The Admiral's Debriefing

Posted on Thu Jan 23rd, 2025 @ 2:24pm by Captain Rovak & Commander Alex Flynn & Lieutenant Rune Thul & Lieutenant S'Lace & SubCommander Saa & Lieutenant Commander Atna & Senior Chief Petty Officer Gaz

3,092 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Masters of the Stars [2]
Location: Alpha Dock Lounge
Timeline: 1730 - MD02 (After 'The Wolf's Fangs')

Admiral Gali and the Challenger had left late in the evening the previous day for some warp-speed stress tests throughout local space. By the time they returned, there were hundreds of Klingons aboard, and some manner of 8-foot xenocidal supersoldier had been brought out of a puck the size of a coffee mug and run amok. Needless to say, the Admiral, ever a man of details, had questions.

The Admiral had at least foregone the formality of the large dark conference room, chiefly to accommodate Captain Rovak, who still wore an osteogenic stimulator cuff around his knee, and was getting about by hover-chair. Subcommander Saa was attending only by conference call, the lounge's large viewscreen transmitting a view of the interior of her recuperation tank in the infirmary.

"So, I hear you all made a friend." Gali said once everyone had arrived. "Before I go around the room, is there anything anyone feels the need to tell me that might not have been explicit in the reports?" Gali asked the station's assembled senior staff, with the notable inclusion of Ambassador Velt. His tone was ominous.

"I'm not sure if it's been submitted in report form yet, but Dr T'Zor has had a few conversations with him that we're keeping records of. He describes himself as an 'Adeptus Astartes.' They are the 'champions of humanity', 'the Imperium's space marines.' He says where he comes from it's the year 42,199. Also says he's from 'Holy Terra, Segmentum Solar.' I'm really not the fella to ask about such matters, but I can't help but wonder if maybe he's not got something to do with that Terran Empire from an evil parallel universe that the fleet's run into over the centuries." Gaz explained, realising how silly the suggestion sounded even as he said it.

"I would like to add as I have noted on many occasions; that the notion of a universe where individuals exist and function as they do in our own with the exception that they are all diametrically opposed philosophically and in service to a human supremacist regime remains a deeply implausible concept, despite the credibility of those who claim to have experienced it." Atna said.

"Lieutenant Atna, can you please explain the scientific necessity of letting this lunatic out of his cage?" Gali asked the science chief.

"It was not a matter of necessity, sir, only opportunity. The containment device in question was showing signs of breakdown from within, the uncaging of the individual within was inevitable." Atna responded confidently.

"And your decision had nothing to do with your paramour having emerged one of those devices?" Gali asked.

"I am a scientist, Admiral. Such sentimentality is alien to me." Atna responded without affect. "While I will acknowledge that Dr T'Zor's agreeable nature and compatibility with our ideological standards was a factor, our relationship was not a consideration. As a point of data, it was affirmative to the act of opening the device. The appearance of this 'space marine' and his violence will work to counter it in any future considerations."

"Commander Flynn, I appreciate you weren't in charge, but why didn't you at least suggest beaming him elsewhere as soon as he appeared?" Gali asked the XO.

S'Lace quietly observed the Admiral make some pointed questions. She had a few herself, but she was also well aware as a newcomer she was largely ignorant of many of the facts. She herself had gone over her own actions and wondered if she could have done anything differently.

"I didn't think about it, sir. We had no reason to think he was a threat until he started.. well, threatening. Dr Enu'Tha made a pretty accurate assessment early on, but things seemed to be going well until they weren't. At that point, it wouldn't have made sense to go anywhere else. There aren't many places more secure than the hazmat lab. That's where security was waiting. It's worth noting that Dr Enu'Tha's killing machine got exactly zero kills. Two KO's though. Sorry." Alex said with a sudden absently apologetic gesture to Rovak and Saa.

"A few bumps and bruises," chirped Saa. "Comes with the job, Commander."

"So it would seem. What do you think though Dr S'Lace, are we fit to go toe-to-toe with this Volsunga again or are we as extremely lucky as I think we are that everyone's still alive?" Gali asked, his volume lifting a little.

"I do not believe in luck, Admiral," S'Lace replied, mildly surprised to be singled out for her opinion, "But we did suffer an improbably low number of casualties considering how well armed and armored this being was. It makes me wonder if he was truly attempting to kill anyone at all or merely attempting to flee?"

She shrugged, "In any case in the past I have observed Starfleet engineers and tactical officers tend to learn from experience and if there is a second altercation our probabilities for success shall be greater."

Gali turned his head away from S'Lace, looking at the holographic screen where Saa was to be found. "SubCommander, are you confident that the Science Academy would have allowed this experiment, or would someone considering the possible threats of infinite beings from infinite worlds have put their foot down?" Gali sat there looking inquisitive for a moment before he realised. "And by foot I mean... relevant... cultural.. comparison." It wasn't smooth, but it was confident.

On the holoscreen, Saa shifted to meet the admiral's gaze, briefly disturbing the tiny constellations of nanites that shimmered around her in the isotonic solution.

"The fact is, Admiral," she offered, "We had no way to determine when the device would open on its own. The decision to open it under controlled conditions was one that I supported. Under the circumstances."

Some of those present were aware that it wasn't the whole, complete truth of what she felt. Saa had been unsure about the experiment from the beginning. But she didn't feel like assisting with the admiral's dressing-down of the science team. And she felt sure that his Betazoid telescience would clarify the details for him anyway, on both points.

Gali was done with Saa, and turned to Thul. "Mister Thul, can you please explain why you felt being visibly heavily armed at a first contact event was the best course of action?"

Was it worth it? Rune thought as he stared at the Admiral for a long moment. “Facing the unknown on a level we haven’t before, sir, oh Four Deities we have been extremely fortunate so far that these encounters had friendlies to counter the hostiles that have come our way.”

He motioned to his fellow officers as he spoke. “Factor in the possibility for whoever shows up next to be far superior in technology and how dangerous their skills could be using those hostiles we have encountered already as a comparison, the only way forward is under heavy caution.” He gestured out to space where the rift was. “And not to mention that we’d probably be immediately mistaken for whoever’s enemy the moment anyone comes through that rift.” He told the Admiral.

“We have to be ready and appear stronger for that will encourage the more aggressive species to take us seriously and open diplomatic channels.” Rune gestured at the Admiral. “We aren’t in a position to investigate the cultures on the other side of the rift in an evaluation process like we can in our universe. It’s the true unknown and the final frontier of exploration. Sure we could send an away team through as we do know the rift’s cycles but anything could happen and our people could become forever cut off from us.”

He looked around the table then. “Who knows if the laws of physics are a multiverse constant, we have seen materials, species abilities and weapons beyond our own understanding, sure we could learn with time.” Rune faced the Admiral again. “With all due respect Admiral, I strongly advise having a deterrent approach then a vulnerable appearance. Should whoever comes our way be peaceful and most will understand our caution once explained to them if our situations were reversed, Security will stand down. It is better to be safe than sorry, or probably dead, as humans put it.”

"I see." Gali said, before turning away from the security chief. The Admiral seemed like he was ready to fire a question at Counselor Qrork, but as he inhaled to begin, the lights flickered. He looked up at them with interest. Then back to Gaz, as Chief of Ops. There was a combination of rhythmic mechanical grinding, and ethereal synthetic twinkling sounds which seemed to cause the lights to flicker as they intensified. It was a sound that those who had been aboard the Excalibur when it had made its trip ten minutes back in time would recognise.

In the middle of the hollow-centered docking lounge conference table, a thin pale man wearing a 23rd century gold starfleet uniform stood. "Good afternoon, everyone." He said in his even, pleasing and distinctly British-sounding voice, making an old-style palm-forward salute.

"To any of you who may be unfamiliar, this is the Excalibur's Commander, a guest from another reality who has allowed us to use his vessel. He has survived the death of his body as a presence within the ship's systems." Rovak explained, realising that some had not encountered him first-hand. "I did not think you could leave your ship, Commander." He asked the arrival.

"Please forgive the dramatic entrance. I'm a disembodied mind, what else am I supposed to do for fun?" He said with a laugh, then realised nobody else was quite in on the joke. "Turns out I can get about in your holoprojectors. I've been having a look over your new arrival. By your leave, I need to give him something of a delousing. He's carrying some nasties you don't want getting into your universe."

S'Lace frowned slightly. Her experience with artificial intelligences had not always gone well. And now she was assigned to a station where one-an apparently very humanly gregarious one-lived nearby. Well, she would simply have to endure.

The 'nasties', though. That sounded...ominous...

Alex gave him a little smile as he turned towards her. She remembered the noise, and on some level expected him.

"Hello again Commander and thank you once again for all your help, I am still ambivalent about those trials you put us through." Rune spoke up but smiled despite his words.

Gaz had heard about this fellow from the mission reports, but didn't know what to make of him or his sudden appearance. He watched with a moderate amount of suspicion.

"Could you be more specific, Commander?" Gali asked.

"Mimetic psychic oppressions. Echoes of all-devouring hiveminds. Trace contaminants of hostile deities. Things that are on him, not in him." The Commander clarified.

S'Lace suppressed an urge to have the Commander elaborate. 'Hostile deities'?

"Do you recognise him?" Rovak asked.

"No. Not from my side of the tracks. Quite disturbing, though. Can't say I hope to see more of his ilk." The Commander said, sounding slightly concerned.

"Thank you for your assistance, Commander. Any further information you might give us will be put to good use." Rovak said.

The Commander looked somewhat sheepish. "I am sorry I can't be of more help. But rules are rules. I'll tell you what, if anyone has questions that aren't completely beyond your society's conventional understanding in the next two minutes, I'll answer them as best I can. Then I really must be off." The Commander said to everyone with a sudden enthusiasm, turning around to face them all, giving a small nod to each as he rotated without moving his feet, like a faulty holodeck character.

"Why two minutes?" Saa asked, pointedly. "Battery running low?"

"Who..?" The Commander looked around the group for the source of the voice before stopping at the screen. "Ah. Hello. I'm afraid if I wait much longer, the aforementioned nasties may start to gain a purchase on your universe. It's an unideal scenario. I'll be able to keep him in stasis once I get back to him, but it will require all my focus." The Commander explained happily. "One minute fifty seconds remaining."

"The 'psychic oppressions?'" The dolphin pressed, with an inquiring look to the two Betazoids in the room.

Gali seemed to shrug with his hands.

“His mind contains the influence of external intelligences. The kind that could exert agency through him against his will, and enflame his mind to violence. They could possibly even influence others from within him.” The Commander explained.

"I see." Despite the statement, it was clear that Saa did not feel fully in command of the facts after that explanation, nor entirely sold on the plan to interfere with the prisoner's mind, if that was the plan, violent though he may be. But the 'Commander' seemed insistent that the station was in imminent danger. She glanced to Rovak.

"Commander we have certain standards governing the treatment of prisoners. While this man is in our custody, I must insist that you abide by them." Rovak told the Commander, following in from Saa's question.

"Unfortunately I don't think your regulations have the necessary scope to cover a situation like this, but I will follow the spirit of them. I assure you he won't be harmed, and he'll be grateful for it, in time. Everything I will be removing is designed to work against him or rob him of his agency. He won't be physically changed, nothing I remove will be original to his person." The Commander explained to the group. "If you wish to impose more specific restrictions, please propose them."

"Nothing comes to mind." Gali said in response.

"I too have no further suggestions." Rovak said, looking to the group in the event one of them did.

"Is what he said about the year of his origin true? Is he from the 42nd millennium?" Atna asked, optimistic she would get a response.

“I can’t confirm the year, but yes, he is from a far future time. That number wouldn't be out of the question” The Commander told the science chief.

“Sounds like how the Borg operate,” Rune commented, “just without the physical assimilation part.” He wondered if the soldier would, now disconnected from this influence the Commander spoke of, regain what could be his own sense of self. Perhaps a deep telepathic scan would reveal that but he’d need their guest’s permission.

“Whatever was done was far more gradual than how I understand your Borg operate. The physical augmentations took place over decades, nothing I've ever encountered could survive all that alteration simultaneously. He chose it, or it chose him.” The Commander explained.

Rune frowned, feeling pity for the soldier. "Let me guess, there's no real way to know for certain, Commander?" He asked with an expression that looked like a mouth moving in a shrugging action as his shoulders lifted slightly.

"We could ask. Once this is done, he may be more cooperative, if that was ever on the cards." The Commander supposed.

"Hostile deities," S'Lace murmured, "Could you please elaborate?"

"Extradimensional beings that manipulate and feed off 4th d sentients like yourselves. Either their worship or their actions or their very lives. From your records the most accessible example I can recall would be a Bajoran Pah-Wraith." The Commander explained succinctly.

S'Lace's expression turned skeptical, but she held her peace. There was little profit in debating the issue. And the Pah-Wraiths did exist, so perhaps this AI was providing facts and not fictions.

On the holoscreen, a few tiny bubbles trickled up from Saa's bruised airmouth in an underwater sigh. She too had always been skeptical of this being. "It'd be helpful to have full sensor recordings of any such entities aboard our station," she suggested.

"I'll tell your people where to look before I get started, but I can't guarantee your sensors will get anything useful." The Commander explained.

"Perhaps Dr S'Lace and I should monitor the process? We can at least ensure that caution is counseled anywhere it may appear necessary. Doctor?" Atna suggested, before asking the woman she'd intended to rope into it. She trusted the Commander, her impression of him had been positive thus far, even if he could seem arbitrary.

"Please see to it." Rovak said to both.

“Very well, if that’s all I’ll be off.” The Commander said, vanishing suddenly without sound or visual effect.

Admiral Gali cleared his throat. “I don’t envy you all having to deal with that. In light of what you’ve experienced so far, my recommendation to the C-in-C will be that a tactical support contingent be assigned to DS13. A full complement. Aerospace wing, intelligence and marines. I’m confident she’ll agree, but we’ll know in a few days.”

“Admiral, respectfully, I must protest.” Rovak said, looking like he wanted to stand. “It is my view that the mere presence of tactical support operations staff results in the creation or aggravation of conflict. We have successfully defended ourselves against all hostilities so far. Not to mention our custody of the Excalibur, a ship whose capacities have not yet been tested. I have every respect for our colleagues and their necessity in a time of war, but we are at peace.”

“I understand your objections Mr Rovak, but the decision has been made. If you don’t select your preferred staff by the deadline, I will.” Gali said.

“So unless anyone has any questions, I think you’re all dismissed.” Gali told the group.

"Admiral, how long until Tactical Support departments arrive?" Rune asked.

"In an ideal scenario, within the fortnight." Gali explained.

Alex shared Rovak's objection, but she stayed quiet with it. She stood up and made her way out quickly, heading for her office at the CIC.

Rune stood and left the room after Flynn on his way back to the Security Suite.

Gaz left the table and headed back towards the pier where they were monitoring their guest.

Atna kept pace with S'Lace as they departed.

S'Lace kept her own council as she left the briefing. It seemed this assignment had many 'moving parts'. She wondered if the Admiral's actions were prudent, realized she did not have enough data to make that determination. His calling on her had been a surprise.

She had much to contemplate on her way back to her office...

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