When In Rome...

[Cmdr Ba'alyo 0]

[The following log is a post-mission analysis that takes place just before Challenger's departure from 892-IV, before their interception of the Orion pirates attacking the USS Taurus and the dilithium freighter.]

 

Commander Ba'alyo leaned away from the small desk in his cabin, rubbing his shoulder through the white fabric of his command turtleneck. He had just completed the lengthy post-mission report required by Starfleet. The text stood out brightly against the dark background of his display.

 

More than a month ago, the starship Challenger had been sent here to 892-IV -- dubbed "Magna Roma" for its parallels to Earth's Roman civilization -- with orders to assess the culture and determine the viability of trade relations.

 

Those orders had seemed ill-conceived at the time, since previous contact by the starship Enterprise had assessed the planet at a comparative 20th Century state of development, non-warp capable and largely unaware of off-world life. The Prime Directive would effectively prohibit open contact, much less negotiation.

 

But that was before Magna Roma had broadcast a subspace communication inviting the Federation to return, open dialogue, and observe upcoming "warp trials." Challenger had been dispatched to respond to these overtures, with a plan to also investigate the origin of such unexpected technological leaps.

 

Over the ensuing weeks in orbit, Challenger had learned much. There had been missteps and awkward explanations, but facts were clearer and ties had begun to form. Momentous shifts had started. The Romans were reconsidering their beginnings and reimagining their future.

 

Ba'alyo leaned forward, reviewing the bullets in his report preface and reflected on their accomplishments:

 

• Trade Relations. Over the course of meetings with Consul Marcus Quintus, Captain Seiben had established the groundwork for a future exchange of iridium and titanium. He had also made it clear that off-world slave trading would not be welcomed.
  
• First Contact. Although the Roman government had been aware of the Federation through visits by the starship Enterprise and the wrecked SS Beagle, Consul Quintus chose this visit to introduce his subjects to the existence of off-world life and a larger galactic community. He had mentioned that their Rome of antiquity might be "out there", as well. The announcement would be a defining moment in their history. Planets and cultures often surged forward or imploded on the stress of such paradigm shifts.
  
• Cultural Contamination. Tours of Roman facilities and interviews with the Consul had confirmed their leaps in technology had been spurred by external influence. Knowledge of subspace itself was gained from communicators purloined from Enterprise officers during their captivity. From this, the Romans had made contact with the Klingons and bartered for basic warp technology. The poor quality material and limited schematics they were given meant successful warp trials might still be decades away.
  
• Beagle Survivors. During an industrial tour, Challenger officers confirmed some members of the Beagle crew were not forced into the gladiator arena. (Thirty years ago, Merikus had reportedly told Captain Kirk that "those who were able to adapt are still alive".) Although known to the Roman government, these survivors managed to remain low-key, avoiding societal interference. None were willing to leave the connections and relationships forged over three decades of life among the Romans; Challenger made no effort to coerce them.
  

Ba'alyo found himself nodding. It had been a successful mission, he had to admit. In addition to these mission parameters, they had made two unexpected achievements:

 

• Challenge to Hodgkin's Theory. Challenger teams had gathered archeological, historical, and biological evidence suggesting that -- rather than a classic example of Hodgkin's Theory of Parallel Development -- Magna Roma was instead a transplanted culture plucked from Earth, relocated across light-years (an epic "Great Journey"), and genetically altered to integrate with the biosphere of 892-IV. Lessard had confirmed they shared identical histories until the reign of the Emperor Hadrian, then found significant divergence. Savros' team had confirmed this on the ground, noting from ruins and artifacts that the Roman civilization was barely a millennia old. Dr. Juno had reviewed multiple samples to find genetic markers added to the otherwise identical human DNA. It was still unclear who the architects of this relocation were, but research centered on either the legendary Preservers or the godlike travelers enshrined in the Greek and Roman pantheons of Earth. Data from the Challenger visit might spur debate for years to come.
  
• Political Marriage. Consul Quintus had deemed negotiations successful enough to offer his own sister in marriage to Captain Seiben, a gesture many members of the crew were surprised to see accepted. With the new bride formally designated as Ambassador of Magna Roma to the Federation, this action was a clear sign of Roman interest in securing good relations.
  

He folded his arms. Despite all their gains, it was this last item that was sure to get the immediate attention of Starfleet Headquarters. Despite Ba'alyo's public support for the captain, he privately feared the Admiralty would voice objections. Such arrangements were not uncommon on many Federation worlds, including his own, but they might frown on such direct involvement of an officer in seeking -- he cleared his throat unconsciously -- closer relations.

 

Did the captain's actions, he wondered, fall into the lists of missteps during their mission?

 

In spite of orders to conduct a covert surveillance, Lieutenant Savros had run into a team of Roman archeologists and revealed his team's off-world origins to them. The Vulcan had offered himself for reprimand, but Ba'alyo had been disinclined to pursue it. Revealing themselves was not what Ba'alyo would have done in a similar circumstance, but Command School taught him that one must trust officers on the ground. For one, the Consul's announcement had eliminated the restrictions of the Prime Directive. For another, Savros had chosen a well-educated group, who were willing to contain the exposure and help with their efforts. He may very well have laid the groundwork for future studies.

 

At almost the same time, Major Kimiko had been captured by native law enforcement and pressed into the arena. Although the Marine commandant was well-known for her shore leave run-ins with security, this exposure was hardly her fault. Still, it was difficult to explain her illicit presence on the surface, especially once her stint in the gladiator ring was televised. First Lieutenant Teros had only compounded the incursion with his unwise assault on the Roman guards. The Andorian had already suffered for his mistake, through both physical wounds and a dressing down from the Major. There was little need to revisit it.

 

Despite the stumbles, Ba'alyo had seen real officer thinking during this mission. Poldara and Lessard had led ground-breaking dialogue on studying Magna Roma origins; they'd done outstanding work. Savros had followed this up with concrete challenges to earlier assumptions. M'Guire had shadowed the captain and shown real talent with diplomatic interactions -- he was probably ready for more off-bridge stints. And though she still had to be prodded to get off the ship, Reed had shown greater versatility. It was time to consider expanding her role beyond the navigation console. Ba'alyo had been pleased to suggest commendations for all of them.

 

Challenger had learned much. The Romans had moved into early 21st Century development. Their rulers seemed more egalitarian and less dictator-like, but their society retained a slave class, public deathmatches, and a cultural superiority complex. Given how the Consul had bristled at the suggestion that their deities might be merely advanced space travelers, Roman entry into the galactic community might be quite a shock for them. They might not be ready to meet species like the Klingons, who would scoff at their assumptions of superiority.

 

Ba'alyo leaned back, feeling the gauzy robe that was still folded over the armrest. He laughed at himself. He'd been one of only a few officers who'd gone to the final send-off party in native attire. "When in Rome," Harris had said, quoting some human aphorism about adopting indigenous customs.

 

He mused on the saying. "When in space," he said aloud to, "it might be time to leave Roman customs behind." Inwardly, he wondered if 892-IV could do it. Didn't his own people still have trouble with that?

 

With sudden resolve, he thumbed the send button. Standing, he grabbed his burgundy jacket and headed for the bridge - where the dictates of custom and duty suited him just fine.