Kraktow city
Chi Herculis IV
0916 hours local time
Trip stood at the cell door, waiting for someone in charge to take notice of them. Rojas paced and T'Pol meditated. Barzak sat comfortably on the cold stone floor. He was awake but very lethargic.
The cell was cramped, built to accommodate the shorter daywalkers rather than humanoids. The ceiling was a little over an inch or two above Trip's head.
The night troopers' antennae had sniffed out Barzak right away. Trip wondered that it was a miracle they weren't all summarily executed. First Officer Banes had mediated on their behalf with the troopers, calming them down and suggesting taking them prisoner rather than lasering them all with extreme prejudice.
Trip waited patiently. Considering their nature as three different species accompanying the nocturnal, he was convinced someone of import would likely come to question them.
Lethargic and listless as Barsak was at the moment, he had nevertheless given Trio a brief overview of the troubled history of the nocturnals and daywalkers. Trip felt like it would have to be enough.
Soon enough a member of the soldier division approached the door.
Speaking through the bars, it asked, "Which of you is the leader?"
"I suppose that would be me." Trip responded,
"You will come." The soldier said. "The rest will stay."
Trip allowed himself to be ushered from the cell, led away on a dizzying path through corridors open to the sky. Sunlight glistened off the back of the soldier.
He was eventually led to an open courtyard. There another skywalker waited, flanked by two members of the soldier division. Trip could tell from the abundance of memory nodes on the creature's back that this must be the skywalker historian.
The historian wasted no time.
"Who are you?" He asked. "Where did you come from?"
"My name is Captain Charles Tucker." Trip responded. "I'm from the starship Enterprise."
"Banes has told us of these 'starships'." The historian said. "Is it true that they travel faster than light?"
"It's true." Trip said. "We have an engine that allows it."
"But you will not share this technology with us."
"I'm afraid our rules make that impossible."
"We know that the nocturnals are rebuilding your crashed starship." The historian said. "There is a danger that they will uncover this technology without your help .They are excellent builders."
"Be that as it may, the Enterprise will make first contact with whichever of you conducts warp trials first."
"We will mount an invasion tomorrow to seize the starship remains. We must make first contact before the nocturnals."
"That will lead to significant loss of life on both sides."
"There's nothing else we can do. We cannot allow the nocturnals to make first contact and preclude our joining the spacefaring coalition of planets."
"There's another way."
"And what is that?"
"Make peace with the nocturnals. Conduct the first warp trial together."
"Surely you're joking. We can never make peace with the nocturnals."
"Not with that attitude. Whichever of you makes first contact will lead to the other being relegated to second class citizens of this planet."
"We will make first contact. I'm sure our builders are up to the task, once the nocturnals are wiped out for good."
"The coalition will never allow you to join while you're keeping another species in subjugation."
"What do you suggest we do? We can never make peace with the nocturnals. They are barbarians."
"They say the same things about you. They call you murderers. Why not prove them wrong?"
"You don't understand the history of our people. We have been at war for generations."
"Ever since you killed their envoy."
"He was accompanied by a squad of soldiers. We could not allow them to come close to our historian. Their intentions were obvious. To gather intelligence on our defenses and murder him."
"There's obviously been a misunderstanding."
"There was no mistaking their intentions. Why else come with a squad of soldiers? The envoy should have come alone."
"Perhaps they feared you as much as you feared them."
"The envoy should have come alone."
"How could they possibly know that was a condition?"
"It should have been obvious."
"Perhaps to you, but not to them."
"This discussion is pointless. We will gather in force and crush the nocturnals. Take away their starship before it can be launched."
"Are you sure you want to preside over such a loss of life? On both sides!"
"What are you suggesting? That I accompany the soldiers and put myself in harm's way?"
"The nocturnals said you killed their secondary historian, so I know you can make backups."
"You are asking me to risk my life!"
"Absolutely. It's what a true historian would do. Lead their people by example. We'll even accompany you, to make sure there are no misunderstandings. Put ourselves in harm's way right along with you."
"You would do that?"
"I don't foresee any danger. We're already on the nocturnals good side."
"And you think they will hold off attacking because you are with us?'
"I'm sure of it."
The historian was silent for a moment, thinking it over.
"We will build an envoy to accompany you. You will go with a squad of soldiers."
"Hold off on the soldiers. And come yourself. It will make the proper first impression if the historian comes alone."
The historian waved his antennae fretfully.
"You ask too much!"
"Think about it. You'll go down in history as the first historian to meet with the nocturnals in over two hundred years."
"And if the nocturnals kidnap me? Hold me for ransom?"
"Build a replacement, then they'll have no bargaining chip to hold over your people."
The historian thought it over.
"You are very persuasive, but I remain unconvinced."
"Just imagine it. Your people and the nocturnals presiding over a warp trial together. That would make the right first impression to the coalition."
"And you think they will allow us to join?"
"I'm sure of it."
The historian's antennae wiggled fretfully, thinking it over.
"I will consider it." He said. "You will return to your people."
With that the original soldier moved forward to take Trip in tow. They left the historian's chamber and traveled again through another confusing path of open-air corridors, until Trip was shoved forcefully into the cell.
They waited.
Day passed into night and the three of them made do with ration packs for dinner. Barzak came around after dark, his batteries recharged from the daylight sun. The Enterprise crew napped on the cold stone floor, exhausted from their travels.
Night passed into day. It was well after noon before the soldier returned. Barzak was once again listless.
This time the soldier entered the cell and bound Barzak's arms above his head, to keep from using his laser arm, presumably.
"You will all accompany me." The soldier said.
They were led back to the historian's chamber, but now there were two of them. Trip couldn't tell them apart. Barzak had barely kept up with them, shoved forward a time or two by the soldier.
First Officer Banes was in accompaniment.
"I have considered your request." The first historian spoke, once they had entered the courtyard. "This is Krik, my secondary."
"I am pleased to meet you." Said the second historian.
"I will go with you." Said the first historian. "We will be accompanied by two soldiers and a medical officer."
Trip could see a fourth daywalker, blue in color with a red band signifying a soldier subclass. It was undoubtedly fixed with a laser like the two soldiers.
"I don't suppose I can talk you out of bringing soldiers with you." Trip said.
"No." The historian said, simply.
"Very well, If that's the best we can do then we'll have to make the most of it." Trip responded. "I doubt it will make much difference. The nocturnals are fitted with energy dispersive armor."
"These soldiers' weapons are overpowered. They should be able to kill any nocturnal that attempts to delay us."
"I don't think the nocturnals will let you get close without at least some delay."
"Let us hope not."
"When do we leave?"
"Immediately."
The historian proved true to his word. The eight of them, Banes included, left right away, out through several open courtyards to the southern gate, which had already been repaired from when Barzak had breached it.
Out they marched, into the morning sun. Barzak remained lethargic and slow, and the soldiers were forced to usher him along. Banes remained silent.
"This one is slowing us down." Said one soldier. "We should kill it."
"Negative." Replied the historian. "We will use him as a hostage to ensure our safety."
The group carried on, with no further discussion. Trip wondered what kind of first impression they would make with the nocturnals. Two soldiers, a historian and a medical officer. All in the presence of four aliens and a nocturnal scout. It was a motley crew at best.
Day turned into night. The historian and medical officer were forced to slumber. Trip learned then that the two soldiers were night troopers, with their batteries fully charged in the daytime sun.
They ran afoul of another slaknik, but the soldiers, immune to its flashing attack, made short work of it, before Trip and the others could respond with the phase pistols that had been returned to them. Barzak was rendered immobile, but it didn't matter.
Night turned into day, and the soldiers were forced to usher Barzak along again.
They reached the nocturnal camp at midday. Only the nocturnal historian and two soldiers were in evidence.
The Horizon had apparently been completed, as the outer hull, fashioned from gleaming crystalline panels, was whole again. Trip could see frantic movement through the portals of the vessels. The nocturnals, hidden from the midday sun, were busy must be where the rest of the nocturnals were.
They approached the nocturnal historian without challenge. He and his soldiers were immobile in the daylight.
The nocturnal historian stirred, then smacked the heads of the soldier he accompanied to rouse them when he saw the group approaching. The soldiers snapped to attention, as much as they were able in the sunlight.
"Stay where you are!" The historian exclaimed.
"We come in peace." Trip said, quickly. "This historian is here to talk to you."
"There is nothing to talk about." The nocturnal historian said. "You will be fired upon if you don't depart immediately."
"Just give him a chance." Trip said. "He's come with only two soldiers and a medical officer. He only wants to talk peace."
"A vile daywalker trick, no doubt."
"No tricks." Trip responded. "Just peace talks. The historian has come all this way, putting himself at your mercy. Why not give him a chance?"
"He's a daywalker historian. What else but to destroy him and leave the daywalkers leaderless?"
"He's built a backup historian. There's nothing to be gained by destroying him. He learned that trick from you."
"They have breached our territory. That is reason enough to destroy them."
"You seem evenly matched. I doubt things will go the way you expect. These soldiers are armed with overcharged energy weapons, to overcome your dispersal armor."
"They've come to kill us!"
"Not at all. As I've said, the historian is here to talk peace."
"Only because they know we have fixed the starship. They don't want to be left behind."
"And what's wrong with that?" Banes responded "Don't you know it will look better to the coalition if you present a unified front?"
"That requires cooperation with the daywalkers." The historian said to Banes. "That is impossible."
"It's quite possible" Trip interjected. "All you need to do is preside over the first peace talks between your two people."
"Why have you sided with the daywalkers against us? Didn't we treat you well when you were among us?"
"I'm not siding with anyone. I'm here to mediate."
"Then you've been fooled by the daywalkers."
"Listen. He's here on his own. No one's forcing him to put himself at your mercy. Please, just consider what he has to say."
The nocturnal historian thought it over, antenna waving.
He thought it over for some time.
"Very well." He responded at last. "But only because you have vouched for him."
"Good. I'm sure your people can come to an understanding."
"We will meld." The nocturnal historian said. "That is the only way to ensure there is no trickery."
"I will not meld with a nocturnal!" The daywalker historian exclaimed.
"It is the only way we will proceed. Otherwise my soldiers will drive you from this place." The nocturnal argued.
The daywalker growled about it, but eventually conceded.
The two historians approached one another, antennae caressing and joining with one another. Both historians went silent, engrossed in unspoken communication.
This went on for some time. Until Trip was forced to engage one of the nocturnal soldiers.
"Have your builders managed to figure out the warp core?" He asked.
"We think so." The soldier replied. "The onboard database was quite helpful, once the historian downloaded it to the builders."
"Good grief," Trip replied. "He downloaded the entire database?"
"Indeed. It was no trouble."
"That's over a thousand terabytes of information!" Trip exclaimed.
"We had to build more memory nodes for the historian. But it was easily done in the end."
"That's incredible!"
"The coalition of planets is quite interesting." The soldier said. "Tellarites, Vulcans and Andorians. I can't wait to meet them."
"If your people manage to come together, I'm sure the meeting will go well."
"I don't have the mind for such things. We can only hope our two historians can reach an understanding. I would hate to have to kill you."
"Same here."
The "talks" went on for some time, with the two historians communicating in silence through their antennae.
Eventually, just before the sun set, the two historians broke away from one another.
"I have made my decision." The daywalker historian said. "I will accompany the nocturnals with the medical officer. I will oversee the first warp trial as an ambassador of my people."
"Absolutely not!" Cried one of the daywalker soldiers. "You'll be at their mercy without us!"
"As I've said, I have made my decision." Replied the historian.
Banes spoke up.
"They do realize the medical officer is armed, don't they?" She asked.
"They do." Replied the historian. "They are willing to make that concession."
"I'm coming with you." She said, "We all are."
"Outstanding." Trip said. "We'll be right on hand to make first contact. Officially this time."
The daywalker soldiers grumbled about it, but they were unable to convince their historian to change his mind.
As night approached, the daywalker historian and medical officer were forced to sleep, guarded by his two night troopers.
When day broke, the daywalker historian wasted no time boarding the Horizon. Trip and his fellow aliens followed.
Trip marveled at the ship once he was hull was thicker than normal but he reasoned that the crystalline structures were likely lighter and more durable than duranium. Crystals grew everywhere, shaped into work stations and monitoring ports that the nocturnals could work with their thicker fingers.
The bridge was largely intact, its consoles replaced with more crystals. There the nocturnal historian took position, protected from the lethargy-inducing daylight. Yellow colored nocturnals manned the stations, each of them working frantically to prepare the Horizon to break orbit.
It was done quickly, with Trip and the others barely having time to brace themselves before the Horizon took off. The ship shimmied dangerously at first, but the bridge crewmen soon got it under control.
The Horizon broke orbit in less than an hour.
Now the true test began. Breaking warp one.
"Set course for Chi Herculis III." The historian ordered. "Engage warp engine."
The helmsman responded quickly. The ship began to shudder and buck, but the historian ignored it.
"One kilometer per second." The helmsman reported.
"Two kilometers per second."
The ship continued to shake.
"Three kilometers per second."
The ship's bucking became more pronounced, but the historian continued to ignore it. Suddenly the stars on the main viewscreen began to slowly grow slightly linear.
"We have achieved warp one." The helmsman reported, eagerly.
No fanfare or celebration marked the occasion. The bridge crew manned their stations quietly, though antennae waved excitedly all around the room.
"Congratulations, historians." Trip said. "Welcome to the space faring species of the galaxy."
"We accept your welcome most thankfully." The nocturnal historian responded.
"Indeed." Replied the daywalker historian. "We are quite pleased."
Trip, Sarev, T'Pol and Rojas all were transported back to the Enterprise. Banes elected to stay behind, to live out her life with the daywalkers.
Trip took command of the bridge from Lieutenant Junior Grade Mostarov. He wasted no time issuing the order to contact Starfleet with a report of first contact.
He took the call with Admiral Black in the captain's ready room. The admiral was very pleased, to say the least.
"Outstanding work." He said, from the console. "Nice job making peace between the two species, what with their mutual history."
"It wasn't easy, but we managed it."
"Don't sell yourself short. That was an amazing bit of diplomacy."
"In the end, the two species had more in common than not. It was just a matter of getting them together in talks."
"As you say." Black responded. "I'll be putting you in for a commendation after this."
Trip chuckled. "I'll accept it graciously."
"Just keep the two sides talking. That's all we can ask."
"Will do, Admiral."
"Well, I'll let you get back to it." Admiral Black said. "Congratulations."
The Admiral signed off with nothing more than that, leaving Trip alone with his thoughts.
The locals, dubbed the Amonites by Starfleet, were scarily good at engineering. He'd had a chance to check out their engineering department and he was blown away with how they'd copied the Horizon's warp engine with their crystalline components. It promised a mutually cooperative exchange with the coalition. Maybe even an invitation to join, based on nothing more than that.
The door chimed.
"Come in." Trip said.
T'Pol entered the room.
:"Has the Admiral sufficiently stroked your ego?" She asked.
Trip laughed. "Most definitely. He's putting me in for a commendation. Can you believe that?"
"A well deserved commendation, I'm sure." T'Pol responded. "I was quite impressed with your skill at diplomacy. I wouldn't have expected as much from a human. No offense."
"None taken."
"I suppose we may be here for some time. I imagine the nocturnals and daywalkers still have other clans to make contact with."
"That's the plan." Trip said. "Hopefully we won't encounter as much resistance with the clans that aren't in conflict with one another."
"I imagine much conflict still exists. The nocturnals and daywalkers are too dissimilar for peace to be the default. Or perhaps they are too much alike."
"We'll deal with it as best we're able."
"A similar diplomatic approach is likely all that is required. We should prove up to the task."
"Can't say I'm looking forward to more diplomacy. I'm more comfortable with warp engine breaches."
"If you follow the same avenue as before, I'm sure you'll do well."
"I'll do whatever I have to do."
"I'm sure that will prove adequate."
Trip remained silent.
"I must meditate." T'Pol said. "I was not able to do so very often on the surface. I expect neuropressure tonight."
"Consider me there, with bells on."
"Bells will not be necessary."
"Just a figure of speech."
"I am aware."
"See you at 1900 hours."
T'Pol left Trip to his thoughts.
He considered that the two species had surely come into conflict among the other clans. More diplomacy would likely be required. Who knows how long the Enterprise would be needed here.
But they had all the time in the world. Enterprise wasn't slated for anything more than astronomical observations. The stars could wait.
They'd gotten the two sides together without too much difficulty. It had been easy enough that Trip suspected they secretly longed for peace all along. Trip resolved then and there to do whatever was necessary to bring peace to the planet. With the two historians backing him up, he doubted there would be much trouble among the clans.
Trip left the ready room and took command, in order to oversee the Horizon's reentry into the planet. He looked forward to neuropressure with T'Pol.
He had a lot to look forward to.