Chapter 42:

[November 2019]

The research with the Tellarites wouldn't really get started until at least May 2020, when the first ship leaving the Solar System would arrive at Tellar. The Tellarites gave us some information about encryption algorithms. Internet encryption was vastly improved and done with software updates. Video and audio receivers would need to be replaced or added to, since the 2010 design didn't have the ability to update the decryption. A new global standard of 4k video with a three dimensional option was released. The new standard would also have better encryption. Existing high definition receivers could get a special module to lower the resolution of the new 4k broadcasts and also have the new decryption module. Terrestrial radio was now going to be limited to not having sensitive information broadcast unless using an upgraded digital radio channel.

The Vulcans were noting that the Tellarites had an embassy on Earth, while they did not. Since it was assumed that the Vulcans already knew about Canon, we gave them some more of it. We also started capitalizing the first letter of Canon as the Tellarites suggested.

[At the Vulcan Consulate near the orbit of Jupiter.]

Khan arrived with a small video projector. "You have probably already seen this, but I'll show it again. Earth in 2150's practically ruled by Vulcan, at least in terms of its activities beyond its territory."

The projector showed several scenes from Enterprise of the Vulcans overruling decisions made on Earth.

Ambassador Sorek replied, "It appears to me that these were logical decisions. In that timeline the Earth government, and especially the starship captain, appeared impulsive and likely to start wars that would inevitably involve Vulcan."

Khan said, "Perhaps so, but watch the following scenes."

A sequence of conflict with the Andorians, Romulan interference on Vulcan, Vulcan nearly going to war with Earth ships, the birth of the Federation led by humans."

Khan continued, "In the timeline the unique advantages of humanity led to an alliance of former adversaries. Earth also exposed the Romulan plot against Vulcan.

Now keep in mind, humanity of this Canon timeline is quite different from our timeline. They had gone through a period of nuclear wars. They were different from us on many levels. We also have much more knowledge and abilities than they have."

Sorek said, "For the sake of this discussion, assume that we agree that Canon is true, which we do not accept as proven. In that case, as you say, the timelines are very different. The more you modify that timeline, the less such knowledge is relevant.

You had once said that we could offer advice. We find no objection to your contacts with Tellar. We would caution, however, the hazards of contacting Andorians or Klingons."

Khan asked, "Did the events in Canon, of a Vulcan ship destroyed by the Klingons near a system that they call H'atoria in 2016 occur?"

Sorek answered, "Yes, which would tend to give some credence to Canon having some true information, although not proving the future timeline aspect of it."

Khan said, "Vulcan can have more contact with the Solar System when it accepts that we all have strengths and weaknesses, but that Vulcan does not have the answers to every question. That you make mistakes and perhaps we will make mistakes. Perhaps it will take additional technical development on our part before you can accept us as peers, even as allies, not as students."

Sorek said, "I understand your perspective without agreeing with it. Still, you do seem more careful than your counterparts in Canon, and perhaps we will all have the time to come to better understandings without being forced into unnecessary wars. We will also use the information from Canon that we were made aware of to proactively remove the possibility of Romulan infiltration or control of the Vulcan governing councils."

[At Proxima Centauri 2]

Magically powered shuttles were constantly going back and forth from the USS (United Solar Ship) Columbia to the planet. There were now three linked domes with greenhouses already starting to grow crops. Tunneling underground had been an ongoing project and the inhabitants lived underground. Gravity was 0.89g and the colony area had an artificial atmosphere. The plan to terraform the atmosphere of the rest of the planet would probably not start for a couple of years.

There were two space stations, one in geostationary orbit, another in a low orbit. Stealth Nomad probes were placed throughout the system.

The other three starships were exploring the other two stars of the three star system.

[Planning meeting December 2019]

Hermione said, "The main agenda is what to rename United Earth and Solar System, to both include colonies in other systems but also not to limited to humans. So, no United Humanity, because that would exclude Ions and the various magical species. It is also too early to call ourselves the Federation, since it would need the participation of the major civilizations near us."

Khan said, "I would add an item before that. When to contact the Andorians?"

Draco answered, "There is no rush. Let relations with the Tellarites evolve and then approach them in that context." There was general agreement on this.

I said, "Another item to address. Magical disease control, both from Tellarites and also from Earth. I have not expanded on this before, and will not say much about it. As I did say, the timeline that had the entertainment collection called Star Trek, is one that I have much knowledge of. It is a timeline which had also the entertainment collection called Harry Potter. Yes Harry, you were the central character in that franchise. I used this information extensively when I first became aware of it in this timeline. Most of the rest of my knowledge of that timeline, which only goes to the year 2024, has almost no relevancy to this timeline.

In that timeline, around this time, a global disease emerged. There were different theories about how it did, and it is probable that its conditions of origin do not exist in this timeline. Nevertheless we are ready to handle any such outbreaks, but need to be on special alert now."

Harry Potter said, "I didn't realize that there was information that was so focused on me."

I answered, "I will show it to you. You should realize that I am shown to be a villain in that timeline, with perhaps a slight redemption at the end. Also I have the memories of Lucius Malfoy up to the year 1991, but also another person in the timeline that had fictional worlds of Harry Potter and Star Trek."

Khan added, "And I am a villain in some of the Star Trek Canon. I freely admit my weakness towards revenge, which is why I pledged to follow the orders of Lucius Malfoy when we disagree about a decision. So far that has only happened once."

Daphne said, "Enough self recriminations. What are we going to call our organization? I say United Solar Civilization. It would encompass colonies on Centauri since their civilization of origin is the Solar System. Not plural civilizations, since we are united."

Everyone agreed to this name.

Draco said, "Presumably we want the Federation to exist, but under our control. That means we need to wait until our power exceeds that of the Vulcans."

[July 2020 on Tellar]

A large number of Human and some Ion researchers were working with the Tellarites. Spell casters were using methods of expanding the size of and slowing time of components. Then they would make adjustments, and then restore to normal size and time speed. They were able to align the magnetic constrictors that aligned the positron stream heading to the dilithium matrix to levels the Tellarites could not. The Tellarites did all sorts of experiments to make sure that the materials worked normally again after being restored.

While all the basic technology and materials were supplied by the Tellarites, the Solar Civilization improvements got their speed to warp 2.94 from their original 2.68.

Several other improvements were made with the duplicated dilithium. Normally the reactor startup sequence was very exacting to prevent fusion of the dilithium matrix. With constantly swapped in dilithium, the startup was much faster and didn't have to worry as much about nearby gravimetric field distortions, since the dilithium wasn't as precious.

[December 2020 in the Asteroid Belt]

As per agreement, the entire technology was also brought back to the Solar System, and the Phoenix experiments were resumed. Sequential experiments on uncrewed ships going to warp very briefly. The warp 2.94 got to 2.97 with these experiments. The Tellarites and Humans agreed that this was a plateau and both would refit their fleets with this technology and cooperate on the next breakthrough towards higher speeds.

This new speed was 26.2 times the speed of light, and was 36% faster than the Tellarites previous top speed. Also, with other Solar techniques, the top speed could be maintained instead of needing a lower cruising speed.

Some of the top members of the Tellarite government arrived with their scientists for this last fine tuning. As far as they were concerned, the Solars already proved themselves with the warp improvements made at Tellar.

A lot of cultural exchanges happened. The humans on Tellar got to like the mildly fermented fruit juices that Tellarites liked. The Tellarites got to like wine and cider shipped from Earth.

A Tellarite reading about Earth history learned that early coffee houses were places of discussion and debate. That suited the Tellarites well, and coffee houses opened across Tellar. They found that they liked coffee. Chocolate wasn't suitable to their digestive systems, nor was mint. They drank coffee differently, instead of adding sugar, they would add a sweet fruit juice, and instead of milk based products, certain plant mixtures were used.

Tellarites were very hospitable to the humans. They provided showers instead of mud baths. They kept their areas very cold by Tellarite standards. They didn't serve meats that humans culturally didn't find palatable.

[December 2020 Starfleet Headquarters]

A large room was made into a banquet hall for a general celebration between the Tellarites and Humans. The Tellarite leader, Mirggond Prohk, went up to Khan and said, "Complete exchange of technology, including magic and Canon."

Khan wasn't ready to respond to that yet, and said, "Let me discuss this with my advisers and let us meet tomorrow. However, let me clarify. Magic means spell casters, since we do not know of a way to teach magic. Spell casters means that our citizens would be participants of any wars you fight."

Mirggond nodded in agreement and said, "You are saying that such an agreement requires an alliance?"

Khan answered, "Yes, and also a coordination to agree to wars unless attacked."

Mirggond added, 'Why are you not saying what you are afraid of, which is that we will anger the Andorians and cause them to attack us?"

Khan answered, "That would be in what we call the fine print of an agreement."

Immediately after the banquet, we had a planning meeting.

Hermione said, "Agenda is what to say to Tellarite leader Mirggond Prohk tomorrow."

Draco said, "We can't have everyone have full access to Canon, it could get out generally."

Tracey said, "Fidelius. Divide Canon into parts. Some will be broadcast and therefore assumed to not be secret. Some will be told to a few. Some will be told to only us. Then there is the role of Q, also limited. Each can be put under separate Fidelius."

Harry asked, "So, for example, Mirggond gets told about Q, but cannot tell anyone else. Can he use the information? Can he hint about it?"

Khan answered, "He can use the information without hinting about it. He can hint broadly, but not enough to give it away."

I added, "If someone watches enough canon to see Q and then hears hints about Q, they can figure it out. All parts of canon where Q appears should be combined with knowledge of Q's communications to myself and Daphne as a Fidelius."

Juan Singh said, "If we are going for full exchange of information, then I think we'll need to reveal Q to a select group of Tellarites. We want all of their useful information."

I answered, "Then it is decided."

[Meeting with Tellarite leadership]

Khan said, "We will share full information with you. However, there will be limits on who else."

Mirggond answered, "Explain."

Khan continued, "Canon and information about Canon cannot be generally known. It will be a secret that will be magically limited. You and selected others can know about it, but will not be able to tell others. You can make use of the information to make decisions, but not even hint about the actual secrets."

Mirggond nodded and said, "Fair enough."

Khan said, "I thought you would object to that. Then I was going to argue that Canon shows that some Tellarites are criminals, just as some Humans are."

Mirggond said, "True. I already was worried that even with unbreakable encryption, an Orion offering a large payment could sway a few to reveal a secret."

Harry Potter said, "There will be different levels of the secret. Inner level would be you, perhaps Rannerg and Grashnish, maybe two others you name. Another level would be a wider audience. A distillation of technology seen in Canon, yet more. There would be even more levels."

Mirggond said, "That is acceptable. I would expect you would listen carefully when I have my own opinions about this information, and also advice on who should share it."

Khan said, "Of course. We will be allies. Beyond allies, we will be the core of a future Federation, which we intend to be much wider than just us two."

Mirggond added, "We will coordinate our foreign policy and avoid going to war against the Andorians, but I do not expect to give up our territory to them either."

Khan added, "Ions and spell casters will be free to work for Tellar. You will need to get their agreement to do so.

We will start out a journey to visit them together as soon as we all have jointly upgraded our technology to the next level in a few months, including weapons and shields."

Mirggond nodded and said, "Consider this agreement enacted."

Director of Nations Joaquin visited the Vulcan consulate and said, "We are giving you advance notice as a courtesy, and because we regard you as future allies. Tellar and the Solar System will be joining in an alliance, that includes avoiding causing war without the other's agreement."

Khan addressed the Solar System and Centauri, "Our magnificent United Solar Civilization, today marks a new step in the advancement of our civilization. We will now be full allies of Tellar. Already we each have advanced technology in a way that neither could have done by itself as quickly. Our combined strength will provide better security and a better future."