ENTERPRISE

"Crime And Punishment"

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 crew is surprised when they inadvertently release an alien criminal from his prison. They're even more surprised when they learn what the crime was.

ONE

An explosion rocked the Enterprise. Archer was barely able to keep from being thrown from his chair. He hit the intercom button on the arm of his chair.

"Archer to engineering," he practically screamed. "Trip what's going on?"

"All of the starboard plasma injectors just suddenly blew, sir," responded Trip. "If we don't shut down the warp engines now they're going to blow."

"All stop," ordered Archer.

The Enterprise dropped from warp and came to a full stop in space. Archer jumped from his chair and headed for the turbolift. Several minutes later he exited the turbolift in the engineering section.

"Trip, what happened?" asked Archer.

"Still checking, sir," said Trip. "It appears that a relay misfired. My guess is that it sent a signal through the systems that made it appear as if we had suddenly jumped to warp four. The plasma injectors weren't ready for the sudden increase in power."

"Any idea what caused the relay to misfire?" asked Archer.

"Won't know that until I get it out and have a look at it," said Trip.

"How long for repairs?" asked Archer.

"At least four hours," said Trip. "Maybe longer once we've checked it out. Until then I wouldn't go to warp. Unless you want the ship to go up like a roman candle."

"Understood," said Archer. "What about the impulse drive?"

"It should be fine," said Trip. "Give me about ten minutes to run a diagnostic on it but there shouldn't be any damage to it."

"Let Travis know when you're done," said Archer. "And keep me apprised of the situation."

"Aye, Cap'n," said Trip.

Archer returned to the bridge. Trip was better qualified to handle the repairs than he was. And he had to check the damage, if any, to the rest of the ship.

"Damage report," ordered Archer as he entered the bridge.

"Minimal, sir," reported Travis. "A few secondary systems shorted out on several decks, but nothing serious."

"Injuries?" questioned Archer.

"None reported, sir," sail T'Pol. "The extent of the damage seems localized to engineering."

"Thank God for small favors." said Archer.

"Captain, I do not believe a deity was involved," said T'Pol.

"Just a figure of speech," said Archer. "Is there anything near the ship?"

"Sensors indicate an uninhabited system at 217 mark 9," said T'Pol. "I am also reading a small asteroid bearing 114 mark 3. Other than normal space debris there does not appear to be anything in proximity to the Enterprise."

"Okay," said Archer. "Travis, when you hear from Trip, resume our course on impulse drive only."

"Aye, sir," said Travis.

Travis checked his board.

"Sub-Commander," he said, "check the readings on that asteroid. Does that look like an alloy to you?"

T'Pol checked the readings and cocked one eyebrow.

"The ensign is correct, Captain," she reported. "The asteroid does not appear to be a natural phenomena. It appears to be made of a very sophisticated alloy."

"An alloy?" questioned Archer. "You mean someone made an asteroid?"

"Apparently so," said T'Pol.

"Why?" asked Archer.

"Unknown, sir," said T'Pol. "But there is something else that is curious about it. It appears to be hollow. I'm reading an atmosphere and one life form."

"You mean someone's inside there?" asked Archer.

"Yes sir," responded T'Pol.