Milky Way Galaxy
Alpha Quadrant
Sol System
Earth
San Francisco
Starfleet Command

Accessing Daystrom Institute Database

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Opening File: Project Columbia MK III

The following design is based on a refit version of the hundred-year-old NX-Columbia Class that was fielded during the Earth-Romulan War. Due to advances in technology allowing for more sophistication and more complex but required less room as well as the new design taking the same modular approach that was used in the refit of the USS Enterprise, this new design allows for more internal space. The lower deck design features four removable modules, allowing them to be easily ejected and replaced while docked at a Starbase. Though easily modified, the main module design is meant for hauling cargo, taking into account of a brand-new galaxy to explore and possibly colonize.

Module 1:

The first module comes with various environmental controls while functioning primarily as a cargo bay, allowing for the transport of various materials throughout the Federation and beyond. The first module is focused on the transport of delegates such as ambassadors or councilors, taking into account of the various needs of beings from planets with different environments.

Module 2:

This module is separated by decks and contains multiple cabins in one, two and family travel sizes. Each cabin features its own environmental controls, allowing for environments suitable for anything from humanoids to even Tholians.

Module 3:

The third module is designed for massive personnel and troop transportation with large barrack style rooms. Each module design always has its own personal transporter powered by its own miniature reactor to account for the possibility of main power failure, increasing the chances of survival of the passengers and crew. The engineering section remains unchanged but now added with specially designed explosive bolts added as backup to allow the starship to discard the engineering sections in the event of a warp core breach. The original engineering section that housed the main warp core before the refit would now function as the impulse engineering room while the upper decks of the saucer section are converted to crew quarters, sick bay, scientific and recreational facilities.

Improvements to computer control and components shows that this design only requires ten officers to effectively control the ship, however the standard crew complement would be fifty-two officers and crew members.

Module 4:

A fourth and final module personally designed by Dr. Daystrom and the gathered research team allows for the ship to be easily converted to a hospital ship.

"As you can see, ladies and gentlemen, the idea is not for taking more resources from other worlds to build up our fleet but to, more or less recycle older vessels, making them useable again and from there we build our numbers to find and explore more worlds, transport cargo and resources and even act as medical ships should the need arise."

Dr. Daystrom knew he was taking a big risk here. Starfleet had not forgotten the M-5 incident and the cost that had come from blindly trusting him before.

"Due to the advancements in our technology, it is not only more complex it's much smaller and even more complex than what was used twenty years ago in the Constitution class. This will allow for more available internal space." Daystrom continued. "And of course, I understand that Starfleet is taking a new approach to the design aesthetic. We estimate that the NX's original hull paint will need to be stripped down to its white under layer, sections will need to be polished and the rest will receive a pearlized coating. The final change would be the nacelles."

Daystrom highlighted the nacelles of the holographic ship design.

"The original ones will have to be detached and received a new nacelle design based on the nacelles used by the Oberth class."

"Dr. Daystrom, I noticed that while these nacelles looked like the ones used by the Oberth, they are very different." A Starfleet admiral spoke up.

Daystrom cleared his throat. "During our work, we came to the conclusion that the Oberth's warp nacelles would not fit with the new design. On my recommendation, the design team created a new nacelle design with components that would be integrated into the ship design. The simulations suggest that the new design, while the nacelles look the same in appearance, would have superior speed."

This was it now.

He had made his presentation to them.

Now it was all up to chance now.

Finally, Commodore Robert April stood up. "Dr. Daystrom, in light of your newest design," He then smiled. "I do not presume to speak on behalf of the admiralty here but I find your design to be exactly what we need."

"I agree."

"So do I."

"I am in agreement as well but I have one small detail to point out." One of the admirals, Cartwright pointed out. "I must point out the lack of weapons on this ship. Surely you did not forget to consider a weapons design for this new class."

Daystrom cleared this throat. "With respect, Admiral, I am probably the last person expected to be trusted by anyone here when it comes to designing weapons. In any case, my only goal has been to try to create the perfect systems and designs to see to the health and safety of the crews of the ships we send out to explore the unknown. Weapons design is not what I consider how to best protect our people."

"But they are still needed." Cartwright pointed out. "The original NX, even before its refit was still designed to defend itself and in the wake of this new galaxy, we can now explore we cannot be too careful. We've already made a few enemies when the Enterprise took part in the battle on the planet Naboo."

"I should remind you, Admiral Cartwright, that the Enterprise only took part when the enemy purposely attacked and provoked them and even then, they tried to find a diplomatic solution and provided the Queen and her people with technical details on how to end the war faster." Robert April replied.

"Yes, I am not condemning the Enterprise and her crew for their actions, but we must consider we have made both allies and enemies. I understand the Trade Federation to be a large trading company with an army of machines big enough to start a full-scale war under the premise that they are only used to defend themselves from pirate attacks. If we begin exploring this galaxy and start establishing diplomatic relations we have to consider that this new design will be implemented into our diplomatic and express corps." Cartwright stated. "And let's not forget, we have our hands full with the Orions in our backyard. Recycling our old ships to build up our fleet numbers is one thing, but we also have to consider properly arming themselves to protect their crew and passengers if all other alternatives fail. I think we should consider this before this is presented to the Council."


Okinawa, Japan
Daystrom Institute

"I cannot believe these warhawks sit on the admiralty." Daystrom paced around his office in frustration.

"He's not wrong." April replied, him and a few other admirals and scientists, having arrived to speak with Daystrom.

"I have already seen the disaster of weapons being controlled by something of my design." Daystrom stopped at the window. "I can't go through that again."

"Rick, like it or not, weapons are necessary to have on any starship even it is only minimal" Robert stated. "Admiral Cartwright is right on the matter of the Orions, along with Raiders, space entities, and enemy vessels still being prevalent throughout the galaxy. To send a starship out without weapons would significantly reduce the vessel and crew's chances of survival."

Daystrom wanted to argue, he truly did but as a man of science and reason, he couldn't find any flaw in the logic. He walked over to his desk and sat down, bringing up a holographic image to the new Columbia design he and his team worked so hard to create and perfect. His mind went over the design one more time.

"Eight phaser emitters. Three on the top and lower hulls of the saucer section. The remaining two placed here on the engine hull." Daystrom pointed to the highlighted sections of the designs. "We can have two photon torpedo launchers on the ventral section of the saucer like on the old Constitution design."

Robert looked over the added design, sharing a look with his fellow admirals who all nodded in agreement.

"Then we are in agreement." Robert said with a small smile just before his communicator beeped and he took it out. "…And just in time too."

"Something wrong?" Daystrom asked.

"The Enterprise has just returned, and they have several requests."


Skyriver Galaxy
Mid-Rim
Chommell Sector
Naboo System
Naboo
Mantaris Transport
En-Route to Otoh Gunga

"Fascinating."

Kirk had to smile at Spock's catchphrase(not that Spock would ever admit to calling it that), given the sight of the underwater Gungan city. The city in question was a connected network of large, clear orb-like domes that were filled with bright yellow lights.

Spock had his tricorder out, preforming a scan. "I detect signs of natural plasma mixing with a form of underwater plant spores. The spores would have been boiled from coming into contact with the plasma, creating the material the city is made from. This city appears to have been naturally grown from the plasma reserves of the planet combined with the natural underwater environment."

"A homegrown city." Kirk sounded impressed. "Sounds like every environmentalist's dream."

"Indeed. I believe the energy powering those shields is a reaction from the meeting of the two substances, not unlike what you would find from a matter/anti-matter reaction."

During the original missions of the Enterprise, Kirk and the crew had encountered their share of aquatic species. The Aquans of planet Argo, living deep in the planet's oceans, were a highly developed race, capable of fantastic architecture and medical triumphs unheard of in the galaxy. They were also capable of eradicating memories. The Aquans had flat noses, long hair-like features on their heads, webbed hands, and loose fins on their ankles.

According to Aquan legend, corroborated by Starfleet observations, Argo was once a land planet, and the Aquans were air-breathers. However, seismic disturbances started to sink the land. Many air-breathers were mutated through Surgo-op. Although this was not evolution, the mutations became hereditary as the centuries passed.

Despite being a highly developed race, the Aquans were theorized to have become savage and violent due to the frightening nature of these events. They hunted and killed air breathers. The water breathing Aquans feared contamination with this violence. Water breathers remained fearful of them long after they passed into legend.

The Aquans were governed by a Ruling Tribunal of the Aquans, which was made up of a High Tribune and Junior Tribunes. They were guided by the Aquan ordainments. By the mid-23rd century, Aquan history consisted of legends about violent air breathers. In fact, with their ancient records stating that air breathers never came in peace, they were always on the lookout for air breather spies.

Aquans were averse to killing, even when it came to their hated enemies, air breathers. However, this aversion was not absolute. The Aquan's main weapons were nets. Their edibles were gathered.

Ancient Aquans were demonstrated to have a written language, which was recorded on scrolls which could last for long periods under water. In 2269, the crew of the USS Enterprise visited Argo and discovered the underwater society, which at this time was experiencing ideological divisions between generations, and relations between the younger and older members of Aquan society were strained. Upon making contact with the Aquans following an accident, the Enterprise crew managed to re-aquaint Aquans with the context of their history, as well as redirect a major seaquake to an unpopulated area and in the process raise one of the sunken cities. This encounter with benevolent air breathers had an impact on Aquan culture.

The younger Aquans planned to rebuild the above-water shelters, while the older ones felt they could not adjust to the thought of becoming air-breathers and planned to remain in their Aqua-City. The two factions planned to remain in contact.

Another example of aquatic races was the Megarite, a species that were members of the Federation but mostly reclusive.

Then of course, were the Xindi-Aquatics a non-humanoid race that evolved to live underwater. They were one of the six original species of Xindi, with whom they shared a common genetic ancestry. From what Kirk had read from the log journals of the famous Jonathan Archer, the Aquatics were complicated and enigmatic and were known to over-analyze, taking an excruciatingly long period of time to come to decisions; they once took six days just to agree to attend a specific meeting of the Xindi-Council. They responded better to visual stimuli and were extremely suspicious of the spoken word. They admired boldness and confidence and treated hushed tones with suspicion.

During the Xindi crises, the Xindi-Aquatics were the only ones willing to consider Archer's claims that the Guardians, better known as the Sphere Builders, were using them to destroy the humans and their home planet. They didn't trust Archer initially but couldn't let go of the possibility that he was telling the truth that the Guardians manipulated the Xindi. The Aquatics finally decided to help the Humans, when the NX-Enterprise promised to destroy the Sphere network. As a result, the Aquatics sent several of their ships with Enterprise, the Arboreals and the Primates, in their concerted effort to fight the Reptilians and the Insectoids.

Ultimately, most of their fleet was defeated when the Sphere-Builders triggered the spheres to create massive anomalies, which breached the hulls of the Aquatic ships, releasing water into space. After the destruction of the Xindi weapon, an Aquatic cruiser towed the NX-Enterprise back to Earth. Following that conflict, the Xindi closed their boarders to everyone, wanting no contact to be made as they rebuilt their own society as the manipulation by the Sphere Builders and had made them weary of outsiders and also because most humans at the time naturally distrusted the Xindi for the millions of lives lost during the Xindi attack on Earth.

Over the next century, relations between the Xindi and the Federation had become positive enough that it was likely they would eventually join.

The ship entered one of the buildings, through the hydrostatic force shielding and was immediately docked.


Otoh-Gunga
Council Chambers

"Hello, mesa new friends."

Kirk had briefly met Boss Rugar Nass before the battle to take back Naboo. Compared to the rest of the Gungans, Boss Nass was of a bigger build and looked very different. From what he had been told, Boss Nass was descended from an older branch of the Gungan race. Still, he had been elected as the 'boss' of the Gungan city and probably for a good reason.

"Mesa have little favor to ask you." Nass continued and pointed up. "We want a new Gungan city on the empty moon but der is no life there, nothing to build with, nothing to eat. One of yousa bring the plans and animals in da big Bongo ship. Yousa release the right creatures so the moon bombad with life, then wesa come to the moon. Dis creatures have new home and the Gungans too."

Well, he was a direct one, Kirk could admit.

"Which of yousa will help us?" Nass asked.

Kirk cleared his throat. "Boss Nass, we of the United Federation of Planets from the Milky Way Galaxy offer to help build your new city. But if you are willing to hear us, we would like offer a proposal."

"Oh? What is dat?" Nass asked.

"Would you consider a joint colony between the Gungan race and our Federation?" Kirk asked.

"Oh? Yousa want new home too?" Nass asked.

"Our people are in talks with the Naboo for trade and maybe to one day even apply for membership into our Federation, but each world would have to be united in that decision. Meaning the Gungans should have the choice to join us or not." Kirk reasoned.

"And what yousa offer da Gungans?"

"Beyond simple trade, your choice to remain autonomous. Each world in the Federation retains the right to self-govern its own people. You wouldn't have any obligations to give us anything and we would not ask anything aside from agreeing that as new members, you and the Naboo are equals in the eyes of the Federation and equal to all sentient beings." Kirk reasoned.

"And yousa no dink yousa better dan us?" Nass questioned.

"No." Kirk shook his head. "Every race is different, but difference can be a strength. Look around you, Boss Nass. See your city."

Boss Nass and a few of the other Gungans did so.

"You have created a unique city, grown from the resources of this planet itself. That is unique, even to us. There have been other races that live underwater like you but they life differently and never built anything like this." Kirk continued. "That makes you and the Gungan people unique, creative just you have proven to be brave and formidable warriors when you agreed to help fight for Naboo."

"Ah." Boss Nass was smiling. "Yousa nice Federation man. Yousa want us to join because yousa like da Gungans."

"And if we are allowed to build our own city with yours on the moon, we can show much of our galaxy that you can gain from. An exchange of not just goods and supplies, but of culture. You might not like outsiders but maybe if you can share one planet with the Naboo here, you can share one moon with us and show us how truly brave the Gungans really are." Kirk reasoned with a small smile.

Nass rubbed his chin in thought. "And if wesa say no?"

"Then we wouldn't ask anything else." Kirk answered.

Amidala stepped forward. "And we wouldn't force you into joining. Naboo is our world, Humans and Gungans. The choice to join should be made by all of us, not just the side that lives on the surface."

Boss Nass carefully considered this proposal. "If yousa help build new home for the Gungan, wesa will help Federation people build new home on da moon."

Kirk smiled. "Thank you, Boss Nass."

"Thisa be good training for Master Jedi." Nass continued, now looking to Obi-Wan. "Yousa be needin to know bombad many things to make wesa new home on the moon. Mesa give yousa wise, sacred creature, holder of much knowledge. The Kresch." Boss Nass held up a strange creature in his hands for the team to see.

It was a mollusk looking creature, slimy green in color.

"Mesa dink yousa might be needin some help on da moon. So…Jar-Jar, yousa get to go too."

Jar-Jar yelped in surprise. "W-W-What?!"

"To da moon will do yousa some good." Boss Nass looked at the other member of the team who had yet to be addressed. "And there's one more to help yousa. Hey, little mackineek."

R2 rolled forward. "Yes, boss?"

"Go on now, get on the big Bongo." Boss Nass waved both hands, dismissing them.

"Before we do that," Kirk stated. "Boss Nass, we have a situation gathering for our droid friend that we would like to ask for your help with."

"Hm?" Nass tilted his head.

"The people who made our little droid friend want him broken down and re-examined because he was given a powerful upgrade in our galaxy. One that is unlike any upgrade you can probably imagine." Kirk stated.

"Oh?" Nass leaned forward, looking at R2. "Yousa talk like us…Not like other droids who look like yousa."

"Thanks to my upgrade. In fact, Boss Nass, I could even upgrade this entire city to allow for more growth." R2 replied. "The problem is, my manufacturers believe that because I am a droid, I have no rights, even if I helped liberate Naboo. I applied for political asylum with the Federation to protect myself and because I want to live my life, carrying out my function."

"Hm…" Nass hummed.

"You Gungans are an honorable people, and you remember every enemy or ally your people have ever made. The question I have for you, Boss Nass, are you capable of considering even droids as friends if they have proved themselves to you?" R2 asked.

Nass rubbed his chin as a few other Gungan councilors whispered. "Yousa askin if wesa dink yousa mackineeks are as great as da Gungans?"

"Not all droids but can you recognize that some are capable of becoming more than just machines? You will be remembered for establishing peace between the Naboo and the Gungans. But you want to do more to ensure that you are remembered as a wise, strong leader, don't you?" R2 probed. "I ask you, would you fight for the rights of an ally, even if there is almost no chance of victory?"

"Hmm…" Nass leaned forward. "What yousa ask?"

"We are asking that you attend a trial that will determine if Mr. R2 has the right to be considered a true sentient being or is merely property of the Naboo to be turned over." Kirk stated. "We're not asking you to speak on his behalf, but to speak truly whether or not you would consider a droid that has become more than what it was intended to be? We ask you to speak truthfully like any Gungan."

Boss Nass carefully considered their words. "Hm…Yousa ask much of wesa…But mesa like this!"

Obi-Wan looked surprised while Kirk and Amidala smiled.

"Maybe little mackineek help us and we help little mackineek." Nass said before proceeding to shake his face, blubbering loudly.


Milky Way Galaxy
Alpha Quadrant
Sol System
Earth
San Francisco
Starfleet Command

"A hearing to decide if the astromech droid R2-D2 should be given equal rights?" Robert April read over the report. "Well, this came out of nowhere, Spock."

"Indeed, Commodore. President Kentas and a hanful of Naboo representatives are adamant we return R2 to them, citing that his request for asylum is null and void since droids have no rights in their eyes." Spock stated. "They want him back so they can study and possibly disassemble him so they can learn to create a new line of Astromech droids as advanced as him."

"A line of droids advanced as one who was upgraded by possibly the most advanced and smartest machine in the universe?" April raised an eyebrow. "I guess we shouldn't be surprise that corporate sharks were smelling blood in the water."

Spock raised an eyebrow. "An interesting saying, Commodore."

Robert managed a small smile. "Maybe but an accurate one. The fact is, the fact we can now travel between two galaxies has everyone Starfleet both excited and nervous. Add to the fact, that a single machine from the new galaxy has been upgraded to be the most advanced machine from their galaxy had even people over the Daystrom Institute excited. And if you were human, Spock, I am sure you would find it humorous that Dr. Daystrom has been helping us to solve our little problem."

"Problem?" Spock queried.

"Turns out many of the member worlds are reluctant to turn over resources to build up and upgrade the fleet, specifically the Vulcans." Robert answered. "You knew that the Vulcan High Command had begun disassembling and recycling older decommissioned ships?"

"I was aware that the proposal had been submitted by the time I had left Vulcan to return to Starfleet." Spock answered.

"Well, the Vulcan High Command believed we should follow their example and thus for once agreed with the Andorians and Tellarites in rejecting the ship designs." Robert then brought up an image of the new Columbia class design. "Dr. Daystrom was inspired to try this idea."

Spock looked over the design and was seemingly impressed. "Fascinating. A hundred-year-old design refitted to current specifications."

"We were just about to submit it to the council when the Enterprise returned." Robert answered. "So this hearing…"

"It is formerly a hearing where delegates from Industrial Automaton will be arguing that as a droid, R2-D2 has not rights to apply for asylum. While his personality is enough to be considered a sentient being under Federation law, while we have encountered machine races before they are not technically citizens." Spock stated.

"True. No machines like R2 have joined Starfleet before." Robert nodded. "What is your plan?"

"Admiral Kirk has already asked for a lawyer to represent Mr. R2, Samuel T. Cogley." Spock answered.

"Oh him." Robert chuckled and shook his head. "Of course it would be him."

"And if Starfleet would allow it, we would like to call upon a few witnesses who have had encounters with artificial life forms." Spock continued, submitting a data pad to Robert who looked it over.

"Sounds like this shaping up to be something big." Robert commented as he looked over the names.

"Indeed." Spock agreed.

"Well, I should let you know that someone else wishes to meet with Mr. R2." Robert stated.

"And that is?"


Earth Orbit
Shuttle

Dr. Daystrom fidgeted slightly in his seat before he got up and approached the cockpit, taking a good look at the ship that would be taking him to the new galaxy.

It was in dry dock and it was a Constitution class ship, a newly refitted Constitution Mk II to be exact.

At first, he thought it was the Enterprise but then he saw the name.

USS Excalibur

N.C.C. – 1664

"It can't be…" Daystrom paled as he stared at the ship with wide eyes. "I thought the Excalibur was wrecked."

"It was, Dr. Daystrom but Starfleet found it to be salvageable." The pilot of the shuttle answered. "They had it towed back to the nearest Starbase, repaired, and refurbished in a couple of weeks. It has just been finished being refitted to the same specifications as the Enterprise. You were unaware?"

Hell yes, Dr. Daystrom had been unaware.

He had spent nearly a year in a rehabilitation facility because his invention had crippled the Excalibur and killed its crew.

And now he was about to step onto the very ship he had thought he had killed.