Episode 50. The Impossible Choice
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Thursday, August 1, 2024 - 05:40
- Location
-
- Space
- Lunar Orbit
- USS Enterprise
- Isolation Quarters
- Timeline
- Schak'Irra Timeline
- Previously
-
Since arriving aboard the Enterprise, Tarsi has revealed that she comes from the 26th century and fled her era to repair a temporal contamination caused by the disappearance of the VSS Schak'Irra in 1954. Her holographic data confirms that the Tholians may be involved in the alteration of Earth's chronology. Despite Agnes's mistrust, the evidence is overwhelming: Earth's history has been diverted, and the survival of this timeline may be nothing more than an accident.
Characters
| Name | Affiliation / Branch | Title / Rank | Species | Original Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agnes V. Rodriguez | NATO / Special Fleet | Captain | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Angie Chen | NATO / Special Fleet | Commander | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Tarsi | Starfleet / Temporal Division | Commander | Andorian | Prime Timeline |
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
While Agnes reads Tarsi's personal log, she discovers the full scope of the temporal paradox: their very reality may be artificial. Tarsi proposes a radical solution: return to 1954 to stop the Tholian ship from shooting down the Schak'Irra. But the plan carries a devastating risk, the outright disappearance of their own timeline. Faced with this revelation, Agnes explodes in anger while Angie tries to ease the tension. The crew now faces an impossible choice: save their present... or restore the true timeline.
Story
While Tarsi and Angie talk about their lives, I remain in front of the screen, absorbed by the contents of the Andorian's files. I read through her personal log and feel deeply uneasy having access to it. It is her private sanctuary.
She records her anxieties there. Her visceral desire to find her reality again. She writes about the Enterprise, about us, and about the hope that we will help her correct the contamination that trapped her in this timeline.
Then I come across passages where she describes the consequences that correction would have on our reality.
What I read petrifies me.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Agnes... are you all right?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Yes, yes.
Do not worry.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Tarsi was telling me about her people's rituals, and all kinds of things related to her universe.
It is... relatively fascinating.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Um... yes.
I believe you.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
You look troubled.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
No. Everything is fine, I promise.
I would simply like Tarsi to explain clearly what she expects from us.
Cmdr. Tarsi
It is relatively simple, Captain Agnes Rodriguez.
I want you to accompany me to 1954... so we can correct the contamination.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Excuse me?!
Go back in time?
Cmdr. Tarsi
Of course.
If the Tholian ship shot down the Schak'Irra, I will have to stop it.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
What makes you think the Schak'Irra was shot down?
Cmdr. Tarsi
Your technological advancement.
You got your hands on that vessel seventy years ago and stripped it apart.
A temporal vessel like the Schak'Irra would never have surrendered itself voluntarily to humanity.
Also, Angie said it was mentioned in NATO's secret files.
I deduce that the Tholian prowler ambushed it.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
You have a point, Tarsi.
Indeed, the Americans got their hands on the vessel.
It crashed at the North Pole.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Finally, a serious lead...
What became of the crew?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
We do not know.
No bodies were found.
Our authorities believe they may have been captured by the Soviets.
Cmdr. Tarsi
My God...
I barely dare imagine what they may have done to them.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
We know what they are capable of.
It is better if you do not think about it.
Cmdr. Tarsi
We have to neutralize that Tholian ship at all costs.
It is the only way to restore the timeline.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
And if we succeed... what happens to our reality?
Cmdr. Tarsi
Um...
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Tarsi.
Answer me.
Tarsi glances slightly away, crosses her legs, and brings a finger to her lips. In that moment, she seems almost shy to me. As if she is trying to find the courage to put into words a truth she fears as much as I do.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Um...
There is... a ninety-nine point ninety-nine percent chance that this reality will disappear.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
What?!
And us... what happens to us in all this?!
Cmdr. Tarsi
Temporal physics is an extremely complex discipline.
We do not know precisely what happens to realities that have been artificially disrupted.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
So you are asking us to sacrifice ourselves... to save a reality we do not even know?
And on top of that, you are unable to predict the consequences?
Cmdr. Tarsi
I am sorry, Captain Agnes Rodriguez... I-
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Stop calling me that!
You are getting on my nerves!
Cmdr. Tarsi
Um...
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Agnes...
Calm down, please.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
You heard what she just said, Angie.
This is not acceptable.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
I suggest we suspend this interview.
Take a little time.
That will let us analyze Tarsi's files in detail and get a better grasp of the situation.
Cmdr. Tarsi
I... I do not know what to say.
I am truly sorry.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Do not worry, Tarsi.
We will find a solution.
Are you planning to stay here?
Cmdr. Tarsi
I have no choice.
I have nowhere to go.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
All right.
But for security reasons, you stay in quarantine.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Thank you, Angie.
Thank you, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
[...]