Karma's a B*tch
A month later…
"Captain…"
"What is it, Ensign?"
"It's happening again, sir. There's… interference on the intraship communication systems."
"What kind of interference?"
"The same song, sir."
"The piña colada one?"
"The very same, sir."
"Damn ship's been having this problem ever since we've been assigned here. *Huff* Has there been any progress on removing the 'tertiary generator' from the engine room?"
"No, sir. Every time we attempt to remove it, power to the engine room decreases steadily down to zero."
When Captain Andrew Flatt received orders to transfer to the S.S. Enterprise, as her captain, he was excited but also shocked. It was well known that Captain Kirk protected his crew and ship with a determination bordering on the obsessive but, quite a few of the crew have whispered that there was something else keeping them safe. They never say what that might be but, there is a fierce loyalty to the captain and the ship itself so, no one expected there to be any change. When it was confirmed that the entire bridge crew was being reassigned, it was huge news. And yet, Flatt was beginning to wonder about the warning that Admiral Archer gave him along with his orders.
Begin flashback
"You are to take command of the S.S. Enterprise in three days' time. The bridge crew, CMO, and Chief Engineer are the only personnel that are changing. The rest of the roster will stay the same. Is that understood, Captain?"
"Yes, sir. Is there anything else?"
"One more thing and I want you to listen to me very carefully; the Enterprise isn't like other ships."
"Sir?"
"The Enterprise… you have to gain her trust."
"I beg your pardon, sir. I'm afraid that you lost me."
"There's this old Earth show about a time travelling alien and his ship. The ship is alive but, she can't communicate except by helping the man who travels with her and keep him safe. The Enterprise is like that but with one exception."
"What would that be sir?"
"The Enterprise can have other captains if, and that is a big if, they earn her trust and loyalty." Archer could see that Flatt didn't really believe him but, knew that the new captain would be seeing what he meant shortly.
"Just be prepared for some 'glitches' for a while is all."
"I will sir."
End flashback
"Alright, alright. Let's get her to Starbase 15 in one piece. Helmsman."
"Sir?"
"Lay in a course for Starbase 15 at Warp 6.6."
"Yes sir. Course laid in, receiving all clear from engineering."
"Take her away."
What happened next no one was expecting. Not Kirk, Scotty or even Archer. What happened next was so unusual that Starfleet makes no mention of it beyond the official report. It was the one and only time that a starship refused to accept the orders of her crew.
