Unnamed unaligned planet in Sector 220.
May 12, 2367.
Captain Plith was attending a diplomatic function on one of the nearby non-aligned planets. Thanks to an overheard conversation, he had decided to make the most of the opportunity of having the extra Enterprise crew at his disposal. Some of the pilots were putting on a display to remember.
The crowd oohed and aaahhed as they watched the aerial display on two giant screens. Like the crowd, he found himself dividing his attention between the aerial display above him and the display screens to his left. The starbase captain grinned to himself as he noted the awe on the faces of the visiting diplomats from eight of the ten nearby non-aligned planets of sector 15. Nothing like a bit of impressive aerial stunt flying to impress upon the locals the advantages of membership in the Federation.
He had to admit that, for once, the gossip mongers hadn't exaggerated. That young admiral's kid was every bit as talented as people said he was. If anything, he was even better. The current pretend dog fight between the Enterprise team, and the starbase team was spectacular.
Suddenly, a giant explosion sounded above him. As one, the crowed looked over to see smoke pouring out of one of the starbase's shuttlecraft. It shuddered and careened out of control for a minute before beginning a rapid uncontrolled descent toward the watching crowd on the planet surface. Evacuation procedures began sounding out over the comm system.
Plith opened his communications link to the shuttle. He listened as Ensign Paris of the Enterprise walked through the shut-down procedure with Commander Lucash.
"I can't control our descent."
"Riq, it's okay. We're right here with you. Focus on the shut down procedure. We're going to do the rest. But you've got to trust me. Are the dampeners off-line?
"I'm trying. What the ?"
Out of nowhere the lead Enterprise shuttle swooped in. The crowd paused, compulsively watching the view screens in stunned amazement as the shuttle performed a series of seemingly impossible maneuverers around the damaged shuttle. It soon became obvious that the Enterprise shuttle was using the wake of its momentum, in combination with the judicious but interspersed bursts from its tractor beam to redirect the falling shuttle's trajectory.
"Tom, we're offline. OH ###."
Plith heard what sounded like another explosion on the base shuttle. "We're on fire!"
"Is everyone OK?
"Shaw's unconscious but escaped the brunt of the explosion. The transporters are totally fried and we can't shut down the shields."
"Deep breath, Riq. Focus on getting the fire under control. Danvers work on the shields."
"We're slowing down."
"Like I said, Lucash, we've got your back. Shield and fire suppression. That's your job right now."
The energy force from both the close aerial manoeuvres and the intermittent tractor beam was resulting in the damaged, and now blazing shuttle being redirected back into outer space in the firm shadow of the second shuttle.
"Lucash, everyone okay in there?"
"Yeah. It's bumpy as all git out. What are you doing?"
"Stopping you from crashing. What's happening with the shields?"
"The shield's primary system wires are fused."
"What about the secondary's?"
"Intact, but the pathways been compromised."
"Okay, here's what I want you to do …"
Plith listened spellbound as Ensign Paris guided the two teams through a complicated and highly irregular fix for the shield while simultaneously co-ordinating and performing breathtaking manoeuvres at high impulse.
A minute later they were a safe enough distance away. Spell bound, the crowd watched as the tractor beam was fully disengaged. Another impressive 180 degree manoeuvre brought the second shuttle in behind the first.
"Okay shuttle 2, brace yourselves for impact."
A second later an icy ionic phaser burst flashed out encompassing the damaged shuttle in a soft icy mist, dousing the flames instantly, and stopping the shuttle itself dead in its tracks. The Enterprise shuttle fully engaged its tractor beam once more, bringing the now lifeless shuttle back to the ground. Two minutes later, the announcement, over the conn system, that the crew of the damaged shuttle had been safely rescued was received with jubilation.
Captain Plith breathed a sigh of relief. If that little display of Starfleet competence in the midst of an unexpected crisis didn't win over this sector, nothing would. Heck, he was impressed! And his father was a veteran test pilot. Man, who'd have thought that those class 5 shuttles were capable of those kind of moves! That kid wasn't just good, he was in a class all of his own. "Well done, people. Well done. Debriefing in the conference room in an hour."
Thoughts of the conversation with Admiral Neycheyev floated through his brain. Could it have been sabotage?
"Plith to maintenance. I want a full investigation on that shuttle. Go over it with a fine tooth comb."
Putting aside his concerns for a more appropriate time, Plith plastered a confident smile onto his face as he turned back to face the delegates.
No wonder, Captain Picard wanted this kid on his ship. It obviously had nothing to do with his pedigree. Too bad. I could really use that kind of skill and ingenuity around here.
Captain Plith ruthlessly suppressed the direction his thoughts were going. He'd been handed the opportunity of a life-time on a silver platter. Now was the time to focus on consolidating the attainable. Of course, a memo to personnel requesting the kid for consideration as head pilot here at Starbase 220 once he's clocked the hours and the necessary rank wouldn't hurt either.