Title: Federation of the United States
Rating: T
Setting: Set Initially at Star Trek First Contact (21st Century)/Later during the 24th Century
Disclaimer: CBS/Paramount owns all, and I own nothing, not even the words. That said, the idea is mine – please do not repost this anywhere without my permission.
Author's Note:
Prologue
Earth - April 30, 2063 - 25 days from Vulcan First Contact
Location: Classified
Around the table, several remaining US Government and military leaders discussed the implications of what occurred at the Bozeman site and San Francisco. Contact with the alien Vulcan race was unexpected. Since the US Government was still basically intact and solidifying its infrastructure since the cease-fire over the last ten years, it was on its way to re-establishing its own country. Internally, the US was developing its own warp drive prototype ship deep inside Nevada's classified facility. Members around the table discussed what kind of limitations or restrictions needed to be in place to prevent the Vulcans from discovering it.
Information from their operatives on the motives of the Vulcans was not promising. The Vulcans were offering relief aid, but at a cost to their sovereignty. Not only were their freedoms at stake as Americans but as Earthlings or Terrans as the new way of thinking of themselves was coming into the general population mindset. Most of the war-weary population, who were connected to the rebuilt Internet infrastructure, were tired and were willing to do whatever it took to get back their security feeling. Many of the other national delegations to the Vulcans' peace talks were ready to submit to a newly formed world government without condition. Realistically, the devastated countries were the first to sign up for this world government in hopes of bringing relief to the many radiation-sickened people who were dying and starving from the effects of the recent nuclear war. Like many other populations around Earth, they were eager to put the war behind them and rebuild.
During the early stages of the war, the Chinese Navy was completely wiped out by US Air, Space, and Naval assets, effectively denying China any Pacific access. Devastated by nuclear weapons, it suffered the most during the war. Its angry population had overthrown its communist leadership in a very bloody coup that helped bring about a cease-fire with the western powers. In fact, the Asian subcontinent of India and Pakistan almost ceased to exist overnight due to all the fighting amongst themselves. Only at the last minute, armed rebels took over the government and stopped the fighting on both sides.
Fortunately, despite absorbing nuclear attacks on many of its populated cities, the United States and North America were mostly functional from a country point of view. The US Military, operating at a reduced level, still operated in most areas of the world but was mainly conducting humanitarian relief to its former enemies.
The first person to speak was a non-descript male wearing a basic business suit sitting at the head of the table, "Ladies and gentlemen, our operatives in San Francisco have determined that any aid that the Vulcans would give us is contingent upon us as humans subordinating ourselves to basically a vassal state of their design. Information provided has detailed a new form of currency, economic system, limited scientific research, and realignment of our military forces into a defensive nature is to be instituted among our fellow nation-states. It seems that the Vulcans, though indirectly, are trying to tell us how to live.
"The space program is to be subjected to Vulcan oversight and guidance, which in my opinion, is a flagrant violation of not only of US sovereignty but Earth's as well."
The general to the right of the speaker said, "Is this true?" as he was looking at the display on his tablet, "this requirement to totally disarm and provide them with access to our remaining nuclear stockpile is unacceptable. The space program is to be heavily regulated by the Vulcans?"
The head speaker nodded his head, "Yes, it's part of their requirement for us to accept their aid request."
Another civilian spoke up to his right, "So if I get this right, sir. The Vulcans are basically holding us hostage to their aid. If we don't play ball, they'll leave and let us fend for ourselves?"
"You are right," he looked at the non-descript woman sitting to his left. "The Vulcans have convinced the other world leader representatives of this requirement, and just about all of them have agreed. Only our government and the Australians are the hold-outs. I can understand Australians since their country was barely touched in the war and minimal damage to their land. They are suffering; in fact, their navy is assisting the US Navy to re-establish and secure the trade routes in both the Pacific and South China seas."
Murmurs around the table picked up, and outright exclamations of disbelief started until the head person called for order.
"Now, what I'm about to say cannot leave this room." He started with that declaration.
"The position of the US government is never to relinquish its sovereignty. Doing so betrays our founding ideals and the intent of the founding fathers. The US's actual goal was to establish freedom and liberty not only for our citizens but for the rest of the planet. Unfortunately, the arrival of the Vulcans threw a wrench into that plan.
"Given the present state of affairs with regards to the direction of where the planet needs to go, I propose we execute Project Hammer."
All around the table, murmurs and discussion started again.
The first general spoke again, "Sir, if we do, I'd recommend no contact with any of the current sitting government."
The head person agreed, "I concur. From this point on, no contact about this project is to be discussed outside this room and only in compartmentalized areas."
He continued, "As most of you know, the US government already has three functioning sleeper ships hidden in the Nevada desert...unfortunately, we are missing one of them. What was missing was a functional FTL drive on these ships. Fortunately, the good doctor, Zephram Cochrane, supposedly has the only one in existence. We have had operatives at the Bozeman site monitoring his progress for sometime now. As a result of that collected information, our adaptation of that drive to those sleeper ships is almost complete. Crews have been assigned, and potential colonists have been identified.
"Project Hammer's goal is to create a functional US government in exile off-planet. Since our current US government is almost ready to hand over our sovereignty in the next few days, Project Hammer ensures US sovereignty is maintained.
He looked down and shrugged, "I know it seems that like we're giving up and leaving the planet to aliens, but we don't have a choice if we want to preserve our republic the way it's supposed to be. From all outward appearances, the Vulcans seem to be peaceful and could benefit the planet in the short term, but their technology is hundreds of years ahead of us, and we're being held hostage to them at the current time. Data obtained from intelligence sources and interviews with the alien delegations seem to the point that the Vulcans consider us 'primitive' and require 'guidance' as they put it. In their own words, we, Earth, is not ready for space.
"I promise you this, we'll leave, but we'll be watching."
He finished and looked around the table, "I need an affirmation of our plans from all of us around the table. I've brought together key members of our joint staff, Congress, and specific cabinet members. This project will protect our country for our posterity. All those in favor, please say, 'aye.':"
As the members all agreed with a verbal 'aye,' the head person adjourned the meeting. "From now, this project is classified as Top Secret - Omega."
The head person looked to the US Space Command general, "General, how much longer for installing the warp drives in the sleeper ships?"
"Two days, sir. Crews have already been alerted and are on station. Launch simulations are completed. We need to move the remaining passengers to the ships."
"Good, continue. We need to find a window where the Vulcans will not see us depart Earth."
"Sir," the general responded, "We still have some satellite coverage over North America, but very limited over Asia and Europe. We'll be able to visually see if any Vulcan ships are in orbit above us, but not over those other areas."
"That's a chance we have to take," the head civilian said. "I believe our best opportunity is when the Vulcans depart in three days back towards their world. For some reason, they have to return to their world and report their findings on the progress of our 'world' government establishment."
The general said, "So, after three days, theoretically, our skies will be free, unless they have left a ship in orbit for monitoring us."
"Yes, correct. Plan for a launch in four days then."
The head civilian looked around the table, "If there is nothing else, we'll adjourn. Everyone in this room needs to make their way to Nevada in three days, or you'll be left behind."
With that, the meeting adjourned, and the combined civilians and military generals left the room.
As they were leaving, the head civilian sat down again. When he was alone, he opened up his secure satellite phone. "Can you ask Mr. Smith to come into the conference room?" he spoke to a disembodied voice.
After a few minutes, another white male, in casual busing attire, came into the room. His appearance was so non-descript, you would never recognize him in a crowded room as he walked towards the table and sat down.
"Mr. 'Smith,' thanks for coming. I know you understand the gravity of the situation. My mission for you is to conduct a disinformation program for the current US government. I need you to go to the President and 'encourage' him to sign the world government treaty."
Mr. 'Smith' started to object, "Sir, but…"
"No, I can understand your misgivings, but this is required. For our plan to work, everyone must think that the US government is going along with current world affairs."
"I understand, sir. Anything else?"
"No, that's all. Thanks for coming."
With that, Mr. 'Smith' got up and left the conference room, leaving the civilian sitting there in silence.
He finished his ruminations and got up and left.
- Nevada - Four Days Later -
Nevada, ironically, virtually untouched by the war, was the site of so much nuclear testing that many parts of its interior are unreachable. The vastness of the desert hid so many things, and this ability kept the secrecy of Project Hammer away from the general population. Due to the rebuilding and reconstruction in many other areas of the country, no one even noticed the activity going on below the sand.
True to the information presented four days ago, the Vulcans had left Earth en route towards their homeworld. Human governmental representatives bid them farewell, hoping that they return and notice that they were working towards a world government. The Vulcans had left a small delegation in San Francisco with the express purpose of just observation, but also unofficial spying.
Launch preparations were underway, and the successful adaptation of Cochrane's warp drive into the sleeper ships was complete. All the colonists were in cryosleep, and the crews were completing their pre-launch checklists. There was no launch control to guide them off of Earth safely. There was to be no return, no coming back if a failure occurred. The passengers would never know if they died if an explosion occurred.
As the gigantic panel slid open to reveal the hidden spaceships, the sound traveling across the desert was heard by no one. As the sun gleamed into the cockpits of the sleeper ships, the engines of the rockets started. Successful ignition of all the rockets commenced. Each ship was to launch one by one until all of them were gone from the facility. As the ships exited Earth's atmosphere, booster rockets on the ship's side exhausted their fuel and fell away. Each one was finally free of Earth's gravity headed for a supposedly uncharted part of the galaxy.
Back on Earth, stay behind operatives of Project Hammer closed down the operations and exited the facility. Before leaving, explosive charges were set and detonated, destroying the infrastructure and computers and ensuring that a cave-in erased any evidence of its location.
TBC...next stop...the 24th Century...