In a Mirror Sparkley Chapter 3: Discussions Before Launch
With the Ferengi as trade partners humanity advanced quickly as they
purchased technology with anything they had. Many volunteers entered
indentured service for resources to build ships that could handle the
stresses of higher warp experiments.
Finally, after three years, they had built and tested their first warp 6
ship. The "Endeavor" would explore the systems around earth in a
systematic pattern. Spiraling outward they would be able to set up
a reliable communication grid and drop probes to report on the
systems planets and asteroids. Then they would move on to the
next system.
The plan was to have a colonization priority for the first three
reusable colony ships.
To this end the command staff sat around the conference table
reviewing all the accumulated data of what to expect. Captain Jennifer
Carter serenely watched her second, Commander Maxwell Otaku,
imagine all the horrible things that could happen to them. He was an
excellent planner and improviser, said to live up to his name sake in
all things but most of all in staying alive.
"Well Captain, I'm not sure what will be worse. Running into the Klingons
or the Vulcans. Between ultra violent and unemotionally calculating, I think
I'll take the third option."
Carter looked on with raised eyebrow. He answered, "Run. As far and
as fast as we can." Anyone else might have thought him a coward, but
this crew knew he was just stating the best way to deal with the situation.
The Engineer, Lily Sloan, spoke up,"Just remember, it took us over two
years between our first warp flight and First Contact. In the three years
since then we have not made contact with another race. It is completely
possible it may be another five years. Our main focus should be expanding
our knowledge base and our intercept depth. The last thing we need is a
violent race flying into Sol and blowing us away. We got lucky that the Ferengi
didn't start shooting."
The Tactical Officer, Richard Sparks, interjected here,"Maybe they would have
handed us our heads three years ago. But I would like to see them try to
punch through the new graviton pulse shields. And with the latest model EMP
rounds for the rocket launchers, we should be able to cover our own ass."
The Medical Officer, Doctor Nathan Trager, spoke up at this point,"I honestly
think that disease is going to be the worst problem we have to deal with for
the first few years. Even if we do encounter a hostile species, according to
all this data most of them have barely passed warp four. We can run circles
around them."
Max said,"That's assuming this data isn't at least half wrong. The Ferengi do
seem to exaggerate their own greatness quiet a bit." He turned to the captain,
"From what I can get out of this data the Klingons and Vulcans look like our
worst possible threats. The only real difference is in what way we may offend
each group."
Carter leaned closer to the table," Listen people, we can speculate about this,
all night. But what we really need to be focusing on is our plan for if we don't
find anyone in between here and there. The priority has to be establishing our
knowledge base for the colony ships and spread the comm and sensor network."
With these words the entire group started focusing their efforts. One by one
they went over the steps of the trip. When they were done the entire mission
plan was set. Contingencies were added where needed. With all this done, they
dispersed to their dorms to get some sleep for their flight to the Endeavor the next day.
Hope you are enjoying it so far. If so please review. And Please take the poll. Have ideas
for each race, just not sure which one to introduce first.
I would like to thank my wife and dad for proof reading for me.
