explaining the universe [closed]

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"Miss Katara, may I present: the universe," Picard said, gesturing in the Sensorium to what appeared to be nothing more than a big black nothing with a small glowing ball in the middle. He made the statement expecting and hoping for questions, and was honestly looking forward to answering them. Katara reminded him of himself and of Renè. In the elderly captain's eyes, that was more than enough to earn some favor.

Comments

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

That surprised her. "Mister Worf? Who is that?"

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"He's a Starfleet officer who serves under me. I'm preparing you to help with his promotion ceremony."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"Oh..OK. And his name is Mister Worf. Got it." Well that made sense. The exercise was more strenuous than she'd thought though, and it had taken her a few reminders that she wasn't in this for real, that she was still Katara of the Water Tribe, even if for that moment she was Ensign Katara.

"So he's never had to take this test before?"

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"He was trained in ops, not command. The yellow shirt you're wearing."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"Oh." Of course. They were in a kind of military, so it would make sense that one section would be different from another. She'd definitely have to look into what Starfleet was all about.

Or she could just ask.

"So what was Starfleet formed for?"

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"Starfleet," Picard began, "is an exploratory and peace-keeping force founded by the United Federation of Planets, for the purpose of seeking out new life and worlds and phenomena, and also protecting people from those new life and phenomena that turn out to be not so friendly."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"That's pretty noble," Katara said, and she believed it. There was little she could sense about Picard that made her think him a liar, in any sense. "But what about those who have no interest in joining, and only want to make war so they can go out and conquer everything? You must have problems with those guys."

Because Katara would know NOTHING about those types of people. Right.

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"That's why Starfleet vessels are armed."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"I see," Katara said. "Show me how?"

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"Certainly. Computer, simulate Romulan Warbird. No shields active."

When the image appeared on the large viewscreen, he spoke up, this time to a holographic person sitting in the rear left console, just opposite Katara.

"Fire forward dorsal phasers."

Two streaks of red light lanced across the empty vacuum, striking the Warbird.

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

So weaponry had gotten more advanced after all. It was both exciting and scary, to think that other worlds had the technology to really do damage to each other. It made her relieved to know that there still existed a federation that would try to uphold a sense of order and protection in case they got out of hand.

"So those are phasers? What are they made of?"

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"It's a beam of focused nadion particles," Picard began. "It's an artificially generated particle that's primarily used in our phasers. Normal phasers come in several variants, such as a Type 1--" a small vaguely disc-shaped object appeared in Picard's hand, then faded away, "--Type 2--" he drew his own phaser, putting it back, "--Type 3--" a large phaser rifle appeared in his hands, only to similarly disappear, "--and Type 4 and beyond. These are all mounted phasers. The Type 4s, for instance, are on armed shuttles, which are like small transports, rowboats and life boats for the much larger capitol ships."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"Wow," Katara said, looking at the phaser. "I don't know what nadion particles are, but I don't see why I shouldn't learn. I mean, there is a way to learn about all of the things going on in order to become a starfleet person, right? Although, now that I think about it, that might be a little difficult for me. I still have a lot to learn in my own bending."

She examined the phaser again."I hope people in my world don't find out about this though. There's always that temptation to use it for corrupt reasons."

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"That's why we have the Prime Directive. Normally we're forbidden from interacting with pre-warp civilizations. However, this is a special case."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"Prime Directive?" He mentioned it, and it sort of fit, but she really didn't get what its purpose was. "What is that?"

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"The Prime Directive is just that. It's one of our most important laws and regulations concerning interplanetary contact. We don't interfere in less technologically advanced societies."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"Really? But think of all the good you could do! I mean, if my people knew what you knew..."

Katara trailed off. No. That wasn't a good idea. New technology also meant people fighting and killing each other in different ways. If the watertribe were more technologically advanced, who would stop them from becoming another version of the Fire Nation.

"Then again...I underestimate how corrupt some people are."

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"Whole planetary cultures have been wiped out because someone ignored the Prime Directive," Picard said grimly. "That's why we wait until a society develops its own warp drive. They have to be ready before we initiate First Contact."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Katara was quiet about that. It was a little blow to her self esteem to realize that people in her world weren't always able to appreciate things like learning about new worlds and endless possibilities. There was always the worry someone would be evil enough to use to to try and dominate others.

"I hope we are someday," Katara said. "Then again, in my world we were starting to usher in an era of peace and healing. Maybe sometime after that, we'll be ready."

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"I've no doubt of it, if you are any sort of example of your world's next generation."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Katara gave him a weak smile. "Even I wouldn't give myself too much credit just yet. Its thanks to people like you I've seen certain things about me I need to improve. I think that if I'm going to be an example of understanding and faith in my world, I'm going to have to work for it, be tested."

Which was very honest in Katara's opinion. She wished she COULD say she could help her world, but there were still things she needed to change about herself. She was sure it was Aang who made her see that.

She really did miss him, and for a moment, her face showed it.