Chapter 4 - Dance Of The Admirals
TWO WEEKS LATER…
"I am furious!" shouted a gray-haired Admiral Fergus Simmons. "This entire project is the height of folly!"
Simmons took a deep breath before he continued. He looked about the table at the other eight admirals at the meeting. He found it difficult to believe that they could not see the facts before them as clearly as he did.
"Look at this monstrosity," he said. A holographic display came to life above the table showing the layout and specifications of the Oceana Class Starship. "Eight matter-antimatter reactors, forty-five decks, a crew of three thousand, a length of more than a kilometer, and it houses any ship up to a Defiant Class in its Main Bay, and a primary weapon system that can shatter a small moon! This isn't a starship, it’s insanity."
An irritated Admiral Leland Turgidson frowned at Simmons and turned to Chief of Operations Admiral Robert Hathaway. "If I may, Admiral Hathaway?"
Admiral Robert G. Hathaway, a stern looking man with white hair and beard, nodded.
Turgidson looked about the table. "My friends, we have all sat here bemoaning the fact we didn't have the firepower to defend against the Borg and the Dominion. This ship was designed to deal with problems like them. Yes, the Oceana Class has power, but power is what's needed against an enemy like the Borg. And yes, it’s a large ship, but when this ship was designed, it was felt that the large size was warranted due to the mission profiles it would fulfill."
Simmons glanced at a PADD on the table in front of him. "I see you have First Contact listed under this ship's mission profiles. What exactly do you think the reaction will be on a First Contact Mission when some unknown species sees the primary weapon system of this vessel, Admiral Turgidson?"
Turgidson smiled. "They'll think twice before trying to attack, that's what their reaction will be!"
Several seated around the table rolled their eyes. Admiral Hancock merely sighed.
Admiral Sanol, a Vulcan, watched the specifications of the ship as they continued to display above the table. "It would appear this ship was designed for combat and nothing else. Prudence dictates that it be kept in drydock until needed for that purpose."
Turgidson shook his head. "With all due respect Admiral Sanol, we leave these ships mothballed and we'll never have a crew that knows them well enough to steer them, let alone use them to their potential. We should make them a regular part of the fleet and deploy them to the outer edge of our exploratory range."
"These ships are not exploratory vessels," replied Sanol.
Turgidson quickly touched a control in front of him and the display above the table reversed and listed the ship's primary information. "See, it's listed as a Deep Space Long Range Explorer."
Simmons smiled. "I'd hate to see what you considered a battleship, Admiral Turgidson."
Muted laughter erupted around the table. Even the stoic Admiral Hathaway smiled.
Admiral Angela Morris, a woman whose beauty was not diminished by her gray hair leaned forward. "I think the question, Admiral Turgidson, is what image does the Federation want to project to those we meet. Do we want to be seen as peaceful explorers or war-crazed maniacs?"
"Then you prefer we let the Borg wipe us out, or that we should have surrendered to the Dominion?" asked Turgidson.
Morris shook her head. "I'm not saying that at all. Starfleet has always been the keeper of the peace, not an instigator of war. This ship will send a message I believe is at odds with our historical mission."
"These ships will keep the peace by discouraging war from our enemies," Turgidson stated.
Simmons looked down at the table in front of him. "Admiral Turgidson, this ship won't prevent war, it will invariably lead us down that very dark path."
"If work on the Oceana Class would have started in 2365 as some in this room had suggested, then perhaps the Dominion War would not have claimed as many lives as it did," said Turgidson.
Simmons knew that was directed at him. He had fought the Oceana Class from the moment he'd heard about it nearly twelve years ago. "No one knew the Dominion would attack us as they did. When we learned of that threat, everyone here agreed we needed new ships to combat it, but the Oceana Class is the wrong ship. It would be better for Starfleet to dismantle the four of them which have been built or are in the process of construction."
Turgidson's eyes went wide. "So when the Borg or some other unknown threat attacks us, you'd feel much better throwing young Starfleet Officers to their deaths even though we have a ship that could prevent that?!"
Admiral Sanol folded his hands in front of him. "We all grieve at the loss of life to the Borg and the Dominion, but we also grieve at the lives which will be lost due to the type of image this ship projects of the Federation. Logic dictates we take that into due consideration, especially at a time of reduced threats."
Turgidson stared at Sanol for a moment. "Reduced threats? Take a look at the Strategic Display Board." He pointed at a large display on the wall across from the table. The image showed the Federation's area of the Galaxy.
"I hate to be the one to point this out, but truth is not always a pleasant thing. The Romulans still exist, the Breen might attack at any time, the Cardassians can't be trusted to follow any treaty they sign, the Klingon Empire is still in a state of flux since Gawron's death, and I hear the Tholians have been expending a lot of resources building three new ship construction facilities," Turgidson said. "I would hardly call that 'reduced threats' Admiral Sanol."
The room was silent for several moments. Simmons turned to Admiral Hathaway. "You called us here to discuss the Oceana Class, Bob, but there is a related issue that I feel must be mentioned."
Hathaway took a deep breath. "And that is?"
Simmons looked about the table. "The only operational Oceana Class starship, the U.S.S. Chamberlain, has been given to Captain Jack McCall to command."
Murmuring filled the room. Simmons suppressed a grin. He had suspected that many in the room had not known about that particular fact.
Admiral Patricia Olanski, a woman whose eyes displayed a fierceness not usually seen in most Starfleet Officers, looked at Robert Hathaway. "I thought Jack McCall was going to be assigned a Starbase Command."
Others about the table nodded. Admiral Hancock took the question. "Captain McCall was offered the position of Commander of Starbase 301 and a promotion to Commodore, but said he would resign if he was not given a starship command again."
Simmons turned to Hancock. "So Starfleet Officers are allowed to throw tantrums if they don't get their way? And we indulge these tantrums?"
Hancock frowned. "Jack McCall is a starship Captain."
Admiral M'zellos, a member of the green-skinned Unari species, turned to Simmons. "These facts were taken to the President of the Federation Council. It was felt Jack McCall's stature among the general populace of the Federation dictated that he remain in Starfleet and that he be given a starship command again."
"Jack McCall violated Starfleet Regulations and Federation Ethical Standards while he and his crew were held by the Glazyalans," Admiral Olanski said. "He is unfit to command a starship. His methods are entirely unsound."
Turgidson's eyes were wide. "Jack McCall is one of the finest Officers to ever come out of the Academy. He did what he had to to save his crew and I'm proud he's commanding the Chamberlain."
Sanol turned to Hathaway. "Captain McCall should not be commanding an Oceana Class starship. He should not have any command until we are more certain of his psychological fitness."
The table fell silent for several moments. Simmons looked at a PADD as he spoke. "I think we all understand the political expediency that required Jack McCall be given a command again. My question is why an Oceana Class?"
"Placing Jack McCall in command of that ship is a bad combination likely to produce a disaster literally of Galactic proportions," Olanski said.
Admiral Hathaway leaned forward. "It is the opinion of the President that Jack McCall is exactly who we need in command of a ship like this."
Admirals Sanol and Olanski sat in stunned silence while many others about the table shook their heads.
Hathaway continued, "Both the President and the Council feel McCall has the disposition and moral center to command the Chamberlain."
Admiral Olanski could no longer sit silently. "Bob, I've known you for twenty years and I find it hard to accept that you would agree with that. 'A moral center'? Are we speaking about the same officer that used torture as a means to escape the Glazyalan prison camp?"
"Despite how repugnant what Jack McCall did is to us personally, the Board of Inquiry cleared him of any wrong doing and he has of late become a heroic figure to many of the citizens of the Federation." Hathaway looked down for a moment. "The President sees Jack McCall as someone who made a choice for his crew knowing full well he might destroy his career and perhaps be placed in prison for what he did-- in a way, willingly sacrificing himself for them."
Hathaway looked up and saw that a number of the faces around the table were disgusted with what he was telling them while Turgidson wore a wide smile. He continued, "The President made the selection of Jack McCall personally and gave me a direct order to assign him to the Chamberlain, barring any clear psychological or medical reasons that might suggest otherwise."
Admiral Olanski was about to say something, but Hathaway raised his hand to stop her. "I understand your objections, Patricia. I may even agree with them, but this was out of our hands. A political decision has been made and we now have to live with it.
"The President feels Jack McCall has the ability to make hard choices. It will be up to us to watch and make sure that Captain McCall does so and if not, to bring it to the attention of the President and the Council and then take appropriate action. For the time being, however, Jack McCall commands the Chamberlain."
***
Ten minutes later outside the meeting room, Admiral Simmons waited by a large window overlooking San Francisco. Sunlight filled the hallway, but not the souls of these two adversaries as they faced one another again.
Simmons motioned to Admiral Hancock as he walked out of the room. Hancock shook his head, but joined him. "I'm in kind of a hurry, Fergus."
Simmons smiled. "Yes, you do have places to go and people to see, don't you Chris? I understand you flew back to Earth at about warp nine point six from the Delta Ophiuchus Shipyard to make this meeting."
"I took Jeremiah to see his son off."
"I think you just wanted to make sure your boy made it to his command. Hathaway arranged for the Providence to transport McCall to the shipyard. You don't suppose he had his nephew try to push any of Jack's buttons and nudge him over the edge do you?"
Hancock grinned. "I don't think Bob would resort to underhanded tactics like that, do you?"
Simmons looked up and down the hallway to make sure they weren't overheard. "He might if he had the same reservations about McCall that most of the rest of us do. I know for a fact that Hathaway received a coded transmission from the Providence sent after they had dropped McCall off." He paused a moment. "You of course knew that," Simmons said with a smile.
"I'm afraid I don't keep up on all the comings and going of personnel, and office intrigue that you do Fergus. I'm Chief of Tactical Operations. I find that keeps me busy enough," Hancock said.
Simmons laughed. "That's right. You never stray outside the confines of Tactical Operations. Forgive me!" His face turned hard. "I'm not stupid enough to believe the story that Turgidson is the one who's been behind the Oceana Class Project, Chris."
Hancock grinned. "Really?"
"You've used him as a front for your operations for years."
Hancock ignored Simmons attempt to goad him. "The Oceana Class is worth the investment."
Simmons smiled. He decided to let the subject drop for now. "I doubt it, but we'll see." Simmons paused a moment. "Two days ago, Hathaway assigned me command of all operations in the Kel-j'na Region."
Hancock looked down at the floor, trying to hide his reaction from Simmons. After a moment he looked at the other Admiral and smiled. "Congratulations, Fergus."
"As soon as the Chamberlain finishes whatever fool mission you've got them on, Jack McCall and his ship become my problem. I'm sure I'll find something... constructive for them to do."
