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Description

The city of New York in several worlds is a place with a deep and rich culture, a long history that is interwoven with major political, religious, and economical events across the multiverse. However this version of New York, known as Starfleet Headquarters in this world, is a place that has seen better days. When I arrive in this world and hop onto the USS Valkyrie, I am treated to a birds eye view of the massive system of walls that divides the lands. Eventually we reach the city of Manhattan, or “Sol” as it is known in this world. Once it lands down, I am driven to Starfleet Headquarters, known across multiple worlds as the UN Headquarters, flying the seemingly patchwork designs of the United Federation of Planets.

I soon meet Captain Thomas Spock on the local grounds, a tall man wearing worn out sunglasses. The golden uniform he wears is dirty and covered in stains, while the golden Starfleet medal on his left breast is completely clean, and shines in the morning light.

“I got this uniform from my father, who got it from his father’s father. It is a wonderful thing that we’ve created Mr. Chana, this humble Federation went from a single building to now occupying most of the New York area. Ooh, pardon me, I mean the Alpha Quadrant.”

“The Alpha Quadrant? Don’t you mean North America?” I ask.

“The deniers and naysayers of our great nation still refer to this region that way, but thanks to the glory of the Runners and the Prophecy, we know the true name.”

The United Federation of Planets is a coaltion of walled of regions stretching from New York City to the edge of Ontario. The nation is known across the local region as a state run by Cargo Cultists. I was initially fascinated by this, not just because of its "unique" culture, but also due to the fact that I have rarely found Cargo Cultist nations across the multiverse.

We sit down on a small bench overseeing the Atlantic Ocean, I take out my recorder, and with a smile on his face, Thomas begins to speak.

“Nobody foresaw WW3, an event so devastating that it wiped out most of the world. Many among my ancestors survived by pure chance, and in any other situation, they would have died.”

The Third World War, or the Final War as it is referred to in this alternate, was a global conflict that lasted approximately three hours, as the American, Chinese, and Russian nuclear arsenals suddenly activated and threw themselves at each other without a single command. Across the world, millions died while others took shelter in bunkers, the wilds, and the Global South which wasn’t even hit.

After the war, the survivors of the north began the long process of coping with the aftermath. In the Pacific Northwest, theocracies dedicated to worshipping various nature gods and goddesses sprung up, while Portland became a centre of White Nationalism. In the American South, various counties fell under the control of Neo Confederates,Black Nationalists, and cowboy coalitions began a massive three-way battle for the irradiated south. In Albany, New York State, the survivors found a unique way to cope.

“Our ancestors were spared from the nuclear fire thanks in both parts their faith and the Mall. The Mall sat far away from the original blast site, and managed to lock themselves in in order to survive the attacks from raiders and mutants. In those years, they slowly reclaimed the city around them, and a new faith was born.”

“What do you mean?”

“The original Runners, those ancient prophets with a gleam in their eye, created a tale that almost anyone could agree with. A future without hate, persecution, poverty, all under the banner of a benevolent nation. The children of my ancestors took it upon themselves to spread the gospel of the Federation, and that of the prophets.”

From what I could gather, the next few years were spent by the newly declared UFP conquering and taking control of the local areas, eventually reaching New York and New Jersey with the mass development of airships that could take them far. However, with so many threats on all sides, a new and unique project began to take notice.

“With the Colubmians to the south, the Fordists to the west, and the Lovecraftians to the north, the current Starfleet council figured out a way to protect our nation, a grand wall that would separate various small regions, interconnected only by starship. This way, we could allow different cultures to prosper while also protecting ourselves from our dreaded enemies.”

The wall was created as a way to fortify the territories of the Federation, with the entire height of it being exactly 8 meters tall. Using the lines taken from maps of the state, the wall was built over county lines across the nation, with each square of territory having at least one township alongside a series of small farms.

“Each region encapsulated by the Starwall was given a name corresponding to their relative location within the gospel. Albany was renamed Sol, Columbia became Vulcan, and so on until every part of our nation could almost accurately represent the gospel.”

“So how does the government work exactly?”

“ Each region is governed by a planetary council, which appoints a single representative to go to either the capital in Sol or to Starfleet HQ right here. However, in order to make sure that each region follows the gospel correctly, a secondary shadow council secretly runs operations within each region. In practice, each of the councils run over the region, but in theory we can reach a point in development when we’ll be able to form communal regions that don’t need ruling councils.

“Why would a society that claims to be free and progressive have shadow councils? Doesn’t that undermine the whole idea?”

“Of course not! In the gospel it is stated that any free society must have some form of protection, that is the job of Starfleet. Not only is Starfleet dedicated to peaceful exploration, but it will also watch over regions from their glorious flying starships.”

I ask about the rumors of reeducation camps located in the nuclear wastelands near Philadelphia, but Thomas just shakes his head.

“The very idea that we would be creating such things is preposterous, although we do have prison regions dedicated to helping criminals turn their wayward ways around, but we certainly do not have prison camps!”

I managed to calm Thomas down after that question, he seemed tense, and I worried that if I didn’t read lightly I wouldn’t learn all that I wished to hear about. So I turned the conversation around to the so-called “Reconstruction Era.”, something which once again put a smile onto his face.

“The Reconstruction Era was the elimination of elements that went against the gospel and supported our enemies. Symbols of the American and canadian peoples were destroyed and replaced with statues and monuments dedicated to the Runners and the characters they created. Why, we are planning on destroying the Statue of Liberty and replacing it with a statue of Kirk himself!”

“And Language?”

“The Reconstruction Council sought it necessary to create a language based upon the words and catchphrases most common within the gospel. And so now instead of going somewhere, you are to say “I am beaming out”. It took a while, but the older and grown up generations managed to catch on easily while the children accepted it as another part of life. Then we renamed the continental groups, so the Americas became the Alpha and Beta Quadrant, Eurasia became the Gamma Quadrant, and everything else became the Delta and Omega Quadrant.”

“And what about the groups of people who don’t want their local culture destroyed?”

“They will be relocated to a region similar to their previous one, it is a very simple one. Towns run by engineers and such will be sent to Vulcan, individuals with an intense reproductive drive will be sent to Risa, it all just works.”

The last major thing I ask about is Starfleet itself, and how it operates with the Federation.

“Starfleet operates all exploratory and defensive missions across the Alpha Quadrant, whether it be launching expeditions into the Gamma Quadrant or fighting against the Lovecraftian cultist raiders in the north, Starfleet has a hand in every part of the Federation. Farming equipment is paid for and made by Starfleet, and out of every military branch, it always has the highest recruitment numbers.”

I asked about the rumors that the Starfleet Admirals, the leaders of Starfleet chosen from the longest running and most brilliant captains, secretly run the Federation. But Thomas is quick at dismissing it.

“Starfleet is separate from the Governing Councils, as per our constitution. However, in times of war, the Starfleet Admirals will be able to take control of vast amounts of territory in order to make the war effort easier. But I assure you Mr. Chana, we are not ruled by some shadowy council, that is for the regions, not the Federation as a whole.”

After my interview with Thomas, I hitched a ride out of the Federation up north, to the territory of the Lovecraftian Councils, a coalition of raider states that worship the writing of H.P Lovecraft. I head towards Boston, and meet my next interviewee in a small fishing bar while the moon glows in the sky.

Former Admiral Samantha “Bones' ' Patrick doesn’t wear her uniform, but instead wears a fisherman's outfit while chugging a bear. She is quick to talk, and begins to speak immediately after I start the recorder.

“After I finished serving as a captain for ten years, I was invited to Sol for a so-called “Government Meet-up”. That's when I discovered the Shadow Council, I knew about the shadow councils before I joined Starfleet, basically glorified PTA’s but no one knew who was in them. This was different however, as the people who joined this cult all saw through the show.”

“The Show?”

“The whole “Star Trek is a holy gospel” bullshit. Everyone in this council knew that that crappy old show from the 80’s was just a way to make the people beneath them feel important. In fact, that was a qualification for joining this council, it had to be proved that you secretly didn’t believe all the religious crap. I was shocked to be sure, and after serving for two years, I made my way towards the Lovecraftians.”

“Why would you leave your home?”

“Two reasons, the first is the brutal tactics that the Federation uses to keep the population in check. They use insane amounts of propaganda to convince everyone that it's their rightful destiny to one day unite the entire planet, and make sure that Starfleet Academy is one of the only educational institutions you can go to once you reach college age. Then, the regions are the second reason I left, try to guess why.”

“The elimination of local cultures?”

“Halfway bingo. You see, if your little town, or village, or even a city gets absorbed into the Federation, everyone is immediately processed after that particular area is given a stupid name. And so, based on a rigorous mental test, you're sent off to a region that “fits” you best. If you're horny, Risa, if you're smart, Vulcan, if you're greedy, Ferenginar, and so on.”

She leans forward, staring directly into my eyes.

“Then there are those who don’t fit, the “Unnamed”, who get placed into “Temporary” Living camps until a region is named that fits your personality. Those camps are a living hell. I've seen people fighting over bread because the local garrison hoards the food for themselves. However, there is a worst fate for people in those camps. Do you know about Redshirts?”

“The guys who die a lot?”

“Yep, the Redshirts are a part of the Federation Defense Force, but no one will acknowledge them for the simple reason that they are used as cannon fodder. Criminals, political dissidents, captured enemies of the state who won’t give up secrets, anyone who is an enemy to the Federation is given a red coat, a pistol,and sent off to die in distant battlefields. I once saw a young prisoner try to kill himself after he learned of his fate, then I watched as they taped a baseball bat to his hand and threw him into battle.”

Suddenly, from the outside, a group of buff raiders enter the building. They are covered in blood, holding rusty fish hooks and scythes as they plop down at a booth and order mead.

“Don’t focus on them, they just went on a small raid upstate. In fact, a raider party is exactly why I deserted from Starfleet. After I learned of an assault on Vulcan from the coastline, I bribed a team of them with knowledge of secret farms across the coastline. Now, I live in this bar and work as a barmaid. I tell you this, it is a much better life compared to the Federation. Take heed my friend, when you live in a theocratic state, don’t look for the strings or puppet master, look for those who seem to be the most loya, you might just figure out who is behind the stage.”

Description

The city of New York in several worlds is a place with a deep and rich culture, a long history that is interwoven with major political, religious, and economical events across the multiverse. However this version of New York, known as Starfleet Headquarters in this world, is a place that has seen better days. When I arrive in this world and hop onto the USS Valkyrie, I am treated to a birds eye view of the massive system of walls that divides the lands. Eventually we reach the city of Manhattan, or “Sol” as it is known in this world. Once it lands down, I am driven to Starfleet Headquarters, known across multiple worlds as the UN Headquarters, flying the seemingly patchwork designs of the United Federation of Planets.

I soon meet Captain Thomas Spock on the local grounds, a tall man wearing worn out sunglasses. The golden uniform he wears is dirty and covered in stains, while the golden Starfleet medal on his left breast is completely clean, and shines in the morning light.

“I got this uniform from my father, who got it from his father’s father. It is a wonderful thing that we’ve created Mr. Chana, this humble Federation went from a single building to now occupying most of the New York area. Ooh, pardon me, I mean the Alpha Quadrant.”

“The Alpha Quadrant? Don’t you mean North America?” I ask.

“The deniers and naysayers of our great nation still refer to this region that way, but thanks to the glory of the Runners and the Prophecy, we know the true name.”

The United Federation of Planets is a coaltion of walled of regions stretching from New York City to the edge of Ontario. The nation is known across the local region as a state run by Cargo Cultists. I was initially fascinated by this, not just because of its "unique" culture, but also due to the fact that I have rarely found Cargo Cultist nations across the multiverse.

We sit down on a small bench overseeing the Atlantic Ocean, I take out my recorder, and with a smile on his face, Thomas begins to speak.

“Nobody foresaw WW3, an event so devastating that it wiped out most of the world. Many among my ancestors survived by pure chance, and in any other situation, they would have died.”

The Third World War, or the Final War as it is referred to in this alternate, was a global conflict that lasted approximately three hours, as the American, Chinese, and Russian nuclear arsenals suddenly activated and threw themselves at each other without a single command. Across the world, millions died while others took shelter in bunkers, the wilds, and the Global South which wasn’t even hit.

After the war, the survivors of the north began the long process of coping with the aftermath. In the Pacific Northwest, theocracies dedicated to worshipping various nature gods and goddesses sprung up, while Portland became a centre of White Nationalism. In the American South, various counties fell under the control of Neo Confederates,Black Nationalists, and cowboy coalitions began a massive three-way battle for the irradiated south. In Albany, New York State, the survivors found a unique way to cope.

“Our ancestors were spared from the nuclear fire thanks in both parts their faith and the Mall. The Mall sat far away from the original blast site, and managed to lock themselves in in order to survive the attacks from raiders and mutants. In those years, they slowly reclaimed the city around them, and a new faith was born.”

“What do you mean?”

“The original Runners, those ancient prophets with a gleam in their eye, created a tale that almost anyone could agree with. A future without hate, persecution, poverty, all under the banner of a benevolent nation. The children of my ancestors took it upon themselves to spread the gospel of the Federation, and that of the prophets.”

From what I could gather, the next few years were spent by the newly declared UFP conquering and taking control of the local areas, eventually reaching New York and New Jersey with the mass development of airships that could take them far. However, with so many threats on all sides, a new and unique project began to take notice.

“With the Colubmians to the south, the Fordists to the west, and the Lovecraftians to the north, the current Starfleet council figured out a way to protect our nation, a grand wall that would separate various small regions, interconnected only by starship. This way, we could allow different cultures to prosper while also protecting ourselves from our dreaded enemies.”

The wall was created as a way to fortify the territories of the Federation, with the entire height of it being exactly 8 meters tall. Using the lines taken from maps of the state, the wall was built over county lines across the nation, with each square of territory having at least one township alongside a series of small farms.

“Each region encapsulated by the Starwall was given a name corresponding to their relative location within the gospel. Albany was renamed Sol, Columbia became Vulcan, and so on until every part of our nation could almost accurately represent the gospel.”

“So how does the government work exactly?”

“ Each region is governed by a planetary council, which appoints a single representative to go to either the capital in Sol or to Starfleet HQ right here. However, in order to make sure that each region follows the gospel correctly, a secondary shadow council secretly runs operations within each region. In practice, each of the councils run over the region, but in theory we can reach a point in development when we’ll be able to form communal regions that don’t need ruling councils.

“Why would a society that claims to be free and progressive have shadow councils? Doesn’t that undermine the whole idea?”

“Of course not! In the gospel it is stated that any free society must have some form of protection, that is the job of Starfleet. Not only is Starfleet dedicated to peaceful exploration, but it will also watch over regions from their glorious flying starships.”

I ask about the rumors of reeducation camps located in the nuclear wastelands near Philadelphia, but Thomas just shakes his head.

“The very idea that we would be creating such things is preposterous, although we do have prison regions dedicated to helping criminals turn their wayward ways around, but we certainly do not have prison camps!”

I managed to calm Thomas down after that question, he seemed tense, and I worried that if I didn’t read lightly I wouldn’t learn all that I wished to hear about. So I turned the conversation around to the so-called “Reconstruction Era.”, something which once again put a smile onto his face.

“The Reconstruction Era was the elimination of elements that went against the gospel and supported our enemies. Symbols of the American and canadian peoples were destroyed and replaced with statues and monuments dedicated to the Runners and the characters they created. Why, we are planning on destroying the Statue of Liberty and replacing it with a statue of Kirk himself!”

“And Language?”

“The Reconstruction Council sought it necessary to create a language based upon the words and catchphrases most common within the gospel. And so now instead of going somewhere, you are to say “I am beaming out”. It took a while, but the older and grown up generations managed to catch on easily while the children accepted it as another part of life. Then we renamed the continental groups, so the Americas became the Alpha and Beta Quadrant, Eurasia became the Gamma Quadrant, and everything else became the Delta and Omega Quadrant.”

“And what about the groups of people who don’t want their local culture destroyed?”

“They will be relocated to a region similar to their previous one, it is a very simple one. Towns run by engineers and such will be sent to Vulcan, individuals with an intense reproductive drive will be sent to Risa, it all just works.”

The last major thing I ask about is Starfleet itself, and how it operates with the Federation.

“Starfleet operates all exploratory and defensive missions across the Alpha Quadrant, whether it be launching expeditions into the Gamma Quadrant or fighting against the Lovecraftian cultist raiders in the north, Starfleet has a hand in every part of the Federation. Farming equipment is paid for and made by Starfleet, and out of every military branch, it always has the highest recruitment numbers.”

I asked about the rumors that the Starfleet Admirals, the leaders of Starfleet chosen from the longest running and most brilliant captains, secretly run the Federation. But Thomas is quick at dismissing it.

“Starfleet is separate from the Governing Councils, as per our constitution. However, in times of war, the Starfleet Admirals will be able to take control of vast amounts of territory in order to make the war effort easier. But I assure you Mr. Chana, we are not ruled by some shadowy council, that is for the regions, not the Federation as a whole.”

After my interview with Thomas, I hitched a ride out of the Federation up north, to the territory of the Lovecraftian Councils, a coalition of raider states that worship the writing of H.P Lovecraft. I head towards Boston, and meet my next interviewee in a small fishing bar while the moon glows in the sky.

Former Admiral Samantha “Bones' ' Patrick doesn’t wear her uniform, but instead wears a fisherman's outfit while chugging a bear. She is quick to talk, and begins to speak immediately after I start the recorder.

“After I finished serving as a captain for ten years, I was invited to Sol for a so-called “Government Meet-up”. That's when I discovered the Shadow Council, I knew about the shadow councils before I joined Starfleet, basically glorified PTA’s but no one knew who was in them. This was different however, as the people who joined this cult all saw through the show.”

“The Show?”

“The whole “Star Trek is a holy gospel” bullshit. Everyone in this council knew that that crappy old show from the 80’s was just a way to make the people beneath them feel important. In fact, that was a qualification for joining this council, it had to be proved that you secretly didn’t believe all the religious crap. I was shocked to be sure, and after serving for two years, I made my way towards the Lovecraftians.”

“Why would you leave your home?”

“Two reasons, the first is the brutal tactics that the Federation uses to keep the population in check. They use insane amounts of propaganda to convince everyone that it's their rightful destiny to one day unite the entire planet, and make sure that Starfleet Academy is one of the only educational institutions you can go to once you reach college age. Then, the regions are the second reason I left, try to guess why.”

“The elimination of local cultures?”

“Halfway bingo. You see, if your little town, or village, or even a city gets absorbed into the Federation, everyone is immediately processed after that particular area is given a stupid name. And so, based on a rigorous mental test, you're sent off to a region that “fits” you best. If you're horny, Risa, if you're smart, Vulcan, if you're greedy, Ferenginar, and so on.”

She leans forward, staring directly into my eyes.

“Then there are those who don’t fit, the “Unnamed”, who get placed into “Temporary” Living camps until a region is named that fits your personality. Those camps are a living hell. I've seen people fighting over bread because the local garrison hoards the food for themselves. However, there is a worst fate for people in those camps. Do you know about Redshirts?”

“The guys who die a lot?”

“Yep, the Redshirts are a part of the Federation Defense Force, but no one will acknowledge them for the simple reason that they are used as cannon fodder. Criminals, political dissidents, captured enemies of the state who won’t give up secrets, anyone who is an enemy to the Federation is given a red coat, a pistol,and sent off to die in distant battlefields. I once saw a young prisoner try to kill himself after he learned of his fate, then I watched as they taped a baseball bat to his hand and threw him into battle.”

Suddenly, from the outside, a group of buff raiders enter the building. They are covered in blood, holding rusty fish hooks and scythes as they plop down at a booth and order mead.

“Don’t focus on them, they just went on a small raid upstate. In fact, a raider party is exactly why I deserted from Starfleet. After I learned of an assault on Vulcan from the coastline, I bribed a team of them with knowledge of secret farms across the coastline. Now, I live in this bar and work as a barmaid. I tell you this, it is a much better life compared to the Federation. Take heed my friend, when you live in a theocratic state, don’t look for the strings or puppet master, look for those who seem to be the most loya, you might just figure out who is behind the stage.”