Spacebattles in Star Trek (again)

[Entilza]

"I asked you hear to discuss recent events," Picard replied. "I have been made aware of the disruptions at the trial and I apologise for the actions of our people there. It saddened me greatly to learn that you decided to sever ties with the Federation."

"We had no choice," the Admiral replied.

"There are always choices," Picard said. "Just as Federation planets are choosing to cecede to the Commonwealth."

"They do so of their own free will."

"True, and the Federation will not stand in their way. Lord Entilza had become much more active in the Alpha Quadrant since your departure, personally visiting dozens of worlds and asking them to give the Federation another chance. Andoria, Vulcan and fifteen other systems have already pledged to remain Federation members. More join their voice every hour. You see Admiral, the Federation, as it has been, is over. I have recognized that times are changing and that we must change with them. Perhaps relations between our poeples may be possible again soon."

[ghost792]

"And has the charter of the Federation changed? Has Section 31 been abolished?"

Picard looked at me questioningly.

"Ah, yes, you never gained knowledge of Section 31 in this timeline, did you? Anne, send Captain Picard the Section 31 database, encrypted for his eyes only. Redact any references to new technologies."

My ship's avatar glanced upwards for an instant, then replied, "Database sent."

Picard's console pinged, alerting him of a new message.

"You may want to glance over that, Captain, to see some of the atrocities committed in the name of your Federation. If this new Federation is just more of the same, relations between our two governments will continue as they currently are."

[Entilza]

Picard 's eyes moved from side to side as he read the data before him, and his expression darkened. "I had no idea an organization like this existed within the Federation. However, if they are as well hidden as this data indicates they will not easily be found. As for the Federation Charter, the section dealing with the Prime Directive is undergoing revisions as we speak, so that's a start."

[ghost792]

"And what of your own Commander Data? I'm sure you've noticed that the rights of sentient beings in the UFP do not extend to androids and AI. Does this new Federation ensure their rights as well? The Prime Directive is only the tip of the iceberg, Jean-Luc."

[Entilza]

"Commander Data has all the rights and privilages of a Starfleet officer," Picard replied. "Though many Federation computer systems are powerful, they are not true AIs."

[ghost792]

"Actually, Captain, you are misinformed. Commander Data, under the laws of the Federation, is merely the property of Starfleet. You may wish to check with Starfleet's JAG corps on that.

And what of the work of your Dr. Zimmerman? Shall I produce him and his sentient AI assistant, who began her life as a Federation hologram?"

[Entilza]

"That may be true, but he has been free to make his own choices his entire life, including his decision to remain a part of my crew." Picard paused to take a sip of his tea. "I can see you have many dislikes regarding the Federation. What will it take before you are willing to consider relations with us again?"

[ghost792]

"So you are willing to allow a valued member of your crew to be a mere chattel? Perhaps you are not the man I thought you were, Captain.

"You call my concerns dislikes, Jean-Luc, when perhaps the word you should have used was 'indignation'. The events at the trial merely brought things to a head, but I could no longer allow myself to tolerate the injustices perpetrated by the Federation.

"You ask what it will take before the Commonwealth will reopen relations with the Federation? At this point, it will take a new constitutional convention."

[Entilza]

"That is not what I meant," Picard said. "I have always treated Commander Data the same as any organic member of my crew and so has every officer and crewmember on my ship. The fact that he is technically property concerns me greatly, but I was mearly stating that I and my crew have not treated him as such.

As for your concerns, as I have said the Prime Directive is already being phased out. You say though, that the entire Federation consitution will need to be rewritten?"

[ghost792]

"Captain, I'm not certain you can understand how much your attitude towards Commander Data pains me. That you and your crew treat Data 'the same as any organic member' of your crew just reinforces my point. Why should their be a distinction between organic and artificial persons? If you feel so strongly about Commander Data's rights, or lack thereof, why have you taken no action on your own to change things? What would happen to him if Starfleet transferred him from your command and ordered him to be disassembled?

"It is not the mere words of the Federation's constitution that need changing, Captain, but the attitudes of its citizens.

"Speaking of which," I hand Picard two flexis, "if you would pass these along to Commanders Riker and Data, I would appreciate it. These flexis contain offers of captaincies for both of them in the High Guard. You may wish to remind Commander Data, that in the Commonwealth, he would be a full citizen, guaranteed the same rights and protections as any other being, and not someone's possession."

[Entilza]

"I believe you misunderstand me," Captain Picard said. "We all know what Commander Data is and of his abilities, but we treat him the same as any other member of my crew. He is a member of our family and we treat him as such. If someone tried to have Data dissassembled I would do everything in my power to stop that from happening.

Changing the attitudes of the Federation's people will take time I am sure you realize. I will pass these on to Commander Riker and Mr. Data as you ask. Their replies will be sent to your vessel. Now then, are there any other matters you wish to discuss?"

[ghost792]

"Just one, Captain. You may tell your government that the Commonwealth will not abandon Earth and the other member planets. Our ships will continue to defend those systems as if they were their own. I ordered the removal of the orbital defenses so as not to be accused of planning to use them against your planets.

"I wish this could happened some other way, Jean-Luc."

I stood to leave.

[Entilza]

"And I hold out hope that our peoples may yet reconcile in the future Admiral Hamilton," Picard replied. "Safe journey," he nodded. "May we meet again under better circumstances."

[Talos]

Space was torn open as if by the hand of a God, blue lightening played over the stars and suddenly, there was the wreck of a ship floating freely -- it was a Warbarge but not one of Confederation makeing, there were defferances, different technology had gone into the construction. It was surrouneed by a field of debries, broken armour, snapped off weapons turrets, cracks and gauges ran along the side of the thing and deep holes had been burned to the very core of the ship. It was clearly a dead ship, nothing could remain functional having taken so much damage. Were anyone to scan it, they would have found no life what so ever.

They would, however, have found a power-reading consistant of that made by a Confederation AI -- but with subtle differences like the ship itself.

In the broken, burnt out bridge of the dead Warbarge, somthing stirred, it was fuzzy, blurred, but visible. A humanoid, he might have been human save for the fact that was a hologram. The Avatar of the ship.

He looked around himself, systems were failing everywhere, the battle was over but it had cost the Crusader her life. He looked down at the body of the captain, a man he had served for many years.

James was not an emotional AI, but even he felt a twinge of regreat that the man had died, still the tactic had worked perfectally. Now all that was left to do was find out where the hell they had ended up....

__________

OOC: This is m,y attempt to get back into the flow of the RP, James is an AI from a rival transuniversal empire at war with the Confederation. He will be my primery charcter from now on, anyone wishing to find out how he found himself traveling from one universe to another should read this: http://forums.spacebattles.com/showthread.php?t=158022

Its a story -- not too long, but worth the read I hope. Also a little explination.

The Warbarge is not of Confed make, but is based on it the same way that both the Romulans and the Klingons use Birds of Prey -- both Warbarges are descended from the same desgine.

The Holy Empire will not be making an appearance, just James..

[Entilza]

Phase probe 20078A32 detected a massive energy spike on its long range sensors. Engaging its phase drive, the probe reappeared near a large vessel. It was drifting, its power readings nearly non-existant.

A signal was sent to the nearest vessel, and seconds later a Scythe phased in and scanned the vessel. Everything was consisent with Confed technology, but there were sumble differences.

A signal was sent to the vessel, attempting to make contact with the AI detected within.

[Talos]

Originally Posted by Entilza

Phase probe 20078A32 detected a massive energy spike on its long range sensors. Engaging its phase drive, the probe reappeared near a large vessel. It was drifting, its power readings nearly non-existant.

A signal was sent to the nearest vessel, and seconds later a Scythe phased in and scanned the vessel. Everything was consisent with Confed technology, but there were sumble differences.

A signal was sent to the vessel, attempting to make contact with the AI detected within.

James paused, his broken systems in the ship were barley adiquate for him -- indeed, he had been forced to reduce his operational effecency to a mere 10.9 Percent. Still, he had enough sytems left working to detect the probe.

" Well," he said to himself, "time to meet the natives."

He made contact with the ship as it appeared, " Greetings, I am AI desgination BT932/Alpha but for the sake of simplicty, you may call me ''James.'' I am --" Here he paused and looked around the blackened hulk which had once been the ship "-- was the ship-board AI of the Holy Empire Warbarge the Crusader. I have lost power and have no clue what happened. Where do I find myself?"

[Entilza]

"I am Lord Ko of the Necrons," the commander of the Scythe replied. "You are in the Milky Way galaxy, near the edge of the Delta Quadrant. May we offer you assistance?" He asked as he sent word to Entilza about what he had found.

[DigiCom]

Onboard the Bucephalus, one of the new sensors began beeping madly.

"Captain! According to these readings, there's been another dimensional incursion. The IFF database Mario was using lists it as a threat."

DC thought a bit. "The enemy of the enemy may or may not be a friend. Go to Condition Orange."

[Talos]

Originally Posted by Entilza

"I am Lord Ko of the Necrons," the commander of the Scythe replied. "You are in the Milky Way galaxy, near the edge of the Delta Quadrant. May we offer you assistance?" He asked as he sent word to Entilza about what he had found.

James paused for almost an entire micro-second, the terms '' Necron, Delta-Quadrant'' turned up no results in his memory.

" Ah, it appears I was thrown very far of-course. I suspect you wish to know how I came to be here?"

OOC: Digicom, will you be sending reps or just ignoring James for now?

[Entilza]

"That would be helpful," Lord Kar replied. "We have been fighting an enemy whose ships are very similar to yours."

[DigiCom]

OOC: I think I'll stay out of this, for now. At least until the new ships are ready

[Talos]

Originally Posted by Entilza

"That would be helpful," Lord Kar replied. "We have been fighting an enemy whose ships are very similar to yours."

James pondered for a brief micro-second on what he should reveal and what he shouldn't, then having decided he began his tale.

" The Crusader is a Warbarge created by the Holy Empire, captained by a Shaman called Abran who is-was the most likely candidite to replace the Emperor when he died. We were attending an important meeting on the planet of Durmos, on the way back, we stumbled upon a sector that hid a squad of Confederation Giga-Cruisers. The Giga-Cruiser is a highly weaponized cruiser used by the Confederation for stealth missions, and while one of them would never defeat a Warbarge, five of them had us at a distinct disadvantage.

We were engaged on the outskirts of the sector, our COM systems disabled and our shields heravily damaged -- I suspect ether Psi-Corp or AIL pilots as they are the only ones good enough to outpace me, even if I do say so mysef. In any case, we sustained fatal damage and I was ordered to defeat the cruisers at any cost. Naturally, I decided the best course of action was to overload the Realty-Jumper, this resulted in an explosion that was able to send the innerds of the Confed ships to an alternitive reality while the shells remained behind. Needless to say, it was an explosive party-trick. Of course the side effect is that it also gutted the Crusader and killed everyone on board. My AI Core seems to have been transported along with the shell of the ship -- and some critical systems. It is highly likely that I am the only survivor."

[Entilza]

"We can send over repair crews to assist you in your ship's recovery," Lord Ko offered. "My commander would be willing to provide you with a safe harbor until everything can be sorted out. The choice is yours of course."

[Talos]

Originally Posted by Entilza

"We can send over repair crews to assist you in your ship's recovery," Lord Ko offered. "My commander would be willing to provide you with a safe harbor until everything can be sorted out. The choice is yours of course."

" I don't think the Crusader CAN be recovered, but thank you for offering. I'd like to meet with your leader though you may have to send someone over to collect my AI Core -- normally I would be able to move more freely but with the ship this severely damaged I don't want to risk it."

[ghost792]

I paused before leaving the Enterprise conference room. "Oh, and Captain, you may want to watch the news tonight. Au revoir, mon ami."

With that, Anne and I left the Enterprise.

"Admiral, do you think this course of action wise?" Anne inquired.

"No, Anne, I don't, but needs must. If humanity and the Federation are to survive, they need to be worth saving."

Later that day, every news organ in the Federation, every ambassador, every council member, and every member of Starfleet received a copy of the Section 31 database, further redacted to remove references to technology, the actual identities of Section 31 agents (with the exception of a few very prominent, deceased ones), and anything deemed of use to our enemies. They also received copies of ships' log entries detailing every situation where the Prime Directive was used to justify allowing harm to come to non-member worlds. The file ended with a series of Starfleet legal briefs describing the current status of Commander Data as property of Starfleet and detailing Starfleet's discriminatory policies towards genetically enhanced beings.

All attempts to determine the origin of these messages failed, but Captain Picard knew.
-----------------------------
"Admiral, dimensional incursion detected, sector 1473920.34."

"Which task force is closest to that sector, Anne?"

"Vice Admiral Kerr's evaluation group is nearest. They are conducting tests with Morningstar."

"Excellent, direct them to investigate."
----------------------

A Commonwealth battlegroup, escorted by the Planet Killer, phased into the sector with the new arrival from ConFed space. A Necron unit was already present.