Midnight Star
Prologue
Ten years after his arrival on Mobius, Shamus O'Reiley has, almost by magic, completed his means of getting home: the Starship Midnight Star. Meanwhile, activity on Mobius has climaxed, for the final and utter defeat of Robotnik, in the Doomsday Project animated episode. Therefor, the focus will be on O'Reiley and his last adventure in Mobian territory. So begins the adventure of.....
The Midnight Star
"Bridge, the post-light core is safely online and ready for maximum post at your discretion," Illusion reported from the engine room of the Midnight Star, Captain Shamus O'Reiley's new, extremely large, ship.
"Good, Illusion. Transfer yourself up here, and we'll get set to go," responded Shamus.
Illusion appeared on the bridge with a magnetic hiss and took the navigator's seat, next to the helm, where Shamus was setting a test course.
"Too bad the Freedom Fighters down there have to miss this. Our test course will take us out past the last planet about three hundred thousand kilometers and back to Mobius. Then we'll set a course for Earth at Post Factor Eight," explained Shamus.
"Right," acknowledge Illusion.
As the ship moved from it's polar orbit above the north pole of Mobius to a position near the equator, something showed up on sensors. At first, it appeared to be a probe from some alien world, watching the planet, though it shifted it's view the Midnight Star shortly after it arrived.
"What a funny thing. I know it's a probe satellite, but I don't know who's it is," remarked Shamus.
"Nor do I, Shamus. It seems to be scanning us now, instead of the planet," reported Illusion.
"Let's return the favor," ordered Shamus. "It should be interesting to find out what happens."
"It's raising it's shields and arming some sort of weapons. Also, it seems that there is humanoid, if not human, life on board," noted Illusion.
"We'll do the same and hail them," said Shamus as he raised his shields and armed the ship's disrupters and torpedos.
"Channel open," Illusion told Shamus.
"Attention probe. This is Captain Shamus O'Reiley of the SS Midnight Star. Please drop your shields, disarm your weapons, and prepare to be boarded," Shamus commanded.
"Shamus! How did you get here?" responded the man on the other end.
"Jim? Jim Keating? Is it really you, old friend? I should ask you the same thing," responded Shamus.
"Well," responded Keating, "it seems that over the years, through us independents, Earth formed a federation of worlds, or something, and they got in a war with another empire. I got recruited after the Garrison Gallan was destroyed in Sector Sierra, about two years ago. I've been here, monitoring this planet's conflict, ever since. And what's your story? Where have you and Patrick been for the past decade?"
"I've been here, trying to get off this world. You see," explained Shamus, "ten years ago, Pat and I came across this world and wound up paying an unexpected visit. We met some inhabitants, showed them the Volroch, did a bit of repair work. Then we got attacked. The ship's bloody drive core overloaded, and, of the five of us that were on board at the time, only four got off; the three inhabitants and myself. Patrick was killed when the core breached and destroyed the ship."
"Could you tell me what's been going on down there?" asked Keating.
"Aye. Some freak is been trying to knock the global environment out of whack. Never could figure out why. All life that I've ever seen, with the exception of my friend here, needs a world like this one or Earth to survive," Shamus again explained.
"Well, hey, why don't you introduce me to your friend," asked Keating.
"Why not? Jim, this is Illusion the Holographic Lab Assistant. Illusion, Captain James Keating, SS Garrison Gallan," said Shamus.
"Pleased to meet you, sir," said Illusion.
"Same here. Are you a real holographic worker? I've never seen one, though I have heard of the concept," remarked Keating.
"Yes, yes I am," answered Illusion, who shut off his image and then restored it.
"Why don't you beam over and meet Illusion face to face, Jim?" asked Shamus.
"Beam? As in transporter? Transporters were outlawed about five years ago when our 'opponents' in this 'war' discovered a way to disrupt the signals," explained Keating.
"Well then, I'll do it from here. I might as well have someone else inspect the work, anyway," Shamus said.
Within seconds, Keating was on the transporter stage on the far side of the Midnight Star's bridge. For the next several hours, Keating and Shamus toured the ship, looked at design plans, and just talked about old times. After a synthesized meal, Illusion managed to convince the two captains to go ahead with the engine test.
"Well, I guess that's what you were gonna do if you hadn't come across me first," sighed Keating. "Mind if I come?"
"Fine with me, Jim. What do you think, Illusion?" asked Shamus.
"I'm sure Captain Keating needs a break from his post," Illusion answered. "What I want to know is where he'll be at during this test."
"It's your ship, old friend," remarked Keating. "You deserve the 'Big Chair'. I'll take the helm. It looks like you were planning to pick up a crew in your travels."
"Well, actually I was hoping the World Government back on Earth would accept a new freighter capstan with his own ship. It looks like I'll wind up commanding either a crew transport or a command ship now," commented Shamus.
"That's a war for ye, I guess," Keating remarked.
"We'd better get going, you two. The longer we wait here, the longer it'll take for us to get to Earth," warned Illusion. "I can't help but wonder if there are any pretty girls there."
"You're right," said Shamus, as he took the captions chair and the other two took their places. "Helm, set a course out of the system, one quarter thrusters."
"Course and speed set and engaged, Shamus. Next?" asked Keating.
"Illusion, keep an eye on the engine core. Jim, keep increasing the speed by quarter powers until we reach post-light," ordered Shamus.
"Certainly," responded Illusion.
"Can do, old friend," Keating said.
Within half an hour, the Midnight Star was at it's full sub-light speed and out of the Mobian system. Shortly, however, unexpected problems would arise.
"Jim, take us to point five Post and increase it by half a factor until we can't go any faster. It should be at about Factor Eight," remarked Shamus.
"What if the engine core overloads, Shamus?" asked Keating.
"That may not be a problem. A ship just appeared in front of us, and it's reversing as fast as we're advancing," reported Illusion.
"Oh great. We've got cloaking devices now," moaned Keating.
"On screen, and bring us to all stop" ordered Shamus.
"Aye, sir. All stop and on screen." responded Illusion.
"Definitely human. It appears to be Tritoch Class, but I can't make out it's name or denomination. And where's it's registry code?" asked Shamus.
"New design specifications. That information isn't printed on the hull like it was in our day, unfortunately. Wars; you know I hate 'em," remarked Keating
"They're hailing," Illusion informed the two men.
"Let's see it," ordered Shamus.
"Attention unknown ship; this is Admiral Kevin Harrison of the Starship Bishop. You will hold your position and prepare for docking and boarding. You will also be fired upon if you do not respond to confirm your compliance," ordered the man on the other ship.
"Bishop, this is Captain Shamus O'Reiley of the Starship Midnight Star. We read you, but docking would not be advisable as we do not have ship-to-ship docking apparatus. We could beam over your Admiral and First Officer," suggested Shamus.
"Why should we believe that this isn't a trap?" asked Harrison, "After all, Earth is at war, right now."
"Trust us," said Shamus.
"I can't, simply because the person you claim to be was declared a casualty of war nine years ago. Prepare for attack, vile scum," remarked Harrison.
"Raise shields, arm disrupters and prepare for attack," ordered Shamus.
"Shields raised, disrupters armed," Illusion reported. "Their weapons are powering up, but I detect no shields."
"I hope they don't cloak after firing," commented Shamus. "If they shoot at us, we're shooting back. Target their weapon systems."
"Targeting weapons systems," responded Keating.
"We're hit!" shouted Illusion, as the ship rocked violently. "Upper port nacelle, no damage. Shields holding at seventy-two percent."
"Return fire!" exclaimed Shamus.
"Firing," returned Keating.
"Hit. Their weapons systems are offline...no, overloading. The entire ship's gonna...," reported Illusion, as the Bishop exploded and obliterated it's crew.
"Let me guess. Blow," said Shamus, as he set his elbow on the arm of his chair , lowered his head into his hand, and began rubbing just above his eyebrows. "Three hundred people, just like that. That ship must have had a beacon on it. If Earth knows, we'll never make it home."
"That's the least of your problems, Shamus," remarked Illusion, as he put something on the main viewscreen. "Here's another scary thought. Those two ships just dropped to sublight speed and have already armed weapons and shields."
"Kelvetican ships? Hail them," requested Keating.
"Channel open," responded Illusion.
"This is Captain James Keating, first officer of the Starship Midnight Star. Kelvetican ships, why do you approach with armed defenses?" asked Keating.
Shortly thereafter, an arachnid-like face appeared on the main viewer and hissed at the crew of the Midnight Star and closed the channel. After a few seconds, the ship was once again rocked with weapons fire.
"Return fire!" ordered Shamus.
"Firing all weapons," responded Keating.
"Shields are at thirty-five percent of full," reported Illusion. "One more hit like that, and we're liable to take some damage!"
Again, the ship shook with the fire of the aggressors' weapon. This time, there was only an act of desperation left for the Midnight Star and her crew: one last shot before transferring power from weapons and all nonvital systems and rerouting it to shields and Post-Light Drives.
"Let's see how fast this thing really goes," commented Shamus.
"Right!" shouted Keating, who engaged the Post-Light Drives and began calling out factor levels, finally calling out a surprising number. "Eight point five three and holding!"
"We've lost them, guys. I'd advise shutting down the engines," said Illusion. "We're running short of the antimatter fuel. What we have left will barely get us back to Mobius, but won't last until Earth."
"Shutting down engines," reported Keating, who was suddenly knocked down by a short in his control panel. Shamus was over him quickly, doing an examination with a hand unit.
"Status of the engine core, Illusion?" Shamus asked.
"Too hot to reengage right now, Shamus. What about him?" asked Illusion.
"He'll live. Fortunately, he moved enough out of the way that only part of his face and one arm were damaged. If we bandage it and administer semi-dayly hyposprays of Regirin, he'll heal in no time," explained Shamus.
Within six hours, Keating was bandaged and ready to go, and the Midnight Star was on it's way back to Mobius.
Shortly, ship and crew were back in orbit of Mobius. Plans had to be made quickly for reenergizing the ship's engines. Shamus had, of course, prepared for such an event.
"Illusion and I have a reserve of antimatter down there. That's why all the protected storage space. Fortunately, we can take in and produce enough matter as we go. Here's what we'll do. Jim, I want you to stay up here and keep an eye on things. I'm going to transfer Illusion to his hand unit and have you beam us down," said Shamus, as he began the transfer. "That is, assuming you can still operate a transporter."
"Don't worry, Shamus. The technology in your transporter is used in modern food replicators. I haven't forgotten," Keating remarked.
"Good. Transfer complete. Now, before I get too ready to go, I'd better set up the sensors to monitor for something that I'm afraid will happen," Shamus explained. "Jim, if any, and I mean any, movement is detected in these two energy signatures, notify me immediately."
"Those signatures look familiar," commented Illusion.
"Even though I don't recognize them, tell me why, Shamus," Keating requested.
"I owe you that much, old friend. Those energy signatures belong to the Deep Power Stones, the keys to the most powerful force on this planet," explained Shamus.
"That means whoever has both can win this war," Illusion said.
"How so?" asked Keating.
"It all depends on how you put them together," explained Illusion. "There are two ways. Put the jagged edges together, and bie-bie planet; put the smooth edges together, and the power can be tapped by quite a few people and not weaken."
"Furthermore," said Shamus as he started transferring Illusion to a hand unit, " if that antimatter down there is set free before we have it, it's quite likely that it'll be curtains for both us and the solar system."
"Well, then, get going!" exclaimed Keating.
"Right. Illusion, end program," said Shamus as he stepped onto the transporter stage.
"I hope you can get this done before anyone gets both of those rocks," remarked Keating.
"I hope neither side gets both rocks," said Shamus. "Energize."
When Shamus materialized at the storage site, he activated Illusion on the spot and began initializing the antimatter transfer. Within an hour, the transfer had begun. Unfortunately, so had Shamus's grim prediction.
"Midnight Star to O'Reiley," Keating radioed to Shamus. "I've got some news you don't want to hear."
"Then you'd better start talkin', Jim," responded Shamus.
"A hedgehog, Shamus, he moves very fast, is heading for the location of one of those rocks. And I'm picking up the other one not too far away from the runner's location," reported Keating.
"Sonic!" shouted Illusion. "The Freedom Fighters must have one half of the Power Stone, and Robitnik the other! If Sonic's going after that other half...."
"How long?" asked Shamus
"Half an hour, round trip," reported Keating.
"No, NO!" yelled Shamus. "Not now, Freedom Fighters! I only need forty five more minutes!"
"Mabey they'll debate how to use it," remarked Illusion.
"How much debate can it take? There are only two ways to use those things, and I don't think those people want to go in for 'The Big Sleep' too badly," shouted Keating, nearly wrecking the communications system on the ship.
"He's right, Illusion. We don't got much of a margin of error, if we even got one," said Shamus.
"Then let's hope they save us for last. If my database is correct, if two people share the Power Stone, they won't need much more that fifteen minutes to do in the rest of the tech on the planet," explained Illusion.
For the next half hour, the Midnight Star crew waited and prayed that they would be spared. Slowly, it got to be thirty-five minutes, then forty. At that point, Shamus looked out over the horizon and saw a blue and red streak whiz by at nearly five times the speed of sound.
"What was that?" Shamus asked, quickly.
"I believe it was Sonic the Hedgehog and Princess Sally Acorn, destroying the tech on this world," answered Illusion.
"O'Reiley to Midnight Star," said Shamus, hitting the pin on his shirt. "How soon will that thing come by this way again, Jim?"
"Two minutes, and we'll need another three on that transfer. For everyone's sake, I hope we're that lucky again," remarked Keating.
"How come?" asked Shamus.
"They missed," answered Keating.
The two minutes seemed up almost instantly, and the strange flash went by again.
Shamus just had co call up to the ship. "Let me guess, they missed again," he said.
"No, they didn't miss this time," reported Keating. "They passed you by. And I have more good news, Shamus. The antimatter transfer is complete!"
"Good!" shouted Shamus. "Illusion, save and end program! One to beam up!" Almost simultaneously, Illusion's program shut down and Shamus was beaming to his ship to go home.
"That was too close, friend," said Keating.
"How so?" asked Shamus as he went to restore Illusion to the mainframe of the computer.
"Just as you rematerialized here, that phenomenon hit the antimatter storage tanks," explained Keating.
"There's no way of cutting it any closer that than, Jim," responded Shamus. "Activate Illusion."
When Illusion appeared, he was curious as to why he was using backup files.
"It was a close beamout," explained Shamus. "The hand unit must have completely dematerialized before you could end your program. Before we back those files up, though, I think we ought to monitor the conclusion down there."
Within five minutes, Sonic and Sally had ended the destruction on their world, returned to Knothole, and started a kiss that gave off so much radiant energy that it was impossible for the starship not to notice.
"That's it?" asked Keating. "After all those years of fighting, that's it?"
"Though for their sake I hope I'm wrong, I see a civil war coming up on Mobius. But, let's not stick around to find out," said Shamus.
"What now?" asked Illusion.
"Stations, you two," ordered Shamus.
Both Illusion and Keating responded with an "Aye, sir" and took their places. Shamus then sat down in the captain's chair.
"Here's something I've always wanted to do. Set course for home, Mr. Keating. Post Factor Eight point three," said Shamus.
"Course and speed set, sir," responded Keating. "One thing before you say that 'e-word', though. Shamus, what's it like to actually be in command of your own ship? It's been so long, I think I've forgotten."
"Jim, both of us know it's imposible to forget being in command," said Shamus. "But once I have some experiemce with a ship this big, I'll tell you."
"Thought so. I'll call you Captain from now on, in hopes that some day, I'll have my own chance at another ship," said Keating. "Oh, and I'll take the rank of commander."
"Thank you, Commander. Engage," ordered Captain Shamus O'Reiley. Within seconds, the Starship Midnight Star was streaking into it's biggest adventure ever: the crew's voyage home!
The End
This is the end of Shamus O'Reiley as a STH character and the beginning of Shamus O'Reiley as a spin-off of both STH and(most likely) Star Trek: Voyager. Although this may make it official, please use him as a STH character to fill in any gaps. Somehow, I can't help but feel sad that this will most likely be the last story with Shamus O'Reiley to ever be written. I' don't think there's any more of the poor bugger left in me, and I'm somehow sure my offer of use will be refused. Oh well, all good things must end, in time. I hope you had fun reading this little "trilogy", of sorts.
--Jesse Shearer.
----JMShearer@AOL.com
One last question--how many of you would like a story about Keating and HIS ship? Anyone? Didn't think so.
Prologue
Ten years after his arrival on Mobius, Shamus O'Reiley has, almost by magic, completed his means of getting home: the Starship Midnight Star. Meanwhile, activity on Mobius has climaxed, for the final and utter defeat of Robotnik, in the Doomsday Project animated episode. Therefor, the focus will be on O'Reiley and his last adventure in Mobian territory. So begins the adventure of.....
The Midnight Star
"Bridge, the post-light core is safely online and ready for maximum post at your discretion," Illusion reported from the engine room of the Midnight Star, Captain Shamus O'Reiley's new, extremely large, ship.
"Good, Illusion. Transfer yourself up here, and we'll get set to go," responded Shamus.
Illusion appeared on the bridge with a magnetic hiss and took the navigator's seat, next to the helm, where Shamus was setting a test course.
"Too bad the Freedom Fighters down there have to miss this. Our test course will take us out past the last planet about three hundred thousand kilometers and back to Mobius. Then we'll set a course for Earth at Post Factor Eight," explained Shamus.
"Right," acknowledge Illusion.
As the ship moved from it's polar orbit above the north pole of Mobius to a position near the equator, something showed up on sensors. At first, it appeared to be a probe from some alien world, watching the planet, though it shifted it's view the Midnight Star shortly after it arrived.
"What a funny thing. I know it's a probe satellite, but I don't know who's it is," remarked Shamus.
"Nor do I, Shamus. It seems to be scanning us now, instead of the planet," reported Illusion.
"Let's return the favor," ordered Shamus. "It should be interesting to find out what happens."
"It's raising it's shields and arming some sort of weapons. Also, it seems that there is humanoid, if not human, life on board," noted Illusion.
"We'll do the same and hail them," said Shamus as he raised his shields and armed the ship's disrupters and torpedos.
"Channel open," Illusion told Shamus.
"Attention probe. This is Captain Shamus O'Reiley of the SS Midnight Star. Please drop your shields, disarm your weapons, and prepare to be boarded," Shamus commanded.
"Shamus! How did you get here?" responded the man on the other end.
"Jim? Jim Keating? Is it really you, old friend? I should ask you the same thing," responded Shamus.
"Well," responded Keating, "it seems that over the years, through us independents, Earth formed a federation of worlds, or something, and they got in a war with another empire. I got recruited after the Garrison Gallan was destroyed in Sector Sierra, about two years ago. I've been here, monitoring this planet's conflict, ever since. And what's your story? Where have you and Patrick been for the past decade?"
"I've been here, trying to get off this world. You see," explained Shamus, "ten years ago, Pat and I came across this world and wound up paying an unexpected visit. We met some inhabitants, showed them the Volroch, did a bit of repair work. Then we got attacked. The ship's bloody drive core overloaded, and, of the five of us that were on board at the time, only four got off; the three inhabitants and myself. Patrick was killed when the core breached and destroyed the ship."
"Could you tell me what's been going on down there?" asked Keating.
"Aye. Some freak is been trying to knock the global environment out of whack. Never could figure out why. All life that I've ever seen, with the exception of my friend here, needs a world like this one or Earth to survive," Shamus again explained.
"Well, hey, why don't you introduce me to your friend," asked Keating.
"Why not? Jim, this is Illusion the Holographic Lab Assistant. Illusion, Captain James Keating, SS Garrison Gallan," said Shamus.
"Pleased to meet you, sir," said Illusion.
"Same here. Are you a real holographic worker? I've never seen one, though I have heard of the concept," remarked Keating.
"Yes, yes I am," answered Illusion, who shut off his image and then restored it.
"Why don't you beam over and meet Illusion face to face, Jim?" asked Shamus.
"Beam? As in transporter? Transporters were outlawed about five years ago when our 'opponents' in this 'war' discovered a way to disrupt the signals," explained Keating.
"Well then, I'll do it from here. I might as well have someone else inspect the work, anyway," Shamus said.
Within seconds, Keating was on the transporter stage on the far side of the Midnight Star's bridge. For the next several hours, Keating and Shamus toured the ship, looked at design plans, and just talked about old times. After a synthesized meal, Illusion managed to convince the two captains to go ahead with the engine test.
"Well, I guess that's what you were gonna do if you hadn't come across me first," sighed Keating. "Mind if I come?"
"Fine with me, Jim. What do you think, Illusion?" asked Shamus.
"I'm sure Captain Keating needs a break from his post," Illusion answered. "What I want to know is where he'll be at during this test."
"It's your ship, old friend," remarked Keating. "You deserve the 'Big Chair'. I'll take the helm. It looks like you were planning to pick up a crew in your travels."
"Well, actually I was hoping the World Government back on Earth would accept a new freighter capstan with his own ship. It looks like I'll wind up commanding either a crew transport or a command ship now," commented Shamus.
"That's a war for ye, I guess," Keating remarked.
"We'd better get going, you two. The longer we wait here, the longer it'll take for us to get to Earth," warned Illusion. "I can't help but wonder if there are any pretty girls there."
"You're right," said Shamus, as he took the captions chair and the other two took their places. "Helm, set a course out of the system, one quarter thrusters."
"Course and speed set and engaged, Shamus. Next?" asked Keating.
"Illusion, keep an eye on the engine core. Jim, keep increasing the speed by quarter powers until we reach post-light," ordered Shamus.
"Certainly," responded Illusion.
"Can do, old friend," Keating said.
Within half an hour, the Midnight Star was at it's full sub-light speed and out of the Mobian system. Shortly, however, unexpected problems would arise.
"Jim, take us to point five Post and increase it by half a factor until we can't go any faster. It should be at about Factor Eight," remarked Shamus.
"What if the engine core overloads, Shamus?" asked Keating.
"That may not be a problem. A ship just appeared in front of us, and it's reversing as fast as we're advancing," reported Illusion.
"Oh great. We've got cloaking devices now," moaned Keating.
"On screen, and bring us to all stop" ordered Shamus.
"Aye, sir. All stop and on screen." responded Illusion.
"Definitely human. It appears to be Tritoch Class, but I can't make out it's name or denomination. And where's it's registry code?" asked Shamus.
"New design specifications. That information isn't printed on the hull like it was in our day, unfortunately. Wars; you know I hate 'em," remarked Keating
"They're hailing," Illusion informed the two men.
"Let's see it," ordered Shamus.
"Attention unknown ship; this is Admiral Kevin Harrison of the Starship Bishop. You will hold your position and prepare for docking and boarding. You will also be fired upon if you do not respond to confirm your compliance," ordered the man on the other ship.
"Bishop, this is Captain Shamus O'Reiley of the Starship Midnight Star. We read you, but docking would not be advisable as we do not have ship-to-ship docking apparatus. We could beam over your Admiral and First Officer," suggested Shamus.
"Why should we believe that this isn't a trap?" asked Harrison, "After all, Earth is at war, right now."
"Trust us," said Shamus.
"I can't, simply because the person you claim to be was declared a casualty of war nine years ago. Prepare for attack, vile scum," remarked Harrison.
"Raise shields, arm disrupters and prepare for attack," ordered Shamus.
"Shields raised, disrupters armed," Illusion reported. "Their weapons are powering up, but I detect no shields."
"I hope they don't cloak after firing," commented Shamus. "If they shoot at us, we're shooting back. Target their weapon systems."
"Targeting weapons systems," responded Keating.
"We're hit!" shouted Illusion, as the ship rocked violently. "Upper port nacelle, no damage. Shields holding at seventy-two percent."
"Return fire!" exclaimed Shamus.
"Firing," returned Keating.
"Hit. Their weapons systems are offline...no, overloading. The entire ship's gonna...," reported Illusion, as the Bishop exploded and obliterated it's crew.
"Let me guess. Blow," said Shamus, as he set his elbow on the arm of his chair , lowered his head into his hand, and began rubbing just above his eyebrows. "Three hundred people, just like that. That ship must have had a beacon on it. If Earth knows, we'll never make it home."
"That's the least of your problems, Shamus," remarked Illusion, as he put something on the main viewscreen. "Here's another scary thought. Those two ships just dropped to sublight speed and have already armed weapons and shields."
"Kelvetican ships? Hail them," requested Keating.
"Channel open," responded Illusion.
"This is Captain James Keating, first officer of the Starship Midnight Star. Kelvetican ships, why do you approach with armed defenses?" asked Keating.
Shortly thereafter, an arachnid-like face appeared on the main viewer and hissed at the crew of the Midnight Star and closed the channel. After a few seconds, the ship was once again rocked with weapons fire.
"Return fire!" ordered Shamus.
"Firing all weapons," responded Keating.
"Shields are at thirty-five percent of full," reported Illusion. "One more hit like that, and we're liable to take some damage!"
Again, the ship shook with the fire of the aggressors' weapon. This time, there was only an act of desperation left for the Midnight Star and her crew: one last shot before transferring power from weapons and all nonvital systems and rerouting it to shields and Post-Light Drives.
"Let's see how fast this thing really goes," commented Shamus.
"Right!" shouted Keating, who engaged the Post-Light Drives and began calling out factor levels, finally calling out a surprising number. "Eight point five three and holding!"
"We've lost them, guys. I'd advise shutting down the engines," said Illusion. "We're running short of the antimatter fuel. What we have left will barely get us back to Mobius, but won't last until Earth."
"Shutting down engines," reported Keating, who was suddenly knocked down by a short in his control panel. Shamus was over him quickly, doing an examination with a hand unit.
"Status of the engine core, Illusion?" Shamus asked.
"Too hot to reengage right now, Shamus. What about him?" asked Illusion.
"He'll live. Fortunately, he moved enough out of the way that only part of his face and one arm were damaged. If we bandage it and administer semi-dayly hyposprays of Regirin, he'll heal in no time," explained Shamus.
Within six hours, Keating was bandaged and ready to go, and the Midnight Star was on it's way back to Mobius.
Shortly, ship and crew were back in orbit of Mobius. Plans had to be made quickly for reenergizing the ship's engines. Shamus had, of course, prepared for such an event.
"Illusion and I have a reserve of antimatter down there. That's why all the protected storage space. Fortunately, we can take in and produce enough matter as we go. Here's what we'll do. Jim, I want you to stay up here and keep an eye on things. I'm going to transfer Illusion to his hand unit and have you beam us down," said Shamus, as he began the transfer. "That is, assuming you can still operate a transporter."
"Don't worry, Shamus. The technology in your transporter is used in modern food replicators. I haven't forgotten," Keating remarked.
"Good. Transfer complete. Now, before I get too ready to go, I'd better set up the sensors to monitor for something that I'm afraid will happen," Shamus explained. "Jim, if any, and I mean any, movement is detected in these two energy signatures, notify me immediately."
"Those signatures look familiar," commented Illusion.
"Even though I don't recognize them, tell me why, Shamus," Keating requested.
"I owe you that much, old friend. Those energy signatures belong to the Deep Power Stones, the keys to the most powerful force on this planet," explained Shamus.
"That means whoever has both can win this war," Illusion said.
"How so?" asked Keating.
"It all depends on how you put them together," explained Illusion. "There are two ways. Put the jagged edges together, and bie-bie planet; put the smooth edges together, and the power can be tapped by quite a few people and not weaken."
"Furthermore," said Shamus as he started transferring Illusion to a hand unit, " if that antimatter down there is set free before we have it, it's quite likely that it'll be curtains for both us and the solar system."
"Well, then, get going!" exclaimed Keating.
"Right. Illusion, end program," said Shamus as he stepped onto the transporter stage.
"I hope you can get this done before anyone gets both of those rocks," remarked Keating.
"I hope neither side gets both rocks," said Shamus. "Energize."
When Shamus materialized at the storage site, he activated Illusion on the spot and began initializing the antimatter transfer. Within an hour, the transfer had begun. Unfortunately, so had Shamus's grim prediction.
"Midnight Star to O'Reiley," Keating radioed to Shamus. "I've got some news you don't want to hear."
"Then you'd better start talkin', Jim," responded Shamus.
"A hedgehog, Shamus, he moves very fast, is heading for the location of one of those rocks. And I'm picking up the other one not too far away from the runner's location," reported Keating.
"Sonic!" shouted Illusion. "The Freedom Fighters must have one half of the Power Stone, and Robitnik the other! If Sonic's going after that other half...."
"How long?" asked Shamus
"Half an hour, round trip," reported Keating.
"No, NO!" yelled Shamus. "Not now, Freedom Fighters! I only need forty five more minutes!"
"Mabey they'll debate how to use it," remarked Illusion.
"How much debate can it take? There are only two ways to use those things, and I don't think those people want to go in for 'The Big Sleep' too badly," shouted Keating, nearly wrecking the communications system on the ship.
"He's right, Illusion. We don't got much of a margin of error, if we even got one," said Shamus.
"Then let's hope they save us for last. If my database is correct, if two people share the Power Stone, they won't need much more that fifteen minutes to do in the rest of the tech on the planet," explained Illusion.
For the next half hour, the Midnight Star crew waited and prayed that they would be spared. Slowly, it got to be thirty-five minutes, then forty. At that point, Shamus looked out over the horizon and saw a blue and red streak whiz by at nearly five times the speed of sound.
"What was that?" Shamus asked, quickly.
"I believe it was Sonic the Hedgehog and Princess Sally Acorn, destroying the tech on this world," answered Illusion.
"O'Reiley to Midnight Star," said Shamus, hitting the pin on his shirt. "How soon will that thing come by this way again, Jim?"
"Two minutes, and we'll need another three on that transfer. For everyone's sake, I hope we're that lucky again," remarked Keating.
"How come?" asked Shamus.
"They missed," answered Keating.
The two minutes seemed up almost instantly, and the strange flash went by again.
Shamus just had co call up to the ship. "Let me guess, they missed again," he said.
"No, they didn't miss this time," reported Keating. "They passed you by. And I have more good news, Shamus. The antimatter transfer is complete!"
"Good!" shouted Shamus. "Illusion, save and end program! One to beam up!" Almost simultaneously, Illusion's program shut down and Shamus was beaming to his ship to go home.
"That was too close, friend," said Keating.
"How so?" asked Shamus as he went to restore Illusion to the mainframe of the computer.
"Just as you rematerialized here, that phenomenon hit the antimatter storage tanks," explained Keating.
"There's no way of cutting it any closer that than, Jim," responded Shamus. "Activate Illusion."
When Illusion appeared, he was curious as to why he was using backup files.
"It was a close beamout," explained Shamus. "The hand unit must have completely dematerialized before you could end your program. Before we back those files up, though, I think we ought to monitor the conclusion down there."
Within five minutes, Sonic and Sally had ended the destruction on their world, returned to Knothole, and started a kiss that gave off so much radiant energy that it was impossible for the starship not to notice.
"That's it?" asked Keating. "After all those years of fighting, that's it?"
"Though for their sake I hope I'm wrong, I see a civil war coming up on Mobius. But, let's not stick around to find out," said Shamus.
"What now?" asked Illusion.
"Stations, you two," ordered Shamus.
Both Illusion and Keating responded with an "Aye, sir" and took their places. Shamus then sat down in the captain's chair.
"Here's something I've always wanted to do. Set course for home, Mr. Keating. Post Factor Eight point three," said Shamus.
"Course and speed set, sir," responded Keating. "One thing before you say that 'e-word', though. Shamus, what's it like to actually be in command of your own ship? It's been so long, I think I've forgotten."
"Jim, both of us know it's imposible to forget being in command," said Shamus. "But once I have some experiemce with a ship this big, I'll tell you."
"Thought so. I'll call you Captain from now on, in hopes that some day, I'll have my own chance at another ship," said Keating. "Oh, and I'll take the rank of commander."
"Thank you, Commander. Engage," ordered Captain Shamus O'Reiley. Within seconds, the Starship Midnight Star was streaking into it's biggest adventure ever: the crew's voyage home!
The End
This is the end of Shamus O'Reiley as a STH character and the beginning of Shamus O'Reiley as a spin-off of both STH and(most likely) Star Trek: Voyager. Although this may make it official, please use him as a STH character to fill in any gaps. Somehow, I can't help but feel sad that this will most likely be the last story with Shamus O'Reiley to ever be written. I' don't think there's any more of the poor bugger left in me, and I'm somehow sure my offer of use will be refused. Oh well, all good things must end, in time. I hope you had fun reading this little "trilogy", of sorts.
--Jesse Shearer.
----JMShearer@AOL.com
One last question--how many of you would like a story about Keating and HIS ship? Anyone? Didn't think so.