Decision: In which a choice is made, with intent to divert all that follows.
---=={***}==---
Commander Delilah O’Niel, Lieutenant Siatt Onehli, and Ensign Tarah were in the prefab construct built in Ponyville. Lieutenant Commander Vulzy Raat, Lieutenant Bindalla, and Ensign Maya Oasis were in the mountains, scores of miles away from Ponyville. Lieutenant Syoosi was under the waters, at the bottom of the Froggy Bottom Swamp.
Federation communications technology meant those distances didn’t matter. Only Syoosi had access to a fully equipped communications terminal in the shuttle, and while the Ponyville group had a more limited field terminal, and the mountain group was limited to a data pad and a few tricorders, but that equipment was enough so that each of the seven could see each of the others, either directly or a hologram of the officer.
“Commander, my position requires I say this,” Raat said, opening the debate as First Officer, “but this isn’t our fight; we were only attacked because we came here. I hate to say this, but for all the help the natives have given us, we can stand back, and wait for Starfleet rescue.”
“Which would be poor repayment for the help the ponies have given us,” Tarah snapped back. “Without their timely rescue, at least half of us still aboard U.S.S. Judges would be dead now. We now have a chance to repay them, and honor demands we pay the debt, not cowardly hide away.”
“And hiding away means giving the Orions free reign over this planet,” Siatt countered, “We looked at the scans we made on the approach, and there are rich deposits of Dilithium, above and beyond the magic the natives possess. Those ‘gem lamps’ they use are built around a piece of Dilithium. Once the Orions realize that they’ll be able to secure for the Klingons what may be a critical advantage in the war.”
“Planet hosts many anomalies,” Bindalla commented. “Magic only start. Historical and mythological similarities, development of things to make them go. Great possibility for research, learning. Easier as friends.”
“And I’d like to make a vote in favor of that,” Syoosi added. “Their magic represents an untapped vein of practical applications, once we figure out how to make use of it.”
The lowest ranking officer spoke up. “They’ll try with us or without us,” Maya said, “and without our help I can see this getting very ugly for them, very fast. On the other side, if things go well for them, they may gain access to advanced technology. They’re progressing quickly, but. Either way, we lose control.”
“Officers, I’ve heard your arguments, and must reject all of them in making my decision,” Delilah said, speaking for the record. “I’m cutting off further debate, and making the decision on my own authority alone.” That was a coded phrase, which would protect her officers from any legal fallout of her orders. Under Starfleet’s chain of command, they could only refuse those orders if those orders would violate the Federation’s laws. “My decision is based on the potential danger posed by the cultures of this planet.”
“They may appear to be simple, but these people are well organized and effective, and manage their biosphere and atmosphere to a degree only seen on Earth and on some other Federation home worlds. They have a standard of living on par with an industrialized culture, created by an average of fifteen hours of work a week, the rest of their time devoted to rest, socialization, and play.”
“We’ve seen what these people can do in a week to try and protect their home,” she gestured to indicate what was happening in Ponyville. “The demographics, with rapid adoption of heavy industrialization, and cutting their leisure time to the bone, support their gross system product increasing by factors of magnitude in a matter of months. Once they reach the warp threshold, they’ll be able to bring in merchants with technology to make centuries worth of leaps in the technology, drives, and weapons they may believe they will need. I know they can find Frengi groups that will jump at the chance to sell them what they need to complete their uplift, and I pity the one that tries to cheat Princess Celestia or her people.”
“This world has access to resources to build a fleet of aggressive defense, and when they add their magic to that, magic I don’t know if anyone short of the Q Continuum can understand, let alone match, I fear for the fate of the Federation. I can see the Alpha Quadrant burning at the hooves of a Glorious Celestial Empire in as little as twenty years, if they don’t feel they can find friendship out there; if they decide they must cleanse the stars to protect their own.”
The officers looked at their Commander with a mix of disbelief, shock, and dawning realization.
“I see two alternatives,” Delilah flatly stated, “One involves carpet-bomb genocide, wiping out this planet’s biosphere.”
“And the other?” Siatt asked, setting up the question.
“The other involves helping them now, while they are weak. It involves seeing their offer of their friendship and raising it by the offer of our respect for them.”
“Captain?” Maya asked, “Are you suggesting-”
“That we equip them with our weapons, and take them with us when we attack the Orion ship.”
“Then, no matter else what happens, Equestria won’t grow to become a threat to the Federation. If we succeed, we will stop criminals from enslaving and exploiting the people of this planet, and they will see our value as allies demonstrated. If we fail, they will see our character, and know that we mean them no harm. Even if Starfleet condemns our actions, we will have sent a message that can not be erased.”
“We can sit this one out, and know that we’ll probably live, but only at the cost of abandoning our duty and our oaths as officers. We may not be punished for making that choice, but we’ll know we’re not fit to represent the Federation.”
“And even if we die, we will have gone in knowing that we have met the demands of the uniforms we wear, and are ready to give our lives, to sacrifice our honor if need be, to protect that which we love.”
“We help the natives, pony and griffin, because, whatever else happens, we win, even if we don’t live to see victory.”
---=={***}==---
They didn’t have much time, but going in without a plan would all too likely prove suicidal as well as futile. While Starfleet discussed their options, a party of griffins had arrived from Canterlot, bearing with them maps of known caves in the unclaimed region between the griffin city-states and Equestria.
“An Orion Frigate is in orbit. From our passive scans, and Luna’s divination, we can say that it is off a class optimized for raiding, not on-board cargo handling. The small craft have returned to their mountain cave base to ‘process’ their captives, putting them into livestock boxes such as we found Dash in.”
“This gives us a few hours in which we can rescue those captives, and give ourselves the chance to take the Frigate as well, shutting down their operations in this system long enough for Starfleet backup to arrive.”
Delilah was running the briefing. She gestured to the unrolled scroll; a map of the border region cave the raiders were using, provided by the griffin group recently arrived from Canterlot. Prince Blueblood had secured the City-State of Aleph’s general agreement to cooperate against hostile extra-terrestrials, and while Aleph was considered the most diplomatic, and “fond of talking,” of the often contentious griffin nations, the embassy group had reacted quickly. There were only four representatives, but knowing the layout of the cave the raiders were using would be invaluable.
“The joint group in the mountains will attack the base, first by the smaller entrance, then an airborne group in the larger entrance. The spearheads will be ponies and griffins using conventional weapons, but reinforced with personal shields. With luck, the Orions won’t know about the Starfleet presence, and will lower the ship’s shields, either to beam down reinforcements or to beam their own people out.”
“Once those shields drop, we will use the transporter aboard our shuttle to beam a boarding party to the Orion Frigate.” Delilah gestured to a data pad, showing a schematic. “Our first target shall be to subvert or disable the main computer, followed by the energy distribution systems.”
“Due to the need for speed, we don’t want to take too many up. As well, the transporter window may be narrow. The boarding team shall include Siatt and myself,” she firmly announced.
“Commander, your injuries-“ Siatt interjected.
“Are healed enough to let me participate, and my technical skills will be required.” She looked to the pony and griffin representatives. “A few more from your people?”
“I’m going,” Rainbow Dash declared, “I want a rematch.”
The emissary from Aleph said, “Three of my guards are available to join your boarding party.” He gestured to indicate the three warrior griffins behind him
Princess Luna commented, “I don’t see Gretchen, who if I recall is the captain of the Embassy Guard.”
“She has recused herself from this mission, and declined to explain,” the griffin diplomat replied.
Rainbow Dash, coughed. “I think I know why... she’s Gilda’s mom.”
There was a moment of silence at the revelation, before the briefing continued. A few minutes were spent discussing the layout of the cave, and how the mountain group would attack it; thanks to Federation communications technology the officers involved with that side of things could see the maps.
“One last detail must be addressed before we go in,” Delilah said, “specifically the rules of engagement and our goals in this operation. Our first priorities are the rescue and lives of the kidnapped ponies, and the lives of our people. That said, we’d also like to take as many prisoners as we can; we’ll be going in with phasers set to ‘heavy stun.’ But if they up the stakes, so will we. At the code-word ‘Pandora’ the rules of engagement shift to neutralizing threats quickly.”
The Griffin Emissary nodded. “At the moment, we have no objection to that. For the moment Equestria will have legal jurisdiction over any prisoners taken; their crimes were committed here, they are and have been in pursuit, and their hideout is unclaimed territory under griffin tradition. Their home states may have something to say about the matter, but that is for after, when we have more time.”
Princess Celestia nodded her agreement. “In respect to Starfleet’s Prime Directive, we will not interrogate off-world captives for technical information; in return, we would like your crew’s assistance in keeping prisoners secured.”
Commander O’Niel nodded to the Solar Regent. “That sounds like a good starting point. The details we can address later, but now it is time for battle, and to protect our own.”
Author’s Notes for Chapter 8: Decision
First: I added a /very/ minor scene to the start of the previous chapter; 62 words, no plot changes. It’s completely optional reading. (I am curious if anyone will notice the literary “arty bit” involved with this choice.)
Second: Yes, it’s the shortest full chapter, for a cluster of reasons. Because of the time pressure, they can’t delay too long before acting. The stark and serious mood of the characters is reflected in the writing, which wastes as little time as possible on description. (And some of the characters are still being created.) And getting the right mood for the chapter precluded putting in some of what I did have written, that explains part of Delilah’s choices, which leads into the next point:
Third: I know the Trekies among my readers are going to be asking me about the Prime Directive issues with Delilah’s decision to share equipment. Trust me, that part of the Starfleet meeting will be shown in the next chapter, or I may present it in another way...
Yay, update!
and already I want MOAR!!! but seriously, that whole thing about a Glorious Celestial Empire.... maybe in the Mirror Universe, but never in this one.
Actually, according to the Prime Directive, I think at this point Delilah is in the free and clear having been asked by the planet's effective leader for assistance against the Orions. What concerned me more was all that talk about a Solar Empire threatening the Federation. I am sorry, but one planet, no matter how industrious, can't hope to compete with a network of thousands of sytems. There are hundreds of Homeworlds, with many more colonies, in the Federation. And even weakened with dealing with the Klingons, having to aid the Romulans as their empire collapses, and trounce the True Way out in Cardassian space, The Federation would TROUNCE Equestria.
It just felt out of place, both from the stand point that it isn't something that any sane individual would postulate, nor as a credible threat. Also, the ponies spend a lot more than 15hrs a week working. Applejack alone is shown to spend the vast magority of her time tending her farm or selling produce. Yes, they are not as industrialised as even late 19th century earth. Then again, with industrial replicators and the dilithium to power them, they could replicate components without having to lift a hood. Of course, same can be said of the Federation, which again, more planets, more established, ext ext.
Just my 2 bits.
Side note: Had Star Trek Online ads in the banners while reading this chapter.
Wow on the thoughts of an Equestrian Empire blazing across space.
Yeah... Magic militaristic ponies in space would have even the klingons worried. I can easily see fleets of invisible spaceships with shield by-pass spells reeking havoc across the star lanes in only a few decades. Not to mention the dilithium/gem spell array of weaponry that they would be mounting.....
Anypony out there think that Discord might actually be one of the Q ?
1505408
The Prime Directive issue I was referring to was "giving the locals advanced weapons" not "openly helping the locals". This chapter was for big, dramatic decisions, next chapter will go into the technical details.
And as far as the rest of your comment goes... I, as the author and your narrator of this story, never claimed the scenario presented in this chapter is probable, or even possible. I'm just going to admit that I haven't yet revealed everything that went into Delilah's decision to make that argument, but unless my memory of what I've written over the last eight months is badly flawed, you may be able to make a good guess as to why.
1505807
It is your story, Metboy, just voicing my concern about that one part of the chapter.
1505422 what, haven't you seen their war on /b?
Le Part 1
Le Part 2
That's just the beginning.
Personally, I really liked this chapter. The escalation is well timed, and the extremely inspiring discussion in the first half of the chapter is enough to make you cheer. Well done.
812988
After much delay (and forgetting about it several times) behold, the officers of the USS Judges! Click here
So, any room for a Vesta-Class ship in here? Vice Admiral Anderson and his band of high-end Boffs? (including a Borg)
Would need to change the name of the ship, but everything else could be incorporated.
If you don't have a "space" for new Starfleet ships, you could introduce them as reinforcements.
1703138
Sorry, there won't be room for Starfleet Ship cameos for a while, and something as powerful as a Vesta-Class ship is YEARS away, given my writing speed. Not until story 6 or 7 will the scope be large enough for VA level ships to be involved in more than passing.
There will be room in story 2 for cameos, and when that time comes I will explain the rules involved... But you will be asked to provide a more level-appropriate ship. Like, the level 10-29 range.
Spinoff stories may be possible, if you feel like writing a story in the same setting, but I'd like to talk before you publish.
ETA on the next chapter — starting to obtain some fear.
1742393
Maybe this week, maybe next week, maybe the week after.
I haven't given up, not by a long shot, and I'm making some progress nearly every day. But this chapter is requiring that I put a lot of thought into the action, characters, and setting. Further, life is getting in the way of peak productivity.
I'm guessing that I'm @ 1750 of 4000 words, and at an average of 250 words/day...
I don't know.
I had been putting off reading this until I had finished the first contact sequence in my own story, for fear of having it influence my own thought processes. Still now that I have read it, I’m glad I did. You’ve got an interesting cast of characters in an exciting scenario that works well within the given framework of both MLP and STO.
I kind of have to agree with the ‘hand waving’ of the Equestria’s warp program; it just seems a bit too convenient. Perhaps if they had been researching warp technology for an extended period before the events of the story, or were attempting to reverse engineer the technology from downed or captured alien ships it would be more believable. It might just be my own ‘head-canon,’ (for lack of a better term), but I find it hard to believe from the level of technology depicted in the show that the ponies of Equestria would be anywhere near making that kind of leap, in spite of rapid industrialization or even ‘magic.’
Delilah’s description of the hypothetical warp-capable Equestrian Empire after losing faith in friendship is one of the more disturbing images I’ve come across recently. It’s almost like the image was deliberately painted to be reminiscent of the Dominion’s, or even the Borg’s, quest for ‘order.’ Whether or not the scenario is plausible or even possible, (I’m sure some of her officers must have questioned that), in the early 25th century, the Federation can’t miss out on the chance to make a friend, or afford to make an enemy.
I look forward to reading more in the future.
O'Niel makes some good points. However, you can't call it progress when it amounts to "clap your hands and believe" like Ork tech. They have clearly demonstrated scientific understanding so lacking that they don't even seem to be curious about the natural world or anything else. Their progress is non-existent and relies entirely upon magic. Any advanced technology acquired through trade would likely be illegally obtained due to their inability to meet any scientific or technological requirements to be permitted trade. What tech they do get, they will not grasp even the most basic scientific knowledge of.
Basically, if they do manage to trade with the black market (even ignoring that they have nothing to trade with to a post-scarcity society), they will merely be using the technology of others with no technology of their own. It will also result in the ponies having access to advanced technology and the other species and cultures of their world being left out. How, then, would you justify either leaving the inbalance or correcting it by giving technology to other pre-warp societies?
The links in 1516995 are, unfortunately, dead. Deceased. Pining for the space fjords.
Here are replacements: Part 1. Part 2.