This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
Next revision | Previous revisionLast revisionBoth sides next revision | ||
archives:the_fire_within [2020/09/20 18:31] – created cromwell | archives:the_fire_within [2020/09/30 02:00] – site_admin | ||
---|---|---|---|
Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
---- | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | <WRAP button>< | ||
+ | |||
<WRAP group> | <WRAP group> | ||
Line 39: | Line 42: | ||
< | < | ||
<fs x-large> | <fs x-large> | ||
+ | Bright orange streaks of sunlight beamed through the gigantic sandstone outcroppings of Mount S’laya. | ||
+ | Gathered on a flat, stone platform near the summit, six Starfleet officers were dressed in class-A uniforms with medical blue piping on the sleeves. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Greetings, | ||
+ | |||
+ | The projection of Y’lair raised its hand, and displayed the symbolic V-shaped finger-split of the standard Vulcan goodwill gesture. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell walked up to the platform and turned around to face the crowd with a mournful expression that betrayed no sign of joy at what he was about to say. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “My friends, thank you for coming.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Doctor Y’lair was with us for only a short time, but during our tenure together, I quickly learned that he was a person whom I would trust my life with. He was the most efficient and reliable medical officer I have ever had the pleasure to serve with, and the rest of us can only hope to come close the level of proficiency and professionalism that he displayed on a daily basis. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I don’t think I will ever truly be able to get over his loss, but it makes it bearable to recall Y’lair’s words to me when we went on our first away mission. | ||
+ | |||
+ | With that, Leon turned around and placed a Starfleet issue communicator on the hologram platform where Y’lair’s image had been moments earlier. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Thank you for sparing the time for a holo-transmission, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “We place no blame,” replied the taller, male Vulcan. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Our son died doing what he felt was the logical course for his life,” added the female Vulcan. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “We must now take our leave of you, Doctor,” concluded Y’lair’s father. | ||
+ | |||
+ | With that, the male Vulcan dialed an invisible keypad that could not be seen on the receiving end of the transmission. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Captain Marshall sat behind his desk reviewing the repair logs of the Republic. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The quiet atmosphere of the ready room was broken by the warble of the door chime. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the doors whispered open, Leon walked into the room. He was wearing a brown leather jacket, and slung his cylindrical boarding bag over his shoulder. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Not really,” the captain replied. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Just taking some time away,” he replied with a shoulder shrug. | ||
+ | |||
+ | In conciliatory tone, Marshal offered “I’m sorry about Y’lair. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Thanks. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Speaking of replacements, | ||
+ | |||
+ | With a sigh, Leon explained, “well, I don’t really think she deserves that, Jim. Nor do the officers B’Rell reassigned. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Then you still want her on your staff?” he asked straightforwardly. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I didn’t take her premature acceptance of my death personally, and we’re in need of a head nurse now with Ensign Brooke gone. Yes, I think she would benefit from remaining aboard. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Alright, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “What about B’Rell? | ||
+ | |||
+ | “He’s in detention on the Starbase. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Can’t say I’m sad to hear that. Will we get another counselor? | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Hard to say,” Jim said, sitting back in his chair. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Speaking of promotions, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “What’s this?” Marshall asked with curiosity. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Promotion recommendations, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall scrutinized the list. “Yezbeck, Fernmoore, and Harris . . .” In a moment of thought which had him flipping through the various pages of personnel records on the pad, Jim continued. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Well, she’s not much younger than our executive officer,” replied Leon. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The captain thought for a moment, remembering that Carter was in his late twenties, and one of the youngest people in Starfleet to have achieved such a rank at his age. From his point of view, Jim felt it wasn’t a fair comparison since Carter was a well-decorated flight, tactical, and security officer. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I’ll consider her for promotable status,” Marshall finally said. “That should give her the seniority you want her to have in sickbay, but I can’t see a rank change in her near future. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “That’s all I ask,” Leon replied. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “While you’re here, doctor,” the captain said while reaching into a lower desk drawer. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “What is it?” the doctor asked while examining the appliance. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “It’s just some standard forms. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon closed his eyes and grimaced with frustration. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Before you fly off the handle, Leon, see it from my point of view.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “And that is?” replied the doctor with exasperation. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I prefer to have a certain formality on the bridge, as well as with my senior officers, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “But . . .?” Leon chided, knowing there was something else. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “But,” Jim continued, “if I keep a civilian as one of my senior staff members, it puts me in an odd position if I have to hand command over to you in an emergency situation. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Jim, I’m just a physician, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I’m not asking you to be. All I’m asking is to have one of my officers be an officially sanctioned senior leader. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Jim, are you deaf?” explained Leon. “I told you that my career is my business and I . . .” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Most people would give anything to be a Starfleet officer,” interrupted the captain. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon pursed his lips before turning to leave the ready room in aggravation. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Think about it Leon. I don’t want another B’Rell incident.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | With that, the doors slid closed as the doctor left the room. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter was dressed in black boots and slacks, with a gray, long-sleeved jersey underneath a sage-green flight jacket. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell sat in an acceleration chair next to the viewport while Carter packed his vacation bag. Outside the viewport, the metallic interior walls of Starbase Delphi’s huge starship berthing complex stood in sharp contrast to the normal star-sparkled backdrop of space. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Shall we hijack a runabout to the Sol system and visit the newly-promoted Lieutenant Commander Virtus?” said Leon with the voice of a salesman. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I think he’s a little busy with his new position right now,” said Carter. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Where then? Riza?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “No, a bit too spicy for me.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “How about Wrigley’s Pleasure Planet?” Leon offered with a hint of humor in his voice. | ||
+ | |||
+ | John chuckled. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Well, where do you want to go?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter leaned back in the acceleration couch of the small craft' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Is that important to you? It's not like I have any . . ." | ||
+ | |||
+ | John held up a hand. "Whoa Doc, it's ok. Believe me, after the week we just had, the farther I am from a sun baked desert, the better." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon smiled and turned his attention to the replicator' | ||
+ | |||
+ | John quirked an eyebrow, he didn't recognize the last word of the Doctor' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Rule number one John . . ." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You have rules now?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon chuckled, but kept his train of thought. "You can't ask what it is. You can only ask what it was." | ||
+ | |||
+ | John held the small glass up to the light and watched the blue liquid sparkle. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "But since you asked," | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter downed the shot and then smiled as the blue drink warmed its way down his throat, seeming to spread through his whole body. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Glad you like it." Leon said. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John checked the helm controls one more time, then set the controls into the computer. "All I want to do Doc is find a beach and smell some nice sea air." John offered. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well if that's the case, we should head to Betazed. Wonderful beaches, and the scenery isn't bad either." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You old dog!" John shouted. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What test?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You know what test Doc," John said firmly. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "It is." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I don't care!" Leon shot back. "I took off the uniform for a reason John." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter leaned forward, looking Cromwell in the eyes. "You want to tell me what that reason is?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon got a self-satisfied look on his face. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter let the words sink in for a moment. "At least in Fleet you can still make a difference." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon listened and leaned back to look at his friend again. "I would have said the same thing once. In fact, I think I did when I was your age." | ||
+ | |||
+ | John threw back his head and laughed. "Oh no! No you don't! No way am I letting you get away with this 'Old Man and the Sea' crap. Cut your losses and reel in the sprocking fish Doc!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes Doc," Carter said firmly, letting a bit of his ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Can I change the subject now?" Leon asked, exasperated. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Feel free." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What are your intentions towards my chief of staff?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well gee ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Cromwell shook his head. "Why do you do that? You never answer a personal question straight. I'm just trying to figure out what I might have to deal with." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No worries Doc." John said, not sure if he was telling his friend the truth. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
< | < | ||
<fs x-large> | <fs x-large> | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor looked over his Starfleet -Eyes Only- file for the third time. While not ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The light strains of an ancient Terran orchestra filled the small compartment as Lieutenant Virtus turned his gaze back upon the screen. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The weary lieutenant chuckled. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Incoming correspondence from Starfleet Command.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Think of the devil..." | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “I do not understand the query.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Never mind." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor typed in his password, and waited for the computer to authenticate the informing information. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic sat down at his desk's console, laced his fingers and cracked them over his head like a concert pianist. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The standard warble of the computer dictation program sounded. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Hello John, please excuse me for both not looking into the camera, and for my lecturing tone of voice." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic's fingers danced across the console, bringing up a hologram of the Alpha-7 supercluster. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Space is big. Compared to interstellar distances, the relative size of one person is infinitesimal. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor turned to look at the camera. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "But by those same statistics, it should be equally impossible to find your socks, an M class planet, or the rebellious daughter of a head of one of the Orion Syndicates." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor quirked an eyebrow, and turned back to the console. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "As some of us have found all three of those on the same day, let us assume that either the statistics are wrong, or there are other factors to consider." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic cleared his throat. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I long ago determined that the secrets of the universe were in its mathematical relationships." | ||
+ | |||
+ | The soft tones of rapid keystrokes filled the air for a moment, and the free-floating starscape turned and zoomed in. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "The Republic is ... here." | ||
+ | |||
+ | One star began to glow brighter. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "After a major battle, 'Fleet HQ like to give a month R&R to keep the troops in tip-top shape. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The starscape zoomed out a ways, and a transparent sphere of dots appeared with Starbase Delphi at its center. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "This is every point you could reach by commercial transport in 3.5 days, spend a week's leave, and take 3.5 days getting back." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor glanced over at the camera. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic turned back to the camera, and held up an antique, 22nd century solar powered pocket calculator. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Had I a cutting-edge starship at my disposal, I could search for and find one man in that volume of space in merely ... 214 Martian years." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic swiveled in his seat and began typing on the console again. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "But one of my initial premises is flawed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic suddenly put his face within inches of the camera, and raised his voice slightly. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "And Doctor, if you are present, I spent three months in the brig after that little escapade." | ||
+ | |||
+ | The lithe engineer stood, moved behind the hologram and continued. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "So the actual area I now have to search is more than triple the previous area." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Other dots began lighting up red within the second sphere. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor ambled off camera and the sound of ice cubes rang in a glass, followed by some liquid. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You remember the Devonshire don't you John. You embarrassed the helmsman by out-flying her in a runabout, and then apologized by offering her 9 hours of ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The hologram expanded a slight bit more, and a third sphere appeared around the last, and five more dots turned red. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "But by removing just two of the seven safety interlocks on a standard Starfleet warp-capable shuttle, you could also reach Mars, Sol, Antares 4, Orion Prime . . . and Betazed." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic walked back to his chair with a tall glass of something clear and sat, spinning to put his feet on low table in front of the camera relay. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Now, if I'm here on Sol, and you are in one of over a dozen places, then this message will leave here via subspace, and travel to the subspace relay station on Ceti Antauri Two, and then to the Blackshirt' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic rolled his eyes at the camera. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "If the message clears Int. Sec., it will then attempt to find you." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic took a sip of his drink, got up, and poured two more. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "And why, you ask, did I go to all the trouble of telling you this? Because I have been reassigned . . ." | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | John set his bag down on the couch in his dayroom, and turned as Doctor Cromwell poked his head in from the suite' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "John, I'm not sure I can afford a place like this on a doctor' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Doc, you said yourself, the ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The good doctor moved farther into the cavernous room and leaned against one of the five bars in their penthouse. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "John, the reason it was the only room left on the planet was because no one else in the Alpha quadrant would pay a thousand credits a night for a room!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Sure, and when we're washing dishes to pay for the ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon gave the hotshot a ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "John, you've got a message." | ||
+ | |||
+ | John crossed the spacious rooms dazzlingly white carpet to the panel, and touched the glowing button. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The screen faded to show a man cracking his knuckles. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Hello John, please excuse me for both not looking into the camera, and for my lecturing tone of voice." | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | "And why, you ask, did I go to all the trouble of telling you this? Because I have been reassigned . . ." | ||
+ | |||
+ | The screen went blank as the message ended abruptly. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ". . . and it's all YOUR fault!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Doctor marveled for a moment as John, the dignified and proud XO of the U.S.S. Republic, gaped like a fish and ran into the living room. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon composed himself and walked in behind the stunned Martian to see Victor Virtus carrying three clear drinks and grinning from ear to ear. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell moved to intercept the engineer as he came in, and accepted one of the drinks and a handshake. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Good to see you Lieutenant Commander. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Thank you Doctor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What are you DOING here!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | John always recovered quickly. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "New ship? But you'd just been reassigned back to Earth." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "But I put in that request weeks ago!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "And it got through the red tape 97 hours ago." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "But what are you doing HERE? We got here less than two hours ago. How did you find us?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I told you once. I explained in the message . . ." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Which you sent from Earth." | ||
+ | |||
+ | ". . . that there were only so many places you could be." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "But you were on EARTH!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No, I said 'If I was on Earth...', | ||
+ | |||
+ | "But how did you beat us here? I jimmied the interlocks to make it here at warp five!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor handed John his drink. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Those safety interlocks are there for your protection John." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "John, you know the rule." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What rule?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor looked over John's shoulder at Leon, who supplied the rule, "You can't ask what it is, only what it was." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Tasting his drink and finding it palatable, John motioned everyone to sit in the giant chairs around the central table in the living room. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "The Betazed ambassador to the UFP was in talks until it was too late for him catch a commercial transport home. Starfleet graciously allowed him the use of the U.S.S. Devonshire to make the Festival of Lights before it started. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor took a swallow of his drink and leaned back into the chair. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You remember the Devonshire don't you . . ." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes, I remember the Devonshire." | ||
+ | |||
+ | There was a long pause as the reality of the situation sunk in to the three men. | ||
+ | |||
+ | John raised his glass, “Good to see you Vic. Welcome back." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | The sunset, and the threesome prepared for a night on the town. As John finished primping, the doctor caught Victor alone on the balcony overlooking the sparkling jewel that was the biggest resort city on Betazed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "How did you really find him? Without the math techno-babble double talk." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I didn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "But . . . don't you need security clearances to gain access to that?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes, you would have to be cleared as a level four UFP security analyst, a level six government official, or a Lieutenant Commander in Star Fleet to be able to access that database." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Then how did you know John would be with me?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I called the Marqah from the spaceport and apologized to them for losing your luggage. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Why? . . ." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Once I had the name of the shuttle, I could query Starfleet Records on where that shuttle left from, when it departed, and when it arrived. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "But what if I had been bringing a young lady, and just been in a hurry?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The two men stared at each other for a long moment. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
Line 49: | Line 516: | ||
< | < | ||
<fs x-large> | <fs x-large> | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall had met with Ensign Readdy. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Seeing to personnel matters, he noticed that Lieutenant Commander Victor Virtus would be the new Chief Engineer. | ||
+ | |||
+ | He was in his quarters when he got a communiqué from an old friend. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Rach, it's been too long.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Cut the crap Jim. I hear you're on leave. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I' | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Still the same Jim. I'll see you at docking bay 29, I've got a runabout . . .” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | Please, no runabouts. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Gibbs is here. He says hi and that we can use Shepherd if we want it. Free of charge even. He helped me out on the last mission. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall changed out of his uniform and put on some civilian clothes. | ||
+ | |||
+ | He then had one last call to make. This one was to Admiral Perry his old CO now working in the personnel office. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "Jim, you're on leave. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I need a favor.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Name it.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Make it look like I'm not coming back from leave.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “The only way to do that would be to relieve you of command.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | “My point exactly. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Fine, you are relieved of command as of right now. Between you and me, I'll try to hold off naming your successor as long as possible if at all. Just come back Jim.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I'm not sure I will be but thanks. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The channel was closed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | <18 minutes later> | ||
+ | |||
+ | Jim immediately saw Rachel and went over to her. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I always was. I had to call in a favor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | As starlines flew past the viewport of the Pegasus-class shuttle, Carter, Virtus, and Cromwell sat in the compartment with relaxed satisfaction splayed across their faces. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The evenings were spent at a local tavern near the southern tip of the planet' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You wouldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doctor made no apology. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon looked down to the floor with humility. "I just didn't notice. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "She wasn't my friend," | ||
+ | |||
+ | Virtus looked up with a look of sudden comprehension. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doctor nodded his head. "Yes, and that's why she kept on trying to figure out what resort we were in. I'll never forget bumping into her three nights ago outside the bar. She looked down at me with a most terrifying expression and asked for ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes, well it didn't help any with you inviting those call girls over to our table," | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You could have just gone through the declination ceremony," | ||
+ | |||
+ | John looked at him tensely. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The shuttle' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John rolled his eyes and sat back into his seat with a sigh. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Slightly annoyed, the exec replied " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Um, that's no cargo crate . . ." interrupted Leon. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Outside the viewport, a small Federation towing vessel came out of warp. It had the standard saucer-shaped hull with two warp nacelles on either side. However, it was the tractor beam which drew attention. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Is that ours?" asked Doctor Cromwell as the trio crowded the cockpit viewport, watching in awe at the slow approach of the two craft. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well, we're the only Galaxy-Class assigned to Delphi," | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the stardrive section slid smoothly in front of them, it could be determined immediately that it was not completed yet. Although most of the pearlescent, | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Looks like you've got your work cut out for you, Vic," John remarked as the two vessels made their way to the open space doors of Delphi Station. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | With a look of incredulity, | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The officers took their seats as the shuttle resumed its course towards the station. | ||
+ | |||
Line 54: | Line 639: | ||
< | < | ||
<fs x-large> | <fs x-large> | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Jim Marshall woke early in his rented beach house on Risa that he was sharing with Rachel Blake. They had been there three days and it was starting to seem like an eternity to him. He felt like hell, and was not in the best of moods, but he did manage not wake up Rachel. | ||
+ | |||
+ | He lumbered into the living area and went to the terminal. | ||
+ | |||
+ | 'Not Bombay' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Checking is private messages Marshall found one from his old friend, Admiral | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | Jim, | ||
+ | |||
+ | I've got some bad news for you. The point is that you've been replaced as Captain of the Republic. | ||
+ | |||
+ | You might want to go see Admiral Kostya. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Hawkeye | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | Jim thought ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | Captain Marshall, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Starfleet Command is requesting that you return to Starbase Delphi immediately to turn over command of the U.S.S. Republic NCC-76241 to Captain Horatio Bombay effective Stardate 57442.2. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Signed, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Admiral Fowler | ||
+ | |||
+ | Starfleet Command | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Jim you've got to be kidding," | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Rach, at this point, I'm thinking of resigning. . ." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Go back to Earth. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Get back Jim. Get back your command before it's too late." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well there is one thing . . ." He got up and headed for the shower. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | "He did WHAT? | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Uh huh," John stood over the XO station with a hand on his hip. "Let me ask you something Lieutenant, and please," | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Lieutenant swallowed hard, quite sure that John was serious. "You . . . you'll have to take that up with PERSCOM sir. I'm just relaying a message." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Then get me Admiral who's its. Right . . . Sprocking . . . NOW!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Most of Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Put it in the . . . PUT IT IN THE QUEUE? | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sullivan checked his status board, then looked back to his XO. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John felt a familiar smile creep across his face. "Yeah, he does that. What about crew?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Department Heads are all in, except for the Counselor' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter shook his head. The Position of Tactical Chief on the U.S.S. Republic had become his own private hell. He'd been promoted out of the job, but since then, no one had stayed at the post longer than five days before the universe threw something insurmountable at the ship's crew. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up as he whirled around to see where the unexpected voice had come from. He saw a man of medium height and build with sandy blonde hair, and the easy stance of a man who had his 'space legs'. He was older than John was by at least five years, dressed in dark, casual civilian clothes, but Carter could tell from the way the stranger stood that he was Starfleet. There were just some things the Academy taught that never went away. John crossed his arms over his chest trying to see what other ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Nor should you," the man said crisply. "At least not yet." The older man shifted his weight slightly and extended his hand to the XO. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter blinked and then shook the man's hand. "I wasn't told to expect anyone. In fact, I've been on the horn with 'Fleet all day trying to figure out where the Old Man . . . that is . . . where Captain Marshall is." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Tom Sullivan had to work to physically restrain his gasp. Whoever this Captain Bombay was, he was dancing a jig on one of John Carter' | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter felt his fist clench, and spoke in clean, crisp tones. "I hope you'll advise me as soon as it's . . . appropriate, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bombay nodded. "Of course, Carter." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter studied his new Captain. 'Too clean cut', he thought to himself. 'This one won't be easy.' Eventually, he decided on a simple "Yes Sir, I suppose so." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bombay turned back toward the turbolift where he'd entered the bridge, "At any rate Commander, I won't assume command for another 24 hours." | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter stood on the bridge surrounded by deafening silence. After a few seconds, he tapped his comm badge. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Roger that." | ||
+ | |||
Line 59: | Line 760: | ||
< | < | ||
<fs x-large> | <fs x-large> | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | When Leon first returned to the Republic after being stranded on the Kreltan’s demon-class planet (now officially named “Styx” on Star Fleet charts thanks to his fellow castaways), he was relieved and happy to get a decent meal, hot shower, and sleep in his own bed. However, the two-week shore leave on Betazed that followed his return served to mollify and pamper his spirit to a point where he loathed returning to duty. Now, as he walked towards the Republic’s berthed saucer section from Delphi’s Star Fleet Academy outreach center, a cloud of gloom returned, recalling that he must continue a tour of duty minus two officers in sickbay. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The news of Captain Marshall being relieved of command did not upset the doctor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As Leon walked down the gangway, he turned his attention from the datapad in his hands to the tunnel’s viewport. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Good luck, Jim.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Passing through the open airlock, the doctor rounded a corner into a busy corridor of the Republic. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Damn, damn, damn, damn” came a vexed muttering from further down the hallway. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Couldn’t he have at least waited until we got back?” he said loudly and sparing no restraint in his voice. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Look on the bright side,” Leon reminded him. “We can’t leave port without a commanding officer. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Headed to sickbay?” John asked as a side-subject. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Run in? What happened? | ||
+ | |||
+ | Scowling, John replied “I don’t want to talk about the details, but I get the impression he’s not the best leader. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon pursed his lips. “I just came from the academy outreach center, and this is my long-distance course schedule for the next few months.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “You mean for the bridge command test?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Nodding reluctantly, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Well,” Carter said. “The academy tailors its outreach courses to the individual needs of the student. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon still couldn’t believe he was doing this. Over a month ago, he never would have considered going back to Star Fleet. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “So all this stuff is covered on the bridge test?” he said finally. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “In one form or another,” the exec answered. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The knot in the pit of the doctor’s stomach stirred when Carter mentioned the words ‘command a starship.’ | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter shrugged his shoulders. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon nodded his head. “Okay, you’re on,” he replied as they arrived at the sickbay doors. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I’ll see you then.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | It had been several weeks since Leon gathered the sickbay’s senior officers for a staff meeting. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Welcome back, everyone, | ||
+ | |||
+ | The balding, black-bearded lieutenant sat back in his chair and read aloud an updated list of personnel and equipment for those assigned to the main ward, triage one. It took less than a minute, and without Leon having to say anything, the gray haired female Doctor Fernmoore chimed in when Yezbeck finished his report. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I know we’ve had a few losses recently, but we’re going to have to get through it. This ship depends on us doing our best, and we can’t let the losses of the past month deter us from doing that. So, let’s skip the triage three report and go to Doctor Hudson. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The scarlet-haired lieutenant was at a loss momentarily, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Sounds good,” Leon replied in a more upbeat tone. “Let’s keep the program going, and hopefully we can look forward to having a certified back-up medical staff if we ever end up needing one.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Looking at his computer console, Doctor Cromwell dialed a few buttons, then folded his hands before returning his attention to his staff. | ||
+ | |||
+ | A few sighs and grumblings rippled between the six officers. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon turned to the bald-headed Deltan, Doctor Ryda. “Doctor, I’m promoting you to the head of Triage Three. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Cromwell threw a glance to the humanoid female Doctor Hudson, hoping to casually slip in the change in her position that he and the captain discussed two weeks ago. “Hudson, I need you to fill the head nurse position until further notice.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | The chief medical officer then turned to the young female Andorian, Doctor Favuuk. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shannon Harris dropped her jaw slightly with consternation. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Yes, Shannon, I know,” consoled Leon. “However, before Captain Marshall left, he gave me the task of finding a temporary ship counselor if we have to leave port without one.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | At this, Doctor Harris’ eyes bulged slightly, and she opened her mouth to protest. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I know what you’re going to say, but we’re in a bind here. You’ve got the most psychiatric training out of all of us, so you’ve got the duty, Shannon. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “But, doctor, I have no diplomatic or cultural training. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon thought for a moment before responding. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shannon went silent and crossed her arms in annoyance. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Okay?” asked Leon again with emphasis. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Harris finally nodded her head, though reluctantly. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Suddenly, a new voice sounded from the open office door. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Why is a civilian giving orders to Starfleet personnel? | ||
+ | |||
+ | Everyone in the office looked towards the door to see a middle-aged, | ||
+ | |||
+ | The man looked indignant, and repeated his question with a slightly elevated accusatory tone. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I said, why is a civilian giving orders to Star Fleet personnel? | ||
+ | |||
+ | Everyone looked at one another, hoping to find a sign of who the newcomer might be. As the level of confusion rose, so did Leon’s temper. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Look, I’m the chief medical officer, this is my office, and I’m the one who asks questions around here. Now I suggest you leave before I call security.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | The gentleman at the door had no intention of leaving, and gave Leon a condescending glance before walking into the office. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “My good man, do you have any idea who I am?” he scoffed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon’s temper was swelling in his chest. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I don’t really give a drop of spit who you are. You’re intruding on my meeting, intruding in my sickbay, and asking stupid questions which you have no business asking. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The stranger let out a soft chuckle, which was the last thing Leon had expected to come forth from a man who had just endured the doctor’s poisonous wrath. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Perhaps I haven’t made it clear to you,” he stated gingerly. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon’s jaw hung open in disbelief. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doctors quickly and quietly shuffled out of the office looking at one another with uncertainty. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Sir,” he said professionally, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bombay, equally professionally, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon was impressed with the captain’s knowledge of the regulations, | ||
+ | |||
+ | To Doctor Cromwell’s delight, the captain was taken aback by the disparage, shown by the red hue beginning to burn into the captain’s face. Whether this indicated anger, embarrassment, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Nevertheless, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon stood alone for the moment, trying make out what had just occurred. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
< | < | ||
<fs x-large> | <fs x-large> | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lieutenant Commander Virtus looked down from the third level warp core service gantry as two-thirds of his engineering staff looked back at him. A brief smile almost crossed his lips as he considered the absurdity of his position. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Third shift, thank you for staying. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The joke went over not at all. Vic sighed internally. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "There is quite a bit of work to be done before we are space worthy, and so I will be asking the XO to extend your duty shifts by four hours. | ||
+ | |||
+ | There was a gasp from the back of the first level. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "That will be all." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Gamma shift began slowly filing out as Alpha shift went back to their posts. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Before the older man could stop him, the spry engineer walked briskly down engineering corridor 46 and started to remove the access panel from a Jefferies tube. Captain Bombay caught up a few seconds later, and spoke with a slight edge. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes Captain, we could. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor met the Captain' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Very well Mister Virtus, carry on." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic ducked into the tube and listened to the footsteps diminish down the corridor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes Ensign Wolcott?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "How can you get away with that?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "But how'd you know what he was going to ask?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I polled his last twelve Chief Engineers at 1500 yesterday via subspace communication. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Slang I picked up from the XO. Look it up and I'll let you sit in for me at the next game. Now back to work. I'll take over here. I need you to test transponders 215 through 227 in tube 57." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I keep getting older, and the ensigns all stay the same." | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Captain John Carter rubbed the back of his neck as he craned to look up the intermix chamber. Lights danced inside the cylinder, and there was an odd sort of hum filling the room on a vibrational level. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter felt his expression change as he remembered his posting on the ill-fated Galaxy class starship Republic. He shook his head to brush the unpleasant memories aside. "My point is," he paused, taking one last look at the latest Virtus model M/AMIR, "I don't see what all the fuss is about. It's a warp core, and it makes my ship work. That's good enough for me." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Commander Victor Virtus smiled at his friend for .0035 seconds. 'Same old John,' he thought, though looking at his friend across the room now, he could barely recognize the officer he'd first onboard the U.S.S. Discovery. Back then, John Carter was just an eager, opinionated Lieutenant on the fast track to command. Now, Victor considered, as he looked at Carter' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Virtus looked down at the PADD in his hands and affixed his digital signature. "Well, Captain, I think you'll be pleased with the new core's performance. As far as Hephaestus Station is concerned, Valiant is up to specs and ready to go." Virtus walked over to the Valiant' | ||
+ | |||
+ | John smiled as he took the PADD. "Uh-uh Vic," he answered, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter rested a hand on his hip and cocked his head with a smile. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter brushed his left hand across the patch that, for nearly five years, covered where his left eye had been. Victor looked followed his friend as the two made their way through the Valiant' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "There is no eye anymore." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You know what I mean John," Victor chided his friend. "I don't understand why you don't re-gen it, or at least get a prosthetic. I'm sure Leon could fix you up." | ||
+ | |||
+ | The two officers walked into Valiant' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter rolled his eye as he and Commander Virtus stepped onto the transporter pad. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Next to Carter, Victor turned to address his friend. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter felt his trademark smirk creep across his face. "Give a man a chance, Vic," he said, and the two officers vanished from the U.S.S. Valiant. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter felt the deck stop spinning as he steadied himself against the bulkhead. He had a splitting headache, and felt flushed. In the pain and heat, he was barely aware of his beeping combadge. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John managed to tap the badge and spoke to Shannon Harris. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Fine Shannon," | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "I think so, but I really need to . . ." =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Stay put Doctor," | ||
+ | |||
Line 69: | Line 1006: | ||
< | < | ||
<fs x-large> | <fs x-large> | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | A soft blue-white light shone onto a huge, glistening brown disk. Centered on the disk was a small ebony spot that projected straight, gray lines towards the edge of the round mahogany circle. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Well . . .” sounded the focused, analytical voice of Doctor Cromwell. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon turned off his hand-held examination device which was the source the sapphire reflection off Lieutenant Commander Carter’s eyeball. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “What about my fainting spell?” he asked, dismissing the doctor’s vernacular. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “It could have been any number of things,” the doctor admitted, crossing his arms. “Too much sun on Betazed, the stress of a new commander, or even the refit crew adjusting the grav-plating. | ||
+ | |||
+ | John pursed his lips while shaking his head, knowing full well he hadn’t time at that moment for a physical exam. “Nah, that’s alright, doc. If it happens again, I’ll call you.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Why should I bother expecting you to call?” came the sarcastic reply from Leon. The doctor walked over to a nearby computer console, and began typing commands. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Thanks, doc.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon gave a chuckle. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter grinned, wondering when the subject would change to that of Harris. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “It’ll do her some good to get out here for a little while,” retorted the doctor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Actually, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “That’s why I made her temporary counselor, | ||
+ | |||
+ | With a look of ‘you’re treading on thin ice’, John shot a careful glance at Leon. “Actually, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Yes I do,” Leon responded immediately. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Since when do you have the right to dictate someone else’s career?” John shot back. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Oh no, Johnny-boy!” Leon barked, maintaining his smile. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter could not counter that one. It was true that Captain Marshall and himself had actively urged the doctor to take the bridge command test, despite his ambiguities about it. Still, the executive officer was both taken aback yet mildly amused by the “Johnny-boy” comment. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Speaking of which, don’t forget our little appointment in the holodeck this evening.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I’ll be there.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Virtus to Carter. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “On my way,” John said, tapping his combadge. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Say hi to Vic for me," added the doctor as Carter exited the exam room. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Will do." | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter pushed his sleeves midway up on his forearm and adjusted the collar of his uniform as he made his way through the sickbay' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John motioned for Harris to join him in the corridor and the two officers walked as John answered her question. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shannon gave her XO a skewed look and kept walking. "Two reasons really." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "One, even if you weren' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Go on," Carter seemed to agree. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "And two," Shannon stopped walking and put her hand on Carter' | ||
+ | |||
+ | ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You don't sound like you believe it." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Deck eight." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Right . . ." Shannon said with a smile as the lift car began to move. "You know, I was thinking . . ." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "After my shift, I'm going to The Hill," Shannon wondered how far she could go before John HAD to pay attention. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "And I'm going to reenact the veil dance of Tychus III. In fact, I'm commando as we speak." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shannon was used to patients avoiding her. It was very rare that anyone, especially a person in Starfleet' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shannon chuckled slightly. "Well at least you were paying attention to something," | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Guess so," Harris answered. "How are things down there?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Vic requested that I extend the duty shifts until we get the Stardrive re-attached." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "That would be a nice change." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I think so," Harris answered as her brow furrowed. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter laughed out loud. "Your boss has a big mouth!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The lift doors closed before Carter could see the blush on the acting counselor' | ||
+ | |||
Line 74: | Line 1129: | ||
< | < | ||
<fs x-large> | <fs x-large> | ||
+ | <U.S.S. Republic NCC-76241, Main Engineering> | ||
+ | |||
+ | The light neon blue of a Mark V Warp Core pulsed slowly in the background as a tall Martian and a wiry Malthan leaned over an engineering console. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "But we are seventeen minutes ahead of schedule on the coupling locks, and the backup-computer upgrade from Stardock Research is impressive. | ||
+ | |||
+ | John made a satisfied, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "And I'm am quite pleased with our output efficiency as we approach full power on the matter/ | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor turned to face his executive officer, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John nodded sagely and continued to stare at the screen. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Under Vic's outstretched finger, the words, "The Commander is on fire," scrolled slowly and deliberately from right to left beneath the bell curve. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic blinked twice, stood, and performed a brief visual inspection of his friend. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Thank you sir," Victor returned before turning to the Ensign on duty at the secondary warp field status station, “Ensign Gregor, please double check all the information that his been displayed on this screen in the last ten minutes. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The ensign looked startled for a moment, and then came to attention, stated, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John chuckled at the anachronism which seemed to follow him everywhere. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes sir, I am well aware of my predisposition toward archaic and antiquated forms of naval military address and respect. | ||
+ | |||
+ | John half-rolled his eyes and stepped into the turbolift, “I'm fine. Just got a clean bill of health from the Doctor." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor raised a skeptical eyebrow as the lift doors started to cut them off. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor shook is head and headed back to check on Gregor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Ops here.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | "How do we look for saucer re-link?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Having trouble with the starboard mag clamps Lieutenant Commander. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor winced. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "On my way. Virtus out." | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall had been scanning Risa for the past 10 days trying to find Admiral Kostya. He had no luck, and was getting rather impatient. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | She told him, "He may not even be on Risa." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Finally, through a well-placed stroke of good luck and a tip from the local police force, Marshall found out where Kostya' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall wandered the beach for at least an hour before finding the man who he had served with five years ago as junior adjunct. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kostya Looked up to the man who was standing over him. He put down his Mai Tai and stood up. "Of course, Jim! I was the one who recommended you for command of the Republic. How's my old ship treating you?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Sir, I have a situation, and I need your help," Marshall said out of desperation. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Of course. What can I help you with?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well, I've been on leave since the Republic returned from dealing with the Kreltans. Problem is that Admiral Fowler used the Kreltans to replace me as Captain of the Republic. He named Horatio Bombay as my replacement." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall responded, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Ok, and what do you need me for?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I want my ship back. Anything else is a waste of my time." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kostya slowly walked toward the beach house he was in front of "Jim, if you would follow me, I will see what we can do" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I appreciate that Admiral. All of my favors at Command right now have been exhausted." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kostya sat at the desk in the office, "Jim, the updates I have been getting on the war have been rather incomplete. I was wondering while I work if you could give me your version of the conflict." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "The first time the Republic dealt with the Kreltans we fought a General named Jondav. We had a few upgrades done but they were knocked out by their ship. The best way to put it was that their ships are like Reman Warbirds. Only some quick thinking by my XO, Lieutenant Commander Carter, saved us from being destroyed." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I met with Admiral Maverick after we had returned to Starbase Delphi. We found out that yes they are shape shifters, but have been genetically manipulated somehow. I hated it when I found out we were going out again. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "On that planet there was one of their bases. I had ordered my new security chief with an away team down to destroy it. They didn't make it." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "That wasn't what I’ve been reading" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall took the PADD and read it. 'What a load of bull' he thought. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Some Kreltan troops invaded the Republic and we had to separate the ship and I had to evacuate and self-destruct the star drive section. We managed to take out that base and get off that planet. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "My reports,” the admiral replied. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kostya stood and said, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall responded, "Well, it gets me back on board. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "One step at a time, but for now, we need to get to your ship," said the Admiral. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I think I can swing that Admiral," | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Marshall to Emerson, two to beam up.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | The beam dissolved and deposited them on board the U.S.S. Emerson. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The beam faded as Marshall and Kostya stepped off of the platform. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Lucky for you," she said. "We just happen to be going your way." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well as long as I have enough space for my staff, paperwork, and my dog. We should be just fine," he said. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I think we can swing that. It's a small ship but we manage." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
Line 79: | Line 1266: | ||
< | < | ||
<fs x-large> | <fs x-large> | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | With the exception of combat, one of the most hectic situations for a starship crew is the transfer of command from one captain to the other. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell was no exception. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As he exited the sickbay after a long, arduous duty shift, the chief medical officer sighed heavily as he made his way to Ten Forward, welcoming the thought of a nightcap before retiring for the evening. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “What are you doing here, Vic? I thought you were on the stardrive section,” Leon asked. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I was, but the docking clamps needed calibration, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I’m coming off duty, you want to have a drink at the Hill with me?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I wish I could, Leon, but there’s some final work to do in preparation for saucer reconnect. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doctor was about to apologize when the comsystem activated. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Ensign Harrington to Commander Virtus.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | The engineer coolly pressed his combadge. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “I just checked how the stardrive hull-stenciling was coming along, and we seem to be having trouble with Delphi’s registry crew. Their team leader is Arcturian and can’t spell very well. According to him, we’re the Starship Repubic. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic rubbed his eyes in frustration. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon looked at him questioningly for a split moment before a realization dawned on him. Tapping his own combadge, he asked, “Computer, | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Lieutenant Commander Carter is in Holodeck Three.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Off you go,” said Virtus. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | Leon walked up to the doors of Holodeck Three, and checked the wall mounted control panel. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Welcome to the Enterprise, doc.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter’s voice rang out in the cramped quarters of what appeared to be a small command bridge. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “A little antiquated to be Sovereign Class, isn’t it?” Leon said finally. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Ah, you forgot how far back this simulation was in use,” returned the executive officer who began walking towards the doctor from the front of the bridge. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “You’re toying with me, John. I’ve seen a Constitution Class at the fleet museum, and this looks nothing like it. I remember a lot more red coloring in the bridge stations, not to mention just one turbolift.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I see you need a history lesson, doc. This is the Starship Enterprise, a Constitution Class REFIT. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “The infamous Enterprise was a training vessel? | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Well, by then she was a rather old ship. Almost twenty years to be precise. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “So Starfleet cadets did combat training in beaten-up Constitution refits?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Not exactly. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I see. So which is this?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “This is actually a holographic reproduction of the real thing. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “So you’re going to teach me the finer points of commanding a starship on an archaic vessel and using an out-of-date combat scenario? | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Don’t be such a prude, doc. There’s a lot to be learned here when you don’t have computers running everything for you. Besides, I’m not going to be doing the teaching. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon looked at him with annoyance due to a combination of trepidation and John’s unsubtle recognition of it. Warily, the doctor strode into the command pit, took a step up, and seated himself in the captain’s chair. | ||
+ | |||
+ | For his part, Carter retreated to the portside turbolift alcove, and spoke to the holodeck. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Instantly, the multiple whispers of materializing holograms sounded throughout the bridge, and each station found itself manned with a Star Fleet officer. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the doctor stared at the crew around him, vaguely recognizing some of the faces. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell was taken aback at how young the two seemed in this simulation, especially the admiral. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Well?” asked John, rousing Leon from his thoughts. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “What exactly am I supposed to be doing?” he replied with annoyance. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “The simulation won’t start until you place a log entry.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | With a frustrated furrow in his brow, the doctor looked down at the armrests of his command chair. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon took one last look at the people around him before speaking. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Can you please be serious?” suggested John. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Satisfied he had finally perturbed Carter to the point of acknowledging the jocular log entry, Leon sat back in the command chair with a content smile, pressing the button which closed the logbook. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Leaving section fourteen for section fifteen,” the Asian helmsman reported. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Sir, I suggest we project a parabolic course to avoid entering the Neutral Zone,” came the female voice of the young Vulcan seated next to the helmsman. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon waved a hand in acknowledgement. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Aye captain,” the helmsman affirmed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Captain, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shrugging his shoulders, Leon said “well, let’s see it.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “See what?” responded the African accented officer in a professional demeanor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “The message. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “It’s audio-only, sir.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Then put it on speakers!” barked Leon with frustration. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Amongst the crackle and static of a weak transmission, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon, recognizing all too well the seriousness of mass casualties in deep space, tightened his jaw at the report of people in need of immediate medical attention. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “This is the Starship Enterprise, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Enterprise, | ||
+ | |||
+ | The urgency in the voice of the Kobayashi Maru’s commander suggested they were in dire peril. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Change course immediately to intercept the vessel,” Leon ordered. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Asian helm officer swiveled his chair to look soberly at the doctor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon really had no idea what the man was talking about, since the only zone he knew about was near the Romulan border with Federation space. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “We’ve got a lot of people on that ship,” Leon retorted. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The helmsman rolled his eyes with a dissatisfied grimace, not happy that his warning was ignored. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the computer rendering of the orange zone loomed closer on the viewscreen, the doctor wondered why a region of space would be rendered in such a foreboding way on a starchart. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Now entering the Neutral Zone,” the helmsman reported. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Warning: we have entered Neutral Zone. Warning . . .” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | At the science console, it was Spock who spoke next, as he swiveled his chair to face Leon and announced over the incessant computer voice, “we are now in violation of treaty, captain.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doctor, who just received an admonition from one of the most prominent figures in Federation history, had the dismal feeling that he was committing a taboo action. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Captain! | ||
+ | |||
+ | Without warning, the repeating computer voice changed dialog and was now saying, “Alert. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon raised his eyebrows slightly, and wondered what Klingons would be doing in the Romulan Neutral Zone. Nevertheless, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “They’re jamming all the frequencies, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Captain, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Before Leon could ask why, the monotone computer voice changed its dialog yet again, repeating an announcement that the doctor found rather confusing. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Klingons on attack course, set closing. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Who are they attacking? | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter could no longer hold back his counsel. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Exasperated, | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Alert. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon swiveled back to face the screen with pinpointed pupils as John stepped away from the railing, closing his eyes. As the bridge exploded into flames, the doctor screamed obscenities as bodies went flying in all directions. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “You could have at least raised the shields . . .” John offered, although it was in no way an accusatory tone. Regardless, Leon sprang from the chair and turned on his friend with indignation. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “And YOU could have at least warned me!” the doctor bellowed with a sense of hurt pride. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Relax, doc,” the XO offered in a conciliatory tone. “It’s all part of the learning process. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon looked as though he was about to have another outburst, but as the moment passed in silence, it became clear he was bringing his temper under control. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Come on,” Carter soothed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon nodded in agreement, hoping that the embarrassment of this evening would not leave these walls. | ||
+ | |||
Line 84: | Line 1447: | ||
< | < | ||
<fs x-large> | <fs x-large> | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shannon sat at the bar, nursing her drink. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Then there was John. She assumed that as soon as she was promoted, the executive officer would have seen her as an equal. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Unknown to Harris, a man in the corner of the room was watching her for the past ten minutes, hoping to make eye contact. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Hi there. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shannon suddenly broke from her day-trance to find a stranger sitting next to her. Her mind was so distant from the current situation that she failed to recognize the man who interrupted Leon’s meeting the previous day. She blinked twice before saying, “excuse me?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I said, what’s your name?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Oh,” she started, slightly confused. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “My name’s Horatio Bombay,” the stranger said with restrained enthusiasm. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Are you new here?” Shannon asked, not recalling the name. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “You might say that,” he said mysteriously. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Me?” the doctor replied. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Really? | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | The ship rocked as another torpedo impacted the dorsal shields. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Hull breach on deck nine!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | ". . . and we can't get in there without plasma cutters!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Have security start moving overflow to . . .” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Thirty-six hours of playing hide and seek in the Crab Nebula. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | No sleep for anyone in over two days. Ran out of synthetic adrenaline and other stimulants when the graviton beam erased the main computer. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Put it on screen." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Red snow played across what was left of the bridge display. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “This - ptain - ell - the medi - frigate Mercy. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Running a starship without a computer was like flying a Sopwith Camel without ropes. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Aye, sir!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | There shouldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "We are being fired upon!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The crew was well beyond panic at this point. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The ship lurched. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “I say again! | ||
+ | |||
+ | Only the faintest whisper emerged through the fire-lit smoke. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Glasses clinked together. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "When do you leave?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Very funny. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "As do I, but they' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Both men turned as the bride swept up in her simple white gown. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "And congratulations to you as well Doctor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Thank you Commander." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shannon cleared her throat, as it was obvious the boys would be at this all night if she did not do something. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes dear?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor chuckled, as the hints were beginning to get a bit thick. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "And thus, I shall bid you both good night. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Good night Victor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "My pleasure. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the doors closed behind him, Victor heard the start of a monumental tirade cut off by a kiss. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | "John, wake up. We've got a ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | John groaned and surveyed the empty bar as Victor yawned. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "How long have I been out?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I don't snore!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I know you don't John. That radial-saw-going-through-durasteel sound you make is actually a highly refined Martian mating call. And speaking of durasteel, hello counselor." | ||
+ | |||
+ | John wheeled in his chair to face Doctor Harris. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Hello Mr. Virtus, Commander Carter. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor stifled a yawn before getting out, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shannon sat down as Victor walk out. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "So, what . . .", John stopped himself just short of saying, 'What do you need, hon,' and started again, "So what can I do for you counselor?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall and Kostya had disembarked from the Brown and were on the way over to the Republic. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No one signaled a flag officer coming on board sir," said Ensign Handratty. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "If you'll follow me sir . . ." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I know the way Ensign. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Upon their arrival in quarters which met Kostya' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall headed for the desk terminal. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Bridge to Captain Marshall.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall hoped that it was Admiral Fowler saying that this was all a joke and that he was not having to transfer command. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Go ahead.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Sir, Captain Bombay would like to speak with you in the Ready Room in 15 minutes.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Tell him I'll be there in 20, and that if he has a problem with it he can take it up with Admiral Kostya who is on board. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall then set to work sending messages to some of the crew. He made sure it went to John, Leon, and Vic: | ||
+ | |||
+ | **//< | ||
+ | Hola Comprades, | ||
+ | |||
+ | I am back, but not in the CS. Fowler behind it, don't know why. Kostya making R his FS. Transfer take place as scheduled. | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | He looked at the chronometer and realized that he had better go see what Bombay wanted. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shortly after Marshall arrived at Bombay’s quarters, the elder Captain snapped, "When I say I want to see you in 15 minutes you better be here in 12 minutes." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall countered, "Let me remind you that I don't take orders from you and for the next three and a half hours I am still in command, and while we're on the subject Captain, Admiral Kostya is on board and at the transfer he will be making the Republic his personal flagship. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bombay sat back down, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You have to be kidding me," snapped Bombay. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "The crew can tell you I rarely joke, especially about Starfleet, and I wasn't joking about promoting a certain officer," | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bombay replied, "If you're referring to Carter, I'm taking it under advisement. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Jim resigned and said, "Fine, do what you must, but don't blame me if he doesn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bombay then spoke, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall said, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I suggest you get cleaned up before the transfer of command," | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I intend to. Soon as I take care of a little business," | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall left and then Bombay said, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | In the turbolift Marshall said, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bombay then tapped his communicator | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Bombay to Carter, see to it that Admiral Kostya has everything he needs. | ||
+ | |||
+ | He then tapped the combadge again. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Bombay to Virtus. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "Just getting started Captain, should be complete in eighty-four minutes, sixteen sec . . ." =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Get it done Virtus, otherwise your assistant is next in line for your job. Bombay out.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bombay considered calling down to sickbay to check on the progress of Cromwell. | ||
+ | |||
Line 89: | Line 1702: | ||
< | < | ||
<fs x-large> | <fs x-large> | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor froze, and the new Ensign tried to pretend he had been engrossed in the interlink polarity reading. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Carry on Ensign." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes sir." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor checked his projections one last time, and tapped his com. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Go ahead Lieutenant Commander.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Magnetic induction at full sir.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The nacelled ship began a slow and graceful assent to meet the giant dish. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Conn, pitch up point oh oh four degrees and maintain relative. Reduce velocity to point one meters per second. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Warning lights began to flash, and the computer continued plotting the course. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Four docking clamps mated with the respective indentations on the underside of the massive saucer. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Two hundred eleven crewmembers held their breath. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Powerful inductors producing potentially space-distorting magnetic fields kissed clamps that could withstand multiple direct hits from proton torpedoes. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Bridge to Engineering. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The remaining crew never even felt the bump. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Satisfied that the last task he performed before going off duty was completed to perfection, the engineer transferred the duty shift over to his assistant, Lieutenant Childs, and retreated to his quarters, fully intending to catch a well deserved nap before the ceremony. | ||
+ | |||
+ | **//< | ||
+ | Hola Comprades, | ||
+ | |||
+ | I am back, but not in the CS. Fowler behind it, don't know why. Kostya making R his FS. Transfer take place as scheduled. | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor blinked, and read it again, just to make sure. | ||
+ | |||
+ | It still didn't make much sense. | ||
+ | |||
+ | He tried again, out loud, filling in the missing words. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | An improvement, | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter waited anxiously for a reply as he buzzed the door to Admiral Kostya' | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Go ahead Vic." | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "Have you checked your message queue lately?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter rolled his eyes. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Is my ship in one piece?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Just polarizing the interlocks now, Lieutenant Commander." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Okay then, you've got a deal. Carter out." | ||
+ | |||
+ | John took a few steps to the wall mounted computer terminal. ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | **//< | ||
+ | Hola Comprades, | ||
+ | |||
+ | I am back, but not in the CS. Fowler behind it, don't know why. Kostya making R his FS. Transfer take place as scheduled. | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Hola, Compadres?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Behind him, the door to Admiral Kostya' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter shot his former Captain a look that could have melted duranium. He felt his pulse jump, his heart race, and had to work hard to keep from laying a right cross on Jim Marshall' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall looked at his XO for a few long seconds, not sure what might have gotten the Martian officer' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Not really," | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No you're not," Carter said, before he could stop himself. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall was a bit surprised. Giving up Republic was the hardest thing he'd had to do, and Marshall desperately wanted to make up for that mistake. He had hoped Carter would understand that. Apparently he'd been wrong. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John steadied his stance. Jim Marshall used to know that if he asked Carter that question, he was going to get the XO's unvarnished, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter cleared his throat. "Who the Hell do you think you are!?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I think I'm a Captain in Starfleet." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Are you sure? Because you're not acting like it!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall took two steps back. "What did you say?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You ditched your ship. In the middle of a major refit, after we lost 47 people. You left." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I was re-assigned. It happens." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall felt his jaw drop. Someone in Admiral Perry’s office must have let something slip, and scuttlebutt was more reliable than subspace. Marshall looked his former XO in the eye. "Watch your tone, Carter." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No sir, you're not," Carter shot back. "You just outrank me." Carter spun and walked toward the door. "My Captain ordered me here to make sure the Admiral' | ||
+ | |||
+ | With that, Carter was gone, leaving Marshall alone in the spacious room, stunned. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I see. Let us make use of some of the resources available to us, shall we ensign? | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ensign Wolcott stared at the Admiral incomprehensibly. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Lieutenant Commander Virtus is in his quarters.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Let us not disturb him then. Do carry on ensign. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You could have just told him to get lost." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Look, I didn't realize who he was until after he invited me to dinner. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "It just didn't ring any bells right away," she said with exasperation. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What were you thinking about that kept you from recognizing him right away?" Cromwell asked. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Harris didn't answer. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Did you tell him about it?" he asked. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I tried last night at the Hill," she admitted. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "But he was tired and borderline incoherent," | ||
+ | |||
+ | "So I assume you're going to inform our new captain of the bad news?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What bad news?" she asked defensively. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "That you won't be going to his quarters for dinner tonight." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "And what makes you think I'm going to do that?" Harris shot back. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon's sat forward with a sober and dreadfully serious look on his face, folding his hands on top of the desk. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Harris threw a dagger-filled glance at the doctor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The proverbial straw finally broke the camel' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Who do you think you are?" Harris exploded at Doctor Cromwell. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What about John's emotional status?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Inflamed, Harris only responded with a look of incredulity. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I guess I won't be seeing her for a while," | ||
+ | |||
+ | **//< | ||
+ | Hola Comprades, | ||
+ | |||
+ | I am back, but not in the CS. Fowler behind it, don't know why. Kostya making R his FS. Transfer take place as scheduled. | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell frowned with confusion. | ||
+ | |||
+ | However, before he had the chance to transmit the message, the door to his office opened. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Glad to see you still remember me, Leon," replied James Marshall, the Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "But what are you doing back? I thought you were relieved of command while we were on shore leave." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well, I was," admitted Marshall. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I don't understand," | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Jim, what are you talking about?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You can't blame him," Leon said bluntly. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I don't suppose you know of anyway I can make it up to him?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | There was no avoiding it. Marshall was going to have to explain himself to the good doctor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You what?" Leon gasped with exasperation, | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I said, I originally requested the transfer," | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Jim . . ." Leon was at a loss for words. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shaking his head, Marshall decided to put all his cards on the table. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Realizing that this was going to be another therapeutic session requiring his non-medical skills, Leon stood up and retrieved a pair of whiskey glasses from a nearby shelf. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Not at this rate," remarked the captain, still shaking his head between sips of his drink. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "How many times do I have to tell you the deaths aren't your fault? | ||
+ | |||
+ | Jim did not reply, choosing to remain silent and staring blankly at his drink. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "So what are you doing back?" Leon finally asked after a moment of silence. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Looking confused at the news, Doctor Cromwell remarked, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Nodding, Marshall continued, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon was now totally confused. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Jim, you just said that you gave up command because you weren' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I wish I could tell you exactly why I'm doing it," he admitted finally. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall finished his drink, and placed the empty glass down on the desk. Standing up, he looked Leon in the eye. "Keep this under your hat for now. I don't want Bombay to know we're onto him. Okay?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Cromwell slowly nodded his head. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Jim gave a friendly smile and replied, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon watched the door close, unsure of what to make of the whole situation. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
Line 94: | Line 1993: | ||
< | < | ||
<fs x-large> | <fs x-large> | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | Kostya Sat at his desk in the VIP quarters assigned to him. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | He got up and walked over to the replicator, and ordered " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "How did I not know?" He sunk his head in to his hands, "So many people, so many ships, and where was I?" He continued, answering his own question, "On Risa, on the beach, drinking a Mai-Tai." | ||
+ | |||
+ | He heard the door chirp, cleared his throat, and stood adjusting his uniform, a calm came over his face. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kostya looked on as Captain Bombay walked in to the room, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kostya looked at him and replied, "Yes it has, I thought you were no longer in the service." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bombay surveyed the admiral, "You would have liked that wouldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kostya calmly looked on and replied, "The times have been tough, I didn't know it, I was on extended leave, and getting regular reports, they were not accurate. | ||
+ | |||
+ | By this point the two officers were but inches apart, Bombay broke the silence, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well, be that as it may, what do you want?" replied Kostya. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Sir, I would like you to officiate at the transfer of command ceremony, and I would like to know, why you are transferring your flag to MY ship?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kostya smiled, "It is not your ship, you are but a guardian. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Without another word, Captain Bombay left the room. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The admiral sat down at his desk to finish some reports. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "That is classified information, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kostya taped in his command codes, and read the orders, "Who was sending these?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "No can do sir" =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | Obviously agitated the admiral replied, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "No can do sir, Captain Bombay has restricted all communication to those ships." | ||
+ | |||
+ | He cleared his throat and spoke as calm as he could, "I am sure you can make an exception for me, I am an Admiral.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "No can do, I was ordered not to allow anyone to communicate with certain ships in the fleet, and since I follow orders, I am not going to allow someone posing as an Admiral to order me around, good day. Bridge Out." =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | Adjusting his uniform, the admiral muttered, "Damn kids." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kostya tugged on his uniform, and walked out of his quarters. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Jim had just left sickbay after meeting Leon, but there was one thing he had to do before heading to the bridge for the transfer of command. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Sir, I've been trying to get Lieutenant Commander Carter promoted to full commander. The problem is that it's being held up. I'm wondering if it's possible for you to lift that hold," said Jim. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well in that case . . . sure, I can lift the ban." Kostya Continued, "Who put a hold on it anyway?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall replied, "I did some investigating. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I have one requirement in order to lift the hold on Carter’s promotion, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kostya turned to Marshall, "What is going on at SF Command? | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I wish I knew. My connections at Command have been exhausted. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Did they have my signature on them?" asked Kostya. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall replied, "I don't believe so. I'd have to look at them again. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "From what I've heard they know you're on board, but the crew doesn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The turbolift doors open and deposited them onto the bridge. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kostya turned to Bombay, "Yes, let' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kostya said, "We are here today to formally transfer command of the USS Republic from Captain Marshall, to Captain Bombay. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall stepped forward and said, "Brave crew of the U.S.S. Republic. As Admiral Kostya said I will no longer be serving as Captain of the Republic. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter rose from his seat, and approached Captain Marshall. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter replied, "Thank you sir," and went back to his seat. At that time Bombay stepped forward. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Transfer complete. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I relieve you captain," | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I stand relieved," | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kostya cleared his throat, "I have new orders for the Republic, I am now formally transferring my flag to this ship. We are to proceed to he Lojurus system to broker peace between the Kreltans and the Federation." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well, that's that," said Bombay, "To the crew of the Republic. I look forward to working with you. I expect that you will follow my orders as you did Captain Marshall' | ||
+ | |||
+ | As odd as it seemed, Bombay was making use of an ancient, seldom-used regulation in Starfleet which required that the rank of a visiting captain aboard a starship be augmented to the flag rank of commodore to discriminate them from the actual commander of the ship. Although this regulation was moot for other permanent senior officers with the rank of captain who serve under the current skipper, by calling Marshall by the quaint rank, it was his own way of saying ‘this is my ship, and you’re just along for the ride’. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kostya turned to Bombay, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Good so far Captain. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Since it won't take you anytime on the engines I need your team to set up a strategy room where ever there' | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “We' | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Have it done in four hours. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bombay then turned to Carter, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes sir," said Carter. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall stood there watching the crew, the one he had chosen, and come to respect, take orders from another captain. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bombay ordered, "Helm, lay in a course to Lojurus and engage at warp 7. Ops, inform Commodore Marshall that I want to see him in 2 hours. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Not for the first (or last) time in his life, Nathan Hawk stood face-to-face with the gravest of odds. The situation was grim, and he would need a good bit of luck to get out of this particular pickle. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | As if stuck in a temporal anomaly, Nat saw everything in slow motion, as the cue-ball darted across the table, bounced off the far bumper and ricocheted at a high rate of speed into the nine-ball. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Are you always this . . . emotional?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "It is still your turn, Lieutenant." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "So it is, so it is..." Nat said, sizing up the situation on the table with a keen eye. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "Ops to Lieutenant Hawk.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | A dis-enchanted voice came over the comm-line. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Looks like that's all folks." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Then you forfeit." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Nat stopped dead in his tracks though. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I did not mean my comment to elicit an emotional response, Lieutenant. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Your illogical over-confidence aside, how can you be so sure?" Strom asked, curiously, as his left eyebrow arched upward fully now. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The night was young, and the Vulcan still arrogant. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
< | < | ||
<fs x-large> | <fs x-large> | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Uhm.. Sir, sir? Is something wrong?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Nat sighed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Sorry Sir-..uhm, er, Lieutenant." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "With all due respect, Lieutenant," | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You say one more word an I'm kickin' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "With all due respect sir, I don't think you have the authority to do that." replied the Junior Lieutenant. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The dumb-founded Junior Lieutenant gave Nat a look like he'd just told him to jump into a warp-core breech. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Lemme explain somethin' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Junior Lieutenant opened his mouth to protest, but Nat just pointed at his pip again. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Much bett' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Are we just going to leave him there?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You decide." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Less there' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I . . . think . . . w-we should, uh, beam him . . . aboard?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Oh, yeah," he said, a bit surprised. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Now si' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Junior Lieutenant no longer protested, and simply did as he was told to. Nat in turn entered their course and speed into the console before him. In six hours, they would rendezvous with the Starship Searfoss, a Nova-Class science ship demoted to ferry duty. From there, it would take the Searfoss a total of three days to cross the great expanse of space between here and their rendezvous with the Republic. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter looked on with approval as Ensign Wolcott and Lieutenant Junior Grade Pakita dropped the last MSSD panel in place. The work the engineering detail had done was exquisite. Fast and precise, but then, John expected nothing less from a crew trained by Victor Virtus. John braced himself against the conference room's new illuminated table and looked around the room. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Galaxy class starships certainly didn't lack for space, and their appointments were generally considered bright, soft and friendly, but this room now told anyone who walked in one thing: 'This room is the center of the universe.' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Not at all," John reflected, "I just can't believe you managed to miniaturize the immersive display from Stellar Cartography to do . . . " John waved his hand in front of him, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Pakita straightened up, slipping a fusion router into one of the pockets of her loose fitting utility vest. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Show me again?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Pakita stepped closer to the polished steel table in the center of the room. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | After a soft beep, the lighting in the room darkened, and recessed holo-projectors hummed to life, showing every detail of the system Republic was racing toward in full, three-dimensional glory. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Truly impressed by the technology of the display, Carter reached out to brush his hand past a nearby star. "Damn but that's sprocking cool," he whispered. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The scene was wrong, and Carter knew it was. He wasn't a Captain, he was XO on the Republic, and nobody but nobody called him J.T. despite this, a part of John's psyche knew that he'd lived through this moment before, and would again. Surprisingly, | ||
+ | |||
+ | The scarlet-haired Doctor stepped toward her paramour with an easy grace. "What are you gonna do about it . . . J.T." | ||
+ | |||
+ | John felt a not-so-innocent smirk cross his face as Shannon crept closer. "Oh, I don't know," he said, quirking his head to the side, "I might have to put you on report." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John reached for the Doctor' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Will there be anything else, XO?" Pakita asked. | ||
+ | |||
+ | For the moment John couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John tapped his comm. badge. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Apparently, Bombay wasn’t the only officer aboard who knew about the regulation that was a descendant of one of the oldest naval traditions. Carter too believed that a ship should have only one captain, and that to eliminate confusion, any officers on board a vessel who hold the rank of captain but were not the commanding officer of the ship, should be granted the brevet rank of commodore as a courtesy not only to the guest officers, but to the ship's CO as well. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "The detail' | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "My compliments to Commander Virtus. Thank you commander, Marshall out. =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Man, do I need a drink. Chow sounds perfect," | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon Cromwell looked nervously as Shannon Harris nursed a drink at a table in Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Hill doors chimed again as Commander John Carter entered the lounge along with two engineers. "Oh Hell," Leon hissed, downing the rest of his whiskey. His eyes immediately went to where Harris and Bombay were sitting, silently noting that his Captain had chosen a very bad time to pat the Counselor on the shoulder. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Moving close to warp speed, John Carter raced to Horatio Bombay' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bombay' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The room fell silent as the assembled crewmen took in the scene. In his now too-quiet corner, Leon Cromwell rose to his feet. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "But get your sprocking hands off my wife!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | The standoff between Bombay and Carter lasted for what seemed to be an eternity while the eerie reticence permeated the room. Confusion was shared by not only the captain, but also the entire compliment within The Hill. Scuttlebutt, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Doctor Cromwell, after a full draught of Aldebaran whiskey, nervously watched the drama unfold from the bar. He was about to intervene, but apprehension was holding him back. Sliding his eyes sideways, he saw an opportunity to push aside the last of his trepidation by absconding with a glass of syntheholic rice wine, abandoned by a crewman who left the bar to join the gawking crowd around the counselor’s table. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I don’t know what you two are up to,” reprimanded Captain Bombay spitefully to Carter and Harris. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Apparently, the perplexed skipper had come to the conclusion that he was being made a fool of, despite whether marriage between the two officers actually existed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “You are on report,” he ridiculed the executive officer. “And I will make damned sure that a letter of reprimand makes it into your permanent record for assaulting a superior officer.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | It was clear his pride was crushed, but whether the threat of punitive action by the captain would actually occur seemed dependant upon whether his next order would be adhered to. He scanned the gathered crowd, with embarrassment and anger welling within his throat. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “As for the rest of you,” he bellowed to the assemblage of crew. “All officers and enlisted personnel are hereby ordered to their duty stations for round-the-clock battle drills until such time I deem fit for you to stand down.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Gasps of surprise overrode the previous spectacle of Carter’s odd behavior as Bombay gave one last dagger-filled glance towards the XO before leaving the room. | ||
+ | |||
+ | With Harris still staring at him, Carter did not move. “John, she’s your ex-wife,” the words repeated within his head. He was tensely becoming aware that what he said to the captain, no matter how right it seemed to him, had brought unwanted attention to his temporal displacement condition. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “John, why don’t we go to my office?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | “Captain, he’s coming around.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | An aching pain shot through Carter’s head as the bright lights of sickbay filled his mind. Slowly, he opened his one functioning eye, shielding it from the luminous backdrop with his hand. A blond ensign in her twenties loomed over him with a diagnostic wand and a relieved smile. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Thank you, nurse. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The young woman was replaced by the aged face of Leon Cromwell. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “How do you feel, John?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Like a Tribble that’s been mauled by a Targ. What the heck are you doing in this neck of the woods, Leon?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Long range sensor buoys picked up your distress call. The Mercy just completed a relief mission to the Ficus sector, and we were the first to receive the relayed transmission.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter struggled to move to a sitting position, but Cromwell intervened. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Oh no you don’t, captain. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Bull,” Carter said sourly, rubbing his eye patch. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon smiled wryly. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Captain Carter was about to respond when he suddenly remembered the recent battle involving his own vessel. “How’s my ship?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I’m afraid the Valiant’s only a derelict now, John,” said Leon soberly. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Derelicts can be refitted, | ||
+ | |||
+ | With a sigh, Cromwell pulled a nearby stool over to the bed. “It’s a bit more complicated than that, John. We were only permitted to beam personnel from the Valiant. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Confused, John’s forehead creased downward. | ||
+ | |||
+ | In a lower volume, Captain Cromwell moved closer to Carter for a more private conversation. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Negotiate? | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Let’s just say that I’m not treating only Federation casualties.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | John let out a heavy sigh, and leaned back into his biobed shaking his head. “No. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I made a judgment call, John. It was either this or letting you die in deep space. | ||
+ | |||
+ | But John kept shaking his head. “Leon, what are you doing? | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | “What the sprock are you doing?” John screamed, pushing away Leon’s arm. The doctor was taken aback, and turned off the diagnostic wand. He slowly put the device into the right hand pocket of his blue physician’s jacket. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Look, John, I’m just trying to get to the bottom of this.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter sat still for the moment, analyzing his surroundings. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Yes.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon frowned in confusion. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Doctor Cromwell, could you come out here, please?” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | It was Harris’ voice, and John turned his head to face Leon with anxiety. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I’ll be right there, doctor,” said Leon, tapping the combadge underneath the physician’s jacket. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon walked out of the exam room and turned into the main ward. Doctor Shannon Harris stood next to a young, black-haired lieutenant junior-grade in science blues. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I think Lieutenant Butenhoff has found something here,” Harris beckoned Doctor Cromwell. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the three crowded around the console, the doors to the main sickbay parted, and Lieutenant Commander Victor Virtus strolled in. He noticed the officers by the nurse’s station and joined the trio watching the medical monitor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “He found a quantum resonance in his neurocellular membranes, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Neurocellular membranes? | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I’m not sure,” the German-accented Lieutenant Butenhoff admitted. | ||
+ | |||
+ | With a look of extreme interest turning to ominous recognition, | ||
---- | ---- | ||
< | < | ||
<fs x-large> | <fs x-large> | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kostya walked back to his quarters to talk to the Captains he had requested contacted. | ||
+ | |||
+ | He walked to his desk, and tapped the panel. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kostya watched as his screen blinked on, split down the middle, Captain Shea of the Anteitam on the right and Captain Kebric of the Bataan on the right. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Alisa Kebric spoke first, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Tim Shea nodded and continued, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kostya looked at them both, "So you both heard something different, I guess it was to confuse the fleet. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kebric spoke, "I am now along the front, I can be there in three hours, two if you really need me." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shea looked at a PADD, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kostya smiled, "Well you know me, it will probably be both. What I need is for the both of you, contact the old crew, get as many of them as possible, meet me in the Lojurus system in two days, I am going to need every ship I can find, and every good captain we have left. Keep me posted, Kostya Out." | ||
+ | |||
+ | The two captains nodded and the screen went blank. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kostya got up and walked to the replicator. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall was wondering when he was going to get dressed down by Bombay. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Jim then focused his attention on the War Room. He had been notified that it was complete, and informed Admiral Kostya. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Bridge to Marshall.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Go ahead.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Priority one communiqué for you sir. It's Admiral Stewart.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Put it through down here.” Marshall ordered the computer to suspend recording this conversation and encoded it to his voiceprint only as the image on the viewscreen changed, and it was Admiral Gordon Stewart of Starfleet Intelligence, | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Catch you at a bad time?” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Not really.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Good. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “That' | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “There' | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Admiral, I think I know what you're about to tell me.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Everything on Horatio Bombay checks out so far. I've contacted the Federation Embassy on Alpha Centauri, they' | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Yes sir.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “In examining the recent imposters we've found that they' | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Wait a minute, are you saying the Kreltans know how to make clones?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Not clones per se Captain, but they have figured out how to almost appear human to the naked scanner. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Understood Admiral. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “See that you do, Stewart out.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall sat back in his chair. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “On my way.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | The room was dark, except for the viewscreen showing an image of a humanoid with grayish colored skin and large dark eyes, one could see the evil just by looking at the picture. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Report.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | "All is going to plan," a human male responded. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Our Kreltan forces are doing well because of you. We have reports that three large fleets are moving toward the Firestorm' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The human moved into the light slowly, a Starfleet Uniform showed, Admiral Pips and the Starfleet Insignia Belt, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “One week, if all goes as planned.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | The human walked out into the light showing his face. Admiral James Maverick straitened his uniform, "I have the fleet confused as to Kostya and the rest of the High Command. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The screen went blank, and the imposter smiled. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | A bloodied James Maverick laid strapped down to a table, several wires ran from his head and body to a machine not two meters away. His eyes were hazy and one could tell that he was heavily drugged. | ||
+ | |||
+ | A tall alien with grayish skin and large eyes approached, "All right, Admiral. | ||
+ | |||
+ | James opened his cracked and dried lips and slowly spoke, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "The code, Admiral!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Code: . . .” James' eyes rolled in the back of his head as he lost consciousness again. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Take him to his cell with the other humans, we'll try again later," | ||
+ | |||
+ | Two Kreltans untied and picked Maverick up to his feet, almost constantly dragging him to the cell in another wing of the facility. | ||
+ | |||
+ | One of the Kreltans let go of Maverick and released the force field, as if someone plugged him into a wall socket, James sprung to life. | ||
+ | |||
+ | His elbow flew fast and hard hitting the Kreltan holding him in the throat, bringing him to his knees. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Let them out, or we'll see how empty that cloned head of yours really is," Maverick snarled. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | James shrugged, "Your choice, big boy." | ||
+ | |||
+ | With that he fired, vaporizing the Kreltan. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | He pointed to a group of around fifty people, "Get aboard one and hold it for us, if we're not there in one hour, take off and head to Federation Space. | ||
+ | |||
+ | He waited for everyone to acknowledge, | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall was busy at his desk downloading the information to a PADD, as he heard the door chime. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I feel fine," said Marshall, "and this isn't a social call." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Then what is it?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall raised his hand signaling the Doctor to be quiet as he said to the computer, “Computer, | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Unable to comply. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Encode recording from this moment to my voiceprint only. Authorization Marshall 68 Beta Delta.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Acknowledged.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall breathed a sigh of relief. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon replied, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I do, but this one is for the good of the Republic," | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon took the PADD, and scanned it quickly. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You read it wrong, and there' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Cromwell asked, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Cromwell said, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Trying not to reveal too much information Marshall said, "I know. Intelligence maybe onto something. You're looking for a defect in the parietal lobe | ||
+ | |||
+ | similar to what would trigger Irumodic Syndrome. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Keep talking." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Jim said, "What looks like a defect to us may very well be the trigger for the Kreltans shape shifting. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Cromwell replied, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
Line 109: | Line 2614: | ||
< | < | ||
<fs x-large> | <fs x-large> | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | "So, let me get this straight," | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shannon nodded. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "And Doctor Cromwell, has he examined my XO?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes sir," Shannon answered, unsure of where Bombay' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Then, why did he send you?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Of course you are," Bombay said with a leer. Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bombay took a sip, then stepped back toward the center of the room. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well, actually Captain, I'd prefer that you . . ." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Good. Thank you." Bombay continued as if Doctor Harris hadn't said a word. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes, Captain." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Your accent," | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No sir, Australian. About Commander Carter, sir. He's . . .” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bombay' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No Doctor," | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No sir, that's not exactly . . ." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "The fact is, Doctor, that I can't have someone on the bridge that I can't count on." Bombay leaned forward, as if to emphasize his point. "Is there a pattern to Carter' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Is there a pattern? Yes or no?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No sir, but . . ." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Can we predict when Carter might have another 'time slip'? If that's what's happening at all." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No Captain, we can' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Then, effective immediately, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shannon felt her mood crash, knowing how badly John would take the news. She straightened her shoulders, and got ready for the hard part of her day. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “All right Captain, I'll let him know." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter sat alone in the dark of his quarters. The message from Bombay was waiting for him after his duty shift. It was only reasonable, John had to admit. There was no telling when more of the 'flash forwards' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Then the door chimed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Oh, sprock me!" John cursed out loud. The door chimed again as he got up from his rack. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The door chimed again. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Go away," John shouted through the audio pick up at the door. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter sighed and opened the door to look Doctor Shannon Harris in the face. Despite his sour mood, John felt better looking at the bright green eyes and scarlet hair he'd come to associate with his favorite Doctor on Republic. "Is this a professional visit?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shannon smiled, and stepped past Carter to enter his quarters. "Does it need to be?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well, you're the Counselor," | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shannon stepped in, taking notice of some of Carter' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Will it make a difference?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You mean will it get you back on duty? No. I'm pretty sure Bombay would space you at this point if he thought he could get away with it." Harris leaned forward, looking John in the eyes. "What were you thinking John? Like him or not, he IS your Captain." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "All right then." John eased back in his chair and explained. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes it has Shannon! To me, that's all history." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Thank you Doc . . . thanks, Shannon. I appreciate that." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Stunned for a moment, Carter spoke. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter drifted off to sleep. In a haze of dream and fatigue he saw images of his time on Styx . . . images that he knew were wrong. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Then the pain came. Raw, mind-splitting pain, as if John's brain were about to burst free from his skull. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter sat bolt-upright and scrambled for his combadge, holding his head as it throbbed. Finding the object, Carter tapped the badge at last. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Sickbay. Doctor Hudson here.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | But the channel had gone quiet. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
< | < | ||
<fs x-large> | <fs x-large> | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | With an urgent, almost panicked stride, Doctor Cromwell stormed through the main doors of sickbay. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Break it up, everyone! | ||
+ | |||
+ | With a fretful, frightened look in her eyes, Doctor Shannon Harris stood at the head of the bed, hoping in vain that the patient, Commander Carter, would snap out of his malady. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I did that already," | ||
+ | |||
+ | "She tried Silcaquine too, doctor," | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Working the computer controls on the module' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "His entire synaptic pathway is saturated with chroniton radiation!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What do we do?" asked Doctor Phoebe Hudson, who stood nearby nervously. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I don't know," admitted Leon. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The doors to sickbay parted yet again, with Lieutenant Commander Virtus, Lieutenant Junior Grade Butenhoff, and Captain Bombay marching intently into the room. They gathered quietly around the table as the entire senior staff of sickbay worked frantically to aid Commander Carter. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Every time part of his neural receptors phase in and out, it shuts down the organelle or muscular system they control," | ||
+ | |||
+ | “There’s got to be something we can do!” blurted out Doctor Harris. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I’m injecting an electrolyte inhibitor, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Seconds after the doctor injected the medicine into Carter’s neck, his body went limp. Yellow computer readouts on the support module flickered with an ominous red signature, with some staying a steady crimson color. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “His acetylcholine levels are dropping!” said Doctor Favuuk, the Andorian female medic. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Acknowledged, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “It’s decreasing rapidly,” the Deltan neurosurgeon reported. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Chroniton radiation levels rising on a neuro-cellular level!” yelled Doctor Yezbeck, who stood next to Fernmoore by the adjoining monitoring station by the wall. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Without a word further, Leon engaged in reconfiguring the life-support matrix of the support module to send minor nerve impulses through Carter’s various neuro-receptors, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Cordical stimulators!” shouted Leon. He moved quickly to the head of the table, exchanging places with Doctor Harris. | ||
+ | |||
+ | With an electrostatic wisp, energy flowed into Carter’s frontal lobes, sending controlled shots of electricity directly through his brain. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Raise to 800 micro-farads! | ||
+ | |||
+ | Once more, a shot of energy jolted through John Carter’s head, offering only a slight twitch of the neck in response to the jolt. Still, the monitors were all in the red. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Again!” ordered Leon. | ||
+ | |||
+ | This time, there was no bodily response to the static zap of the cordical stimulators. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Leon, it’s done.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | With tears streaming down her face, the bright green eyes of the scarlet-haired Doctor Harris were ablaze with panic and disbelief. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Harris yelped with astonishment as Carter’s pinpointed pupils searched their immediate surroundings. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the breath left the body, Carter’s eyes were transfixed on Doctor Cromwell, and whispered words that could barely be heard. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Leon . . . I need to go . . . But . . . I’ll be back . . .” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “John! | ||
+ | |||
+ | “No . . .” came the raspy whisper again. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As suddenly as the brief glimmer of life came, it vanished. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Keep the life support matrix online,” he sputtered through a dry throat. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “What?” asked an emotional-distraught Harris. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I’m not giving up on him,” Leon replied flatly. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Excuse me,” interrupted Captain Bombay a few feet away. “Why are you keeping Commander Carter’s body on life support when there’s no trace of brain activity? | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon closed his eyes with a mix of exhaustion, and barely controlled anger. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “His lack of brain activity, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Oh really?” replied Bombay. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Again, Leon closed his eyes, using every ounce of his will to keep from introducing the captain to a swift right hook. “I agree that medically, Commander Carter appears to be deceased. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bombay displayed an incredulous smile. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Yes.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Doctor, my patience is wearing thin. I’ve put up with a lot already aboard this ship, but I won’t tolerate a chief medical officer who shows no respect for the deceased because he cannot emotionally let go of a colleague. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Normally, Leon would have let go his restraint and shown Captain Bombay how intimate he could become with the deck plates inside sickbay. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “No,” he retorted to Bombay, crossing his arms in firm resistance. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Very well,” the captain came back. “Then you leave me no choice. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Calmly, the balding, black-bearded Saal Yezbeck looked at Doctor Cromwell briefly, as if reading his mind. He then looked to the captain and replied. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bombay was now becoming irritated. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The gray haired lady looked at the captain through squinted eyes, and shook her head. “Captain, I’m three months from retirement, and I’ve seen a lot in my time with Starfleet. | ||
+ | |||
+ | A shade of anger red began to creep into the captain’s facial hues. His jaw went firm and he looked at the gathering of medical doctors around Commander Carter’s body. “Anyone else want to be relieved of duty?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | One by one, Doctors Harris, Ryda, and Favuuk walked over and joined Cromwell, Yezbeck, and Fernmoore on the near side of the examination table, indicating their refusal to take the commander off life support. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Nervously, she looked at the body, and then to the captain, unsure of what to do. Glancing to the six other doctors of sickbay, she reflected upon her past behavior during the incident with Counselor B’Rell and the Kreltan spy. Swallowing tensely, she remembered that she had done the crew a disservice by naively accepting the rhetoric of a poor leader, and allowing B’Rell to influence her actions. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Well captain?” chided Leon. “You’ve managed to relieve all qualified medical doctors onboard of duty. If you try to remove Carter from life support now, without the approval of an MD, you’d be committing murder.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Don’t think you can get away with this, Doctor! | ||
+ | |||
+ | “And I,” replied Leon, “am you’re chief medical officer. | ||
+ | |||
+ | It was all Bombay could do to maintain his dignity in the face of his chief physician who had just turned the tables on him. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor came to grips. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Captain Bombay tapped his comm. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | And with that pronouncement, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Just over the Captain' | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Halfway to their respective quarters on Deck Eight, Shannon finally regained enough control to plow through denial and straight on into anger. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shannon railed quietly (but physically) against the universe and all of its injustices. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shannon could almost feel John's presence. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon dug deeper into his medical files, searching for some obscure, half-remembered footnote in a two hundred year old database, concerning a deleterious medical condition that had been abolished in all civilized species for centuries. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Cromwell' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Chief Medical Officer' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon glanced back at the screen. | ||
+ | |||
+ | With the press of a button, Leon cleared the screen. Not to be caught unprepared, he got to work on his own plans. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Captain Bombay turned to his Chief Engineer as the security detail filed out with their charges. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Now then Mr. Virtus, I suppose you will also wish to allow grief to interfere with your duties? | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor looked the Captain in the eyes. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Not at all Captain. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bombay seemed to take this in stride, "Very well then. If you would be so kind as to see that Carter' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Aye sir. By the book, the CMO's last orders before being relieved were to have the body moved to Suite Five until all possibilities have been exhausted. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Captain nodded, and carefully suppressed a grin. "Yes yes, we must have everything by the book. Carry on Lieutenant Commander." | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor cut off the Lieutenant before he could begin. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I am fully aware of what I said. I know things seem a bit hectic, but please try to remain focused on the task at hand." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lieutenant Butenhoff stuttered out a feeble, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "But, what you said about the commander..." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Was a lie. I played a hunch," | ||
+ | |||
+ | "But you said you' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Clean out his room, which I suspect I will have to do anyway, as I hope there will be something that can help us in his quarters. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic let the slightly younger officer wrap neurons around that one as he began a molecule-by-molecule count of his best friend' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Butenhoff' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "In preparation for the Captain' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Very rare logical errors that result in two files being stored on top of one another. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The low thrum of an electrical field filled the room. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I . . . I don't understand. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Then, when you were on the way here, and you told Renwold and Venks they were done in the War Room . . . " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "The next thing on my official engineering check-list was a suitably vague test of the memory circuits." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor began a slowly modulating sensor sweep of the room, looking, not for chronitons, but for the gravitonic disturbance of their passage. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Aye sir." | ||
+ | |||
+ | The underofficer turned to depart, but stopped before the door opened. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Why trust me with all this information sir? What if ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor Virtus glanced up from his readouts, and looked right through the suddenly ashamed lieutenant. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Given what you have learned in the last five minutes, you may assume that I have a contingency for such an eventuality. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Aye sir." | ||
+ | |||
+ | The door opened and closed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor let his poker face drop. | ||
+ | |||
+ | He'd been playing it by ear since John's ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | If Butenhoff went to Bombay, this effort was doomed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | A hastily drawn virtual blueprint of a theoretical substance flashed and danced under rapid keystrokes. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic wiped a tear off the console and kept typing. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Work with me here John. You're the one that likes pressure." | ||
+ | |||
+ | His luck might hold, but his fear of all things temporal was threatening to turn him into a screaming, gibbering wreck. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor took a deep breath and got to work. | ||
+ | |||
Line 119: | Line 3008: | ||
< | < | ||
<fs x-large> | <fs x-large> | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | Slowly, Nat ran his hands down across the damp towel that clung to the lithe form of Junior Lieutenant Jezia Olmn. He knew what they both wanted as he looked into her sapphire eyes. Gingerly, he put his hand on her face, caressing it for a moment as she closed her exotic eyes. He then moved his head in slowly, closing his own eyes as he did. Their lips met in that moment as their bodies pressed against each other. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Nat felt her hands on his sides, right above his hips, as they continued to lock-lips. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yer the most beautiful thing I've eva'r, or will eva'r see, in ma entire life." Nathan told her. Part of him wondered if it was just a line, or if it was an honest statement as he felt the drops of moisture from her towel invade his own clothing. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Sorry to disturb you, Lieutenant," | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Can ya route it . . . " Nat said, hoping to take care of this here. As the words left his mouth though, he caught a glance from Jezia that told him if he did that he'd surely be leaving soon after. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Not as sorry as I am . . ." Nat muttered in reply. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Route it ta my quarters," | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes sir. Bridge out." replied the voice. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Scratching his chin, Nat looked at the closed doors leading to Jezia' | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "It goddamn better be or so help me I'll stuff your sauerkraut-" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "It is. I assure you. Now please shut up?" Cut in Sven, obviously not even having the time to deal with Nat's long-winded threats and insults. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Ya, what's it to ya?" Nat answered. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "When will you arrive?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Good, good." replied Sven, slightly calmer. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Putting the communiqué on hold, Nat entered an encryption sequence he'd learned from the Syndicate and then resumed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Of course. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "About the same, only more emotional." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Oh, joy. Maybe I should stick 'round here." Nat said. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Our First Officer is dead. I think. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "So what da ya need?" Nat asked, already formulating ideas. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sven smiled. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I can be there within an hour." Nat told him. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "An hour? I thought you said six?" Sven queried. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I don't know. Just get here. Commander Virtus will know how best to use you, but I know we need more help here. Besides, you don't have a career to worry about." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Heh, never did." Nat retorted. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "My point exactly." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I will. Thanks, Nat. Buttenhoff out." he said, closing the channel. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leaning back in his chair, Nat scratched his chin and pondered what he'd just learned from his old friend. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Hawk to Richards," | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | "I don't like this, Mr. Hawk, not one damn bit." said Captain Kyle Richards, commander of the Starship Searfoss. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I just don't like having my mission changed on the whim of some undercover Intelligence operative." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "This situation 'board the Republics critical, Cap' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Do it, Jov, I'll explain later." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Aye, sir." replied Jov. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Thank ya, Cap' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Just a moment, Commander," | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Ya know the old sayin' - need ta know." Nat replied, smiling. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Of course." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What if Captain Bombay is suspicious?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "If he gives ya any grief, give 'em the same code I gave you. It'll clear things up nice." Nat replied with a wink. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As he moved to the lift and entered it, he couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Either way, the plan was already too far along to derail now. He just hoped whatever the hell was wrong on the Republic would be settled with him, Buttenhoff, and anyone else involved on the right side of Starfleet Command. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | James Marshall had been watching what was going on in sickbay from his desk monitor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Jim didn't panic as he thought about his next move. He left a message for Admiral Kostya that he needed to see him ASAP. He had also wondered why Bombay hadn't come to see him yet. He was sure that would be answered in due time. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall decided to head to The Hill to catch up on the ship's gossip when he couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | 'What the frinx am I doin'?' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Nat was never the nervous type. Not that he could remember. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As he waited for the signal from Richards, he glanced around the room impatiently. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No problem, kid." Nat replied, grinning. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You sure got here early, Lieutenant." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No pool table ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "This is so exciting," | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You don't think so?" returned ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Not when ya've done it s' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "How long have you been in Starfleet, Lieutenant?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Long ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Where you in the war?" replied ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Most folks where," | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I wasn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I was too young," | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yeah, I knew that." replied Nat, unable to keeping from chuckling at the kids raw exuberance and enthusiasm. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Oh wow! Your uh, uhm, what was his call sign . . . er, your call sign, uhm, Wild Card?" asked ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Wild Card, then Death Wish on account a'them crashes." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Go 'head, Cap' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Thank ya kindly, Cap' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Hey, Lieutenant, do you-" began ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Hey, kid, stop salutin' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Oh, yeah, sorry. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You a science officer or logistics?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Both, kind of. Basic interstellar science was my major, but logistical analysis was my minor." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | As she gestured to the doors, the alert klaxons sounded without warning. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What in hell?" Nat muttered. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Uhm, I don't know off the top of my head. But I have orders too-" Perez continued. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No offense, but I don't give a damn 'bout yer orders. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Oh, it's Gren, sir-er, Nat." he replied. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes sir." he replied. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Take me there." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Entering, he found two men - well, three, actually, though one looked dead as a doornail - working with equipment. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Turning off the plasma torch, Virtus removed the safety goggles. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I gathered." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor looked at the newcomer with a well-trained department head's eye, and came to the wrong conclusions almost immediately. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No one yet. Welcome to the Republic. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Nat took the fast-paced diatribe in stride and drawled out a, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Good, finish heating this plate to eight hundred seventy-five degree Kelvin, pour the liquid metal into that container. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor watched the new guy absorb the situation. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Gaat it." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
---- | ---- | ||
< | < | ||
<fs x-large> | <fs x-large> | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Time was off the essence. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Come on Vic. If you were John, where would you hide a quadrant-shakingly important data padd in your room?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic tried under the bed again, behind the picture of Olympus Mons, and in the panel beneath the replicator. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Now is no time to panic. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ‘It' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor opened his eyes. There was no one in the room but him. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Negative.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor hated to take anything on faith, but now was no time to split hairs. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Sorry John." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor brought the black obsidian clock down on the end table as hard as he could. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | One of the things that John Carter wasn’t likely to admit to anyone was how beautiful he thought space was. He could remember his first cruise as a Lieutenant on the U.S.S. Farragut. Walking through the crew lounge, he just stopped as the streaks of stars at super-relative velocities shot by. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Now, somehow, he thought again that space was chillingly beautiful, but as he became more and more aware of his surroundings, | ||
+ | |||
+ | John continued to look up, finding it hard to count the number of stars he could see. Finally, he admitted to himself, 'I don't know where the hell I am. Must be somewhere near the Galactic core though. Either that,' John thought, 'or I'm somewhere else entirely.' | ||
+ | |||
+ | For long moments, Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Some time later, John woke up. The scene was still dark, yet bright at the same time, but John didn't think about that. At the moment, he was concentrating on the person walking toward him. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The figure was tall and slim. Humanoid from what Carter could see. Not wearing any sort of uniform, exactly, but the stride of someone with Academy training was unmistakable. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John got up from the ground where he had fallen asleep and jogged toward his visitor. "Do I know you?" he asked. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The stranger brought his hand up to shade his eyes, as if trying to get a better look at Carter. Finally, the visitor stopped, and shouted. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John jogged forward with a slight smile on his face. ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The human stranger stepped closer and extended a hand to Carter. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | The results were in, and Bombay had the defect. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Fifteen minutes later he had the door open, and he downloaded the information to a PADD. He headed to meet with Admiral Kostya who was in the War Room. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What about?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall handed him the PADD, and the Admiral took it. He read the results and said, "Well Commodore, you're about to be in the center seat again. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Computer, | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Captain Bombay is in his ready room.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | They headed for the turbolift, and headed for deck one. Upon their arrival, they went into the ready room. Admiral Kostya rung the chime and didn't wait for Bombay to say anything before entering. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Take him to the brig," ordered the Admiral, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Admiral then turned to Marshall and said, "Now we make it official." | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Computer, | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Transfer Complete. U.S.S. Republic is now under the command of Captain James Marshall.” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | Marshall walked onto the bridge and took the center seat. It was good to be back. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | He sat at the desk and touched the pad. The face of Admiral David Belzer appeared. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "A race of humanoids, with grayish colored skin, large dark eyes, and stand around 2 meters tall, but their weight averages 70 kilos. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "There are no negotiations taking place. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I could have told you that Admiral. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "You are correct. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Suddenly, the ship’s intercom came to life. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Captain, this is Lieutenant Blanchette in the Brig. The Kreltan appearing as Bombay has up and disappeared. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "Yes I did. There have been reports coming in from all over the Federation of Kreltans dissolving like that. Pity we won't get to put them on trial for anything." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Thank you for the update sir," replied Marshall. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "See you soon, captain. Belzer out." =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | The screen blackened as Marshall said, "I fight my butt off for them and I didn’t even get to finish my shore leave. C'est la vie." | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | The cell was small, dark, and musty. | ||
+ | |||
+ | It had been over a month since the doctor had been taken prisoner, his last vision of a living person being the shocking execution of his head nurse and friend, Sarah Higgins. | ||
+ | |||
+ | On this day, it would all change. | ||
+ | |||
+ | For the next three days he was tortured in indescribable ways that resulted in several broken ribs, as well a third-degree plasma burn in his lower torso from something that resembled a Klingon pain-stick. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | After washing his face at the vanity sink in his quarters, Leon was engrossed in his own thoughts as he stared blankly at his reflection in the mirror for several minutes. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Following the altercation in sickbay with Captain Bombay, the doctor attempted to access his own medical logs regarding Carter’s condition, but with the yoke of restriction that followed in the wake of being relieved of duty, Leon found himself unable to access any information whatsoever. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Finally, as the doctor settled into his sofa with a hardcover book, his door buzzer chimed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I was,” she said with a smirk. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon’s perplexity increased by a factor of ten. He stared at the counselor from the sofa for several seconds. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Hose down the walls with liquid metal, wait for it to cool. Move the stiff to a corner, spray down half the ceiling and floor, wait for it to cool. Move the stiff to the antipodal corner, spray the other half of the ceiling and floor, wait for it to cool. Get the doorframe quadruple time. Sweat buckets courtesy of the extreme heat involved in liquefying metal. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shirtless and sweat-soaked, | ||
+ | |||
+ | On the inside of the jacket was a small sewn in pocket which contained an antique flask. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Picking his communicator off the front of his jacket, he held it between his thumb and index finger and pressed it, producing the familiar chirp. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Hawk ta Virtus," | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Contemplating another swig, Nat looked up as the doors parted for Sven Buttenhoff, who stumbled back at the wall of heat that slammed into him. Tugging at his collar he stepped into the room and closed the doors behind it. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You really shouldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Jezia Olmn? The Trill Scientist? | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Oh, yeah, laugh it up now. I'll get ya back, you just wait, bucko." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Like what I've dun with the place?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "The Captain' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well howdy ta you too," Nat replied sarcastically as he moved towards the corner, donning his long-sleeved red tunic as Sven joined him. Leaning up against the now-cool wall, Nat sat back and watched as Virtus went to work. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | "THE Wesley crusher?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I don't have to," Wes commented, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John rubbed his temples. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Wes smiled as he saw the glimmer of understanding in Carter' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Whoa, whoa, WOAH!" John yelled, holding up a hand. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "How do you know that? For that matter, how did you get here?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "As for how I got here, I walked." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Frustrated beyond words, Carter felt his temper rise. He looked up at the bright alien night and let fly at the Universe. "All right! All RIGHT! I'm dead, and I'm in hell! Thanks a LOT!" John looked at Wes again, a bit put out by Wes's amusement at the situation. "No offense, kid." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "None taken, Commander." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Oh, I'm not?" John shot Wes an icy glare. "You want to explain how I can breath, let alone EXIST on a planet with no atmosphere and no heat?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "The breathing is just muscle memory, because you're mind doesn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "So, what? I'm ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Wes watched as Carter stormed away. The young man cleared his throat, then yelled after the confused officer. "Tell me about your future, captain." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter spun on a heel. "Shut up!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I think I know why you're here, John, but you're almost out of time." | ||
+ | |||
+ | John walked back to stand toe to toe with Crusher again. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "My name is Wes, Commander. And stop whining. It doesn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Of course not." Wes tried to think how he could present the truth in a way that John Carter might accept. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John nodded. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I think I can help you do that, but you're going to have to trust that I am who I say I am. Can you do that?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Ok, let's assume I buy all of this. That I'm not just dead or crazy." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "How can you be here? How can I . . . exist here." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You mean my visions?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "They weren' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No, no . . ." John corrected. "I was on the Republic." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "And in the future, and in the past." Wesley added. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John stopped as he felt a glimmer of understanding. "You mean I'm what? Everywhere at the same time?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | For the first time since his arrival on this strange, alien planet, John Carter felt something akin to hope. He looked at Wes and smiled. "You know," he quipped, " | ||
+ | |||
Line 129: | Line 3564: | ||
< | < | ||
<fs x-large> | <fs x-large> | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Five people crowded into the small confines of a surgical suite was quite enough to make tempers flare, but everyone knew that a job needed to get done here, and that John Carter’s life hung in the balance. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Okay, Vic,” said the doctor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Actually, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Virtus looked up briefly to see three dumbfounded faces staring back at him. Doctor Cromwell, although used to his friend’s techo-babble, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “O . . . Okay,” intervened Leon. “So, what’s going to happen in here if we’ve got anti-time flowing all around us?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I don’t know,” said Vic flatly. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Maybe stay’n wasn’t such ah great idea afta all,” said Nat who began to walk towards the door. However, Virtus shot him an expressionless yet sober glance. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Do not leave the room, lieutenant. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Nat slowly retracted his hand from the wall-mounted door panel. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “This is another fine mess you’ve gotten us into,” whispered the German-accented head of life-sciences. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Nat looked back to Sven and retorted, “yer the one who dragged ME in ta this!” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Quiet! | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Make sure that John’s nervous system is re-integrated.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Right, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I don’t know,” stated the chief engineer. | ||
+ | |||
+ | With a pulsating hum, the entire room was bathed in luminescent glow, and every object and person in the room was outlined with a soft white aura. The officers in the suite felt a strange tingling sensation, as well as a queasy stomach. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “How much power is that thing kicking out?” he said, referring to the Daniel’s PADD. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Hanging onto a wall-mounted countertop, Vic replied through gritted teeth. | ||
+ | |||
+ | For their part, Nat and Sven leaned up against the wall, and slowly slid down to a sitting position. | ||
+ | |||
+ | On the table in front of him, Leon watched the support module’s indicators for some sign of neural activity in Commander Carter’s body. Although he saw none, the doctor suddenly realized that his patient was fading in and out of existence. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Something’s happening!” shouted Leon. “I’m losing him!” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Before he could do anything else, the body of Commander Carter had disappeared entirely. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | The young man thought for a moment, smiled, and nodded his head. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "How do you know Vic?" the angry Martian demanded. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Now you're going to tell me the future? | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I could, but I won' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No, because you'll enjoy it more if you don't know," Wes interrupted. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What about paradox? | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "But . . ." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Stop it! Don't answer my questions before I finish them! It's like talking to Victor." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Wesley burst out laughing, and slowly recovered wiping a tear from one eye, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John slowly began to smolder as he paced a few steps back and forth, looking at the dense skyscape," | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Very true, Commander. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor son of Bradley does when he gets his hands on a Q." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | A dim glow began to suffuse Mister Crusher. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Wait for it. It's been a pleasure meeting you Captain." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The glow grew to a blinding coruscation of pale colors as John tried to shield his eyes through hands and eyelids that had suddenly gone transparent. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Aye sir." | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | After a moment, John Carter recalled where he was. The question now was... WHEN was he. John sat up, ignoring the pounding in his head. He scanned the room, wondering at the dull metal coating that marked Leon Cromwell' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shannon bolted to the table where John was sitting up, crashing into him with an enthusiastic *ooff*. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Doc . . . Shannon? What the?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shannon wrapped her arms around Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | For a moment, John truthfully didn't know for how long, he sat on the bio-bed, trying hard to relax, despite the tensions that were on his mind. Leon and Victor tried their best to look busy. Finally, a young Lieutenant wearing command red blurted out. "Well, don' THAT jess beat all." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Maybe we should give you a second?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Hawk, sir. Nat Hawk. I s'pose you could say Ah'm yer new driver." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well, I hope we'll give you a chance test out your skills Mister Hawk." John turned his head to look at Victor. "Found it huh?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Glad to hear it." John stepped toward the computer terminal on the surgical suite wall. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon stepped forward with a medical scanner in hand. "John, I think maybe I should run some more tests." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Damn it Leon, just answer my Sprocking question!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon looked at his patient with the concerned look of a grandfather, | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Cromwell let that thought go, pleased that his friend seemed to be back where he belonged. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Several crewman were huddled around bright display screens each of the humans and aliens wore a dark uniform with a stylized Starfleet " | ||
+ | |||
+ | A young technician scanned his display. "Oh hell," he cursed softly. He looked back over his shoulder where the senior officer was looking over his charges. "Sir! We've got an unauthorized incursion!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Immediately, | ||
+ | |||
+ | The young officer looked again at his display. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Where is the timeslip coming from?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Not sure, but it's somewhere in the Alpha Quadrant, early 26th century, I think." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Keep an eye on it. I'll inform Captain Daniels, see what he wants to do." | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor and Leon chased after John Carter as he and Shannon Harris hurried onto the flight deck. "John, slow down!" the Doctor pleaded. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John looked back with a simple smirk as he looked over Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Just shut up and get moving you old pirate. Besides, you just swiped a bunch of Leon's files, and someone' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Red lights bathed the shuttle bay and sirens warned that the bay doors were rising. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Behind the runabout, Victor stopped Leon, then looked quickly at a nearby status board. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shannon briefly made eye contact with Victor Virtus and shrugged her shoulders. From her point of view there was nothing she could do. Few things in the universe were more persuasive than John Carter when he'd made up his mind. | ||
+ | |||
+ | In the middle of the bay, the runabout' | ||
+ | |||
+ | By his calculations, | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John noted with a certain sense of satisfaction that THIS Captain Marshall seemed a bit put out. "Nice to know some things haven' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The silence lasted a bit too long, before Marshall finally answered back. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "Look John, Leon tells me you've had a shock. I'm sure the Kreltans put you through some nasty business, but you're stealing Fleet property. If you don't head back now, I'll have Nat bring you down." =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | `He can try', John thought, `but I can run rings around Republic at impulse speeds, and by the time I'm done with THIS little surprise . . .' | ||
+ | |||
+ | John tilted his head to port as a lance of orange phaser energy shot past the armor-plast view port. The comm. came to life again. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "John, please, he's serious. Just come home." =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | The voice belonged to Shannon Harris, and John couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Another phaser blast shot past the view port. John felt the runabout shudder as the blast impacted on the aft shield. `Grozit!' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Still churning data. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | John pulled the runabout into a tight spiral to throw off Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | John's fingers flew across the control panel as he accessed the runabout' | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Jim Marshall leaned forward in his command chair, fighting the urge to look over his right shoulder, where he knew his First Officer wasn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | From behind the Captain, a smooth alto voice gave a quick "Aye, Sir", and Marshall could here the beeps and chirps of the ship's tactical systems hunting for their target. At the Conn position, Nat Hawk kept a keen eye and a steady hand on Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Seconds later, Nat Hawk got his answer. A cloud of super heated drive plasma vented from the small runabout' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Collision warnings and proximity alerts sounded on Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Son ova-bitch!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | The strain of super-relative speeds on super-enhanced duranium hull became an audible groan as Republic heaved to avoid the wall of super-heated gas that John Carter had thrown in the starship' | ||
+ | |||
+ | As HMS Republic strained to stop, James Marshall took advantage of the brief silence to make sure that he himself was well, even as damage reports streamed in from the rest of the ship. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Aye Sir," Sullivan answered. The comm. system chirped, and Tom Sullivan looked back at his Captain. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "It was drive plasma, wasn't it Captain?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "How in the world did you know that?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "One of John's favorite small ship tactics. Claims he learned it from Ro Laren. I apologize for not warning you sir, but the odds of John using that particular maneuver were . . .” =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Later Mister Virtus. How soon can we pick up the chase?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "Six hours 23 minutes, 17 seconds…mark. Sir." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Damn that man," Marshall cursed. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Ah don git it sir," the helmsman drawled. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Victor leaned over the gantry railing and yelled down to one of his subordinates. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Ric, can we de-ionize the hull with a one quarter percent, wide-spread phaser corona, bounced off the ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | A calm baritone called up from inside a Jefferies tube, "Sure, gimme a few minutes to decrypt what you just said, and I'll have it ready in a jif." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Aye Sir." | ||
+ | |||
+ | The true difficulty with being an engineering genius in the Queen' | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter sat nervously in the pilot' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Originally discovered during the second five year voyage of the HMS Enterprise under the command Captain Christopher Pike, the Guardian was a was used by Doctor Phillip Boyce, Pike's CMO and long-time friend, to travel back to Earth' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter scoffed as he read on. The exact details of the mission remained classified, beyond the reach of Carter' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Spock' | ||
+ | |||
+ | As long as he stayed at warp speeds, John and his runabout could go on nearly forever, but as soon as he dropped to sub-light, the ship would be dead in the water. `But of course,' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Come on John", Carter chided himself while rubbing his eyes with the heel of his palms. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | A second later, the replicator whirred to life, and after a swirl of light and noise, a tall slender glass, filled with sparkling blue liquid took its place. John picked up the glass and dipped his finger in, swirling the sparkling particles suspended in the drink with his finger. He threw his head back and laughed out loud. " | ||
+ | |||
Line 134: | Line 3847: | ||
< | < | ||
<fs x-large> | <fs x-large> | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= ". . . and that's about the size of things, Captain. Are you clear?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= "I knew I could count on you Mike. Republic out." =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | The subspace channel went black, replaced by the stylized symbol of Her Majesty' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= “Draco III . . . isn't that . . ." =/\= | ||
+ | |||
+ | "It certainly is, Number One. Things are about to get interesting." | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | John looked intently at the display screen as his right thumb quickly brushed his fingertips. With his left hand, John continued to manipulate variables and turn his head quickly to the left, glancing at a PADD that displayed the engineering data for his Danube class runabout. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter pushed away from the desk in the back of the runabout where he'd been bent to his task. Despite the seriousness of his situation, he couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | John shook his head as he moved forward and settled back into the pilot' | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You know the Commander well do you?" MacCrae asked as an attractive lieutenant commander in operations gold held attention in front of him. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes sir," Casey Tanaka replied with all the discipline she could muster. "I met Joh . . ." She cleared her throat and continued. "I met Commander Carter when I was the Conn Officer on the HMS Devonshire. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Casey was sure enough of her own abilities that she didn't bother to deny anything, and judging from the fact that the story of her liaison made it back to her in amazingly short order actually confirmed two things. First, scuttlebutt traveled faster than light, and second, she'd managed to make at least as much of an impression on John Carter as the Martian officer had made on her. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Casey Tanaka cocked her head slightly. "Well sir, John doesn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | MacCrae sat back in the command chair on Yorktown' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Aye Sir." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Red Alert please. Set us up to picket the Guardian when we arrive. We should beat him to the system by at least 2 hours. We'll let Carter come to us." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Very good Sir." | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | John inhaled sharply as his sensors indicated the presence of the HMS Yorktown, following a standard patrol route between Draco III and the grav belt where John's runabout would have to drop out of warp. Have to that is, if he hadn't done it all ready. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter looked at the steady red icon that was the Yorktown on his helm display. Whoever was on that ship had done their homework. They knew where John was most likely to arrive, because of the physics of the area if nothing else. He'd already worked hard to figure out how to get to the Guardian of Forever without impulse drive. `I'll be damned,' | ||
+ | |||
+ | =/\= " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The computer beeped obediently. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Casey Tanaka was visibly upset on HMS Yorktown' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Any sign of the runabout Mister Bush?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | The tall, lanky XO looked to Yorktown' | ||
+ | |||
+ | MacCrae looked back at Tanaka. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter held his breath as his powered-down runabout, now less than space junk sailed silently, effortlessly on the momentum of the now spent reactor control thrusters. Cruising through the system on a ballistic course as he was made him nearly impossible to spot, unless someone on Yorktown got very, very lucky. Of course, the down side, John knew, was that he truly was a sitting duck if he did get spotted. | ||
+ | |||
+ | He'd used up every bit of thrust he could force from the CO2 tanks (a handy by-product from the runabout' | ||
+ | |||
+ | John reminded himself to breath as Yorktown continued her patrol. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Michael MacCrae pinched his eyes shut at the bridge of his nose, equally upset with himself and Casey Tanaka, to say nothing of John Carter' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Commander William Bush simply shook his head again. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "It appears he's learned something new Captain." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter had read about the early Terran space program. How brilliant and brave volunteers would wrap themselves in metal coffins that were too thin and hurl themselves into the unknown on what amounted to unexploded missiles, only to land back home using comparatively simple technology. Now, as the runabout Ellison was buffeted by the atmosphere of Draco III, John cursed as he tried to re-initialize the craft' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "They were nuts!" Carter said aloud. "They were all sprocking loony! How the hell did we ever get off the sprocking planet?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | Wind whipped through John Carter' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter stood before the legendary Guardian of Forever, now unsure of what to do. He consulted the PADD and tricorder he'd brought from the runabout and resisted the urge to slap his forehead. Ambassador Spock' | ||
+ | |||
+ | In response, the arch flashed, as John's head was filled with a booming, disembodied voice. "I am as I have always been, and will always be, John Carter." | ||
+ | |||
+ | `Great,' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "To get back to the end that was the beginning." | ||
+ | |||
+ | John rolled his eyes. "Oh boy . . ." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "All will unfold in the fullness of time, John Carter." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Smoke flowed through the center of the Guardian, blowing clear to reveal the sickbay of U.S.S. Republic. At least, John hoped it was this time. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Go . . . NOW!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter took a leap of faith, into the sea of time. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | John's head felt like it would split open as his senses were assaulted by too much light and noise. He rubbed his temple with one hand, clutching at the hard-won PADD with the other. "Geez! What'd I drink?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Without a word, John reached out and grabbed the flask, not paying attention to his attending physician who was attempting to interpose his will with a scowl and raised finger. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Vic, I wonder if you can give me some sort of explanation of what just occurred? | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I’m not altogether sure I can provide you with an answer, doctor” admitted Virtus. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Correction, | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the newly-resurrected John Carter took a gasp of air following his extended swig from Lieutenant Hawk’s flask, he coughed twice and handed the vessel back to the helmsman. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I’ve never seen anyone drink 200-proof that fast since Altair Four,” remarked the German-accented Sven Butenhoff. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Looking at his surroundings with wary eyes and a flushed face, Carter pushed aside the surgical support module, and pivoted his body to a full sitting position on the biobed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “That depends,” responded John with a raspy voice, the result of his recent deluge of Nat’s drink. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “You’re on the Republic, of course,” the doctor answered. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “WHICH Republic? | ||
+ | |||
+ | “NCC-76241. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Damn it, Leon! Just answer the question! | ||
+ | |||
+ | Virtus and Cromwell looked at one another with concern before looking back towards John. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Yes . . .” Leon replied suspiciously. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “And Captain Bombay is in command?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Well, he WAS. But he’s in the brig now. Apparently, I did a physical on him while I was confined to quarters, and he turned out to be a Kreltan spy. Commodore Marshall is captain again and took over command of the ship. John, why don’t we just run a few more tests to see if . . .” | ||
+ | |||
+ | To everyone’s surprise, John held up a PADD that they had failed to notice was in his hand. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Odd . . .” said John. Looking at the PADD in confusion. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I did,” the doctor said, crossing his arms. “But I didn’t.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Nat and Sven looked at one another, wondering if they were the only ones left in the surgical suite who had not been mentally affected by the strange energy flux that permeated the room a few minutes ago. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “What?” replied John. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Well, he had confined me to quarters following my orders to keep your body on life-support, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Wincing in perplexity, Carter said. “But that’s not possible . . . How could this information already be in the ship’s computer if I haven’t given it to you yet?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Look, John, let’s just do a few more tests. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The opening of the surgical suite door interrupted the doctor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “You!” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Whoa there, Commander!” the newcomer said. “Don’t blame him for your trip through time! If there’s anyone to blame, it’s yourself.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Me?” shouted Carter with incredulity and spite. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Daniels stood up, nursing a bruised jaw and bleeding lip as the gray-haired commander introduced himself. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I’m fine, commander, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “You’re damn right you did!” Carter interjected. | ||
+ | |||
+ | With a firm voice, Murdock looked back at John. “If it were not for Daniels, you and your ship wouldn’t be here right now. I can’t go into specifics, but all I can say is that during your life, you were exposed to chroniton radiation that affected you in this particular time period. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “What do you mean?” replied Victor Virtus, who watched the sudden appearance of the newcomers with subdued interest. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “It means,” Daniels replied, walking further into the room while Murdock made sure Carter did not succeed in a second attempt to bulldoze him. “That I would like my PADD back.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I suppose that this means you’re going to do some kind of memory-wiping procedure on all of us?” Virtus asked, taking note of the speechless and dumbfounded looks emanating from Hawk and Butenhoff. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Actually, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I won’t falsify medical records!” shouted an angry Leon Cromwell. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “You don’t have to,” added Daniels. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “So YOU were the one who planted Bombay’s physical report in the computer, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “It was easier that way, John,” Daniel’s said. “There would have been a lot more problems with the timeline if you had attempted it yourself.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Nevertheless, | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I’m hoping that we won’t have to run into one another again.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Of course we will, Vic,” Daniels added with a smile. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | When the five officers finally emerged from surgical suite five, they were greeted with gasps of awe at the living form of Commander Carter. | ||
+ | For the next several days, the Republic, as the flagship of the Kreltan war effort, made a last patrol of the former war zone, confirming that there was no longer any sign of Kreltan occupancy. |