Episode 117. The Future of the Future-Present
Context
- Stardate
- 231729.697
- Location
-
- Beta Quadrant
- Solar System
- Near Earth
- VSS Schak'Irra
- Bridge
- Timeline
- Prime Timeline
- Previously on Trek Outta Time
-
The battle of 1954 ended in a crash of energy and light. The Tarantula, a Tholian monster three to four times larger than the Enterprise, ravaged Agnes Rodriguez's ship. Deprived of shields and propulsion, she ordered an evacuation while VSS Schak'Irra emerged from the future, opening a crossroads between the Prime and Schak'Irra lines. Aware that only one way out remained, Agnes launched the Enterprise into a ramming maneuver against the Tarantula, sealing both victory and her own end. The explosion restored the Prime temporality, but left administrative and moral chaos in its wake: T'Met and Tarsi were arrested by T'Met's younger version for violating the Temporal Prime Directive, while The Grand Tsar Putin resurfaced alive in a neighboring cell.
Characters
| Name | Affiliation / Branch | Title / Rank | Species | Original Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi | Starfleet / Temporal Division | Commander | Andorian | Prime Timeline |
| T'Met | Starfleet / Temporal Division | Captain | Vulcan | Prime Timeline |
| Young T'Met | Starfleet / Temporal Division | Captain | Vulcan | Prime Timeline |
| Zaneth-Myra Lysana (Older Tarsi) | Starfleet / Temporal Division | Commander | Andorian | Prime Timeline |
| T'Killa | Starfleet / Temporal Division | Lieutenant | Vulcan | Prime Timeline |
| T'Less-Cop | Starfleet / Temporal Division | Lieutenant | Vulcan | Prime Timeline |
| Lingua (Initial Version) | Starfleet / Temporal Division | N/A | Artificial Intelligence | Prime Timeline |
| Starfleet Security Agent | Starfleet / Starfleet Security | Agent | N/A | Prime Timeline |
| In'kògnytôh | Starfleet / Starfleet Security | Agent | Ferengi | Prime Timeline |
Manifests
| USS Enterprise Destroyed in 1954 Last known manifest | VSS Schak'Irra | |
|---|---|---|
| Affiliation | NATO | Starfleet / Ni'Var |
| Location | 1954, near Earth | 2554, near Earth |
| Captain | T'Met (Young) | |
| First Officer | Zaneth-Myra Lysana (Older Tarsi) | |
| Artificial Intelligence | Lingua (Initial Version) | |
| Pilot | Eric Corda | N/A |
| Communications | Emilie Flores | T'Killa |
| Operations | Charlene Savea | T'Less-Cop |
| Tactical | N/A | |
| Science | Manu | N/A |
| Engineering | Gornok (Unofficial) | N/A |
| Advanced Weaponry | Eros Vitos | N/A |
| Security | Robert Gomard (Unofficial) | N/A |
| Sickbay |
|
N/A |
| Counselor/Consultant | Manu | N/A |
| Custodian | Manu | N/A |
| Passengers | N/A |
|
| Detainees | N/A |
|
TL;DR
Back in 2554, Schak'Irra is met by a Starfleet Security squadron. The ship is immediately towed to the starbase, and Tarsi is arrested for temporal crimes. While T'Met tries to understand the accusations, Number One Zaneth-Myra Lysana admits that interference between two temporal vortices shifted their return, projecting the ship into the near future. Worse still, that date coincides with the day Tarsi stole Tal'Kyr to travel back in time. The consequences tighten: Starfleet opens an investigation, Admiral Quihoui demands that all files be sealed, and T'Met must report to her office before the end of the morning. The temporal war has merely changed battlefields. It now enters the hushed corridors of Federation bureaucracy.
Story
VSS Schak'Irra emerges from the wormhole with a slight tremor, returning to conventional space in an unsettling silence. The familiar stars of the Solar System shine before them, but something is wrong.
Young Capt. T'Met VSS Schak'Irra
Status, Number One?
Cmdr. Zaneth-Myra Lysana Number One VSS Schak'Irra
One moment, Captain. System synchronization is taking longer than expected.
Lt. T'Killa Communications VSS Schak'Irra
Captain, a Starfleet Security squadron is approaching and hailing us.
Young Capt. T'Met VSS Schak'Irra
On screen, Lieutenant.
Starfleet Security Agent
VSS Schak'Irra, cut your engines immediately. We are going to tow you to the starbase for a thorough security investigation.
Young Capt. T'Met VSS Schak'Irra
An investigation? On what grounds, Officer? This is not the usual procedure.
Starfleet Security Agent
VSS Schak'Irra was declared missing in action. Your sudden return requires exceptional measures.
Young Capt. T'Met VSS Schak'Irra
Understood. VSS Schak'Irra out.
Cmdr. Zaneth-Myra Lysana Number One VSS Schak'Irra
Captain, according to the instruments, we did not arrive at the originally programmed date. More than two months have elapsed since our departure.
Young Capt. T'Met VSS Schak'Irra
Do you have an explanation, Number One?
Cmdr. Zaneth-Myra Lysana Number One VSS Schak'Irra
It is likely that the communication we picked up in the vortex in 1954 is the cause.
Lt. T'Less-Cop Operations VSS Schak'Irra
It was Tal'Kyr, or another version of Tal'Kyr that entered the vortex from the other end.
Young Capt. T'Met VSS Schak'Irra
Illogical. Our equipment is limited to creating one-way vortices.
Cmdr. Zaneth-Myra Lysana Number One VSS Schak'Irra
Unless Tal'Kyr created its own vortex at the same coordinates. Such a disturbance could have projected us to a different date.
Young Capt. T'Met VSS Schak'Irra
Fascinating! An entanglement of two wormholes! Your theory is relevant, Number One. But it will be up to S.T.I. to draw conclusions. Has our journey altered this era?
Lt. T'Less-Cop Operations VSS Schak'Irra
The level of temporal fluctuations, based on data from stardate 231538.7, is below 0.03 %, in other words, within acceptable standards. However, we have no information for stardate 231729.9. It is therefore possible that we are in an altered near future without realizing it.
Young Capt. T'Met VSS Schak'Irra
Thank you, Lieutenant. Noted. Number One, prepare the refugees to be handed over to the Temporal Division as soon as we arrive at the starbase.
Cmdr. Zaneth-Myra Lysana Number One VSS Schak'Irra
Aye, Captain.
Schak'Irra is gently towed toward Earth's spacedock by the Starfleet Security squadron. As soon as it docks, several agents transport aboard, including one group that appears directly in the holding cells where Tarsi and T'Met are.
Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi
Well, here come visitors.
Agent In'kògnytôh Starfleet Security
You, the Andorian! Are you Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi?
Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi
Well, yes! That's me! Who else could I be?
Agent In'kògnytôh Starfleet Security
Commander Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi, I am Agent In'kògnytôh of Starfleet Security. You are under arrest for crimes and serious violations of Federation protocols.
Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi
Whoa! What are you talking about? What crimes am I being accused of???
Agent In'kògnytôh Starfleet Security
You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say may be used against you before a Starfleet tribunal. You will be transferred immediately and held pending trial.
Capt. T'Met
Where are you taking her?
Agent In'kògnytôh Starfleet Security
That does not concern you. Please step aside.
Capt. T'Met
Do nothing foolish, Vexoriana-Lyss'ra. Let's wait and see what Starfleet is charging you with, then we'll decide what to do.
Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi
I hope you do that before they sentence me!
Agent In'kògnytôh Starfleet Security
If you attempt to resist or flee, we will be forced to use force. Cooperate, and this will proceed without incident.
Agent In'kògnytôh gives the order to transport Tarsi and the security team off Schak'Irra. At the same moment, Zaneth-Myra Lysana enters.
Cmdr. Zaneth-Myra Lysana Number One VSS Schak'Irra
Lingua, activate level 1 confidentiality protocol.
Lingua VSS Schak'Irra
[beep] Protocol activated, Commander Lysana.
Cmdr. Zaneth-Myra Lysana Number One VSS Schak'Irra
Thank you, Lingua. Captain T'Met, where is Tarsi?
Capt. T'Met
She was arrested by Starfleet Security agents.
Cmdr. Zaneth-Myra Lysana Number One VSS Schak'Irra
Why?
Capt. T'Met
I was going to ask you the same question. Normally, the Temporal Division judges its own officers.
Cmdr. Zaneth-Myra Lysana Number One VSS Schak'Irra
It is possible we have a problem. We did not return to the correct date.
Capt. T'Met
What went wrong?
Cmdr. Zaneth-Myra Lysana Number One VSS Schak'Irra
I think I'm responsible for this whole mix-up. When I created the vortex to investigate your disappearance in 1954, I used the same return coordinates as Schak'Irra.
Capt. T'Met
That is what propelled you 70 years into the past, to stardate 161541.7. It explains your presence in our era at age 100 under another identity.
Cmdr. Zaneth-Myra Lysana Number One VSS Schak'Irra
Exactly. As for Schak'Irra, we have just been projected into the near future. Specifically to stardate 231729.9. That is the day I stole Tal'Kyr so I could travel back in time.
Capt. T'Met
Logically, Starfleet is looking for you because of the theft. Or at least, they are looking for the young Commander Tarsi you used to be.
Cmdr. Zaneth-Myra Lysana Number One VSS Schak'Irra
That is regrettable. I had not anticipated the consequences of that action, since we were supposed to return to stardate 231538.7.
Capt. T'Met
You are part of Section 31. You could intervene to free her, especially since we have all the proof that your actions were justified.
Cmdr. Zaneth-Myra Lysana Number One VSS Schak'Irra
Unfortunately, no. It is far more complicated than that. Officially, Section 31 does not exist and intervenes only if the Federation is directly threatened. For my part, I'm on an undercover assignment and cannot compromise my cover. To make matters worse, Admiral Quihoui has just transmitted the order to seal all Schak'Irra and Tal'Kyr records.
Capt. T'Met
Why that decision? That's illogical!
Cmdr. Zaneth-Myra Lysana Number One VSS Schak'Irra
I do not know. You will be able to ask her yourself, because you must report to her office late this morning for a debriefing.
Capt. T'Met
Does that mean I am free?
Cmdr. Zaneth-Myra Lysana Number One VSS Schak'Irra
Yes, as long as you remain available to the Temporal Division investigators.
Capt. T'Met
Thank you, Zaneth-Myra. Live long and prosper.
Zaneth-Myra deactivates the cell's force field, and T'Met quickly leaves Schak'Irra to reach the starbase.
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