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Star Trek Athena: Stream Of Angels - crobato
:: 06/19/01 ::
Chapter 2
Athena sat on a boulder, watching a strange sun set on a strange world. Ahead of her were neatly laid rows of ships of all sizes stretching endlessly to the horizon, an armada about to depart and met its enemy. She was stranded, alone, placed between a galactic war she doesn't know about.
"Are you going to sit there, moping?" Tharuk asked.
"What can I do? I don't know what to do, where to go," Athena replied.
"Maybe what you need is a side to belong to, a cause to believe in," Tharuk said. "Let me introduce you to our General. He is eager to meet you."
"All right. Better to do something," Athena replied.
The makeshift base rose like white mushrooms in the barren, reddish desert. A host of advisers and secondary commanders surrounded the General as they discussed the final preparations for their assault or defense. But even in the depths of discussion, the General became aware of the strange but beautiful girl that entered. The chatter became silence as everyone turned to her.
"This girl is the pilot of the unknown ship we rescued," Tharuk introduced her to the General and the commanding staff. "Her name is Athena, and her ship's name bears her name as well, the USS Athena of the so called United Federation of Planets."
He turned to Athena. "This is the great General Thatmak, leader of the Hegemony forces in the sector against the Gorkhan Unity." He motioned her to bow, and she bowed.
The hushing and the disturbed voices told Tharuk there existed objections to her presence in the briefing room. "She is not a spy or with the enemy," Tharuk defended her from the accusations. Her ship architecture and technology are not anything like the Gorkhan. Her ship had advanced bioneural circuitry, but she is just in the beginnings of slipstream technology, quite primitive in fact, to the standard Gorkhan Unity ship or even Hegemony ship. She must truly come from a new alien race that we have not documented or encountered yet."
Thatmak walked up right to Athena, towering over her. He raised her face by lifting her chin, then caressed her cheeks and pushed her hair aside. "The reports say you're a photonic being, and yet it feels like you have flesh. You are indeed beautiful. Do you belong to a noble house among your people? Are you an honored priestess?"
"Not any of those actually," Athena replied.
"This being Athena is actually part of the ship, Athena," Tharuk replied. "Our scans show that the ship Athena's neural networks function like a living brain, and it demonstrates patterns of thinking similar to a living person. In fact, its activity correlates with her reactions and actions."
"Most fascinating," Thatmak said. "Truly a masterful implementation of photonic and neural technology. And this is from this United Federation of Planets? Your Federation must be a competent technological power. How big do you say it was?"
"About more than a hundred fifty capital worlds at the last count, not including their satellite systems and subordinate planets. We have nearly an entire galactic quadrant, under Federation control, alliance, influence and protectorate," Athena explained.
"A civilization as big as what you described should have been known to the Shakpah Hegemony long ago, yet we know nothing. The Hegemony nearly rules half the galaxy. Yet we hear nothing of this Federation," Thatmak said. "I am inclined to think that this Federation must be a figment of the imagination, but you and your ship are proof that something did exist to create you and your ship. I feel that I must speculate that with the Slipstream, everything is possible. Slipstream space can open new dimensions, even conduits to another galaxy, or even to another time. Who knows, Athena, if your Federation existed on another galaxy, time, or even on a different dimension from ours?"
"All I want is to go home," Athena somberly said. "I am not a part of this war, of this universe you are in."
"But that is the problem, sir," Tharuk said. "We don't know where her home is, or how to send her back."
Thatmak looked thoughtful, then turned to Athena. "Have you considered joining our cause, Athena? Our cause is noble. Under the benevolent rule of the Shakpah Hegemony hundreds of worlds and species prospered. The civilization of our ancient race enlightened many of those who live in the darkness. But now, the darkness that is the Gorkhan Unity threatens us all, threatens everything the ancients built."
"What precisely is so dark about the Gorkhans that threatens you all?" Athena asked.
"Our war against the Gorkhans has been so for many generations," Thatmak said. " Their beliefs, their way of life...we believe in preserving the words and the beliefs of the Ancients. The Gorkhans believe that for the good of the Galaxy, there can only be one unity, under their twisted version of benevolent rule."
Tharuk bent over and whispered to Athena's ear. "It is rude and not wise to continue your questioning. The General has other important business."
Tharuk turned towards Thatmak. "We will see what we can do to get the Athena ship into our combined fleet."
"Well done, Tharuk. We will need every ship we can gather in the coming battle," Thatmak said.
"Coming battle?" Athena asked.
"Come with me, we will talk about this outside," Tharuk said, pulling Athena's arm out of the door.
Outside, Athena perched on top of a lone boulder, watching the setting red sun on one horizon, while its smaller, binary companion rose at the other side of the horizon. Tharuk stood next to her, enjoying the view.
"It may be barren, but even in this desert, there is great beauty," Tharuk said.
"I don't get the whole situation. What are we fighting for? And I don't mean giving me the gibberish answer your General gave me," Athena said.
"Nobody knows how it really started. Nobody cares why anyway," Tharuk replied with some contemplation. "All we know is the war itself, all the killing that has deeply marked all our species into an obsession. It is as if every fibre of our beings were bent on their annihilation, and they probably feel the same way about us as well. The blood between us has become so bad that no alternatives of peace can be possible. Everyone is so hell bent on the mutual annihilation of each other."
"I have a feeling that you're a bit ambivalent about the war," Athena said.
"I am both a scientist and a doctor by profession," Tharuk said. "But drafted into the war. Like many of my people, I do not have a choice. When they discovered what my training was, I was appointed to do various tasks. Everyday, I see the wounded brought into the hospitals. Many die. The cause of the war had become irrelevant. The course of the war is all that matters."
"Whether you are innocent or not, you are nothing but a target. In the battle, you fight to survive. Have you fought in battle before?" Tharuk asked. "The ones for your Federation at least."
"Quite a few times. The Federation has many enemies, like the Borg," Athena replied. "We battle the Borg because they have this twisted idea of perfection, which is to assimilate you into their group mind and deprive you of your free will. But they do not fight us with the intent to annihilate us completely. In a twisted way, they even think they're doing us a favor."
"There are the cold enemies like the Romulans, who would sometimes fight with us, and fight against us," Athena said. "These are people who do not believe in the sheer might of force, but in the cunning of strategy and deception. Wars for them is a mind game of subtlety. Then there are warrior species like the Klingons, who also sometimes fight with us, and fight against us, depending on the practical circumstances, whether it is to their advantage or not. For them, war is a glorious affair, and they see no other activity that can be more honorable. For them, war is the end to itself. Then there are the Cardassians, whom we fight wars for territory, and the Dominion, which is about galactic dominance and control. I would think that your war is more like what we went through with the Dominion."
"Quite fascinating," Tharuk replied. "And yet we hear none of these species you tell us, and yet I know from my actions that you are telling the truth. My species have a way of perceiving the thoughts and feelings of others, not precisely to know data in detail, but enough to know their intentions. The triangular implant you see on our foreheads, are actually sensors."
"Hmm, so you're like Betazoids," Athena replied.
"Beta- what?" Tharuk asked.
"Never mind. They're a race of empaths in my universe. Starfleet often use them in diplomatic missions to determine the emotional state and the sincerity of the negotiators," Athena explained.
"That's interesting. Starfleet is the military arm of your Federation, is that correct?" Tharuk asked.
"Starfleet is many things to the Federation, not just military. It's also its exploratory arm for one thing. I would say it's the arms and hands of the Federation, much like what your own arms and hands do for you," Athena explained. "You know, you should check my database, and find out about my universe, Tharuk."
"That would be most fascinating," Tharuk said. "One of the reasons why I became a scientist was my desire to explore the universe and see other races."
"You would make a great Starfleet officer," Athena replied. "That was one of the goals Starfleet had in mind. I kind of wish I am the same way too. In my universe, I have been stuck lately doing war missions. Testing the quantum slipstream engines was supposed to be my first shot in doing something otherwise, something with more science. Who would know I would get lost and end up here."
"You know what?" Athena said. "You are actually my first brand new alien contact. We should do first alien contact properly." She stuck her hand out. "You're supposed to hold my hand and shake it, while I say, 'As a representative of the Federation, I come in peace'."
"Like this?" Tharuk grabbed Athena's hand and shook it.
"That was a bit firm, but I think you have the general idea," Athena said. "Now take me to your leader."
"I thought I already brought you to meet the General," Tharuk replied.
"Oh yes, I forgot," Athena said. "Now that spoils the effect."
Tharuk found himself still holding Athena's hand. "For a diplomat and a photonic being, you seem to have soft lovely hands."
"I..uh..." Athena quickly pulled her hand out. She wished that her hologram wasn't programmed to blush like it cried, but it did anyway.
"Is there anything wrong?" Tharuk asked.
"Nothing...nothing..." Athena said.
"I should mention that it is an equally great honor for me to be the first of my species and on behalf of the Hegemony to have direct diplomatic contacts with your species and Federation body," Tharuk said, bowing lower than her head height.
"Actually, you're the second of your species I've met. The nurse is the first, but I guess she doesn't count," Athena said. "Even though I am photonic, I stand before you as a reasonable holographic representation of the species known as mankind, Homo Sapiens, belonging to the third planet of the Sol System. Now this concludes the ceremony of first contact between our species. "
Tharuk smiled and solidified his 'first contact' with a handshake.
"Now that isn't too bad isn't it? I guess there must be some kind of photo taking ceremony to inaugurate this great event," Athena said. "Let's go back to my ship. We can take pictures from there."
"I wish our first contact was done under better circumstances. Not with this war hanging over hour heads," Tharuk said. "I am sorry. By landing your ship here I may have actually imperiled you by involving you in the war. The Gorkhans will regard you as a valid target and an enemy of their state."
"Don't fret about it. I was under crossfire, remember? Your people may have saved me by taking me in," Athena said.
As they walked towards her ship, Athena spotted workers on scaffolds around the ship. She became alarmed, but Tharuk assured her.
"We found a few structural problems in your ship, and we're reinforcing her based on our centuries old experience," Tharuk said. "Apparently you and your Federation is very new at slipstreaming."
"Actually, it's the first time," Athena said.
"Well, it shows," Tharuk said. "We've taken the liberty of modifying and re-tuning your engines. I hope we have not offended you when we did not ask your permission before hand. We are quite short in time."
"Not at all," Athena said. "Why are you short in time?"
"To get you ready. The only way you can survive the Gorkhan assault is to fight with us," Tharuk said.
"Not much of a choice," Athena said.
"Yes, there was never much of a choice," Tharuk said. "Shall we go in?"
"Get ready to beam up!" Athena said.
After one second, they materialized on the bridge of the Athena. "Have you been here before?" Athena asked.
"Only when we boarded your ship, found you unconscious and drifting, and pulled you down here," Tharuk said. "I do have to say you have a nice bridge."
"Okay, now I want you to stick your hand out like we're shaking hands," Athena said. "Then you face the viewscreen, so we can take some photo opportunity. Now smile!"
Athena and Tharuk shook their hands as they faced the view screen, which recorded the event. "Well if I don't return to my Federation, this won't mean much, but if I do, I got something to boast and remember this by," Athena said. "My first alien first contact. It sounds redundant doesn't it?"
"Not at all, so long you provide me a copy of this event. I too, as a scientist should at least have done something-just one thing---of distinction to my name. Even if it was just a lucky chance encounter," Tharuk said. "I thank you for this."
"No, it's me, for saving me at least," Athena said. "Just wait for me here." Athena went to the Captain's private office. She came out with a bottle of wine and two glasses. "This is human custom. We must toast."
"Toast?" Tharuk asked.
"Yes, toast. I pour this wine here, like what I'm doing now. I offer one glass for you, and one for me, here you are. Then we touch the glasses together," Athena explained. "Just like this." The glasses sang a joyous tone at the point of contact. "Now sip it."
Tharuk sipped it, and coughed hoarsely. "What was that?"
"It's an alcoholic beverage made from a species of fruit from our planet, which I myself had never been there, unfortunately," Athena said. "Just sip it slowly and let the aroma fill you."
"It's not that we don't have alcoholic beverages in our culture, but this is truly different," Tharuk said as he sipped. "This is much better."
They finished the glasses and left them on the console. After which Athena guided Tharuk on a tour of the databases, then showed educational video clips about the Federation and its member worlds. These clips, designed originally to educate children about the Federation, have proven their worth introducing new alien species to the Federation. They appeared like a bland propaganda or marketing piece, but they do the job.
"This is all so fascinating. I wish I could download all these terra quads of information about our species, this Federation you speak of, and the various members and enemies," Tharuk said. "Unfortunately we do not have the time and the equipment at the moment. We are in a time of war at the battle front. As far as the information you possess, it is like seeing just one glimpse of a world, where we can learn much more in time."
"But for tonight, on the eve of battle, we must celebrate," Tharuk said. "It is the custom of the Shakpah to have a celebration for the heroes who are about to die in battle. It is best that we celebrate before one is to die, and not after, as this is our final chance to enjoy our earthly pleasures. I invite you to join us. If you can, dress like one of us instead of your Federation Starfleet uniform. I shall meet you outside of the main base."
"Join you, a party? I would be most honored and delighted," Athena affirmed and gently bowed.
* * *
Back at the Tacticus shipyard
"Any word yet?" Garret nervously asked as he paced up and down the floor.
"So far none. She just disappeared. We don't know enough of slipstream space to find out why," Shelley said. "We know that she kept on the specified course and nav points, and we have deep scan probes set along the whole course. She never veered or moved anyway from the course. Then suddenly her ship was gone."
"We have patrols all over the place. Amritraj's Defiant and Sabre flotillas and Hussein's Nova class flotillas have already been engaged in the search," Maeda said. "In fact, it's soon to be my ship's turn to join the search patrols. I better get going. Vanguard, beam me up."
"Good luck, Masako," Shelley said as she waved. "In about an hour I will join the search patrols myself."
"I should have gone on the Athena. If I was there, this won't happen," Garret said.
"Don't blame yourself," Shelley said. "Hurst specifically didn't want any human aboard that ship when it made the slipstream run. What could you have done? Disappear with the ship along with the rest of your crew? We don't want another Bermuda Triangle disappearance incident like what happened to the USS Voyager and Equinox years ago."
Ka'nal joined Garret sitting in the sofa as Drudge, Ghia and T'pak brought in some drinks and refreshments from the Star's Tear restaurant concession. "Here you go, maybe this will ease our minds a bit," Ghia said.
"I wonder what we are going to do now, since we don't have any ship. I was starting to miss the brat," Drudge said.
"Perhaps I can hope that Hurst will assign us a new ship," T'pak said. "I hope he will not split us and distribute us into different crews. I have to admit, in the short time I have known you people, I have grown used to all your presence."
"Perhaps a ship that's a lot more ordinary, like an Intrepid or Aegis. Maybe even a Steamrunner," Ka'nal. "But I have to admit, Athena was special."
"Don't talk like she's gone forever!" Ghia raised her voice. "She's not confirmed as gone or destroyed yet. I think she will be found. She will come back. Athena is just too feisty to just disappear and let herself become a victim of any situation. Keep your hopes up, guys!"
"Look whose talking," Ka'nal said. "You're the one who filed the most complaints about Athena's behavior."
"It doesn't mean that I don't admire her spirit," Ghia said. "I just want her off my back when I work, that's all. She's pretty good company in parties, actually."
"Shelley, when you go to your search patrol, can we go?" Garret asked. "I would be speaking for the five of us." Ghia, Drudge, Ka'nal and T'pak all nodded affirmatively.
"Usually the Admiral should determine that," Shelley said. "I would of course, like to have you people on board, although we must inform the Admiral."
"That would be fine, Ann," Garret said. "Maybe you can lend us a shuttle so we do some searching of our own. I just cannot sit back and watch this thing."
"Neither do we," Ka'nal said. "Please lend us a shuttle."
"Well, we got the new Delta Flyer class of shuttles onboard the Kiev. Maybe you will like to give them a try," Shelley said.
"I would be most delighted," Garret replied.
"Look over there," Ghia suddenly interrupted. "It's Hurst and Doctor Shiner."
Everyone stood to meet the Admiral and Shiner as they walked towards his office. "Admiral, admiral!" Garret shouted as he jogged towards them. Hurst turned to meet them, prepared for the many questions he would be receiving.
"Calm now, Captain," Hurst said. "We got this under control. I know that you are all concerned. But we are taking extraordinary steps searching for Athena."
"What sort of extraordinary steps?" Garret asked.
Shiner tried to say something, but Hurst cut her off. "You don't have to tell them the details now, Helen, but they will all know soon enough. But let me tell them the gist of it," Hurst said. He turned to Garret. "It's quite probable that our searches may be in vain because we are only searching normal space. Just remember that this is a theory and this is no reason to call off our normal searches. We need a ship to search in slipstream space itself. That's the only way we could find out what went wrong with Athena's trial flight. Athena's disappearance can threaten our entire slipstream development program, a program that may be important in our war against the Borg. We regard her recovery with much more importance than you ever imagined."
"As you see," Hurst continued. "The Borg, through their assimilation of Species 116, have acquired slipstream technology. Slipstream technology is somewhat similar to transwarp technology because it enables us to go through the warp speed barrier. It creates a conduit, a bubble as you see, through the normal space-time continuum, resulting in a short cut."
"The difference is that slipstream does not require a stationary structure like a gate or a hub. Without being tied to a gate, ships can enter the slipstream in and out at their free will. But the disadvantage of slipstream is the enormous stresses it imposes on the ship, requiring a new hull geometry of which only the Prometheus class, of all the ships in Starfleet, comes closest to. This is why we're testing the Athena here. Since we already built and tested the Prometheus class ship, a successful test of the Prometheus can bring about a limited production run of a new Prometheus variation with slipstream engines."
"But because slipstream imposes such great stresses on the ship structure, the Borg is unable to exploit the technology without radically redesigning their ships. Instead, they choose to go the alternative route, which is to use transwarp. Unlike slipstream, transwarp does not impose severe stresses on the ship, and using a stationary gate, does not require modification on existing ships either. It is like comparing a rocket-which is slipstream, to a projectile launched from a barrel-which is transwarp. Transwarp is a great short term solution, but in the end, slipstream is the superior method."
"But doesn't Borg ships have transwarp coils built into their ships?" Garret asked.
"They do, and it highlights one of transwarp's disadvantages. The conduit it creates are only good for relatively short distances compared to what a transwarp gate could produce," Hurst explained.
"Unless the Borg create dedicated slipstream ships, they are in fact, vulnerable to attack from a slipstream fleet. They would be unable to pursue it, allowing the fleet to strike at will. This is our opportunity to strike back at the Borg through a technology they are unable to adapt simply because of the simple fundamentals of their hull geometry."
"Most fascinating, Admiral, for the first time, the Federation has the offensive potential against the Borg," T'pak said.
"Exactly," Hurst replied. "Now you see why recovery of the Athena is so important. Her disappearance could kill the entire slipstream program, and with it, the best viable offensive sword we have against the Borg. That's why we're going to send in our only other slipstream ship, a prototype."
"A protoype?" Garret asked.
"Yes, this time, a true Dauntless class ship," Hurst said.
* * *
Ka'nal took the helm position on the Delta Flyer class shuttle, as T'pak takes the Conn position. Garret and Ghia took the other two chairs, and despite poor Drudge's protest, they had to leave the big lug behind on the Kiev.
"Okay, we are ready to go," Ka'nal said on the comlink.
"Garret, you're clear to take off," Shelley said. "Bon voyage and good hunting."
"Thanks, Ann. Ka'nal, take her out," Garret ordered.
"Aye, Captain," Ka'nal replied.
The Flyer slipped through the force field barrier that made up the Kiev's shuttle bay's main gate, heading for the stars. It banked as it turned around for a parallel flight path to the USS Kiev.
"We're going to be engaging our search pattern," Shelley said from the bridge of the Kiev. "I am sending my search pattern to you so you won't duplicate it on your search. We will also rendezvous at this point here."
"Got it, Ann, thanks," Garret said.
"Wait! We are picking something," T'pak said. "A slight subspace shockwave. Hmm. It appears to me that a small ship has entered slipstream."
"Could be the new prototype," Garret said. "I wanted to volunteer inside that ship."
"And Hurst turned you down," Ka'nal said. "He said they wanted to be completely sure that slipstream travel has no long adverse effects on various physiology before they would let us fly those things. That's why he required Athena's slipstream flight to be completely autonomous."
"Then who the hell is flying that," Garret said, as he pointed to the trail of sub particle emissions coming from the small ship, where conclusive scans have shown to about the size of a Nova class, with a sharp triangular head, fitting the description of what Hurst called a 'Dauntless' class ship.
<< Stream Of Angels: Chapter 1 <<
>> Stream Of Angels: Chapter 3 >>
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