Unstated Plans

[Sorehl 0]

Prevailing gusts ruffled his hair, projecting an outward disarray to his otherwise placid expression. Captain Sorehl stood on the wind-swept outcropping, overlooking first evidence of what would emerge to be Avalon Base.

 

The high-altitude air was much too cool for his Vulcan blood, but the discomfort was tempered by the efficient thermal layer of his uniform. Only exposed skin felt the direct chill. He stroked his dark beard, grateful it reduced that exposure even further.

 

It was still morning on this part of the planet. The white light of sunrise had slowly thinned the mist, except where it clung to the surface of the nearby mountain lake. Below him, teams moved across the green, rock-strewn valley as they surveyed coordinates and offloaded supplies.

 

True to his word, Lieutenant Commander Xavier had overseen construction of a landing area large enough to accommodate several shuttles and runabouts. Engineering had moved on to plans for finishing the repair and command facilities. There were longer-term options, such as extensive tunneling and the prospect of using geothermal energy, but environmental impacts must be considered. It would be unacceptable to damage the broader ecosystem just to satisfy their own project. They were only guests on this planet – so far.

 

Sorehl had presented several challenges to the security team, whose assignment was to develop and implement the colonial defense network. The need for shielding and some form of underground shelter was clear, as they had discussed. However, while he was aware they had consulted with engineering about the power interface, they had not yet forwarded their plans to the command staff. He was concerned the team would distract itself with ideas for an increased military presence or large-scale planetside weaponry. More than eighteen months after its deployment, Camelot Station itself remained undermanned with an unfinished interior, but had already proven a formidable defensive asset. Given the time and resources for the fledgling colony, it was unlikely anything of comparative scale could be implemented planetside. They must consider other options.

 

He bristled internally as his tactical engineering experience asserted itself. It was a background he preferred to remain understated. But Groombridge had taught him the futility of localized shielding and demonstrated the mantle-cracking capability of quantum weapons. Chin’toka and Canar II, contrasted against the fall of Betazed, had emphasized the importance of strong orbital defenses.

 

He turned away from the view, chiding himself for the introspection. These were Starfleet professionals, who could be trusted with their job. His assignment, playing to his years as a system integrator, was to bridge the interfaces between their efforts and measure them against the ultimate operations concept. As yet, this was proving difficult.

 

Although he was aware of the science team’s selection of a Denali-class communications array, little else of their planning had reached the Command staff. As far as developing a hospital for the colony, Sorehl was personally unaware of more than the choosing and stockpiling of medical supplies.

 

Climbing down the rock face, he mused on the differences of service. Starship crews often had to rely on quick outcomes and patched-up resolutions, just to survive the battle. What was it Halloway rejoiced in? Kicking in the warp drive and moving on to the next problem, he called it.

 

Avalon Base could not escape its problems. It was, in fact, a statement of permanence. In the face of the Scorpiad, the Hundred, or even the Dominion threat, it was a declaration that the Allies intended to extend their civilizations into the Gamma Quadrant. He would have to work with the Klingon and Romulan contributions to make this colony demonstrate that such expansion would not be though exploiting worlds or conquest, but through peaceful coexistence.

 

Maybe this was what was lacking, he considered. Perhaps it was important to provide a vision of what they were building. Glancing across the grassy slope, he realized his previous commanding officer would have mocked him for such altruism.

 

It wouldn’t have stopped him this time, either.

Edited April 19, 2006 by Sorehl