Epilouge

[STSF Seiben 0]

“Epilogue”

 

In what was an especially tough few days, the battered USS Challenger finally neared Star Base 103. “We’re now within range of the station, Captain” replied the navigational officer. Captain Ja’Lale nodded. “Very good” he replied. “Helm, slow us down to ¼ impulse and hail the station for docking clearance” he said to the communications officer.

The Captain was eager to get to the station as quickly as possible. The journey from the nebula to the station took longer than anyone expected due to the damages inflicted to the ship in their rescue of the freighter crew and the retrieval of the stolen goods from Hydra IV. Engineering and Medical crews had an especially hard time keeping the ship and its crew running and it was safe to say that everyone onboard was looking forward for a chance to finally rest and recuperate.

“Docking clearance has been granted, Captain” replied the communications officer. “Oh, and Admiral Peters wishes to speak to you as soon as possible sir.” A few moments later, the Challenger approached the massive space station and went through its massive doors. People looking out of the station’s windows winced as the battered vessel slowly backed into its designated docking space, no doubt wondering what happened to get the ship in that state.

 

30 minutes later…

 

After packing his belongings and taking his prescribed pain killers from Dr. Hanson, Ja’Lale exited his quarters and headed into the station. According to the station’s engineering crew, it would take about two to three weeks to fully repair the damage and get the ship as good as new, or better than new according to the station’s Chief Engineer. Ja’Lale certainly hoped his claims would hold true.

Heading to his guest quarters on the station, Ja’Lale quickly unpacked his things and headed up to the station’s command centre to speak with Admiral Peters. He was quickly guided to the Admiral’s ready room by a young security officer. “You look like crap, Captain” Peters said rather bluntly before extending his hand.

“Thanks. Though it could’ve been worse if it weren’t for my shell and chest plate” the captain replied, referring to the hard armour like plates on his chest and back. “As well as the fine work of my Chief Medical Officer” Peters smiled and nodded knowingly. No stranger to combat, Peters himself knew all too well the value of a good doctor.

 

“Well, don’t worry. I’ve got my best engineering techs working on your ship. She’ll be ready to go before you know it” said the Admiral. “I only wish I could’ve avoided the debris from the freighter. We should’ve been able to detect that warp core explosion, but we were in the middle of beaming the freighter’s crew” Ja’Lale mused. Peters waved a dismissive hand. “It happened so fast you couldn’t react in time. It happens from time to time. What is important though is that we have the evidence to formally convict President Stein and Acting President Black for the theft and unauthorized sale of the supplies meant for the people of Hydra IV” the admiral said.

 

“Thanks to your efforts, and the evidence you retrieved from the freighter, Starfleet has a solid case against them for their crimes against the Hydran people. Thanks to you, Stein and Beck can look forward to spending a fair chunk of time in the New Zealand Penal Colony.”

 

“Well, I only hope that peace can finally come to the people of Hydra and that they can finally get the aid they need to get back on their feet” replied Ja’Lale. Peters nodded “Me too. But for now, try to get some rest. You and your crew are welcome to use the station as you see fit. You should try the new lounge and bar that opened last month. The finest Altarian whisky you’ve ever tasted.”

“I don’t usually drink, but after what we’ve been through I just might take you up on that offer” said Ja’Lale. “Excellent” replied Peters. “My shift ends at 1800. I just might join you and your crew for a round of drinks after then. My treat”

 

HYDRA IV –

 

The arrest of Acting President Naomi Beck came as a big shock to the general public. The media was busy, exposing yet more charges and allegations of corruption against Beck and former President Stein and his administration. At 0900 local time, the USS Arizona and her support fleet arrived in orbit and quickly escorted Beck and her cabinet ministers to out of the Presidential Palace in what was a big media spectacle.

Holo-images of her being detained by the Arizona’s security staff, being read her rights and subsequently beamed to the Arizona replayed across the planet for days, with her arrest making front page headlines across the Federation. Charged with multiple counts of corruption, abuse of power, theft and embezzlement charges Beck, Stein and about a dozen other government officials were sent to Paris to stand trial for their crimes and were sentenced to the New Zealand Prison Colony in a highly televised trial.

 

In the days that followed, a caretaker government was formed with the help of the Federation and an election called. In a landslide victory, President Hastings formerly the governor of the eastern state of Estevan called for changes to the constitution to prevent and tackle corruption at all levels of government and to lead the people of Hydra to recover from the mysterious plague that engulfed the planet as well as rebuild after the planet’s lengthy civil war.

Estevan and the rest of the planet would eventually recover from the effects of the plague which eventually disappeared as mysteriously as it appeared in the first place thanks to the assistance of the Federation. Under Hastings’ administration, the east quickly gained equal status with the west due in part to its natural resources and expanding export and newly built infrastructure in the reconstruction of the eastern states that followed.

Under the new President and his government, Hydra IV was eventually accepted as a member state of the United Federation, a key promise Hastings called for in his election campaign. In the months that followed, the planet quickly transformed from one of the Federation’s most impoverished and corrupt colonies to a new period of prosperity and peace never seen before in the planet’s history.