Series One

Series One is a series of roleplay stories by Grand_Tarkin following the events surrounding the first interactions between the Coalition of Federation Planets (the successor state to the United Federation of Planets) and Doggerland. In addition, Series One continues the story of the 23rd century ship, U.S.S. Enterprise (NCC-1701-B), and their travels to the 31st century.

Series One is ongoing.

Episode 1: "Message in a Bottle"

EPISODE 1: 10/29/2020 - 11/5/2020

Part 1

Meanwhile, five months ago...

Captain John Harriman

"Captain’s Log, Stardate 60935.3, Captain Harriman reporting. It’s been three months since we arrived here, and we’re no closer to finding a way home. My orders to the crew have been simple: we’re still Star Fleet officers, so we’re still going to carry out our mission. I don’t even know what our mission is anymore. We’ve surveyed sections of the Sol System, but without warp drive it’s taking us a long time to get around. So much has changed. I suppose my hope is to find some kind of anomaly, some kind of… anything to get us back home. The crew haven’t lost hope, but I fear the day is nearing when we will have to accept our condition, and learn to live with the fact that we now live in the 31st century. End of log."

Harriman stands from the desk in his ready room, loosening his collar. He picks up a picture on his desk, it is of a young woman smiling with a dog in her arms. He smiles contently. Suddenly, the comm system is activated. A voice is heard.

"Yellow Alert. Yellow Alert. Captain Harriman to the bridge."

Harriman puts down the picture, re-adjusts his collar and walks out of the ready room. He enters the bridge. "Report, Commander.", Harriman says looking towards the First Officer, Commander Daniel Jacobs.

U.S.S. Enterprise (NCC-1701-B)

"We've detected a probe, bearing 474 mark 183. Distance, 18,000 kilometers.", Jacobs relays.

"What kind of probe?"

The Operations Officer, Mr. Hawk, speaks, "The hull signature appears to be of Starfleet origin, however we cannot be sure from this distance."

"Helm, lay in a course."

"Aye."

Harriman turns to Jacobs, with his hand rubbing his chin. "What do you think?", Harriman says in a lowered tone.

"Well... it could be Starfleet. They could've figured out what happened and have sent a probe to find out. It could be a rescue.", Jacobs says.

"I didn't ask what it could be, I asked what you think?"

Jacobs sighs, "A life boat from the 23rd century, sent to us just as our hope begins to decay. Seems a bit convenient to me, Sir."

Harriman nods, his hands now by his side, "Yeah.", he says reluctantly.

"We are within visual range.", says the Tactical Officer, a human.

"Onscreen."

The viewscreen activates, displaying the probe. It is advanced, modern. It doesn't appear to be of the same design as a 23rd century probe. However, it is distinctively Starfleet.

"Analysis, Mr. Hawk."

The Operations Officer continues to check his station console before responding, "The hull configuration and spectral analysis confirms, sir, this is a Starfleet probe. However, it does not appear to be of any known Starfleet design."

"Can you bring it onboard?", Jacobs says.

"Yes, sir.", Mr. Hawk replies.

"Activate a tractor beam, tow it into Hanger Bay Two. Mr. Hawk, you're with me. Mr. Jacobs, you have the bridge.", Harriman says, standing up. He walks towards the turbolift, with Mr. Hawk following.

Part 2

Harriman stands in the turbolift alongside his second officer, Mr. Hawk. His typical smile is not on displace and his hands fidget by his side. He does not say anything to Mr. Hawk as the lift descends. After a few seconds of awkward silence, Mr. Hawk speaks up.

"Captain, may I make a personal inquiry?"

Harriman, who had been zoned out for the first part of his sentence, re-entered reality. "Hmm?".

“Ensign Torra and I are getting married…”

“Well that is wonderful news, congratulations.”

“Thank you, Sir. I was wondering whether you would consider performing the ceremony?” Hawk nervously looks straight forward, avoiding eye contact with Harriman.

Harriman’s smile returns, now larger than it has been in weeks. “Of course I will, Thomas. I’m honoured that you’d consider me.”

Hanger bay of the U.S.S. Enterprise-B

The turbolift arrives in Hanger Bay 2.

Harriman walks out, with Mr. Hawk quickly behind. Harriman shouts over to the group of engineers, scientists, and other Starfleet officers gathered around the mysterious Starfleet probe.

"Report, Commander."

"Ah, Captain. I don't quite know what to tell you, Sir." Barks the Chief Engineer, Josh Gillan.

“Something good.”

Gillan quietly laughs. “Well sir, it’s definitely Starfleet. Tritanium alloy compound, even the impulse signature matches a similar sort of design you’d expect from a Federation Starfleet.”

"But…” speaks Harriman.

“But… it’s far too advanced to be from the 23rd Century. Our initial scans of its power core are coming back with readings I can’t even begin to unpick.”

“Have you detected any tachyons?”

“No Sir. Wherever this probe is from, it didn’t time travel to get here.”

Harriman sighs. He moves closer to the probe and begins to closely inspect it. “What’s this pyramid structure?” he asks.

Markings seen on the Coalition probe.

“We can’t be sure sir, but those are definitely Vulcan markings.”

“This is a Vulcan probe?”

“I wouldn’t be so sure. Unless Vulcan’s scrapped all of their technology and started again, this doesn’t match Vulcan hull configurations or alloy compositions.”

Harriman touches the probe… nothing happens. He walks back towards the turbolift. His smile is gone again. “Keep me posted, Commander.”

Part 3

“Captain’s Log, supplemental. Commander Gillan has found a way to activate the probe and it seems to be displaying some kind of message. The message, it seems, is from Starfleet.”

The pyramid structure has been separated from the probe. It stands on a clean surface in the hanger bay. Surrounding it: Captain Harriman, Mr. Hawk, Commander Gillan, and a number of other officers, including two security officers. Harriman nods towards Gillan and Gillan provides a confirmatory nod as he walks towards the pyramid. He is wearing a work glove. He presses the screen.

Computer interface on the probe.

Everyone gathered look toward each other. Gillan presses the screen again, this time pressing “File Manager”.

Probe interface featuring video of Commodore Charles Madden

The audio begins to play, the man on the screen speaks. He speaks with a Scottish accent, and appears to be human. He is wearing a uniform that is clearly of Starfleet, but not of a known design.

“Starfleet vessel, this is Commodore Charles Madden of the U.S.S. Zheng He. We have picked up your distress call and are on route to you now. We advise you to head to spatial coordinates 465 871 98 Mark 5. When we arrive, we will require you to transmit your ship name, ship registry, and point of origin. We will not assist you without this information. Madden out.”

Harriman, who had been standing with his arms crossed, sighs. “Patch those coordinates into the bridge, Mr. Hawk.”

Harriman and Hawk walk away from the group, who continue to inspect the pyramid. They enter the turbolift, which heads for the bridge. The turbolift arrives at the bridge.

On the bridge...

“Commander, start a sensor sweep of these coordinates.”

The first officer speaks. “Sir?”

“It appears Starfleet has sent us some coordinates.”

“… That’s amazing.”

“… Like you said, Commander, it seems too good to be true.”

Jacobs sits solemnly, thinking.

“Mr. Hawk?”

“Sir, we’re not picking up any ships in the vicinity of the coordinates provided.”

“Could there be another probe?”

“We’d need to get closer to find out.”

Harriman nods. “Helm, lay in a course and engage at maximum speed.”

The helmsman lays in the course into the console. “Aye, sir. Estimated time of arrival, four hours and thirty one minutes.”

Harriman stands. “I’ll be in my ready room. You have the bridge, Commander.”

Harriman leaves the bridge, re-entering his ready room.

Part 4

The helmsman speaks. “We are approaching the coordinates, sir.”

Uranus

“Onscreen.” Says Harriman. The viewscreen is activated, displaying a planet.

“Anything on sensors?”

“No, Sir.” Repeats Mr. Hawk.

Harriman sits forward, his elbows leaning on his knees and his face in his hands. He sits up. “All stop.”

The helmsman responds. “Reading all stop.”

“Open a hailing frequency on the Starfleet emergency channel.” orders Harriman.

“Captain, if the… inhabitants of 31st century Earth pick up the hail…” says the First Officer.

“If I’m right, nobody has touched those frequencies in years – except whoever sent us that Starfleet probe. And anyway, even if they are listening… we can’t hide forever.” replies Harriman.

Jacobs, the First Officer, nods.

“Hailing frequencies open, Captain.” Mr. Hawk replies.

“Starfleet vessel. We have arrived at the coordinates you have provided. Respond.”

Several moments pass, with anticipation in the air.

Nothing happens.

“Keep repeating the message. Flood the Starfleet channels if you have to.” barks Harriman.

A flash of light appears in front of the Enterprise.

“Captain, something is coming through…”

TO BE CONTINUED...

Episodes Summaries

"Message in a Bottle"

The crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise-B continue through the 31st century, five months after their interactions with the major factions (New Corporate Republic and Oscdean State) of the Doggerland. As their hope dwindles, the Enterprise encounters a probe of Starfleet origins. The investigation that ensues reveals the true nature of the Federation in the 31st century and a meeting to come.

"People of Arcadia"

A mysterious man crash lands on a seemingly remote planet. The man, undercover Starfleet commander Cal Than. The planet, a former Federation planet crippled in "the burn". Than must infiltrate the isolationist planet to find one of the most important men in the galaxy, former Federation President Anneik Okeg. Okeg was trapped on Arcadia during "the burn" and, on the orders of the new Coalition of Federation Planets, Than must retrieve him for an important mission that could pose a threat to the security of the galaxy.

Former Federation President Grand Tarkin is reintroduced.