Frater Infinitas - Part 3 of 3

Posted on Sun May 1st, 2022 @ 2:22pm by Captain Samuel Woolheater

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Arcadia
Timeline: Stardate 65601.8
Tags: Arcadia, Emily
3102 words - 6.2 OF Standard Post Measure

[ON: Frater Infinitas - Part 3 of 3]

=== THE PAST === (Three years ago - Catedral Primada Santa María de Toledo, the organ at the Chapel of the Virgin of the Tabernacle - Spain, Earth)


Samuel Woolheater had quietly slipped away. He was here with friends from the marine corps. They were on leave and had gone to Earth. Visiting friends in Toledo, Spain. While the party was in full swing, Sam quietly slipped out and went to the Cathedral. For two years he had wanted to get here. To the Chapel of the Virgin of the Tabernacle.

At this hour there weren’t a lot of visitors. And, truth be told, the Cathedral was more museum now than house of worship. Sam was dressed in civilian clothing and so was indistinct from many tourists. When he entered the chapel, he took a seat in the back and just looked at it. He took it all in. How beautiful the place is. And his eyes rested on the organ. He took his time getting to it. He slid onto the organ bench and gently touched the case. Feeling the wood, the keyboard. He was touching history. Eventually, found the key to turn on the bellows and he heard the windchest inflate with air.

Emily followed Sam to the chapel. Not immediately, she waited. They planned prior to slip away from the group so that Sam could be here. It wasn’t long before she found him. She heard him playing on the organ in the chapel. She quietly entered the chapel and listened. Then, softly, gently, she came up behind him and wrapped her arms around him hugging closely from behind. She listened to him play a moment. When he stopped, he turned around and kissed her. “Hey! You made it.” He said happily.

Smiling she sat next to him on the organ bench. “So? Tell me why we’re here?”

Sam said, “This cathedral, this chapel and this organ are very special. In 1549, Cristobal de Morales composes the motet Mille Regretz. And in that motet he writes some of the most beautiful music of the baroque counter-reformation. Written for King Charles the Fifth, the motet setting of the ‘Circumdederant me’ is why I’m here. Morales composes it here and it is played for the first time. Here. In this place.”

Emily looked at him, “Do you believe it? I didn’t know that you were that religious?”

“Why? Because I’m a marine?” he asked.

“No,” she answered. “Because it’s the 24th century.”

Sam was quiet as he played the cantus firmus again. Emily sat closer, she reached for his hand as he played and rested hers on top as he played, following his movement. She asked him, “What key is it in? It’s so sad.”

“One flat, that’s d minor” he answered.

“Do you know what it means?” she asked him. “The text I mean?”

Sam didn’t say a word. But he did stop playing. She had looked it up before coming here,

“Circumdederant me
Gemitus mortis,
Dolores inferni,
Circumdederunt me.”

She said, “The sorrows of death encompassed me, the pains of hell came about me.” Sam looked at her impressed. “It’s from the Psalms; Psalm 17 verses 5-7.”

Sam looked back at the keyboard. Emily lifter her hand to his face and turned him to look at her, “Why do you like it? What is it that you do for the marines?”

There in the chapel he told her what his job was. She listened and waited until he was finished and then asked. “Is that why you like this music then? Is that how you feel inside? Like death is all around you? The pains of hell surround you?” She waited but he said nothing. “Why do it then Sam? There is a whole world of things to do.”

“Because…I’m good at it. They trained me to do this and…I do my job” he answered her.


=== LATER ===

Back in the rented hotel room, Emily lay next to him. Sharing their passions and their naked bodies under the sheets – they had enjoyed each other’s company. She got up and got a drink of water. Sam lay there in the darkness, a soft glow of light falling across his bare chest. Emily went to the computer and played for him a recording of the motet. As they listened, she said, “Samuel Woolheater? I’m in love with you. Instead of death, let our love surround us. Instead of the fires of hell, let them be fires of love. Sam, you don’t have to be what they trained you for.” She looked at him, her eyes filled with compassion and love.

“I love you too Em. Are you trying to change me lady?” he teased a little.

“Because I love you Sam. And I want you in my life” she said lovingly.

“And I want you in mine” he said and kissed her.


=== NOW – SHUTTLE FLIGHT TO THE DROP ZONE===

Sam remembered that night in Toledo with Emily and at the chapel. As the shuttle pilot overflew the area and the drop point was spotted. The craft landed and Sam got out. The shuttle lifted away quickly.

Woolheater was on his own now. He had his TR-116 rifle and his camo gear. He found a spot to put on his grease face paint on his face, neck, hands and then attached local weeds and grass to his clothing. His baggy camo and hat would hide him. He said softly to himself, “Conceal me what I am” as he put his face paint away and made sure that he matched the tone of the ground. Gathering his disguise, he got on the ground and started crawling. He had 1000 meters to go to get close enough.


=== EIGHTEEN DAYS AGO===

The streets were filled with the injured and the dying. After evacuating what people, he could from the conference the Marines of the USS HALE looked valiantly for Dr. Wallendar. He was nowhere to be found and was presumed dead. They were wrong – again. Two days later and before all the missing and the dead could be accounted for a message came through.

A message was transmitted, Priority One using a scrambled Starfleet communication code. Of course, it was directed to the Gallamidian Prime Minister. Woolheater was on the surface at the time when the message was transmitted. It was broadcast live to the population moments later. There was Dr. Wallendar, along with the rest of the Science team, forced to read a humiliating and derogatory message explaining that he apologized for what his Science Foundation had done. They made him say that he was "grossly overrated" and that his claims of galactic "unity" were forced on him by the Federation. There was terror in his eyes. This great man who wanted only to expand and share knowledge and the pursuit of truth together – with other member worlds was coerced to do this. He finished reading the message; the room he was in was dark except for the light in his face. His captors never showed themselves. He put the PADD down. A moment of silence too long to be good; too long to be spontaneous; too harsh for the Gallamidians. The seconds passed and yet time seemed to have stopped. The air itself seemed to have stopped moving. There was a great collective hush as the citizens watched and waited for the captors; these cold murders to show themselves and make a demand.

Then they shot him. Dr. Wallendar incinerated before their very eyes.


=== OUTSIDE THE KIDNAPPED SCIENTISTS BUILDING ===

It had taken Sam nine long, grueling hours to traverse the distance to get into range, undetected, to take his shot. The 1000-meter distance was dangerous territory. The terrorists had erected guard towers along the wall. Sam was wearing, strapped to his chest a wrap to help dampen his lifesigns. But crawling on his belly for a thousand meters (1073 yards) was slow going. He had to stop multiple times so as not to trip sensors. He was finally within sight of the building where Wallendar and his team were being held. Something wasn’t right. There were foot patrols.

He stopped and lay still. Hardly breathing as the foot patrol, phasers drawn were walking only a few meters away from his prone position covered in weeds and grass. Sam could see their shoes! In his mind, he played the night with Emily. He waited and the foot patrol left. It was another 30 minutes before he could move again cover of darkness or not.

Finally, at 500 yards (457 meters) he could see the hostages. He knew that the rest of the Marine contingent was waiting for some sign that Wallendar and his team no longer had a gun to their heads.

Sensing that things were not well. Sam saw movement and the Dr. was on his knees in front of a camera. He was reading from a PaDD and the rest of his team was on their knees as well. Sam could see weapons aimed at all of them as Wallendar read from the PaDD.

Silently. Sam opened the sight on his rifle. He pulled it into position, so slowly so that no flash of light would give away his position. He looked through the lens and could see the science team more clearly now. He could see one of the bombers, who did not have a weapon, shouting at the Science team. Sam had a clear shot at the man. He matched the description of the intended target. Sam had his man. Setting the range on the rifle, Sam set the transporter initiator. The micro-transporter that would allow the projectile to appear inside of the building without having to go through the walls.

Two people got in the way. One was a team member; she was trying to stand in front of Wallendar. She was pulled out of the way. Things were going to shit quickly. A light scanned the field where Sam was concealed. The light temporarily disrupted his pupils, and everything looked red. ~Dammit~ he thought.

He calmed himself and held his weapon still. He eyes would adjust. Suddenly, he heard screaming and the sound of a weapon being fired. It wasn’t at him. It came from inside. The bombers, the terrorists had just killed Wallendar.

Sam didn’t flinch. He had the ‘Circumdederant’ plainsong in his head. He never got the chance to tell Emily that this was an important reason that he chose this music. The tempo, the pace. It was steady and he didn’t need a clock. He could feel the tempo in his being. In his soul.

~ Circumdederunt me~

He used that timing now. As the room feel apart, as another scientist was lined up to be vaporized, Sam squeezed the trigger.

~Gemitus mortis~

The shot took out the leader. He dropped dead on the spot with a headshot. There was the usual confusion. Sam didn’t hesitate.

~Dolores inferni,~

Another terrorist got hit in the chest and dropped dead. Another put a phaser and tried to shoot one of the science team. Sam dropped that asshole too.

~Circumdederunt me.~

He got three shots off. Then, they started to search the field where he was hidden. Sam watched the guards as they climbed the guard towers. But, he heard a much better sound. Explosions. Phaser fire. The marines from the HALE and from the Gallamidian security forces used this moment of panic to rush the gates. Sam watched.

Just then, he heard motion behind him. He heard running coming close, from behind. He lay still. Could he have missed another foot patrol?

No. Starfleet marines rushed past him on the ground assault. Taking this side of the compound in a pincher move. A shuttle light appeared overhead. And, someone touched his head and his shoulders.

It was PFC. Avia Reyes (PCNPC). She bent down to help him up saying, “Lieutenant? Sir? Are you alright sir?”

Woolheater stood up. Glad to see her alive. Glad to see her. Glad to see all of them.

“Sir? Your brothers and sisters want to thank you for clearing the way. We’ll take it from here EL TEE.”

Woolheater said, “Glad to be of service private.” Another Marine stopped long enough to male sure he was OK. Sam was upset with himself. The person they were trying to save, Wallendar, was dead. Sam took off his hat. Angrily, he threw it to the ground, “DAMN!”

The operation was over. The bombers were dead or in custody. The main civilian rescue was lost. The shuttle landed behind him, and Sam was recovered from the field. He would be debriefed later why Wallendar was lost.



===THE NEXT DAY - USS HALE – NCC-1153 – EN ROUTE TO TITAN SOL SECTOR===

The immense ocean of space lay before him, endlessly vast and neither the expanding depths, nor fantastic heights had yet been explored. Despite the intense exploration that Starfleet had engaged in these past 10 decades the best estimates, at least from those who were honest about it, was that less than 10% of the Alpha Quadrant had been explored. Or, as the renowned Astrophysicist and Exobiologist Dr. Wallendar once said, "We (the Federation) have explored the equivalent of a glass of water compared to all of the oceans on Pacifica! We have a long way to go." Those were his last and perhaps most prophetic words.

Staring at the stars as they left long trails behind the Steamrunner-class USS HALE, 2nd Lieutenant Samuel Woolheater enjoyed, no…loved…this spot on the HALE. It was the aft section of the ship; the main shuttle bay where the 2 shuttles were housed. This viewport must have been an afterthought by some Starfleet Engineer. Newer class ships often didn't have these viewports – there was no need. From this viewport the stars of the Alpha Quadrant looked peaceful, almost tame. A fact, if forgotten, may prove deadly to their many inhabitants and their often-quarrelsome nature.

The faces of the science delegates haunted him. The explosions happened so rapidly there was hardly any time to localize the source of the blast when the next three blasts occurred. The explosives – whatever the hell they were - had been well placed and the conference center collapsed quickly. A dampening field was active which prevented his squad's COMM system from working. They never showed their faces, not until death came for them in the form of a marine sniper. But what got Sam in his gut was that Starfleet had been lied to. He should have known better; he should have taken better precautions and checked.

It was His COMM badge broke his reverie:

(beeps) =/\= 2LT Woolheater, report to the bridge =/\=

Woolheater snapped back from the painful memories of the past few days,

(taps) =/\= On my way =/\=

===USS HALE – MAIN BRIDGE ===

On the main view screen Woolheater observed the HALE come out of warp. There was a large greenish planet ahead of them. The CONN announced, "Coming out of warp now Captain. We have arrived in the Leto System."

"Very good, thank you ensign. Hail the shipyards please", Captain Hammond (NPC) said. The doors closed with a hiss behind Sam. Captain Hammond turned in his chair and Woolheater snapped to attention.

Sam started to announce himself to the captain, "Second Lieutenant…", Hammond (NPC) waived him off. "No need for that Lieutenant."

The OPS officer announced, "We have received clearance to dock at BAY 37 Captain."

Hammond (NPC) nodded as he stood, "Take us in."

The USS HALE entered the busy cloud of ships entering the traffic pattern. NIKORAL was a very busy and very big shipyard. The HALE maneuvered towards the rows of open bays and prepared to dock at number 37.

Hammond (NPC) turned to his Marine leader, "May I see you a moment before you go?"

Sam assuredly agreed, "Of course Captain."

===CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM – USS HALE===

The two men entered the small ready room and Hammond (NPC) didn't offer Woolheater a seat, he knew it would make the Marine…unsettled. He handed Sam a PaDD. "These are your transfer orders Lieutenant. Before I give them to you, I wanted you to know something."

Sam swallowed and tried to relax more, "Anything sir."

Captain Hammond (NPC) eyed the Marine before him. He was tall and well built. His light hair and bright blue-eyes seemed to have darkened these past few days and he knew that he carried an unbearable weight.

"I want you to know that I had nothing to do with the transfer. I had nothing to do with you losing command of your platoon. Sam, I didn’t. I want you to know that this came directly from SFMC and not from any member of this crew."

Sam nodded, "I understand sir."

"I don't think you do. Look, Lieutenant, what happened back on Arcadia could not have been avoided. The only way we could have stopped the attack was if we had known the level of infiltration that…whoever they are…had made. It is not your fault."

"Thank you, Captain, I appreciate what you are trying to do. Really, I do. But I take full responsibility for the mission op. We, I, made mistakes and people died in the most horrible way. I accept the consequences of that", Woolheater said.

"I think you are taking this too personally. A word to the wise and I'm saying this not just as your Captain but as your friend Sam. You are going to have to live with this a long, long time. Dn’t let it destroy you. You can live with it by blaming yourself or by finding a way to deal with it. You may not see it as such, but I consider you a fine officer. Your next posting is up to the SFMC.

"There’s a ship here at Leto that will take you all the way to Titan. You've been a fine addition to this crew Lieutenant. I am sorry to see you go. You're dismissed."

Woolheater snapped to attention, saluted, "Thank you Sir!"


===THAT SAME DAY – NIKORAL FLEET YARDS - LEVEL 9 - GATE 7===


Everything he owned was on his back or over his shoulder or in his duffle. He boarded the transport for Titan. Sam couldn’t wait to get his rifle re-certification (does killing terrorists count?). When that was over and he got done with the JAG office – he was going to see Emily.



2nd Lieutenant, Samuel Woolheater
“Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas”

No Current Assigment - Administrative Leave