Chapter 93. Vulcan survivors land on the Republic
"Welcome aboard," Noah greeted them in the teleporter room. “I look forward to our collaboration over the next few days.”
Flora smiled back. "We're happy to be here." He shook the captain's hand warmly. Flort shook hands as well, albeit less enthusiastically. Noah had noticed that Flora was the more emotionally explicit of the two. Furthermore, he had the impression that Flort had become more like him since his conversation with Jeffrey. But this could also be a false impression.
"You already know Mr. Jeffrey," he began, introducing those present. "And my deputy Carol." The two Vulcans also extended a handshake to her, while greeting Jeffrey with traditional Vulcan etiquette. "This is our Security Director, Mr. Io Murakami. He will receive your device and bring it to the prepared research laboratory."
"But please be careful. These devices are fragile," Flora said. His tone was one of concern, not reprimand. And Io Murakami knows how to understand. With other Vulcans, he might not be so calm. After all, Vulcan and Andorra have a long and bloody history of mutual distrust. Even today, cooperation between the two races is not always easy. But the two Vulcans didn't know that. This all happened after their time. And in another universe.
When Io Murakami and two colleagues took the equipment away, Noah slowly accompanied the two guests to the next vortex elevator. Jeffrey joined them.
"Captain, I must admit that we are very curious about your spacecraft. A spacecraft of this size is still impossible here. Can we ask you to take us on a tour?" Flora asked confidently.
Noah smiled and said, "We're very proud of our ship. I'd be hurt if you didn't ask. We'd love to show you everything." He let them go into the vortex elevator first and followed. "I think we'll start on the bridge."
On the way to the bridge, Noah quickly gave the takeoff order. Their goal is to get to the wreckage of Vulcan. He then took guests on a tour of the entire ship with Jeffrey. From the infirmary to the engine room to the hangar, no area was left untouched. Laboratories, research facilities and recreational decks are also on display. Throughout the entire time, both Vulcans were extremely focused and demonstrated tremendous expertise in almost every field. However, these two Vulcans prove that Vulcans have apparently always had a disciplined mind. In particular, Flora always took the opportunity to compare the techniques he was familiar with with what he had seen and heard in order to better understand. Therefore, he understood the basic functions of the spacecraft in a short time. In the end, both of them were impressed by the Republic ship.
Finally, they stopped in front of the guest's quarters.
"Thank you for the tour. Very interesting and educational," Flora thanked the two officials.
"The same goes for us," Noah promised, now aware of the areas in which they were ahead. He glanced at his watch. "In five hours, we will arrive at our destination. An hour before that, I would like to discuss your plans for the next few days with you. Because I suspect that once we reach Vulcan, you may not have time to think about any of this. ." He smiled and received the agreement of the two. Then they all went back to their quarters to get some rest. The days ahead will be long.
Noah followed their example. Although he didn't contribute much to research, he didn't want to be away from the two Vulcans for too long. After all, he also wanted a chance for them to come up with a solution to the problem of their missing universe.
So, time passed in quiet anticipation. Finally it was time for the meeting, and Noah headed to the conference room. As expected, Jeffrey and the two Vulcan guests showed up on time. Noah found a seat for them and sat down too.
Arrangements for the next few days were quickly agreed upon. In principle, not much has changed. First, the two Vulcans will use the Republic's sensors to take new measurements. Then, other work will be carried out mainly in the spacecraft's scientific research facilities and laboratories. They will need to analyze the sensor data obtained, including radiation residue, isotope content, neutrino decay rates and at least a dozen other studies. In doing so, the two Vulcans hope to gain new information about the destruction of their homeworld.
"How do you plan to use these findings?" Noah finally asked.
"Our findings will hopefully help us build an early warning system to prevent similar disasters on other planets," Flora replied modestly.
This was not the answer Noah wanted to hear. So he dug deeper: "Have you considered using these findings to save Vulcan?"
"The idea did cross our minds," Flort said hesitantly. "However, saving Vulcan would mean intervening in the course of history, and that is not our intention."
"And it's also impossible because of the necessary time travel," Flora added.
"Such time travel is certainly possible," Noah said lightly.
"Certainly not possible," Flort responded calmly. "The technology required to achieve such time travel does not exist, and there is no corresponding theoretical support."
Noah looked at everyone with a smile. "We have the technology and the theory." He placed a high bet because he didn't know if they would actually be able to achieve such time travel. So far, there are some theoretical ways to suggest that time travel is possible. But in practice, this becomes more difficult. Although Noah knew that the Enterprise made several different time jumps, how these operations were achieved is highly classified. Starfleet officers are afraid of time travel, intentionally or unintentionally, having a significant impact on the timeline.
"As I said before, changing the timeline is not our intention," Flort reiterated after a brief silence.
Noah decided not to say anything more for now. The seed had been sown, and he believed it would be a good idea, at least for Flora. Once the cause of Vulcan's destruction was determined, the two Vulcans' priorities were sure to change as well. Noah will then have the chance to come up with his time correction idea again.
Just then, Carol announces over the loudspeaker that they will reach the wreckage of Vulcan in a few minutes. Perfect timing. In order not to waste time, Jeffrey accompanied the guests to the scientific research station on the bridge. This way he can immediately evaluate the first data with them.
For the rest of the crew, it was an uneventful few days. Almost no one knows about Vulcan research. Only a handful of lab employees occasionally report new information. But no one knew the full picture, so everyone started speculating.
Noah didn't always know everything. He had limited knowledge of the details of what was happening there, where many of the key developments lay. It's like measuring progress in millimeters or microns instead of kilometers.
For the crew, there is no choice but to wait and continue to do their job day after day. Although Noah finds this waiting anxious, he also finds some benefit in it. Crew members have time to maintain social connections with each other. Rumors are flying around about a new couple teaming up. This is more interesting than the scattered information about research. And Noah finally has time to have dinner with his daughter, which is a gratifying thing, but it has become too rare.
In the past three days, Noah finally succeeded in inviting his guests to join him for dinner. So dinner was prepared in the conference room. To avoid confusion, guests' dietary needs are inquired beforehand, as Vulcans are vegetarians. Although there are countless vegetarian recipes in the computer, the different types among them are different in taste. Additionally, Vulcan cuisine is more nutritious than those on Earth because Vulcan plants develop very differently in the planet's hot climate. And it must never come across as inconsiderate to the preferences of other cultures.
To the surprise of everyone involved in the preparations, Flort and Flora chose meat dishes. This once again made Noah admit that he knew too little about Vulcan culture. For the view of meat as undesirable food is an idea originating from the philosopher Sukhezfer and related to his logic-based form of society. According to him, it is illogical to kill animals and eat them if nutritional needs can be met by a vegan diet. However, Sukhezfer appeared after the two Vulcans left. They were not influenced by his teachings. Therefore, only Jeffrey adheres to a vegetarian diet. For him there is a traditional Plomec soup.
Noah hoped to have a relaxed conversation, and he also wanted to know more about the two Vulcans and their research progress.
"I'm sorry, I don't have much to tell you," Flora replied when the captain asked. "The sensors were not as efficient as we had hoped. We only gained some limited new information."
Noah looked at his science officer. "Is there something wrong with the sensor?"
"The sensors are operating within normal parameters," Jeffrey replied calmly. "We can't get deeper measurements because after such a long time, there's very little left to measure."
"Then shouldn't we stop?"
"It's very logical," Jeffrey said.
"I think we should take some more measurements," Flora retorted. "We must be missing something. And we haven't given up yet, still hoping to find clues to the destruction of this planet."
Noah frowned. "I trust Mr. Jeffrey's opinion."
"Captain, please understand us," Flort interrupted. "We have to find out what happened. It's our responsibility to the millions of people who lost their lives." When he realized that wasn't enough to convince Noah, he added, "If this destroyed planet is yours Home, what would you do.”
Noah picked up a piece of meat skewer and looked at everyone. In addition to his guests and himself, there were Jeffrey and Carol present. They were still eating, so the conversation was a bit fitful. "I think I'd like to know the truth," he finally said.
"Then please give us more time. Even if Mr. Jeffrey thinks this is illogical."
Noah nodded slightly. "I don't think we have to make a decision right now."
Everyone continued to eat in silence. Until eventually everyone had finished eating and the conversation resumed again.
"Why are you two the only ones still living in the colony?" Noah asked. "You should have more crew on your dormant ship."
Flora replied: "When we arrived, most of the crew had passed away. Their hibernation capsule malfunctioned and there was no success in waking them up. Only two of us were lucky enough to survive."
"When we left Vulcan, there were 67 people," Flora began. "Not everyone survived in the cryopod. As mentioned before, our departure time was 12548 in our time calculation. The technology of the hibernation ship is completely new and has never been tested for such a long time. We realized that there might be dangers that threatened our lives. When we arrived at the target planet two hundred years later, two of our companions had died. The cryocontainer malfunctioned, killing the passengers. On the return journey, another companion died. When we discovered the remains of Vulcan, we decided to freeze ourselves again in the hope that sooner or later a space-faring race would discover us. We had no contact with other life forms at the time, and there was even no evidence of intelligent life beyond our home. "
"So how do you adjust to living in the colonies?" Noah wondered. Living among strangers must have been difficult for the two Vulcans. Especially since they've never encountered aliens before, and there's even no evidence of intelligent life beyond their home world.
"It's not as difficult as you think," Flora said. "Humans are very similar to us in many ways. Their social structures, their scientific curiosity, their emotions." His gaze paused on Jeffrey. "They are almost the same species as us. Therefore, we easily adapted and blended into their society. We were quickly seen as one of them. If we had initially encountered other races, such as Andorians or Klingons, then our coexistence might be much more difficult."
"But the Earth government is not friendly to aliens," Carol expressed doubts.
Flora tilted her head, a very human gesture. "That's right," he said. "But most colonists were very open and accommodating."
"Since the colonists never mentioned us, the Earth government knows nothing about us," Flort added. "We escaped a confrontation."
"So what are your future plans?" Jeffrey asked.
Flora looked at him doubtfully. "What do you mean?"
"Do you have any further plans? Or do you plan to spend the rest of your life in the colony?" There was no hint of accusation in Jeffrey's calmness.
"Yes, we do have this plan," Flora said with a smile. "Where else would we go? Here we have a mission to do something meaningful and avoid the extinction of our species."
"You seem to be taking this very easy," Noah said enviously.
"Yes, that's the case now. We've had long enough to get used to the idea. We've accepted the reality."
"Have you never had the desire to save your tribe?" Noah couldn't understand. If he were in a similar situation, which he was, he would do whatever it took to save his pack and would never give up easily.
"Our pack no longer exists. Apart from me and Flort, there is no one else as far as we know. So saving becomes difficult because neither of us can reproduce." Obviously, Flora expected Causing some laughter as he had a smirk on his face which looked strange on a Vulcan. However, no one laughed.
"I didn't think about that," Noah said seriously. "Have you never considered preventing your home from being destroyed? Or at least trying to prevent it?"
"Of course, we did have this idea at the beginning. But the destruction happened more than two thousand years ago. To save the planet, we need to go back in time. But without time travel technology, we can't take any action," Flora argued.
"We have the technology." Noah seemed to be offering him help.
"That's impossible," Flora replied firmly. "Time travel is impossible."
Noah was surprised at how certain and stubborn these otherwise scientifically enlightened Vulcans were. "Who said time travel is impossible?"
"It's the Vulcan Academy of Science," Flora said, seeming to think that was enough of an explanation.
Noah looked at his science officer confused.
“This is a long-standing mistake in the Academy of Science,” Jeffrey admitted. "It wasn't until about a hundred years ago that this mistake was admitted. Before then, time travel was thought to be impossible."
"That's weird," Noah smiled. He found it interesting that Vulcans persisted with a mistake for two thousand years. Although humans have made many mistakes throughout history, they have never been wrong in two thousand years, at least without regard to religious beliefs.
"You mean, time travel is possible?" Flort asked, his curiosity evident, though he still tried to maintain a composure similar to that of Jeffrey.
Jeffrey replied: "Time travel is possible. Some time travel has been done throughout our history. Although more by accident and unconsciously."
Flort thought and said, "Then it is possible to save our tribe."
"Theoretically it's possible," Noah said. While he didn't want to break the enthusiasm the Vulcan was displaying, he felt honesty might accomplish more. "First of all, we don't yet know how Vulcan was destroyed, and secondly, I haven't heard of any way to save the entire planet from destruction."
There was a hint of bitterness in Flort's voice, and he was overwhelmed with emotions at the moment. "We have found no clues that Vulcan was destroyed."
A faint smile appeared on the corner of Flora's mouth. He closed his eyes tightly and looked at Jeffrey first, and then at Noah. "You have more purpose, Captain. You want us to change the past because in doing so you hope to restore your universe."
