Episode 47. A Fracture in Time
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Thursday, August 1, 2024 - 02:42
- Location
-
- Space
- Lunar Orbit
- USS Enterprise
- Isolation Quarters
- Timeline
- Unknown Timeline
- Previously
-
After discovering an unknown vessel on the Moon, Angie Chen makes first contact with an Andorian named Tarsi, a Starfleet temporal officer from the 26th century. Brought aboard the Enterprise, the alien is placed under guarded quarantine. Meanwhile, Agnes and Angie discuss the nature of their guest, her mysterious origin, and her strange implants, while worrying about the consequences her presence could have on their own era.
Characters
| Name | Affiliation / Branch | Title / Rank | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agnes V. Rodriguez | NATO / Special Fleet | Captain | Human |
| Angie Chen | NATO / Special Fleet | Commander | Human |
| Tarsi | Starfleet / Temporal Division | Commander | Andorian |
Manifest
| USS Enterprise | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | NATO |
| Location | Lunar Orbit |
| Captain | Agnes V. Rodriguez |
| First Officer | Angie Chen |
| Pilot | Eric Corda |
| Communications | Emilie Flores |
| Operations | Charlene Savea |
| Tactical | Eric Corda Charlene Savea |
| Science | N/A |
| Advanced Weapons | Eros Vitos |
| Sickbay | Victor S. Calpel |
| Counselor/Consultant | Manu |
| Custodian | Manu |
| Passengers | Tarsi (Confidential) |
TL;DR
Agnes and Angie question Tarsi in her isolation quarters. The Andorian reveals that she is a fugitive from the future, searching for the Vulcan vessel Schak'Irra, which vanished in 1954. She describes a temporal contamination caused by the presence of a Tholian ship, responsible for altering the current reality. Convinced that the Enterprise holds the key to the problem, Tarsi asks Agnes for help repairing the fabric of time.
Story
When we reach the alien's quarters, I can see that the isolation protocols are being followed. Two security guards are posted outside the door.
Angie goes in first. Once inside, I see the blue being and her two antennae from behind. She is sitting at the table, eating... like an ogress.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Tarsi, this is Captain Agnes Rodriguez.
Captain, this is Commander Tarsi.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Crunch crunch crunch... Hmm... this is delicious.
Hello, Captain Agnes Rodriguez.
Crunch crunch crunch...
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Pleased to meet you, Commander Tarsi.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Did Lieutenant Savea take care of everything you need for your living conditions?
The climate-control settings, or any other adjustments?
Cmdr. Tarsi
Crunch crunch crunch... Yes, Angie.
Charlene did not have to worry too much about that kind of detail.
I am already used to living in conditions similar to those of humans.
Crunch crunch crunch...
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
I see she did not forget to give you something to eat.
Is the meal all right?
Cmdr. Tarsi
Crunch crunch crunch... Excellent!
What are these little grilled sticks called?
Crunch crunch crunch...
Please, sit down.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
They are fries.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Hmm... I love them!
You have no idea how hungry I was.
Crunch crunch crunch...
I have been rationing myself for weeks.
Crunch crunch crunch...
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
I am glad you like the food.
If you do not mind, Captain Rodriguez came specifically to see you, at your request.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Crunch crunch crunch...
Aaah, yes... I had forgotten.
Um... I have a little question.
Am I your prisoner?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Commander Tarsi, you are currently in quarantine.
This arrangement is in place to preserve both security and the confidentiality of your presence.
When this interview is over, you will be free to leave the Enterprise whenever you wish.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Crunch crunch crunch...
I understand, Captain Agnes Rodriguez.
Please, just call me Tarsi.
Crunch crunch crunch...
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Very well, Tarsi.
I would like to know why you sent that distress call on the Moon.
From what I can see, you do not appear to be in danger.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Crunch crunch crunch...
It is a long story, Captain Agnes Rodriguez.
Let me finish this last fry, and I will tell you everything.
Crunch crunch crunch...
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Take your time, Tarsi.
We are listening.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Well, then... as I already explained to Angie, I come from the year 2554.
I am a member of Starfleet, a branch of the Federation of United Planets.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
The Federation of United Planets?
What exactly is that?
Cmdr. Tarsi
An alliance of thousands of systems.
Earth is part of it and is even one of its founding members.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Impressive...
Can we compare that to our NATO?
Cmdr. Tarsi
Yes... and no.
NATO is not the equivalent of the Federation. Let us say that, in an imaginary reality, it could be one of the branches of your United Nations.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
The United Nations was dissolved more than twenty years ago.
Cmdr. Tarsi
So I have heard.
That dissolution should never have happened.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
What do you mean?
Cmdr. Tarsi
In our history books, the United Nations still exists in your era.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
I do not understand.
Can you explain, Tarsi?
Cmdr. Tarsi
There has been a temporal contamination.
It has profoundly altered the course of your History.
That is why I contacted you.
To explain the situation... and ask for your help.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
I am listening.
Cmdr. Tarsi
In 2554, I was assigned to monitor a Vulcan temporal vessel: the VSS Schak'Irra.
My observation post was on Earth.
Its mission was to verify an inconsistency in Earth's events in the year 1954.
But at some point... the Schak'Irra abruptly vanished from the fabric of time.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
That is incredible...
That is the name of the ship in NATO's secret files.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Number One, let Tarsi finish her story, please.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Um... sorry, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Go on, Tarsi.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Despite weeks of in-depth analysis, Starfleet High Command closed the case.
The Schak'Irra and her crew were declared lost in action.
But I did not accept that decision.
So I stole the Tal'Kyr, the Schak'Irra's support vessel, to go looking for her.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Stole?
You stole a vessel?
Cmdr. Tarsi
Yes.
Because I had been suspended from duty by Admiral Quihoui, my superior officer.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
What a... strange name for an admiral.
So, if I understand correctly, you are a fugitive.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Yes, Captain Agnes Rodriguez.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Is that why you are not wearing a uniform?
Cmdr. Tarsi
Um... in a way, Angie.
Before stealing the vessel, I was being tailed by Starfleet Security agents.
To escape them, I slipped into a clothing store in San Francisco... and disguised myself.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
That explains the eccentricity.
And honestly... I love your style.
Go on, Tarsi.
Cmdr. Tarsi
When I arrived in 1954, at the presumed location of the Schak'Irra, I discovered, to my astonishment, the presence of a Tholian ship in her place.
I then created a new temporal vortex to return to 2554... but my shuttle bounced back.
I did end up in my own era, yes, but in an altered reality.
A reality where the Federation did not exist... and where the human species had been almost entirely decimated.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Hmm...
And then?
Cmdr. Tarsi
I made several time jumps. First from century to century, until I found myself about twenty years in your future.
From there, I continued traveling back in time, slowly, step by step... until 1950.
I was trying to understand what had caused this rupture.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
So from 1950 onward, it was still impossible for you to return to 2554 and recover your original timeline?
Cmdr. Tarsi
No, Captain Agnes Rodriguez.
Once there is a temporal contamination, it is impossible... until it is repaired.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
What contamination?
Cmdr. Tarsi
I do not know exactly.
But the Tholian ship I encountered in 1954 could be the cause.
That species is not supposed to appear near Earth.
Especially not in that period.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
What makes you think it is responsible?
Cmdr. Tarsi
Several Tholian ships are prowling through your era.
And one of them will destroy the Enterprise... in the near future.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
We have already been attacked by an extraterrestrial vessel, and we managed to disable it.
Could that be the one you saw in 1954?
Cmdr. Tarsi
No.
It is not the same ship... but it is the same species.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
So the Aragthonians would actually be Tholians.
What do you think, Angie?
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
It is plausible.
Cmdr. Tarsi
The... what?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
The Aragthonians.
A fictional species from an old television series. Their ships look exactly like the one we fought.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Hmm...
I am not sure I understand.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Forget it, Tarsi.
Continue your story.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Yes...
When I witnessed your future destruction, I looked into your records.
It turns out there is no ship more capable than the Enterprise in the immediate vicinity, except for the Vulcan ships.
As a result, I decided to go to the Moon and send you a message to establish contact with you.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
If the Vulcans are more advanced than we are, why did you not contact them?
Cmdr. Tarsi
I am Andorian.
In your era, my species is at war with the Vulcans.
If I had presented myself to them, I would have had no chance of convincing them to help me restore my original reality.
Especially since, in this period, they do not believe in time travel.
I told you...
I studied every possibility.
Only you, and the Enterprise, represent my best hope.