The Orders That Sent Us Into the Unknown – Star Trek Fanfiction (Red Directive #01)
The low hum of Deep Space Nine’s environmental systems filled the conference room. Everyone suddenly seemed more at ease.
Sisko carried a padd in one hand as he moved away from the star map and toward the conference table.
“Thank you for coming on such short notice,” he said calmly.
Then his eyes settled on me.
“Captain Kelly… what I'm about to brief you all on is classified at the highest level.”
He looked around the table, studying each officer like he was measuring how much they truly needed to know.
“I’ve just received orders from Starfleet Command transmitted through Bajoran Sector Command,” he said.
A pause.
Then the words that changed the entire tone of the room.
“This mission falls under a Red Directive.”
Red Directives weren’t routine exploration orders. They were strategic priorities issued directly from Starfleet Command.
Only a few members of the crew gasped. I half expected a little more reaction than that considering this was the oddest group of officers I had ever served with — or even heard of. I suppose that explains why most of them weren’t phased.
Commander Sisko looked around the room again, measuring the moment, before placing the padd down on the table and tapping a control to activate the holographic star map behind him.
Deep Space Nine glowed at its center, the familiar arc of Bajoran space stretching outward.
Then the map shifted.
The wormhole appeared.
And beyond it…
An entire unexplored quadrant of the galaxy.
“The Bajoran wormhole connects our region of space to the Gamma Quadrant,” Sisko said calmly. “Starfleet Command has classified this development as one of the most significant discoveries in Federation history.”
No one at the table spoke.
We all knew that already.
But hearing it said out loud carried weight.
At least it did for me.
Sisko tapped the control again on his padd and a highlighted region appeared several light-years beyond the Gamma Quadrant terminus of the wormhole.
His eyes moved toward me as he stepped back toward the star map and gestured to the highlighted region.
“Captain Kelly, the USS Cairo will be one of the first Starfleet vessels assigned to establish a Federation presence beyond the wormhole. Starfleet believes your experience makes you uniquely qualified for this assignment.”
The holographic map zoomed outward, revealing vast stretches of completely uncharted space.
“Your mission is simple in theory,” he said.
A slight pause.
“In practice… it may be one of the most important assignments Starfleet has undertaken in decades.”
Simple in theory, huh?
Sounds like we had two very different definitions of the word simple.
“Explore. Make contact if possible. Chart the region. And most importantly…”
His expression hardened slightly.
“Find out who else might already be out there.”
The room fell silent again.
Because every one of us was thinking the same thing.
The Gamma Quadrant wasn’t empty.
And we were about to be the first Starfleet crew to find out what was waiting there.
Commander Sisko pointed to the star map as it zoomed in again on the highlighted section. This time a faint outline of a frontier orbital research colony appeared.
EOS Prospera.
Sisko scanned the room as he continued.
“Shortly after the wormhole opened, Starfleet discovered this alien deep-space research and staging colony. When they also discovered it was abandoned, a crew was sent through the wormhole into the Gamma Quadrant to refit the station with Federation technology.”
He gestured toward the hologram.
“This is EOS Prospera. Positioned approximately three and a half days from the wormhole terminus at Warp Six. The new Federation colony was rushed into operation faster than normally recommended due to pressure from Starfleet Command.”
It was only a matter of time before someone spoke up.
Commander Pelia was the first.
“Leave it to Starfleet to be the first ones sticking their grubby hands into the unknown.”
Commander Sisko responded in his typical commanding tone.
“Starfleet made a fast and strategic decision to establish Federation presence on the other side of the wormhole as soon as possible in order to protect the Alpha Quadrant. They were fortunate enough to find this modular frontier research colony.”
He gestured again toward the station projection.
“With the Federation refit, it has been redesigned for frontier stability. Think of it as… a newer Deep Space Nine.”
Darak, my Cardassian science officer, raised a valid point — even though I already suspected the answer.
“A crew of nine aboard a Federation Excelsior-class vessel traveling to what is essentially a second Deep Space Nine in the Gamma Quadrant seems a little excessive, does it not?”
Commander Sisko looked directly at him.
“You will not be the only ones going to EOS Prospera.”
He scanned the room again to make sure everyone was paying attention.
“You will be transporting one hundred and ninety-eight civilian specialists to the new colony. EOS Prospera is now a Federation deep-space research and staging colony intended to support long-range exploration, scientific observation, and future diplomatic expansion.”
He clasped his hands behind his back.
“If there’s something out there capable of threatening the Alpha Quadrant, we want to be the first ones to know about it — and the first ones to study it before it reaches this side of the wormhole.”
A harsh Klingon voice spoke up.
“Why us?”
Valid question.
Commander Sisko responded without hesitation.
“Each one of you was assigned to this mission due to your unique talents and your willingness to explore the unknown frontier.”
“Meaning we’re expendable.”
The Klingon’s words carried a certain blunt honesty.
I had never thought about it that way before. I had been promoted through the ranks fairly quickly — faster than most officers my age. I always assumed it was because of my efforts during the Cardassian War… and later when I took command of the USS Rutledge and managed to rebuild the crew’s morale and performance in just two years.
But was Kurn right?
Commander Sisko snapped back.
“No one in Starfleet is expendable. Not even an exchange officer such as yourself.”
He paused.
“Like I said before, you were chosen because of your unique talents. Personally, I believe it’s more likely that everyone in this room simply happened to be in the right place at the right time.”
The Klingon sat back down, seemingly satisfied with the answer.
That explanation did make more sense.
After all, I had no idea how many officers in Starfleet would be willing to jump head-first into the unknown territory of the Gamma Quadrant.
And when Starfleet calls on you to fulfill a Red Directive mission…
You don’t say no.
Commander Sisko began pacing slowly around the table.
“Kurn, son of Mogh. Federation records indicate that you were listed as available for the Klingon Defense Force Exchange Officer Program. Based on your combat experience with the Klingon military — and scans showing your biosignature only two and a half light-years away between Bajor and Cardassia — Starfleet believed you would be ideal for this assignment to help ensure the security of the colony.”
He grunted.
“Sounds like Starfleet didn’t want too many important personnel on this mission and I just happened to be in the area.”
He stood up slightly.
“And I put my name on that list years ago when I was in a dark place—”
Commander Sisko cut him off.
“What are you saying, Commander? You wish to withdraw from an agreement you made with the Federation?”
His voice hardened.
“Now take a seat.”
Highly unlikely.
He was a Klingon, after all. Honor meant everything to them.
Kurn shook his head and slowly sat back down.
Sisko continued pacing.
“As for the rest of you, the same applies. You were chosen for this mission for a reason.”
Each of the officers picked up the padds sitting in front of them and began reviewing their duty assignments.
“The USS Cairo departs at oh nine hundred hours tomorrow,” Sisko continued. “You should arrive at EOS Prospera by Stardate 46379.10 — assuming your helmsman here, Ensign Jaxa, can maintain a steady Warp Six.”
The slender blonde Bajoran nodded confidently.
“We expect you to get the colonists settled immediately. Lieutenant Darak will be your science officer. I expect the lab to be operational within five days.”
I could feel the uneasiness ripple through the room as several officers glanced toward Darak.
Not many people trusted Cardassians after the Occupation.
I was willing to give him a chance.
But I understood their hesitation.
“Darak sought asylum within the Federation after the Cardassian withdrawal from Bajor and accepted a special Starfleet commission,” Sisko continued. “Regardless of how you may feel about his presence aboard your vessel, I expect each of you to set aside those feelings and focus on the mission.”
“No ill intentions here, Commander,” Darak replied smoothly. “I’m more than happy to assist the Federation in this mission.”
It was difficult to tell if he meant it.
After my encounter with his cousin Garak earlier… I still had my doubts.
Sisko nodded.
“I expect nothing less, Lieutenant.”
He continued around the table.
“The USS Cairo is currently undergoing refit with colony support modifications and Gamma Quadrant mission preparations. Commander Pelia will serve as your chief engineer.”
He gestured toward her.
“With centuries of engineering experience as a Lanthanite, she will be an invaluable asset.”
“If you say so, Commander,” Pelia rasped. “I’m mostly here for the ride. Starfleet ships are the only places where technology evolves quickly enough to keep me interested. I’ve been everywhere else in this quadrant.”
She shrugged.
“Time to explore the next one.”
Sisko smiled slightly before clasping his hands together and turning toward me.
“Captain Kelly. I’ll be coordinating mission logistics from this end. Pre-departure security inspection begins at oh six hundred hours. Constable Odo estimates the inspection will take several hours.”
He paused.
“I suggest you make yourself available to assist if necessary.”
“Acknowledged, Commander,” I nodded.
Sisko then looked toward the Vulcan seated beside me.
“Commander T’Varen has been serving aboard this station for the past six months assisting with operational planning and Bajor sector security.”
He turned slightly toward me.
“When Starfleet informed me that the USS Cairo would be leading one of the first Gamma Quadrant exploration missions, I recommended she join your crew as first officer.”
The Vulcan inclined her head slightly.
“Captain.”
“Everyone has their padds. I suspect Captain Kelly is fully capable of taking things from here. I have work to do on the station.”
Without waiting for a response, Commander Sisko turned and the conference room doors hissed open as he stepped back into Ops.
Several officers immediately began discussing the mission while others studied their padds.
I noticed my new first officer watching me with the unmistakable blank stare common to most Vulcans.
“I find it illogical to send that many civilians into uncharted territory on a rushed Federation refit of an alien station.”
“Agreed, Commander T’Varen.”
I stood.
“This mission may be a Red Directive, but as the first Starfleet officers entering the Gamma Quadrant, we have a rare opportunity. We will be the first officers in Federation history to explore this region.”
I looked around the table.
“There will be challenges ahead. But I have full confidence in this crew. We just need to put our differences aside and work together.”
I paused.
“It’s been done before. We can do it again.”
“I expect everyone at their stations before oh nine hundred hours tomorrow to ensure the USS Cairo gives Deep Space Nine a proper launch. I will be here at oh six hundred hours for the security inspection and civilian boarding procedures.”
I nodded toward them.
“I wouldn’t object if anyone cared to join me.”
Short. Direct. That’s how I preferred to handle things.
I turned toward the door — only to feel a small hand gently grasp my arm.
“Captain,” T’Varen said calmly. “It would be logical for us to spend this evening becoming better acquainted before departure tomorrow.”
I smiled slightly.
There went my extra station tour with Jadzia.
“Agreed, Commander T’Varen. Since you’ve been stationed here for six months… perhaps you could show me the rest of the station.”
“That would be agreeable.”
Hopefully she didn’t notice my sarcastic grin.
Probably not.
She was Vulcan.
She gestured toward the door and we exited the conference room as the rest of my officers began gathering their padds.
The doors hissed open and I turned right toward the turbolift.
I waved briefly to Jadzia as I stepped inside. I’d like to think she looked disappointed that she wouldn’t be finishing my tour today.
Truthfully, I was disappointed enough for both of us.
I was not particularly looking forward to spending my final evening on Deep Space Nine with a strict Vulcan first officer.
Quite the trade-off from last night’s tour with the far more entertaining Jadzia.
Commander T’Varen stepped into the turbolift beside me.
The silence lasted a little too long.
“Since you’ve been stationed here longer than I have,” I said, “perhaps you should lead the way.”
“Promenade.”
The turbolift hummed quietly as it descended from Ops toward the busy civilian level below.
Commander T’Varen stood perfectly still beside me, hands clasped behind her back in classic Vulcan posture.
Not much for conversation.
I stared ahead at the closing turbolift doors, mentally running through every possible topic I could think of to fill the next few hours.
Deep Space Nine suddenly felt a lot quieter than it had yesterday with Jadzia showing me around.
Right now, making a Captain’s Log sounded like a far better use of my evening than attempting small talk with my new Vulcan first officer.
Tomorrow we would be heading into the Gamma Quadrant.
Tonight…
I had to survive the Promenade.
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