Port Side View
Posted on Wed Jan 8th, 2025 @ 6:54pm by Captain Thorrin & Major Hastios Eilfaren
Edited on on Thu Jan 9th, 2025 @ 12:41am
3,064 words; about a 15 minute read
Mission:
Like Sands Through The Hourglass
Location: Kok Station - Promenade
Timeline: MD001 1230 hrs
Kok station. Unique in its construction due to the quickness in which it had to be placed in the Carlson Nebula. A rift had recently opened up there and whereas it wasn’t entirely a well known anomaly it had still drawn the attention of Starfleet and the Federation. Sadly the naming of the rift, the Carlson Rift, was not very imaginative but then again Starfleet wasn’t known for originality.
Having been in Starfleet, or Starfleet Marine Corps, for nearly 40 years there wasn’t much that Hastios hadn’t seen, heard, or done. With stints undercover in the Romulan Empire for 2 years in the 60’s and then Cardassia for 3 years in the same decade. Time spent on starships and even commanding one Hastios had been through a lot. Not to mention a few wars here and there just to top his history off.
Recently he’d spent 10 years on Earth with General Adama, his long time friend and mentor of sorts. They’d known each other for nearly 20 years and Hastios had followed him from Starbase Lionheart to Marine HQ on Earth back in 2387 but when he was approached for a different assignment he couldn’t turn it down.
Officially he was going back undercover. Where he was going and for how long was unknown should anyone search for him and even as he walked the promenade level of Kok station he wasn’t even in his marine green but security yellow with Lt. Commander pips on.
His cover, Lieutenant Commander Oliver Stone, an officer joining the USS Herodotus as its Chief Security and Tactical Officer.
However, at the moment he found himself standing watching the swirls of the Carlson Nebula out of a window and thinking of what lay ahead for him.
Thorrin had strolled the Promenade of Kok Station for days. He wore the red uniform of a command officer, with Captain's pips. After all his ship was just a simple science vessel. His ship docked with an air bridge linking the ship to the station. Security posted at the airlock with orders to allow no one on the ship without contacting him first. The Herodotus was after all a timeship, of course no one could know that.
He waited for his crew to arrive, the only member of which he had met was his XO. Thorrin was a prickly man and had been satisfied that the woman would ally with him once he showed her the evidence against Isaacs. As he walked the hairs on the back of his neck stood up, this was something that happened whenever he was in the presence of another of his kind. At the moment it brought his thoughts to his niece who embarked on a new journey of her own in the Delta Quadrant. Thorrin would make sure that the temporal sensors kept an eye on her.
This feeling also caused Thorrin to look around and it was only a moment when his eyes landed on the El Aurian he had picked to be his Chief of Security and Tactical Officer. A Marine would fit that bill better than anyone, and one of his own kind meant that the temporal distortions would not effect him. This was the best pick on the crew or so Thorrin thought. He approached the other man as he looked out the view port at the rift. "Beautiful isn't she..." His genteel southern accent oozed honey with little to no effort.
"I've always found nebula's to be quite soothing." Hastios replied as if he'd expected the question. He too had sensed the approach of someone from his own species. It was akin to hairs standing up on the back of your neck, or a strange sense of deja vu. "Although next to a temporal rift... does make for an uncomfortable viewing." he turned to face the man and noted his pips. "Captain Thorrin I presume?"
"You presume correct. You must be Commander Eilfaren..." Thorrin kept to the cover story just in case someone had been listening. "That rift may be uncomfortable viewing but it is why we are here. The first line of defense as it were. Surely, you of all people could understand that." Thorrin had been impressed by the man's service record and it was for that reason that Hastios was chosen for the posting. "If you look just to the right there you will see our ship, the Herodotus." Thorrin pointed to the vessel that appeared to be a Merian Class vessel. The one difference was that this ship had two deflector dishes.
Hastios looked down at the much smaller captain and raised both eyebrows. "Lieutenant Commander Stone, sir. It seems you've mistaken me for someone else," he remarked, tugging at the yellow fabric of his unfamiliar uniform, yet maintaining the façade assigned to him, in case this was a test from Thorrin. "I recognise the necessity for order amidst cosmic chaos, but it's rifts like these that remind us—those of us who endure through the ages—that we can still be caught off guard, still embrace the unforeseen, and adapt accordingly." Casting his eyes up to the Herodotus, Hastios nodded with a sly smirk. "A commendable vessel for a science ship," he quipped, well aware of its actual intent.
Thorrin snapped his fingers as if he was just corrected. In actuality he was impressed with Hastios sticking to his cover. "Yes my apologies Commander Stone. As I take on new crew members I meet so many that at times I mistake people for each other. Please accept my apology." Thorrin thought about what the other man had said as they stood in silence. "It is the unforeseen that brings us here. I know that being one such as we you are in the habit of reinventing yourself. However, now we are asking you to disappear. Records may show you gone, but time will remember all that you do." Thorrin lowered his voice as he spoke. There were not many people on the promenade at this hour so it was safe to discuss such things. Within reason of course.
Hastios bowed his head in respect. "Of course, Captain. Apology accepted. With so many names in my mind, sometimes I recall one from 150 years ago as if it were only yesterday," he chuckled. "Though, it's rare for people to mistake me for someone else," he teased, alluding to his distinctive size, build, and appearance. He was aware that Thorrin had recognized him correctly at first. "Disappearing has become second nature to me," Hastios murmured, matching the low tone of the man beside him. "When you've gone undercover as often and for as long as I have, you learn to see the shadows as allies rather than foes." He rested his large, bear-like hand against the window. "Yet, this will be a unique challenge, one that will test not just my abilities but the very essence of what it means to be an El Aurian."
"Agreed..." Thorrin knew that the other man was younger than he, but when it came to their species it was hard to tell a difference. "I too have been in the business of reinventing myself and hiding my true form for centuries. The time distortions can cause a toll on one such as we. That said after each incursions we are both going to have to see the Doctor. El Aurians are susceptible to temporal psychosis and that is something no one wants." The tone in the Captain's voice was that of someone who knew from experience. His thoughts turned to his previous crew, and the reason he sought a new one.
"Having known some that have suffered from temporal psychosis I wholeheartedly agree." Hastios nodded. "It's funny that some just think we sense, or know things, about time but no-one truly understands they physical cost on our bodies when people mess around with things they shouldn't." he paused for a moment, thinking before he spoke. "What made you recruit a marine? General Adama was unusually tight lipped about the reasons for my transfer, only that it would be much like going undercover and the work vital."
It was Thorrin's turn to smile. For the first time in all the interviews with new crew members he was asked why he picked someone. "Well, it is your reputation. The security of this vessel, its mission, and by extension the timeline itself is paramount. It supercedes the protection of anyone and everyone on the ship. That said I know that if needed you will do what is needed to preserve the timeline. Even if it means ending me. Starfleet Officers are not trained soldiers, I need a soldier. I need someone who will remain on mission at all costs. That is what led me to the Starfleet Marines. Why I chose you specifically? That is because of your service record and in no small part because you are El Aurian and as proved by your previous comment you understand the nature of what we wrestle with."
Hastios nodded. It was a sound reason and one he could not dispute, not that he would as he agreed with it. "I mean I'll shoot you whenever you want, but it would take a severe breach of mission protocol for me to 'end you' captain. However, I will do what needs to be done whatever it calls for but I get the sense the ends justify the means for you too."
For the first time in a long time Thorrin actually laughed. It sounded a tad out of place as if his body was simply not used to laughing. "Yes of course that is all I can ask. I hope that this crew will stick with it for an extended period of time. I would hate to have to go to the recruiting board again." This change in subject was Thorrin's attempt at seeing if Hastios was in it for the long haul, as it was said. Thorrin knew from Jerimiah that Marisa had her misgivings about the program. This was something that Thorrin did not want from his entire crew.
Hastios raised an eyebrow and glanced at his captain. The captain's unnatural form while laughing, almost uncomfortable to witness, struck Hastios as odd, yet he sensed that the captain was generally a serious man, making laughter somewhat foreign to him. "Yes, that would be most unfortunate," Hastios responded cryptically, affirming his own position. "Fortunately, I have nothing else scheduled for the next fifty years or so," he said, offering a wry smile.
"Excellent... Most excellent indeed! There is one word of caution that you should have. It is the same word of caution that was given to me when I took command. For you see it is something that is unique to our people. You are going to have to be evaluated for Temporal Psychosis at least once a month. The changes in time, timelines, and universes can effect us a lot quicker than it effects others. As such we want to make sure that you remain well." Thorrin was quite adept at changing his tone and demeanor from jovial to serious and back again.
"I'm not fond of being poked and prodded, Captain, but I grasp the necessity," Hastios responded. "Doctors are too much like philosophers for my taste; some behave as if they're divine, far from it..." he had encountered his share of eccentric medics. "I've heard our doctor is photonic, is that so?" he inquired, raising an eyebrow at the Captain.
"Yes that is correct." Thorrin began bluntly. "I have found that a hologram will serve the purposes of this ship and crew better than anyone else could." The way Thorrin said hologram it was as if he was not entirely sure that Lux was sentient. "As to whether or not I am right the jury is as they say still out. The Doctor's program has been installed on the ship. However, it has not been brought online as of yet and I have not met them as of yet."
"It seemed to work well for Admiral Janeway and her crew." Hastios said with a shrug of his broad shoulders.
"Indeed it did. And if I am totally honest having the capability to removed the memories with a push of the button is convenient. The Doctor is the one crew member who is going to know just about everything about all of us. So, if needed it is nice to know that information can be removed." Thorrin thought for a moment as he watched the swirling rift through the view port. "Major you are going to have to strategize fourth dimensionally for the Herodotus. Attacks can come to the ship through time itself." Thorrin wanted to make sure that his Security Chief was made aware of all the threats.
"That may cross a line sir." Hastios commented as he arched his eyebrow at the captains words. "If this doctor is sentient you can't just go removing their memories because you don't like it knowing you've got a mole on your ass." he shook his head at the very thought. "But to more important matters... I will keep an eye on the timestream and co-ordinate with our temporal operations officer so that we are not caught off guard from any time that may come after us, and keep my eye on the time we are in." Hastios stretched his arms out a bit as they had gotten stiff and then fixed his uniform as it had shifted when doing so.
Thorrin chuckled at Hastios' comment about the Doctor. "My dear Major doing that to the Doctor is nothing short of what I would do to you, any other member of the crew, or have done to myself should the situation warrant it. As I stated before everyone is here at their own discretion so, if you want out then we wipe your memory. It is just simpler to do with a hologram."
Satisfied that he made his point Thorrin changed subjects. "I have no doubt we are in good hands with you Major. I do have one more question of you. Now that you know the technology exists to travel back and save the homeworld. Would you?" For Thorrin this was the final test of sorts. He had to know the kind of person he was entrusting his ship, and his crew to.
"No." Hastios said simply. "To use a Human phrase, you can't expect to poke the bear and not get a reaction." he sighed. "We poked, provoked the Borg, and got our payment in kind for that. In the end it wasn't the Borg that destroyed us but our own hubris. I'm a believer that you pay for the mistakes you make, not cower from them. Fact is, it happened, our world is gone. We live on with Kaitos, and we are the people we are now because of that. If we saved El Auria, you and I wouldn't be here where we are now and I'm no time genius but that sounds paradoxical to me. Something I hope to avoid." his words carried weight, or so he thought. Looking at his captain he raised an eyebrow and, "Would you?"
Thorrin was relieved although he tried to make sure his face and body language did not show it. Hastios had hit the proverbial nail on the head. "Too right you are, too right you are. Time is not something that can be fixed or manipulated for your own ends. In fact that is something we are here to make sure does not happen. There are those in the department who would call us timecops, and to that I say thank you because someone has to do it." He paused and smiled rather coyly at the Major's question. "No, I would not. Its a fixed point in time." Those were the words he said at least, his face said something else. After a moment he continued to speak. "There are certain points in time, that are shall we say moldable like a piece of clay. Now, in those points things such as the butterfly effect have no meaning and they can be altered. However, there are other points in time like the destruction of our homeworld that are fixed and cannot be changed. No matter what you do the event in question will endure, and it may expand and change other events, and people. So, it is best to simply leave fixed points well enough alone."
Hastios nodded. There wasn't much else he could add to such a weighty subject. He'd tried to steer well clear of that when he was a younger man. He'd served in his people's military, became a traveller, wrote a book, and now once again was part of an organisation that preached protection, progress and promise of a better galaxy. Hopefully they would last, but he knew all things come to an end eventually. Sadly given his species he was often around to see it. "Well sir, you just point me in the direction of anything nasty and I'll take care of it." he commented.
"Well my boy that is what I like to hear. At least for now I think I have a particular nasty bottle of mead that should be consumed. Come join me on the ship and let us talk of yesteryear." Thorrin motioned in what would be the direction of the airlock that lead to the Herodotus. He rather liked the Major thus far. Although he was curious to see how someone with strict military training would hold up in the missions that they had ahead.
"Lead the way sir. I hope it's a big bottle... I can hold a lot." Hastios teased about his size in comparison to Thorrin, and most. They began to walk towards the ship, a slow pace as their legs were several hundreds of years old. He wondered how he'd fare out of the marines but he would soon found out.
A Joint Post By
Captain Thorrin
Commanding Officer
USS Herodotus DTI-30656
Major Hastios Eilfaren
Chief Security & Tactical Officer
USS Herodotus DTI-30656
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