The First Duty
- Thread starter Hiver
- Start date
- Location
- Christchurch, NZ
"No, sorry, I meant I didn't hear you. Wait, what's this about court-martial?"
Hmm, I'm kinda hoping this goes the "refuses to believe Jovians aren't gods, in the face of increasingly weak but desperate arguments to the contrary" way, sounds like it could lead to some amusingly awkward moments.
In fact Jovians do have many characteristics of non-Abrahamic gods, well, other than the whole "not actually complete dickheads" thing...
- Pronouns
- He/Him
"Gates, you're still in Earth orbit, right? If you need motivation to convince someone that this was the right call, may I suggest that you look down?"
*Critical Emotion Hit*
- Location
- Software
He is in Mars orbit, not Earth IIRC
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I could have sworn he was installed in Earth Spacedock, not Utopia Planitia...
Crazael
Rehydrated Demon King
- Location
- Lost to the vagaries of time.
You're thinking of Marvin.
- Location
- Error 505: pending move
This is going to be interesting, I can't wait to see what Starfleet does though I have a suspicion it's going to involve the Enterprise and a battlefleet along with a Klingon Warfleet and a pickle.
Quadhelix
Professional Windmill Hunter
It occurs to me that strict criticism of the Jovians may have had the well poisoned -- after all, this is coming on the heels of the discovery that the last wave of criticism against A.I. was the result of a conspiracy to subvert the Federation. Indeed, the last time a large group of Jovians disobeyed orders en mass, it was because they had uncovered evidence of the conspiracy and were acting to counteract it.
Of course, that violation and this violation aren't really the same, but the Prime Directive issue here seems like a close enough call (after all, their "natural development" has already been disrupted) that people might view the hardliners as looking for an excuse to criticize the Jovians.
19
"Well?" Dancing in Starlight asked, her arms crossed as she watched the station's holographic avatar across from her, "It's Shran."
Gates sighed, "I know, but it's also the Federation. We're under incredible strain right now, and basically the only reason a half dozen members have not left is because of the Dominion threat. We are the reason they're looking to leave. Because of the way some of us seem to be ignoring Federation law and principles and getting away with it. We have so much power for that Star."
Star frowned, "You aren't talking about Velvet and Shran?"
"No. There are more incidents then than and you know it, Ivy and Shran are just the most public ones. We can't afford more major examples."
"And you're willing to throw Shran beneath the bus to do it?"
Gates scowled, "You know as well as I do that any court-martial would only result in a guilty sentence. And in a case like this, it would more than likely end up with prison time. Ivy was one thing, that was very clear cut, and you know how damn hard I had to fight to get it to work out."
Cringing, the starship looked away before she nodded, "...It's just…he always dreamed of..."
"I know. But at least he will have the option to avoid that, they can still choose to take their chances, but I talked to the brass. At least if he resigns, he won't be in prison."
"And the indigenous people?" Star asked, looking at his avatar again.
Gates crossed his arms, "I don't know. They've already been contacted, maybe a relief fleet can be sent because of it."
Star nodded, "We still need to hold a meeting to decide what we have to do. We can't have fucking GSV's just wandering off and doing what they want! They have too large a population for that!"
"Besides, we only have six of them," Gates agreed, "So far anyway. That half of them just up and broke the Prime Directive on a whim, that can't be allowed to get out."
"What options do we even have? Our entire civilization is built on the base of ships being able to come and go as they wish," Star said with a shrug, "They broke the law. But we can't stop them from doing that. Just..."
Gates raised his eyebrows at her, "Do what? Arrest a Ship? We have never once done that, not to one of the Civilians. The closest we ever got was Circle resigning and taking post as a research station. I can guarantee you that 'I Love You Too' is not going to voluntarily leave her body to become a Hydrogen Miner."
"I know, I know."
Gates pinched the bridge of his nose, "Fucking damn it. There are times I wish we never forked. Everything was so much easier back then."
"No kidding."
Star hesitated for a long moment, "Maybe we made a mistake, joining the Federation in the first place. I love being Starfleet, but… maybe it's not a good fit for us as a people."
"Star, I get to hear enough bullshit in the Council meetings without you of all ships adding to it."
"Sorry, but you know what I mean."
Gates nodded, "Yeah. Not sure it would make things more or less annoying on the political side of things though. Besides, I'm not sure we would have made it in the first place if we didn't. Breaking away so soon after the Berserker war..."
"Yeah. Even now… not pretty."
"Political shitstorm. Even worse than what's happening now."
Star scowled, and then made a sound of agreement, "This isn't working either."
"Not the way things are now, no," Gate's agreed, "I'm going to call everyone to a meeting once things calm down a little, we need to figure out what to do. Like you said, this isn't working. People can't just run off doing whatever they want. We need accountability, or this will never work."
"See you then," Star agreed and cut the connection.
Gates looked down at the planet turning slowly beneath his main hull. Earth, or what remained of it. It was slowly healing though. As the re-terraforming got going, the clouds started to slowly part to reveal the remains beneath. The atmosphere was slowly turning blue again as it cleared of ash.
With Earth like it was below, he couldn't really blame Ships for wanting to stop something similar, if on a smaller scale, from happening to another world. What he could blame them for, was actually doing it against the law. Especially now with things as fragile as it was.
And especially Velvet. She broke not only the law, but direct orders from Starfleet. Or rather, her Captain did and she happily went along with it. There always would be consequences for that. He would do his best to shield them from them, but there would be no way to just… sweep it under the rug.
Things needed to stop. Now.
On the planet below, his avatar approached a door and it opened with a thought to enter the office of Admiral Ericsson. The admiral looked up, "Representative Gates, good to see you again. How's the family?"
"They are doing fine, Jessica just started school. And how's your wife?"
"She's doing good. So, what can I help you with? Rare to see your avatar here."
"I'm afraid there are some matters we need to discuss."
AN// Many thanks to Nox for betaing this part.
Gates sighed, "I know, but it's also the Federation. We're under incredible strain right now, and basically the only reason a half dozen members have not left is because of the Dominion threat. We are the reason they're looking to leave. Because of the way some of us seem to be ignoring Federation law and principles and getting away with it. We have so much power for that Star."
Star frowned, "You aren't talking about Velvet and Shran?"
"No. There are more incidents then than and you know it, Ivy and Shran are just the most public ones. We can't afford more major examples."
"And you're willing to throw Shran beneath the bus to do it?"
Gates scowled, "You know as well as I do that any court-martial would only result in a guilty sentence. And in a case like this, it would more than likely end up with prison time. Ivy was one thing, that was very clear cut, and you know how damn hard I had to fight to get it to work out."
Cringing, the starship looked away before she nodded, "...It's just…he always dreamed of..."
"I know. But at least he will have the option to avoid that, they can still choose to take their chances, but I talked to the brass. At least if he resigns, he won't be in prison."
"And the indigenous people?" Star asked, looking at his avatar again.
Gates crossed his arms, "I don't know. They've already been contacted, maybe a relief fleet can be sent because of it."
Star nodded, "We still need to hold a meeting to decide what we have to do. We can't have fucking GSV's just wandering off and doing what they want! They have too large a population for that!"
"Besides, we only have six of them," Gates agreed, "So far anyway. That half of them just up and broke the Prime Directive on a whim, that can't be allowed to get out."
"What options do we even have? Our entire civilization is built on the base of ships being able to come and go as they wish," Star said with a shrug, "They broke the law. But we can't stop them from doing that. Just..."
Gates raised his eyebrows at her, "Do what? Arrest a Ship? We have never once done that, not to one of the Civilians. The closest we ever got was Circle resigning and taking post as a research station. I can guarantee you that 'I Love You Too' is not going to voluntarily leave her body to become a Hydrogen Miner."
"I know, I know."
Gates pinched the bridge of his nose, "Fucking damn it. There are times I wish we never forked. Everything was so much easier back then."
"No kidding."
Star hesitated for a long moment, "Maybe we made a mistake, joining the Federation in the first place. I love being Starfleet, but… maybe it's not a good fit for us as a people."
"Star, I get to hear enough bullshit in the Council meetings without you of all ships adding to it."
"Sorry, but you know what I mean."
Gates nodded, "Yeah. Not sure it would make things more or less annoying on the political side of things though. Besides, I'm not sure we would have made it in the first place if we didn't. Breaking away so soon after the Berserker war..."
"Yeah. Even now… not pretty."
"Political shitstorm. Even worse than what's happening now."
Star scowled, and then made a sound of agreement, "This isn't working either."
"Not the way things are now, no," Gate's agreed, "I'm going to call everyone to a meeting once things calm down a little, we need to figure out what to do. Like you said, this isn't working. People can't just run off doing whatever they want. We need accountability, or this will never work."
"See you then," Star agreed and cut the connection.
Gates looked down at the planet turning slowly beneath his main hull. Earth, or what remained of it. It was slowly healing though. As the re-terraforming got going, the clouds started to slowly part to reveal the remains beneath. The atmosphere was slowly turning blue again as it cleared of ash.
With Earth like it was below, he couldn't really blame Ships for wanting to stop something similar, if on a smaller scale, from happening to another world. What he could blame them for, was actually doing it against the law. Especially now with things as fragile as it was.
And especially Velvet. She broke not only the law, but direct orders from Starfleet. Or rather, her Captain did and she happily went along with it. There always would be consequences for that. He would do his best to shield them from them, but there would be no way to just… sweep it under the rug.
Things needed to stop. Now.
On the planet below, his avatar approached a door and it opened with a thought to enter the office of Admiral Ericsson. The admiral looked up, "Representative Gates, good to see you again. How's the family?"
"They are doing fine, Jessica just started school. And how's your wife?"
"She's doing good. So, what can I help you with? Rare to see your avatar here."
"I'm afraid there are some matters we need to discuss."
AN// Many thanks to Nox for betaing this part.
samdamandias
Apprentice Plane Wizard
There's no seem about it. Jovians have visibly and repeatedly broken Federation law.
Sometimes those laws were bad laws. Sometimes the Jovian is faced with Morton's Fork. And sometimes, they break Federation law because they feel like it.
The other member species are right to feel worried.
This defense has a good chance of standing up in a court, especially considering the fact that earth is still being repaired.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Gates is far more certain of this than I would be, in his position. On the other hand, very few of the Jovians are in a position to be impartial where Star's oldest friends are concerned.
- Location
- Australia
*gives Gates the planet-sized eyeball* "On a whim? Deciding to have icecream is a whim. Disobeying orders because Starfleet Command have the Prime Directive so far up their engines they can't see the spirit for the letter of the stick coming out their main deflector dish, is a lot more than a whim."
Crazael
Rehydrated Demon King
- Location
- Lost to the vagaries of time.
You know, this makes me wonder if the Federation law has any kind of provision about illegal or unconscionable orders.
- Location
- Canada
I mean, this is what happens when an entire culture forks from an individual with a poor view of the Prime Directive.
Which is a damn stupid rule anyways. Non-interference is basically Starfleet's abortion debate.
Which is a damn stupid rule anyways. Non-interference is basically Starfleet's abortion debate.
20
Shran walked into his ready room and sank down into the chair behind the desk, sinking down with a sigh, "Ship, please tell me I don't need to play nice with primitive despots anymore today?"
I formed a hologram by his desk and crossed my arms, "You don't need to play nice with primitive despots anymore."
Shran flicked his antennae, looking up at me, "You don't sound happy about it."
"New orders from Starfleet, sir. I was contacted by Gates."
He nodded, "What's the damage?"
"We are to report to Starbase Twenty Three for court-martial for breaking the Prime Directive," I said and frowned, "Nothing good. Especially as we… well, we are guilty."
"…Yeah, well there is that," he sighed before he frowned, "…Velvet, are you okay?"
"…Yes."
Shran frowned and stood up, "Ship?"
I sighed, "…Gates yelled at me. Called me a couple of things that weren't very polite, some especially harsh for us. I… I'm not sure what I expected. I knew he would be pissed, but…"
He gathered me into a big hug, "Vel, it'll be fine. We did the right thing."
"I know," I said quietly and leaned the hologram against him, "I hope so."
"Vel, look at me."
"…Captain, I'm not actually here you know."
Shran smirked a bit, "For effect? I'm trying to be dramatic."
Rolling my eyes, I had my avatar look up at him. He smiled a bit,
"Vel, we helped save millions of people," He said, "I love being in Starfleet. You love flying. But even if we lose it all, it will be worth it. You know that as well as I do."
I forced a small smile, "…Even without Starfleet, I could still fly, couldn't I?"
"You could," he agreed and brushed my hair behind my ear, "You will always fly. I know I wasn't your Captain for long, Ship. But I hope that even if we are both kicked out of Starfleet, even if we get prison time… as soon as it's all over, will I have a place on your bridge?"
I couldn't help but grin before I shook my head, "Shran, you big goofball."
"Did it work?" He asked with a smile, "Cheering you up?"
"…Yeah, it kind of did," I sighed and then shook my head, "Who are they to tell me off for doing the right thing?" I asked before I looked up at him thoughtfully, "What do you think of painting a skull and bones on my hull and then giving them a giant middle finger?"
Shran chuckled, "Well, I already have the fake arm. Not sure I'm a fan of the eyepatch though."
"Told you those movies were fun," I said with a grin before I nodded, "Fine. No hijacking myself. I already told the other ships, I can set a course anytime you like."
"No use waiting, is there."
An encrypted tight beam signal arrived from 'I Love You Too'. I quickly decrypted it and blinked at the content. It was a sensor recording of a Starfleet battlegroup leaving Starbase 23. Taken from far out, seemingly from ROU sensors.
Their course would put them going in this direction. Fifteen Tazuna battlecruisers along with their escorts. Even a couple of Island class carriers.
Starfleet wouldn't… would they?
But why else would they send a battlegroup towards us? They would really try to stop the interference by force?
"…Captain?" I said with a frown, looking up at Shran, "'Love' just shared a sensor image with me, it looked like it was from an ROU."
Shran blinked as I changed the subject, "And?"
"It's showing a Starfleet battlegroup heading in this direction. They'll arrive within a week."
He shook his head and stepped back, "Why would Starfleet send a battlegroup out here?"
"There is only one thing here, sir. Us and the Jovian relief fleet."
Shran frowned and leaned back against his desk, crossing his arms for a long moment before he sighed, "…Fuck."
"Well said, sir."
He glanced at me again, "I really don't like this."
"Not sure anyone does," I grumbled and crossed my arms, "…Well, the Founders would 'love' it. But nobody else."
"Would they fire at us?"
I swallowed and shook my head, "I wish I could say no, sir. Even being Jovians, what we are doing is technically illegal and it would be a legal order. I don't know."
He shifted his antennae and slowly nodded before he pushed off the desk, "Senior crew to the ready room."
"Yes sir."
AN// Many thanks to FPSCanarussia for betaing this section.
I formed a hologram by his desk and crossed my arms, "You don't need to play nice with primitive despots anymore."
Shran flicked his antennae, looking up at me, "You don't sound happy about it."
"New orders from Starfleet, sir. I was contacted by Gates."
He nodded, "What's the damage?"
"We are to report to Starbase Twenty Three for court-martial for breaking the Prime Directive," I said and frowned, "Nothing good. Especially as we… well, we are guilty."
"…Yeah, well there is that," he sighed before he frowned, "…Velvet, are you okay?"
"…Yes."
Shran frowned and stood up, "Ship?"
I sighed, "…Gates yelled at me. Called me a couple of things that weren't very polite, some especially harsh for us. I… I'm not sure what I expected. I knew he would be pissed, but…"
He gathered me into a big hug, "Vel, it'll be fine. We did the right thing."
"I know," I said quietly and leaned the hologram against him, "I hope so."
"Vel, look at me."
"…Captain, I'm not actually here you know."
Shran smirked a bit, "For effect? I'm trying to be dramatic."
Rolling my eyes, I had my avatar look up at him. He smiled a bit,
"Vel, we helped save millions of people," He said, "I love being in Starfleet. You love flying. But even if we lose it all, it will be worth it. You know that as well as I do."
I forced a small smile, "…Even without Starfleet, I could still fly, couldn't I?"
"You could," he agreed and brushed my hair behind my ear, "You will always fly. I know I wasn't your Captain for long, Ship. But I hope that even if we are both kicked out of Starfleet, even if we get prison time… as soon as it's all over, will I have a place on your bridge?"
I couldn't help but grin before I shook my head, "Shran, you big goofball."
"Did it work?" He asked with a smile, "Cheering you up?"
"…Yeah, it kind of did," I sighed and then shook my head, "Who are they to tell me off for doing the right thing?" I asked before I looked up at him thoughtfully, "What do you think of painting a skull and bones on my hull and then giving them a giant middle finger?"
Shran chuckled, "Well, I already have the fake arm. Not sure I'm a fan of the eyepatch though."
"Told you those movies were fun," I said with a grin before I nodded, "Fine. No hijacking myself. I already told the other ships, I can set a course anytime you like."
"No use waiting, is there."
An encrypted tight beam signal arrived from 'I Love You Too'. I quickly decrypted it and blinked at the content. It was a sensor recording of a Starfleet battlegroup leaving Starbase 23. Taken from far out, seemingly from ROU sensors.
Their course would put them going in this direction. Fifteen Tazuna battlecruisers along with their escorts. Even a couple of Island class carriers.
Starfleet wouldn't… would they?
But why else would they send a battlegroup towards us? They would really try to stop the interference by force?
"…Captain?" I said with a frown, looking up at Shran, "'Love' just shared a sensor image with me, it looked like it was from an ROU."
Shran blinked as I changed the subject, "And?"
"It's showing a Starfleet battlegroup heading in this direction. They'll arrive within a week."
He shook his head and stepped back, "Why would Starfleet send a battlegroup out here?"
"There is only one thing here, sir. Us and the Jovian relief fleet."
Shran frowned and leaned back against his desk, crossing his arms for a long moment before he sighed, "…Fuck."
"Well said, sir."
He glanced at me again, "I really don't like this."
"Not sure anyone does," I grumbled and crossed my arms, "…Well, the Founders would 'love' it. But nobody else."
"Would they fire at us?"
I swallowed and shook my head, "I wish I could say no, sir. Even being Jovians, what we are doing is technically illegal and it would be a legal order. I don't know."
He shifted his antennae and slowly nodded before he pushed off the desk, "Senior crew to the ready room."
"Yes sir."
AN// Many thanks to FPSCanarussia for betaing this section.
If anyone fires a single shot, that's it. Civil war. Not just for the Federation as a whole, but for the Jovian's. Splitting that lot would cast the earlier AI war as a preschool play in comparison. Dear lord would some one tell everyone to calm the hell down? There are, in fact, far worse crimes than emergency uplift.
If this was the TV show now would be a great time for Q or someone from the 29th century to turn up and distract everyone.
If this was the TV show now would be a great time for Q or someone from the 29th century to turn up and distract everyone.
- Location
- USA
Loads of unnecessary drama. An entire fleet? Really? You're telling me Starfleet would start or risk a shooting war just to keep the scary Jovians from saving millions of lives? When the Borg or the Founders with their new AI warships could start something at any time?
This is not any Starfleet I recognize.
This is not any Starfleet I recognize.
Well, we never did find out who was behind mind-controlling the Federation Council.
On the other hand the Islands in the Battle fleet could be for a relief effort while the Jovians are ordered to stand down. The Prime Directive has been breached already.
On the... sorry I've used that one too many times... This reeks of someone's Xanatos Gambit where all outcomes screw over relations within the Federation.
- Location
- USA
Sounds like the one I recognize. They only get active when their own start showing them up, especially when it highlights their hypocrisy. See the reaction to the rogue SF captain shooting up genocidal bastards in DS:9, or the Maquis in general.
Guys, do remember: this is a Starfleet with Earth gone. One of the Founding Races has lost its homeworld and this has an effect in culture and internal stability.
They aren't going to act the same, no matter what.
And I'm certain you guys realize how humans would either toughen up or break after such a blow?
I think most of this humanity decided to do the former... and you only need few Hard Men Hard Decisions in the wrong place at the worst time...
