Episode 33. The Classified Files
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Monday, July 22, 2024 - 09:33
- Location
-
- Space
- Lunar Orbit
- NATO Starbase
- USS Enterprise
- Captain's Quarters
- Timeline
- Unknown Timeline
- Previously
-
After surviving the nuclear chaos and the precarious journey to the Moon, the crew of the Mercator is finally welcomed aboard NATO's starbase. The vessel is condemned, but Agnes and Angie are given a new destiny: command of the USS Enterprise. They discover their quarters and begin finding their footing, surrounded by their officers and Manu.
Characters
| Name | Affiliation / Branch | Title / Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Agnes V. Rodriguez | NATO / Special Fleet | Captain |
| Angie Chen | NATO / Special Fleet | Commander |
| Victor S. Calpel | NATO / Special Fleet | Doctor |
Manifests
| USS Mercator Out of Service | USS Enterprise | |
|---|---|---|
| Affiliation | NATO | NATO |
| Location | Docked at the NATO Starbase | Docked at the NATO Starbase |
| Captain | Agnes V. Rodriguez | |
| First Officer | Angie Chen | |
| Pilot | Eric Corda | |
| Communications | Emilie Flores | |
| Operations | Charlene Savea | |
| Advanced Weapons | Eros Vitos | |
| Infirmary | N/A | |
| Counselor/Consultant | N/A | |
| Custodian | Manu |
TL;DR
Agnes and Angie take possession of their new quarters aboard the Enterprise. While exploring the place, they discover an ultra-confidential file sent by Admiral Michaux, revealing that NATO has been exploiting extraterrestrial technology since the 1950s... and mentioning the existence of a certain captain of Vulcan origin: T'Met.
Story
After that little visit to the bridge, we take the turbolift again. Destination: our quarters.
And that is where we run into a new problem.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
How do we open the door, Angie?
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Hmm... good question.
There is not even a handle.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Someone is passing by.
We could ask him.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Hey, you over there!
Please!
Dr. Victor S. Calpel
Huh?
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Oh!
Doctor Calpel! I did not recognize you.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Good morning, Doctor.
Dr. Victor S. Calpel
Good morning, Commander Chen.
Good morning, Captain Rodriguez.
I have been transferred here, and I am looking for sickbay.
You would not happen to know where it is hiding, would you?
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
If I remember the plans correctly, it should be on deck 5, Doctor.
Dr. Victor S. Calpel
Thank you, Commander.
Did you want to ask me something?
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Yes, Doctor.
The captain would like to take possession of her quarters.
Do you know how the door opens?
Dr. Victor S. Calpel
The captain simply has to place her hand on the biometric reader, right here, Commander.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Thank you, Doctor.
Did you get that, Agnes?
Do what the nice doc said.
Put your little paw on the thingy.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
OK...
It works!
The door is opening, Angie.
After you.
Make yourself at home.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Wow... our very first cabin!
It is huge! Almost as big as our old little apartment in Brussels.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Yep.
Well... decoration-wise, though, it is nothing special.
Purple lighting tinted with green... that is a choice.
With purple neon lights and a glowing sign with a pin-up, we could almost turn the place into an adult entertainment club.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Hey, look, Agnes!
There is a gigantic plasma screen built into the wall.
At a glance, it must be at least two hundred inches.
And on top of that, it is connected to the network.
It says you have two unread messages.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Nothing to say... this is five-star living.
Living room, lounge, fitted kitchen, dining room, bedroom with a double bed...
And a bathroom with a shower.
All it is missing is a garage for my bike.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Ha ha ha!
Yeaaah!
While you read your messages, I am going to go have a little fun under that shower.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Go ahead, Angie.
I will join you in a few minutes.
I head toward the screen. Two new messages.
I open the first one.
A summons for a meeting with all captains and their first officers, tomorrow at fifteen hundred hours, in the starbase's main conference room.
Then I open the second.
This one is encrypted.
I enter the secure code.
The characters come into focus.
A confidential file.
Sender: Admiral Michaux.
I have barely opened the first page when, suddenly, a scream rings out from the bathroom.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Help!
Help!
I jump.
Angie's scream cuts through the bulkhead like an alarm.
I spring up from the couch and rush toward the bathroom.
A blast of icy air escapes when the door opens, accompanied by a cloud of condensation...
And an even shriller scream.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
What is happening, Angie?
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Agneeeeees!
Help me, quick!
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Ha ha ha!
I see you have met the dryer.
Press the red button to stop it.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Oh my God...
I really thought I was done for.
But Agnes... what is this thing?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
It is called a dryer, Angie.
There were some on the Mercator's lower decks.
According to Manu, it is fairly recent.
From what I can see, this cabin has a dual purpose.
The blue button sprays you with water...
The red button blows air at you.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Brrr... so cold...
Basically, it is a shower-dryer that turns me into an ice cube.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
The third button lets you adjust the temperature.
Obviously, if you set it like a freezer, no wonder you are frozen.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
I did not touch anything at all!
I just pressed the red button thinking it was hot water!
Get your clothes off quickly and come into the shower with me.
I do not want to stay alone in this infernal machine!
After showering and being literally blown away by the dryer, we return to the living room to finish reading our mail.
Comfortably settled on the couch, we display the ultra-confidential file sent by Admiral Michaux on the screen.
It contains information about events that took place on Earth... things we would never have imagined.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Blah blah blah... we know that.
Blah blah blah... that too.
But this... this is new, Angie.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Yes...
In 1954, near the North Pole, the Americans discovered an extraterrestrial vessel that they later transported to Area 51.
This is fascinating, Agnes.
Did you know about this?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
No.
But I had suspected something for a few years already.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Oh yeah?
What, Agnes?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
During our academy training at Area 51, there were ultra-secure sections strictly forbidden to unauthorized personnel.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Yes, I remember that.
We were not allowed to set foot there under any circumstances.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
What you do not know is that I accidentally ended up in one of those areas.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Really?!
How did you get in?
Come on, tell me, Agnes!
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
I simply got lost.
A corridor door had been left wide open.
I took it, thinking I was heading toward our classroom.
I realized my mistake when I emerged into a vast depot, with containers stacked on top of one another.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
And... did you see anything special?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
One of the containers was half open.
Inside, there were all kinds of strange devices.
I did not try to learn more.
I turned around and ran away.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
But Agnes... why did you never tell me?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
I never dared, Angie.
At the time, the death penalty had just been reinstated for crimes like espionage or treason.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
I am not just anyone, you know!
You should have told me.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
No, Angie.
There was no way I was dragging you into that.
Keeping you in the dark was the only thing to do... in case I had been caught.
Do you forgive me, my angel?
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Hmm...
I suppose I will have to, you little secret-keeper.
Shall we read the rest of the file?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Obviously.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
In 1959, alien technology was shared and exploited by the Alliance member countries.
They mention our vessels' thrusters, warp, phasers, energy shields, transport...
In short, everything we use today.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Incredible...
NATO recovered technologies from another world.
I cannot believe it.
Look lower.
They talk about the passengers of the vessel.
There is even a photo.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Holy moly, Agnes, do not click so fast!
I am reading the file!
- Name: T'Met;
- Species: Vulcan;
- Gender: Female;
- Affiliation: Starfleet;
- Rank: Captain;
- Assignment: VSS Schak'Irra.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
She is an extraterrestrial, Angie.
They specify that the Americans never found the vessel's crew.
They suspect the Soviets captured the members.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
They must all be dead by now.
All of that happened more than seventy years ago.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
You may be right.
What intrigues me is the vessel prefix, her rank... and her affiliation.
It almost feels as if there is a human origin behind all this.
Do you not think?
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Myeah... strange.
Do you know who this alien reminds me of?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
No. Who?
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
The Venusian Splick, in the series Galaxy Patrol.
They have the same physical characteristics: pointed ears and eyebrows slanting upward.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Stop...
You are fixating on that series.
Santa's little green elves have those traits too, and that does not make them... uh... what is that species called again?
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Vulcans, Agnes.
Vulcans.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
That's it.
The word was on the tip of my tongue.