David Deceives
"We are approaching the designated coordinates" MAX reported.
"Disengage jump drive – bring us out of warp" Jennifer said. "Proceed on sublight engines. David, we've arrived at the location of the black hole"
"Have Max start sensor scans of the black hole and begin calculations for time travel" David sounded tired. "Is Vinetgar there?"
"He's down in the engine room checking the engines" Jennifer replied. "I figured that after two weeks of all out maximum speed, they'd need a complete check over"
"Aright… yawn… I'm coming up in a couple of minutes" and David closed the channel.
"Max, start a full set of scans on the black hole. Chart its size and gravitational distortion areas and balance that against what you have in your memory banks for updated time travel course"
"Compliance"
"If you have space capacity doing that, run a diagnostic on the main shields and weapons"
"Do you think we will be attacked here?"
"No, but its best to be safe"
"Jenny, I am detecting a small object on the outer edges of the gravity well" MAX said. The main screen lit up with a wire framed image of the surrounding space and a pulsing dot where the unknown object was located.
"Full sensors on that object"
"I am reading one object about the size of a drone ship… It appears to have sustained damage to its engines and is drifting into the black hole"
"Can you recover it?" asked Jenny as David walked onto the Bridge.
"Whats up?"
"Something the size of a drone ship" Jenny told him.
"Life signs?"
"None detected, Navigator, but I can not be certain with the amount of radiation being produced in the local area" MAX was all business for the moment.
"Deploy a shuttle and a pair of Gunstars to bring it in. If it shows any signs of hostility, have the Gunstars take it out"
"The weapons ports are open, Navigator, but there appears to be no power to them at all. As far as I can tell, the only things working are the battery system which is powering only the automatic pilot and thrusters"
"Is the damage internal or external?" David asked as he slipped into the centre seat"
"Internal… There appears to be very little external damage – most of that seems to be from micrometeorite impact"
"Cancel the Gunstars – lock forward weapons onto that location" David ordered. "Have the shuttle close in and relay sensor data before anything else"
"Compliance" MAX replied.
"David, if these readings are correct, the entry portal is still open" Jenny said from the science station.
"A case of whoever was flying it abandoning ship?" David rubbed his stubbled chin in thought. "Max, bring us to a stop. Maintain weapons lock. Have the shuttle tow the drone to just in front of the bow. Bridge to Vinetgar"
"I am here"
"Do you know how to spacewalk?"
"I do"
"Then find a suit that fits and meet me in the forward airlock – we're going to board it, Bridge out. Jenny, I need you to stay on the Bridge and beam us out of there if anything goes bad. Max, anything else from the shuttle?"
"It confirms my previous scans in that there appears to be no external damage"
"Are you able to find out when it was abandoned?"
"No. The computers onboard would have to be powered up"
"Was it here when you tried this the first time?" asked Jenny.
"No" MAX replied. "Navigator, I would be remiss in not suggesting that this could be a trap"
"Understood" David nodded. "Max, in the case of abandoning one of those types of ships, is it normal practice to leave the portal open?"
"No"
"Open a channel"
"There is nobody onboard"
"Yeah, but there must have been a way for it to receive signals. If the communications system was set to passive mode only, it might not show up on your sensors and scanners through this rubbish"
"Logical – channel open"
"Trimaxion Drone Ship, this is the Navigator of the PNV Excelsior – respond"
"I'm picking up a slight increase in power levels" Jenny said, reading from her displays as some readings changed.
"Ship, this is the Navigator of the Excelsior… You are ordered to power your communications and computer systems by order of the Phaelon High Command"
"Vessel 2121 reporting"
"Ship, operational status"
"Systems are returning to operation. Weapons have been disabled. Life support is disabled. Portal is open. My engines are disabled. Navigational systems are inoperative. Communications are operational. Sensors are at reduced power"
"Why are the navigational systems inoperative and not disabled?"
"Rendered inoperative by crew"
"I don't like the sound of that" Jenny said quietly.
"Neither do I…" David agreed. "Ship, why have you been abandoned?"
"Unknown"
"What are your orders regarding anybody who boards you?"
"Self destruction"
"Is that by enemy forces or by all forces?"
"Enemy"
"Myself and this ship's weapons officer will board you shortly in space suits. Are your memory banks intact?"
"Yes"
"Download them to the computer aboard this ship"
"Unable to comply – memory banks encoded… unlock only possible by manual entering of codes"
"Very well… As the senior officer in the area, you are now under my command. You will acknowledge any and all orders from the crew or AI of this ship – disregarding all other previous instructions. Self destruction is not permitted"
"Compliance, Navigator"
"Await boarding, Excelsior out. Max, are you able to override the AI onboard?"
"Of course"
"Good – order that computer to go into safe mode and lock its personality away behind a firewall. Take command and give me a full damage report"
"Understood"
"Jenny, prepare to beam me and Vinetgar out"
"Energy levels are still rising. The other vessel is sending us a transmission"
"Why are they still rising if its on battery power?" Jenny frowned and started a sensor sweep once more of the other vessel.
"ALERT! ENERGY LEVELS REACHING CRITICAL MASS!" MAX suddenly shouted and the Bridge suddenly went to alert status as alarms sounded on most of the stations.
"David, the reactors in Engineering have overloaded – they will breach in four minutes"
"Eject the reactors. Bridge to Vinetgar. Vinetgar, please respond"
"Shuttlecraft doors opening – he's stealing a shuttle" Jenny called out.
"Get a tractor beam on him"
"Ejection systems are ineffective" MAX said.
"Screw it – fire a missile and blow him out of the skies"
"Compliance"
"Can we shut down the reactors?"
"Not enough time – he must have disabled or destroyed the overrides" Jenny told David.
"Vinetgar has been eliminated" MAX called with what sounded like satisfaction.
"Jenny, go and get the baby. Max, order the other ship to close its portal and begin re-airing the inside"
"There is not enough time to do so"
"Use the transporters to beam over air canisters. After that, transport as much food, medical supplies and spare parts as possible"
"What are you doing?" MAX asked as he carried out his orders.
"Plotting a course to put the wave of energy caused by the destruction of the Excelsior in such a way that we'll get our wanted big bang to go back in time. Launch our Gunstars and have them all lock onto the drone with tractor beams or whatever… We'll need them for later. Can you transfer yourself to the drone ship?"
"I will try"
"Good luck" David nodded and went back to work on the Helm.
"David, I've got the baby" Jenny called.
"You've got a minute to pack clothes for us all"
"What about you?"
"I'm going to put the Excelsior into a position where the explosion will give us the needed thrust to go around and travel back in time"
"I hope you plan to get out before the end"
"Yep – one minute" and David closed the channel for the final time. "Max, still with me?"
"For the moment"
"Do you still remember the course headings and speeds we used to get out of this black hole in the first place?"
"Yes"
"The moment you have fully transferred to the drone ship, put that into the navigational computer and be ready to execute it when Excelsior blows up"
"Compliance! Transporter beams have transferred your child and Jenny to the drone ship"
"Alright, abandon ship – once there, activate program Sisko 197" and most of the screens dulled to an inky blackness. David took a moment to activate the main screen and watch as the drone ship suddenly pulsed with light and shot off towards the black hole. "Where I am going" David spoke to the otherwise empty Bridge as the other vessel blinked out of sight, "You can not follow… Computer, stabilise all systems – give me a report on all divisions with the report on the main viewer. Bridge to Vinetgar"
"I am here… I assume our ruse has worked?"
"It has… Jenny and the kid are going to be well on their way to Phaelon before Max gets the navigational computers unlocked. How is the Engine Room?"
"Only cosmetic damage to bulkheads – all drive systems are fully operational. The vessel's time travel device is powering up and will be ready soon"
"Good. I'm going to be busy plotting the stuff to put in the drive to make it get us to the point we want. Last time me and Tammy did this, we had the help of Max… Is it a bad time to say I sometimes failed basic math?"
"Yes. Vinetgar out" and David chuckled as he set himself to the task of temporal mechanics. Working quickly, he did feel guilty about sending his child, Jenny and MAX away, but he knew that there was too much danger to have them be lost. Vinetgar and himself planned to intercept the Trenton fleet and engage them before the Phaelon fleet arrived. From what David could remember, when they stepped onto the ship he had been on before, that version of him would cease and he'd take over…
"Assuming it goes to plan" he muttered. "Alright, computer, we've got work to do…"
"Direction unclear – restate request"
"Maybe I should have made a copy of Max's voice" David groaned and shook his head sadly.
#
"WHAT?" Jenny thundered.
"David has not transported aboard and we have journeyed back through time" MAX replied. "The automatic piloting systems have been locked onto a course for Phaelon"
"Disengage automatic pilot and power up the time drive so we can go and get David so I can kick his ass"
"I can not" MAX said. "He has hardwired every system and circuit to destroy the engines if we attempt to disengage. I believe the Excelsior did not explode"
"Ya think…?" Jenny said sarcastically.
"I believe that David and Vinetgar have taken the Excelsior and will intercept the Trenton fleet themselves"
"Raise Phaelon and see how long we have gone back in time"
"Communications are disabled until we reach our destination" MAX reported. "From limited sensor information combined with information in David's secret orders, we have travelled back to a point before the Battle of Phaelon"
"I am going to kick his ass?"
"With what, Jennifer?"
#
Excelsior seemingly vanished in one spot and then came back again several seconds later – heralded by the flashing of gold, white, purple and red coloured energy sparks.
"Report"
"Time travel has been completed – we are two months from where we set off" Vinetgar said. He still sounded annoyed at having had to deceive people, it went against his warrior's code of ethics, but David had explained there was no other option in order to get MAX, Jenny and the baby away to safety.
"Computer, how is the ship doing?"
"The ship is performing within expected design limits" the computer reported back.
"Vinetgar, whats the best place for an ambush?" David asked.
"The best place would actually be the asteroid field around this destroyed planet" the Trenton warrior replied as he tapped a screen at the Helm.
"I know this place… Me and Tammy went there a long time ago – it's how we ended up being captured by the Phaelon Navy" David said. "Computer, set course for Rigel XI – half maximum warp speed"
"Compliance"
"Engage the cloaking system"
"It is engaged" said Vinetgar.
"Right, you look tired – go and get some rest" David stretched out his arms and legs and then shifted to a more comfortable position.
"I am a warrior – I need no rest"
"Fine, go and get some rest… That is an order from this ship's commander" David laughed and made as shooing motion with his hands.
"Perhaps a short period of meditation is in order" Vinetgar tried to hide a yawn. "I shall return in seven time periods"
"Knock yourself out"
"Why would I do that?" Vinetgar frowned before leaving the Bridge and going to where he had found some quarters.
"Computer, navigation report" David turned to look at the viewscreen.
"The ship is proceeding at the requested speed and on the course desired. Do you wish to change this?"
"No… Maintain course and speed – steady as she goes" David sighed heavily and sadly as he picked up his drink and sipped from it. He missed Jenny, MAX and his child already, but he did not want them getting into danger. If he died in the attempt, then at least Tammy would still be alive and his child would be protected by her and Jenny – with MAX defending them as best as he could. "Steady as she goes…"
A/N:
Where, another chapter for you to enjoy…
Now, somebody asked me in a PM why I used different terms for the Phaelon space fleet. For that person, and any others wondering, I see it like this…
Phaelon Government
Space Command
Phaelon Navy – Orbital Defences
Warships – Defence Satellites & Ground Weapons
Civilian vessels would come under a Merchant Navy type of arrangement with cargo and passenger vessels subject to be called up in times of all out war
Reviews in the normal manner, please
Regards,
Pixel