STAR TREK: Expedition 8180 - Episode 4 "The New Frontier"

[Trek Writers Room]

AUTHORS NOTE:
Welcome to *Expedition 8180*! This miniseries marks the beginning of a thrilling journey told in seven Parts here on AO3. The conclusion of the initial arc intentionally remains open-ended, setting the stage for a new episodic format. Each subsequent episode will stand alone, weaving in stories that resonate with the events of the 7-part series.

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Expedition 8180
"The New Frontier"
Episode / Scene 4.1
On the Promonade


The Service Cube has a Promenade, six decks high and designed to look like a traditional town square. There is a grass-covered park with several varieties of trees, picnic tables and a large water fountain at its center. On all four sides is a street with sidewalks on either side. Instead of automobiles there is an electric trolley on a track that travels the half mile square.

On the opposite side of the streets are various buildings of differing sizes. There are shopping outlets for everything from foodstuffs to clothing, toy and hobby stores, and house wares. There are also many different types of restaurants, both fast food and fine dining. Mixed within the shops are recreational buildings, a swimming pool, roller and ice rinks, movie theaters, an art gallery, a gymnasium, a library, bars and night clubs as well as buildings that are currently vacant, ready to be turned into something that the community would like to add.

To cap everything off with environmental flair is the ceiling with a 12 degree dome-like curvature. Set on a 24 hour cycle, the "sun" rises and sets on perpetual sunny days and the night skies are clear and full of stars. Care has been taken to include depictions of the seasonal constellations and space phenomenon for all of the Federation member homeworlds, in a random rotation.

One building immediately stands out. It is a three story white granite affair with a balcony on the second floor. A stunningly gaudy and entirely too large green and red neon sign flashes the name of the establishment: QUARK'S

A "summer stage" resides toward one end of the park, a permanent structure for either open air theater productions or concerts under the stars. Currently there are two people on stage and about 120 in the audience. Standing next to one another and speaking into a single shared microphone are Quark and Elmin Garak. They are at the close of a business association meeting.

Garak is addressing the crowd, "As Mr. Quark has explained in great detail, we hope to open the promenade in one week's time. If you can open earlier, by all means please do, our customers are anxious to see what we have to offer."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: ELIM GARAK (Andrew Robinson) appears as the actor did at the end of Season Seven of DEEP SPACE NINE with all of the character's memories and experiences up until that point.

Quark leans forward to "steal the mic".

"As well as the now universally known excellent hospitality and liberal libations at QUARKS that has become the hallmark for the discerning customers who want to relax after a hard day of exploring a new galaxy."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: QUARK (Armin Shimerman) appears as the actor did at the end of Season Seven of DEEP SPACE NINE with all of the character's memories and experiences up until that point.

This draws light laughter and some clapping from the crowd. Garak is still wondering just how any intelligence higher than that of a Cardacian tugworm would have thought to include a Quark in any galaxy. Sending him to a new galaxy, maybe. Add him to one while keeping him in the other... beyond comprehension. "Yes, well we all know the sterling reputation of Quark's and all I can say is, Buyer Beware."

More laugher, perhaps a bit louder, though Quark's smile loses some of its luster, as Garak continues, "So, to wrap things up for our first Commerce Association meeting, I, as you're not so duly elected president, and on behalf of my vice president (nodding to Quark) I thank you for your time and please know that my office, located at Garak's Tailoring, is always open if you need anything. Until further notice, we will meet every two weeks as we, to use a tailor's term, iron out the wrinkles. Now, let's get to work!"

There is loud applause as Quark stays to soak up the adulation while Garak gives a quick wave and exits stage right. He then steps behind the freshly painted blue and white flats and with the flash of a transporter disappears from view.

Moments later, Garak has materialized into a very long hallway, of the Warehouse Cube, that is wide enough to accommodate the large robotic transport platforms that move items from place to place depending on type and need. The place is harshly lit by industrial lighting suspended from the two-deck high ceiling, necessary for many of the items stored in this particular cube. He follows the hallway until he gets to a door that requires both a DNA hand scan and the entry of a pass code. The door slides open only to reveal a vestibule with another door ten feet way. The entry door closes behind him as he approaches the second door. This one is not nearly so benign looking. It is a shielded, armor plated doorway that is clearly designed to "protect itself" should anyone attempt a forced entry.

This time Garak speaks a sequence as a scan field travels up and down his body. The fact that the door, much slower this time due to its weight and size, opens suggests that Garak is not only Garak, but he is carrying nothing of concern.

The room he enters is in no way similar to the warehouse he just left. This space has a modest mix of Starfleet and casual decor though clearly this is a place with a very specialized purpose. The considerable technology in this room looks much like a smaller version of the Bridge. But that is where the similarities end. The stations here are much less about monitoring the cube and much more about monitoring the fleet. There is a station dedicated to each of the six ships of their convoy as well as one station that has fifty or so monitors, all much smaller and aligned in twenty banks of five.

There is only one other person in the room as Garak enters, the Georgiou holographic A.I. who has her feet up on the central console on the top tier. Oddly she appears to be drinking a cup of coffee. Garak regards her with an equally odd expression. Speaking quietly he asks her, "What is the purpose of an A.I. who needs to rest their legs or drink a caffeinated beverage. Or any drink for that matter."

The AI stares back at him blinking several times as if trying to clear her vision, and replies, "What is the purpose of questioning an Artificial Intelligence about anything? Whatever they are doing, it has a purpose otherwise they would not be doing it. The real question is why question something you clearly lack the intelligence to understand."

Garak is incredulous, "Did you just insult my intelligence?

"Not at all. I insulted your lack of intelligence."

Garak smiles, accepting it, "Well, in a strange way I have to agree with you. Where is your better half? And I mean that exactly how it sounds."

"I could debate you on that, however we run back into the problem with your capacity to understand my argument. She is with 'He Who Must Not Be Named.'"

Garak begins to walk to the far side of the room, heading for another door, though this one is not nearly as tedious to get through. Adding over his shoulder, "Alright... back to your coffee with you."

Garak once again passes the hand and voice scan and steps through the now open doorway. He is met by another version of Philippa Georgiou, though this one is dressed differently. She is wearing a Starfleet uniform with her Captain's pips and, interestingly, is also drinking a cup of coffee.

Garak address the "real" Georgiou, "Your twin has the same habit." She says nothing. He tries again, "And how is our new boss?"

Georgiou regards him coolly before answering. She is not exactly sure how to take Garak yet. "Getting dressed. I hope. He's been in his quarters for over an hour. I think he is intentionally keeping me waiting. Revenge."

The room has a very similar decor to Picard's Ready Room. Though instead of a conference table this one sports a sunken space with couches and cushioned chairs and a centralized 3D display where the table would be. Garak chooses one of the comfortable looking chairs asking as he sits down to wait, "How is he taking things?"

Still not sure of Garak but for the moment not caring she answers, "Who cares how he's taking things. I'm pissed. Whatever were they thinking? He is dangerous. More than you know."

Suddenly a door at the far end of the ready room opens and out steps Gabriel Lorca, cleaned up and well fed, substantially different from his condition in his cell. He steps through the doorway and walks in with confident strides. Other than his neat and regulation appearance he is dressed in a Starfleet uniform, adorned with the pips of a captain. He looks directly at Garak. "You're late. And get out of my chair."

THE USS ENTERPRISE

The Enterprise is stationary about 800 meters away from the derelict alien ship. The running lights are lit and there is quite a bit of scorching on the hull plating, but otherwise the craft seems to be fine. There are between 60 and 70 bodies frozen in a death grimace floating in small groups about 100 meters from the front of the ship. It is almost as if they were intentionally transported there so that the last thing they saw was the attacking ship responsible for their demise.

On the Bridge of the Enterprise, Picard and Data are in their respective chairs as they survey the scene on the main view screen. Everyone is transfixed by the awful sight, until Picard asks, "Mr. Zhaban?"

"The hull integrity is stable, the ship's power plant and engines, including their warp core appear to be operational and life support is functioning, providing for an oxygen rich environment. I believe it is safe to board her without life suits."

"Very well. Mr. Data, you and Mr. La Forge take a small security detail, along with Dr. M'Benga and see what you can learn about these people. I would be especially interested in their log entries. We need to know who they are, how long they have been here and what sort of technology they are working with."

Data stands and heads for the turbo lift doors at the back of the Bridge. He taps his comm badge. "Commander Data to Security, please have a detail report to transporter 3. (a beat) Dr. M'Benga and Chief Engineer La Forge, I require your expertise. Please arm yourselves with hand phasers and meet me in transporter room 3."

Picard turns his attention to the main view screen, his mind turning to the horror the people floating in space must have experienced. And then... "Oh no. (his features falter a bit - pointing) Zhaban, magnify that bunch there to the far left."

As Zhaban makes the adjustment, the Main View Screen shows the bodies of about 20 or so children from about the ages of 5 to late teens. Two adults, both holding shoulder weapons of some kind, are there was well. It would seem that the children were secured in some part of the ship with two guards to protect them against a boarding party attack.

Some minutes later Data, La Forge, M'Benga and the security detail beam aboard the alien ship. Zhaban had rightly chosen the most logical place the ship's Bridge would be located and beamed the party there. The three officers immediately begin scanning using with their tricorders.

Instead of an orderly Bridge the place is a tangle of wiring, conduit, and jury-rigged portable equipment clearly brought in from other parts of the ship. Control consoles lay open and exposed, some have been removed entirely. This was not a recent event. It is evident that months of work has gone into these modifications.

Geordie whistles as he scans an engineer's nightmare of a Bridge, "Wholly mackerel. What a mess."

Data never at a loss for the obvious states flatly, "It would appear that this ship has had quite a number of equipment failures. These repairs were made by cannibalizing other parts of the ship."

M'Benga, expecting it announces, "No life forms here, and I am not reading any in the vicinity."

La Forge moves to one of the central command consoles, or what is left of it and begins a visual inspection, reporting as he goes. "It looks like they are using laser filaments to transfer energy and liquid crystal for the computers. Not very efficient under ideal conditions. I can only imagine how this ship has managed to operate with this set up."

Data looks up from a console. "I have located their Captain's log entries, though it has not been accessed for over a year. I will attempt to remove it so we can analyze the data on Enterprise."

"Careful Data," Geordie cautions, "The crystal must remain in its shielding, otherwise it will liquefy and we'll never get anything from it."

M'Benga, scanning a panel in front of him concludes, "I have found their life support systems control. They have routed most of their energy reserves here. Makes sense. What good are your engines or weapons if you can't breathe or your blood and muscles are frozen solid. I'll need to find their sickbay if I want to really learn any of the xenomorphic information on their species."

Data has completed his removal of the core and its shielding. He is holding a heavy metallic cylinder. He taps his comm, "Data to Captain Picard."

Back on the Enterprise Bridge, Picard sits up a little straighter in his chair. He is still thinking about the dead children floating in space. "Picard here. Please report."

Sir, I would like to beam the Captain's logs to the Enterprise. There are in a liquid crystal form and will need to be synthesized before analysis. If this can be done quickly it may provide us with more specific information."

"Very good Mr. Data. Send when ready. Ask Dr. M'Benga to see if there is anything at all recorded for the death or burial rituals for this race. I do not intend to leave these people floating in space for all eternity."

Dr. M'Benga hears the transmission and taps his comm to reply. "I understand sir. I will do my best."

"Data again sir, the Bridge is in a serious state of disrepair. I believe these people have been aboard this ship for an extended period of time. It would also appear that they are far from home as they have not had the opportunity to re-supply or make repairs."

"Very well. I would be interested to know something of their warp capabilities, it may prove useful to Captain Worf. When you are finished there, have Commander La Forge take a look at their engine room."

"Yes, sir. Data out."

 

[Trek Writers Room]

Expedition 8180
"The New Frontier"
Episode / Scene: 4.2
The Bird of Prey, Martok


The Martok is traveling through a quantum slip stream conduit. Ahead of the ship by five kilometers are three Shrike Fighters, each manned by a pilot and technical officer. The blue glow of the enhanced shield projectors that individually outline all of the ships has been increased to a protective standard which reflects off the warp bubble created by the slip stream drive. Unlike the Enterprise, the Bridge of the Martok is nearly identical to this class from the Klingon fleet. The one exception is that each station has been outfitted with holographic display terminals, all of which are standard in each of the convoy's ships.

Captain Worf is in the command chair, Commander Saru is at the First Officer's station. While perhaps not especially comfortable aboard a ship that is designed primarily for war, the Kelpian has embraced his role and displays his usual mix of caution and efficiency in performing the task at hand. In this case making his report to the Captain, "Sensors show the four alien vessels have dropped out of warp and are entering an unremarkable solar system. I will have more information for you shortly, Captain."

Worf acknowledges his first officer and looks over at comms. "To the shrike captains, if you would."

A.I. Georgiou acknowledges his command with, "Go ahead, I can only assume they are listening unless you would like me to take a roll call."

Worf grunts softly. He was not at all pleased to learn that the A.I. comm system does not allow for... tampering. "Not necessary. Worf to shrike force. The ships we are pursuing have dropped out of warp. Prepare to do the same. We will overshoot the system and come in from the opposite direction. Please assume the arrowhead formation we discussed earlier once we are at impulse speed."

Following the strict Xahean military protocol, the two subordinate shrike lieutenants respond in reverse order of rank. It is the commander who is the last to acknowledge the order, thereby ensuring that not only is the Martok aware that all have copied, but as the final voice in the transmission, he too is now confident everyone is aware of Captain Worf's orders.

"Gesthal 3, copy."

"Gesthal 2, copy."

"Gesthal 1, confirms."

As they finish, Saru continues his report, "Captain, I have additional information. According to a preliminary scan, the solar system they have entered is uninhabited and, there are no planets or other bodies that could sustain life. There is only a single gas giant and two small planets without an atmosphere as well as the system's sun, a red dwarf."

Worf nods and says, "Interesting. I would have thought they were retreating to a home world or base of some sort. Is there any way ships could be hiding inside the gas giant?"

Saru takes a moment to complete a more detailed scan. His expression confirms his words. "The temperatures are extreme and the winds speeds alone would make it impossible for ship of their design to travel within. I would say it would be impossible."

"In my experience Mr. Saru, that would mean there is an entire armada of ships down there as well as several cities with millions of citizens."

Saru turns to look at Worf, the confusion written across the Kelpian's face. Worf sees this and moves to damage control his response. "I beg your pardon Commander. In my old age I have become somewhat cynical and my sense of humor is mostly for my own benefit. Thank you. I am sure there are no surprises located within the gas giant. (attention turns to the helm) Lt. Ortegas, please bring us in well past the enemy vessels and take us to a heading that will put us behind and above them."

Erica Ortegas acknowledges Worf's instructions and carefully brings the ship out of warp, working slowly enough for the shrikes to mirror her navigation of the much larger ship. After several seconds... "We are 15,000 Kilometers behind, though they are traveling fast toward the gas giant. The shrikes have formed up on us as directed."

"Thank you, lieutenant. Commander Musiker, engage the cloak and take us to yellow alert."

Raffi does as requested. Immediately there is a klaxon-like warning piped throughout the ship.

As viewed from the outside, the ship begins to warble out of sight and is soon replaced by nothing but the three shrikes. All four ships begin to close on a small white and blue moon which from this distance is little more than a dot against the yellow and orange swirls of the planet's turbulent atmosphere.

On the Martok's Bridge, Worf continues his tactical approach, "Let us maintain this distance and have our shrikes fall in behind. Commander, please scan the moon, we will not want to step into a gaprupta nest."

"A what?" Raffi asks.

"A gaprupta is an insectoid the size of your arm, most of which is comprised of its barbed stinger. The poison sack, which by the way is also its reproductive fluid, causes severe pain as pustules of blood form within the flesh were they eventually erupt into more gaprupta."

Saru is immediately not a fan of gaprupta, "That sounds horrible, though on my planet we do have a similar insect where the offspring not only reproduce inside you, but then consume the host for nourishment."

Ortegas voices her opinion, "Yuck."

Raffi, who has been staring at her 3D display begins to give her report as it becomes available. "The moon is comprised almost entirely of heavy metals, and other than what looks like iron, are mostly unidentifiable. There is no atmosphere, and sensors do show a considerable number of warp signatures in its orbit. This is interesting. Some of the warp signatures are not from the engines powering the ships we are following. They not only use a different type of reactor, but they are much larger."

Is it possible for you to discern the number and how recent they are?" Worf asks.

Raffi continues to make adjustments to her scans while at the same time compiling new information and calculations. "Hundreds, though I can only identify six different types of ships that have come and gone from this moon. Some are very recent, days at the most, while others are perhaps years old. The most recent ion trails are from our 'friends' ahead of us."

"There is a significant... 'tangle' of energy masses coming from the moon, though it appears they are emanating from the gas giant, "Saru says still working his 3D display. "It is almost as if there is a tether of energy coming from the giant and feeding into or onto the moon. As we continue to get closer I will be able to give you more precise information."

Worf frowns, "I do not understand. Are you saying the moon and the planet are connected by an energy field of some kind?"

Still studying it himself Saru does his best to make it clear, "Not exactly sir. It is more like an energy stream that is without fluctuation and is aimed at the moon, though it is not reflected. Similar to a tractor beam actually, though the moon itself is not reflecting the energy. Nor is it absorbing or converting the energy."

Worf is now even more confused by it all. He suddenly becomes worried that perhaps these people have an energy weapon on their home moon that is powered by the gas giant. The consequences would be... "Lt. Ortegas, all stop and inform the shrikes to do the same."

"Aye sir, all stop, informing the shrikes."

Worf's increasing intensity is clear, "Commander, scan for any sort of weapon's fire that may have come from that moon. If there is no reflection or absorption of the energy from the moon, where is it going?"

"Captain, you think it may be a weapon?" Saru asks.

"I believe it is possible. Rafaela, is there any indication they are aware of our presence or that of the shrikes?"

"No sir. Their course and speed are steady and they have not raised shields."

"Comms, are there any communication between the ships?"

There is a difference in the A.I. comms officer's tone, and minus her normal banter. She is both direct and professional. "None sir. I have detected no communication signals between any of the four ships since we have come into range. Additionally, there are none taking place between the ships and the moon. If they have detected our comms they are keeping it to themselves. I instituted a level three revolving encryption algo when we left the cube. Given what we know about their technology, our comms will sound like quasar microburst pulses, no more than several nanoseconds in length."

Worf takes pause and then looks over at the A.I. with something akin to amused respect. With a slight nod... "Thank you. Excellent work and we will, in the future, follow your improvement to our comm procedures under yellow or red alerts."

Scanning his station's monitors Saru adds, "Sir, the ships are entering into an extreme near-moon orbit. They are hugging the surface, presumably due to their reduction in speed, to the far side. We could perform a warp out-and-in to the far side, at this same distance, once they are out of line for their sensor scans."

Worf considers his First Officer's suggestion. It does not take him long to make his decision. "A satisfactory plan of action, Commander. Helm, calculate and execute the moment their ships are free of our sensor range. Comms, coordinate the shrikes to perform the same maneuver."

Dual "ayes" from both helm and comms are offered as the remainder of the Bridge crew prepare for the out-and-in jump.

Moments later, on the far side of the moon, the Klingon Bird of Prey has already made the first jump and the three shrikes follow warping back in, this time on the planet-facing side of the moon.

"Captain! We are visible!" Saru announces, clearly alarmed and frustrated. "I was able to see a brief ferrion image on our sensors of the Martok as well as the shrikes when we jumped out. It would appear that the gas giant's high concentration of ferrion created a reflection. The same has occurred when we jumped back in. Even their sensors would have been able to detect the reflected particles."

Raffi quickly reviews her station's output and then confirms, "Commander, Saru is correct. They have seen us. Three of the four ships are turning so their forward cannons are facing us. The fourth ship is... there is a large structure, correcting, three structures that are hovering just above the surface of the moon. There is also another structure on the surface of the moon. It looks like some sort of relay. All four are made of a material I cannot identify. It is not the same makeup of the hull of the ships. The energy readings of the three structures is off instruments."

Worf wastes no time, "Red alert. Sound battle stations. Comms, get the shrikes away from us and inform them not to attack unless we are attacked first and then only if we sustain any sort of damage. If they only have pulse canons, we will not retaliate."

Raffi is monitoring the aliens closely, "Three ships coming at us at full impulse; for their engines anyway. They are heading directly for the Martok. They will be on us in twenty seconds."

Worf, more curious than concerned muses, "It will be an interesting test of our new shield technology." Then orders, "All hands brace for impact."

As the three ships in an attack formation head directly for the Martok, the shrikes have quickly broken away from behind the Bird of Prey and are spreading out above and below the larger ship in a defensive position that would also allow for an immediate response in the event that an attack order is given.

The blue shield emitters that line the Martok's hull, as well as those of the shrikes intensify their glow as they power up to maximum. As the attacking ships get closer, the Martok and its compliment await the attack.

The three alien starships come in very close, practically at the point of collision. Suddenly all three alter their course, breaking to starboard, port, and below the Martok. As they pass by and in their wake, three groups of Starfleet personnel, all in uniform, materialize into the deathly cold space only a hundred yards or so away from the Martok. Most are dead already with expressions of wide-eyed shock or grimaces of pain painted across their faces. In the distance the three enemy ships responsible for the macabre scene go to warp as they make their escape.