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Post by Rear Admiral Arak Verdaan on Nov 10, 2015 18:51:35 GMT -5
The Starship Tempest
The Galaxy is full of Class M planets, many of them in remote sectors, many of which have never known the touch of a Federation boot. The USS Tempest orbited one of these planets, keeping a high orbit around the jungle world. It was accompanied by several starships, including the Intrepid-class USS Alshain -- the flagship of Rear Admiral Arak Verdaan, the Director of the 22nd Mobile Science Division.
The Admiral himself walked the halls of the Tempest, PADD tucked under his arm. Armed guards were stationed throughout the ship, at the various section interchanges, and saluted the Bajoran as he walked past. Arak half-heartedly returned the salute, being far more interested in what was about to transpire.
He eventually reached his destination -- a non-descript door located at the end of a lonely hallway. He glanced at the LCARS display near the door... it read "RESERVED: Starfleet Intelligence, Special Projects Division." He was definitely in the right place.
Arak leaned in for a retinal scan, which was quickly completed. "Recognize authorization, Arak-Seven-Seven-Omega-Delta." The computer responded: "Biometric scan complete. Command Code Recognized, Rear Admiral Arak Verdaan, 22nd Mobile Scientific Research Division, Starfleet Intelligence Clearance Level 33/Black."
The door slid open revealing an empty conference room. The large window gave a beautiful view of the forested planet below.
"Admiral, you are twelve minutes early and the first to arrive." The computer helpfully filled him in.
Well, this gave him an opportunity to prepare. He sat down and scrolled through his PADD, waiting for more to arrive.
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Post by DGM Soft Kitty on Nov 11, 2015 0:14:09 GMT -5
The Admiral's wait is not a long one as the door to the conference room soon opens to admit a distinguished yet elderly man clad in white, his shoulders covered in a long white coat reminiscent of a lab coat. His feature though haggard with age hold an almost regal dignity to him with a well kept 'Sir Walter Raliegh' style beard. Both his beard and his hair are shock white. He works his way over to the table and sets down a briefcase style case made of leather. His gait supported by a black wooden cane with a simple silver hook for a grip.
"Welcome Director, you are 5 minutes early" The computer chimed in as he settled in.
The man merely grunts at the obvious announcement and looks over to Arak.
"Good Evening Admiral, it's good to see you are doing well."
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Post by Rear Admiral Arak Verdaan on Nov 12, 2015 10:41:53 GMT -5
Arak looks over at the Director, suddenly feeling underdressed in his standard Admiral's uniform. The Bajoran stood up and greeted the Director.
"I'm doing well, Director. How about yourself?" Arak clapped the Director on the shoulder. "I see you're still wearing that lab coat. You know, when I first became a doctor, I took an oath not to use the art of medicine to harm. I forget, did you take such an oath?" Arak smirked.
To any outside observer, this would seem like a blatant jab. But that would be too simple a description for this situation. Arak had known the Director for ages... their first meeting was many years ago, when Arak was the Chief Medical Officer on the USS Illuminator, but they had never worked together until Arak became Captain of the Radiant. No, Arak was trying to convey something a little subtler. A general disapproval of Project Salvation, maybe? In any event, it would not be something easily explained except to the two men in that room.
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Post by DGM Soft Kitty on Nov 12, 2015 11:14:07 GMT -5
The older man smiled a smile most watching these two would consider cold it almost humorless, but given how long these two had known each other, Arak could sense the appreciation of the return of their usual verbal spar. Perhaps even welcomed the wit of it. He firmly gripped the other man's hand followed by a firm single pump.
"I see you're still wearing that lab coat. You know, when I first became a doctor, I took an oath not to use the art of medicine to harm. I forget, did you take such an oath?"
The Director's wrinkled brow furled some as an ancient look of struggling to remember cross his dignified features. His usual southern drawl took on a tone of wry confusion.
"Why Arak, I must admit that was a long time ago. I must say I can no longer recall sir" He feigned playfully belying the depth of his intellect beneath his jab at how young he still saw his 'friend'.
"Why, I have earned quite a few degrees since then, in oh so many fields, I am sure one can forgive me such a lapse in recollection from time to time."
He cough a little fiercely for just a moment, and then still holding Arak's hand firmly he feigned a frown of puzzlement as he asked with playful feeblemindedness.
"Speaking of your previously stated oath sir, remind me again what shall occur again when this 'Hammer of the Gods' thing of yours strikes it's target...does it bestow lollipops and band aids or just a soothing balm?"
The Director smiled a gentle almost respectful smile that he truly did understand how Arak felt about his work but also that the Director likewise understood why the man was working on it. In his own way the Director was conveying a subtle message of his own in return.
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Post by Rear Admiral Arak Verdaan on Nov 12, 2015 16:18:03 GMT -5
"Speaking of your previously stated oath sir, remind me again what shall occur again when this 'Hammer of the Gods' thing of yours strikes it's target...does it bestow lollipops and band aids or just a soothing balm?"
Arak smiled impishly. "I don't know. We haven't fired it yet. Although when we do, let's just say that the Iconians might decide that this Galaxy is a little too tough for them." His bravado barely covered up his embarrassment that his project was not yet complete. The staff at Starbase 33 had been working on it for years; Arak had sent the USS Independence-A, the USS Endeavour, the Pilgrim and even the Sentinel on missions relating to it but they still had no finished project. Despite the interest of Admiral T'Nae and her backing, the impressively-designed weapon just... wouldn't... fire.
"I figured that you might have been surprised when you first heard about it. You knew me back on the Illuminator, when I was, let's say... very by the book. But I've learned that there's some value to walking close to the line, as long as you never completely cross it. Especially in times like these. You should hear the rumors surrounding Salvation, my friend. I've heard that some within the organization forgot what the line even looks like."
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Post by DGM Soft Kitty on Nov 12, 2015 18:13:29 GMT -5
"I figured that you might have been surprised when you first heard about it. You knew me back on the Illuminator, when I was, let's say... very by the book. But I've learned that there's some value to walking close to the line, as long as you never completely cross it. Especially in times like these. You should hear the rumors surrounding Salvation, my friend. I've heard that some within the organization forgot what the line even looks like."
"Surprised by what you have been doing sir?" The Director chuckled a little. "Not in the least Arak, You have always shown a great understanding of how to get things done even back then, albeit a tad naïve young sir but such wisdom does come with the passage of time."
The Director's tone then takes on a slightly patronizing tone with a hint of mild amusement. "Within the organization? ..." The elderly man merely shrugged. "It sounds to me as if some of these rumors have somewhat misled you sir."
"I do however, understand that rumors can be quite daunting to understand when it concerns a Project, that is shall we say somewhat above one's pay grade." He let go of Arak's hand yet never broke his gaze as he rested some more on his cane. "Well, no matter given the state of things we truly can not allow ourselves to be distracted, now can we?"
He observed Arak for a moment longer before adding. "I am sure, truly that when that canon of yours decides to finally ... fire. It will indeed give the Iconians something to think about and go home. In fact the very nature of it's post-war usage is also a deep concern to be considered as well."
He steel gray eyes search Arak for something as he adds. "We wouldn't want such a terrible device to get out of our hands and turn you into another Oppenheimer."
'Would we sir?"
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Post by Rear Admiral Arak Verdaan on Nov 13, 2015 11:30:42 GMT -5
"Well, no matter given the state of things we truly can not allow ourselves to be distracted, now can we?"
Arak took a deep breath and exhaled. The Director always had an air of undaunted superiority no matter the circumstances. He could lose everything, Arak imagined, and still have that old world swagger. Arak was reminded of Earth history, of ancient European conquerors. Or maybe it was his own history that he was recalling -- the Director might well have fit in amongst the Cardassians who occupied Arak's homeworld in his youth. Even though they had worked together, and on some occasions perhaps they might have called each other friends, the Director always had his shields up. Arak wondered if this man ever had a truly trusted friend in his life.
"I suppose I should ignore the rumors of these rogue operatives, then. I wouldn't want myself to get distracted by... baseless speculation." Arak nodded in deference to the Director. Let's be honest, Arak thought -- the Director knows what I know. But he also knows that despite recent events, nothing I could say would shake his resolve.
"Anyway... Oppenheimer? Are you afraid of it's potential? Project Mjolnir, I mean." Arak smiled mischievously. "If not, maybe you should be. I am, at least. Ever read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein?" Arak turned to look out the window at the forested planet below. "It's an old Earth book. Dr. Frankenstein used chemistry and alchemy to create a monster. A subject, I understand, that you are personally familiar with. In any event, the creator lost control of his creation. I assure you that this will not happen here. But what to do when this conflict is over..." He paused for a moment and spoke as if he was reciting something. "I'll break my staff, bury it certain fathoms in the earth, and deeper than did ever plummet sound, I'll drown my book. How about you, Director?"
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Post by DGM Soft Kitty on Nov 13, 2015 15:00:42 GMT -5
"I suppose I should ignore the rumors of these rogue operatives, then. I wouldn't want myself to get distracted by... baseless speculation."
The Director continued his tone as an older teacher to a bright prospecting student. "It is hardly baseless speculation, Arak." He shook his head just once. "Why both Starfleet Command and Intelligence have been aware of the terrorist nature of the Rogue Splinter group for almost a decade now. But you should not concern yourself sir, those who are able to take action against them I can assure you have been for some time now"
"Anyway... Oppenheimer? Are you afraid of it's potential? Project Mjolnir, I mean." Arak smiled mischievously. "If not, maybe you should be. I am, at least. Ever read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein?" Arak turned to look out the window at the forested planet below. "It's an old Earth book. Dr. Frankenstein used chemistry and alchemy to create a monster. A subject, I understand, that you are personally familiar with. In any event, the creator lost control of his creation. I assure you that this will not happen here. But what to do when this conflict is over..." He paused for a moment and spoke as if he was reciting something. "I'll break my staff, bury it certain fathoms in the earth, and deeper than did ever plummet sound, I'll drown my book. How about you, Director?"
Again the aged Director joined him to look out across the wonder of the stars and the beauty of the world below them. He listened quietly almost patiently to Arak go on, taking each and every word before he spoke. Again his tone was measured and patient, the mentor to a brash student.
"Why of course I fear your project, one should have a degree of fear for any untried weapon and the potential it may bring to our future. Respect it's very nature but a healthy degree of fear as well. Keeps one in perspective at all times." He canted his head some in thought. "As for the creation of monsters? No...I do not believe I agree sir. It is not beasts we fear we can create and lose control over ... the true fear is that one becomes a monster themselves in the act of such creation. A part of Shelley's narrative I believe that may have eluded you young man."
The Director paused slightly in reflection. "You see Arak, it was Dr. Frankenstein's arrogance that led him to believe that though he was the creator that he could control the very nature of his creation once he had unleashed it out onto the world. The more he sought the creation's destruction...the more the nature of the creation rebelled until it turned on him."
"You see in the ending narrative by Captain Walton, the reader learns both creator and his creation wind up destroying themselves. The Doctor because he believed he would have the power to destroy what he had created by his judgement alone...his will alone. The creation rebelled and sought the death of the very man who had given birth to it...Your Dr. Frankenstein...who had pushed himself so hard to destroy his creation that he died in Walton's cabin, his quest left unfulfilled."
"The creation ... who prided itself above its creator, blaming Frankensein for all its woes of existence soon found no solace in his 'father's' death...in the end the creation takes vows to destroy itself ... to consume itself in fire ... so no one will know it ever existed" The Director chuckled. "You see Young Man, Why it learned nothing from its own creator's folly. In point of fact sir, It goes on to use the very words its creator used in describing itself, thus becoming the very monster its own creator had become. The story ends in ambiguity as the determined creature pushes off on an ice flow to seek a way to end it's existence...the very path of destruction its own creator failed to complete..."
The Director turned to Arak just as the door opened to admit several Admirals and their staff. His tone still that of the teacher to a bright student. "So yes, I do pray Arak, that if this is your path of choice sir. That unlike Doctor Frankenstein, you do indeed find a way to break that staff...and locate such a hole as deep as you wish to bury it in." He smile was a little sad at such naivety in his opinion. "I truly wish you the best in that endeavour."
"Well to myself, when this nightmare of a war has ended?" He turned his age worn eyes back just once more to the stars. "Why do I believe sir, I shall sally forth as I have so often done before. There is Young Arak, an old quote I heard long ago when I was but a student...to what defines a scientist ... 'A man who understood nothing ... until there was nothing left to understand.'"
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Post by Rear Admiral Arak Verdaan on Nov 15, 2015 20:05:10 GMT -5
Arak looked at the Director and smiled.
"You know," Arak paused, "I've always admired your drive. A lesser man might have put the project to bed after, well, the ethical concerns for one, and the rogue agents, too... but you press on ahead, sailing into that void, with no intention to turn back. On one hand, I appreciate it. On the other, it somewhat scares me. Congratulations, Sir."
Arak took his seat and watched the last set of officers take their seats. Admiral Sam Beckwith was the last man to enter. He set up his PADD and materials at the other end of the conference table. To him, we would all be reporting.
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Post by Rear Admiral Arak Verdaan on Nov 19, 2015 13:30:38 GMT -5
Admiral Beckwith cleared his throat. "I've called this meeting of our special projects division due to recent Iconian activity." A map appeared on the screen behind him.
"We have reports of heavy Iconian and Xiati presence in the Pi Canis sector block, and as I'm sure most of you know, we'll be initiating a raid on the Iconian fleet surrounding the Herald Sphere very shortly. A battlegroup, including the Starship Sentinel, will be commencing a boarding action on an Iconian dreadnought with the intention of taking one of their top strategists out of the equation."
An image of M'Tara's dreadnought appears on the screen.
"This might win the war," the Admiral stated, "But we might stir up a hornet's nest at the same time. That's why I need a status report in case we need a contingency. We'll start with Project Mjolnir. Admiral?"
Arak felt like he was put on the spot. Alright, time to shine.
"As a quick recap, Project Mjolnir is a zero-point energy cannon. The Navigator-class USS Independence-A has been refit to accommodate it. The refit has been quite extensive -- we've gutted most of the sensors, for example, and replaced them with zero-point actuators. The refit is complete, but the lack of adequate sensors means that we'll be using a spotter ship to "paint targets" for the cannon. It's looking like the Pilgrim will fill that task."
Arak called up an image of the Independence.
"The theoretical maximum output on this cannon is very high. In fact, we've had to reduce the power output -- otherwise we might send a zero-point energy blast into space that might ruin someone's day many years from now. We think this should be more than a match for the defensive screens of the average Iconian ship."
"It's unfortunately not ready for prime-time, though." Arak explained, somewhat disappointed. "You see, the processing power for calculations required to maintain a zero-point energy matrix are beyond anything Starfleet has at the moment. In fact, much of the technology used by Project Mjolnir has been salvaged from other species. For example, the system is controlled by an artificial intelligence which powered a similar weapon some 20,000 years ago. Not to mention the capacitor we stole from the ISS Pilgrim last year."
"Regardless, I have dispatched the USS Pilgrim on a mission which will likely solve the last piece of this puzzle. This means that we may have a weapon that the Iconians can't defend against. The only drawback is that we only have one of them. I've convinced the artificial intelligence to help us, but if we try to extract the zero-point equations from its database, it will surely wipe it's own personality matrix. The AI seems to have a certain type of morality that's a little difficult to explain, but it understands how it could shift the balance of power extensively if it were to be duplicated."
"In any event, we're still on track for deployment."
Admiral Beckwith nodded. "Is this the 'Key' AI you referred to in the past?"
"Yes," Arak replied. "It was constructed by an alien civilization about 20,000 years ago as part of a zero point energy weapon. As a safeguard, it was programmed to have a conscience -- it would decide if it wanted to fire. After some years, though, the creator race decided to use it as part of a minor territorial dispute. The AI decided that any species that wanted to harness this awesome power for such a petty dispute... er, wasn't worthy of survival. After decimating the surface of its own world, the AI laid dormant until the Pilgrim discovered it earlier this year."
Beckwith seemed concerned. "So you have a genocidal AI in charge of this weapon?"
Arak cautiously nodded. "I've talked with the AI, Admiral, and convinced it that these Iconians are waging an unprovoked and unjust war of conquest. This is entirely in line with the ethical subroutines of the AI. They've pledged our support for war against the Iconians."
Beckwith paused for a second. "Well, if we can end this war, will the AI help us in other conflicts?"
Arak slowly smiled. "I don't know if we should push our luck, Admiral."
A couple of the attendees looked at Arak like he's crazy.
"Don't worry," Arak assured them. "There is a physical block between the AI and the zero-point capacitor. In other words, while it still can decide whether to fire, it cannot fire unless we authorize it."
Beckwith grumbled. "You're playing with fire here, Admiral. Keep a close eye on that AI. If it has even the chance of going rogue, shut it down."
"Understood." Arak simply responded.
Beckwith sighed. "Unless there are any questions, we'll turn to a report from Project Salvation."
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Post by DGM Soft Kitty on Nov 19, 2015 18:24:34 GMT -5
Beckwith sighed. "Unless there are any questions, we'll turn to a report from Project Salvation."
The older man stirred from his gaze into a PADD, one he had seemed so preoccupied to any observer in the room he almost appeared as if he had not been following the meeting. He set aside that one PADD and then folded his hands together as he nodded respectfully to Admiral Beckwith. However he did not stand to give his report merely remained seated as he turned to the others as if regarding any of them for the first time now.
"I thank you Admiral, ladies and gentleman I need no preamble here, we all know what is at stake. This is indeed a dark and dire time for the Federation and its Allies. We are quite overpowered, out gunned and outmatched."
He paused to let that sink in. "There is no way to dispute such a fact, we are facing an enemy who once stretched it own hands out to caress and control the very stars themselves of not just this galaxy but we now know for sure...galaxies beyond our own. We are the fleas on the back of a very angry big red dog that was once chased from this yard only to once again return."
He looed now to each of the Admirals. "So the question remains...how does the flea win out over the big red dog? While I do commend many of my colleagues here to want to find that one 'Magic Bullet' the one that will instantly either transform the big red dog in a playful friendly animal...or simply to hurt and or destroy the big red dog...to find that one "I win' button...I do fear such a thing is beyond our ken."
He took a breath as if he was out of it and then began. "The only thing a flea can do is harass the big red dog long enough to eventually get it to scratch...and right now my friends we are being scratched...the more fiercely we bite...the harder they are gonna scratch..."
"You must understand just who it is we are facing here sirs...madams...The Iconians as a race as we have discovered are powerful, terrible, wise, selfish, wrathful, and proud; although some if not all of these traits are towards how we see them today, likely the results of having one's homeworld destroyed. They possess a life pan of several thousand years and as such there are and most likely were only few of them. They learned in time to 'share' their power and their homeworld with such servitor species such as the Heralds and Xiati...kept as beasts of burden, slaves...overseers of their various colones and conquered races...and oft times as soldiers, police and pets. Despite this...they treated their most dearest of these servitors as...why as children and even regarded them as such showing them love and respect."
He smirked and continued. "Now we have learned that their race was dying out, procreation...had come to a halt around the time of the Last Great War against them. It is now a known fact that it had been more than a century that an Iconian was born. By that time the Iconians had formed an intense social connection we understand was called "The Whole" and that through that maintained a galactic civilization, peacefully exploring the galaxy and interacting with numerous species, such as the Dinasians and Iccobar. All gathered knowledge was stored in a central archive which they called the World Heart, which was well protected as the Iconians firmly believed in not sharing superior technology with "lesser" species, who might use it to harm themselves or others. A noble principal much like our vaunted Prime Directive...however this proved to be their undoing..."
He grunted some as he nodded to PADDs the large Starfleet officer who had accompanied him began to distribute to each of them. "As you can all see from Operative Aquarius' findings during her work and time in the Preserver Library ... and as she predicted in her initial pre-translation reports...such a policy from the Iconians created envy amongst their allied species, who formed an alliance of their own in order to gain access to the superior knowledge through the use of force. While our dear Iconians anticipated an attack and preemptively evacuated many of their people to colony worlds, the anti-Iconian alliance, which included the Iccobar, attacked every last Iconian world - beginning with the colony of Dewa III and hours later the very home world, Iconia itself. With the help of this so called "The Other", consisting of an unknown species, it would seem twelve Iconians were able to evacuate using one of their gateways and sought shelter beneath the surface of Dewa III, where the indigenous population still loyally served them. The fabled World Heart, however, was lost to both the Iconians and the lesser species of this alliance...for all time"
He sighed and continued on. "Traumatized obviously by their experiences and unable to recreate their civilization without their precious World Heart, the surviving Iconians adapted a paranoid and militant attitude, with T'Ket as the most aggressive of the twelve. They turned their Heralds from mere servants into powerful soldiers, and adopted further servitor races, such as the Elachi, the Xiati and the Solanae. As Dewa III had also been obliterated by the anti-Iconian alliance, the Iconians left and the Solanae constructed a massive Dyson Sphere as a staging base capable of traveling across vast distances through subspace. When the Solanae activated the Sphere, a large scale industrial accident occurred. The surviving Solanae were forced to migrate to subspace when their molecular structure was changed due to exposure to large amounts of tetryonic energy and the Iconians abandoned the Sphere due to its flaws."
He switched to a new page on his PADD indicating the other do the same. "As you can see from Aquarius' report, At some point, the Iconians also changed their humanoid appearance and became beings of incredible energy, which also rendered them physiologically incapable of time travel. We have reason to believe it was during this period the race was also contacted by a stronger and older race of beings, a race of beings they had once had more extensive contact with...beings of incredible power...we have no name for them as of yet...though I do have reason to believe from reports from the 22nd Mobile Fleet such intelligence may be returned with soon...and this new race helped the Iconians with this new evolutionary changed...for a price now.
"However, Due to this change in form, as well as their new-found ruthlessness, it was passed down by the races that destroyed them that the Iconians had been "demons of air and darkness", traveling via Iconian gateways and ruling oppressively over their large empire. Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the U.S.S. Enterprise-D once speculated that, back in the mid 24th century that this surely might be historical revisionism by the victorious powers, an assumption of his share by my Operative Aquarius that of course would later be proven correct. As I and she also believe their connection to this older more vicious and powerful race is as well. Again taking on the historical traits of demons and darkness. In time, the true Iconians retreated from the galaxy to the Andromeda Dyson Sphere, and they as well as their homeworld became nothing but a myth."
"So most of you must be asking...why are we having a history lesson on our angry old dog...well my dear colleagues...to defeat the dog one must understand how to effect the dog without making him scratch harder and we have been in the process of this for some time now. " He coughed some and held up a handkerchief to his lips and then cleared his throat before continuing. "Working close as many of you now know with our new found allies the Krenim as well as our colleagues in Temporal Investigation...Projects Tempus and Chronos are in place, both that have been under the Umbrella of Project Salvation for sometime now are attempting to discover just who or what...is this "Other' and what if anything became of the Iconians most treasured 'World Heart'."
"The USS Enterprise has been involved in numerous successful tests and as such is prepared to go the distance to discover if...the so called World's Heart can be recovered and a peace possibly be brokered with our Iconian Enemies. Yes I know...this is a long shot in point of facts sirs and madams...it is a shot clear across the visible horizon...but I feel it is our only shot."
He sat back in his chair. "However...as stated before in our last meeting Admiral Beckwith...we still need more time...so until then we need to and must endure the big red dog's scratching..."
He sighed and leaned forward to lay his PADD on the desk.
"That concludes my report, you may carry back on sir."
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