, "Very good, proceed. I'll be there in a moment." He stepped across the hall from the holo-communications office to Admiral Johansson's temporary quarters. The doors chirped and a moment later the Admiral in full dress uniform stepped through his secondary door to Sol's left. "Good morning, Admiral. We're ready to get underway and undocking procedures have already been started."
"Very good." He replied as they walked to the nearest turbolift and headed for the bridge.
The turbolift doors hissed open allowing Sol and the Admiral to enter the bridge. Dummas was standing to the right of the conn station. Eras slid his chair side to side, tapping buttons as quickly as his feline reflexes allowed.
At port-forward station, a woman sat tapping away. Her gray collar gave her away as an intelligence officer. At the ops station to his left, Sol noted the Hekaran, Suran. In between chirps and whistles, Suran called out checks as they were cleared during the undocking process.
Admiral Johansson had crossed the bridge and sat down in the bridge officer's chair. Dummas and Sol shared a look that said something like, really? Dummas turned to the engineering station at starboard-forward and started getting a report from the male engineer at the station.
Sol leaned on the edge of the tactical station, "What's our status?"
Lieutenant Paro looked up from her screen, "We've cleared all personnel on board. I have a few two-man teams sweeping around the ship. So far, everyone is accounted for."
"What's the status the undocking?"
Dummas walked up and reported, "We're right on schedule, sir. The power umbilical was disconnected last night and we've been running on our own generators for about 12 hours now. The docking clamps have been released and the walkways have been withdrawn by the base. We're ready to start maneuvering, on your command."
Sol stood back up, and tugged his tunic back down to straighten it out. "Commander, I grant you standing permission as the watch officer. If I disagree with any of your orders, I'll counteract you. Carry on."
"Aye, sir." Dummas turned back to the full bridge, "Suran, notify the base that we're ready to begin maneuvering. Let me know when we have permission to pull away."
"Aye, sir."
Dummas walked down to the front area and took the open chair next to the admiral. "Commander Posan, please plot an appropriate course to exit the base. Engage on my mark."
Suran spoke up from the Ops station, "Sir, we have clearance to depart."
"Thank you. Mr. Posan?"
"On your mark, sir."
"Very good, engage, thrusters only."
"Thrusters engaged."
The view screen's images began to drift, giving the impression of an open window. The gray walls of the interior of the base and various flashing and guidance lights moved around the screen. For anyone not used to the effect, a bit a nausea was expected according to the ship's doctor. Sol looked away from the viewscreen for that very reason.
He started to smile uncontrollably, the pride of his first command tried to burst from his chest. Sol's memories came stirring through him, he's been an executive officer twice, he's captained a space barge, and he's been a liaison to the Federation. This was different, this command was special. This was his first command as a captain of starfleet, and it was an experimental ship at that. It had some of the finest technology ever developed, all wrapped in a proven shell based on the Intrepid design.
"Sir?" Sol's eyes refocused. Suran was trying to get his attention. "Sir, Lieutenant Black is in engineering would like to speak with you."
"Ah, yes, sorry." Sol walked past the master situation display in the back of the bridge and stepped beside the Hekaran. "Bring her up." Suran tapped a button that opened the channel. "Good morning, Lieutenant. What can I assist you with?"
=/\=Sir, you informed me that the admiral was going to be down here. There's been no sign of him yet this morning.=/\=
"He's here on the bridge, would you like me to inform him that you're ready to give him the tour?"
=/\=Whenever he's ready, sir.=/\= Her speech was professional, but the look on her face said "please don't."
"Very well, Lieutenant. I expect that Admiral Johansson will be down when we're clear of the base and ready to start-up the drive. Is there anything else I can do for you?"
=/\=No, sir. We're standing by to start-up the drive once we're safely clear of the station.=/\=
"Commander Alexi has the watch, he'll give you permission. Sol, out." The screen went black. He looked at Suran, "thank you." Sol stepped down and walked around to stand over the shoulder of Johansson. He looked back at the viewscreen to see the gaping doors of the outer hull of the station opening to let the ship out into open space.
Dummas spoke up and stood up, "Commander Posan, please chart a second course, take us to the edge of the system at one quarter impulse. Mr. Suran, please notify engineering that we'll be ready to fire up the quantum drive in just a few moments." Dummas stepped up to the center of the bridge railings and placed his hands on each side of the space.
The ship slipped between the giant bay doors with enough space to actually pass two more ships above and below, and if she hugged the port side, a fourth ship could have passed next to her. After only a few moments Eras stated, "Sir, we're clear of the hull."
Dummas sighed, "Good." He stood up straight and looked over at Ops, "Let the base know we're clear and we're going to fire our impulse engines." He was met with a quiet nod from Suran. Dummas turned back to the conn and waited for the base to reply.
"Sir," Suran called out. "We're clear and approved. They are wishing us good luck and safe journey."
"Thank you, Suran. Eras, you're clear to take us out of the system."
"Aye sir. We'll be at safe distance for drive start-up in five minutes and at jump distance in 45 minutes at current speed."
"Bridge to Lieutenant Black." Dummas said.
=/\=Black here, go ahead.=/\=
"We're clear of the base, we'll be at safe distance to start up the drive shortly. How long from start-up to full readiness?"
=/\=Sir, by my estimation, we will only need 25 minutes to be completely ready.=/\=
"Thank you, Lieutenant. Bridge, out." He turned to face Sol, "Conn, once we are at safe distance for the start-up, increase speed to half-impulse." A gentle nod from his captain reassured the green XO.
"Aye, sir." If anyone was looking at Eras, you'd see him attempting a human-like smile again.
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2 am somewhere in the Delta Quadrant
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Sol sat up, covered in sweat. *Flashbacks, the doc said I’d have flashbacks* Sol had lost that ship to some raiders shortly after the first flight. The crew made it to Vulcan, and received a distress signal from the Romulan Empire. The Admiral received instructions and the Halsey was ordered to respond. As the fastest ship in any fleet, she was to engage the quantum drive and investigate.
Upon arrival, several things happened at once, most of which Sol couldn’t remember. Ships dropped out of temporal portals, borg cubes appeared and disappeared in flashes, and the entire ship began to fall apart around him. Alexy Dummas, his best friend and lover, seemed to cease to exist.
In the weeks that followed, Starfleet issued a MIA order on the Halsey and declared the entire crew dead. Reports indicated that the ship supported the Romulan fleet against a wave of Borg command vessels that had come from the Delta quadrant and wiped out almost the entire contingent.
Sol knew that’s not what happened. He knew the truth, and when Federation bureaucrats wanted to cover up the failing that was the quantum drive, they’d fabricated the story to tell the families of the crew. Sol was the lone survivor, medically incapacitated on orders from command. A family member of Larren was on a diplomatic mission from Bajor, or at least that was the cover story. This mystery bajoran was able to inject some counter-agent and released Sol from his slumber.
Sol remembers walking out of the hospital surrounded by shadows and blurred memories. He was transported onto a ship before losing consciousness again. It was a few more days and three more transports before he really regained a sense of what was going on. The flashbacks were overwhelming, and remembered screaming before being held down and put back to sleep by his saviors or captors. He never could decide.
Then after a few weeks, he was introduced to the crew. A series of briefs brought him up to speed on how the Maquis were informed of the truth about what happened, and Sol knew that he had no choice but to join them in order to expose the truth himself. He was taken out to the Delta Quadrant through a trading vessel that smuggled him through the dyson sphere network. Once there, a small crew were assembled and they captured a Kazon raider.
He’d found purpose again, and for the most part, the memories began to fade as his passion drove him forward. He named his ship, Serenity.
