AN: This is the sequel to A Tale of Two Ensigns and Confessions of a Teenage Starfleet Cadet. It is essential to have read at least A Tale of Two Ensigns first, or it will not make any sense. Enjoy!

'Entering orbit Captain.'

'Good work Mr Sulu. Ensign Lee, report.'

'Sensors indicate no recognisable life forms. Atmosphere is not breathable. Sensors are picking up some strange signals.'

'Looks like we've got ourselves a Class Y.'

'Captain, it is not advisable to send a large away team to a Class Y planet. According to Starfleet records, they are generally extremely dangerous. Many have been found to be inhabited by sentient beings that do not inhabit any other systems.'

'Noted, Mr Spock. Lt. Uhura, any transmissions from the surface?'

'No Captain.'

'Spock, Sulu, you're with me. Uhura, you're coming, in case we need a translator. Chekov, you've got the conn.'

Lieutenant Stevenson, the newest addition to Alpha Shift Bridge Crew raises an eyebrow.

'You're leaving an 18 year old in charge?'

'I'm 19! Eet vas my birthday-'

'No Stevenson, I'm leaving a 19 year old in charge. You're right though, Lee, you're his second. Just in case anything happens.'

'Captain, you cannot leave two 18 year olds-'

'I'm 19!'

'-in charge of a starship!'

'Stevenson, who's Captain here?'

'You are sir.'

'So I can leave Ensign Chekov and Ensign Lee in charge.'

The away team walk into the turbolift. Lieutenant Stevenson is still complaining. 'Children', 'only Ensigns', and 'Kirk's an idiot' can all be deciphered.

The Away Team beams down to the surface.

Kirk reports that they have arrived. At least, that's what they think he said. The planet seems to be interfering with their transmissions.

'Chekov, I'm detecting a strange disturbance. It's cutting our transmissions!'

Ellen's panicking.

'Ve have lost contact vith Avay Team?'

'Yes.'

Hawkins is frantically trying to resume communications. Ellen's sensors have gone haywire.

'Zis is bad.'

'I don't need you to tell me that!'

Sometimes, Pavel has a habit of pointing out the blatantly obvious. Ellen thinks that's not very helpful in the current situation.

'I told the Captain not to leave two kids in charge, especially two kids that are only Ensigns.'

'Vell, he left us in charge. I order you to be quiet Stewenson, you are not helping! Lee, vat is ze situation?'

'There appears to be something very similar to a cosmic storm centralised onto the planet. The strange thing is that it is totally contained in the atmosphere.'

'Ve need to re-establish contact vith Avay Team. Hawkins, Hannity, try to transmit a message to ze Keptain. Mr Scott, please come up to ze Bridge.'

'Ensign, I order you to step down and hand Command over to your superior Officers.'

Stevenson is complaining. He is also committing mutiny. Despite Chekov and Lee being Ensigns, the Captain has left them with the conn, so they are now, by regulation, Acting Captain and Acting First Officer, as the Captain and First Officer are indisposed.

'Stewenson, you know the regulations as vell as I do. Eef you do not return to your duties, I vill have you put in ze Brig.'

He opens his mouth to protest.

'Captain, permission to knock him out?'

'Permission denied Lee; though you may eef he continues to disobey orders.'

'I second that lad- I mean Captain!'

'Consider that the medically advised course of action too!'

Scotty and Bones walk in.

'Captain, I've lost all the signals from their monitors. Damn it, I'm going to kill Jim, if he isn't already dying of some alien disease!'

'I'm sure he's fine Doctor.'

'Doctor, please put Sickbay on standby. Mr Scott, ve need to find a vay to beam through cosmic storm.'

'That's not possible la-Captain.'

'I know eet's not, but if anyone can, eet's you. Get Engineering on eet.'

'I can't believe you're listening to the kid! I thought better of you Mr Scott!'

'Stewenson!'

'Shut up!'

'Aye! Captain's orders are Captain's orders.'

'I refuse to follow the orders of a 19 year old Ensign!'

'Security to Bridge, ve have a problem. Please escort Lieutenant Stewenson to ze Brig.'

Stevenson is escorted out, still going on about how he refuses to follow the orders of someone younger and lower in rank.

'Lee, find ze most senior members of ze Communications, Engineering, Science and Computers Departments and liaise between zem. Zey need to find vay to transmit and beam through cosmic storm. Report directly to me.'

'Aye Captain.'

I don't own Star Trek, or anything else referenced, nor do I claim to own it.