Between the Fleeting Minutes

Posted on Mon Dec 12th, 2022 @ 2:07am by Fleet Captain Maxwell Culver & Xavier X-1

1,504 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Mission One: Goodwill Tour [Part One]
Location: Triton Tower: Commanding Officer’s Office
Timeline: During No Time Like the Present

Previously on Star Trek: Triton Seabase

”We should talk about Xavier’s current predicament and query. It’s a valid question and it deserves an answer from Starfleet.

Max nodded. “Triton Seabase launches at 0800 tomorrow morning, Jack. What can I do between now and then?”

Jack sighed. When we talk in hours or weeks, we are talking lifetimes to an android who counts nanoseconds per day. Intentionally or not. Just hear him out and then you can make a formal decision. He probably misinterpreted my goal to have him socialize with Starfleet as a means to an end.”

Now it was Max’s turn to sigh, heavily. “I’ve got a short span, Jack. A half hour at most this afternoon. My yeoman will contact you to make arrangements.”

And Now the Continuation

Max looked up as the announcement chime signaled an arrival. At least they were on time. Max was now stripped down to a gray cut tank shirt and his boots lay next to his desk. He hated the dress uniform in the first place, but in this humid climate, he wanted to burn it.

“Come in,” he called, abandoning his thoughts about the uniform.

Jack and Xavier entered the posh office. The Rangers could use components from this one room on five colonies, but then he noticed the commanding officer in the cut tank, his arms, and shoulders on display. He clearly made time for the gym. Shaking his head to rid him of the thoughts that were coming unbidden, he greeted the younger man. “Captain, you know Xavier X-1.”

Max nodded, the android had a typically tilted head and quizzical expression. “An android…is that in good taste, Jack?” he asked.

“He’s not your Federation drone that is easily hacked,” Jack answered. “I mean, honestly, do you, people, not design them to have ethical subroutines or to put the needs of life ahead of their own existence?” Jack paused, trying to drop the matter. Mars had affected his past and present as well. “Anyway, we aren’t here to discuss your failings, we need to talk to Xavier.”

"The Romulans already tried to hack into my systems," Xavier said, "and were not successful. I have will, autonomy, and sentience. As Jack said, I was created to be a protector.

"Does a drone sacrifice itself in order to save someone else? Well, I have. I almost lost my leg and my very existence. I did lose my freedom because of it.

"Those people on my world may still be alive. I want, no, I need to know their fate. And they are advanced. They built me. I don't know if they are warp capable or not, but they could become Federation citizens."

"Whether you help me or not, I am determined to go, but my chances of surviving and finding the answers I need without your help are only 32.345%."

Max sighed with clear annoyance. “Xavier, this task is too big for me to approve alone. You and I will have to work together and draft a request for aid to the Federation Council. The biggest hurdle is that your…people,” Max paused trying to sort it in his head. “They may not have attained warp or space flight.

The Federation considers this a big problem. It’s our Prime Directive to not interfere in pre-warp civilizations. Do you understand?”

The android gave a brief nod. "I understand. But the Romulans have already been there, for at least four or five years. They wouldn't be exposing them to an unfamiliar concept. Not to mention the fact that they created me, and a more advanced class of androids as well. I mean it's not like they're firing flintlocks or, what's the word, chucking spears at each other."

“The fact that the Romulans have already exposed your people to advanced warp civilizations will work in our favor. As you’ve said, interstellar space flight isn’t an unfamiliar concept. I’ll need detail, Xavier. What happened in your final days of activity, how did you become inactive, and anything else you can tell me?

“As you’re now aware, Triton Seabase shoves off for our first sail in the morning. I can use some of my spare time to draft the request for intervention from the Federation Council. I think, knowing the advanced abilities of your people to build androids such as yourself, and you claim better, coupled with the Romulans having already introduced your people to a warp-capable civilization, we have a better chance of a positive response.”

"The details are still a bit fuzzy, as a Terran would say. So, I can't be too detailed. However, what I do remember is that the Romulans had turned one nation against another nation and they used religion to do it."

"I was protecting the King, his family, most of them anyway, and a group of refugees that were trying to flee into the mountains, tunnels, a fortress, it's hard to describe, because there is still some missing memory. I sacrificed myself so that they could get away. At least I hope they got away anyway."

"The Romulans captured me and deactivated me and they tried messing with my programming and memory. My programming, my essence, they weren't able to crack or change. My memory, on the other hand, they were more successful with."

This had become a bit more complex than Max anticipated. It was now a question of a holy civil war. Starfleet would not be able to interfere. “I will work on a draft, as I said, but you’re talking about a political disagreement using your own kind to wage it. What the Romulans did or did not do is, unfortunately, hearsay.

I hope that the council will assign an exploratory mission, but there are a lot of complications, Xavier. You have to understand that even your damaged memory presents a problem.”

"I don't disagree with the Federation's reasoning. I've done some research into their history, and I believe I understand the Prime Directive. But, I would argue that it doesn't apply in this case. The Romulans were the ones who interfered. Up until their arrival, there was no real conflict. There may have been some disagreement, but it was never violent."

He paused for a moment, his mind processing. "It was no different than a squabble between Methodists and Baptists on Terra. They might disagree on some things, but they mostly agreed on the major stuff from what I can glean from the records."

"Had the Romulans not interfered with the natural course of the planet's development, there would never have been a Holy War to start with."

“Unfortunately, those are all circumstances that occurred before we will ask for the Council’s help. I’m sure they will take that into account when making their decision, but I can’t make any promises, Xavier. I’ll put in the paperwork before we reach the next Romulan city, I can only hope they have a decision by the time we get back,” Max responded.

"And if they say no, what do we do?"

“Then we can petition the Romulan Empire for the same authority to check on your homeworld. This will become a diplomatic problem as soon as I send the petition to the Federation Council. Let’s hope we get permission from the Council because I’m sure the Romulans won’t approve is going into their space, Xavier.”

“Or a group of vigilantes can find their weakest spot and fly on through, captain. It wouldn’t be that hard,” Jack responded.

Max gave the man a hard stare. “What’s keeping you?” he asked.

“Hard to find parts, but a nice Starfleet shipyard wouldn’t take them about a day to fix it.”

“Great! The nearest starbase is two sectors into Federation space. I’d be happy to give you credentials to enter the system, but you’ll have to get your own credentials to return. I suspect you’re probably wanted in Federation space, so as soon as you’re identified, you’ll be jailed and sent to a penal colony to work off your debt.” Max smiled and batted his eyebrows.

Turning his attention back to Xavier, Max reiterated, “As soon as the Council approves or denies the request, we’ll cross that bridge. And since I’ve said it here, we will petition the Romulan Empire for permission to enter their space at the same time. Once sent, it is out of my purview.”

"Then, I summarise the only option we have is to wait and keep our ankles crossed."

Max smiled, but didn’t correct the android. “We’ll all keep our ankles crossed for you as well, Xavier.” He didn’t have it in him to correct the poor android and, to be fair, that was a lot easier to do than cross one’s fingers.

 

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