In the arms of a stranger

Posted on Mon Jun 15th, 2020 @ 6:06pm by Hak

Mission: Torn- Parallel Majestic
Location: Yorktown Settlement, Valo System
Timeline: PMD1
916 words - 1.8 OF Standard Post Measure

An eclectic group of civilian leaders from around the settlement had gathered to give regular updates. It was a regular meeting and mostly a rather informal affair, as most things generally were at the settlement. The conference room was filled to capacity and was abuzz with side chatter interspersed with the section leaders giving updates about supplies, food, medicine, the school, and finally the facilities.

Station Commander Hakala stood up at the end. "The water reclamation and recycling systems continues to be an issue in hydroponics dome three and habitat zones twelve through fifteen and we continue to have a shortage of resources to fix it. We've reached out to the Ares One settlement, but we haven't heard back yet."

"And we know how expensive they are," someone else piped up. "The last time they took three months worth of crops as payment and half our people were hungry for months."

Hak held up a hand. "We know. It's not ideal, but this is exactly why we ramped up food production to begin with." He paused a moment before he added, "Not to give too much hope, but there is another option that recently revealed itself to us."

The murmur of side conversations died down a bit as everyone paid attention.

"We've been contacted by a ship, the Majestic," Hak announced. He purposely left out a lot of details for this group, such as the ship's prefix 'USS' or that the ship's captain was one Jane Saulitis, a name that might sound familiar to a number of Yorktown's leaders. "It's very complicated, but it appears they are new to the... area. Our probes detected them emerging from the Ooare portal."

The mention of the Ooare was, as Hak knew it would be, a trigger for many people around the table and voices rose in objection and there were suddenly several hands that shot up with questions.

"They are not Ooare," Hak assured, motioning for people to put down their hands and to be quiet again, "but we think they may have somehow stumbled into the portal and been brought here against their knowledge."

"Who are they?" Someone asked loudly.

"We'll find out soon enough," Hak promised. "The ship, from what little I have seen, is newly built. It's not something we have record of from Starfleet days. New technology, new furnishings. It's probably fully stocked with supplies and fuel for replicators. The passive specs from the probes are like nothing else we've seen. Even Ares One's attack squadron wouldn't stand a chance against it."

"I've invited them here," Hak added after a pause.

"You've invited a war ship here?"

"We don't know that they are a ship of war," Hak countered.

"They could destroy us... or worse!"

"Or they could save us," Hak nodded simply.

"You will bring about our downfall, inviting enemies inside our defenses."

"I did not sense malevolence from their leader," Hak's jaw tensed. "But there is always that chance, yes. There is also a chance that they will ally with us, or at least not see us as a threat and perhaps even help us. Not all outsiders should be feared."

He looked over the concern written on the leaders' faces, felt the fear of the unknown in their gazes. Outsiders never brought goodness, only conflict and terror in recent memory, but he couldn't help but feel this was not the case with Majestic. "I assure you that we're approaching this with an abundance of caution. In the meantime, I implore you to keep an open mind and heart. That's all I have right now." With that, Hak headed out of the meeting.

Outside the meeting, Hak's security chief, Meriven, rushed to catch up with him. Meriven was of at least partial vulcanoid descent, evident by her ears and severely angled eyebrows and forehead. Her red hair was tied back into a long braided pony tail that cascaded forward over her shoulder. "What if they won't help us?"

"We'll do everything we can to convince them to," Hak replied, not slowing his stride.

"Failing that? This settlement is on the brink of disaster, Commander," she caught him by the shoulder and forced him to look her in the eye. "We need that ship. With the right management, it would provide power and essential functions for the next hundred years. That's not even taking into consideration the tactical superiority we would have over Ares One."

He looked at her, put a hand on her jaw and caressed her cheek with his thumb. He knew what she was saying. "What you're proposing is an act of war against a much stronger entity. We wouldn't survive if we failed to take their ship."

"Then we don't fail," Meriven answered passionately, leaning into the man's touch on her cheek. "I will draw up a plan. Just in case your way doesn't work. The survival of the settlement is our sworn duty."

He took a deep breath and nodded. "Fine," Hak agreed reluctantly. "It doesn't get implemented unless I give the word. It's a last resort."

"Of course," Meriven agreed, already starting to turn away. There was much to coordinate and she would need every hour of it if she was to be ready.

"I mean it," Hak warned.

Meriven looked over her shoulder at him. "I know you do." She winked and threw him a kiss. "Remember, fortune favors the prepared."

---

Commander Hakala, Yorktown Settlement (Parallel)
pnpc by Murphy