For the next week, Harry worked with the engineers preparing the crew of Bajorans to run the reclamators using a holosuite program devised just for this. In addition to running them, they had to learn how to fix them.
Rebecca and he had some fun, but neither were interested in anything more than casual.
Finally, the day had arrived. Harry and the engineers had moved to the Glen Lyon to meet the ship. It arrived right on schedule.
"Deep Space 9. This is Tezra, out of Tellar."
"Go ahead."
"I am scheduled to meet with someone from the USS Glen Lyon."
"The Glen Lyon is standing by on frequency," it was named. "They will lead you to your delivery point at Bajor."
"Acknowledged. Thank you."
Harry had heard the interchange and listened as the crew made arrangements. He was on the shuttle which would transport the reclamators.
"Earth Shuttle Esperer to Tezra. Are you ready for us to begin?"
"Go ahead, Esperer. Part 8C is ready to offload."
"Roger. Entering bay now."
Each machine was in three parts, each one fairly heavy. The engines of the Esperer were overpowered because otherwise they couldn't handle the large pieces of equipment. The third part of each machine would unload first.
About six hours into the operation someone interrupted. "Bajor Control to Glen Lyon."
"Go ahead."
"We're reading multiple trips between Tellarite Freighter Tezra and the Bajoran surface. When we contacted them, they sent us to you."
"Correct."
"What is being delivered and where is it coming from?"
"Tezra was commissioned via the Royal Botanical Institute on Earth to deliver equipment to the Botanical Institute at Bajor. Bill of Lading, along with the delivery schedule is filed via Major Kira Nerys at Deep Space 9."
"Acknowledged."
Harry looked at his copilot, one of the engineers, who looked back at him and shrugged.
The piloting was passed back and forth a few times and at three quarters an hour per piece with 24 pieces needing delivered, it took eighteen hours total to deliver, the last pieces being delivered in the dark.
Harry was sitting with Keiko O'Brien, who was consulting, during the final trips. "What will happen tomorrow?" Harry asked.
Keiko replied, "I'm scheduled to assist in teaching the Bajoran reclamators operators how to load organic material for the process."
Harry was confused. "Organic material?"
Keiko smiled. "Soil is a combination of sand, clay, and organic material, with different combinations for different areas and crops, and different additives to change the acidity as required. The reclamators will remove every trace of contaminant but each batch will require remediation before putting it back down. To keep it running quickly, it has to be watched and handled constantly. Most of the poisons can be found in the organic material – which means that is the main portion that has to be remediated. How to gauge amounts and adding them quickly will be what I will be teaching."
Harry considered that. "So the process will not only remove the poisons but will renew the normal nutrition."
"For each area," Keiko added. "Some of the areas will need to have worms added and you can't add the wrong worms for the wrong areas."
Harry said, "That's all beyond me. You know far more about it than I. How have classes been?"
Keiko smiled. "I wanted to thank you for your help. Since Vedek Winn's attempt to interfere, I've taken the approach you took: Talk to the religious people about the religious aspect if you have any questions. Despite attempts, no one has been able to claim I am denigrating Bajoran beliefs."
Harry grimaced. "Back on Earth, in the twentieth century, there were different religions in different parts of the world. Most viewed the scientific explanation of history to be blasphemous. Teachers had to walk a fine line. Compared to some religious nuts we used to have, the Bajorans are reasonable and accepting, even some of the worst ones."
Keiko considered that. "It's hard to believe."
"That's why the Federation is so anti-religion, I think. People used their 'right to practice their faith' to force educational institutions to teach belief systems based on religious texts rather than science. I think the Federation took it too far – freedom to practice religion has become freedom to not be confronted by others practicing their religion. But then again, Starfleet vessels have to be able to deal with whatever beliefs they run into and allowing public demonstrations of faith by their crew might offend someone they're meeting."
Keiko was curious. "Do you believe in a god or gods?"
Harry smirked. "I could dodge the bullet and say 'I'm agnostic'. That's how most people avoided that minefield where I'm from."
"Are you Agnostic?" Keiko asked.
Harry chuckled. "No. I believe there is a Creator, Prime Mover Unmoved, Supreme Being, God … however you want to define it."
"So how do you pray?" she asked curiously.
Harry looked at her. "Why would I pray?"
"If you believe in God, doesn't that usually mean prayer is involved?"
Harry laughed. "Oh, no. That was something that I always had a problem with back home. If God was all powerful, and God's will was absolute, prayer is actually pointless. If God wants you to die, you die. There's a saying: God helps those who help themselves. I acknowledge that God exists, I just don't think that prayer has any affect on him/her or will get you anything. All good and evil and everything between comes from God. You're not changing God's mind by begging."
"How about rituals, or services?"
Harry shrugged. "If that allows you to feel closer to God, great. But rituals for me have to do with magic, not divinity. A religious ritual has to have some value to those participating, I just don't know what it could be when it comes to what Humans consider God. I may pray for strength – but I don't think it's God that will give it; it will be me or those close to me."
"What about the Bajorans?" Keiko asked. "They pray to the Prophets. Do you think they are performing unnecessary ritual in doing so?"
"The Prophets exist. I've actually met the Bajoran so-called Gods and they acknowledge Bajor, and their connection to it. *I* think that the beings in the wormhole have a symbiotic relationship with Bajor. So I would never question the Bajorans' right to practice their faith, for far more tangible reasons than I would accord anyone practicing recognized Human faiths."
Over the next days, the Royal Engineers finished assembly and began to run the Bajorans through how to work and maintain the Reclamators. The Esperer, the shuttle attached to the large machines, was powerful enough to move a fully assembled machine, but not to get it into orbit.
Two Bajoran shuttles were attached to the fleet to fly the refuse off. Currently, there was a processing/storage facility. It wasn't something that the head of the Institute wanted to deal with. The Bajorans already head a plan for it and they were perfectly willing to leave it to the Bajoran government.
The Institute staff started having to deal with the idiots who wanted to stick their nose in to the process. There was one Minister in particular, Minister Jaro, which reminded Harry of a cross between Cornelius Fudge and Lucius Malfoy. If Luna was on Bajor writing the Quibbler, Jaro would be the one eating pies made out his enemies.
Even as the reclamators began being sent out, there was rumor and innuendo which caused people to question it.
However, there could be no denying that within two weeks, 60 square kilometers of farmland had been cleaned and there was clamoring by communities lower on the list to get moved up.
Three weeks in, there was attempted sabotage. Someone had attempted to damage two of the machines and graffiti was painted on two more. Harry agreed to meet the member of the Bajoran Militia being ordered to handle matters.
The man, along with subordinates, arrive at the Botanical Institute. "Hello. I am here to speak to a Sir Harry Potter." Harry stood up. The man nodded respectfully. "I am General Krim, of the Bajoran Militia."
Harry bowed. "I am Sir Harry Potter of Great Britain, Earth."
The man looked at him curiously. "You don't identify as Federation?"
Harry smiled. "I am certain that you were briefed on me when you were assigned to this matter."
The man gave a slight smile. "Yes. I have some understanding of your origin. You came via the Celestial Temple. The Prophets themselves sent you with Commander Sisko." His wry tone made it obvious that he was uninterested in the religious aspect.
"I came from an alternate Earth. But Charles VIII Hereditary King of Great Britain on Earth has made me a part of the Royal Household, giving me diplomatic status, also validating my status as Sir Harry Potter rather than Mr. Harry Potter."
"Interesting," Krim said in a way that said that he wasn't actually interested. "I have been sent in response to the attempts against the equipment being loaned out by the Botanical Institute."
"Of course."
Krim spoke carefully. "It was suggested by the Council of Ministers that we ask you and the Botanical Institute to suspend operations until we could guarantee the safety of those doing the work."
Harry nodded – he had heard that. "And your response?"
Krim paused. "I find that I wish instead to add members of the militia to guard the equipment and the workers, both Bajoran and not. Despite the strain such an order would create. I know exactly how much has been done with the equipment and I am aware how much the progress has upset those who wish to use the damage created when the Cardassians left as political fodder. It is not in Bajor's best interest – in my opinion – to ask operations be suspended."
Harry was actually a little surprised. "How do you wish to handle matters?"
"Who is coordinating operations?" Krim asked.
Harry hit his comm badge and called the highest ranked Bajoran of the Institute. "She will be back in twenty minutes."
Krim nodded. "Thank you for facilitating matters. It is curious that I was sent to you rather than the Director to deal with this."
Harry sighed. "I am the one who convinced King Charles to send the reclamators that had been used to clean up much of the English countryside following World War III on Earth. I have an interest in seeing Bajor healthy."
"What kind of interest – if I may ask?"
Harry sighed. "I have economic interest in certain groups of Bajorans. They are contracted to grow ingredients and also to produce a product otherwise unavailable to me. I am making a profit because I provided the resources, and the Bajorans are making a profit by doing the work. That relationship, among others, made me interested in seeing Bajor and its people thrive. Charles was interested in using my resources to help Britain recover and in exchange I am using Charles' resources to help Bajor, and my interests both short term and long."
"And what long term interests do you have?"
Harry considered how to answer that. "Bajor is … there is a magical aspect, if you will, due to the Prophets and their connection with Bajor. My Earth had a similar connection – possibly because it is or was connected to the Celestial Temple as well – and so I wish to see that connection nurtured."
"You don't find our religious practices primitive and limiting?" Krim asked with a slightly mocking tone.
Harry snorted. "I've met the Prophets, spoken to them. No. I don't find anything about Bajor primitive. Considering that Bajor has had civilization for at least a half a million years, I would say that most civilizations in the galaxy could be considered primitive by comparison."
Krim looked at Harry with an inscrutable look. "You are quite different than most Federation Humans I have met."
"I'm a Wizard, and a Knight of the Thistle. That aspect is more important than my status in the Federation."
"I see." Krim stood up. "I see the Director coming." Harry saw the transport through the window as well. "It has been a pleasure speaking to you."
"I feel the same. You remind me of one of the better Law Enforcement officials from birth society. She was head of Law Enforcement when corrupt officials were trying to quiet me by any means necessary because what I was testifying to was inconvenient. She stood up for the rule of law."
Krim asked, "What was her name?"
Harry sighed. "Amelia Bones."
Krim nodded in acknowledgement and then asked, as though he knew the answer, "What happened to her?"
"She died for the most unforgivable crime a law enforcement member can commit."
"Which is?" Krim asked.
"Being incorruptible, which got in the way of the plans of those of a lesser moral fiber." Harry's tone was grim.
Krim had a tone of sardonic amusement as he said, "I can think of worse crimes to die for. Good day, Sir Harry Potter of Earth."
Harry didn't spend all of his time with the reclamator project. He left that to the Royal Engineers and the Botanical Institute. Within five weeks, 160 square kilometers had been completed. The smaller reclamators had been diverted to the smaller plots of land that the British machines were too big to process.
Harry had noticed an almost frenetic quality to those agitating against non-Bajorans. The success of the project, he guessed, was interfering with some political ploy in the background and someone wasn't happy.
Anti-Federation sentiment, normally so commonplace so as to be considered 'normal' became less popular as the work continued. Harry thought it ironic as the Federation wasn't directly involved; it was Earth and even Britain. Harry, however, had decided against making a loud protest about the 'Federation' getting credit.
Heavily fundamentalist/Conservative Bajorans had to double down on the rhetoric to stir up animosity. Harry put in a call to King Charles.
"Majesty. Anti-Bajoran sentiment is building up and I worry about the Royal Engineers," Harry reported grimly.
Charles looked surprised. "How? They are there to help Bajor and her people. Commander? Can you explain this?"
Harry turned to Sisko who, with Major Kira, was also present. "No. Some force in the background is stirring bigotry against the Federation and all non-Bajorans."
Major Kira interjected, "Sir. The vast majority of Bajor views the work your people have done and are doing as vital, wanted, and not to be prevented. We are grateful to you, and them, for stepping up to handle what many had said would take years to do. Already, hundreds … thousands of farmers are planting into ground previously too poisoned to use. I, along with other members of the Bajoran Militia, decry the negative propaganda against your people specifically and the Humans as a whole."
Kira was sincere and it was obvious. "Major Kira, thank you. While I admire the Bajoran Militia and the efforts it is expending, I believe the Provisional Government itself has been non-committal and hesitant against stamping out this threat to the good work my people are doing. If you would pass along my statement of concern, I would appreciate it. I am dispatching my son, Prince William, to look over the operations and our Engineers' work."
"I will do that, Sir."
Charles nodded. He looked at Harry. "Sir Harry, I am putting you in charge of William's safety."
"By your command, Sire," Harry said and then bowed low.
King Charles rolled his eyes and said, "You could have said, 'I'll take care of it,' and left it at that. It would have been enough."
"Blame my primitive upbringing, Your Majesty," Harry said with dry humor.
"Of course. Until your next report. New Buckingham, Out."
Harry turned to Sisko, who looked thoughtful. "Do I need to remind you about how seriously I take the protection of the Royal Family?"
"No, Sir Harry," Sisko said. "I remember."
"Good." Harry turned and left.
Sisko looked at Kira. "We are going to be making damn certain nothing threatens Prince William when he arrives. Do you remember what happened when the elves were kidnapped?"
Kira's eyes widened. She hadn't thought of that. "Yes, Commander. I'll coordinate with Odo."
"Good. Dismissed."
