With the Kelvan specialist aboard,
along with the Admiral’s aide, things were coming along. The equipment
aboard the Bounty had been unloaded and was being installed or stowed ready
for use.
Wang was trying to tune the ship’s long range sensors to detect the minute
gravitation effects a Kelvan battle planet might make, in the hope that at least
they could track their movements.
The Admiral was feeling drained, he’d been awake for over twenty hours
and needed some rest. But first there were the messages that had arrived on
the Bounty to review.
The Admiral sat at his desk and activated his console, bringing up the list
of messages. Most of them were routine high priority messages, but they could
wait until morning. However, two stood out and the Admiral knew that these really
couldn’t wait.
"Computer, play message Pike Alpha seven." He requested.
Admiral Ross appeared on the screen.
[Admiral Pike. As you are aware the Kelvan threat is probably the most devastating
event the Federation has ever encountered. Failure will lead to the eventual
destruction of the Federation, not to mention all non-Kelvan life in the Milky
Way. Not even the Borg or the Dominion had those goals, at least whilst there
was hope, we knew that we could recover. As of now you have the authority of
the Federation council and Starfleet in all matters. We must defeat the Kelvan,
failure is not an option. Good luck Admiral.]
*We’ll need it.* Pike thought to himself.
He sat back and took a deep breath. He wasn’t looking forward to the second
message.
"Computer play message Pike Alpha ten." He requested.
<That message is encrypted, please enter authorisation code.> The computer
requested.
"Authorisation code, Pike Gamma Theta twelve Zeta." Pike replied.
<Secondary authorisation code is required.> The computer requested.
"Authorisation code thirty one Alpha, codename grandson." Pike stated.
<Secondary authorisation code accepted, Decipher in progress.> The computer
replied.
It took a few seconds for the message to decipher, but the face the Admiral
was dreading appeared on the screen. The message was from the shadowy character
Sloane. Pike had encountered this individual several times before, too many
times for the Admiral’s liking. But he had goals and although Sloane’s
methods might not have been to the Admiral’s liking, his aims were honest.
[Greetings Admiral.] The message started.
[As of now all Federation directives are rescinded. The Ronin is now the Federations
and this galaxies sole hope of maintaining it’s existence. To complete
your task you can’t be tied to the rules of the Federation. As of now the
Ronin and the Bounty have been deemed expendable. If it takes the lives of the
crew to stop the Kelvan advance, then that must be used. The Doomsday device
has been installed aboard the Bounty, I suggest that if you use it you are at
least one hundred light years away when it detonates. You know that the fate
of the Federation is now in your hands, I only wish I could be there to see
it all.]
*Oh my god. They’ve finally done it.* The Admiral thought.
He knew of the theory of the Doomsday device and the devastating effect it would
have. Born from one of the Federations greatest mistakes the Federation council
and Starfleet deemed all theorising and research on the subject banned. Infact
the Federation had taken the opposite approach, deeming the very existence of
such things as a danger to not only the Federation, but also the galaxy. Now
that same destructive force was going to be used against another threat to the
galaxy. Fighting fire with fire.
"Computer delete message Pike Alpha ten, fractal system seven alpha."
The Admiral ordered.
<Message erased.>
The Admiral switched off his console and headed to the Bathroom. He knew that
the fate of the galaxy now rested on his shoulders. He also wondered whether
he should inform the Captain now of what Sloane had said, of the doomsday device
and the expendability of the Ronin and it’s crew. He needed to sleep on
it, hopefully in the morning he would have at least some of the answers.