Tomorrow's Promise (Part 2 of 4)

Posted on 29 Nov 2023 @ 1:06pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Commander Morgan Tarin & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Commander Marisa Wyatt & Lieutenant Aria Rice & Lieutenant JG Sofie Ullswater & Lieutenant JG Montgomery Vala

3,473 words; about a 17 minute read

Mission: Episode 19 - Tomorrow's Galileo
Location: USS Galileo-A - Deck 1, Conference Room
Timeline: MD 01, 1353 hrs

Previously, on Tomorrow's Promise (Part 1)...

Saalm subtly shook her head to Tarin with respectful disapproval before speaking quietly. "It is fine, captain. She is not wrong and she has a right to hear our explanation." Her light green irises scanned the entire room and everyone present. "All of you do," she addressed the room. "But make no mistake, this is not what it appears to be. A temporal incursion is least of our concerns at present, and within a year, Starfleet - and the Federation - will cease to exist. And there will be no directive to violate."

“Well, then I certainly…’look forward’ to your explanation that will, no doubt, justify the removal of this ship and their crew from our timeline and any of the subsequent paradoxical repercussions of this act.”

And Now, the Continuation...

[ON]

Aria watched Lirha and then Tarin, sitting back slightly in her seat. As bad as the Temporal Prime Directive was to break, she suspected that Tarin would be more than happy to bend the rules to suit her own agenda if it aligned with Saalm's. She had seen her do that before. Lirha...well, again, rules meant to be broken. In that sense, the women had something in common. So she looked forward to hearing what excuse Saalm had for breaking a Prime Directive. And for Tarin to justify it to herself enough to go along with it. I suppose the question is, on a scale of one to dead, in how much danger are these two ladies going to land us in, she thought, folding her arms across her chest like a shield against whatever would come next.

Vala caught Sera’s eye as she sat down, giving her a respectful nod. He found himself agreeing wholeheartedly with the Vulcan. The timeline had to be preserved. If it wasn’t then what was there to stop others going back here and there to try to obtain outcomes that made them or their empires more prosperous and powerful. The Temporal Prime Directive was an assurance that the Federation would do no such thing, and thus other galactic superpowers avoided doing so in kind. If this was in any way sanctioned, he mused to himself, well… the Federation must be in a dire situation indeed.

Unclipping a small PADD from her belt, Saalm tapped on the futuristic version of her administrative device to re-configure it to connect with Galileo's antiquated computer matrix. A robust yet short history of noteworthy Federation events spanning 25 years beyond 2392 soon displayed on the conference room's large LCARS monitor, then she lowered her emerald hands and clasped them behind her back as she addressed the room. "I am Rear Admiral Saalm, commanding officer of USS Galileo...NCC-80010-B." She looked to her two crew companions flanking her then gestured to each with a soft wave. "This is Commander Marisa Sandoval Wyatt, my chief science officer. And Lieutenant Commander Ryan Alexander, operations manager. We - I," she clarified with personal responsibility, "have just brought you to the year 2417. We need your help, in the most urgent way."

The Orion rear admiral inhaled a soft yet robust deep breath then exhaled through her nose in preparation for the speech she'd privately rehearsed for many days. There was no easy way to explain what had occurred within the galaxy to those who hadn't experienced it with their own eyes. "The Federation is at war with the Romulan Star Empire and the Klingon Empire, and we have less than a year before total defeat," she succinctly spoke. "We have already lost Earth, Vulcan, Betazed, Bolarus, and many other capitol worlds. What remains of the Federation leadership and Starfleet has fallen back to Tellar in a defensive posture, but we have no realistic hope of surviving once the Klingon and Romulan forces finish regrouping for their final offensive."

"I know you must have many questions and won't understand how this could happen, therefore I will show you," Saalm turned her head to the main screen in the conference room and began to read the highlights. "Starfleet's temporal scientists couldn't be absolutely certain where the origin of this conflict started but they believe it initiated when you, commanders," she looked over to Tarin and Blake with pursed gold lips, "destroyed Cold Station 31's research data and personnel logs on stardate 69373.027. We believe this event to be the focal point because, unknown to you or any others within Starfleet at the time, one of the cold station's primary contacts within the Federation was a Romulan operative posing as a Vulcan science administrator. An individual named Doctor Ranel. It didn't take long for him to recognize the cold station's destruction and your attempts to conceal the research he'd acquired."

Saalm continued, her light green eyes occasionally shifting between Tarin, Blake and the others in the crowded conference room. "The Romulans, as they are masterful at, framed this event and accused the Federation of withholding valuable scientific research from the galactic community. They even went so far as to submit formal requests to Starfleet to acknowledge the existence of Cold Station 31...and unfortunately, our government declined."

"Within the next year, in 2393, tensions surrounding the cold station's research increased between Romulus and Earth. The Romulans postured and sent a diplomatic envoy to negotiate the release of the cold station's experimental data, but Starfleet refused the request. Several months later, an unknown source leaked the station's research logs into the public sphere. We suspect it was the result of additional Romulan subterfuge, but...by that point, all primary Alpha and Beta Quadrant powers were extremely agitated. The subsequent emergency summit conducted on Vulcan did little to dissuade the Klingons, Cardassians and Romulans of Federation ignorance. The fear and spreading belief of Starfleet cover-ups and the concealed discovery of a new alternate dimension was too much of a diplomatic blunder to overcome. Starfleet's reputation within the galactic community soon became diminished, and Klingon-Romulan relations grew much closer.

"Tensions continued to rise later that year, and in 2394, the Cardassians attempted their own diplomatic summit to calm the collective community. But that failed. Joint Klingon and Romulan fleet buildups along our borders necessitated a proportionate response from Starfleet, which grew out of control and into full mobilization between all Empires. In 2395, the Klingon-Federation War started. The Romulans entered the war allied with the Klingons less than a year later and pushed us back from Bolarus. Starfleet withdrew from Deep Space 9 and Risa to protect Earth from a decapitation strike, and we engaged in fighting retreats across all Klingon lines for over a year."

On the conference room's large LCARS display was now a strategic map of the Alpha and Beta Quadrant territories complete with major military installations and arrows showing the directions of various advances into Federation space. As Saalm spoke and continued the narrative, the screen updated to display less and less Federation territory under Starfleet control.

"In 2397, Starfleet took a stand at Betazed, fighting several battles at great cost. Finally...we lost the Betazed Corridor along with several other major worlds and outposts. The Siege of Vulcan started a few months later. The planet fell after 14 years of protracted fighting and Babel was next later that year. We pulled back again, this time to defend Earth, but with only a quarter of our combat power left..." The Orion captain's eyes had turned severe and subtly expressed a combination of resentment, remorse and pure anger. "The Klingons and Romulans took Wolf 359 and Alpha Centauri, and we attempted to surrender. Both of them rejected our submission."

Glancing to the bright ceiling of the old Mark II Nova-class, Saalm swallowed a lump of growing saliva in the back of her throat. "The Battle for Earth started in 2415. We...weren't fully prepared with intelligence for the new warships the Klingon and Romulan Empires were producing. We lost Earth a year later - a year ago, now - in 2416, along with Starbase 001." She paused her recollection of the difficult history to recollect her feelings. "What's left of the Federation, the fleet and its leadership, is at Tellar. We have less than a thousand starships remaining in all of Starfleet, many too damaged or understaffed to be combat effective. This is our last stand and this is why we brought you here, to our future, to show you this so you can go back in time to prevent it from ever happening. We have already lost this war. The only way to change the present...is in the past."  

Allyndra listened and she wondered what Akkadia would have done. In her thoughts, "Most likely as not a member pulled away and shut things down. Gods would they have used the fold ships? To defend the planet yes." Still what the admiral had to say about the research bothered her. "Pardon Admiral Saalm, are you implying that the data shouldn't have been destroyed? I must say that after experiencing first hand what was at the station it was the best course of action. Perhaps something other than denying it existed might cause a change?"

The winged-doctor's question was complicated in its complexity and temporal ramifications yet the answer was much more succinct. "I was not privy to the data Galileo collected from the cold station," Saalm started to reply to Warraquim, "and I did not experience the alternate dimension you and your others encountered. I don't doubt it was a difficult decision to hide the findings, but that is not the heart of the problem. Regardless of whether the research and station logs were hidden, destroyed, or obfuscated, we believe the outcome would have been the same: the Romulan operative, Ranel, would have viewed any suppression of the findings as an affront to the Star Empire. Because, even if you are not presently aware, whatever Galileo and the cold station scientists discovered in that facility was important enough to potentially change the balance of power within the quadrants...important enough for the Romulans and Klingons to declare war on the Federation and annihilate us."

Vala was transported back many decades in his mind, to his earliest time in the Federation. In those days being a Romulan was met with a mixture of small minded suspicion and xenophobia at best, and outright hostility at worst. They were the ‘enemy’ of the hour. The Dominion War and subsequent events had eased those particular tensions within the Federation, and he could chart in his mind the slow adaption and eventual acceptance of crews’ and fellow scientists to his presence. He felt a shiver of how it had been back then, for as the admiral outlined the past twenty five years it became clear that once again his people were the ‘enemy’ and he was the only representative of them in the room.

He cleared his throat and raised a hand once the admiral had finished addressing Allyndra, “Lieutenant Vala, Science Department,” he began, “I would be grateful for some clarification on the manner of our temporal shift. In the current timeline did the USS Galileo-A disappear on stardate 69373, or did it successfully complete its system test?” The latter outcome had implications which were best left unconsidered for the time being, “And if it is the former, how can we be assured that it was not the Galileo-A’s removal from the timeline that led to this current… situation.”

Saalm's light green irises locked on to the Romulan's similar-colored ones, and for a brief moment, a twinge of recent bigotry and disdain for his kind manifested in her darkest thoughts. "Lieutenant Vala," she professionally acknowledged both he and his important question. "Galileo - yours - continued to carry out its duties for several more years, until 2396. We were able to enact a displacement shield when we generated the temporal rift which brought you here." She lightly waved a green hand in explanation, "In effect, all of you have been protected from experiencing a full temporal shift. Had we not done that, you would now have no recollection of the past because your...our original timeline would not exist anymore. You would not be wearing your current uniforms, serve aboard the Galileo-A, nor remember anything from the time in which you existed."

Aria had listened, staring with something like disbelief. "Okay, hang on a second..." she said, not raising her hand once Saalm had finished talking. Vala had made a most excellent point. She'd have to buy him a drink at some point, supposing some point was something that was going to happen. "Let me see if I am getting this right because that's a lot. So stuff went wrong because a decision on this ship, and it's the end of the Federation...so you break the Temporal Prime Directive to pull us from time to fix it? How is that okay?" she shook her head, swallowing. "I mean, sure, I'd do almost everything to survive, but how many times have the Federation, Starfleet, any of us had to sit back and watch people die because the Prime Directive told us we couldn't interfere? Had to watch or even look people in the eye and go: 'sorry, Prime Directive says you die'...but when it's the Federation and Starfleet it is suddenly okay just to throw the Prime Directives away? You might know this future, but what about further into yours? Who says that this wasn't what was meant to happen, so that the Federation could either rebuild or change or become different? Who says this...isn't how it is supposed to go?" she met Lirha's eyes, her own surprisingly hard as she tensed her jaw for a moment. "Who are we to play a Higher Power to suit ourselves?"

In a rare display of Orion vexation, Saalm narrowed her eyes at her old friend and colleague. Even though she'd tried her best to explain the severity of the situation both crews now found themselves in, it was admittedly hard for many of them to grasp. "Rice...the Prime Directive and all of its subsequent Starfleet codes are not infallible. No society, let alone interstellar government, can possibly govern itself without understanding the inherent nuance which exists in the business of exploring the stars. There cannot be a regulation for every possible scenario because that would be impossible." The Orion rear admiral shook her head, her dark black hair bobbing across the tops of her shoulders as her light, accented voice became severe. "Billions have died in this war already. Do you understand that number? Everything - everyone - I've known is now lost, except my crew," she glanced sideways to Wyatt then Alexander who flanked her. "I don't know my future but I know yours. All of yours. If our actions here can save all those lives and prevent this war from ever occurring, then so be it."

"I find it difficult to believe anything you say Saalm." Sofie's tone was clearly derisive. The answers this future version of their old captain had given to her colleagues did nothing to clear up any of the scientist's suspicions. "You have abducted us and told us that the loss of billions of lives is our fault. You tell us that this is all of great importance, the situation is dire, that your actions are justified but if you are anything like the Lhira Saalm I knew then lying to us is not above you." She stood up from her chair and pointed a finger at the Orion. "So offer me some proof, because right now all I see are weightless words."

"Hear hear!" Vala called out in support of his fellow scientist.

Captain Tarin continued to stand in the periphery of the future Galileo officers then quickly stepped forward as the briefing turned accusatory. "Lieutenant Ullswater, as you were!" she barked at the standing young science chief before shifting her eyes to Vala with equally-disciplinary intent emanating from her hazel eyes. "All of you...listen before judging."

Saalm considered Ullswater's personal accusation alongside her skepticism. One she would tolerate, but the other was unfounded. "I've never lied to you, Sofie," she forcefully replied, "or any of you who served with me. I am the same person you all remember and we are in the same timeline - except many years into your future." She then softened her Yrevish accent and tonality. "What 'proof' beyond my word is sufficient for you? Is your presence here not enough? Would you prefer to see the casualty reports from all major Starfleet engagements in the past ten years? Or Galileo's combat logs from the First Battle of Earth? Images of the devastation to Vulcan and Betazed?" The Orion pressed the young officer who had seemingly become more jaded than when they'd last known each other.

This was not the Ullswater Marisa remembered. Something had clearly changed her, something that happened at the cold station. Like Saalm, Marisa had been honest and open with the ensign. They'd worked well together--or so she thought. But going by the expression on Sophie's face, the half Vulcan was clearly untrustworthy, too. She stood a little straighter, but said nothing.

At Tarin's order Sofie's accusatory finger dropped out of the air but she didn't sit yet and her tone did not lighten up at all. "Maybe in the twenty five years that followed things were different but in the one year I've known you you never did anything to earn my trust. As for proof," she gave a little shrug, glanced around at the other assembled officers "You've already done away with any notion of temporal preservation so why hold back? Put us in contact with what remains of Starfleet, allow us to access your ship's computers. You can not expect us to make decisions based on blind faith in someone who has abducted us."

The personal rebuke from the New Sydney officer privately pained Saalm and the muscles in her throat instinctively tightened. Perhaps it had been so long since the two had last seen each other that the fading of time colored her memory of the young science officer who'd arrived aboard Galileo fresh from an Academy assignment for her first starship posting. The realization that this was how Ullswater - and maybe others of the crew - now remembered her, felt like an emotional stab to the heart. Her gaze drifted to the carpet momentarily before snapping back up. "All of you will have access to the Galileo-B and our records. In fact, we need your help at once to assist us with repairs and to restore our primary deflector array to operational status. We cannot send you back until that task is complete." She pulled her emerald hands in front of her waist and interlocked her fingers before turning to Blake and Tarin. "We experienced an unforeseen feedback surge shortly after initiating the gravimetric anomaly field. The energy cascade overloaded many of our primary systems and has left us dead in the swamp, as you Humans say."

The rear admiral then answered Ullswater's demand with a firm shake of her head. "I'm afraid it's impossible for us to contact Starfleet." She again procured her PADD then tapped its screen several times before rotating her torso and gesturing back to the conference room's large LCARS monitor. "This region of space is no longer controlled by the Federation. We've lost most of our territory and outposts, and along with them, almost all of our subspace relay network. Any long-range communication sent from this position would take years to reach Tellar and be intercepted five-times-over, and also alert any roaming Klingon and Romulan vessels in this sector to our presence. As the situation currently is, my starship's generation of the temporal anomaly which brought you here will soon be detected by any hostile forces within the vicinity. Our time here is short, and if we cannot repair Galileo-B in time, then all of this will have been in vain. All of our futures will end here."

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

RADM Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo-B
[PNPC Tarin]

CMDR Morgan Tarin
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo-A

Lieutenant Aria Rice
Chief Security Officer
USS Galileo-A

Cmdr Allynda illm Warraquim
CMO and Second Officer
USS Galileo-A

LTJG Sofie Ullswater
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

LTJG Montgomery Vala
Deputy Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

CMDR Marisa Wyatt
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo-B

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