Chapter 8 – His Master
Jack sat in his ready room, staring out the large windows at the world below. This was a peaceful planet, its people had a civilization which in ordinary circumstances would make them perfect for Federation membership. His officers who had gone down to the surface after the reception the previous day had had nothing but glowing things to say about the planet and its people.
Mei-Wan was right. These people weren't a threat to anyone, and certainly not the Federation.
He considered turning command over to Kadan Loftus. She didn't know about the Omega Directive and so she wouldn't know what the symbol meant when it appeared on their displays.
Of course, that was avoiding the problem instead of facing it head on.
At this moment, he so wished he was back on his ranch five hundred years in the past.
He started back to his desk when the display went dark. A moment later, the omega symbol filled the screen.
“Damn,” Jack muttered.
A moment later, the intercom chimed. It was his executive officer.
“Sir, do you know what this is about?” she asked over the speaker.
“Have the senior staff assemble in the main conference room in twenty minutes,” Jack replied. “I'll inform all of you then.”
***
Kadan Loftus, Melissa, Todd Nakano, Doctor Taylor Preston, chief engineer Kristen Bishop, and science officer Sunita Mahajadan sat around the table in the main conference room on deck one. They all stared at the large display screen with a single Greek letter on it in blue, the letter omega.
Jack went to the display, tapped several commands in, then faced it.
“Computer, authorization McCall zero-four-two-beta.”
“Authorization accepted,” the computer said from the display. “Detection of the Omega m olecule confirmed. You are to contact Starfleet Command immediately for further orders.”
“Further orders have been received,” Jack said. “Go into standby mode, and restore ship's functions.”
“Acknowledged,” the computer said.
Jack turned and took his seat at the head of the table.
“What the hell was that all about?” Kristen asked. “And why were my engines shut down?”
“I can't go into detail,” Jack replied. “There are certain conditions that when met a ship's computer will take over operations until the captain has authorized their release.”
“Since when?” Loftus asked. “I've never heard of such a thing.”
“Only captains and flag officers are informed of this,” he said.
“The more important question is, what is this all about?” Preston asked.
Jack took a long breath. “I'll explain what I can, but it won't be much.”
Melissa stared at Jack.
He couldn't tell if she was angry or sad.
“The ship has detected an energy signature,” Jack began.
“What kind?” Sunita asked.
“I can't go into that,” Jack replied. “But it is rare and unique, and as it turns out, extremely dangerous. So much so that starship captains are ordered to drop whatever else they might b e doing and attend to it.”
“Attend?” Todd Nakano asked.
“The energy in question can destroy warp travel for light years, and given the amount involved in this case, possibly for a quarter of the galaxy.”
The others looked at one another.
Kristen nodded. “There are certain conditions which can make warp travel impossible.”
“And the field around this solar system does just that,” Nakano added. “I've scanned the emitters creating the field, but haven't gotten a good reading on the power system behind them.”
“Because the ship's computer hid it from you,” Jack said. “This threat is so serious, Starfleet made the decision to keep it secret more than a century ago.”
“That's not how the Federation is supposed to operate,” Preston said.
“I know,” Jack replied.
“What exactly are our orders?” Loftus asked.
“I can't go into a lot of detail about that either,” Jack said. “But we have to eliminate the technology behind those field emitters.”
“That may not be the end of it,” Sunita said. “The society on the planet is very advanced, and this field effect has been in operation for five hundred years. If we destroy the emitters, I'm sure they'll just construct new ones.”
“Unless you intend for us to stay here permanently,” Loftus said.
“Exactly what is our end goal here?” Melissa asked.
Jack knew that he couldn't answer that without revealing details about the Omega molecule, but if he didn't, he also knew that his crew wouldn't follow the next order the d irective was now demanding of him.
“What would it take to eliminate all technology on the planet below?” he asked.
Gasps came from around the table.
“They have advanced weapons and shield systems protecting the planet,” Nakano said. “I'm not sure we would be victorious in a confrontation.”
“Sir, you are suggesting we commit genocide?” Preston asked.
“I have orders that require we do so,” Jack said.
The members of his command staff all turned to Kadan Loftus. Jack knew what she was going to say.
“Captain, I believe you and I should speak privately.”
Jack shook his head. “Whatever you have to say should be said in front of everyone here.”
Loftus took a long breath. “I will not allow this ship, this crew to become an instrument of genocide. If you persist on this course of action, I will have no choice but to relieve you of your command.”
“My orders are signed by the Federation President.”
“It doesn't matter if they are signed by every deity in every pantheon in the galaxy,” Loftus said. “No signature from anyone or anything can change how wrong it is to attack the people on that world.”
Jack fought back a smile. Damn, he was proud of this crew, and especially Loftus.
“I am not supposed to tell you any of this,” he began. “But there is a Starfleet Directive concerning the power source used to create the field these people use to protect their system. And that directive requires preventing anyone from possessing that power source by any means necessary. The Prime Directive is specifically rescinded in such circumstances.”
“Then it isn't really the Prime Directive, is it?” Melissa asked with a smirk.
“I refuse to follow such a directive,” Preston said. “And I will do all I can to disable this ship if necessary to prevent the murder of those people on the planet.”
“As will I,” Sunita said.
Jack folded his hands on the table in front of him. “Is that how you all feel?”
Everyone nodded, including Melissa.
“I'm glad,” he said. “But realize, by refusing to follow the directive, and the direct order of the Federation President, all our careers in Starfleet are on the line.”
“Then I'll disable the ship,” Loftus said. “I will be the sole person to face any consequences.”
“I'll help you,” Nakano said.
“Me too,” Preston added.
Melissa turned to Jack. “As will I.”
“Before you take such a drastic course of action, give me a few hours to find another solution,” Jack said.
“How?” Loftus asked.
Jack didn't like where this was going. He almost wished Loftus would simply relieve him of command rather than they sacrifice themselves like this.
“Trust me, and I understand how in this moment that might be harder than before,” Jack said. “But I am seeking another way, something which doesn't require anyone to give up their career, or damage this ship.”
“The people of this world need to know the threat the Federation poses to them,” Preston said.
His officers wanted to act. In any other situation, Jack would have been happy.
He touched the comm control on the table. “Lieutenant Flanora.”
“Yes, sir?” came Flanora's voice from the speaker.
“Get me Mei-Wan Lau on the planet surface.”
