Posted by Lieutenant Commander Kord (XO) in Main Sim - Conference Room B, Deck 3 - Look who’s coming to dinner

Posted by Captain John Tiberius Glen (Captain) in Main Sim - Conference Room B, Deck 3 - Look who’s coming to dinner
[snip]

Turning to regard Glen, Daniel spoke once more. “..If you would allow me Captain. I am curious on one matter, something we both share in a fashion. As you may recall the Ancients placed you and your crew at the time on trial due to allegations of temporal manipulations. I know from reviewing the trials notes and recordings you felt slighted in your understanding of temporal mechanics as you knew them that you had done nothing wrong. Thankfully from the trial your defense counselor had presented the evidence as you knew it to prove you and your crew’s innocents. Thus allowing you to prove your intentions as non-hostile as had been painted by your temporal doubles as being morally just in closing the tear in temporal reality. I’m curious if your feelings have changed on this matter?” He said.

Glen considered the question before replying, “We were totally innocent, and that verdict of innocence was correct. However, since then we have been the subject of further temporal manipulations, and I realize now that we were being rather naive. We were never the cause of the temporal changes that have involved us, at least never deliberately, but we have changed timelines through them, and so my feelings on this matter have changed since then, yes. It appears that in the future, everyone is changing timelines - some for nefarious reasons, some to save planets, some because they believe they are making the universe better, some to reverse changes made by others, some to put right what once went wrong. In actual fact, due to quantum entanglement it is impossible for our actions not to have some kind of ripple effect upon the fabric of space-time. We do it all the time; when we have a change of heart, a change of intention, a change of mind-set or belief. So, I now believe that if others can alter shifting timelines to their own advantage then there is nothing wrong if we do so a little bit too.”

Glen took a sip of water and continued. “But you asked me earlier, why our superiors feel a need to suppress knowledge of time travel. Time travel machines have not yet been invented at this point in history. There have been documented occurrences obviously, but officially, the flow of time is seen as irreversible, and the future and past cannot be shaped. Officially speaking, time travel is deemed impossible by the Vulcan Science Directorate. If ordinary people were to know that alterations to historical events were possible, to cause, among other things, alternate timelines and realities, then our whole society would need to change overnight. Our Federation government would, no doubt, set up some department tasked with ensuring that time travel events which occurred under Federation jurisdiction were handled within guidelines, that they would establish, to prevent contamination of the ‘true’ timeline. For the time being, it is much easier to pretend that it is impossible.”

”..A fair response, Captain. In earlier Ancient historical records there were similar practices. But this was more to protect the local populace of our people to fearing corrupt others might use it to control their freedoms or lives. It was a wise precaution as you may recall as later a split from the Ancients to a group calling themselves The Elders lead by one of our leading scientists felt we had lost our way and place in the universe and timeline..” Daniel said.

Kord was impressed with Glens response. The young races always had people that could show great insight.

Hal rubbed his temples. “Time travel gives me a headache, Sir,” he complained. “Especially when dealing with time travelers who have wish granting powers. Power without limit.”

Glen said, “I guess we move on to the next question now, and I think that it is the question that we would all like to know, ‘Why exactly have you come here?’ You wish to learn and study, that is quite obvious, but you already share my memories, so you already know everything about humans. We already have a relationship, you and I, and while I feel some connection to you, it is not one of family, nor will it ever that. My experience with your people was very traumatic, and it does not engender me to you, nor do I have any other secrets that the Ancients did not already forcibly rip from out of me that I could give to you. In Starfleet, we are also curious about the galaxy and wish to travel, but we have a mission statement. It goes, ‘to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.’ Your mission statement must be more like, ‘lather, rinse and repeat, the same old, same old thing.’ Which is why, when I also discover that you have downloaded the last few hundred years of Earth and Starfleet history, I am more than a little puzzled of the reason why. Curiosity is one thing, but such detailed research suggests more hawkish reasons.”

-Glen, CO

Tinga had been listening intently to the conversation and studying the intonation and body language of Daniel and Captain Glen.

• Tinga, Comms

”..I am here Captain, because those in the Council of the Ancients feel that there are too many unresolved threads. Threads which tie back to the events you and your ship were involved in. I am here to see those threads completed and closed. My research into your recent history over the past few hundred years was to satisfy my own curiosity of your Federation. You are in many ways a paradox and chaotic, yet a source of order, and calm. Even now the flow of time ripples through the metal of this ship in ways that defy your understanding if you are even aware of them. To sum my answer to you Captain I am here to provide clarity and resolution, once that is complete my place and purpose would be at an end..” He said.

Hal said, “You’d think that such a technically advanced race of time travelers would naturally have instituted a regulation, much like our own prime directive, which forbids any interference in the time stream.”

Daniel turned to regard Hal, “..I have studied your prime directive, and you would be right we Ancients have something similar both for those we interact with and on a temporal level. But we are also protectors and scientists in our own right to those same institutions. In this case had I not been sent here the fallout on both a physical and temporal level would send ripples back and forward in the time stream in ways even our advanced calculations could not predict..” Daniel said.

Turning back to Glen then. “..I feel I perhaps should simplify my goals here, at least to start. Perhaps then this will provide a better framework towards a better understanding of events.” He said. “..Firstly, the Ancients wish to extend a formal diplomatic overture to you specifically Captain Glen and your crew. Both for the mistake they made in putting you on trial but also explanations of why that trial happened as it did. Secondly, from temporal calculations we have determined that there are residual temporal eddies coming from the Merrimack itself. This must be isolated and contained before these eddies could harm both the physical plane and temporal. For this I will need to work alongside your engineering, medical, and science departments for a joint solution. Lastly, there is a risk albeit small that elements of your own temporal future might intervene, not your Federation but those who would be their enemies, seeking to use the collective knowledge of the near future for nefarious ends. It would be wise for you to move your ship to a more defensible location, and as much information as you deem necessary shared to prepare in the off chance such enemies make seek us out..” He explained.

And it did suddenly become more clear to Glen. John had wondered why the Ancients had sent Daniel to the Merrimack, and to this time, when clearly they did not possess time travel, or were responsible to the Merrimack’s jumps in time, but with the mention of ‘Ripples in Time,’ this struck a chord. “These’Ripples in Time’,” Glen said, “We have experienced such a thing, yes… I didn’t realise but things seem to happen to us that cannot be mere coincidence, and the ship itself seems ‘charged’ against temporal based attacks since our very first journey. We were also carried forward into our future once, where the ship has become a space museum in Black Rock, the headquarters of the sixth fleet, and where we stayed for exactly one day. There was no explanation for that except some weird leftover effects of the earlier journeys. If you can help to rid us of this effect then we would appreciate this.”

-Glen, CO

“Of course you must understand that under the circumstances of the events of our past, you will be under some form of observation at all times. A precaution so to speak.” Kord pointed out in a matter of fact tone.

• Kord, XO

“Perhaps an armed guard detail, Sir?” Hal offered. “Also monitoring thru our internal security system would be in order.”

CoS