Star Trek: The Next Generation
The Prime Directive
Chapter Four
After the unusual disappearance of the alien craft along with the pilot and the former Alliance Operative, Major Jared Phelps had been called before the regional command officers to account for his lack of success on the simple assignment of recovering a peace of advanced technology along with the pilot. As he offered his report to the Generals in the room, which had also been transmitted to the Central Command as he stood in the centre of the large darkened room which was only illuminated by the screens before him, the dim lights before the Generals and a brilliant hot light which seemed to beam down above him.
"So Major, you still insist that there was no way that the vessel could have escaped without your knowledge?"
"Yes, General. As my report has stated. However, we did observe an unusual glow from within the cave itself along with a… sound that I have never heard before. Once we entered, we could not identify the source of such a glow or sound" He said, nervously.
"And you maintain that only TWO people where in the cave?" Called out a General from one of the screens before him.
"Yes General Ma'am"
"Then, why did you not move in and take the craft, as per your orders. Major?"
"General. We had no idea of the capabilities of such a craft, our own sensors, which had been based on their own technology, displayed an incredible power source. If their weapons had been active, I would not be standing here now as I answer your questions. More to the point, have you not read the Intelligence file on Colonel Galen? He has been implicated in several unsolved assassinations of our high-level military officers and political figures. He is highly trained in several forms of combat, given the technology which could exist on that vessel, had he and the pilot been challenged… it is likely that very few if any of my men and women under my command would have survived" Replied Major Phelps.
"You where afraid?" Called out a General too his left.
"You damn right I was General Weft, if you had been there as you suggested you would, rather then reading in your office. You would have seen and felt what I did, what my People did. Galen Antos' name appears in Eight unsolved murder cases a further six cases have him placed nearby. Galen Antos, is a very dangerous man and should not be trusted under any circumstances, we ALL know what crimes his father had been convicted off?"
"Yes, Yes Major… We are ALL familiar with those crimes" Sighed General Weft.
"Intelligence reports taken from the Alliance suggested that the then Lieutenant- Major Galen Antos, Killed his own father and took his place. He is a dangerous man General, if that craft is in his possession…"
"Then it is lucky for us Major, this assignment is no longer yours…" Leaning to his left, the General spoke to an officer at his side. "Please, have the Sergeant enter"
"WHAT!?" the Major yelled with anger. "In my forty Years within this force, I have NEVER… Been relieved of ANY assignment, General!"
"Do Not address this board in that tone of voice Major" A voice called out from behind him.
Turning slowly towards the direction of the opening door, his face turned to stone as he saw who had entered the large darkened room. Gunnery Sergeant Kronos Cullen, the most feared man in the Coalition Forces, a legend, a man of which even the Generals themselves feared as he stepped at the side of the Major and smirked slightly as the Major shuffled his feet nervously.
"You are sending this… man?"
"I am well aware of the situation Major, and of whom I am too recover. As you would say, 'Send a Monster, to capture a Monster' Unless of course, you wish to contest this assignment?" Kronos said with a cold voice, almost challenging the Major.
"Do not test me, Gunny!" Jared said with a deep tone in his voice.
"I am aware of who and what you are Major, I have read your file. Most impressive, General… the Major will join me on this assignment. I will need his… expertise"
"Join YOU!" Jared yelled. "In case you have forgotten Gunny, I am the Officer, you are Enlisted. YOU join ME!"
"You have no idea what is at stake here Major. I recently returned from the Outer Provinces where I have been rotting over the past twelve years. Two hours ago, one of our Observational Satellites over the Alliance discovered something… shocking. Display the Image General, file 42453-Alpha" The Sergeant ordered with a half smile up on his face.
Appearing on all of the screens before the Generals as well as before the Major himself, an image appeared which shocked them all to their very core. A large white object in a high orbit above the planet. Walking towards the nearest monitor, the Sergeant spoke with a clear voice which echoed around the room like an explosion.
"Estimates put the object at 685 meters in length, 250 meters in width and 88 meters in height. This image is currently being analysed by our Intelligence sources. It is a… Star-Vessel of some kind, the markings on the hull display similar to those of the USS Copernicus. They have returned as we had always expected them to do and we believe that they have made contact with your Colonel Galen Antos…"
"Why has this board not been made aware of this… Sergeant?" A General said with fear and respect.
"Need to know General and you did not need to know, now you do. It is believed that Galen is negotiating with these Out-Worlders for their technology once again, under the direct orders of the Alliance Council, we can not be left behind on this Generals"
"Speculation, Gunny!" Jared growled.
"Truth… Major! One of their vessels made contact with Galen, shortly afterwards it disappeared from YOUR grasp along with the Colonel himself. One of the pilots within YOUR custody, General Wellis, disappeared in a similar fashion as reported by this creature at my side. I would recommend that ALL commands be placed on High Alert"
"We have no idea of what their motives are… Generals, this is all speculation from a scare-monger. I beg of you, do not put our forces on High Alert until we ascertain what is happening" Jared said as he stepped closer to the large bench.
"The Gunny is correct Major… however, you are also correct. Alert Status Two. Sergeant, for the duration of this Investigation, you are granted the Rank of Major, together you will both ascertain the truth behind this latest development. Dismissed!"
Captain's Log: Supplemental.
After a long debriefing of both Lieutenant Macdonough and Colonel Galen Antos, I had spent three hours informing Starfleet Command of the tenuous situation on the planet below and as per the orders of Admiral William Ross at Starfleet Command, I shall attempt to stabilise what has become a dangerous situation on the planet below.
Commander Riker, Lieutenant Macdonough and Colonel Galen have returned from a private meeting with the head of the Northern Alliance whom has agreed to return to the Enterprise with the away team to hear our concerns on the current status of the planet. She has agreed to our terms for peace negotiations, only if the First Minister of the Southern Coalition is present.
Joining Lieutenant Commander Data in the Stellar Cartography Lab, Colonel Galen looked over the display before him of a small town from the Southern Coalition, as the Android officer voiced his concerns of the assignment ahead. It seemed strange to the native Colonel of the planet below that the incredible technology of the Starship could be so sensitive, that he could actually read the fine-print off a newspaper advertisement which someone was reading far below.
"Colonel, are you certain of this course of action? There should be a more direct route for contacting the First Minister"
"I am certain Commander Data. My… contact, inside the Coalition has never failed me in the past. He has access to chains of communication that remain… a mystery to me. Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?" He said as he examined the Android's face carefully.
"Of course not Colonel"
"You are an Android, an artificial life form, which has been theorised on my world in Science Fiction for generations. Are there more of your kind, perhaps even one per vessel?"
"No sir, I am… unique" He said, almost bragging.
"I see. I know the feeling… we both share that in common. I am curious, the crew appears to treat you with the same respect as an organic life-form, I applaud that"
"Curious, what do you mean by… 'I know the feeling'?"
"My species reaches maturity as an adult by our tenth year, during which time, we are considered as adults. I entered into the Military Academy like my father and those who came before him. After my graduation from the academy, it was discovered that I had a certain… Moral Flexibility… and I was trained accordingly. Perhaps training is an… obsolete term, I was… programmed, chemically altered as an Operative for the Alliance and for forty years I did as I was programmed to do…" He said with a deep sigh. "… I was programmed as something that I have tried very hard too forget. There is a stain of blood on my hands that I can never erase. My memory, strength and reflexes along with all of my senses had been enhanced to a point where I can remember everything that I have ever done in the past…"
"As you would say… 'I know the feeling'" Data said slowly.
"I am a product of Genetic Engineering to a point where I had no choice but to isolate myself from the world. I was created in the response to another from the Coalition. I have done things that I can never undo, all I can do now is try to stop a war that I know is approaching fast…"
"Humans had a program of Genetic Engineering centuries ago Colonel, a program which almost destroyed them. I believe that is the man you are waiting for?" He said as he looked up at the screen.
"Yes, it is" Galen said with a smile.
The twin doors to the Stellar Cartography Lab hissed open before Data could reply as the Colonel stood at attention as the Captain, First Officer, Lieutenant Macdonough and the Alliance head of State entered the room. Looking around with a large smile up on her face, she spoke quickly before the doors closed behind them.
"I must say this Captain Picard, you have a most impressive vessel sir"
"Thank you Madam Regent. Mister Data, report?"
"We have located an isolated section of the town for transport Captain…"
"You can see directly into their town with this much clarity?" The Regent said with shock and awe.
"Please Ma'am, do not ask what I know you will. These people have rules about such a thing. Captain Picard, the man isolated on the screen is Jaresh Collis, codenamed Terex. He is a Merchant with an integrated well into the Coalition Command Structure. I am considered as an enemy officer by the Coalition with orders to be shot on sight, he is our best option of getting a message through. Assuming that you do not want to 'Beam Down' into the First Minister's office Captain?"
"Antos is right. You'll be shot instantly if you do that" Called out the young Regent.
"Can he be trusted Colonel?" Riker replied instantly.
"No Commander. I will have to call in every favour I have with this… little man. Captain do you have anyone who can make civilian clothing suitable for this location for myself? I also believe that Commander will wish to join me, Alison?"
"Yes Colonel, I will. Just so that you know, this will be my Away Mission…" Riker said harshly.
"With all due respect to the Commander, this is my Homeworld, I know these people and their customs as well as the terrain. Commander with respect, you should follow my lead on this, assuming that the Regent and Captain Picard agrees with me?" Galen said harshly.
"Will, he is right. However Colonel, you will follow Commander Riker's instructions for the duration"
"Agreed Captain. I know Antos, I have known him since I was a child, he was my late father's favourite soldier. However Antos, the Captain and Commander are correct in that we must follow their regulations. Nevertheless, you are more familiar with the Coalition then they are. Commander Riker, please forgive me for being so blunt when I say that although I believe that you are a fine officer, the Colonel has been specifically trained for assignments such as this and as such, he does know what he is doing…"
"Will, brief the Colonel on what he needs to know before you beam down" Picard said with an impressed smile at the young woman next to him. "Madam Regent, you make an excellent diplomat"
"She was trained since she was child Captain Picard. Literally raised to replace her father one-day" Galen replied.
"I could never replace my father, only succeed him. He was a great man and an even greater leader of our people, peace with our brothers was always he first choice"