Lima Echo 1

From: Lt Kirok of L'Stok - Science Officer, USS Magellan
To: Cpt Davis, Jeffrey A. - Administrator, Engineering Research Outpost Project
Subject: Lima Echo 1 Project, Update

Captain -

1. This is to confirm that the USS Magellan will arrive in orbit above K-427 in system Zayin 6 within three days. As arranged, we will be accompanying asteroid Lima Echo 1, which is being transported under Warp from the Sol system.


2. Upon arrival at K-427 we will place Lima Echo 1 into a stable, high, geostationary orbit above the coordinates of the active geothermal area that you have identified. We have received word from the USS le Corbusier of the Starfleet Corps of Engineers that construction of the microwave power beam station is about to commence and should be complete within a planetary month.


3. We will then arrange transfer of the combined Tellerite / Andorian Xenoarchaeological expedition that is accompanying Lima Echo 1 to the temporary quarters built by the le Corbusier, adjacent to the microwave station.


4. We anticipate that the USS Magellan will be have the asteroid in orbit and the ground facilities functioning within two planetary months and will depart Zayin 6 shortly after.


5. Fleet Captain T'Kyle sends her respects and could you please pass on to the EROP Project Directors that if they require the assistance of the Magellan during our stay, we will make every effort to comply.


6. As Science Officer, I am looking forward to exchanging visits with as many of the projects as possible during our short stay.


7. Detail telemetry accompanies this transmission. If you require any more information, do not hesitate to contact my department or myself. I will be getting in touch personally to confirm this shortly.

Regards
Lt. Kirok of L'Stok, Science Officer, USS Magellan

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Secure Subspace transmission: Kirok to Davis]

• Kirok - Jeff, it is satisfying to see you again. It has been a long time.


• Davis - Kirok, I still can't work out if you're the ugliest Vulcan I've ever seen or the craziest Klingon!


• Kirok - Your humour knows no bounds still, I see.


• Davis - … and yours is improving. How have things been?


• Kirok - I'll be glad to get there to unload this cargo of XenoArchaeologists! Whoever thought of mixing Tellerites and Andorians on the same project should be given the job of babysitting them.


• Davis - That almost sounds like emotion! Surely they are not that bad?


• Kirok - Perhaps individually, but there is some sort of blood feud between the two co-directors and the rest of the expedition have taken sides. If they weren't disarmed, we would have had a bloodbath by now!


• Davis - I hope they realise that once the Magellan and le Corbusier are gone, they will have to be pretty much self-sufficient? The rest of the EROP projects are only just getting on their feet themselves and they haven't developed much planetary infrastructure yet - some of them are here precisely for that privacy.


• Kirok - Independence they do not lack, it is teamwork that they are useless at. I am not dropping off a xenoarchaeological expedition, I'm landing two armed camps! We've tried diplomacy, counselling, mediation - they either seem unaware that there is a problem or uninterested in solving it.


• Davis - That's surprising, considering the subject of their Dig - Kirok, could you confirm security channel settings?


• Kirok - Black beta 1.


• Davis - Good. What do you think? Is this really the LIEF Erikson?


• Kirok - Jeff, all the indications are that this asteroid is, or once was, named "The LIEF Erikson" and what sensor readings we can get of it seem to confirm that the facilities beneath the surface conform with early 22nd century technology.


• Davis - I understand your problem is a computer security lockout?


• Kirok - It's a long story, Jeff, but if you thought I was insane you should try talking to this computer!


• Davis - Either your sense of humour has increased tenfold or …


• Kirok - Oh, I don't want to spoil the surprise but, yes, insane is the best word to describe this Artificial Intelligence!


• Davis - I'll talk to you again before you hit Zayin 6. Take care.


• Kirok - Live long and prosper, Jeff Davis.

Academia

Professor Tondaner was packing his bags when the Vice Chancellor Gretham of the Tellar Dept of Xenoarchaeology, came to his chambers. After the necessary formal pleasantries, the Tellarite who was the political power broker at the head of the department came straight to the point.

"I hear you are taking an unexpected leave of absence, professor?" grunted Gretham. To other life forms, the Tellarites seemed to be perpetually grumpy and argumentative, their pig-like snouts and squat stature making one Human admiral to privately describe a Tellarite conference to be like a barnyard fight. Between Tellarites the subtleties were obvious.

"I have three years accumulated leave, Vice Chancellor. Something has come up that requires my personal attention." Tondaner’s answer was defensive but firm. A life-long bachelor, xenoarchaeology was his life, his infrequent vacations were invariably connected with his work.

"A family matter?"

"You could say that." This time Tondaner was noncommittal, not giving anything away.

"Yes, I could ... but I would be wrong wouldn't I?" Gretham was an old Tellarite, his movements slow and ponderous. He turned to the wall.

"Computer, identify."

Like all Federation planets, the Tellarite public computer system was keyed to voice commands. By identifying himself to the system, Gretham was able to use it as if it were the one in his office

"You are Vice Chancellor Gretham." The computers reply was a gruff female Tellarite voice.

"Access Gretham aleph-aleph-sin 5b"

A large section of the wall which before had looked like a rare ethnic Tellarite tapestry, now became dark for a moment before showing a youthful Tellaran behind a desk. Behind him was graphic of a Nebula class Starfleet cruiser.

"FNN News. This is Kranf Sonderhend reporting. The lead story for the day is the latest release from Starfleet headquarters of the amazing discovery by the crew of the USS Magellan who have discovered what have been confirmed to be artifacts relating to the LIEF Erikson."

The USS Magellan disappeared and a remarkably clear shot of professor Tondaner took it’s place.

‘The LIEF Erikson was the subject of a minor diplomatic exchange between the Tellarite and Andorian governments when professor L'naa Tondaner of the Tellarite Department of Xenoarchaeology was accused of ‘academic thuggery’ by his Andorian counterpart, professor Nala Danernot."

"I don’t have to watch this rubbish!" Tondaner angrily marched over to Gretham "Computer, off!"

The old Tellarite calmly remained standing with hands clasped before him. "Within hours of this I get an application for leave from the departments professor emeritus. A professor, I might add, whose professional credibility rests on his rather uncompromising stance that the LIEF Erikson never existed."

Nala angrily stabbed a finger in the direction of the Vice Chancellor. "You're paraphrasing me! Taking my words out of context. I never said ..."

This time Gretham rose to the challenge, raising his voice to make his point.

"Don't play the debating scholar with me! Your last article in Xeno Journal nearly cost Danernot his funding and caused a major incident with the damned Andorians!"

He flung his hand towards the half packed bag.

"What do you expect to do? Turn up at the Dig coordinates and bluff your way through the Starfleet security lines? Do you realize that this is the most heavily guarded find of the century? Do you want to start another interstellar incident? Don’t be a fool! I had your passport cancelled as soon as I heard the news!"

Tondaner recoiled as if stung! "You did what!"

Gretham turned and walked to the cluttered desk that dominated the end of the room, talking as he went, his hands now clasped behind his back, his voice moderated.

"L’naa, we do not see eye-to-eye on all things. I love a good argument as much as the next Telleran but you are reckless, you let anger get the best of you."

When he got to the desk he turned and took up one of the many artifacts littered about it and idley examined it before replacing it.

"However I cannot deny that you are the most brilliant xenoarchaeologist that Tellar has ever produced. What would you say if I told you that we had been invited to take part in a combined xenoarchaeological project to unlock the secrets of … whatever it is they have found."

Tondaner was surprised, but did not allow himself to show it. "I would say, why did we not make a bid for control of the project? Tellar has by far the greatest xenoarchaeological resources of any planet in the Federation."

"Quite simply it all boils down to politics, " said Gretham, bobbing his head in the Tellarite equivalent of a shrug. " This is a potentially explosive development which could change the face of the Federation."

Tondaner looked skeptical so Gretham went on. "Andor and Tellar have always been a major part of the balance of power in the Federation, but the relationship has always been a delicate one. We have always had to be on the lookout that the Andorians do not gain an overwhelming influence over the Federation council. The creation of the Federation has never been in doubt, so we have always known where we stood."

"The information that might come from the LIEF Erikson could be destabilizing for both the Earth and Vulcan governments, which could make a power vacuum that could advantage us, the Andorians or one of the newer systems. None of these developments would be welcome. I don’t mind telling you there are forces at work that do not want the secrets of the LIEF Erikson to see the light of day."

"It has been decided that the Human and Vulcan involvement in the project will be kept to a support role to ensure objectivity and that the project will be jointly managed by Tellar and Andor. Tondaner, I want you head up our contingent."

The professor smiled complacently as he imagined the glory ahead of him. Pity he had to put up with the interference of those Andorian amateurs. The Vice Chancelor was continuing as a horrible thought crossed his mind.

"Tondaner, I am trusting you for once in your life to be diplomatic …’

Professor L'naa Tondaner felt his dreams come crashing to the ground as he listened to the fateful words that would seal their doom.

"… because your co-director will be professor Nala Danernot of the Federal university of Andor.’

The LIEF Erikson, A new Troy?

[The following is a paper produced by Nala Danernot Mxa, Professor of Xenoarchaeology, Andor]

The study of 21st Century Earth history has been fraught with many problems, the gravest of which is the lack of first hand, primary source documentation. The period between First Contact in 2063 and the creation of the first World government in 2113 has been a historical "black hole" in that respect, giving rise to fanciful urban myths, tales of treachery, heroism and high ideals against an undercurrent of chaos and anarchy.

One name has shone forth from this time of fantastic tales though, that of the LIEF Erikson, a nigh legendary sanctuary, a haven of peace and tranquility in a world torn by nuclear war, home to the bravest, the brightest, the most enlightened that the world could provide. It has been likened to Camelot and its' knights, The Library of Alexandria, or the Illuminati - "the invisible country". A great favourite of cheap holonovel writers and the focus of the epic Asnograd trilogy, the truth must be faced that most of what we know about the LIEF (as it was known for short) is most probably fiction.

There has been a concerted effort amongst the more conservative elements of certain Xenoarchaeological institutions to assert that the LIEF was a not a real place. I will concede that there is not one shred of hard evidence that we can use to say "The LIEF Erikson stood here!". We don't even know what the name means! At times the legend has vaguely Scandinavian overtones, at others the characters seem to live in some combination of magical lands from all over Earths' history! If it were a real place where are the ruins, the artifacts, the massive social infrastructure that would be needed to support such a place!

The problem stems from the infamous "Soft Bomb" of 2111 that wiped out all electronic records that were connected up to the Ubernet at the time and the anti-technology risings of the same year that destroyed the remaining great libraries. The British library, the Library of Congress - these were all razed to the ground in what was to be the death throes of the Earths' anarchist movement. All that remained were a few university libraries, defended by makeshift militia of students and academics. The sad thing is that by far the majority of the works destroyed were the Earths historical heritage since technical works can be recreated from experience and logic. Once the last copy of Homers' Iliad was destroyed, or Churchills' "History of the English race" or Heinleins' "Time Enough For Love" was burnt, noone then alive could recreate them. All we have now are fragments, isolated reviews and commentaries.

What facts we have seem to conspire against reason for they point to an otherwise insoluble paradox. On the one hand we are told that Cochranes' pivotal meeting with the Vulcans in 2063 galvanised the people of the Earth into banding together into a World government that, within fifty years was able to bring an end to war, disease and famine. Yet on the other hand, there is incontrovertable evidence that shows that the anarchist courts of the Post-Atomic Horror were still in operation as late as 2079.

From 2113 onwards we have no such problems. Not only do we have full electronic records restored - and failsafe procedures set in place to ensure that such an attack could never be a repeated - but we have the evidence of a growing number of interstellar embassies and emmisaries who came to Earth once it proved itself to be more than a barbaric backwater.

Up to 2113, the only real interstellar influence on Earth was the Vulcans from 2063 onwards and the assumption has always been that it was their influence that guided humanity out of barbarism. This too has its' problems, for the records of the Vulcan mission pre-2113 were conveniently lost in the Vulcan civil war. Add to this the fact that by the time of the first voyages of the NX-01, there seem to have been an air of resentment and suspicion over the Vulcan prescence rather than respect. Not the attitude one would expect from the Master / Apprentice relationship ussually accepted in the history books.

If not the Vulcans, who then did influence human society so that it made such radical changes? Could there be an element of truth behind the stories of the LIEF Erikson, a secret human society, like the Knights Templar, that was pledged to the defence of an ideal.
I am working on an assumption that there is some fundamental basis of truth to the stories about the LIEF Erikson.

There is an apocryphal story amongst Xenoarchaeologists that an early archaeologist of primitive, pre-First Contact Earth by the name of Schlieman discovered the ruins of Homers Troy and Priams treasure by literally following clues in the text of the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey".

The treasure we seek here is knowledge. Can it too be found by following the legendary texts?

The LIEF Erikson, Urban Myth?

[The following is a paper produced by L'naa Tondaner Mxa, Professor Emeritus, Dept of Xenoarchaeology, Tellar]

The United Federation of Planets represents a political grouping of over 1600 planetary systems to date. Each planet is independant within its’ own boundaries but has agreed to be recognised as a part of the Federation in its’ dealings with other planets within the Federation and without.

The Federation was originally created by 5 races at the end of the Romulan War in 2161. Of these - Andor, Vulcan, Earth, Athens and Tellar - arguably the most influentiual has been the Human, Terran or, as it is known to the indigenous population, Earth culture. Their combination of all the traits seen amongst the sentient species of the known universe makes them a unique "common denominator" within the Federation. For example they are logical enough to appreciate and be appreciated by the Vulcans, they value strength of will as do the Andoreans and have a variety of well developed religions that make them sympathetic to cultures like the Bajorans.

This human centering of the Federation might been seen as a strength by us, but to those outside the Federation it has been likened to the ‘humanisation" of the universe, as if Earth is trying to extend its’ influence across known space in an almost imperialist swarm! Because of this it is important to recognise the origins of the Federation as a whole, to study all the cultures that make it up. It is with this in mind that, when we look at late 21st century Earth we see it as a fledgling part of its' local group of interstellar civilisations. How did they develop from a post nuclear conflict, semi-barbarism to one of the founding members of an interstellar federation of planets in one hundred years?

When the Vulcans made first contact with Earth in 2063 they are faced with the classic "Prime Directive" dilemma: how much and what type of technology should they give to the people of Earth? Giving the wrong type of technology to the wrong people could destroy the Earth rather than save it. Imagine the chaos that would ensue if one faction, especially one of the aggressively totalitarian governments that had control of major blocks of the Earths’ population at the time, had acquired phaser technology.

Their answer was to accelerate the Earths development along lines that the ethically enlightened Vulcans knew would lead towards world unity, peace and prosperity.

My studies of Vulcan records of the time are inconclusive since they are uncharacteristically vague. It would appear that Vulcan relations with Earth were taken over by a faction that closely followed the teachings of Surat and recognised with growing alarm the more imperialist faction that tried to take control in the later Vulcan civil war.

I have found tantalising hints that the developing world government, based on the "New United Nations", was based on a cadre of young people who were secretly educated by the Vulcans and seeded back into their native societies. Away from national rivalries, mixing freely between ALL cultures and without indoctrination from political or idealogical blocs they were in a melting pot where a new cross-cultural philosophical outlook could grow based on a caring and ethical use of technology.

There are some radicals in Xenoarchaelogical circles who would have us believe that Earth society was revolutionised by some mysterious human organisation based in a semi-mythical fortress known as the LIEF Erikson. Whilst I cannot disprove all of the dubious scholarship it is based on, I feel a few sceptical questions will soon show that it is unlikely at the best estimate.
Where, for example, are the ruins, the artifacts that will prove its’ existence? Where did it come from and - more to the point – where did it go to? An organisation the size and complexity of one such as this might have existed in secret but, once it was destroyed, as the tales suggest, there should have been no one to keep the secrets

Indeed, the LIEF has been likened to Camelot, the legendary home of King Arthur and his knights, but this analogy cuts both ways. The historical basis for the romance of Camelot is so thin that the real Camelot and Arthur of Roman-armed Britons would in all likelyhood be unrecognisable as the origin of the medieval romance.

Searching for evidence of the LIEF Erikson is not Xenoarchaeology, it is treasure seeking and the efforts expended on it would be better used in tracing the extraterrestrial influences during this period that undoubtedly guided Earth society during this seminal period.

Contents

Welcome to LIEF Press - The publishing house of the LIEF Erikson. All of the Fan Fiction here is written by me, Kirok of L'Stok, and follows various threads ...

Lima Echo 1 ...

• The LIEF Erikson, Urban Myth?
• The LIEF Erikson, A new Troy?
• Academia
• Lima Echo 1
  

Tales of Death and Honour ...

• Motherhood
• Fatherhood
• Freedom