RobertScorpio
Pariah
(The idea of doing such a story like this will cause debate among TREK fans. It would possibly be seen as a violation of the Prime Directive. I bet the Genesis Project had it’s detractors as well. Project Naissance would too. And that is cool because it creates drama and friction for stories.
This story takes place 10 years after the events of Nemesis. I do not know what has happened to some of the characters from TREK lore that will appear in this story, via events from books and all. So if it violates any aspect of the novels that have come since Nemesis I can only plead ignorance of such events.)
STAR TREK:
Project Naissance
Of Death, Who Dreams....
STARFLEET HEADQUARTERS;EARTH.
There was no sound in the large conference auditorium, no sound at all. There was just the cold stark reality of the images being shown. The images being displayed on the large screen were gut wrenching.
Dead people, with blood draining from their eyes, and mouths, were seen dead through out the large city area. Panic had obviously over come most of them as their deaths came to pass.
Men, women and children, by the dozens, were clumped together. These large groups were most likely family members that had gathered to face the end together.
Starfleet personnel could be seen in the foreground with scanners and other recording devices. They wore protective gear, as mandatory in such cases.
The footage of death went on and one. Finally the lights of the conference room came back on.
Commander Julian Bashir stood at the podium. He could sense the sorrow from those who were there. He stood in the center of the arrayed Admirals and other Federation officials who had come for the presentation.
“These images,” Bashir began to say, “were taken just one month ago. We all saw them as the situation on iKian-7 became wide spread knowledge.” He paused for moment. “iKian-7 was a member planet of this Federation for nearly seventy-five years.” He could barely contain his anger, “Now every man, every woman and every child who was unable to be evacuated from the planet is dead.” He let that statement stand on- its- own before he concluded. “In case you’re wondering, one hundred and eighty-seven million are dead.”
“We feel your sorrow,” one of the Admirals offered. “But there was nothing that could be done. iKian-7 is on the outskirts of the Beta-Quadrant. A mass evacuation was impossible given the speed the plague spread. It was a freak act of nature, unfortunate, but unavoidable.”
Bashir gazed over to Admiral Janeway. She smiled at him, and with her eyes, urged him to continue.
“That is where you are wrong sir. When the outbreak began, I was part of the team that was tasked with trying to find an antedote. We did, but unfortunately only a small volume of the primary component used was available. We were unable to replicate enough of what remained to make a difference. What little we were able to make we administered and were able to save nearly four hundred who had been infected.”
There seemed to be an air of confusion and confrontation. At that moment, Admiral Katherine Janeway walked down to the podium area where Bashir stood.
She looked up to the Admirals who sat along the horseshoe shaped panel. “Doctor Bashir is angered, and he has a right to be.” She stated.
“Where is this leading Kate?” Admiral Ross asked from his position on the panel.
She continued. “I hope to gain your support for a vote on the floor of the Federation council.”
“What kind of vote?” Ross came back with.
She knew the next part of her statement would not go over well at all. But she had to try.
“What I am proposing may seem like a challenge to our most treasured law, the Prime Directive,” she paused, then continued, “but the tragedy that happened on iKian-7 could have been avoided.”
“How can you say that?” another Admiral asked.
She spoke directly at that Admiral. “The reason the Starfleet Surgeon General had so little of the needed compound was due to the fact only one specimen of the plant that produced the rare element was available. The bio-replicators could not replicate such a small sample. Had more of the plant species been available more of the andedote could have been produced.”
The Admiral who she was speaking to sat further back in his chair.
“Now, I won’t exaggerate,” she went on, “producing enough serum to save the entire population might not have been feasible. But the simple fact is, our inability to act has left only four hundred people alive. Four hundred people are all that is left from a member planet of the Federation. They themselves have become and endangered species.”
She looked up at the looping images of death on the screen.
“This could easily have been recorded on Betazed, Vulcan, Bajor, or even Earth.” She let the tone of her voice convey her point. “We can’t let policy prevent us from saving the lives of Federation citizens.”
Admiral Ross was steadfast though. “What exactly are you suggesting?”
She turned the podium back over to Bashir.
Nearly 10 years had passed since Julian Bashir transferred from DS9 back to Earth. In that time he had become an advocate for many changes in Medical procedures and policies. The Admirals were also aware of his past; hiding the fact he was a product of illegal Genetic Engineering. But Bashir no longer hid that fact. He was proud of who and what he was, and the others like him that had also been the product of advanced medical procedures.
“The plant we so desperately needed is no longer in existence.” Bashir stated coldly. “It was indigenous only to one planet, and that planet was destroyed several years ago by a rogue comet. It just so happens that a specimen taken from a plant on the planet was cataloged, and stored at Starbase 134. Starfleet Command tracked this comet for nearly seven years before it struck that planet. Had that comet not hit the planet, we could have gone there for more of the plant life when the outbreak started.”
Admiral Ross was un-phased. “Stopping that comet from hitting that planet, where no sentient life existed, would have violated the Prime Directive. Surely, you must understand that simple fact.”
Bashir pressed on. His voice growing in volume as he did, “Yes sir, I do. I understand the reasons we have the Prime Directive, and I agree with them. But it doesn’t change the fact that we had a cure, and it was unavailable, all because of policy.”
Ross directed his comments at Janeway, “So you want to scrap the Prime Directive?” Ross asked in disbelief.
Janeway shook her head. “No, I do not want to scrap the Prime Directive. What I do want to do is provide another option. An option that will adhere to the Prime Directive, yet not close the door on opportunities. We call this option; Project Ark.”
She watched as one of her secretaries handed out a portfolio out to each of the Admirals.
“I am confident that with your help,” she said optimistically, “we can apply our scientific and medical knowledge to assure that a disaster such as the one that iKian-7 faced can be faced with a more resolute solution.”
It was from this meeting that the seed was planted. The Federation’s most import guiding document was the Prime Directive. One could say the Prime Directive was the soul of the Federation. It was what separated the Federation from the other galactic powers.
But what about worlds that were members of the Federation? Or, more to the point, what about worlds that were threatened by rogue comets, or stars that were becoming unstable. Certainly the Federation would do the very best it could to save these endangered member planets of the Federation, and their populations. That did not defy the Prime Directive at all.
Up to this point, planets that were void of sentient life were let alone. If the planet was in the path of a rogue comet, or faced some other threat, nature was allowed to take its course. The Prime Directive applied in these cases.
Yet, some of these planets contained plant life, or even animal life, that was as rare and as beautiful as sentient life. Why only save the sentient life forms? Why not create a world where endangered life, animal and plant life, could be brought to, and preserved. Some argued it violated the natural course of evolution. Even in during other hearings,even some of the Vulcans scientists would argue that the saving of any life, even sentient life, could be construed as violating the natural flow of evolution. Exceptions could be made under this provision.
The Vulcan ambassador did not mean this to suggest that Vulcan supported the notion of a preservation planet as a policy, only to suggest the argument for saving and not saving life could be applied in either instance.
True, not all anima/plant life could be saved. But some attempt had to be made. By only saving the sentient life forms the Federation was making value judgment based only on a life form’s intelligence.
At first Admiral Ross and the others were unconvinced. But even they came to see the logic of some of what Janeway’s point was. And so, with the support of the Admiralty, and the Starfleet Surgeon General, Janeway got her vote.
The ARK project was no longer the dream of Doctor Julian Bashir. It had found life, thanks to the stubbornness of Admiral Kate Janeway. Bashir had always known that it took more than a dream to change the world. That was why he came to her in the first place.
Nearly ten months later, thanks to many favors owed to her, Janeway got her vote on the council. Even though Admiral Jean-Luc Picard did not share most of her views on the matter, he did pull strings for her as well.
After a serious debate, the motion was passed. Project ARK was a go. A select group of scientists and academia was selected. With their guidance, a site was selected. It was a long since abandoned Dyson sphere. It was only a small fraction of the size of the first Dyson sphere that had been discovered years earlier. Total land mass inside this much smaller sphere was approximately the size of ten Earth sized planets. No indigenous life was found, just a large barren world. It was even suggested, buy the Bajorans, that perhaps it was built just for this reason. And was left to wait for the day it would be used. Most dismissed that notion, but others did not.
The technology it took to create the artificial star that was contained with in the sphere was on a scale the Federation wouldn’t match for centuries. Perhaps there was some other purpose for the sphere’s construction. But it didn’t matter to Janeway, Bashir. The fact was they finally had the place to preserve the life forms from across the galaxy.
The land mass inside the sphere would be subdivided in several different catagories. Zoologists from every part of the Federation, and beyond, would be invited to apply their knowledge. One of the greatest
The select committee also decided on the governing policy of the site, and the protocols to collect the selected life forms that would call this new place home. The Dyson sphere was even given a new designation; Naissance
A Starship was configured and would be the lone vessel allotted for this project, until such time it was seen to warrant more support.
The USS ARK was commissioned; And while the vessel was in final preparations, Admiral Janeway was tasked with finding a crew for this ship. She had previous experience putting together a crew, so her knowledge on how to best accomplish that task was put to use again.
She knew right away that the first of that crew had to be the ship’s captain. Then she would afford that person the power to select his or her own crew as they would see fit.
After several years of Admiralty, and all the stuffy collateral duty that came with it; Kat Janeway could feel her blood truly flowing again.
OKAY…THAT IS THE SET UP…YES, QUICK AND TO THE POINT..BUT THAT I WHAT I WANTED
I HAVE A SHORT CONTEST TO ANNOUNCE. WHO DO YOU THINK WOULD MAKE A GREAT CAPTAIN? A PREVIOUS TREK CHARACTER PERHAPS? OR MAYBE ONE YOU CAN CREATE. I AM BETTER AT WRITING THAN CREATING NEW CHARACTERS. SO PLEASE, SUGGEST AN IDEA. YOU WILL GET YOUR NAME IN THE CREDITS!!
This story takes place 10 years after the events of Nemesis. I do not know what has happened to some of the characters from TREK lore that will appear in this story, via events from books and all. So if it violates any aspect of the novels that have come since Nemesis I can only plead ignorance of such events.)
STAR TREK:
Project Naissance
Of Death, Who Dreams....
STARFLEET HEADQUARTERS;EARTH.
There was no sound in the large conference auditorium, no sound at all. There was just the cold stark reality of the images being shown. The images being displayed on the large screen were gut wrenching.
Dead people, with blood draining from their eyes, and mouths, were seen dead through out the large city area. Panic had obviously over come most of them as their deaths came to pass.
Men, women and children, by the dozens, were clumped together. These large groups were most likely family members that had gathered to face the end together.
Starfleet personnel could be seen in the foreground with scanners and other recording devices. They wore protective gear, as mandatory in such cases.
The footage of death went on and one. Finally the lights of the conference room came back on.
Commander Julian Bashir stood at the podium. He could sense the sorrow from those who were there. He stood in the center of the arrayed Admirals and other Federation officials who had come for the presentation.
“These images,” Bashir began to say, “were taken just one month ago. We all saw them as the situation on iKian-7 became wide spread knowledge.” He paused for moment. “iKian-7 was a member planet of this Federation for nearly seventy-five years.” He could barely contain his anger, “Now every man, every woman and every child who was unable to be evacuated from the planet is dead.” He let that statement stand on- its- own before he concluded. “In case you’re wondering, one hundred and eighty-seven million are dead.”
“We feel your sorrow,” one of the Admirals offered. “But there was nothing that could be done. iKian-7 is on the outskirts of the Beta-Quadrant. A mass evacuation was impossible given the speed the plague spread. It was a freak act of nature, unfortunate, but unavoidable.”
Bashir gazed over to Admiral Janeway. She smiled at him, and with her eyes, urged him to continue.
“That is where you are wrong sir. When the outbreak began, I was part of the team that was tasked with trying to find an antedote. We did, but unfortunately only a small volume of the primary component used was available. We were unable to replicate enough of what remained to make a difference. What little we were able to make we administered and were able to save nearly four hundred who had been infected.”
There seemed to be an air of confusion and confrontation. At that moment, Admiral Katherine Janeway walked down to the podium area where Bashir stood.
She looked up to the Admirals who sat along the horseshoe shaped panel. “Doctor Bashir is angered, and he has a right to be.” She stated.
“Where is this leading Kate?” Admiral Ross asked from his position on the panel.
She continued. “I hope to gain your support for a vote on the floor of the Federation council.”
“What kind of vote?” Ross came back with.
She knew the next part of her statement would not go over well at all. But she had to try.
“What I am proposing may seem like a challenge to our most treasured law, the Prime Directive,” she paused, then continued, “but the tragedy that happened on iKian-7 could have been avoided.”
“How can you say that?” another Admiral asked.
She spoke directly at that Admiral. “The reason the Starfleet Surgeon General had so little of the needed compound was due to the fact only one specimen of the plant that produced the rare element was available. The bio-replicators could not replicate such a small sample. Had more of the plant species been available more of the andedote could have been produced.”
The Admiral who she was speaking to sat further back in his chair.
“Now, I won’t exaggerate,” she went on, “producing enough serum to save the entire population might not have been feasible. But the simple fact is, our inability to act has left only four hundred people alive. Four hundred people are all that is left from a member planet of the Federation. They themselves have become and endangered species.”
She looked up at the looping images of death on the screen.
“This could easily have been recorded on Betazed, Vulcan, Bajor, or even Earth.” She let the tone of her voice convey her point. “We can’t let policy prevent us from saving the lives of Federation citizens.”
Admiral Ross was steadfast though. “What exactly are you suggesting?”
She turned the podium back over to Bashir.
Nearly 10 years had passed since Julian Bashir transferred from DS9 back to Earth. In that time he had become an advocate for many changes in Medical procedures and policies. The Admirals were also aware of his past; hiding the fact he was a product of illegal Genetic Engineering. But Bashir no longer hid that fact. He was proud of who and what he was, and the others like him that had also been the product of advanced medical procedures.
“The plant we so desperately needed is no longer in existence.” Bashir stated coldly. “It was indigenous only to one planet, and that planet was destroyed several years ago by a rogue comet. It just so happens that a specimen taken from a plant on the planet was cataloged, and stored at Starbase 134. Starfleet Command tracked this comet for nearly seven years before it struck that planet. Had that comet not hit the planet, we could have gone there for more of the plant life when the outbreak started.”
Admiral Ross was un-phased. “Stopping that comet from hitting that planet, where no sentient life existed, would have violated the Prime Directive. Surely, you must understand that simple fact.”
Bashir pressed on. His voice growing in volume as he did, “Yes sir, I do. I understand the reasons we have the Prime Directive, and I agree with them. But it doesn’t change the fact that we had a cure, and it was unavailable, all because of policy.”
Ross directed his comments at Janeway, “So you want to scrap the Prime Directive?” Ross asked in disbelief.
Janeway shook her head. “No, I do not want to scrap the Prime Directive. What I do want to do is provide another option. An option that will adhere to the Prime Directive, yet not close the door on opportunities. We call this option; Project Ark.”
She watched as one of her secretaries handed out a portfolio out to each of the Admirals.
“I am confident that with your help,” she said optimistically, “we can apply our scientific and medical knowledge to assure that a disaster such as the one that iKian-7 faced can be faced with a more resolute solution.”
It was from this meeting that the seed was planted. The Federation’s most import guiding document was the Prime Directive. One could say the Prime Directive was the soul of the Federation. It was what separated the Federation from the other galactic powers.
But what about worlds that were members of the Federation? Or, more to the point, what about worlds that were threatened by rogue comets, or stars that were becoming unstable. Certainly the Federation would do the very best it could to save these endangered member planets of the Federation, and their populations. That did not defy the Prime Directive at all.
Up to this point, planets that were void of sentient life were let alone. If the planet was in the path of a rogue comet, or faced some other threat, nature was allowed to take its course. The Prime Directive applied in these cases.
Yet, some of these planets contained plant life, or even animal life, that was as rare and as beautiful as sentient life. Why only save the sentient life forms? Why not create a world where endangered life, animal and plant life, could be brought to, and preserved. Some argued it violated the natural course of evolution. Even in during other hearings,even some of the Vulcans scientists would argue that the saving of any life, even sentient life, could be construed as violating the natural flow of evolution. Exceptions could be made under this provision.
The Vulcan ambassador did not mean this to suggest that Vulcan supported the notion of a preservation planet as a policy, only to suggest the argument for saving and not saving life could be applied in either instance.
True, not all anima/plant life could be saved. But some attempt had to be made. By only saving the sentient life forms the Federation was making value judgment based only on a life form’s intelligence.
At first Admiral Ross and the others were unconvinced. But even they came to see the logic of some of what Janeway’s point was. And so, with the support of the Admiralty, and the Starfleet Surgeon General, Janeway got her vote.
The ARK project was no longer the dream of Doctor Julian Bashir. It had found life, thanks to the stubbornness of Admiral Kate Janeway. Bashir had always known that it took more than a dream to change the world. That was why he came to her in the first place.
Nearly ten months later, thanks to many favors owed to her, Janeway got her vote on the council. Even though Admiral Jean-Luc Picard did not share most of her views on the matter, he did pull strings for her as well.
After a serious debate, the motion was passed. Project ARK was a go. A select group of scientists and academia was selected. With their guidance, a site was selected. It was a long since abandoned Dyson sphere. It was only a small fraction of the size of the first Dyson sphere that had been discovered years earlier. Total land mass inside this much smaller sphere was approximately the size of ten Earth sized planets. No indigenous life was found, just a large barren world. It was even suggested, buy the Bajorans, that perhaps it was built just for this reason. And was left to wait for the day it would be used. Most dismissed that notion, but others did not.
The technology it took to create the artificial star that was contained with in the sphere was on a scale the Federation wouldn’t match for centuries. Perhaps there was some other purpose for the sphere’s construction. But it didn’t matter to Janeway, Bashir. The fact was they finally had the place to preserve the life forms from across the galaxy.
The land mass inside the sphere would be subdivided in several different catagories. Zoologists from every part of the Federation, and beyond, would be invited to apply their knowledge. One of the greatest
The select committee also decided on the governing policy of the site, and the protocols to collect the selected life forms that would call this new place home. The Dyson sphere was even given a new designation; Naissance
A Starship was configured and would be the lone vessel allotted for this project, until such time it was seen to warrant more support.
The USS ARK was commissioned; And while the vessel was in final preparations, Admiral Janeway was tasked with finding a crew for this ship. She had previous experience putting together a crew, so her knowledge on how to best accomplish that task was put to use again.
She knew right away that the first of that crew had to be the ship’s captain. Then she would afford that person the power to select his or her own crew as they would see fit.
After several years of Admiralty, and all the stuffy collateral duty that came with it; Kat Janeway could feel her blood truly flowing again.
OKAY…THAT IS THE SET UP…YES, QUICK AND TO THE POINT..BUT THAT I WHAT I WANTED
I HAVE A SHORT CONTEST TO ANNOUNCE. WHO DO YOU THINK WOULD MAKE A GREAT CAPTAIN? A PREVIOUS TREK CHARACTER PERHAPS? OR MAYBE ONE YOU CAN CREATE. I AM BETTER AT WRITING THAN CREATING NEW CHARACTERS. SO PLEASE, SUGGEST AN IDEA. YOU WILL GET YOUR NAME IN THE CREDITS!!
As for captains, I've always felt Data would have made a terrific commanding officer, especially after the addition of his emotion chip. All you'd have to do is retcon the more unfortunate parts of Nemesis... which would likely be the entire movie. 
I mean, could you get more irony than having the captain of a ship dedicated to preserving natural life in all its forms be an artificial lifeform?
