"We're approaching a Class M planet, Captain."
Captain Kirk swiveled his chair to face his first officer, Mr. Spock, expecting more information.
"There are many life forms on that planet. Air is breathable, water is drinkable. In all respects, Captain, this planet is much like Earth."
"Put it on view screen," the captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise ordered.
Lieutenant Uhura's capable hands swiftly pressed the buttons necessary to bring the planet on screen. Captain Kirk leaned forward suddenly.
"No… it can't be."
"My God, Jim. It's North America!" exclaimed the chief medical officer.
"Pinch me."
"You are not hallucinating Captain. That is the likeness of North America," Mr. Spock affirmed.
"Captain." Mr. Sulu's voice sounded loud and clear, drawing the Bridge's attention to him.
"The helm isn't responding!" Though this was a semi-regular occurrence, Sulu always got nervous when he couldn't do his job.
Kirk leaned backwards toward Scotty.
"On it Captain."
Just as Scotty, chief engineer of the U.S.S. Enterprise and avid drinker of scotch, passed through the doors to the turbo lift, the Enterprise bucked.
The red alert sirens blared.
"Shields down Captain."
"Down? Already?" It was taken for granted that their shields would get low on energy and/or fail, but never this early.
"Yes, sir. All shields. Nothing's responding. It's like something sucked all the energy," Sulu conjectured.
Another series of hits from behind and the Enterprise shot forward, hurtling toward the oncoming planet.
"It's a miracle we didn't break up Captain! Aye, the Enterprise'll always pull us through," Scotty said admiringly as he patted the outside hull.
Kirk smiled half-heartedly and turned to one of his closest friends.
"How's the crew Bones?"
"Sickbay's not as bad as I thought Jim but we lost seven and four more are in critical condition. That was some serious turbulence. I think we'll be okay though."
"Spock, how long will it be before we can get up in the air again?" inquired Kirk.
"Unknown. Though we made the best landing possible, much of the inner workings of the Enterprise have been totally or partially damaged. If we cannot find the necessary materials, the Enterprise may never achieve lift off."
"Cheery." Kirk glanced around.
"Alright then. Spock, find Lieutenant Uhura, Ensign Chekov, and a security team. We're going to go in search of those life forms you mentioned earlier." Spock left to follow his captain's orders.
"Jim, I should-"
"Come with us? Your patients need you." Kirk put his hand on Dr. McCoy's back, leaving him to handle the many scrapes and cuts.
The small group walked steadily on.
"We have landed in what would be the panhandle of Florida if we were on Earth." Spock had out his tricorder and it was whirring, gathering information.
"Where are we going Captain?" Uhura asked in her soft voice. She would willingly follow Captain Kirk anywhere but Uhura preferred having an idea of where she was going.
"Spock noted that this area was divided into fourteen colonies of sorts. The nearest one is east of here."
"We should get there in forty-three minutes if we maintain the four mile per hour speed we've been walking at," Spock broke in.
Doctor McCoy cursed those failing shields. Never trust technology, especially that transporter. No need to break someone down to their very atoms, scatter them, and then reassemble the person miles away. Leonard McCoy waved his scanner over a patient's arm.
"It's just broken." Leave it to Jim to leave without a medic. He wouldn't even take Christine, insisting she was needed here. Dr. McCoy's communicator beeped. Speak of the devil.
"How's it going Bones?"
"It turns out my first projection was more accurate. Some of these people have injuries that wouldn't normally be problems but with all the medical equipment broken in the crash…" Bones let it trail off.
"We're doing our best. We haven't reached a colony yet but Spock says we'll get there, ah, what did you say Spock?"
"Twelve minutes and thirteen seconds. Would you like more precise measurements Captain?"
"No… thank you Spock. Did you catch that Bones?" Kirk asked, amused.
"Yes. Jim, be careful out there."
"Always am Bones."
Sometimes Dr. McCoy thought the captain was a little too light-hearted but with the Enterprise in a bad condition, her crew in worse, and no help on the way, one could only laugh. Or begin to cry.
***
"Captain!" Lieutenant Uhura cried. The smell that entered her nostrils was exactly like that from the Atlantic Ocean she smelled as a child in the United States of Africa.
The captain turned to Uhura quizzically.
"Can't you smell it?" Their party stopped as each member tried to distinguish what Uhura smelled.
"It's the sea!" exclaimed one of the newer security personnel.
"No need to shout Ensign," Spock remarked dryly. Uhura barely suppressed a glare towards the Vulcan. Surely there were better ways of going about it.
"The nearest civilization was on the sea, Keptin. I remember that because I was immediately reminded of my homeland's-"
"That's… quite enough Chekov. Thank you." The "Keptin" held up a hand and Chekov instantly fell quiet. Uhura approved; there were better ways.
"Ensign Chekov is correct, however. We should head towards the sea," commented Spock as he checked his tricorder once more.
They continued on.