A Red-Shirt's Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the ship

Not a sensor screen displayed so much as a blip

Kirk, Spock and McCoy were asleep in their beds

On the bridge there were five unnamed crewmen in red

Suddenly from a console which used to be dark

A beeping was heard and activity sparked

"What was that?" asked the red-shirt in the center seat

"If there's something out there I think we should see it!"

"Screen on." someone said as she flipped a small toggle

And then at the screen everyone goggled

Each red-shirt's jaw dropped, and the whole bridge fell mute

On the screen was a man in a jolly red suit!

He rode in a sleigh that was open to space

Logically he would be blue in the face!

But somehow the man was completely intact

Along with a bag in which presents were packed

First the red-shirt's were shocked, then they laughed with delight

This never happened before on the whole five year flight!

"Hail him!" the one in the center seat cried

They established a link, and here came the reply:

"I am Santa Claus, and I come bearing gifts!"

And then through his bag he started to sift

"Ah, here we go, your in for a surprise,"

And he pulled out a bag marked 'For the Enterprise'

"Just let down your shields for a moment or two!

I have a transporter! I'll beam it to you!"

The red-shirted ensigns did as they were told

And in beamed five shirts, colored light blue and gold

"Put these on," Santa said, "and you won't have to fret

'bout a horrible death on some lonely planet."

As the new blue and gold shirts grinned ear to ear

Santa said "I'm afraid I must now leave you here."

And he said, as he sped off into the night:

"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"