The Continuing Story of Deep Space 2: Page 86
Karn proceeded along with the others from the bridge to greet their
new visitor. The entire crew now assembled in the docking bay
watched as the "HammerHead made a graceful landing on the bay floor
and settle on its landing struts... Karn had come from his ship when they were all called to the bridge, and now back in the bay by his ship he stilled was attempting to rub the grease off his hands with a rag he had picked up on the way out... The "Admiral" stepped of the boading ramp and went straight to the point, as he began to explain this reality and the space station they were currently outside of... The Admiral wasn't like some of the Admirals he had revered in the
Imperial Navy. He didnt have that overwhelming militaristic power
about him as they had. None the less he did appear the leader type,
almost emissarial, if it would... Karn pondered this as he rubbed his hands together. He was in the middle of some minor repairs, so he was still at the time standing in an old pair of work pants and a small t-shirt... The shirt brought out his muscles and made his scars stand out all the more. It was obvious that he hadnt been just a smuggler in his past life. He ran his fingers through his hair, and his eyes began to glow with that golden blaze in the turqois sea. He was hoping he'd get to fly the Warbird around a bit...
"Absolutly," Karn said: "I'll start her up now."
Karn boarded the ship and began to power the WarBird up for the ride
over. Engines, shields, weapons, etc... she was ready to go. He
allowed everyone to board and lifted his baby out of the hanger with
the repulsor fields. Once free of maccs he blasted the sub-engines
toward Deep Space 2... Not sure if she appreciated the idea of such a large installation as DS-2n whose very commander didn't know what all was aboard it -- especially when such a mystery posed a possible risk to the crew -- Frances wondered if Karn, Lt. Katz, Prince Roshi, and Sarah Ewok likewise felt a bit discomforted concerning such a situation.
"Yes", Maccs Avaat spoke in reference to Admiral Arthur's generous
invitation to feel at home: "In fact I'd really appreciate the
opportunity to investigate further your Earth in this reality, see
how it compares to mine back home. Nothing of a classified, or
restricted nature I assure you -- herstorical and cultural files
open to the public will do fine. And, in return, I'd be most willing
to share with you all the public records concerning the Commonwealth
and Womankind back on my Earth.
"And as for refreshments I wouldn't mind an scrap metal you might
have onboard or, failing that, maybe you could direct me towards
some nearby asteroid belt rich in minerals and."
"Very good, Maccs", Faces cut him off, mid-sentence. "However, I
think it more prudent to accompany Admiral Arthur to his Operations
Centre as he likewise offered...
"After what you told me about altered realities on our way over
here, combined with what Admiral Arthur himself just disclosed about
DS-2, I can't help but wonder what this mysterious power source
might be. From the sounds of its incredible power emissions it might
be anything from matter/anti-matter conversion to a gravity well
involving the antigravity containment of a captured black hole
somewhere aboard this base -- a power source my people back in the
Commonwealth abandoned due to the severe risks involved. Might
warrant further investigation given especially after what you said
on our way over here about altered realities. I can easily imagine
the conditions you describe leading to the kind of madness Admiral
Arthur describes".
"And on that note, Ma'am, I suggest it should be me to investigate
the matter first hand", Maccs Avaat offered, addressing now Admiral
Arthur. "Your androids might allow me access to places they don't
allow you and your crew aboard DS-2. A scan of this avatar should
prove to them its bio-synthetic, artificial nature. In that light
they might see me as jut another mechanoid, getting me pass.
"And since this avatar has no independent awareness -- a remote-
controlled vessel my real intelligence uses to explore places I
can't go in my real body -- the mental effects you mention
associated with DS-2 lower levels might not occur, my real brain and
body no doubt well out of their range of influence", Maccs added;
explaining as well who, or what he and his avatar really were...
"So I guess you could call it a hazard of the trade, Womankind back
home creating me for deep space exploration and scientific research
above all else -- the first interstellar, faster-than-light starship
they ever built and all that sort of thing".
"Then again you might end up ticking-off who, or what might actually
be down there; those who might be down there taking out their anger
over your intrusion on Admiral Arthur and his entire crew", Frances
felt compelled to caution her sometimes reckless starship; she,
Maccs Avaat, Karn, Sarah, Lt. Katz, and Prince Roshi all reaching by
then DS-2's Operations centre. entering the impressive chamber
alongside Admiral Arthur himself.
"However, should Admiral Arthur proves willing to indeed accept your
generous offer, you have my permission too".
Admiral Arthur had already understood that the newcomers were more than happy to discover all the pleasant but also the dangerous side of the Deep Space 2 station. He invited the Starchild away team to one of the many free consoles and showed them the personal log of the Starfleet Offcier who was in command of Deep Space 2 before him.
Stardate 49989.6: Lieutenant-Commander Jola Kosovri Personal log
It is allways sad to say good-bye. Two years ago we had almost eight hundred people aboard Deep Space 2, but at these last hours there are only twelve of us left. Operations chief Franco Guidomas has just shut down the main reactor. The systems are now only operational on auxilliary power. Only a few systems are working now. The USS Hornblower is already in a position to take us aboard, but the engineers are making the last level one diagnostic and we have to wait for the final result. I believe that all the scientists have had the opertunity to gather all their data. It has been very busy. But the last two weeks, when there were only few of us left, this station seemed a bit spooky. Last night during our last dinner on Deep Space 2, suddenly all power went off line. The lights were out. And a few seconds later, without any alert nor warning all systems were on line again and working as nothing had happened. The funny thing was that as this all seemed to be happening in about five seconds, the real time the systems were off, was almost four hours. We hadn't got the time to investigate the incident further, but I have put a remark about it in the station's log. When we had confirmation of the time, by relay station 67, we were more at ease. Still I was a bit worried about the future of this station. It was very un Starfleet like, to leave all this hardware drifting in space like this without a crew. When I contacted Starfleet about what the future of Deep Space 2 would be, a certain Vulcan rear admiral Povek explained that the new crew had been assembled and that in about two months they would arrive. I still think this is strange. If anyone else just dropped in, they could steal or damage the station. But what can I say ? I am only a modest little lady officer. Actually this little lady officer is going to be the first officer of the ambassador class USS Hornblower, to serve under the famous captain Tony "Jumper" Wickers. I am so excited that I have already fogotten this assignment. No ... I will never forget this assignment. Oh, I have got to go. Franco has just called. There is no time to shutdown the holographic programs. We are history, and may the next team have a successfull assignment too. Kosovri out.
End Log
Admiral Arthur gave all of the Starchild crewmembers the time to read the document. Although it had not been a custom to show strangers any Starfleet logs, this was a unique occasion as the Starchild had come through some kind of rift. There had to be a connection between DS2 and that ship. It could not have been a coincidence the Starchild appeared here at this time at this location. Arthur knew that Deep Space 2 had had some serious time shifts in the past. He had experienced several himself, just like Lieutenant Commander Kosovri before him. That was why Kosovri was so happy she could leave this station. But Arthur had not told everything about this station yet... Maybe he would do that later if it was necessary. Maybe this Starchild crew would think he was not really smart or capable to run a space station, but it was the only way... for now...