The Continuing Story of Deep Space 2: Page 109
Admiral Arthur had been listening to Maccs Avaat with more than interest. He had heard about weapons so powerful that they could destroy a small asteroid or even a moon. He knew about Romulan experiments with trilithium, but there was no success with that. Now someone really had a weapon to destroy a star. This was really disturbing news. entire civilizations could be whiped out in a few seconds. No, this was not good. Worst thing was that nobody knew who this enemy was. It was an enemy, no doubt. But Starfleet could not protect all stars in the Federation from this enemy. There were to many. But something had to be done before any stars or any more species would vanish. But what ?
However, before either anyone had a chance to speak, they were all startled by the vision of a worried Dr. Kory Caynizmyr coming quickly towards them from through the nearby Sick-bay entrance.
"Report, Dr.", Raz Kalee demanded.
"Just received an urgent call from sick-bay", Kory reported, not taking time however to stop.
"According to Gav it seems Doctor Vergal just died in his cell, cause of death unknown!!".
How was this possible. Arthur looked at Colonel Theys. Looking at his First Officer, he realised that there were a number of ways to do such a thing. the murderer didn't even have to be close to the victim and knowing that Doctor Vergal was under the influence of a diabolical superior, it seemed only a matter of time before something would happen to Doctor Vergal. Kill the assasin... and if possible by remote control. Colonel Theys said it aloud for everyone to hear.
"I think this was only a matter of time. And I am sure there was nothing we could have done about it."
The Colonel sighted. He knew all to well how easy it was to terminate someone's life. He had done it more than a few times. All in service of the Federation. He didn't remember the faces of the Romulan agents, Cardassian operatives, Dominion changeling infiltrators, but he knew a number of missions like that. there were to many, but it saved thousands of lives, and that was the only justification he could find to make it a little easier. And at one moment in time when he still was a Lieutenant Colonel he had grown tired of all that. It was then that he approached Admiral Arthur, still a Starfleet Captain at the time, to join him in the remote rest of a far away space station called Deep Space 2. As an old friend and former fellow Special Ops Starfleet Marine, Arthur had welcomed his friend. But things had not been as easy as the two had wanted. Several serious wars at the border and a possible invasion had been parried and countered. Life aboard Deep Space 2 had never been a vacation as both officers had expected. Not only their skills had saved them during that time, but also some help from aliens, new friends and especially the incredible intelligence officers aboard. But this time these spies were still looking for the answers of this particular problem. These Starslayers and who could be using them. It was still a complete mystery. Not even a word from the droids...
Aboard Deep Space 2 Droid 11 in charge of the search for the starslayer device had nothing to report to the old man who seemed to be in desperate need of information.
"Droid 11, we need that information yesterday."
"You can travel back in time if you like. We cannot."
"Yes yes, I know that. It was a figure of speach. It means that I need that information before the enemy can hit us. And I fear that the enemy is already on its way to do just that. don't worry we are protected from the time line and nothing can hurt us. But our temporal scanners indicate that the time line will be changed. And the cause doesn't seem to be found in this timeline or even in this universe."
"Are you sure sir? Maybe there are some options you have not looked at yet. That is why we are doing it for you. I sense a feeling of great anxiety in you. We have to protect the collective first. Those were your orders. Have these orders changed ?"
It was strange to hear Droid 11 speak as whe was an equal, but the old man realised that indeed Droid 11 was right. But just in case he had ordered Droid 1 and 2 to stay in the other time frame. If something would happen to this old man, Droids 1 and 2 could take over and continue the work. The old man sighted. Was this the right thing to do? Was he not playing God to his personal agenda, like Droid 1 had remarked more than one time already. Maybe he should have history judge itself. But it was not easy when you sere abaord of a Starship in the distant future, the last of the Federation, trying to prevent that it would happen again... The last of the Federation... everything he had known, was gone... And when they found a way to travel into the timeline, they took the opportunity with both hands to make things right again. But what was the right thing? They won the time war against the Giloppen. So if they would not have done it, the Giloppen would have won and the entire galaxy would have been under Giloppen rule. And that was something you really didn't want. But now at this time these starslayer devices, weapons, could have a major impact on history. And there was no further information about them, who had them, what his plans were...
"Droid 11, I will return. Report to Droid 1 if you have found anything."
"Yes sir."
For a moment the old man came into the light. For that moment some of his very small artificial exterior hardware on his right arm and right side of his face were visible, blinking in the light, as small as a pin-head. Droid 11 knew what they were. And as far as his logic would permit, he gained respect for the old man. The old man had vanished. droid 11 turned around and contiued his duties.
Aboard the USS Alice Cooper-B, Admiral Arthur turned to Captain Kalee. The Admiral did not look worried. It seemed to the others that this was just another day like any other. But indside the Admiral did worry. Something had to be done about this.
"Captain Kalee, I have put all resources at work to find an answer. You have my full support in what you have to do on your ship." Then he turned to the others and continued. "Maybe all those resources are not enough to solve this. These starslayers seem to be the beginning of the end, if you understand what I want to say. You come from another universe. I must confess, in the beginning I didn't really trust any of you. But your actions speak for themselves. I trust you now. In fact, I am afraid that you seem to be a step ahead in this case. I admit I don't like that very much and I don't like to ask anyone for any help either, but anything you can help us with, please do. Don't ask, just do it. If you need anything, just let me know. I will take care of it. Somebody who has weapons to destroy stars has to be stopped at all costs." Then he turned to Colonel Theys. "At all costs Colonel."
"Yes sir."
The Colonel spoke with a voice of a bell. He pushed a few buttons on his padd he had been holding, sending a message...