VSF Blessings: A Star Trek Fan Production
Episode 8: Ours & Mine
Started: November 29, 2024
Podcast Published: ???
SCENE 1: LANDING
SOUNDS: Bridge sounds.
JEREMIAH 1
Captain’s log, stardate 44735.6. We are about to land on Lamar 6, a planet outside of Federation space. On board are two sets of quantum replicators and four specialists to operate them. The equipment is too sensitive to use the transporter to get them to the surface, which is where the VSF Blessings comes into play by delivering them directly. End log.
MATTHIAS 2
Captain, we are halfway through the planet’s atmosphere nearing our landing point
JEREMIAH 3
Thanks, Brother Matthias. Be careful of the crosswinds up ahead. They appear to be quite strong. We don’t want to jostle our cargo too much. They’re highly calibrated pieces of technology.
MATTHIAS 4
I’ve been correlating what our sensors are telling us with that of the planet’s weather satellites. I’m aiming to punch through at a less active area, hopefully.
JEREMIAH 5
You’re doing well. Most of our atmospheric entries aren’t this bumpy, but weather is weather.
MATTHIAS 6
We should be breaking through the cloud cover any second now…
JEREMIAH 7
Wooh!
MATTHIAS 8
Oh my. The holos don’t do it justice. What a spectacular landscape.
JEREMIAH 9
You’re right about that. Such beauty.
MATTHIAS 10
The colors of the mineralogy and vegetation are unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
JEREMIAH 11
Me, too.
SOUNDS: Silence
MATTHIAS 12
Do you know the purpose of the quantum replicators, Sir?
JEREMIAH 13
Didn’t you read the mission brief?
MATTHIAS 14
I did, but it was as succinct as usual. It didn’t say much beyond the replicators, the specialists, and the coordinates of the landing site on the planet.
JEREMIAH 15
They do often lack the interesting details. We’ve had a busy schedule on our way here, dropping off medical supplies and personnel while also picking up others. I did manage to get a moment to talk to one of the quantum replicator specialists about their assignment here.
MATTHIAS 16
What did you find out?
JEREMIAH 17
Lamar 6 has a rich history of literature and art. Collectively, they have a large library of ancient texts ranging from religion and philosophy to advanced mathematics and economics. These works are very important to their society. As part of the Vatican’s knowledge preservation program, precise copies of their most important texts will be made down to the quantum level and later stored in the Vatican Archive to help ensure such knowledge is never lost to time.
MATTHIAS 18
Copied down to the quantum level?
JEREMIAH 19
Yes, a completely identical copy in every way, at least at the point of replication. Many of these texts have never been digitized because they are too fragile to open anymore. This process will allow each one to be fully digitized, searchable, and open to the public to see the original versions once again. It’s a completely nondestructive procedure.
MATTHIAS 20
That sounds both interesting and worthwhile.
SOUNDS: Computer beeps
MATTHIAS 21
We’re coming up on the landing site right now.
Touchdown coming soon…
SOUNDS: Computer beeping. Landing
JEREMIAH 22
Let’s hope the rest of this trip is as smooth as that landing, Brother Matthias.
MATTHIAS 23
That was a smooth landing, if I do say so myself.
SOUNDS: Segue music
INTRODUCTION BY REV JEREMIAH HOLLIS”
VSF Blessings. A Star Trek Fan Production.,,
We may live in a broken world., A broken universe., There is good and evil, right and wrong, light and dark, but we can be the good., We can do what’s right., We can be the light,. And we can do it in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit., Amen.
SCENE 2: LIFT
SALLY BURNS 24
Please make sure the stabilizers are set in mobility mode, Brother Ethan. The algorithms are different from when the units were stabilized in your cargo bay.
ETHAN 25
Gotcha. Double checking now…all is good. We appear to be ready to go, Dr. Burns.
SALLY 26
I keep telling you to call me Sally. I prefer to let my work quality speak for me louder than my title and degrees.
ETHAN 27
Ok, then. Sally. I won’t forget this time.
SALLY 28
Good.
ETHAN 29
Once we get these quantum replicators to their designated spaces, how long will it take to set them up?
SALLY 30
If they have made all the arrangements we requested, not long. The units are self calibrated. Best case scenario is an hour.
ETHAN 31
That is faster than I would have thought. If there are only two replicators, why are there 4 pods?
SALLY 32
What? Oh, I see the confusion. Each quantum replicator is a set of two. One unit is the scanner, which scans down to the most minute subatomic quantum detail. The other unit is the replicator itself. Once the two units are synchronized and the object is scanned, the replication is over in an instant.
ETHAN 33
An instant?
SALLY 34
Yes. What takes the most time is the initial scan. It can take hours. But once completed and the replication sequence is initiated, there’s a flash and then there’s an exact replica.
ETHAN 35
Interesting. To create a whole object out of nothing but energy in such detail must take a lot of power.
SALLY 36
It does. That’s one of the arrangements we requested is to have adequate power connections available with ample supply.
ETHAN 37
I noticed each half of the replicator set is going to a different building. Why isn’t a complete set going to the same building?
SALLY 38
Now that’s a very observant question.
ETHAN 39
I do try.
SALLY 40
The thing about quantum replication is that it is a triggered cascade event. Once the copy is initiated it proceeds to completion one way or another. Far more often than not, it produces an exact copy. On occasion, though, the quantum cascade can destabilize causing all that energy to release. If the artifact or book in the scanner were to be in the same room as the replicator, we risk damaging or destroying it. We simply can NEVER allow that to happen.
ETHAN 41
I would think not!
SALLY 42
Ok, let’s get these things out of your cargo bay and to their new homes. My colleagues are checking out the arrangements as we work to get each item where they belong.
ETHAN 43
Initiating hover lifts now.
SOUNDS: Computer beeps. Hovers initiated.
SALLY 44
Good. Remind me to get you a drink of your choice when we’re finished, Brother Ethan. Are you allowed to drink freely with individuals such as myself?
ETHAN 45
We are free to be polite and professional, but are discouraged from such activities, especially with members of the opposite sex. I must thank you for your offer but humbly decline. I’m sorry.
SALLY 46
No need to be sorry. I completely understand. I should have known better and not asked. I’m the one who’s sorry.
ETHAN 47
No problem, Sally.
SALLY 48
The hover lifts are getting ahead of us! Chop chop!
ETHAN 49
Coming!
SOUNDS: Segue music.
SCENE 3: MAGIC
SOUNDS: Small crowd murmur.
JEREMIAH 50
Hello, Brother Patrick. How is everything going with the setup and preparations?
PATRICK 51
I believe we have it all sorted out now.
SALLY 52
Captain, thank you so much for lending us your Engineer, Brother Patrick here.
JEREMIAH 53
You’re welcome, Dr. Burns…I mean Sally. Glad we could lend a hand to such a worthy initiative.
SALLY 54
Our detailed instructions for our required arrangements were NOT fully followed. “Close enough” is NOT “good enough” in my book.
JEREMIAH 55
I hope Brother Patrick has performed up to snuff for you.
SALLY 56
He was a God send, perhaps quite literally.
JEREMIAH 57
You don’t waste much time in gathering the Department Heads to show them what your quantum replicators can do.
SALLY 58
No, we do not. We have repeatedly found that the quicker we get the magic show over, the quicker the novelty wears off, and the sooner we can get down to business. We have a lot of work ahead of us beyond just replicating. We then have to both analyze and digitize to obtain every bit of knowledge and information we can from these valued items.
JEREMIAH 59
It is a noble calling, indeed.
SALLY 60
Leave it to a Priest to call it a calling. To me, it’s a passion.
JEREMIAH 61
To me, it is the same thing.
SALLY 62
Touche, Captain.
DRIMEL 63
Are you ready, Sally?
SALLY 64
Captain Hollis, this is Dr. Drimel, Dean of Libraries.
DRIMEL 65
Nice to meet you, Captain. Glad you could join us. Thanks for your help in all of this.
JEREMIAH 66
Thank you, and you are quite welcome.
SALLY 67
And to answer your question, Dr. Drimel, I am ready. You have perfect timing.
SOUNDS: Glass dinging or gong to get attention.
DRIMEL 68
Gathered guests. If I could have your attention please. If I could have your attention please. This is a small gathering of our Department Heads and select library benefactors.
Let me begin by welcoming you to this auspicious occasion. Offworlders have come to help us both preserve our proud heritage and perhaps even recover and better understand that which has been lost with age. Through a chance meeting of a colleague of a friend of a colleague, we are lucky enough to have been granted use of these quantum replicators along with the expertise of Doctors Sally Burns, Raskin Glasco, Salin Haz, and Melkin Vester.
SOUNDS: Small applause.
DRIMEL 69
Without further ado, because I understand time is of the essence in this process, I give you Dr. Burns…or as she will soon correct you if you call her that, I give you Sally.
SALLY 70
Thank you, Dr. Drimel, and yes, I was about to correct you. You will see in front of us a grey piece of equipment with an antiquated book sitting precisely in the middle. The equipment is a scanner. The book, in case you don’t already know, is a 500-year old first edition of Grandor Bell’s treatise on gravity and planetary motion. I understand it is a foundational source to multiple branches of your modern-day science.
As we have been gathering in this room, the scanner has been studying every nuance of this book, down to its subatomic particles.
If you redirect your attention to the monitors, you will see another piece of gray equipment with nothing sitting inside it. That will soon change. This is the replicator. It is offsite in the unlikely event the quantum cascade that occurs during replication gets derailed. It rarely ever happens anymore as this technology has advanced and has never happened on my watch. Regardless, safety first, and we would never want to endanger you nor the invaluable artifacts such as this book.
DRIMEL 71
How destructive could a failure be?
SALLY 72
Not very, honestly, from what I’ve seen reported. Both the replicator and the room are shielded to contain and absorb the released energy. It’s just an extra cautious step to separate them that’s held over from the early days of the technology. Plus, always a good measure to be extra cautious with these treasures.
DRIMEL 73
I agree wholeheartedly.
SALLY 74
It’s time. We don’t want to miss our window of opportunity. Watch the screen and in 3…2…1…
SOUNDS: Computer beeps between countdown numbers. Telephony whoosh of replicated book bursting into existence.
SOUNDS: Positive crowd response.
SALLY 75
And that’s the magic. A bright flash to reveal an identical copy, plus all the digitized data just waiting for further study. The copy will be safely stabilized and packaged for transport and storage in the Vatican Archives.
DEPT CHAIR ONE 76
And that is an exact copy down to every detail?
SALLY 77
Every detail, sir. Every letter, note, drawing, crease, stain, tear, page, and binding.
DEPT CHAIR TWO 78
Do you ever make more than one copy?
SALLY 79
Yes, when necessary. Sometimes a second copy is made that is restored to make it physically accessible to its native population again, for example.
BENEFACTOR ONE 80
And this copy will be stored at the Vatican, you said. Why?
SALLY 81
Why? To preserve knowledge in its multiple forms. A copy of the digital data will be stored there, too, but as a backup to the physical specimen. The Church has a long, respected history of preserving such knowledge.
BENEFACTOR ONE 82
Thank you.
DRIMEL 83
And with that, it’s time to let Sally and her team get to work. They will be here for many weeks and would be glad to answer more questions during that time, I’m sure.
SOUNDS: Explosion. Sounds of surprise.
DRIMEL 84
What was that?!
DEPT CHAIR TWO 85
There was a flash on the monitors and then the feed went black!
SOUNDS: Communicator chirp.
JEREMIAH 86
Hollis to Brother Matthias. Did you hear that? Any idea what’s happening?
MATTHIAS (Telephony) 87
I did, and I don’t know yet, Sir.
SOUNDS: Buttons beeping (telephony)
MATTHIAS (Telephony) 88
There appears to have been an explosion at the…
JEREMIAH 89
Brother Matthias?
SOUNDS: Communicator chirp.
JEREMIAH 90
Brother Matthias? Can you hear me?
SOUNDS: Silent pause.
JEREMIAH 91
You try, Brother Patrick.
SOUNDS: Communicator chirp
PATRICK 92
Brother Patrick to Brother Matthias. Are you there?
DEPT CHAIR TWO 93
He said there had been an explosion. Did the replication destabilize? Could that have caused the explosion??
SALLY 94
No, for a couple of reasons. First, the destabilization would have happened immediately. There would have been no delay. Second, it would not have caused an explosion of this magnitude heard across the library campus. With the redundant shield, the replicator itself is the only thing that realistically could be damaged.
SOUNDS: Tricorder.
PATRICK 95
There is an interference field, Captain.
JEREMIAH 96
Let’s get out of here and find out what’s going on.
SOUNDS: Doors bursting open quickly. Surprised expressions.
WILLER 97
No one is going anywhere! You are all staying right here with me and my crew. Check them for weapons!
DRIMEL 98
Who are you?!
WILLER 99
All in good time, Dean Drimel. All in good time. Now sit down over there and shut up.
SOUNDS: Segue music.
SCENE 4: COMING TOGETHER
SOUNDS: Command sounds.
MATTHIAS 100
Captain, can you hear me? Captain?
SOUNDS: Buttons. Comm badge chirp.
MATTHIAS 101
Brother Ethan and Brother Thomas. I have lost the Captain and Brother Patrick’s signal. We were cut off mid communication not long after the explosion. There appears to be an interference field of some kind surrounding their immediate area. Can you both report to the bridge to help sort this out, please?
ETHAN (Telephony) 102
Already on my way. I thought you might have your hands full up there.
THOMAS (Telephony) 103
And I’m right around the corner. Be there in…
SOUNDS: Doors open.
THOMAS 104
…no time.
ETHAN (Distant) 105
Hold that door!
SOUNDS: Footsteps quickly approaching.
ETHAN 106
We’re here! How can we help?
MATTHIAS 107
Brother Thomas, could you please focus on the Captain and Brother Patrick. See what you can determine about them and try to re-establish communication.
THOMAS 108
Yes, Brother, I’ll see what I can do.
MATTHIAS 109
Brother Ethan, you concentrate on the building with the quantum replicator. It’s on the opposite side of the library campus.
ETHAN 110
Yes, Brother.
MATTHIAS 111
On the ground, our sensors are limited, but bounce your scans off a satellite if that's what it takes. I know our instincts are to run towards our colleagues and friends, but I don’t think anyone else should leave this ship until we have a better handle on what’s happening. I’ll be contacting the local authorities to see what they can tell us and how we can help.
THOMAS 112
Wise thinking. It’s a good plan.
ETHAN 113
I agree.
SOUNDS: Segue music.
SCENE 5: HOSTAGES
SALLY 114
What do you think they want?
DRIMEL 115
I don’t know.
PATRICK 116
The apparent leader is walking to the front of the room. Perhaps we’re about to find out.
WILLER 117
You all complied quite well, thank you. That makes this easier. My name is Zek Willer and I am here to take what’s mine. And my colleagues here are going to take what’s theirs.
SOUNDS: Murmur in room.
DRIMEL 118
And what is that exactly?
WILLER 119
I will tell you soon enough, after I speak with our friends in the press gathering out front.
SOUNDS: Pause
SALLY 120
And that’s all he’s going to tell us?
PATRICK 121
It looks like it for now.
JEREMIAH 122
Dean Drimel, do you have no idea what he’s referring to?
DRIMEL 123
If that’s the Willer I think it is, they’re here for the books and more.
SALLY 124
You’ve turned pale, Dean.
DRIMEL 125
I thought…I hoped…our society had grown past this. Knowledge is something to be shared and not wars fought over as in the years past.
JEREMIAH 126
I see. And why do they think it belongs to them?
DRIMEL 127
Because it may have belonged to their families…at one time.
SCENE 6: MEDIA
ETHAN 128
The damage to the building holding the quantum replicator is relatively superficial. The explosion made a loud noise, for sure, but it appears to have mainly knocked out power and communications for that area only.
MATTHIAS 129
That’s good to hear. How about you, Brother Thomas? Anything to report?
THOMAS 130
Regretfully, no. I can’t get past the interference field yet.
SOUNDS: Computer alert.
COMPUTER 131
Media report detected.
MATTHIAS 132
Good, play it!
SOUNDS: Show screen.
REPORTER (Telephony) 133
…and here comes one of them now. I believe he’s going to speak. Let’s listen to what he has to say.
WILLER (Telephony) 134
I am so glad you are here. I hope you listen well. We are here to take what is ours. What is mine! The knowledge contained within these walls is ill gained. It was stolen from my family and the families of my colleagues! We DEMAND it be returned. EVERY BOOK! EVERY SCROLL! ALL OF IT! We are tired of being pushed off by the bureaucracy of the system to the brink of destitution just to get back what is ours. Hear our VOICE! HERE OUR DEMAND! Or the hostages will not be freed.
REPORTER (Telephony) 135
It looks like he’s going back inside now. Well, there you have it. We have a hostage situation, which we assume is related to the explosion reported on the other side of campus earlier this morning. Stay tuned as we contine...
SOUND: End communication.
MATTHIAS 136
So the Captain and Brother Patrick are hostages.
THOMAS 137
But what can we do to help them without endangering the others?
MATTHIAS 138
I have no idea yet. The local authorities have not returned my communications. There has to be a way through that interference field. Have you discovered anything…any abnormality…that could help, Brother Thomas?
THOMAS 139
Well, the interference is complete across the entire subspace spectrum. I have yet to find a gap.
ETHAN 140
What about the electromagnetic spectrum? Comm badges are designed to utilize alternative options in times of emergency.
THOMAS 141
I haven’t checked. I am a Med Tech, not an engineer after all. That’s a good idea, Brother Ethan. Will you assist me?
ETHAN 142
Of course I will.
SOUNDS: Computer buttons and analysis.
THOMAS 143
By George, we’ve got it!
MATTHIAS 144
That didn’t take long.
THOMAS 145
Not when you think outside the box a little. The interference field is not blocking EM transmissions in the 0.1 to 200 gigahertz range.
ETHAN 146
Radio waves, or part of the full radio wave spectrum at least.
THOMAS 147
What communication should we send, Brother Matthias?
MATTHIAS 148
Hmmm…nothing audible that could attract their captors’ attention.
ETHAN 149
What if we make the badges vibrate instead?
MATTHIAS 150
You can do that?
ETHAN 151
I think so. Actually, I know so. I’ve done it as a joke on a friend in the seminary before. He thought his comm badge was on the fritz and traded it in for a new one twice. Not very Holy of me, I know, but he did find it funny in the end. I remembered to mention it in my next confession, too.
MATTHIAS 152
Let’s chalk that up to practice for today’s need. And I know exactly what message to send across these vibrations, too.
THOMAS 153
What’s that?
MATTHIAS 154
Remember the quick-tap code the ravens used in the Flock?
THOMAS 155
Yes.
MATTHIAS 156
Brothers Patrick, Ethan, and I have been practicing it.
ETHAN 157
Just in case we ever meet the Flock again, it could be fun.
MATTHIAS 158
Or in case it ever came in handy for another use.
THOMAS 159
BRILLIANT! I might have to join your studies in the future.
MATTHIAS 160
Brother Ethan, please set up the communication link with Brother Patrick’s comm badge with the opening you two found. I’ll write and translate the message to send. Let’s pray to God that we can help in some way.
SOUNDS: Segue music.
SCENE 7: BRAVADO
SOUNDS: Crowd murmur.
JEREMIAH 161
There’s something off about all this, Brother Patrick.
PATRICK 162
What’s that, Captain?
JEREMIAH 163
I can’t quite put my finger on it yet.
PATRICK 164
My badge just vibrated.
JEREMIAH 165
Really? Mine hasn’t.
PATRICK 166
Wait…it’s vibrating more…it’s a code! The quick-tap code the Flock used!
JEREMIAH 167
SHHH! We don’t want our captors to hear.
PATRICK 168
I’m sorry…but wait…translating the code…
SOUNDS: Pause
JEREMIAH 169
And?
PATRICK 170
It’s the Blessings, sir…
They managed to get radio signals through the interference field…
The explosion only took out power and communications to the building with the quantum replicator. No casualties nor structural damage…
They saw a press conference with Mr. Willer just now…
Something about demanding their knowledge items be returned…
Are we ok…
JEREMIAH 171
Can you answer back?
PATRICK 172
I think so. I’m not as good at this as Brother Matthias, but he can extrapolate beyond my mistakes, I’m sure.
JEREMIAH 173
Do it.
PATRICK 174
Ok, will do, Captain.
SALLY 175
What are you two talking about over here?
JEREMIAH 176
Keep this quiet, Sally, but the Blessings just established contact with Brother Patrick.
SALLY 177
That’s wonderful news.
JEREMIAH 178
Look at them, though, Sally. Dressed in black uniforms. Faces mostly covered. Hovering over the crowd. How do they hope to achieve their demands this way?
SALLY 179
By threatening to kill the hostages until they get what they want?
JEREMIAH 180
That’s it! Have you seen a single weapon?
SALLY 181
Ummm…no.
JEREMIAH 182
Did you see them take a single weapon off any of us?
SALLY 183
No.
PATRICK 184
Me neither, Captain.
JEREMIAH 185
After the explosion to get our attention, they charged into the room yelling and ordering. People complied because we assumed if they had anything to do with the explosion, they were violent and armed. I don’t think they are.
PATRICK 186
They took my tricorder, so I can’t scan them.
JEREMIAH 187
I know. When they were searching everyone, did they search you, Brother Patrick?
PATRICK 188
No, they did not, Sir. The tricorder was already in my hand, but they did not physically search me.
JEREMIAH 189
They didn’t search me either.
SALLY 190
They searched all my colleagues, me, Dean Drimel, and everyone else I saw. You two really weren’t?
JEREMIAH 191
No, we were not. I was wondering if it was because they considered us Federation, but so are you. That doesn’t add up.
DRIMEL 192
It’s because you are religious, Captain. There is an extra level of reverence for the religious on my planet. Our religious are pacifists, and therefore no threat.
JEREMIAH 193
That is interesting, Dean Drimel, and maybe something we can use. Our religious will defend life when it’s the just thing to do.
PATRICK 194
What are you thinking, Captain?
JEREMIAH 195
I’m thinking I’ve had enough of this.
PATRICK 196
What?
JEREMIAH 197
Tell the Blessings to be ready to act and warm the transporter up.
PATRICK 198
But Captain…
JEREMIAH 199
Do it, Patrick.
SOUNDS: Standing up and walking
CAPTOR ONE 200
What are you doing, Priest?
JEREMIAH 201
I’m walking.
CAPTOR ONE 202
Sit down.
JEREMIAH 203
No.
CAPTOR ONE 204
I said sit down!
JEREMIAH 205
No.
CAPTOR ONE 206
Get back here!
JEREMIAH 207
No.
SOUNDS: Door opens. Machine sound from interference generator.
CAPTOR TWO 208
Who are you?
JEREMIAH 209
I’m Father Jeremiah Hollis, a Catholic Priest.
CAPTOR TWO 210
Stay away from that!
JEREMIAH 211
No.
SOUNDS: Computer beeping. Machine powering down. Clink. Comm Badge.
JEREMIAH 212
Blessings! Lock onto my comm badge and beam this equipment away!
SOUNDS: Transporter dematerializing beam.
CAPTOR ONE & TWO 213
NOOOOO!
WILLER 214
Now why did you do that, Priest?
JEREMIAH 215
Because threatening and scaring a bunch of academics is not how you achieve your demands.
WILLER 216
It was working so far.
JEREMIAH 217
Was it really?
WILLER 218
It could have worked.
JEREMIAH 219
You have no weapons beyond bravado. Your explosion was all bang and minimal damage. You really have no leverage. Once people figure that out, your ruse is up. You just want the attention it would bring to your cause.
WILLER 220
Bravo, Priest. You are quite observant. So what’s next?
JEREMIAH 221
Once the local authorities scan within the building with the interference field generator now gone, they will figure out there are no arms as well. Then they will storm in. I suggest you comply and try to make it as easy as possible for them so no one gets hurt.
WILLER 222
That was the plan. You just sped up the time table.
TEAM! IT’S TIME FOR PLAN OMEGA! LAY DOWN IN THE PRONE POSITION!
Well played, Priest.
JEREMIAH 223
It’s not been a good month. My patience for games is non-existent. May God and the authorities have mercy upon you.
SOUNDS: Segue music.
SCENE 8: RECAP
SOUNDS: Outside noises.
PRIME BILLINT 224
Captain Hollis, I am Prime Billint, head of security on the Library campus. I can’t quite decide if what you just did was extraordinarily brave or knuckleheaded.
JEREMIAH 225
Probably somewhere in the middle, Sir.
BILLINT 226
That’s usually the case. So from what I hear, you stood up in the middle of a hostage situation, walked towards the main door, refused all commands to stop, walked through said door and straight up to the interference resonator, and somehow just shut it down. Then, to finish it all off, you had your crew transport the unit away.
JEREMIAH 227
Yes, that sums it up well.
BILLINT 228
I’m not quite finished yet. Lastly, you talked the lead disruptor into surrendering.
JEREMIAH 229
No, that part I didn’t have to do. That was already part of their plans. I just pointed out that the time had come and to make it easy on you guys so no one got hurt. That was apparently part of their plan as well. I believe Mr. Willer called it “Plan Omega.”
DRIMEL 230
Captain, how did you know YOUR plan would work, though?
JEREMIAH 231
To be perfectly honest, Dean, I didn’t. I simply took it one step at a time.
DRIMEL 232
One step at a time?
JEREMIAH 233
Yes, you see, I had to test my theory on whether anyone had any weapons or not. After you shared with me the deference your people had for religious, I hoped that would give me the grace needed to test my theory.
BILLINT 234
That part was brave.
JEREMIAH 235
My first literal steps were to see if anyone would try to physically stop me.
DRIMEL 236
None did.
JEREMIAH 237
Indeed. My next steps were to determine if weapons would come out when I pushed a little more.
DRIMEL 238
And none did.
JEREMIAH 239
Once I made it through the door, I was hoping to either walk up to any authority I saw outside or have my crew beam me out of there. They were on standby.
DRIMEL 240
But you didn’t do that.
JEREMIAH 241
No, I did not. When I saw the interference unit was right in front of me, I took one more gamble.
BILLINT 242
And that’s the boneheaded part. How did you know you could work it, let alone deactivate it? I doubt you know our language.
JEREMIAH 243
You’re right, I didn’t and don’t, but you may be surprised to know how many civilizations at your stage and after have icon driven menus. I took a whole course on it during my Starfleet training. The interface was very well designed. Easy to use. Plus, shutdown functionalities are typically placed in the corners. Luckily, there was no passcode protection either. It didn’t take much to shut it down.
BILLINT 244
When that field came down and we did our preliminary security scan, we couldn’t believe the results. An entire group of people held hostage with no weapons.
DRIMEL 245
I don’t think that’s so hard to believe, Prime Billint. Even after all these years later, we are still a war-weary people. The explosion made them seem capable of violence when they stormed into the room. It took an offworlder to see it differently.
JEREMIAH 247
What next? What will happen to the hostage takers? What will happen to the disputed items?
BILLINT 248
Mr. Willer and his cohorts will be prosecuted for their crimes. The lack of actual arms and the minimal damage they caused with their explosion will certainly lighten the sentence. I can see now that they masterfully planned this aspect. Regardless, they took people hostage against their will, did do some damage, and terrorized the community. They will serve jail time.
DRIMEL 249
Regarding the knowledge assets they lay claim to, we are in uncharted territory here, Captain. Knowledge used to be controlled by the few. It was hoarded and locked away.
JEREMIAH 249a
I see.
DRIMEL 249b
We became a space faring planet because of the efforts of a small number of key individuals. The advancements we have made TOGETHER as a civilization in the last fifty years with our SHARED knowledge has been IMMENSE! We cannot go back to what we were before.
JEREMIAH 250
I understand. I know the Federation has faced this many times in the past. My home planet, Earth, has faced the topic of repatriation of works of art, books, and other valuables more than once. It is not an easy process. The right answer is not always cut and dry nor universal.
DRIMEL 251
We don’t have the resources of the Federation to learn from, Captain.
JEREMIAH 252
No, but I may know some people who can help with that. Let me see what I can do.
DRIMEL 253
I would be most grateful. WE would be most grateful.
JEREMIAH 254
Plus, I’m sure the Vatican will be in contact to ensure we are ethically copying any item in question.
DRIMEL 255
Of course.
JEREMIAH 256
Before I can leave Sally and the other quantum replicator Specialists here, I need to know they will be safe. How do we know this won’t happen again, but with actual weapons next time?
BILLINT 257
That’s a good question, Captain. We will be ramping up campus patrols for sure. We can also post guards outside the replicator facilities plus their living quarters as we investigate this further.
JEREMIAH 258
That sounds appropriate. Thank you. I will have to run this by Sally first.
BILLINT 259
Of course.
DRIMEL 260
Sally doesn’t seem like someone who is easily deterred, though.
JEREMIAH 261
No, she most definitely does not.
SOUNDS: Segue music.
SCENE 9: SALLY
SOUNDS: Alien room background noise.
SALLY 262
Prime Billint’s security plan sounds good enough to me, Captain. I’ll review it with the team to make sure they’re all in agreement.
JEREMIAH 263
Good. With this being all over, I’m sure you’ll be glad to get back to work now.
SALLY 264
We got back to work the moment Mr. Willer and his cohorts were escorted from the building. My colleague, Doctor Vester, went straight to the replicator facility to ensure our copy of Grandor Bell’s treatise was unharmed. Thankfully, it was. After a few diagnostics, we already have our next specimen in place and being scanned.
JEREMIAH 265
Of course you do. You’ve obviously done this before.
SALLY 266
Hahaha! Yes, a time or two. You three are just in time, too. While we were all focused on this one book, the other quantum replicator was still scanning its subject. It’s a religious text. It’s ready for replication.
SOUNDS: Buttons pressed.
SALLY 267
Brother Ethan, do you wish to do the honors?
ETHAN 268
Why yes, I would!
SOUNDS: Button pressed. Sound of book appearing.
SALLY 269
And there’s the magic yet again.
ETHAN 270
Thank you, Sally.
PATRICK 271
You get to see so many rare, pivotal, valuable texts and art. I must admit I’m a little jealous.
SALLY 272
It comes with a lot of stress as well. The eyes of our hosts are watching us constantly. Our mantra is to do no harm to any of the objects within our care. These first items we are copying here are not the most valuable. They are still important, don’t get me wrong, but this is still the phase where we are proving ourselves in both what the technology can do and in how we care for the specimens. They’ll bring out their good stuff in a couple of days with all the pomp and circumstance required to keep them safe.
JEREMIAH 273
Like I said, you’ve obviously done this before.
SALLY 274
Prior to Mr. Willer being hauled away by security, he asked for a word with me. He apologized for stealing some of my thunder, he said. I replied it was more lightning than thunder. Anyway, he wanted to let us know that he and his cohorts do support what we’re doing here. While they want their objects back, they are appreciative of what the Vatican is doing to preserve knowledge across the galaxy.
JEREMIAH 275
That should make your jobs a little easier, I hope.
SALLY 276
Yes, it should.
JEREMIAH 277
Is there anything else we can do for you before we continue on with our mission?
SALLY 278
I’d like to package up these two book replicas for you to take back with you.
JEREMIAH 279
Of course. Can we fit them in, Brother Ethan?
ETHAN 280
I think so. The cargo hold is half full with what Sally and her team replicated on their last assignment. Two more isn’t going to make much of a difference.
SALLY 281
Perfect!
SCENE 10: WRAP UP
SOUNDS: Ship noise. Communicator chirp.
MATTHIAS (Telephony) 282
Captain, I have an incoming call from Archbishop Morgan for you.
JEREMIAH 283
Thank you, Brother Matthias. Please patch him through to my Ready Room.
MATTHIAS (Telephony) 284
Will do.
SOUNDS: Communication beep.
JEREMIAH 285
Good to see you, John.
JOHN (Telephony) 286
Good to see you as well, Jeremiah. How are you doing?
JEREMIAH 287
I’m hanging in there. Trying to keep my mind occupied, you know.
JOHN (Telephony) 288
Oh, I know. These are hard days for the both of us. I just looked through your mission brief on Lamar 6. That was no walk in the park.
JEREMIAH 289
No. What should have been a simple mission was wrapped up in politics, entitlement, and the aftereffects of war. Life is messy at times. As you read, I took a few calculated risks.
JOHN (Telephony) 290
Yes, I read those parts. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me.”
JEREMIAH 291
I’ll admit that line from the book of Psalms did cross through my head at the time. I was praying hard, for sure.
JOHN (Telephony) 292
From how you described the situation, it was a fair calculated risk to make. I would like to think I would have drawn the same conclusions and done the same thing had I been in your shoes, but I don’t know if I would have, Jeremiah. You’re built for these moments better than I am.
JEREMIAH 293
You probably would have figured it out as soon as they came barging through the door.
JOHN (Telephony) 294
Regardless, good job, Jeremiah.
JEREMIAH 295
Thank you, John.
JOHN (Telephony) 296
We’ll be glad to have your cargo on hand. We have a project with the Federation and a few others that is ramping up now to preserve historical and cultural artifacts and knowledge on a more neutral, mobile ground. Its working name is the “Eternal Gallery and Archive.” It’s too mundane of a descriptive name. I’m sure it won’t stick.
JEREMIAH 297
That’s certainly interesting.
JOHN (Telephony) 298
We’ve all combined resources to build an interstellar space station for this purpose. It has the latest defensive technologies to ensure its contents are as safe as possible with plans of continual upgrades as required. It’s been all hush hush until now. The interior is modeled off the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library in Toronto; a perfectly beautiful facility.
JEREMIAH 299
I’ve been there with Dad before.
JOHN (Telephony) 300
I know. When you get here and unload your cargo, let’s take a tour of both the original library and the inspired version of it, shall we?
JEREMIAH 301
Most definitely. I look forward to it, John.
SOUNDS: Outro music.
SCENE 11: END CREDITS
NARRATOR
You have been listening to VSF Blessings, a Star Trek fan production. Episode 8, “Ours and Mine.”
Created, written, produced, directed, and audio engineered by James McDonald. Story consultation provided by Noah McDonald. All character voices were generated using ElevenLabs AI voice generator. Sound effects from Pixabay.com under free-use content licenses and Trekcore.com.
Star Trek and all related marks, logos, and characters are solely owned by CBS Studios Inc. This fan production is not endorsed by, sponsored by, nor affiliated with CBS, Paramount Pictures, or any other Star Trek franchise, and is a non-commercial fan-made production intended for recreational use. No commercial exhibition or distribution is permitted. No alleged independent rights will be asserted against CBS or Paramount Pictures.
Until next time, be the good, do what’s right, and be the light.
SOUND: End Music