fardell24

Lower Decks – Western
The Federation might have been more developed in the later part of the 24th Century, but even so, there were still areas that were akin to the American West 500 years earlier. Places where California class starships were frequently sent.

Starbase 80 was certainly not alone in being neglected when it came to upgrades. It had simply built up it’s reputation over time. The area in question was nearby, far from where the Dominion had threatened.

USS Cerritos NCC 75567 dropped out of warp in an otherwise unremarkable star system less than 5 light years from that much maligned starbase.

“Report,” Captain Carol Freeman ordered.

“Nothing out of the ordinary,” Lieutenant Shax reporterd.

“Bring up the information,” Freeman ordered.


Cerritos approached the M-class planet in the system and established a standard orbit. The Federation colony of New Arizona had been established in the late 2260s, based upon an idealized version of the Post-Civil War American West, without the displacement of those that had inhabited the region before them, nor the social disparities amongst the settlers. Even so, new problems had emerged, including some that reflected the problems faced by their ancestors.

“Hail the Chief Sherrif,” Freeman ordered.

“Aye, Captain,” Shax acknowledged.


“This is Captain Carol Freeman of the USS Cerritos to the Chief Sherrif of New Preoria.”

“Cerritos, I have been expecting you. There are some problems that you can help solve down here.”

“What sort of problems?” Freeman asked.

“It would be best if someone would beam down.”

“Understood.”


It was barely ten minutes later when a team lead by Lieutenant Beckett Mariner materialized on the platform of New Preoria’s main train station. She immediately realized that the architecture of the station resembled those of 19th Century America, although she knew that the rails serving the station were maglev. She lead the team out of the station towards the Chief Sheriff's office next door.


“Lieutenant Beckett Mariner to see Chief Sheriff Jones.”

“He is expecting you,” the secretary said.


“Welcome!” the Chief Sheriff said.

“So, what is this situation that you couldn’t explain to my Captain earlier?”

“There is the usual jobs Starfleet engineers do regarding our infrastructure,” Jones said.

“Yes…” Mariner said impatiently.

“And we’re also having trouble with highwaymen?”

“You mean, pirates?”

“No, Lieutenant. They’re operating from somewhere on the land surface, not in space or from our oceans,” the Chief Sheriff said.

Mariner rolled her eyes. “Highwaymen. Got it.”

“And my deputies, while capable, can’t catch them. We need Starfleet assistance.”

“Like calling in the Marshals in the old days.”

“Too true,” Jones said with a self-depreciating smile.”

( 24th )

Total: 526

USS Cerritos
Mariner entered the room to see Tendi and T’Lyn in the midst of a discussion.

“…I disagree that there isn’t any purely terrestrial life forms on any of the islands,” T’Lyn said.

“But I don’t think there would be any,” Tendi said. “Most of those islands are just atolls.”

“But those that aren’t atolls?” T’Lyn asked.

“Are rather small,” Tendi responded. “With an average size of two square kilometres.”

“You have a point there,” T’Lyn said. “But the largest island is approximately seven square kilometres. I would think that would be a sufficiently large surface area.”

“But that island is one of the most industrialised,” Tendi said.

“That’s true, but even extinct examples of purely terrestrial life would still count.”

Mariner cleared her throat.

“Hi Mariner,” Tendi said.

“Greetings,” T’Lyn added. Mariner could tell there was some annoyance at the interruption.

“That discussion was interesting, but we’re not here for a survey, just laying the groundwork for future surveys,” Mariner said.

“Not entirely true,” T’Lyn said. “We will be surveying some of the shallower seas around their main settlements.”

“That’s great!” Mariner said. “But you do know what I have done in the past.”

“I thought you were turning over a new leaf?” Tendi asked.

“With the support of the Captain and Commander Ransom, rather than going behind their backs.”

“And that is what you did in the past?” T’Lyn asked.

“You have heard of my reputation, right?”

“I have, and I can see why someone would do that, given that I had done some similar things in the past,” T’Lyn admitted.

“Really?” Tendi asked.

T’Lyn nodded.

“The events of the past year have changed me. I’m no longer the headstrong and insubordinate officer I was.”

“That’s a long story,” Tendi said to T’Lyn’s look.

“Let’s get to work,” Mariner said as she put her PADD on the table.

“Of course,” Tendi said.


( Eali Toromi Station )

Lower Decks - An Aquatic Second Contact
USS Cerritos NCC 75567
“Captain’s Log Stardate 59063.3. The Cerritos has completed repairs after the Battle against Buenamigo’s Folly. We’re now on route to the Theta Aquarii System, home to a recently first contacted species, close to Klingon Space. We hope to get back into a routine of professionalism.”

Captain Carol Freeman reflected that she and her crew were lucky to have got out of the situation with the Aledo with the Cerritos more or less intact. She emerged onto the Bridge. “Time to system?” she asked.

“Two hours, 47 minutes,” Commander Ransom reported.


T’Lyn entered the conference room and saw that she was the first there. That was good. It meant that she had time to look over her notes again, and ensure that they were clear and concise. “Personal Log. Cerritos has entered the Theta Aquarii System, containing an M-Class Planet that may be considered the opposite of Vulcan as it’s surface is almost entirely covered in Ocean. The humanoids are…” She was interrupted as the door opened, admitting her colleague, D’Vana Tendi.

“T’Lyn!” Tendi called out. “This is exciting!” she added while throwing her hands about.

“That isn’t a word I would use,” T’Lyn retorted. “’Intriguing’ would be more appropriate.”

“I suppose you could say that. But I would say interesting and another Vulcan would say ‘fascinating’…”

T’Lyn rolled her eyes. Tendi’s rambling was, distracting, at the best of times. “You interrupted my log entry.”

“Oh, sorry. You can continue.”

She pressed resume on the PADD. “The humanoids are aquatic, resembling the Merfolk of ancient Human myths and legends. They live mostly in the water, with the various islands given over to what industry cannot be conducted under the waves. Upon arrival Cerritos will conduct the usual Second Contact procedures, while Ensign Tendi and I will assist with the addition of their biological knowledge of their planet, along with their astronomical knowledge of their system, to that of the Federation, as a basis point for future dual surveys.” She paused.
“Log complete.”

“That’s not all we’ll be doing,” Tendi said.

“Certainly not.”


( D'Vana Tedi looked out of the window... )