Episode 25: The Ortega Blues

(Stardate 48634)

By

Jay P. Hailey

And

Dennnis Washburn

The party on Ortega was one of the most entertaining diplomatic functions that I have ever been to.

There was a lot of food and drink being served. There was a live band and dancing. There were a lot of Ortegan Dignitaries there. It seemed as though being eccentric was a job requirement for them.

I was looking for the Captain of the Courage. He was a Troyan man, with blue skin and white hair. He had a reputation as a naturally talented Starship Captain. He had served with distinction in fleets all across known space. You could look up his proper name in the archives, but everyone simply called him The Captain.

I didn't see him at the party. Instead, I saw the Klingon first mate of the Courage. He dressed in a variation of the standard Warrior's uniform, and he was drinking tea from a delicate china cup. He was not slamming it down messily as a Klingon should, either. He was sipping it delicately and thoughtfully.

"Qapla, Krog." I said. It was the standard Klingon greeting. It meant "Success!" The undertone was "Success and Victory in all your undertakings!"

In a cultured accent Krog replied "Good evening Captain Hailey."

"We scanned the Courage during our approach." I said. "She looks like a fine ship." I didn't think I could go wrong complimenting Krog on his ship. The truth was that a small, innocent Federation starship had been refit into a frightening pocket battleship. Nothing in the sector could take the Courage for granted. My starship, the Discovery was no exception.

"Thank you, Captain. May I say that the lines of the Discovery possesses a certain pleasing aesthetic quality." Krog's response was very polite. He delivered it with a gleam in his eye that let me know that his compliment was genuine.

"Thank you. I would be interested in learning how you rectified the power curve of the Courage." I said. I had been a starship engineer at one time. The conversion of the Courage from a multi-role starship into a ship killer would have posed a lot of interesting problems. What officer doesn't like to talk about his ship? We spend a lot of time studying them. A certain amount of affection for them is necessary.

"I'm afraid that I can not say, Captain. That would give you too much of a tactical edge when you invade us." Krog said. His accent was cultured BBC. His expression was pure Klingon.

"We have no plans to invade Ortega." I said. I had been saying it a lot during this party.

"I hope that when your non-existent invasion happens, that you will be in the first wave, Captain. It will be an honor to meet you in battle." Krog was a Terran-ophile, but underneath it he was a warrior in the best Klingon tradition.

"You do me honor, sir." I said. It was the only reasonable response to the compliment.

"Not yet." He said. "But soon."

-*-

The diplomatic reception was in the convention center at Ortega City. It was a huge rambling affair with many rooms and a huge dining area set up for us.

I brought about twenty of my crew with me. Many of the senior officers were there. Aaron accompanied us at his own request, as did Soren the Elder. Carlos Mendez was there as well as Kamaline Darvon Ahk and Dr. Marcella Burlington.

It was a huge sprawling event of a cocktail party. I noticed that races from worlds all over known space were represented. I also noticed with some discomfort that they all seemed armed.

"Well what do you think of our little paradise?" Defense Minister Krugov asked me. He was a human with brown skin, a mustache, goatee and a receding hairline. It made his widows peak more pronounced. He dressed in red robes with yellow trim on them. It gave him a strange "Fu Manchu" sort of effect.

"Ahm. It's well armed." I said.

"Yes! Yes it is!" He laughed. "You will remember that, won't you Captain?"

"Ah, sure." I said agreeably.

-*-

"The replicator spells the end of the small farmer, Don't you think, Captain?" She was the minister for agriculture.

"Well, I don't know. I know that fresh food is a whole world apart from replicated goods. If anything, I think replicators would harm big industrial farming but encourage hobby farming." I ventured.

"Right, right, that's just what I was saying. Hey! I'll have to show you some of the stuff from my victory garden. That's what I'll be eating when you invade."

"But, we're not going to invade." I said.

"Sure, sure. Riiiight."

She was dead certain that a Federation invasion of Ortega was immanent. So were most of the other people I met. Oddly, most of them were very polite on the subject. It was as if they blamed the Federation, but not me personally. That's an odd turn around for a Starship Captain.

Some people refused to speak with me or shot hateful glares but the people of Ortega were convinced that an invasion was on the way.

-*-

I found Mendez. He was deeply into a discussion with the Cultural Minister.

"...Of course when we get the first warning of your invasion, we will have to quickly move the artifacts down into the shelters." The Cultural Minister was saying.

"You have nothing to worry about. There will be no invasion." Mendez said. "I heard that you have a few Shelbys here."

"Oh dear, yes, but sadly we can not display them. We don't have the technology to stabilize them. She used very transient media."

"Perhaps I can help." Mendez said.

"That would be lovely, but I do hope you beat the invasion. I don't know how that old paper will stand up to the radiation flux." The Cultural Minister seemed to honestly believe that Mendez wanted to help and that there was an invasion coming.

"Would it help if I were to personally assure you that there is no invasion planned?" I asked the Cultural Minister.

"Oh dear! Indeed not! You might just as well save your breath, Captain. I'm not buying that one." The Cultural Minister was notably more hostile to me than to Mendez. He scurried off "Please try to get that stabilization equipment here soon. A few more years and the invasion won't matter to the Shelbys."

"I'll see what I can do." Mendez said.

"Does everyone here think that we're going to invade?" I asked Mendez under my breath.

"Everyone that I've spoken with." Mendez replied quietly.

Aaron came up to us with a dark haired young lady hanging off his arm. He was grinning wryly. "You boys seem to have your PR work cut out for you." He said.

"Is that before or after they invade, Aaron?" Aaron's young companion sneered at us.

"You run along, honey. I've got some business to discuss here and I'll be right there." Aaron shooed the young woman away.

"Don't be too long, lover." The young woman cooed.

We both looked at Aaron. He shrugged "Chalk it up to diplomatic relations."

"Ahem." I changed the subject. "Have you seen Castros yet?"

Castros was the leader of Ortega. He was one of the most respected minds in the Federation. His specialty was sociology and xeno-anthropologist. He was a noted Federation Diplomat.

About fifteen years ago, he had given up his career and position to come to the small Federation colony of Ortega. Now he ran it according to his ground breaking theories. It was as close to a working utopia as the Federation was liable to see for some time.

"No. I don't know if he's made an appearance." Aaron seemed disappointed. I didn't blame him. How often did one get to speak to a Newton or an Einstein?

"Well, there's Soren. I'll bet he knows what's happening." I began to move towards our Vulcan Elder.

"I'll join you gentlemen shortly." Aaron said.

"Take your time." I replied.

-*-

Soren was speaking to a group of people who were listening avidly. Soren was a Vulcan Elder. He had been alive at the founding of the Federation. He had been one of the scientists and diplomats who had shaped the world we all lived in.

Among the group listening to Soren was a tall octopus, colored pinkish. The octopus smelled as though he had bathed in strawberries and cream. It was a delightful smell. He was a Rhondan. I've heard of them, but I had never met one before.

I listened while Soren recounted one early crisis of the Federation.

"...The Andorians thought that humans were going to provoke a war with their extreme expansionism. They feared being forced to fight to defend the Federation from forces that sought to destroy Terra. The Andorians were ready to withdraw from the Federation. Many Vulcans were ready to support that position. They felt that humans were behaving too illogically for Vulcans to support.

The ill-fated first contact between the Federation and the Klingons brought the situation to a critical point. The forces pulling the Federation apart reached a maximum of social dynamic force, 8.7 on the revised standard scale."

"Revised standard scale?" One of the listeners asked.

"The common measure of social forces at work in a cultural environment." The octopus said.

"Isn't that the Soren scale? ... oh." The person realized that he was talking to Soren and grew embarrassed.

"I prefer not to call it that." Soren said dryly. "I did not invent the scale, I merely recalibrated it. It has been recalibrated numerous times since."

"But, how did the Federation survive the crisis?" Another bystander wanted to know. "I've never heard of any social institution surviving over 7.5 before."

"By change." The octopus said.

"Just so." Soren agreed. "An Andorian president was elected in a vote of confidence. Although this seems like blaming the previous administration for the Klingon situation, it was not. It was an attempt to reorient the Federation away from human dominated goals and attitudes and to develop a more multi-racial attitude."

"Did it succeed?" One bystander asked.

"Of course not. Would they be planning to invade if it had?" Another answered.

"True." The crowd reached a general agreement that of course the Federation was about to invade them.

I looked at Soren. Was he going to deny it? If he did it would either convince the people he was speaking to or they would not believe him. He remained calm and said nothing. I caught his eye. I was waiting for him to defend us. The Federation may have had its rough spots, but the events that Soren was speaking of were in the 2210's, over one hundred and sixty years ago.

Soren said nothing. The crowd took it as confirmation.

Soren said "I must speak business with the Captain. If you will excuse me." The crowd of on lookers stopped for a moment. Were we going to discuss invasion plans? Then the thought that this would be a stupid thing to do filtered through.

The crowd split up and went its separate ways. The octopus stayed.

"Captain, may I introduce my colleague, Whump-Wuist-Woo-Woo?" Soren said.

"Mr. Whump-Wuist-Woo-Woo." I held out my hand. The octopus wrapped a tentacle around my hand and shook gently.

"Pleased." It said. Rather, it put off a burst of strawberry smell and its vocorder repeated the sentiment out loud.

"Are you any relation to Lt. Whump-Wuist-Woo-Woo?" I asked. Someone with that same name was supposed to be reporting aboard the Discovery as our counselor.

"I am a very close relation to Lt. Whump-Wuist-Woo-Woo. I am, in fact, he." Whump-Wuist-Woo-Woo said.

"Then the pleasure is all mine." I said. "What brings you to this event?"

"Um, Captain?" Mendez said "Mr. Whump-Wuist-Woo-Woo is the Starfleet liaison to Ortega."

That was a heavy diplomatic post. Why was it assigned to a Lieutenant? "Really?"

"Indeed." Mr. Whump-Wuist-Woo-Woo said. "Even if duty did not require my attendance, then I would come out of academic curiosity."

"Curiosity about what?" I asked. What Academic credentials did Whump-Wuist-Woo-Woo have? Was Soren serious about calling him a colleague?

"The forces at work in Ortegan society." Whump-Wuist-Woo-Woo said. "Perhaps you have noticed that all the natives seem convinced that a Federation invasion is imminent."

"Yes. I have noticed." I said.

"Evidently this artifact has been introduced into Ortegan society recently in order to act as something of a social glue." Whump-Wuist-Woo-Woo said.

"That doesn't sound good." I said.

"The logic of it is obscure." Soren said.

"Those of us in the Community are fascinated to see how it will work." Whump-Wuist-Woo-Woo said.

"The Community?" Mendez asked.

Whump-Wuist-Woo-Woo explained. "Social sciences such as psycho-history, xeno-anthropology and history as well as applied disciplines such as government and diplomacy may be considered different ends of the same spectrum. We have become a Community."

"Oh." I said. "You and Soren are members of this community?"

"Yes, Captain." Whump-Wuist-Woo-Woo said.

"And Castros?"

Soren said "He was until recently a very active member of our sub-culture. Of late he has dropped out of contact and added several unique factors to his experiment on Ortega."

"There he is!" Someone said excitedly.

We looked to see Castros moving among the crowd. He looked older than I expected him to look. His heyday as a Federation diplomat had been fifteen years ago. All the pictures I had in my mind of him were from that date. He looked gray, tired and old.

We tried to move closer, but were blocked by the excited crowd of Ortegans trying to see their leader.

My worst fear was Soren. He was a Vulcan and they are quite tough, but Soren was 215 years old. That's old for anyone. Mendez and I formed up one either side of Soren and did our best to physically protect him from the crush.

"Mr. Whump-Wuist-Woo-Woo, please lend a hand." I said. Whump-Wuist-Woo-Woo got in front of Soren and tried to clear a path. He was not successful, but we managed to keep Soren from being uncomfortably crowded and maybe even broken.

"Gentlemen, please." Soren said, Annoyed at our concern. "This is not logical."

We saw Castros moving across the conference area towards another door. He had big body guards from several races.

Out of nowhere Aaron appeared. He slid up to Castros and chatted at him. Castros looked at Aaron with a mixture of irritation and non-comprehension. Aaron tried again. Castros shook his head roughly and a Nausicaan shooed Aaron away from Castros.

Soon Castros disappeared through a door and the crowd broke up, talking excitedly about having seen their leader.

I was amazed. We didn't often see that sort of thing. I had heard of it from historical accounts of my home land, Los Angeles.

"Wow." I said. "He's a celebrity now." If the accounts were true, strange women would soon start claiming to have had Castros' love child. It was a strange and undignified thing to have happened.

"Most disturbing." Soren agreed.

-*-

The next day we held a round of more business like meetings with the Ortegans. While that was happening, the majority of the crew got shore leave on Ortega. The major exceptions were the colonists. They were not allowed to leave the ship except in smaller groups, approved by Aaron.

I questioned Aaron on the subject. He said "We have some young people aboard. I don't know if you've noticed how idealistic young people can be."

"Okay, granted. What's the problem? Do you think that they'll bring subversive Ortegan-ism back on board with them?" I asked.

"No. I'm worried that we'll get deserters seeking to stay on Ortega."

That did pose a pickle. Getting these people the hell out of the Federation was very important. They wouldn't have assigned the job to a Galaxy class starship otherwise. If they wanted to stay on Ortega then who was I to say no? As far as the Discovery herself was concerned I was god, the Captain has to be. I didn't want to stomp the rights of the civilian colonists. That wasn't my style.

Besides, if they wanted to defect, they couldn't find a better place than Ortega. Ortega consistently refused to extradite anyone. That was part of its reputation. Ortega would accept criminals from any world and then rehabilitate them. Once on Ortega, fugitives were safe.

"So? What's the problem? That'll clear out the people who aren't really committed to the Beta Howard Colony in the first place." I said.

"You don't understand. None of the colonists can be allowed to leave. We have carefully measured every contingency. If some of the colonists leave now, it could doom the project." Aaron said.

I didn't like the sound of that. "I guess it's your decision." I growled.

"Thank you." He said.

-*-

Ortega elected Castros as its leader about ten years prior to our visit. He came in with a plan to put his revolutionary sociological theories into practice. He set to work immediately, with the solid support of the Ortegans.

Before Castros, Ortega was just another generic Federation agricultural colony. After just a few years it became a thriving world, attracting idealists from all over the Federation. It also attracted outcasts and social misfits who were gladly accepted by the new Ortega.

Then Ortega seceded from the Federation and declared itself independent. If Earth or Andor had decided to secede from the Federation then it would have been a major event in history. There would be a big stink and possibly even a civil war.

When Ortega decided to leave the Federation, nobody paid much attention. Ortega simply wasn't that important a planet. Negotiators went to Ortega to try to smooth things over. Sometimes they stayed with the Ortegans to help them pursue their "Great Experiment".

Back in the Federation, nobody really got the idea that Ortega was actually gone. The Discovery's mission was part of that clueless thought process. We were to visit the planet and glad hand as if it was just another Federation planet. The idea was to say that Ortega was still in the family, was still welcome at the table etc.

The Ortegans viewed it as gunboat diplomacy. My fairly desperate attempts to establish friendship between Ortega and the Federation were viewed as a product of my own clueless naivete.

-*-

"So you see, Captain, the Federation simply has nothing we want." Krugov was saying patiently. It was patently untrue, of course. The Ortegans still imported a lot of equipment and technology from other worlds in the Federation. However, Krugov was quite intent on communicating his point. The Federation was not his friend, period.

His communicator beeped. He took it out and flipped it open. "Krugov here."

"Please come to the war room, Minister. We have a situation." A voice said to him.

"Please excuse me, Captain Hailey. I have an important matter to attend to." Krugov apologized as he got up.

"Of course. Perhaps we can meet later, after your crisis has passed?" I said.

He stared at me for a moment and then said "Possibly. I'll let you know what my schedule looks like."

Defense Minister Krugov was the highest level Ortegan administrator who would talk to me. Castros himself was said to be "too busy".

-*-

I beamed back to the Discovery and went to the bridge.

"Lucas, please scan their communication signals. They've got something happening and I'd like to know what." I said.

"How was your meeting?" Mendez asked.

"Not good. We are definitely persona-non-grata on Ortega." I said.

"Hmmm." Mendez said.

After a few moments of scanning, Lucas said. "Captain, I think you ought to hear this."

"Go ahead."

Lucas put the signal he was scanning on the audio channel.

Krugov was saying. "He can't have gone far, Harvey. Find him."

"But, Sir. The more men I drag into this, the greater the risk of it becoming public." Another voice complained.

"God damn it, if we don't find Castros soon, we'll have to get to whole planet out beatings the bushes!" Krugov sounded upset.

"Are you certain that he's not on their ship?" The other voice said.

"No. I've had the Discovery under constant surveillance. They could not have taken him there without us seeing them. If it is the Federation, then they've got him somewhere on the planet."

"Cancel leaves and recall the crew." I said to Mendez, quietly but firmly. Given the attitudes of the Ortegans, if we were suspected of kidnapping Castros, then we could expect hostages, lynching and torture of members of my crew when the word broke.

About the time we began transporting crew people up to the Discovery, the rumors began. About the time we finished beaming people up, war fever was running rampant across Ortega.

-*-

A shuttle craft rose into orbit near the Discovery. It was a generic commercial model shuttlecraft. I had a bad feeling about it. "Scan that shuttle, please."

McCoy scanned it. "One life form. Human."

Stephanie Anderson, the Chief tactical Officer said "The shuttle is hailing. It's using a code. The code is an old Federation diplomatic code."

"What's it saying?" I asked. I could feel my head start to throb.

"It's requesting permission to dock and political asylum." Stephanie said.

"Granted. Bring it into the number two shuttle bay." I said.

Lucas attached a tractor beam to the shuttle and began to bring it aboard. Stephanie directed a quad of security to go to the shuttle bay and stand by.

Mendez said "I'll go see who our guest is."

As Mendez left for the shuttle-bay, Stephanie made another report. "The Courage is moving into attack posture, Captain."

"Hail them." I said.

They answered the hail promptly. On the screen was an old Troyian man. He seemed to radiate authority and calm respectability.

"I'm Captain Hailey of the Discovery." I told him. "Why have you moved into firing position on my ship?"

"I'm the Captain of the Courage." He said. "I would like to know who that was on the shuttlecraft you brought aboard."

"I don't know yet. My First Officer is investigating."

"We insist that all Ortegan citizens be returned to Ortega, Captain." He said mildly.

"I'd like to accommodate you, but the shuttle came aboard requesting political asylum." I said.

"I hope that you will be able of accommodate us. Until then we will prevent you from leaving with any of our citizens." He said. It wasn't a threat. It was simply a statement of fact.

"Let me get back to you once I know more, Captain." I said, stalling.

"By all means." He said. The channel was cut.

"What's the status of the Courage?" I asked Stephanie.

"Her shields and weapons are not armed, but are at stand by. They can be raised and fired at a moments notice."

"Bring our weapons and shields to standby. Sound yellow alert."

Around me the Discovery began to ready herself for battle.

A few minutes later, Mendez called me. "Captain, perhaps you should come to the Sickbay."

-*-

Castros was lying sedated on a diagnostic bed in the Sickbay of Discovery.

"What happened?" I asked.

"He was incoherent when the shuttle landed." Mendez reported. "I brought him straight here."

"Dr. Burlington? What's your diagnosis?"

Our Zalkonian Chief Medical Officer reported. "I'd say it's a bad case of fatigue and emotional stress." She said. "He needs some down time and a counselor."

"Can you wake him? It's important." I said.

"Only if you want an old man raving incoherently at you." She warned.

"Doctor, we're about to be fired on. I need him coherent and able to speak."

"Tough. I'll let you know when there's any development." She said.

-*-

About half an hour later Defense Minister Krugov hailed us.

"Captain Hailey, this is an outrage! I demand that you return Castros to us immediately!"

"I'm sorry, he has asked for political asylum. I must honor the request."

"That is unacceptable! Let me speak with him!" Krugov raged. McCoy caught my eye. He called up a data display and sent to my terminal. The signal was coded. No one on Ortega could listen in.

"I'm sorry. he's indisposed. After my Chief Medical Officer assures herself of his good health, then we can open up negotiations." I said.

"A likely story!" He said bitterly. "Return Castros to us or I'll order the Courage to blow you out of the stars!"

"I don't respond well to threats, Minister." I said. I cut the channel.

-*-

Castros awoke fifteen minutes later. He demanded to speak with Soren alone.

I asked Soren to meet him in Sickbay. I spent an uncomfortable half an hour outside the doors to the place while Soren and Castros spoke.

-*-

"Castros says that his experiment on Ortega has failed." Soren said. "Evidently it has damaged him. I am not competent to assess the emotional damage that this has caused him." Soren looked disturbed. It's rare for Vulcans to have to deal with emotionally troubled humans.

We were in the conference room on the Discovery listening to Soren's report. Through the big bay windows we could see Ortega rolling by below. It looked deceptively peaceful.

"The specifics of Castros' report are these. At one point there were too many criminals taking advantage of the neutral status of Ortega. They began to affect the operation of the government, encouraging more criminals and criminal activities. Now, they use the external appearance of Castros' Ortegan government while they run things in their criminal manner."

"Great." I growled. "Why are they ready to go to war with us, now?"

"Castros is a necessary figure head. Without him it will soon become apparent to the population at large that the Ortegan Government is corrupt. The people of Ortega have great faith in Castros." Soren explained.

"Mr. Whump-Wuist-Woo-Woo can you treat Castros?" I asked. He was the key to restoring order to Ortega.

"I must have a chance to speak with him, before I can say for certain, Sir. I will try."

"Thank you Mr. Whump-Wuist-Woo-Woo. Please start now." I said.

As he left, I said "Any other good news?"

"The population seems to have mobilized for war." Stephanie reported. They have extensive layered small defenses. Attacking any specific area on Ortega would be a tricky situation."

"They're pretty serious about it, Captain." Lucas reported. "They tried to jam our sensors. We could see 'em takin' governmental officials and documents and hidin' 'em throughout the City. By now they might have distributed 'em further."

"The Courage is still in firing position on us, but they haven't made any moves." Mendez said.

"Well, okay." I said. "Things seem to have reached a stable point. We can hold this position and begin negotiations."

"Captain to the bridge." Spaat's voice came over the intercom.

"Uh oh." I said.

-*-

The Cardassian cruiser rolled into a parking orbit some distance away from the Discovery. Our sensors told us that they were at stand-by on their weapons and shields, too. Coded messages were passed between the Cardassian ship and Ortega. They used a high level Cardassian code. We couldn't break it.

The Cardassians hailed us.

"I am Captain Hailey of the Federation starship Discovery." I introduced myself.

"Pleased to meet you Captain Hailey. I am Gul Macet of the Cardassian Union."

"What brings you to Ortega?" I asked, returning the Cardassian's polite attitude.

"Funny you should ask, Captain. We have heard rumors to the effect that a Federation starship was destabilizing a neutral planet in the area. Just be thorough we came to check it out. What a surprise to find you here. I didn't think that Federation usually operated that way."

"It's just a simple misunderstanding." I said. "I'm certain everything will be settled soon."

"I'm certain that it will be. Until then, I hope you don't mind if we stay and safeguard the interests of this neutral world."

I minded a lot. "As long as you intentions are peaceful, then it's fine with me. After all, it is Ortegan space."

"The Cardassian Union is always peaceful unless provoked." Gul Macet lied. "Good luck, Captain."

"Thank you." I lied back.

-*-

"What are the Cardassians doing here?" Castros wanted to know.

"I was hoping that you could tell me." I said.

"They're at the point of an adjustment along socio-political lines. What could Ortega have to with that?" He seemed bewildered.

"What change is that?" I asked.

"Oh, hmmm, how do I explain to a lay man? Okay, like this. You see, the Cardassians are not a stable society. They have great big pendulum swings. It started when the Cardassians were poor but philosophically advanced. They moved too far in the direction of quiet contemplation, you see and their economy collapsed. This is all greatly simplified, you understand."

Castros took a deep breath. "When they began to starve as a result of their economic collapse, their society started a great swing." He demonstrated swinging his body across his bed in sick bay. "Towards rigid order and ruthless pragmatism. This was all very slow. Over time they have reached a limit in how ruthless and uncompassionate their government can get. Now they are about due to start swinging in the other direction, back towards their previous state of being philosophers and poets, not jack-booted storm troopers."

He finished. "It could begin anytime in the next fifty years. It will take hundreds of years for the pattern to play out. What could Ortega possibly mean to them at this early juncture?"

I sighed. He had missed the forest for the trees. "You said ruthless pragmatism, didn't you?"

"Oh yes. Very ruthless. They replenish the resources of their depleted home world violently by stealing the resources of other worlds. The Bajorans are a perfect example of this... Dear God!"

"Could Ortega be their next target?" I asked softly.

"Yes, yes. That's it, of course. How could I have been so blind?" He slumped down onto his bed and began to cry softly. "It's been like that, you see. I can't seem to see the walls before my nose as I bump into them, anymore. I'm so busy chasing pie-in-the-sky theories that I've lost my ability to deal with real life."

"It's all right." I said. "You're among friends, now."

It was all I could think of to say.

-*-

"Captain, may I beam down to Ortega?" Snoopy asked.

"What!?" I demanded. It was near suicide for a Starfleet Officer on Ortega right at the moment. Armed groups were wandering the capital city waiting for the Federation invasion to start. Snoopy was the nick name for Security Lieutenant Arthur Hendrickson. He was a born snoop. He had an almost magical ability to find hidden secrets.

"I was on the trail of something interesting when you recalled us. It may have something to do with the Cardassians and the whole mess." Snoopy explained.

"How do you plan to avoid being lynched?" I asked.

"I got to know a few people down there. I trust them. They wouldn't hurt me." Snoopy said.

"Are you certain that you can do it without being captured?" I asked.

"Well, Captain, I'll have to ask you to play along." Snoopy said cautiously. I knew what he meant. My skill as an under cover operative was about non-existent. If his survival depended on my lying to people, then he was on shaky ground.

I thought carefully. It would be nice to have information from the ground. It would be terrible to lose Snoopy to a trigger happy gang. Snoopy was the first crewman that I had chosen as a brand new starship Captain. He was my first trusted ally on the Harrier. I had sort of a soft spot for him.

Then I thought of what I had seen him do in the past.

"Permission granted." I said. I was afraid for what might happen to Snoopy, but I had to try to trust his talents.

-*-

"Captain, there's an uncoded message coming through from the surface. " Stephanie Anderson said.

"Put it on." I said.

The screen lit up and we saw Snoopy, dressed in civilian clothes. There seemed to be people watching outside the range of the pick up.

"Captain, this is Snoopy on the surface." He said.

He asked me to play along and so I did. "Lieutenant, what are you doing on the surface?"

"I'm resigning, Sir." He said.

"You're what?" I asked, uncertain of what I heard.

"I'm quitting. I can't accept what you're planning to do." Snoopy said.

"You tell him!" A voice encouraged from off screen.

Thinking furiously I said. "That's desertion, Mr. Hendricks. I strongly urge you to reconsider."

"I can't be a part of your plans any longer." Snoopy said defiantly. He took a comm-badge out of his pocket and set it on the ground. He took out his phaser and destroyed the comm-badge.

"Consider that my answer, Sir. I'm an Ortegan now." He said.

Voices whooped and cheered from off screen.

"Think of what you're doing. Think of what this will mean for your future!" I shouted, as the screen cut off.

I waited until my panel told me that the channel was cut before I relaxed. "Think they bought it?" I asked.

"No." Mendez said.

"If it were anyone else but Snoopy..." Stephanie said.

"I guess we wait and see." I sighed.

-*-

"Well, Captain Hailey? Are you properly armed with the facts, now?" The Captain of the Courage asked.

"Yes, Captain. I can answer any question you have." I said.

"Good. Do you have Castros aboard your ship?"

"Yes, Sir. We do."

"What is his condition?"

"He is suffering from emotional exhaustion. With rest, he should recover."

"When can we expect his return?"

"As soon as he chooses, of his own free will to return." I said.

The Captain of the Courage thought for a few moments. "I insist that he be turned over to my custody." He said.

"I am afraid that I can't do that. He has asked for political asylum."

"Then I'm afraid-" The Captain was cut off when our screens split and Gul Macet appeared.

"I've been listening to your conversation, Captains. I want to remind you, Captain Hailey that we stand ready to support the Courage in battle."

I was annoyed at Gul Macet. From the slight flash I saw in the Captain's eyes, he might have been, too.

"Thank you for the offer of support, Gul Macet. No decision to attack has been made, yet." The Captain said.

"You intend to let the Federation kidnap your leader and get away with it?" Gul Macet sounded outraged.

"No one has been kidnapped. Castros requested asylum." I pointed out.

"We only have your word on that Captain Hailey. I'm sure you don't expect us to rely solely on that." Gul Macet

"Yes, I do." I said.

"Gentlemen-" The Captain of the Courage began.

"I insist on being allowed to meet Castros in person." Gul Macet said. "As a neutral third party we could assure the Ortegans that your treatment of Castros was humane."

"Gentlemen-" The Captain began again.

I had an inspiration. "What an excellent idea, Gul Macet!" I said.

"Really?" He was immediately suspicious. "You think so?"

"Captain, would you care to beam aboard the Discovery yourself and examine Mr. Castros?" I asked the Captain of the Courage.

The Captain blinked slowly a couple of times.

"I insist on being included in this!" Gul Macet yelled. "As a neutral third party I have the right-"

The Captain cut him off. "Yes, Discovery. I believe that I'd like to come over and see or myself."

"Very good, Sir. We will be awaiting your arrival." I said smugly.

"Expect me in ten minutes." The Captain said. "I will beam over with my first officer."

-*-

Over the next few minutes we could see coded messages passing back and forth between the Cardassian cruiser and the Courage. In the end the Courage cut the channel and refused all further hails from the Cardassian ship.

Soon we received a message to expect the party. I went down to the transporter room to meet them.

They materialized and both saluted the keel. It's an old tradition of respect for a ship.

"Permission to come aboard?" The Captain asked. He was shorter and slimmer than I expected. Krog, his First Officer towered over him. He seemed to dominate the room. I have rarely seen such personal magnetism.

"Granted." I said.

They stepped down, and the Captain shook my hand. "Pleased to meet you face to face at last."

"My pleasure." I replied. "If you gentlemen will step this way. I have set

aside a conference room for your use."

We made our way to the conference room, and I offered them refreshments from our replicators while we waited for Castros to arrive.

The Captain took coffee while Krog had Darjeeling tea in a bone china cup.

Soon, the door slid open and Castros arrived followed closely by Whump-Wuist-Woo-Woo and Soren.

"Gentlemen, May I introduce Soren the Elder, and Whump-Wuist-Woo-Woo our ship's counselor."

"Whump-Wuist-Woo-Woo and I have met." The Captain said. He raised his hand in the Vulcan greeting "[Live long and prosper, honored one.]" He said in Vulcan.

"Thank you." Soren returned the salute. "May you also find long life and

prosperity."

"This is my First Officer, Warrior Krog."

"Qapla." Soren said.

"Good afternoon, Gentlemen." Krog said with his impeccable BBC accent.

Castros said "Captain! I'm so pleased to see you. You're one of the few left that I can trust!"

"Sir, I must ask you to return to the Courage with us." The Captain said.

"Oh, no! I can't. I can't become a figurehead for a corrupt government." Castros said. "If we can't root out the corrupt elements of the government, then I'll have to return to the Federation to analyze what went wrong."

"That's unfortunate, Sir. If you do not return I have been ordered to open fire on the Discovery."

"What? You can't! I countermand that order!" Castros said.

"If you are suffering from emotional exhaustion, then you are incapacitated. I can't accept your order. If you have sought political asylum on the Discovery, then you have abdicated your position as First Minister, Sir. I can't obey your order."

"What? You would support the corrupt government?" Castros was horrified.

"I have chosen Ortega as my home and my country, Sir. Perhaps things aren't perfect now, but I believe in you. I believe in your dream. I believe in Ortega." The Captain said. "Come back with me and together we can try to set things straight."

"I believe that this might be your best chance, Sir." I said.

"You would encourage Castros to turn away from the Federation?" Krog said, stunned.

Soren explained "The Federation is watching your Great Experiment closely. Many in the Federation feel that the lessons learned on Ortega might be applied to the Federation. We hope that the Great Experiment on Ortega is successful."

"You don't understand," Moaned Castros "There has always been a definite attraction to the corrupt scenario on Ortega. I have always been able to fight it until recently. I've tried everything I can. Still the corruption grows. Even people I respect seem to have been seduced. I can't save Ortega now."

"I don't believe that there's no hope at all." I said. "I won't accept that."

"Even if there is no hope, the battle must be fought." Krog said.

"Without Castros, our options are severely limited." The Captain of the Courage admitted.

-*-

Castros refused to return to the Courage. The Captain and Krog beamed back. They promised to wait for as long as possible.

The Captain warned. "When the order comes through I must attack. I will not disobey." He said.

"I understand." I said grimly. "Will you let me disengage the Saucer Module? There are civilians in there. I would like to minimize our casualties as much as possible."

"Agreed. Send your non-combatants to your Saucer Module. I will capture it and take them prisoner. They will be treated well."

"Thanks." I said. It was really an overconfident thing for the Captain of the Courage to say. Our predictions showed that if the Courage and the Battle Section of the Discovery met in a straight one-on-one battle then both would be severely damaged. Most of the predictions said that the Courage would be destroyed and that the Discovery's Battle Section would be crippled.

However adding the Cardassian cruiser in on the Ortegan side of the battle changed things significantly. The Discovery's Battle Section wound up being destroyed, while the Courage was severely damaged and the Cardassian cruiser was moderately damaged. The Courage was no match for the Cardassian cruiser after the battle. The only winner in that three sided contest were the Cardassians.

I sent Lucas McCoy to the Saucer Section with the orders to escape if possible, and to surrender only to the Courage if escape was not possible. Then we loaded all of the non-combat crewmen into the Saucer Section and began preparations for battle.

-*-

Krugov was calling again. "You must release Castros Immediately."

"Mr. Castros has requested asylum, Minister. It's a matter of his choice now." I said reasonably.

"I won't let this act of Federation aggression stand," Krugov said. I noticed that the channel was open and uncoded this time. Even if I didn't have my sensors telling me so, Krugov's posturing would have been a clue.

"There are many independent worlds who will support us." Krugov pronounced. The worst part was that he was right. About two dozen independent planets and small nations took great pains to tweak the Federation. The quickest way to convince them to form an anti-Federation alliance would be for the Federation to abuse one of them.

Krugov continued, "Let it be known, Captain Hailey that the small flickers of liberty that we encourage will become a raging fire that will sweep the domination of the Federation-"

"Look," I said, "If you're going to be making a campaign speech, do you really need me here?"

Krugov stopped, miffed. "Just return Castros. If you don't, I'll make sure that you regret it."

"Noted and logged." I said. I cut the channel.

-*-

"Snoopy's calling." Stephanie said.

"Put him on." I said.

The screen cleared to show Snoopy. "Captain, I have a report."

"Please go ahead." I signaled Ensign Spaat to record Snoopy's report for later.

"Can I beam aboard?" He asked.

"Yes, Lieutenant." I signaled the transporter room. Then I headed down there.

-*-

"Snoopy has three people with him." The Transporter officer said.

"Bring Snoopy in and hold the others." I ordered.

Snoopy materialized on the transporter pad. He stepped down and said "I vouch for the people with me Captain. I think you might like to hear what they say."

"Okay, bring them through." I told the transporter chief.

"Captain I'm reading charged weapons. Shall I disable them?"

"Yes, Chief." I said.

Three people materialized on the pad. I recognized the Ministers of Agriculture and Culture and one other.

"Ministers," I said. "Welcome aboard."

"Nobody knows we're here, right?" The Agricultural ministers said to Snoopy.

"We have a little time." Snoopy said. "Tell him what you told me."

They looked at me distastefully. "Are you sure Snoopy?" The one I didn't recognize asked.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I'm Doan, the Chief of Police for Ortega City." He said.

"You can trust Snoopy." I said.

"Yes, well." Doan said.

"They have my kids, Captain!" The Minister of Agriculture said.

"Who has?" I asked.

"I don't know. I noticed that there's been some smuggling going on, and when I reported it, My kids were taken and I was told to shut up." She seemed very calm considering the circumstances. "Can you help, please?"

"It's the same story for all of us." Doan said. "I asked Snoopy if he knew anything that might help. When he beamed down into Ortega City, I had him picked up and hidden. He said that a Cardassian ship has just arrived in orbit."

"How can that matter," The Minister of Culture asked. "My wife disappeared before either the Federation or the Cardassians showed up."

"I think I can solve this pretty quickly." I said. I turned to a terminal set into the wall of the Transporter room. I called bridge.

"Commander Mendez, can we scan the Cardassian ship?"

"Not for long captain. Once was start scanning they will move to jam it. They don't want us knowing that much about their ship."

"Can we do a burst scan and then analyze it afterwards?" I asked.

"Yes Captain, but the Cardassian's will alter shield and weapon frequencies immediately afterward."

"I understand. Please make the scan and analyze for life forms." I ordered.

"Life forms Captain?"

"Yes, Commander. I want to know who's inside the Cardassian ship."

"Aye, Sir."

We waited for a few moments. "Did the Cardassians visit you before?" I asked.

"Yes, about five weeks ago."

"Who was commanding that time?" I asked.

"Gul Macet, I think." The Minister of Agriculture answered.

A few minutes later, Mendez called down to the transporter room. "Captain, I have that life form scan that you wanted. The Cardassian ship has four hundred Cardassian life forms aboard it and forty-three non-Cardassian life forms. The non Cardassian Life forms are grouped together in a single area."

"Get me the Courage." I said.

Soon, the Captain of the Courage appeared on the screen in the Transporter Room. I had placed the Ministers where they could not be seen by the pickup for that screen.

"Things are not looking good, Captain Hailey." He said grimly.

"I need to speak to you in person. It's urgent. Can you beam over immediately?" I said.

-*-

We were in the middle of our preparations when Krugov called again. "Captain Hailey, You've had plenty of time to make up your mind. I demand that you return Castros immediately."

"Once again, Mr. Castros has requested asylum. I won't force him to return." I replied.

"You should be aware that Ortega now has the support of the Cardassian Union. We are willing to allow a truce while you reconsider your stand based on that new information." Krugov was serious and yet smug. An alliance between Ortega and the Cardassian Union was bad news for the Federation.

"There is nothing to reconsider. Mr. Castros has requested asylum. I am obligated to honor that request." I looked to be sure that we were recording. The Minister's statements were a clue to what was happening. I wanted to save them.

"Are you really ready to sacrifice a Federation flagship for one old man?" Krugov asked. "With the alliance between the Cardassian Union and Ortega, he's become somewhat superfluous."

"Then why do you want him back?" I asked back.

"Damn it! I've got you over a barrel. Are you going to make me kill you before you admit it? Fine! I'm ordering the Courage to attack! Between the Courage and the Cardassian cruiser you're doomed! You've had your chance!" He cut the channel.

As soon as the channel was clear, Mendez said "I'm glad that we talked to The Captain first."

I held up my hand to watch it shake. "Me too."

-*-

A few minutes later the Discovery tried to break out of orbit. The Discovery was one of the biggest starships built by the Federation at that time. She didn't move as well at sublight speeds as the Courage, which classified as medium in size.

The Courage caught up with the Discovery and weapons fired was exchanged. Phasers played along shields and photon torpedoes detonated with a fiery display of light and radiation.

The Cardassian ship wheeled around and began to hurry to join the battle.

The Discovery ran for it, ducking close to the planet to avoid exposing both flanks to the enemy.

A coruscating ball of blue light appeared on the nose of the Courage. It leapt from the nose of the Courage and impacted on the Discovery. Her shields went down almost immediately. The Courage had stripped the Discovery's shields leaving her defenseless.

The Cardassian ship strained to get into firing position to take advantage of the Discovery's weakness.

The Courage swung around with another coruscating ball of energy on her nose.

As the Cardassian ship reached firing position, a powerful volley of photon torpedoes met her.

The Courage fired her ball of energy into the Cardassian ship. The shields of the Cardassian ship died instantly.

"Now!" I shouted on the bridge of the Discovery. The Cardassians had played their part in our drama almost as though they had read our script.

Transporters on the Discovery, the Courage and the planet Ortega reached out and snatched the non-Cardassian life forms off the defenseless Cardassian cruiser.

As soon as they were all aboard the Discovery, I said "Hard about, Get us away from that cruiser."

The Courage moved in on the Cardassians, with full weapons and shields bearing on them. "Surrender or prepare to be boarded!" Krog shouted from the Bridge of the Courage. He was carrying a Bat'leth and a heavy personal distruptor cannon as he said it. His expression eloquently displayed his hope that the Cardassians would choose to go down fighting.

They surrendered immediately.

The Courage rounded on the Discovery.

"We call for your immediate surrender." The Captain of the Courage said.

"We surrender." I said. I tried to look as grim and disappointed as I knew I should. It was hard. I was watching reports from the sickbay. All of the hostages that the Discovery beamed out were unharmed and in good health. I wanted to grin and dance.

I made a note to take acting classes as soon as possible.

-*-

The Captain was returning the Zantree shield disrupter to us.

"Thank you. Captain Hailey." He said. Around us the Discovery's Transporter Room was being cleared of the equipment.

"Did you think our plan was going to work as well as it did?" I asked. I was a little nervous. The Captain had a reputation for being a natural talent in the field. I was nervously comparing my performance to his.

"It has been my experience that a plan either works well or completely fails. There is rarely a middle ground." The Captain replied. "It was a good plan."

"Thank you." I said, preening.

"That's an interesting device. Is it a new Federation weapon?" The Captain pointed at the Zantree shield disrupter.

"Well, I picked it up from some nice people on the frontier." I said. "You should be aware that there is circuitry to neutralize the effect. Federation starships are already being refit with it."

"Clever ideas have such a short shelf life." The Captain said.

Soon the equipment was removed from the transporter room and the Ortegan hostages were brought in.

"Ladies and gentlemen," I said. "Thank you for your patience. We'll beam you down to Ortega City. Your loved ones are waiting for you there."

There was a chorus of "Thank yous" as the people happily lined up to transport down to Ortega.

"I am curious." The Captain said. "You have consistently acted to preserve Ortegan independence. You have not even pressed for a more formal friendship treaty between Ortega and the Federation. Why? Isn't it in the Federation's interest to draw Ortega closer?"

"Ah," I thought carefully about my answer. "Soren was correct when he said that the people of the Federation are rooting for your Great Experiment. I want you to be free to find out where it takes you. If it leads you to your utopia, then one day you might find the Federation trying to join you."

"Why is that? Isn't the Federation a successful society now?" The Captain seemed perplexed.

"Well, yes it is, but it's not perfect." I said. "About six hundred years ago, my ancestors lived in a colony owned by a larger empire. They fought a revolution to gain their freedom. They started a country that was also called the Great Experiment in its day. They dreamed that there was a better way. I guess I'm sentimental about the resemblance between them and Ortega."

"Strange that this six hundred year old Great Experiment should hold such emotional weight for you." The Captain said.

"Yeah, well, the Earth and later the Federation inherited some of the lessons and good intentions of our Great Experiment. I suppose I'm just sentimental. I believe that there can be a better way."

"Don't let go of that. That's one of the reason why you're a successful Starship Captain." The Captain said.

"I'm a successful Starship Captain?" I asked, flattered.

"Who better to judge?" He grinned.

-*-

The Discovery and the Cardassian cruiser were run out of Ortegan space on a rail.

The population of Ortega was told that because of the power of their new Shield Disrupter invention that the Federation invasion had been called off indefinitely.

They were also told of Castros' break down and subsequent governmental shake up.

Krugov was arrested. Later it was discovered that he had been in the pay of the Cardassians for years planning the takeover of Ortega by the Cardassian Union.

The Captain of the Courage refused a high post in the Ortegan government saying that his place was on the bridge of a starship.

The Ortegans themselves began to slowly realize that although they had depended on Castros, the Great Experiment rode on their shoulders too. They resolved to carry the Great Experiment forward with or without Castros. They became his partners rather than his followers.

In later years the relationship between Ortega and the Federation became friendlier but the Ortegans remain stubbornly independent until this day.

-End-

Federation Geographic: Ortega

Ortega:

Fiercely independent planet

Location:

Ortega is located on the Federation frontier near the Cardassian Demilitarized Zone. Its nearest neighbors are the Cardassian Union, 30 light years away and Bajor 35 light years away. It is surrounded by UFP territory.

Geography:

Ortega is a class "M" world older and further along the evolutionary scale than Earth. It is not as rugged and it is better for farming.

People:

The population of Ortega is 55% Human, 15% Bajoran, 5% Vulcan, 5% Klingon, 3% Cardassian and 17% a random selection of other races.

Government Type:

The government of Ortega is an experimental type, based on electronic democracy and complicated psycho-historical algorithms. It remains fiercely independent from the UFP, and spurns all diplomatic forays designed to make the relationship closer.

Economy:

Ortega is a self sufficient agricultural world. Much of its interstellar trade comes from being a transshipment point for goods and information.

The monetary standard is Ferengi gold pressed latinum, and there is a small amount of exchange into Federation credits.

Military.

The population of Ortega is generally armed and dangerous. They have a small standing army, and an understanding with the population that many may be called if the need arises.

The Space Navy of Ortega is small, mostly handling customs and border patrol duties in small cutters and runabout like vessels.

The flag ship of the Ortega Space Navy is an old Federation Miranda class vessel named SDS Courage, commanded by a highly respected veteran known only as "The Captain" The SDS Courage has been refit from a Federation style Exploration/Defense vessel to a pocket battleship and must be viewed with some respect.

There are often Federation or Klingon vessels nearby Ortega and they will come to the aid of the planet if necessary.

Culture:

The planet Ortega is known throughout the Quadrant as a showcase for racial tolerance and cultural integration.

The planet Ortega has the second highest mix of resident races in the Galaxy. The culture is tolerant and accepting in the extreme. Members of the society of Ortega are aware that they are in an artificial, experimental society and most of them have a strong commitment to making it work.

There is some tension with the other governments in the region, especially the UFP, because Ortega refuses to extradite criminals and has successfully adopted several wanted felons into its' society.

The UFP and Ortega have another source of tension, in that Ortegans universally seem to feel that the Federation is out to disrupt their experiment and dismantle their experimental society.

History:

The planet Ortega was scanned and lightly explored during the Cardassian war of the 2350's. After the armistice it was settle by a small group of farmers as a Federation agricultural colony.

Castros, the well known genius of psycho-history and applied sociology, settled there after being asked to retire from the UFP Diplomatic Office. Once there he conceived his plan for a new system of government and society.

Soon the settlers of Ortega had renounced the UFP and their citizenship. Then outcasts and refugees began to settle on Ortega and the population boomed.

The planet Ortega has suffered several attempts by larger powers to dominate the culture. With a certain amount of help from the UFP and the Klingon Empire, as well as the dedication of its' populace, Ortega has managed to fend off these attempts.

Visitors from the UFP will find friendly and tolerant people who will strive not to hold the hapless tourists' point origin against him.

Ortega has several interesting social conventions, including the expectation that all citizens are assumed to be armed, the "Dueling Code" lifted from Klingon Society and the "Free Hour" where all people can speak their minds freely and not fear reprisals.

It is recommended that visitors from the UFP take nothing said during this hour personally and to keep an eye on the clock. A heated response might invoke the dueling code, if the timing is bad.

It is also recommended that visitors from the UFP avoid discussions on the subject of politics. The natives remain convinced that the Federation is working against them.

Appearance:

This world appeared in Dennnises' Star Trek role playing game in 1994.

Data File:

The Rhondans:

These are one of the rare non-humanoid races in the United Federation of Planets. They resemble a large, over built octopus. They tend towards purple coloration. They have a smell which most humanoids find pleasing, as though they have been bathed in strawberries.

Members of this race give off pheromones which have a calming effect on most humanoid races, making them excellent counselors, doctors and security officers.

The Rhondans have a fondness for Machiavellian intrigues and plots. They study sociology extensively for information on how other races think.

Their planet is not as large as Earth, with a gravity of .75 g. It is warmer on the average, and much more humid.

Many creatures on the Rhondan home world communicate through smell. Some of the pheromones present in Rhondan wildlife make excellent psychoactive drugs, and are popular on the black market. The Rhondans themselves discourage this, whenever possible. Smugglers caught by Rhondan authorities are sent to Rhondan Prisons, where they eventually emerge extremely well adjusted, with an aversion to committing crimes anywhere near the Rhondan home world.

Most Rhondans seen off the home world are counselors, sociologists or political advisors.

Appearance:

The Rhondans appeared through a single individual named "Whump-Wuist-Woo-Woo" in Dennnis' Star Trek role playing games of 1992 - 1995.

-end-

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