^You raise some interesting points there,
Warped9. It's interesting to note that Enterprise has raised a lot of discussion, usually on the grounds of what should have been done differently!
Almost finished, just this chapter, and one more to go. Oh, and if there are any plot threads I've forgotten about, do let me know!
***************
United Earth Military Authority Head Quarters, Texas, America
20th July 2151.
It's like I've never been away, Hernandez thought, looking round Admiral Kelley's office. On some level she'd expected everything to have changed in the time since she'd first accepted her position on Enterprise. Yet it all seemed the same. Even the same drill sergeant bellowing the same insults on the parade grounds outside.
Guess the only thing that has changed, is me.
Actually there was one difference. For this meeting they'd been joined by General Kaplasky, who grumbled under her breath as she re-read Hernandez's report. Eventually she straightened up and fixed Hernandez with a piercing glare. "Tell me, Commander, how would you rate this mission."
"The mission? Complete failure ma'am."
Kelley sat back in his chair and folded his arms. "Failure? Why do you say that?"
"The Enterprise was assigned to escort the President to the trade talks at the Rexus station, and provide security for the duration. As the talks did not take place, we failed in our task."
The merest hint of a smile flickered at Kaplasky's jowls. "It could be argued that external forces were responsible for the apparent failure."
Hernandez noted with interest the use of the word 'apparent'.
"At any rate, I have to prepare a report on the effectiveness of the Enterprise in this...incident." Kaplasky went on. "Your opinion, Commander?"
"Exceptionally high, ma'am." she said without hesitation.
"Indeed? And how do you draw that conclusion?"
Hernandez paused to gather her thoughts. "Ma'am, while it is true that the Enterprise failed in her assigned mission, look at what has been achieved. Two successful combat engagements, the only two carried out by a Declaration class. Right now our records are being analysed by our top strategic and tactical experts, finding the strengths and weaknesses of the design.
"The successful rescue of the head of government for a foreign power, earning us a vast amount of political good will. At the same time, we discovered a great deal about the conspiracy behind it. Not enough to conclusively identify the culprits, but it's given our intelligence services a few good leads.
"We've had our first significant contact with an alien race, the Tellarites. Unless you count a few non conclusive ambassadorial meetings on Vulcan to be significant. And then there's first contact with the Ithenites. According to the diplomatic courier from Vulcan that arrived a couple of days ago, the Ithenite embassy there wishes to open relations with us. Sure, there'll be consequences from the attack on their ship, but they could be a valuable trading partner to us."
Admiral Kelley smiled. "Diplomacy? Trading partners? My word Commander, you
have been spending a lot of time with the UESPA people haven't you?"
She grinned back. "Their approach does seem to rub off on you, sir."
Kaplasky grunted. "I'm more concerned about these equipment failures. The marine corporal's environmental suit, the point defence system...Could it be sabotage?"
"The thought has crossed my mind ma'am, especially as some of the components were built by the Alpha Conglomerate. On the other hand, we've got a lot of new, untested equipment being rushed into service. It could just be that we got a faulty batch."
"Well, you may rest assured Commander there will be a full enquiry, and I will get to the bottom of it." Kaplasky said. "We'll have to check all the other Declaration's too."
Hernandez fished a data chip out of her breast pocket and handed it over. "You may find this useful ma'am. Commander Tucker and Professor Partridge have looked at the point defence system and have highlighted possible problems. They've put forward a few solutions too. We're already implementing them on the Enterprise. Some of them involve the enhanced sensors and computer systems unique to the Enterprise, so won't be applicable to other ships, but a few will work. I've highlighted those, and taken the liberty of adding a few suggestions of my own."
Kelley popped the chip into the reader and studied his display intently. After a few moments he nodded slowly. "This is good...this is very good. I'll pass this on a soon as we're finished here, get these changes implemented ASAP. What are these other files?"
Hernandez leant forward and tapped the screen. "This is the report on the particle beam weapon that was fired at us."
Kaplasky leant closer to the screen. "Really?" she asked eagerly.
"Yes ma'am. Analysis of the beam composition, records of it in operation, suggestions as to possible defences...Professor Partridge has done a very thorough job." Hernandez said.
"Though not, I note, a complete one. There seems to be nothing here about how to replicate or reproduce it." Kaplasky fixed her with a steely gaze.
"No ma'am. The Professor refuses to assist in the development of weapons. Disappointing, but I respect her reasons."
Kaplasky sat back. "Well, this is better than nothing. It's a good starting point for our own weapons designers."
"Yes ma'am." Hernandez said. She gave Kelley a questioning glance, got a subtle nod in return. "That, and the recovered weapon ma'am."
Kaplasky blinked. "Recovered weapon?"
Hernandez nodded. "From the wreckage of the ship designated Hotel 6. After the battle I sent a couple of drones to cut it off and bring it to the Enterprise. No sense of letting it falling into the wrong hands. Of course, it would have been a lot simpler to destroy it, but the plasma weapons were low on power and I didn't want to waste any torpedoes. We'd already used a few."
Kelley was smiling openly. After a few minutes consideration Kaplasky joined him. "Good thinking." the General said. "Just out of interest, who knows about this?"
"Let's see. All the bridge crew at the time. Apart from the navigator, Moshiri, they are all UEMA personnel. And the recovery team who brought the wreckage on board. I picked them myself. By an odd coincidence, they were all military too. Apart from them, only Captain Archer knows. I informed him shortly after the procedure was complete. He wasn't happy about it, but accepted my reasoning."
"He is the legal commander of the ship." Admiral Kelley pointed out, in response to Kaplasky's disapproving frown. There was a vague grunt of acknowledgement.
"Does anyone else know? Professor Partridge, for example?"
Hernandez shook her head. "No ma'am. Lieutenant Reed may suspect something, I had his people guard the storeroom it was in, but apart from those I mentioned I don't think anyone knows anything. And those who do know will keep quiet. And I decided I didn't want to...
burden the Professor with the knowledge.
"The weapon is badly damaged." she went on. "But I dare say the experts can make something of it."
Kaplasky nodded, mollified. "What of these other files?"
"This one, I worked on with Commander Tucker. A way to use the energy stored in the main guns capacitors to power the turret actuators. During our fight at Theta Iota we had weapons that were charged, so we could fire them, but no way to aim them. This system will let us re-route the power. Of course, it would reduce the number of shots you can fire, but that's better than not having a chance to hit your target at all."
"Another one for the rest of the Declaration fleet." Kelley observed. "That would be of great benefit."
"I thought so sir." Hernandez said. "Now this file, this is interesting. During the journey Moshiri observed how the use of the navigational deflectors caused a slight increase in speed. It was a trivial amount, a matter of seconds, but she and Partridge have been working on it. Between them, and Commander Tucker, they've found a way to put out a constant low level deflector beam that would help disperse interstellar gas, without significantly impairing the ships velocity or using vast amounts of power."
Kaplasky was a ground forces officer, and wasn't too familiar with space craft. "Is that good?"
"In practice, it would improve efficiency by one, maybe two percent." said Hernandez.
"That doesn't sound like much."
Kelley rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "How much would it cost to implement the changes, per ship?"
Hernandez leant her elbows on the desk. "Less than ten thousand. It's a modification to the systems already in place, some software upgrades, that's all. If Earth's entire fleet, military and civilian, were to get this change, you'd recoup the initial costs within three years, just on the savings on fuel bills. Also, ships could go longer between overhauls, as there's less stress on the engines. Slightly faster top speeds, not a huge amount but it might make a difference.
"Of course, it might not be worth modifying the entire fleet. It wouldn't be worth it for older ships due to retire. But the principle still stands. And, as far as we know, no one else has discovered this system. Not even the Vulcans. If it does work, we could sell it to them. Or, and here's that UESPA influence again, give it to them."
"Give it to them?" a shocked Kaplasky echoed.
Kelley nodded. "They don't like to feel in debt, the Vulcans. If we give it to them, they'll give us something back of equal worth. Maybe even greater worth, just so they can feel superior to us. Or whatever comes close to 'feeling' superior for a Vulcan."
"Right." Hernandez said. "If we don't give, or sell, this technology to the Vulcans, they'll probably stumble upon it themselves one day, develop their own version. So we might as well find a way to profit from it."
"If ever you leave the military, Commander, I suggest big business. You seem to have an eye for opportunity." Kaplasky said. "Yes, big business, or organised crime."
"Is there a difference?" Hernandez asked innocently.
Kelley grinned at that. "Well, let's see what's in this last file."
Hernandez held up a hand. "Ah, that's not actually relevant. When Partridge sent me her reports she included that. It must have been by mistake. It's...it's..." She shrugged, unable to think of an accurate description. "And I can't delete it for some reason."
Kelley and Kaplasky exchanged glances. Curious, the Admiral opened the file, an audio visual recording. Hernandez sat back in her chair. She'd seen it before, several times, re-watching in case there was some deep significance that bypassed her on the initial viewing. If there was, it still eluded her.
Drums, trumpets, violins, in a fast beat, and slightly synthetic. And then the voice, strangely deep for a white man.
"
We're no strangers to love
You know the rules and so do I
A full commitment's what I'm thinking of
You wouldn't get this from any other guy..."
To her horror Hernandez found herself swaying slightly in time to the music. For the remainder of the song she forced herself to sit still. It was annoyingly catchy.
As the file reached it's end Kelley blinked a few times, and looked at the others with a 'what-the-hell-was-that?' look on his face. "Yes. I think the professor included this by mistake." he eventually concluded.
"Yes." Kaplasky agreed.
Either a mistake, or a joke, Hernandez thought.
Difficult to tell where Polly's concerned.
"At any rate," Kelley said, "I have good news for you. Your old CO, Captain Hardy, has been promoted to the Admiralty."
"That is good news." Hernandez said. "Please pass on my congratulations."
Kaplasky said "We will, but that's not the good news."
Kelley put a small box on the table, and opened it. The rank pins of a captain gleamed within. "We want you to take his place. Commanding officer of the Sun Tzu."
Stunned, Hernandez lifted the box, staring at the contents. She had no idea how long she sat there. It was probably just seconds but felt like a lifetime. Then she sighed softly, closed the box and put it down on the table.
"Admiral, General, I'm sorry but I must decline."
Kelley held his hand up. "Please, Commander, think this over, take your time. Command of a starship, even an older one like the Sun Tzu, would be a great boost to your career. And don't worry about getting stuck there. She's due to be retired in three years. You'll have another posting then, something newer. Perhaps even a Declaration class, there's talk in government about expanding the fleet. We need good COs."
Hernandez was shaking her head. "No. I'm sorry, but no. Not yet, anyway."
"Why not?" Kaplasky asked, brow furrowed.
"Two reasons. First, I'm not ready."
"Your command of the Enterprise in battle seems to disprove that."
"That's not what I meant ma'am. I made an error, a major error at the start of the mission. Ensign Mayweather was out of control, and I should have reigned him in. Now in hindsight it was obvious that he was acting as your agent, but---"
"How do you know that?" Kaplasky demanded.
"There were a number of indications. I knew him on the Sun Tzu. Cocky, brash, arrogant. But not overly violent. Getting into a fight with a group of UESPAs just because he didn't like them was out of character. I'm guessing Captain Archer knew, and that together they arranged the incidents on Enterprise."
Kaplasky nodded. "Archer was not informed until you were under way. The President gave him a data chip describing Mayweather's mission."
Hernandez said "So Mayweather was a stalking horse, hoping to find evidence of anti UESPA feeling amongst the military personnel. And I guess he wasn't your first choice. He overplayed the role too much, must have had too little training. So the original helmsman was probably working for you, but after his motor crash you needed a replacement, both as helmsman and agent."
"Mayweather was in the right place at the right time. He'd had some minor disciplinary problems, so it was hoped he could be convincing in his anti-squid convictions." Kaplasky conceded.
"At any rate, he did find what he was looking for, and a number of officers and crew have 'voluntarily' transferred off the Enterprise as a result."
"And we shall be having a little talk with them." Admiral Kelley promised.
Hernandez sat back. "As I say, it's obvious in hindsight. But that's no excuse. I let his excesses go. Bad mistake."
Kaplasky rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Why do you think that was, Commander?"
"I think it's like Doctor Locke said. At that time I saw things differently. It was an 'us and them' situation. We weren't a unified crew, we were two factions competing for the Enterprise. And for all his faults, I saw Travis Mayweather as being on 'my' side, and let his faults slide. Highly unprofessional. Like I say, I'm not ready for command. Not yet."
Kelley nodded slowly, accepting her explanation. "You said you had two reasons. What's the other?"
Hernandez hesitated. "This is going to sound weird sir. The fact is...I believe in the Enterprise. I believe in her mission."
Kaplasky snorted with amusement. "I think you've gone space-happy Commander. Do you want a transfer to UESPA?" Despite her words there was enough levity in her tone to make it clear she wasn't being serious.
"No ma'am." Hernandez smiled back. She held her hands out, as if giving her ideas to the others. "It's like this. The Declaration class was designed to protect Earth and it's interests from extra terrestrial threats, yes? Now of course we mean
known threats. New hostilities with the Axanar, interstellar piracy, that sort of thing.
"But, as our mission showed, there are other threats out there, other dangers. And if we are to prevail, we need to find out about them before they turn up on our door step. Now, obviously we want to keep as much of our military fleet near to Earth and our colony worlds and outposts. So it will be UESPA that first encounters any potential danger.
"Now a good diplomat can turn a neutral party into a friend, and an enemy into a neutral. But there will be some who don't respond to diplomacy. So if the explorers and diplomats and scientists are to get back to Earth with their findings, they're going to need protection. And that means the military.
"Enterprise is assigned to a mission of peaceful exploration. But I can't see her completing that mission. Not without guardians, protectors. And that's my job."
"Very well." Kelley said, after a moments hesitation. He picked up the box and put it back in his desk. "Somehow I suspected you'd make that decision. I hope it's the right one."
"So do I, sir."
"There's another reason, of course." Kaplasky said. "Although we still don't know for certain who was behind this...incident, we do know they have extensive resources, friends in high places, and a long reach. Take care of the ship, Commander. You, and it, have made powerful enemies."
****
Later, as Hernandez was leaving the building, she saw a blonde woman in the uniform of a Ground Forces colonel. She looked very familiar, though Hernandez knew they had never met before. Scurrying along next to the colonel was a little civilian with a moustache, hat and visitors badge. She jogged over to the pair.
"Ma'am? Ma'am?" She gave a crisp salute.
"Ah. Commander Hernandez, isn't it? Of the Enterprise?" the woman replied with a cut glass accent, returning the salute.
"Yes ma'am. I just wanted you to know, when it mattered, when it came down to it, she did her duty."
The colonel rocked back on her heels slightly, blue eyes misting slightly. "Thank you, Commander. Thank you. I always knew she had it in her. Always. Yes, thank you."
Next to her the little man also looked pleased, though there was a hint of....what was it? Sadness? Disappointment? Hernandez thought about it.
"Mind you," she added, "I do have to add that she is also the most aggravating, irritating, annoying person I have ever met!"
And the little man beamed, proclaiming in a strong cockney accent "That's my girl!"
Then of course, you end with those iconic words, loved it! I have said it before and I will say it again. This is the way "Enterprise" should have been done!
