... Outweigh the needs of the few ...

"Report!"

"Shields are down to 53%, hull integrity has fallen to 75%, power levels have dropped by 43%.  Engineering has reported several warp core micro-fractures.  Crews are in place and working to contain them.  There is a hull breech on deck 5. Emergency force fields are in place and holding and emergency crews are en-route."

"Sir, a quantum singularity has formed immediately port of the Iconian ship.  That jolt we just felt, it was the formation of the singularity."

"I wouldn't really call that a jolt, Commander. Reroute auxiliary power to shields and life support to inertial dampeners."

"Yes, sir." 

"Helm, all ahead full. Course, zero zero two mark four, Engage!

"Aye sir!"

"Tactical, distance to weapons range on that Iconian vessel?"

"Twenty thousand kilometers"

"Where's my inverse tachyon beam?!"

"Almost ready, sir. I am about ready to charge the main deflector with anti-protons.  Once that happens we'll be able to emit the tachyon beam through the main deflector dish."

"Tactical, prepare to fire phaser cannons and quantum torpedoes the moment we reach optimal weapons range.  Polarize our ablative armor hull plating, that should give us an extra few minutes against their weapons"

"Aye sir"

"Helm, prepare that collision course... We may need it if this plan goes south."

"Aye sir"

"Sir, main deflector has been charged with anti-protons. The inverse tachyon beam is ready on your go."

"Excellent!"

The sound of the bosun's whistle suddenly echoed through the bridge and the corridors of the mighty little ship.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the valiant Albion.  We are about to embark on a great undertaking, one that may see us to our end.  But remember our duty to the Federation and to the Alpha quadrant.  Trillions of lives will rely on what we do today, right now.  I know you all will fulfill your duty to the very end.  It has been my distinct honor to serve with each of you."

"Optimal weapons range reached, Captain."

"Thank you tactical, fire at will. Commander Lishen, fire the inverse tachyon beam. All hands brace for impact and wide scale breeches."

 "Captain Sobrik"

"Commander Gratten, did you say something?"

"No, Sir." Commander Gratten's voice became distant, like trying to hear someone's voice from the other side of a tunnel.

"Captain Sobrik"

"Is no one hearing that?"  The bridge started to fade away.  The sights and sounds of the surrounding battle become a distant background until they were suddenly white washed away and nothing but an empty white space remained.

"What is this?  Where am I?"

"Captain Sobrik, please, do not be alarmed.  I have taken you out of your time.  A nano second of your time, to be exact.  As far as your crew knows, you're still on the bridge of the Albion."

"Why have you brought me here?"

"I am here to stop you from destroying yourself and your crew."

"Who are you?"

"We are known as temporal "agents".  We are responsible for protecting the integrity of the timeline."

"I've heard of you people before.  Captain Archer's reports about "Crewman Daniels" are required reading for any new ship commanders."

"Captain, you and your crew have a large part to play in events that are still to come."

"Yes, I've heard you guys like to say stuff like that. Let me tell you something.  Time is fluid, it corrects itself.  My part in events to come can easily be done by others."

"Our projections indicate an 85.67% probability that..."

"I'll stop you right there.  I'm not in the business of making decisions based upon what an unwritten future may hold.  My job... my DUTY is to the people of the Federation and the countless innocent lives that inhabit this galaxy.  I will not abandon it because a man with parlor tricks tells me I should.  Logic dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.  Now, send me back to my ship!"

The bridge of the Albion immediately flashed back into Captain Sobrik's view.

"SIR! We've lost our forward cannons!  Torpedo tubes one through four are jammed and cannot fire!"

"Sir, we still need another 45 seconds before the singularity has collapsed on the Iconian ship!"

“Hull integrity has fallen another 25%.  The Albion cannot handle another hit from a gravimetric eddy.”

"Options!"

"Sir, I believe that the singularity will collapse on itself if we are able to initiate a matter/ anti matter reaction within the singularity.  We'll still need to destroy that ship though."

“Sir, I can create a static warp bubble. That should insulate us from the gravimetric sheer we keep experiencing and allow us to make it to the Location of the Iconian ship."

"Make it so, Commander Lishen. Tactical, arm all remaining quantum torpedoes, they should detonate the moment we impact that ship.  Engineering, rig the warp core to go critical the moment we impact the Iconian ship.  We are taking that ship down."

"Aye sir!"

"Engage!"

To be concluded in "... Or the one."

The Needs of the Many...

"Commander Grattan! Shield strength has dropped to 75%!" Lieutenant Arday Sindar said while trying to steady himself through the constant rocking of the Albion under the gravimetric eddies being emanated by the proton star in System NGC-1325.

"Steady as she goes, Lieutenant!" Commander Grattan responded, "Captain to the bridge!"

Captain Sobrik had already been alerted to the change in the status of the ship and was on his way to the bridge from his quarters and was already walking through the bridge door when his executive officer had called for him.

"That was quick, sir!" said Commander Grattan

"Status!" said Sobrik

"We have been caught in a gravimetric distortion being emanated from the NGC-1325 proton star."  said Lieutenant Temori Gooj, the ship's chief science officer.

"I thought you said that we were too far out to be effected by the star's gravimetric field." said Sobrik

"I did, sir. I don't understand it!" Temori responded.

"Sir, I may have an explanation." interjected Ensign Lameran, another science officer, "I am reading a localized coherent tetryon burst emanating from an object near the proton star.  It could be the reason we are hitting gravimetric eddies this far away from the star."

"Analysis of that object?" asked Sobrik.

"Tritanium alloy based hull. Coaxial warp field.  Definitely a ship." Temori responded.

"Coaxial warp field?  I've only heard of one occasion of that warp theory being put into practice.  The USS Voyager encountered a ship that used one in the early 2370s.  But I have never seen one.  Our starships have never been able to create a stable coaxial warp field." said Grattan.

"Okay, so who is using one now?" asked Sobrik

"Unknown, sir. Although the hull markings and the ship design seem... familiar..." said Lameran.

"Sir, I've identified the ship.  It's the same one we encountered in the Gamma Orionis sector last month... The one that destroyed the two Borg ships we encountered.  It's the Iconians!" said Temori.

"Battle stations!" said Grattan.

"Sir, my analysis suggests that they are trying to disrupt subspace in this sector.  What they are doing will cause a cumulative, chain reaction through out this quadrant perhaps even the entire galaxy.  They could essentially end space travel for us." said Temori.

"If they are able to disrupt subspace, all civilizations within the galaxy would be ripe for conquest.  Their gate system allows for instant travel from planet to planet.  There would no way to defend against that kind of invasion." said Sobrik, "I need options!"

"Sir, I must point out that we are at a serious disadvantage, tactically." said Zod Dtani, Sobrik's tactical officer.

"Well, we need a non-tactical solution then.  We cannot allow the Iconians to destroy subspace." said Sobrik.

"An inverse tachyon beam directed at the focal point of the disturbance might cause a feedback pulse that could cause a chain reaction within their power core." said Lishen, the Albion's Chief Engineer.

"Do it. Helm, prepare a collision course.  We MUST stop the Iconians.  This takes priority over all other concerns." said Sobrik.

"Aye sir." responded the bridge crew in unison.



To be continued in "...Outweigh the needs of the few..." ...

Temopral Excursions

Personal Log, Captain T'baal

Stardate 83186.39

My meeting with the Joint Chiefs did not yield any useful results. Instead of being sent back to our own time, we are to remain here.  According to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the Federation Council adopted a Temporal Prime Directive in 2389 that stipulates that any person from the past that is propelled forward into the current time frame cannot be sent back to their own time as it would pose "seriously grave" damage to the current timeline.  So, we are to stay here, in 2409.

Most of my surviving crew are being quickly ushered out of Starfleet and are being offered positions at various scientific organizations across the Federation.  No one is keeping their original names.  According to history, we died in the Dominion War and that is how the Federation Council and the Joint Chiefs want to keep it.

I am the only one being kept in Starfleet, but I'm not keeping my rank.  My name is to be changed, I am being reduced to a lieutenant and being given command of a frigate. 

 T'baal no longer exists.  There is only Lieutenant Sobrik.



Computer, delete personal log entry.

Meeting the Captains: Captain Sobrik

Starfleet Special Intelligence Report #1123A236B
Classification: Top Secret//Omega
Section 31 Eyes Only

Subject: Departmental Threat Assessment - Captain Sobrik, U.S.S. Albion, Starfleet

Director,

At your behest, I compiled a threat assessment after the most recent candidate evaluation of Captain Sobrik.

As you know, most recent candidate evaluation did not go exactly as expected and initial results seem to indicate a higher than normal level of risk associated with the recruitment of this officer.  This level of risk has not been encountered since the recruitment of one Dr. Julian Bashir in 2374.

I have completed a detailed history and psychological profile below for your immediate review as well as my recommendations for how to proceed with the subject.

History:

Sobrik was born in 2285 as T'baal on Vulcan to T'ong and Prall.  From 2303 to 2360, Sobrik studied and became the leading expert in various forms of martial arts to include the vulcan martial arts of tal-shaya and Suss Mahn, the human martial arts of Jujutsu, Judo, Aikido, Anbo-jytsu, Tai chi chuan, Taekwondo and Karate, and the Klingon martial art of Mok'bara.  Other forms he is highly proficient in include Tsunkatse, Galeo-Manada and the Andorian ushaan martial art.  Sobrik is also an expert of blades, to include the mek'leth, bat'leth, ushanan-tor, chakra and kitana.  But Sobrik is most deadly with the lirpa.

In 2360, Sobrik decided to attend Starfleet Academy, from which he graduated in 2362; a full two years early. From 2362 to 2370, Sobrik studied terrestrial battle tactics, small unit tactics, starship and fighter craft battle strategy and fleet strategic operations management at the little known Starfleet Fleet War College in Annapolis, Maryland, North America, Earth.

Sobrik emerged from the Fleet War College as a Lieutenant Commander and was immediately posted to Starbase 257 to serve as the Chief of Strategic Operations. Starbase 257 was quickly becoming an important base of operations in countering the growing threat from the Dominion and the resurgent Cardassian Union.

By 2374, Sobrik had been promoted to Captain and had been assigned as 5th Fleet's Chief of Strategic Operations and Adjunct to Admiral Fel'at Tor on board the flagship; U.S.S. Sentinel.

In mid April, 2375 The U.S.S. Sentinel was patrolling sector 2535 near the Son'a boarder when they were ambushed by three Son'a warships.  The lead warship fired an isolytic burst that made a tear in subspace that destroyed the Sentinel.

Sobrik and a handful of other officers and crew made it to an escape pod.  While in the escape pod, a temporal disruption, seemingly caused as an after effect of the subspace weapon, trapped the escape pod and propelled them from 2375 to 2409.

The escape pod was found near Cestus III by the U.S.S. Constantinople.  Shortly after being picked up by the Constantinople, Cestus III came under a massive attack by a large Borg armada.  Sobrik assumed command after the captain and most of the senior staff were killed in the first volley.

Once the Constantinople had returned to Earth, Sobrik was summoned to a meeting of the Starfleet chiefs of staff.  The chiefs of staff decided that the origins of the survivors of the Sentinal could not be disclosed.  They were instead given new names and identities.  The truth of their origins remains highly classified, so high that only a few in Starfleet command and Section 31 know of their true origins.

As a result of this decision, Sobrik was given a new commission as a lieutenant and given command of the U.S.S. Aventine.  Since then, he has rapidly risen in rank to Captain.  He now commands a Defiant class escort, U.S.S. Albion, and has been assigned patrol duties near the Klingon border.

Psychological Profile:

There are several things of note about Sobrik's psychological profile.  The first is that he is no typical Vulcan.  His parents and colleagues have always noted that his emotions always seemed to be near the surface and ready to be unleashed.  Meditation has never served as a method to keep his emotions in check.  Instead his foray into martial arts seems to keep his emotions under control.

Sobrik also does not base his decision making process on logic.  This makes him highly unpredictable.  He often times makes rash and reckless judgements in order to attain a substantial advantage in a given situation.  Regardless of this, he possesses a high moral standard and does not believe in crossing the line that is firmly established in many of Starfleet's officer corp.

Many of his professors likened his personality and mannerisms to a Vulcan version of Captain James T. Kirk.

Recommendations:

While Section 31 often times recruits officers with his skills and merits, it is the judgement of this agent that Sobrik posses too much of a risk to this organization's integrity.  It is the belief of this agent that should Sobrik find a means by which to gain a substantial advantage over this agency, he will exploit it with the end goal of destroying this organization.

For this reason, I recommend that we seek to terminate this candidate immediately through any and all means necessary.

As his first officer, I believe that I am in the perfect position to eliminate Sobrik as a threat to our organization.

I await your decision.

Thank you for your time.


Agent Grattan


Classification: Top Secret//Omega

Meeting the Captains: Captain To'vaag of the House of Trov'el

Captain's Personal Log Stardate 83123.61

I am To'vaag, Son of Trov'el.

My father, who supported Chancellor Martok to the day that he was killed by J'mpok, had his honor taken by the High Council for speaking out against the attacks on the Gorn Hegemony and for the abandoning of the Khitomer Accords. My house was an honored and noble house that had a seat on the High Council for three generations. I bear the shame of my father's dishonor for the rest of my life, yet I do not feel its burden because I know my father did the honorable thing.

After our lands and titles were stripped from us, my father brought us to Cestus III where he continued to teach me the way of the warrior. He taught me that even though battle is at the heart of the Klingon, that we must also distinguish between the times to fight and the times to make peace. "The Federation," he always said, "has been our loyal and honorable brothers since the time of turmoil after the death of Gorkon." The Federation knows more about what is at the heart of a warrior than Klingons do. He proved himself right on the day the dishonorable lapdogs of J'mpok assassinated him while he was aiding the Federation peace envoy to the Klingons.

One day, I will meet J'mpok on the field of battle. On that day, I will teach him the meaning of an honorable death and restore the honor robbed of my father's house.

Until that day, I will honor my father's memory by serving the Federation as a loyal warrior and diplomat.

Meeting the Captains: Captain Triline Drilax

Starfleet Personnel Record #1123262

Subject: Triline Drilax

Rank: Captain

Specialization(s): Temporal Mechanics/ Physics; Quantum Mechanics; Xenobiology

Species: Joined Trill

Birth Planet: Trill

Birth Year: 19 November 2380

Triline is the fourth host of the Drilax symbiont.

The Drilax symbiont has a history of serving within Starfleet. The first being in the mid 23rd Century as a Lieutenant Commander on board the U.S.S. Hiroshima during the infamous incident code named the "Hiroshima Incident" where only a third of the crew were synced in normal space time. As the Chief Science officer, then Trox Drilax, was credited with single handedly bringing the entirety of the Hiroshima crew back into sync with normal space time.

In addition to this, the current host of Drilax symbiont was reported to have been pushed out of our reality and into a parallel universe where no form of the United Federation of Planets existed. While there, she met a man who called himself "The Doctor" while he was in the midst of a crisis with a race known as the "Daleks." Drilax aided the Doctor in resolving the crisis and in exchange for her assistance, the Doctor used his TARDIS to bring her back to this reality and repair the rift between dimensions.

Triline Drilax is currently captain of the U.S.S. Al-Batani.