Milky Way Galaxy
Alpha Quadrant
Sol System
Earth
Starfleet Command
"As you are no doubt aware, councilors, we have an extraordinary opportunity. The chance to explore not one but two entire galaxies."
The Federation Council was in session, discussing the latest turn of events.
Fleet Admiral Morrow stood in the center of the council chambers. "The planet Naboo in the new galaxy has petitioned for trade negotiations and the possibility of Federation membership. And on this side, the chance to use the hyperdrive created by Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott of the USS Enterprise to explore both galaxies is an opportunity many are hopeful for. To that end, we submit that the remaining Constitution class ships be refitted and upgraded to the same specs as the Enterprise, but we also have six new ship designs to help signal a new of exploration."
"Admiral," A Councilor spoke up. "No one is debating the opportunity we have been given but there are pressing concerns. The fact is, the time and resources spent on the refit of the Enteprise took over eighteen months. The number of resources is costly, and it would only take half the time to build an entirely new ship then it would be to refit an older ship."
"True, Councilors but we have to consider the reality is that between exploring this new galaxy, our own and ensuring our worlds are still protected Starfleet at the current moment does not have that many ships. It is even more imperative in the wake of the Enterprise's return from the Gamma Quadrant with the news of the aggressive power calling itself the Dominion." Morrow spoke. "Refitting the rest of the Constitutions would help solve that problem and the new ship designs with the latest equipment would make us better suitable to continue protecting our space and begin exploration into the new galaxy. We are also making plans to set up a starbase near the new wormhole leading to the planet Naboo on the other side."
"That's all well and good, Admiral." Another Councilor stood up. "But given the recent conflict with the Klingons, the resurgence of the Romulans and the constant skirmishes with the Orions, this apparent Dominion and other threats watching us, I am wondering why my world should commit resources to building up a fleet for Starfleet's flight of fancy starship designs that will be far away on another galaxy, rather than protecting our worlds. Especially given how things worked out for Starfleet when resources were committed to building the new Atlas class."
Morrow kept himself from wincing, remembering that debacle. The Atlas class had been intended to replace the Constitution class before its refit as the new front ship of Starfleet and had been very resource intensive and Starfleet had promised what this class would be able to achieve in strength and speed. However, when finished, the new ship design turned out to be a complete failure, being only slightly better then the pre-refit Constitution class.
"Andoria refuses to commit resources to these designs." The Councilor for Andoria spoke up. "Why should we shoulder the burden for trying to explore two whole galaxies when we should only focus on the corner of our galaxy?"
"Nor will the people of Tellarite." The Tellarite Councilor agreed.
There were mutters from the other councilors before Ambassador of Vulcan, Sarek of Vulcan stepped forward. "Admiral Morrow, logic forces me to agree with my fellow councilors. We cannot supply the resources for these new designs or commit to refitting the fleet."
"Then how can we defend ourselves if no one is willing commit to keeping our ships running?" Another councilor questioned. "It's not as if we can literally imagine new ships into existence."
Arguments and debates broke out among the council chamber before the President stood up. "Silence! SILENCE!"
The Council chamber quickly quieted itself.
"I believe it is time to vote." The President cut in, deciding to get straight to the point.
"Shields collapsing!"
"We have a hull breach in engineering!"
"Structural integrity is failing!"
Why was he seeing this?
The bridge was burning, crewmembers were injured, burning and bleeding.
"Life support down to ten percent. We can't-"
Then all was silent.
Everyone stopped screaming while the fires raged around them.
Then they all turned to him.
"This is all your fault." They said as one, pointing at him.
"Your fault."
"Your fault."
"Your fault."
"Your fault."
"Your fault."
"AH!" The man in bed shouted as he sat up, finally awakened from the horrible nightmare he had experienced.
Taking a few short breaths, he looked around carefully as if expecting to see the bloody and burning faces surround him and speak in those haunted voices again…
It was only after a few minutes of carefully looking around did he finally lie back down and stared up at the ceiling with a remorseful look on his face.
Would he ever have a good night's rest again?
Earth
Okinawa, Japan
Daystrom Institute
In the years following the M-5 incident, the Daystrom Institute had fallen out of favor with Starfleet, given the loss of life that had happened. Dr. Richard Daystrom had spent a year in a mental facility and was successfully rehabilitated.
If only the damage done by his last great experiment had been as easy to fix.
Four hundred fifty-three lives lost.
A Federation ship destroyed.
His reputation stained by his hubris.
He was frankly surprised he had been allowed back to work at the institute he had founded. In fact, he knew many people did not consider him a great leader to still be running the institute.
He couldn't blame them.
In his office, he put a picture of three Federation Constitution ships on the walls and the names of their crew that had died under his watch were placed underneath the ships to remind him.
USS Excalibur
-400
USS Lexington
-53
USS Enterprise
-1
"Front desk to Dr. Daystrom." A voice from his computer spoke which he immediately answered.
"Yes?"
"Commodore Robert April is here to see you but he doesn't appear to have an appointment set up."
Robert April?
The first man to captain the Enterprise?
Daystrom hadn't seen him since the Enterprise had first launched. So why was he here now?
"Should I ask him to book an appointment?"
"No, I'll see himself. Send him up."
A few minutes later the door opened, and Robert entered. "Rick, did I catch you at a bad time?"
"Of course not, Bob." Daystrom gestured for Robert to take a seat. "The truth is, I have no bad times at all. Even with all our science divisions we haven't exactly had any pressing work as of late."
"Especially from Starfleet." Robert sat down. "And how are you holding up?"
"Me?" Daystrom raised an eyebrow.
"Rick, come on. We both know the institute is falling on hard times after your falling out with Starfleet." Robert stated.
"You mean after I made a murdering machine." Daystrom drawled, sighing as he sat back in his chair. "I haven't been sleeping, even after I was declared rehabilitated."
Robert looked at the pictures of the starships on the wall, seeing their names and numbers. "I can understand but maybe you put too much blame on yourself."
"Who else can I blame, Bob? My machine, my mind, everything the M-5 was came from me." Daystrom looked out the window. "The man who once revolutionized how technology works for Starfleet. I wanted so bad to surpass all my previous works because I hated how others were improving my designs. If I was half the genius, I thought I was, there would be nothing to improve."
"Improving is what we strive for every day, Rick. Those people improved your work because you gave them something to strive for. It is not a crime to try and surpass your idol. Think of how many people Albert Einstein or Stephen Hawking inspired in their days." Robert stated. "You're still that same man, Rick."
"I am more than that. I'm not only washed up, I perverted my own work." Daystrom stood up and walked over to the window. "Starfleet terminated its business with my institute, the families of the people on those my invention destroyed hold me in contempt and many people here at my own work think I'm not fit to lead anymore. Can you honestly blame them, Bob?"
Robert could honestly say he couldn't blame the families of those who died on the Excalibur and the Lexington but he hated to see his old friend torturing himself like this.
"At night, when I sleep, I see myself on the bridge of the Excalibur, in the last moments of the crew as they are being fired upon. I scream at them to flee, turn the ship around and flee as they are being fired upon. I watch as they scream and die under fire…And just as it is about to end, they look at me…" Daystrom shuddered. "They all look at me with those…same…haunting…eyes. They look at me…And they say…. It's all my fault…At the very same time…Their voices loud and echoing you could even hear them through the vacuum of space. I can even hear them as I wake up screaming in the middle of the night. It's not just a sign of my unending guilt, Bob." He looked at Robert, a look pained remorse on his features. "The dead have decreed I can never be forgiven."
Robert watched as Daystrom sat back down, pressing his hands against his face. There was a moment of silence before Robert walked over to the food synthesizer on the wall and brought out two glasses of water.
He brought one over to Daystrom who accepted, taking a nice long sip and sighed. "I can only guess how long I look. Perhaps I shouldn't have been released."
"Rick, what you feel is the same as many people in Starfleet. We all have lost people to our mistakes, but we struggled with our guilt, and we try move on and honor the dead in continuing their work." Robert took a sip from his own glass. "Maybe the dead can't forgive you…But that shouldn't discourage from trying to honor them and make amends."
Daystrom put his glass on the table. "It'll be a long road for me, Bob. Speaking of, what even brought you here?"
"To see you and maybe ask for your help." Robert said honestly. "The truth is, even with the discovery of the new galaxy, Starfleet's having trouble."
Daystrom raised an eyebrow. "I would have thought Starfleet would be flourishing. God knows, the many people here would literally kill to get on a ship, go through the wormhole or as the young people are calling it, the Gateway and see this brand new galaxy."
"We would be, but the truth is, our resources were stretched in updating the Enterprise, her sister ships, along with the Miranda and the Akula class. Starfleet submitted six new designs and the council rejected every single one."
"Rejected?" Daystrom looked surprised and Robert showed him a PADD that showed the new starship designs. "Constellation, Yamato, Soyuz, Okinawa, Ulyssess, Excelsior. These ship designs…They are impressive."
"I am glad you think so." Robert said with a small smile. "Starfleet believed it was a sure bet the Council would give the approval, but our resources are being stretched to the point they feel it would be a waste and ironically they want more ships defending their worlds that have the resources we need."
"What about the new galaxy?" Daystrom asked.
"We've formed official ties with the first planet to make contact with us, Naboo. Aside from some plasma reserves in the planet's crust and basic ores and metal, there's nothing we have yet coming from the other side to solve our problems." Robert stated. "The Andorians and the Tellarites were the most vocal in rejecting these new designs."
"You say the entire council rejected them?" Daystrom questioned.
"I did." Robert nodded.
"…Including the Vulcans." Daystrom prodded.
Robert stopped and looked at Daystrom. "…Yes?"
"The Vulcans are a race driven by logic. They would see the benefit of these new designs." Daystrom stated. "So why would these reject them?"
Robert tried to think of a reason…but couldn't think of an answer.