Federation #1: "Discovery, Part I"

[DS9_Fan]

MITCHELL: Maybe that’s the problem.  

MONICA:  Sir…or Keith, I mean….wait…just how am I addressing you right now?

MITCHELL: I’m the Captain at the moment.  But you can call me Keith anyway.

MONICA:  All right.  Keith, are you saying that these people in the 24th century are getting soft?  No offense, Tedriz.

TEDRIZ: None taken.

MITCHELL: This is why I need your opinion on this, Tedriz.  What’s changed regarding this over the past 200 years?

TEDRIZ: Oh, you need firsthand experience.  Well, I wouldn’t call the officers of today soft.  They…I mean, we, just fought a war, and won.  However, training is a little different now.  

MONICA: Sort of like the philosophy that a happy Starfleet officer is a good one?

TEDRIZ: Actually, that may be the case.  But to tell you the truth, I don’t know which method is better.  

MITCHELL: Monica, you’ve seen how the crew was performing.  Who was doing better?

MONICA:  We’re pitting the 23rd and 24th century against each other now?

MITCHELL: I guess we are.

MONICA: Well, it’s too early to find out.  Our people were more disciplined, responded to orders more quickly, their concentration was better.  The new officers were keeping up, but they had to question my orders more and they almost wanted to turn my drill routine into a philosophy class.  

TEDRIZ: People today go through decisions a little more thoughtfully.  

MONICA: But in a crisis that’s not helpful.  If a Klingon is charging at you 100 kilometers an hour, a fast decision could mean the difference between life and death.

TEDRIZ: I agree.  But in cases when there’s more time, their choice may be better in the end.  It may help the whole crew to have both of these characteristics.  

MITCHELL: Which means there will have to be adjustments on both sides.  

MONICA: I think my way of doing this is simply better.

MITCHELL: We might do a little better adjusting if we make adjustments ourselves, don‘t you think?

MONICA: All right.  I guess we can compromise.  Drills can be every other day, but they will be an hour long instead of three.  

TEDRIZ: That’s an agreeable solution.

MITCHELL: Good.  I just fear that our next clash may not be such a minor one, and I doubt it will be as easy to settle.  

TEDRIZ: Let’s just see if that works and take it from there.  

MITCHELL: Thank you for your advice, Tedriz.  Good night, you two.

TEDRIZ: I’ll always be at your disposal if you need me.  Unless I’m piloting the ship.  

They both exit.  Tedriz and Monica walk down the corridor.  

TEDRIZ: So, Monica, do you really mind being called Moe?

MONICA: Not unless I get to call you Ted.

TEDRIZ: Better yet…let’s just start with Monica.  

MONICA: Good idea.  

Fade Out, End of Scene

Ext. Discovery in Station McKinley.  

MITCHELL: Captain’s log, April Seventh, 2381.  We’re leaving base on schedule.  All systems that could be upgraded in the time we had were upgraded.  The bad news is that we found out that there is a lot more technology that‘s incompatible than we previously thought.. However, I’m in awe of some of the technology I’ve seen.  Traveling at warp seven wasn’t something we would have imagined back then and certainly not on the Discovery.  End log.

Int. The Bridge.  The Captain is in his seat, with Hawkins seated behind him at the science station.  Monica is also at the back wall minding her security station.  Tedriz Zal is at the helm.  Sonak and Martinez aren’t on the bridge.  

MITCHELL: Helm, take us out, full thrusters.  

TEDRIZ: Gladly.  

MITCHELL: Mitchell to the crew.  We’re leaving space dock.  Batten down the hatches.

Ext.  Discovery exiting the station’s  massive doors.

Int. Bridge.  From their point of view, space is opening up to them, almost inviting them to come out.  Mitchell watches the view screen as they pass the sad sight of the Excelsior class starship being disassembled, and cannibalized for spare parts.

MITCHELL: Once we’re clear, go to warp 6.  

MONICA: Station McKinley wishes us luck.  

MITCHELL: Send them our thanks.  

After a few minutes, they’re engaged at warp 6.  

[DS9_Fan]

MITCHELL (tapping his communicator):  Mitchell to Sonak.

SONAK: Everything is fine down here.  We’re ready for warp seven.  

TEDRIZ: I’m on it, Captain.  

On the view screen we can see that the ship is speeding up.  

MITCHELL: Amazing.  I can’t even feel a slight shaking.  Must be the new inertial dampeners. Now that things are taken care of for the time being, we can hold our first briefing about the mission.  

He taps his communicator again.

MITCHELL: Mitchell to Sonak and Martinez.  Please meet me in my ready room.  Mitchell out.  

Mitchell taps his communicator again.

MITCHELL: Mitchell to Beta shift, report to the bridge for temporary replacement, Mitchell out.  

MONICA: I think you’re having too much fun with the new communicators.  

Mitchell grins.

MITCHELL::  We’ve got three weeks of travel ahead.  We better find *something* to keep us amused.  Tedriz, Hawkins, Monica, come with me.  

CUT TO:

Ready Room.  All six senior officers are there.  They are watching a copy of the transmission that was sent to Starfleet on a large monitor that was installed at McKinley.  Right now, the data file is displaying an image of a small, barren planet.  There is a lot of static in the image.

MITCHELL:  This is where we’re headed.  It’s a small M-Class planet located beyond the former Romulan Neutral Zone.  It is supposedly where this meeting is supposed to take place.  Starfleet isn’t quite sure where the exact coordinates are because all of the information came from a probe that was sent out which became damaged somehow.  It was either that, or there was interference.  To be sure it isn’t that, we’ve been given two marker buoys which we will deploy when we arrive.

MARTINEZ: Are we heading into Romulan territory?

MITCHELL: No, but we’ll be on their border.  Little is known about this region, because it has only been open to exploration in the past year.  It took 5 years after the Second Khitomer Accords to negotiate passage into this territory.  It was a difficult process.  

HAWKINS: Maybe they’ve been hiding something all along.

MITCHELL: That’s what we’re going to find out.

MONICA: We better be careful not to fall into a trap.  

MITCHELL: No one really believes we’ll find anything there.  The most likely possibility is that someone just wants to play around with Starfleet.  But any possible threat needs to be investigated.  We were given a set time for this “meeting”.  

MARTINEZ: Is there a name for this planet?

MITCHELL: Not officially, but in Starfleet’s report they simply call it “Planet X”.  

TEDRIZ: We should reach the coordinates on time.

HAWKINS: Let’s say we do find the Romulans in league with another empire?  What then?

MITCHELL: That’s simple.  If they’re hostile towards us, then we leave and report it to Starfleet command.  If not, we’ll introduce ourselves and begin friendly relations.  

MARTINEZ(speaking nervously, and a little faster): Let’s hope it’s the latter rather than the former.  The Federation could use another ally, especially if relations with the Klingons continue to deteriorate.  

TEDRIZ: I wouldn’t worry about it, Rebecca.  Our relationship with the Klingons has been up and down ever since Starfleet’s first contact with them in 2151.  Besides, the Federation Ambassador to the Klingons has a friendly relationship with both Starfleet and Chancellor Martok.  

MITCHELL: Sonak, how is the warp core holding up?

SONAK:  The cruising speed of a normal Federation starship today would be warp six, and we are already exceeding that by one warp factor over a period of 2 weeks on a thirty year old vessel. There is much stress on the engines, along with the hull plating.  We should be able to maintain our speed for two weeks, the time required to arrive at our rendezvous, but when we proceed to Earth, I wouldn’t recommend any further travel past warp 5.  Warp four would be the ideal speed.

MITCHELL: That’s good enough for now, Sonak.  Are there any further questions?  No?  Then you’re all dismissed.  

Everyone leaves, and Sonak and Martinez get on the turbo lift.  

MARTINEZ: Sickbay.

She presses a button.  The two wait in silence while it takes them to sickbay.  The turbo life doors open when they reach the deck sickbay is on. Then Martinez and Sonak accidentally say something to each other at the same time.

SONAK: I’m sorry, you go first.

[DS9_Fan]

MARTINEZ: No, the Captain said I should practice *not* cutting people off when they’re talking.  What was it you were going to say?

SONAK: I think I should accompany you to sickbay.  

MARTINEZ: Why?

Sonak looks outside the turbo lift and notices two ensigns waiting to come onto the turbo lift.  Sonak steps out and lets them through.

SONAK: It would be best if we discussed this in private.  

MARTINEZ: Very well.  Follow me.  

They walk, again, in silence for a few moments, then enter sickbay. There are a few nurses, along with as many technicians who are adding new features to sickbay.  

MARTINEZ: Would you like to come to my office?

SONAK: Please.  

They walk into her office and they sit down.  

MARTINEZ: What’s wrong?

SONAK: I’ve been suffering from brief…lapses, if you will, where I will temporarily lose control of my emotions.

Martinez tries not to look as if she already knew that.  

MARTINEZ: There could be many causes for that.  Can I ask you a personal question?

SONAK: Yes.

MARTINEZ: When was your last Pon’Farr?

Sonak is uncomfortable by that question and shifts slightly in his chair nervously.  Then he immediately straightens out, realizing that his emotions are showing again.

SONAK: Two years ago.

Martinez takes out her tricorder and scans him.  She doesn’t find anything out of the ordinary.

MARTINEZ: So everything of that nature was taken care of on Vulcan?

SONAK:  Not on Vulcan.  I was…..assisted…by a holodeck program.

MARTINEZ: So you weren’t able to return from Vulcan?

SONAK: I was able to go there, but chose not to.  

MARTINEZ: When was the last time you were there?

SONAK: I haven’t been on my home planet for almost 100 years.  

MARTINEZ: Could you tell me why?

SONAK: I have not been on good terms with the homeworld.  

MARTINEZ: Well…I’d like to run some tests on you.  For someone your age, it’s possible that you have one of dozens of degenerative diseases.  And most aren’t detectable by a simple tricorder scan.

SONAK: Could it wait for another time?  The engines need to be monitored carefully.

MARTINEZ: I suppose it can…but I want you to come back when you get a chance, ok?

SONAK: Of course.  I’m sorry for the inconvenience.  

Martinez watches as Sonak leaves sickbay.  She is clearly worried.  She checks her tricorder readings.  Then a nurse, named Walker,  calls her name.  Martinez nearly jumps out her chair, but recovers from her fear a little faster.  

NURSE WALKER: Lieutenant, we’ve got a burn victim on the way from the bridge.

Then she jumps out of her chair as she sees Commander Hawkins jog into sickbay with a burned and bloody arm.  She grabs a dermal regenerator and a tricorder and begins working on it.

MARTINEZ: What happened???

HAWKINS (gritting his teeth): I was just tending to the science station when a conduit blew.  Captain Mitchell told me that that conduit was replaced by an inexperienced ensign about a year earlier…a year in his time, of course.  There was some sort of skirmish with the Klingons.  Their chief engineer was in a coma at the time and several of the other engineers were too wounded to do the job.  Apparently it was functioning perfectly…until I started working on it.  

MARTINEZ: I hope that’s not a bad omen.  

HAWKINS: It just goes to show you that we never should have gone in a ship like this.  I don’t know what Mitchell’s trying to prove…if you ask me I think he isn‘t fit--ouch!

MARTINEZ (firmly): Stand still…and watch what you say about your superior officers while you’re at it.

HAWKINS: I’m sorry.  

[DS9_Fan]

MARTINEZ: It’s probably just the pain talking.  When people become wounded they become irritable.  It’s just a natural defensive response.  

HAWKINS: Only problem is, that was my opinion before the conduit exploded.

MARTINEZ: You’ll just have to give them time.

HAWKINS: Maybe.  But you’ve got to wonder why he’s hanging on to this old ship, especially on a potentially dangerous mission.

MARTINEZ: We’re just going to investigate a rumor which is probably a false alarm.

HAWKINS:  So…was that Sonak who just came by?

MARTINEZ: Yes.

HAWKINS: How is he?

MARTINEZ: You know I can’t tell you that.  That’s between him and me.  But I will tell you that for the moment, he’s fit for duty.  

HAWKINS: And what about me?

MARTINEZ: Aside from your irritability, you’ll live.  I’ve repaired the damage.  

Martinez suddenly acts as if she’s forgotten something.

MARTINEZ: Computer, what is the time?

HAWKINS: There isn’t a vocal interface to the computer on this ship.

MARTINEZ: Oh, I forgot.

HAWKINS: It’s…getting towards 1900 hours.  

MARTINEZ:  Nurse Walker, could you take care of Commander Hawkins for me?  I’ve got to take care of something.  

WALKER: Certainly.

HAWKINS: Wait, where are you going?

MARTINEZ: To my quarters…

Before Hawkins can say anything else Walker is gone.  

HAWKINS: That’s strange…

WALKER: What’s strange?

HAWKINS: Oh…nothing.

Fade Out, End of Scene


Ext.  Discovery at warp.  They are about mid-way through the journey.  

The viewer can see that Discovery has small enhancements made, but they were all made hastily.  The ship is not in tip-top shape.  

Just for an instant you can see a massive ship of an unknown configuration decloak, but it immediately cloaks again as it follows Discovery.  All of which is oblivious to the ship’s primitive scanners.

CUT TO:

Int.  Inside a dark, alien bridge.  The inhabitants are non-humanoid and seem to be amphibious in nature.  On their view screen is the Discovery.  The Captain of the ship, V’Clara 5, narrows his eyes as they follow the ship.

Fade Out, End of Scene
END OF “DISCOVERY, PART I”

[DS9_Fan]

^^^The reason why the ending to "Discovery, Part I" seems so anti-climactic was because Parts I and II were actually one story.  Unfortunately it had to be divided in half because I think it would just be too much for everyone to read at a time.  

If you've read this far, you must be a very dedicated reader!   ;D

EDIT: I've decided to post Part II sooner.  Part II was meant to be joined with Part I so I think I should post it in a second thread.  So the conclusion to this "pilot" script will come very soon.  *After* that, the "episodes" will be posted weekly until you're caught up.  Hopefully that sounds better to all of you.  

[=^=First Contact=^=]

Absoloutly OUTSTANDING!

[DS9_Fan]

Thank you...I'll post the next story on the 18th and I guess we'll see how it goes.  I've been thinking of shortening the format to 15 page long stories.  Right now the next few scripts are going to be the same size as before but after that I'll make them shorter.