The Continuing Story of Deep Space 2: Page 91
"CAPTAIN'S LOG: USS ALICE COOPER-B…
STARDATE: 0904205:564…
CAPTAIN RAZ BEN-ELEAZAR KALEE REPORTING…
"In route now to DS-2 at warp 8.3… the archeological research team
from Planet 'HD-02-3065-4729' safely onboard ship… we are
approximately five stellar days from both Deep Space 2 and the
outermost borders of Federation territory -- our current passengers
keeping mostly to themselves, most of their time spent in closer
examination of the various archeological finds likewise brought
aboard ship from the surface of planet HD02-3065-4729.
"And having been given free access to our science department aboard the Alice Cooper-B, it would seem that they are making good use of the facilities, our Chief Science Officer -- Lt. Cmdr. Finiksa Moodri Stangya -- having likewise ordered his staff to afford Professor Sybrek and his people every courtesy while aboard ship;
assist our esteemed passengers in whatever capacity they might be needed. Seeing as the main focus of our current assignment isn't much more than a simple passenger run -- no scientific investigation on the part of our own crew scheduled during this particular run -- neither Finiksa, nor myself saw any reason not to allow Professor
Sybrek's people complete run of Sciences while aboard ship -- his people likewise proving themselves no trouble at all, many of them also enjoying the other shipboard amenities such as the Alice Cooper-B's own 'Ten-Forward' and holodeck.
"However, be that as it may, there was nevertheless one fleeting moment of otherwise minor conflict I'm loathe to even mention were it not for both the rather peculiar circumstances involved, as-well-as the singular identity of both parties involved:"
"Occurring during our unloading of the artifacts bought aboard from the surface of 'Planet HD02-3065-4729' -- my First Officer, Cmdr. Salgud 'Nightdragon' Eerag, supervising the moving and storage of said relics in Cargo Bay Three -- it seems that Professor Sybrek took exception to Lt. Cmdr. Finiksa Stangya over a quite reasonable
suggestion on Finiksa's part concerning one of the many artifacts now onboard ship. Nor were they alone at the time -- such reliable witnesses as both Cmdr. Eerag; Lt. Cmdr. Jelana Frankel-Stangya (Chief Engineer aboard the Alice Cooper-B); and Cmdr. Alice V.F. Cooper the 7th (Chief Operations Officer and Second-in-command
aboard ship) making mention as well of the entire incident in their own official duty logs…"
"Seems according to all three of my senior officers the cause of Professor Sybrek's outburst was an otherwise quite reasonable request on the part of Lt. Cmdr. F.M. Stangya that his department run tests on one of the relics brought aboard ship -- Finiksa's petition involving an in-depth series of radiation scans run on the artifact in question while also taking physical samples from said relic in order to better determine both its original purpose as well as its physical composition -- a tricorder scan of the
aforementioned relic revealing its internal composition to be partly that of an unknown type crystal in conjunction with yet another undetermined element -- the precise molecular composition of said substance posing an even greater mystery than the aforementioned crystal:"
"Finiksa's request in this matter quite justified -- both the mystery crystal and unknown element in question radiating in almost symbiotic association with one-another a most unique form of energy -- an odd form of energy never, according to Federation records, encountered before this very moment."
"And adding to all that an even further complication -- the peculiar relic in question possessing a dense inner shell, or encasement composed of solid lead shielded yet again on the outside by thick, armored 'skin' composed of purest cobalt -- this additional feature rendering this rather enigmatic artifact quite impervious to accurate sensor scans conducted by mere tricorder alone; a more detailed, reliable examination of its internal systems requiring more extensive tests conduced in greater, more accurate detail not possible with only a simple tricorder.
"So with all that in mind -- this 'controversial' relic resembling in its basic design perimeters nothing more, or less than an ancient V-1 rocket employed on Earth during the Second World War -- Professor Sybrek reacted to Finiksa's above suggestion in quite an unreasonable fashion bordering on the rude. Implying as he did Finiksa was butting in where his help wasn't either wanted or needed, the good professor likewise insisted that the alien artifacts brought aboard ship be left to the care of only he and his
team -- this 'care' including as well any scientific investigation of any and all of the ancient finds now in cargo bay three, deck 13."
"Now if the Professor was ether Human, Andorian, or a Tellarite I'd chalk-up this entire matter to a simple case of possessive professional jealousy -- a demonstration of possessive behavior in the matter of a unique find which might bring him even greater
recognition in the eyes of his peers back in the Federation -- the simple fact that he's a Vulcan, however, giving me reason for pause -- such an open, obvious display of emotion (especially such unpleasant, distasteful emotions as jealousy and ossessiveness) seen as such a serious aberration in Vulcan culture as to call into
question his very sanity in the eyes of anyone well conversant in either Vulcan culture, society, and/or ethics."
"However, despite this rather strange occurrence, I've still decided not to push the matter any further only on the grounds that my original instructions from Starfleet Command were to leave any and all such artifacts to the sole supervision of both Professor Sybrek and his staff -- deciding also to let the matter drop on the equal
grounds that Finiksa himself assures me this ancient artifact… its mysterious energy source… pose no actual, foreseeable threat to either this ship or her crew. At least he was able to determine that much with a routine tricorder."
"Yet, should I discover later that this enigmatic relic in question (Professor Sybrek referring to it as 'Find No. #452-C') does pose an actual threat to either the Alice Cooper-B, or my crew I will NOT hesitate for even the briefest of moments disposing of the item in question -- placing as well the good professor under ship's arrest
should he try and stop me, putting the Alice Cooper-B in even greater possible peril!"
Captain Raz Ben-Eleazar Kalee reporting:
End Log
And looking over his latest log entry… debating whether or not he should leave it as is or maybe edit it a little… Raz sat in his shipboard office situated on deck #2 of the Alice Cooper-B just one level below the ship's bridge right above his very head… Not that he wouldn't do exactly as described in that last paragraph above, Raz more concerned with the continued welfare of those over 300 crew members serving aboard ship than Professor Sybrek's collection of ancient bric-a-brac stored elsewhere aboard ship -- all the same willing to cut that eminent representative of the Vulcan Science Academy little slack in the interest of simple harmony provided neither he, nor his got in the way of Captain Kalee's crew and the performance of their assigned duties -- Raz also having to admit that… except for that one strange incident with Lt. Cmdr. Stangya… the good professor in question appeared to be willing now to help maintain the peace, not getting into any altercations since then. Yet, be that as it may, Captain Kalee found himself torn away from both his recent log entry and thoughts of professor Sybrek -- his attention diverted by a more pressing matter indeed -- headed now with all due haste to the bridge above -- his mind now focused on other, more immediate concerns courtesy of the ships klaxon and Cmdr. Eerag's voice heralding now a state of emergency; all hands to battle stations…
Aboard Deep Space 2 Central Operations Lieutenant Commander Loogen
reports to Admiral Arthur…
"Admiral, we've just received another message from the Alice Cooper-
B -- this one a subspace distress call!"
"Let's hear it."
"This is Captain Raz Kalee of the Federation starship, U.S.S. Alice
Cooper-B, under heavy attack now by three alien craft of unknown
origins -- vessels in question appearing out of nowhere employing
transwarp technology, attacking us immediately upon decloakng off
both our port and starboard sides..."
"Red Alert," the voice of Admiral Arthur sounded like a roaring lion. He seemed to have completely forgotten about his visitors. A Federation ship was in need.
"Power up the Strike... Now !"
A few decks below the USS Strike was powered up immediately. But some officers still had concerns about this new experimental ship. It was only used once in one mission, but it was not fully tested. 95 percent of the crew were droids and most Starfleet Officers felt a little unconfortable with that.
"Sir with all due respect sir, there are only torpedo launchers on that ship. The shields are fine, but we don't have any other weapons."
"Your concern is noted Lieutenant. Get a move on."
While the small crew of the USS Strike entered the bridge, Arthur contacted Colonel Theys to update him about the situation. Theys, an experienced Starfleet Marine realised that USS Strike was not battle tested yet. Therefore he ordered to leave the Denorado system and speed up to the coordinates of the USS Alice Cooper-B. At the same time the USS Strike left Deep Space 2 spacedock, a message was sent to Captain Keuleers in command of the USS Gandhi currently on deep space mission. The helm droid reported.
"Admiral we can use only two jump points to reach USS Alice Cooper-B The voyage will take 7 minutes."
"7 minutes ? That battle can be over in 7 seconds. Get us there."
There was silence on the bridge. Then Lieutenant Maserino had some kind of objection.
"Sir, what is this droid talk about ? What does it mean; jump points, sir ?"
"Don't you read any manuals Lieutenant ? This ship does not have a warp engine. This ship uses the electrical and gravitational forces in the galaxy to travel faster than light. It jumps through space from one point to another, based on positions of black holes and large stars. And yes... it folds space a little too..."
Lieutenant Maserino retreated with a bit ashamed. Slowly he turned to one of the consoles and started reading. He only had a few minutes to get it done. Just when he understood the basics of this ship, the helm droid announced they had arrived at the battle scene. The USS Alice Cooper-B was indeed in trouble.