Shadows of the Federation
By Dave “Shadowfleet” Green
Article 2 Section 31 of the Starfleet Charter gave great latitude to Starfleet leadership in order to preserve the Federation. Starfleet was founded on idealism; assuming the best of others based on what we know about ourselves and our allies. However, the writers of the charter were not only idealists but they were also realists. They recognized that the idealistic notion of equating a civilization that had achieved the ability to explore the stars with a peaceful one was flawed.
The flaw of idealism was forgetting the darkness – many had forgotten even our own dark times. We had hidden them behind the grandeur and excitement of new technology, new species, new planets, newfound abilities to be free to expand our knowledge – to explore.
For most civilizations, the ability of star travel was gained by world peace and a united bond that embraced diversity in all its wonders. But for others it was built on unity – unity as in ONE, ONE mindset, ONE culture, ONE civilization. Once gained, the power to explore the stars also meant power to conquer, manipulate or use the resources of “lesser” civilizations.
Although written in the spirit of peace, exhilaration, and wonder of exploration -- the Charter allowed for the chance that the Galaxy might be a dangerous place.
It was, it is… the Klingons, the Romulans, the Cardassians, the Borg, the Dominion, the Sheliak, the Breen, temporal warriors from the future, the corruption from within that comes with power… Some “ONEs” come to respect the ideals of freedom, diversity, and friendship. To others, it remains unfathomable.
How many “ONEs” does the Galaxy hold?
How many times could Starfleet be successful in fending them off?
Murphy plays dominoes. He and all warriors, explorers, and politicians know - a single failure, when such power is brought to bear, is one too many. One failure was bound to happen, And a failure could start an unrecoverable chain reaction to a Galactic civilization that embraced and invited others to the brotherhood of diversity. Just one failure could mean the end of Earth, the end of the Federation. Just one failure, if it was the right one, could mean the end.
Starfleet needed an ace in the hole, a fail safe mechanism to ensure the Federation stayed safe from without and free from within… Section 31 was born. It is a secret intelligence organization that helps preserve Starfleet and the Federation.
Once time travel was discovered, Section 31 realized changes in the timeline could go unnoticed. There was no defense to history. Intel Agents of the present were not enough, no matter how proactive. Thus, several Shadow Fleets were formed outside the present timeline. They exist at specially made stations, surrounded by warp-phase-time bubbles. The shadow bubbles were created by combining discarded federation phase-cloak technology with theories developed aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise by Wesley Crusher. From time to time, ships of each fleet exit “their” bubble to re-supply and recruit.
Each fleet is completely independent. The composition and technology of each fleet varies and even changes over time. Most retain diversity in population and politics to ensure the spirit of the Federation remains strong. Some are more reclusive than others, none have been discovered. No fleet knows of the location of another and no fleet knows how many others, if any, exist. But exist they do, quietly checking, monitoring, and when necessary acting. When temporal changes are discovered, and natural events do not restore the balance, action is taken. If natural events are taking a turn for the worse, actions are taken to turn them for the better.
Once the fleets were established, Section 31 erased all records of their existence, to include the memories of Section 31 Agents. If one fleet failed or went bad – another would succeed or defend.
Rumors and legends abound of mysterious ships that appeared at a critical moment, taking actions that kept the Federation safe. They all seem to have disappeared or been destroyed. They were of unusual but familiar design yet their registry remained undiscovered, lost in the chaos of battle. Dangerous situations are full of chaos making it easy for the fleets to quietly recede into the shadows, unnoticed as peace and the light of safety return.
They exist only because the Federation exists, they follow the guidance that established the Federation, they leave their own lives behind to quietly protect those of others. They are always present and will exist as long as there is light, as long as there is a Federation.
They are the shadows of the Federation.
These are the ships of Acerbus Station -- protectors hiding in the darkness of chaos.
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