Chapter Title: Watch the Sky
Chapter Synapses: Hyperion makes First Contact with a species the day of their first faster-than-light launch, leading to questions of how 'ready' a warp-capable civilization is to be welcomed to the Federation.
Written by: Seraph Koji
"Sir, we're reading something in the Serali System… originated at Serali IV. It's a warp." Winters reported, "It's heading this way."
"Time?" Starwind asked.
"Actually, exiting warp in visual range now. On screen." Winters reported.
"Visual contact!" Talara spotted the small vessel, about the size of a shuttlecraft.
"Can you hail them?" Starwind asked Winters.
"We have a response, audio only." Winters replied.
A vice crackled on the bridge belonging to one of the warp ship's pilots, "I am Colonel Esa Relan of the Tankian Imperial Guard, pilot of the TGS Discovery. And you are?"
"Captain Victor Starwind of the United Federation of Planets, commanding officer of the USS Hyperion." Starwind said in a comforting tone, "If you wouldn't mind, we'd very much like to make what we refer to a First Contact. We would like to go to your homeworld and extend the Federation's tidings of peace. It's a big galaxy, and it helps to have friends out there when you're just getting your space legs."
There was a long silence, then the Colonel's voice returned, "We'll take you back to Tankia, there you can meet with Admiral Qui and Emperor Asil the First. Match our course and speed."
"Do as the man ordered." Starwind nodded.
"Captain's log. I am given a wonderful opportunity as a captain and as a Federation citizen; I get to make First Contact with a race. The Tenkians from Serali IV have, today, done their first successful warp launch. We are presently bound for Tenkia to make the offical first contact."
Starwind, Collins, and West sat at a hardwood table in a building that seemed rather early 21st Century Earth-like, across from three people, who aside from a slight forehead ridge looked rather human. One wore elegant robes, the other two wore military uniforms.
"Captain Starwind of the USS Hyperion, correct?" the robed man looked at Starwind, "You know my associates, but I do not know of yours?"
Starwind nodded, "Of course, Emperor." He gestured to his right, "This is my First Officer, Commander Dorian Collins," he gestured to his left, "and this is my Ship's Counselor and Diplomatic Advisor, Lieutenant Commander Amy West."
"And you three are of this 'Federation'?" Asil asked.
West nodded, "The United Federation of Planets."
"And if you knew of our civilization, why have you never come here before?" Qui questioned somewhat forcefully.
West fielded this one as well, "We have a law among our people, our Prime Directive, that forbids us from getting involved with civilizations that have yet to achieve faster-than-light travel."
"We were going to alter our course and head here when we detected the warp signature when your ship found us." Collins added.
"Forgive me for being blunt," Esa spoke up, "but Miss West, you are not like the others. You have spots."
"That's right." West nodded, "Whereas my father was Terran like Commander Collins and Captain Starwind, my mother was of the planet Trill."
"Presently serving aboard Hyperion are about 450 Terrans, 4 Bolians, 16 Vulcans, a half-Trill, 4 Andorians, an Aenar, 17 Denobulians, 3 Bajorians, and 4 Iyaarans." Collins added.
"The United Federation of Planets spans countless light-years over this half of the galaxy. Our list of member worlds goes on and on. And we were wondering if Tankia would join that list?" Starwind asked.
Asil looked suppressed, "Your leader gives you power to do this?"
"Part of our mission is to seek out new civilizations. And if they want to join the Federation…" Collins responded.
Starwind nipped the next question in the bud, "Don't worry about losing the ability to self-govern. The Capital, San Francisco, Earth, makes a few laws that affect all planets, but most control is left to the planets. And of those few laws, a delegation from your planet will vote and be able to give it's say on any proposal before it becomes law. Also, you may keep your own military, but the Federation has a common military and exploration force known as Starfleet, the group my crew and I belong to. Starfleet provides common defense, and also has a score of other purposes including exploration, sciences, and civil aid, not to mention it's a great way to meet people of every species. I highly recommend if you do join the Federation, you send several of your young solders to Starfleet Academy."
"Another benefit is if you join we can share an amount of technology with you, such as transporters, phasers, replicators…" Collins added.
"You three make a good sell. I will discuss it with y advisors." Asil stood, "Thank you for making 'First Contact' with us Captain."
"No problem, sir." Starwind nodded, rising to his feet. He tapped his badge, "Starwind to Hyperion, three to beam up."
Starwind sat in his ready room when the image of a human Starfleet Captain appeared on his monitor, "Victor."
Starwind looked at the monitor, "Captain Quinn, a pleasure."
"I understand you made First Contact with a race. That was a mistake." Quinn replied.
"Pete…"
"They aren't developed enough!" Quinn snapped.
Starwind looked at the monitor questioningly, "They're warp-capable. Last I checked, that was our standard."
Quinn scowled, "Vic, they are like we were three centuries ago. War, bigotry… you are the first aliens they've seen! They might grow to resent you as much as early Starfleet officials resented the Vulcans."
Starwind returned the scowl, "Peter Quinn, I will not ignore a people the Federation should recognize because of your personal destain for Earth's past. Starwi–"
"Captain, the Ramirez is en route to Serali IV to contain the situation." Quinn said, candidly.
Starwind grew angry, "Like hell you are!" He rose to his feet, "Starwind out." He walked onto the bridge, still not calm, "VonBach, are you firmilliar with the USS Ramirez?"
"Ramirez and Destiny fought side by side in a battle during the Dominion War, sir, shortly after I started my service under you." VonBach said, nodding.
Starwind sat in his central chair, "What if I were to tell you that Captain Quinn were bringing Ramirez here to prevent this First Contact mission?"
"Don't worry, Captain, Ramirez is a Defiant class. We're slightly larger and we massively outgun them." VonBach reported, "They wouldn't dream of using force."
Talara spun in her chair, "What about Ramirez concerns you, Captain?"
"Captain Quinn believes the Tenkians are not ready to be introduced to the Federation. He wants to 'contain the situation'. I can't imagine his opinion isn't shared by a number of people." Anger in Starwind's voice at the last comment disappeared, "But if we ignore one culture, are we a fair society? Or some exclusive club? We cannot ignore even the smallest of voices. That is what makes our society work."
"Sir, the Emperor is asking for you, Commander Collins, and Lieutenant Commander West." An ensign working Operations reported.
Starwind hit his badge, "Starwind to Collins and West, meet me in Transporter Room Two. VonBach you have the – that's a formula for disaster isn't it? Talara, you have the bridge."
On the surface shortly thereafter, Asil stood before a crowd of people. "People of Tankia! Today, your government launched a ship into space that tested an engine called a Warp Drive, called the TGS Discovery. This ship encountered something we did not expect in the vastness of space during her test flight, another ship. This ship was named Hyperion, her government known as the United Federation of Planets. Today myself, Admiral Qui, and Discovery's commanding officer Colonel Esa, met with three of the crew members of Hyperion; Captain Victor Starwind, her commanding officer, Commander Dorian Collins, her first officer, and Lieutenant Commander Amy West, her diplomatic advisor and ship's counselor. I would very much like you to meet them." West, Collins, and Starwind walked up next to Asil, to a surprised and somewhat bewildered crowd, "They have asked Tankia to join their Federation, and I have accepted the offer."
"Emperor, it's only fair to warn you, some people in the Federation oppose your entry. However, it was my job to invite you, and the Federation will accept your entry. Though you face prejudice." Starwind solemnly reported, "As we speak, a Starfleet ship commanded by a former friend of mine is on it's way to prevent this event right now, our First Contact with your race. But as a future member world, Hyperion will defend you. I am truly sorry for your situation."
"Captain it is better to roam the galaxy with friends, than roam alone." Asil replied, "We will be glad to join your Federation. I will send the Discovery to Earth to carry our delegation."
"We'll give your ship weapons and armor to defend itself." Collins offered.
"Hyperion to Starwind. Ramirez is coming out of warp." Talara's voice came from Starwind's comm.. badge.
Starwind sighed, "Watch them."
"Ramirez?" Asil asked, aside from the crowd.
"The ship I mentioned. You might want to send your people home." Starwind said quietly.
"Ramirez to Starwind, beam back to Hyperion immediately." Quinn ordered through Starwind's badge.
Starwind walked aside as Asil dismissed his people. "Ramirez, I will not comply. Interfere with this First Contact mission and be met with force, as it would be in violation of Federation law."
"Hyperion to Ramirez, this is Commander Talara," Talara sat in the captain's chair as Captain Quinn appeared on the viewer, "You are hereby ordered to leave this system and not contact the Tankian civilization or their ship, the TGS Discovery. Any attempt to do so will force me to open fire."
"Hyperion, you put me in a bad position. I cannot allow the inhabitants of this planet to join or even contact the Federation." Quinn replied.
Talara nodded, "I understand, sir." She paused, "I suggest you raise shields." She hit her badge, "Talara to Transporter Room Three, beam up the Away Team now."
"Ma'am, the Ramirez is moving off." Winters reported.
"Starwind to Bridge, what the hell did you beam me up for?" Starwind said furiously.
Talara replied, "Ramirez was poised to attack."
"Was?" Starwind asked.
"She's moving off, sir." Talara reported, "Gone to warp, course set for Earth."
"Captain's log, supplemental. After a slight confrontation with the Ramirez, the Tankiam delegation is on it's way to Earth as I speak. I have reported Captain Quinn to Starfleet Command, which has reassigned him and entered a formal reprimand in his record. I can't help but wonder if Starfleet Command would have done more if Tankia was more developed. They will face trials as a member of the Federation. I hope I made the right choice in making First Contact. Well, with Hyperion on to her next mission, and Ramirez under the command of Captain Wallace, I suppose things are on the up and up for the moment."
Starwind stared out the windows of his ready room when his door chimed, "Come." He called.
The doors slid apart and West entered the room, "I have the last of the psychological evaluations you asked for last week done." She set a padd on Starwind's desk and walked up beside him, "Something wrong, Vic?"
Starwind's gaze remained fixed on the stars, "You know what the plaques on the ships of the Enterprise line say? They say the mission of Starfleet, pure and simple." He paused, then recited the saying, "'Space; the final frontier. Our ongoing mission must be to explore strange new world, to seek out new life and new civilizations, and to boldly go where no one has gone before.', or something like that. Jonathan Archer said that once, on the bridge of the first Warp-Five ship, Enterprise. Zefrum Cocrane said it once too." He paused, "Today we lived that goal, as we have before. But the though that others in Starfleet would reject such a basic principle…"
"Captain Quinn?" West asked.
"What drives humans to such prejudice?" Starwind sighed, "The human race is supposed to have some 'evolved sensibility' about such matters. To have put errs of our past behind us forever." Starwind closed his eyes, "It's a shame we can't live up to that, but honestly, who were we kidding?"
"You really have such little faith in the progress of humanity?" West asked, somewhat suppressed.
"At times, yes." Starwind turned to West finally, "When you tell yourself that your race is 'evolved' for so long, you almost believe it. Then someone like Peter Quinn enters the picture, and suddenly you have to face reality."
West turned to the streaking stars, "I have a rather pressing question, Captain." West hesitated, "Why did Ramirez retreat?"
"Knew we outgunned them? Or maybe a bit squeamish when it comes to firing on a Federation vessel?" Starwind offered suggestions.
West seemed to fix her gaze at a single point in the straking space, "Or maybe Quinn was sent to test Hyperion In some way?" she offered, "The arrogant attitude from a man who was respectable once, the sudden withdrawal, the weak punishments… it all fits."
"Why?" Starwind asked, riddled with fear and suspense.
West shrugged, "Who knows?"
Starwind sighed, "Well, I can tell you that I got two weeks of shore leave in New Dublin which I will not use worrying about that, or the Tankians, or Starfleet, or Hyperion, or anything else besides relaxation on the fertile New Dublin landscape."
"Enjoy yourself, sir. Hyperion will be fine in Collins' capable hands." West stepped away from the window.
Starwind nodded, "The Commander is doing a wonderful job for her first posting as a First Officer. I have no doubts about leaving her in command." He passed, correcting himself, "Well, massively less than when VonBach was my First Officer aboard Destiny."
