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====== Call of the Zurich ====== | ====== Call of the Zurich ====== | ||
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< | < | ||
- | ===== Chapter 1 ===== | + | <fs x-large> |
- | Text | + | “Captain' |
+ | |||
+ | “The ship feels empty right now. The crew has begun to arrive and hopefully we can depart soon. We have a fairly young crew. Some may see this as a weakness. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall surveyed his ready room. His gear had already been brought aboard. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | A short time later, the door chimes. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Just then, the comm system came to life. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Permission granted, Lieutenant, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Jim turned his attention back to Commander Taylor, "Care to come with me to Main Engineering?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Aye Captain," | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No, tell them to proceed on to Utopia Planetia. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley Christine Sawyer stood in the observation room of the Utopia Planitian warp core testing room. She had been over-seeing the refit for the past 4 months, and they were less then a day away from the big day now. She ran her fingers through her hair, a nervous tick for her, and shouted: | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Okay guys, those figures are perfect, let's get this thing installed!” said Ashley | ||
+ | |||
+ | Forty-five minutes later, she was standing in main engineering of the Galaxy Class vessel watching as the structural latches locked the mighty warp core casing into place. | ||
+ | |||
+ | She ran her fingers through her hair, and announced, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Good work people. Let's get this ship ready to rock!” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Captain Marshall and Commander Taylor, walking into main engineering, | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Right on the line Captain," | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You sure you don't need to double check that?" asked the Captain. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Captain Marshall then tapped his combadge. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Starlines streaked past the viewport as the Runabout Benning completed its casual maneuvers through Sol's asteroid belt. In a compartment outfitted for twelve passengers, a lone traveler sat in the portside seat furthest to the rear of the craft. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Suddenly, the hissing of pneumatics registered within the cabin as the compartment door slid open. A young Andorian Starfleet officer walked briskly down the aisle holding aloft a digital message pad. “Incoming message from the Republic, Doctor Cromwell, | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doctor looked up at the lieutenant, accepted the datapad without response, and reviewed the message: | ||
+ | |||
+ | Without looking up to the man, the doctor frowned and asked “When do you think we’ll be arriving at Utopia Planitia? | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Approximately 1800 hours, sir.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “That’s almost an hour after the Republic is scheduled to depart” replied the doctor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Again, I’m sorry sir” said the lieutenant. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doctor nodded his head reluctantly, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Slapping closed the book in his hand, the doctor glanced out the window and mused upon his disposition. | ||
+ | |||
+ | An hour later, an empty mug was placed onto the serving platform of the runabout’s food replicator, and with a multi-toned surge of energy, the drinking vessel was whisked away. After finishing his coffee, Doctor Cromwell was about to return to his seat when the Andorian pilot announced over the intercom “good news, sir. The Republic signaled that she’s running behind schedule. | ||
+ | |||
+ | For the first time since embarking on this trek to the Sol system, Leon Cromwell could breathe a sigh of relief instead of frustration. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Smiling, the Andorian replied “I know you’re nervous about your new assignment, sir. If I were lucky enough to be posted on a Galaxy Class starship, I’d be worried about being late to my new post as well. Do you think you’ll find your new crew different from the Bremerton? | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell sat back in his seat with a look of certainty. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Twitching an antenna, the lieutenant asked “hard-charging military types? | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doctor smiled and retorted “not every officer goes through the academy.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Raising an eyebrow, the Andorian turned in his seat to look at Doctor Cromwell. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shaking his head, Doctor Cromwell simply said “no.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Startled, the lieutenant asked “how did you get into Starfleet then?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Well, I spent six years as an enlisted Starfleet crewman, stationed as a life-science research technician on starbase 123” replied the doctor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Andorian looked confused, and replied “but, I was told you hold the rank of lieutenant commander.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “When the Cardassian War broke out,” continued the doctor, “Starfleet scrambled to find qualified medical personnel and offered me a civilian contract as a field surgeon headquartered out of Starbase 72. After the war was over, I stayed on as assistant chief medical officer with the honorary commission of lieutenant. | ||
+ | |||
+ | A proximity-alert sounded on the helm station, and the pilot turned back to the controls. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the rusty red planetscape of Mars reflected off the viewport, a distant metallic structure appeared out of the black, starry backdrop. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “She certainly is a sight to look at” whispered Doctor Cromwell, with his eyes fixated on the approaching vessel. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the two gentlemen watched on in awe, the subspace comm came to life. “Runabout Benning, this is Republic docking control. | ||
+ | |||
+ | After fingering his control console several times, the Andorian lieutenant replied “acknowledged Republic, you have control.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Slowly, the runabout inched ever closer, offering the occupants one last review of the majestic ship. Proudly displayed on the bulkheads beneath them, highlighted by registry lighting and docking strobes, read: “U.S.S. REPUBLIC – GALAXY CLASS STARSHIP – NCC-76241 – UNITED FEDERATION OF PLANETS.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | With a soft jarring and a muffled clatter, the small courier vessel came to a stop, and the Andorian helm officer declared over the comm channel “all stations secure, Republic. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Standing up, Doctor Cromwell smoothed the wrinkles out of his turtleneck sweater and adjusted his comm badge. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “No problem, sir” he replied. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Returning the smile, the doctor proceeded to the egress ramp. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Atmospheric pressure equalized” announced the monotone computer voice in the airlock. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the ramp retracted, the hum of the runabout’s engines began to increase in pitch, signaling their startup cycle. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
< | < | ||
- | ===== Chapter 2 ===== | + | <fs x-large> |
- | Text | + | < |
+ | |||
+ | Lana watched the captain handle getting the crew on board the ship. It was amazing how he was able to keep track of everything. That and she also had on her mind the fact he had asked her to dinner to discuss what he was looking for in an XO. She couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The executive officer had been given a message that she was to meet the new doctor who had just arrived to the Republic. She knew it was part of her job, but she was nervous about doing it. According to her PADD in her hand, he had just landed in Shuttlebay One. When she got there, she walked in and noticed someone there that she hadn't seen before. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doctor stood at the base of the runabout’s ramp for a good minute, allowing the thought to settle that he was not going back to the Bremerton. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Doctor Cromwell? | ||
+ | |||
+ | Reaching out to shake her hand, the doctor replied “yes, that’s me. Permission to come aboard, Commander.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana reached out her hand and shook his. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Commander Taylor led Doctor Cromwell out of the shuttle bay and into the adjoining corridor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Sorry about my late arrival, Commander. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As they stepped into a turbolift, the doctor happened to notice the small bulge in the Commander’s abdomen. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “So,” he said straightforwardly, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana looked at the doctor. She was surprised that he picked up on her pregnancy. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | As she stopped suddenly before entering the turbolift, Commander Taylor’s piercing gaze and apprehensive demeanor met the doctor’s forthright expression, and he realized that he had struck a nerve. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I, uh, assume that this subject was not intended for public scrutiny? | ||
+ | |||
+ | He peered cautiously outside the open turbolift door, looking from side to side in search of some passerby who was scrutinizing their conversation. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana looked at the doctor. "I can take you right to sickbay now if you would like. Your office is there also," she said stepping into the turbolift after the doctor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Great, | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the turbolift doors thrust open, Commander Taylor made no delay to the sickbay complex. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "That is all right. This is your new Senior Officer in charge of sickbay, Doctor Leon Cromwell," | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Pleased to meet you all” he said, as Commander Taylor disappeared into the office. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The door to the office closed quickly after he entered, and the blue-uniformed staff looked at each other in bewilderment. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Meanwhile, in Doctor Cromwell’s new office, Commander Taylor stood in front of the computer desk with arms folded, tapping her foot anxiously. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Now,” he finally said with as much expert placidity he could muster. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana sat down in a chair that the doctor pointed to. "Well, I am supposed to get you settled into your job before we head out. Captain' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana didn't know what to say after that. She twiddled around with the ring on her hand. Her wedding band. She knew eventually she would have to take it off, but she just couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell listened to the Commander without interruption, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Well, give me a day or so to get my department together, | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doctor stood up and finally went behind the desk in search of a data pad. “Besides, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Finding a data pad in the top desk drawer, he exclaimed “Ah, here we go. . .” For a brief second, he looked at the chair behind the desk, as if unsure whether it was really his. Finally, he resolved to sit, and after tapping a few times on the data pad, Doctor Cromwell created his first ship-board appointment schedule. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Slowly placing the pad on the desk, the doctor folded his hands, and looked at Lana with a direct, concerned expression. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doctor sat back in his chair, and added “mind you, I’m a good listener. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana watched the doctor has he started to get everything organized in his office. She was in shock that he had been able to pin point her pregnancy and know that something was wrong. She thought that just her being an empath that she was the only one able to do that. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Look Dr. Cromwell, I really don't want to bore you with the details of my life the past few months. I have a job to do and so do you. And basically it says that neither one of us interferes with the other one's personal life except on a professional level," | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana then proceeded to get up out of the chair and fell back in from being light headed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | A furrow developed on the doctor’s forehead, as if he had just discovered a new symptom. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the device sprung to life in the doctor’s hands, a high-pitched hum came forth from the palm-sized apparatus. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “This is a combination tri-ox compound, metabolism stabilizer, and relaxant” he explained. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Returning the medical equipment back to their case, the doctor looked back at the XO. “Look,” he pleaded, “this isn’t about you personal life anymore. | ||
+ | |||
+ | He knelt down and came to eye-level with Taylor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Standing up, the doctor returned to sitting on the corner of the desk in front of the Commander. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana looked at the doctor. She didn't see where she had much of a choice but to tell him what was going on. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Closing his eyes, the doctor wiped his forehead with his hand. “Great, I screwed up a third time today,” he thought to himself as a rush of guilt surged through his stomach. | ||
+ | |||
+ | After a moment of silence, his head scrambled to find the right words to say. “There’s nothing worse in the universe than the death of a spouse,” the doctor admitted. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell shook his head, folded his arms, and looked at the ceiling. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Finally, he squatted back down and returned to eye-level with Taylor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana looked at the doctor. She couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I would appreciate that Le...I mean, Doctor," | ||
+ | |||
+ | She rose up from her chair and looked at the doctor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Realizing he actually did some good to help the Commander, Leon breathed a mental sigh of relief. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I’m glad I could help,” said the doctor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Just as he finished, the ship-wide intercom activated. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Senior staff to the observation lounge” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Looking back to Commander Taylor, Doctor Cromwell raised his eyebrows. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
< | < | ||
- | ===== Chapter 3 ===== | + | <fs x-large> |
- | Text | + | < |
+ | |||
+ | Class VI shuttles were sleek, small, and built for speed, and right now, Lieutenant Commander John Carter needed all the speed he could get. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The tall, dark haired Martian clenched his hands and tried to relax, checking his course and speed for what seemed like the thousandth time as the perfect syncopation of late 20th century Terran jazz continued over the internal comm system. John ran a hand through his hair, and mused to himself. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Final transfer to U.S.S. Republic has been approved by Fleet HQ. Getting back into space will be a nice change of pace after a year at the Academy." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "This is Utopia Approach Control, Kierkagard, go ahead." | ||
+ | |||
+ | John keyed commands to put his shuttle under command of the station' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter sat down and looked out the viewport of his shuttle as the rust-colored orb that was his homeworld hove closer and closer. Republic’s new Tactical Officer just sat back and smiled. "Oh, don't worry about that. Carter out." | ||
+ | |||
+ | In minutes, the shuttle Kirkagard was safely docked in Utopia Station. John Carter collected his personal effects, and set out for the nearest turbolift. He couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The next sound he was aware of was the bustling of crewmen and repair teams near the central gangway. Ahead of him, he could see the mammoth saucer hull of the Republic. He stepped out of the lift car and strode up the gangway. "Well John, here we go." | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lieutenant Virtus checked left and right, and once certain no one was looking over his shoulder, verified his information, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor ran his first diagnostic of the ship's sensors. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Not wanting to disturb Commander Taylor, Victor settled for a "Level Six" diagnostic. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Proximity sensors, active, currently offline, UFP standard issue Mark VIII, based heavily on Vulcan T'li sensor technology that was old when the UPF was still seven races, good out to 1000 meters, can see a paint fleck or a water molecule until it gets within three meters of the hull. Then the ship's own mass interferes with the signal. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Primary Navigation Sensors, active, online, and smart enough to know we are currently docked. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Five million kilometers... five thousand megameters... five gigameters... point oh oh five terameters... point oh oh oh oh oh five exameters... " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor realized he'd been talking to himself, and slyly glanced around. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic did the math, two ships closing at full impulse would have 15 minutes warning if all other sensors but primary navigation were out. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Secondary Navigational Sensors, passive, always online, and smarter than an Oranian Shoal Slug or a Terran Border Collie, but not by much. A redundant system that Star Fleet regulations require on all vessels. Regulations dating back to the 21st century on Sol III, when every vessel, from personal land transports to interplanetary exploration probes, had to have three back-up systems for everything. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic ran a check, and sure enough, there was a number 12 pneumatic wrench resting on the saucer, dorsal, 7.21 meters port of the main deflector array. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The secondary navigation sensors also take over when something is inside the effective range of the proximity sensors. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Short Range Deep Space Sensors, active, online, Mark IX Shinomi, Tellarite design with a Terran sense of style, good to 25 light years, adequate to 40 light-years. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vislight, electromagnetic, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Long-Range Deep Space Sensors, active or passive modes, offline, Mark X LoRDSS, specially designed for the Galaxy-class, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic paused, finished with his cursory inspection, and looked around the bridge. | ||
+ | |||
+ | His diagnostic complete, Vic logged his findings and put in a work order to U.P. maintenance to collect their wrench before the Republic disembarked. His internal monologue continued to churn, "Is a diagnostic two individual agnostics, or one agnostic that believes in two separate Supreme Beings? | ||
---- | ---- | ||
< | < | ||
- | ===== Chapter 4 ===== | + | <fs x-large> |
- | Text | + | < |
+ | |||
+ | Lieutenant Commander John Carter felt the slight shift of gravity as he crossed the threshold into the main gangway of the U.S.S. Republic. Her brightly lit corridors and graceful curves were not as spacious as the art deco buildings back at Starfleet Headquarters, | ||
+ | |||
+ | John felt a rush of adrenaline and a bit of pride as he recalled the ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Barely a week into their patrol, the Freedom Star, designated as an exploration vessel for Task Force 06, had been called to the rescue of the U.S.S. Discovery, an older Nebula class cruiser that had been affected by some sort of unusual energy surge. In response to the Discovery' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Recovery procedures had gone well enough. Discovery had been rigged for warp-towing, | ||
+ | |||
+ | John couldn’t help but shudder at the thought of that place, reflecting that there must be a reason why some people end up in back-water posts. he suspected it was to keep the flotsam out of the rest of Starfleet' | ||
+ | |||
+ | John could recall perfectly the bitter disappointment he felt at being towed into the station' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doors to the lift car opened and john Carter was barely aware of the sly grin he reflexively gave whoever the woman in science blue was who stood in front of him now. Carter glanced at her collar. | ||
+ | |||
+ | 'Two dots', he thought. ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Can I help you, Lieutenant Commander?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter arched an eyebrow, suspecting she meant more than she was saying. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | 'The Blue Woman' nodded in agreement. "No argument there sir," she said. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Blue woman hid a smirk behind her hand as she felt the lift stop on Deck 6. She stepped the doors as they slid open, silently, again, much to Carter' | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter stood in the lift, blinking once or twice as he felt the car resume it's journey upward to his final destination. The lift car stopped at deck four, doors sliding open silently...again. Carter stepped onto the deck and turned to his left, eyes on the lookout for his new quarters. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter stopped and keyed the command to open the door to his new home. He kept musing aloud to himself. "Good one to pull on the new guy I guess. Better be on the watch for strange shapes and odd noises." | ||
+ | |||
+ | A wall of sound hit the Starfleet officer with almost physical force, and John felt himself jump, his duffle and coup stick hitting the floor. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John threw his head back and laughed. "That crafty little..." | ||
+ | |||
+ | The ever-present, | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John was momentarily startled. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lieutenant Commander John Carter stowed the last of his personnel gear in the recessed dresser that comprised most of the port side wall of his cabin. He still had trouble believing that any ship in the fleet, even the vaunted Galaxy Class, could allot so much space to individual crewmen. Even the Sovereign Class, which was larger in total than the Galaxy, and had for a time supplanted the Galaxy Class as the " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sitting before his work-station, | ||
+ | |||
+ | It was short and to the point, from the ship's Executive Officer asking that all Senior Staff review the status of their departments, | ||
+ | |||
+ | A sea of humanoid and alien faces sailed by as Carter reviewed the records of those he would be responsible for in the coming months. After a few minutes, some things were becoming clear. These were good people. 'Not the cream of the fleet', | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter began compiling the duty roster for his department as well as several ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Managing the workings of the Tactical Department was easier by far than trying to juggle the needs of ALL the departments on the ship, and for the first time, Carter was glad that it wasn't his responsibility this time around. He had been thrust into the position of becoming Freedom Star's XO because of what Fleet had called an ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | John's gaze dropped to the lower right corner of his data display as he put the final touches on the Tactical duty roster. The young Martian squinted his eyes and shook his head quickly. "Only 45 minutes" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lieutenant Commander John Carter stood up and resisted the urge to make what his sister had called 'The Old Man Noise' | ||
+ | |||
+ | John slipped into the black jacket with slate blue shoulders, and gold piping on the sleeves to match his department color. After years of wearing red, denoting his attachment to the traditional Conn/ | ||
+ | |||
+ | Republic’s Tactical Officer stepped toward the door to his quarters. The door opened at his approach, just as John had the urge to turn and take one last look at the room. The Lieutenant Commander glanced over his shoulder, and, seeing nothing amiss, set off at a brisk pace back down the corridor to the nearest turbo-lift station. 'Next stop', he thought, 'Main Bridge' | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley paced in her office, trying her best not to appear bored. She had checked and rechecked nearly every system she could, and everything was ready to go. She sighed and checked the warp intermix ration one more time, and as usual it was at optimal levels. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | One of the crewmen stammered and looked at the other who looked at her and said, "Yes, lieutenant, we were just on our way to the bridge to complete some repairs to the rear stations." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley grinned and snatched the PADD from the crewman. "No need, I'll take care of that for you." | ||
+ | |||
+ | The crewman looked startled, then slowly grinned. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley grinned lopsidedly. "Does it show that much, why don’t you guys accompany me, and assist?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | The crewman looked at each other, and the one on the left spoke. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ash and the tech entered the turbolift bound for the bridge. Ashley looked over at the crewman. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The crewman looked at her, then said, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ash raised one of her half Vulcan eyebrows. "I haven’t seen you around on the refit crew, did you just transfer in?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Daniels nodded. "Uhhh yes, I just came in from a transport ship on a long assignment", | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ash nodded, and then stepped out into the bridge as the doors parted. After greeting the present officers, Ash walked over to the aft stations. Pulling out her hydro-spanner, | ||
+ | |||
+ | When he though she wasn't looking, he slipped a small circular device out of his pocket and pressed it under the bottom of the panel behind her. But having inherited excellent hearing from the Vulcan side of her physiology, Ash knew exactly what he had just done. She completed her scans and adjustments, | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Daniels appeared nervous then suddenly looked up at her. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ash smiled and nodded. "Okay then, thanks for your...help" | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Sawyer to Daniels.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | There was no reply. Ash repeated the hail once more, than asked the computer what the location of Crewman Daniels was. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “There is no crewman on board the Republic by the name of Daniels.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ash sighed, then went back to one of the rear stations and opened a channel to the dock master. "Hey Commander Radditz, its Ash on the Republic. You just sent a crewman named Daniels over to do some repairs on the bridge? He left some of his equipment here and I . . . " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "You must be mistaken Commander. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ash looked surprised, then assumed she must have just heard his name wrong. She thanked the commander, then got up and decided she would just go return it to him personally over at the station. She took one last look around the bridge, then walked into the turbolift. Leaning against the wall, she accidentally rested her finger on the face of the PADD of Daniels, and it suddenly beeped to life. Looking down, she was immediately shocked when some of the words on the screen caught her attention: | ||
+ | |||
+ | //Starfleet Department of Temporal Investigation | ||
+ | |||
+ | Incident Report | ||
+ | |||
+ | Stardate: Classified | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vessel: USS Republic 76241 | ||
+ | |||
+ | Stardate: Classified | ||
+ | |||
+ | Temporal Incursion: Miswired ODN junction at rear bridge stations will cause a system overload in the main science panel, which will cause a cascade Neural Gel Pack explosion, causing severe structural damage, killing the entire command crew on the bridge, and severely damaging the Utopian Planitia Shipyards. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Mission: Place a modified ODN transponder onto the rear station under-panel to correct the mis-aligned circuits and prevent the explosion. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Outcome: The explosion will be prevented, Republic will survive to complete classified missions on stardates CLASSIFIED and CLASSIFIED | ||
+ | |||
+ | Temporal Agent assigned: Commander Daniels | ||
+ | |||
+ | Signed, Admiral J Fitzgerald// | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley stared at the PADD, shocked. Then the turbolift doors opened and deposited her back in Engineering. Clasping the PADD in her hands, Ash walked quietly back to her office, and put the PADD into the drawer and locked it. Protocol dictated that she would have to notify the captain about the situation. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
< | < | ||
- | ===== Chapter 5 ===== | + | <fs x-large> |
- | Text | + | < |
+ | |||
+ | “Captain, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Download it to a PADD for me,” replied Captain Marshall in the command pit. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Virtus hands him a PADD containing the orders, and the captain quietly reads them over. A minute later, he tapped a button on his command chair console. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Senior Staff to the Observation Lounge.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Moments afterwards, the entire departmental and command staff of the Starship Republic had assembled in the spacious conference room behind the main bridge. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Well it looks like we're all here so welcome aboard the United Star Ship Republic. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “This is the Yeldon system. | ||
+ | |||
+ | With the short briefing completed, the assembled officers followed the captain onto the nerve center of the Republic. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Alright, | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Fit as a fiddle. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “That I would,” the skipper replied. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Control tower reading, Captain,” she replied from her seat next to him, reviewing the checklist monitor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Redialing a new channel on his armrest, the captain called out “control, this is Republic, requesting permission to depart.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “This is control Republic. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Clear all moorings, | ||
+ | |||
+ | The captain responded in the standard departure checklist lingo. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= Mooring lines cleared. =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Ensign Zelk,” Marshall started. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Aye Captain,” he replied. | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter glanced at the Tac board as the senior staff of the Republic looked ahead. Familiar stars and phenomena filled the scene. John checked local and long-range sensors, then gave a quick glance to the helmsman. He couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | For his part, Carter gave a cocky smirk and fingered the pips on his collar, making sure to tap each of the three pips . . . very . . . slowly. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the ship went into warp, the doctor watched as the bridge crew went about their duties with confidence and anticipation of their upcoming mission. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Yamato. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Seeing the control center for the first time gave Doctor Cromwell a sense of purpose and belonging that he never felt anywhere else in Starfleet. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “These people," | ||
+ | |||
+ | T'saz, sir. What are we likely to run up against if we find a base in the Yeldon system?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Well Doctor, we don't really know that much about them. They are from the Vencta System. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Meanwhile, Victor Virtus moved from the sciences station to the secondary tactical station, jockeying for a better spot to hear the Captain describe the T'Saz to the doctor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic ran a brief check on Sol IV's orbital rotation vs. Sol III' | ||
+ | |||
+ | ' .53 Martian years. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic masked a chuckle by coughing. | ||
+ | |||
+ | John tapped a few keys at his tactical station. The MSSD, (Multi-Station System Display) which had been the Starfleet standard for well-over 100 years, shifted and changed to open a text dialogue between John Carter' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The situation came to a head when John Carter literally had to fight for the correctness of his decision. So there he was, son of a Martian diplomat and a xeno-biologist, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Growing up on Mars had given John Carter a natural, and perhaps even genetic edge when dealing with hot, dry conditions. This is a trait that Andorian' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Xeno-biology 101: Andorian physiology is not well suited to temperatures over 85 degrees. Studies indicate that Andorian subjects exhibit violent flashes of temper at higher temperatures as their body chemistry changes to accommodate the body's demand to be cooled. | ||
+ | |||
+ | At a final temperature of 115 degrees, which even John Carter had to admit was hard for him to deal with after being away from Mars so long, the last Andorian dropped. To Carter' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Back in the present, John Carter was composing a quick response to Victor Virtus' | ||
+ | |||
+ | What Victor Virtus did not know, was that Carter had been requested to teach Advanced Starship Strategy and Tactics, as well as a course in Basic Small Craft Flight Control, which the cadets affectionately called " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John reflected on his time at the academy as he composed a reply to Victor' | ||
+ | |||
+ | 'I spent a year on Sol III teaching Midshipmen what not to do. Boothby says hello' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic read the incoming message from Tactical, and caught the reflection of his two pips in the display. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic waited for Jones to reach the ops center. | ||
+ | |||
+ | There is something about Starfleet branch training that singles out types of poker players. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Never play poker with your ship's counselor. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
< | < | ||
- | ===== Chapter 6 ===== | + | <fs x-large> |
- | Text | + | < |
+ | |||
+ | Ash was dismissed and immediately made her way to engineering to oversee the first test of the engines at warp speed. She called out orders to the techs that were running around, and then, the mighty warp core rumbled to life, and energy of excitement filled the air. The order came down from the bridge, as the helm took the mighty vessel to warp 6. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Watch those levels, M' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ash smiled proudly as her team ran around her like a well greased machine. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Good work people. Good work." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Phillips scanned from his console then looked up. "Yes sir, they are 14% out of alignment. You could hear that, sir?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley grinned and chuckled out loud. "When I was in the academy ensign, I could detect a 2 micron divergent in the isodyne relays, and call me ma' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Bring me a hydrospanner, | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the first full shift ended, and the Alpha crew was relieved, Vic caught John's eye and covertly gave him the universal sign for, "We need to talk." | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the turbo lift doors closed Vic turned to Lieutenant Commander Carter and dispensed with formality. | ||
+ | |||
+ | There was a slightly uncomfortable pause before John returned the embrace. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic regained his decorum and stepped back. "Sorry sir. Had to get that out of my system. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic was dying to catch up, as well as tell John the latest gossip. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Inside the turbolift car just off Republic’s main bridge, John Carter was still grinning from Victor Virtus' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "All I heard was someone else is coming aboard somewhere between here and Jupiter Station", | ||
+ | |||
+ | "And scuttlebutt is always right?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "As constant as Planck, John." | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter chuckled. "Well I'll be damned Vic," he chided in mock astonishment. "You ARE a scientist." | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the two friends spoke, Virtus shifted his weight slightly to compensate for the decelerating lift car. He noticed Carter' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor and John both crossed the car's threshold onto the crowded corridor of Deck Eight, enroute to the Officer' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Hearing those now familiar words, John Carter remembered his nervousness during a subspace briefing, now well over a year old with Admiral Timothy Harkins, at that time, Chairman of Starfleet' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Reports of the U.S.S. Freedom Star's engagement with as many as six separate Romulan Warbirds near the Neutral Zone had brought John more than his fair share of celebrity. Thanks to innovative thinking, and the unfortunate side-effects of the Romulan propensity to power their starships with forced quantum singularities, | ||
+ | |||
+ | To John Carter' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Starfleet Admiral' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Harkins was insistent. He was also an Admiral. So Carter packed his bags, well aware that the mandatory branch change this assignment brought with it would almost certainly derail John's plans for a command of his own. He had worked his way in record time from just another Conn Officer to Department Head, to XO of Freedom Star, and now, a man Carter was forced to respect and obey simply because of the amount of braiding on his collar, was telling the young Martian to throw all of that away, simply because John had done his job. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter gave out an audible ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sensing John's obvious, and for that matter unusual tension, Virtus tried to change the subject. He was saved from having to do so by the fact that he and Carter had managed to navigate through Republic’s corridors, and were now standing directly in front of the frosted glass doors, emblazoned with the familiar Starfleet Delta, that marked the Officer' | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter smiled as the duo's presence at the doors triggered them to open with a semi musical scraping, like chimes in a soft breeze. The two officers stepped into a spacious room, well-appointed with several long tables and several more reclusive areas for the crew of Republic to enjoy meals and "down time". John altered his stance, angling for the replicators on the rooms near wall. "Grab us some seats," | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What in the name of Tesla is that"? Victor asked. | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter looked up, clearly confused. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | For 2.7 pica-seconds, | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes, because that happens so often." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
---- | ---- | ||
< | < | ||
- | ===== Chapter 7 ===== | + | <fs x-large> |
- | Text | + | < |
+ | |||
+ | With his blue-uniformed staff standing or sitting at various places in the main sickbay ward, Doctor Leon Cromwell held a datapad in one hand, and paced a circle in the center of the group. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Pausing, the doctor referred to his pad for the next items of business. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell stopped his pacing in front of a young, scarlet-haired humanoid lieutenant, and glanced at the pad before addressing her. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Confused, the young lady responded " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Clearing his throat, Leon looked around at everyone and continued his speech with a slight smile. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the alpha and gamma shifts filed out of sickbay, Doctor Cromwell was last to leave. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As he stepped into an empty turbolift, the doors closed upon his destination announcement: | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the turbolift slowed and changed direction before speeding up again, the doctor stopped pacing and leaned against the wall with arms folded. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Before he could continue with the thought, the turbolift doors thrust open, and the doctor strolled his way down the corridor to the officer’s mess. Upon entering the cafeteria, he found himself in a virtual sea of Starfleet uniforms. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Retrieving his tray, Doctor Cromwell turned around and was faced with a dilemma. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Brought out of their conversation by the appearance of a well-dressed, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell gave a polite nod and set his tray of food down as he settled into his chair. In the meantime, John Carter continued his train of thought. "I don't know who she is Vic," the Tactical Officer explained. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Virtus caught the tilt of their civilian table-mate' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor Virtus was a very smart man. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Virtus cleared his throat and spoke. "What my vermillion collared friend means to say sir," Victor extended his hand. "Is that I'm Victor Virtus. Chief Science Officer." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell shook Virtus' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "This is me shutting up now." John said. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I thought that's what that was." the Doctor added, clearly amused. He quirked an eyebrow at Carter. "And you are?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | John thought briefly, then smiled. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Is that a fact?" the Doctor asked. Carter nodded, then sniffed the air. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "It was a long time ago Doc." John said, trying to deflect the conversation. He held out his hand. "Call me John" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Across the table, Victor Virtus lost all composure, letting out a torrent of laughter that caused heads to turn across the Officer' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Having put two and two together, the Doctor offered understanding. "So, Theloneus Marsh was a monk, and you're Italian." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor was lost in another outburst of glee. | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter calmly laced his fingers together, propping his elbows on the table. He looked Cromwell squarely in the eye. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Doctor looked at the still laughing Virtus. “Theloneus Monk is Italian?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Oh, yes!" Victor was crying now. "Why not? | ||
+ | |||
+ | John pointed a finger at his collapsed friend, and tried to speak forcefully, despite the smile on his face. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I see." the Doctor offered. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Do you?" John asked. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Cromwell shook his head. "Not at all." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor Virtus raised his hand. "Check please!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | The stars swept by, blurs of light along the black curtain of space. The silent passage of time and distance cloaked by an illusion of movement. Alone in the vast void, the U.S.S. Republic, it's sleek lines adding to it's sense of speed, moved along at speeds beyond those of light, yet somehow not, trapped in the fabric of Warp on it's journey to the Beta Quadrant. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ensign Yothers stood at the tactical display, watching for any change in the instruments. He'd recently been assigned to this duty station during beta watch and planned on doing everything in his power to not make a mistake. He scanned the bridge checking to see if anyone else looked as anxious and nervous as he felt, but everyone seemed intent on his or her own station that it was hard to tell. At least this assignment would be something he could write home about, thrilling his little brother about space travel and adventure. Suddenly, a small section of his Display changed color and Ensign Yothers nearly gasped out loud before he realized it was an incoming communications from a deep space relay. With almost practiced ease he opened the channel and was somewhat confused by the message. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Put it through." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I can't, Sir." replied Ensign Yothers rather cautiously. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Fine open a line to the Captain and let him know." said Cross rather quickly. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Just great,” thought Ensign Yothers, I get to wake the Captain. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Captain Marshall left the bridge to head for his quarters. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Arriving in his quarters he saw the message on his comm terminal. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | Captain, I am in my quarters...if you would like to have that dinner tonight. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | He thought about it for a minute and finally decided better now than later. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana heard her chime go off. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Come in," she said. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The captain walked in when the doors opened. She stood up and looked at him. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I figure we can use the anteroom off of the officer' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I thought you had to go through the Officer' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Nope, redesigned during the refit. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As they sat, the young Captain asked, "Well, I think we're off to a good start don't you?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana looked at the captain. "Yeah, we are off to a pretty good start. The doctor is settled in and ready to start as soon as possible," | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Fine as far as I can tell. I think things are going to work out just fine. We've got a good . . .” | ||
+ | |||
+ | The intercom beeped, interrupting the conversation | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Put it though,” he replied, turning to Lana, "I hope this will only take a minute." | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Captain, we've dispatched the Runabout Ryan from Jupiter Station to connect up with you. They' | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Good to hear,” Marshall replied. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Hold your current position they should be arriving within the hour. Flynn out.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the screen went dark, the captain tapped his combadge. | ||
+ | |||
+ | He turned back to Lana, "Sorry about that, duty calls. When we're alone you can call me Jim." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana looked at the captain. "I don't know what to say. I have never called a captain by his first name. Not even in private," | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana continued to eat her dinner while watching the captain also. "But okay, Jim...what exactly is our first mission?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well, it appears that we're dropping out of warp for an hour until our new Chief Intelligence Officer arrives," | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Our mission is more than just taking out that base. We're to go in and gather what information we can in case the T'saz start more attacks on the Federation. This is not the first mission that I was hoping for. I think that with you being pregnant, I'd better lead the away team." said the Captain. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana sat back in her chair astounded at what the captain just said about her pregnancy. "Look, Cap...Jim, I am just as capable now as I was before I got pregnant to lead an away mission. My pregnancy will not get in the way or interfere. If you want, I can get Doctor Cromwell to okay me for an away mission," | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana then stood up. "You gave me the job as XO because I have the skills to do it. Then you tell me or try to tell me that I am not able to lead an away mission. Thanks." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana then walked out of the mess hall and just started walking down the hallway. | ||
+ | |||
+ | When Lana got up from the table and left is when Jim realized he overstepped his bounds. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You have a deal," she replied. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The seriousness of the subject cleared any other thoughts from the captain’s mind. “Red Alert,” he announced. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well Jim," said Lana, "Looks like we're finally seeing some action." | ||
---- | ---- | ||
< | < | ||
- | ===== Chapter 8 ===== | + | <fs x-large> |
- | Text | + | < |
+ | |||
+ | Lieutenant Commander Douglas Forrest appeared in Transport Room Three. He stood nearly 6 feet tall and showed obvious signs of a good physical routine. Over his shoulder hung a standard issue duffle bag, and gripped firmly in his left hand a rather odd looking weapon, or a Lacrosse Midfielders stick for the more discerning. Everything about Forrest said " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Red Alert, all hands to battle stations.”=/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well hell," Forrest said aloud, drawing the attention of the nearby transporter operator. "I haven' | ||
+ | |||
+ | With an almost casual stride, Forrest made his way out of the transporter room and headed to the nearest turbo lift. Around him officers and crew hurried to duty stations, their Starfleet training shining through. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I wonder if they get that flutter in the gut, like I do?" he thought to himself. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Forrest wondered what sort of assignment lay ahead for him aboard the Republic. People in his line of work did one of three things in ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The turbo lift doors opened onto the bridge of the Republic. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Forrest took a quick survey of the Bridge, matching faces with names and files. A habit he couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "That must be Marshall." | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Take your station at science two, commander, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Aye, sir,” replied Forrest. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Ship' | ||
+ | |||
+ | From the Science console, a frantic voice sounded. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Red alert. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Sir, we can't form a stable warp bubble to attempt to outrun it,” replied Ensign Wells from the conn. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Helm, point us into the wave. Try to get us through this. All hands, this is the bridge. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Zurich pointed into the huge wave and was soon engulfed in its energy. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Inside, the bridge was in ruins. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ensign Fren crawled over to the tactical console with an extinguisher and put out the flames. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ortega started walking over to the helm and ops positions and saw that Lieutenant Corea was dead, a piece of metal sticking out of his neck. The ensign across from him at the helm was barely conscious. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "For now," the captain replied. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "SOS beacon activated. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "This is Captain Ortega of the USS Zurich to any Federation vessel. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Aye sir." Fren pressed the send button and made his way around the bridge to put out the rest of the fires. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic glanced up at the red lights as they interrupted his hilarity. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John and Vic hit the corridor at a jog, as junior officers scrambled around the mess. The Doctor was a step behind them. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "A drill perhaps," | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic beat John to the response, | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Two point eight hours out from Mars? We'd better hope it's a drill." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The turbolift doors closed as the lieutenant glanced over her shoulder at the three of them and smirked. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Vic, that was the woman!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Red Alert John... that's the one where you stop thinking about women until the little red lights on every deck stop flashing." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "If you will both excuse me." | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doors opened again, this time on the bridge, and the two men moved to their respective stations. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Information came in from all over the ship. Tactical systems signaled ready, phaser capacitors were charged, and acknowledgements from the ship's forward and aft weapon stations indicated that photon torpedo systems would be on-line soon. John looked to his left and saw that Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Now racing out of the solar system at super-relative speeds, Carter made sure to scan the Long-Range-Sensor-Systems. LRSS indicated clear sailing. No sign of warp signatures, or shipping lane traffic for light-years. Carter took the time to address the back of his Captain' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Nervous seconds went by as Republic continued its break-neck race out of the solar system. Soon, sensors on John's station indicated that Pluto was far behind the Galaxy class starship, and they were now headed for what veteran spacers called 'The Black' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The silence was broken as John Carter, and the rest of Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | In a fraction of a second, a new voice had the bridge crew's attention. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "This is Captain Ortega of the USS Zurich to any Federation vessel." | ||
+ | |||
+ | The voice over the speakers was both authoritative and strained. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "We have suffered severe damage to all decks from an energy wave of unknown magnitude. Multiple casualties. Most systems are failing or have already done so. Request immediate assistance. I repeat, this is Captain Ortega of the USS Zurich to any Federation vessel. Requesting immediate assistance." | ||
+ | |||
+ | A wave of anxiety came over Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter re-configured his sensor display to pick up gravitons, the tiny, ubiquitous particles that held the universe together in a way that most scientists, perhaps even the frighteningly astute Victor Virtus, didn't fully understand. John blinked as his display was flooded with a wave front of gravitons. More importantly, | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter heard his voice booming over the busy noise of the bridge before he was even sure what he was saying. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Ever the helmsman, eh Lieutenant Commander?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter took a tight grip on the wood aplicay rail in front of him and watched his sensor display. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
---- | ---- | ||
< | < | ||
- | ===== Chapter 9 ===== | + | <fs x-large> |
- | Text | + | < |
+ | |||
+ | Leon did not wait for the turbolift doors to close before he continued his jog towards sickbay. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Slowing his jog, the doctor exited from the corridor into the main sickbay ward. All three medical shifts had reported in and were scrambling throughout the complex. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | As he made it across the room to the door to his office, he turned around and continued giving orders. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doctor spoke fast, yet direct. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Meanwhile, in his office, Doctor Cromwell was dealing with recurring memories from his service in the Dominion Wars. Deep in thought, he replaced his civilian attire with a light blue, wrap-around medical jumpsuit that revealed only a small portion of his black undershirt in the V-neck. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The door to his office chimed, startling the doctor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "All wards standing by, doctor" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Thank you, Higgins" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Perplexed, the young officer corrected the doctor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Astonished at his own words, Leon looked at her with pinpointed pupils and wiped his forehead of sweat. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As she left, Leon’s head collapsed into his hands. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “All hands, brace for impact.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Captain’s voice came over the comm system with a hint of urgent anxiety. Doctor Leon Cromwell and his stand-by team waited ominously in the diagnostic room as the ship jostled about. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “What was that all about?” asked Doctor Harris. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The other four members of the team looked about the room, as if waiting for it to shutter yet again. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Maybe just a local ion disturbance” replied Leon. The doctor was busy handing out palm-sized personal hand phasers to the team members; a precaution he found most valuable in many wartime away missions. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Design and reality are generally two separate concepts, doctor” retorted Harris. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon replied to her comment with only an amused smirk. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the Republic neared the approaching spatial phenomenon at impulse speed, the engine room shook momentarily as the event horizon cleared the ships outer shields. Sawyer monitored the wavefront on the MSD console, when suddenly an alarm klaxon began blaring with a chilling voice fromt he computer. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " Warning warp stress fractures detected in main warp drive assembly. Failure of warp field immanent." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley snapped to attention. It was no dream this time. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Get those warp exhaust levels down, standby backup field generators.!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Calling on her Vulcan physiology, Ashley calmed herself, and inversely drawing on the passionate control of her Betazoid side, she evenly called out orders to her crew. Finally, the exhaust was secured and all the modifications made to transfer power to structural integrity. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley tapped her combadge. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Engineering to bridge, Lieutenant Commander Sawyer speaking. We have a minor (chuckle) problem down here. The energy wave has disrupted our warp core and will prevent us from warp speed for quite some time. I've got power transferred to the main Structural Integrity Fields and we've got a team already on repairing the warp core assembly. I assumed we may need to make a hasty retreat after we get to the Zurich, to escape the residual graviton wave after-shocks up ahead.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley waited for a response, and a few seconds later Captain Marshall spoke. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What about the runabouts?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Taylor shook her head. "The runabouts aren't aboard yet. They' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall nodded his head. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Good to meet you Lieutenant, | ||
+ | |||
+ | As Captain Marshall assigned the away team, John Carter looked at his second-in-charge and nodded. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You heard the man Vic," he said as he made for the turbo-lift, "time to saddle up." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Virtus couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Once in the turbo-lift, Carter tapped his combadge. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Narundi didn't acknowledge the order, but John wasn't worried. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Thin red lines ran the length of the corridor walls on Deck Five as Carter and Virtus moved toward the Armory. The pair moved at a steady jog, rounding a corner, then seeing two ensigns in Operations gold standing watch in front of the Armory doors. The standing crewmen took small steps to each side of the door as Carter and Virtus stepped inside. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Once in the Armory, John studied the room. Per his instructions, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carlsberg stepped forward and handed Carter and Virtus each a type-VI hand phaser, an arm beacon, and tricorder. John quickly attached the beacon to his forearm, and looked at Depach Narundi who was currently behind the Watch Desk. "Where do we stand Narundi?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Nice work," John said, double-checking the charge on his phaser. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What is it Narundi?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Seeing his chief' | ||
+ | |||
+ | All of the detail nodded. John Carter turned and led them out of the Armory to the nearest turbo-lift. A few steps down the corridor, Victor Virtus turned to look at his friend. "What was all the hat business?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | In seconds, John Carter, Victor Virtus, and the Tactical Away Team were assembled on Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | For centuries, Starfleet had followed the Terran naval model, which had, for all intents and purposes been adapted from the Old Earth British Royal Navy. In what some called the ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter hoped he hadn't missed a memo. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
< | < | ||
- | ===== Chapter 10 ===== | + | <fs x-large> |
- | Text | + | < |
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I can get no response from the engines. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Keep it in mind. Doctor, prepare your wounded for evacuation to the escape pods. We'll start abandoning ship in 2 hours. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No sir. I'll ask everybody to keep an eye out for a glimpse of a ship," he replied. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Pass the word around. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Sir, let me have a look at that head wound,” said Doctor Deyer. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No sir. You need treatment. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Deyer ran her medical tricorder over the captain before using a wound sealer on the head wound. | ||
+ | |||
+ | John thanked her for her services as she headed over to the Jefferies tube to make the climb down to sickbay. | ||
+ | |||
+ | 'Lets hope someone heard our call for help.' | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Doctor Cromwell, this is Commander Taylor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon tapped his combadge. “Acknowledged, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “This is it, people” he announced as he stood up and grabbed a gray-cased medical trauma pack. As the team of six exited the diagnostic room, they carried with them a heavy load of medical supplies. | ||
+ | |||
+ | | ||
+ | |||
+ | As both doctors acknowledged, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Yes, sir” replied Doctor Yezbeck. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the backup medical teams began pouring out of the nursing wards, Doctor Cromwell nodded at them and said “Let’s go.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | In the corridor, the red-alert tracer lights continued to pulsate as the main doors to sickbay flew open, startling passing crewmen. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana went down to the shuttlebay to get ready to go over to the Zurich. She was nervous and could feel that the captain was nervous for her also, but hopefully | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon was going to be going with them and she knew that he wouldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley Sawyer barked, "Okay Alpha Team, your with me. We are also going to have to devise a way to get the main shuttle bay doors open on Zurich, they have no power to the bay doors over their." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Okay, we know what is going on,” Lana said to everyone, ignoring Ashley’s question for the moment. “The shuttle is our best bet to go. When the captain gets down here, I want us all to be ready to go. I know that I am still waiting on other members of the crew to get down here also. So, the only thing I will say is we can sit here and wait. I want our helm officer to go ahead and start doing the pre-flight check now, so that we are ready to go," she said giving her first set of orders. "Any questions?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Just as the Commander finished her briefing, the corridor doors buzzed open, and Doctor Cromwell arrived on the shuttle deck with a fully equipped medical team of twelve. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana was impressed by how fast the officers were getting to the shuttle bay. | ||
+ | |||
+ | She knew they all had questions and she was going to try and answer them all since she was leading the away mission. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Ok, I want to thank everyone for getting down here as fast as you all did. I am very impressed. You have all heard what we are up against on the Zurich. I want to get in there, try to save the ship and the crew, and get back to our ship without loosing anyone. I am sure you all feel the same way. Are there any questions?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | She looked around at her crew and hoped they all were ready for their first away mission. She didn't get a chance to meet them all . . . but as a half-betazoid, | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Not a question, Sir." intoned Forest, the black-uniformed intelligence officer, who Carter just realized was among the crowd. "Just wanted to say introduce myself before we head into the chaos. Lieutenant Commander Douglas Forrest. Just so you know, I'm qualified for Zero-G operations, triage, and most small equipment repairs. Tell me where you need me and I'm there." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Just then the captain walked through the doors of the shuttlebay. He walked over to Taylor and handed her one of the PADDs. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “What' | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Scans we just took of the Zurich,” the Captain replied. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Thanks.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Captain then walked over to Sawyer. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Here' | ||
+ | |||
+ | “You bet I can,” she replied with confidence. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Good.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Alright everybody, I know this maybe difficult to accept, but the crew of the Zurich is depending on us. I imagine that it's not a pretty sight over there. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana looked at the captain as he finished his speech. She was nervous with thismission, | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Thank you for trusting me with this mission, Jim. I appreciate it. I will make sure that I do have Doctor Cromwell near if anything happens to me.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | She leaned in and gave the captain a kiss on the cheek. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the Captain gave the order to proceed, Doctor Cromwell was anxious to submit a request to The Captain and Commander Taylor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell searched the faces of his superiors for some suggestion of support to his idea. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana looked at the doctor. She wasn't sure if this was her call to make, but she was going to do it anyways since she was leading the mission. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Zurich. If you think we can set up the enhancers, then let's do it. If we start experiencing problems, I want them stopped and we will come up with something else," she said. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I agree,” the captain chimed in, sounding more upbeat than in his speech a moment to ago. “We have to save as many lives as possible. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Lana, I'd like to have Carter at the helm of your shuttle. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana pulled away for a moment. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | She then walked back towards the group. "All right. Carter, you are our pilot. Start doing the pre-launch checks now. Forrest, Cromwell, you two are to stay with me as much as possible. As tactical, I am going to need you to come with some of the best ideas possible to keep the Zurich from falling apart. As medical, you are going to be required to help the crew as much as possible in keeping them alive," | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley respectfully held back as Lana handed out assignments. In her head she mentally calculated the precise number of power packs that would be needed to both power the internal transporters, | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell walked across the shuttlebay floor carrying a set of transporter pattern enhancers in each hand. He approached his medical staff who were waiting outside the shuttles as the engineering crews loaded additional equipment. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Is all our medical gear stowed?” he said to the other eleven members of his team over the whining of the pre-started shuttle engines. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doctor set a pair of enhancers at the feet of two blue-uniformed lieutenants; | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon waved a farewell to the medical team headed for the other shuttlecraft, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “After you” responded Harris. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the six medical officers crowded into the shuttle, Doctor Cromwell stuck his head into the cockpit to see John Carter busily doing the pre-flight checks. | ||
+ | |||
+ | With a smile, the doctor said, “Never thought you’d see action on your first day, eh John?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | John turned to look at Leon, and suddenly noticed that behind him, one of the seated medical officers in the passenger compartment was none other than the attractive female officer he kept running into around the ship. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Oh, Hey Doc," he said, glancing up briefly. Cromwell felt a slight chill as he saw what John Carter was looking at, or more accurately, into. The Martian tactical officer was wearing what 'Fleet officially dubbed the " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Are you kidding?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Cromwell nodded and gave Carter the traditional ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Sit tight Doc," John reassured him, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sawyer sat easily at the position behind John. She watched as the Helmsman turned Tactical Officer finished his pre-flight work-up, then heard him address the other shuttle' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The shuttle DesCartes rose gracefully from Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "So tell me," John asked the Engineer. "How is this supposed to work again?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Next, take these packs here and get the atmospheric shielding in place so that we don't all do a little EVA once we land in the hangar, and last I use the remaining packs to power up the bay doors, and hope to high heaven that there is enough juice left to maintain the atmospheric shielding until we can at least get my team down to engineering and get full power back on to those systems." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley sat quietly, after spilling it all out for Carter, and listened to any of his objections and suggestions to the plan. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
< | < | ||
- | ===== Chapter 11 ===== | + | <fs x-large> |
- | Text | + | < |
+ | |||
+ | "We have to assume that everybody on the bridge died in the carnage. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "We are not leaving until we're forced to, lieutenant. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "At least 100 dead. I lost count after 50. I estimate almost double that injured." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "The SOS beacon has already been activated sir." said Ensign Fallow with a hint of surprise in his voice. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "That means that there is someone is alive up there. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Aye sir.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | The rest of the engineers broke off to tend to the injured, both themselves and others in the secondary hull. | ||
+ | |||
+ | A young ensign in a medical uniform was picking through the wreckage, trying to see if someone was buried. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Sir, look." one of the crewman says as he pointed towards the shield. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You, inform the captain and spread the word," he said pointing to one of the crewman. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The crewmen continued on their new assigned tasks. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | The room was a mess of casualties and piled wreckage. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Go help the troops. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Aye sir," | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana sat on the shuttle and watched as the stars went by. She also had on her mind about the kiss between her and the captain. She then remembered she was on a mission. | ||
+ | |||
+ | She had the chiefs of the departments on her shuttle with her so she could discuss strategy with them. She looked at Forrest and Cromwell. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What is the game plan that you two have once we get there?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well, Commander," | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Once we are inside I suggest a priority be made to get the wounded aboard the Republic, followed by trying to get a handle on saving the Zurich. 'Fleet hates when ships don't make it back." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Forrest seemed a bit edgy as Carter' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well, I agree with Forest about the transporters" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Doctor adjusted his seat, then continued. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon frowned at the complexity of it all. "If only we could use the transporters somehow . . ." he mumbled. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Hey, do you two suppose that if my team and I implant subcutaneous transponders into patients, and set up pattern enhancers around them, that you could use the DesCartes' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley shook her head affirmatively. "Yes, there should be no problem with beaming within the ship, once I get inside and dock, I can put first priority on environmental and atmospheric systems. If we are lucky, I can even give a small amount of power to the Zurich' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sawyer then looked at the mission commander. "So what's the word, am I going in or are we going to do a breach entry into the hull? Either way, my team is suited up and ready." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Before Commander Taylor could respond, Doctor Cromwell jumped in. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well, I think that settles it. Wouldn’t you say, Commander?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doctor looked at her and the rest of the shuttle occupants for a positive response. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the shuttle DesCartes sailed closer to the Zurich, John Carter kept his eye on the decreasing distance between his shuttle and his target. Hearing the discussion of the mission on Zurich, the Tactical Officer offered his opinion. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Commander Taylor nodded and spoke. "Go ahead, Carter." | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Well sir," Carter explained, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sawyer nodded, while in the shuttle' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Behind Carter, Sawyer nodded. It wasn't a bad idea. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | DesCartes swung up on her right nacelle, and then rocked back to a steady course toward Zurich. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Captain Marshall arrived back on the bridge to find Lieutenant Exander Revas, the current Operations Chief, sitting in the command chair. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Captain, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “You have a point, lieutenant. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Aye sir,” replied the sapphire-skinned lieutenant. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “This is Captain Marshall of the Federation Starship Republic to the U.S.S. Zurich, please come in. Captain Ortega, please respond. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “No response yet Captain,” announced Lieutenant Regesh after a moment of silence. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Very well,” replied the captain. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “You got it Captain,” Revas replied. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Ortega sat in the XO's chair, a little worried on where his XO, Commander Torga was. Just before the shockwave hit, Torga was on route to engineering to check on a request by the Chief Engineer to run some impulse flight checks since we were between scans. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ensign Torbey walks out from the Jefferies tube entrance and brushes himself off before making his way in front of the captain. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Very well. Are we able to get those doors open?" the captain asked. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Sir, we have the choice of the atmospheric shield or the door. We don't have the emergency power to handle both and we're cut off from the power packs near engineering." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What about the other two shuttles?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "We used the power packs in them to power up the Heidi." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Aye sir. I'll inform Doctor Deyer." | ||
+ | |||
+ | At the same time, Lieutenant Foster makes an announcement. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Lets hear it." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Th-- -- Ca---in Mar---ll -- --- -----ation --ar---p R--ubl-c -- --- | ||
+ | |||
+ | | ||
+ | |||
+ | --- ---pat---ng - -e---e t--m t- ---p --- --- ---uld -- a---vin- -n | ||
+ | |||
+ | ----d ---rt--. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Can you clean that up?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "This is C--tain M--sha-l o- t-e F--eration S--rship R-pub-ic to the | ||
+ | |||
+ | U---S. Z---ch, p-e-se c-me in. C-ptain Or-ega p--ase r--pond. | ||
+ | |||
+ | are -ispa-ching - re-cue te-m to -elp yo- a-d s--uld b- ar---ing on | ||
+ | |||
+ | b-ard sh--tly. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "That is the best I can do sir. Your reply will probably turn up the same," said Foster. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
---- | ---- | ||
< | < | ||
- | ===== Chapter 12 ===== | + | <fs x-large> |
- | Text | + | < |
+ | |||
+ | Commander Torga shook his head. "I must have been out for a while," | ||
+ | |||
+ | Torga looked at the status panel and saw that the emergency systems had engaged. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Lead on." he replies, waving towards the Jefferies tube. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Commander Torga walked into a scene of chaos and screams. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Start planning for evac,” replied Torga. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Aye sir." | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Rick watched as the warp core brightened slightly. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Rick nodded his acknowledgement and walked over to the main status board. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "All the more reason to ensure we can use that bay as an evac point. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Aye sir." With that, Lieutenant Ans turned back towards the Jefferies tube and ordered his team down to shuttlebay 3. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Meanwhile, Rick turned and walked down the hall, turning around a corner and into a make-shift sickbay. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Help is on the way Ensign. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Aye sir." Roache turns and starts scanning a crewmember that was dragged in. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | In DesCartes' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | It was a breech in protocol. John wasn't in charge of this away team, so where the shuttles went in wasn't his call. It was his job to put the shuttle where he was told. On the other hand, no one was telling him anything, and as Tactical Officer, it was John Carter' | ||
+ | |||
+ | John called back to Ashley Sawyer, behind him. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Moments later, the com system came alive. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Commander Taylor pressed a button on her armrest. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Yes. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ash raised her eyebrow, and immediately glanced first at Carter who was smiling, and then at Taylor who was apparently deep in thought. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "It appears we don't have anytime to spare then, I'm going in now," said Ashley. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Taylor nodded, and Ash walked back to the ETU padd. As she walked past Carter, he handed her a compression phaser rifle, and smiled wryly. Ashley winked at him, then strapped the weapon on her side and stepped into the padd. "Mark. Energize" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley was immediately struck by the darkness of the shuttlebay one, save for the faint red alert status lights, and the dim lights from the main control room up above. She glanced up at the tower, and immediately noticed there were crewmembers slumped against the glass up there. She immediately pulled out her tricorder and took a quick scan of the room. Life support was down on all decks below this one, and he was reading faint life signs in the room up above. Very faint, which could only mean they had somehow managed to seal the control room door before the room lost its atmosphere. A transporter beam flared into existence, and a pallet of transport enhancers and deuterium pattern enhancers appeared next to her. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley focused her thoughts, and immediately began to make her way towards the MSD shuttlebay ops panel. As she did, the deck suddenly lurched, and several cargo canisters began floating on the deck in the absence of gravity. Inertial Dampers were clearly offline. Ashley attempted to activate her anti-grav boots, but they refused to activate. Undaunted, she began moving forward, using her vulcan/ | ||
+ | |||
+ | As she reached the panel, she noticed it was also devoid of power, and she had moved so far from the light of the Ops tower, that it was too dark to see to remove it from the wall. She tapped her combadge, and told the shuttle to beam the other two engineers in now that she had checked the perimeter. As they appeared in the middle of the room, she signaled them over her in-helmet comm. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley then made her way over to the lift. and pressed the control on the side. Nothing. Ashley cursed, then looked around for a ladder of some sort, but the Ambassador class had no such thing here in the shuttlebays. So, Ashley did the only thing she had left to try. She focused her thoughts, took a deep breath, and then used her psionic powers to walk up the wall in defiance of what little gravity there was, and make her way towards the control tower. As she neared the halfway point, the room lurched again, and her concentration was broken. A canister began floating freely towards her, and Ashley panicked. Grabbing her phaser rifle, she put it on the lowest power setting and fired directly at the canister, which both deflected it, and also propelled her upwards towards the upper deck and the door to the control tower. She grabbed the railing, then gracefully flipped over the handle and landed softly with a flourish. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ash dropped to her knees and crawled under the panel, and removed the bulkhead door below to access the main EPS juncture conduit. The power packs there were not only drained, but the internal circuitry in them had been reduced to a fine powder. She pulled them free, and placed 5 new self-regenerating power packs in their place. She could immediately hear the massive generators whirring to life around her, and the panel above hummed to life also. She looked out the window, and her two engineers gave her the thumbs up sign as all the lights came on in the massive bay. Sawyer smiled back, then activated and checked the main cargo transporter padd near the rear of the bay. Now there was one last thing to do. She walked back to the other panel, and transferred some power from environmental controls to the gravity generators and immediately she heard several canisters falling to the ground in the main bay. Ash smiled and walked out the door and looked down. "How is the atmospheric shields looking, Smith?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | She checked her chronometer. 9 minutes and 54 seconds. "Good work you two!", she said then tapped her combadge. “Sawyer to Descartes, everything is ready to go in here, and we are opening the bay doors now. Stand by to dock. Sawyer out.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sawyer took off her EVA gloves, and rode the now active lift down to the main bay level and make sure the shuttle got in okay. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | From the display over his right eye, John Carter saw a small telltale turn green. John couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | As John waited for his team leader' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana noticed that the shuttle was docking. "All right, we are here. Sawyer is already in which is a good thing. Now, we have things we all have to do. My main concern is trying to find the captain and get to the bridge. As said prior, Forrest and Cromwell are with me at all times. Now, let's see about getting the rest of the crew on board." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana sat in her chair and waited on the okay from Ashley so they can get on board and start the rescue procedures. This was a high priority mission and she was going to make sure that it got done and they got back to their ship without loosing any of their own crew. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Crewmembers were busy loading crew onto the Heidi when a crewman comes running in from shuttlebay one. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Good, this shuttle is full. Start sending these causalities next door. You, " Doctor Deyer pointed to one of his nurses "go with this transport." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Aye ma' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes ma' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Meanwhile in shuttlebay one, the shuttle Descartes finished her turn and landed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Thank you commander. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Right away ma' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell walked up to Taylor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Commander Taylor nodded as she followed the crewman to the Bridge. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell looked to Lieutenant Commander Deyer and said " | ||
+ | |||
+ | They joined up with the other five member of the medical team who just finished unloading their gear. As all picked up their trauma packs and medical kits, they followed Commander Deyer and Doctor Cromwell to sickbay. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
< | < | ||
- | ===== Chapter 13 ===== | + | <fs x-large> |
- | Text | + | < |
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Captain just arrived on the Bridge when the call came in from the Shuttlecraft Heidi. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Shuttlecraft Heidi,” announced Lieutenant Regesh at the tactical console. “You are cleared to land in Shuttlebay one.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lieutenant Revas, who was in the command chair, stood up and allowed his commanding officer to take his seat. Captain Marshall turned to Revas and said “Ah, Lieutenant. Start checking with Starfleet for any records of all ships that have been in the area recently. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I’ll get right on it sir,” Revas replied. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Let me explain my rationale, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Revas nodded his head. “Makes sense. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Regesh then spoke up. “Captain, I'm picking up a decaying warp signature on our sensors.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Do you know who it is?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Not yet,” Regesh admitted. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “It couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Captain took his chair as he opened a communications channel by pressing a button on the armrest console. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Republic to Commander Taylor,” Marshall called out. “Status report.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | After passing through the atmospheric shield, the shuttlecraft Heidi came to a soft landing on the deck of shuttlebay one onboard the Republic. | ||
+ | |||
+ | A young, black haired ensign in medical blues jogged up to the Heidi’s hatch, and as it opened, he walked through the doorway. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Brooke’s eyes widened with astonishment as the ensign tapped his combadge | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "This is transporter room three. Acknowledged." | ||
+ | |||
+ | The pilot watched as the last of the injured is transported off. He restarts the engines and swings the shuttle back towards the door. "Heidi to Republic shuttle control, permission to return to Zurich." | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Roger that. Heidi out." | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | The silence within sickbay was almost overwhelming as the staff could only stand and wait the onslaught of casualties they knew they were about to receive during the next few hours. | ||
+ | |||
+ | A nurse shouted from one bed, “Doctor Yezbeck, this one’s hurt bad.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Plasma burn” came the doctor’s diagnosis. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Yes doctor” replied the nurse, but Yezbeck was already moving to the next bed where a young, gold-uniformed girl lay holding her bloodied forearm. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “This one will make it fine with a bone-knitter and dermal regenerator. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As Yezbeck gave the order, the medical technician at the bed did not have time to reply before the doctor was across the room to another patient. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “This one’s missing part of his left frontal lobe” came the shaky voice of the young attending medic. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “These are tricky” remarked Doctor Yezbeck. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Again, before the tech could answer, the doctor was walking across the sickbay ward and removing his blue uniform shirt. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Sickbay to engineering. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Yezbeck threw on the red surgical smock and moved into the next room before the reply came. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Bartlett to Carter.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Go ahead Vic,” Carter Responded as he sat patiently in the cockpit of the shuttle. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Sorry about the delay. | ||
+ | |||
+ | From the cockpit of the shuttle DesCartes, John Carter watched as Leon Cromwell' | ||
+ | |||
+ | John quickly scanned the shuttle' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter took a mental inventory of where his people were. By now, he knew that Ghost Two had made it into Zurich' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The mission seemed straightforward enough; get to Zurich as fast as possible, save lives. Looking back, Carter decided he could have done without the pep talk from the command staff. Mostly, he had to admit, because it wasn't his style. Maybe it was a Martian thing. Maybe John was just plain practical, but whatever it was, John Carter had always preferred action to oratory, with one notable exception. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Right now however, actions were bouncing around in the back of John Carter' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kissed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | It wasn't a clap on the shoulder, a shake of the hand, or even a friendly peck on the cheek. It was a kiss, and John knew it was the LAST thing that belonged in the chain of command on a starship. He also knew that, for the moment, it was none of his business. He had work to do. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The sudden appearance of four transponder signals on his optical display helped focus John's thoughts on the moment, he stood and pivoted to activate the shuttle' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John smirked to himself, which both showed his amusement and opened a comm channel to Republic. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Carter to Republic. Ghost One is inbound with four more casualties. ETA six minutes.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter didn't wait for the acknowledgement. DesCartes lifted smoothly off the deck and sailed through the atmosphere seal into the vacuum of space. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley Sawyer stepped out of the turbolift and glanced around and noticed a young ensign posted by the door looking expectantly. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley kept smiling. "What exactly are you doing?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | He looked nervous for a second, then suddenly realized he was blocking her path. He jumped out of the way, and began stammering and Ashley finally laughed and put her hand on his shoulder. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I am the courier sir, internal communications are down." he said, visibly less forced. Ashley sighed. "Let me take a look here...." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Meanwhile, Captain Ortega was already in conversation with Commander Taylor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Did you bring any power packs with you?” Captain Ortega responded. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana looked at the Captain of the Zurich. "No, I have never lost a ship, just a husband," | ||
+ | |||
+ | Forrest, who was with the XO’s team on the bridge, stood surveying the mess of the Zurich' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Forrest turned back to the display and watched the text flash by at speeds far to fast for him to even comprehend. Forrest glanced back quickly over his shoulder, making sure that Taylor and the other were busy and quickly entered in a four digit access code. The PADD opened a smaller file and quickly transferred over the newly accessed data. Forrest was fairly sure no one had seen the change. Starfleet needed that information and Forest was damn sure it would get to his superiors. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "All done here, Commander." | ||
+ | |||
+ | “That’s good,” she replied turning away from the captain momentarily. | ||
+ | |||
+ | She then looked at the captain. "I will make sure that everything is done to the best of our ability." | ||
+ | |||
+ | She then walked off and headed towards Forrest. "Find anything interesting as to what happened?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | As their voices turned into quiet murmurs on the bridge, Ashley Sawyer was finishing repairs to the comm system with the ship’s internal courier. | ||
+ | |||
+ | They both stood up, and Ashley looked over at Ortega. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Thank you," he replied. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Rick tapped his combadge and replied " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "Same to you. Report." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "At least a hundred dead, a good one fifty injured. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Good, find a couple of those power packs you’re hiding and get that bay open. The Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Inside the shuttle DesCartes, John Carter double-checked the operational temperature of his drive plasma. ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | John had lost count of the number of bodies he had managed to ferry back to Republic with the help of Doctor Cromwell' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Each telltale was a subcutaneous transponder. A tiny electronic device that helped a ship' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Oh, tell me about it." John said. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John's companion checked the settings of her tricorder and stood up as she noticed how close DesCartes was getting to Republic. "Here we go again, Commander," | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Looks like six on the way," John said. | ||
+ | |||
+ | In what was becoming a disturbing ritual, John didn't even think twice as he piloted Descartes between the Zurich' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Ghost One to Zurich control." | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Roger that, Zurich Control. We're through the seal in three, two, one..." | ||
+ | |||
+ | There was a faint hum through DesCartes' | ||
+ | |||
+ | In DesCartes' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What was that?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Med tech took a deep breath as she completed the sequence of commands to activate the shuttle' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Roger that," John called back while opening communication with Zurich' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Ghost One to Zurich control. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Six more enroute to Republic, control. Ghost One is up and out." | ||
+ | |||
+ | In less than two minutes, John Carter had touched down, loaded his shuttle and set course back to Republic with six more patients. It was fast, it was efficient, but John couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | It couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | 'So what in god's name happened?' | ||
---- | ---- | ||
< | < | ||
- | ===== Chapter | + | <fs x-large> |
- | Text | + | < |
+ | |||
+ | As Doctor Deyer and Doctor Cromwell’s team neared sickbay, they saw the various walking wounded. | ||
+ | |||
+ | She asked a crewman to head back up to ensure that those casualties go next. He complies with the order and sprints back towards the shuttlebay. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Scanning the crowded expanse of the Zurich’s sickbay, Doctor Cromwell was overwhelmed by the staggering amount of severely wounded casualties. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon quickly went over the lengthy casualty list with the resident staff as his medical contingent went to work opening their trauma packs and distributing the badly needed medical supplies. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes Doctor" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell sighed and rubbed his forehead. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes doctor,” answered the ensign, as he turned to his makeshift sickbay staff. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The young man shook his head, trying to hold back tears. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I understand, | ||
+ | |||
+ | The ensign nodded slowly, and returned to work. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Turning to the next patient on the list, the doctor found himself looking at an unconscious human female in operations-gold. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Clearing the tricorder’s last scan, the doctor went to work on the next biobed where a young man in an engineering jumpsuit laid with a huge pressure bandage over his neck. Dark red blood leaked out from under the bandage, staining his uniform. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "This one has a massive tearing of the right jugular vein,” explained the doctor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doctor turned to see a Zurich crewman in operations gold pulling a blanket over a patient. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What happened?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "An ion field disrupted his nervous system. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The crewman nodded in confusion. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doctor pulled the blanket off the dead patient, revealing a ghostly white face of a human male. Grabbing a hyposray, he quickly inserted a vial of medicine and dialed an unknown dosage level before injecting it. Within seconds, the body began to erupt in severe spasms with foaming at the mouth. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I’m inducing a seizure" | ||
+ | |||
+ | A few seconds later, the patients’ spasms died down, and Doctor Cromwell dialed the dosage of another substance before injecting it. The body fell limp once again, and the doctor removed the instrument from the patient’s mouth. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The confused crewman rolled the freestanding medical contraption to the biobed, and swiveled the U-shaped stimulator aperture around the patient’s head. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Stand clear,” declared the crewman as he activated the stimulator. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | As before, the machine swelled with a static pulse, and the patient twitched once more. However, this time the steady red bio-readouts on the status board blinked before some turned to a hopeful yellow. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "That did it!" shouted the crewman. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Easy, crewman" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes doctor!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Turning back towards the sickbay, the doctor looked around at the massive crowd of patients awaiting treatment. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Where can I get some surgical smocks? | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Taylor and Forrest were quietly conversing about the recent download of the Zurich’s computer core. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well, " Forrest began, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Are you saying it was man-made?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "As I said, sir. I can't offer an expert opinion. Just a possibility." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Forrest wondered exactly what the Zurich had uncovered in its survey of the Rosara System. The recall codes he'd entered had downloaded something onto his PADD. Starfleet Intelligence had obviously thought something might be a bit odd in the system to have an additional sensor scan hidden on the Zurich' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Forrest thought back on what he knew about the Rosara System. Most of the hard scientific data he'd breezed over but couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Captain looked towards where Lana and Forrest were standing and talk, and he obviously overhead some of the conversation. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Captain Ortega heard the message and tapped his combadge. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "Aye sir. I'll see what miracle I can perform. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana looked again to Forrest. | ||
+ | |||
+ | She then tapped her combadge. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | The lights flickered and exposed wires sparked as medical technicians scurried around, moving patients that could be moved, and helping the least injured to the shuttle. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Virtus continued to move the around the shuttlebay as he argued with the pilot. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes Sir," replied the pilot. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic took a moment to sigh. Someday he'd get the hang of command in crisis situations, but not today apparently. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic blinked, and reread the data on the panel. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic tapped his combadge. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= Go ahead Lieutenant. =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | “We have a problem. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic waited for her response before telling her about the artificial gravity problem. | ||
+ | |||
+ | After landing, Doctor Y’lair and Doctor Fernmoore agreed that they should separate their group into two teams of three, as discussed with Doctor Cromwell before they left the Republic. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the short, gray-haired Doctor Fernmoore directed her medics to begin loading the shuttlebay casualties onto Bartlett, she addressed the overstressed pilot who just finished a heated argument with Lieutenant Virtus. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Ensign, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I know! I know!” shouted the ensign, his outburst a splendid indication of his internal frustration with his superiors. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Look, sonny!” she yelled back. “I’m guessing there’s at least a hundred injured here in the secondary hull, and were cut-off from sickbay in the primary saucer-section! | ||
+ | |||
+ | The ensign rolled his eyes and apologized. | ||
+ | |||
+ | | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Fernmoore left the ensign to do his work, walking away and grumbling about the months she had left before retirement. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I’ll be right back. I’m going to see if Lieutenant Virtus will be able to get those transporters operational. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The aged, wiry-figured doctor jogged over to Virtus who was busy at an engineering panel and addressing Commander Taylor over the comm system. She stopped abruptly, wondering if now was a good time to ask her superior for assistance. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Lieutenant Virtus, sir?” she asked. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor' | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Pakita to Virtus.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Go ahead Maria." | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “One of the Lieutenants said we might be able to give you an energy feed, and also suggested overlapping the Zurich' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor pondered for a moment. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Ask Engineering about the feasibility of an energy feed to boost the integrity field, and get me that Lieutenant’s name." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic knew it was dangerous, for if the secondary hull tore loose, the chance of a warp core explosion went through the roof, and at that range, the explosion would be inside the Republic' | ||
---- | ---- | ||
< | < | ||
- | ===== Chapter | + | <fs x-large> |
- | Text | + | < |
+ | |||
+ | The deafening noise of shouting staff and wailing casualties roared throughout the Republic’s sickbay. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Send him to triage two!” ordered one medic. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Yezbeck emerged from surgical suite four, his red surgical mask slid down below his beard, and smock mottled with dark patches of blood. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “This is nuts” he muttered to himself. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The nurse, finishing up with an unconscious patient on a biobed, turned to an attending medical technician. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Thank you, nurse” the doctor acknowledged. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Sickbay to bridge. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Acknowledged sickbay. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The balding doctor then turned around to face the expansive crowd, still not satisfied with the assiduous situation. | ||
+ | |||
+ | In the center of the inextricable sickbay, a new, rarely used member of the medical staff faded into existence. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “We’re taking on casualties from a Federation ship in distress” explained Doctor Yezbeck. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Right away” responded the hologram, as it moved swiftly over to the nearest biobed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “This next one has a spine fractured in three different places. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I’ll be right there” announced Doctor Yezbeck, slapping on a new pair of scarlet-colored gloves. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “It never rains, but it pours . . .” | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley continued pacing on the bridge when the comm picked up. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Go ahead lieutenant.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "We have a problem..." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley didn't need to hear anymore. Being a Vulcan/ | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana thought for a moment about the developing problem, and the possibility that the Zurich may be falling apart while they speak. "Get as many people out as you can," she ordered. "Or try to get a shield up around it so we don't loose any people. Do whatever you have to do." | ||
+ | |||
+ | She was starting to get flustered and overwhelmed. This ship was going to be destroyed with no hopes of saving it. But one way or the other, she was going to save the people on board. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ash could hear the strain in Commander Taylor' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "This is not going to be a pretty next few hours guys, but if anyone can handle it, I know its us," she said, and put her hands on the shoulders of Forrest and Taylor. Then directly addressing Lana, she said, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lieutenant Commander Forrest quickly viewed the information on his PADD, searching for an answer to the nagging questions he had concerning the source of the explosion that had left the USS Zurich a crippled mass of tritanium drifting in space. The data wasn't making any sense. Sensors showed no trace of energy capable of such destructive force, at least none that Forest would have expected. It wasn't a subspace weapon. Nothing that 'Fleet Intel said was in the Dominions old bag of tricks. Something was missing, some part of this little puzzle right in front of his face. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes, Commander", | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Where are you going with this Forrest?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well, sir,” he replied as he began to pace back and forth, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Immediately tapping his combadge, the intelligence officer said " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana looked at the officer. "All right. Return back to the Republic with everyone else. Do what you can to find out what is going on," Lana ordered. She then looked back at Forrest. "What is going on that I don't know about?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | As she stood on the bridge of the Zurich, she suddenly had a sharp pain in her stomach. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | She touched her combadge. "Beam me straight to sickbay. Have Doctor Cromwell meet me there immediately. This is an order," | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Captain Marshall sat in his chair as reports came in from the Zurich. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lieutenant Revas, the operations officer, was still hard at work at sciences station towards the rear of the bridge when he called out to Marshall. “Captain, you better take a look at this.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall walked over to the Science station. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “How much time do they have?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “About | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Bridge to Engineering, | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Lieutenant Hathaway here. Sir, we can't do it. We're overworked as it is and in case we had to get the Republic out of here we couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | From the helm station, the young Ferengi helmsman spoke up. “Captain? Lieutenant McTaggart and I have an option.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | The young lieutenant standing next to the helm console was Lieutenant Sean McTaggart, the second shift tactical officer under Lieutenant Regesh. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “It' | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Time left?” Marshall asked Revas at the rear science station. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Twelve minutes, Captain.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Zelk,” he addressed the helmsman. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Marshall to all transporter rooms,” the captain beckoned to the com system. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Minutes had passed before the Zurich’s sickbay took on some semblance of order. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doctor was dressed in red-colored surgical over-garments, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Looking at one of the nurses, the doctor said “Always when I’m in surgery. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Immediately, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “This is Doctor Cromwell. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The moment passed in silence. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Well, she called. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Yes doctor” the nurse responded. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Walking a short distance away from the table, the doctor lowered his surgical mask and removed the gloves. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Commander Taylor, this is Doctor Cromwell. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Seconds passed as he stood there without response. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "All hands, this is the bridge. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “What the HELL??” exclaimed the doctor, his eyes widening at the news. Some patients within sickbay, brimming with drugs and pain, feared the worst and began screaming. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Implant everyone with transponders!” ordered Deyer, reacting to the abrupt orders of her captain. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell, fuming with rage, had no such loyalties to the booming voice over the comm system. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Now hold on there, CAPTAIN sir! I’m not going ANYWHERE until every last injured person is off this ship! Do you understand?? | ||
+ | |||
+ | One by one, patients around sickbay began to dematerialize, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Republic! | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell was cutoff in mid-sentence as the shimmering white veil of transporter energy surrounded him, and the Zurich’s sickbay lay empty and abandoned. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
< | < | ||
- | ===== Chapter 16 ===== | + | <fs x-large> |
- | Text | + | < |
+ | |||
+ | Before Forrest could react the nimbus of the transporters caught Commander Taylor in mid-fall. Forrest took one last moment to survey the empty bridge of the Zurich, amazed that she had held together this long. Exposed conduits, burnt consoles, and flickering displays held evidence to the sheer tenacity of Starfleet. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Republic. One to beam aboard.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Forrest stared at the Zurich and slowly watched her fade away only to be replaced by the Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Forrest, Lana, Sawyer, and Ortega rematerialized on the transporter pad just as the chief reported that they have the away team. Forrest helped Taylor onto a nearby antigrav stretcher as she’s whisked off to sickbay. Ortega tapped his combadge and said " | ||
+ | |||
+ | After they left, Ashley stepped down off the transporter padd, and immediately made her way to main engineering on the Republic. She stepped through the doors feeling even more unnerved then when she had been on the bridge of the dying Zurich. But now she was unnerved even more, because she was beginning to sense something. Danger was approaching, | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley removed her combadge from her uniform, and all 3 of her rank pins, then walked to the door of her office. She then walked over to a group of officers who were standing at the MSD panel. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Then, she pressed a few button on the keypad lock for her desk, and opened the drawer and pulled out a PADD. A Starfleet PADD . . . from the future. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Smith merely blinked a few times, but Sierra immediately asked, "Sir, since you have already engaged us in this procedure, what exactly are the technologies in question?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sawyer smiled. "They are very impressive lieutenant. They include, Chroniton Neutronium Torpedoes, Neutronium enhanced shielding and armor plating, a brand new Quadralithium Matter/ | ||
+ | |||
+ | Smith finally spoke. "Sir, who exactly is it we expect to be fighting?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sawyer appeared troubled. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No sir", the pair spoke in tandem. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Then we should go to the bridge immediately.", | ||
+ | |||
+ | With that, she removed the lock from the door, picked up the PADD, and made her way to the turbolift. "The die is cast . . ." she half muttered aloud and to herself at the same time. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter always considered himself a man of action, and while he certainly had done his share of studying, he didn't care for hard sciences. He knew his astronomy, spatial mechanics, and applied physical theory. These were all things that a Conn Officer in Starfleet had to know in order to get a shuttle, runabout, or even a starship to do what he needed it to. The thing about numbers was that they didn't care about anything. Not whether you were going to be late for your first date, or that the tide of a battle might be turned if a torpedo finds its mark. Either the numbers added up in your favor, or not. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Math made the universe a cold and unforgiving place, and John Carter had often considered that the rules of the universe tended to discount a person' | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Republic to away team, pile everyone you can into shuttles we're going to attempt to beam you out of there. We're betting the farm we can pull it off with what's gotten done over there. There' | ||
+ | |||
+ | This, John decided, was one of those times... | ||
+ | |||
+ | The shuttle DesCartes made what Carter knew would be his final relief flight to Zurich' | ||
+ | |||
+ | ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter increased DesCartes speed toward Zurich' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What the devil are you doing?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | John's voice was calm and measured, but very firm as he answered her. "Just finishing the date," he said. "Power up the transporters," | ||
+ | |||
+ | Meanwhile, Shannon Harris was far more concerned with what she had just heard. She took the seat next to Carter in the command cabin, and turned to face the transporter controls. "With all due respect, Lieutenant Commander, we've been ordered to evac, not charge back in! And what the Hell are you smiling at?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | John couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Harris felt her stomach drop as DesCartes dipped low on her z-axis to avoid the onrushing shuttlecraft that were leaving Zurich almost as fast as he was approaching the doomed starship. As the oncoming craft rushed overhead, John's fingers quickly tapped a series of controls to pull the shuttle' | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "Ghost Two to Ghost One. Uh, John? Can't help but notice we're not all headed in the same direction." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Hi Vic," John replied, not bothering to hide the chuckle in his voice. "Seems we've got a couple of stragglers, and I figured the cargo transporters would be busy beaming off the wounded. Are Carlsberg and McDermott accounted for?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "Yes John, we're all here and tucked in, but...=/ | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Time check please, Vic." | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "Six minutes, 27 seconds...mark. Don't change the subject John!" =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Was I?" John answered back. He glanced sideways at the furious Shannon Harris. "That man's better than any chronometer in the Fleet." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Why doesn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= *sigh* “Five minutes, 52 seconds... mark." =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Two more than I need. Thanks Vic. Ghost One out." John shook his head slightly as the com channel closed, then glanced at Harris. "Stand by," he said, "bring them onboard as soon as we've crossed the atmosphere shield." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Ghost One to Engineering detail." | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Oh my," John whispered to Harris, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Here we go!" John tapped another series of commands into DesCartes’ flight control system, and clicked the override as the computer reminded him that what he was about to do was not recommended. Seconds later, DesCartes breached the atmospheric shield of Zurich' | ||
+ | |||
+ | From the shuttle bay's deck, McGruder looked through the visor of his EVA suit at the shuttle that was bearing down on his position. He turned his head sharply to look at the other wide-eyed engineer. ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Inside the command cabin of Ghost One, John Carter gritted his teeth as the shuttle pitched hard up on her port nacelle, inertial dampeners glowing red on the display board as Carter pulled the shuttle into an impossibly tight hairpin turn. Midway through the turn's arc, he barked out one word to Lieutenant Harris. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Got ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter breathed a sigh of relief as he saw the inertial dampeners settle back into the green and watched as distance to Republic began to decrease steadily. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Ghost One to Commander Taylor. That's all our people, Sir." | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doors opened and Captain Ortega, with a uniform full of grime, walked out. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Permission granted,” Marshall greeted him. “Welcome aboard the Republic, Captain.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Watching the viewscreen as what was left of the Zurich exploded, the Republic rocked slightly, but no damage occurred. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The captain raised an eyebrow with calculated curiosity. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "Well, sir . . . he told me to tell you to put the transporter buffer someplace I'd rather not repeat . . ." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Thank you, captain,” Ortega said. “I need to use your conference room." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Go right ahead." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Just then Forrest arrived on the bridge. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Go on Forrest,” the captain replied, walking towards him. “We' | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the two exited the bridge, the turbolift doors opened. Victor Virtus limped onto the bridge, and Lieutenant Pakita moved aside as he struggled over to the Sciences station. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Are you injured Lieutenant?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Only my pride. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "We believe so sir." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Aye sir," Maria dropped to a whisper. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic headed for the turbolift and mused again on the speed of scuttlebutt. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
< | < | ||
- | ===== Chapter 17 ===== | + | <fs x-large> |
- | Text | + | < |
+ | |||
+ | Moments earlier, the Republic’s sickbay had quieted down, as patients were transferred to other wards, and cargo bay two had been converted to a recovery center to handle the overflow of casualties. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “What in blazes is happening? | ||
+ | |||
+ | A frantic nurse, who was helping an injured Zurich crewman onto a biobed, replied “I don’t know sir, they came out of nowhere!” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Without warning, the main doors to sickbay sprung open, and Doctor Cromwell came stomping through, followed by several of the medical field staff, Doctor Y’lair, and Doctor Fernmoore. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Of all the goddamn, idiotic . . .” he bellowed, causing a surprised look to spring forth from Doctor Fernmoore and a raised eyebrow from the Vulcan Doctor Y’lair. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “What happened? | ||
+ | |||
+ | Flabbergasted, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Calming down to take in the situation around him, the doctor looked around sickbay and asked “what’s the status of these patients? | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Yezbeck, still in his ruby-red surgical smock, shrugged his shoulders and replied. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Suddenly, a female scream erupted from surgical suite two. Both Doctor Yezbeck and Cromwell turned to look at the door from where it came from. Already agitated, Leon briskly walked into the room to find the holographic doctor holding a tricorder wand over Commander Taylor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Now just hold still, Commander” came the calm British voice of the EMH. “I’ve got to diagnose the cause of your pain. If you don’t give me some cooperation, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Lana!” shouted Doctor Cromwell. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Turning to see the civilian attire of the doctor, the indignant looking EMH replied “if you don’t mind, I’m busy with a patient. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Between her spasms of pain, Commander Taylor shouted “get this crazy thing away from me!” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Now don’t struggle” ordered the annoying voice of the EMH. “It’s only going to make the pain worse.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “What are you doing?” demanded Doctor Cromwell. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Who do you think you are?” demanded the holographic doctor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell, annoyed and angered to no end, bellowed over his shoulder with increasing irritation and vehemence. “I AM the chief medical officer! | ||
+ | |||
+ | With a stiff lower jaw, furrowed eyebrows, and hurt pride, the EMH left the surgical suite without another word, allowing Doctor Cromwell to continue his diagnosis. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Easy, Lana” Leon crooned. | ||
+ | |||
+ | He did his best to conceal the deep concern he had over Commander Taylor’s unborn child. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lieutenant Commander Douglas Forrest walked into the room, barely a step ahead of Captain Marshall. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You were saying.", | ||
+ | |||
+ | "First off, Captain", | ||
+ | |||
+ | Captain Marshall looked at Forrest with disbelief, and all the intelligence officer could do in response was smile and nod his head. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall placed his elbows on the desk, his fingers stippled and rested lightly on his brow, Marshall looked like a man weighing some heavy loads. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Just then the door chimed, and it was Sawyer. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley walked into the ready room, and saw Captain Marshall and the Intelligence officer seated at the desk. She nodded to the two engineers who were with her to remain by the door, and she walked towards the desk. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What is it Sawyer?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley appeared deep in thought for a second, then straightened slightly and looked directly in the captains’ eyes. Sir, what I am about to tell you is in direct breach of the Temporal Prime Directive, but I feel it is imperative that we immediately take actions to protect this vessel against an impending attack from unknown assailants." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall took the PADD and looked at the contents. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I would have to agree Captain, our first priority should be finding the homeworld of these beings that I was referring to," said Forrest. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley sighed and took a second to collect her thoughts. "Sir, this technology is from the future. This PADD was left here by a temporal agent who came on board shortly before we left drydock, during an incident that in some alternate timeline apparently resulted in the destruction of our ship on our first mission. It is my belief . . . that we are facing a similar situation now, and the future technology contained on this PADD was meant to be put on this vessel. In fact, I can say for a certainty that it is the correct course of action for us to take", she said added. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley now noticed that Forrest had been strangely quiet the entire time she was speaking, and assumed he was concerned over the implications of the future technology. Addressing them both equally now, she said, "sirs, I mulled this proposal over in my head for several hours now. I understand my duty as a Starfleet officer, and I also understand my duty to protect this vessel and its crew, and that’s what I'm trying to do here sir. This technology is not just laid out on this PADD as if it’s a manifest of the capabilities. | ||
+ | |||
+ | At that moment, a polite cough was heard from the far side of the room by the replicator. Ashley glanced over, and was shocked to see someone who she could only guess was Daniels standing looking at them. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Who are you?" asked the Captain. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley spoke up before he had a chance to, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The man answered, "That is correct. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "First off," Captain Marshall spoke up, "Where and when are you from?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Why are you here?" chimed in Forrest. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Your assumption is correct. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Never heard of them," replied Captain Marshall. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You say the Republic is not supposed to be destroyed? | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I know the remains of that building. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Looks like it was done a long time ago," said the Captain. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "It was. This is what Earth looks like due to the results of the Kreltan Massacre of 2385, which could have been prevented. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall, and the Republic doing so much more than stopping them. You remind me too much of Archer," | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes, there' | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Daniels was gone. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well, he confirmed what I had suspected," | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Captain winced. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doctor responded with enough concern and professional demeanor in his voice that it caused the captain to set aside his current annoyance with him. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall' | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shuttle DesCartes came to an easy rest on the polished dura-steel plating of Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Do you take ANYTHING seriously, Lieutenant Commander?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Could be worse Lieutenant." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | McGruder smiled as he heard the humor in his Doctor' | ||
+ | |||
+ | John and the other engineer limped over to the shuttle' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Harris gave a curt nod. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "And a half, Ma' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shannon Harris finished treating McGruder' | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Forrest to Carter. You're ordered to assume command of the Bridge.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | John called out to Forrest' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter winced subconsciously as the turbo-lift doors opened...silently, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter hesitated for a second as he approached the center seat, as if silently asking the Captain' | ||
+ | |||
+ | As he settled into the command chair, John looked at Forrest. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Both Captain Marshall and the XO are in sickbay." | ||
+ | |||
+ | That wasn't good news. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Revas was nodding towards the viewscreen. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Okay then," John looked ahead to the main viewer, seeing what was left of the U.S.S. Zurich, which now hung in two pieces; her saucer having been separated from the secondary hull because of intense gravitic stress. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | The red tracer lights pulsated along the walls of the Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The captain continued his walk past the first few biobeds, scanning the large room from side to side. Realizing who had arrived, the young, black-haired holographic doctor walked up to him and spoke in an irritated British accent. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Captain Marshall, recognizing the infamous image of Doctor Bashir from Deep Space Nine, realized that the EMH program was up and running during this most recent crisis. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "That makes two of us" he replied before turning away towards a nurse who was attending a bed-ridden Zurich crewman. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The nurse pointed to a closed door along a wall whose surface contained the slim graphical text found on so many shipboard doors throughout Starfleet. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Inside, Doctor Cromwell was wearing a light blue physician' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What happened?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | In full diagnosis mode, the doctor proceeded to offer an explanation. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Unsure of exactly what the doctor meant by complications, | ||
+ | |||
+ | "That depends" | ||
+ | |||
+ | The captain frowned and said "what kind of decisions?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well, her system is undergoing pre-mature labor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well, ordinarily I would attempt a series of hormonal therapies combined with protein-activators to trick her body back into thinking that it's not time give birth. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well, there' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell closed his eyes and recapitulated his explanation. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The shock of the words reverberated through the captain' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What are her options?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "There are two," the doctor said. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I don't like that option" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell sighed and said, “the second has the best possibility of saving Commander Taylor' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You mean abort the pregnancy? | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | “And those are her only options? | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Worse still” replied the doctor, “they’re not your decisions to make.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | As painless, drug-induced lucidity dawned upon her, Captain Marshall and Doctor Cromwell calmly explained to her the dilemma with as much comfort and compassion as they could muster. | ||
+ | |||
+ | When Lana awoke and heard the options presented to her and her baby, she wept for several minutes. After calming down, she looked at Captain Marshall straight in the eyes as she said to the doctor..." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana really wanted to spend time with Jim before Leon done anything to her and the baby. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doctor nodded solemnly. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I just want you to know" he added, "that we’ll do everything within our power to make sure that both you and your baby will come out of this okay. You have my word on that." | ||
+ | |||
+ | With that, Doctor Cromwell nodded to Captain Marshall and exited the surgical suite. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Jim focused his entire attention on Lana. He couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lana cut him off as she said that. When she heard Jim say that he would do anything for her, she thought of one thing that she wanted him to do for her. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Jim, the only thing I want is for you to stay with me the whole time. I don't want to be alone, and I know with you there, I will be okay," she said looking in his eyes. | ||
+ | |||
+ | She then drifted off for a moment. Like she remembered something. Then she looked back at him, but she had a slight distant look in her eyes. "I love you," she said before she drifted off to sleep. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall' | ||
---- | ---- | ||
< | < | ||
- | ===== Chapter 18 ===== | + | <fs x-large> |
- | Text | + | < |
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell emerged from the surgical suite, embroiled in his own thoughts. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As if an answer was bestowed upon him by fate, a voice pulled him back to the present situation. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Captain Ortega, I presume?” responded Doctor Cromwell. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Lieutenant Commander Deyer is in cargo bay two.” Came the disembodied and monotone voice of the Republic’s computer. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doctor nodded with comprehension and returned his attention to Captain Ortega. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell rubbed his forehead, and raised his eyebrows. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “What happened to you?” asked Doctor Cromwell. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Harris gave a half smirk, then replied “I finished a date with a flight jock.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “You what?” asked Leon, rather confused. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Never mind” she replied, shaking her head. “What can I help with here?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Cromwell lowered his voice and began filling her in on the situation with Commander Taylor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “A gestation chamber?” balked Doctor Harris. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon motioned her to lower her voice “yes, I explained everything to her. She wants to do everything possible to save the baby. Right now I need you to go to the science chief’s office and work with Lieutenant Virtus to fabricate the chamber. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Concerned, Harris nodded her head slowly and responded, “yes doctor.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lieutenant Virtus and his life sciences staff stood among a huge layout of double bunk beds anchored to the cargo bay floor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Towards the end of the long rows of bunks, gold-uniformed engineering crews were busily installing more beds. As they acknowledged completion of one bed, a veil of transporter energy engulfed it, and two patients appeared on both levels. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The com system replied to Victor’s call. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “This is Cromwell. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Acknowledged, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor Xavier Virtus would admit to himself (in his darker moments of hubris) that he was a genius. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic turned to his makeshift medical team. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Virtus to Pakita.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Here sir.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Scan for the Zurich' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Such information is normally classified to prevent enemy ships from intercepting log buoys, but Vic had a sneaking suspicion that Lieutenant Commander Forrest had clearances that the majority of Star Fleet were not even aware existed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Virtus to Harris. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic had been improving. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic ran his fingers through his short brown hair. The trouble with being a genius is often the result of being too smart for one's own good; over thinking a problem. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic shook his head to clear it. The meeting with the Doctor was now the first priority. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | As Doctor Cromwell finished his conversation with Lieutenant Virtus, he proceeded to a nurse who was completing work on a Zurich crewman. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Nurse, | ||
+ | |||
+ | The nurse nodded and was about to turn away when the doctor added “one more thing. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Yes doctor” she replied, then excused herself to ready the necessary materials. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell glanced about and reviewed the hustling and exhausted staff throughout sickbay. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Acknowledged.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Acknowledged.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Acknowledged.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley stood back from the MSD. "Okay guys, let's bring everything online. Computer, Begin level 1 diagnostic on all new systems." | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Multi-Spectral Sensor array . . . online. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley frowned. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Republic was now a totally new ship. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | On Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | John glanced at Revas, the Ops Officer. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The danger of that was more real than Carter was comfortable admitting to himself. The graviton wave, however it had started, made local space the equivalent of a parsecs wide fog bank. Passive scans were only good at short range, and while Republic could focus sensors and cut through the interference, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter gave himself a mental shake. 'First things first.' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ensign Zelk answered back, "aye, sir." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "All ahead easy Mister Zelk," he said. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Stay sharp on the lateral sensors, Tac." It pleased John to feel how easy it was to be comfortable with the crew, and that showed in his use of nicknames wit most of the crew. He watched as the officers on the bridge went about their jobs. 'Fleet had trained all of these people well, and John Carter knew they were up to the task. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The image of Zurich' | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter gave a look to Lieutenant Revas, sitting at his left. John felt his eyebrows raise, asking silently, ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Next to John, Exander gave a crooked nod that John took to mean 'Seems all right to me.' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Attention all hands. This is Lieutenant Commander Carter. Stand down from red alert. We are at condition yellow.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | Yellow alert meant a few things. Firstly, the ship's shields and defensive systems would remain on line and fully powered, keeping the ship safe. Second, powering down the weapons would free up valuable power to other areas of the ship, and perhaps most important, it would allow the ship's Alpha Watch to get some rest. | ||
+ | |||
+ | John noted the change in ship's status on the log, and then turned his attention to fixing Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | There was no response. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Lieutenant Commander Sawyer is not onboard the Republic.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What the Hell ?!?" was John's stunned response. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Douglas Forrest sank heavily into the cushioned seat to the right of Lieutenant Commander Carter. The past few hours had come at him in a blur. Forrest' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes, sir," snapped the ensign, as he grabbed the bag, looking at the strange wooden club strapped across the top. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Forrest turned and looked at Carter, his brown eyes judging the man sitting in the captain' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Forrest began typing a series of commands into the armrest display PADD and began checking the engineering files on the modifications that Sawyer had begun to the Republic. Strange technical displays and notations began scrawling across the screen. Forrest was most assuredly beyond his element. He just wondered the reasoning behind the order to the upgrades without proper 'Fleet approval. Hell half this stuff was beyond replicator capabilities, | ||
+ | |||
+ | "So, Commander," | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yeah you've got a point there," | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The smirk returned, and John could feel it. That particular facial gesture had always been Carter' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Forrest chuckled and nodded. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Not exactly," | ||
+ | |||
+ | Some very important parts of John Carter' | ||
+ | |||
+ | John laughed again. 'And now he needs to prove he's the big dog.' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Forrest looked a little confused. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Doctor slowly looked up from his monitor, and looked the Captain in the eye, squinting slightly with his eyebrows folded into a scowl. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Tell me something, captain” the doctor finally said. “Would you want your boss looking over your shoulder while you were trying to do your job? | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell held an extended hand out to the seat in front of his desk, inviting the captain to sit. As Jim complied, Leon sat forward again, leaning on the desk and folding his hands. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Besides, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “What do you mean?” the captain erupted, flaring with animosity. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I’m not blind,” replied the doctor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “That’s not true!” the captain shot back, lifting himself out of his seat slightly. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell held his hands up in front of him as he sat back in his chair. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “That reminds me. Since Lana will be undergoing a risky surgery, you may want to consider adjusting the chain-of-command on the ship to induct the next in line as the new, temporary first officer. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doctor looked back into the stressed, tired, and visibly frustrated eyes of the captain. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I know we’ve been getting under each other’s skin lately,” said Leon with a hint of regret. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doctor picked up his drink, but noticed the captain’s reluctance to take his own glass from the desk. “Didn’t you hear?” Leon asked. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "To the future," | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "When we're off duty, call me Jim," said the Captain. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Jim it is then," said Leon. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You were wrong about how long I've known Lana. I knew her during my first assignment at the Academy. Some cadets were harassing her, and I put a stop to it. We dated until I got transferred, | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I see, this really puts you in a tough spot, the re-opening of old wounds. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Jim replied, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Then stop acting like an Exec and think like a Captain. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Will do Jim," said Leon. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the captain walked out of his office, Leon slumped back into his seat nursing his drink. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The warble of the COM system broke the silence in the small office. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Acknowledged, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon let out a loud sigh and raised his eyebrows in fatigue as he picked up his boarding bag and slung it over his shoulder. | ||
+ | |||
+ | In the surgical suite, the nurse was finalizing the at-risk surgical checklist with an understandably distraught Commander Taylor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As Leon walked into the suite, the nurse looked towards him and announced “she’s all finished, doctor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell replied “Thanks. I’ll take it from here. Now go get some sleep.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the relieved nurse walked out, Leon looked at Lana with a fatherly expression. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “That’s the understatement of the century” came the sarcastic reply from Taylor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Adjusting his expression back to his concerned, professional demeanor, the doctor continued. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon walked over to a wall console and dialed a few commands. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I’d like you to stay in sickbay this evening, so we can keep a close watch on you. However, I don’t think that spending time with the recovering Zurich crew will help your condition, so you can stay here in the surgical suite.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | A faint hum registered around the surgical bed, and Lana suddenly felt much lighter, as if floating on water. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “The low-gravity field of the bed will make you more comfortable, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon prepared a hypo-spray, and administered it to Lana. “Don’t worry,” he whispered reassuringly with a soft squeeze on the shoulder. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As Doctor Cromwell left the surgical suite, the short, balding Doctor Yezbeck walked up him, noticing the bloodshot, baggy eyes, and dazed expression. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I am,” replied Leon. “How’s things here?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Fine,” said Doctor Yezbeck. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon managed a smile. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Yezbeck smiled back, although with a bit more energy. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I think I will,” admitted Leon. “Call me if I’m needed.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | He was about to leave when he paused to add a last item of business. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Taking the hint to ensure his own rest, Yezbeck replied “you got it.” | ||
---- | ---- | ||
< | < | ||
- | ===== Chapter 19 ===== | + | <fs x-large> |
- | Text | + | < |
+ | |||
+ | After a ten-minute search and the computer’s help, Leon finally found his assigned quarters. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Before long, Leon settled into his room, and began to finish off his day’s work. With heavy eyelids and a distracted expression, he sat down at his desk and activated the workstation console. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Chief Medical Officer’s log, stardate . . . uh . . . stardate . . .” Leon looked around, confused and unsure of the current date and time. It was a long trip from the Bremerton, plus settling in to his new duty appointment, | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Log entry activation acknowledged. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Although the monotone, female voice of the computer was alert and steadfast, there was, unfortunately, | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shannon Harris quickened her pace as she moved through Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Moments ago, Doctor Cromwell had given Shannon what she knew to be a difficult task. Build an embryonic gestation chamber from tech that was lifted from the Borg during the infamous journey of the U.S.S. Voyager. Thinking of that name, Harris suppressed a shudder. | ||
+ | |||
+ | All of Starfleet knew Voyager' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shannon Harris was only in high school when the Borg destroyed most of Starfleet at Wolf 359, and she now recalled vividly the fear and dread of being huddled into deep shelters in her native Australia; structures that hadn't been used since the Faction Wars that ravaged Earth before first contact with the Vulcans. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Harris entered the car and spoke to the computer system. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The com system chirped, indicating that it was ready for her question. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Where is the Chief Science Officer' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Harris tapped a control on the lift car's wall, then spoke. "Deck four." | ||
+ | |||
+ | The car moved horizontally, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Harris scanned the coding on the doors as she passed them, finally finding the Office of Lieutenant Victor Virtus, PhD. ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shannon turned her back to the wall, folded her arms across her chest, and bent her left knee, propping her body against the bulkhead with her left foot. A few seconds later, she saw a tall, thin, brown-haired man in science blue move with an amazingly measured pace around the corner. This, she knew, was Victor Virtus. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor blinked. "I did say that already didn't I?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes, Doctor." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Thank you, Doctor." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor cringed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Moments later, Victor and Harris exit the office, both looking a bit frayed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "So let me get this straight. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "The Captain has taken a personal interest in this matter and..." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Oh, I SAW the Captain' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes, and I understand.." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor keyed into his quarters, and made his way to the replicator. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Hot Tea." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Very well Doctor, I will start making the appropriate arrangements. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No thank you Lieutenant. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor blinked, “I’m sorry. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shannon sighed, “Long story. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Call me Victor." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shannon grinned slightly as she walked out the door. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "As you wish Lieutenant." | ||
+ | |||
+ | The door closed with a totally inaudible swish. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic groaned and sat down to write two reports and a preliminary checklist for a Borg gestation chamber, before getting a wholly inadequate amount of sleep. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley paced back in forth in her office. The upgrades were nearly complete, all that was needed was the final approval from the captain to bring the systems online, and then to break silence with the crew on the upgrades and how to use them. But that was the easy part. The hard part was calming her conscious. They were breaking so many protocols, and she just knew this wasn't going to end well. She picked up the infamous PADD, and unencrypted its contents. She knew what was on the PADD. It contained several centuries of history and technological data. All she had to do was find her own name, and then look ahead to see what was....but no. That would be crossing the line. That would be unethical, to say the least. She re-encrypted the PADD, and put it in her desk. As she did so, she could overhear two people standing near the door talking quietly | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I just don't like it" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "It seems cowardly and the easy way out" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What on earth are you on about, mate?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "All this future-technology rubbish. Whatever happened to good old-fashioned engineering ingenuity? On my old ship, we would figure out how to lick whoever these devils be without cheatin' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "But how do ye know this, mate? Did you look at the wee cheat sheet also?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No, but I trust Ashley and the Captain. I know she wouldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Look matey, I just don't want my great grand kids reading about this mission, and thinking their old man O, cheapened out during a fight, and tried to accept some charity from their own time. We can fight these devils with a little bit o' smarts and manpower. That’s how they did back in the old days, they didn't need no future rubbish." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Then obviously history intended for us ter die out here right now then, mate. Who are we to change that?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | It was at that point the she recognized the voice of a third person. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Daniels was in Main Engineering | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | As he did so, the crewman said, "And who in the bloody hell was that?", | ||
+ | |||
+ | Daniels walked over to Ashley. "I know what you are thinking. All I can tell you, is that you are making the right decision, for the fate of this crew. What you do here today, has far wider implications than just the immediate threat." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley looked up. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Daniels looked down however. "I can't tell you that. Just know that it is the correct decision." | ||
+ | |||
+ | But now Ashley looked troubled. "We will have to return to some type of base within the next few weeks to offset the Zurich survivors. At that point, it will become apparent to anyone there with access to sensors and half a brain cell that we have some pretty non-standard technology on-board this ship. Then comes the inquiry, then the general court-martial, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Daniels looked up. "What will happen, will happen. I have told you only what I can." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley sighed. "Why are you here?" she asked. Then she noticed where he was looking. "You want this PADD back, don't you?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | He nodded. "Even with this intrusion, your timeline must be kept as close to untainted as possible within the current situation. I cannot allow this potentially dangerous information to remain here, and possibly fall into the hands of your approaching foe." he responded. | ||
+ | |||
+ | She handed the PADD to him, and he vanished in the whisk of a transporter beam. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley stepped out into the main bay, and checked at every station. Next, she tapped her combadge. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Sawyer to Captain Marshal. The upgrades are complete, and are ready to be brought online at your command. What are your orders sir? | ||
---- | ---- | ||
< | < | ||
- | ===== Chapter 20 ===== | + | <fs x-large> |
- | Text | + | < |
+ | |||
+ | On Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You bet you do." John shot back. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Vulcan Watch Officer tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Cleared his throat and spoke. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | A soft chirp answered. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Note change of watch in ship's log at . . ." Carter turned his left wrist upward, checking an old-fashioned wrist chronometer, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Once inside the car, John finally felt like he could relax. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter unzipped his duty tunic halfway down his torso, and pushed his uniform sleeves up. He leaned against the back wall of the turbo lift and wondered aloud. "I just want to know where the hell my Chief Engineer is." He said, to no one in particular. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John glared at the car's speaker grid. He considered asking the natural follow-up, but realised that the computer was telling him exactly what it could about Ashley Sawyer, and arguing with it was pointless. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | 'Seems pretty simple,' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Starfleet had managed to negotiate a tenious peace with the Romulan Empire almost a hundered years earlier, and was now able to turn it's attention to outward exploration and keeping an eye on the Klingon Empire. Thanks to the commissioning of the Constitution Class, the first true starships in fleet history, both those jobs would be possible, if not easy. | ||
+ | |||
+ | In the time of Kirk, Sulu and a handful of other legendary captains, being the only ship in quadrant was a real possibility, | ||
+ | |||
+ | ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | He stepped into Main Engineering; | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Hey! Points!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Considering the flurry of questions, Ashley Sawyer took them all rather well, scarcely looking up from her PADD to talk to her clearly frustrated crewmate. "Watch your language please." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sawyer kept checking the PADD and doing math in her head, then tucked the handheld device away. "I heard what you did For McGruder and Tomlinson. Thanks." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Sure, now will you please..." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Starfleet had many unwritten traditions. one of them was that, if a crewman felt he absoloutely had to do something that was against one of Fleets standing orders, then they did them 'off the clock' that meant removing all rank and office insignia from the uniform. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley was now trying to figure out the last intermix ratios for the Quadro-Transwarp drive on her PADD, when she heard Carter yelling at her. She kept checking the PADD and doing math in her head, then tucked the handheld device away. "I heard what you did For McGruder and Tomlinson. Thanks.", | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Sure, now will you please..." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley held up her hands defensively. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Sawyer to Capt Marshall, you are needed in Engineering immediately.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley looked down, and tried not to make eye contact with Carter until the Captain arrived. | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter stood nervously next to Lieutenant Commander Ashley Sawyer as they rode down together on the small motorized platform to the main floor of Engineering onboard the Republic. Somehow, John knew that Sawyer wasn't making eye contact with him on purpose, but right now he was too focused on the radical changes in Engineering to focus on Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ashley cleared her throat and kept her composure. "This way, John." | ||
+ | |||
+ | The desk itself was another matter. Multiple PADDs, various isolinear chips and technical diagrams were strewn across the desk top, standing in stark contrast to the ordered discipline that seemed to radiate from the office itself. Faced with that dichotomy, John Carter was suddenly keenly aware that there was a lot about Ashley Sawyer he didn't know. He also didn't like the tension in the room, and it seemed like now was the time to change that. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Look, points," | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sawyer cocked her head. "What did you say?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | John looked at her, tapping his own ears with a fingertip. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | As if on cue, Captain James Marshall appeared at the doorway to Sawyer' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter snapped to attention when the Captain entered the room. Marshall gave John a nod as the office doors slid shut. "All right," | ||
+ | |||
+ | John knew that it was important for him to keep his temper. Unfortunately, | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The words hit Carter with a sober familiarity. He'd been an Executive Officer before. He'd even been forced to assume a Captaincy before, through very unfortunate circumstances. Now, however, he simply nodded. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | With know words at all, the trio departed for the Captain' | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doors to the ready room closed and Carter assumed ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | James Marshall sat behind his desk and tried to let himself relax, then looked at his officers. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall nodded. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I know enough!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Of course there' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Not when that personal life effects the running of this ship, sir." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall calmed his tone down, "The fact remains she's pregnant with her dead husband' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | 'Well that settles it', John thought. Then he spoke up. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Next to Carter, Ashley Sawyer spoke up. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Ever heard of a race called the Kreltan Confederacy?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "It is my belief that they have used a stolen Kessok device like the one the Soverign encountered last year. It is probable they used it to destroy whatever it was that caused the energy wave that rocked the Zurich. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Where did we get this tech from? Was it Forrest?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No, Daniels." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "This ship was sabotaged before it's launch. | ||
+ | |||
+ | John couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "From what Daniels told us, if we don't stop the Confederacy, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter heard the autority in his Captain' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall and Sawyer exchanged a quick glance. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Thank you, sir." Carter lifted his head again. “I think that's all I have." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter straightened up and folded his arms across his chest. "Then as your First Officer Captain, might I advise you to keep your senior staff in the loop?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall nodded, but he also knew there was more to come. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John let those words sink in then looked at Sawyer. "Poker at 2100, Friday in my quarters, Points." | ||
+ | |||
+ | After his meeting at the end of which he ordered both Carter and Sawyer to get some sleep, he stuck his head out the door to find Lieutenant McTaggart at the Tactical console. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes Captain," | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Um, Sir, Lieutenant Regesh actually has seniority over me. He might be rather displeased if you go above his head like that.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall considered Regesh, the stoic Andorian security officer, before finally deciding to give the temporary job to McTaggart on the grounds allowing him to develop leadership skills. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes Captain, I can do this, and do it well," he replied. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Good, now get some sleep. | ||
+ | |||
+ | He left as Marshall turned to the painting of his ancestor President Marshall, "We live to fight another day Mister President, and now I'm going to sleep." |