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Chirakis

Watching the Watchers

Watching the Watchers

That Captain Ramson returned safely from the Alliance ship both surprised and relieved Captain Chirakis. Previous experience with the Alliance did not go well, so the expectation that the Alliance’s “diplomatic discussion” would be anything but diplomatic or a discussion clouded all thoughts. And yet, the captain and her security guard returned unscathed. However, as she entered CnC, her expression was dire, she remained as apprehensive as she was when she left, and she ordered Security Lt Justice confined to quarters with no reason other than, “ I will explain later.”

As Ramson entered her office, Kirel turned back to her console, checking data records to glean what she could from them and have the computer analyze what it could while she considered the implications of the meeting. What she saw on her console was disconcerting.

Data on the tactical log made no sense. It did not match what she saw… or what she believed she saw. Then she wondered if a computer's recorded data should override one’s visual observation? Both were fallible, but given the nature of the station's technology, one would instinctively trust the computer over a humanoid visual observation, chiefly because visual recall is often clouded with memories—especially negative ones—and emotions. That is why eyewitness accounts are discounted more often than not. After running a thorough diagnostic of the entire system and asking a technician to verify the data, Kirel could only infer that her visual observations were inaccurate. She looked up, wondering how many others’ observations were faulty.

“Mr. Jackson,” she began quietly, moving to his side, “without discussing this with anyone, write down exactly and explicitly what you saw on the screen when Captain Ramson was on the alien ship, and send it to me. Move into the conference room so you are not disturbed. Consider this information strictly confidential.” A finger-snap and point from Kirel brought his relief, the puzzled operations officer entered the conference room, returning several minutes later with his report. It was interesting.

Five minutes later, Kirel entered Lt Justice’s quarters. With the sudden realization that his visitor was Captain Chirakis, the security officer paled, snapped to attention, and stood there, hardly breathing.

“Relax, Lieutenant. Have a seat.”

“But Captain Ramson confided me to quarters, ma’am,” he said, confused.

Kirel nodded. “Indeed she did. However, you have done nothing wrong. This is merely a debriefing.”

It didn’t seem to allay the lieutenant’s anxiety. As he sat down, sweat pooled on his brow. He clasped his hands nervously and studied the floor for a moment before he looked up.

“There is much we do not know about the Alien Alliance,” Chirakis continued as she settled into the chair next to him. “This debriefing is to hopefully further our knowledge of the aliens. One thing we do know is that they are able to alter one’s perception of a situation.”

He thought a minute, then asked tentatively, “You mean, they have a kind of telepathy, Captain?”

“I suppose you could say that. But our brains have a way of altering perception so they can make sense of what they see—or so Dr. Davis has told me.” Her chuckle hinted of at least one memorable encounter with the doctor. “For instance, if we were standing in a garden and something flew by quickly, you might see it as a bird. I might see it as something deadly and duck away. As it settles to the ground a few meters away, we both realize that it is a child’s toy, probably caught in an updraft of the artificial breeze in the arboretum.” She spread her hands. “Both perceptions are wrong because both minds conjured something from experience to make sense of visual input.” She smiled again. “Dr. Davis’s explanation.”

The lieutenant smiled into a sigh of relief. “I see what you mean, ma’am. Maybe I saw something different than Captain Ramson, and we need to find out which one was right? Or maybe we were both wrong?”

Kirel nodded, handed him a PADD, and waited patiently for his report. When he handed it back, she paged quickly through it. “I need not remind you that what we have discussed and what is in your report is confidential,” she said. He acknowledged, and she left, more puzzled than ever.

On her way to CnC, Kirel received Dr. Davis’s psychological report on Captain Ramson:

Psychologically, Captain Ramson exhibits a high level of concern, which is justifiable given the circumstances and her position as commanding officer. Brain scans show high levels of telepathic chemicals in the hypothalamus. This indicates a high level of recent telepathic activity. The area of the hypothalamus affected indicates a high possibility that an external force was trying to exert influence and that the captain was attempting to counteract that activity. No actual alteration in the captain’s personality was observed or recorded. Her experience should not affect her ability to command. ~A Davis, PhD

Chirakis stepped into CnC and strode to her console, contemplating the implications of her discovery.

 

Lieutenant Justice remembers they were greeted by a small humanoid crew. They weren’t aggressive, but they weren’t friendly either. The voice came from a female who seemed to be in command. He described them vividly, from the color of their hair to the ties on their uniform boots. Ensign Jackson, on the other hand, saw a child the age of Annisha t’Korjata speaking to the captain in a semi-aggressive manner, and no one else.

 

Kirel and Dr. Pavilion saw only Lt Justice and Captain Ramson on the Alliance ship. The captain seemed to be speaking to either someone outside their line of sight or to a computer. The appearance of the ship changed briefly from a standard ship to the familiar subspace-capable Alliance ship, its interior pulsated in a kaleidoscope of colors, and the transporter room shifted from a standard room to one with organic series of walls and passages.

 

The computer recorded a different story. There was no one to greet them, the transporter room was a fairly sterile environment, and they were surrounded by metal walls. The recorded voice was commanding, yet confused—similar to the computer that controlled the Byron when it launched its failed attack against the station. It said it sought its own, “the one that sleeps”.

 

The one that sleeps. Does that refer to the computer that was lost with the destruction of the Byron, or does it refer to….

 

“Mr. Jackson, what is the latest report from TKR-117?”

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