Star Trek: Odyssey: Episode 02
Captain's Log: Stardate: 57176.9. We've been ordered to Gamma Quadrant to do some exploring since Starfleet hasn't been to the Gamma Quadrant since the days of the Dominion War. Once over there we are to steer clear of Dominion inhabited territories and begin exploration. First, we are to stop by Deep Space Nine for a little R and R.
With the Alexandria docked at Upper Pylon Two, the promenade was filled with alot more black and grey uniforms than usual. The crew of the Alexandria were all around the station doing a variety of activities. A few were in Quark's Bar either enjoying drinks or playing Dabo, Tongo and even darts. The dart board was occupied by Dr. Plumley, Commander Zofchak, Commander Merriell and Counselor Nycz with a guys versus girls game. So far the girls were winning. The loser of the game had to buy a round of drinks. Quark didn't care about the abundance of Starfleet officers in his bar. He was content as long as he was making money.
Captain Allensworth walked with Colonel Kira around the Promenade. Kira wore her Starfleet uniform instead of her Bajoran uniform. Allensworth recalled seeing her in her Bajoran uniform and admitted that he thought that she looked better in a Starfleet uniform. Allensworth reminded Kira of Captain Sisko. It wasn't really how he looked because other than having dark skin, Allensworth didn't really look like Sisko. It was more of the way how he presented himself she finally figured.
"So you have orders to the Gamma Quadrant?" Kira asked.
"That's right." He replied.
"Just be careful of the Dominion forces. Even though they don't rule the Gamma Quadrant I think they might be a little sore from the war."
"I plan to be."
Ezri Dax stood on the upper level with Security Chief Ro Laren watching the traffic.
"I wonder why they'd be sending a ship into the Gamma Quadrant.?" Erzi asked.
"I don't believe Starfleet has been over there since the Dominion War." Ro said.
Ro noticed a look of worry spread across Ezri's face. The Dax successor caught Ro's concern.
"You're probably getting ready to ask me 'what's wrong?' And it's nothing really just I don't want the Dominion to start anything again."
"Nothing is going to start up and the Dominion don't own the quadrant."
"Yeah, I guess you're right."
Ezri stood up from her leaning position and began to walk away.
"Where are you going?" Ro asked.
"I'm going to meet Julian at Quark's." Ezri said without turning around.
Ro jogged up to catch up with the station's counselor and followed her to the Ferengi's bar.
Hours later, the Sovereign class ship disembarked from Deep Space Nine and increased its impulse towards the wormhole. This was the first time that Allensworth had been through the wormhole or the entire senior staff for that matter. The wormhole swirled into existence from what looked like complete nothingness. The Alexandria flew in without problems. The viewscreen showed a multitude of colors, mainly of blue and yellow. Blue streams passed all around them like water ducts. The occasional white flash lit up the viewscreen as if it was storming inside the wormhole. The crew looked in almost awe but kept their composure and professionalism. Shortly later, the ship emerged from the wormhole in a different quadrant. Merriell checked his instruments.
"We're in the Gamma Quadrant." He reported.
Allensworth stood up from his command chair and stood in between ops and navigation. What's the last planet to be explored by the Federation?"
"According to sensors, we are very near Dominion territory." Merriell said.
A beeping sound filled the bridge. It was coming from the ops station. Merriell pressed a few buttons to see what had alerted his station.
"Sir, we're picking up a distress signal. Audio only."
Not again.
"Put it on." Allensworth said.
Merriell pressed a button and the distress call filled the air.
"This is Captain Eri...of the Starship...experiencing...Sineron..."
"That's all we have. It repeats after that."
The transmission ended.
"I wasn't aware of any other starships in the area." Sparhawk said.
"I wasn't either. I guess we'll find out who it is and why they're over here." Allensworth said. He turned from his first officer to the navigator. "Helm, set a course for the source of the transmission."
"Course laid in, sir." Moran reported.
"Hit it."
The ship was thrown into warp going towards the nearest system.
Shortly later, the Sovereign class vessel entered a system unknown to them. On the view screen, the pasty streaks of green slowly disintegrated into the familiar void of space. This system was known as the Sineron system.
"Report."
"We entered the Sineron system." Merriell reported. "It consists of seven planets two of which are M class and the second planet of system is able to sustain life."
"Well, we have one part of the mystery solved. Now for the rest. Head for that planet and enter a high orbit."
Moran pressed a few buttons on her panel and the ship moved towards the Earth like planet. A large planet with brilliant blue oceans and fertile plains swooped into view alongside the stars.
"High orbit achieved, sir." Moran said.
"Any ships nearby?"
"Negative, sir." Merriell reported.
"Could they have been destroyed or crashed on the planet? Nycz asked.
"I'm not picking up any debris, ion trails, or anything that would suggest that they crashed into the planet or have been destroyed." Merriell said. "However, I am picking up a faint reading. Possibly a metallic object."
"Commander, I want you to send an away team down there and investigate." Allensworth said turning to Sparhawk.
"Aye, sir. Merriell, Fulks. You're with me." Sparhawk said heading to the turbolift. "Doctor Plumley, Zofchak, meet us in transporter room two, we're beaming down to the surface."
"On my way." Plumley said over the intercom.
"On my way, Commader." Zofchak replied almost instantly after.
Minutes later, the two officers reported to the transporter room ready to be beamed down to the surface. A stocky man stood behind the controls. He was already graying but he didn't seem any older than thirty-five.
"I've got the coordinates locked to the northern continent." The transporter chief said.
"How close will we be to the object?" Sparhawk asked.
"Practically right on top of it, sir."
"Very good." Sparhawk said. He looked to his officers to see that they were in place on the pads. "Energize."
The five officers felt their bodies dematerialize and a brief second later, re-materialize on the planet's surface.
Sineron Two was nothing like Commander Sparhawk had imagined. Upon hearing their beam-down location to be on the northern continent, thoughts of a desolate, frigid glacier crossed his mind.
He was mildly surprised when a crisp, cool breeze rushed across the rocky terrain and greeted his skin. The terrain was more of a desert than anything else. A few disconsolate trees dotted the terrain amidst a field of untamed brown and yellow grasses, but for the most part, they walked upon nothing but sheer dirt and rock along the edge of a small ridge.
The sky was filled with melancholy clouds that seemed to meander endlessly through the atmosphere. The few breaks in the overcast conditions revealed a drab blue firmament hiding behind them.
"Nice place." Sparhawk mused as he started surveying the area with his tricorder.
The away team looked around and didn't see anything other than the natural terrain of Sineron Two. Sparhawk tapped his comm badge.
"Chief, are you sure you have the right coordinates?"
"Yes, sir. You should be right in front of the object." The chief replied.
"Commander, you might want to take a look at this." Zofchak called.
The rest of the team turned around to see that Zofchak was at the edge of a cliff. The others walked to him and to their surprise they found their mystery ship. Feelings of shock ran through the other four members of the away team.
"But, this is impossible." Plumley said.
"It would explain what happened to it, though." Zofchak said scanning it with his tricorder.The chief engineer lowered his tricorder and looked to his superior.
Sparhawk turned to the chief engineer. "Can readings confirm it, Dustin."
"There's no doubt, sir. According to these readings, it is in fact NX class."
Sparhawk returned his awestruck gaze to the ship that had disappeared without a trace over two hundred years ago. The NX-02, USS Columbia.
