The Tarpeans - Chapter I - "Helped Into Power"

Posted on Sun Dec 4th, 2022 @ 3:43pm by Captain Samuel Woolheater
Edited on on Sun Apr 2nd, 2023 @ 4:10pm

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: USS HALE
Timeline: TWO YEARS AGO
9355 words - 18.7 OF Standard Post Measure

[ON: The Tarpeans: Chapter I – Helped Into Power]

THE PLANET KIRO – RASHAAN SECTOR – ROMULAN SPACE


Hidden in a forest, in what is now part of the Romulan Star Empire, near the border with the Federation, lie the remains of a concrete town. Once the capital of Kiro, the place was called Apocryphux. Utterly destroyed now it lies in ruins. The Romulan government has banned any resettlement. Here is the stone abbey, here lie the hangar bays, the train depot, the conference center, the guardhouses and the living quarters for over three-thousand people.

This was home to one of the most infamous figures in Romulan history. A man that said he and the followers he led would create a pure Tarpean society that would outlast any other. They were followers of one Inceptiux Tarpeus. His name was Spornak. And his followers, the Tarpeans were strict adherents to the philosophy espoused by the three-thousand-year-old teachings.

=== ))) + ((( ===

“If we believe in nothing, and nothing has any meaning and we affirm no values whatsoever, then everything is possible and nothing has any importance.”

“We are just insects, we live a bit and then die and that’s the lot. There’s no mercy in things. There’s not even a Great Beyond.”

”I know of no species more destructive to the balance of the universe than the species known as Human. For they are like a virus, clinging to a speck of mud, suspended in endless nothing and yet infecting everything and everyone they encounter. They must be eradicated.”

”To become Tarpean, is to become nothing and no one. To exist is a natural consequence of a culture ruled and regulated by categories that mask manipulation, mastery and domination of peoples and nature. We Tarpeans, therefore, have no such pretexts. We are what we say we are. And we do what we say we will do.”

=== ))) + ((( ===


Apocryphux, the ancestral home and birthplace of Inceptiux Tarpeus. Here, the spiritual founder of the Tarpean movement, took decisions which shaped the course of the planet Kiro and the fate of even Romulus. The result was a level of destruction and suffering unprecedented even by the Dominion War. To name just a few: The destruction of the Rashaan outpost and the murder of every human being therein. The orbital bombardment by the Romulan Star Navy of the planets Benai and Fuitana. The building of death camps at Valex, Prohestra, Momunex and Invoxum. And the murder of the Praetor and the sitting session of the Romulan Senate in 2395.

800 million persons died on Cardassia during the Dominion War. Consider then the scale of the crime when 105 million persons died during the twelve years that the Tarpeans held power. The Tarpeans killed, murdered and raped five million prisoners of war alone. Most prisoners of war ended their lives within ninety minutes of arriving at Invoxum.

And during the conflict that was not sanctioned – but also not challenged or stopped by the Romulan government, the Tarpeans were almost successful in destroying the treaty of Algeron of 2311, between the Federation and the Romulan Empire.

All of this was possible because the Tarpeans held power and ruled Kiro with an iron fist. It was possible because good people did not speak out against the wrongs.

How could it be that a cultured society like the Romulans ever allowed such a man like Spornak and the Tarpean movement he led to come to power?

Leading Tarpeans later explained there success easily. They said it was “inevitable” given the charismatic and utterly logical qualities of their leader Spornak.

But the true reasons for the Tarpeans rise to power are not that simple……and are much more alarming.


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”…I remember…watching the place burn. Great, big flames…hot and as it burned, it broke apart and fell to the ground with a great…crash…and I said to myself, “Good. Let it burn. Let it all burn!” I hated them so. I hated them…because of what they did and for my part in it. I hated myself. For what I became…because of them.” -- ‘Converso’ to the Tarpean movement T’Ruul debriefed by Starfleet Intelligence sometime in 2396


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TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY-ONE YEARS AGO – 2156 to 2160

The Tarpeans and their philosophy, “Tarpenisim”, which was to create the disastrous condition Romulus found itself in at the end of the Dominion War, was born out of the Earth Romulan conflict from 2156 to 2160. Suddenly, and without warning, in 2160, the war suddenly stopped.

”…everywhere, we were on enemy ground or in enemy territory. And we did not feel defeated. We wondered why we had to abandon all of our front line positions so quickly. And without explanation.” -- Romulan fighter pilot, D’doruum debriefed by Starfleet Intelligence sometime in 2396


With the end of the Earth/Romulan conflict, the borders of the Romulan Empire and the Federation were redrawn to carve out the Neutral Zone. And in doing so, many Romulan ships and troops were awkwardly surprised and wondered why they had to vacate their positions so quickly? For in almost every case, the Romulans lost territory. Largely in part because of their instance on the Neutral Zone being established. These troops and soldiers did not feel defeated at all; everywhere they were on enemy territory. That was, until the treaty was signed. Then they were in the Neutral Zone. With the establishment of starbases and outposts all along the Neutral Zone and the ever-present vigil of Federation starships now patrolling this new border, the myth grew that the Romulan Empire had been betrayed from within. And that the Federation had tricked them and stolen territory from them. The fighting ended and the Romulans took their bitterness with them back to Romulus. This ill-will, this dissent and feelings of bitter betrayal by Humans and the Federation would grow and flourish not on Romulus itself. But on a rather old world in the Romulan culture. Here on Kiro, in the Rashaan sector.


THE PLANET KIRO – RASHAAN SECTOR – THE YEAR IS 2311

The planet Kiro was not even a core world according to the Romulan Senate. Kiro and her inhabitants, the Kirons, were rural agrarians, farmers. They preferred an older way of life, simpler times and had old-fashioned values. And in the city of Apocryphux, the conditions existed that would foment into a revolution.

The enormous cost of the Earth/Romulan war was especially hardest on the Romulan people. And the further out one got from Romulus, the conditions got worse. Millions of Kirons were starving. Their work to grow food and mine fuel for the Romulan Star Navy had exhausted the people and the economy. Medicine, food and fuel were all hard to come by. Most of Kiro’s resources were redirected to the Empire and that meant Romulus. The returning Romulan and Kiron soldiers were shocked to learn that their families and neighbors were starving and dying. And they brought that bitterness and resentment home with them.

Politics had become polarized. Traditionalists and Progressives each became radical in the face of this new crisis. Traditionalists preferred a “Romulus for Romulans” approach. And speeches were made in the public houses that Kiro needed to “get it’s affairs in order”. Progressives, on the other hand, welcomed the treaty with the Federation. Seeing it as an opportunity to establish peaceful trade with the Federation and the rest of the Alpha quadrant. And for a time, people could tolerate the rallies and the speeches. But then one day, all that changed.

Traditionalists and Progressives began to openly fight in the streets of Apocryphux, the capital of Kiro. The Romulan Praetor and the Senate authorized troops from Romulus to go in and put an end to the fighting. The Traditionalists had, in many cases, the support of the Romulan troops. It was not even yet a few years that the Earth/Romulan war had been over. And when those troops arrived, the right-wing extremists got the troops support to quash the rebellion and restore order to the city and the region.

The Tarpeans were followers of an obscure monk in a small sect of a Romulan religious order. They also believed that Romulan society had become degraded, fractured. A return to an older and simpler way of life was necessary. Tarpeans believed that Humans were the Federation, and every other race was secondary to them. These ideas echoed with groups like the Traditionalists, and they began to hold meetings. And as time went on these meetings grew larger and larger. And one man, an anchorite from the Tarpean order discovered that he had one natural talent. He could enthuse other people by the power of his writing and especially his speeches. And he channeled that natural talent into extremist rhetoric. And it moved from the monastery and into the streets of Apocryphux. It wasn’t long after that when he said that a revolution was necessary for the Romulan empire to survive. The year was 2328. And in a move that surprised everyone, a Tarpean was elected to the Romulan Senate.

But, many people said, “…what harm can one extremist do? Even if they are Tarpean?” And in the first month of that year, for the first time, from Kiro, a Tarpean sat in the Romulan Senate. No one could have known of the events of the Borg Invasion, the Klingon Civil War and the Dominion War how that would affect the Romulan people. And the Tarpeans with their simplistic message steadily grew in power until they alone were the largest majority from Kiro. And they could be ignored no longer.

But, it was only one seat on the Imperial Senate. Despite converting many people from the streets and the Kiron society at large. The Tarpeans could not get themselves elected to power. In 2328, the Tarpeans captured only two-percent of the vote. But just four years later, in 2332, they were the largest single non-Romulan voice and Spornak was their undisputed leader.

For the next forty-years, the Tarpeans sat quietly in the shadows, planning and moving their strategy of manipulation and deceit. Entry into the Dominion War from 2373 to 2375 was unexpected and Spornak saw his chance to gain the ear of the Romulan Praetor.

Spornak was appointed imperial governor over the planet Kiro. As such, he could run things as he saw fit. And since, for the past forty-years, the Tarpeans had proven themselves no threat to the established order, it was thought that their more radical ideologies could be contained to Kiro.


…we didn’t fully realize what this would mean. We didn’t understand what had happened. And it all happened so fast. We believed that we could control them (the Tarpeans) through the Senate. And certainly, if the Senate failed then by decree the Praetor would rule by edict. Madness. Total madness. We couldn’t think. We simply could not think. Senator Hoon d’Valk ar Vellex, senator from 2370 to 2390


As a result of the misunderstanding and miscalculation of other Senators and the Praetor himself. Spornak accepted the post as Imperial Governor of Kiro. And that same evening, the Tarpeans marched through the city of Apocryphux and liquidated the current governor and his staff.

The revolution had begun.



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”My Praetor, I am your oldest and most loyal friend. I solemnly do prophesy to you now that this accursed group, the Tarpeans, will take your Empire into the abyss.” - Magistar D’Rundh – advisor to the Romulan Praetor in a letter written in 2375 at the end of the Dominion War.




2395 - TWO YEARS AGO - USS HALE – NCC-1153-A – LEAVING ORBIT OF FONTALIS

The familiar voice of Captain Hammond recorded this log entry, “Captains log, stardate 71898.4. Starfleet Command cancelled my crew’s shoreleave three days ago in order to reroute the Hale to the Federation embassy located on Fontalis. Our orders are to pick up two diplomatic envoys from Fontalis and deliver them safely to Rashaan Outpost on the border with Romulan space. I am on my way to the transporter room to receive our envoys.”

Captain Robert Hammond exited the turbolift and was met by 2nd Lieutenant Samuel Woolheater who was waiting for him. Hammond greeted his marine platoon CO with a cordial nod, “Woolheater. Ready for this?”

Sam got into step with the captain, “Yes sir. Although, I’m not sure just what ‘this’ is?”

Hammond nodded, “You and I are both wondering. And I don’t like it. What the hell is this anyway? A taxi service? My god. Does anybody remember when we used to be explorers?”

TRANSPORTER ROOM ONE

Both officers entered the room and Hammond nodded to the transporter operator, “Let’s meet our guests. Energize.”

The transporter cycle engaged, and the familiar hum and whine sounded as white and blue energy in a matrix coalesced into two people standing on the transporter pad. Two Romulans materialized and Hammond said, “Welcome aboard the Hale Ambassador…?” he said with his voice inflecting upwards in a question.
A Romulan male and female stood before them and then they smiled, “There is no time for the usual customaries Captain Hammond? We need to talk. Somewhere private and immediate.”

Hammond looked at them both and then said, “My ready-room will be private enough. This is the officer in charge of the marine platoon on the Hale, Second Lieutenant Samuel Woolheater. Starfleet Command said you wanted to meet with us and that we are to take you to the Rashaan Outpost.”

“That is correct captain. Please lead the way.” The Romulan female said.

=A= Hammond to bridge. Navigator? Lay in a course to the Rashaan Outpost, best possible speed =A=

=A= Aye captain. Laying in a course to Rashaan Outpost. =A=

Hammond nodded and closed the channel and with his arm motioned for the door, “This way.”

The Steamrunner-class starship made a slow arc away from the surface and out into space before she jumped to warp.



DECK ONE – CAPTAINS READY ROOM

“Now, how about telling me what this is all about?” captain Hammond asked.

The female Romulan spoke, “We are operating under the authority of Starfleet Intelligence and the Federation Security Council. We believe that an extreme faction in Romulan society is attempting to take over the government. My colleague and I are going to be inserted into the society and see if there is any truth to it. Is that direct enough Captain?” Hammond and his first officer took a seat. 2nd Lieutenant Woolheater remained standing while the two Romulans sat and spoke.

“Thank you, Captain. My name is Martin Lipton, and this is my colleague, Diana Pitcairn. Captain, what I’m about to tell you must remain private and not leave this room.”

Hammond nodded, “Everyone here has clearance except for him” here Hammond motioned to Sam. The two Romulans looked at the marine and said, “We already know about him. His presence is needed for the completion of the mission. In addition, Starfleet Intelligence has a good working relationship with marines. It’s not a problem.”

Hammond’s eyes went wide in mild shock, “Well, SFI is getting more relaxed these days?”

Pitcairn returned the focus to the meeting, “Not at all. We are both human, but we have been surgically altered in our features to pass for Romulans. Captain, we are engaged in a deep cover and espionage inside the Romulan Empire. Our insertion point is the Rashaan outpost which you will deliver us to. From there, your responsibility is over.”

“What’s going on here anyway? The Romulans are our allies. The Dominion War has been over…” Pitcairn cut him off. “For the moment, yes. The Dominion War was hard on everybody. But it was especially difficult on the Cardassians and the Romulans. Even though the Romulans entered the conflict late, they suffered heavy casualties and they do not enjoy as many trading opportunities as other alpha quadrant powers do. Our focus is the planet Kiro. To be blunt, Starfleet Intelligence believes that a right-wing extremist sect is either taking over the government or they soon will.”

Hammond laughed, “That’s ridiculous!”

“If only it were” Martin answered. “My specialty is Romulan religious history and Romulan law. My colleague is a Romulan Senatorial scholar and a military logistics expert.” Our job is to find out what is happening on Kiro and verify and infiltrate, if possible, the Tarpeans. That’s what they call themselves.”

Captain Hammond sat back in his chair and was checked. Sam asked, “What’s the big deal? Why go to all of this trouble? We’re allies remember?”

Lipton looked at him and said, “Hundreds of people, maybe thousands from all over the empire are going missing. Never to be heard from again. They just vanish. And everybody who knew them is too afraid to talk about it. Another, curious fact, is that there is an awful lot of military traffic in and out of the sector. It’s not cloaked, but what sticks out is that their fuel use is very high for such a short trip. SFI suspects that the transport ships are going to other destination than what their manifests say. Officially, as you say, we are allies. And SFI believes that the Romulan Senate will hold that line and not get officially involved. With the severe gutting of the Tal Shiar, the Romulan Intelligence network is not what it once was.”

Pitcairn added, “I understand where you’re coming from, everyone. We hope we’re wrong too. It’s what the missing people all have in common that…interests us. They are, for the most part, all Human. On the first glance, nothing appears to be out of order. But a deeper dive shows whole families being systematically uprooted and moved. Where are they going? We want to find out.”

Lipton continued, “The Tarpeans are not an ideal choice to be in the Senate. They are Traditionalists, more conservative in their outlook and their goals. Nothing wrong with that at all. Except for the fact that they are fanatical about it. SFI has personnel reports of line officers, troopers, career members being sighted and supporting these extremists. If the Romulan Senate and the Praetor are going to return to their old ways – Starfleet Command wants to know about it. The Rashaan Outpost is our ‘back door’ into Romulan society. It’s the closest thing we have to an embassy. Our instructions are to observe, infiltrate and report back in six months.”

Hammond’s first officer voiced what Samuel was thinking, “Excuse me, the Romulans aren’t stupid. How do you think you’ll get into any part of the government being undetected?”

Pitcairn said, “Romulans are many things, but they are not stupid. That’s correct. At this moment, two decoys are being…observed by what remains of the Romulan intelligence state on Romulus itself. Rashaan Outpost has not been detected and, Kiro is not perceived as an entry point due to its lack of resources and ‘backwater nature’. The Romulan military is stretched far too thin. This is a weak spot that we will exploit.”

“That still doesn’t explain how you will get into the Senate?” the first officer persisted. But it was Sam’s question too.

“No, it doesn’t. It’s better if the details of the operation are left alone. Suffice it to say that not every Romulan senator, military adjutant, not every Romulan toes the party line. We have people on the inside that can get us close.” Pitcairn said.

“It’s important that we arrive on time to Rashaan. Will we make it there on time captain?” Lipton asked.

Hammond checked the computer and nodded, “We will be on time.”

“Why do you need me here then?” Woolheater asked.

Lipton answered, “The group that is the most concerning was just a fringe element four years ago. Now, they control nearly two-thirds of the Romulan Senate. In five days, an important legal case goes before the Romulan version of the highest court in the empire. It is a legal challenge to the legitimacy of the founder of the sect. If the sect is given legal protection of “ancient” then it cannot be challenged, basically it would be hands off from then on. A matter of ‘conscience’ and the legal consequences would then be mute. The Tarpeans would have a clear road to the Praetor. However, if they lose, if they can be shown to be illegitimate, not s philosophy or a religion then additional cases in the legal would come to bear. We, and I mean SFI, believe that would be enough to render the Tarpeans just an annoying footnote. We can then focus on what is happening to people. How they are being trafficked.”

“So? Why do you need marines?” Sam asked again.

Lipton sighed and looked at Pitcairn. She answered, “SFI…expects…that the legal structure can no longer function. The Romulan Republic is not what it once was. There is no interest in the common good. The Praetor is dictator now in name only. If…when…the legal challenges collapse, we intend to sequester the prosecutor, a few of his staff and a dozen of the Judiciary, a few Senators…maybe more…these assets will need to be extracted.”

Sam was shocked, “From Romulus?!”

“From Kiro” was Pitcairn’s reply. Our network, as far as it is still intact, can safely get us through Romulan space from Kiro. Now. There’s no sense in going over the operational details until the situation warrants it. And that will be many months from now if ever needed.”

Captain Hammond’s comm sounded, “beep-beep” and a voice came on. It was the helmsman of the Hale, =A= Sorry to disturb you Captain. You are needed on the bridge immediately sir. We have a problem. =A= “On my way” he said and closed the channel. “Come on everyone, Woolheater? Would you please escort our guests to their quarters and make any last-minute arrangements to see to their safety?”

“Yes Captain” Sam answered as they all left the ready-room together.


MAIN BRIDGE

“What do we have navigator?” Hammond said as he walked over to the NAV station. Lipton and Pitcairn slowed their pace and listened in. This made Sam also have to slow down.

The navigator responded, “Romulan patrols detected on long-range sensors sir. There’s no way we’re going to cross the border and get to Rashaan undetected.”

Hammond looked at the readings and then to the tactical officer, “Is this true? No way into Romulan space?”

Pitcairn looked to Lipton and Lipton shook his head ‘no’. Sam noticed the silent exchange.

The tactical officer said, “The Romulan patrols are stretched pretty thin. If I were them, I’d have cloaked ships in play and at the very least cloaked probes…maybe mines too.”

Hammond ordered, “On screen!”

The tactical overlay was displayed. On it, the Hale was displayed and then the Romulan border. Only two ships appeared on the entire border in this sector. It looked like they could maybe make it. “Looks like we’ll have to make a run for it. Let’s find the weakest point when the patrols are at their maximum…”

“Captain! There is another way.” Pitcairn blurted out. Lipton sighed and said, “It’s too dangerous!”

A few heads turned and looked to the strange “Romulan” guests. Pitcairn continued, “There is another way. Although it’s just as dangerous. But, guaranteed to not be patrolled.”

Sam asked, “Why not patrolled?”

Lipton looked at him and then the bridge crew, “Because…they don’t have to patrol it. It’s impassible. No way any ship can make the journey.”

Pitcairn looked at him, “We’ve made it. Twice. And there is every reason to believe we can make it again.”

“What…other way in?”

Pitcairn answered, “The Sijic void. When we come out of the void we’re effectively cloaked and we’re only two light years from Romulan space. We can do it Captain. We have done it.”

Hammond sighed and his face was not happy. “I’ll bet you did. But not in a standard starship I’ll wager? Tell me something? Why did we have to pick you up on Fontalis? Not exactly along the main route to the Federation? Or any other major power for that matter?”

Lipton exchanged a look with Pitcairn and then said, “Our mission is vitally important Captain. Starfleet Intelligence does have advanced starships and its true, those vessels will have a better chance at successfully navigating the void. But the two times we’ve done it have not been in any ship more advanced than yours. We weren’t sure you’d say yes. We knew there were patrols, but we thought the Romulan Navy wouldn’t use resources in the same way this far out. The Sijic void was always an option.”

Sam asked, “What’s the Sijic void?”

Hammond, angrily said to both SFI operatives by getting out of his seat, “You lied to me. You lied to Starfleet. In fact, I’m beginning to suspect that maybe even SFI hasn’t approved the mission.”

A beep was heard on a sensor panel, the science officer announced, “Romulan patrol entering this sector. Forty-five seconds until we are visible on their long-range sensors!”

Pitcairn stood her ground, “YES! OK! We lied. We had no other choice. The Federation Security Council won’t act. And SFI won’t risk more resources until there is more proof. Our mission is approved but the Federation chooses to turn a blind eye to it. If you don’t get us into Romulan space and onto the Rashaan outpost before its too late, we may never know what actually happening on Kiro.”

Sam asked again, “What’s the Sijic void?”

“Thirty-seconds until we’re detected” came the science officer’s report.

“I’m not risking this ship or her crew to satisfy a wild hare up your asses” Hammond said.

“If you don’t; no one will. Make no mistake Captain, you were chosen. This ship was chosen and the location of Fontalis was chose yes! It’s all been orchestrated. We all have our part to play! We have to act…or the truth will be lost. And then we’ll have a bigger war with extremists who wield the power and might of the Romulan War machine.”
Sam asked a third time, “What’s the Sijic void!”

“Twenty-seconds until we are in range of their patrol sensors.”

Hammond looked at them both, Lipton and Pitcairn with anger…and understanding. “You are forcing my hand. I’m going to make a full-report to Starfleet and I rather think that this is going to be your last mission for anybody in SFI or Starfleet.”

Lipton answered, “A small price to pay – two officers – for the safety and peace between the Federation and the Romulan Empire.”

Hammond turned and sat in his seat, “Come about! Make your heading 0270 mark 190. Warp seven!”

The crew sprang into action.

“Ten seconds!”

“Heading 0270 by 190, warp seven ready and plotted” as the ship prepared for warp.

Hammond gave the order, “Punch it!”

And the Hale leapt to warp heading towards the Sijic void.


SCIENCE STATION #1

“Sam? This is the Sijic void” Captain Hammond motioned for the marine to observe. Crowded around the terminal were the Captain, the XO, the two SFI operatives and now Woolheater. The Science officer continued, “Everyone? Meet Sijic Massive, Federation Stellar Union Catalogue Number UFP-M 1532. Named after the Kiron gods. Sijic the hunter and Rejic the prey. Locked in an eternal battle that neither can win. In a supernova, a star collapses to a neutron star, and its magnetic field increases dramatically in strength through conservation of magnetic flux. Halving a linear dimension increases the magnetic field strength fourfold. According to the last time the Amargosa Stellar Observatory scanned this region of space, it calculated that when the spin, temperature and magnetic field of a newly formed neutron star falls into the right ranges, a dynamo mechanism could act, converting heat and rotational energy into magnetic energy and increasing the magnetic field, normally an already enormous. A decade ago, Starfleet recorded 108 teslas, to more than 1011 teslas (or 1015 metric gauss). The result is that Sijic Massive is a magnetar like no other. It is estimated that about one in ten supernova explosions results in a magnetar rather than a more standard neutron star or pulsar.”

On the screen was a visible image in the infrared spectrum of the massive magnetar. Every two seconds, a burst of x-rays shot forth on the axis of rotation. They were looking at the last images of Sijic Massive taken from the Amargosa Stellar Observatory a decade ago. Hammond asked, “Are we in range for a visual?”

The science officer answered, “Yes Captain. On screen.”

On the main view screen was displayed the current image of the Sijic void. It was a huge cloud like formation that was totally dark. Void of an stars. A huge tear in the fabric of space and time.

“My god!” someone said.

The science officer continued. According to our best records, the Sijic void was a massive star that went supernova 150 million years ago. Most stars, when they go supernova blow up and burn out. However, some stars because of their sheer size and density can’t collapse immediately and they become neutron stars. We think that’s what happened here. However, there’s an additional problem in that in less than ten-percent, the collapsed neutron star when the temperatures and pressures are right, can become a very deadly, very radioactive, very magnetized star….a magnetar.”

Sam tried to follow along and what he meant to only say in his head, he said aloud, “That still tells me shit. It’s a void with a dense star that’s magnetized. OK, so we steer clear of it?”

The Tactical officer said, “We don’t.” Sanm exchanged a knowing look with the man.

The science officer adjusted the viewer to display the infrared spectrum and make that visible inside the void. And there it was. 10,000 miles across, a massive neutron star that was slowly spinning. The science officer continued from her post, “Magnetars are characterized by their extremely powerful magnetic fields of about 109 to 1011 Terrajoules. These magnetic fields are a hundred million times stronger than any magnets that can be fabricated. Not even the magnetic constrictor coils for the warp plasma can be made this strong. It’s also why we cannot get too close to the magnetar or we will lose cohesion and explode. Sijic Massive is on the order of about a trillion times more powerful than the field surrounding Earth. Earth has a geomagnetic field of 30–60 microteslas, and a neodymium-based, rare-earth magnet has a field of about 1.25 tesla, with a magnetic energy density of 4.0 × 105 micojoules. Sijic’s magnetar's 1010 tesla field, by contrast, has an energy density of 4.0×1025 J/m3, with an E/c2 mass density more than 100,000 times that of lead. The magnetic field of a magnetar of this order would be lethal even at a distance of 10,000 km due to the strong magnetic field distorting the electron clouds of the subject's constituent atoms, rendering the chemistry of known lifeforms impossible.”

Hammond slumped in his captain’s chair and said, “It’s a monster!”

The Federation is aware of only four magnetars of this order. All of them are lethal and are listed on all ship’s navigation charts as a class one navigation hazard. Just for perspective, at a distance of halfway from Earth to Earth’s moon, an average distance between the Earth and the Moon being 384,400 km (238,900 miles), a magnetar, like Sijic Massive could wipe information from the structure of all planetside magnetic media. Anything that isn’t optically encoded would be erased. Even now, as of 2390, they are the most powerful magnetic objects detected throughout the universe. It’s so powerful that it bends light and distorts gravity and time itself.”

Lipton asked the science officer, “You admire it?”

She turned and looked at the viewscreen, “I am…in awe of it. Reverential…awe…it is both deadly and beautiful.”

“So how do we get around it?” another asked.

The science officer and Pitcairn both answered alternately, “A magnetar, named after the star, that was here, ‘Sijic’ is more magnetized than anything you’ve ever come across. Earth’s magnetic field, just that alone, can adversely affect our computer systems. By bending the light inside the ODN itself. That must be protected by shielded housings. And that’s just Earth’s natural magnetic radiation. A magnetar like Sijic is thousands of times more powerful. Without shielding, those magnetic fields can wipe the main computer of any starship. It can warp the metals. Its so strong that the iron in your blood can be pulled out of your body. Any metals. And it’s not a pleasant way to die.”

Sam answered, “Yeah, so we stay our distance.”

Pitacairn answered this part, “It will take every ounce of power to protect the computer systems onboard the Hale and the people. And, there is a monster in the void as well.”

“Oh. So the magnetar that can kill us wasn’t enough?” Sam asked.

The viewscreen shifted focus to the right and changed again to view x-ray and visible light spectrums. A huge asteroid with shards of spikey, rocky, knife-like projections that was spinning wildly appeared. There was red and white hot magma that was spewing forth from fissures that cracked open, became magnetized and the magma shot up like a lightning bolt. Only to be cooled by the cold of space and form into a dagger. Moments later, the surface of Rejic would shift and the whole area would collapse and be reformed. In this way, shards, spikes and tendrils of lethally shartp fragments would be ejected and then hover in “orbit” only to be re-magnetized and either fly off the surface and into Sijic or be drawn towards the surface of Rejic. Hitting the surface and embedding the crystals into the solid iron surface. The could of metals that were not forming created this cloud of sliver and gray metallic vapor. And the whole asteroid was going insanely fast in its orbit. Huge arcs of magnetized rock would reach out from the surface. As if the asteroid was alive and hungrily grasping for anything in orbit.

The science officer shrugged and continued. “Meet Rejic. A rogue planet that is the residul leftovers from when Sijic went supervova. The planets of this system that were burned away or vaporized eventually reformed into this massive asteroid. It’s a solid metal ball that’s 100,000 kilometers wide and its constantly being torn apart and reshaped as its death spirals around its host magnetar. There are no stars to navigate the void by. Only the light that is emitted from Sijic. We can’t navigate by sensors because the magnetic fields are so strong that they bend light acting as if they were gravity. Almost like gravitational lensing but on a far smaller scale.”

Hammond winced and a moan went up on the bridge, “Well, we’re going through and we need a plan. How did you get through it before?” he asked the two operatives.

Lipton said, “Can I see the tactical overlay and the sensor readings of the void?”

When they were displayed, he said, “There is an area between Sijic and Rejic that is a null field. Take two strong magnets and reverse the polarity and try and shove them together – they repel. That is the way to get through the void. It’s just like riding a wave. It will carry us through the void. Sijic rotates very slowly at two rotation per second. It’s one of the slowest magnetars we know of. Rejic is orbiting anywhere between 200,000 and one-million kilometers from the magnetar. It varies. There are no stars to get a fix on. You simply have to ride the null field for three minutes and thirty-seconds. That is the minimum time to get us past the center of the void from there, you maintain a steady course of 090 until we exit the void. If all goes well, we’ll end up outside the void in neutral space two light years from the Rashaan sector.

Hammond turned to the ships helm, “Well? Can you do it?”

All eyes turned to the helm station. The officer looked around and she never felt more pressure, “yeah? I think so? How hard can it be? No instruments, steer by feel, fly blind and count for three-minutes and thirty seconds.”

The first officer said, “You’ve got to be shitting me?!” He looked at the Captain and then the helm. “You can see it on her face that she’s never done this before. None of us have. What is the problem with going in detected? If its go in detected or come out dead – I’m firmly in the former.”

Lipton waited a moment. Many people of the bridge were thinking the same. Finally, he spoke. “If the Romulans know we’re coming they’ll keep tabs on us. Maybe put a tail on us. Maybe board and stop us. In any event, the element of surprise will be gone. If we’re discovered, then all of our cover is blown. We have to be totally unknown.”

“And when we leave?” Woolheater asked. “When we leave the sector they’re just going to let us go? They have no record of a Federation ship and then they just let us go?”

“The Rashaan Outpost is in neutral space above Kiro. They won’t know from what direction you came and when you are ready to depart SFI will create for the Hale false records of entry. Any discrepancies will be attributed to clerical error. This is the way captain.” Pitcairn said.

Sam looked to Captain Hammond who had been observing the discourse between the operatives Lipton and Pitcairn and said to everyone, “You’ve put us all in a hell of a spot. We have no choice but to succeed. I believe in this crew…” he put both hands on the shoulders of the helmsman in reassurance. “…and I believe in their ability to rise to the occasion.” He took a stand in front of his captain’s chair, “This is the Hale and we’ve never failed to do our duty. We’re going in. We will succeed. To your stations, red alert!”


}}>>>xXx<<<{{




”I wish to be useful, and every kind of service necessary to the public good becomes honorable by being necessary.” - Quote from Nathan Hale, American patriot, 1776, ship’s registry plaque .





BRIDGE – THE SIJIC VOID

Science station #2 exploded in a huge ball of fire and sparks. The bridge shuddered and one had to hold on to something or you’d be thrown to the deck. “This is INSANE!” Samuel thought to himself.

And it was.


“START THE CLOCK!”

Captain Hammond yelled. On the main viewscreen, in the upper right corner, a timer started counting down from “3:30” The Hale had suffered blunt force damage from the metals being thrown against the shields. Every terajoule of energy was being routed to the shield grid. It was the only thing that was protecting the crew and the ship’s internal control system from the lethal and destructive dose of Sijic’s magnetic field. But, they had found the “sweet spot”.

A null field that was constantly moving, shifting, morphing into different shapes and generally not being helpful. Stray too far to one side and the ship would fall out of the null field between Sijic and Rejic and instantly you would either be enveloped by the magnetic field or be yanked down in a suicidal plunge to the surface of Rejic. No navigation aides. It had to be done by sight and feel. And it was terrifying!

“MEEEEDIC!” some yelled and that got Sam’s attention. “TO THE BRIDGE!” came another call for help. Woolheater held onto the bridge railings and made it to the crewman hat had been tossed against the wall. Helping secure him to anything so that his unconscious body would not be further injured. Sam did his best but it was a very bumpy ride.

Suddenly, the ship was hit by something. It felt like an energy weapon. But that was impossible? Turning in his chair to the tactical station, Hammond yelled, “What was that?”

The tactical officer could not believe his eyes. Two Romulan scout ships, heavily modified to operate inside the void were on their tail. Sam held his tongue, but Pitcairn said what he was thinking, “SHIT!!”

The tactical officer yelled as best as he could above the noise and the din of noise, “TWO…..RAPTOR CLASS….MODIFIED….ON OUR SIX. BEARING 180 AND CLOSING! AFT…..SHIELDS……DOWN…..TO FORTY-PERCENT!”

The XO said to the captain, “We lose the shields we’re all dead!” The ship was buffeted as the helmsman lost control and Hale fell out of the void momentarily. When it did, like a den of vipers, a dozen or more lethally sharp metal fragments as long as a football field turned towards the hull of the Steamrunner-class ship. But, Hale was righted again and got back into the null field.

Outside, the only light was a ghastly pale blue from Sijic. And on the other side, the white-and red-hot colors of Rejic. The Hale desperately trying to stay inside the null field and the two Romulan ships closing.

“Return fire!” Hamond yelled. “I can’t get a lock!” was the reply. “Best…guess….shoot!!” was Hammonds order. The tactical officer did his best. But there was little chance that he would hit the broadside of a barn. There was no way to aim the weapons. As soon as the phaser beam fired, it was warped towards Sijic. If they fired a torpedo, it went wildly off course and exploded harming nothing. “I can’t!”

Hammond yelled to Sam, “Help him!” Sam nodded and crawled to assist at Tactical. Hammond got out of his chair and struggled to the side of the helmsman, “Take us closer to the asteroid!”

“What?” she said and looked at him as if he we crazy. “Closer? I’m doing everything I can to keep us away from it!”

The time on the clock read; “2:19” and it was painfully, painfully slow.

Hammond said, “When we….left the null field….the hull….the hull became magnetized.” He was buffeted to the floor. Hammond climbed again to his feet, clinging to the helm as he did so, “DRAG….the shards behind us! Get…..them….off our back!”

Then, she knew what to do. She understood the plan. It was nuts. In her mind she formed the plan. Once the ship left he null field, the hull became magnetized. It drew the shards of metal that were in ‘orbit’ all around the asteroid. The captain wanted her to move the Hale out of the null field in order to draw these shards towards the ship. And her plan was to perform a wide upward arc. Pulling up, going over and then arcing back down behind the Romulan scout ships and in the process drawing those shards behind the ship and then thrusting forward back into the null field but crashing the shards into the Romulan pursuers. “This is crazyyyy!!” she said as she used her fingers on the control panel to perform the maneuver.

The Hale pulled up and out of the null field. And as it did so, hundreds of spiky shards started flying towards the hull. With the blue, ghostly image of Sijic in the background against a perfectly black void, it was almost beautiful. The ship went up and up and up. The speed had to be increased in order to stay ahead of the shards. The first Romulan scout ship suffered shock. It was unbelievable and they did not see the hundreds of shards that now penetrated their shield grid and overwhelmed it. The Romulan modified scout ship’s shield grid failed and in the flash of an eye, it exploded and was riveted and shredded like a block of cheese.

The second scout ship moved out of the way but had lost sight of the Hale. They decided to copy the move and they too arced up and over.

The Hale now reached the crown of it’s arc and was hurtling down. “Punch it!” Hammond said as the helmsman’s maneuver had taken out one of their pursuers.

The clock read: “1:49”

The Hale with hundreds of lethal shards of metal trailing behind her gained speed. Faster and faster, she went as the ship pulled up and out of the spiral. The Romulan scout ship was no where to be seen. “AFT VIEWSCREEN!” Hammond yelled as he hung onto the HELM for dear life. Another panel exploded and sent the crewman sailing across the railing until they impacted with another console. Everything was shaking, everything was vibrating and everything felt like it was coming apart at the seams.

The Romulan scout ship had made an error. It could maneuver into the Sijic void because they modifications had sacrificed speed in favor of more power to the shielding and life support and weapons. The Romulans thought if anybody tried to enter Romulan space through the void, they would have a surprise. None of that mattered now as the scout ship was unable to complete the arc maneuver as expertly as the Hale had been. Instead, when it reached the apex, it entered a stall and fell back. The pilot recovered and now that he was going “down” towards the Federation ship, he too was dragging hundreds of lethal shards behind him. It was a race.

AFT VIEWSCREEN

The viewscreen came on and behind them the Romulan scout ship was close behind and gaining. It fired again and the shots hit the Hale damaging the shield emitters. The shields buckled, but they held.

The Romulan scout ship was now set to overtake the Federation ship. It was a race to the null field.

The clock now read: “1:01”

“Give it everything you got!” Hammond said as he held onto the chair right beside the helmsman. “I NEED MORE TO THE THRUSTERS!”

The Engineering console crackled and rippled and the operator was thrown to the floor. It sparked, it started to smoke. The Engineer got back on his feet and risking his own life he entered the commands to transfer energy from life support to the thrusters. “DONE!”

The Hale shuddered and inched ahead. “Come on….come on….” The helmsman said under her breath. In the background, the asteroid, Rejic, was reaching out to the two ships with tendrils of hot liquid iron and molten nickle. The Romulan scout ship then turned hard to port and rammed into the Hale. It bounced off the shields and the ship had to fight to keep her course.

FOREWARD VIEWSCREEN

With Sijic Massive behind them now, the hauntingly beautiful blue haze emanating from the magnetar, they were about to cross into the threshold. The point at which they could escape this deadly stellar dance. The Hale punched back and it rammed into the starboard ships of the Romulan scout ship. In an effort to course correct. The null field was just up ahead. And on the aft viewer, the hundreds of metal shards were gaining.

The clock read: “0:34”

“Captain Hammond? Sir? Do you trust me?” the helmsman asked. Her face contorted as she tried to level the ship and stay on course for the safety of the null field.

“Hell of a time to ask Lieutenant” Hammond shot back.

“Do you? I need to know!” she asked.

What was she on about Hammond thought. But there was no time for that. Then he noticed her right index finger was hovering over the anti-matter injectors. The injectors were online. He looked at her in her eyes and was not sure what she was thinking. “Yes…” he finally said. “Yes I do!”

She tapped the button. Just once. And the system released 0.01% more anti-matter directly into the plasma stream. It was like pouring get fuel onto a open fire. Th Hale leaped forward, past the Romulan scout ship, dragging her deadly shards behind her that shredded right through the scout ship. They were cut to shreds and then ripped apart. Rejic, moaned in sheer delight and Sijic, greedily gathered the scraps. The second Romulan ship was history. The Hale jumped back into the null field and someone in the back of the bridge vomited.

It wasn’t Sam.

The clock read: “0:11”

“Ready!” Hammond yelled over the noise. The COMM system overloaded and the panel exploded. Killing the COMM operator on the spot. And there was nothing anyone could do about it.

The clock read: “0:05”


“MAKE IT GOOD!” Hammond yelled as the bridge crew white-knuckled whatever they could hang on to. The magnetar, as if it knew that it was about to lose, seemed to cry out with a deadly, horrific groan. And the asteroid, Rejic, as if it was sensing the loss too suddenly tried to collapse the null field by shrinking it and malforming it, the two deadly space monsters with one last effort tried to grip the Hale with their magnetic fields. He hull strained and one of the nacelles blew apart.

The clock read: “0:00”

“NOW!” the captain yelled.

And with one last, great effort, the Hale leapt away and jumped to warp.


NEUTRAL SPACE – TWO LIGHT YEARS FROM THE RASHAAN SECTOR

There were stars here. Wonderfully brilliant…STARS! Clouds of gas and the Rashaan nebula. It was so quiet too.

Then the Hale dropped out of warp. Her hull smoking and a trail of venting plasma from the port nacelle training behind her. As she tumbled out of warp and into normal space, her deck seven collapsed from structural failure. The shuttle bay failed and a shuttle was vented out into space taking the shuttle doors with it. The lights went off all over the ship and she tumbled end over end.

Sijic and Rejic would have their day – but not today.


MAIN BRIDGE – MOMENTS LATER

The bridge was almost black. Only the red alert klaxons illuminated it. Then systems started to come back on. The air was thick with smoke. The main viewscreen kicked on, it was staticky, but it was working. Hammond got his feet and went to the HELM.

He looked at the officer, “You did it. Well done McKay. Well done!” he said. Lieutenant McKay looked back with sweat and tears on her face. She smiled, laughed and nodded.

Hammond said, “Damage report!”

The OPS station still intact started listing off the damage to the ship. The Hale had survived. Barely. They had paid a heavy price. After an hour, the ship was under control, and it was well enough to pursue warp two to the Rashaan station. Was it worth it? No one knew. But they hoped so.

Lipton observed captain Hammond exchange a look with his first officer. And the look on Sam’s face could be read easily. “Captain told you. It can be done.”

Hammond said, “Barely. We’re never doing *that* again and you can tell your friends at SFI that Robert Hammond said so.”

Lipton and Pitcairn picked themselves up off the deck. They were uninjured. Lipton asked, “In the few hours we have left to us. Might my colleague and I refresh ourselves in some quarters? Perhaps a last meal of our choice before…”

Hammond said, “You are welcome to try. We took a hell of a beating this time. But I’m glad I’m here to bitch about it. See to their quarters and food will you number one?”

“Yes captain. If you’ll follow me? I can take you to your quarters?” the XO said.

The three persons left the bridge, and it was just Sam standing next to the captain. “Comments marine?” Hammond asked.

Sam wiped his forehead and said, “So…do we charge them extra for that?”


LATER

Sam was in his duty uniform. The marine green Woolheater pressed the door chime. He could hear music, a solo cello, coming from within the guest quarters. The music stopped. The door opened to reveal Diana Pitcairn. She was packed and ready to go. “Lieutenant?”

“Yes ma’am. I’m here to escort you to the shuttle bay. Commander, I mean, Centurion Lipton is waiting for us.” She nodded and took one last, long look at the guest quarters. “OK. I’m ready.”

They walked in silence for a bit. Repair crews were doing emergency repairs to the ship. Samuel asked, “Was that a cello I heard earlier?” Diana answered, "Yes. That was Bach. Cello concerto number one. I will miss my music while I am on this mission. It’s ironic that I’m on this mission.” Sam looked and asked, “Why do you say that?” Diana became somewhat wistful, “I don’t particularly like Romulans. I’m just good at analyzing their society. Their military and intelligence networks. I don’t hate them. But, I’d much rather be home with a glass of California wine in my glass and Bach on the music system.”


SHUTTLE BAY

The used to be two type-9 shuttles docked in this bay. Named after two cities that were influential in Nathan Hale’s work. The Canterbury and the Coventry. The former was prepped and ready. The latter was floating somewhere between here and there to be picked up later. Lipton was conversing with the pilot. The shuttle could only hold three persons.

“Well, this is me?” Pitcairn said. It’s much easier to ‘lose’ shuttle transport logs than it is a transporter trace. But you didn’t hear that from me” she jested.

Sam nodded, “Hear what?”

“Precisely!” she smiled. She then became more serious, “I hope that we do not need your service lieutenant.”

“I hope not. But if you do, we will get you and your team…your rescues out. You can count on that.”

“Thank you. Well. Time to go. See you in six months?” she said and then turned and boarded the Canterbury shuttle. The ship powered up, then lifted off and slipped out of the bay and flew towards the Rashaan Outpost. Sam watched it fly and hoped that their mission was going to be good.


=== }}{{ ===


Exactly five days later, the Romulan High Court rejected the legal merits brought by the state Prosecutor. That evening, the Tarpeans held a torchlight celebratory parade. Early the next morning, the Prosecutor was arrested by Tarpean thugs who beat him and his family up. The family was split apart and jailed. The Prosecutor, after ten days, was sent to Invoxum. And a man named Spornak made his first visit to the Rashaan Outpost station.




[OFF:]

Captain Samuel Woolheater
“Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas”
Division VI, MARDET 62nd Company "Spartans", 1st Platoon CO
=/\= USS ELYSIUM - NCC-89000 =/\=

 

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