Paris-dice - Episode 5 First Scene

This would have been the scene to share in the promo, but the process of collecting sound effects would have taken too long. That's what I'm currently doing now.

I've hit the word limit of episode 5 (7500) and there are 8 scenes, 5 of which are about Tom and B'Elanna, so this is very much their episode overall. The other 3 scenes belong to Icheb's classmates, Janeway and Seven. 

“Good morning, cadets. I’m filling in for Admiral Brand today. Before we begin today’s topic, she asked me to inform you, you’ll receive a new classmate tomorrow. A Brunali. He’ll be the first cadet to enter the Academy from the Delta Quadrant”.

As the blue-skinned lecturer relayed the message, murmurs flowed from those attending. One excited voice projected a loud whisper across a row of seats - knowing the Brunali arrived on the USS Voyager.

The cloud of fine vapour exciting his breathing machine ascended in rough fashion, affected by the wind of vigorous discussion from cadets. The speaker’s tone sharpened, catching the attention of those muttering.

“… and I’m sure his participation will provoke some more conversation tomorrow. Welcome him with the best of what the Academy represents. One other thing, someone lost a pip off their uniform. If it belongs to anyone here, see me after class. With the announcements done. Now, please open your textpadds to the assigned reading chapter”.

An enthusiastic smattering of beeps emanated from the seats in reply. Some students forgot to mute their learning devices. The sounds unbothered the supply lecturer, as he lowered the ambient lighting and his own display activated with a trill sound.

Sure of the wall-mounted screen showing the correct graphic, he turned and began his lecture.

“This is the rather unexciting front page of the ‘Treaty of Bajor’. Do any of you know its stipulations”?

A sprouting of hands emerged from the topsoil of student’s heads.

“Sir, the treaty required Dominion forces to return to their side of the wormhole”.

“Sir, the female changeling needed to surrender to Federation judicial process”.

Cadet Piporu, a Bajoran, addressed him by his title. “Professor, it reset the territorial boundaries of the Cardassian Union to pre-Dominion War status. The Federation Alliance returned everything it claimed”.

A fourth student, a Vulcan named Evin, countered with, “That’s not altogether true. The treaty didn’t force the Klingons to surrender territory they gained before the conflict with the Dominion”.

The faculty member wasted a smile directed towards the Vulcan. “Good. Someone read the material. What does the Klingon presence in Cardassian territory mean for the Federation”?

Piporu pointed his clean shaven gaze for a moment at his stoic classmate, replying. “It’s a matter for those respective governments to solve”.

“Would anyone like to counter that”? Asked the professor, waving one arm offering the rest of the class to take part.

“I believe the Federation’s task, our task, is unfinished”, Evin answered.

“How do you suppose, cadet? The Klingon/Cardassian War wasn’t our affair”.

“We have a moral obligation to mediate between both parties. It also controverts the intentions of the Jankata Accord”. Evin said, with the dullness of a bulkhead.

The front row of cadets saw their surprised, supply teacher arch his blue, milk stained brow at the Accord’s mention. This Vulcan had studied ahead.

The professor changed tack at the Vulcan’s remark and addressed the audience, “The politics are delicate, no, awkward because we’re helping both sides while both governments are hostile towards each other”.

The statement breathed for a minute amongst the cadets while walking to the other side of his podium.

“Would the case be simpler if we didn’t help or if the Romulans assisted Cardassia instead of us? Romulan infrastructure and economy, like ours, survived the war. So the Star Empire have the means”.

Another student replied, saying, “To not assist would go against Federation principles. Romulans are self-interested, sir. They would use economic aid to embarrass us, because we’re the only other serious power now”.

“You’re lucky Klingons don’t attend this academy, cadet. I fear for your lunch breaks. But you posit the Federation is not self-interested”?

“Of course we are, but to the betterment of everyone”.

“The idealism is touching”.

The Haliian cadet, not expecting the lecturer, would disagree, replied in quick fashion again to make herself clear.

“What I mean is, we aren’t self-obsessed with means to hurt others”.

The senior reminded her with equal speed, “Many people feel justified in blaming us for mining the Bajoran wormhole cadet”.

The effective exchange opened a quiet moment for those attending to consider.

“A topic for another seminar. Could Starfleet have acted otherwise in that situation”?

“Sir, Romulans are always secretive. If they help, maybe we just wouldn’t know”?

“If trees fall in the forest, and no one can hear, is there sound? Is that what you mean, cadet”?

The curved surface of the auditorium helped to echo the chorus of laughter.

The Benzite lecturer took the moment to inhale the chlorine, gaseous mix from his breathing apparatus and readied his next topic.

“Most of you were present when the Breen attacked Earth. I have noted your attendance for the history books! But in ten to fifteen years from today, cadets attending will consider this treaty to be a dull, minor dispute between the Bajorans and the Reegrunions. I envision myself encouraging future cadets to read past the first page, so they understand what the document outlines. The treaty’s name belies its historical importance. As you’re not in that class, I have a thought exercise. Can anyone think of a better description”?

Eager hands poked the air above them.

“Treaty of Six, professor”.

“It does sound louder, and there were six major powers involved. Still vague. Anyone else”?

“The Quadrants Agreement, sir”.

“That captures the scale, but too literal”.

“Treaty of the Celestial Temple”?

“Well, you’re Bajoran Piporu, you would say that. Grand description though it is”.

“Treaty of How not to Mine a Wormhole”?

“As usual, I tolerate your dry sense of humour. To feel useful after class, when your non-human classmates come to me with more questions”.

“The Dominion Accords”.

“It is obvious sounding, why should their name be on the title? You know humans have a tradition of naming treaties where they sign them”.

“But sir, we signed the treaty on DS9”.

“Many times they are, often not because a title can represent something. Humans, four centuries ago, didn’t ink The North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 in the middle of an ocean, and didn’t sign the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 in outer space. Though the titling will pain me in coming semesters, the ‘Treaty of Bajor’ represents something. Does anybody know what”?

No one raised their hands.

“Well, aside from Bajor still trying to gain admittance into our union. What happened to the planet before the wormhole appeared?”

“Sir, the Cardassians stole all of its natural resources”.

“Thus taking half a decade to restore Bajor’s beauty and establish a viable economy. That effort and investment was for one world to stand strong again during peacetime. And now post-war involving multiple planets? What are the effects? Even if we are talking about two years of conflict vs a fifty-year occupation”.

“Sir, many star systems are in the same predicament as Bajor”.

“Correct. There are close to a hundred Bajors out there still needing our help, including Betazed and my home world. Anybody care to guess what that means”?

“Sir, Starfleet has a more difficult role than prior to the war”.

“Which means what”?

“Short term, Starfleet can not commit the resources it used to, to exploration”.

“You’ll be the fifth year of cadets who won’t see deep space unless you’re fortunate enough to get posted to a Luna or Sovereign class vessel. A post-scarcity society has limits, but it’s important the Federation shows it’s capable of recovery efforts. We can’t appear less than competent in-front of Romulans and the Dominion”.

“Sir, why should the Dominion matter? They have to remain in the Gamma Quadrant”.

“I don’t want to sound alarmist, but the Gamma portion of their empire remains pristine. Retreating Alpha Quadrant ships bolstered the fleet they lost in the wormhole. It’s only a changeling’s penmanship and a tenuous trust, keeping them away”.

Eyes bulged for the cadets, considering the weight of their careers with their peace-keeping efforts after graduating.

“Okay. Please refer to your textpadds regarding Dominion and Romulan strategies to employ infiltration and espionage tactics on those they deem a threat”.