The Continuing Story of Deep Space 2: Page 82
After Sarah had cleared the ringing in her ears from the harmonics
pulses that had issued from the crystals suspended from her ears,
she mentally calmed Ernie down. He too had feel a feed back telepathically. When you are a bat, with big ears, a sudden burst of
high frequencies sounds is not exactly good for the digestion. Ernie
said he had an upset stomach and Sarah told him if he felt the urge to "hurl", using a human expression, to please do it somewhere discrete and not on top of anyone's head! Ernie flew off to sulk at the suggestion he would do anything as undignified as to "hurl"! Bats can be so sensitive at times. Sarah went to find the others to find out what section of space they were now starting yet another adventure. A hero's work is never done!
On Starchild's bridge just before hailing Deep Space 2 on
all com-channels, Sarah arriving on the bridge... everyone aboard
ship now together.
FRANCES (still sitting in her bridge command chair, Sarah asking
where they all were, Frances up-dating her on what's happened so
far): "And so we're about to hail that space station. Hopefully they
belong to a peaceful species, unlikely to take our arrival as a
hostile act".
KARN (Still seated at at the bridge navagations console): "Got a
feeling that, were they hostile, they'd have taken negative action
by now".
PRINCE ROSHI (nodding, the big wookie looking at Deep Space 2 on
Starchild's main viewer): "Agreed. However, just to be sure maybe
Sarah and see if Ernie can sense anything coming from there... use
his telepatic ability".
FRANCES: "Well, Sarah, think he can manage that".
But while the crew aboard Starchild go about deciding what to do
next, Frances now hailing DS-2 on all of Young Maccs Starchild's com-
link frequencies, a third party now watches all both Starship and
Space Station do next -- the Celestial having followed Maccs and
crew to this other new alternity
THE CELESTIAL (Sensing something bad going down not on DS-2, or
Starchild, but elsewhere still): "Jeez, Maccs... you sure seem to
know how to pick 'em. Don't know how, where, or when but I got a
pretty good idea both you and that space station out there are going
to be neck deep in some kind of serious doggy-doo".
Sarah sent Ernie off to do some "discrete" spying. Said he was all
puffed up, enjoying the idea that he would be the ship's advance
scout-going out into unknown dangers but we had obviously been struck
that greatness can be found in small packages. Anyone who has been
around Ernie for any time knows he has an inflated sense of ego! At
least he is finished sulking.
Sarah asked Maccs, Where can I find a big shovel?"
Maccs said "Why in the world do you need a big shovel? Do you need to
dig up something in the hydroponics gardens? "
Sarah: "No, but if we will be up to our necks in serious doggy-doo,
thought would be handy to dig our way out."
Maccs: "You won't need a shovel for the kinda doggy-doo we will
encounter!"
Sarah: "Good, then you can clean it up."
Aboard Deep Space 2, Federation Space Station. An unknown ship of unknown design has entered Deep Space 2 sensor range.
"Red Alert."
Colonel Jan Theys, First Officer roared the words he liked most. But before he could yell Battle Stations, Admiral Arthur had already entered the Deep Space 2 Operations Center.
"Delay that order. I don't think that ship is hostile. Let's see what we have here. Hmmm. Let's see whether they are able to communicate with us. Commander Loogen, report to Starfleet Command what we have found here."
Commander Loogen, one of the elder and more experienced officers aboard Deep Space 2 had already seen a lot of aliens and strange star ships. She was not even nervous when she reported to Starfleet Command, the central of all decisions in the united Federation of planets. While Colonel Jan Theys stood up from the center seat, making place for the Admiral, Arthur took a last look at the sensor displays. This ship had a strange design. But it was not the first alien ship the Admiral had seen. Caution like his First Officer he had already lost. Some called him reckless sometimes, and some others had even thought Arthur had been sent to this remote place to get him out of the way. Like a certain Captain James T.Kirk in the past, Admiral Arthur had not exactly followed the rules and laws of the Federation... To his First Officer he made the sign. Jan Theys knew what it meant. He jumped into the turbolift to get to spacedock as fast as possible. The Colonel would be the eyes in space closer to the ship that had just appeared. While he ran out of the turbolift he grabbed his weapons. He already had checked them before he stepped aboard the USS Ajax.
"Go go go !"
The Colonel's short way of commanding wasfamiliar to the USS Ajax crew. They had seen the Colonel coming and had already started up main power and most of the systems. Helmsman Lieutenant Commander Nadine Peeters had already plotted a route out of spacedock. She now
had the call.
"Releasing docking clamps, airlock secured, propulsion nominal, we are on our way, accelerating, opening spacedock doors, we are free and clear to navigate."
"Take position for securing Deep Space 2."
Although the Colonel had been clear in his orders, Helmsman Lieutenant Commander Nadine Peeters still had a question.
"Sir, aren't we going to that starship sir ? I have plotted
an intercept course."
But the Colonel's tone of voice made it clear his orders were not to be questioned.
"We will not go to that starship yet. We will wait for orders. Is that clear enough for you Lieutenant Commander ?
That was clear enough. The USS Ajax took a position so that Deep Space 2 was between that alien ship and the USS Ajax itself.
Aboard Deep Space 2 tension had dropped a bit. There was some static on the communication channel, but Commander Loogen cleaned it up. Apparently the technology of this alien starship was compatible with Federation technology. The person on the main viewer used a language not to difficult for the universal translator.
"This is Fleet Admiral Frances Miriam Straker of the Colonial Terran
starship, Starchild. We come in peace, our arrival in your space an
unintended mishap. Over."
"Colonial Terran starship, Starchild. I am Admiral Arthur, representing the United Federation of Planets. You seem to have a strange way of traveling. Please forgive us for being cautious. It is not every day we get visitors the way you dropped in. This space station is at the border of our territory. We had invaders before, so we try to be prepared for anything. I have the impression you had some kind of accident. May we be of any assistance?"