Star Trek: Outwardly Mobile
Episode 00: The Introduction
By
Jay P. Hailey

Introduction-

I started this as journaling, at the suggestion of my counselor. As I did I realized that there were stories in my career in Starfleet that I would like to share. I have also discovered that I have some small talent for story telling.

I joined Starfleet based on the public relations work they have done and the carefully crafted public image they present. I was young and somewhat adrift and saw Starfleet as representing the sort of person I really wanted to be. This is no accident. Starfleet's recruiting method for Earth and human populated worlds is based on 400 years of experience at relating to and manipulating the public.

Eventually due to dumb luck more than anything else I wound up in the center seat. The Captain's Chair. The holy grail of most Starfleet cadets.

In my carrier in Starfleet I learned that nothing is ever as simple as the media and PR flacks would have you believe. I learned that right and wrong are not the black and white issues they always seemed to be for Captain Kirk.

I wanted to be the hero. The brave defender and dauntless explorer. What I ended up being was just me. Older, sadder and in way too far over my head.

I believe in Starfleet still. I believe in the mission. I believe in the goals. I believe in the truth. But most importantly I believe in the people who are out there even today, laying it on the line and learning their lessons the hard way. If you are thinking of joining the Starfleet, then all I can suggest is that you consider it and do it if that's truly who you want to be, and if that's truly what you feel called on to do. And be prepared to weather the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune from all sides before you're done.

I write these stories in the hopes of putting my own side of my story out where people can see it if the choose to. I also hope that these tales entertain you. Looking back, I find it was somewhat different than the impression I had at the time.

I would like to thank

All the people I knew about the starships USS Harrier and USS Discovery.

Admiral Miriah Katasai

Admiral Dennis Washburn

Admiral Rogan of the Kurr Starfleet

Admiral William Riker

Captain Li'ira

Captain Kevin Mitchell (ret.)

Captain Katherine Julie Malone (ret.)

Captain Dayna Dawson

Lord Borak of the House Borak, occasionally known as the House Katasai

The Late Gentleman known only to me as "the Captain"

Captain Krog of the Ortegan Self Defense Force

And the crews of the Starships Harrier, Discovery, London, Enterprise-E, Endeavor, Deep Space Ten, ShiKahr, Sutherland, Excelsior, Gemini, Liberator, Detroit., Dagger, Dagger II and so on, who have been invaluable to me in my research.

Capt. Jay P. Hailey, Starfleet (ret.)

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Author's note-

No, I am NOT crazy. My name is Jay P. Hailey. I am a real person and a Star Trek fan. See, Dennis Washburn and I once played a campaign of Star Trek the Role Playing Game. And because it was my fantasy life I did a self insertion character.

As the game developed I realized that Captain Hailey and I had significantly diverged as people and personalities. He became not me, but yet another of my thundering horde of inner voices, of characters with minds and lives of their own. Captain Hailey became his own man.

Then I decided that my notes and backgrounds would make some decent Trek stories. I started writing and you see the results.

I was faced with a choice early on as I wrote these, about whether to rename Captain Hailey or to go ahead with him as he was and risk cries of "Mary Sue!"

I made the choice to keep the character's name as is and accept the consequences of that. They haven't been too bad yet. No burnings of me/Captain Hailey in effigy, yet. In fact a lot of people whose judgement I otherwise trust say they like these stories pretty well.

I used to have massive discussions and even arguments with my friends and fellow fans about just what makes a good Trek story. At last I can point to a body of work and say that I put my money where my mouth is.

I personally would like to thank

Dennnis Washburn, who developed the basic plots of the Harrier/Discovery game, including a lot of the more evil elements that drive these stories. He is also responsible for Col. John Flagg of Starfleet Intelligence. Ironically, The Dennis Washburn *Character* who appears very briefly in these stories is entirely my invention. (The three "N" spelling of his name is an in joke. Be sure to reference it if you meet him. He loves it.)

Sandi Hedlund, who besides being the most beautiful and loveable creature on the whole Earth (Don't you wish you knew her!) also has a detailed and brutal eye for copy editing, and is responsible for the character of Mariah Katasai, one of the more deeply plumbed and detailed characters I have ever role played with or GMed for. These stories simply wouldn't be here for you to read without her.

Garry Stahl. who besides being my friend and fellow Trek fanfic writer, is also an encouraging fan, Without Garry, the stories would be here, but you'd a much tougher time seeing them.

Kitty Howard, who whomped up the Deep Space Ten setting, and several of the more entertaining characters associated with it, the Bendarii and the As'Taan, and lots more.

Gene Ambacher who created several interesting plots and several interesting characters with in this series.

Jeramie Postelwaite who added characters and one plot, although it's a gooder!

Joshua Donovan who in a very short period of time added fully formed, Garan Draxil a Character who is no end of fun for me to write.

Carol Daugherty, whose character Crystara Acnapma adds depth and color (literally) to these stories.

and Broc Olsen who's full contribution has yet to be seen.

 

Disclaimer: Paramount owns all things Trek. I claim original characters and situations in this story for me.

Jay P. Hailey