Chapter 54:

[Research into magic 2028]

Dr. Soong and Dr. Flox presented their status of genetically engineering magic to the Alliance Advisory Council.

Dr. Flox said, "As you know there are many planets with mixed populations of species from Alliance worlds. Sometimes they choose a different species as mates. As you know from canon, all of these species are connected through an ancient species called the Progenitors, that deliberately spread hominid life throughout the galaxy.

That does not mean that they are that similar, despite appearances. In almost all cases, our genetic engineering has been able to create viable offspring, the Kaferia excepted.

We have also experimented with adding magical human traits to these hybrids. We now have enough examples to say that there is no negative effect in aggregate compared to the genetic engineering used without adding these traits.

We estimate that 5% of those added traits will have enough magic to meet the standards of admission of Hogwarts, for example. Furthermore, with more examples, we expect to refine our techniques and increase that percentage."

Dr. Soong continued, "Among Humans, we have similar results. We have a careful intervention that on aggregate has not had worse outcomes than normal, and also brings a 5% chance of magical ability.

I have been very cognizant of Canon results by my descendant, Arik Soong, and have looked at the negative results of trying to add strength and intelligence. Those negatives are often personality traits that are likely to result in one being in the violent criminal category. We have avoided any trait resulting in aggregate negative consequences."

Daphne asked, "What happens when 95% of parents that sign up for the magic genes have a non-magical child?"

Hermione answered, "Make them honestly answer that they would not be disappointed before approving them?"

Khan said, "Wonderful. You have authorization to provide this service of magical traits to any in the Alliance who request it. We will ensure that there is no pressure made on parents to accept this intervention, nor pressure not to do so, but make sure that the parents will accept the 95% who will not be spell casters."

Vulcan leader T'Vol said, "We should ensure that there is not a long term trend towards a monoculture, where each birth is engineered towards some ideal. Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations is also a path to long term survival. Monocultures are not."

Dr Flox answered, "Representing Denobula I must concur with T'Vol. We have experimented with this idea and found negative effects also. We consider magic an exception, but that does not mean all sorts of genetic enhancements should be done.

Also, while a few interspecies marriages have been occurring, it is a small enough number that we do not need to worry about all becoming one hybrid species. I doubt it will ever be more than a relatively small number who choose such pairings."

The Tellarite leader Zhullus asked, "Do we have the resource to meet the demand for genetic engineering for magic?"

Dr. Soong said, "We can scale up. Lesser skilled geneticists can follow our research. At worst there will be a waiting list."

Zhullus replied, "The Vulcans and Humans have magic. The Andorians have the Aenar. When can you provide magic for Tellarites that are not hybrids?

Dr. Flox said, "Maybe 10 years from now in small numbers. Larger numbers later if successful."

Khan said, "Getting back to the question of non-magical genetic engineering. Let us be careful absolutely. But to rule out advancements of our species? No!

For now, magic is enough to try to do well. Later, we must not preclude the self-directed evolution of our species.

I will now quote myself in canon, talking to my perennial enemy, Captain James Kirk.

Although your abilities intrigue me, you are quite honestly inferior. Mentally, physically. In fact, I am surprised how little improvement there has been in human evolution. Oh, there has been technical advancement, but, how little man himself has changed.

Nothing ever changes, except man. Your technical accomplishments? Improve a mechanical device and you may double productivity but improve man and you gain a thousandfold."

[Fleet planning 2028]

While there wasn't a Federation, the Alliance was adding on more of its functions. Starfleet was now an alliance-wide fleet. There were quotas for construction based on each star system's economy. A general currency called Alliance Credits was used to determine budgets. There was a floating exchange rate between each planetary currency and Alliance Credits and also with gold-pressed latinum.

Factories were being built to prepare for the building of a new fleet. Some ship components that were already finalized started to be built.

Starfleet Academy in its various locations were training the crews for the ships that will start launching in 2030. Mixed crews would communicate in English, now called Alliance Standard.

The Solar based MACO, and the various other security and fighting forces serving aboard ships among the Alliance were now being combined and made into the Starfleet Marines.

Khan asked, "How do we avoid the idiotic red shirts that don't survive their missions? Does Canon require them?"

I answered, "The colors of security officer uniforms do change between series. I do not think we need to keep every flaw that was in Canon."

Khan ordered, "Starfleet Marines, not to be called security, will have the best possible equipment, training, and tactics. They are not sacrificial pawns. They are professionals. Every other Starfleet crew member will also have significant fighting training and equipment. Drones, shields, armor, active defenses will be used to help survive hostile encounters and hostile environments."

I added, "We should have useful training facilities on starships so everyone can build their skills when not on an active mission."

Khan said, "Shipboard fighting is not going to involve line of site weapons and carrying flashlights! Our technology is already far beyond that and will keep up with our advances.

I also learned my lesson from Canon. If I was fighting Captain Kirk again, I would not try for hand to hand combat to show off my strength, and then be defeated by a lucky blow using a found object. I would use drones, grenades, aerosols, magic, any method of attacking from a distance."

[Ship design]

The Vulcans accepted that plasma conduits are dangerous and that electrical transmission would be used for low power applications aboard ships, at least for this design cycle. They did start Alliance technology challenges to solve the problems with plasma. How to design plasma conduits that will cut off the moment there is a breach, thereby stopping the fuel to a plasma fire? How to prevent the fire from starting instantly when a conduit is broken. How to stop radiation from being released when a conduit is broken? How to prevent too much plasma from moving down a conduit when too much is fed into it? How to stop a warp plasma regulator from being overloaded? These challenges and more would need to be solved before plasma would replace electricity.

In this design cycle, plasma was only being used for warp engines, shields, and beam weapons. Those high power conduits had extra armor and fire suppression.

[Vulcan tourists]

There weren't a lot of Vulcan tourists. However, a small group called V'tosh ka'tur, Vulcans without logic, traveled as much as possible. Many Alliance members saw more of them than the logical Vulcans. They would try every cuisine, sing with Tellarites, challenge Andorians to fights, discuss philosophy with the Ions.

Magical educators specializing in legilimency visited them to teach them how to avoid causing mind damage when performing mind melds. Vulcan also got lessons on this, since they were just rediscovering this practice. The Enterprise episodes Fusion and Stigma and the scenes of the cure for Pa'nar syndrome were widely publicized to show the dangers.

[Alliance or Federation?]

The Human magicals of our group discussed the Federation. I said, "The Alliance seems to accept our control for now. However, if we become a formal United Federation, they would expect a formal governing structure with representation of its members."

Armand Malfoy added, "The Federation was too much peace, justice, and progress, for my tastes."

Khan said, "And yet, it is part of Canon and there is pressure on the timeline. However, in the Mirror Universe, a Terran Empire also was accepted by the timeline."

Hermione said, "From Canon it looks like there was a Federation Council, composed of members, not planets. It voted on laws and selected a President. Then there were many Federation rules, and a Federation Supreme Court."

Tracey added, "Laws were enforced that didn't always make sense. There was influence applied to judges rulings."

Scorpius Malfoy said, "They might accept an alliance without majority rule, but they are not going to give up planetary sovereignty that easily."

I answered, "What about just keep adding functions to the Alliance until it starts to resemble a Federation?"

Daphne answered, "That would be keeping with Slytherin methods. This timeline might accept it also."

I said, "Perhaps some mention of following Q's wishes would help in keeping the Alliance members accepting this arrangement."

Harry Potter answered, "He doesn't seem to want to directly intervene in the timeline, but doesn't completely stay away from at least talking to the Alliance leaders. Since we are only needing to convince the Alliance, it might well be allowed."

Khan said, "Then it is decided. We call it the Alliance for now, but increase its functions to gradually take the function of a Federation. We maintain control over it, using Q's endorsement if needed. Section 31 keeps an ear to public opinion and expands its operations to all Alliance worlds."

Scorpius Malfoy asked, "In Canon the very direct threat from the Romulans helped start the Alliance and then a few years later the Federation. Should we encourage a fear of Romulans, or other convenient empires?"

Khan said, "Their threat will be real enough in time, perhaps. However, if we can expand with their participation, that would be better in the long run. Fighting enemies is a sometimes necessity, not something to do for its own sake. If we need a bogeyman, the Borg from Canon might be suitable."

Armand added, "Continued success is a part of our legitimacy to rule. Our gifts from Q, such as Canon, used by us to guide the Alliance help us in both reality and appearance. It seems a little fragile, but as long as it works, we have a mandate. Make it some sort of majority vote, and suddenly the ideals of Vulcan and Denobula become our ideals. Become too self-interested and not looking towards our goals sufficiently and then the ideals of the Orions becomes our way. We must work towards Human evolution eventually becoming the Q, and therefore surviving and succeeding against every early civilizational challenge up to and including the Borg."

Q popped in and started clapping slowly, "Bravo Armand. You will do as a future Section 31 chief.

To answer the earlier speculations, I'll speak my mind, but not bend the timeline, much that is. You'll need to be more Slytherin than just saying, it is because Q said so. It is the Human potential I see, not the Vulcan, the Denobulan, or the Orion. That is why in Canon I was so obsessed with Humanity. I was starting to see that evolution I was looking for with Jean-Luc Picard, but he needed to be pushed along by scaring him a bit, at times."

[Magical education]

Vulcan prioritized for adult education a few areas; learning useful charms and transfigurations to help the economy, learning traditional Vulcan mind arts and avoiding causing hazards by using them, learning runes. Vulcan children were learning more of a full magical curriculum.

Humans were gearing up for significant magical education needed starting in the late 2030's. It was estimated that in 2031 there would be over a million modified for magic born, with over 50 thousand with magic. That is far beyond the number that Human magicals per year normally. The plan was that as soon as accidental magic was seen, their magical education would begin, at a level appropriate for them. On-line material, and non-magical educators would handle most of the education, with a relatively small number of magical instructors being available where needed. A Vulcan concept of a knowledge dome would be used for Humans, with Nomad artificial intelligence systems doing some of the teaching. The extreme growth in the number of magicals simply didn't result in enough adults to educate the young magicals.

New magicals were going to have an education that includes the non-magical subjects, and learning about the latest technologies and information from other civilizations. Schools like Hogwarts would still exist, but would be for a small part of the next wizarding generation. Even Hogwarts would add many additional non-magical classes, and those would have computers, tablets, and assignments done on-line.