'Internal Affairs' Discussion Thread

[Grizz]

"You might want to make yourself comfortable."

Questioned by Mason, The Director revealed an intimate knowledge of the Captain and Pioneer's recent history. But when it came to the question of who she is and where she came from - that took a more extensive answer. Back we go to 2384, and as First Officer of the USS Apollo  - Commander Maria Vega (revealed to be the woman we know as The Director) is supporting her Captain by preparing the crew for battle against Captain Amber Munro's "rebel" fleet en-route to depose President G'rath.



That first paragraph there pretty much sums up why I had so much trouble deciding whether this was a good idea. Only half of the crew roster were there for Asteroid Base's extensive G'rath / Illuminati storyline. With Andzzy and Plexus sadly not present, that number was whittled down further. I also ultimately cut a scene with G'rath himself on Earth due to how little it would have meant to most people. It didn't help that the details and reviews of the original episodes were lost in a forum wipe, though the storyline is often documented. I'll probably release that scene anyway, tomorrow.

As a side to the story I still wanted to see, it was a very selfish idea in a way. But anyhow...

"Today we stand committed and united to do our duty... to protect and defend the President of the United Federation of Planets"

In the run up to the inevitable battle, Vega took to gauging the mindset of several of the senior staff. She wanted to know whether they believed what and who they were fighting for - and their opinion of the so-called rebels heading for Earth. As the Apollo arrived on the scene, the reason for this revealed itself. Vega was not loyal to her ship's Captain, but instead to an organisation ran by another 'Director.' Presumably her predecessor back in 2390. As it became clear that G'rath would try to flee Earth if outed, Vega was given the task of taking the opportunity to eliminating him.



Pardon the interruption, but this brings me to another point. Something I didn't plan for was the episode being confined to the Bridge (and the conference room). It just kind of happened as there was really no need to go elsewhere. I certainly wasn't going to stop anybody from leaving. I suppose it made things a little more tense. A suspicious eye here and a tap of the shoulder there, all under the watchful gazes of everybody else. Anyway, where was I?



Knowing that she would have to gain control of the ship, Vega gathered together officers she believed would join Munro's cause - if only to further hers - and take the ship from under the Captain mid-battle. With Cox, Sanderson and Elwyn, a plan was formulated and so, having retconned my way out of Earth Spacedock being a huge source of firepower in orbit -  the impromptu mutiny was soon underway. Though Cox only agreed to take part so long as he could "get in on" whoever Vega really worked for. That came back to haunt me.

"Nobody else has to die, today!"

With the Bridge crew all at the end of eachothers phasers, there was something of a stand-off as each decided whether they wanted to help Vega or join their stunned Captain. Some hustling and bustling later, sides were chosen and Vega's time was near. The President was fleeing aboard Paris-One, with two Galaxy-class escorts. With the Apollo maneuvered in to formation under the guise of supporting the escort, Vega ordered the ship destroyed. It was enough to almost immediately turn some collaborators against her - but it was the mission she had to carry out, so took tactical control herself.

However, in her hesitation to fire, the escorts prortecting G'rath turned on him - and engaged their tractor beams on Paris-One. The Apollo broke off and Vega was ordered to stand down and proceed to extraction. Cox followed her in to the ready room, only to find that she was gone. He was not all that pleased that she had left him behind following their deal. But G'rath lived another day - only to one day seek vengeance in style - and to the sounds of The Blue Danube, two years later.

"Just wait until Doctor Bennett sees it..."

Back in the present and Mason was left with more questions than answers. But Vega finally started to lift the veil as she handed details of Operation: Dark Star to her (claiming that Mason was removed from Pioneer as she would be a liability - she knew this because she "ran the simulations)." Shocked by whatever it is she saw, Mason called Vega out as insane - who responded by warning her not to sound like Taval. Mason was able to piece together that Vega was somehow linked to Taval and Peirce - perhaps now aware that she is to blame for their deaths.

To end the episode, Vega revealed the organisation that she serves as Director of. As unexpectedly foreshadowed (can you imagine my face at that point - did the title give it away? I tried to hide it by putting External Affairs before it) by Cox way-back-when, she introduced Mason to her fellow comrades...

"Welcome, Sophia. Welcome to Section 31."

Dark Star is launching, but what is it? How can Vega hope to get away with exposing Section 31? What does Accobar contain which she wants? How has she been getting her information on Pioneer?

There are still questions to answer and plenty of revelations to come as we delve in to the two-part finale. A largely improvised mutiny was a risky prospect - especially tied to a subject matter which few people would actually be interested in. It may have gotten a little messy when the takeover began, but we mostly emerged unscathed. Mostly. Thank you for attending - please rate and discuss, above and below!

[criminula]

As unexpectedly foreshadowed (can you imagine my face at that point - did the title give it away? I tried to hide it by putting External Affairs before it) by Cox way-back-when

Having seen the script for the final scene beforehand, I was wondering whether or not it had been planned...

[Mutatio Nomen]

Oops? Cox is too clever for his own good.

[Martin Thompson]

Excellent episode. Surprising reveal, i wouldn't have thought you would ever touch that subject, but it is rather fitting in it all. We had to wait a bit for this episode but it was worth it in my opinion. Being confined to the bridge wasn't really that bad. Seeing as it was a "flashback" kind of thing, the scripted parts at the beginning and the end made up for the lack of scenery. Plus there was a lot going on outside of the ship. I always love a flashback episode where we see a bit of the "main action" from the sidelines. I could also nicely fit in a few bits and pieces i wanted to do with my new character there. I do hope some people who where also there for "Personal Affairs" got the hint as to why Ms Elwyn was so fierce on rescuing the plummeting Athena from certain doom. On that note, and for those of you who weren't there when it happened back in AB (and i checked this with Grizz as I forgot myself), a bunch of Federation News Network ships swooped in "at the eleventh hour" to save the day for the Asteroid Base crew, two member of which now (still) serve in the Accobar system.

This "Operation Dark Star" must be quite something as even Section 31 is involved...