Episode 9


Into the Great Unknown


Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20

Back to the story


Chapter 1

{Ivanof's quarters}

Yuri had just finished putting on a fresh uniform for the party, when his Comm badge chirped.

"Bridge to Commander Ivanof."

"Ivanof Here. Go Ahead."

"Sir, we are getting a strange transmission up here. It seems like a distress signal however the universal translator is not able to identify the language. It's coming from a nearby sector but outside of Federation held territory."

"Understood. Notify Captain Myst. I'm on my way."


{Main Bridge}

Ivanof strode onto the bridge from the main turbo lift.

"Report." he said.

Most of the senior staff was off duty, either at the party, or in their quarters. As he walked over to science station 3, he found to his surprise, Lt. Krasinski.

"Lieutenant. What have you discovered?" he asked as the turbolift doors opened to admit Captain Myst. She came over and stood next to Ivanof as Anna began her report.

"Well Commander, The UT is unable to discern a specific language context within the signal itself. However It has determined that the repetitive nature of the signal is consistent with distress signals. It's coming from the Nauklon system. As yet unexplored. The system has not shown any activity of this nature before."

Ivanof turned to Captain trying to gauge her response.

"Captain, I think this bears investigating but I think we should be cautious. We don't necessarily want to poke our nose in where it doesn't belong, but if it is a distress signal from a new life form. I cant think of a better First impression."

"Agreed. Recommendation?"

"We engage the TCD then take a peek. If it truly is a distress signal then we'll reveal ourselves and offer assistance, but if it's more of a warning, a sort of interstellar 'no trespassing' sign then we hopefully wont intrude to deeply and can leave quietly."

" No...I think and open handed posture is better. Better to be seen openly than found seemingly spying. We'll transmit a message of greeting in case we hit a breakthrough with the translation and enter their system slowly."

"Then may I recommend at least having shields up in case it is a "no trespassing" sign?"

"Agreed."

"Helm. Set course for the source of the signal. Warp 4. Mr. Zosin raise shields continue hailing in all known languages." Ivanof ordered.



Back to Top

Chapter 2

Lt. Anna Krasinski immediately started working the controls at the science station on the bridge. She knew this had to be a thorough search of the data banks to find what readings they had from the Nauklon system in the past. Although the system was unexplored there were past instances of at least monitoring sweeps of the area.

Checking all possible ships in the fleet and stellar cartography records could take hours, maybe days. Anna realized that the bridge around her was getting busier. She really didn't like bridge duty but knew it was her job to be there during at least one shift a day. She always tried to pick a quiet shift and the party was affording her that chance on this day. But now with all the people it was becoming disconcerting to her. She knew that soon people would want to talk about her research. That would be distracting. Anna could feel her palms itching.

Anna stood.

"Captain, permission to return to the Science Lab, I believe I can conduct research more efficiently there," she said.

Captain Myst looked at Ivanof. He could hardly keep from rolling his eyes.

"Permission granted," Myst said calmly, not letting on Ivanof's reaction.

Anna left the bridge and went to the science lab. She called up the scans she had started on the bridge. The computer was already showing a surprising match from the Griffin's own logs. Anna noticed that her hands were itching even more. Over the next hour she checked and triple checked her readings and found that her information had to be true. But finally her itching palm got to her.

As she looked at her hands, it dawned on her that she must have a disease again. She knew it had to be Kawasaki Syndrome. The early stages were itchy palms. Soon she thought the itching would go to her chest. Then a fluid sack would surround her heart. It could be fatal. But it was treatable. She knew she had to get to sick bay, but the information she had was important to the ship. Before leaving the science lab, she transferred all her information to sick bay and the bridge. She felt she could work while getting treatments in sick bay and report from there.

Anna got to the turbolift.

"Sick Bay," she ordered. Then "halt." Anna knew she had a job to do and her first responsibility was the ship. They could be heading for danger.

"Bridge," she said almost confidently.

Ivanof was again surprised when the bridge turbolift opened and Lt. Krasinski stepped out. She walked over to the science station tapped on the controls and said:

"Captain, I believe I have some relevant information concerning the Nauklon System."

Captain Myst and Commander Ivanof joined her at the station.

"Prior to the signal there was a disruption in Nauklon space exactly like the readings found before the microscopic worm hole that came from beyond the barrier at the edge of the galaxy."


Back to Top

Chapter 3

For Ryan, there was darkness; lingering as an encompassing shadow but not the fragile shade cast by hindered light. A secret devilry was brooding and the world was cold, the undeclared wraith's cloak tangled maliciously about her, and yet she felt naught. Empty shadow and chill had ensnared her. Unlike the darkness that creeps over extinguished flames and lights, leaving the presence of the existing world at the finger tips of softer senses--here, there was nothing.

Yet, upon the very moment her mind and sanity began to conceive and explore this implausible enigma, the nonexistence slipped from her grasp to become as itself, nothing. Her recently blind eyes burned against the light as it moderately increased from her right, and her senses returned with the puzzling sensation that she had gained a second skin, much thicker and heavier than she could recall having before. Light continued to rain upon her and she narrowed her eyes attempting to blink an unknown glare from them.

Then a dawning occurred as realization awoke within her. She flexed her fingers, bringing them to her face to eliminate the glare of a peeking sun, and eyed the environmental suit that embraced her from the harsh conditions of space, trying to logically remember when she had dressed and ventured out of the Griffin. Pondering, her sight caught a glimpse that further puzzled her. This was not the Griffin, as the hull was not molded like that of the large galaxy class "liner." The sun slowly moved past, no longer casting its bright light against her helmet and she lowered her arm accordingly, the black-lettered insignia seeming to scroll across her vision as she did so: "USS Enterprise NCC-1701-E."

Hot, searing bile caught in her throat from a sudden fateful dread, which she could not expel, though she might try. Her heart screamed and felt as though it would burst against a visionary scar of torment and agony, yet to be soothed and impossible to quench. Obediently, she turned in practiced and well-known steps as though she held little control. She would not fight this nightmare. Ryan had lived through the repeated torture enough to know that fighting it would never come to avail, nor mend the heartache thereafter. And like clockwork, every time, fighting or not, the dream would drown her in misery before hanging her from the edge of sorrow's cliff. Nevertheless, she would never embrace the devilish mockery of despairing memory, instead relinquishing herself as a slave to it, still tasting the hope of freedom.

Silently she stood fast against the hull of the Enterprise, her eyes falling upon the orange hued deflector dish before raising her foot forward. The suction cup sound of magnetic boots were her lonely companion as she then trudged across the proud, yet gray colored hull. Time seemed to pass like eternity, but she knew that it still retained room for further stretching and she blinked hard against aching memory. Yet, her gaze never broke from the destination before her, white and black dots growing into figures as she neared.

There were voices, so many voices, hundreds speaking as one, turning her thoughts chaotic and painful. And there were three, separate, familiar, but muffled and difficult to grasp for comfort or peace, the hundreds overwhelming her mind. Her heart urged her to fight, panicking and beating against her, and still she moved toward the figures and voices. She could not win now.

Upon the lip of the depression housing the Enterprise's deflector she halted, swallowing against sticky, hot bile. She knew she must wait here; she must play her part--the part she never played. On top of the deflector, the plans of her captain and fellow officers had instantly turned sour. To her left, Worf battled a sudden breach of his environmental suit as Captain Picard struggled to finish his strength-required task, and Hawk...

As though on cue her eyes raised to meet Hawk's wary gazes at the Borg as he struggled to initiate his point of deflector release, and for a moment he seemed to glance at her to cast his usual reassuring smile. Ryan shivered, feeling the hint of warm tears as they rained upon her face, and she stiffened. A Borg drone separated from his task, glaring on Hawk as his attentions fell deeper on the console and lever below him...

Eternity was relative upon the moment, and as the Borg grasped Hawk by the shoulder and Ryan bolted in her hindering suit, it seemed as though what might have been seconds had become the only moments in existence. Ryan dashed at a snail's pace against the bulkhead, weaving between ignorant Borg and starting up the other side of the dish. She slipped against the metal plating, unexplainably landing on her stomach. She then grasped the peek of the wall with her hands and quickly hauled herself up and over, but she was too late and the drone was gone with Hawk.

Quiet and choking, she attempted to steady herself as the adrenaline and despair pounded in her head and swallowed her heart. Slowly, she pulled herself to her feet, unsure if she had heard her captain call for her assistance, the sound of his voice like a faded echo and mumbled. Again obedient, she turned...

... And felt her skin pale into ice. He stood firmly before her, his eyes a now unfamiliar translucent blue and framed by paste-white, black veins spinning the Borg web across his features.

"Brian!" She poured her astonished and hurt gaze into his eyes, searching desperately to reclaim what was fast becoming lost, and his eyes narrowed with foreign anger that instantly and utterly possessed him. In rage his fist reached for her, but she fell back against the hull plating in her partly bungled attempt to escape his grip. Panic drove her back to her feet and forced her to run back into the dish, the magnetic boots slowing her considerably as though she had been attempting to run through honey. Her fearful curiosity turned her eyes behind her and she found that he was gaining on her with little effort.

"Brian, please!" She heard her voice plead with him. "Its me! Ryan!"

He latched his fist on to her shoulder in a tight grip, a burning sensation building in her arm under the pressure, and he spun her to face him.

Determined fury sneered in his expression and he pulled another fist back, intent to drive it against her. Then the sudden bright flash of phaser fire found him squarely in the back, and a short look of surprise and pain crossed his face before his boots lost cohesion and he drifted from the decking. Ryan's eyes went wide and she desperately reached for his flailing arms, but the distance between them had quickly grown far too great...

Her mind fell into denying shock, and the final success of the captain's plan fell into place with little of her notice. Soon, the Enterprise disappeared behind the Earth, falling into a dim, short night, and she was left alone on the hull in her misery. Her concept of time dwindled next to nothing, until she realized that night upon the hull was brightening again, though she knew not how many "nights" had passed without her notice. Stiffly and distracted she began to climb from the deflector dish, shortly stepping out on to the flats of the Enterprise's underside. Gray metal plating stretched for several hundred meters. With a mournful sigh she began the tedious return to the airlocks, alone. Yet at the moment she felt the pinch of loneliness she sensed a presence approach her from behind, and she swallowed against a renewed sickness as she obeyed the impulse to turn.

Hawk glared at her in stinging retort, as if to taunt her. His voice was rough as he spoke in a flat manner. "You must be assimilated." A tortured frown fell upon her and she simply shook her head in denial.

"I know you can hear us," a woman's voice restated in her mind. Shivers curled against Ryan's spine at the sound, and the drone of Hawk smirked. "I know what you are," the Queen's sultry voice continued. "You would be a great asset to us."

Ryan retreated slowly, only to be closely followed by Hawk. His face softened and he took her reluctant, gloved hand in his own. "We would be one, Ryan," he pursued, softening his voice. "Together again."

She pulled her hand from his in anger and disgust, burying her true state of hurt for his loss. "You, are not what *I* want," she replied, speaking of the Borg. Brian's face instantly soured and his hands balled once more into fists.

"Individuality," the Queen began in curse, but Ryan shut her out. To Ryan's surprise, Hawk remained still, making no menacing movement toward her, though rigid.

Then he wavered in his stance and for a moment, Ryan thought she saw a monument of hope in his blue eyes. Quickly, she made to say his name, to garner his individual recognition.

"Its your fault," he interrupted.

Ryan blinked and swallowed against his new glare. "My fault?"

"You are the reason I am like this!" he accused in rage. "You will suffer the same fate. Resistance is futile," the drone then concluded, returning to monotone. And before Ryan could react, his fist had squarely connected with the plating of her helmet, fracturing it severely. Her heart jumped, and she twisted on her heal, dashing in the opposite direction for the port and stern of the ship.

Adrenaline pushed her forward, straining against the restrictive hold of the magnetic boots and making her legs burn, though regardless of her effort, Hawk continually gained distance on her. She glanced back in a panic, headless of the rise in plating and tripping against it. Ryan tumbled several times away from the hull, her magnetic boots having been bumped from plausible range, and as she drifted away, Hawk attempted to grasp her leg, missing by bear millimeters.

Gliding through space without a hold, or means to control her direction or speed, she tumbled in choking fear...

Until her back collided stiffly with the sharp edge of her night stand in her quarters. In a fluster and still seeing her dream play before her as it slowly began to fade she grasped...

At the nacelle, shortly bringing her boots to rest on its underside, but gaining not a moments relief as two strong hands gripped her by the shoulders and pried her up. Hawk brought her to face him, then with a harsh thrust, pinned her against the hull on her back and lifted a boot to smash against her cracked face plate...

"Lights!" Sobbing, tangled in her sheets, and on the floor she backed away on her elbows into the corner away from her bed and the shadow of Hawk's envisioned figure, his final expression of unmatched fury burning a fiery hole in her mind as it dissipated. Beaten, weary, she hugged her legs to her and placed her tear stained face against her knees for an ill repose...


{Nauklon system--Fourth Planet}

Euraysh pried his eyes from the computer monitor he had been glaring at from the moment the emergency signal had been received, for a short moment, attempting to blink back what certainly would become his third migraine for the day--he could feel it peeling at the backs of his eyes. It seemed like every single thing that could have gone wrong with his personal life the night before, had. But this was most definitely not a moment to focus on personal grievances; his space craft crew was now danger. Their experimental engines had up and left them drifting in space.

"Anry," he said as he tapped the nerve at the corner of his fore most left eye. "Has your team heard any reply yet?"

Anry shook his head in the negative and frowned slightly before returning to supervise his team of radio frequency monitors.

"Do you have any contact with the Grueso's computer systems, Jurmin?"

Jurmin turned from her station and stood so that Euraysh might see her over the several isles of monitors between them. "No, sir. But last report said that the ship's engines were powerless and the main battery draining fast."

"Last known percentage of power?" he probed.

"Six point four percent," she answered gravely.

"That doesn't leave enough power to light the back-ups," Euraysh groaned to himself. A moment later he rose to his full height. "Does any one have any idea why this incident occurred? Why doesn't the Grueso have power?" All remained silent, some lowering their heads in embarrassment, and Euraysh grimaced. "Where's is Fedirach when you need him?"


{Party, Shortly After Reception of Distress Call}

Ryan glanced out the large bay-like windows of ten forward with the slight tilt of her head in some curiosity. "We've changed course," she stated, having noticed the drop and reentry in warp from the stars.

"Looks like it."

Ryan simply passed her drink with a polite excuse and left for the bridge.


Back to Top

Chapter 4

{Party at Ten Forward, prior to Distress Call}

"Lieutenant Travin."

Rinali looked up from her drink at the genial face of Lieutenant Freeman.

Rinali was sitting alone, though that fact didn't really reflect on the success on her attempts to be sociable tonight. She had spent most of her time up until now conversing with the rest of the security staff, save for Zosin who had bridge duty for half the party's duration. It had been awkward at first, as Rinali worried that her staff perceiving her as a friend might make them less responsive to her as their superior. But she found herself relaxing as she realized that this was an informal occasion and she could be at ease with her crew. They started mostly going over work matters, but went on to talk of home and family and soon were admiring pictures of Ensign Edward's young son. Rinali had excused herself for a drink more to get out of the rather crowded area than anything else.

"Lieutenant Freeman," Rinali acknowledged. Then, remembering the niceties of conversation: "Are you enjoying the party?"

"Just trying to introduce myself to everyone." Freeman met Rinali's eyes as he started to pull up the chair across from her and she nodded. "I haven't had much opportunity to before now."

"It has been somewhat hectic as of late," Rinali agreed. "We seem to have very little time between missions for this sort of....diversion."

"Not much for parties?" Freeman asked. He meant it lightly, but Rinali still felt slightly saddened that her attempts to enjoy herself weren't as effective as she had thought.

"I normally avoid them," she admitted. "But as you said, it is important to be familiar with the rest of the crew."

"Bridge to Lieutenant Travin," Zosin's familiar voice called over Rinali's communicator.

Rinali rolled her eyes ever so slightly.

"Please excuse me for a moment," she said. Freeman nodded.

"What is it Zosin?" she said.

"We're about to change course for the Nauklon system. We received what we believe is a distress call from that area. I think perhaps you should come to the bridge."

Rinali's face was grave for a moment. "Understood. I shall be there shortly."

Rinali flashed a half smile at Freeman as she stood to leave.

"As I said, there is very little time to relax around here. I imagine I will see you on the bridge if anything comes of this."

"I'll be there," Freeman replied as Rinali departed.


{Grueso - Nauklon System}

The idea, Euraysh realized, had probably been foolish from the start. He should never have put forward such a plan with his private affairs in such a state of upheaval. Why not strip the captured Hadren ship for parts? Why not try combining some of the parts the Hadren used for their unique form of travel with their own vessels? Why not take the first of these experimental vessels for a test flight? Somehow, the idea had been approved and now Euraysh was in command of a hapless ship with no help in sight.

"Ship approaching." Euraysh pulled himself sharply from his thoughts at the sound of Jurmin's voice.

"Hadren?" he asked.

"No, sir. Presumably a local vessel. Perhaps they heard our distress call."

Euraysh wasted no time. He tapped at his nerve once again to contact Anry.

"We may have help arriving," he said. "Can you contact the ship directly?"

"I think so." Anry was instantly at work, switching between frequency. "Though it's impossible to know if they'll understand us."

"It still can't hurt to try," Euraysh replied. To himself, he added "We don't have much choice."


{Griffin - Bridge}

Operations on the bridge were going quite smoothly, but Priscilla could sense the tension. The prospect of returning to the Nauklon system was not one that the Griffin's crew looked forward to. Priscilla didn't relish the thought herself, but her crew needed leadership, not their captain's personal fears. So she maintained a professional demeanor and watched as the rest of her staff did the same.

"Captain, I think we're being hailed."

Priscilla simply waited for Sable to explain this somewhat odd statement.

"It's not a strong signal, but it seems to be trying to reach us. I believe we can make visual contact."

"Onscreen," Priscilla ordered.

It was a moment, Priscilla later realized, that had been experienced in many forms by many Starfleet captains in the past. It took a minute for Priscilla to piece together what she was looking at: the five dark eyes that seemed to perpetually sway on short stalks, the network of fine but visible nerves lining the face, the small slit of a mouth, the bulky frame clothed in a simple blue cloth. She came back at last to the eyes and was surprised to recognize the look as a mirror of her own, the astonished gaze of two individuals each beholding for the first time a creature totally alien to the other.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Editor's Note: It seems during the writing of this epsiode, people were a bit confused about chapter 3's section of post involving the aliens. The author had set them up as on the fourth planet and having lost contact with their new ship called the Grueso. But I left chapter 4 as written by it's author because it has another good set up and should give the aliens chapter 3 established a bigger part in the mission.


Back to Top

Chapter 5

{Previously at the party}

Ryan held her drink lightly in her hand, having sipped at it only slightly and now almost ignorant of its existence save for the feel of the cooled glass within her fingers. Her attention was scattered, watching the stars breeze by, streaked like rainbow colored fireworks before they explode into dazzling displays of light. The murmuring of the crowd behind her was a mere echo and seemingly difficult to discern, though in truth she currently had not the motivation to attempt socializing. She was experiencing a growing battle within that she found difficult to place--the desire to be in company with McInnis, yet the frayed nerves produced when pondering the idea of approaching him. In addition, her mind was still stinging, numb from its own recent, increasing nightly bombardment of scarred memories.

Freeman was across the room, having just finished his conversation with Lieutenant Travin. The distress signal was indeed very interesting to him, but the prospects of unveiling the enigma the crew shrouded themselves with was far greater. He saw Sable sitting across the room, looking sullen and stressed. He thought to himself about how it seemed to be all too common, and probably warranted investigation. Of all men, Gordon Freeman hated to see a good person stew in misery.

Picking up his drink, he calmly and methodically made his way across the room, shaking hands and flashing a warm smile as he went, eventually stopping at Ryan's table. He sipped his drink, then spoke up gently. "Mind if I sit down?"

Ryan diverted her attention to Freeman immediately, smiling in a warming, civil manner. She wouldn't sacrifice her friendly character, whether or not she was motivated to strike a conversation herself. "No, of course not." She gestured to one of the three empty seats at the table. "Please, sit, Mr. Freeman."

"Mister Freeman. My neighbors kids used to call me that. My name is Gordon," he said, smiling as he slipped into a seat across from her. "Are you enjoying the evening?" he asked with genuine curiosity and deep concern, not so much for the party, but for her obviously strained emotions.

Ryan glanced to her drink once in trepidation of loosing emotional control, though this was against the long-lived practices of her manner impressed upon her by the AyaCeni. The strain she had received was not only obvious, it was beginning to wear on her deeply. "I must admit," she replied softly, "it is a welcome distraction."

He nodded in sympathetic understanding. A moment later he spoke with a soft bluntness that cast aside all the usual red tape of counseling, for such was his style.

"I understand what you are going through." He lifted his eyes to catch hers in a gentle gaze. "Are you all right?" Immediately he chastened himself for perhaps being too blunt, and forward, but what was done, was done. He would do what he could to help the situation. Known as a listener, and confidant, he was going to do his best to live up to the reputation.

Ryan's gaze appeared slightly startled, though the effect made hasty retreat. "Yes, thank you," she replied sincerely, and in truth she was convinced that she was "all right," or soon would be. Resolve instantly sealed memory and the emotions related thereto, for fear that she would slip and needlessly pour her burden upon another. Through all her younger years she had build a sort of acceptance that her burdens were hers alone. Why then, she would reason, should she burden others with them? Especially, when she felt certain that perhaps a few of the trials she faced were merely just rewards for her personal failures; and when others obviously had their own to deal with. No, she could not expel the depression and scars that would not only fade with time, but she was certain would also become the product of childish overreaction. Never once had she experienced such with the AyaCeni--though she knew not herself the changes she had grown since her return to the Federation--thus she answered Freeman in a manner she hoped would dispel his curiosity.

He didn't buy it for a minute. "All right, but I don't quite believe it. But, if you ever want to talk, I'm here to listen. I know what you are feeling though."

He sipped his drink, the all too familiar emotional barriers being tossed up hastily and sloppily before him. (A blind man could see it,) he mused. Nevertheless, it would all be to no avail if she didn't want the help, or the dialog.

Strangely enough, Freeman's statements stung Ryan, and her expression creased with injury and interest in the extent of his blunt nature. An urge surfaced to question his disbelief, but she quickly brushed it aside with a short review of her inner self. She felt strongly in being honest, and in truth, though she tried to believe the opposite, she was rather strained emotionally. There would be little integrity in denying what he obviously could see, and she honestly felt. "Forgive me," she apologized. "I have been a little stressed lately, but I'll be all right," she replied with a small smile. "Thank you for your concern," Ryan concluded in with unfeigned appreciation.

"Hey, it's my pleasure," he replied with a warm smile. "Please, enjoy the party, and if I may be even bolder, give the onion dip a shot, it's very good."

Ryan smiled with a quick nod of her head. "I will," she replied as something caught her eye. Ryan glanced out the large bay-like windows of ten forward with the slight tilt of her head in some curiosity. "We've changed course," she stated, having noticed the drop and reentry in warp from the stars.

"Looks like it."

Ryan simply passed her drink to Freeman. "I'm sorry. I think I'll head to the bridge. I'm due for my shift within a few hours in any case," she excused herself. "Thank you," she expressed for his short-lived company. "And if you don't mind, you may finish my drink. I only took a small sip, I promise." And on that light note she turned and exited, her course for the bridge.


Back to Top

Chapter 6

Freeman smiled warmly further conversing in tones hidden under the murmur of the crowd. He met Sable's gaze to which she promptly lowered her head in a nod and shyly diverted her eyes, or so it appeared to McInnis. It was like watching a tormenting silent movie, seeing only Freeman's expressions and the beautiful spill of brunette hair from Sable's hair clip. Barely enough to surmise the exchange of their words.

(Why is it so easy for him?) McInnis asked himself sincerely. Words flowed through his mind like rivers, but the actual ones he had the raw courage to utter came in trickles. He desperately wanted to talk to her. (Uncle Scott could have got the guts to do it ... but why can't I?)

McInnis lurched forward a step. He was good with machines... but she was a person, or mostly so. It gave him no courage. (Why is that darn Freeman so smooth? Why is he hogging her, I want to talk too...) He stopped in his tracks, unable to muster the courage to speak.

At that moment Ryan stood from her seat and passed her drink to Freeman. McInnis' movement toward them had placed him in a hearing range. "I'm sorry. I think I'll head to the bridge. I'm due for my shift within a few hours in any case," he heard her excuse herself. "Thank you, and if you don't mind, you may finish my drink. I only took a small sip, I promise." Lightly, she turned for the door, in a direction away from McInnis, and exited.

(Bingo! Just like TV, isolate the weak ones from the herd, or something like that.) Immediately McInnis, stumbled/walked after her down the corridor. He passed the amiable Freeman, who raised his glass in a salute. McInnis ignored it, focusing on his 'mission.' Ignorant of her shadow, Ryan dutifully strolled the corridor for the turbo-lift, intent on making the bridge. McInnis moved to call out to her, but instead of the manly roar he wanted, all he could muster was a preadolescent squeak. "Commander Sable?"

Sable stopped immediately and turned with a warm, greeting smile. "McInnis," she replied, her habit of calling her coworkers by their surnames becoming quite apparent. He was at a loss for words. All his memorized poetry, and wooing, and the advice from Victoria -- gone without a trace. All he could do was stare dumbfounded, and shake slightly in his boots. "Having a good evening I hope?" she questioned with a courage his trouble to point her out had encouraged within her. In truth, she was glad he had followed and called her out, giving her the chance to speak with him when she had felt unable minutes before, and might have lost the chance for the day.

"Uhhh ... yeah, I guess." He squeaked.

Her smile seemed to frown slightly with a loss for words. "You were enjoying the party?" she questioned further after an uneasy silence between them she had not expected.

"I guess so... the whiskey wasn't very good." He choked out, still in a void.

This made her laugh lightly. She had ordered plain juice for herself. "I'm sorry."

He could only shrug. "Yeah."

Another breaking silence ensued and Sable fought the urge to divert her eyes in a sudden, renewed shyness. "I was just on my way to the bridge. We haven't been called, but I thought I might be of use."

"Uh yeah... I was just heading to engineering myself. I guess I'll see you later..." He fought for the words. "Maybe we can talk later?" he waited nervously for a reply.

Sable's smile brightened after a moment. "I'd like that," she replied sincerely.

"Sounds good to me then. I'll catch you later Commander Sable." He replied, and made his exit while his courage was still good. Sable smiled after him before turning once more for the turbo-lift, pondering her recent encounters with Freeman and McInnis.


Back to Top

Chapter 7

{Bridge, Griffin}

Priscilla quickly gathered herself, and quelled the excitement that was building in her stomach. (A new race! First contact!) her mind whispered in her head. (Hush!) she tried to push the thoughts aside and focus on the situation. This was not an ordinary first contact. They had no information on the people on the other side of the view screen. (We must be careful, we have no idea how they will react... to anything,) she warned herself.

However, Starfleet protocols always provided a starting point. Since they were communicating with a space faring species, and had been hailed by them, her first words were simple.

She stepped forward. "Greetings. I am Captain Priscilla Myst of the Federation starship U.S.S. Griffin."


{Command Center, Grueso}

Finally pulling himself out of his own shock, Euraysh looked to Jurmin, then Anry.

"Did anyone understand any of that?"

Jurmin bobbed her center eye.

"Like I said, we may not be able to understand each other." Anry replied, also bobbing his center eye.


{Bridge, Griffin}

Priscilla turned to look at Sable.

"Sorry Captain," she replied, "We couldn't translate any of that. The UT just can't lock on to a base syntax."

Priscilla turned her eyes to Ivanof, but he could clearly see her mind was elsewhere. She was trying to quickly think back on something.

"All Senior Staff to the Bridge," Ivanof ordered through his comm badge. "Sable, your and McInnis's priority is to get that thing working."

She nodded and stood from her station, heading back to the Engineering console to get started while waiting for McInnis. As if from no where Ensign McClain appeared and took her place at the helm.

Priscilla tapped her comm badge. "Ensign Saroto to the Bridge, Now," she ordered.

"On my way, Captain," a voice replied.

Priscilla turned back to the view screen.


{Deck 11 - Classroom 3}

"Oooooo," all the students said in unison in that way children do when one of them has done something wrong and gets called to the principle's office. Only this time it was their teacher who had been summoned, at to the Bridge by the Captain no less! Definitely an "ooo" moment.

"Class dismissed," Ensign Saroto informed them in Vulcan. Judging from the Captain's tone he didn't have time for anything else. He looked down at his attire as he headed for the turbolift, hoping she would understand why he was out of uniform...


{Command Center, Grueso}

"The bad news is the engines are beyond my repair," Fedirach announced as he popped up behind Euraysh.

Everyone jumped.

"Fedirach! Shush!" Anry admonished him.

Fedirach was momentarily taken back. "What?" he asked in a quieter tone. "Why is everyone so solemn? I managed to stabilize the battery drain, so we are alright for the moment-"

Jurmin took hold of Fedirach and turned him round so he could see the strange creatures on another ship. Suddenly understanding something unexpected was going on, that had nothing to do with him, he shut up and stepped back.

On the small screen, the person who appeared to be in charge, turned to face them again. The person grandly gestured with the only two arms it had, tapping itself in the torso, and spoke simply. "Priscilla Myst." Then it waited.

"Do you think that's its name?" Anry asked hesitantly.

"I think that was the intent," Euraysh replied. "That's about what I would do if-" he stopped talking, and repeated the gesture back at the person as best he could. "Euraysh," he said.

On the screen the person's mouth turned up at the corners. Jurmin shuddered. "What-!?"

"It's probably just natural for them," Euraysh cut her off. He raised his four arms as wide as they would go, and sweepingly gestured all around him. "Grueso," he said.

The person made a similar gesture with her short two arms. "Griffin," she replied. Suddenly a word from someone else on the Griffin caused Priscilla Myst to turn away.

"What's happening over there?" Euraysh wondered aloud, watching as more and more people arrived to take away the attention of the person in charge.


{Bridge, Griffin}

"Only four life signs," Freeman was reporting when Saroto stepped off the turbolift. "They're engines are offline. They have no other power beyond battery reserves, which appear to be at about 23% of capacity. They don't have enough to power much over there, and at their current rate of energy consumption it won't last more than two hours and 35 minutes."

After a moment of silence passed, Anna decided she could speak now. "Sirs, the micro-wormhole reading is still present," she informed the Bridge. "It appears to be located a few hundred kilometers off the other ship's port bow."

While all that was going on, Priscilla was having a quiet conversation with Jaquelle. "-and especially until we can speak with them. I don't want us to accidentally cause an interstellar incident."

"I agree, Captain, that would not be a good thing." Jaquelle responded. "I shall try to remain aware of their emotions, and let you know if anything offends or angers them as soon as it happens. But I will not pry. And I must say, seeing as how different the obviously are, they may not have the same type of emotions we do."

"Understood," Priscilla replied with a nod.

"Doctor, what about the... effects we faced last time?" Ivanof was asking.

"I have yet to receive any reports of similar problems," Moyer replied. "And the sensors are not picking up the brain affecting emissions that were present with the micro-wormhole before. For now I'd say we're not being affected."

Priscilla had turned to listen to the doctor, and caught sight of Saroto. "Ensign," she called her eyes seeming to light up slightly. "Come here please."

He did as he was told, and approached the center of the Bridge. It was all he could do to keep from feeling intimidated by all the eyes he felt were suddenly on him. (Why is he so special?) he could almost imagine them thinking. It was the same thing he had been wondering on his entire trip up to the Bridge. Why-

He question was not answered when the Captain placed a hand on his shoulder and nodded towards the view screen. He turned his head. In all his anxiety to answer the Captain's order, he hadn't taken the time to look around when he arrived. He stood for a moment, just blinking in shock. What were they?

"The Universal Translator can't decipher their language," Priscilla informed Saroto. "Commander Sable and Lieutenant McInnis are working on new algorithms with it, but until then you're our best hope at communicating with them."

Ah, now he understood why he was needed. He nodded at the Captain. "I will try my best."

"That's all I ask," she replied with a smile. She turned to face the screen with him.

"Euraysh," she called to get the attention of the person in charge of the Grueso. When all his eyes looked her way, she patting Saroto on the chest. "Curanin Saroto," was all she said.

"I thought you said you couldn't speak with them," Saroto commented quietly out of the corner of his mouth.

"I said we don't understand their language," Priscilla replied. "We've been pantomiming thus far, and managed to learn names."

"Oh," was all he said.

"Euraysh, we need you to speak," she said to the person on the view screen. He just continued to look at her, he knew he was being address, but he didn't understand. Priscilla pointed to her mouth and spoke just to try and show him what she wanted. "Speak. Talk. Say words, anything." She then held out her hand to him to signal it was his turn.

Thankfully he seemed to understand, and what she assumed was a sentence emerged from his mouth.

Saroto was immediately intrigued. "I don't know if I've heard anything like that before," he informed the Captain. "I need to hear more."

Priscilla took her hands and began circling them around each other in front of her mouth, trying to indicate to Euraysh that he should continue talking.


{An hour later}

Ensign Saroto had managed to start a broken dialogue with the other crew. Thankfully they were willing to try and talk.

Saroto now only knew a few dozen words and how they fit together, but he was struggling through. Priscilla had intently listened the entire time, trying to learn the language along with him. Every time he figured out the meaning of another word or phrase and told her, she committed it to memory.

"They are asking if we can help their ship," Saroto finally told her.

Behind the two of them, Jaquelle had sat quietly the entire time doing was she did best: just listening. She listened to the emotions of the other crew. She listened to their words. And she listened to Saroto. Now, finally, she spoke.

"Excuse me, Captain, Ensign. I believe one issue here is that they do not conjugate their verbs. It sounds to me like they use a completely different word and meaning for each tense and person."

Priscilla looked from Daem to Saroto with questioning eyes. "I think she's right," Saroto replied, running through everything he currently knew about the language. "That would explain why the UT can't lock on to a base syntax."

"Keep working with them," she told Saroto. "Thank you Commander, that may prove to be the key," she said to Daem with a smile. Then she headed up to where Sable and McInnis were working.

Freeman caught her along the way. "Sir," he said, "they are running out of power, and every effort their Engineer has been making seems to work for only a short time before failing."

"Thank you, Lieutenant, keep monitoring."

"Aye sir."

"Lieutenant McInnis," Priscilla said when she reached his side. "How are you two coming?"

"Poorly," he replied.

"Alright, Lieutenant, I want you to start going over the sensor logs of their ship. They have officially asked for help, and I want to give it to them before its too late. Gather a team and whatever supplies you'll need. But keep in mind they seem to come from less technology than we do.

"Commander, you and Lieutenant Krasinski work on the Universal Translator. Here's everything we know so far..." Priscilla sat down and spent a couple minutes inputting every translation she currently knew. "Also, Commander Daem observed that the problem for the UT may be that the language does use conjugated verbs."

"That's a good thing to know," Sable commented. "I'll adjust the program accordingly."

Priscilla nodded, then headed back to join Euraysh and Ensign Saroto.


Back to Top

Chapter 8

{Griffin, Sickbay}

Moyer sat down at his desk and began his research. The mind affecting emissions that had accompanied the micro-wormhole before may not be there now, but if they started he wanted to be ready. He had read Doctor O'Roarke's report on the treatment Commander Ivanof had devised while on the Goddard. As usual she had been very through, including not only the successful effects of the treatment on the crew, but the detrimental effects it had on the ship's bio-mimetic neural circuitry (the gel packs). The treatment should still be effective, the problem was devising a way to administer it to the crew separate from the ship... they didn't have another Starfleet vessel nearby without the updated circuitry to perform the treatment on this time. Either that or he needed to find a way to inoculate the crew against the emissions beforehand...

A chime from the terminal he was working on indicated he had received a message flagged as important. He decided he could take a minute's break to read the message while grabbing a bite to eat.

"Green tea, hot. Egg drop soup, warm," he ordered from the replicator. He picked up the tray the food appeared on and brought it to the desk. Opening the message, he began to sip the soup and read.

A few sentences in, he nearly dropped his spoon into the bowl out of shock. Starfleet Medical wanted HIM to oversee an experimental study to attempt to advance modern medicine! He quickly read further.

One of his old professors had recommended him, and it seemed she had been having Starfleet Medical keep an eye on his career. They had heard about everything that had happened on the Griffin and were impressed with his organizational skills, efficiency, and seeming natural knack for getting subordinates to perform up to their potential. (No doubt they are referring to Doctor Leonid,) he thought. And so they felt he would be the best person for the job.

Moyer sat back and ran his hand over his face. He couldn't believe it! This was a chance of a life time!

But thinking of Doctor Leonid reminded him of the other still open Doctor position on board. If he left the Griffin, he'd be leaving them two doctors understaffed as well as a CMO instead of just one doctor...

Moyer looked back at the message. He cringed slightly before turning back to his soup and tea. (I have to think about this,) he reasoned. (No sense making a snap decision when there's still some time before I have to get back to them.) He kept thinking as he ate.

(Perhaps I'll talk with the Captain before making any decisions,) he finally settled on. And with that, he turned back to his research.


Back to Top

Chapter 9

{Bridge, USS Griffin}

"Captain," Lt. Travin said, "I am picking up a transmission from the fourth planet in the system." Captain Myst and Commander Ivanof both turned almost in unison and looked back at Travin.

"Are they trying to hail us?" Myst asked.

"No," Travin answered. "They are attempting to communicate with the Grueso."

"Captain," Myst looked back forward at Lt. Freeman. "The fourth planet in this system is an M class planet. I am reading a population of over 500 million, located mostly on four large continents," Freeman reported.

"And, we missed that how?" Myst questioned, but before she could get an answer:

"I'm sorry to interrupt Captain," Lt. Krasinski apologized, "but I have some information about the wormhole." Krasinski felt the entire bridge turn and look at her. Captain Myst could only wonder what was next. Krasinski charged on with her report mustering more authority than usual.

"The wormhole is what seems to be effecting the Grueso. It appears it is the reason why everything their Engineer does seems to work for a short time before failing. It is clear that they have not developed proper technology for interstellar space."

"So you are saying that the wormhole won't effect us?" Myst questioned.

"It won't effect the operation of the ship," Krasinski corrected.


{Sickbay}

Lt. Commander Daem walked into sick bay to see if she could offer any help to Dr. Moyer in monitoring the possibility of mind effects from the wormhole. She was immediately greeted by Nurse Elizabeth Maxwell.

"Dr. Daem," Maxwell said.

"Hello, Elizabeth." A warm feeling always came over Jaquelle when she came into sick bay and was reminded that they still thought of her as one of their doctors. "Is Dr. Moyer in his office?"

"Yes," Maxwell responded. "He's working hard as usual. It's just going to be terrible when he leaves." Jaquelle stopped in her tracks.

"What are you talking about," Daem asked gently.

"Haven't you heard?" Maxwell said in a voice anxiously ready to pass on her gossip. "Professor Leonid has recommended to Starfleet Medical that Dr. Moyer oversee an experimental study to attempt to advance modern medicine! And you know how much weight Professor Leonid pulls at Starfleet Medical."

Jaquelle, having been a graduate of both Starfleet Medical and Starfleet Academy was well aware of how much weight Professor Leonid pulls. But how would Elizabeth know this way out here?

"So how do you know this?" Jaquelle asked.

"Well," Maxwell continued, "Professor Leonid still keeps his medical practice and his nurse and I were best friends in school. We still communicate often. She sent me a message yesterday and today Dr. Moyer got a private message."

Jaquelle said nothing. The warm feeling of sick bay was gone. Losing two Chief Medical Officers in such a short time would be hard. As outstanding as both of them were, it would be devastating.


Back to Top

Chapter 10

{Assisting McInnis with UT}

Sable jerked again, feeling her neck muscles tighten substantially as her head slowly stabilized along with her heavy eyes. She blinked hard for a few seconds, bringing the console in front of her back into focus, and stretching her fingers to energize the blood flow.

"Um ... Sable, are you all right?" McInnis asked gently, seeing her head bob out of the corner of his eye.

(This is unacceptable,) she thought irritatedly, fighting the sleep as it closed in on all sides. "Yeah," she said, trying her best to answer in a solid, alert voice.

"Oh ... okay, just making sure," he replied, rotating back to his own console and resuming work.

She was vulnerable now, she knew could no longer fight. The nightmares had been troubling her for weeks now, and the last few days had been sleepless to the extent that her memory was fleeting, and her implants aching for their nightly recharge. She would have to relent and in defeat request a sedative from the doctor. A déjà vu situation she had been working so hard to avoid ...

Across from them, Engineering Crewman Owen Dagget saw Sable slump forward on her console. Without thinking too hard, he dutifully tapped his communicator.

"Dagget to sickbay. I think something is wrong with Commander Sable, she's slumped at her console."

"We are on our way mister Dagget, hold tight."

"Aye sir." Dagget replied walking over to Sable and gently touching her shoulder. "Ma'am?"

Sable jerked, a hushed gasp escaping her lips. "Not good," she whispered to the empty air.

"Don't worry ma'am, the medics are on the way." Dagget replied gently.

Meanwhile, on the bridge the communication came over the OPS console. Freeman looked at it a moment and frowned, setting it aside for closer scrutiny as events unfolded. A moment later he returned his full attention to his sensor displays.

"It's okay ..." Dagget repeated, sighing visibly in relief as the nurse showed up.

Sable grimaced inwardly. This was not what she had in mind. Open to the public of her peers. "Thank you," she mustered an appreciative tone. At least it was obvious her fellow crew members observed and cared.

The nurse strode in, tricorder in hand already scanning. He stopped beside Sable, an interesting look on his face.

"What are the symptoms Commander?" he asked in a no nonsense tone.

"Fatigue," Sable replied in a similar voice. "I've not slept very well the last few days, and had intended to inquire after a sedative after shift," she added.

"Well, consider this after shift. I'm relieving you as of this second. Your body looks like it's been running on no sleep for a week straight." The nurse replied simply, entering data in his tricorder. "Come with me to sickbay, and we'll get you set up."

The nurse scanned some more, as though a duty of convincing patients with proof into treatment had become an engraved habit. "Commander, your implants look like they are about to crap out. It's not just your body that's trying to shut you down, it's those implants too. Now come with me, and we'll get you sedated before there is permanent damage done to you." Sable merely nodded, having not the inclination or energy to disagree in the first place.

Beside them, Dagget relaxed visibly, the threat of some alien disease gone. Saluting, he returned to his warp core status panel.


Back to Top

Chapter 11

{Bridge}

Freeman was sitting in his chair behind the operations console, when the message concerning Lt. Comdr. Sable's medical condition came through. He examined the message carefully, pondering over what was wrong with her. No immediate answers came to mind, he was too focused on the task at hand. He made a mental note to find and talk to her later, once things slowed down.


{Ryan's Quarters}

It was the same nightmare, as it had been for the past several weeks. But what might have been intended as care for her well-being and assistance for recovery was easily turned as a hand for the devilish images in her mind, as the sedative prevented her from waking. The now lost defense against oppressive dreams.


{Engineering}

McInnis paused for a moment, for once he found it difficult to focus on his work, even in the back of his mind as he had done many times before when loosing immediate grasp of his purpose. Ryan and worry were strong on his mind.


Back to Top

Chapter 12

{Sickbay}

Jack paced back and forth over his new home. He didn't feel the same though. Everything reminded him of his previous assignment....his sanctuary. But that's all gone now. It was violated and ruined. He almost lost all hope...This ship...this sickbay was his last hope for his future in medicine.

Jack looked over the bio-bed and all the newer technology he was aware of but not accustom to using. He knew it would only take some time getting used to them. After minutes of looking over sickbay the swish of the door announced a visitor. Jack sucked in some air and slowly released it.


Back to Top

Chapter 13

{Sickbay}

As Jack looked at the open sick bay door he could see a young crew member, female, and by the uniform, a lieutenant in either science or medical. She seemed very distressed as she entered. (Already my first patient. I guess there is no time to get acclimated when you're chief medical officer on a star ship,) Jack thought.

"Do you have a medical problem, Lieutenant," he said in his best bedside manner.

The young woman looked a bit surprised and then a bit relieved.

"Oh you must be the new Chief Medical Officer," she said. "I am so glad you are here. I believe I have Kawasaki Syndrome."

Jack looked a bit astonished. He had not heard of a case of Kawasaki Syndrome in years. In fact he had never seen one.

"Why do you suspect that?" he said as calm as possible.

"My palms started to itch, then my chest seemed to be getting a rash," she responded.

Jack knew that those were the early stages of Kawasaki Syndrome, along with a fever. He motioned towards a biobed.

"Please lay down. Have you also been experiencing a fever?" he enquired starting to become a bit worried.

"I haven't had time to assess that" she answered. "We've been having unusual readings from the Nauklon System and have made first contact with a new species whose language the UT could not decipher. As the new Chief Science Officer I felt Captain Myst would expect me to be on the bridge and my disease had to wait."

Jack thought that this Captain Myst must run a staunch ship or command amazing loyalty from her crew. Either way, this was going to be an interesting assignment. Just as the science officer laid down, the door to sick bay opened again.

Priscilla walked in and looked around. Euraysh was tending to an urgent complication on his ship, and Saroto was hard at work learning their language. Since there was a lull in activity on the Bridge, and she felt like she was hovering over everyone like an impatient customer because she had nothing to do herself, Priscilla decided to take a few minutes to meet the new CMO.

Spotting him near his office, she headed over. "Doctor!" she called out on her way. He turned to see who wanted his attention. "I just wanted to stop in and say Welcome," she said with a warm smile as she approached.

"Um, this isn't a good time, Captain... Sir," he said, not too happy at having to turn away his new Captain on their first meeting.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she apologized, looking beyond him to the biobed he was standing next to. "You have a patient. I understand. We can talk later."

Just as she was about to turn, the woman on the bio bed spoke. "I'm sorry, Captain."

Recognizing the voice, Priscilla suppressed a laugh. "It's no problem, Anna," she replied. Then she looked back at Jack and pointed at the office. "Doctor, may a speak with you for a moment?"

Jack looked from Anna back to Priscilla. "Well-"

"It will only take a few seconds," she assured him, with a touch of authority.

Jack nodded and followed her into his office after telling Anna he'd be right back with a hypospray for her.

In the office, Priscilla made sure her back was to the main of sickbay while she spoke. "I just thought you should know that Anna is a hypochondriac," she informed the Doctor with a playful smile. "Each Chief Medical Officer we've had has had their own way of handling her. You may want to devise your own as I'm sure you will be seeing her often for some rare or ancient disease she diagnosed herself as having."

Jack wasn't quite sure how to respond. "Oh," seemed simple enough to cover everything.

Priscilla held out her hand. "Welcome aboard Doctor Stone, I look forward to getting to know you."

Jack shook her hand. "Thank you."

Priscilla nodded, and headed out, back to the Bridge.


{Counselor Daem's Office}

Jaquelle looked at the new duty roster. Moyer's name was missing. Starfleet certainly can move fast when there is something or somebody they want. A transport ship had picked Moyer up this morning. Not even time to have a proper going away party. She was at least happy that sickbay had a small soiree for him last night which she attended. While she wasn't much for big parties due to the assault on her Betazoid senses, small gatherings were usually pleasant. This one had actually been even more so.

Added to the new roster was Lt. Jack Stone, the new Chief Medical Officer. Jaquelle noted that she needed to familiarize herself with his history and welcome him to the ship. She wondered if she would still be as welcome as a doctor in sick bay as she had been with Moyer and O'Roarke. Then she looked further on the roster and a smile crept across her face. A morale officer and a host for ten forward had also joined the ship. She was almost stunned that Starfleet had allowed her request. Two more people to get to know... happily.


Back to Top

Chapter 14

{Bridge, USS Griffin}

Rinali prided herself on working well under distraction, but this was ridiculous. Normal routines usually kept her focused. But when the Griffin had made first contact with a new species, normal routine could barely hold Rinali's interest. She had been able to observe the alien beings at least. But at that moment, Rinali would have much rather been assisting Ensign Saroto with his attempts to communicate in a completely alien language. Still, work needed to be done and hopefully, there would be time for more formal introductions later.

Being on the bridge at least allowed Rinali to follow new developments while keeping a close eye on her work. Apparently, Lieutenant Krasinski was under the impression that the ship wouldn't be harmed if it approached the wormhole to aid the Grueso. The ship's occupants, on the other hand.... Rinali shook her head. No sense worrying about that right now. Be prepared, but don't fixate on it. Keep working. Keep working.

"Captain," Rinali said suddenly. Captain Myst turned from her conversation with Lieutenant Krasinski.

"Yes, Lieutenant?"

"A third ship has entered the area." Rinali quickly brought up what specifics the Griffin could provide. "It does not match any known to Starfleet, but its design does not resemble the Grueso either."

Captain Myst mulled over this new information for a moment.

"Do they appear hostile?" she asked.

"At the moment, they do not." replied Rinali. Myst nodded.

"Ensign Saroto to the bridge," she called.

In a few minutes, Saroto arrived. "You wished to see me, Captain?"

"Yes, Ensign. How is the translation project progressing."

"Progress is slow, but we are able to communicate on a very basic level. Since we last spoke, I have learned 27 nouns, 18 verbs, 6 adjectives, and 9 distinct words which signify the end of a sentence. Shall I recite them for you?"

"Not at the moment," Myst replied. "If we were to transmit an image of an alien ship over to the Grueso, would you be able to make them understand that it's a ship in the immediate area and see if they could identify it?"

"I could not state it quite as clearly, Captain," Saroto answered. "But I can convey the general meaning."

"Proceed, then." said Captain Myst.


{Command Center, Grueso}

Despite the lack of improvement in the Grueso's situation, Euraysh was feeling considerably better. Even under such circumstances, it was hard to dim the excitement of contact with a new species. He had spent a considerable amount of time speaking with the creature called Curanin Saroto and trying to grasp its strange language. They had made progress and the crew of this "Griffin" seemed genuinely willing to help. Euraysh had only just been able to turn his full attention back to the welfare of his ship; Curanin Saroto had left for the moment, but had indicated that he would be back.

The screen before Euraysh lit up once more, indicating that Curanin Saroto was back sooner than anticipated.

"Greey-tingz" Euraysh said, trying out one of the salutations the alien had taught him.

"Hello, Euraysh." Curanin Saroto said in a very understandable approximation of Euraysh's native tongue. Curanin began speaking slowly and Euraysh listened intently, guessing that the message was important.

"We send to you picture ship," Curanin Saroto said. "Ship of picture is here now. You see then ship, you tell to us, yes?"

"What?" said Jurmin, staring at the screen in utter confusion. Euraysh reflected for a moment before answering her.

"I think they are going to send us an image of a ship that has entered the area. They want us to try and identify it."

"Another ship? Here?" Jurmin said incredulously. "Wouldn't we have noticed..." Jurmin trailed off, looking down at the dimly flickering screen at her station.

"Oh." she finished. "Right."

Euraysh turned back to the screen where Curanin Saroto stood expectantly.

"Yes. Send it. We will look." Euraysh answered. A moment passed and Curanin Saroto's image was replaced with a profile of a ship. There were various notations around it in a script Euraysh could not decipher. The ship resembled neither the Gueso nor the Griffin, but Euraysh would have recognized it anywhere. His expression was grave as he said the word.

"Hadren"


Back to Top

Chapter 15

{Grueso, minutes before}

"We're receiving a message from home!"

"Let's here it," Euraysh replied.

"Grueso!" crackled through the comm with a bunch of static. "You've gone too far! We've lost computer contact with you! What's going on? Is everyone alright? The engines? Please acknowledge!"

"Send back a status message," Euraysh ordered. "And let them know we seemed to have made some new friends in a new alien race that has been contacted. Tell them the aliens seem to have advanced technology, possibly even compared to the Hadren, and please advise on how much we should let them help."

"Yes, sir. Remember though, without direct computer contact the messages have to travel through space. It will take a few minutes before we can expect a response back."


{Griffin, present}

"I don't like how he spoke that word," Priscilla commented about the name Euraysh had just given for the arriving unknown ship. She turned from Saroto to face the view screen. "Friend or foe?" she asked Euraysh in his language.

"Foe," he replied simply.

"Captain, the new ship is charging weapons," Freeman announced. "Their shields and weapon technology appears comparable to ours."

"Shields," Priscilla ordered. "But standby on weapons. What about the Grueso?"

"They could be easily destroyed in their current state."

"Conn, move us closer to the Grueso. Prepare to extend shields, if that other ship so much as locks their weapons onto them." She moved to the center of the Bridge. "Hail-"

"We're being hailed, Sir," Freeman reported.

"On screen."

"Audio only."

"Let's here it, then."

"Federation ship," a guttural voice began. "You will remove yourselves from our territory immediately!"

"There is a ship in distress which we are aiding," Priscilla replied. "If-"

"No! They are ours, and you will leave! If you do not comply within twenty of your minutes, you will also be destroyed." The comm signal ended.

"They're firing on-" Freeman began to warn.

"Extend shields!" Ivanof ordered.

"-the Grueso," Freeman finished.

"Shall I return fire?" Travin asked while her fingers danced across her console. She had anticipated the alien's attack based on their words, and had the shields in place with plenty of time to spare. Green beams lanced out from the other ship to slice through the Grueso, only to glance off of and dissipate against the Griffin's shields.

"The wormhole is expanding!" Freeman exclaimed.

"The ship has altered course, it's entering the wormhole," Travin reported.

"Let it go," Priscilla replied. "Status? And of the Grueso?"

"Shields holding at 89%" Travin replied.

"The Grueso was unaffected by the phasers. However, the expansion, and now collapse of the wormhole has seemed to momentarily increase it's effectiveness against the Grueso's systems. They've lost power and are loosing life support."

"Captain!" Anna called out from the Engineering station, having returned to the Bridge after being treated in Sickaby. "We've managed to get the UT to understand their language! There's a two second delay in translation while it waits to get entire sentences, but it works."

"McInnis, get over there," Priscilla ordered. "Have Krasinski correct you and your away teams' communicators for their language. You have nineteen minutes before that ship comes back with reinforcements or until the ship is uninhabitable before we transport everyone off. Transporter room One, get and maintain a lock on all the life forms currently on the Grueso. Transporter room Two, maintain a lock on the away team."


{Grueso}

"There's no way to communicate with them or back home."

All of Euraysh's eye stalks lowered. "It's over then," he said sadly. "I'm so very sorry for-"

A light humming sound and an intensifying shimmer of light interrupted him. Very soon five beings wearing similar clothing to Priscilla Myst and Curanin Saroto, but in a brighter color, appeared.

The one in front spoke some words and looked around.

"We've only got a very short time," Euraysh and his crew then heard in their own language. "Who is your Engineer?"


Back to Top

Chapter 16

{Bridge Griffin}

"Conn, position us between the Grueso and the wormhole." Captain Myst ordered. "But keep us in transporter range." Myst then walked directly to Travin.

"Lieutenant should anything emerge from the wormhole, be prepared on my order to give them an appropriate warning." Myst said quietly and sternly. Travin simply nodded.

Myst returned to her seat and waited. The bridge of the Griffin was quiet. Everyone knew their job and was prepared.

"Captain," Freeman snapped, "the wormhole is opening. The same ship is emerging."

"Open a channel," Myst directed, "audio only." Myst stood up for emphasis, even though she knew they could not see her.

"Alien ship, you have fired on a Federation vessel. Stand down and do not proceed any further." Myst stated.

"Captain," Freeman reported, "they are charging weapons, and there is a second ship coming through."

"Lieutenant Travin," was all Myst said. A volley of photon torpedoes crossed the path of the ship and the opening of the wormhole.

The lead ship fired back.

"Shield's holding, Captain," Travin stated.

"Lieutenant, take out those weapons," Myst said almost annoyingly. Without even time to program the shot, yet with pin point accuracy the beams of the phasers cut into the heart of the lead ship.

"Their weapons are off line," Freeman reported.


Back to Top

Chapter 17

{Grueso, Bridge}

"Communications back online."

Euraysh did his best to conceal his great relief. Moments before, he had been certain that he and his crew had no chance of survival. But he had underestimated the resourcefulness of their new friends. The Grueso's life support systems were stable once more and now communications had been restored. There was a chance they would get out of this mess.

"Grueso!" Euraysh jumped as the delayed reply from home came over the comm. "Your message has been received. The failure of the engine test is regrettable, but we are pleased to hear that there were no injuries. We are greatly excited by your news of the new alien race. Allow them to aid you as much as possible where needed. Your primary objective now is to return home safely. The ship itself is expendable."

The comm fell silent for a moment, then the message repeated itself.

"Send a reply," Euraysh ordered. "Inform the of our status and the Hadren presence. We're in no position to engage to Hadren and our mission is to return home. Keep the Griffin updated and give them any information they need to combat the Hadren."

"Sir," Jurmin called, "the Hadren ship is releasing....something."

Euraysh turned his attention to the screen on which the Hadren ship was displayed. The screen was still experiencing slight malfunctions, causing the image to shake and occasionally to delay for a few seconds. The Griffin had taken out the ship's weapons. But now the Hadren vessel was releasing what appeared to Euraysh as a shimmering cloud towards the Griffin. It wasn't like anything they had seen before, yet something was troubling Euraysh. Something about this seemed strangely familiar.

And then he knew.

"So they were right," he murmured gravely.

"What? Who was right?" Jurmin had no idea what Euraysh referred to.

"Our people had a theory about why the Hadren were so active here without appearing to accomplish anything against us. Until now, it was only theory. But it seems that they are indeed testing out new weaponry. Biological."

"On the Griffin?"

"It would seem so. Hail them immediately. We have to warn them."


Back to Top

Chapter 18

{Grueso}

Scott looked over every schematic they had on their engines, life support, and main computer, as well as anything else which could be vital to getting the Alien ship back online. This ship was unique but not so much so that it was unfixable. The only thing that bothered him and that would hamper his repairs... they had no replicator to make parts with...

Scott sighed, motioning and directing the away team to different tasks as he walked up to Ugalesh, who would equate to the aliens' Chief Engineer.

He sighed before speaking. "Well it looks like we can fix your issue. Unfortunately you lack the spare parts in your manifest..."

Ugalesh chuckled. "I told the Captain long before we left that we should bring less things to research and more to get us home."

Scott nodded. "We have about 8 minutes before you and yours get transported to us and ours, and your ship in uninhabitable. If I have a Fermon Rod, I could jump this junction and jury rig a solution at least to get you home...

Ugalesh pondered. "What is this Fermon Rod you speak of, perhaps we have something simi..."


{Bridge on the Griffin}

"Captain, we are being hailed."

"On Screen."

Euraysh showed up on the view screen, his face showing concern.

"Captain, I have concerning news, the Hadren ship seems to have left some sort of Biological cloud in it's wake and it is headed towards your ship. We have no data on this cloud save that we have feared the Hadren were concocting something like this for a while. Please, get your ship out of the area, it has been a pleasure meeting you but I cannot be responsible of the lives of your crew."

Captain Myst nodded. "I understand Captain Euraysh, but I cannot allow you and your crew to suffer this fate either. Please stand by for instructions."

"Options Commander?"

Yuri looked to the Captain.

"We can lock on the Tracker Beam and move us both out of range, but I am not sure how fast we will be able to move with it in tow."

Pricilla nodded.

"It's a start. Helm, lock our tracker beam on the Grueso and move us away from the field at the fastest impulse we can move before tracker field degradation. Notify the Grueso of what we will be doing."

The Tracker Beam was loosed and the Griffin began to move in reverse, reaching a maximum of half impulse speed.

"Captain, maximum speed is half impulse..."

Whoever was manning the Science Station chimed out "Captain, the cloud seems to be moving to catch us, as if it were chasing. It's speed will allow it to overtake us in 15 minutes at our current speed."

The Captain nodded and began to think of an alternate solution.


{The Grueso}

The lurch of the Tracker Beam got Scott's attention as he and Ugalesh discussed how to jury rig the Rusala spanner they had to do the work of the Fermon Rod.

"McInnis to Commander Ivanof."

"Go ahead Lieutenant."

"Mind tellin me why I am on a ride I didn't pay to be on?"

"We needed to move the Grueso and the Griffin out of range of an apparent Biological weapon used by the Hadren ship. Though it will overtake us in 4 minutes the Medical Staff assures me that our life support can filter out the organism, but we cannot do so through the transporter. Which is just as well as we will be dead in the water when the organisms hit the Gel packs. To be frank Lieutenant, we are running short on ideas..."

Scott smirked.

"Remember Commander, the impossible is right up my alley. The Grueso is almost up and running, we need a couple more minutes... I suggest positioning the Grueso behind the Griffin which might buy us the seconds we need."

"Good idea, though the Gel Packs..."

"Consider them taken care of Commander. I am not going to let your family's work get bit in the rear because some alien race gets all uppity."

Scott Slapped his comm badge again.

"McInnis to Engineering."

"Ensign Russo here sir."

"Ensign, Initiate protocol McInnisIvanof Alpha 1 2."

"Understood."


{The Griffin}

All around the ship, the sounds of metal casings, A tritanium alloy to be exact, closing in hundreds of locations around the ship. All followed by the tell tale signs of air seals being invoked.

Scott chimed in over the speaker to Ivanof. "The Griffin and her Gel Packs should be snug as a bug in a rug commander, though data routines run will be slowed by .034 percent."

Yuri nodded.

"Well done Lieutenant, though we will need to talk about your not clearing this by us when you return. Just get the Grueso running under her own power so we can get you out of there. We will try to correct the issue from here. Ivanof out."


{The Grueso}

Scott nodded to Ugalesh as they set back to their work, realizing for the first time in his tenure on the Griffin, that if he didn't get this done, and done right... he'd die...


Back to Top

Chapter 19

{Griffin, Bridge}

Once the Griffin was between the Grueso and the Hadren cloud, Myst turned to Travin. "Status of the Hadren ships?"

"Matching our course and speed. The lead ship's weapons are still offline. The second ship has powered weapons, but is standing by the first. They appear to be waiting for the cloud to overtake us," she reported.

Priscilla nodded thoughtfully. "Lieutenant Freeman, make sure we have a transporter lock on everyone on board the Grueso."

Freeman nodded as Rinali spoke again. "Incoming message for you Captain, from Starfleet Command," she informed the Bridge.

"Later," Priscilla replied, then continued with Freeman. "If they aren't under their own power by the time the cloud reaches them, transport everyone over just before it reaches them."

"They insist it's a priority," Rinali announced.

Priscilla didn't hide the annoyance in her sigh. (The last thing I need is to placate some Admiral while my ship is in danger and a first contact goes out the window!) "In my ready room," Priscilla replied as she headed in that direction. "Commander, take over."

Ivanof nodded and stood as Priscilla disappeared behind the ready room doors.


{Captain's Ready Room}

Priscilla sat down in front of the screen on her desk. "Admiral, I really don't have time right now-"

"This can't wait, Captain," the Admiral on the screen replied with annoyance to match Priscilla's. He continued without preamble, reading off a PADD he held up. "Commander Ivanof is hereby granted the rank of Captain, with all rights and privileges accorded to that rank."

Priscilla frowned. "That's good news, SIR. But you don't seem to understand our current situation-"

The Admiral cut her off again, continuing to read. "Captain Ivanof is also to be given command of one of the new ships being put into commission." The Admiral put the PADD down and leaned in towards his console, looking at Priscilla. "This command is not an offer, it's an order," he informed her. "Which is to be carried out *immediately*. I am sending you the co-ordinates Captain Ivanof is required to be at in three days."

"Three days!" Priscilla replied with exasperation. "We can't leave right now! We're in the middle of a volatile first contact!"

"Then he'll have to take a shuttle or arrange for other transportation," the Admiral replied. "We can't wait."

Priscilla frowned again. "What's going on, Admiral? Why is this being pushed through so fast? And why *MY* Executive Officer? I need him here!"

"I can't explain everything, Captain," the Admiral said with a shake of his head. "The mission is classified. Captain Ivanof will be filled in when he arises." He lowered his voice to a whisper. "But I can tell you this: HQ is pulling XO's from all over the fleet. We don't have time to train the people we need to command the new ships, and we need to keep things looking as normal as possible. So every Captain is keeping their current ship and we're promoting the XOs who already have the skills and appropriate experience needed. In Captain Ivanof's case, besides being right for the mission, he has experience commanding a Prometheus class vessel."

Priscilla was about to respond. Instead the ship rocked around her and the Red Alert klaxons began to sound, finally giving the Admiral the impression she was trying to get across.

"What's happening there?" he asked with alarm.

"AS I SAID," Priscilla replied, raising her voice over the alarms, "Volatile first contact! You'll get my report once were done here. Now, Sir, am I dismissed? May I go handle this?" she asked with a sarcastic edge in her voice.

The Admiral frowned. "By all means."


{Grueso}

"The Griffin's being enveloped," someone reported to Euraysh. "Not much longer until we are too..."

"We're not going to make it," Ugalesh commented to McInnis as they worked feverishly.

"Yes we will," Scott replied. "We have to."

"Good point," Ugalesh replied with what Scott was beginning to recognize as the aliens' version of a grin. "Otherwise we'll die."

"That's not what I was referring to. I simply have a reputation to maintain," Scott replied, not wasting any effort on displaying emotions. (And not only would I have been done by now,) he thought bitterly. (We wouldn't have even been in this situation, because I could have translated their language and gotten over here to fix the ship a whole lot faster, if I had have had the Nanites.)


{Griffin, Bridge}

"Return fire!" Ivanof was saying as Priscilla stepped back onto the Bridge. "Keep us between the ship and the Grueso."

While Travin and the helmsman were responding to the orders, Priscilla moved to Freeman's side. "Time?" she asked.

"We're almost fully within the cloud," he replied. "47 seconds until it reaches the Grueso."

"We're out of time," Priscilla replied. "Inform the Grueso to standby for transport."

"Captain," Freeman said as he kept working on calculations. "I have an idea."

"Let's hear it," Priscilla said with a gesture of her arm.

"If we use the tractor beam to reverse the Grueso's trajectory then release it, immediately increase to full impulse, and open the Main shuttle bay doors, we should be able to get the Grueso in before the cloud retakes us and with minimal damage to either ship. However, we will have to drop shields for a few seconds."

Priscilla only thought a moment. "Do it," she ordered as the ship rocked again under the Hadren weapons. "Coordinate with Conn."

"Minimal damage. Shields holding at 76 percent," Rinali informed Yuri. "The second ship's engines are offline."

"Target the weapons on the second ship, and the engines of the first," Yuri replied. "In that order."

Travin barely nodded as she executed her orders.

Less than a minute later the Hadren ships were disabled and the Grueso was safely inside the Griffin's environmental filters. Things seemed to be calming down, until:

"The Hadren ships' engines are overloading," Rinali announced.

"Shields!" Priscilla called out at the same time Ivanof ordered: "Helm, get as much distance between us and them!"

Both the Hadren ships exploded without any fanfare. The Griffin rocked again under the impact of the shock waves, but took no damage.

"Just like last time," Yuri commented, recalling what he was assuming was their first encounter with the Hadren.

"The wormhole has been destroyed," Rinali informed them. Both officers nodded, then exchanged glances.

"Commander Daem," Priscilla began, "Get down to the Main Shuttle Bay and check on the Grueso and her crew. And please let Euraysh know I will be down to properly greet them all in just a few minutes. Lieutenant Krasinski, take as many samples as you can of that cloud. Work with Lieutenant Stone on its analysis. Helm, once the Lieutenant is done, set a course for the fourth planet. We're taking our guests home. Commander Ivanof, join me in my ready room please?"

Everyone set about their assignments. Yuri followed Priscilla into the ready room. Once the doors closed, she turned around to face him. He was surprised to see a strange look on her face. Despite her genuine smile, he thought he saw a sadness in her eyes...


Back to Top

Chapter 20

{Ready Room}

Ivanof would have sworn the captain had aged visibly in the last hour.

"Captain. What is it?" Ivanof asked concerned.

"I always figured this day would come, but I never guessed it would be so soon. Congratulations Captain."

"Excuse me?" Ivanof said confused.

"You've been promoted. You're going to be needed at these coordinates in 3 days," she said handing him a Padd.

"Three days! What's the rush?" Ivanof asked.

"Honestly I don't know. It's classified. The coordinates are about 2 days away so there isn't much time for this transition."

"Well, I'd better get started. Do you have any idea who your new first officer is going to be?"

"I haven't decided, but I'm thinking Counselor Daem."

"I would have to agree. She's qualified," Ivanof nodded.

"Well, Commander- I mean Captain- you'd better get going. I'm requisitioning a runabout shuttle for you."

"Good. It's about time."

Priscilla looked up in surprise, a half smile on her face.

"What?" she asked.

"I put in the requisition order for my own shuttle craft a Year ago, and Starfleet kept putting it off. Now... I'm keeping her!"

Priscilla couldn't help but laugh. Ivanof broke into his own strong Russian chuckle. Then a slightly awkward silence.

"Well, I'd better get going," Ivanof said.

"Commander," Myst nodded.

"Captain," Ivanof said as he exited.

"Commander. The Grueso is back online," Lt. Commander Daem said as he entered the bridge.

"Good. You have the bridge Commander," Ivanof responded.

Ivanof reviewed the padd from Myst and made a series of notations on his way to his office. When he arrived he took up a cup of Raktegino and called on the computer.

"First officers log, Stardate 55714.5

This is my Final entry as First officer on board the USS Griffin. I have been promoted to a ship I have no idea about, to perform a mission I haven't been informed of, and TOLD to leave a ship I've only recently just gotten to know. I disagree with the timing, but I'm still going.

This entry is for my professional opinions of the current senior staff And recommendations for the next First officer.

Lt. JG Krasinski: She is a good scientist, but her timidity will hinder her career. However her skill in getting past the problems with the universal translator I feel warrants a recommendation for promotion (noted in Lt. JG Krasinski's Starfleet record) to full Lieutenant.

Lt. JG Scott McInnis. A superb engineer and he has the makings of a first class officer. He has repeatedly gone above the call of duty albeit in unorthodox or unusual methods. He is a credit to his heritage, although he needs to realize he is not limited by his heritage. For his actions on board the alien ship Grueso I am putting a commendation on his record. And I am also recommending promotion to full Lieutenant.

Lieutenants Freeman, Operations Officer, and Stone, Chief medical Officer: I don't have enough one on one experience with them to dispute or enhance the statements of previous officers on their records.

Lieutenant Travin: Her Klingon upbringing is one reason the Griffin is still here. Her instincts in battle make her a formidable ally. I would recommend promotion to Lt. Commander.

Lt. Commander Sable: She is a first class pilot. Her valor in the face of re- assimilation is another reason Griffin returned to federation Space. I am placing a commendation in her record and hoping she rise to the challenge of taking the route of command.

Lt. Commander Daem: If Lt. McInnis is the person who keeps Griffin running, Daem is the one who keeps the crew feeling. Her skills with the mind and heart will serve her well in her future and her success in the 2nd officers position has caused me to recommend her to the rank of Commander.

Captain Myst: One of the finest officers I've ever had the pleasure of serving with. I hope to become half the captain she is. It is because of her that I am taking command of my new ship.

This ship has a fine crew. I wish her well.

"Computer end log," Ivanof said and the computer complied with the usual chime. Ivanof then tapped his comm badge. "McInnis to my office."

A few minutes later the door chimed.

"Come in."

Scott walked in quietly, standing in front of Ivanof's desk. "You wanted to see me Commander?"

"Yes, Scott... Sit down. I have been promoted and only have a day or so for transition."

"I know. The Captain announced it to the Senior staff shortly after you left the bridge."

"I am going to be sitting down with the rest of the senior staff and giving my final assessments. But I wanted you to read yours before I left."

Scott nodded watching Yuri quietly, the last few hours have been trying on everyone and Scott held himself as upright as he could, in respect for Yuri's departure.

"You're sure about this Commander... er Captain..."

"About what? And for now it is still Commander."

"My reading your assessment of me before you are out of ear shot?" McInnis asked.

"You have the right to know what I'm putting in my report," he says as he slides a padd across the desk.

As McInnis read the statement from Ivanof he couldn't help but smile. It was not the 'good engineer but disregards regulations like the plague' report he was expecting.

Ivanof smiled at McInnis' reaction.

"You feeling all right Commander? You know sickbay has plenty of space if you're a little woozy," Scott smirked.

"You've done a hell of a job on this ship, even without the Nanites. And the skill you showed with the alien technology and getting them operational was nothing short of, well... a miracle."

Scott remained quiet, for once not interrupting Yuri.

"Say something man!" said Ivanof when he had stopped and McInnis hadn't said anything.

"Thank you Commander..." Scott sighed a bit, "I had gotten comfortable with the idea I would be a Lt. JG for my entire Career...." He shrugs. "It's actually hasn't been half as bad serving with you as I thought it would be...." He smirked.

Ivanof smiled.

"Keep in mind... It's just my recommendation, but I have a good feeling about it."

Scott pondered a minute. "I dunno why Starfleet has decided to take you now rather than later, but I think they are getting a damn good commander. We'll see later what kind of Captain you are." He smirks. "If you need a Chief Engineer... I know a few folks a bit more... regulation oriented than myself. Or, if you need a miracle, you know my number..."

"Thanks McInnis. I'll make sure they have it. The fact of the matter is I don't even know what my next assignment is. All I know is that it's a new ship, Promethius class. Her name, or perhaps his name is the USS ODIN."

Scott laughed. "Well it doesn't matter what It is. (The Scottish brogue kicking in) As long as you treat her like a lady, she'll always bring you home."

Ivanof chuckles.

"Oh and one last thing Commander..."

"Yes?"

"You still owe me a game of foosball..."

"We'll see. I still have a lot of packing and work to do."

"All right. Is there anything else Commander?"

"It was an honor to work with you Lieutenant."

Scott stood. "The pleasure was all mine," he said offering a handshake.

"Good luck McInnis," Ivanof said as he took it.

Scott turned quietly and left.


Back to Top