Settling In:
The senior staff were all seated around the conference table in the ready room with the addition of Mayor Tamsin Allgier and the constructed Starbase's A.I. Gavin standing with Iris. Captain Jonas Alexander sat at the head end of the conference room table while Major Allgier occupied the seat at the other end.
"My people want answers," Allgier said angrily. "When are we going home?"
"Mayor," the Captain said, "I'm afraid that I can only say not for a long time, if ever."
"If ever," the Mayor said sharply…
"Mayor," he said in a soothing voice, "please calm yourself. Our experimental drive malfunctioned causing us to jump to a galaxy that is not our own. We don't know where home is at this current time."
"Don't know," she said as the shock of it washed across her face, "surely there's some way to know."
Jonas looked at Harth who continued, "we cannot find any familiar matching stars to navigate with. I can assure you that we do not know where we are."
"But what of the Starbase we see from outside the viewports? How can we not know where we are and yet we are docked with a federation starbase," Allgier questioned skeptically.
Gavin started speaking, "you are in the Tolisian Galaxy and the Starbase you see was created by an advanced species so that you will have more room and a safe place to establish yourself."
"If the fucking advanced species can create a Starbase out of thin air then they can damn well send us home," Allgier snapped back.
"If only," Iris answered, "the advanced species has their limits until we materialized in their space they did not know we existed. In fact they have made it clear that they are pushing the limits to their own prime directive by creating it for us. The ship is overcrowded and our resources are finite, we will soon be unable to sustain all the people from the colony and what crew we had on board."
Doctor Joelynn raised hir hand and began to speak when Captain Jonas nodded, "I have examined the habitat of the starbase and found it to be acceptable to our needs. The colony has two doctors and several medically trained personnel. But I need additional staff on board the Dauntless as my staff had yet to fully report before the shakedown cruise."
B'Ellana Torres nodded, "there isn't a chief engineer on board. In light of the current situation, I am willing to come out of retirement."
Captain Jonas nodded as he turned to Yeoman T'Norva, "please make sure that you update the Chain of Command rosters with all the changes we decide on here." He turned back to the conference room meeting and smiled, "I accept immediate reinstatement of your commission, I could use your husband's help too."
Tom Paris smiled, "what do you have in mind Captain?"
Jonas smiled, "how about command of the starbase next to us… of Course Mayor Tamsyn Allgier will retain her governance of the civilians. However due to the nature of our situation Major Allgier we may have to institute conscription of your skilled colonists to fill operational needs of the Starbase and the Ship."
Mayor Allgier looked somewhat displeased, "you mean a draft?"
"No, we will do what we can to avoid it, but it will make it easier if they fit somehow into the command staff structure. From a military standpoint it is easier to take orders from a leader who carry the authority of rank than a civilian who has no rank or authority." He sighed, "I wish it could be different, but we have to learn to work together."
Tamsyn smiled, "I understand and that does make sense." She stretched her legs in the seat, "but we have children and consideration needs to be made before putting their parents in harm's way."
Fairuza Harth nodded, "all efforts to respect that will be made. But we have been reduced pretty much to the pioneers of the old Earth's west. Children will now need to be trained to accept greater responsibility at an earlier age. Sadly our long term survival will depend on it."
Jonas nodded, "Tom Paris you are reinstated with the rank of Commander and you will assume immediate command of the Starbase."
Iris interrupted, "It should be noted with the loss of Admiral Janeway and the lack of a flag officer pursuant to regulations that Captain Alexander Jonas should be immediately elevated to the rank of Admiral assuming control of all Federation Operations in this…" she paused as the word that popped into her artificially intelligent mind was mess and continued, "… in this Galaxy. Commander Fairuza Harth shall be elevated to Captain, and Tom Paris also shall be elevated to Captain."
Gavin continued, "I accept Captain Tom Paris as full command of Starbase Gavin."
Tom chuckled, "Starbase Gavin?"
"I am the A.I. Interface constructed from the Iris program. I have chosen a male appearance and persona." He spoke in an American accent, "Until we come up with a better name for the Starbase I chose the name Gavin?"
Iris smiled, "trust me he is a complete and separate entity and not a copy of my own core experiences. He has knowledge of all the known planets and races of this galaxy and the Tolisians have uploaded a database of all data they feel we would benefit from. Unfortunately I don't have the storage capacity to contain it all."
B'Ellana was shocked, "but Iris, no computer built to date has as much storage as you."
"This was before Gavin," Iris smiled, "he's also much bigger than I"
Admiral Jonas nodded, "I can understand, the first order of business will be to have Dr. Jophet study everything she can about this galaxy. Her expertise in astrometric cataloging will come in most handy."
A small view screen showed Dr. Jophet in her containment take the singsong sounds of her language was heard with a vocal translation, "so far I've yet to correlate any known star we are indeed lost."
Jonas looked at Harth, "The first order of business will be for you to pick a first officer, Captain."
Harth smiled, "I think your yeoman will make a fine choice as a first officer. Are you up to it Lieutenant T'Norva?"
The shock of it was almost overwhelming, but T'Norva manage to hold the icy cold Vulcan facade together, "what logic are you using to make your choice? There are other logical choices that are much better than I."
"Logical yes," Harth said, "but the needs of the many serve better to keep them in their current positions. Right now I need someone with impeccable organizational skills. You can help me hold everything together as we are about to enter some very rough times. I'm sorry but due to the current situation your acceptance is compulsory."
T'Norva nodded, "I come to serve." Yet a wave of nausea washed over the Romulan she was now officially to the point she was deeply over her head.
Tom Paris looked at Mayor Tamsyn Allgier, "then I consider you my second in command as it will take your colonists help to run this starbase. I will grant you full access to the operational command deck of the starbase."
Admiral Alexander sighed, "then we have the structure to move forward. I will remain on board the Dauntless which is now officially the Federation Flagship of this galaxy. Captain Paris, I need you to assume immediate control and occupy the starbase. Mayor Allgier please compile a list of all colonists and their job occupations and get them to Captain Paris. Gavin can you work with Captain Paris to assign appropriate quarters for all of the colonists and whatever Starfleet staff that will be assigned to the starbase."
Gavin nodded, "I think I can handle that."
"Excellent," Admiral Jonas said reluctantly. "Remember everyone, we are the Federation here, we will meet again in one week to review where we are. Everyone Dismissed."
