Vulcan Science Directorate
Research Observation Room 213
Chairman V'Las observed the alien device through the window before him. Several Vulcan technicians, dressed in sterile suits, busied themselves testing and examining the device within the other room as he observed. Though not as versed in the various relevant sciences as many of the others in the room with him, he could perceive that it was obviously a probe of some sort. A rather primitive one, consisting of little more than a parabolic dish, to which a variety of electronics had been attached at odd angles.
Easily recognizable for what it was. The Science Directorate had utilized similar probes in it's infancy, prior to the recovery of lost intra-system spacecraft technologies. But this probe was not Vulcan. So the most logical question to address would be, whose was it? What was its origin? Followed by, what was it doing here?
T'Ves, of course, was at hand to address precisely those questions. As the Science Directorate's spokesman, it fell to him to translate the often indecipherable techno babble of the Directorate's scientists into something representatives of other agencies could understand.
Including the Human agents in the room; General Hanson and Ambassador Johns, as well as their own small entourage.
"Our tests indicate it is very old." T'Ves reported. "In excess of fifty thousand years. And yet still surprisingly capable of atmospheric entry, considering it survived Vulcan entry more or less intact."
"And in no way originating from our system?" V'Las asked. "Perhaps the product of an ancient Vulcan space exploration attempt, knowledge of which has not been recovered? Or an Orion device, abandoned during the Orion Wars?"
"Indeed not. Tracking the recorded trajectory of the probe by near space threat sensors, as well as orbital stellar observation platforms, establish clearly that it entered our system from a point well beyond."
The Military Command chairman, General K'vok, spoke. "No determination has been made as to its origin then? From what system or world it hails?"
"In fact, its origin has been determined. But not solely by means of our own. Rather, the device itself bore data that clearly identifies it's system of origin. As well as a surprising amount of detailed information concerning the home world and species responsible for its deployment."
"Let me guess." General Hanson said, stepping forward. "Something attached to or within the probe. With various recordings, messages and probably a detailed map intended as an invitation to whomever might come across it. Am I right?"
T'Ves nodded slightly. "Indeed. A plaque mounted on the exterior of the probe, inscribed with essentially that, utilizing binary code to…"
"Johns." General Hanson said, already ignoring both T'Ves and every other Vulcan in the room. "Any of this sound familiar to you?"
"If you mean the Voyager probes, then yes." He grinned. "I expected some kind of gold disc to show up in a minute."
"Fifty thousand years is still pretty quick to get here at the speeds this thing would have traveled." Hanson said. "If it was only designed to examine its own home system, that is."
"You think it might have been intended for interstellar flight?" Ambassador Johns wondered.
The rear portal of the room opened, allowing Captain T'Pol and Admiral Soren to arrive. T'Ves paused slightly as they entered the room, obviously waiting to bring them into the discussion before asserting himself into it again.
"The data recovered clearly indicates Tau 1 Eridani as the probe's point of origin." He said. "And the fourth planet orbiting the star as the home world in question."
"And what do we know of Tau 1 Eridani?" T'Pol asked, stepping forward to get a better look at the probe on the other side of the observation window.
"Very little." T'Ves said. "Having so far proven unable to convince Earth's oversight committee to allow a long-ranged probe of our own to examine the system."
"Nor to simply offer the information itself." T'Pol said, turning to glance over the Humans present. "Despite that information likely being commonly available to every other space faring species. And to their own school children."
"There's nothing there." Ambassador Johns offered. "It's been thoroughly explored. No signs of intelligence life, nor remains of any such. We don't even retain a presence there."
"Because there is nothing profitable there, I presume." T'Pol said, sneering ever so slightly.
"Captain…" Ambassador Johns said, somewhat disapproving.
Then relenting. Mollifying. "Well, yes, Captain T'Pol. Nothing worth the expense required."
T'Pol looked to T'ves. "I assume recorded trajectories confirm this?"
"Indeed. Both our own recordings and the data recovered from the probe indicate Tau Eridani I as the point of origin. Further, video recordings extracted from the binary code, though crude, offer further evidence of this. Background images of the night sky from the surface of the fourth planet, as an example."
"Like the Ambassador said. There's nothing there." General Hanson reasserted. "No sentient species, anyway. Or any sign there ever was one."
"I assume you were briefed on Tau Eridani, in preparation for this meeting?" T'Pol asked.
"No." Hanson shrugged.
"Of course." Ambassador Johns said, simultaneously.
T'Pol waited a moment. For the General to frown at the Ambassador. And the Ambassador to realize what he'd confirmed.
"I see." She said.
"Am I to understand the Earth government was aware of the probe's point of origin prior to this meeting?" V'Las demanded, clearly expressing mild outrage.
Ambassador Johns at least had the presence of mind to say nothing this time. Leaving it to Hanson to answer.
"Yes." Hanson said, begrudgingly. After some pause. "Overwatch picked up the probe on reentry. Or entry, as the case may be. Wasn't hard to review our passive sensor logs and track the trajectory."
"Then the question becomes…" Admiral Soren said. "Why were you instructed to discourage acceptance of Tau Eridani I as the point of origin?"
General Hanson frowned, becoming angry.
"Nothing nefarious, Admiral. As I've said, more than once already as I recall, there's nothing there. No indigenous sentient life, no ruins of past civilization or even so much as an abandoned research station. It's just not possible that this probe was constructed and launched by anyone living in that system. Because no one lives there."
"A fact we could have easily established ourselves." T'Pol growled.
"Not near so easily as having simply been told." Hanson snapped back.
"And yet you specifically avoided doing so." T'Pol pounced.
The two glared at one another. The tension in the room mounting quickly.
"Excuse me, but this isn't very productive…" Ambassador Johns attempted.
"Indeed it is not." T'Pol said. Then turned to Chairman V'Las.
"We can have El'toraya prepared to depart in four hours. And can arrive in Tau Eridani I in one week."
"We can have a survey and exploratory task force on site in two days." Hanson said.
"Thank you, General. That won't be required." T'Pol said, seething.
"Captain T'Pol." V'Las said. "I believe the High Command should decide that."
"Then decide it." T'Pol snapped.
And now T'Pol and V'Las glared at one another.
"Somebody got her panties in a bunch pretty quick." Someone said. In English Standard, on the Human side of the room.
T'Pol spared a casual glance in that direction, to determine the identity of that one. The yellow haired MACO officer in the far corner.
"I believe it would not be logical to make rash decisions in this regard." V'Las said, coldly.
"Then I would suggest a calmly arrived upon, rational decision to deploy the El'toraya." T'Pol said. "Take your time, Chairman."
"That is quite enough, Captain." Admiral Soren said.
"No." T'Pol insisted instantly. "One hundred years is quite enough. Forty-seven official delays by Earth Oversight is quite enough. The death of my father is quite enough. And the enduring patience of the Vulcan people throughout all of these things is quite enough."
General Hanson tugged his cap from his belt, preparing to don it once he'd left the building. Clearly intending to leave.
"I can see you folks have some things to discuss." He said. "We'll leave you to it. But you can expect Oversight won't offer their approval on moving the El'toraya's launch date up a whole six months, captain."
"Both unfortunate and irrelevant." T'Pol remarked, her eyes still locked on Chairman V'Las.
The Humans, as a group, left the room. Only Ambassador Johns showing any reluctance in doing so.
Once they were gone Chairman V'Las sighed, shaking his head slightly.
"You were unnecessarily blunt and provocative, captain."
"Then it would seem I was successful in my endeavor."
Chairman V'Las stared for a moment.
Then turned to Admiral Soren, snorting in amusement. "Once again I find myself in approval of your choice to captain the El'toraya, Admiral. Make your preparations. I will ensure High Command reaches the logical conclusion swiftly."
And with that, he departed. Leaving Soren alone with T'Pol.
After a lengthy silence between the two…
"Much rests upon you now, T'Pol." He said.
But she said nothing, turning to observe the alien probe in the room beyond.