Preface

This book relies heavily on the reader having read the previous books in the series. The Star Trek Wisconsin series starts with Launch and goes through the following books: War games, Prime Directive Applied, Mission to Maghreb, The Organians, The Mind Sifter, and The Burden of Command. While each of these books can be read by themselves without any others, there has been a common plot that builds up to this book. I believe that the full richness of the story will be best served by reading all the previous books before reading this book.

Thank you for your interest.

The Author

Prologue

CONFERENCE ROOM

CITY HALL

PLANTERS PLANET

80 YEARS IN THE FUTURE

"USS Enterprise Captain's log Stardate 42338.4. Jean-Luc Picard recording. Commander Riker and myself have been invited by Prime Minister Falgo to watch the hearings on the USS Wisconsin's first year in space. The hearings were held almost eighty years ago and the Planters have asked to see the hearings now that the Federation is asking to place a starbase on this planet. I am concerned about how the Planters are going to react to the hearings and how it will affect the Federation's request."

"The concern centers around our Prime Directive. They want to see how the Federation at the time dealt with the captain responsible for rescuing their ancestors. Planter's world is a colony from a planet called Tangia, the colonists arrived to this world but in the trip, they became sterile. To be brief, Captain Jacobs decided to save about fifty babies that were slated to be killed on Tangia by being thrown away. He rescued them with minimal disruption to Tangia's society, had the ship's doctor heal their infirmities, and brought them here, to the colony that Tangia started. They want to see how the captain was judged on his interpretation of the Prime Directive. I'm fearful that the treatment of Captain Jacobs may put this treaty in jeopardy since he is a hero to the people of this planet. His rescuing Planter's ancestors was extremely controversial to the elected officials. That decision and others he made during that first year sparked the hearings and had ramifications that last to this day.

"Commander Riker is beaming down with equipment to allow Prime Minister Falgo and others to view the hearings. Falgo has invited others and is very hospitable to all of us. Picard out." Picard tapped his combadge ending the recording.

Commander Riker walked into the room carrying a couple of cases. Behind him was an engineering Ensign and a crewman that were manhandling a large case. Riker surveyed the room and asked, "Where do you want the viewscreen Captain?"

Picard said, "Let's try that wall."

Commander Riker looked at the Ensign and said, "Ensign, you heard the Captain."

"Aye aye sir. We'll set it up high so everyone can see it."

As the Ensign and the crewman were working on setting up the viewscreen, Prime Minister Falgo walked in with several people. The table in the center was long and bare. Falgo pointed at the others, "The other leaders of our humble planet. You have Council Members Tria, Chaww, Paoto, Elfson, and Sntna. Minister of Science Orraw, and finally my wife." Turning to Riker, Falgo said, "And you are Commander Riker?"

Riker smiled and extended his hand. Falgo shook his head and looked at the others. "Gentlemen! Will you be joining us?"

Riker said, "The Ensign and Crewman are here to set up the equipment."

Falgo nodded. "They are welcome to stay. We will have plenty of food for all."

Picard said, "When you are done, crewman you can go back to the ship. Ensign, this will be good for you to observe. I am always eager to continue the training of young ensigns."

The ensign nodded. Falgo asked, "Continued training?"

Picard nodded. "Ensigns have just earned their commission and have completed their necessary training for Starfleet. Now we are to make young officers more rounded out by exposing him to as many different situations as possible."

Riker was listening to Picard's tone. Picard did not normally hobnob with lower ranks. Picard was irritated, probably by being stuck with having to watch hours of hearings, and he is probably trying to extend his pain to others. Picard certainly did that with Riker, and now he is dragging the Ensign into this as well. The crewman was probably excused because Picard viewed this as officer's country.

Riker shared a look with the Ensign. He had an expressionless face, and Riker could not tell what he was thinking. The ensign replied to Picard, "Thank you Captain, I'd be happy to attend." Riker thought he would have to make sure his fitness report reflects going above and beyond the call of duty.

In short order the viewscreen was set up and the speakers were spread around the room. As promised, Falgo had the table set with food. It was looking appealing to Riker. Maybe this will not be so bad. Actually, the hearings were riveting, but he just didn't want to be tied down to sitting in a room for hours at a time.

The ensign reported, "All finished sir. Crewman Kado is ready to transport up."

Falgo said to the others. "You all will want to see this, it's great."

Kado stood clear of everybody and looked a little self-conscious. These people were making a big deal about transporters. Why? Picard tapped his combadge and said, "Picard to Enterprise."

"Enterprise here."

"Crewman Kado is ready to beam up."

Soon a blue sparkling light surrounded Kado along with a high-pitched hum. And Kado disappeared from sight.

Falgo looked at the others, they were all smiling and nodding approval. Picard said, "Very well. Shall we begin?"

All took their seats. The Prime Minister asked, "Where do we begin?"

Picard looked at Riker. "Commander?"

Riker shrugged and said, "Well, the instructor set the tone by giving us a reading assignment of the logs from the Wisconsin, Excalibur, and Starbase 5. I knew we did not have the time, so I found a documentary that I believe adequately sets the scene. The documentary is well done and covers what happened to the Wisconsin after it left spacedock. I'll stop it just as it gets to the hearings, and we'll go to the hearing videos after that."

Picard nodded. Riker tapped a couple of buttons on a box and the viewscreen came alive. The room darkened.

Falgo and the Planters watched with amazement. From the Commissioning of the ship, to the first mission, rescuing the Senator and a Starfleet officer. Riker noticed that the ensign was now intently watching. The documentary went on to rescue the Excalibur.

Falgo asked, "The Organians?"

Picard said, "A race of extremely powerful aliens that forced a peace between the Federation and the Klingons. The Klingons were testing the Organians for weakness that would allow them to attack us."

"Did they?"

"Actually, watch and see." Picard noted.

The documentary went on. The first meeting with Kang and the discovery of the Black Fleet. The mission to Tangia and Planter's world. It was interesting to see the perspective of the Federation over this. So Starfleet had said that Jacobs acted within the boundaries of the Prime Directive, but this Senator Jameson disagreed. He was a continual problem for the crew, having caused many complications. There was a great concern about a biological weapon. The minister of science asked, "Is that what you determined about the Tangian virus?"

Riker nodded, "As I remember, the virus came from a snake. The Tangians modified it and used it to kill off most of the population. The only ones left were the ones that would serve the Overseers, or ruling class. There are some that were resistant, they used extracts from a natural plant to cure the virus. Starfleet took the virus and has it stored in some top-secret facility somewhere for study."

"Why keep it?"

Picard said, "It may help us in other plagues. Knowledge in one malady can help fight others."

The documentary continued along with the communications problem with Starfleet and how Captain Jacobs worked around it until a new communications protocol was installed.

Now the ship went to another world, discovered an Admiral that was illegally gunrunning to a planet. Teaming up with that Klingon Captain Kang and solving the problem of the mining rights. "Captain Jacobs really did that? He jumped out of a building?"

Riker answered, "Yes, he really did that. Although I've never seen a reproduction of it, I just read about it. Kang was so impressed of the saving of his wife that he made Captain Jacobs officially a friend of Kang's family."

The recording went on, the mission to Organia and discovering the fate of the Organians. "So what was keeping the peace between the Federation and the Klingons?"

Riker said, "Literally nothing. However, Jacobs and that Klingon commander cooperated and destroyed the Black Fleet ship."

Falgo said, "But the good Klingon was destroyed. Did the Klingons accept the data?"

"Sort of, but there were other complications in the relationship. The Black Fleet was actively souring the relationship and from what they saw of us we were not being consistent. Klingons fear things that do not make sense to them." Riker explained.

"And the Klingons immediately declared the treaty null and void." Picard added.

The recording continued. The capture and interrogation of Captain Jacobs. Falgo asked, "The Mind Sifter?"

Picard said, "A Klingon device that forces the person to tell the truth, but at the cost of great pain."

The recording continued. The Wisconsin did a one-ship blockade, and Jacobs was recovered. Kor was the one that turned him over. "Why did Kor do that?"

Picard said, "Captain Jacobs had a profound influence on him."

"I find that hard to believe. The Klingons impress me as extremely dangerous, treacherous, ruthless, and have a disregard of other people's lives. What would cause Kor to suddenly be concerned for Jacobs' life?"

Picard and Riker looked at each other. Neither knew what caused the change. "The documentary never really talked about that." Riker said.

The documentary continued. The buildup and preparation to the attack on Starbase 5. The attack and the chase back to Klingon territory. Finally, the eventual destruction of the Klingon fleet, the Klingon Battleship, and base.

Riker stopped the recording at that point. Falgo looked at the ministers and they asked many questions. After some time, Riker said, "A couple of notable points that the documentary didn't cover. The Captain of the Excalibur, Jackson, initially was hostile to Captain Jacobs. I think he first coined the term 'Amish Starship'."

Falgo asked, "What is 'Amish Starship'."

Riker said, "The Amish are a group that turn away from technology. The comment was meant as an insult that the ship is unsophisticated."

Falgo nodded, "Ok, what about Captain Jackson? I thought they worked together well when they were paired up late in the year."

Riker nodded, "They did. Captain Jackson had the highest praise for Jacobs. They were eventually friends."

Falgo nodded, "Your Captain Jacobs has a history of making enemies at peace with him. Does this also fit the Orgainian Prophecy that the Federation and Klingons would become fast friends?"

Picard and Riker nodded. Picard said, "You will see more of that in the Hearings."

Falgo said, "So Captain Jacobs continues to turn his enemies into friends. Does this continue in the hearings?"

The ensign muttered under his breath, "You have no idea." All heads turned to him. "I'm sorry Captain, I spoke out of turn."

Picard sternly asked. "What's your name Ensign?"

The Ensign looked at Riker and Picard. "I'm Ensign Greg Kennedy. I'm the great-grandson of a crewmember on that ship. I remember my great-grandpa telling me stories when I was young. He was the Starfleet officer that was rescued with Senator Jameson."

Everyone sat in stunned silence. Picard said, "What can you tell us?"

Ensign Kennedy said, "I think that I better wait until after the hearings. I will do a better job of answering questions after the hearings. Believe me, these videos will do a wonderful job explaining all what happened that first year. To add to that I know of some interviews and documentaries that can be put in place to give a chronological context of what happened outside the hearings. With your permission, Captain?"

Picard said, "So you will be our guide?"

Ensign Kennedy said quietly, "Yes Sir. This is family history to me as I am related to that officer and Senator Jameson as well. It has been told and retold from generation to generation, and the collated material is in my file on ship. They can transmit that down in a heartbeat and we can view that here.

Falgo smiled and said, "Then let's get to the hearings."