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The Long Patrol - Part Two
Acertor fluttered a bit as Doctor Hanson passed his scanner over him for the seventh time.
"I understand the need for this doctor, but how long does it take."
"Well, being that I have no baseline on your species, and Tathilan is still chewing the data she was given. I want to be very sure."
Acertor sat up. "Really Doctor, how soon can you expect to need this information."
Hanson fixed him with a glare. "Admiral, your tell me how soon you 'need the information' after you really need the information, and how suddenly that can be?"
Acertor laid back down. "Keep scanning."
"That's more like it."
"So doctor, how did you enter your profession?"
"I went to the proper schools for training, got my degrees and joined Starfleet."
"Is that order necessary?"
"No, but it's how I did it. One can join Starfleet first, not join Starfleet at all, or join Starfleet and not train as a doctor. However, the latter two will affect your ability to get a post as a chief medical officer."
"Are these schools difficult to get into?"
"No, I can't say they are. You have to show an aptitude for the profession. Taking courses in your primary education that will be useful as a Doctor. Tests are given that must be passed for entrance to the schools."
"What caste must you be?"
"We don't have a caste system on Earth. So that is not a consideration."
"Is the training hard?"
"Yes, over a third of the students drop out in the first year. Of the remaining only a third will graduate. Getting your xeno-medical degree is more arduous than getting a warp engineering degree."
"Why would that be so?"
"Well warp physics is warp physics.
Biology differs in a thousand subtle ways. For example, just from the rough data I have gathered, treating you like a Skoor, an avainoid race I am familiar with, could kill you. You might look similar, but the resemblance ends at that, blood chemistry, internal organs, even the feathers differ."
"Acceptians are not the only Avians then?"
"Far from it. I personally know of five avainoid species unrelated to each other, yours makes the sixth."
"So few. We know of only three, and we are all interrelated."
"Flight and intelligence do not seem to develop together too often. Both require a considerable investment of energy. Of that five, three are flightless. Indications are they used to fly."
"Yes, we have flightless feathered people as well. We do not place them in the same category as the flighted."
"I can see where you might not, it is a matter of viewpoint."
"Did you do anything before you became a doctor?"
"Yes, I escaped the family profession."
"Escaped? They held you to it?"
"No, not in any physical manner. However my Mother is a travel agent for guilt trips."
"Beg pardon, but that didn't quite translate."
"No matter, a failed attempt at humor. No I was not held, but considerable obligation pressure was used to get me to stay with the family business."
"What was it?"
"Entertainers specializing in feats of strength and dexterity, compounded by the danger of height."
"Ah, for non-flyers, a thing of fear, yes."
"You couldn't even fly in that mess. The apparatus and wires would catch your wings. I have a solid of the "Flying Hansons" in my quarters, I'll dig it up for you later."
"Can you still perform these feats?"
"The body doesn't forget I am told, but it has been many a year since I practiced anything but medicine. I wouldn't want to try."
"Did the business fail?"
"Hardly. It wasn't dependent on me to continue. In any case, yes, I am done."
"It has been good speaking with you doctor."
The hologram of the sector slowly rotated in the projector. Regiban took the floor widening his broadcast to the entire room.
**Sector 84.345.137 first mapped by the Cheyenne class survey cruiser USS Standing Bear in 2330. Up till now no regular patrol has been maintained by Starfleet."
Doctor Hanson interjected. "Being that we have to cover 7 other sectors as well, I would say it still doesn't."
**Thank you Doctor, quite right. However we are here, and patrolling. We have 47 systems with confirmed Class M planets, one possible starfaring race, and 5 confirmed subwarp races. 10 of the class M worlds exhibited no sign of multicelled life on the last survey. All of them have life at some stage of development. There is one Federation Colony within our assigned area, it is not in this sector. We also lack a Starbase on this patrol. The nearest "friendly station" is DS20, in Sector 82.345.135.**
Kirk said. "I think that the class M planets should be our primary area of study. Move in and scan the planets, determine the level of life on each and make recommendation for further study or quarantine. What do we know about the starfaring race?"
**Virtually nothing. The Standing Bear noted a warp signature, and where it was. We don't know if it was a native, another explorer, it could have even been an Acceptian ship, something we are now aware of. Studies of the sensor readings indicate the ship was not advanced."
"OK, we'll check that out first. Send the coordinates up to Operations. Make warp six for that system, and well move in slow from the outer edges. We don't want to startle anyone."
Spacik said. "Our ETA will be 4.6 days."
"OK, lets do it."
Acertor walked through the ship, greeting and being greeted by various people. The Kongo was going about its business. Much the same business that Acertor himself was used to practicing. His personal business was unfulfilled. Some compartment on this ship had to be big enough to fly in. One of the Ane passed him. The thought of flight was forgotten. He had questions, and that Ane was answers on the hoof.
"Watcher?"
The Ane stopped and turned around. **Yes? I have been called that.**
"I have questions."
**I might have answers.**
"Is there a place we can talk?"
"Lounge 5, around the corner."
Acertor followed the Ane into the lounge, it was a small one with a few tables. He turned one of the chairs backward as he had seen one of the Humans do and sat.
"Now Watcher, my questions."
**Yes?**
"Why are you here?"
**Because I am curious.**
"You have never accompanied our ships out of curiosity,"
**I am sorry Acertor, we are not of a piece in everything. I am not aware of what you speak.**
"I thought all the Watchers were of a piece and what one knew, all knew."
**What the All knows, one can learn. If you wish the answers the All can give, you must speak to the All.**
"And you are not the All?"
**Right here, right now, no, I am not.**
"I would speak with the All."
**Come this evening to our room, there we will speak with you.**
"I will come."
Lt. Thass checked the signal again. He punched it into the computer.
"Tathilan, what do you make of this?"
**It sounds like a mayday, but it's wrong.**
"I should report it." He turned to the bridge at large. "Commander Spacik, Sir I have a distress signal."
Spacik swiveled around. "Bearing lieutenant, and can we have it please?"
"I'll try sir." Thass worked the board for a moment. "I lost it."
"You lost the signal Mr. Thass?"
"Yes sir, it is a beamcast, we have moved out of the beam."
Spacik said. "Mr. Mordane, come about 180 degrees. Make your speed warp factor two."
"Yes Sir, Course 344 mark 0, warp factor two."
After a moment of listening Thass said. "I have it again sir, sending it to tactical. On speaker."
A thin undulating wail fought with the static hiss of the subspace background to be heard. Spacik and the others strained to make something out.
"Can you improve that Mr. Thass?"
Thass' hands flew over the sciences console.
"No Sir, we have what we have."
"This is a distress signal?"
"According to Tathilan."
"Tathilan?"
**The carrier complies with Federation standard distress beacons, but the frequency is wrong. It is in the low sensor bands.**
"Can you get a ship name?"
**No, the signal is weak. Other that the distress carrier I have no data.**
"Lost it again sir."
"Mr. Mordane."
"Yes sir, course 016 mark 0, warp factor 2."
"Signal is back."
Spacik counted a few beats. "All stop."
"All stop Sir."
"Mr. Solin, configure the main deflector to receive."
Solin grinned. "Excellent. Configuring now."
"Mr. Mordane, yaw about until the signal is strongest."
Lt. Mordane pecked at the thrusters until his board indicated that the signal strength was at maximum. Everyone listened closely.
Thass said. "I have the signal. It is stronger, but not much better."
"Bearing?"
Solin said. "187.... Mr. Mordane, thruster control to me please.... Mark 5. Bearing 187 mark 5 Sir.
"Sensors?"
"Nothing in range."
"Long range?"
"Nothing." Clear space across the board."
"Fascinating." Spacik punched the intercom. "Captain Kirk to the bridge."
Acertor sat in the crew lounge, twitching. Doctor Hanson gave him a short list of foods to avoid but this "coffee" that Captain Kirk was so fond of was not on the list. None the less he was having some manner of reaction to it.
The doors opened to admit the feline security officer. He didn't look as if he was on duty. Acertor was the only other being in the lounge at the time. Miritath came over to his table.
"May I join you?"
"Certainly."
Miritath looked at him. "You seem edgy."
"Observant. I am edgy. Is it possible to have a reaction to this coffee beverage?"
"Hmm, yes. Caffeine, a mild stimulant to Humans. I would say the effect is stronger in your kind."
"And yourself?"
"Bad tasting water. The smell is tolerable. Do you want medical attention?"
"No, that is not necessary. The main effect seems to be an almost eerie wakefulness."
"Increased alertness is one of the claimed effects."
"It seems to be passing."
"You have a rapid metabolism, correct?"
"Quicker than mammals yes."
"Then it is passing from your system."
"Hungry?"
"Yes"
"Meat?"
"Raw, if you have it."
Miritath went to the replicator and ordered up a good sized plate of meat chunks of various types.
"You are a carnivore as well?"
"With omnivorous tendencies."
Acertor took a chunk and popped it in his mouth. "The texture lacks."
"It is all replicated. Nutritious but yes, it is not the same as real meat. One gets used to it. Real is a treat."
"It is much the same with us. One cannot carry enough cattle to feed thousands of hungry beaks on a starship. Replication is a must. However, I think I can tweak your meat programs. That is if your Captain does not object, and I can figure out the codes."
"You are most welcome to try. Captain Kirk has never objected to any attempt to improve the food, and we have a computer wizard beyond belief aboard. Your computer will talk to ours, or she will know why."
"Good, something to work on. However, I have a lack of understanding. Why do not the Caits rule?"
"No one rules."
"Someone must be in charge."
"Yes, there is someone in charge, but they do not rule, they govern."
"What is the difference?"
"A ruler may dictate, a governor serves by the sufferance of the people governed."
"You can overthrow the ruler."
"No we choose them. They serve a term, and then we choose another."
"And each departs willingly?"
"Sometimes eagerly, it is not an easy job taking care of the planet."
"What about the Federation at large, who rules it?"
"Each planet is sovereign the Federation governs relationships between members, handles diplomacy with other political units, such as your Empire, and regulates trade between members, establishes a monetary standard, and so forth. It does not rule."
"You accept a political unit with little power, and no ability to rule as your governing body?"
"The Federation is a government for governments, and it tries to maintain that balance. Nothing keeps a member in the Federation but a willingness to be there."
"Nothing keeps members in?"
"Nothing."
"What if a member wants to leave, do you let them?"
"Yes, there have been a few such cases."
"You do not try to bring them back under control?"
"It is their right to stay or go. What control? The control is theirs."
"And this works?"
"It has for the last 200 years. We have hope it will endure."
"How do you feel about it?"
"I am in Starfleet, we explore, and maintain the peace. That should say enough."
"You have a warrior tradition then?"
"Actually, no, Caits do not. We hunt only for food, and kill only from need. We will fight in defense, but never to conquer."
"A strange point of view from a carnivore."
"It is a large universe. We have a related species, that is just the opposite. Legend states that Kizin and Cait were once a single people. We split over the matter of what was food, and how one got it. The Kizin said all things not Kizin are food, and we must rule them. The Cait said all sapient things are not food, and we should rule our selves only."
"And of these legends, what is the present."
"The Kizin are a sullen and restricted people because they cannot control their lust for territory and appetite for other people. Repeatedly they tested the strength of the Federation. Repeatedly they have lost. Caits are on the starships that enforce that peace."
"Then I would say you have won the argument."
"Only that history has favored us and the allies we have."
"I would hear more of your legends."
"Tomorrow perhaps. I am on my way to bed."
The Intercom spoke. "Commander Miritath to the Conference room."
"I was on my way to bed."
"No matter, I have a meeting as well."
The beta shit gathered in the conference room. Kirk called the meeting to order.
"As I understand your reports you heard a distress signal Mr. Thass?"
"Yes sir, the signal is being beamcast in a area some two light hours across."
"It is rather unusual to beamcast a distress message. It is something you want everyone to hear."
"This is true. The facts as we have them: The signal is barely above the level of background subspace radiation. The signal carrier wave, which so far is the only useful information we have gotten, is consistent with the Federation standard established for automated distress beacons. The signal is in the low sensor band of subspace. The signal is being beamcast from an unknown source at bearing 187 mark 5."
Miritath said. "Do you consider this a valid signal? Could it be an old ruse long forgotten."
Spacik said. "I seems unlikely from a logical viewpoint. Why would one beamcast a distress signal? Especially a fake one."
Hanson asked. "Pirates?"
Kirk said. "No, pirates don't send out fake distress signals. Distress signals do not draw in merchant ships. They do draw in search and rescue ships, or worse, warships. Just the kind of attention pirates wish to avoid. Mr. Spacik we will work on the assumption that the distress is a real one."
"In that case Captain we must discern the nature of the signal."
"Who currently uses the low sensor band?"
Miritath said. "Civilian warp shuttles, the big bulk haulers, Runabouts. Anyone traveling slower than warp 4. Low band propagates at warp 8.7, impractical for anyone not going slow.
"That gives us a time frame, and the width of the signal gives us a distance."
Thass said. "Depending on the beamcasting equipment we could be looking at a cone anything from five out to two hundred light years."
Miritath said. "We can rule out anything inside 5 parsecs."
Kirk said. "Our own sensor range, sensible."
Spacik said. "Might I suggest we move down the beam some distance and see if we can determine the angle of the cone."
"Excellent. Set it up. Now gentlebeings, some of us would like to get some sleep."
Acertor entered the room that had been indicated. The room was darkened. The walls and ceiling seemed not to exist but an endless plain stretched in all directions and a starry sky above. A large moon lit the room with a soft radiance that cast shadows.
All heads turned as he entered.
"I am Acertor of the Acceptians, I would speak with the All, who among you is the All."
**We are one Acertor, come forward and be known.**
The weight of the communication nearly knocked him to his knees. He had heard rumors of the All, but never believed them. He stepped into the room.
"I have questions."
**Ask.**
"Why do you travel with the Federation ship, yet you have refused to travel on Imperial ships?" He puffed his feathers.
**Let Us ask a question in return Acertor.**
"Ask, I do not fear answers."
**How did the Empire come to us?**
"In the usual manner, you proved amenable to the will of the Empire. Force is not used when not met by force."
**You came to Harmony, and stated we were part of your Empire. Do you Acertor recall Our exact answer?**
"No, it is not recorded."
**Loosely translated it was "whatever". Do you know what benefit the Empire has gained from Harmony?**
"I understand it is a pastoral paradise with little in the way of resources."
**In plain terms, nothing. You imposed your presence on our world, set up your government, which we ignore, and assumed that what ever we had, was now yours. Now you come and wonder why we do not accompany your ships?**
"That was 670 years ago. What has this Federation done to move the All out of your grassy plains and into space?"
**They invited us. We have historically accompanied those that would 'invite'.**
"And the officers of your kind on this ship?"
**Man, Humankind made a pack of peace with the All before your Empire was born Acertor. We remember this Covenant, a Covenant suggested by the Humans, not us. A way to end misunderstanding, to make peace. We remember as does Humankind, and we honor it.**
"We made such an offer as well, you didn't come."
**You offered the fist of rulership. We have never accepted that.**
"So you have a covenant with Humans."
**The same we offered your kind.**
"So you serve Humans."
**No Acertor, have you learned nothing. We do not serve Humans, Humans do not serve Us. We help each other. It is partnership, not rulership.**
"All we have to do is agree to your conditions, and we get your vast wealth of knowledge then?"
**Is the Covenant of Ansisi so hard to bear Acertor? As to our knowledge. It is not "ours", it belongs to all that have given it, and all that ask in need have been aided. We sing your songs as well Acertor, and you have not been the most agreeable of peoples.**
Acertor spat, the words bitter in his mouth. "And these peoples are I assume?"
**We saw the Federation at its founding, we read their words, and pondered their thoughts, and discussed the Covenant. In the end it was decided, that if Humans would join this work in progress, so would we also. For in all our years, Humans are the first who have willingly called themselves of Us.**
"All Humans?"
**No, the number is small, but We exist.**
"So your will ally against us?"
**No Acertor. We call none enemy that will not say it first.**
"I must think on these matters."
**Go in peace Acertor.**
He retreated from the room, and knew it for a retreat. For a few moments he leaned against the wall of the corridor and allowed his heart to slow to a more normal beat. Now he understood why his sociology professor had that look in his eyes when he spoke of the All. There was indeed much to think about.
James Timothy Kirk took again his aspect and lowered his icon. For long moments he lay on the bed and stroked the hair of the woman curled against him.
**I will have to assemble a report of that to Starfleet.**
**Yes, that duty cannot be ignored.**
**A complete report.**
**It could take a while to assemble it, check the facts and so forth.**
**It could take as long as I need in fact.**
By morning the excitement of a possible discovery and rescue had spread throughout the ship. When Kirk stepped onto the bridge he could the feel the anticipation around him. Commander Spacik stood as the Captain entered.
"Good Morning Captain. I trust you slept well."
"Yes Mr. Spacik. I did. I relieve you."
"I stand relieved Sir."
"Did you get any sleep at all?"
"Under the circumstances I have felt little need. I can maintain performance without sleep for two more shifts before my performance suffers.
"OK. Any results?"
"Yes, we do have more data than was available last night. In moving down the cone as was suggested, we have established a hypothetical angle. We should be approximately 98.7 light years from the source."
"You can't get more accurate than that Mr. Spacik?"
"Not with the current data Sir. With further data I should be able to present you with a more typically Vulcan five-decimal-place answer."
"Well, that's more like it."
"Mr. Mordane Give us best speed on our current heading for 50 light years. Correct as necessary to keep us in the beam. Call me when we have reached that point."
"Yes Sir, course laid in."
"Execute. Mr. Spacik will you join me I the ready room."
"Certainly Sir."
Kirk entered his ready room with Spacik behind him.
"Can I get you something?"
"Yes Sir, tea, green."
Kirk addressed the replicator. "Tea, green, hot, Coffee, Kirk." His selections materialized.
You asked me in for clarification if I conjecture correctly."
"You conjecture correctly."
"Which points do you wish clarified?"
"More a case of opinion than fact. What do you think we are after?"
"I believe I can better define what it is not."
"Proceed."
"It is not a robot freighter. While they will send out an automated distress beacon, it is of a fixed nature indicating no lives at stake. Also, a robot freighter could not alter its sensors to send a distress message. It is not a pirate. As you indicated last night distress beacons produce the wrong results."
"We rule out robots and pirates. So we have a manned ship. But what kind?"
**If I may?**
"You have an idea Tathilan?"
**In the matter of eliminating possibilities, yes.**
"So what can you eliminate?"
**I did a current search for any known missing ships currently registered. Results are negative. Any ship that have gone missing within a time period indicated by the signal either have last know positions that would not put them in the right place, or have been located.**
Spacik said. "And the list is updated daily and contains no missing more than seven years old."
**I also checked the long term missing between 7 and 20 years assumed destroyed. Again, no matches."
"So we are looking for a ship missing more than twenty years."
**On the outside.**
"And that list Captain, runs into the hundreds."
"So we have a mystery to solve?"
"I appears so."
"Sounds like fun. Let's do it."
Kirk led the way into the holodeck. The round wooden structure within was filling with people. A rowdy bunch at best. He lead the way into the better galleries, while the unwashed masses below crowded in the standing room only. An indelicate odor drifted up from the milling crowd.
"Computer stop program." Everything stopped. "Reprogram on the assumption that Tudor era Englishmen bathed daily and washed their clothing."
The program resumed and the nose was not offended. Kirk continued his conversation.
"The problem with getting anywhere is the time it takes, even at a fast cruising speed. The speed of this ship has been vastly increased over its original design parameters. Still it takes us 8 days to get 50 light years."
Acertor said. "That is a decent rate of speed however. Not every ship we have can make that rate."
"Nor us. We are the lucky ones. Ah, our seats."
Acertor looked about the structure as "natives" in wild costumes jostled in the pit or took seats in the gallery around them. A trio of musicians played for the milling crowd.
"Interesting populace. What are we looking at?"
"A recreation of the ancient Globe Theater in London, England. We are about to witness one of the plays of William Shakespeare as it was believed to be originally performed. A comedy called 'A Comedy of Errors'."
"An historical recreation, how old?"
"Eight hundred years."
"These people hardly look to have much in the way of technology."
"They don't. Gunpowder, mechanical printing, sail power for ships. Water power and animals are as strong as it gets."
"Eight hundred years, and you are what you are now?"
"We consider our rise sudden and scary. We had basically the same technology for thousands of years, and went from animal power to warp drive in 200 years."
"Such a increase in technology."
"Technology, population, everything. Damn near destroyed ourselves before we got a grip on it."
"Our rise to warp power was much slower. I can't image the pressure on any people with that much change."
"Somehow we did. All the relevant records are in the databanks."
A shift in the expectant crowd got their attention. Additional musicians and several actors came out on stage. After a brief flurry of pipe and drum, one of the better dressed spoke.
"Proceed, Solinus, to procure my fall,
And by the doom of death end woes and all."
"Merchant of Syracuse, plead no more;
I am not partial to infringe our laws.
The enmity and discord which of late
Sprung from the rancorous outrage of your duke
To merchants, our well-dealing countrymen,
Who, wanting guilders to redeem their lives,
Have seal'd his rigorous statutes with their bloods,
Excludes all pity from our threat'ning looks.
For, since the mortal and intestine jars
'Twixt thy seditious countrymen and us,
It hath in solemn synods been decreed,
Both by the Syracusians and ourselves,
To admit no traffic to our adverse towns;
Nay, more: if any born at Ephesus
Be seen at any Syracusian marts and fairs;
Again, if any Syracusian born
Come to the bay of Ephesus-he dies,
His goods confiscate to the Duke's dispose,
Unless a thousand marks be levied,
To quit the penalty and to ransom him.
Thy substance, valued at the highest rate,
Cannot amount unto a hundred marks;
Therefore by law thou art condemn'd to die.
Acertor leaned over to Kirk "This is a comedy?"
"That's what it said on the label. Give it a chance."
Continued in Part Three
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Return to -- Epiphany Trek: The Stories The Above is a work of fiction. All characters are fictional, any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental.
Copyright © Garry Stahl: July 2000. All rights reserved, re-print only with permission. |
