This is the first book of the Quantum Endeavour series I am currently writing. As such it will likely continue to be written over some time. This is also affected by the fact that this Star Trek universe I have created is very very different from the one created by Gene Roddenberry or J.J. Abrams.
Star Trek and the various works of fiction mentioned here belong to their respective owners. I only take credit for the parts of the story of my creation. This is a work of fan fiction.
2253.. A brave group of starship captains and their crews have gone behind enemy lines to break the spear of an invasion into the Federation. The leader is none other than famed Captain Williams of the Intrepid...
Glowing torpedoes tear into a pylon of the massive battleship NCC-1789 Washington causing bands of flowing plasma to pour into the vacuum of space. Around it fighters danced and pilots died. For it's veteran commander Sarah Paris it was the horrifying reality of war that she bears with the best face she can put on it. "Washington to fleet warp drive is offline I need some help over here boys" A response came over the large viewscreen slightly obscured by smoke and flashes as the ship continued to take energy blasts. "Intrepid here. Wood teeth needs a cane again Sarah?"
Williams was far from showing any fear. It was a hallmark he showed throughout his days at Starfleet Academy all the way to the war. The heartthrob fearless tactical engineer who got the command of the last of the famed Constitution class starship from the days of Kirk and the Enterprise. He showed no fear and would not allow his crew to show any even in the face of such impossible odds.
"Direct wing four to to drive away the fighters around the Washington. I want the other wings to recover and all ships prepare for warp to point Charlie" He smugly sat back and whistled while the ship shook as each blast ate into the shields. Fighters rushed into the shuttle bay slamming against elevators that moved them into storage to allow others to land quickly. He was about to spring his trap yet again. As point Charlie held a powered down fleet of starships ready to pounce on any who dared to follow his fleet in the faster than light warp. It was a game across the stars that Williams won every time as even if they failed to give chase. The overcautious Romulans would be slowed on their invasion plans. This made Williams and the Intrepid the number one enemy of the Romulan Star Empire.
"Captain I am getting some incorrect microgravity readings here. There might be something as large as another Battlecarrier out there and cloaked" Commander Styles had been with Williams from the earliest days of Starfleet academy and was often viewed as the cool headed thinker to the others brashness. He had a feeling something was terribly wrong yet until the fleet was in warp he decided not to voice it.
"Understood. Okay Washington, now is the time for that warp to function again. We don't want to stay for the parade" Williams was starting to get an uneasy feeling as well.
"Don't be so worrisome my brave knights! Our warp drive is back online and we are ready to lure these fools into the fight of their.." She turned as an officer yelled incoming torpedoes and the viewscreen went to static.
"What the hell! Report!" Williams stood and ran to the tactical console. "Captain that was no Battlecarrier but a grouped mass of cruisers and they have disabled the Washington! Incoming Ordinance!" The bridge rocked as the shield blew away and torpedoes tore into several sections of the ship.
"I want emergency shuttles prepared for launch with fighter escort we are going to fight them off the Washington and rescue the survivors" He reached his seat despite the constant vibration the told him decks were depressurizing. He did not care at this point. He had to save Sarah that is all he could think about.
"Captain the shields are buckling! We are ordered to retreat!" The helm officer dialed in the warp only to pushed away by Williams. "I gave you a damn order now get to Washington NOW!" The ship did not have time to turn back as a torpedo stuck near the bridge throwing Williams to the floor unconscious.
"Follow the other ships in retreat maximum warp!" Styles said unable to hold back the tears as he saw the Washington deliberately ram into the lead Battlecarrier and detonate. The exposed antimatter quickly mixed with matter forming a shockwave of debris that destroyed more of the Romulan fleet. He knew that after this Williams and Sarah had both planned to retire from Starfleet. And get married..
Simulations had shown later that Styles made the right call. Another torpedo would have caused a core breach and loss of the ship. It was Williams last major operation of the war.
2258 Orbital ship construction facilities, "Utopia Planitia"
"A feat of pure imagination and diligence to thinking outside of the box. Meet the Romulan Bird of Death.." Edward Quinn pointed towards the holographic projector showing the bird shaped torpedo cruiser. A man in his mid thirties by now. He was beyond desperate to recreate the fame of glory he received during the war for developing anti-cloaking technology. "As a result of it's genius and our inability at the time to anticipate such deviations from the norm it cost us half the Starfleet and nearly the war." The room went silent as the numerous Starfleet admirals reflected on the massive losses incurred late in the war and the large price in lives and resources it took to end it. "I submit to Starfleet that we are simply unable to sit back and relax while the enemies of the Federation reap the rewards of technological development.. Especially in this time of renewed war mongering in the Romulan senate over obviously trivial matters."
This was his moment his announcement that would forever seal him into the history books. The thought was intoxicating and he wanted to savor every moment of this glory. "In keeping with the technological advantage of the Federation I hereby submit the greatest weapon ever to be wielded against the enemies of the Federation.. Time itself!" He paused while the room filled with disbelief. Time travel was unlawful in all of civilized space so how could someone so openly suggest it as a weapon?
"What has every commander wished for on the battlefield.. Time.. Time to make repairs time to make better decisions. Time to bring his best against the enemy. Time seems so fleeting on the battlefield and my team aims to give it back.. Ladies and gentlemen meet Timescape!"
The projector changed to a schematic showing a large vessel zooming in to a subsection showing a plethora of components. "As you know the process of timewarp is unlawful and useless in its current form as time travel to the past to say correct a critical mistake will cause you to appear in a new universe.. This is the quantum theory of time travel and that is why we do not change time... Only slow it.."
The projection changed showing the starship warping towards the sun. "Before the effects of timewarp are achieved the device creates a field that interrupts the process and instead slows time significantly inside the field. Experiments have shown by the time the field collapses on its own up to a year can pass inside the field to a mere minute outside." More hushed discussion ensued "Think about it. Virtually unlimited time to repair ships or develop detailed attack profiles without compromising time. With this power Starfleet and the Federation may finally have the power to end conflict itself and end the will to start these horrific wars before they start. And with it research can happen at a rate unheard of in history as entire research starships can use the device." He looked up at the stunned crowd before him. "A new era is upon us! An era of Timescape and the resulting peace and prosperity! Thank you" He stood to a standing ovation from the admirals and alliance leaders who were willing to accept the idea out of desperation. Reports had shown that the Romulans were forming an alliance of their own and the resulting firepower would overwhelm the weakened Federation.
"Edward! You should be a damn politician giving speeches like that" A member of Quinn's team yelled towards the near overwhelmed scientist" He wanted Quinn to delay the conference due to new troubling data but the ever egotistical Quinn would not let "inconsistencies" get in his way.
"Why be a politician famed for tabloid articles and controversy when you can be famed for designing the future of civilization!" He shook more hands "I assume you have the results of the latest test?" He received and went over the report showing the sync errors getting worse. "I see.."
"You see?" The younger man was shocked with disbelief. "It's a twenty percent decrease in sync! We almost lost the shuttle to the field collapsing and we still can't achieve proper breakaway calculation" He braced for the worst and said "Edward we must delay the demonstration and inform Starfleet or we.."
Edward kept a smile despite nearly yelling into the man's ear. "Now you listen here dammit! I did not dedicate these years to my life to watch timescape end up like so many other projects.. Years or political grandstanding, needless simulations or mothballed to the Endeavour in fear of ramifications." He backed off a little "If we delay now the politics will run wild and we will end up in committees on the ethics of even testing it. We have once chance and one chance alone now can I count on you to fix this or not?"
The younger scientist now understood that there was no way to stop this without ruining his own efforts and his future. "Ye...Yes sir"
Earth, Colorado Sector
The small impulse shuttlepod easily landed in a meadow outside a large multistory house that had the look of an early twenty-first century wood home. The only way one could tell the difference in eras was the various drones flying about and a large and heavily modified runabout parked just outside of it.
"Amy! What brings you out to the mountains on this lovely day? Come in come in!" Williams was a bit older now. A man who shows the strain of war instead of the dashing heartthrob. He was now in his late twenties yet still retrained the attitude he is renowned for. "An Admiral now? My My Starfleet must be way down on their quota to consider you miss shuttle wrecker."
"They know the best when they see it!" Admiral Amy Hodges was well known as being what many considered to be the true rival to Williams over the command of the Intrepid and for an early accident early in her academy days where a failure in the thruster system caused her to crash land into the fighter bay of a carrier causing the destruction of multiple shuttles and auxiliary craft. "Everyone knows that the only reason I didn't get the Intrepid was due to you having the daughter of the admiral's eyes." She stuck a triumphant pose much to the laughter of Williams.
"Of course! Now how is the ship? I heard this was the fifth attempt that failed to mothball it." Williams acted like he cared for his old command even if it only gave him nightmares.
"The old ship is doing well. Captain Pike has returned recently from a year of exploration and cataloging gaseous anomalies. They keep finding new uses for it and it's fame doesn't harm any" Amy knew she was dodging the point of talking to Williams. His final request to Starfleet was to never be contacted again. A request honored for years.. Until now.
"Amy I have known you long enough to know you aren't here for tea and comparing looks. The Romulans right?" Williams was no fool and he was no hermit. He paid close attention to the astropolitcal landscape for a very specific reason.
Amy choose not to look into his eyes and instead looked out the window that showed the mountains piercing the sky. "Yes" She was about to diverge classified information but the Admiral knew that this was the time to do it. "They have formed an alliance with the Remans and are building a new invasion force."
"How many attack fleets?" Williams was now concerned. He had heard of a potential buildup but if he was being contacted there was only one reason.
"Fifty-Eight is estimated by the end of the year" The info was classified to only a small group of admirals and only a smaller group knew what or who was being told.
"That's three times the Starfleet! There is no way the Federation can counter that many! What about the Klingons?"
"The Klingons" Amy crossed her arms and scowled "They must know the same thing but surely they will rather watch the Federation and the Star Empire destroy each other and than carve a slice for itself. Even the Cardassians are acting neutral.. Again."
"We have but one ace up or sleeve and with it we can save the Federation or restart the war that nearly destroyed it." She handed Williams a PADD showing a design schematic.
"Timescape? Edward.. Crazy bastard went and did it?" Williams frowned thinking back of the memories of the war.
"You know of Edward Quinn?"
"I do" He stood up and started to pour more tea "My convoy was the first to test his cloak detection system. The bastard was always there. Always criticizing my crew for the smallest error in the power and sensor systems." He sat back down "When Intrepid was forced to remain on convoy duty he went to the front line but before he did he confided with me his plans to build a device to slow time. I thought he was crazy back then. I still think so today."
"You sound jealous" Amy halfway joked aloud.
"It's not jealousy, Amy! Yes I was angry at being put on convoy duty but Quinn. Amy the man is addicted to his ego. I have never seen a careerist that set where even common courtesy goes out the window"
"He may be crazy but Starfleet is desperate for a solution and officially has requested you to command the first test. Unofficially tho we are requesting you perform a dangerous yet badly needed duty to the Federation" Amy handed over another PADD.
Williams read over the moving LCARS text "I thought my plan was rejected due to its perception of being a revenge plot" He narrowed his eyes "Why do they suddenly think Intrepid's Wrath will work now?"
Amy stared at the window again "They were still hopeful of a peace treaty after your previous exploits. They considered the plan as possible but shelved it for political reasons." She turned to face him "Today we have Timescape and the Endeavour"
"The Endeavour? You mean the starship that has been sitting in spacedock for decades? Why not the Intrepid?" Williams was stunned at the choice of ship knowing the history of the sister to the Excelsior.
"You will find it has been greatly upgraded over the decades. I can't divulge much but Starfleet feels it is best to send in a ship that is powerful yet..." She didn't want to say it.
"Expendable? Of course. Why send in the famed and well known Intrepid when the laughing stock of the fleet atleast has a chance to be written off politically as a rouge attack... I assume it still has the Cloak research."
The Admiral nodded "Yes" she turned to leave. "The mission plan is detailed for you there but will destroy itself in an hour. We need you Williams. If we don't show them our resolve we may soon find ourselves the prisoners of a hostile species.
Williams watched the shuttlepod depart. "What do I do Sarah... I just want to live in peace"
The next morning Williams departed the darkened house carrying his bags. With a voice command the large runabout opened a hatch and with little effort he had the craft online and ready to depart. "Well I guess it's time" He went back out and viewed his home for what he was sure was the last time. A security drone approached and he set the system. A low hum signaled that the area was now protected by a force field. Soon he had the craft into the air and started the short journey to Mars thinking back on what the Admiral told him.
"Captain I can not order you to report to Starfleet or participate in this mission. If you do this it will be your responsibility and the results of failure will likely be the end of the Federation"
"Utopia Planitia This is Runabout Lightning entering the pattern" Williams expertly maneuvered the craft around the mass of starships grouped around the massive shipyard. Today was especially busy with the launching of the Yorktown-D, The Jupiter-B and the Alpha Centauri.
"This is control you have permission to enter the starbase. Follow your escort" The escort was two of the latest Sabre fighters that were developed in this very shipyard. The massive structures, ship component factories, and manufacturing arrays nearly completely blocked the view to the red planet below. He followed behind the large fighter into a mini starbase that looked far older than the modern designs around it. It had but one use in this century which was the shelter and secrecy of the NX-2001 Endeavour. The extra security around it was to keep it away from the eyes of spies of hostile empires. The access port was barely able to fit the fighters and his runabout and only when he entered did he see his destination.
"So this is.. The Endeavour.." He had been around many Excelsior class starships during the war but what he saw was nearly completely different in appearance. It truly fit the notion of an engineers paradise with its massive design changes.
The "Tragic" story of the Endeavour NX-2001 was well known throughout Starfleet. It was built as the sister ship of the Excelsior NX-2000 and was hailed as the two ships that would bring a new era of exploration with the new Transwarp drive. The Excelsior launched and despite hundreds of attempts could never get the drive to function. As a result the Excelsior was refit and launched with normal warp drive destined to become the first of a line of great ships that rewrote the Federation. The Endeavour, however faced a crisis as it's Transwarp drive was built into the design and thus the only way the ship could function for decades was impulse alone. As a result it became the brunt of jokes and regarded as an easy prey for the research divisions of Starfleet. After the Transwarp drive was finally removed two decades later it was officially classified as a engineering testbed and never left the solar system. It held many secrets and Williams was sure that Starfleet considered the loss of those secrets to be of little consequence if he failed.
"This is Endeavour NX-2001 Shuttle bay one clear straight in pad five Welcome Captain Williams" Williams figured at once the lady on the comms did not participate in the war. War communications was never cheerful and often frantic with many craft approaching and some damaged. This is one of the many things that gave him unease about this mission. His orders was to not reveal to the crew about the true nature of using Timescape until a new crew trained for the mission arrived. He was to take control of their ship... Their home and remove them when it came time and likely resulting in it's destruction. He felt like a thief moving a sleeping family so he could make off with the house yet he comforted himself with the fact that the crew would not be forced to participate in the unlawful and likely suicidal mission.
He noticed at once that this was no ordinary shuttle bay. It was far more massive than normal and he noticed four Sabre fighters and berths for two more which he assumed was his escort. This was not the cramped bay of the Intrepid and he easily landed the runabout on the pad without the LIDAR assistance.
A whistle was heard in the bay. "Captain Arriving!" He opened the hatch and found the officers lined up at attention to greet him. "Captain Williams welcome to the Endeavour!" Williams was shocked to see Commander Styles as the former commander of the Endeavour.
"Styles? Now how the hell did they manage to get you to serve on a stationary starship?" Williams always figured Styles to want to lead front line battlecarriers or even battleships. "Intrepid too small for you?"
"Intrepid was huge compared to the experimental high warp transport I commanded last year captain" Styles wore a smile that told Williams he was telling the truth. "Sleek, Fast, deadly, and hard for the Romulans to even think of capturing. Yet not the best when it comes to leg room." He reached out to shake hands. "I heard they were thinking about asking you to command the Endeavour so I made sure to come first to make sure it would be as hard on you as possible. Per the norm!"
"I heard a few others from the Intrepid are also serving on this ship. How many is it Styles?" Williams was making small talk to keep his mind off the future.
"Fifty-Seven! The rumor shot through subspace fast and personnel thought for a time it was all a joke. As you can tell it wasn't and she sure is different! Let me show you around. Officers to your stations!" He dismissed the officers and led Williams to the turbolift.
"Is there a single inch of this ship the eggheads have not touched Styles?" Williams was amazed at how different the ship was compared to any Excelsior class he had ever seen. Almost every section was from another era. Some somewhat tweaked and remained for almost a century. It was truly an engineer and designer dream.
"That is doubtful Captain Endeavour was made to be prodded and often it does experiments on us!" An officer with a singed uniform stepped forward.
"Marcus! You look like hell or should I say the same you looked at academy" Williams shook the hands of Chief Engineer Marcus who was renowned for his service onboard the Enterprise-B during the war yet spent most of his Starfleet career on the Endeavour.
"I can say I feel like it too. Damn that Quinn he has us running far too much power through these conduits for his play toy Timescape. The Endeavour may be built to experiment with but that bastard routinely takes things too far!" He took out a cloth and tired to clean off his uniform failing miserably.
"I understand you designed this new warp core system. And that it is also in use in front line battleships. Alot of power for an Excelsior class isn't it?"
"I ought to have guessed they wanted to keep what this baby can do quiet. Let me guess you still think Endeavour still comes with her puny Type three shielding and peashooter Type two phase blasters correct?"
Williams smiled knowing where this was going "Yes"
"Well I can't blame them for making the ship look like crap to keep the spies away yet as her new captain you deserve to know the truth" Marcus opened up a holoscreen showing schematics on the Endeavour that were completely different from those Williams had on the PADD. "Instead of the usual sixteen we have 32 external phase blaster ports and they are Type five!"
"Type five? That is battleship class weaponry! How did you get clearance to install that many?" Williams expected the weaponry to be upgraded but not in this fashion.
"We told them it was an experiment in weapons manufacturing. You ought to have seen it. We completely converted Shuttlebay Two into a factory and from it we upgraded the core, the weapons, and shielding. We also developed a new anti torpedo system that uses miniature railguns launching small antimatter charges. Not the best against shielded types but against the massive armored torpedoes the romulans use.. We have simulated about seventy eight percent effectiveness. And we can have have phase cannons installed in case all else fails."
Williams noticed the flashing failure warnings "Says here the torpedoes are offline. That is a serious issue is it not?"
"I agree yet orders from Starfleet are exact. Focus all engineering efforts into ensuring the proper demonstration of the Timescape device" He said the orders in a sarcastic tone. He did not like being constrained because some scientist convinced Starfleet his new idea was the best thing since sliced bread.
"Orders are orders yet I want you to know that I know that getting between an engineer and his core is never my style and that this is your show in engineering. Give me Warp nine point four and power to run your phase blasters and I will let you run your shop your way."
"Appreciated captain! If you will excuse me I have to get this console repaired before the next conduit decides to punish us for Quinn's arrogance. Maybe you can ask them to put us in Timescape and give us TIME to finish this?" The crew had a laugh at that. Many in engineering were descendants of the very engineers and scientists who worked on the Excelsior and Endeavour when the ships were still the great experiments.
Timescape was as Williams expected after reading the reports on its operation and construction even if it looked like a device from a fantasy holonovel. It sat in a section of the ship originally built to house the transwarp induction crystals. And as such had the best access to the power needed for the various experiments and operation. Showing this was the plethora of energy plasma lines going in and out of the two massive crystal like cores that made up the central part of the device.
"Just what kind of ship is this? Is it too much to ask that repair orders get done when I need them and not HOURS later?!" Quinn was doing what he was well known for. Verbally berating engineers and officers who were nearly forced into "Timescape Duty"
"Endeavour has been around for a long time and the conduits you are drawing power from have not been used for decades. Only you could be so arrogant as to assume that things run perfectly or can be repaired instantly." Williams had a game plan for dealing with Edward Quinn and for the sake of the mission he was only executing part of it. And not the part where Quinn gets marooned on a habitable world.
"Captain Williams. I should have known I would have the misfortune of Starfleet selecting you to captain this rust bucket. They want their big war hero to get in the holonews with the man who saved the Federation." He walked up and tired to look tough "That I can live with but this is MY operation and Starfleet has made it clear of that. Interfere with this one and you will be lucky to be on any post other than the Border Station Fifteen!" This was a station jointly owned by the Federation and the Romulan Star Empire that sat in the neutral zone. Starfleet personnel and diplomats were forced to watch the Romulan side of low level political actors get drunk and do nothing in case a real diplomatic crisis came up. It was considered the most unwelcome posting in both territories.
"Your operation my ship and you will conform to safety guidelines on operation of the powergrid now what is the status on Phase two testing?" Williams laid down the law and Quinn decided now was not the time to protest.
"A week maybe two away from demonstration assuming these idiots get the grid stable and we get the crystals synced again. Until then why don't you get this rust bucket to do what it does best and leave me and my team to finish things up before we all perish from this power grid?"
On the turbolift to deck one Williams had wondered if the bridge would end up upside down or the stark metal and duotronic walls of the NX Class. Instead when the doors opened he found the Bridge virtually untouched outside of software upgrades. A wide room filled with the stark white light he was so used to on vessels from this era. The walls held older style displays running older versions of LCARS software while the center consisted of the captains seat in the middle of a section of various helm and tactical consoles.
"I was just as surprised when I arrived Captain" Styles went down and relieved a man working on the science station. "Most of the ship has been upgraded to Isolinear circuitry yet the bridge was virtually untouched as a control to all the other upgrades and experiments they were running. The equipment is old captain but it makes things better for the serious testing we have ahead of us."
Williams apprehensively approached the Captain's Chair. "Styles you remember what happened last time right?"
"Yes Captain I had a repair crew inspect it before you arrived. There ought to be a reduced chance of structural failure" He pressed a button and the seat adjusted for Williams to sit down.
"I am glad you have installed profiles. I could never understand how you could sit so high up. Another inferiority complex Mister Styles?"
"We can debate the semantics of seat positions and failures later. I would like to introduce you to Mister Mayweather the current Helm Officer for the Endeavour" He called the officer over.
"Mister Mayweather I understand in your file that you have descended from early transport pioneers. Quite big shoes to fill" Williams was referring to the early days of the Earth Cargo Authority where warp speeds barely exceeded warp one. And were constantly preyed upon by pirates.
"Yes sir a heritage I am proud of. Yet needless to say I am glad it does not take entire grades in school to reach destinations these days. And the food is better. No Mystery Meals I hope captain." He stood at attention and returned to his post.
"Starfleet rations are better these days but I do hope it wont come to that" He sat in the captains chair and found it to his satisfaction. "Mister styles my orders said that the ship would be ready to depart today. Do we have impulse and thrusters?"
"We do captain and as my last act before turning over the ship I ordered preparations for departure to the sol eight pattern we are ready to go when you are" He returned to his post and made sure that the passageways had been disconnected and clearance was still there.
"Very well. Lets let the Endeavour do what Quinn.." He held up his fingers in quotes "Thinks it does best" He snorted "Helm set course out of spacedock and enter the planetary highway." He stood up and directed "We may be but on a pleasure cruise around the solar system but I want everyone to be on full alert and all systems ready for the Timescape demonstration. We will show Starfleet and the Federation that Endeavour is no rust bucket!"
With the warning lights flashing the massive Starship maneuvered out of spacedock for the first time in a decade. Shuttlepods moved about as the massive starship maneuvered into a departure lane following a patrol vessel away from the shipyards. The impulse crystals glowed to life pushing the ship quickly towards it's next destination of Earth.
One Week Later...
Without any valid reason to return to spacedock Endeavour was ordered to remain in the "Sol Eight" Pattern until preparations for the demonstration came to a conclusion. Slowly pedaling around the solar system it arrived to Jupiter again to be used as target practice for a group of Starfleet cadets.
"Idiots!" Williams thought aloud as he watched the comical show going on outside his window. The harmless phase bolts were landing all over the shield and almost none were focused on any critical area. The spray and pray tactics got a horrific number of his pilots killed in the war and he fought his urge to order the phase blasters to show them what a real combat situation is.
"Captain Williams call coming from Admiral Hodges shall I patch it to your quarters?" The bridge officer again talked in the same calm tone that irked Williams.
"Yes I will take it here." He straightened up his uniform and went to his desk to find the console flipping open. "Amy you are just in time to watch the three ring circus of Starfleet Academy"
"I am sorry our cadets do not meet your very.. Strict requirements captain. However I pulled an Admiral Lafayette on them so I hope that will make things shall we say more realistic?" She pressed a button and outside Williams saw another squad of senior cadets engage the far less experienced wings. If it had been a real engagement it would have been a bloodbath yet today the only damage was pride and the logbooks from the massive about of goading and foul language.
"I am sure my bridge crew appreciates your timely arrival. Any longer and we may have died from boredom" He sat back " Yet I am sure you did not call me just to torture cadets Admiral" He smile vanished.
"We need to move up the operation by two and a half weeks" Amy looked down. Things were getting serious.
"The demonstration is still three days away that gives me very little time to select the correct plan and prepare the attack crew for it." He looked upon the monitor with worry. "Has there been any changes?"
"We have intel the installation is now producing a Supercarrier based on the new Reman designs. If this info it correct it will be the largest ship in the alpha quadrant and most likely will be flagship on a renewed invasion. You understand what must happen.."
"Yes" William replied solemnly "It must be neutralized"
"Captain" Styles walked up to Williams while he was on watch. "I am reading here that we are to receive a full complement of photon torpedoes as well as final supplies for the demonstration"
"That is correct we will rendezvous with the war transport Yukon in two hours and load war supplies in accordance with our orders Mister Styles."
"Endeavour has never been loaded with more than ten torpedoes this seems very unusual for a test captain" Styles was rather shocked at his captains passive attitude towards the situation.
"Mister Styles our orders are to commit to the demonstration as near to combat ready as possible. I can understand the launchers not being repaired due to Timescape yet Starfleet and myself expect this crew to show the training and experience needed in case of a hostile situation is that clear?" Williams was acting annoyed to avoid potentially revealing the true reason for the torpedoes being loaded. "As soon as we return to spacedock we will have time to get repair crews to online all systems for subsequent tests. Until then carry out your duties"
Admiral Amy Hodges watched the Earth below from her view high on Starbase 1. The sun was slowly setting on the horizon giving the atmosphere a fiery glow. Soon a computer chirp announced a visitor.
"Come in!" Another Admiral entered with a rather pale look. "I assume you have updated reports on the supercarrier?"
"Admiral Hodges we have received critical new information from our sources showing the pro-peace elements of the Romulan senate are gaining political ground. This might be due to the crushing resource cost of the last war." He handed her a PADD
"Interesting. if this is correct they are now even daring to question the Praetor's stance of the Federation. I wonder..." She continued to read the PADD with an impassive look.
"Admiral! We must delay the operation! If we allow Captain Williams to attack as scheduled it could completely destroy the peace movement in the senate and cause even more war hawks to take their place!" He had to say something. The plan was always insane but desperation often brought the worst of systems.
"That is enough!" Admiral Hodges nearly broke the PADD slamming it down. "We have no confirmation that this is not another Romulan attempt to deceive our intelligence gathering sources. "She sat down and brought up the schedule. It was showing the test run of Timescape to be the next day. "We have come too far to bet the future of the Federation on a rumor of peace. I will not cancel the operation and Williams will act on his orders.
"Amy please!"
"Thank you for bringing this to my attention Admiral. I want the reconnaissance on the Supercarrier brought to me as soon as possible. Good day!" She dismissed the other and went back to viewing the earth. Covered in darkness...
Near the Sol Star
The day had finally arrived for the first manned Timescape test. Williams noticed that the bridge had finally developed the war like calm he was used to on these dangerous missions. This crew had tested experimental warp cores, weapon and defense systems, power routing, computer systems and other experiments that were just as dangerous as facing a hostile force. The crew was as experienced as it gets when it comes to real danger and Williams was glad to see them taking it seriously. He knew this was likely to be the last time they would ever work with the ship.
"We are approaching the testing course." Mayweather noted from the comm station as the indicator showed the start position quickly moving toward them.
"Very well drop out of warp!" The ship announced its presence with a boom and at once the various smaller craft moved to make detailed scans. All along the planned route towards the sun was a fleet of starships, drones and shuttles that made up a detailed network of sensors that would allow any errors to be precisely recorded both inside and out of timescape.
"Make preparations and calculations to achieve velocity for the timescape activation. Double check the heat shields so we don't end up as a new comet. Also, I want everyone at their posts. Red Alert!" At once the Klaxon sounded and people were running towards their battlestations.
"Timescape here we are ready for powerup" Quinn proceeded to enter commands into the vastly more modern systems. The two massive crystals began to spin in opposite directions and a low whirring was heard in the room. "Sync is looking good we are green for time effects!" This was the moment Quinn was waiting for. His moment of glory was here and all that stood between him and it was a few minutes of warp.
Williams went to the captains chair "Understood Timescape. Put me through to command" The screen flashed to Admiral Hodges "Admiral" He stood at attention "We are powered up and prepared to demonstrate the timescape system."
"Crew of the Endeavour. I have the great honor of approving this mission. Your actions may write you into the history books for ending major conflict and giving us real peace and prosperity for generations! Be proud as I am proud of you the crew of the great Endeavour. Commence timescape operation!" She played the part perfectly. Timescape had been funded for one reason. Glory and prosperity was not the goal.
"All crew brace for time effects. Lock plan into the computer and go to warp Mister Mayweather!" He brought up a subscreen that asked him to authorize fully automated control over the helm. He pressed a button and the ship jumped to warp.
"Reporting on velocity! Warp two, warp three, warp five..."
In timescape Quinn was considering aborting after seeing evidence of the strange reading again. However, the modifications seemed to be holding it back so he proceeded. "Activate the interface with the warp field!" Outside the warp field began to shift in spectrum and glow as the crystals caused the field to alter in subtle ways.
Back on the bridge things were starting to shake due to the rapid acceleration and the pull of the suns gravity "Warp seven..Warp eight!..." The bridge was loudly shaking "Warp nine!... nine point two...nine point three!
Mister Styles yelled from the science stations "Approaching timewarp conditions ready for breakaway!" A light blew from the shaking and soon a ruptured air line joined the chaos of sound.
"Achieve breakaway! Activate timescape!"
"Crystal sync good.. Power normal... WHAT?" What Edward Quinn saw would stay with him for the rest of his life. "NO! Captain Abort ABORT!" It was too late.
Outside the ship the sun's gravity pulled on the warp field with such force that breakaway pushed the ship out of the the universe and into timewarp. Soon the effects from timescape caused massive shockwaves to form and the ship was thrown about with unstable energy. The crew fell unconscious and could do nothing as the ship vanished from the sensors of the Federation...
A shockwave gyrated in all directions as the ship exited through a barrage of energy and plasma. The computer was only barely able to drop out of warp before the field completely collapsed. Warp plasma spewed from the port nacelle and air flew away from the stricken ship giving the appearance of a perishing beast.
Williams came out of consciousness to the yell of the Klaxon and a world of grayish red that slowly focused into a warp panel showing red alert. He painfully pulled himself back into the chair and loudly called "Report!" No answer "REPORT!"
Finally Styles was able to get to his feet. "Captain" He checked the console "Multiple microfractures on the hull..Main power is offline..We only have thrusters."
"Condition of the crew?" Something had gone horribly wrong and he found that the thoughts of his future mission had completely faded away.
"Unknown captain most of the ship's comm systems are down. Emergency power is coming online" Lights started to come on showing the damage to the bridge. "I suggest we contact Starfleet on our situation"
"Agreed" he stood up. Open communication with Starfleet command..." He waited "What is wrong?"
"No response to our hails captain.. I don't understand" Styles checked and double checked the console which reported the system was transmitting and receiving.
"Starfleet Command this is Endeavour NX-2001 declaring an emergency situation please respond..." No response "Starfleet command this is no time for games the Endeavour has taken serious damage please respond at once!" Still nothing leaving him and the rest of the bridge crew confused. "Report on the condition of our subspace equipment Mister Styles"
"Captain it is working... There is just nothing from subspace except background noise and a great deal of it. None of the standard starfleet frequencies are working and there is nothing on the emergency bands." His eyes went wide and what he saw next "Captain there seems to be alot of activity in the EM bands. So much so that I cant make sense of any of it at this range." He continued to try different techniques to get a response without any luck.
"The EM band is reserved for emergency speed of light use only.. Possibility of a subspace attack or heavy jamming?" Williams thought aloud and decided to investigate. "Engineering what is the status on propulsion and power?"
"We are just now getting the fires out. Warp drive is out of the question for some time, but I can give you limited impulse power." He looked upon the smoke filled bay with it's heavy damage and proceeded to route the power.
"Mister Mayweather I want you to plot a course back to Earth at low impulse" He went forward to the helm.
"Captain.. Unless my equipment is broken the Navigational stars are not where they belong. They are showing as way out of position.."
An Icy ball formed in William's stomach...
"How out of position?..."
Chapter End