Episode 15. The Transporter Dilemma
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Monday, July 15, 2024 - 6:13 PM
- Location
-
- Earth
- Brussels
- USS Mercator
- Bridge
- Timeline
- Unknown Timeline
- Previously
-
An unknown vessel crashed in 1954 and was then hidden by the Americans; in 2024, the global crisis is escalating. Agnes Rodriguez and Angie Chen, commanding the Mercator, carry out inspections and preparations in the Brussels bunker; crew life alternates between routines, blunders, and professionalism. Eros Vitos joins the crew to install DX-01-10 launchers, the Nauvoo-class vessels are revealed in broad daylight, and the order is given to evacuate the NATO summit in Brussels. The fleet takes off to bring leaders and civilians back to safety.
Characters
| Name | Affiliation / Branch | Title / Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Agnes V. Rodriguez | NATO / Special Fleet | Captain |
| Angie Chen | NATO / Special Fleet | Commander |
| Eric Corda | NATO / Special Fleet | Lieutenant Commander |
| Emilie Flores | NATO / Special Fleet | Ensign |
| Charlene Savea | NATO / Special Fleet | Lieutenant |
Manifest
| USS Mercator | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | NATO |
| Location | Hovering over Brussels |
| Captain | Agnes V. Rodriguez |
| First Officer | Angie Chen |
| Pilot | Eric Corda |
| Communications | Emilie Flores |
| Operations | Charlene Savea |
| Advanced Weapons | Eros Vitos |
| Custodian | Manu |
| Passengers | Civilians and Leaders (boarding in progress) |
TL;DR
DEFCON 2: Agnes launches the evacuation and gives a terrifying order: mobilize the transporters despite the ban, opening an ethical and technological dilemma with potentially catastrophic consequences.
Story
Simultaneously, in every Alliance city, the vessels of our fleet position themselves near civilian areas, ready to begin evacuations. For our part, we coordinate with the USS Charlemagne and the USS Manneken, with which we share the Brussels area.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Corda, head toward Boulevard Leopold III and stabilize the Mercator at an altitude of one hundred and fifty meters above the ground.
As the vessel begins to move, the hum of the engines spreads through the entire structure. My gaze remains fixed on the main screen, where the route along Boulevard Leopold III appears in real time. A few minutes are enough to reach our position.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
Vessel stabilized and ready for the operation, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Savea, deploy the tube elevators and authorize shuttle launch.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Elevators deploying. Green light activated for the shuttles, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Number One, supervise the separation of the eight transport modules and transmit to them the coordinates of the landing sites assigned by high command.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Procedure in progress, Captain.
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
Captain!
I'm receiving multiple reports from NORAD, USSTRATCOM, and several intelligence services. All the information matches.
Russia has opened several intercontinental ballistic missile silos, and a large number of nuclear submarines have surfaced near the American and Canadian coasts.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
This time, we've truly reached that point. Russian intentions are clear.
Flores, inform the transporter officers that they must also prepare to participate in the evacuation.
As soon as I authorize them to act, they will have to locate, target, and scan the civilians scattered outside the operating range of our shuttles and transport modules.
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
The transporters, Captain...?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Yes, Ensign. I did say the transporters.
Have you suddenly gone deaf, or are you going to carry out my order?
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Captain, the use of transporters on humans is prohibited by NATO. That order will lead you straight to a court-martial.
Furthermore, the latest experiments on mice were inconclusive. Using them on humans would be like playing Russian roulette.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
I know all that, Number One.
Believe me, I am the first to regret having to give such an order. But the civilians we fail to evacuate will be left to fend for themselves. And against the threat taking shape, their chances of survival are almost nonexistent.
Do I need to repeat my order?
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
Commander... Captain... what should I do?
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Obey the captain's orders, Ensign Flores.
Angie gives me a dark look, then turns away to return to her screen and monitor the ground operations. She does not like it. And I understand her. Considering the use of transporters for anything other than moving equipment is a line no one wanted to cross.
With this still-recent technology, we are going to condemn innocent people to death. Just as we are going to save some.
Just thinking about it makes the hairs on my arms stand on end.
I pray the situation does not deteriorate to the point where I am forced to integrate this system into the evacuation. I have never understood why high command imposed the installation of such an unstable machine aboard our vessel.
A body is scanned.
Then it is dismantled at the molecular and subatomic levels.
And finally, it rematerializes.
In perfect condition.
Or as a pile of mush.