The Continuing Story of Deep Space 2: Page 25
"Lieutenant, it is time to contact the station. Can I do it ?", always ambitious Caroline had taken the opertunity on the Alpha to prove that she was more than a Starfleet cadet.
Marianne nodded and imediately recognised herself in Caroline. She had that same drive and wouldn't stop before she got what she wanted. Her promotion to junior lieutenant was very welcome indeed and it made her very proud. As she concentrated on the course the Alpha was following, Caroline reported that she had to try three times before she got junior lieutenant Nadine at the station. Nadine had reported that ten minutes ago all systems of the station had failed again and that the senior staff was investigating an object at starboard side. Nadine was not allowed to talk about the object. The patrol however had to continue as planned.
Soon the Alpha would be out of sensor range and the only way of contact would be subspace channels. At least communications of the station was working now. There was no way of telling what the Alpha would discover. Time was an important factor. There was a lot to do and to see. The cadets had to study warp technology and this was a perfect time to do some experiments with the new propulsion systems. As for Marianne this was more a trip to relax, but the two cadets had to work hard. Sometimes, during their break, Marianne told stories of the time she was at the academy. The stupid practical jokes of the boys, all the writing and reporting, but also the flying. Marianne was the first cadet of her year who could do the Immelmann turn perfectly. The academy flight range was the most exciting place to be at the academy.
"Good heavens. What is that !", said lieutenant-colonel Jan.
"It is only a projection, Jan", an as always scientific explanation by commander Luke.
"But where is the projection come from ?"
"I cannot locate the source, Jan. There is to much interference."
"Can't you make a guess ?", asked the DS2 first officer.
"Of course I could speculate, but gambling would probably not lead to a correct conclusion.", and Luke continued, "Sensors can produce an image of what is inside."
"Computer locate captain Arthur."
"Captain Arthur is in his quarters."
Jan and Luke looked at each other. Who was going to wake up the captain ? This was to important. Jan decided to call captain Arthur himself. Although this was the first period of decent sleep for the captain, but he was in ops in no time. He had been already wakened by the EMH, who reported that the station had visitors again. When he returned to his quarters he first checked on things to verify what the Doc had told him. It was wise to tell only the captain and not the rest of the crew. As the Doc had run around the station with his portable holoprojector to see as much of the strange visitors as he could, he noticed just before the enrgy cell was empty, a man who looked a lot like captain Arthur, only a lot of years older. Even the Doc could not reject the resemblance. Just before the energy cell failed, that man turned towards the Doc and smiled. He saluted with his hand against his head, like in the twenty first century. Then the Doc was back in sickbay. As he described the uniforms to Arthur, they looked like starfleet uniforms, but the Doc had noticed some changes. The rank pips were now below the left side of the collar. The older man seemed to be a vice admiral.
"So, what is the reason for waking me up. I was a sleep at last.", said the captain when he entered ops through the turbolift doors. He didn't say anything about the Doc. Maybe later.
Commander Luke and XO Jan pointed at the main screen, both at the same time.