Chapter 2

Starfleet Yards

Utopia Planitia

1 Week Later

Captain Terry Anders felt a slight bumping through the command chair.

"Ben to the Bridge!"

"Anders here. Why are you on the com, Ben?"

"My dad told me to call up. He says that we need to scram warp core #2 again!"

"Core number 2 again? Now what's wrong with that devil?"

"The computer is having trouble keeping the mater-antimatter ratio correct."

Terry thought about it for a second.

"Go ahead and shut her down. Bring core number 3 up to full power to compensate."

"I... Aye sir."

"Ops, open a channel to the Enterprise."

"One minute sir. I am going to need to restart my panel."

Terry sighed as he thought about everything. Warp core two had been giving no end of trouble for the past three days. This was the sixth time that it had to be scrammed.

"Sir!" Called the ensign at Ops. "I have the Enterprise!"

Terry remembered how the Enterprise arrived the day before and Captain Picard had hailed him to introduce himself.

"Onscreen, ensign."

Jean Luc Picard appeared.

"Is there a problem Captain?"

"Yes, we are suffering a rather persistent set of problems with one of our warp cores. I was wondering if there was any chance of our borrowing your Chief Engineer for a few hours? We are still waiting for most of our crew to come on-board, so we are rather shorthanded."

"I believe we can spare him for a few hours. I will have Lieutenant LaForge beam aboard with a repair team momentarily. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"Other than letting me give my kid a tour of your lovely ship? No, I think that covers it."

"Very well. Picard Out."

Terry looked down at the timer on the command chair.

"Mr. Archer!" Terry said.

"Yes sir?" Asked the man at the Weapons station.

"You have the bridge!"

"Aye Sir!"

With that, Terry stepped into the turbo-lift.

"Computer, ship-bay please."

The turbo-lift chirped and started moving. Terry had not had a chance to visit the ship-bay when it had its atmosphere. He looked forward to seeing it. Terry's com-badge chirped.

"Bridge to Captain Anders!"

"Anders, go ahead."

"Sir, the USS Venture has completed her refit. She says she needs to dock immediately."

"Very well. I will oversee her docking myself from ship-bay.

"Yes sir. Bridge out."

Terry noticed the turbo-lift slowing, and then it stopped. The doors hissed open and Terry stepped out.

"Dad!" Shouted the boy standing near the backup control panel."

"Hey buddy! What are you doing down here?"

"I am watching the ship that's coming in!"

"Is there anything you don't know about what goes on around here, Mark? Asked Terry, already knowing the answer. His son was telepathic and had a bad habit of taking information from people using this gift.

"Oh, there are a few things I am sure. May I stay?"

"Of course you can! Just make sure to stay out of the way."

"Thanks, dad!"

"Yep, now I need to call the incoming ship."

"See you later, dad."

Terry stepped over to the main control panel.

"Computer, bring the main ship-bay controls on-line."

The computer beeped and the panel lit up.

Terry touched the panel activating a command.

"USS Victory to USS Venture"

"Venture here. Request permission to dock!"

"Venture, you are clear to dock at bay one. Proceed on thrusters only."

"Understood, Bay one and thrusters only. Venture out."

Terry looked up to see the galaxy class ship start creeping into the bay through the atmospheric force field.

"Bridge to ship-bay control, the Klingons have arrived."

"Understood. What ship did they end up sending us?" asked Terry.

"It's the Bird-Of-Prey IKS Fearless."

"Very well, ship-bay out."

Terry tapped to control panel again.

"Victory to Fearless."

"Glory to you, Victory! We dock at your command!" Came the gruff sounding voice.

"Fearless, You are cleared to dock at bay three. Please proceed on thrusters only and be aware of the galaxy class docking at bay one."

"We hear and obey! Fearless out!"

"Defiant to Victory, request docking instructions."

"Defiant, stand by please."

"Picard to Anders, Command wants us to dock with you."

"Enterprise, please wait."

"Defiant, clear to dock at bay four. Enterprise, clear to dock at bay two."

Terry smiled to himself. It was the beginning of a very interesting day.