Star Trek Hunter
Episode 8: The Bolian Web
Scene 1: Paleonus V
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Paleonus V
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Paleonus V, seen from orbit, was an exceptionally beautiful planet. Vast oceans of blue and green waters complemented continents with many varieties of forestation, lakes, enormous rivers - some of which ran red or brown - savannas and deserts - vast swathes of brilliant color. A planet reserved for primeval wilderness supporting vast herds of gigantic herbivores that could be seen from orbit. A total of 14 research stations were located in various environments around the planet. Research stations mostly inhabited by bolians. Or they had been…
At this moment, those research stations contained only bodies. Dead blue ones. The medical ship U.S.S. Atul Goel, had evacuated the few surviving humans, vulcans and andorians - fewer than 15 people in all.
The Atul Goel was completing its mission and preparing to break orbit as the Hunter arrived. This was a surprise to Commander David Pepper as the Hunter had been summoned urgently to Paleonus V and had arrived only 7 hours after the emergency call came through.
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Pep always felt a little uncomfortable in the captain's chair - which was not unreasonable, considering that it was too small for him and he was always a little concerned he might break it. With a slight hand signal, he instructed Lt. Commander Mlady, currently standing watch at the bridge tactical station behind the captain's chair, to hail the medical ship.
"Atul Goel, this is the U.S.S. Hunter, David Pepper commanding. We were notified of a medical emergency at Paleonus V and arrived as quickly as we could."
Pep was simply astonished at the face that appeared on the viewer.
"Hunter, this is the U.S.S. Atul Goel, Fleet Admiral Scumuk commanding. I regret to inform you that you have arrived too late." The elderly vulcan was wearing a blue uniform. He was the highest ranking doctor in Star Fleet and Star Fleet's fourth highest ranking officer - the Director of Star Fleet Medical. "From our research, the pathogen the bolians picked up here on Paleonus V is 100% fatal to bolians, but did not have any effect on vulcans. The humans here experienced symptoms similar to those of a head cold and recovered without treatment. The andorians had a much more severe reaction, but were all successfully treated. I have quarantined the survivors. I am placing Paleonus V under quarantine. No landings are to be conducted and no material of any kind is to be beamed up."
"Understood, Fleet Admiral," Pep responded.
"We must break orbit," said Scumuk. "I was on my way to a conference and happened to be in the area. I assume with a planetary quarantine in place that you will be breaking orbit to return to your patrol, Commander."
"That is not up to me, Fleet Admiral," Pep replied. "I will inform Justice Irons."
"Ah, so this is Minerva Irons' command," the admiral responded. "Unfortunately, we must depart immediately. Please give the justice my regards. Scumuk out." The transmission ended with an odd sense of abruptness. Pep watched as the Atul Goel launched six quarantine buoys, which began flashing red and broadcasting the medical quarantine warning on all frequencies as they took up positions in high orbit of Paleonus V. The Atul Goel broke orbit immediately on launching the buoys.
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Flight Specialist Winnifred Salazaar, currently at the pilot's station on the bridge of the Hunter, turned to look at his first officer. "Sir, the admiral was lying."
"What are you telling me, Winnie? What was he lying about?" Pep was aware that Salazaar was half betazoid and seemed to have inherited a strong telepathic ability. He was also aware that vulcans very rarely lied and, whether they were lying or not, they tended to be extremely difficult for even the most talented telepaths to read due to their mental discipline and their own native telepathic abilities.
"From what I could tell, everything." Salazaar rejoined. "And he wanted me to know he was lying. It was like he was screaming it at me."
The Hunter's interactive avatar, in the form of an older man with a pot belly, a gray beard and a white lab coat, appeared unbidden in the space behind the navigator's station. "Pep, based on Mr. Salazaar's statements, I reviewed the transmission from the Atul Goel. There are several unusual things about it."
"Are you telling me you think Fleet Admiral Scumuk was lying?" Pep asked with some surprise.
"Yes, but it's more than that," Hunter replied. "That transmission included biometric readings from the entire crew and also from the evacuees. That crew is under tremendous stress and currently there are 8 crew members in quarantine, including Captain John Kelley, and Assistant Medical Director Mettus Klox. The Atul Goel had 17 bolian crew members, including the first officer and medical director. All of them are dead. Furthermore, my long range sensors just picked up a course change."
"Where is that ship going, Hunter?" Pep asked, with a significant sense of foreboding.
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"The Bolarus system."
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Pep surged out of the captain's chair with some difficulty. "Kenny Dolphin, wake up and get your butt to the tactical unit!" Pep glanced over his shoulder at Mlady.
Mlady, in turn issued several orders. "Lieutenant Gamor, Ensign Phillips, Navigator Strahl to the bridge!"
The enormous first officer was already headed toward the captain's office. "Winnie - you're with me. Hunter - we need you too. Sarekson Carrera - join us in the captain's office."
At the moment Pep got to the door, it opened and Justice Irons' voice could be heard within, "Enter..."
Within a minute, 2nd Lt. Gamor arrived. Mlady released the tactical station to her and headed toward the hatch leading up to the tactical unit.
Lt. Dolphin arrived a second later. He was in uniform, but his blonde hair was still wild from sleep and he needed a shave. Gamor touched him on the shoulder and whispered, "Comb your hair, sir." Dolphin ran his fingers through his hair as he hurried toward the open hatch. There was no discernible improvement - his hair still looked like it was terrified of everything to his right and was stumbling all over itself in an attempt to go as far to his left as possible.
Navigator Eli Strahl was next to the bridge. Strahl's long, wavy brown hair and short, neatly trimmed beard mostly covered the very faint spots he had inherited from a trill grandparent. He was primarily betazoid and strongly telepathic. He restrained his hair into a pony tail as he took his place at the navigator's station, then began quickly entering calculations into the console. Ensign Ethan Phillips and Dr. Sarekson Carrera came in last. Gamor surrendered the tactical station to Phillips and took the empty pilot's chair.
Dr. Carrera headed directly to the captain's office. The door opened before he got to it and Justice Irons' voice could be heard beyond, "Come in, Sarekson."
Moments later, Ensign Sun Ho Hui arrived at the bridge. At that same moment, the door to the captain's office opened, disgorging Dr. Carrera, Winnifred Salazaar, Pep and finally Justice Minerva Irons. The cramped bridge was now crowded.
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Irons had donned the robe of her office as appellate justice. She addressed the Hunter's crew.
"Shipwide: This is At-Large Appellate Justice Minerva Irons. I have issued an emergency judgement against Fleet Admiral Scumuk and have lodged this judgement and the accompanying injunction with Star Fleet. Whether Star Fleet agrees with me or not is irrelevant. You are a JAG crew and you will follow the orders of the Tribunal above any Star Fleet orders. I have never instructed you to violate the orders of an admiral before and I am not instructing you to do so now. I am issuing an emergency injunction against Fleet Admiral Scumuk's orders under Section 3 of the Federation Charter and in agreement with Section 9 of the Tribunal Charter and Section 4 of the Star Fleet Charter. Fleet Admiral Scumuk is not in control of his faculties or is under the control of another entity and is currently enjoined against issuing any orders under the color of his rank and office. Any orders you may have received from him in the past 48 hours are null and void."
Everyone on the bridge was focused on the justice. She spared a moment to look around the bridge. Her crew were stunned, but had clearly digested and accepted her ruling. She turned to her first officer. "David, stop that ship before they commit another genocide. I will be in ground operations, then medical." Irons turned and exited the bridge, followed by Dr. Carrera.
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