Children of The Federation
Written by: Clayton Powell
Prologue
It had been twenty years since any of them had seen past their own problems. The people were just living day to day to somehow survive all that was left of earth. Fifteen years ago, the Borg had been destroyed. As far as everyone had known, the worlds were safe. For a short time the universe as it was known existed in peace. The Federation, Klingons, Romulons, Ferengi, and all known races called for a cease-fire that continued until the invasion.
The Enterprise was out running a routine scan of a known dead solar system called Kitar. Out of sector 0531 came a ship no one had seen before. The ship itself was larger than any star base that had ever been encountered or built. Scanning for life signs showed that this ship contained over five hundred million souls on board of unknown origin or race. The Federation Starship Enterprise was the first to encounter this new vessel. Hailing and all other forms of traditional communication seemed to be in vain. After the ship appeared to stand still for three days, the new ship attacked the Enterprise. A single shot penetrated the shields destroying the Enterprise’s lines of defense. The new ship continued to bombard the Enterprise knowing exactly when and where to strike. The strategic shots ripped apart the hull of the Enterprise and continued to tear at primary systems. The newcomers left the Enterprise in nothing but a rotting husk in the void of its true love, space.
Realizing the eminent danger from this new vessel, Captain Jean Luc Picard ordered all personnel to evacuate the dying ship. Nearly all personnel with the exception of the brave commanding crew left. Lt. Wesley Crusher and Commander Data were among those evacuated. Wesley watched from the escape pod as the Enterprise imploded on itself, killing all remaining people on board the ship he had once called home. Now he was alone, again. His mother, his friends, all that he had known was on board the Enterprise, wasting away into the abyss of space where no one had traveled before. Wesley and the rest of the evacuees were picked up by the efforts of the Federation Starship Melbourne. With Wesley and all other survivors on board Star Base 375, Admiral Hanson asked of any known plan of action. No one knew. Nothing known from the Enterprise had proved effective and nothing had come to mind on how to discover a weakness in this new enemy.
Wesley returned to the only other home he knew. He went back to earth. Wesley arrived with just enough time to warn Starfleet Command and recall all available ship to Sector 0001, the Teran sector. Earth. The admirals at first dismissed his claim that a new alien race was coming to destroy earth. They were finally convinced after the words of their own, Admiral Hanson, who had gone out to survey the wreckage of the ship Enterprise claiming for have found nothing left that could be salvaged. Hanson himself had encountered this new alien threat and barely escaped with his life. Only because of these newcomers large size, their ship was not able to breach any speed higher than Warp 5.4. This information gave Starfleet Command just enough to attempt a recall of all employable vessels in deep space. As it turned out, all forces were recalled to earth at the highest priority. Starfleet Command was determined that if humans and earth were going to be a target they were going to put up the greatest fight possible. The ships arrived, and by some miracle of timing, had just enough time to complete any minor repairs to each and every ship. Four days after all the ships were assembled, the newcomers showed themselves just outside of Mars orbit.
Lieutenant Wesley Crusher was on earth, fighting along side those with which he had gone to the Academy. This was the first time that any human or Klingon looked upon the aliens who became known as the Radaarians. They were a rugged race of people. Wesley’s final confrontation on earth took place in the Plains of Serenity, just east of the San Francisco. Wesley fought bravely, taking down a number of Radaarians in his way. He finally made his way through the lines of resistance with just a few people left at his side. He saw one of the Radaarians just standing there on the top of a hill just looking over the battle and it appeared to be laughing. Wesley forced his way through the rest of the turmoil and made his way up the hill towards this laughing Radaarian. The Radaarian challenged Wesley once he approached the summit of the hill. At least, Wesley thought it was a challenge. With nothing known about this race, anything could go. The Radaarian threw what looked like a primitive sword on the ground near Wesley’s feet. Wesley picked up the sword and the sword came to life with dancing light all around the blade. The Radaarian took advantage of Wesley’s momentary interest in the sword and moved to strike. Wesley snapped back to reality, just in time to move to the left blocking the Radaarian’s attack. Blades of light were dancing back and forth. Many on-lookers, both human Radaarian were amazed. For never using an actual sword before, Wesley was amazed at his own skill. He dodged and blocked weaving back and forth trying to land a strike on opponent. Wesley brought down his sword hard in an attempt to slow down his adversary. He blocked his opponent’s sword beneath his own, using only his weight to keep the sword on the ground. The Radaarian was amused no longer. In one blinding move the Radaarian swiped his hand upward.
A massive battle was engaged for the lives of all those in the worlds around. The newcomers, who had been revealed as Radaarians, succeeded in destroying the earth’s last defenses. Destroying the entire present fleet and the Klingon Armada that accompanied, earth was invaded and devoured. When the Radaarians left earth all that was left was a vast wasteland of death and uncertainty. Several bands of human survived the attacks. Many believe that they were left because they offered no threat to this new enemy that had risen up out of nowhere. Now the world had to find a new way to live. Never knowing what was going to happen next, humans had to live on.
Captain Wesley Crusher walked across the bridge of the Starship Essex. He was impressed with the workmanship that had gone into crafting such an impressive vessel. Wesley looked across the instruments with his good right eye. In the years on earth, he had spent much of his time training himself. For a thirty six year old man with only one eye, Wesley didn’t think he could be worse off. A lot of what he saw here on the Essex was similar to all the controls that he had learned on board the Enterprise. Getting this ship up and running should not be that difficult of a problem.
“Is there a problem Captain?”
“No, Data. I was just thinking about the old days when you and I served on the Enterprise. It’s amazing how much in our technology has not changed in all of that time. This place looks like the Enterprise, with the missing crew” said Wesley.
“It is true Captain that this vessel was created to represent what is believed to be the flagship of the Federation. However, there have been significant improvements to the technology to which you refer. We do still have advantage of speed. It is known that their World Ship is not capable of exceeding Warp 5.4 without doing great damage to their structural integrity” commented Commander Data.
Wesley looked at his old friend with a respect that only Wesley had for Data. Most people looked down on Data for his android personality. In the absence of the Federation many people have retreated to the alcoves of hollowed out building trying to find a place to start over. Data did not require this type of retreat. His programming only understood what human did, but he did not feel the need to conform to these particular attributes.
Wesley was no longer wearing his Federation uniform. He felt no need for it now that there was no Federation. He simply wore black pants with an accompanying black and grey tight shirt. He wore a black coat that flowed all the way down to his ankles with an elastic waist attempting to conform to rigid body. Since the death of his mother and his friends both on board the Enterprise and on earth, Wesley had done nothing but train for revenge. He trained in all the strongest point he knew. But realizing that the Radaarians were a warrior breed was only the first step. Wesley realized that strength is one thing, but he had to be able to out smart his opponent as well. Wesley studied with a determination that had not been seen before. Wesley finally felt that his mind and body were ready for the challenged ahead.
Underneath, hidden in his coat, was one reminder he had of his encounter with the Radaarians on earth. He had kept the sword. The sword had an odd form to it. Nothing like a straight edge sword or curved sword of an earth blade, this was more like a jagged piece of crystal that could carve through anything in its path. That and his eye were the only things that kept Wesley training night and day: Revenge.
“With your permission Captain, we can begin boarding the rest of the crew” interjected Data.
“Yeah, go ahead. I am going to head to my ready room. When the Bridge Officers arrive on board, have them come to my ready room immediately. I am going to have to meet these people eventually.” Wesley walked off to his ready room and sat behind the desk thinking about the next move. I hope I am making the right moves. Everything is up to the opponent, but I have to get the better of him if I ever expect to trap him and destroy the rest of his race. Wesley was distracted by the buzzer at the door.
“Enter.”
“Captain Wesley Crusher. I am Lieutenant Commander Eileena Troi. I am to be ship’s counselor.” Eileena was a slender woman in her older twenties. Her long brown hair hung down just below her shoulders bringing out her jungle green eyes. She was a distraction to say the least. Wesley couldn’t keep his eye off her for a few moments. After that, he snapped back to reality. “So, you think you can handle this? We are going to have quite a few crew members aboard and the one thing on a lot of minds is going to be going for blood.”
“That shouldn’t be too much of an issue. I am a quarter human. Most of Beta Zoid instincts allow to me filter out what can be clouding people judgment. As far as a majority of the crew, a number of them I encountered while coming aboard. Most of them are here because it is a job. The prospect o revenge is only a second interest that they hope to achieve while under your employ” Eileena stated. “If you have nothing further, I would like to get to my chambers and proceed with the mission at hand.”
“Go ahead. Just be sure that you are on the bridge at 2200 hours. We will begin all launch sequencing then. I want all bridge officers in attendance.”
“Very good Captain. Good day.” With that, Eileena walked out of the ready room and headed for the turbo lift. She is either going to be a total blessing, or totally in the way, thought Wesley after she had left the room. Several of the other bridge officers came to and from Wesley’s ready room. Wesley gave them a brief introduction and told them about their position on board the Starship Essex. Many of them were in this for the revenge against the Radaarians like Wesley. Other were like Eileena had mentioned, just here to work.
With the world wide economy at an all-time low, Wesley really could not blame them. Many of the people in the world had been farmers or in some industrial trade. All of that was wiped out when the attack began. The crops all turned to dust and rivers practically became nothing more than mud and blood. It was one of the darkest times ever recorded in human history. Many were certain that things could have been worse, but Wesley doubted that. Many people were of the belief that the earth needed to get back on its feet before perusing this new adversary. Wesley did not think it was a bad idea, but didn’t know how he could ever move forward knowing there was a bully in the stars just waiting to knock him down again. No, this bully was going down first and hard.