"Well, so much for our down-time," Elric said as he used Spacedock scanners on the spot outside the window where the Sally was. "It appears as if their transition into nothing is subspace, much like the Solanae or Elachi. If the Sally was hijacked, where did they take her? Back to that Armada?"
The changeling sighed. "I don't know. I only know that I was sent to replace Sarah Walker, and acquire Krystal Jade. No one said anything about Undine, Elachi, Solanae, or anything of that nature. They must have plans of their own."
Scott turned to the changeling, then to Elric. "Maybe they're telling the truth. Never know how many different factions might want her for one reason or another, most, if not all reasons regarding the armada... we need to track the ship and try to follow them. The Chronostormmight be able to."
Elric sighed. "Oh, great. Now you've got me doing it. Never mind. We should take command of the Chronostorm. Commander Scott, are you familiar with that ship?"
Scott replied. "Me and Captain Nat have already got the ship nearly operational. We're not very familiar with it, but we're figuring it out slowly..."
Elric almost sighed, but didn't. "Very good. Let's make it so." He turned to Captain Lyras. "Any assistance from your end would be appreciated, unless you've got other plans."
"Of course, my crew and I are at your disposal." The Vulcan paused, "Before we get started, however... there is the matter of the woman the undine and changeling was sent to impersonate. It is likely that she is incapacitated somewhere... or worse, in order to avoid walking in on the imposters and ruining their plans." Lyras's brow furrowed, her voice somber, "Efforts should be made to determine her fate, if at all possible."
Another pause. "Also..." the Vulcan hesitated, her voice uncertain. "There is something else. As you are aware, there are only five of us left on my crew, including me. Although we have been given a new ship, the personnel required to man it is still, as humans say, 'in limbo.'"
"We can make do with emergency holograms for now, but we will be of limited use for tasks requiring large numbers of personnel."
Scott materialized on the bridge's transporter pad, and walked over to Nat in the captain's chair. "I take it you saw everything from here?" Scott asked. "We need to go after the Sally, as soon as possible. I figure Elric, and possibly another captain may be coming with us."
"I already got grabbed by one Undine faction wanting revenge," Krystal said as she braced herself against the biobed. "Apparently her brother was killed and she wanted to take everything down."
Elric nodded. "Agreed. Your logic is impeccable. If any of your men want to assist Spacedock's security chief, Commander Reeve, in a search, that would be fine. Though, it's also possible she was on the Sally before it was lost. In the meantime, perhaps we should join the others on the Chronostorm, if what Scott says about about its abilities to track a ship in subspace is true, we may not have much time." He then tapped his commbadge. "Elric to Commander Reeve."
"Reeve here."
The Captain continued. "Start a search for Captain Sarah Walker and detain this changeling for questioning." He tapped his commbadge again. "Elric to Commander Batou."
"Batou here, in Engineering. There better not be a window breech in Operations or anything."
Elric hesitated. "How'd you—? Never mind. Just get up here and fix it. And it's not our fault." As he turned, he was met with Doctor Melzine.
"Your arm seems to be in working order. But don't forget, you have to meet me for regular calibrations," Melzine said.
He groaned. "After you did this without my permission? It's like you don't care about procedure at all! How many other officers have you fitted with cybernetic components? Menn Hilo seems to have been sitting on that bench for quite some time now. Anyway, I'll be on the Chronostorm."
Nat sat around in the captain's chair, watching the bridge crew prepare the ship for travel. By now, they were all donning uniforms not unlike those of the 29th century Starfleet, just to complete the look. Or maybe they wanted to stand out from the rest of Starfleet, so they'd be easier targets for would-be crew kidnappers. Or maybe, just maybe, so that people would assume they were actually from the 29th century. Nat doubted it, but you never know.
To Nat's right, was 4 of 7, overseeing engineering from the bridge, coordinating with 7 of 14 and Scott in preparations for travel into subspace. On the opposite side, 7 of 14, over by a couple of wall consoles just forward of the station left of the captain, scanning subspace, and yet coordinating with Lieutenant Gyta on how to even enter subspace, given the fact that the Chronostorm isn't exactly built to travel into subspace on a regular basis. Scott had actually just assumed it'd be possible, given the ship's futuristic technology, but it was evidently going to work. Sitting at his station, left of Captain Nat, he noticed an incoming message from spacedock. Apparently, Captain Sarah Walker had been replaced by numerous operatives. He knew that, of course. He glanced around, making sure there weren't any more Sarahs running around.
There was one by the right-side Helm and Tactical stations. Scott nodded to Nat, motioning his head to the transmitted message, then pulled out his relativity phaser and walked over to the so-called Sarah. "Sarah..."
Sarah turned around and looked at Scott, noticing the phaser. "We're almost ready for transition to subspace, apparently. What's up?"
Scott sighed. "We encountered two other Sarahs on spacedock. One was an Undine, the other a changeling. What'll it be?"
Her eyes widened to the thought. "Why is everyone bent on replacing me of all people..." she continued, sighing. "Human, actually."
"Really. You expect us to fall for that?" Scott replied, somewhat sarcastically. "Mind if we get a blood sample to be sure?"
Sarah nodded, and Scott turned to Nat, who called up Salora, the ship's assigned medical officer. Sure, he was supposed to be a biomedical scientist, but it was the best guy for the role. In fact, he had just returned from the Sally, not long before the ship disappeared into subspace. When he did show up, he walked over to Sarah, and got a blood sample.
Nat, Scott, Salora, and Sarah all looked at the results curiously. "Yep, she's human alright. I'll have to run more tests, but it should be fine, I hope."
Sarah shrugged and sat down at the combat Conn, resuming her now self-imposed duties. Nat sighed, wondering why Sarah even came here of all places in the first place, and returned to his command chair, hailing Elric. "Cancel the search for Sarah. I think we've got her here."
Krystal moved to find some way out, only to wince in pain.
"Your arm was broken," Kayla deadpanned. "NOW you tell me," Krystal replied. "Anything else I should know?" "Nothing that can't wait," Tala said. "Jefferies Tubes?" "With this arm?" "Got any better ideas?" "No..."
Kayla just grabbed Krystal and made to follow the MACOs.
"Oh, I'm right behind you," Elric said. "Was here for a while actually." He then tapped his commbadge. "Elric to Reeve. Call off the search. Sarah's on the Chronostorm, as am I."
*Click!?* came the eruption of the android spider clamped to his shoulder.
"And so is Zeta, which he wanted you to know as well for some reason," the Captain finished.
Nat pulled out his phaser, pointing it at Elric. "Impossible. The crew has been instructed not to beam anyone aboard without directly getting my permission first, for security purposes. If this were the real you, I'd know."
Scott sighed. "Thought I told you already. Whoops."
Nat threw his arms up in the air, pacing around.
Lyras almost laughed. Almost. Luckily for her, she managed to suppress it, her face not even twitching.
Well, that has to be the first time anyone has ever called my logic impeccable. Or even decent... Ugh, I will be so glad once this interpersonal bonanza is over... acting all Vulcan-y is so... she shook her head, refusing to finish the thought.
Having relayed the situation to the rest of her crew, the Vulcan beamed aboard the Chronostorm with captain Elric. So this is what a 25th century ship looks like... If only we'd had these back in my time, maybe then I'd still be alive...
Suddenly, she realized that, while she was lost in her thoughts, captain Elric had continued to the bridge without her. I do not need this right now... she groaned inwardly.
Looking around, she spotted a wall console of some sort with a map of the ship. Well, that's new. Wish I had these things back on my old ship, would have made getting around in the beginning a whole lot less confusing...
"Computer, highlight the shortest route to the bridge." Lyras commanded. I just hope I don't need an access code or something...
Captain Nat glanced over at Lyras. "Actually, we beamed you straight to the bridge. That's just a systems console."
Scott laughed, turning to Nat. "The things people came up with in the 29th century. You'd figure somebody would've thought of it by now... would it really take another 400 years?"
Nat deadpanned Scott. "I think the Odyssey class wants a word with you, but yes, that's very strange."
The Chronostorm began generating a rift to subspace, entering the rift and scanning for the Sally after crossing the rift.
They were immediately surrounded by a trio of Obelisk carriers, which began launching Obelisk swarmers and targeting the Chronostorm.
U.S.S. Sally, Deck 13, Jeffries Tubes
Nat continued down the tube, following the MACOs whilst being followed by the others. They made their way down a few more decks, and by the time they got down to deck 17, a certain Romulan whispered to them. "Hey, you! I'm a secret agent from... someone trustworthy. I have a way to main engineering."
Nat sighed, and stunned the Romulan. "Never can trust random Romulans that aren't supposed to be around. Let's keep going."
Ugh, so embarrassing... But... the 29th century? Does this mean that...? "The 29th century, huh? So you're... from the future, then?" Lyras asked as casually as she could. Before she could wonder any further about it, however, the Chronostorm had crossed over into subspace. Alarms blared as the ship found itself a target of three enemy vessels, carriers by the looks of them.
Scott seemed slightly concerned. Nat sighed. "No. The ship is from the 29th century mirror universe, was sent back in time to our time's mirror universe, and ended up with us."
U.S.S. Sally, Deck 14, Jeffries Tubes
Nat seemed surprised. "Really? I thought he served on the I.R.W. Natius under Vice Admiral Nat'al, both of which I assure you have nothing to do with me, despite the resemblance. Or maybe the Remus, or the Crateris... wait... how does he serve on so many ships at once?"
Nat noticed the alarms and turned to 3 of 5, at the tactical station. "Report."
3 of 5 replied. "Three Obelisk carriers, all charging weapons and targeting us."
Nat sighed. "Solanae vessels?"
3 of 5 nodded. Nat continued. "Disable their weapons and engines, then find the Sally. We can't afford to waste any time."
The Chronostorm fired a "disruptor" array at the weapons array of the first carrier, destroying the vessel in the first shot. Nat's jaw dropped. "I said disable, not destroy. You did hear that right, right?"
3 of 5 replied. "Captain, you can only do so much with chroniton-infused subatomic spiral-wave disruptors, you know. They're not built to disable. At all."
Nat shrugged, noticing the other carriers backing off on the right side view screen. "Find the Sally."
U.S.S. Sally, Deck 15, Jeffries Tubes
They continued downward. Nat sighed. "Another 21 decks to go..."
USS Phoenix-X Literary Index | Comics | New story: "Sea of Artifacts"
Winning.
USS Phoenix-X Literary Index | Comics | New story: "Sea of Artifacts"
Scott turned to the changeling, then to Elric. "Maybe they're telling the truth. Never know how many different factions might want her for one reason or another, most, if not all reasons regarding the armada... we need to track the ship and try to follow them. The Chronostorm might be able to."
Winning.
USS Phoenix-X Literary Index | Comics | New story: "Sea of Artifacts"
Winning.
USS Phoenix-X Literary Index | Comics | New story: "Sea of Artifacts"
Winning.
Another pause. "Also..." the Vulcan hesitated, her voice uncertain. "There is something else. As you are aware, there are only five of us left on my crew, including me. Although we have been given a new ship, the personnel required to man it is still, as humans say, 'in limbo.'"
"We can make do with emergency holograms for now, but we will be of limited use for tasks requiring large numbers of personnel."
Scott materialized on the bridge's transporter pad, and walked over to Nat in the captain's chair.
"I take it you saw everything from here?" Scott asked. "We need to go after the Sally, as soon as possible. I figure Elric, and possibly another captain may be coming with us."
Captain Nat nodded. "We're about ready."
Winning.
"Well... they're a little late on that," she said.
The resident forum voice of reason (I HAZ FORUM REP! YAY!)
Winning.
The resident forum voice of reason (I HAZ FORUM REP! YAY!)
Nat sighed. "Let's get out of here, now!"
The MACOs opened the door, and Nat motioned for the others to follow him. "We'll head for main engineering."
Winning.
Elric nodded. "Agreed. Your logic is impeccable. If any of your men want to assist Spacedock's security chief, Commander Reeve, in a search, that would be fine. Though, it's also possible she was on the Sally before it was lost. In the meantime, perhaps we should join the others on the Chronostorm, if what Scott says about about its abilities to track a ship in subspace is true, we may not have much time." He then tapped his commbadge. "Elric to Commander Reeve."
"Reeve here."
The Captain continued. "Start a search for Captain Sarah Walker and detain this changeling for questioning." He tapped his commbadge again. "Elric to Commander Batou."
"Batou here, in Engineering. There better not be a window breech in Operations or anything."
Elric hesitated. "How'd you—? Never mind. Just get up here and fix it. And it's not our fault." As he turned, he was met with Doctor Melzine.
"Your arm seems to be in working order. But don't forget, you have to meet me for regular calibrations," Melzine said.
He groaned. "After you did this without my permission? It's like you don't care about procedure at all! How many other officers have you fitted with cybernetic components? Menn Hilo seems to have been sitting on that bench for quite some time now. Anyway, I'll be on the Chronostorm."
USS Phoenix-X Literary Index | Comics | New story: "Sea of Artifacts"
Nat sat around in the captain's chair, watching the bridge crew prepare the ship for travel. By now, they were all donning uniforms not unlike those of the 29th century Starfleet, just to complete the look. Or maybe they wanted to stand out from the rest of Starfleet, so they'd be easier targets for would-be crew kidnappers. Or maybe, just maybe, so that people would assume they were actually from the 29th century. Nat doubted it, but you never know.
To Nat's right, was 4 of 7, overseeing engineering from the bridge, coordinating with 7 of 14 and Scott in preparations for travel into subspace. On the opposite side, 7 of 14, over by a couple of wall consoles just forward of the station left of the captain, scanning subspace, and yet coordinating with Lieutenant Gyta on how to even enter subspace, given the fact that the Chronostorm isn't exactly built to travel into subspace on a regular basis. Scott had actually just assumed it'd be possible, given the ship's futuristic technology, but it was evidently going to work. Sitting at his station, left of Captain Nat, he noticed an incoming message from spacedock. Apparently, Captain Sarah Walker had been replaced by numerous operatives. He knew that, of course. He glanced around, making sure there weren't any more Sarahs running around.
There was one by the right-side Helm and Tactical stations. Scott nodded to Nat, motioning his head to the transmitted message, then pulled out his relativity phaser and walked over to the so-called Sarah. "Sarah..."
Sarah turned around and looked at Scott, noticing the phaser. "We're almost ready for transition to subspace, apparently. What's up?"
Scott sighed. "We encountered two other Sarahs on spacedock. One was an Undine, the other a changeling. What'll it be?"
Her eyes widened to the thought. "Why is everyone bent on replacing me of all people..." she continued, sighing. "Human, actually."
"Really. You expect us to fall for that?" Scott replied, somewhat sarcastically. "Mind if we get a blood sample to be sure?"
Sarah nodded, and Scott turned to Nat, who called up Salora, the ship's assigned medical officer. Sure, he was supposed to be a biomedical scientist, but it was the best guy for the role. In fact, he had just returned from the Sally, not long before the ship disappeared into subspace. When he did show up, he walked over to Sarah, and got a blood sample.
Nat, Scott, Salora, and Sarah all looked at the results curiously. "Yep, she's human alright. I'll have to run more tests, but it should be fine, I hope."
Sarah shrugged and sat down at the combat Conn, resuming her now self-imposed duties. Nat sighed, wondering why Sarah even came here of all places in the first place, and returned to his command chair, hailing Elric. "Cancel the search for Sarah. I think we've got her here."
Winning.
"Your arm was broken," Kayla deadpanned.
"NOW you tell me," Krystal replied. "Anything else I should know?"
"Nothing that can't wait," Tala said. "Jefferies Tubes?"
"With this arm?"
"Got any better ideas?"
"No..."
Kayla just grabbed Krystal and made to follow the MACOs.
The resident forum voice of reason (I HAZ FORUM REP! YAY!)
The Cardassians and MACOs all opened fire. Nat ducked and took cover and opened fire himself. His aim was exceptional.
Winning.
"Jefferies Tubes," she suggested. "We can seal them behind us."
The resident forum voice of reason (I HAZ FORUM REP! YAY!)
8 of 14 shrugged to Tala. "He hasn't been on a ground mission since he got tied up with Armek of Borg. He's still got the scar."
"Hey, doctor-patient confidentiality!" Nat exclaimed. "Get back to work!"
Winning.
"Oh, I'm right behind you," Elric said. "Was here for a while actually." He then tapped his commbadge. "Elric to Reeve. Call off the search. Sarah's on the Chronostorm, as am I."
*Click!?* came the eruption of the android spider clamped to his shoulder.
"And so is Zeta, which he wanted you to know as well for some reason," the Captain finished.
USS Phoenix-X Literary Index | Comics | New story: "Sea of Artifacts"
Scott sighed. "Thought I told you already. Whoops."
Nat threw his arms up in the air, pacing around.
Winning.
Well, that has to be the first time anyone has ever called my logic impeccable. Or even decent... Ugh, I will be so glad once this interpersonal bonanza is over... acting all Vulcan-y is so... she shook her head, refusing to finish the thought.
Having relayed the situation to the rest of her crew, the Vulcan beamed aboard the Chronostorm with captain Elric. So this is what a 25th century ship looks like... If only we'd had these back in my time, maybe then I'd still be alive...
Suddenly, she realized that, while she was lost in her thoughts, captain Elric had continued to the bridge without her. I do not need this right now... she groaned inwardly.
Looking around, she spotted a wall console of some sort with a map of the ship. Well, that's new. Wish I had these things back on my old ship, would have made getting around in the beginning a whole lot less confusing...
"Computer, highlight the shortest route to the bridge." Lyras commanded. I just hope I don't need an access code or something...
The resident forum voice of reason (I HAZ FORUM REP! YAY!)
Captain Nat glanced over at Lyras. "Actually, we beamed you straight to the bridge. That's just a systems console."
Scott laughed, turning to Nat. "The things people came up with in the 29th century. You'd figure somebody would've thought of it by now... would it really take another 400 years?"
Nat deadpanned Scott. "I think the Odyssey class wants a word with you, but yes, that's very strange."
The Chronostorm began generating a rift to subspace, entering the rift and scanning for the Sally after crossing the rift.
They were immediately surrounded by a trio of Obelisk carriers, which began launching Obelisk swarmers and targeting the Chronostorm.
U.S.S. Sally, Deck 13, Jeffries Tubes
Nat continued down the tube, following the MACOs whilst being followed by the others. They made their way down a few more decks, and by the time they got down to deck 17, a certain Romulan whispered to them. "Hey, you! I'm a secret agent from... someone trustworthy. I have a way to main engineering."
Nat sighed, and stunned the Romulan. "Never can trust random Romulans that aren't supposed to be around. Let's keep going."
Winning.
"The 29th century, huh? So you're... from the future, then?" Lyras asked as casually as she could. Before she could wonder any further about it, however, the Chronostorm had crossed over into subspace. Alarms blared as the ship found itself a target of three enemy vessels, carriers by the looks of them.
The resident forum voice of reason (I HAZ FORUM REP! YAY!)
Scott seemed slightly concerned. Nat sighed. "No. The ship is from the 29th century mirror universe, was sent back in time to our time's mirror universe, and ended up with us."
U.S.S. Sally, Deck 14, Jeffries Tubes
Nat seemed surprised. "Really? I thought he served on the I.R.W. Natius under Vice Admiral Nat'al, both of which I assure you have nothing to do with me, despite the resemblance. Or maybe the Remus, or the Crateris... wait... how does he serve on so many ships at once?"
8 of 14 shouted. "Don't stop!"
Everyone continued onward to deck 15.
Winning.
"Who knows," she said.
The resident forum voice of reason (I HAZ FORUM REP! YAY!)
Nat noticed the alarms and turned to 3 of 5, at the tactical station. "Report."
3 of 5 replied. "Three Obelisk carriers, all charging weapons and targeting us."
Nat sighed. "Solanae vessels?"
3 of 5 nodded. Nat continued. "Disable their weapons and engines, then find the Sally. We can't afford to waste any time."
The Chronostorm fired a "disruptor" array at the weapons array of the first carrier, destroying the vessel in the first shot. Nat's jaw dropped. "I said disable, not destroy. You did hear that right, right?"
3 of 5 replied. "Captain, you can only do so much with chroniton-infused subatomic spiral-wave disruptors, you know. They're not built to disable. At all."
Nat shrugged, noticing the other carriers backing off on the right side view screen. "Find the Sally."
U.S.S. Sally, Deck 15, Jeffries Tubes
They continued downward. Nat sighed. "Another 21 decks to go..."
Winning.