AUTHOR'S NOTE:
As the Enterprise NX-01 returns to Earth after her final test run to Alpha Centauri, professor Erika Hernandez heads down to San Francisco for a meeting with director Nogura at the headquarters of the U.E.S.P.A. for a briefing on the new command structure on board Enterprise.
Read the next chapter of STAR TREK: INTO THE FINAL FRONTIER here or download it by following this link.
***
November 21st 2151
4 months after the events in “Falling Skies”
A dozen Orbital Drydock Facilities are in orbit around planet Earth. Most of them are in use by the United Earth Stellar Navy or the E.C.S. - Earth Colonial Shipping.
One facility however has been the talk of every town and city on the planet down below for months and for good reason: it’s the drydock currently occupied by the starship Enterprise NX-01 - Earth’s first starship capable of reaching warp five. With her saucer structure and two nacelles it’s a beautiful yet simple design. Equipped with the latest technologies in every field possible, she is more than ready to take her bold crew where no human has gone before.
***
On board the Enterprise, professor Erika Hernandez - currently supervisor of all ship based activities - walks down a corridor on D deck. She is accompanied by helm officer Vivienne Mayweather and right now they both look like they’ve got something to celebrate.
Hernandez checks the data on her padd. As she looks back up with a broad smile: “Warp 4.9 from Earth to Alpha Centauri and back without so much as a hiccup. I don’t know about you Viv, but I think this ship is finally ready to chart those new frontiers.”
Mayweather just frowns. Hernandez notices and stops: “What? You don’t agree?”
Mayweather glances aside, for a second not really sure if she should share her fears with the professor. As she finally looks back up at her: “Oh, I agree with you professor. Definitely. This ship is ready. But to be honest, I’m just not sure if the Agency is willing to go through with the mission.”
Hernandez’s eyes widen in disbelief. As she lets out a soft chuckle: “And why wouldn’t they be?”
“Haven’t you watched the news reports coming from Earth lately?”, Mayweather replies with a worrisome undertone. “People are scared. Ever since those Syrrannite refugees crash landed on Terra Nova, everyone is talking about fortifying the Sol system against the Romulan Star Empire.”
“And you are worried about those Romulans too?”, Hernandez wonders out loud.
“Of course I am. Who in their right mind wouldn’t be?”
Hernandez continues her walk as Mayweather follows: “So you suggest we just stay here in orbit around Earth, guarding the planet, waiting for the bad guys to sweep in?”
“Don’t ask me, I’m just a pilot, not a military strategist”, Mayweather humbly replies.
Hernandez stops as they arrive at the door to the engine room. “Me neither, Viv. But what I do know is that you should never let fear factor into your decision making process. Fear only exists for one reason and one reason only.”
Mayweather raises an eyebrow: “And that reason is?”
“To be conquered”, Hernandez smiles. As she hands the padd back over to Mayweather: “See you on the bridge.”
Mayweather nods and smiles as she takes the padd and continues her way down the corridor alone.
***
Hernandez opens the door to the engine room and is overwhelmed by all the activity that is going on in there. A dozen crewmen are running around from station to station, shouting technobabble.
Suddenly a warm and calming voice guides her attention upwards, to the reactor control platform: “Came down here to lend us a hand?” Standing on the platform with a big smile is Henri Archer, the main architect of the warp five engine.
“Looks like you’ve got more than enough men and women down here to do the job”, she answers him.
As Archer steps down the ladder: “We’re still in the process of triple checking every main and secondary system, but I don’t expect to find any problems. You can expect my final report on your desk by 18h00 hours.”
“Looking forward to your analysis”, she smiles.
“So,” as he takes out a cloth from his pocket and wipes the sweat of his forehead, “Heard anything from the Agency yet?”
The question seems to hit a touchy subject as she sounds a bit disappointed: “Other than the daily reports? No, nothing.”
“Well, I’m sure they’ll make their decision soon. This ship can’t fly without a captain. And who knows this ship better than you do?”
She smiles: “It’s good to know at least someone has confidence in my abilities.”
“Of course I do, just like every other crewman on this ship”, he says. “Besides, if they don’t put you in command of this mission I’ll be handing over my resignation as chief engineer.”
Hernandez shakes her head in disbelief: “And abandon your baby?”
Just then her communicator starts chirping. As she takes it out of her pocket and flips it open: “Hernandez here. Go ahead.”
A female voice over com: “Professor we’ve just received a transmission from HQ. Director Nogura is expecting you for a meeting at 16h00 hours.”
“Understood”, as she speaks into the communicator, “Hernandez out”. She closes her communicator and turns to Archer, jokingly: “Now, should I take your letter of resignation with me or do you want to sleep on it another night?”
***
The launch bay of shuttlepod four - like the other three launch bays located on the ventral side of the Enterprise - slowly slides open.
As shuttlepod four is dropped into space, Hernandez - piloting the shuttlepod - ignites the engine and sets course for Earth down below.
***
EARTH, SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
The Bay Area is more beautiful than ever before. Nature and human activity seem to have found the perfect balance.
Shuttlepod four races over San Francisco, no doubt giving Hernandez a magnificent view of the city - its skyscrapers and lush green parks - as she sets course for the headquarters of the United Earth Space Program Agency.
***
DIRECTOR NOGURA’S OFFICE – U.E.S.P.A. HQ
Where we find Hikaru Nogura standing at the window, hands folded behind is back, staring outside - contemplating.
As the doorbell chimes: “Enter.”
On his voice command the door to his office swooshes open, revealing Erika Hernandez.
“Punctual as always.” Nogura turns away from the window and smiles.
Hernandez steps into the office. “Good afternoon, sir.”
She’s been here countless times. But this time, this time everything feels different to her. She feels her heart pounding in her chest. This could be the moment. The moment where all her hard work and personal sacrifices crystalizes into her life’s goal: the opportunity to explore those strange new worlds, making first contact with alien civilizations that could possibly change humanity’s vision on the universe forever. And dare she say it out loud: maybe even make the shortlist of Earth’s most famous explorers? But all of that is still uncertain now.
Nogura points at one of the two empty seats in the salon in the corner of his office.
As they both sit down, now closer to one another, Hernandez notices that director Nogura seems to be feeling a bit uncomfortable. It takes him a few seconds to find the right position in his seat. His eyes seem to avoid making contact with her. Something is bubbling underneath and she realizes whatever it is, she is definitely not going to like it.
Finally he places both arms on the armrests of his seat, his fingers clawing into the leather. It almost seems like he is bracing himself for an impact from a photonic torpedo. As he now locks eyes with her: “I asked you to come here because I have good news.”
She leans back in her seat, relaxing for moment - maybe she had been projecting her own fears on Nogura, misinterpreting his body language in the process.
As he continues: “For months now the Admiralty of the Stellar Navy has been trying to use the Syrrannite refugee crisis to further their own agenda. And the last few days they’ve been stepping up their game, actively pushing the government to shut down the warp five program.”
Hernandez scoffs: “Of course they would. They don't want us out there. We're scientists. Our curiosity could bring doom to us all.”
That gets a soft chuckle out of Nogura. For a moment there, he seems to relax.
“Well, the good news is: for once the president has decided to not follow the advice of the Admiralty.”
Hernandez eyes widen as she leans back forward, with hope slowly dripping back into her voice: “Really?”
“Yes. The president and his cabinet believe that our mission of exploration will lead to new opportunities for trade and economic growth. And now that we know that there is a possible threat out there.”
“Those Romulans”, she concludes.
“Yes”, he replies. “It is more important for us than ever to get our hands on new technologies that could keep us one step ahead of them.”
Hernandez nods in agreement.
As Nogura becomes even more serious: “But.”
Oh my - she thinks. There’s that ‘but’, the awful transitional word that links good news with bad. Trying to get a grip on her emotions, she lets Nogura finish his sentence.
“We had to make a compromise.”
“A compromise?” Now keep calm Erika, she thinks to herself, this thing could still go either way.
“Yes. The president agreed with the Admiralty that the mission should be led by a seasoned veteran of the United Earth Stellar Navy.” Realizing he just shattered her dream of captaining the Enterprise: “I’m sorry Erika. We all know how hard you’ve worked-“
Biting her anger: “Who?”
***
TERRA NOVA
The sun slowly rises up, chasing away the night.
A shuttlepod in military camouflage colors races across mountains, hills and valleys before a more familiar location comes into view: the Edison farm surrounded by its lush green fields.
***
EDISON FARM
Balthazar Edison lays asleep in the guestroom on a bed that’s way too small for him. Beams of sunlight punch through the wooden planks, reaching his face.
Outside the birds are singing their morning song.
He slowly awakes from his sleep and stretches his arms and legs. Every bone and muscle in his body seems to be aching.
Suddenly the early morning calm is interrupted by the sound of an engine. First from afar, but now getting closer and closer …
Edison jumps out of bed and runs up to his window. As he rolls up the shutter and sees: the military shuttlepod rapidly approaching the farm.
He quickly turns around, picks up his pants and runs out of his bedroom.
***
Sarah Edison is already outside, her plasma rifle in hand, as the shuttlepod hoovers menacingly above the courtyard.
Edison runs out of the front door wearing only his pants. He is soon followed by his nephew David - still in his pajamas.
As Edison places his hand on the plasma rifle: “Are you crazy? Do you want to get yourself killed? Those pods are equipped with plasma cannons. One shot and we’ll all be reduced to dust.”
Realizing she can’t blow a shuttlepod out of the sky with a simple plasma rifle, she lets go of the rifle and hands it over to her brother.
Finally the shuttlepod lands in the courtyard. As the deafening sound of the impulse engine dies out, two armed navy officers jump out of the shuttlepod trying to secure the area.
As Edison throws the plasma riffle onto the ground, one of the navy officers tabs his earpiece: “Site is secure sir.”
Edison smiles as he recognizes the man - carrying the rank of admiral - steps out of the shuttlepod.
The admiral starts walking towards the Edison family, signaling his two men to stand down: “I’m sorry for the intrusion. I hope we didn’t wake you up.”
Both Sarah and David look at Edison, trying to find answers.
“This is admiral Stuart Reed”, he clarifies. “My mentor and, dare I say, good old friend.”
As both men shake hands. “You look good, Zar.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Frankly I never thought you’d hold out down here for more than a week. But here we are: four months later.”
Edison chuckles as he looks at his sister: “Must be something in the air sir.”
But Sarah doesn’t smile. This sudden and unexpected reunion between her brother and the admiral worries her: “You’ve travelled far for just a social call admiral.”
The admiral stares down at his feet, almost looking like a child caught with his hand in a cookie jar. As he looks back up at Sarah and Edison: “Yes, you’re right. Although I’d love to catch up with you Zar, more pressing matters have brought me here.”
Edison and Sarah look at each other, both wondering what those ‘pressing matters’ could be.
***
MOMENTS LATER
Edison and admiral Reed are walking through the fields, enjoying the beautiful vista around them.
“Can you believe this is the first time in over twenty years that I’ve set foot on Terra Nova?”
Edison looks surprised. “So. What’s your first impression?”
“Seems like a lot has changed. Looks like the people down here are slowly building themselves a home away from Earth.”
Edison recognizes the worrisome look on the admiral’s face: “And that worries you.”
“A colony world is much like a child. The first few years it needs it’s mother for food and protection. But as soon as the child thinks it can take care of itself-“
“You’re talking about puberty. The child rebelling against his parents, trying to find its own way”, Edison continues.
“Exactly.” As he places his hand on Edison’s shoulder: “But fear of a possible rebellion against Earth isn’t the reason I came all the way up here.”
As they both stop walking, ready to talk business:
***
TWO HOURS LATER
A lush green meadow. Cows are grazing in a fenced field.
Edison, with a blade of grass between his teeth, sits on one of the wooden piles of the fence.
He looks across the field and sees the military shuttlepod heading his way.
As the shuttlepod storms by over his head, he turns around, following it’s silhouette until it finally disappears behind the mountain range in the distance.
David’s voice suddenly echoes from behind him: “They’re calling you back to active duty, aren’t they.”
As Edison turns around, looking in a pensive mood: “Something like that, yeah.”
TO BE CONTINUED …
As the Enterprise NX-01 returns to Earth after her final test run to Alpha Centauri, professor Erika Hernandez heads down to San Francisco for a meeting with director Nogura at the headquarters of the U.E.S.P.A. for a briefing on the new command structure on board Enterprise.
Read the next chapter of STAR TREK: INTO THE FINAL FRONTIER here or download it by following this link.
***
November 21st 2151
4 months after the events in “Falling Skies”
A dozen Orbital Drydock Facilities are in orbit around planet Earth. Most of them are in use by the United Earth Stellar Navy or the E.C.S. - Earth Colonial Shipping.
One facility however has been the talk of every town and city on the planet down below for months and for good reason: it’s the drydock currently occupied by the starship Enterprise NX-01 - Earth’s first starship capable of reaching warp five. With her saucer structure and two nacelles it’s a beautiful yet simple design. Equipped with the latest technologies in every field possible, she is more than ready to take her bold crew where no human has gone before.
***
On board the Enterprise, professor Erika Hernandez - currently supervisor of all ship based activities - walks down a corridor on D deck. She is accompanied by helm officer Vivienne Mayweather and right now they both look like they’ve got something to celebrate.
Hernandez checks the data on her padd. As she looks back up with a broad smile: “Warp 4.9 from Earth to Alpha Centauri and back without so much as a hiccup. I don’t know about you Viv, but I think this ship is finally ready to chart those new frontiers.”
Mayweather just frowns. Hernandez notices and stops: “What? You don’t agree?”
Mayweather glances aside, for a second not really sure if she should share her fears with the professor. As she finally looks back up at her: “Oh, I agree with you professor. Definitely. This ship is ready. But to be honest, I’m just not sure if the Agency is willing to go through with the mission.”
Hernandez’s eyes widen in disbelief. As she lets out a soft chuckle: “And why wouldn’t they be?”
“Haven’t you watched the news reports coming from Earth lately?”, Mayweather replies with a worrisome undertone. “People are scared. Ever since those Syrrannite refugees crash landed on Terra Nova, everyone is talking about fortifying the Sol system against the Romulan Star Empire.”
“And you are worried about those Romulans too?”, Hernandez wonders out loud.
“Of course I am. Who in their right mind wouldn’t be?”
Hernandez continues her walk as Mayweather follows: “So you suggest we just stay here in orbit around Earth, guarding the planet, waiting for the bad guys to sweep in?”
“Don’t ask me, I’m just a pilot, not a military strategist”, Mayweather humbly replies.
Hernandez stops as they arrive at the door to the engine room. “Me neither, Viv. But what I do know is that you should never let fear factor into your decision making process. Fear only exists for one reason and one reason only.”
Mayweather raises an eyebrow: “And that reason is?”
“To be conquered”, Hernandez smiles. As she hands the padd back over to Mayweather: “See you on the bridge.”
Mayweather nods and smiles as she takes the padd and continues her way down the corridor alone.
***
Hernandez opens the door to the engine room and is overwhelmed by all the activity that is going on in there. A dozen crewmen are running around from station to station, shouting technobabble.
Suddenly a warm and calming voice guides her attention upwards, to the reactor control platform: “Came down here to lend us a hand?” Standing on the platform with a big smile is Henri Archer, the main architect of the warp five engine.
“Looks like you’ve got more than enough men and women down here to do the job”, she answers him.
As Archer steps down the ladder: “We’re still in the process of triple checking every main and secondary system, but I don’t expect to find any problems. You can expect my final report on your desk by 18h00 hours.”
“Looking forward to your analysis”, she smiles.
“So,” as he takes out a cloth from his pocket and wipes the sweat of his forehead, “Heard anything from the Agency yet?”
The question seems to hit a touchy subject as she sounds a bit disappointed: “Other than the daily reports? No, nothing.”
“Well, I’m sure they’ll make their decision soon. This ship can’t fly without a captain. And who knows this ship better than you do?”
She smiles: “It’s good to know at least someone has confidence in my abilities.”
“Of course I do, just like every other crewman on this ship”, he says. “Besides, if they don’t put you in command of this mission I’ll be handing over my resignation as chief engineer.”
Hernandez shakes her head in disbelief: “And abandon your baby?”
Just then her communicator starts chirping. As she takes it out of her pocket and flips it open: “Hernandez here. Go ahead.”
A female voice over com: “Professor we’ve just received a transmission from HQ. Director Nogura is expecting you for a meeting at 16h00 hours.”
“Understood”, as she speaks into the communicator, “Hernandez out”. She closes her communicator and turns to Archer, jokingly: “Now, should I take your letter of resignation with me or do you want to sleep on it another night?”
***
The launch bay of shuttlepod four - like the other three launch bays located on the ventral side of the Enterprise - slowly slides open.
As shuttlepod four is dropped into space, Hernandez - piloting the shuttlepod - ignites the engine and sets course for Earth down below.
***
EARTH, SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
The Bay Area is more beautiful than ever before. Nature and human activity seem to have found the perfect balance.
Shuttlepod four races over San Francisco, no doubt giving Hernandez a magnificent view of the city - its skyscrapers and lush green parks - as she sets course for the headquarters of the United Earth Space Program Agency.
***
DIRECTOR NOGURA’S OFFICE – U.E.S.P.A. HQ
Where we find Hikaru Nogura standing at the window, hands folded behind is back, staring outside - contemplating.
As the doorbell chimes: “Enter.”
On his voice command the door to his office swooshes open, revealing Erika Hernandez.
“Punctual as always.” Nogura turns away from the window and smiles.
Hernandez steps into the office. “Good afternoon, sir.”
She’s been here countless times. But this time, this time everything feels different to her. She feels her heart pounding in her chest. This could be the moment. The moment where all her hard work and personal sacrifices crystalizes into her life’s goal: the opportunity to explore those strange new worlds, making first contact with alien civilizations that could possibly change humanity’s vision on the universe forever. And dare she say it out loud: maybe even make the shortlist of Earth’s most famous explorers? But all of that is still uncertain now.
Nogura points at one of the two empty seats in the salon in the corner of his office.
As they both sit down, now closer to one another, Hernandez notices that director Nogura seems to be feeling a bit uncomfortable. It takes him a few seconds to find the right position in his seat. His eyes seem to avoid making contact with her. Something is bubbling underneath and she realizes whatever it is, she is definitely not going to like it.
Finally he places both arms on the armrests of his seat, his fingers clawing into the leather. It almost seems like he is bracing himself for an impact from a photonic torpedo. As he now locks eyes with her: “I asked you to come here because I have good news.”
She leans back in her seat, relaxing for moment - maybe she had been projecting her own fears on Nogura, misinterpreting his body language in the process.
As he continues: “For months now the Admiralty of the Stellar Navy has been trying to use the Syrrannite refugee crisis to further their own agenda. And the last few days they’ve been stepping up their game, actively pushing the government to shut down the warp five program.”
Hernandez scoffs: “Of course they would. They don't want us out there. We're scientists. Our curiosity could bring doom to us all.”
That gets a soft chuckle out of Nogura. For a moment there, he seems to relax.
“Well, the good news is: for once the president has decided to not follow the advice of the Admiralty.”
Hernandez eyes widen as she leans back forward, with hope slowly dripping back into her voice: “Really?”
“Yes. The president and his cabinet believe that our mission of exploration will lead to new opportunities for trade and economic growth. And now that we know that there is a possible threat out there.”
“Those Romulans”, she concludes.
“Yes”, he replies. “It is more important for us than ever to get our hands on new technologies that could keep us one step ahead of them.”
Hernandez nods in agreement.
As Nogura becomes even more serious: “But.”
Oh my - she thinks. There’s that ‘but’, the awful transitional word that links good news with bad. Trying to get a grip on her emotions, she lets Nogura finish his sentence.
“We had to make a compromise.”
“A compromise?” Now keep calm Erika, she thinks to herself, this thing could still go either way.
“Yes. The president agreed with the Admiralty that the mission should be led by a seasoned veteran of the United Earth Stellar Navy.” Realizing he just shattered her dream of captaining the Enterprise: “I’m sorry Erika. We all know how hard you’ve worked-“
Biting her anger: “Who?”
***
TERRA NOVA
The sun slowly rises up, chasing away the night.
A shuttlepod in military camouflage colors races across mountains, hills and valleys before a more familiar location comes into view: the Edison farm surrounded by its lush green fields.
***
EDISON FARM
Balthazar Edison lays asleep in the guestroom on a bed that’s way too small for him. Beams of sunlight punch through the wooden planks, reaching his face.
Outside the birds are singing their morning song.
He slowly awakes from his sleep and stretches his arms and legs. Every bone and muscle in his body seems to be aching.
Suddenly the early morning calm is interrupted by the sound of an engine. First from afar, but now getting closer and closer …
Edison jumps out of bed and runs up to his window. As he rolls up the shutter and sees: the military shuttlepod rapidly approaching the farm.
He quickly turns around, picks up his pants and runs out of his bedroom.
***
Sarah Edison is already outside, her plasma rifle in hand, as the shuttlepod hoovers menacingly above the courtyard.
Edison runs out of the front door wearing only his pants. He is soon followed by his nephew David - still in his pajamas.
As Edison places his hand on the plasma rifle: “Are you crazy? Do you want to get yourself killed? Those pods are equipped with plasma cannons. One shot and we’ll all be reduced to dust.”
Realizing she can’t blow a shuttlepod out of the sky with a simple plasma rifle, she lets go of the rifle and hands it over to her brother.
Finally the shuttlepod lands in the courtyard. As the deafening sound of the impulse engine dies out, two armed navy officers jump out of the shuttlepod trying to secure the area.
As Edison throws the plasma riffle onto the ground, one of the navy officers tabs his earpiece: “Site is secure sir.”
Edison smiles as he recognizes the man - carrying the rank of admiral - steps out of the shuttlepod.
The admiral starts walking towards the Edison family, signaling his two men to stand down: “I’m sorry for the intrusion. I hope we didn’t wake you up.”
Both Sarah and David look at Edison, trying to find answers.
“This is admiral Stuart Reed”, he clarifies. “My mentor and, dare I say, good old friend.”
As both men shake hands. “You look good, Zar.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Frankly I never thought you’d hold out down here for more than a week. But here we are: four months later.”
Edison chuckles as he looks at his sister: “Must be something in the air sir.”
But Sarah doesn’t smile. This sudden and unexpected reunion between her brother and the admiral worries her: “You’ve travelled far for just a social call admiral.”
The admiral stares down at his feet, almost looking like a child caught with his hand in a cookie jar. As he looks back up at Sarah and Edison: “Yes, you’re right. Although I’d love to catch up with you Zar, more pressing matters have brought me here.”
Edison and Sarah look at each other, both wondering what those ‘pressing matters’ could be.
***
MOMENTS LATER
Edison and admiral Reed are walking through the fields, enjoying the beautiful vista around them.
“Can you believe this is the first time in over twenty years that I’ve set foot on Terra Nova?”
Edison looks surprised. “So. What’s your first impression?”
“Seems like a lot has changed. Looks like the people down here are slowly building themselves a home away from Earth.”
Edison recognizes the worrisome look on the admiral’s face: “And that worries you.”
“A colony world is much like a child. The first few years it needs it’s mother for food and protection. But as soon as the child thinks it can take care of itself-“
“You’re talking about puberty. The child rebelling against his parents, trying to find its own way”, Edison continues.
“Exactly.” As he places his hand on Edison’s shoulder: “But fear of a possible rebellion against Earth isn’t the reason I came all the way up here.”
As they both stop walking, ready to talk business:
***
TWO HOURS LATER
A lush green meadow. Cows are grazing in a fenced field.
Edison, with a blade of grass between his teeth, sits on one of the wooden piles of the fence.
He looks across the field and sees the military shuttlepod heading his way.
As the shuttlepod storms by over his head, he turns around, following it’s silhouette until it finally disappears behind the mountain range in the distance.
David’s voice suddenly echoes from behind him: “They’re calling you back to active duty, aren’t they.”
As Edison turns around, looking in a pensive mood: “Something like that, yeah.”
TO BE CONTINUED …
