The Continuing Story of Deep Space 2: Page 111
Sarah was worried about all the changes going on around them. It was
hard enough to keep track of all the new developments in real "Time"
but when you could not tell if Time was literally changing around you
could be very dangerous to do anything. If they accidently created a
riff in Time could cause unforeseen ripples in the future and change
s to history of this part of Space. Sarah decided to try to center
her focus on her crystals--"the Tears of Esiden". Trying to rekinder
long ago lessons taught to her as a young Ewok at the feet of the
tribe's eldest shamen, she went into a trance to enlighten her mind
and free her consciousness to seek the unique sense of the
alterations in the area's essense. Ernie hovered over her to make
sure she was not disturbed in her mind seeking journey.
SETTING: On the Alice Cooper-B's main bridge listening to the talk
going back and forth between both Admiral Arthur and Colonel Theys
Second as well as listening to Captain Kalee and the bridge crew of
the USS Alice Cooper-B, Frances was of the same mind as Sarah Ewok
standing between her and Karn -- this universe was indeed unstable.
temporally speaking. appearing on the verge of some kind of cosmic
fracture.
And though Frances wasn't quite sure what her Federation counterpart
meant by moving "everything here to a safe place", something else
occurred to her listening to Colonel Theys and Admiral Arthur discuss
the Erogarndi -- something that didn't at first make sense about
their words until thinking further about it.
FRANCES: "Admiral, those aren't your `Erogarndi' out there. In fact,
I doubt they ever even heard of your missing Erogarndi before".
CMDR. ALICE V. F. COOPER, VII (turning about, seated at his post at
Operations, addressing both Captain Kalee and Admiral Arthur): "I
agree with Admiral Straker. The Erogarndi are. were. humanoid, but
life signs aboard the approaching ships AND planet's surface indicate
insectiod life".
GAV TIRAL (at his post at security): "That explains their attack
formation. a `hive mind' swarm formation".
FRANCES (to Admiral Arthur): "And if your Federation Vice President
is indeed en route to this location, he might find himself walking
into an ambush -- a hostage situation in the making -- a possible
diplomatic incident that might have even greater ramifications than
if we go instead with Colonel Theys' suggestion opening fire on the
approaching hostiles".
CAPTAIN KALEE (remembering Admiral Arthur's previous permission to do
as he felt appropriate, the Admiral's full support to do what he had
to on his ship): "Cmdr. Tiral, raise shields and arm all foreword
phasers. quantum torpedoes at the ready: Cmdr. Cooper, set course for
the lead swarm".
FRANCES (to Maccs, addressing him through his avatar): "Okay, boy,
while they're doing that see if you can take out that large orbital
platform over the planet nearest our position. From what I can see
that seems to be their main `hive' of operations".
MACCS AVAAT (the avatar answering as his real self "swung into
action"): "Yes, Ma'am".
<<< Obeying Frances' orders, already on the move, his true-self
visible on the Alice Cooper-B's main screen, Young Maccs Starchild
veered off to his starboard side in a downward swoop under the
approaching attack ships -- a rolling bank maneuver as though rolling
down an invisible hill side-over-side -- away from the Alice Cooper-
B, USS Strike, and Ajax towards the planet and large military
satellite/post dead ahead >>>
FRANCES (turning then to Karn, Lt. Katz, and Prince Roshi): "And
since `WarBird' and `Guardian1' are here in the Alice Cooper-B's
hangar bay I think it might be a good idea if you two laddies. Karn
and Prince Roshi. offer Maccs some back up".
LT. KATZ: "I suggest I go along with Master Karn, operate the gun
turret aboard WarBird while he controls things from his bridge, while
Prince Roshi and. if she's willing. Sarah team up together aboard
Guardian1".
FRANCES: "Agreed".
CAPT. KALEE: "Very good. I'll drop shields just long enough for both
ships to leave the Alice Cooper-B once I know you're ready to depart,
offer you cover fire as well".
FRANCES (feeling a sudden rush as if she were back in the
Commonwealth fighting the Kel-Dar): "Very good then: Gentlewomen. and
laddies. woman your vessels, prepare for battle".
Admiral Arthur looked at Colonel Theys. Theys, trigger happy as always, had a grin on his face like he wanted to say something like: "You see, I am not the only one who thinks that we should teach these people a lesson. You just don't attack anyone just because you feel like it. Let's retalliate."
But admiral Arthur hesitated. He contacted the USS Strike for more information. The timeline had changed, there was no doubt about that. The Erogarndi weren't there and had been replaced. The Vice President of the United Federation of Planets was on his way to this world. and then came the offcial notification from USS Strike. The USS Strike was in the correct time line. What once was the Erogarndi world had been changed to something els, but this world was still in Federation space and in principle under Federation law. So the violent actions of the aliens could be explained as an attack on the Federation leading to a possible small scale civil war.
Admiral Arthur ordered Colonel Theys to go back to his ship, USS Ajax and returned to the USS Strike leaving specific orders for Captain Kalee. Orders he did not share with anyone. The three Federation ships took position close to the defense platforms around the planet. Colonel Theys gave his orders on the bridge of USS Ajax.
"I want all nine battledrones in a standard defensive screen ready to be deployed in attack mode. Ready weapons, shields to maximum."
"Admiral Arthur, on the bridge of USS Strike gave similar orders.
"Droid 100, ready all offensive and defensive systems. Contact the Necrostella and the Federation Vice-President to keep them away from this planet. Things could get rough and we don't want our Vice President to be hurt."
The Admiral's orders were executed. Slowly the USS Strike came in position at starboard side of the USS Ajax, followed by the USS Alice Cooper-B, where Captain Kalee also had given orders...
Aboard Deep Space 2 Chief of Intelligence Geert Van Nieuwenhove had followed the situation around the USS Strike. There was nothing he could do at this time to help, and his help would come to late anyway. Geert realised that the USS Ajax was capable of destroying almost everything crossing its road. As he was trying to gain more information about this new emerged species, due to this time rift, Geert could only come to the conclusion that this time rift had not been caused by something on the planet itself. Something or someone from maybe even far away caused this time disturbance. Geert knew more than enough about time to realise that this could only be a trap or a distraction from the real issue, a deversion so to speak. The more data came in, the more Geert got convinced that this incident on this particular planet had been created to mislead Starfleet. But he could not find a reason why starfleet should be misleaded. Why would anyone distract Starfleet or the Federation from a real problem if Starfleet or the Federation had no clue about what was happening. the only logical conclusion was that this entire time rift had nothing to do with the Federation at all. It had to be those people coming from that alternate universe. That man with the funnny weapon, the tall ape like creature, maybe even that living ship itself... Geert sent a message with his concerns to Admiral Arthur, but he added that there was nothing more he could do at this time. Battle seemed to be unavoidable.
But far down below Geert Van Nieuwenhove's feet, two droids had a coversation with an old man. The man usually looked a bit older everytime he appeared, but this time he looked a lot younger.
"Droid 11, any news?"
"Nothing yet," said droid 11 with his mechanical voice. "But a time rift has opened and closed again on these coordinates."
Droid 11 handed over a small device. The old man looked at it in surprise.
"I don't understand. This region has no specific actual time significance. Why would anyone create a time distortion there?" He pauzed and looked again. He shook his head. This won't change anything. The geological stability of that planet will cause it to explode within five to ten years. Whatever is on that planet will not survive. Any changes on, in or even around that planet will not have any effect on the space time continuum. Wait a minute...
Droid 11 interupted.
"It is possible that this is only a local phenomena or a local target. The planet used to be the Erogarndi planet, but they were whiped from exsistance. It is possible that the planet was attacked a second time. We are still working on that theory."
But the old man was not convinced.
"I don't think so. It seems to me that someone is trying to restore the damage that was done during the first attack..."