Prologue (USS Phoenix)

Prologue

Captain's Personal Log

Stardate 88217.3

Following our return from Sarabande, the unofficial name suggested for the planetoid discovered during the first mission of the USS Phoenix, I have been occupied with a series of inquiries pertaining to the events that transpired throughout this mission.

The topics among these proceedings included the nanite implementation, the testing of the new quantum slipstream drive, the incident with the shuttle Sagan caught in the bubbleverse resulting in the injuries to its crew and a civilian reporter, and my decision to allow a small team of scientists to remain with a shuttle on the surface of the enigmatic planetoid.

It has been the ongoing inquiries related to Sarabande that have occupied a majority of my time over these past three weeks. Due to its perceived value and position between Federation and Romulan territory,  the planetoid has remained highly classified and much debated by the upper echelon of the Federation. Those that want to allow this planetoid to continue toward its evolutionary path unencumbered by any further influence from Federation contact are in direct conflict with those that want to seize and utilize this hidden world as a clandestine base of operations. Logic during these ongoing proceedings has proven to be a rare commodity. Nevertheless, while the internal debate continues, the away team on the planetoid continue their unobtrusive observation and investigation. 

Meanwhile, since the Phoenix returned to spacedock, it has been undergoing a thorough analysis of systems and integrity pertaining to the incidents that transpired among the nanites, the quantum slipstream drive and the nebula. The last word received was that no permanent damage exists from the incidents that had befallen it during the mission.

With the assistance of the nanotechnologist Stephanie Decatur, now stationed back at her lab on this starbase, the nanites aboard the Phoenix have been stabilized throughout the ship. Additionally, under the guidance of Commander David Rogers in partnership with a team of engineers from the starbase, they have theoretically rectified the conundrums associated with the quantum slipstream drive. Verification of this outcome however will be determined  once the vessel is out of the confines of spacedock and tested during an upcoming trial run.

Syntron closed his log entry as stood up and walked toward the replicator in the Captain's Ready Room of the USS Phoenix. It was the first time that he had boarded the vessel since it was berthed back into spacedock at the conclusion of its first mission.

A steaming cup of Vulcan spiced tea appeared in the replicator as ordered, and the captain grabbed the handle almost absent-mindedly as he lifted the brew toward his mouth. The fragrance was potent as he took a small sip of the liquid blend. As the Vulcan was contemplating numerous thoughts related to the ship and the next impending meeting, the doorway suddenly chimed.

Believing that there was no one aboard the ship but a scattered skeleton crew, with a raised angular brow the captain immediately responded.

"Enter."  

The door slid open to reveal the unmistakable presence of Doctor Elliago Nasaro-Myth, the chief medical officer of Syntron's brand new starship. His seductive Deltan features were drawn into an uncharacterisitc serious mien. Gone was the usual charming smile. A frown creased his smooth, clean-shaven head and the light in his mesmerizing purple eyes was dimmed by what seemed like somber thoughts. he stayed on the door sill as his musical voice spoke with definite gravity.

"Captain Syntron Sir; may we speak?"

"Affirmative, Doctor Elliago Nasaro-Myth," the captain responded as he gestured for the Deltan to have a seat. A look of surprise was not evident on his expressionless visage.

"May I offer you a beverage, doctor?" Syntron inquired, remembering to continue with the social formalities that he had previously learned. 

The Deltan stepped in and stood at attention before his commanding officer.

"Thank you, Sir, but no, thank you. And I prefer to stand, if you don't mind, Captain. This is not your usual family doctor housecall. I come to you as a concerned Starfleet officer under your command, Sir."

The formality of it all left no doubt that this was a very serious matter; at least to him.

Stoically, the Vulcan stood beside the chief medical officer.

After placing his cup on the nearby desk, Syntron gazed directly into the officer's eyes.

"Proceed Doctor."

The Deltan had obviously been thinking about what he wanted to discuss for quite some time; his response was as concise as it was heavy with meaning.

"Captain Sir; I am invoking General Order 1, the Prime Directive; General Order 4, the proper conduct when finding previously unknown life forms; General Order 13, the respect of sovereignity of non-aligned worlds; General order 17 and 29 ; a commanding officer's responsibilites regarding the safety of his crew; General Order 31, applying the prime Directive to non-organic sentience. But, with all that, I also recognize General Order 30, the right of a starship commander to interpret the Prime Directive within all other rules but according to circumstances when encountering new lifeforms."

Elliago made a pause. Then he sumrized further.

"Captain Sir, during the last mission, we discovered what appeared to be the remnants of a previously unknown spacefaring civilization. Your ordered us to physically investigate first hand. You allowed us to forcibly penetrate the alien facility. You allowed us to freely tamper with what was found inside. Your crew was put to risk and even harm while pursuing further investigation, further penetration and further tampering of what had been quickly and clearly defined as previously unknown sentient territory and possessions. You finally reported to Command after marking the site as Federation property and admonished even further... direct action regarding this site."

Then, he finally looked straight into the Vulcan's eyes.

"Captain Sir, I am not here to commit insubordination and dispute your orders during the mission. I am only saying all this so as to properly pose a legitimate question, as regulation allows me to. "

He stood straighter at attention.

"As a Starfleet officer serving under your command, my question to you is this: Sir, I respectfully request to know; am I to expect the same command decisions again from you in any future similar circumstances?

Were he not Vulcan, a smirk may have escaped from the captain's serious expression; as if the roles between these two officers had somehow curiously been reversed.

"I am quite certain Doctor that similar interrogatives and discussions have occurred between Starfleet captains and their senior staff since the first missions began."

Relaxing his stance slightly, the captain eased his arms behind his back.

"I have spent the majority of my time during these past three weeks alone involved in a variety of  heightened discussions about our discovery and subsequent actions. To clarify though, the planetoid was not marked as a Federation site; although there are those now in their chambers and conference halls within the Federation that are trying emphatically to rectify this." the Vulcan noted, as his demeanor turned even more serious.

"As for what the future holds for us, this is obviously uncertain. I will say this, we are a crew of explorers as well as Starfleet officers. Interpretation of orders, regulations and directives may inevitably come into question as we find ourselves in other unique circumstances. Command decisions will be made as parameters develop and are introduced, data is analyzed, risk factors are assessed and the possibility for discovery exists. Expectations are that our missions will rarely be simplistic endeavors, and therefore weighing in all circumstances and considerations existing at the moment will be key factors in determining virtually any course of action taken."

Elliago blinked at the lenghty response then closed his eyes as if to say "Vulcans..."

But that is not what he said.

"Please allow me to rephrase my question more clearly, Sir; Captain; given the exact same circumstances... would you make the same decisions again?"

With a raised brow the captain noted "Even though logically speaking, this occurrence you present is quite an impossibility... given the outcome of our circumstances, there are a number of choices and options that were made during our mission in which I could reflect on and select differently... as there are in many choices and decisions that I have made in general throughout my life and career."

Gazing at the Deltan's rigid posture, Syntron could sense his vexation still present.

"You and I have faced more hazardous and dire situations throughout our encounters with the Azimuth Horizon anomaly alone Doctor.  The decisions that were made during those times even brought our former captain up before a court facing charges after the Artemis was sacrificed. We almost lost our lives on more than one occasion while trying to save the lives of others. Yet, it was those decisions and risks taken, regardless of how a prosecutor may perceive them in hindsight, that eventually reduced the amount of potential lives lost. Those decisions are not often open-and-shut,  let alone right or wrong. They are unique and must be taken in context of all of the surrounding circumstances."

The Vulcan then took a subtle but deep breath before continuing on.

"However, it is going through and reflecting on these processes and challenges that we face during such missions that ultimately enhance our experiences, build our competence and perhaps even enrich our wisdom along the way."

Elliago made a visible effort to be patient. But his patience was just as obviously running thin. He sighed after Syntron went silent, then looked again right into his dark eyes.

"Permission to speak freely, Sir?"

Syntron gave a bit of a perplexed gaze back to the Deltan. Despite his efforts to address in a thorough and congenial manner the almost taunting statements and questions spoken though a respectful tone to him, it appeared for some reason to have the opposite effect on the doctor.

"Self-expression has not been an issue for you thus far, based on your opening statements Doctor... proceed" the Vulcan replied stoically.

A small shark-likesmile stretched thin the lips of the doctor. But the "oh yeah? You haven't seen anything yet" expression on his face quickly changed to one of barely repressed anger.

"Stop dancing around the issue and say it plainly; you consider that you made the best and correct decisions; well, CaptaIn Sir, I do not! "

Looking at the infuriating  blank, impassive stare of the Vulcan, the Deltan nevertheless felt that he had put his finger on a sensitive nerve. And so he pushed.

"You should not have sent an away team before doing thorough scans of the area, before attempting communication, before making a thorough research in our data banks or even from Starfleet Command to try an identify this... thing. You did not try all other options before risking the life of your crew in an away mission over there; you just.... sent them out there to play!"

Elliago had lifted but one finger as he enumerated all his points.

"Don't start with that infamous "risk is our business" Captain kirk speech! We were confronted with an unknown, yes, but it clearly was at the time a non threatening one; it didn't require precipitous, half-cocked action that could potentially endanger ship and crew so needlessly!"

The doctor was far from finished.

"You allowed your away team to repeat all your inital mistakes and to violate the place without considering for a single instant that this did not belong to us!  You did not think for an instant that the dampening field in the area was meant to keep away trespassers... like us! You did not even consider that this might have been the burial site, the place of worship or a preservation location of another culture that could be desecrated or lost to them by our alien intrusion! And for what? For the sole sake of our childish curiosity!"

"He lifted a second finger.

"And don't start with that great motto of "to explore strange new world and seek out new life forms and new civilizations!" Our ignorance and our curiosity do not  give us a blank check to go to your venerable Vulcan Plateau of Gol, force our entry into your precious temple and trample the sacred grounds of your masters! Nor of anyone else!

The more he spoke, the more passionate the Deltan was becoming.

"But you didn't stop your amateurish blundering there; you allowed them not only to violate the site but, once inside, to recklessly tamper with just about everything they could put there hands on! You let them activate devices you had no idea about, further force entry into chambers you had no clue as to their purpose, significance or value to the owners... and in the process, let several members get injured and risk further harm themselves as if... as if you owned the damn place!"

A third finger went up; his thumb. But it was not in the mythical approval gesture of Earth's Ancient Rome.

"Now don't give me either any "no pain, no gain" kind of argument or that the risk and the pain proved to be worth it all! I can't beleive you served with someone like Captain Kheren for so long and so well and that you never learned and understood that the ends never justify the means!"

He finally made a pause, but it was not to let Syntron answer his accusations.

"I have no idea how or why Lotus Fleet Command, Starfleet Command, the Federation Science Council or even the Federation Council itself can let all of this pass without bringing you up before a Court Martial or just a Board of Inquiry, or not even give you a reprimand for acting like a sixteenth century Earth colonialist instead of a twenty-fifth century Starfleet ship commander. Every step of the way, you had time and opportunity to stop and even backtrack from your errors but you did not, not even once, not even when you, your first officer and your crew were warned about it!"

His hand finally closed again to point an accusing finger at Syntron.

What you did, and what you allowed to do under your authority, was not Starfleet; it was not science; it was not right!"

"I must disagree doc.  It felt right to me"

Commander Riker spoke as he stepped back from the natural shadow of the corner by the door.  He had entered during the doctor's rant and went unnoticed due to the passion of his pleas.

"We accomplished our mission, learned more than we expected and everyone got out alive.  I mean hell I even managed not to get shot for once, which is always a plus in my book.  We achieved our goals and learned a great deal about an alien culture.  We advanced our understanding of alien science, mathematics and culture... and did I mention I didn't get shot?  The reason no one brought the captain up on charges is because he did nothing wrong."

Gesturing towards the captain Commander Riker continued

"I am a stickler for the rules, well most of them anyway, and trust me doc if I felt the captain had breached Starfleet protocol and should have been removed I would be the first person standing in this room shoving a phaser in his face"

Gesturing to Captain Syntron

"No offense Captain."

Elliago looked at Riker with obvious surprise. He had not noticed his presence at all and had thought he was alone with his commanding officer. Recovering from his surprise, he stood straigther and resumed his previously formal stance.

"Commander Riker; I was unaware of your presence. Please Captain, and you Commander, accept my apologies. Speaking freely like this to a superior officer in front of another is totally inappropriate and unbecoming of one wearing a Starfleet uniform."

He did not speak openly that Syntron, allowing this, was yet again totally in the wrong, at least morally. By allowing his chief medical officer to rant like this in front of another crewmember, and his first officer no less, he could then bring forward charges of insubordination and disrespect to his commanding officer against the doctor any time he chose. The logical Vulcan, having most certainly read the CMO's report and most probably those of the other officers who had heard his objections during the mission, undoubtebly now had expected his visit.  

It was a foul trap. Elliago would never had thought it possible for Syntron, of all people, to behave like this. 

And yet, the Deltan had a hard time beleiving so. Maybe that had never been his intention. It may just had been all due to circumstances; maybe Elliago had walked into a meeting between the captain and his exec who might have just gone into another room to let his commanding officer receive another subordinate privately. maybe it was Riker who had inadvertendly stumbled into their meeting...

But, one way or the other, the Exec had, by his own admission, listened to all that the CMO had said and was now freely interfering with what was by definition a private discussion of both a personal and sensitive nature between an officer and his captain. Instead of excusing himself and backing out of what was not at all his business, he had instead chosen to crawl into the shadows until it was time to pounce and defend his captain. It could be deemed commendable by some; but to the Deltan, it was devious, pure and simple; and good intentions did not make dishonorable actions any more acceptable.

And that was exactly his point.

Elliago did not push on because of it. But it made him come to a decision.

The Deltan looked straight at Syntron.

"I hear and recognize your position, Captain Sir. You are now aware of mine. Therefore, I officially would like to ask for a transfer."

Syntron was first surprised by his executive officer's unexpected arrival into the Ready Room during the rather one-sided conversation with the Deltan doctor; especially with Riker's appearance occurring without his awareness. A rare occurrence indeed for a Vulcan with senses as acute as his. Perhaps it was the intensity of the doctor's rant that prevented him noticing this, but initially the captain was even more astonished by the transfer request given after Commander Riker countered Nasarro Myth's accusations.  

However, as the captain began to contemplate this request to a greater depth, the incident earlier in the mission with the trill Stephanie Decatur bringing out her objections to the sentient EMH concerning the doctor's misuse of pheromones on her and others without their consent came back to him. Syntron had addressed that situation with the doctor, and as far as he was concerned, these incidents that went back for years were now behind them. Yet perhaps as a consequence of this incident, the doctor became even more rigid in his adherence to rules and regulations.  Elliago's usual peaceful temperament had been replaced with one of indignation, even as he maintained a respectful tone as he addressed the captain. This was not conclusive, but was merely a hypothesis.

Nevertheless, the bottom-line was that the professional relationship between the doctor and his first officer had already deteriorated even further, as apparently was his own in the eyes of the doctor. There was no respect let alone trust remaining in the doctor's words or his expression.  

Syntron looked acutely at the Deltan awaiting his response for just a while longer, and without providing any retort or clarification, simply responded.

"Transfer granted Doctor. You may gather your belongings while I contact headquarters and finalize the order for transfer. Dismissed"

"Thank you, Captain. I wish you and your crew the best."

A bit of the old, congenial Elliago returned in the purple eyes and on the softening handsome features. But the trademark easy smile didn't succeed in coming back to his tense lips. He did not look at Riker, turning his back to him as he left the captain's ready room with a calm, resolute step.

If anything, he looked releived.

As the doctor departed, Syntron turned to his first officer.

"Your arrival Commander was akin to that of an ancient stealth warrior who managed to appear without detection. As such, it would seem that you caught the doctor off guard to a degree. In the future however, you may want to let you presence be known upon your arrival."

Syntron then walked over and took a seat behind his elongated desk and gestured for his executive officer to do the same.

"Regardless of this, the outcome in this situation would have been unchanged Commander Riker."

Syntron reached over a took a small sip of tea.

"It would appear that we will now be in need of a new chief medical officer... of which I will begin the transfer and request process expeditiously. However, I would predict that filling the role of our departing CMO will not be an easy task by any means."

Nodding Riker agreed

"It will not Captain.  Until such time however, Doctor Gray has been recognized as sentient and is more than capable.  I requested his programming be transferred here, and have served with him for many years at various commands.  He may be an EMH, but he is a capable doctor and will be more than capable of filling in pending our new arrival."

"Doctor Gray assuredly showed his value and competence during our last mission," the Vucan responded. "This will be one less thing of concern during our time of transition."

Taking a sip of his now tepid spiced tea, Syntron added "Help yourself to a beverage Commander, and then apprise me with details of your work since we last spoke."

Nodding Commander Riker walked over to the replicator and ordered a Bajoran sweet tea.  As it materialized he grabbed the drink, swished it around once and then took a sip.  The drink was better than Riker could have imagined, but he refused to acknowledge the positive recommendation.

"Lucky guess" Riker mumbled to himself

Turning back towards the Captain Riker continued with his report

"Sir all system performance upgrades are complete.  Master Chief Eddington is compiling the final reports as we speak.  Sensors, inertial dampners, plasma injectors and deflector output are all above 120 percent of standard operating parameters and holding."

Taking a sip from the tea Riker continued

"I may not be the biggest fan on where the upgrade ideas are coming from, but you really can't argue with results.  We are reporting system improvements across all shifts and Federation ships all over the sector are clamoring for the chance to upgrade their systems."

Taking another sip Riker concluded his appraisal.

"Speaking of shifts Captain, Master Chief Eddington has finalized the crew rotation rosters for our time in port as well as our next duty mission.  We are pending a doctor, but shift rotations will be completed on time"

"Prepare for a trial run and complete systems test at 14:00 tomorrow.  Employ the Ops chief to secure all requisite personnel for this first shakedown.  When helm has reached a safe distance in this sector, we will need Commander Rogers to scrupulously monitor all performance details once the refurbished quantum slipstream drive has been re-engaged. Obviously, we do not aspire to evoke similar results as our original implementation of this device manifested." 

*             *             *

At precisely fourteen hundred hours the next day, the Vulcan captain leaned back into the center seat. It had been a whirlwind of activity for his first officer and Ops chief recalling requisite personnel back onto the ship and into the crew rotation schedule in time, but they has somehow managed to accomplish this on time.

Looking out the viewscreen of spacedock for a moment, the captain engaged ship-wide communication.

"All hands... prepare for departure. Captain out."

Syntron turned to his executive officer.

"Commander Riker. You know the procedures. Take us out."