The Runabout › onewebmedia › Runabout › 17-NX... · 2017-03-12 · The Runabout -5- Issue 17: March 2016 Region^l @w^rds CMDR Kevin McNeillie-Welsh For ^chievements within ST@RFLEET

The Runabout -1- Issue 17: March 2016 16

The Runabout -2- Issue 17: March 2016

@ttention ^ll h^nds ...

Hello and welcome to another issue of the Runabout. I hope the spring is treating you all well.

Since the start of February, I have been watching as photos pop up on people's feeds of members enjoying events and getting together. To be part of this community is a wonderful thing, and I am pleased to be here among you.

We have had our fair share of problems recently, specifically with membership packs being late. Once again, I must stress that if you joined or renewed before January 2016 and have not yet received the pack, please log a help desk ticket at http://helpdesk.sfi.org/ or tell your CO who will put it in their MSR.

If, like me, you have joined or renewed since January 2016 and have not received your membership pack yet, these are currently being produced and new materials being designed. I hope to have a further update soon.

As intolerable as these delays have been, SFI is more than two pieces of paper and a CD. Region 20 is a community. So, once again I say ... don't be afraid to get involved. Chat on our Facebook pages or contribute to this publication. Between us, let's make R20 awesome!

Dan

COMM Dan Adams

Regional Coordinator

"To Thine Own Self Be True"


@@cckknnoowwlleeddggeemmeennttss Our thanks go to this issue's

contributors (listed alphabetically):

COMM Dan Adams USS Stargazer

LCDR Amanda 'Panda' Barrow

USS Stargazer

CMDR Kevin McNeillie-Welsh USS Alba

CAPT Eilidh Montgomery USS Alba

LTCDR Martin Strang USS Alba

CDR Zig Potts USS Stargazer

CRMN Fiona Quinn USS Alba The Runabout is the newsletter of STARFLEET International, Region 20. Unless otherwise stated, all articles are the property of the author. Any opinions expressed are solely those of the author and may not reflect the opinions of the editors, STARFLEET Region 20 or STARFLEET International.

Star Trek and all related trademarks are the exclusive property of CBS. They are used here without permission for entertainment purposes only.

IIssssuuee DD^̂tteess Issue Date Deadline for

Submissions

SPRING

SUMMER

AUTUMN

WINTER

March

June

September

December

18 February

22 May

22 August

22 November

Please remember that the Editor only edits the

magazine so unless you make submissions, the

Runabout will be very small indeed. All submissions

are welcome, but the Editor reserves the right to edit,

postpone or not to publish a particular item.

Submissions should be sent to

[email protected]. If you are submitting

photographs (or articles with photographs), please

submit the pictures in JPG format. Sadly, including

them in a Word document lowers their resolution

considerably.

Many thanks.

Cover Photo: LTCDR Martin Strang, CMO, USS Alba

In this Issue ...

Attention all hands .............................................................................................. 2 Acknowledgements....................................................................................... 3 Issue Dates .................................................................................................... 3

In this Issue ... ...................................................................................................... 3 Hermes Award Stakes.......................................................................................... 4 Mercury Award Stakes......................................................................................... 4 Regional Awards .................................................................................................. 5 Regional Finance Officer's Report........................................................................ 6 Capital Con: Stardate 201602.27 ......................................................................... 7 When Science Fiction Becomes Science Fact (Part 3) .......................................11 The 22nd SF-Ball ................................................................................................16 The Secret of The Venture PART FIVE................................................................17


Hermes @w^rd St^kes

HERMES @W@RDHERMES @W@RDHERMES @W@RDHERMES @W@RD B/F This Issue C/F

@lb^ 12 4 16

Bri^n Boru 1 1

C^roline 0 0

Cuchul^in 0 0

Hyperion 3 3

Iceni 3 3

St^rg^zer 10 3 13

Mercury @w^rd St^kes

MMMMERCURY @W@RDERCURY @W@RDERCURY @W@RDERCURY @W@RD B/F This Issue C/F

C@PT Eilidh D Montgomery 3 1 4

C@PT M^tthew Bergin 2 2

CMDR Kevin McNeillie-Welsh 1 1

CMDR Robb Dunphy 1 1

COMM Rich^rd S^ms 2 2

COMM D^n @d^ms 1 1 2

FC@PT Scott Peter 1 1

LCDR @m^nd^ 'P^nd^' B^rrow 5 1 6

CRMN Fion^ Quinn 1 1

LCDR Eric^ Smith 1 1

LCDR I^n Struthers 5 5

LCDR John H^rdy 1 1

LCDR Tony Burr 2 2

LTCDR M^rtin Str^ng 1 1 2

LTC J^son G^rrett 2 2

• As the Editor, I am not eligible for the Mercury Award. However, where an article is of my own origin and

authoring, it will count towards my chapter's efforts.

• Please note that to date, every article that has been submitted has been published.


Region^l @w^rds

CMDR Kevin McNeillie-Welsh

For ^chievements within ST@RFLEET Intern^tion^l, Region for the period 1st J^nu^ry - 31st December 2015.

Recognising the achievements of our members is one of the most

important things we can do. The Region 20 Annual Awards gives us the

opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved in the past year and to

formally celebrate the work undertaken.

With the exception of The Commonwealth Shield winner, all other

award winners are automatically submitted as the Regional nominations

for the Fleet awards, which will be announced at the 2016 International

Conference.

Full details on the awards available and how to submit your

nomination can be found on the weblink https://eSurv.org?u=R20-

Awards-2015. Please note, this is the ONLY way to submit nominations for

the awards.

Nominations are welcomed from ANY member of Region 20 SFI and

can be submitted at any time until midnight on 31st of March 2016

For further information, please contact me at

[email protected] or PM me on Facebook.

If you're not sure of a member's SCC number ask me and I'll help if I

can. Many Thanks

CMDR Kevin McNeillie-Welsh

DEPUTY REGIONAL AWARDS DIRECTOR

Details of past recipients can be found at

http://20thfleet.org.uk/awards.html


Region^l Fin^nce Officer's Report

CDR @m^nd^ "P^nd^" B^rrow

GGrreeeettiinnggss ^̂nndd ww^̂rrmm ffeelliicciitt^̂ttiioonnss.. As a Region, we have very few outgoings and one of regular commitments

is the Regional 20 STARFLEET International domain name and website

hosting. Historically, this annual outgoing has been funded by the

generosity of the individual members, but one very inspired

Quartermaster, LTJG David Pilkington of the USS Cuchulain, suggested

that we should put together our very own Regional Calendar for 2017.

Our Region 20 chapters to date are at the time of printing are as follows:

• Scotland: 1

• England: 3

• Wales: 0

• Northern Ireland: 1

• Republic of Ireland: 2

The suggestion is to allow one month per chapter and make up the

remaining five with a member's favourite photograph. These can be of a

group event, a favourite personal memory or even a STARFLEET Pet

member.

Please send your photograph submissions to [email protected]

by the end of May 2016.

Panda

CDR Amanda "Panda" Barrow

STARFLEET International


C^pit^l Con: St^rd^te 201602.27

We are fortunate to have a number of reports from the Capital Sci-Fi Convention

held in Edinburgh ...

LTCDR M^rtin Str^ng, CMO, USS @lb^

Me^dowb^nk Sports Centre, Edinburgh

It was a pleasant but chilly day when I,

my nephew and my friend arrived in

Shuttle Captur to the venue at the

Meadowbank Sports Centre. I had my

standard away mission uniform,

complete with 50th anniversary comm

badge, whilst my nephew went as

Deadpool.

On entering the gates, there were

two Camaro cars, one in yellow and one

as a American style cop car—were

copies of the vehicles from


Transformers. Getting into the complex was swift and painless. All we had to do

was show our prepaid wristband and away we went.

The event was in three halls. The main event was in Hall 1, with Hall 2 being

set aside for the speakers forum, and 'shoot the alien'. This was quite good fun.

Also in this hall was the area set aside for the Jedi Training Academy, run by

none other than Andrew Lawden who played the stand in/stunt double for Qui

Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) in the Phantom Menace. I managed to talk him into

letting my nephew jump in as they were a few people down on that particular

session. Everyone got a light sabre and was taught six different moves, and the

the final 'battle' was to attack, block and strike down their opponents ... very

amusing and good fun!

The main hall had the traders and guests. In attendance was:

A Lord Vader himself (boo, hiss) Dave Prowse,

A Nathalie Cox from Clash of the Titans, Jumper and Kingdom of Heaven,

A Ross Mullan who played The Silence and the Teller in Dr Who,

A Virginia Hey who starred n the Living Daylights, Mad Max 2 and

Farscape,

A Angus McInnes who played Gold Leader, Star Wars: A New Hope and

also Judge Silver in Judge Dredd,

A Jimmy Vee who was in several episodes of Dr Who and Harry Potter,

A Rony Bridges who was the First Admiral in The Force Awakens,

A Richard Campbell from The Frankenstein Chronicles and has done


voiceovers for games such as Alien Isolation and Torchwood and

A Katie Purvis who played the maternal mother in Star Wars: Return of the

Jedi, and also had roles in Labyrinth and played a counting goblin in

Harry Potter.

I enjoyed chatting to Katie and Richard and got both of their autographs and a

selfie with Richard! I also met up with fellow Alba crew members Karen Dickson

and Fiona Quinn. Karen was armed with a phaser and a stack of Alba leaflets! Ian

Henry was also blending in with the natives, although his camouflage was so

good I couldn't see him!

The trading stalls were a mixture of tee shirts, memorabilia, club stalls

including the Rebel Legion and the Colonial Marines (Alien).

I enjoyed looking at the Gerry Anderson stall

where they had replica puppets from Stingray,

Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and Space 1999. The

stall holders chatted to me about my uniform and

the comm badge, and I talked about the USS Alba

and gave them a wad of leaflets to put on their stall.

As per any convention of this nature, there was

the cosplay—Alien, Wookies, Ironman Patriot, Halo

and loads of stormtroopers ... oh! And a Dalek! The

strangest life form, though, was a stormtrooper

with a kilt!

This was a fan-run convention for fans and all

monies raised went to CHAS—Childrens Hospice

Association Scotland, and they raised over £10,000.

CRMN Fion^ Quinn , USS @lb^

A fun day was had by one and all at the Capital Sci-Fi Convention,

which was organised by The Rebel Legion and held at

Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh on 27th/28th February. The

convention was held in three convention halls with a handful of

guests from Doctor Who, Farscape and Star Wars.

There was a stunt school held by actor and stuntman Andrew

Lawden. Andrew was Liam Neeson's Star Wars stunt double

when he played Qui-Gon Jinn. The focus of the convention was

very much orientated towards all things Star Wars. There was a talk about

women in sci-fi with Virginia Hey and Nathalie Cox which was fun.


All the star guests were delightful, friendly and funny. Dave Prowse, Darth

Vader himself, was very sweet as was Virginia Hey who played Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan

in Farscape. In fact, Virginia was especially gracious, delightful and funny. She

took the time to speak to myself and my friends for a very, very long time. I had

a fun day at the convention.


When Science Fiction Becomes Science F^ct (P^rt 3)

CDR Zig Potts, USS St^rg^zer

So far, we have looked at manmade inventions, but the real world is full of so

many futuristic phenomenum that it makes your mind boggle. Here are just a

few ...

This alien landscape is on Earth.

Phacelia— or Scorpion Weed as

it's comminly known— grows in

deserts. It flowers only once in

several years but when it does it

bathes the landscape in purple

hues. I give you a lilac desert.

In one particular episode of

Star Trek Voyager, we are

introduced to the concept of

an orbital tether—a cable that

connects a planet's surface to a

space station in orbit. A mag-

lev carriage was a common

vehicle used for moving along

the tether, rather like a tram

but on a verticle cable rather

than a horizontal one. I wonder

if the view from a mag-leve

carriage would look anything

like this. This is Burj Khalifa, a skyscraper located in Dubai. The height of building

is 828 metre = 2,717 feet ... that's 163 floors! It is the tallest man-made structure

ever built.


Emerald Lake in the crater of an extinct volcano. Tongariro National Park –

New Zealand

This is a unique geological

phenomenon known as Danxia

landform. These phenomena can

be observed in several places in

China. This example is located in

Zhangye, Province of Gansu. The

color is the result of an

accumulation for millions of years of

red sandstone and other rocks.


3,500 years of Cappadocian Cave Homes

Lena Pillars. Russia, the Lena River.


Skyscraper—Crescent Moon Tower (Dubai) ... and I love this one so much, you've

got two pictures of it.


A poodle moth

from the forests of

Venezuela

It's not the ant that's

interesting here, but

the thing growing out

of its head.

Ophiocordyceps

unilateralis is an

entomopathogen, or

insect-pathogenising

fungus that drives the

insect to climb to a

high point, affix

themselves to a major

vein on the underside

of a leaf and then

await its death. All the while, the fungus grows out of its head finally rupturing to

release the fungus' spores. There's a brilliant video of this at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuKjBIBBAL8 if you're brave enough!


The 22nd SF-B^ll

FC@PT D^n @d^ms, USS St^rg^zer

The 22nd SFBall recently took place in Southampton. One of the UK's longest

running events, it is one of the last 'traditional' conventions in that it consists of

a panel, autograph sessions and talks. At a time when large comicon events are

the norm, the chance to have fun and party with the stars themselves is a rare

opportunity.

While it harkens back to events old, the Ball continues to grow. While they

were unable to attend in person, the Friday night opening ceremony featured

contributions from

Stephen Fry, and Mark

Gatiss.

Sadly, keenly felt was

the absence of Riker

himself, Johnathan

Frakes. Frakes' absence

was long predicted, but

nevertheless was a

disappointment when

officially announced.

Nevertheless, to

compensate, Enterprise

cast members Dominic

Keating (Malcolm Reed)

and Connor Trineer (Trip

Tucker) stepped up and

took part. Their stories

were funny and

informative as ever.

Also from the Trek

world were Casey Biggs

(Damar) and Vaughan

Armstrong (Admiral

Forrest amongst many,

many others). As well as


doing the usual con stuff, the two actors gave us a performance during the after

dinner cabaret of songs from their group, the Enterprise Blues Band. After a few

initial technical glitches, the show started, and songs like 'Trekkie Dekkie' and

'Red Shirt Blues' had toes tapping and fingers clicking.

The organisers took a lot of feedback onboard from the previous event in

Southampton. The dance floor size was doubled, and parts of the autograph

process were cleared up to make it more efficient.

Sadly, to put a bitter taste on the event for myself, I lost my phone. My own

fault, but I became very distracted and I was somewhat distant all weekend. For

anyone who was there who might have noticed this, I can only apologise.

Overall though, it was another fantastic event, I value any and all

opportunities to meet with crew from Region 20, and there was no shortage of

these over the weekend.

The next event takes place on the 3rd—5th Feb 2016. While the full weekend

tickets aren't super cheap, a good way to keep costs down is to book the

Southampton West Quay Premier Inn. A short walk away from the venue, I was

able to score four nights for less than two at the event hotel.

I've already put my deposit down, and I hope to see some of you there.

The Secret of The Venture P@RT FIVE

@ sci-fi seri^l ^dventure C@PT Eilidh Montgomery, USS @lb^

Ch^pter Eight

Xander Galen was still not used to being addressed as Admiral and catching sight

of himself in his new Rear Admiral's uniform still gave him a start. He came onto

the Plaza and joined Tiberius MacAlpin at the younger man's favourite café.

It was lunch time and the crew postings were to be announced that

afternoon. Galen sat down and said hello to Lashinda who was there too. A few

moments later, Commander Ross joined them, apologising for being late.

"You're not," MacAlpin said. He pressed an icon on the tabletop touch pad

and the menu appeared as a holographic image.

Lashinda ordered sushi and Ross a pasta salad, while Galen ordered steamed

fish and rice. MacAlpin took a favourite meal of his—old style fried chicken with


fries and corn on the cob.

They entered their order on the touch pad along with drinks and then settled

back to talk while they waited for their order to arrive.

MacAlpin turned to Commander Ross. "I told Admiral Malabaare that I want

you as my First Officer. She told me that you have requested a transfer."

Ross flushed red. "I ... that was before you spoke to me. I will speak with her."

"I already have, and your request has been denied," MacAlpin grinned.

Galen looked at Ross. "You asked for a transfer—before being assigned?"

Ross nodded, still red in the face. "I expected the captaincy after you, Xander.

When I heard them announcing your retirement, I knew I had a chance to follow

my dream ... to command the Magellan ... then they announced her

decommissioning ... so I kind of expected to get the new ship ... and then young

MacAlpin was promoted over my head. I was angry and jealous. I have had many

more years of experience, even of command, but that is past now. I am sorry

that I was angry. It is my duty to follow orders, whatever they are and I will still

get a ship one day."

"I need your experience," Tiberius said. "And your friendship."

No one said anything else as their drinks arrived and it gave Ross time to

recover himself.

Galen looked around and held up his coffee mug. "To a new era for all of us."

They clinked their mugs together.

"To a new era!"

MacAlpin sipped his drink. He badly wanted to tell them that he had been

granted permission to see the files, but he had been told not to tell anyone.

Later, though, he would tell Galen.

Their meals arrived and they settled down to eat, with the minimum of

conversation. Soon the three men were swapping stories of their first postings,

and Lashinda asked them lots of questions. She was ground crew and had never

been in space apart from a shuttle run to a starbase. They all had stories from

when they were young ensigns, and they laughed over how similar some of the

stories were.

The younger officers ordered dessert but Galen passed, ordering another

coffee instead.

Lashinda stated that she was thinking of applying for officer training.

"I love my job, but I don't want to be stuck on Earth or on a star base for the

rest of my career, especially as you are going to be away so long, Tibby."

MacAlpin looked at her. "I'll be glad to see you do that, but you are a

computer technician. That is a very important job. If I talk to the Admiral—"

"No, Tibby," Lashinda said softly. "You're the Captain. You could not be seen


to be in a relationship with a member of the crew. Not professional."

"She is right, of course," Galen said. "It will have to be a long distance

relationship—as so many are. Keeping in touch will not be an issue."

In the Admiral's office, they were going over a list of the crew who were

transferred from the Magellan. Each name was looked at closely, the personal

file being pulled for each one. Notes were made; some names erased, others

were added. Then Admiral Malabaare looked up.

"That just leaves the choice for First Officer. MacAlpin has requested that

Ross is transferred. He wants his expertise." She pulled the file and opened it.

"Ross, Kirbie Samuel. Aged thirty-seven. Seven years old when The Venture was

lost. Only three years older than the new Captain."

"That is three years more experience than MacAlpin has," Admiral Cheng

said. "Were his parents not lost when The Venture was destroyed?"

Admiral Malabaare nodded. "Yes. He would have been on board too had he

not been ill and left with his grandparents at the last minute. If he had not gone

down with the measles he would not be alive today." And he hates MacAlpin

because of what his father did, she added inwardly. Only she knew that

however, and if anyone found out and asked her reasons, she would have no

answer.

She pressed the intercom and called her aide in and asked her to type up the

list and transmit the postings to the screens in the plaza. When the others had

gone, she looked at her copy of the list and read each name over and over again.

It was a good crew. Galen had trusted them when he was Captain.

There were a few alterations; some names were omitted, others added.

Some of the Magellan crew would find themselves transferred to other ships,

while some service with other crews would find themselves transferred to the

new Venture, with the 'untried Captain' as some called MacAlpin already.

Those who remembered their first command did not however. They had all

been untried in that situation and they sympathised with him for being landed

with what could only be termed a high profile command.

MacAlpin leaned forward and tapped his account details into the tabletop screen

and took the receipt chip it gave him.

"The crew postings should be up soon," he said. "Shall we head that way. I am

eager to know."

Galen and Ross nodded. "You will be eager to meet them and discuss actual

postings," Galen said. "You will need to decide on your department heads."

MacAlpin tried not to look panicked in any way, but he knew there was a lot


of work involved. True he had worked with all the Magellan crew but to make

these decisions had never been a task of his.

"I will need their files," he said. "Most of them I will know and what their

strengths are, but the Venture ship's a larger crew than the Magellan ..."

"Don't worry," Galen said. "You have Ross to assist you, and I am to give you

any help you may need in preparing your ship and crew. You were always my

protégé, after all. I want to see you succeed, for your sake ... and your father's,"

he added quietly.

MacAlpin nodded and drew a deep breath. "Sorry," he said. "I am okay now—

panic over. I just don't want to mess up right at the start. Everyone would make

those I told you so noises."

"Tiberius," Galen said softly. "You need to develop a thicker skin for this job.

You have to forget everyone else and their opinions. They do not matter. You do

not have to prove yourself to anyone. You would not have been given this

position if no one thought you could do it. High Command are not stupid. I know

you care about the opinions of others—you always did. Hold onto a little of that,

so that you do not brush people off, but you must not care so much what is

thought of you in that way. You are the captain of your ship. It matters not if

your crew like you, only that they respect you for your rank and the kind of man

you are. If you are yourself and do your job to the best of your ability, then they

will respect you. Even despite the unknown past which you fear will always

haunt you." He paused and finished off his drink. "Okay?"

Tiberius nodded. "Yes. Thanks, Xander." He stood up. "I will do my best."

Galen stood up too and clapped him on the shoulder. "I know you will. You

have not worked towards this for nothing. Let's go and see the postings. I want

to know how many of my old crew are to be with you."

The four walked together out of the cafe. When they reached the Plaza, it

was crowded. The crowd was thickest around the screens where the Venture's

postings were displayed. One of the officers looked round. "Here's the Captain,"

she said, "with Admiral Galen."

The crowd parted like the Red Sea for Moses and formed two lines on either

side as the officers walked down.

Tiberius took out a wafer-thin device and touched the screen. He looked up

at the main screen and waited for the connection to be acknowledged and then

downloaded the crew roster. He glanced at it and then spoke quietly to Ross.

The Venture's new First Officer nodded and then turned around. "All crew

members must board the Venture by 16:00 hours this afternoon. The Captain

will speak to you all then."

As they walked back past the lines of officers and crewmen and women,


MacAlpin nodded to the ones who dared to catch his eye.

Galen did feel proud of him. Plunged suddenly into a command he had not

expected quite yet, Tiberius MacAlpin was coping well, as he had known he

would. He knew he felt he had a lot to prove, a lifetime of anguish at hearing his

father's name spoken of, not as the hero he had thought him to be, that had hurt

the boy and now a man, Tiberius had to defend his belief in his father's honour.

It meant that much, and Galen was only too aware of that. There were things he

knew that Tiberius would want to know, but he could not tell.

After leaving the crowd behind them, they parted with MacAlpin and Ross

heading off to prepare to board the Venture. Lashinda headed off to work in the

big computer labs and Galen made his way to his office ... to his new desk job.

Ch^pter Nine

Tiberius let himself into his apartment and looked around. He went to his desk

for a moment, checking the computer for any messages. There was one from his

mother, reminding him to visit before he left for space. He replied, telling her

that he would. He had two days before the official launch, with the Captain and

crew on board.

He began to pack his bag. There were a few personal items that would never

be left behind, his father's photograph for instance. His father's uniform too, that

would come. He had so much to live up to; the honour of his father to defend.

His father's memory meant everything to him, especially now and he intended to

find out exactly what had happened all those years ago.

He picked up the flat disc Admiral Malabaare had given him. I contained all

the information about his father's case and he had been told not to look at it

until they had left the station. He looked at the computer. She would not know...

He slid it into the computer and watched as a box came up on the screen

"Do you wish to proceed?" it said.

He took a deep breath. "Abort," he said. He would obey her orders. "Eject

disc." He took the disc and put it in its case and slipped it into his bag. There

would be time enough to see what the disc contained. Part of him was fearful,

afraid that all those rumours were true. Something niggled at him all the time:

Xander Galen's reluctance to talk about what happened. He had managed to get

out of him that he had not been there; he had been imprisoned on the planet for

whatever reason, not on the ship with his captain and friend. There was

something that was not being told and it worried him. Surely his father's old

friend would tell him if there was something wrong. Had his father really

abandoned his First Officer and friend, leaving him to be incarcerated for

something he had not done? Was it something his father had done? The last


time he had dreamed, it had seemed like this. The alien had called him Stephen,

and knew him.

He stepped out onto the balcony and looked out across the city.

"No. I can't believe that! You would not betray your friend!" he said. "You

could not. You were friends for so many years. That cannot be ignored!"

But, deep in his mind were always the same questions, the same uncertainty.

Not knowing was worse than even the worst news, that the stories and theories

were true. His father for some unknown reason had destroyed his ship, killing

every member of the crew. Even knowing that he had done this for no reason

other than to cover up a misdemeanour or crime would be better than not

knowing. Or would it? He did not know. He could not know until he had the facts

before him and could make his own judgement. Until then, he had to cling onto

his belief in his father's innocence and to his own fight to clear his name.

He sighed and slammed his fist onto the railings of the balcony. He knew his

search for the answers would haunt him until he had the truth at his fingertips

and could accept the past.

Xander Galen sat at the desk in his new office. He was beginning to settle into

the desk job he had dreaded while a serving officer on active duty. He leaned

back in his chair and looked around the room for a few minutes and then leaned

forward and touched the centre of the top drawer which slid open easily under

his fingers. He lifted out an old-fashioned photo frame and looked at the

photograph it contained for a long time in silence.

It had been taken the day Stephen MacAlpin had been promoted to Captain

and was given command of the Venture. They were both in it: Captain MacAlpin

and his newly assigned First Officer, Commander Galen. They were both laughing

in the picture. Galen sighed. He remembered that day clearly despite the

passage of time. They had been enthused with the same sense of adventure of

being sent on the first of this kind of mission. A new ship, going further than

mankind had ever ventured, deep into the very darkest depths of space. Neither

of them would have believed it if anyone had told them that Stephen would not

return, and that of the four hundred plus crewmembers, only Galen would

survive, and that no one would know why. If there were answers out there, they

were concealed and the case closed despite never being resolved.

They had made such plans. They had mapped out a great future for

themselves. How they would finish their careers together, spending their old age

with their families and watching the careers of their children and grandchildren

with pride.

"Damn you, Stephen. Why?!" he cried suddenly, and threw the photograph


across the room. It struck the wall and fell to the floor with a crash as the glass

shattered. He was struck with a sudden stab of remorse and got up from the

desk.

He knelt on the floor, holding the shattered photograph in his hands. He was

so wrapped up in his own feelings that he did not hear the door open and never

saw Admiral Malabaare step into the room.

She guessed at once what had happened.

"It hurts, doesn't it?" she said quietly. "His betrayal of all you both believed

in, the betrayal of your friendship."

Galen looked up, ashamed to be found in a moment of weakness. He saw her

hand extended and allowed her to pull him to his feet. He went back to the desk

and out the broken frame down. "Yes, it hurts," he said. "The truth—"

"Cannot be told," she finished. "One day perhaps, but not now. You know

that. You will not break your word, your oath of silence?"

Galen drew a deep breath and shook his head. "I will not break my word."

"Even when he asks you? As he does."

He nodded again. "He will find out one day. You have given him access to the

files."

"Not full access. There are some things it is best not to find out. At least not

yet. He must establish his own career on his own merits, not on those of his

father."

"He has been given a hard task," Galen responded. "To follow in the footsteps

of a man he admires as a hero—and one whose memory is shrouded in secrecy.

He does not know the truth and yet we still give him an identical ship and give

him the command and send him to the same region of space. Don't forget that

Tiberius is like a son to me. I saw him through all his studies. I took him onto my

crew. I nurtured him, encouraged him to strive for a captaincy. I tried to be to

him the father he never knew. Don't we owe him something?"

Winona Malabaare listened without a word and then smiled softly. "Yes, we

owe him ... the chance to forge his own career." She tapped the photograph. "He

would be proud of his son, I know that much."

Galen sighed. "If only there was a log, even just one, that explained what

happened. Explained why he chose to destroy ship and crew without a moment's

thought."

She looked at him. "Some things will never be known. You must accept this."

She turned to the door. "If the truth is meant to be told then it will be."

Galen watched her leave and returned to his seat at the desk and looked at

the shattered photo in front of him.

"Why did I do that? Why am I so angry with you?" he asked, looking down at


the face of his friend in the photograph. He tipped the broken glass into the

wastepaper basket and slipped the photograph back into the drawer.

MacAlpin entered his new quarters on the ship and threw his bag on the bed. He

sat down at the desk and opened up the computer. He slid the wafer-thin

information disc the Admiral had given him into the computer and waited until

the list of files it contained appeared on the screen. He studied the list and saw a

subfile named Logs.

Good, he thought. There would be something there. He touched the screen

and the first file opened. There was a routine log in it and Tiberius listened to it,

hearing his father for the first time. He bit his lip. It was just as emotional as he

had imagined. There was nothing in the log to hint towards anything untoward.

The next three logs were the same: just routine.

He touched the fourth one and a message flagged up on the screen. "Access

restricted. Please enter authorisation code," the computer said.

"I don't have a code," MacAlpin muttered.

"Access denied. This file carries a security restriction."

MacAlpin swore under his breath.

Admiral Malabaare had given him access, but obviously only to the files she

deemed necessary.

What was it? What were they all hiding from him? It had to be that. These

logs must contain something—the truth of what happened. He tried the

personal logs. They were all restricted, but for some very old ones, one of them

containing Stephen MacAlpin's delight on hearing he had a son.

"I look forward to the day I can meet him," he had said, words that brought

tears to Tiberius' eyes. His father had died four years later without ever meeting

the child he spoke of with so much happiness. That brought it all home to him

with a vengeance. His father had never had the chance. He ran his hand over his

eyes and was angry with himself when he felt his hand was a little wet. He

blinked angrily and began to search the files. All of the ones he could access

ended about a week before his father's death. No records, or if there were then

they must be the ones that were restricted.

He slammed his fist on the desk. He realised he had been tricked into keeping

silent by being made to believe he had been given access. He tried another log

and listened to his father talking about the photograph Bethany had sent of their

new son.

"She says he looks like me. I don't know. He's bald and wrinkly. I thought I

looked better than that!"

Tiberius heard his father's laugh and knew his father had been more than


happy and was glad that he had at least seen photographs. He listened for a

while longer and then could bear it no longer and tried the restricted files again.

"Access denied!" the computer informed him laconically.

Again. "Access denied!"

He banged his fists on the desk in complete frustration. He began to type an

angry message to Admiral Malabaare, venting his anger and frustration at being

refused access. There was a buzz at the door and Commander Ross looked in.

"Captain," he began. Then he saw the message on the screen. "You haven't

sent it?"

Tiberius shook his head.

Ross leaned over his shoulder. "Discard message," he instructed. Then he

leaned on the desk and looked at the younger man. "Don't put yourself in the

wrong, however you feel about this. You think I do not understand, but I do. I

would give anything to know what happened. We all would. My parents were on

board; I never saw them again. So, you see, I do understand."

"I understand too why you must hate me—because of my father—"

"Don't be silly. I don't hate you. You are not your father. I just want to know

the truth one day. My parents were good friends with your father. I met him,

even though I was only a young kid at the time. I find it hard to believe that he

would condemn his entire crew to death without giving them a choice. No. There

is something more, and making Admiral Malabaare mad is not going to help in

any way."

He clapped Tiberius on the shoulder. "Now, I came to take you on your first

official tour of the ship. Then you need to address the crew."

Tiberius looked up. "That part is scaring me," he confessed. "They will all be

judging me."

Ross leaned forward and shook him, not ungently. "Of course they will! You

are a new captain. This is your first command; a high profile command at that,

but you are better than that! You have wanted this all your life. What others

think and say must not matter or they will destroy you."

"Xander said the same thing," Tiberius admitted.

"And he always gives you sound advice. You do not have to face them. You

will speak to them from the Bridge via the ship-wide communication system.

Now, pull yourself together, and come with me."

Ross straightened up and went to the door, holding it open for his

commanding officer to pass him.

A A A


Documents

The Runabout › onewebmedia › Runabout › 17-NX... · 2017-03-12 · The Runabout -5- Issue 17: March 2016 Region^l @w^rds CMDR Kevin McNeillie-Welsh For ^chievements within ST@RFLEET