[Galaxy] 17 Oct, ESS Freedom, "The Times They are a-Changing..."

[Robert]

  [ ESS Freedom, Captain’s Ready Room ]

Ramirez was lamenting his “demotion” to Captain.  He knew his status as 
Fleet Captain was only temporary, a provision of commanding Alpha Group 
during the Battle at Jupiter’s Ghost, but he had gotten used to the 
responsibility it entailed.  His first real action against Klingons was 
part of the envoy to escort Enterprise home the first time, and since 
then he wanted a bigger ship with a bigger role.  He’d gotten the larger 
ship when he was given Freedom after it was detached from support duty 
at Forrest, and as Alpha Leader he had the bigger role.  Now he was just 
/Captain/ Ramirez again... but he did love the Freedom.

The chime at the door to his ready room announced a visitor, and at his 
command of “Enter” Commander Whitmore obeyed.  “We’ve just received a 
transmission from Command, Sir,” the executive officer said.

“And?” Ramirez asked as he took the offered PADD.

“/Vice/ Admiral Garroway has addressed the restructuring issue.”

Ramirez wasn’t as concerned with the Admiral’s new rank as he was about 
the message’s content.  “/And?/” he repeated with emphasis.

“Starfleet is now under the preview of the United Earth Government’s 
Security Council,” Whitmore explained.  “While we’re not merging with 
the UEMilitary, we’re now a military /branch/ mandated as a peacekeeping 
force.”

“Separate but equal,” Ramirez mused before returning to the 
conversation.  “Well the scuttlebutt about a peacekeeping force proved 
accurate, it seems.”

“And it’s clearly defined,” Whitmore added.  “Starfleet is now the peace 
/keepers/, while the UEMilitary remains the peace /makers/.   Glorified 
police, it sounds like to me, Sir.”

“Perhaps,” Ramirez shrugged, “but is that any different than what we’ve 
/already/ been doing?  Hell, this just looks like confirmation to 
continue what we’ve been doing for /years/.  But this /does/ allow us to 
take a more active role, and gives us a little more latitude in our 
actions and reactions.  ‘Peaceful exploration’ is a nice idea for a 
mission statement, but how many times have we had to hold back and take 
a black eye simply because we got a little too involved and our hands 
were tied on the follow-up?  /Now/ we’ve got permission to see it 
through, /whatever/ we find ourselves involved in.  As explorers we got 
a lot of experience at poking our noses around.  As peacekeepers we have 
say in what we find.”  He looked at the PADD again.  “Assuming this 
mandate extends to the Coalition...”

“It does,” Whitmore nodded.  “The Vulcans and Andorians have pledged to 
reconstitute their Officer Exchange Programs, allowing all present and 
future candidates longer and more in-depth ‘studies’.”  He shook his 
head.  “They’re still not convinced that the cold war we’re in is 
conducive to reconstituting their political connections, though.  Seems 
to me that the Vulcans are just trying to keep a better eye on us 
because they know we’ll do what we want with or without them.”

“And the Tellarites?”

Whitmore shrugged.  “Working the trade angle is all I know.  I hear 
they’ve gotten into making bids on our military contracts, and as of 
right now their only real opponent is the Earth Cargo Authority.  I 
don’t know much about the contracting business, though, so I can’t speak 
for the integrity of those claims.”

“At least we’re starting to look more like allies again,” Ramirez said 
as he finished perusing the PADD.  “It’s /something/.”

“Sure is,” Whitmore agreed with a sigh.  “It’s a lot for the fleet to 
take in and adjust to.”

“We’ll manage,” Ramirez said optimistically.

Whitmore nodded.  “Unless there’s something else, Captain, I’ll start 
acclimating the crew to the news.”

Ramirez shook his head.  “Nothing else, Nigel.”

As the executive officer left, the captain stood from his desk, still 
holding the PADD.  Looking out at the stars streaking by, he couldn’t 
help but feel he was leaving something behind with them.  He believed 
what he said about the mandate being confirmation of what they’ve 
already been doing, but something about being a military branch didn’t 
set quite right.  Starfleet had finally made the shift from a civilian 
science and exploration organization, to a military unit.  Suddenly that 
extra bar he wore as Fleet Captain seemed different.  A heavier 
aspiration than before.

-----

Capt Ramirez, Diego
Commanding Officer
ESS Freedom, FCL-01

Cmdr Whitmore, Nigel
Executive Officer
ESS Freedom, FCL-01