The Continuing Story of Deep Space 2: Page 87
SETTING: Admiral Arthur gave all of the Starchild crewmembers the
time to read the document. Although it had not been a custom to show
strangers any Starfleet logs, this was a unique occasion as the
Starchild had come through some kind of rift. There had to be a
connection between DS2 and that ship. It could not have been a
coincidence the Starchild appeared here at this time at this
location. Arthur knew that Deep Space 2 had had some serious time
shifts in the past. He had experienced several himself, just like
Lieutenant Commander Kosovri before him. That was why Kosovri was so
happy she could leave this station. But Arthur had not told
everything about this station yet... Maybe he would do that later if
it was necessary. Maybe this Starchild crew would think he was not
really smart or capable to run a space station, but it was the only
way... for now... And as Fleet Admiral Frances Miriam Straker of the "Colonial Terran Commonwealth of Interplanetary Matriarchate Worlds" read the personal log entries left behind by Cmdr. Kosovri of the "United Federation of Planets", she couldn't help but smile at the use of such primative, archaic terms as "lady" and "history" instead
of "Gentlewoman" and "herstory"... Yet, even while she found the idea of a still Patriarchate Earth possessing a similar technology as Matriarchate Earth back "home", FADM. Frances Straker had still no problem in accepting the concept of a "laddie" Admiral serving in this alternate reality's version of her own "Starfleet" back home -- the "Commonwealth Star Command" -- male military officers existing back on her people's Earth up until the end of W.W.III, and Patriarchate society in the year 2038 A.D. ... Nor did she think badly of Admiral Arthur for not knowing all she felt he should about this base he found himself now in command of, suspicious more of this "Starfleet" which he served in -- wondering if, in true patriarchal fashion reminiscent of her own world's patriarchal past, this "Starfleet" of Admiral Arthur's placed him and his crew in harm's way without even telling him all he needed to know about this DS-2 of his... In short, FADM. Straker couldn't help but wonder if Admiral Arthur and his crew weren't sold "down-the-river" by their "superiors" in charge back on their Earth; given a possibly life-threatening asignment without telling them the full-story about the potential danger involved... And, if this was so, then why??? Why was this "Starfleet" willing to play such a game of "cosmic craps" with the lives of over 11,000 people... the mention of Vulcans in this reality also catching her off-guard. At that Frances couldn't help, but wonder what was running through Karn's mind as well reading of a Vulcan Admiral "serving" in this "Starfleet" -- already trusting as she did Karn's instincts as both a fighter and survivor -- able to tell already from what she'd seen of him that Karn was more than just
some kind of "smuggler" back in his own reality... Were the Vulcans in control of this "Untited Federation Of Planets", controling as well this "Starfleet" of theirs that an obvious Human like Admiral Arthur also served in. After observing the cold-blooded, callous, attitude the Vulcan Empire demonstrated towards "inferior life-forms" back in the previous alternate reality they left just before arriving here... willing to exterminate an entire species just to prove their superiority as the supreme life-form in their universe... she could imagine them able to display a similar attitude twoards Human life in this universe as well... Could it be that this "United Federation of Planets" was nothing, but a vassal state under the control of some victorius "Vulcan Empire" here in this reality... the freedom-loving Klingons, Bajorans, Cardassians, and Romulans of the "Galactic Star Alliance" unable to save Earth from Vulcan domination in this reality like they proved able to in the last... So, leaning over to Karn, Frances whispered in his ear a low warning only he could hear -- sensing somehow that Karn came from a reality
ruled by a tyrant civilization not unlike the Vulcan Empire they
recently tangled with together, knowing how to survive in such
hostile surroundings first-hand...
FRANCES (to Karn): "Got a bad feeling about all this so stay alert.
We might just have to fight our way out of here should I give the
order".
Karn wasn't sure what this alternity would hold, and Karn could feel
that the Admiral felt the same. Vulcans, strange and quarentined
lower decks, armies of droids strange time jumps. He could remember several insane droids and derelict cargo holds... Frances leaned over and wispered him to be on standby. Karn stayed silent. Discreetly he primed both his thunderbirds in his loose hanging
utililty belts. The hold out blaster under his jacket was always hot and the combat knife in his booth was always loose...
And glad that she could rely on Karn to cover her back, Frances was
also glad she'd -- like Karn -- chose to wear over to DS-2 both
the "Buntline Surprises" Maccs duplicated for her in the last
alternity they just left... True the "blasters" (as Karn would no doubt call them) looked rather anachronistic against her green & gold casual dress uniform from back home -- designed as her weapons were to look like "old-style shootin' irons" straight out of the "Ancient West" -- but Frances still felt a certain sense of comfort at the weight of each resting against each her outer-thighs... Heaven only knew what Admiral Arthur and his people thought just looking at them, no doubt wondering why she'd be wearing such out-dated weapons (each secure in its own light tan leather hip-holster just as rustic-looking as her sidearms themselves), but maybe it was best these people didn't know what her otherwise primitive-looking "shootin' irons" were really capable of until too late... Especially if Frances Straker's growing suspicions were, in the end, valid -- still waiting for Maccs, or even Sarah to give her some sort of hint as to whether, or not something was indeed amiss here (sure Ernie, if he could "read" anything untowards in the minds of their "hosts", would "tell" Sarah so)... But, for now, Frances had no more than her basic instincts to go by - - having learned to trust them more often than not during her long and illustrious (*sardonic grin*) police & military career -- Maccs' next words offering her even less reason for hope the moment she heard them leave his ("Avaat's") mouth...
MACCS (to Frances and the rest of his crew, sounding concerned...
worried... thoughtful... frowning): "Just finished downloading all
the information banks aboard DS-2 -- their somewhat less-advanced
computer technology taking me a while to do so -- and I think we
might be in even more trouble than I originally thought just going
over their public records...
As Frances and Karn both prepared themselves, mentally and
physically, for any possible contingency -- both growing more
apprehensive as time slowly passed for each -- Maccs Avaat finished
his download and complete exam of the DS-2 computer files Admiral
Arthur generously allowed him access to... his prognosis not hopeful
by any stretch of the imagination:
"I'm afraid we might be in even more trouble than I originally
anticipated", Maccs Avaat confided out loud, turning his attention
next to Admiral Arthur in particular:
"Pray tell, Admiral Arthur, how many times do you know of in which
your people have traveled back-and-forth in time; not to mention the
number of times you know of in which interdimensional travel has
been reported".
And as Maccs Avaat (et-al) waited on Admiral Arthur's answer, the
Celestial meanwhile managed to backtrack the original site of the
disaster-to-come resulting in the future echo both Maccs and DS-2
picked up on their combined sensors... a halfway point between a
distant, little-known M-class planet ahead and DS-2 itself. And suspicious what was indeed there, the Celestial could detect
upon her arrival there no sentient lifesigns upon its surface except
a small number of Humans, Vulcans, and Andorians sent there by the
Federation to investigate a seies of ancient ruins left there by
persons unknown long time ago... And not able to tell much else, the Celestial did notice a source of
energy down there in the same exact vicinity as the small Federation
research team... a power source bearing the same general energy
signature detected (among others) in the aforementioned "Future
Echo".
"I think I found the origin point of that coming disaster yet to
occur", she mused to her other half... both of her halves positive
they'd found the origin point of whatever it was soon responsible
for the coming calamity yet-to-be... picking up as well an incoming
message meant for the Federation citizens on the planet below:
"This is Captain Raz Kalee of the Federation starship, U.S.S. Alice
Cooper-B, sent to check in on the progress of your mission to
planet 'HD-02-3065-4729. We plan to arrive at your co-ordinates in
two stellar days; traveling speed, warp 8.3".
Aboard Deep Space 2 Central Operations. Lieutenant Commander Loogen reports to Colonel Jan Theys.
"Colonel, There is a message coming in from the U.S.S. Alice Cooper-B sir."
"Let's hear it."
"This is Captain Raz Kalee of the Federation starship, U.S.S. Alice
Cooper-B, sent to check in on the progress of your mission to
planet 'HD-02-3065-4729. We plan to arrive at your co-ordinates in
two stellar days; traveling speed, warp 8.3".
"OK Mister Loogen acknowledge that message and give our
regards to Captain Kalee."
"Done sir."
Maccs Avaat and the other Starchild away team members where
still waiting for an answer from Admiral Arthur who still seemed
to hesitate to tell the visitors everything.
"It is not that simple," Arthur started. "Please follow me."
Arthur stepped outside and lead the group to sickbay. Upon arrival
Arthur gave the command.
"Computer activate Emergency Medical Hologram."
Before their eyes a holographic image came to life. It was an
older male with little hair.
"Please state the nature of the medical emergency... Oh it is you
again. and who are those visitors. is this station invaded by aliens
again ? please bring all wounded to sickbay..."
"No doc. It's nothing like that. And please stay polite to our visitors will you. We are here for you to tell more about the latest timeshifts we had on this station. These people will need the information as the faith of the galaxy can depend on it... and the faith of their galaxy as well."
And so the holographic doctor started to tell...
"When this station was abandoned by the last crew, some people from the future came here, stopped time itself and made modifications to this station. It happened a few times when the new crew with CO Admiral Arthur was already aboard fro a few months... but one of those times I was still active and as nobody shut my program off, I could see these people from the future making modifications. To my surprise I saw Admiral Arthur imself, involved in these operations, exept he looked much older. I could only come to the conclusion that this was an Admiral Arthur from the future, changing history. I could not understand why he would do such a thing."
And Admiral Arthur himself continued.
"I met my future self as well. He told me these modifications were necessary. I could not believe that, but when my future self explained that his starship was the the last starship of the Federation and that there was nothing left of what we call the Federation, I still had doubts. But then the Giloppen came. An invasion from aliens called the Giloppen. There were hundreds of them, coming in ships like a plague of insects. If we had not had those future modifications to this station and some of our ships, we would not be standing talking to you about it. We stopped the Giloppen invasion, but the time ware between the Giloppen and our future selves is still going on. At least that is what I think of it. All the droids you have seen on this station... in fact they are in control of this station. They are very advanced and very recently they even have build a complete starship, which we named USS Strike. That ship is very advanced and we don't really know how to operate it, but we can control it by giving the droids commands and they execute these commands. We are not sure what exactly this ship can do, but we suspect it was build by the droids following the plans of our future selves, interfering in the time line again. Although at first I was convinced that we could not control such a huge amount of droids, up to now they have obeyed every single command we have given them. We have no choice than to trust them. In fact in the years we have been getting used to their presence. This station is so far away from our head quarters, that nobody at Federation head quarters knows what is going on here and I think nobody up there really cares, as long as we stop a possible invasion of alien forces..."
But it was unknown to Admiral Arthur whether all of this technology would be able to stop a threat from within...