Tempora Mutantur

Posted on Wed Nov 27, 2024 @ 2:28pm by Lieutenant Alanna Wells & Civilian T'gan & Commander Cara Letsul & Lieutenant Annora Tessaro & Lieutenant T'Lul

2,063 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Tergum In Tempus
Location: Secret Location
Timeline: Two days after last meeting

ON

It had been two days since Caliban brought them together to talk about the temporal ripples and the need to go back in time. Since then, Alanna had gone through all the data she had on the station and the Cardassians. Data collected from what amounted to spying and counter espionage. She had a general idea of what kept the station from defending itself, but not the details and definitely not when it happened.

She also had the temporal data from the station and from Bag End, which supported Caliban's information. Now it was time to see what the others had and finalize plans for their trip back in time.

She was the first to arrive at the new location and waited for the others to join her.

The Chief Counselor was the second in. While she did not support this idea, she would be the one to make certain that temporal mechanics were observed. Perhaps she also could talk to her contact and discover what happened that they missed. "Alanna," T'Lul said simply, acknowledging her presence.

Alanna nodded back. She needed Jason, T'gan and possibly Tannis to explain the temporal mechanics. Her shuttle was ready, but that was because she had help with it. Still, she had spent her time on DS5 learning what she could about the portal complex, Pangaea, and the sun itself to learn how they worked together. The Fey and their part in all of this was more problematic. Only Jason appreciated how the planet had, on several occasions, sent them to an alternate past, or opened a pit full of old bones--and an ancient predator. The planet and this system needed the temporal ripples that had grown quiet since the attack.

Annora had spent much of the time since the last meeting working on various plans to prevent the Cardassians from gaining complete control over DS5. None of them could be implemented until after the team's arrival, but at least they would have a basic framework as a jumping off point. She was content to let the details of the time travel to others, while she focused on her area of expertise. "Afternoon Lieutenant's" she said by way of greeting upon entering the room.

"Greetings," T'Lul answered simply to Annora. T'Lul did not know her well but it cost little to be what the humans would call "polite."
-
"Glad you're here," Alanna said, smiling at the security chief. "Did you learn anything about the sabotage?"

It was hard to sort that out with what little information was available, but after some investigation she was able to glean some information. "I can give you my best guess, but it's a highly educated one. Petty Officer Karaza was Ops before jumping over to security. They tell me that a Level 3 diagnostic should catch any sabotage to weapons and shields. Hopefully it's just a Trojan horse buried in the system. Even a partial workaround would be helpful. Depending on when we arrive, we may not want to fix everything so as to avoid tipping off the Cardassians. As for the self-destruct, that's trickier. Things were too chaotic to glean any real information."

"Thank you. I agree that we can't fix everything, but we do need to stop the sabotage so the ship can defend itself. For the self-destruct...we'll have to see. I would rather not let things get to that point." She hoped others would have some suggestions as well, but running a diagnostic was going to be incredibly helpful.

"I...." The Vulcan uncharacteristically hesitated before re-starting. "I have some contacts that may be able to provide me with information that could lead to the resolution that you desire." She stopped, letting that hang in the air for the group.

The science officer wondered if that was from her time on DS5 trying to sabotage the Cardassians. "And that would be? At this point, anything could be helpful."

"I cannot reveal that information. I am sorry," T'Lul answered. "You will have to accept my statement. Just remember, I led the resistance on the station."

"Then we will have to rely on you to get us that information if we can't get it ourselves," Alyssa said. She understood the need to keep contacts and information confidential and didn't want to force the Vulcan to divulge anything.

T'Lul gave a nod towards Alyssa, acknowledging the unspoken understanding between the two of them.

Alanna nodded back. Then she turned when the door opened again. A Vulcan woman in civilian clothes walked in. She bowed to the two women as she got close. "Prosperity and long life."

"Hi, T'gan. Do you have the temporal coordinates?" Alanna asked, greeting the temporal scientist.

"I do. We should be able to slingshot around the sun and arrive at the right time. The difficulty will be programming in the temporal fluctuations in the past. Especially as there are currently none in the present."

Operations officer Ensign Matilda Cromwell turned from the console she was sitting at quietly regarding Alanna and T'Lul, "Is there a way to approximate the fluctuation of the ripples?"

T'Lul answered simply, "Approximation would be problematic, as matching the ripples is necessary for time travel. It is not my specialty, however. But if traveling to the past is the only option, the only logical conclusion is to calculate as much as possible and then, I believe your saying is 'hope for the best.'"

"I have the readings from before the station was destroyed," T'gan replied. "I am quite capable of calculating the speed and trajectory needed to get back to that exact spot. We will need to come out on the other side of the sun to avoid detection." That was the tricky part. To not be seen or picked up on sensors.

Annora listened to the conversation going on around her. It sounded like they had a solid plan for the trip back in-order to set right the past. She was aware of the slingshot maneuver, having studied time travel after her own arrival in the 24th century, but was more than happy to leave the calculations to those with a greater understanding of the math involved. There was one unanswered question that would have an effect on what gear she took back with her. "When do we plan on arriving at the station? Regardless of that answer, I suggest beaming into maintenance bay 11. Last I knew it was empty and the sensors in there were on the fritz. A work order had been submitted, but the Cardassians delayed any repair work. From there we'll be near the auxiliary sickbays, transporter rooms and shuttle bays. Good place to set up a base camp if needed, at least in the beginning."

T'Lul offered, "Although I not a scientist, it may be possible to use DS5's sensors against itself. We could send a signal as we are coming from around the sun to loop back on itself, thereby causing the sensors to think that they were only seeing normal space. That would cause us not to have to potentially violate rules about creating a cloaking device or otherwise disguising the ship."

"What we do will depend on which ship we take, but I do like the idea of using maintenance bay 11. That sounds perfect. As to when, it will be after the Cardassians take over. The goal is to make them lose so they won't try again." Alanna looked around. "We're waiting for a few more people, then we'll make the final decisions. It would be good if we could simply transport from the ship to the station, but I don't know if that will be possible."

T'Lul did not react but were she to admit her emotions, she was rankled by Alanna taking charge. Had not she been in charge of an entire revolution? What gave her the right to make the decisions now? She ran from the station to be down here. She was not in favor of this entire plan and yet she had given options. Now, her solutions were being ignored? And yet, she still had made no decisions. Was time not of the essence according to her? Simply she said, "It will be with my plan, assuming that the technology succeeds."

"What is your plan?" Alanna asked T'Lul. So far, the counselor had argued against any idea she or T'gan suggested. She honestly hoped it would be a good one, but she didn't think the odds were good.

"I thought that I had already explained it. However, if I was not clear, I shall do so again. We calculate the correct parameters for a slingshot. If we cannot, we approximate. Not ideal, but the only practical solution. Once we come out of the slingshot, we cause a feedback loop on their sensors, beam aboard, gather our resources, and attempt to stop the Cardassians from taking over the station. I am certain that it would not be wise to calculate the odds of success."

Alanna raised an eyebrow. "As we'd already covered that, I assumed you had something else in mind." Alanna wasn't sure why they kept going over the same subjects. She also wondered why T'Lul kept stating she wasn't a scientist, then telling the two who were what they should do. "T'gan has the calculations, so there's no need to fudge anything. And Annora told us where to enter the station. Why does what from there is what still needs to be decided. We need to find exactly what was sabotaged and repair it. We also need to get help. Starfleet won't believe us, so we'll need to get what help we can."

She still hoped Jason would show up. She wasn't sure what was keeping him. She also didn't know if they'd get any more help than what they had now.

T'Lul decided that Alanna was stressed as her language was indistinct and vague. Contributing to it further would not help their situation. She simply tilted her head slightly and cocked an eyebrow.

"Okay. There are others who said they'd help. I suggest we meet in two days’ time." Alanna wanted to leave immediately, but they needed the others if this was to work. "I have a shuttle that can make the jump. If we don't have a better option, we'll go with that. T'gan and I weren't on the station and shouldn't be seen, if we can help it. The Cardassians are interested in the portals and the two of us know more about them than anyone else, except the captain." Until she had proof otherwise, Alanna would continue to believe Maritza was alive. "We'll transport a team to Maintenance Bay 11. Their job will be to find the sabotage and repair it so the station can defend itself."

Alanna looked at Annora and T'Lul. "The two of you can be in charge of that. You won't have much time and you can't be seen. You can trust Caliban if you need help. T'gan and I will find someone to help fight off the attack. She has Vulcan contacts and I know a few scientists who might be willing to bring a ship. Is there anything else we need right now?"

Silently she listened once more, then Matilda spoke up. "I will be ready for whatever may happen. Let's all be careful." A look of concern in her eyes.

"We have to be careful, yes. But we have to save the station and the galaxy." It may have sounded like an exaggeration, but it wasn't. Not when the temporal ripples had stopped. They had to fix this to save themselves, and everyone.

T'Lul had to agree with this part of the plan. She knew how to maneuver unseen around the space station after months of hiding and attacking Cardassians. She nodded towards Alanna in agreement.

Maybe it was her nervousness, or just feeling impatient. Matilda blurted out, "Then let’s get cracking and make it happen." Abruptly shutting her mouth shut and clapping a hand over her mouth. A muffled "Whoops" could be heard.

Alanna couldn't help smiling. "Yes, indeed. See you all in two days."

Lieutenant Alanna Wells
Chief Science Officer
Deep Space 5
Rabble Rouser
Pangaea

Lieutenant T'Lul
Chief Counselor
Deep Space 5

Lieutenant Annora Tessaro
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
Deep Space 5

Ensign Matilda Cromwell
Operations Officer
Deep Space 5

T'gan
Temporal Scientist
Deep Space 5

 

RSS Feed