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[Bridge]

Ian watched the bridge crew react to being fired on and knew he was exactly in the right place at the right time. He felt his hands slide into position to begin evasive maneuvers. What he didn't feel was the half smile that formed on his lips as he waited for the command to do so.

"And THIS is what bein' a helmsman is all about."

[Conference Room]

As those from the briefing began to file out, Will made his way to where Ian was and pulled him aside. "Cadet, there is a reason you joined us in this briefing. You are in training for Flight Control and I am well aware you aren't someone who has had a lifetime behind the helm." He paused for a moment as he produced a PADD "But I have seen what Command knows about you and I see you as a better fit here on the Bridge. I will confer with Operations to see about getting you a shift or two up here but for now I want you to man the helm. Plot a course to Columbus at Full Impulse."

[Briefing Room]

Ian was fully braced for, and fully expecting to be chewed out, blinked in shock when he was offered the chance to actually pilot a Galaxy-Class starship.

"Aye Sir! Thank you Sir! Course to Starbase Columbus at full impulse coming right up!"

As Ian exited the briefing room and turned toward the bridge, he wasn't certain his feet even touched the deck.

"Not only to I get to pilot, I get to plot the course! Infinity only knows how long that will take at impulse, but it's a start."

[Main Bridge]

When the doors of the turbolift opened, Ian managed not to squeak at the joy he felt at the unexpected series of events that brought him to this point so early in his career. He crossed to the helm and took tremendous pride at how steady his voice was when he spoke to the helmsman on duty.

"I relieve you sir."

However,  just as the two exchanged places, the Tempest shook from a sudden impact and the red alert klaxon began to sound.

Tag Commander Waring

[Conference Room]

"Permission Granted. Please keep me in the loop." He said giving the man a nod. He understood that some would object to his order to dump the core but to his knowledge the other ship had mostly the same tech, Warp Core included.

"Zed, please prepare all auxiliary reactors to come to full power. I plan on giving the impulse all the power we can safely muster. We may not break warp but it will certainly allow us to being heading back to Columbus." Will could see that Zed was in pain, the emotions on the ship must be extremely overwhelming.

"Naga and K'lizh, please compose a message to Columbus requesting a tow and standby to send after we dump the core. Lizzie, I want you to head down to Sickbay. I am unsure how the other crew will react to use effectively changing their past so prep Sickbay for possible conflict."

He straightened his uniform "Cadet Galloway, please remain. Everyone else is dismissed."

[Briefing Room]

Externally, Ian replied to Commander Waring with a crisp.

"Aye Sir!"

Internally Ian cringed.

"Oh bloody hell ya bloody fool, yer big gob has gone and dropped ya right into the pot. I talked out of turn ta a superior and I'm about ta get a strip ripped right off my arse and fed back ta me raw."

[Briefing Room]

Zed glanced over to Ian for a moment. It sounded as if he was trying to disagree, although all he did was rephrase his words. "As I said, we can get the ship up to warp, but sustaining it for any period of time is a near impossibility." It was clear that Normandy was in no condition to be doing much of anything at that point. Every pain-filled word outlined that fact perfectly as well. After a moment of silence he put his head back into his hands and closed his eyes.

[Briefing Room]
Ian was clearly skeptical, but he knew, as a mere cadet, it didn't pay to continue openly disagreeing with superiors, so he stiffened in his seat in the closest approximation of coming to attention as he could manage without standing as he replied.

"If you say so sir."

[Conference Room]

Will let the Officers discuss the various aspects of the ideas going around but needed to get everyone pulled back in.

He cleared his throat before speaking "Here's what we know: The Tempest is going to have faulty crystals which possibly causes this whole thing, we could duplicate this crew and let them relive the cycle."

He thought for a moment. "Dump the core" he said simply "If the crystals are faulty then we dump the core. The cycle can't happen if we don't have any crystals to go bad."

He addressed Ian next "Mister Galloway, assuming we dump the core, would it be possible for our Impulse Engines to break Warp One?"

[Briefing Room]

Ian found himself wondering exactly how he got himself involved in making crucial decisions while only a cadet, but he knew he studied hard and knew the basics of all the major systems aboard a starship. He listened to Mister Masters and frowned.

"Best impulse drive made is rated at .95 cee Sir. Problem with exceeding the light barrier is we won't be in a warp field and thus relativistic limitations apply. There isn't enough power in the quadrant to overcome Einstein, at least not according to the physics I know Sir."

[Briefing Room]

James smiled at Normandy at his offer to join his reckless plan.  It was a typical plan that he created bold, daring but if it works it would solve our problems.  However, the risk were huge.  He had grown fond of Normandy during the last couple of mission but he would not let him risk his life on a daring plan.
"Normandy, the complexities of this plan are astronomical.  I am using as a model the duplication of Commander William T. Riker, now my theory of what happened in the accident is pretty simple.  Every transporter has safety systems and a stored buffer.  Data is then stream between transporters by the subspace domain.  Sometimes the data can be corrupted or incomplete in which we have buffers.  The idea would be to intentionally placed either hull or shield in the other Tempest to create a distortion, then we will initialize a second confiment beam , we all know that one is enough in mid stream we will then raise the shield of either ship bounce the signal back and the result would be in theory...two individuals....best case scenario there are two of us, worse case scenario they both die, or we don't know what would happen since nobody has done this on purpose.  It's risky...personalities could be spilt like James T. Kirk, or both individuals could die.  "  James explained
"I won't risk your life unless, I am certain, it's only fair that I take the risk...besides...if I am wrong...you can say to my dead body...I told you so"  James said.  In truth he wanted to protect him from this plan.

quote author=Ian Galloway link=topic=7031.msg138273#msg138273 date=1481230828]
[Briefing Room]
Ian was close to bursting when Lieutenant Klizh and then Lieutenant Commander Vaughn spoke, sighing in relief as the two took apart Lieutenant Commander Hawke's plan.

"Thank Infinity that everyone hasn't bloody gone off the deep end. Transporter duplication is beyond folly and even more unethical. Although I don't believe a predestination paradox applies. We can change our future, especially if Ensign T'Prina is correct, if we know the dilithium is faulty, we can fix that ahead of the event and avoid it completely."

James looked down and said "I don't believe in giving up so easily...there has to be a way to beat this scenario.   Am I desperate to find a solution? The answer is yes.  Am I crazy? The answer is no?"  James took a breath as he finished his rhetorical question.  The plan was desperate but he had a general theory and he was only willing to risk his own life.

He address the big issue "The Commander is right" he said looking at Lizzie.  "There is no way...to know that our actions would make matters worse or better.  Mr. Gallloway, the problem is...let's say we change the Dilithium, which we have a problem in finding another dilithium, let' say we swap or steal dilithium from another ship.  There is a chance that THAT dilithium would be faulty...as the Commander says it part of pre determination.   This could be sabotage, accident, purpose in short any number of scenarios.  We don't know, for all we know when I was interrupted this morning in my routine scans, it caused a microfracture.  I do agree saying messages to our loved ones in case it happens would be practical."  James then stood up

"I know you think my plan is crazy, but I think I have the right to risk my life in order to try and save them.    I am not risking the crew I am risking myself.  We can always send This Tempest and I will fix the older one...give me 2 weeks in dry dock and no sleep and I can do a miracle"  James said

He finished his say, at this point there was nothing else he could say.  He explained the idea behind the plan and the theory behind it.  He did not believe in no win scenarios, but he needed to find a solution to save everyone.

[Briefing Room]

Ian took a deep breath and could hold his tongue no longer as Lieutenant Commander Hawke continued to press his insane plan. Ian's Highland Burr, was all too evident, which tended to color his Federation Standard when he was angry, upset, or scared, and at this moment, all three applied.

"This is soddin' madness Sir. Temporal Mechanics does nay accept that predestination paradoxes are inevitable. Every bloody ship named Enterprise has proven that. In our case, there is one potential future where we get thrown back in time and based on the number of parallel universes that exist, that is not the only future possible. The only thing predestined is, if we avoid bein' thrown back, then the timeline with that other Tempest will cease to exist. That's hard luck on them, but our first duty is ta this ship and this crew, not a lot that should nay exist!"

"That will not work," K'lizh spoke up. It was clear to him that Hawke had lost it; the plan was insane on the face of it. "Quantum duplication has never been successfully recreated in the laboratory, all known occurrences were purely accidental. And even if this ship had the power to successfully materialize over one thousand people out of nothingness, which it does not, what about the paradox of the other Tempest?

"Our scans show it is two hundred years old. If we send that back in time again--assuming it survives when it is already over twice its intended lifespan--then the next time around it will be 400 years old, and then 800, and so on. That is no stable time paradox, that is entropy." He shook his head. There was no easily way to cheat fate.

[Briefing Room]
Ian was close to bursting when Lieutenant Klizh and then Lieutenant Commander Vaughn spoke, sighing in relief as the two took apart Lieutenant Commander Hawke's plan.

"Thank Infinity that everyone hasn't bloody gone off the deep end. Transporter duplication is beyond folly and even more unethical. Although I don't believe a predestination paradox applies. We can change our future, especially if Ensign T'Prina is correct, if we know the dilithium is faulty, we can fix that ahead of the event and avoid it completely."

Tag to LTCMDR Hawke.

[Briefing Room]
As he finished his statement, James sat down and scratched his eyes with his thumb and index fingers.    He figured he stepped over his bounds but was still thinking of the dillema. James accepted the moment and took a second he wanted to talk to her in private.  He observed her as she took her chair and kept observing the conversation.
James observed the table as William placed his fist in the desk.   As he finished he continued "You have my apologies, Sir"

He looked at the Cadet Helm Officer and said "Mr. Galloway, can you do flight analysis and situation from the PADD and information recovered from the Future Tempest?"

James listened to his fellow officers about the situation.  They all gave valid points.  James then was thinking...and he wanted to cheat.
"What if we cheat?  We have two ships...only one of them need to go back in time.  What if we duplicate the crew...which is probably not ethical...there are few instances of duplicating people in the Transporter Room within certain conditions.  If we replicate something like those...we can replicate the crew.  If the Medical staff can find a way...to give us or our duplicates something to forget the last 48 hours  with the exception of key individuals...then we can replicate the events.  " James said

"In order for this plan to work we will need the full corporation of both ships" James said

He then looked "Commander, if someone needs to go in the transporter room to be tested, I volunteer...although I would hate having another myself running around"

[Briefing Room]

Ian's first thought when Lieutenant Commander Hawke addressed him was one of utter disbelief. "Are ya daft man?" before regaining his composure and truly evaluating the question. Hawke had asked him could he do a flight analysis and situation from data from the supposed future Tempest, and to that, the answer was yes. The larger question of should a cadet be doing it was not his place to comment upon. Ian's internal monologue took place in less than a second, but he felt like it took longer and he couldn't keep everyone waiting if he ever hoped to graduate.

"I...Aye sir. I can."

[Conference Room]

"I see. Nothing more then coincidence then." Will let out an internal sigh. He had hoped things would go smoother then they had.
"We can not simply condemn those to death simply because we want life..." He took a moment and hung his head "...But we can't allow ourselves to be sent back. That isn't our time as much as this is theirs. As such, minutes ago, I have requested an increase of distance between us and them. Should we have to I except to jump to Warp at a moments notice" Will looked at Cadet Galloway as he said this. "Now, I understand the emotional strain is immense. Perhaps I feel it the most given recent events, but we must do what we have to do without hesitation."

He began to pace back in forth as he addressed the table once more "Did the Away Team conclude the cause of the 'trip' in time? Abnormalities in any of the logs?"

[Briefing Room]

Ian took in the XO's gaze as he mentioned having to go to warp and arched an eyebrow in surprise before he could stop it.

"Oh bugger all, what does that mean, and why is he lookin' at me when he said it. Under normal conditions, my post won't even let me change the level of the lightin' let alone move the ship."

[Briefing Room]

Ian remained silent as the seniors quarreled and tried to fill in the blanks of what was causing tension.

"Alright lad, here is what ya know. Red alert sounded because a proximity alert caused by another ship. That ship is supposedly the Tempest from the future. Seems like an away team went over and confirmed this is true and everyone has their knickers in an uproar over meeting their descendants. Well, I can sure see where that would upset the apple cart. Bloody hell, I wonder if there are any Galloways over there? Regardless, we get trapped in the past, some die, and if we avoid the accident, we will collapse that timeline and all those people disappear. If ever there was a time for Mrs Galloway's little boy Ian to keep his gob shut this is it."

Ian glanced around the room as nonchalantly has he could and continued to wonder why he'd be called in to this briefing.

[Briefing Room]

[Briefing Room]

Will had let the Senior Officers talk amongst themselves. It was only right to let them say what they thought needed to be said. That is until an outburst occurred. That's when he to draw the line.

"Enough!" He said, slamming his into the table causing a pound thud "You are a Senior Officer and shouldn't be acting like a kid from down in the School! I don't care what emotional attachment you may or may not have to those on the other ship but I not to allow outburst such as that again. I hope I have made myself clear, Lieutenant Commander." He stared straight at James for a moment until he heard the door open behind him and the voice of one of the new crew.Will took a moment to cool down before addressing the Cadet. "Mister Galloway, I'm glad you decided to join us. No better way to meet the Senior Staff then during a briefing such as this." Will took a moment to look around the table "As the CFO has yet to show you may use that seat at the table." He gave the man a nod and turned back to address everyone's assembled "Now, if we can agree to move past what happened moments ago, I would like to hear what everyone has on the matter."Will nodded as Naga spoke "Interesting. Any reason for this request now instead of a week from now? Or any information regarding our situation would be of value." He finished, giving the floor the the Senior Officers.

"Aye Sir!"

Ian responded automatically and without thinking about it as he looked at the indicated chair like it was a Denebian Slime Devil, but managed to take a seat without tripping over his own feet. Ian sat ramrod straight and in complete silence figuring whatever was going on was so far above his level that he'd sit there until the galaxy froze over unless asked to say something.

"Looks like the soddin' 285th Rule of Acquisition that 'No good deed goes unpunished' has never been truer than it is right now. I trade shifts with someone so they can go on a date and here I am in the middle of some sort of senior staff dust up. Note to self, 'your shift is your shift' no more tradin'."

[Briefing Room]

Ian entered the briefing room, still trying to process the unexpected summons to be there at all. When he looked at the others in the room along with the palpable tension, he wished he could beam himself back down to his regular duty station at the auxiliary helm behind the backup console on the battle bridge.

"Oh bloody hell."

He thought, before clearing his throat and taking pride in the fact that he managed not to squeak as he spoke.

"Cadet Ian Galloway reporting as ordered."

Yep, that got it working, thank you.