Searching for Answers

Posted on Tue Apr 1st, 2025 @ 9:40am by Captain Shran dh'Klar & Commander Jonathan Grayson & Lieutenant Commander Callie Raven-Grayson

1,459 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Genetic Purity
Location: USS Washington

Shran left the bridge after having to order the destruction of the sleeper ship. He left Sam in charge on the bridge with orders to send Jon in when he arrived and went to his Ready Room with Callie. Upon the doors closing he looked to her, "How many people understand what just happened?"

“That’s a good question. There’s a lot of sense of confusion about what happened to that ship from those who weren’t on the bridge. People will obviously have questions, might I suggest you inform the crew before the rumor mill runs rampant?”

Just then the door chime sounded, signaling Jon was at the Ready Room door, waiting to come in.

"Enter" Shran stated, the doors opening so Jon could enter. Shran waited for the door to once again close before responding to Callie. "I am not inclined to explain actions to the crew. Not when they are special orders. But I understand the point you are trying to make." Shran looked to Jon, "Seems like things went sideways over there."

Jon looked to Shran and then Callie. "In a word, yes sir. All because Kate didn't listen. The entire away team was told don't touch anything and she went through a door and evidently touched a latch or a handle that set off alarms and started a reactivation cycle on the stasis units."

"I wouldn't be too hard on her. Certainly a mistake even a seasoned officer could make. Dealing with 300-year-old technology can be a challenge" Shran replied. "From what we could hear it sounded like these people may have been looking to reset the history books. The eugenics period in Earth history and the early dealings with it in the Federation have been messy. I want to find these people Jon. We saw what they did on that ape planet, and it seems they continued to experiment here as well."

"I don't think I am being too hard on her sir. I realize anyone could have made the mistake. I just wish Kate wasn't so impulsive and would look before leaping." Jon answered. "We saw what they did with the apes, I hate to think what they are doing here."

"Let's get back to the bridge. With luck Deanna and her staff have found these people and we can send you down to get a proper assessment" Shran replied.

"Certainly sir." Jon replied with a nod and then glancing over at Callie gave her a wink. Inwardly he hoped this away mission turned out better than the one to the ape planet.

Coming back onto the bridge Shran looked to Deanna who was at Ops looking a bit overwhelmed. "Everything alright?" he questioned. Whatever the issue was, it was out of character for Deanna. He'd seen her deal with virtually everything.

Deanna quickly composed herself. "These people are monsters. Archaic monsters from a past better forgotten."

"I understand your sentiment, but forgetting the past is how we repeat the worst of times. Humanity has come too far to forget the lessons from their past" Shran replied firmly.

Jon spoke to Deanna. "Deanna, there is a saying among my people that is terribly appropriate at this time. "Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it." He gave her a tight smile. "I can assure you I don't want to repeat this particular history."

“What about the planet?” Callie looked around the senior staff. “There’s a considerable population down there, they might have nothing to do with the sleeper ship but there’s only one way to find out.”

"I commend your optimistic view Callie, but we know these people are responsible. The only thing we need to know now is how far they have gone with these eugenics and the quest to create a perfect human, or anything else for that matter" Shran replied.

"I've found them captain. The colony is quite large, detecting 2.5 million humans on the planet. The planet is class-M. Also detecting technology equivalent to late 22nd century. They certainly are aware of us, though they haven't done anything about it" Deanna noted.

"Well done, Deanna" Shran replied. He looked to Jon and Callie, "Thoughts?"

"An away mission is called for sir. If for no other reason than to establish what they have done here. We know what they are capable of as we've seen it firsthand with the apes." Jon replied firmly.

“I agree” Callie nodded. “We need to know more about them and as they’re aware of us already I’d say they’re probably expecting us.”

"Excellent point Callie and you can be sure they are expecting us. Though I'm not too sure what kind of welcome we're going to get when we arrive." Jon added.

"Interesting thought. If they are aware of us and they have 22nd level technology, they should be able to communicate with us" Shran responded to what the others had said. "Check the communication channels from the 21st and 22nd century, see if we can get in touch with these people."

"Scanning" Celes stated as she worked at her console. "I have a communication channel, on a weaker subspace band similar to that used by humans and Vulcans in preFederation times. Opening a hailing frequency."

"This is Capt Shran dh'Klar of the Federation starship Washington in orbit of your colony. We know you are aware of us and are receiving this transmission, and we wish to speak with you."

The view screen came to life and a very serious looking middle-aged man came into view. "Greetings captain. I am Adolf Bouhler, Chancellor of the Neues Deutschland, or as you would say in the English you are speaking, New Germany. By the looks of you, you are not from our ancestral home of Earth, yet you speak the language. We find that strange and provocative, as do we your actions destroying the vessel we had in orbit. What are your intentions?"

"As I stated Chancellor, I am the captain of the Federation starship Washington. The Federation is made up of over 150 worlds of which Earth is a founding member. I have many humans aboard my vessel, including my Executive Officer. Your colony world was not a known colony, and we have stumbled upon it. We would very much like to meet with you. I can send a small contingent to meet with you, attempt to make a proper first contact between us" Shran responded.

"Very well. I will permit a diplomatic envoy. I assume you have some sort of pod or shuttle to transport your people" Chancellor Bouhler replied.

"Indeed Chancellor. We will send our envoy to you by shuttle immediately. Washington out." As the comm channel closed Shran turned to look to Jon, "Looks like you are taking a shuttle down. Probably for the best, they aren't aware of transporter technology. They probably are unaware of the Heisenberg compensator that allows us to overcome the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. That is one of several things we may have in our favor. I want you to take Travis, he is the diplomatic officer after all. I want a heavy security contingent, only humans or those that appear human. Not a small away team, but a well-formed one."

Jon nodded, "Yes sir. So myself, Travis, Mr. Phoenix, two additional security officers make five. Perhaps Kate as well and Callie to sense any deception on our hosts part."

Shran nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds like a good team. Take Ayana and whomever she thinks will best work for security detail. And Inara may be of use down there as well. Just tell her she needs to be diplomatic and let her use that analytical mind of hers to quietly look over things. You need somebody who will understand the technology that you might see, Inara fits that mold. I will have Lt. O'Connor keep a transporter lock on you, and I will have Imik and Steele have security teams ready should it be necessary, along with our new team should it be needed." He looked over at Callie, "You feel up to this? You'll be functioning as medical officer down there. If you don't want the responsibility, we can send Jortho or even Sam."

Jon nodded thoughtfully at Shran's recommendations. "Ayana is excellent. I'll take Inara and strongly advise her to be diplomatic." He looked to Callie, "Up to you Callie like the captain says."

Callie nodded. “I look Human; besides my abilities I’ll pass as one to them. You may need my input.” She offered a smile.

"Very good. I'll let you get to it then" Shran replied. "I'll have Deanna continue scanning the planet, and we'll continue to relay you all information until you reach the surface."

 

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