The Continuing Story of Deep Space 2: Page 99
SETTING: Aboard USS Strike, Admiral Arthur felt safe. The enemy had
not attacked. He could not ignore the feeling he had concerning his
allies in this fight. They had stopped fighting. They must have more
information than Arthur himself. There was only one way to find out.
He would make a call.
ADMIRAL ARTHUR: "Attention all other ships. I have the impression you
have more information about the enemy ships that we have not..."
<<>>
FRANCES (the enemy ship she and Karn just left withdrawing from the
scene of the former battle, joining the other "adult" and "baby"): "The internal schematics of the ship Master Karn and I just vacated would indicate a possible conversion by their originators similar to that performed on Starchild when Earth released him from active duty -- the installation of a syntha-flesh compound allowing these ships complete autonomy, no need for a crew, capable of self-repair and renewal of all onboard systems similar to the manner in which Humans are able to heal and replenish their own bodies".
SARAH (the three surviving "enemy" ships, both adults and baby,
already moving away from the scene of battle): "Except thart these
ships are also capable of producing off-spring, too -- that little
ship that Maccs said not to attack a new-born. Seems we killed its
mother, the baby able to somehow survive".
MACCS (the three "enemy" now stationary some several thousand
kilometers away from rest of us, "huddled" together as if in
conversation): "To be honest I once considered the possibility of
creating a similar program for myself... enable myself to have
children like me... giving up the idea on account that I wasn't sure
if I could handle such a responsibility, raising a child, on my own -- that and the age old problem of stretch marks".
FRANCES: "Well, eitherway it seems that these ships are able to
reproduce, suggesting that there might be an entire Starkinder race
nearby".
MACCS: "And on that note, may I suggest we get in touch with the Alice Cooper-B and see what conditions are like there. Maybe its time to try and see what exactly it is these 'Starkinder' wanted with them".
"Maccs, could Ernie and I go on a small shuttle craft to look for the
Starkinder race? Ernie seems to be on the "same mental frequency" and
they probably would not feel threatened by a small ship, with "small" inhabitants inside." said Sarah.
The two "adult" enemy ships stayed far away from all the others they
were recently fighting, standing watch over the newborn orphan
sheltered between them while discussing further what to do next...
"I suggest we leave the area, take the new-one here back home with
us, and decide what to do next among our own kind".
"But we don't know who aboard that first ship, the one they call
the 'Alice Cooper-B', sent that message which brought us here -- the
message to the..."
"The 'Romulan Senate'. I know all that, but there's nothing we can
do which wouldn't warn the guilty party we know of their treachery.
Nothing short that is of destroying the Alice Cooper-B... something
we never really wanted to do anyway. And I doubt the others aboard
either the Alice Cooper-B, or the other ships coming to their
defence would listen to us were we to try and tell..."
"What about that one called 'Starchild'. He might be alien, but at
least he's 'one of us'".
"He might be of the same nature as we, but his primary loyalty is to
those aboard him. No, the risk is too great. As it is the crew
aboard the Alice Cooper-B must already know we have now what we came
for, sure to investigate further its loss...
"Therefore I suggest we leave, deposit the item you managed to take
from aboard the Alice Cooper-B with our people back at 'the Nest'.
Then, should the 'Old Ones' agree, we'll try and find these people
again: warn them".
"Agreed", the first ship relented at last, all-the-same reluctant to
do so.
Maccs Starchild was first to note the three alien ships leave the
area, the sentient ships recently doing battle with him and his new
friends now enering trans-warp -- disappearing without so much as a
single good-bye.
"I appreciate your suggestion, Sarah, that you visit them aboard a
shuttle", Maccs responded to Sarah's last suggested course of
action...
"But as you can see they've all just left the area".
Nor did he think it either wise, nor even worth the time persuing
them -- his recent conversation with the alien "Starkinder" leading
Maccs to the conclusion that, while not beligerant by nature, they
were nevertheless not willing to discuss the reason for their recent
attack... their reluctance to talk appearing more a matter of simple
fear than defiance.
And as the others aboard both the Alice Cooper-B, WarBird, the USS
Strike, and the USS Ajax likewise took note of the enemy ships --
their immediate departure, leaving for "parts unknown" -- Maccs
suggested they likewise let the "enemy" go, expressing his doubt
that chasing them down would prove at all productive or even "cost-
effective".
Not that it mattered in the end, Frances agreeing with Maccs that
their first course of action should be to visit the Alice Cooper-B
in person -- contacting the other ships with the same advice.
And getting in touch with both Sarah aboard Starchild, and Admiral
Arthur aboard the USS Strike, Fleet Admiral Frances Miriam Straker
passed along Young Maccs Starchild's recommendation to both that
they visit the Alice Cooper-B in person -- try and discover the
possible reason for the alien attack here aboard the ship just
recently the object of said attack...
"All right, Master Karn", Frances then turned to Karn once finished
in her discussion with Admiral Arthur; she, Karn, and Lt. Elayna
Katz still all crowded together in WarBird's somewhat crowded
cockpit...
"I hope you agree that the best place to begin our search for
answers is aboard the Alice Cooper-B", Frances then asked him to set
course for the Federation ship in question once getting in touch
with the Alice Cooper-B itself -- requesting permission to come
aboard.
"You must find what the enemy took", Professor Sybrek insisted, the
Vulcan scholar and archeologist talking to Captain Kalee in his
private Ready Room on deck two of the Alice Cooper-B -- several of
Captain Kalee's senior officers likewise present.
"Frankly, Professor, I'd much rather hear first what it was that the
enemy actually took", Raz Kalee insisted as well in reply.
"Especially if I'm to risk both my ship and crew in its pursuit".
"Unfortunately, Captain, I know not exactly what 'Find No. #452-
C'is -- its exact nature, or purpose -- except that."
"Yet you brought it aboard MY ship, placing both this ship and its
crew in possible danger, without informing me first", Raz nearly
blew up, reigning in his temper at the very last moment, realizing
that emotional outbursts were not likely to help his case when
conversing with a Vulcan.
"My people could detect no legitimate cause for worry during any of
our examinations of 'find No. #452-C' back on 'Planet HD02-3065-
4729' ", Professor Sybrek assured everyone present.
"So what's up with those strange power readings Lt. Cmdr. Stangya
here picked up on his tricorder", Gav snapped on his Captain's
behalf, the older Tellarite not giving a 'darn' about blowing his
stack with Professor Sybrek -- Vulcan, or no.
Yet before the good Professor had a decent chance to answer in his
own defense he was prevented by the voice of Judy Skwyr contacting
her C.O. from the bridge above, informing him that those in command
of both the USS Ajax and the USS Strike were requesting permission
to come board.
"Likewise, I'm receiving requests from both a 'Fleet Admiral Frances
Miriam Straker' and 'Sarah Ewok' to likewise come aboard".
"Very good, Cmdr. Skwyr", Raz Kalee allowed. "Inform both Admiral
Arthur and Colonel Theys that they are welcome aboard the Alice
Cooper-B; the same going for both Fleet Admirals Straker and Ewok".
"Very Good, Sir"
Then, once Captain Kalee and Cmdr. Skwyr concluded once-and-for-all
their conversation, Raz turned his attention back to those likewise
gathered together in his Ready Room.
"Well, Professor, it would seem we need to postpone this discussion
until some time after meeting with our pending guests", Captain Raz
Kalee concluded at last.
"But rest assured, Professor, I plan to get to the bottom of all
this as soon as it proves possible to do so".
"Amen", Gav muttered, Raz giving him a sharp glance before
dismissing all those present.
Aboard USS Strike, Admiral Arthur walked to the transporter room. He had left the bridge a bit with a mixed feeling of satisfaction that the USS Alice Cooper-B had been saved, but also a feeling of worry. There were still a lot of questions to be answered. Of course Captain Kalee probably would not have all the answers himself, but it had something to do with his mission or the ship itself.
"Energize."
A moment later Admiral Arthur materialized aboard the USS Alice Cooper-B. Colonel Jan Theys had already arrived and was standing next to Captain Raz Kalee. Arthur smiled. He had met Captain Kalee before.
"Captain Kalee. It is good to see you again. We have met before at the Captain's ball, right after your mission in Romulan space where you rescued more than a few Vulcans."
Arthur smiled again totally unknown of the cause of the past battle, he added...
"I don't think the Romulans have anything to do with what happened here today." And Arthur's smile grew a little bigger and changing the subject, "I see that you have met my XO Colonel Theys. He is in command of the USS Ajax. There was a little fleet assembled to come to our aid in this battle. We came as fast as we could and I hope you did not have casualties. But we still have some questions, I am sure you understand. And there are some more people on their way to come aboard. Let's wait for them."