Star Trek: The Next Generation
The Prime Directive
Chapter One
On an isolated island on a distant planet almost beyond the rim of known space, a single cabin stood in a valley surrounded by a hills on all sides, made from the logs of the large trees which lined the hillside, expertly cut into the correct size needed by the owner which had been broken only by the stone chimney on the south side of the house to create a fireplace for heat and cooking of the food needed to survive. In a self imposed isolation away from the problems of the world on which he lived, one of his only pieces of technology was a telescope for which to observe the night skies and the movement of the star-system's twelve planets and countless moons.
Living off of the land itself for his own survival, it had been many years since he left the devastating wars which had ravaged his home planet, a war which had torn apart to the two great continents to the north and south of the equatorial island.
Occasionally, he would make the three day ocean voyage to the northern continent for any supplies which would be needed, his last journey was eight months ago to trade for medical supplies since his only companion, a four-legged animal had fallen ill, however dying before the return voyage could be made. Now he sat on the island isolated and alone in his own private solitude as he monitored the stars while marking their progress in the ever growing almanac he was creating.
Far over the horizon, a large explosion could be heard as he leapt off his seat and looked up into the skies to the East while a fireball streaked across the skies towards him at high speed. Shock rippled through him as he watched the fireball scream towards him and slam into the ground beyond the low hillside itself while the ground shook violently causing the telescope to fall over and smash on the ground. Sprinting into the log cabin, he retrieved a weapon he long since refused to use before loading the rifle-like weapon and running up the hillside towards whatever had slammed down onto his own private island of solitude.
Finally arriving at a small crater in the dangerous hillside, he stopped and looked down in shock at what lay before him, a small greyish craft lay smouldering on the hillside below as sparks flew in all directions from small explosions. Pushing past his own fears, the solitary man climbed down the hillside slowly before he approached the unusual craft with his weapon raised as he pulled back on the bolt-action weapon, loading the deadly ammunition ready for firing on the occupant of the strange craft if the need would arise.
At the front of the strange craft, markings he seemed to understand stood out along with a large broken window large enough for him to climb inside comfortably. With the weapon aimed before him, he began to climb inside before the sound of a small branch breaking behind him caught his attention. Spinning around quickly and with his weapon aimed in the direction of the sound, he saw what appeared to be the form of a young female stood before him with a strange looking device in her left hand as she spoke in a language that he could not understand.
"I do not understand you" He said slowly as he stepped onto the ground firmly. "Who are you?"
Slowly walking towards him, she raised the device as she spoke once more as he lowered his weapon slowly and raised his hands with his palms facing outwards while he replied with a soft and soothing tone in his voice.
"I do not understand you. My name is Galen, do not be afraid, I will not hurt you. However, you appear to be injured… if you can understand me, let me help you"
Almost yelling at him, she waved her weapon from side-to-side, motioning for him to step away from the craft. Nodding slightly, he agreed as he slung his rifle over his left shoulder and backed away slowly with his hands raised while she stepped towards the craft.
"Allow me to assist you, you are injured"
Her language was strange and almost alien to him as she spoke, however it seemed that with each word she spoke her language became more clear.
"Bakanara… Bakanara… Tura-caara… away. Shanarka, Do you Manara Me?"
"What?" He said with shock.
"I said, back away. Do you understand me?" She growled deeply.
"YES! Yes I do. Who are you. What are you?"
"Put down your Gralla… your… Weapon sir" She said carefully.
"I mean you no harm. Who are you?" Galen said slowly as he stepped forwards on step.
"None of your concern. Damn it, Observe and report they said…"
"Who, who said?"
For a brief moment, her hand lowered as she swayed slightly as he stepped forwards quickly before she raised her weapon once more and aimed it directly at him as she spoke carefully choosing her words.
"Where am I?"
"My island. It would be easier if I knew what your name was. Galen, that is my name, what is yours?" He said slowly.
"Alison… Have you seen anyone else here? Anyone with similar clothing to my own?" She said quickly.
"No, just you. That is an unusual name, Aly-son… what is this craft? You are not from the Northern Alliance or the Southern Coalition. Where are you from Aly-son?"
"I have already said to much… whoa!"
The weapon slipped from her hand as she swayed slightly before he ran towards her and caught her as she fell, the last thing she saw was Galen holding her in his arms as she blacked out.
Pain ripped through her as her vision cleared and she slowly sat upright and grabbed her head quickly before looking around at her new surroundings. A small bed-chamber inside what appeared to be a wooden log cabin, before her was a small dresser with her equipment lay out before her, possibly by the strange man she had met. Quickly pulling back the covers, she saw that she was still wearing her Uniform however, her left leg had been carefully bandaged after the trousers itself had been delicately cut and repaired. Light bellowed out from the large open glass-like doors too her left as an unfamiliar sound echoed through the room. Slowly standing, she swayed slightly as she hobbled towards the small dresser and picked up her only weapon before limping towards the open doors and blinked rapidly at the fading light from the twin stars in the sky.
"Good evening" Galen said with a smile as he swung an axe into a large piece of wood, splitting it into two halves.
"Where am I?" She cried out as she raised her weapon.
"Safe. Try not to move to much, your leg was broken. It will be healed soon" He said with a soothing smile.
"You did this?" She replied, rubbing her hand over the bandage.
"Yes. Do not worry Alison, the wound has been healed. Your leg will be fine very soon…"
"Where am I?" She said firmly.
"My cabin, I was beginning to think that you would never awaken. I was starting to worry that your body would reject the treatment" Galen said as he put down the Axe slowly. "You do not need that weapon Lieutenant. I am a friend, one of the few that you will find on this planet"
"Lieutenant?" She said with shock.
"Put down your weapon. This is a conversation for… in doors"
"You will explain now!" She barked.
"I can not. Forgive me, for your own safety Alison, let me inside and I will explain everything that has happened in the time that you where… unconscious?"
Moving inside the cabin slowly, Galen stepped into the living area of his home and sat down before the open fire which burned slowly. Keeping her weapon trained on him, she sat down slowly in a seat facing him as she shivered slightly as he placed his hands on his knees with his palms facing upwards while he spoke.
"You have been unconscious for four days. During that time, the Northern Alliance has taken a particular interest my little island. They saw your… vessel… streaking across their skies, they believed that it was the Southern Coalition's latest weapon…"
"Where is my vessel?" She growled deeply.
"Safe and hidden, at least for now. Lieutenant Alison Macdonough, current assignment… USS Enterprise NCC-1701-E under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard. You are a Scientist studying the Nebula? on what you called 'Our Door-Step'. You spotted this system and decided to take a look, what happened?"
"I have no idea what you are talking about Mister Galen" She replied quickly.
"As you wish, I will play your game. Alison Macdonough, born on a planet known as Mars, twenty-six years old. Mother Juliana King, father Andrew William Mac…"
"Alright, how the hell do you know that?" She said as she held her head with pain.
"Your vessel's D.R.D is not that difficult to understand Lieutenant" He replied with a slight laughter in his voice.
"D.R.D?"
"Data Recording Device…" He said quickly.
"The Computer?"
"I like that, and yes. You have no idea what you have started here Lieutenant, may I call you Alison. The Alliance has taken notice of this island and the Coalition are on their way. If they find you and your vessel, they will take you both for analysis, dismantle you both for your secrets. If you are lucky, you may survive" Galen replied slowly.
"I can not allow that to happen"
"Neither will I Alison, I can protect you. But, you said something about another out there? I have looked all over this island and all that I found was you and your vessel. If Ensign William Carpenter is out there, he is not on this island Lieutenant. If he has been captured by either side, it is most likely that he is currently being interrogated for information" Galen said with a deep regret.
"How do… Take me to my shuttle"
"I can not do that, this planet's night time is cold for your species, as you may have noticed. We should wait until the morning, when the twin suns have arisen"
"NOW!" She said as she aimed her weapon at him.
"Lieutenant, Alison. You may shoot me if you wish, however… you will never find your vessel without me. Trust me, I can protect you. They will come for you, you must hide your technology NOW! along with your uniform. Tomorrow morning I will take you to your vessel. The Communications systems have been damaged and propulsion systems are off-line, I CAN help you. You just have to trust me"
"What? What do you know about…" She said with shock.
"I am more then you think Lieutenant. Your physical appearance is identical to our own, so you can blend in easier. When the others arrive, play along with what I say. I am expecting them tomorrow"
"What are you talking about, who are you?" The Lieutenant replied with shock.
"My name, My name is Galen Antos. I was once a Colonel with the Northern Alliance with Military Special Projects Division. Eighty years ago a similar vessel to your own crashed in the North, it was torn apart for it's secrets and weapons technology which resulted in the fragile peace between the North and South falling apart. This planet has been at a point of Cold-War ever since. Rumour has it that the South captured two of it's occupants of the original vessel, and forced them into working with them to design weapons and technology for… defensive purposes"
"Oh my god. We never knew" She said slowly. "And it was this vessel which allowed you to understand our technology?"
"Yes and no. My assignment was to assess the propulsion systems of the craft which had been code-named 'Copernicus' after the markings on the side, once we had translated it of course. It was believed that the small craft was a support ship of some kind for a much larger vessel. One more thing, within the vessel's D.R.D where instructions on what propelled the mothership. When they realised the full potential of the device… it was turned into a devastating weapon" He said with regret.
"Oh my god. A Bomb?"
"If I understand you correctly? yes. You and your people have the ability to stop this before it becomes an all out war, a war which your people had inadvertently begun, indirectly of course. Before I left, I studied your database, after I translated the written language. I know that you are going to mention your Prime Directive as you call it, None Interference with less advanced species then your own? That Directive will not apply here since this is a direct result of interference from the USS Copernicus. We need your help Lieutenant. In the morning, I will take you to your vessel as I had earlier stated and assist you with repairs to your communications systems, I beg of you to make contact your Captain Picard… allow me to speak directly with him and inform him of what has truly happened here as a result of your species... exploration" He said as he knelt before her.
"That may not be possible Mister Antos"
"My family name is Galen, Antos is the name I took after my ascension to adulthood. Help us, before my people destroy each other? Lieutenant, we need your help"