ENTERPRISE
"The Maze"
By J. B. Tilton
Email: K
Disclaimer: "Star Trek", "Enterprise", and all related characters and events are the sole property of Paramount Pictures, Inc., except for those specifically created by me for this story. This is fan fiction and no infringement of copyright is intended.
The Enterprise has a series of encounters that not even T'Pol can explain.
ONE
T'Pol checked her sensors again. It was the third time she had taken a sensor reading with negative results. According to all the Enterprises' sensors, there was nothing within proximity to the ship that posed a threat.
"I am still picking up nothing on sensors, Captain," reported T'Pol.
"Travis?" questioned Archer.
"Deflectors are still registering an unknown object ahead, sir," reported Travis.
Archer sat looking at the empty view screen. This was very odd. They had sat motionless for five minutes trying to figure out this enigma.
"I want diagnostics run on both the deflector and sensors," ordered Archer.
"I have already completed diagnostics on both systems," said T'Pol. "Both are functioning at optimal efficiency."
"Okay, Science Office," said Archer, "how do you explain the discrepancies?"
"I can't," reported T'Pol.
"Mr. Tucker," said Archer, "you're the ships' engineer. Can you tell me why deflectors register something while sensors don't?"
"Sorry, Cap'n," said Tucker. "All the equipment is in working order, just like T'Pol said. I don't have any answers for you either."
"Suggestions, people," said Archer. "It seems we have a genuine mystery on our hands."
"Could it be a cloaked ship?" offered Malcolm, always expecting hostile encounters.
"All know stealth methods utilize similar technologies," said T'Pol. "There would be residual effects of that technology which the ships' sensors can identify. I am detecting no such residual effects."
"An uncharted black hole?" offered Travis.
"A black hole is a collapsed star," said T'Pol. "There are no indications that a star has ever occupied this specific region of space. Nor are there any indications that one has recently entered this area."
"Besides," said Trip, "we aren't the first ones to travel through this area. Which means that whatever is going on hasn't happened here before."
"Captain," said Hoshi, "what about a radio signal? The early Earth deep space exploration ships used to use a radio signal that was designed to get the attention of passing ships. Especially distress signals. Maybe this is something like that."
"A radio signal if a form of energy," said T'Pol. "It would register on sensors, Ensign."
"Hoshi, have you detected anything like that?" asked Archer.
"No, sir," said Hoshi. "My board is clear. But is it possible it's something similar?"
"I don't know," said Archer. "Travis, exactly where is this thing?"
"I can't be sure, sir," said Travis. "Deflectors register it, but can't get an exact fix on its' position."
"Okay," said Archer, "let's analyze this. It registers on deflectors but not on sensors. What does that tell us?"
"The deflectors operate something like the old motion detectors," said Trip. "We know that everything in the universe vibrates at a specific frequency which the deflectors are designed to detect. Which means that whatever this is, is has mass and substance."
"The sensors operate differently," said T'Pol. "Everything in the universe, including matter, is a form of energy. However, all energy operates at it's own frequency, in addition to the vibrational frequency mentioned by Commander Tucker."
"Which means this must be some form of energy the sensors aren't calibrated to detect," said Archer.
"Even similar forms of energy operate at their own frequency," said T'Pol. "For example, iron and steel are both metals. However, they each have a unique energy frequency, even though they are similar. It is how the sensors are able to distinguish between the two."
"Can't we just scan for all forms of energy?" asked Hoshi.
"With the diversity of even the known forms of energy," said T'Pol, "the variation in frequencies is nearly infinite. Not even a Vulcan science vessel is capable of scanning for such a vast spectrum."
"So that means," said Archer, "that we need to discover the specific frequency of whatever it out there."
"Sir," said Travis, "what about taking a look at it?"
"I don't follow, Travis," said Archer.
"Well, sir," said Travis, self-consciously, "the image on the view screen is simply that - an image. Generated by the computers based on the information they receive from the sensors. Why don't we just look out a window and see if there's something there."
"I'll be damned," swore Trip. "Some times we're so dependent on our technology we often overlook the simple solutions."
"Good idea, Travis," said Archer. "Trip, find a window and take a look. Let us know what you see out there."
"On my way, sir," said Tucker.
The moments ticked by as the bridge crew waited for Trips' report. T'Pol continued to adjust the sensors, scanning for other forms of energy. Hoshi scanned the different radio frequencies, listening for any hint of a signal.
"There's nothing out there, Cap'n," said Trip, returning to the bridge. "Nothing but stars and space dust."
"Sir," said Travis, "it's gone. One second it was there, the next it was just gone. Like it just vanished."
"What the hell is going on?" demanded Archer.
