City by the Bay (Part I)

Posted on Sunday, 15 November 2020 - 6:54pm by Captain Barret Stillwater & Commander Soral & Lieutenant Talarn Zilth & Lieutenant Alex Kingsley

Mission: Operation: Ouroboros
Location: Earth: San Francisco
Timeline: MD 2

Arriving by transporter on the campus of Starfleet Academy at one of its transportation hubs, Commander Barrett Stillwater could smell it in the air, rain. He looked up to find almost unfamiliar sight on 24th century Earth. There were almost always blue skies, not a cloud in the sky. Though not today. Today was different and completely inverted from the normality that those born and raised in this century’s Earth were used to. The skies were gray and overcast, an accumulation of clouds colliding together had blocked the sunlight and the city by the bay had a peculiar taste that Barret took in through his nasal passages and it hit the back of his throat. Condensation was lingering in San Francisco Bay. “It is going to rain,” commented Stillwater. Words he never thought he would utter on Earth unless something was planned. It was not supposed to rain today, not on the western coast of Earth’s North American continent. There was order and structure. The weather grid was an advanced piece of Federation technology that maintained a status quo and had scientifically upserted the gods of old.

Stillwater glanced over at Lieutenant Commander Soral, his right hand aboard the USS Standing Bear, his First Officer who was born and raised on Vulcan. Another Federation world that used the same engineering means to control the weather, suppress tectonic and seismic activity, and quell their fiery tempest of a world. Still, they preferred a warm crisply dry desert climate. San Francisco was not that, and it certainly was not that presently with the peculiar moisture in the air. He was waiting for Soral to raise a brow or say how illogical such an assertion was given the weather grid technology though Stillwater also knew if Soral felt the same thing in the air himself, he would likely have an expression of perplexity and wonderment.

"Indeed. It does have a certain freshness to it." Unlike other Vulcans, Soral loved the rain. It had always been a motivator for him and in all honesty he'd gone to the holodeck several times to sip tea or coffee and watch the rain. It calmed him.

Rounding out his starship’s command team was Soral’s T'hy'la, soulmate for lack of better translation. Lieutenant Alex Kingsley was the ship’s Chief Science Officer and recently promoted Second Officer to Stillwater and Soral. “You grew up England, Lieutenant? Does this seem a bit nostalgic to you?” asked Stillwater. Even with the weather grid as an option to keep it bright and sunny, those in the European region of Earth’s former United Kingdom tended to prefer a more ‘traditional’ weather pattern throughout the year.

Studying the overcast sky, Alex wasn’t sure nostalgic was the right word. She had often trudged home soaked to the skin after classes. Of all the things she had to adjust to, the weather had been by far the biggest challenge. “I grew up on Mars and moved to Earth when I was fourteen,” Alex explained, “and there was sooooo much rain. This is nothing.”

Stillwater nodded. "Prairie didn't have a weather grid, no control device. Talarn and I have weathered much worse, especially during tornado season, ion storms, a lot," explained Stillwater. "This is just... not right," he stated as the winds picked up and the skies began to let loose small droplets of rain.

“Tornado season?” Alex repeated, seeming horrified at the prospect. “Sounds ... delightful. But I agree, this isn’t right. Perhaps a malfunction or the grid is offline. Maintenance maybe? Either way, maybe we should move before the rain messes with Soral’s hair...”

Stillwater reached over and ruffled Soral's hair. "Wouldn't want that now would we, Alex?" Barret added with a chuckle. He gestured ahead. "Across the quad and down that path. It will take us to HQ. Talarn is going to meet us there."

Alex bit down on her lip to stifle a laugh, instead taking the lead. “Aye sir.”

Soral merely raised an eyebrow. He re-smoothed his hair.

"We will be meeting with Admiral T'Arev," Stillwater informed the others. "I have never met her personally, but she's been in Starfleet for longer than anyone probably cares to admit. Quite frankly, I suspect she predates the Federation itself. She has had an illustrious career and has been rewarded with a prominent positing at HQ. All of these protests and the general civil unrest as been on her radar since the first Romulan refugees were resettled on Earth and other worlds."

“I can’t imagine all the protests and news headlines are making her life any easier,” Alex commented as the heavens well and truly opened up, making it clear none of them were escaping the downpour. “I remember a lot of news articles about the worlds along the border, unhappy at the resources poured into the evacuation and then the settlement of refugees there. I’ll admit, I never thought people here felt that strongly...”

None of it made sense. To blame and be afraid of refugees. People who had to rebuild everything. Yet she doubted anyone behind the protests was thinking rationally.

Stillwater nodded. "Long history," he replied. "People have a tendency to be warm and welcoming when they know you are not going to actually come to them or only stay briefly. It was not something everyday Federation citizens had a choice in. That choice was made for them, and the Romulans likewise undoubtedly place some blame on the Federation for the destruction of Romulus," explained Stillwater. "Romulans have historically been on the opposing side of the Federation. Earth-Romulan War, The Neutral Zone conflicts, initially siding with the Dominion during the war and Praetor Shinzon just to emphasize the large events of tension."

“But why now? What has made these people do this now?”

"The Romulans lost their home," Stillwater replied. "These people lost Mars. Sure, unrelated. It was the 'synths' that are responsible, but the synth ban was put in place. They practically castrated holograms such as our EMH and shut down any and all research on androids, but Mars is burning still and will be for our lifetime. They needed someone to lash out towards, and the Romulans are 'Other'."

The science officer’s expression darkened at the mention of her homeworld, at the thought of it still burning and the reminder of everyone she knew who had burned along with it. “Mars was a long time ago,” she said under her breath, picking up her pace to walk ahead of her two superior officers.

"Almost ten years," said Stillwater. "A decade ago, but pain still fresh in the minds of many. I believe Roosevelt said it after the Pearl Harbor attack: "...A day which will live in infamy," added the Commanding Officer. As the trio approached the building to ascend the steps Barret noted, "Time heals, but wounds left untreated grow infected or scar over. The damage was done."

“Quite,” Alex conceded as she stepped inside and out of the rain.

Soral followed them in. This news was all troubling to him. There was so much in his mind now. "It has been my experience that time heals nothing."

Stillwater shook his his as they entered the building, an atrium lobby with cream colored marble floors and the blue and white Federation emblem located in the middle of the room designated this a very official building. "Great Vulcan philosophy," teased Stillwater.

There, standing in the center of the lobby atop the emblem was Talarn, waiting for them as arranged. "Misty morning out there. What the hell is that about?" Stillwater inquired to make conversation.

Talarn was glad to see Barret and he actually enjoyed the rain. He had always welcomed it on Prairie, no matter how bad it got. "I'm afraid that the rain has been brought to us by a virus. The weather control grid seems to have suffered some sort of cyber attack. They are doing their best to fix it." He stepped toward Barret. "I'm glad to see you all. People keep giving me "looks"." Talarn didn't like the looks he was getting either. Unfortunately, it was his lot in life, since his Borg components couldn't be hidden in any way.

"Well, they haven't abducted you and taken you for parts yet, so that's a good sign" replied Stillwater. "It's not everyday a Cardassian ex-Borg is standing in Starfleet Head Quarters." Stillwater lead the others down a corridor. "If there's been a cyber attack on Earth's weather grid, we are probably going to hear about it from Admiral T'Arev."

Soral followed. "Sir..there I something I should tell you before we go in there."

"What is it?" Stillwater asked

He looked around. "Is there a place we can all congregate privately for a few moments?"

Stillwater held a sigh. "We have a few minutes before we're scheduled to meet the Admiral, but you know how Vulcans are. She's probably been there several minutes stoically sitting there waiting for us," added the Commanding Officer. He then corralled them into a side room that looked vacant. It was a small unoccupied conference room. "We're not supposed to be in here, but we should be fine for a minute or two. What is it, Soral?"

Alex offered Soral an encouraging smile, knowing it was not easy for him to be discussing something which was still raw and new to him. Yet, particularly with the current tensions, she knew he needed to be up front about this.

"Oh hell," Stilwater said looking at Soral and at Alex. "You're with child?"

“Seriously?!” Alex blurted out incredulously. “Why do people keep thinking that?!”

"It is with resect to the Romulan situation. I have seen that there have been several rallies against Romulans. I assume Terra Prime is behind them however the protests...are having ripples on Vulcan too and as a result people are asking how long until Vulcans, cousins to Romulans, are targeted. This could have a large impact on Vulcan and Federation cooperation." He paused. "In the name of honesty I have contacts within the V'Shar." He didn't say he was a member, only Alex knew that. "There is talk of a referendum call much like one that Ambassador Sarek helped put down many years go. I believe that we must take all this into account and...perhaps a personal confession. I recently found out I carry Romulan ancestry. My mother was Romulan, my father Vulcan." It had been the first time he'd said it out loud.

Stillwater crossed his arms. "Terra Prime died a very long time ago, Commander," The Captain of the Standing Bear said crisply. "Officially at least. Unofficially, perhaps not. Even if Terra Prime as it was died out, the sentiment and sympathizers have not. From the ashes..." began Stillwater alluding to the mythological phoenix. "A dark phoenix in this case. Your 'fears' for lack of a better term, number one, are rightfully placed though your timing is off."

Commander Stillwater cleared his throat. "A 'Romulan' child is currently in serious condition at a Federation medical facility in Berlin. She was attacked by several Human children, but she is in fact, Vulcan, not Romulan" explained Stillwater. "The Vulcans are indeed in as much danger as Romulans, and I am not surprised by your genetic revelation. I would not be surprised if more and more Vulcans start to discover at least one Romulan ancestor in their lineage. This is beginning to remind me of Humans in the 21st century, the 2020s to be more precise. They became infatuated with the ease of spitting into a tube and sending it off by courier and waiting for results and discovering percentages of their ancestral heritage."

He raised both eyebrows. "I have no intention of spitting in a tube, sir. I can assure you of that."

"Perhaps we should meet the Admiral," Alex suggested.

"Indeed." He still had something to say but it could wait. "We should go. Vulcans do not appreciate lateness. Especially if they have that many rank bars on their uniform."


Stillwater nodded. "Alright Talarn, let's make a good impression on the Admiral" teased Barret.