"Limits of Intelligence" - Part 6 - NonPlot Log - Commo Sebastian Ascari, SFI

Posted on 241606.01 @ 10:31am by Commodore Sebastian Ascari

Mission: Non-Plot Log
Location: Stellar Reference: XKR-21199-B (Moon)
Timeline: Current-ish

Log Title: "Limits of Intelligence" - Part 6
Setting: Rocky, ice covered moon and underground cavern complex

== Continued From Part 5 ==

Sipping cool water from a canteen, Ascari silently contemplated what he had seen and heard over the last hour. It was so fantastic as to not be believed. Were he to tell such a tale of what he had seen he would be derided as spinning an exaggerated and fanciful tale worthy of entertainment, but nothing more. This place, this moon, was something out of the imagination of a fiction writer proficient in their craft and yet no words could truly capture the magnitude or presence of his surroundings. It had to be seen and experienced to be understood.

Could it be understood? Should it? The more he thought about what he had seen the more he was convinced there was something ominous lingering in the air. As he sat in the silence of a darkened tent he couldn't put the odd feeling to words. It was a sensation, so subtle as to be dismissed, yet it remained like a shadow somehow quietly following always just out of view. What was this sensation or was he simply just imagining things as an overactive mind struggled to make sense of a place that shouldn't exist and yet...did.

As thoughts drifted from one to the next like a drop of water dispersing into a pool he turned his attention away from understanding to the inevitable decisions that would need to be made regarding this unassuming moon. At present he could see no viable solutions to properly administer this fantastic cache of alien technological power which Starfleet had stumbled upon by happenstance. He wondered how human history would have changed had the Romans stumbled across a steam engine and the factories that produced them. What if the Spanish had discovered the ability to build and manufacture ironclad vessels while exploring the Americas? What if Napoleon had uncovered the tank, the combustion engine, steel manufacturing, petrochemical refinement, and the means to produce advanced weaponry?

Human history was replete with examples of technological advances that often led to unintended consequences. Rocket and glider enthusiasts in the 1920s were eventually drafted by all major powers during World War II to turn their passion and hobbies to the production of precision weaponry paving the way for guided cruise missiles, rocket powered bombs, and military aircraft. Those same innovations built to wage warfare which brought so much calamity to Earth and its people later led to the first rockets that put people into space and eventually landed them on the moon.

Rejecting a discovery of this magnitude was seemingly impossible. The benefits not just to the Federation, but to all sentient life could be immeasurable. If he proceeded with the premise that the Federation and Starfleet would opt to continue researching this place, then how did they go about securing both this location, the information obtained, the technology they uncovered, and indeed the manpower carrying out the research? People were fallible, easy manipulated, could be pressured to take actions they wouldn’t otherwise take, and were susceptible to the ills of greed, vanity, pride, and so many others. Intelligence could erect a starbase in orbit and station an entire fleet of heavily armed warships in orbit on a permanent basis but to what end? Such a move would only spur Starfleet’s adversaries to wonder what it was on this moon it was so desperate to protect. In time this moon would become the target of spies, espionage, infiltration, and defections. The Federation’s adversaries would eventually learn of this place, its value, and its treasures. When that information leaked out and it would leak out despite the highest forms of security, screening, and precautions - what then? Would the galactic powers form alliances to topple the Federation and take by force what they would not have access to otherwise? He already knew his adversaries too well. Would they sit back while the Federation profited even if it benevolently distributed its knowledge?

Would they then, if successful in overthrowing the Federation, fight among themselves for the ultimate prize? He could imagine both the Klingons and Romulans fighting one another to the bitter end each using horrific and escalating means to destroy the other in the pursuit of this ultimate technological power and knowledge.

Political and military matters aside – who could be trusted to curate and manage this discovery? Such people would have to be immune to temptations, confident in their convictions, and be utterly incorruptible. No such human existed that could fill that role. Perhaps the Vulcans, those who were dedicated to logic and had purged emotional entanglements, could be candidates, but even Vulcans could be turned no matter how rigorous their vetting or ironclad their convictions. How would the information learned from this place be used? How did one insulate this place and those working in it from political machinations and politicians themselves with ever changing priorities, viewpoints, and end games? How did one keep the knowledge gained from ending up in the hands of those who would use it to gain or retain their own power? If any fragment of knowledge was used for peace – that same fragment could easily be turned and used to destroy or harm the very same peace. Technology had always been a double edged sword since the mastery of fire. It could be used for good or ill depending on the person wielding it.

Two inescapable conclusions were slowly coalescing at the edges of his consciousness. Either they destroyed this place and its secrets for all time or they opened it to any and all who wished to study it. If the information gleaned from discoveries were shared openly then the playing field would remain essentially even. Everyone would have access to the same cache of knowledge and while the discovery would send political, social, and military shockwaves throughout the major powers the status quo should remain essentially unchanged. If anyone raced to weaponize the knowledge – they would have to contend with the facts that others would do the same. It could touch off an interstellar arms race but that would be nothing new. The powers that be were always locked in something of a cold war each looking for an advantage. This was well understood and it was how the game had been played for centuries. If the alternative was cataclysmic war that could end civilization in escalating brinkmanship then perhaps that fact alone was enough to maintain the peace.

Earth had already experienced this in its past. Mutually assured destruction it was once called. It maintained the peace simply on the basis that the alternative would or could destroy everything. It was still a dangerous chess game with the highest of stakes, but not too far removed from the one intelligence and Starfleet already played with various other powers.

His mind stumbled through an endless sea of questions, problems, and scenarios. He found no satisfactory solutions to any of them. If they attempted to horde this discovery for themselves then calamity was surely just a few months or years away. If the discovery was shared it would keep the chess board essentially equal on a tactical level but the ramifications to society would be incalculable. The universe today would drastically and radically change into something else perhaps overnight. Lightning fast change often frightened people as perhaps it well should. Fear and anxiety often too gave way to rash decision making, irrational behavior, and illogical actions.

So what would it be? Horde the knowledge and force a military imbalance that had the illusion of control and risk the peace or share the knowledge with the galaxy but in the process send shockwaves through societies? Humanity worked best when they toiled for an end result and achieved it. What would they do suddenly imbued with god like power and technological marvels? What indeed...

“Penny for your thoughts?”

Ascari looked up as the professor entered the small, dark room. Sitting on a supply crate, Ascari had taken time to mull over what he had seen and what it could mean for the future. The professor had led him to a small base of operations situated in an adjacent area to the entrance shaft. Scientific teams had amassed a small army of computers, testing equipment, temporary living quarters, research tents, and supplies to support the ongoing research efforts.

“Excuse me”, he stated not understanding what she meant.

Bernard took a seat on an adjacent crate and tossed the commodore a ration pack. “It's an old Earth expression. It means, what are you thinking?”

Ascari thanked the doctor but set the rations aside. He wasn't hungry.

“Where do I start”, he quietly replied.

Bernard took a bite of an energy bar and chewed without replying her eyes focused squarely upon the commodore.

Ascari shrugged taking another sip of water. “I can scarcely fathom my surroundings. With only the crudest understanding of what this place represents and what secrets it may hold I'm faced with several disturbing questions to which I cannot find any suitable answers.”

“What will you tell your superiors?”

There was a long pause as the professor took another bite of her bar.

“I don't know”, Ascari replied. “There's what I should say, what I am expected to say, and what needs to be said. No doubt others have been hard at work crunching numbers, running statistics, and formulating risk and reward models with what has already been learned. What I say could be nothing more than a formality. It's possible the decision on this moon has already been made. There is also the possibility that my recommendations and comments could forever alter history and events. I..I don't know. There are so many possible scenarios not to mention the political nuances and calculations required to deal with Starfleet brass and Federation officials. If I get this wrong – it could be catastrophic to not only to the Federation and Starfleet, but perhaps the entire galaxy could suffer by what I say or don't say, recommend or disregard.”

He rubbed his forehead. A headache was taking root behind his eyes. He hadn't anticipated anything like this. Never in his entire career or even as a person had he been faced with such an overwhelming decision nuanced by so many critical factors. For the moment he felt paralyzed his brain still trying to come to terms with the enormity of what he had previously seen.

“Scientists split the atom. There was great consternation that doing so would lead to atomic weaponry. And it did. But humanity prevailed. The gun. It has been responsible for both destroying and maintaining the peace as has the cannon, the sailing ship, the airplane, the battleship, the sword, the arrow, and the mastery of fire.”

“But this”, Ascari stated throwing his hands out motioning to the space around him, “this is different! It completely changes everything!”

“How”, the doctor inquired.

“How? You are asking me?”

“I'm asking rhetorically. How does it change things?”

“It's..it's like discovering the developments from bronze age, iron age, steam age, industrial revolution, along with the discovery and splitting of the atom and the invention of warp drive all at the same time!”

“Yes, I'll stipulate that it's a large discovery and that it will indeed be a turning point in history. However, history is replete with turning points. How does it differ from any other advancement?”

“What? You're kidding right?”

“How does it differ commodore? Man discovered fire and his world was forever changed. He next invented the wheel, then the spear, the arrow, gunpowder, Galileo built the telescope to peer at the heavens, the Wright Brothers invented the airplane and took humans to the skies. Werner Von Braun built the rockets that would take humanity to the moon – this discovery is not different. Will it transform our abilities and understanding – most definitely yes. But that change happens along with the arrow of time regardless. It just tends to happen a little slower. People are often frightened by change, the unknown, the potential of something they don't understand.”

“And what of the Romulans? The Klingons? Do you expect them to sit still while we enjoy a monopoly on this knowledge? Knowledge is power. If there's a constant in this universe its that those who have power do whatever they can to keep it and those who lack it scramble at all costs to obtain it. Who are we to....” Ascari stopped mid-sentence.

“Who are we to decide”, he softly muttered sitting back on the crate.

Bernard stood and moved across the gap separating them taking a seat next to the commodore. “I think you may have your answer commodore. I just don't think you realize it...not just yet.”

“There are three options. You destroy this place and either swear everyone involved to secrecy or eliminate us. Option two, you attempt to horde this find and its significance like a greedy miser unwilling to part with his gold until death finally claims him. In that case, everyone knows the miser is rich. Perhaps there are attempts on his life or attempted thefts. That, in turn, forces him to become suspicious and leads to delusional paranoia. He stops at nothing to protect his assets driving away everything and everyone seeing plots everywhere and trusts no one. In the end he dies a pathetic, ruined soul having nothing to show for the life he lived. His fortune passes to another in any event and that which he held so dearly is sold, broken up, and distributed eventually fading back into society and the economic system. Then there's the third, but perhaps the most terrifying of all options. Give the gold away. Share it. Let history take its course and let the riches and or perils be uniformly distributed. Trust that the universe will unfold as it should.”

She moved closer to the commodore looking deeply into his eyes as if searching for something.

“Those are your three options Commodore Ascari. I've had a great deal of time to think about this as well. Judging by what I've seen so far I'll bet you'll make the right decision in the end. Behind that tough outer exterior of yours lies a calculating, suspicious, and devious mind – it has to be to rise to the level of intelligence director.” Her face was perilously close to the commodore's own. “I suspect that even so there's still some trace of humanity left in there somewhere. That spark can and will find the clarity needed to do what is needed.”

Without thinking, Ascari reached up and pulled the professor's lips to his own. As they embraced the immense weight that had been building on his shoulders faded. They parted after a few moments time. Ascari looked up with a bashful teenage look in his eyes. “Thank you”, was all he said.

The professor smiled and leaned back giving them both some space. She couldn't begin to understand his world of politics, brinkmanship, chess moves and counter moves. She didn't have to. Sometimes physical contact could share more than words ever could.

“Feeling better”, she asked after several moments of awkward silence.

“Yes”, came a quiet reply that while subdued had a hint of mischievousness to it.

“Good. Are you up for more?”

Ascari's smile faded somewhat. “There's more?”

“Oh yes.”

The commdore stood draining the canteen of water. He took the ration pack tossed to him earlier and shoved it into the pocket of his parka. He still wasn't hungry, but he was feeling somewhat better.

“You should eat that”, she stated like a mother speaking to her child. “Some food will do you good. Besides that one if my favorite. Strawberry flavored.”

“You like strawberries”, he asked.

“Oh yes. We used to grow them when I was young. Replicated ones never quite nail the taste or feel of the genuine article.”

“Do you have a favorite?”

“Favorite ration pack? No, honestly I don't care for any of them, but I don't make it a habit eating them either.”

The professor put her hands on her hips. “Are you always so straight forward? Not the rations! A favorite fruit?”

Ascari chuckled. “Oh. Fruit? Apricots or peaches if I had to pick. Tough decision unlike some others.”

“Quite a tough decision indeed, but not a bad choice. I kinda figured you were an orange person.”

“Orange? How so?”

“I don't know. You just seemed like an orange lover. Hard to peel, slightly tart and bitter, but juicy on the inside.”

Ascari blinked. He hadn't been compared to a fruit that he could remember.

“Does that make us both fruity”, he asked.

She smiled but rolled her eyes. “Come on already” she stated marching out of the small supply room. “There's enough fruit cakes around here already. I don't need another one especially one who cracks jokes like that.“

Ascari smiled stepping off after the energetic professor. As he followed her through the maze of tents and temporary shelters he couldn't help wonder how a scientist ended up being so quirky and unique. The ones he had met were rigid, logical, focused people not unlike Vulcans in many ways. They usually weren't all too personable. Of course he seldom mingled with such individuals except when they brought him bad news or were there to help explain some dire situation. In retrospect he doubted anyone would be personable during such times. Perhaps he needed to evaluate his own biases. Then again there were some admirals that using the professor's taxonomy would be considered bitter fruit no matter what the circumstances.

*** To Be Continued ***


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Commodore Sebastian Ascari
Director, Starfleet Intelligence

and

Doctor Elsa Bernard
Lead Project Scientist