The Continuing Story of Deep Space 2: Page 103
"She suggested using my own internal diagnostic program to
conceptualize with a 99.999% accuracy rating what the picture would
have looked like in its original, larger, form --adding extra pixels
to the version on record while cleaning up the distortion due to
both age and the inferior technology with which it was taken".
"Very good, Mr. Avaat", Arthur was willing to grant, able already to
guess where Maccs was going with all this:
"Now that we can use".
"Now I realize that your people employ a more bulky, slower,
primitive form of computer technology than my Terran Commonwealth. a
civilization void of Star-Kinder such as myself. even though I feely
admit your Federation surpasses us in both metallurgy as well as
weapons technology.
"However, be that as it may, I also feel safe to assume (correct me
if I'm wrong) you possess the same ability to perform the procedure
I'm hereby recommending -- certain as well that the Alice Cooper-B
must have some sort of `recent documents' and/or `temporary files'
section within its main shipboard memory core. evidence our would be
assassin might have, hopefully, missed should our initial idea prove
to problematic".
"And who would you suggest conduct this procedure?", Admiral Arthur
turned then his attention towards Captain Kalee, thanking just
before that Young Maccs (Avaat) Starchild for his contribution as
well:
"After all, you know our people better than I, Captain".
"I suggest Cmdr. Cooper, Sir. If anyone can do what Mr. Avaat
suggests it would be Alice 7".
Cmdr. Alice V.F. Cooper the 7th - the half-Vulcan/Half Human Chief
of Operation aboard that very same ship named for his most
illustrious ancestor -- managed achieve what was asked of him in his
private office next to Captain Kalee's own on deck 2. restoring to
the surveillance tape its original pixels after removing the faked.
"And there you have your would-be assassin, Sirs", Alice 7 announced
once done; Admiral Arthur, Captain Kalee, Maccs Avaat, Lt. Katz,
Colonel Theys, and even Jelana all crowding around Alice 7's desk
for a closer look-see.
"I know him", Jelana hissed at sight of her husband's would-be
killer, his identity known at last:
"That's Dr. Bralt Vergal", she identified the young Tellarite in
question. "He even had the nerve to ask me to set up a scan system
in order to monitor the well-being of the various artifacts
Professor Sybrek's people brought aboard ship!!"
And back on Earth the Vice President of the entire "United
Federation of Planets" (as well-as Fleet Admiral in charge of the
Starfleet board of Admirals) sat behind the study desk in his family
home just outside Bristol, England -- listening as he was to the
worried sounding voice belonging to one `Captain. Harvey d'Rabbitt" -
adjutant for another of the Vice President's underlings.
an "Admiral Jeremy Stewart" of Starfleet Command.
"Don't worry, Capt. d'Rabbitt", the Vice President tried to calm
him, allying his fears. "You can assure Admiral Stewart that I
countermanded Starfleet command's original orders - ordering instead
both the Alice Cooper-B, the USS Strike, and the USS Ajax to wait up
my arrival at DS-2 within a week's time rather than return to Earth.
Plan to meet them there, myself, in a week's time aboard the USS
Enterprise-E".
"But what of this `Starchild' and those three alien ships that stole
the `Starburst' from under our very same noses".
"Yes", the Federation Vice President was likewise loathe to
confess. "Might have a problem there although, from what I hear from
our contacts aboard the Alice Cooper-B, this `Starchild' and its
crew seem sympathetic to the Federation cause...
"Still, though, at least we know that the `Chrono-sweep' is an
unqualified success; able as we are to control not only who it wipes
clean, but also who it spares in the same vicinity.
"Yet, even so, it would do us no good should the Romulans find
the `Starburst' before we likewise get the `Chrono-sweep' up-ad-
running in its full glory. Luckily President Boeuldallier has
granted us the task of hunting it down first. Fortunate
circumstance, wouldn't you say Captain d'Rabbitt??"
"In my opinion we're playing a dangerous game concerning President
Boeuldallier", Captain d'Rabbitt all-the-same insisted, his
complaining tone beginning to likewise grate on the Vice Presidents
nerves.
"Yes", the Vice president sallied forth in that uniquely cold, smug,
heartless fashion of his. "Unfortunately, I have a very strong hunch
our `dear' Federation President's days are indeed numbered.
"Pity, that".
In the small room with the threatened scientists...
"Well unfortantley, at the rate this group is going it doesnt matter
what alien race you discovered."
Karn turned and borrowed a datapad that Admiral Francis had been
holding which contained a manifest of the science teams personnel.
Karn identified the scientist that had been speaking.
Turning back to the group, Karn made sure he gave a wink to ernie,
knowing that the smart little bat would figure that he was only
toying with them.
" That sounded like a threat Dr. ... Vergal. I dont take nicely to
threats to me or my team."
Karn moved and sat on the corner of the table next to the Dr.
"Let me ask you something was Lt. Commander Stangya stepping on toes
too?"
Karn let the qeustion sit so he could gather any emotions or actions
from the doctor. His last remark made him very suspicious of this
one.
"Did they happen to be your toes or your employers?"
Karn with one foot quickly swept out the chair from underneath Dr.
Vergal. Lighting fast in mid fall, Karn pinned the Dr's chest and
arm down to the floor with his combat boots, while taking ahold of
the Dr. foot.
"I prefer breaking toes over stepping on them," with a nice sqeuze
Karn leaned down with a smirk " you pick, Which piggies going to
market?"
Admiral Arthur looked at the picture on the viewscreen. He turned to Captain Kalee as he seemed not to notice the others in the room.
"Well Captain. I guess we have an answer."
"Yes sir. I know exactly what to do."
Without waiting for another word Captain Kalee left, followed by the others. Colonel Theys was the last to leave the room, but not before he switched of the terminal. The Colonel shook his head. He had never understood why people would betray eachother or do something that could result in the end of a lot of good things. But then again, he considered himself only to be a soldier... While the group followed Captain Kalee it was not certain what each of their motives were. Some might even be just curious about the motives of this Dr. Bralt Vergal. This archaeological team should have discovered something really big as someone in that team would kill for it. Just at the moment even Admiral Arhtur realised this, he was contacted from the USS Strike.
"Admiral, this is Lieutenant Jonas sir. We have been contacted by Starfleet Command. The Vice President of the United Federation of Planets will come to Deep Space 2. All our ships should return to Deep Sapce 2 instead of going to Earth. The Vice President will arrive within a week abaord the USS Enterprise-E."
For a very short moment Admiral Arthur and Colonel Theys looked at eachother. Almost invisible for the others their handsignals flashed a dialogue. Both men did not trust this. Why would the Vice President come to the most remote, far away, dead place as Deep Space 2 ? But there was nothing both officers could think of.
"Lieutenant Jonas. Did you get any information of the reason why the Vice President would come to Deep Space 2 ?"
"That is a negative sir."
"Lieutenant inform Deep Space 2 that we will return and inform them the Vice President of the United Federation of Planets is coming. I want double security in all sections of the station. The Vice President has to be save."
"Understood sir. Jonas out."
Colonel Theys smiled... He had clearly heard the words double security... He felt safer already...
Aboard Deep Space 2 the message was received that the Vice president of the United Federation of Planets was coming for a visit. Double security was initiated... Way down below Droid 179 detected a human presence. As he turned he was addressed by an old man who had appeared out of nothing.
"Droid 179. I am addressing the total. Switch to the collective channel."
Droid 179 obeyed the order without question.
"Collective channel is open now sir."
"Thank you. Now you all hear this. We do not have any further information at this time about the time shifts which happened some time ago. That is a reason to worry. I want you all on high alert from now on, even the cleaning droids. I repeat, we have no temporal information from a region of the galaxy which includes the Federation, Romulan and Klingon Empires, but even the Ferengi are under the influence of this phenomena. You are our eyes and ears. Transfer any data you detect in any way. We depend on you. That will be all. Channel closed."
The old man thanked Droid 179 and vanished...