====== begin PART II, Shane's office, SB 234:
UNITY =====
Shane turned back to Bren and Rick and said: "Until Mr.
Wright arrives, let's discuss the Detector and the
shipyard. A scout vessel could be of great value for us now,
since recognizance and Intel missions will become more
frequent. How long do you guys expect the time costs for
making the Detector fit for a mission?
"It determines what you want her for? In current state, even
after repairs, she won't be able to put up much of a fight,"
Rick said. "She may look like a Defiant, but not have the
same punch."
Shane nodded: "I am aware of Detector's lesser tactical
abilities. We will use her for stealth mission mainly, so
weapons aren't the biggest issue. Sensors and cloaking
device is what I have in mind for her. Dedicated and secured
computer core for data collecting and analyzing …"
"The Detector was created during time when it believed
Defiant-class unable to handle extensive weapons systems,"
Rick said. "So, she outfitted with most advanced sensor
system of the day. Even for today, pretty impressive. She
also built to maintain a cloaking device, though it had yet
to be installed prior to being abandoned."
Turning to Bren Shane said: "So be it. The first task of
the shipyard will be to upgrade the Detector. The second one
is to repair the shipyard and make it ready to build ships.
I have already a dozen of requests for Danube, Argo and
Peregrine runabouts from Starfleet Command … not speaking
about requests from General Bretam."
Rick simply nodded.
"If you can spare some engineers for us, it should take all
that long to get the Detector ready," Bren said. "I can try
to pull a few strings and have the necessary parts shipped
in within the next few days."
"You two seem to get well along and I believe you will
make an excellent team. I think you Commander Rodgers Could
take a more active role on the shipyard … under leadership
of Commander Ohmsford of course … since we all know that
you 'can't' assume a department head role"
"Understood, sir," Rick said.
+TAPS+ The Captain of the USS Jameson is here as you
requested, Sir" + announced Pakosii through the comm.
+TAPS+ Did he passes all the checks? + Shane asked.
+TAPS+ Yes, sir + Pakosii replied.
+TAPS+ Let him in please +
The elder man, in his 80s, walked into the office with a
security crewman on each side and wearing wrist restraints.
He inwardly smiled at the precautions being places on
someone of his advanced age.
"Thank you for the escort, gentlemen," Wright smiled. "It
was such a splendid walk."
Shane addressed the sergeant standing to Wright's right.
"Remove the restrains and both of you can leave". The
sergeant nodded and removed the restrains. Then both marines
left he room, leaving the four men alone.
"I am Commodore Guzman" Shane introduced himself,
"Commander of Special Forces First Task Force. We need to
talk about you and the device from the Detector. This
conversation needs privacy, but please don't think of
anything funny in the absence of the guards." Shane paused
and added: "Please take a seat. Can I get you anything for
drink?"
"A herbal tea would be nice. Any blend will do," Wright
leaned back in his chair.
"Commanders Ohmsford and Rodgers just reported about your
identity theft. That along would grant you a court martial,
but that's not my biggest problem. My problem is that
device found on the Detector. Is it really that powerful and
Commander Rodgers believes and if yes, who the hell
authorized a weapon of mass destruction?"
"Who authorized it? Many of the same people who were hell
bent on improving our firepower with the new Borg threat
that had arisen at the time. Any advantage was being sought.
I was .. well ... I was given free reign," Wright took a sip
of tea. "I helped with new torpedoes and improved phasers,
but the TechEx was what Starfleet was really looking for."
Wright was fully relaxed now as he stretched his legs out in
front of him, taking another sip of tea.
"Does it work? I don't know," Wright continued. "To an
extent, it'll work. Send whatever affected planet back to
the pre-industrial age. That's for sure. But how really
powerful it is ... now that is the real question. The only
way to answer it is to test it."
Shane looked over at Ohmsford and asked: "Your opinion
Commander?"
"I think testing it in the field is out of the question,"
Bren said as he sat up. "We would need specific conditions
to measure the outcome, conditions which can only be found
in a real life situation and not be recreated in a lab or a
simulation."
Nodding Shane said: "Testing your device isn't an
option. I Agree that the Borg threat was great at that time
and it required … lets say … less orthodox measures. But
now … even while in War with the Romulans, there is no
place for weapons of mass destruction in Starfleet … it
goes against all the principles of the Federation. That
device needs to be dismantled immediately." Shane looked
at Wright with a strange look and added: "Though a smaller
version of such a device could be of great use …"
"No problem," Wright said. "I can't say that I'll be
disappointed to see it destroyed. I'll even be glad to
help."
"Commander Ohmsford and Rodgers will disable the device;
your assistance here is not needed. Well … Commander
Ohmsford means that Starfleet could need someone of your
abilities … but how could I trust someone who pretended to
be dead and stole an another man's identity?"
"Commodore, I didn't fake my death and assume the identity
of Captain Richards on my own. I'm an engineer and
scientist, not an intel operative," Wright said.
Shane pierced Wright with his stare and asked: "So, you
say that Intel helped you? SFI or perhaps SSFI?"
"I'm not certain exactly whom, and I didn't really care at
the time, but I do know why," Wright said.
"Intel works of its own accord," Bren sighed. "Trying to
understand why or how they do anything is like trying to
understand why time moves forward. I wouldn't be surprised
if it had to do with the Romulans, though. Intel keeps a
very close eye on R&D for any possible infiltrations. The
R&D Vault is probably one of the most highly guarded
facilities in Starfleet."
Shane nodded: "A good point" Turning to Wright, Shane
said: "But I suppose there was a certain reason why intel
would lend their hand in your case, Mr. Wright"
"I was close to developing a sensor array that could detect
cloaked ships," Wright said. "Unfortunately, there were some
minor difficulties, and the Tal Shiar got wind of it, so
someone in Starfleet thought it best to put me under wraps.
The idea of Romulan agents hunting me down did not seem too
pleasant of an idea. So, my death was faked."
Shane's got interested in the old man's words.
"Detecting cloaked ship?" he asked. "What kind of
detection do you mean?". His old tactical side got all
excited. Detecting cloaked ships was always the issue in
battle with Romulans and even Klingons. Cloak was one of the
most important tactical advantages in space combat for last
3 centuries...
"I'm talking about being able to detect a cloaked ship as if
it we not even cloaked. It would have made cloaking devices
obsolete," Wright said. "Hell, I could have developed a
smaller sensor to put on a starship."
"That would be quite an important technological
breakthrough" Shane agreed. "The tactical value would be
really great ... but you mentioned some ... minor
difficulties"
"Minor difficulties as in that the Federation did not want a
device that would provoke the Romulans ... or even the
Klingons for that matter," Wright explained. "Not that I
don't blame them. But it doesn't take much to provoke the
Rommies. Our little war now if a fine example of that."
Nodding, Shane said: "True". After a while he added:
"Well, this is really a hard nut to crack" He looked at
the three men saying: "This is far beyond my authority to
make any final decision ... but I am the most senior officer
around and we need a decision, even if only a temporal one.
I will inform SSF Command and until they decide about your
future Mr. Wright, you shall stay under your disguise as
Starfleet Captain. The last thing I need are Romulan agents
hunting for you on my station. You shall submit a request
for extended medical leave to my office and it will be
granted. You will stay on the UNITY, under watch of
Commander Ohmsford. I will not arrest you or put guards on
your tail, but please be not mistaken ... you will be
constantly watched. Your level of cooperation with Commander
Ohmsford and Rodgers on our tech projects will be considered
when a final decision will be made. Disobeying any part of
my order will mean immediate arrest for you Mr. Wright, I
hope I made myself absolutely clear."
Shane nodded towards the three men and added: "You are all
dismissed!"
====== End of log ======
Cmdr. Bren Ohmsford
Science & Act. Engineering Advisor
1st Task Force, SSF Command
&
Cmdr. Rick Rodgers
AEO
SB 234: UNITY
&
Commo. Shane Guzman
CO, 1st TF, SSF Command
CO, SB 234: UNITY
&
Mr. Wright (NPC by Rick)
