The Continuing Story of Deep Space 2: Page 100
As Sarah started to join the others to visit the Alice Cooper, Ernie
came to land on her shoulder. He nudged her with his wing and she
could tell her was very excited. She asked her small friend mentally
why he seemed so interested in going to the Alice B. Ernie said he
had heard a roumor that there was a famous bat on board the Alice B
so he couldn't wait to "play" with it. Sarah was puzzled because
despite Ernie always claiming to know "everything" before her, she
usually kept up with ship rumors and general scuttle butt. She asked
Ernie to share what he had "heard". He said some of the crew members
were wondering if Alice B still had on board the bat that helped them
win the division ball games. Ernie said he wants to learn to play
with a ball like the Alice's bat. Sarah asked Ernie if Alice's bat
had a name? Ernie said sure,they called the bat Louisville Slugger.
Sarah decided to ask Maccs at her earliest convenience if he knew
about the Slugger. Sarah was worried the Slugger might be hurt and
she would volunteer to look for it with Ernie's help.
Aboard USS Strike, Admiral Arthur walked to the transporter room. He
had left the bridge a bit with a mixed feeling of satisfaction that
the USS Alice Cooper-B had been saved, but also a feeling of worry. There were still a lot of questions to be answered. Of course Captain Kalee probably would not have all the answers himself, but it had something to do with his mission or the ship itself.
"Energize."
A moment later Admiral Arthur materialized aboard the USS Alice Cooper-B, Colonel Jan Theys had already arrived and was standing next to Captain Raz Kalee. Arthur smiled. He had met Captain Kalee before.
"Captain Kalee. It is good to see you again. We have met before at the Captain's ball, right after your mission in Romulan space where you rescued more than a few Vulcans."
Arthur smiled again totally unknown of the cause of the past battle, he added...
"I don't think the Romulans have anything to do with what happened here today." And Arthur's smile grew a little bigger and changing the subject, "I see that you have met my XO Colonel Theys. He is in command of the USS Ajax. There was a little fleet assembled to come to our aid in this battle. We came as fast as we could and I hope you did not have casualties. But we still have some questions, I am sure you understand. And there are some more people on their way to come aboard. Let's wait for them."
The Celestial watched from a distance the three alien ships that now
left the area, the two adults escorting the child on either side,
wondering to herself hold she follow or stay behind -- watch over
Maccs and his new friends or.
"No, they seem able for the moment to take good care of themselves",
she concluded at last, the other inside the Celestial giving her his
consent.
"Besides, Maccs is no longer my official responsibility":, she added
more for her benefit than her other half, he the submissive one in
their eternal union.
Not, however, that she took undue advantage of this personality
trait her more passive side more often than not manifested. all-the
same grateful it was part of his general, over-all make-up. And with that, the Celestial followed the departing Starkinder in high hopes their further observation would likewise bear positive fruit -- still hopeful that, should her quest turn up the results she anticipated, she'd be able as well to find Macs and Co. in quick enough time to relay those very same particulars onto them, too..
"Oh, well. here goes nothing". she braced herself, following after
all three alien Starkinder hidden in the wake of each their
transwarp drive -- appearing to them as nothing but an echo effect
produced by each alien Starkinder's energy output.
Arriving in the Alice Cooper-B's hangar bay on deck #8 (AUTHOR'S
NOTE: see Alice Cooper deck plans posted in photo's section),
Captain Raz Kalee and Admiral Arthur were met by both Gav Tiral as
well as the sight of both WarBird and Guardian1 landing before them.
Captain Kalee having no sooner introduced Gav to Admiral Arthur and
Colonel Theys before likewise joined by both Frances, Karn, Lt.
Katz, Sarah, Ernie, Prince Roshi, and Maccs Avaat (Starchild's
avatar) -- Admiral Arthur now finding it his turn to introduce these
newest arrivals to Captain Kalee -- Frances, Karn, and Lt. Elayna
Katz arriving there aboard WarBird while (at the very same time)
both Sarah, Ernie, Prince Roshi, and Maccs Avaat likewise boarded
the Alice Cooper-B from inside Guardan1 (Prince Roshi piloting them
all there from aboard Young Maccs Starchild).
"Welcome aboard the USS Alice Cooper-B Ladies & Gentlemen", Raz
welcomed aboard now the newest arrivals moments after they let the
confines of the two aforementioned vessels. "WarBird" & "Guardian1". everyone gathered to together in the Alice Cooper-B boarding dock on deck 8.
"Thank you, Captain", Frances found herself spokeswoman for both
herself and those other non-Starfleet personnel arrayed around her.
"As C.O. of the Colonial Terran Commonwealth Starship, Starchild, I
appreciate your kind welcome hoping likewise."
Yet, before she could add anything further -- Karn and Elayna on
either side of her. Roshi, Sarah, and Avaat likewise nearby -- she
was all-the-same interrupted by the urgent voice of Cmdr. Alice V.F.
Cooper contacting Captain Kalee from seven level above them; the
Alice Cooper-B's main bridge.
"Yes, Cmdr. Cooper??"
"Just received orders from Starfleet Command to return at once to
Earth: Starfleet headquarters".
"Can you tell us why, Cmdr.?"
"Yes Sir", the Human/Vulcan Chief Operations Officer aboard ship
wasted no time informing all those likewise listening.
"Seems that the entire population of the planet Erogarndi just
vanished without trace less than seven hours ago; same scenario as
both the Katsimari and Denoradons -- as if they never exited in the
first place -- the Federation outpost on Erogarndi. its inhabitants.
likewise unaffected. left intact".
"Very good", Raz Kalee ordered at once.
"Set course for Earth. warp 7. I'll meet you on the bridge along
with."
And before either Raz, or anyone else could get a decent word in
edgewise another urgent voice addressed all those still in the
hangar bay on deck 8 -- the person in question this time none
other than Dr. Kory B. Caynizmyr -- contacting Captain Kalee and Co.
from the ship's Sick Bay just one deck above them all.
"Yes, Doctor?"
"It's Finiksa. Lt. Cmdr. Stangya".
"Yes, Doctor?", Raz pressed on, unable to believe what he heard next.
"He's been attacked by a person-or-persons unknown, stabbed in his
left heart, stable but in critical condition".
"Understood, Doctor. on my way", Raz almost exploded, Gav likewise
ordering at once a security detachment to Sick bay even before Raz
had a fair chance to do so himself.
"This is sure shaping up into one heck of a nice alternate reality",
Maccs Avaat could be heard by one-and-all. hissing under his breath.
the avatars very voice dripping with venomous sarcasm.
"Stow it!", Frances was quick to admonish him, Raz asking everyone
to accompany him to Sick bay in absence of any better suggestion...
all those gathered together in the Alice Cooper-B's hangar bay now
likewise on their way to that very same ship's Sick bay.
On their way to the USS Alice Cooper-B sickbay Admiral Arthur and Colonel Theys exchanged a very short hand signal. Both officers contacted their ships, USS Strike and USS Ajax to follow the Alice Cooper-B wherever that ship would go. The handsignal did not need further explanation for the two but while on their way to sickbay memories came to mind to both officers...
It had been on Tsoron II where the two officers and friends had done their 37th mission. Nothing special at first sight, but when then Lieutenant Commander Arthur and then Lieutenant Theys had left their shuttlecraft they walked right into a trap. Although the mission was rather simple: Get into the structure, free the two scientists, Doctor Finoken and Professor Prona and get them out of there alive. They were allowed to use any equipment they could get their hands on... But things were not as it seemed... and the truth came out when the two scientists appeared to be the leaders of this rebelious group... It was then at the moment of the ultimate confrontation with the scientists, their self invented hand signals saved them. While they spoke some serious lies aloud about joining the scientists and believing in their cause, their handsignals to eachother organised a battleplan to capture the scientists both at the same time. If they had spoken truthfully aloud both scientists would certainly have called their soldiers and things would have ended in a huge mess... So instead of freeing them, Jan Theys and Arthur locked up the scientists and brought them to Earth to face a trial. Since then these hand signals had become like a second language to both of the officers, knowing that one they this way of communication could save them again...
With the USS Alice Cooper-B on its way to Earth followed by a small fleet of ships the disturbing news about Erogarndi also reached Deep Space 2, where Chief of Operations Joeri Verschaeve was in command. But there was little Joeri could do, but hope together with his crew that this process could be stopped and reversed...