Just outside the Orion Nebula, the starship Enterprise drifted peacefully among the cosmos, on a routine mission to study star growth, when suddenly a secure communication channel to Starfleet opened and began broadcasting an urgent message.
"Starfleet to Enterprise, come in please." The transmission rang clearly in Uhura's ear.
"Captain we are receiving a message from Starfleet," She said to Captain James T. Kirk as he walked on to the bridge.
"Put it on audio," he ordered.
"Starfleet to Enterprise, come in please." The transmission repeated itself,
"This is Captain James T. Kirk of the starship Enterprise." Kirk said in answer,
"Captain Kirk, the starship Gauntlet has sent us a distress signal; it is located in your sector. Please respond and report back. That is all" Starfleet instructed. The sound of static filled the speakers and in turn filled the bridge and Uhura quickly took the now empty communication channel off of the audio speakers of the bridge.
"Mr. Sulu do you have a lock on that signal?" Kirk asked his helmsmen,
"Aye, Captain, and I've laid the course in."
"Very good, all ahead full, warp factor three."
"Aye," Sulu said in answer as he executed the orders.
"Uhura,"
"Yes captain?" she replied
"Contact Commander Spock and tell him he is needed on the bridge immediately."
"Aye sir." As she did this she could not help remembering the events of three years before, when a mad Romulan from the future changed the course of everyone's lives on the U.S.S. Enterprise. It was during this time that Uhura had thought that she was in love with Spock. But since that time they had grown apart. She still loved him, but more like a brother than the love of her life.
Soon after Uhura had dispatched the message Spock entered the bridge.
"You called captain," Spock said as he made his way over to Kirk.
"Yes, we have just received word of a distress signal sent to Starfleet. We are going to investigate, I want you to get Dr. McCoy and meet me in the Transporter room in…" Kirk paused and looked over to Sulu. "When will we be at the Gauntlet Sulu?"
"Ten minutes Sir." Was the answer, looking back to Spock, Kirk said,
"The Transporter room in ten minutes." Spock nodded and turned to leave.
As he walked down the corridor toward the Medical bay Spock wondered to himself why the Gauntlet seemed so familiar. He knew it to be one of Starfleet's more powerful ships, but that seemed no reason to seem familiar. Then it hit him, Trey, the man who had saved his mother from certain death was stationed on that ship. A fearful emotion for his friend's safety tried to take root in Spock's heart, but he swept the feeling aside and continued on his way to McCoy.
Meanwhile on board the Gauntlet Captain Tomas D. Gavin stood over a young girl of eighteen.
"You traitor!" he spat as he injected her with yet another deadly toxin. He was surprised that she had not died yet, as this was the tenth toxin he had injected into her. He didn't mind though, he actually preferred torture to a quick death. The Girl moaned in pain as the newest toxin burned through her veins. "Take it like the traitor you are Slave. You will pay for your crime." He said roughly.
"Wha… What did I do?" She asked weakly.
"You disobeyed." Gavin sneered as he pushed her to the floor. The girl tried to speak but no sound came out. Suddenly the computer spoke,
"Captain Gavin, you are being hailed."
"Patch it through down here." He ordered
"This is Captain James T. Kirk of the starship Enterprise, come in please."
"Captain Gavin here,"
"Captain Gavin, we have received a distress signal that originated from your ship. What is your distress?" Gavin thought for a moment and then looked and saw that the girl was stumbling out of the Medical bay, suddenly he smiled.
"My distress Captain is that everyone on my ship is dead save the killer and myself. If you would beam over and help me catch this killer I would be grateful."
"We'll be over immediately, Kirk out." Kirk severed the connection and jumped into action, ordering Chekov to take the Conn as he raced to the Transporter room.