The Continuing Story of Deep Space 2: Page 8
At the moment commander Arthur arived in the shuttlebay, Jan was talking to ensign Louis, who was pointing at some data on the display behind the shuttlebay operating console. Both did not really understand what had happened. When the commander joined them he only got himself more questions. Main question at the moment was how this had happened. After what seemed to be a power surge, there were suddenly four runabouts in the shuttlebay. Runabouts of unknown configuration. The torpedo launchers had to make room for an extremely sophisticated shield generator. According chief engineer Louis the new compact warp engine of these runabouts made it possible to travel with the speed of warp 9.975 for more than twelve days. As the torpedo launchers were replaced, the only weapon aboard was a type four phaser, apparently only for emergencies.
"Commander, I have no idea of how these runabouts came aboard our station, but I recognise some systems of these crafts, which are only meant for reconnaissance missions. The sensor systems are very advanced."
"Major, are you still convinced this is a coincidence ?"
Arthur hit a sensitive spot of his XO. There was only one answer. This could not be a coincidence. But the answers how and why were not answered yet. The DS2 advanced sensors had not detected a thing out of the ordinary. Only the interuption of the power. Jan looked at the display again. Suddenly, a little bit confused, he turned around.
"Sir, I have checked with realais station 481 to give us the exact time, so that we could determine how long the power was gone on DS2. I thought it was for only a few moments, but my assumption was not correct. We were out for almost four and a half hour."
"How can that be ? Louis, any answers ?"
"I am as puzzled as you are sir. Maybe we should ask the Doc."
That was it. All three of them ran to the turbolift and only a moment later they pushed themselves into sickbay.
"Please state the nature ... Oh it's you again. If you can run like that you are in perfect health. You do not have to come here."
"Doc, we need something ... well actually there is something wrong with me. I have suffered from a memory loss for more than four hours."
As the EMH scanned the commanders head with the medical tricorder, he found out that his patient had told the truth. The doc couldn't give a reason for the memory loss, but he had a solution: synaptic induction. But the commander really didn't want any neurotherapy.
"Doc, I have to run this station. I have no time for this treatment, but you can tell me what has happened in these four hours and I will be more than satisfied. Maybe you can start at the point when the power on the station failed."
"Very well. When the power went back on, I was automaticly activated. As I heard a lot of strange noises, I opened the sickbay door. You know that I cannot leave sickbay. I saw the same kind of personnel running through the coridor. When I tried to stop these new crewmembers for a physical examination, they just laughed at me. I have never been more insulted than ..."
"Yes yes yes Doc. Do you know what these people were doing here ?"
"I have scanned a few of them and they were clearly humans. I do not know what they were doing. I was also locked out of the other systems of the station. And while you are here, I must say you are the last once for the physical examination. I will take some blood from you now. There is no reason to be alarmed. It won't hurt."
Before they new it, the senior staff of DS2 had supplied the doctor with their blood. They still had the same problem. Someone had entered DS2 unseen and made modifications. In this case the modifications didn't look bad, but it could have been the way around.
Red Alert ! Red Alert !
"Commander Arthur to ops. What is going on ?"
"Commander, nurse Nadine here. The station's computer has initiated red alert sir. I cannot see the reason. At least there seems to be no threat from outside the station."
Jan's eyes were wide open. He was in charge of security as well. Ensign Louis didn't think it could be a technical malfunction, but the doctor was the most surprised.
"A nurse in ops ? She has to come here and help me analyse the DNA samples of the crew. Hey ! Where are you all going ?"
Sickbay door closed and they were gone.