Episode 103. Reflections of Fate
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Thursday, November 14, 2024 - 17:09
- Location
-
- Tellar Prime
- Zorek Spaceport
- USS Enterprise
- Officers' Mess
- Timeline
- Schak'Irra Timeline
- Previously
-
Weeks have passed since their arrival at Zorek Spaceport, and the Enterprise crew has finally recovered a fragile balance. Through cunning, and a healthy dose of luck, Agnes Rodriguez and her team managed to gather the latinum needed to finance the ship's repairs, entrusted to Gornok and his men. But beneath this apparent calm, one question haunts the captain: what future should be chosen for the survivors of Earth and for humanity itself? Gathered in the officers' mess, the crew members debated the scenarios proposed by Lingua: colonize Proxima Centauri, return to fight on Earth, or even travel back in time to repair the 1954 contamination. As everyone prepares to vote, a presence breaks protocol: Q appears, reminding Agnes that the stakes reach far beyond the fate of her crew alone.
Characters
| Name | Affiliation / Branch | Title / Rank | Species | Original Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agnes V. Rodriguez | NATO / Special Fleet | Captain | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Lingua | Starfleet / Temporal Division | N/A | Artificial Intelligence | Prime Timeline |
Manifest
| USS Enterprise | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | NATO |
| Location | Docked at Zorek Spaceport |
| Captain | Agnes V. Rodriguez |
| First Officer | Angie Chen |
| Artificial Intelligence | Lingua (Unofficial) |
| Pilot | Eric Corda |
| Communications | Emilie Flores |
| Operations | Charlene Savea |
| Tactical | Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi (Unofficial) |
| Science | T'Met (Unofficial) |
| Advanced Weapons | Eros Vitos |
| Security | Robert Gomard (Unofficial) |
| Sickbay | Victor S. Calpel |
| Counselor/Consultant | Manu |
| Custodian | Manu |
| Passengers |
Robert Gomard's squad 4 Vulcan survivors from Schak'Irra Emmanuel Macron K'hoka Khol'a |
| Detainees | Vladimir Joseph Putin and his bodyguards |
TL;DR
Still troubled by her encounter with Q, Captain Agnes Rodriguez tries to understand why this omnipotent being is so interested in her. With Lingua's help, she gradually discovers the true origins of her ship and the unexpected links between her era and Starfleet's. But when Lingua searches the Federation archives, the truth hits hard: in the Prime Timeline, the other Agnes Rodriguez was not a captain in NATO's Special Fleet, but a spy in Moscow's service, convicted of murdering Angie Chen before being poisoned with Novichok.
Story
Q's repeated appearances make me doubt myself because each time, there is no direct witness who can prove that I am not schizophrenic. But this time, even though the room was empty, someone did witness our exchange.
Lingua
[beep] Captain Rodriguez, may I ask you a question?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Oooh, Lingua! I had completely forgotten that you have eyes and ears wandering all over the ship. What do you want to ask me?
Lingua
[beep] I apologize for intruding without announcing myself. I had no ill intent. Can you tell me the nature of your relationship with Q?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
You heard him? You really know him???
Lingua
[beep] I have never interacted with him, but he is known to Starfleet. From what I know, he is an omnipotent and immortal being belonging to a mysterious and powerful species known as the Q Continuum.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
That is what he told me too during our first meeting. What do you know about his powers?
Lingua
[beep] His powers are nearly divine. He can manipulate reality, time, and space at will. He is capable of instantaneous teleportation, matter transformation, mental manipulation, and much more. These abilities make him almost invincible and allow him to play the troublemaker on a large scale.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
It is mostly in my head that he has caused trouble. Is he dangerous?
Lingua
[beep] He may be considered dangerous because of his unlimited powers and unpredictable behavior. He regards humans as experimental subjects, often placing them in morally and physically trying situations in order to observe their reactions. Although his intentions can sometimes be instructive, the methods he uses are often dangerous.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Do you know a way I could get rid of him?
Lingua
[beep] Getting rid of him is an extremely difficult, if not impossible, task. The best strategy is to play his game and try to satisfy his demands.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Do you know why he appears to me?
Lingua
[beep] Q is extremely curious and finds humans entertaining. He enjoys observing their reactions to unexpected and stimulating situations. If he appears to you regularly, it seems he has found a certain pleasure in interacting with you.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Just my luck. I am only a simple starship captain. I do not see what he could find interesting in me.
Lingua
[beep] You are mistaken, Captain Rodriguez. You are not the first captain of the Enterprise to whom Q has appeared.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
As far as I know, my predecessor never had dealings with him.
Lingua
[beep] I was referring to the captain of USS Enterprise-D in the 24th century, commanded by Captain Jean-Luc Picard.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Picard? That rings a bell. Aaah yes, he has already mentioned that name to me. I did not know there was a ship named Enterprise in Starfleet.
Lingua
[beep] For Starfleet, the name "Enterprise" evokes a legacy of greatness, exemplary service, and devotion to the ideals of the Federation. From its creation shortly after 2161 until my era, twelve ships have borne that name. Did you know that your Enterprise was built from the plans of the very first USS Enterprise in my reality?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
No, seriously? How is that possible?
Lingua
[beep] That should not surprise you, Captain Rodriguez. Your Area 51 engineers had access to all the declassified Starfleet files located in Schak'Irra, including the plans of nearly all vessels prior to the 26th century. Look at the data and diagrams.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
I don't believe it... Angie was right from the beginning...
Lingua
[beep] I assure you this is the truth, Captain Rodriguez.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Yes, yes, I believe you, Lingua. I already knew some technologies came from the future of your temporality, but I did not expect our ships to be replicas at all. What a bunch of idiots those engineers were!
Lingua
[beep] Do not be severe with them, Captain Rodriguez. They still showed creativity by finding alternatives to components that do not exist in the 21st century.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
True, though I cannot help wondering what my life would have been without those technologies...
Lingua
[beep] Search in progress... Agnes Valentine Rodriguez, born July 5, 1985, in Namur... Here is the file extracted from the archives of the Kingdom of Belgium... uh... Do you really want to know what your life is in my reality?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
The tone of your voice is worrying, Lingua. Reassure me, I am not worse than I am here, am I?
Lingua
[beep] Uh, I am embarrassed, Captain Rodriguez. Read for yourself...
Lingua displays the file of my double from the Prime Timeline on the screen, and what I see leaves me stunned.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Uh, Lingua, are you certain this is my double in your reality? It is hard to believe this could be true.
Lingua
[beep] I am only reporting the contents of the Federation archives, Captain Rodriguez. Your double was an FSB agent, and she was arrested and convicted for the murder of Angie Chen.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
How could I have ended up there? Is that all the information there is? What happens to her afterward?
Lingua
[beep] Shortly after her conviction, Agent Rodriguez was poisoned with Novichok and did not survive.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Good grief. Above all, do not reveal this information to Angie.
Lingua
[beep] Very well, Captain Rodriguez. I must also remind you that Gornok has been waiting for you for a little while in engineering.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Right. He was supposed to brief me on the progress of the work. I'm running... See you later, Lingua...