Tomorrow's Promise (Part 4 of 4)

Posted on 29 Nov 2023 @ 1:43pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Commander Morgan Tarin & Chief Warrant Officer 3 Lamar Darius & Commander Scarlet Blake & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Commander Marisa Wyatt & Lieutenant JG Rafe Caradec & Lieutenant JG Zara Ghemora & Lieutenant JG Sofie Ullswater & Lieutenant JG Montgomery Vala

4,752 words; about a 24 minute read

Mission: Episode 19 - Tomorrow's Galileo
Location: USS Galileo-A - Deck 1, Conference Room
Timeline: MD 01, 1442 hrs

Previously, on Tomorrow's Promise (Part 3)...

"It is because our temporal scientists identified that it is not the nature of your discovery which created this conundrum... It was not your possession of the cold station's files or you handling of Doctors Quil and Mulder...," she looked to Tarin then Blake and held their eyes for a long, silent moment. "It was your conscious decision to remove the knowledge of these events from the galactic community. And neither Commanders Blake nor Tarin made this decision until stardate 69373.027, according to our records. Knowledge itself can be dangerous, but suppressing it destabilized two galactic quadrants and initiated a chain event-sequence leading to what you now see."

Saalm softened her light and accented Yrevish accent while specifically addressing Blake and Tain. "I don't doubt that your intentions were pure. You were faced with a difficult task with no correct answer: allow dangerous research to proliferate, or attempt to ensure it never arrives in the hands of anyone again for future research. But the reality is that transwarp technology - specifically transwarp transporter technology - has been in its experimental stage for over a centenary, across all major powers. When the Romulan Star Empire learned Cold Station 31 had made a breakthrough and then the Federation attempted to conceal it...this changed the perceived balance of power, which in turn has led to the demise of the Federation."

And Now, the Conclusion...

[ON]

Blake watched Lirha in silence for a long moment, her features cold and still. So far, she'd kept her thoughts to herself, to take in the arguments being presented by the officers from both their future and present. For not the first time, she was proud of her crew, for not being afraid to speak their minds.

Blake pushed herself up to her feet, letting out a long, tight breath as she moved closer to the viewport, her arms folding across her chest as she looked out at their future. Finally, she opened her mouth to speak. "Starfleet personnel are strictly prohibited from interfering in the timeline. More over, they are *required* to protect it," she paraphrased the Temporal Prime Directive that had been spoken about so much. "The Prime Directives are the highest orders of Starfleet. And it's the responsibility of every Starfleet officer to defend and uphold them. Orders given by individual officers do not supersede them. That renders such an order void," she reasoned bluntly, half turning away from the viewport to look back at both Tarin and Lirha.

"So that means you are *asking* us all to attempt insurrection on your behalf," Blake pointed out, taking her time to speak, not wanting to confuse a single beat. "And that decision...has to be based in the morality of breaking those Directives. I agree with what some of the others have said here. It's hubris to tell people from other races that we have to let them die because of our Prime Directives, but then decide it's okay to break them when it comes to saving our own skins.

"The Directive is there to stop us from playing god. Full stop. And that means all of us. Including your temporal thinktank," Blake continued, her hands moving to rest lightly on her hips. "Because none of us...not us...not you...not them...have the wisdom, foresight or the right to change the fate of every soul in this universe. This isn't just about the Federation's fate, it's about what happens to *everyone*.

"And most importantly...we have absolutely no idea if keeping that data in tact would actually lead to a far worse fate than this," Blake shook her head sharply, because that was the most poignant point based on her experience on that damned station. "If someone recreates what they did, we're talking about opening the door to literal hell. Multiple doors that were phasing open and closed across the entire station. If that happened on a bigger scale, across a section, a quadrant? The horror that will be visited on people will be unimaginable."

Blake left the description at that, because frankly it was impossible to explain it to someone who hadn't been there and experienced it for themselves. And that the horror waiting in that void would make dying on an exploding ship in the middle of battle seem merciful. "And I don't know if I'm willing to risk unleashing an even darker fate, by having the conceit to think that it's okay for *me*, above all others, to ignore the Directive that is there for the protection of us all, and has been, and will be, protected for generations." As Scarlet fell silent, she looked back to Lirha. Her tone had been firm, but not emotional. And while the usual professional cool air remained around her, she watched her with an expression that might very well be asking her - actually asking her - to persuade her that it was the right thing to do. Because so far, all she'd heard was that they were willing to put their own survival above that of all others...which was not a moving argument.

Tarin let out an audible breath then shook her head at the first officer's pontification. "I said enough, Number One," ordered Tarin, sharply for the second time to the Galileo-A crew. There was hardly anything new the former Marine had posited which others already hadn't - the explanation of the Temporal Prime Directive and its accompanying ethical standards of whether or not to violate the guideline were still an important discussion, yet the arguments had already been made across both sides of the spectrum, in her mind. While she didn't necessarily agree with the totality of Saalm's reasoning, she understood, more than Blake could, that the responsibility and duty of a commanding officer was much more practical than idealistic and philosophical. Commanding a starship was a unique and powerful experience which came with an even heavier dose of personal responsibility. And that responsibility was predominantly to her ship and crew.

Standing beside Tarin, the rear admiral glanced at the nearby chronometer. They were running short on time. The longer this Galileo crew debated the philosophical standards of time travel and temporal incursions, the less likely her mission was to succeed. "Blake, scientists much smarter than you or I already accounted for your questions. You cannot truly believe you are the first to ask them? To have these concerns? To consider what we already haven't?" Perhaps it truly was a case of youthful hubris. "They - even I - know far more about Cold Station 31's research than any of you. We understand the importance of that discovery far greater than you and so did the Star Empire and Klingon Empire. This...is why they waged war against us. Not because of what you found, but your decision to conceal it. And, as the lieutenant said," she lightly gestured to Ghemora, "until you are able to understand the true nature of exploration and that suppressing something you fear without fully understanding it is the wrong path to discovery, then we can never truly reach our potential as an enlightened society."

"The true nature of exploration?" Ullswater practically snarled. She wanted this to have been over, she wanted to do what Tarin asked and just stand down. Sofie had little interest in the upholding temporal directives, that qualm which bothered the others so mattered little to her and her previous worries about deception would be alleviated when she got her hands on the future Galileo's database. She had wanted to keep quiet, let the philosophy roll over her and then get to work on whatever came next. She wanted all that but Saalm had crossed a line.

"You weren't there. You have no right, no right at all. Nobody knows more about the Cold Station's research than we do. We saw it." Sofie's eyes darted around, Lamar, Blake, Warraquim, the others that had been there, that had shared in that experience. As her mind went back to what had happened on that station the room started to feel hot. "Let me tell you what is the wrong path to discovery. It's ordinary people being used as test subjects by scientists outside any supervision, no accountability, no ethics board, just murder. We saw the dead and the half dead merged into monsters. It is an inescapable landscape of nightmares." She coughed, clearing her throat of smoke that wasn't there. "That is not the path to enlightened society. That data is not research worth preserving. We should find another way, we will find another way."

"I can only agree with Lieutenant Ullswater," Vala began, leaning forward and glaring at Saalm, "I have not been privy to the details of what went on at the Cold Station, but your words on scientific pursuits and exploration are sufficient to paint a picture of a Federation that has fallen far from the standards established in its charter," he shook his head and tried not to sneer, "Upholding the principle of eschewing unethical research is a core value we are duty-bound to observe."

He clenched his jaw, "As for your temporal scientists," he snorted derisively, "I have never heard of such hubris. 'Post hoc ergo propter hoc'. There is more than one way to butcher a hlai'hwy," his Romulan accent broke through strongly on the final word, "This obsession with saving the data is not the only way to avoid a war." He looked to Tarin, "Captain, if we must grind the timeline into dust we should be given the opportunity to find a way to do it that matches the ethics of the Federation we came from, rather than the one we have arrived in."

"If I may," Marisa said, bringing the attention back to herself. She was deliberately calm and professional, drawing on her Vulcan heritage. "There are several things that are being overlooked. First, although I had to leave due to an emergency, I was there when you found the cold station. I have also reviewed all the data we have learned since. Second, you cannot look at this as a moral decision alone. We must learn from history if we are not to repeat it. And this is something we must not forget and something we cannot allow to happen again."

"Third, and perhaps most important," continued Wyatt, "you forget that there was a Romulan spy who was one of the station's primary contacts. One who got away with the knowledge of what happened. By destroying the information instead of condemning what happened, your actions were seen as keeping the information secret for the Federation's use alone. You cannot change how your actions were perceived or their consequences. That is why what you did cannot stand."

"And if, and if, and perhaps, and who knows what. What was done was done. As any Mother on Akkadia would say, you live with the consequences of one's action. Thus, we live, or rather the remains of the Federation lives with what happened." Allyndra had had enough of the endless go around.

Hands raised and palms together, Marisa gave Allyndra a Vulcan half bow. "Thank you, doctor. Your wisdom is appreciated." She just hoped the others would see the truth of her words as well.

"We do not have to live with this." Ullswater was still standing, but she wasn't the only one and it wasn't like she towered over anybody anyway. "Captain, this future Galileo requires assistance in repairs, something I'm sure our engineers can manage." She gave a little smile and a nod in the direction of the Vulcan engineering officer, they hadn't been formally introduced yet but from this meeting she already had Sofie's respect. She then turned her eyes, filled with determination, back to Tarin. "But we are a ship of scientists, please, while repairs are ongoing let us find a different solution. One's fate is not set in stone, a person can change their stars. Let's not succumb to fatalism, we're better than that."

"I'm in agreement with Lieutenant Ullswater," Blake gave the woman in question a gentle nod as her hands moved to clasp behind her back. Her own thoughts had been moving in a similar direction since her disappointment in Lirha's response. "It seems to me that fixing the ship doesn't step over the line of morality that grounds the Temporal Prime Directive. While that's in progress, we can park the question of whether we are prepared to break the Directive. It will give us all the time we need to recover from the shock of this turn of events, and consider the nuances and consequences of making such a colossal decision, and whether we're prepared to take that step. And as Ullswater says, it gives her team the chance to search for an alternative solution, one that doesn't have to be an 'either, or'."

Tarin bit down tightly on her lower lip. Her attention was now distracted by the conference room's large wall-mounted LCARS display, specifically the slowly-scrolling and repeating list of major events which had occurred in the Federation between her time and this future. How could this have happened? she continued to wonder to herself despite the rear admiral's concise explanation. ...How could one single decision made in private between two officers lead to catastrophe? The extrapolation both Saalm and Wyatt shared with the group was questionably plausible, but then again, her time period's understanding of temporal mechanics was still in its infancy.

"Admiral, is what Blake and Ullswater suggest possible?" Tarin candidly asked, turning back to the Orion flag officer. "Is there another alternative to prevent," she waved her hand toward the viewport then the ceiling, "this future? Something your scientists might have overlooked?"

Saalm stoically tilted her chin up to deliver the unfortunate news. "I'm afraid there is not. At least, not that we know of. We explored all possibilities when this project was developed to the best of our abilities. At first, we considered sending our Galileo back in time to intercept yours, or even a single officer. It was determined there was no reliable way to prevent accidental contamination of our past timeline. We also looked further back in time, to points in the Federation's history where transwarp transporter technology research was in its first stages. But every focal point we targeted led to projected changes within the timeline which would radically alter the future of the entire galaxy. Possibly the universe." She shifted her light green irises to Ullswater then Blake. "This is the only way that we know of to prevent this future from occurring without altering the fates of trillions of others, many outside of the Federation."

The rear admiral then let out a terse and fatigued breath. "It took our best scientists over two years to research this decision while accounting for as many possible variables and deviations as they could. And while I admire this crew's propensity to solve the impossible, we simply do not have enough time. What makes you believe you can study our entire library of primary and secondary source research findings from our brightest subject matter experts within a matter of days, and then postulate, test and accurately verify that your alternative solution is superior to ours? Because there is no solution here, in this present. I assure you."

Ullswater was tired and frustrated with this future admiral and her fatalistic attitude. "We should try. You say your Starfleet is in tatters, then I imagine so is its capacity for research. I have a team of some of the best minds of our time, a time when Starfleet isn't in tatters. And who knows," she gave a shrug, a little grin, a tilt of the head "I'm not sure who your brightest are but maybe I'm just better." If Saalm was going to keep up her arrogance then Sofie could play that game too.

"Agreed," Blake gave Ullswater a supportive nod, even finding herself encouraged at the officer's confidence. "The things you've presented to us, they're all so...black and white. This or that. But we have millions of shades of grey in between too. I appreciate and regret...I really do...if the war you have found yourself in has forced you into a position of having to think that way. But *we*..." she motioned to the A crew, "...we don't have to. So what's the harm in letting us try? You brought us here to help...let us help."

Vala elected not to interject his support vocally, but put his fist to his heart in salute and gave an approving nod to both Blake and Ullswater. He was convinced that if he could examine the science, whatever rationale the so-called 'top scientists' of the Federation had made up for this ludicrous venture would crumble away, or reveal its true intent. He had, after all, been a scholar of temporal mechanics since most of those present were children.

Casting sideways glances to both Alexander and Wyatt, Saalm privately considered the request. In the many years since she'd commanded Galileo and then Galileo-A, she'd forgotten how stubborn and innovative this crew could be when faced with adversity. Those had always been admirable traits but this situation was different by many greater orders of magnitude. Nevertheless, if offering them the opportunity to believe in their own agency would make them more amicable to accepting the difficult truth of what they needed to do, then it was an worthwhile compromise.

"I will allow you to research an alternative solution using my vessel's research logs and science facilities," she conceded before holding up an emerald finger with a sharp nail, "on one condition: you will acknowledge to me, here and now, that you will make immediate plans to preserve the cold station's research upon your return." Saalm was now directly addressing Tarin. "We have already found a solution to prevent this future, and as of right now, your crew has not. Therefore, our plan remains intact and you will agree to execute it when - if - the time comes."

The taller fair-skinned captain folded her arms across her chest and narrowed her hazel eyes while contemplating the decision. The rear admiral's logic was sound and she couldn't think of any immediate reason to decline the concession. And ultimately, it was solely her past decision to summon Blake and initiate the file deletion process. Tarin curtly nodded once in the affirmative. "If that's what needs to be done to avoid what you've showed us, then I'll do it. You have my word, admiral."

Saalm nodded back to Tarin with acknowledgement then addressed the room again. "I will need as many engineers and operations personnel as you can spare to assist us with our deflector array repairs. When you've finished assigning your teams, they will report to Lieutenant Commander Alexander who can orient them with our vessel's technical specifications." The Orion then gestured to her chief science officer. "Those of you who desire conducting temporal research will report to Commander Wyatt. She can brief you on the decades of scientific discoveries you missed and oversee your 'alternative solutions'. And regarding the Klingon vessel you brought with you...they must be briefed immediately before they are contacted by their own people in this time and give away our position. Or worse, are persuaded to turn against the Federation."

Marisa nodded her compliance. She understood Ullswater's desire to make sure there were no other options, but she was forgetting that, in their timeline, Marisa had been considered one of the bright minds on the Galileo-A as well. She'd spent over two decades since learning more. Plus the two years working with other scientists to get to the point they were at now.

And while Marisa understood Sophie's need to see the data for herself, she was also being highly insulting in the way she went about it. In fact, all of them--except for Captain Tarin herself--had been so unwilling to even listen that they could have been from another universe entirely. None of them were behaving they way they used to, even when confronted with the fact that they'd been pulled from their timeline to solve a problem they'd unwittingly caused. She hoped, when she shared the temporal data, and the empirical evidence supporting it, they would see and understand.

Ullswater felt the gaze of her old superior resting on her and bristled under that weight. "While I thank you, admiral, for all the support you can offer to my team I assure you that myself and Lieutenant Vala do not need supervision. Especially not if that supervision comes with an already entrenched view that our efforts will be meaningless."

"It is your hubris that is in question," Marisa countered. "If you can come up with a better solution than numerous scientist from multiple worlds after two years of research have done, I'll gladly look at it and give it as much consideration as every other suggestion. And with that I am not saying you won't find anything, I'm saying the odds of success are minuscule because you do not currently have all the facts. Those I will share with you and your team." Marisa was a strong believer in empirical evidence and proving theory. She was not going to run off with the first easy answer, but Sofie refused to believe that scientists today would only take this risk if they believed it was the only option that did not have unacceptable ramifications.

Saalm shifted her attention back to Galileo-A's science officers, sharpening her voice. "No one is permitted to conduct unsupervised research into Starfleet's temporal program aboard my vessel, especially those with little understanding of current temporal science. You will do this our way, or not at all," she authoritatively stated.

By now, Tarin had heard enough and stepped forward once more. "This isn't a negotiation," she declared to her own people in the room, feeling perplexed and exasperated by some of their attitudes toward their future counterparts. "If any of you have additional moral, ethical or philosophical objections, see me in my ready room after we're done here. Admiral Saalm's told us time is critical, so let's get to work."

Ghemora may have stayed silent since voicing her initial thoughts, but she hadn't stopped listening or contemplating both what she was being told and what little she remembered from the Academy. While the captain seemed to accept that they would be pawns to be used to break Starfleet's most sacred tenants, the Cardassian was already glancing to various crewmates, plotting discussions with them to both learn more about the particulars of this event, and how best to proceed forward once the Gal-A had been returned to its original point in space-time.

Procuring a small silver PADD from a nearby cabinet, Tarin began to enter personnel assignments for the coming hours and days. "Caradec, Mimi and Sera - you're going over to Galileo-B to assist Commander Alexander with repairs and operate our workbee." She then focused her attention specifically on the engineering ensign, "Take three of your engineers with you. We can spare them, for now."

"Aye, Captain. We're on our way.", Rafe responded. He handed Darius a PADD with instructions for him regarding certain diagnostics on helm controls to make sure the Gal-A was solid. Upon walking out, Rafe thought to himself, This is our time. We were made for moments like this. We must not fail!

"Ullswater," Tarin then addressed the young science chief, "you and Vala and T'Lin will go with Commander Wyatt to perform your research." She continued to tap away at her PADD while delegating assignments. "And Rice, get over to Praxis at once and speak to Commander Kuran. I believe the two of you have a rapport already and perhaps he'll take this news better coming from you than Blake or I."

A short pause followed while Tarin finalized her entries then lowered the PADD to her thigh. "The rest of you will be here aboard Galileo-A, with me. Number One, we need to do a full review and vetting of all major historical events which have led up to this point in history since we departed Regula I. I want you, Warraquim, Vral and Zeror to sit down and build a complete picture of," she turned back over her shoulder and gestured to the still-scrolling highlights of the future timeline on the LCARS display, "this."

Tarin's final assignment was directed to the deputy security officer. "Ghemora, you, I, and the rest of the security personnel will analyze any current operational and tactical intelligence we can get about this new Klingon-Romulan alliance. If what Admiral Saalm tells us is true and we're indeed in hostile territory, we need to understand the full extent of these enemy forces and their capabilities if we want any hope of defending ourselves...should the need arise." She turned her head to the Orion flag officer then asked, "With your permission?"

It wasn't ideal to divulge too much information to the Galileo-A crew surrounding their future, but given the current circumstances, Commander Tarin's request was prudent. And they would ultimately not remember any knowledge they'd gained once they were eventually sent back to their own time period. "I will instruct one of my tactical officers to share with you what we have," agreed Saalm.

All initial preparations appeared to be in place and so Tarin gave a firm nod to her people. "That's everything for now. Brief your people, assemble your teams and equipment, then report to your designated assignments in one hour. Dismissed."

With the captain's final word, it became clear there would be no further discussion, and no further consideration about Starfleet protocols, leaving the Cardassian silently annoyed as she turned in place to open the conference room doors and be the first to exit, as she had been standing directly in front of them since entering. Ghemora was surely going to voice her concerns once the department had gathered for their quick brief before splitting up to see to their various assignments.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Lamar Darius had been his usual reserved self throughout the complex and emotional briefing. Pulled forward in time? A world where the Federation was almost lost and all odds were seemingly stacked against them? It sounded absurd to him if he hadn't personally fought in the Dominion War and experienced similar adversity. Once a Marine, always a Marine, he reminded himself. The complexities of the temporal-whatever many of the other officers seemed to be hung up on went way over his head, but he did have one question that hadn't been asked which unpleasantly lingered in the forefront of his thoughts. "Admiral," he spoke from the back of the room to his former commanding officer. "What about us? Here, now, I mean. Are we still serving on your Galileo? ...Can I meet my older self?" he asked with uncanny curiosity.

Rear Admiral Saalm's light green irises trained on the dark brown ones of her former COB. She remembered Darius well; a clever and refreshingly undisciplined fleet senior NCO at that time. The Orion stood still and pursed her lips before taking a difficult breath to candidly answer the query she knew would eventually come. "Your starship - Galileo-A - was destroyed in the later months of 2396 with all hands lost. All of you are now deceased."

[OFF]

--

RADM Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo-B
[PNPC Tarin]

CMDR Morgan Tarin
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo-A

Lt. JG Rafe Caradec
Senior Conn Officer
USS Galileo-A

CWO3 Lamar Darius
Conn Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Tarin]

LTJG Zara Ghemora
Deputy Security Officer
USS Galileo-A

Cmdr Allynda illm Warraquim
CMO and Second Officer
USS Galileo - A

CMDR Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo-A

LTJG Sofie Ullswater
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

LTJG Montgomery Vala
Deputy Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

CMDR Marisa Wyatt
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo-B

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