Part 6
When Adama and Apollo beamed back to the Galactica, they immediately returned to the ship's bridge. There they checked to see how many Council members had responded to the emergency summons. All but Adar and Baltar were onboard. Apparently, since it was late in the day, they had assumed that the meeting would held in the morning, they had then eschewed the more spartan quarters of the Galactica for the higher class amenities to be found in Caprica City.
Adama then sent out a notice to all the Council members that the emergency meeting would indeed be held on the Galactica late the next morning. After that he made a personal visit to each of the Council members on board to give them a quick summary of the upcoming meeting, but still not revealing the Enterprise's connection to Earth. He and Apollo then retired to Adama's quarters to compose their report on the arrival of the Enterprise. They also called the Enterprise to offer them the opportunity to make a presentation to the Council.
The next morning, a couple of centars after their morning meal, the Council members, including President Adar and Count Baltar, who had just flown up from Caprica City, gathered themselves around the entrance to the Galactica's main conference room. Adama was waiting for them inside.
"Please come in," Adama called when he finally saw President Adar. "There is much to tell. Much of it will surprise you, even more than the Cylon peace proposal."
"I'm sure," Baltar began smoothly, "that nothing can be more profound than that."
"We'll see, my friend," Adar replied just as smoothly. After a moment all the Council members had filed in and taken a seat at the large round table.
"I now call this emergency session of the Council of the Twelve to order," Adar announced. "Commander Adama, per your prior request, you now have the floor. Please give us your report."
"Councilors," Adama began. "I will start from the beginning. Yesterday around midday, the Starship Enterprise, that is the name of their ship, suddenly appeared in low orbit above Caprica. Several squadrons of Viper interceptors were scrambled to confront the Enterprise as at first indication the ship appeared to be Cylon. It was quickly confirmed that the Enterprise was not Cylon but was crewed by humans and a small number of aliens.
"The Galactica was recalled from patrol to investigate the appearance of the Enterprise. Upon arrival, I contacted their commanding officer, Captain James Kirk, he immediately announced that their presence over Caprica was an accident of astronomical proportions. They had apparently gotten too close to a black star, or singularity, which they barely escaped from, but ended up being catapulted a quarter way across the galaxy." Adama heard Baltar scoff slightly at that that. "Their federation lies in the next spiral arm 25,000 light years away.
"Captain Kirk then offered to come to the Galactica to discuss their situation. I immediately accepted provided they also allow me and some of my officers equal access to their ship for a threat and safety inspection. Their arrival caused quite a stir among my crew, as you will witness in a while.
"Captain Kirk brought his second in command, Commander Spock, an alien called a Vulcan, and his Chief Medical Officer, Doctor Leonard McCoy, with him. Colonel Tigh and I had a lengthy discussion with them. We learned that despite most of their crew being human that they have no immediate connection to the Twelve Colonies. They are from a polity they call The United Federation of Planets. They informed us that their Federation was formed about a hundred yahren ago in the wake of defending themselves successfully a war against an aggressive invader they called the Romulan Empire. The fours races then formed their federation. The four races are humanity in their region, the Vulcans, Andorians, and Tellarites. Again, When you meet the Enterprise's crew you will understand.
"They assured me multiple times that they are on a mission of exploration and were no threat to the Colonies. For those reasons, and several others that you will hear soon, I then cancelled the system wide alert.
"When it was our turn to visit their ship, I took Captain Apollo and Lieutenant Boomer with me as my escorts. When we arrived, their chief engineer announced that their main power and drive systems had been repaired. Captain Kirk then offered to take us on a quick tour of our star system to quote, "show us a bit how a starship operates."
"We toured our whole solar system, to all twelve colonies plus Borallus, in less than five centars. This included a small detour to pick ip one of my warriors whose Viper was disabled on a refueling station."
"I can't believe they took you around Cyrannus so quickly," Adar commented.
"Should I call for Captain Apollo, Lieutenant Boomer, or Captain Omega who monitored the Enterprise's departure and return to Caprica?"
"That won't be necessary, Adama," President Adar said calmly knowing that Adama would typically have sufficient evidence to back up his claims.
"Then it is time for you to meet Captain Kirk and some of his officers." Adama made a quick visual inspection of the conference room before calling Omega.
"Omega, this is Adama, please call the Enterprise and tell them it is time."
"Very well, Commander."
A moment later a whistling sound began in the conference room, the visiting Councilors all looked around startled. Then they saw that Adama and the Warrior guards in the room were not reacting at all, but were just looking at an empty space next to the Cyrannus system display plot.
Five pillars of light began to form before the startled Council members. They coalesced into the shapes five individuals.
"Frak," several of the Councilors exclaimed. They were all taken aback by the visitor's sudden appearance and the unusual aliens among them. All the Starfleet officers were in full dress uniforms.
"I too was quite surprised when Captain Kirk first came to the Galactica," Adama admitted. A moment later the whistling began again. This time a small computer on a table with a chair and a large display screen materialized behind the visitors. Four of the newly arrived visitors remained where they were standing while a petite human woman with red hair moved to sit at the portable computer.
Captain Kirk activated a universal translator and began. "Greetings members of the Colonial Council of the Twelve, my name is Captain James T. Kirk. I am the commanding officer of the U.S.S. Enterprise. A starship of the United Federation of Planets' Starfleet. I am from the planet Earth, one of the four founding members of the Federation."
"Earth!" several of the Councilors exclaimed while Kirk passed the translator to Spock.
"I am Commander Spock," Spock began while raising his right hand for a Vulcan greeting. "Live long and Prosper. I am second in command and science officer for the Enterprise. I am from the planet Vulcan, one of the four founding members of the Federation." Spock then passed the translator to the next person.
"Greetings, I am Lieutenant Thellen. I am the senior exo-biologist for the Enterprise. I am from the planet Andoria, one of the four founding members of the Federation." He then passed the translator to the last greeter.
"I also give you my greetings. I am Lieutenant Grad. I am the Quarter Master or supply chief for the Enterprise. I am from the planet Tellar, one of the four founding members of the Federation." Grad passed the translator back to his captain.
"On behalf of myself, my crew, and the United Federation of Planets, we want to thank the Council of the Twelve for their welcome and for allowing us to tell you a bit about ourselves. As explorers we would like to remain in the Twelve Colonies for a while to learn more about your civilization and for you to learn more about ours. Now, our ship's historian, Lieutenant McGivers will give you a brief presentation on the history of the Federation, then she and Mr. Spock will provide you with our initial findings on the possible, and I repeat possible, contact between our cultures thousands of years ago." Again, the translator was passed over.
"I am Lieutenant Marla McGivers," she began while standing up again. "The Enterprise's historian. On the screen, I will give you a brief presentation on the history of the Federation and its four founding members." She then activated a control on the computer. The large view screen then lit up and a per-translated presentation then began to show. At times, Spock, Thellen, and Grad added comments when the presentation discussed their worlds. After the presentation ended McGivers stood up again.
"Next, Mr. Spock and I will give you our initial findings of our investigation into the connection between our societies."
They began with the obvious, the constellations of the Zodiac and the names of the thirteen tribes of Kobol. They then gave a historical outline of Atlantis, the Island of Thera being the most probable location of the Atlantis civilization, and it's destruction. They explained how Thera was destroyed in volcanic eruption between 1642–1540 BCE , or about 3800 years ago. The eruption also ended the Mycenaean civilization. Archaeological findings from Thera showed advanced building techniques, multilevel buildings, hot and cold running water, and toilets. She also explained about the cultural influence the Mycenaean Civilization had on the surrounding regions. Greek, and Egyptian societies were briefly presented. Spock went on a tangent and showed a presentation about the Burkle Crater, which may have been the part of the basis for the Noah's Ark story in the Bible and a coincidentally similarly aged crater in Mare Undarum on Earth's Moon. Finally, they both showed evidence of how man evolved on Earth.
"Upon our arrival," Kirk began again. "We received a broadcast transmission regarding pending peace negotiations between the Twelve Colonies and the Cylon Empire. Obviously, these negotiations are outside our purview as visitors. Yet, we ask the Colonial leadership to exercise caution in your negotiations. Our history, as a Federation, and as individual planets have given us much experience with false negotiations and betrayals. Our peace treaty with the Romulans was recently violated in a most distressful manner. Mr. Spock..."
Spock then presented a declassified version of events on the lone Romulan raider using their new cloaking device and plasma torpedo weapon and how the Enterprise confronted them.
"Another of our enemies, the Klingon Empire, has been quite confrontational since a recent seven year long war with them was recently concluded.. They have continued to challenge the Federation on multiple occasions. We've also had recent dealings with sentient robotic life forms," Kirk added while asking Spock to show a declassified presentation on the Dr. Korby incident.
"Finally," Kirk concluded. "Please pay attention to the following, it is from Earth history, on the eve of one of our most destructive planet wide wars." McGivers then showed a presentation on the negotiations between Nazi Germany and the United Kingdom led by Neville Chamberlain and his policy of appeasement which led to a wider, longer war in Europe.
"I again urge the Colonial Council to be most judicious in their negotiations with the Cylon Empire," Kirk concluded. "Thank you for your patience. We hope that today will be the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship, despite the physical distance, between the Twelve Colonies and the Federation. Commander Adama?
"I now concede the floor to the President," Adama announced.
"On behalf of the Council of the Twelve and the peoples of the Twelve Colonies of Man," Adar began. "I welcome the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise in their role of explorers and representatives of your Federation to our nation. Yes, we will continue to explore the possible connections between our nation and the people of the Earth. As you mentioned, the coincidences are too strong to ignore, and finally we will consider your words of caution in our negotiations with the Cylons."
Count Baltar externally kept his peace through the entire meeting with the Starfleet representatives. Yet, internally he was seething. He saw his, and the Imperious Leader's, plan for the subjugation of the Colonies falling apart. He couldn't wait until he could contact the Cylon leader, through his contact on Carilon, and tell them of these surprising recent events. The reported capabilities of the Enterprise also disturbed him. If they intervened on the Colonial's behalf during the planned ambush at Cimtar, or in the attack on the Colonies, then all would be for naught.
0
"This is Serena again reporting from Caprica City outside the Chambers of the Council of the Twelve. This must be the secton of monumental news. The Council news office just provided us with a release regarding the surprising arrival of an alien ship above Caprica yesterday. The ship, called the U.S.S. Enterprise, is from Earth! Yes, I said Earth, the legendary Thirteenth Colony. Their arrival in the Colonies is reported as accidental, but there is no denying they are here. Their commanding officer, Captain Kirk and some of his officers had, just this morning, made several presentations to an emergency meeting of the Council onboard the Battlestar Galactica. He has agreed for him, and some of his officers, to meet with me and other members of the Colonial news organizations for an introductory interview tomorrow. How this will impact the approaching armistice signing is unknown. Please continue to watch this network for further updates."