CHAPTER ELEVEN
A Captain's New Adventure
Earth Standard Year 2293
Two Years Later
The explosion was cataclysmic.
Praxis' light had finally gone out, and the result of the destruction of the moon sent shock waves that would be felt around the entire quadrant. The explosion rocked the quadrant with debris hurtling at high warp velocities. No planet was safe from the impact, if there were planets this far in the Beta Quadrant.
As debris from Praxis continued to fly by, a lone ship was beginning a mission. The ship was Federation in origin, and it continued to sail smoothly through the Beta Quadrant under impulse power. On the bridge, the crew was busy, while a Starfleet captain drank from a tea cup. On the cup, read in blue letters
USS Excelsior
NCC-2000
'Stardate 9521.6. Captain's Log, USS Excelsior,' stated a familiar voice and then it continued. 'Hikaru Sulu commanding. After three years, I've concluded my first assignment as master of this vessel, cataloguing gaseous planetary anomalies in Beta Quadrant. We're heading home under full impulse power. I am pleased to report that ship and crew have functioned well.'
Sulu now was going over some findings with Valtane, his science officer. He pointed out something on his datacount. "Well, according to this," he said, pointing out the data. "We've completed our exploration of the entire sector."
There was a slight rumble. And then shaking. Sulu looked down for a moment, noticing that not only was the tea saucer shaking, but the entire bridge as well. The bridge crew looked around, scared, as the shaking continued. Sulu's saucer smashed onto the hard deck and klaxons sounded loudly. Valtane pushed his way to his station and reported to his captain.
"I have an energy wave at 240 degees mark six port, sir."
"Visual!" On the screen, a gaseous subspace shock wave was shown hurtling in space at warp speed. Impact with the Excelsior was iminent. Sulu stood, stunned at the sight before him. "My.... God." Meteors and asteriods now smashed their way past the Excelsior, flying by high speeds. And then a purple energy wave thunders by. "Shields!" he commanded. "SHIELDS!"
As the shields went up, the energy wave enveloped Excelsior like a tidal wave. The starship was engulfed within the subspace wave, the wave itself, battering the ship considerably. The shields had went up in time. The ship continued to shake violently as it rode roughly through the energy wave. "She's not answering the helm!" Lojur cried out.
"Starboard thrusters! Turn her into the wave!"
"Aye!"
The ride was still rough for Excelsior, but there signs of the shuddering passing. The deck was still shaking as Sulu made his way back to his captain's chair. "Go to impulse power!" The shaking was getting less intense as the crew returned to their stations amidst the shaking. "Damage report!"
"Checking all systems, Captain," one of the officers said from his station. The shaking had stopped, and the Excelsior was finally clear of the energy wave.
Sulu turned to face Valtane, sweat beading on his face. "Don't tell me that was any meteor shower," he commented.
"Negative, sir," Valtane replied. He keyed in some commands on his console. "The subspace shock wave originated at bearing three-two-three, mark seven-five, location--" Valtane turned and faced Sulu. "It's Praxis, sir. It's a Klingon moon."
"Praxis is their key energy production facility," Sulu said, and then he turned to Rand. "Send to Klingon High Command. 'This is Excelsior, a Federation starship. We have monitored a large explosion in your sector. Do you require assistance?' "
"Aye, sir," Rand replied.
"Mr. Valtane, any more data?" Sulu asked.
"Yes, sir. I have confirmed the location of Praxis, but--"
"What is it?"
"I cannot confirm the existence of Praxis."
"On screen." Sulu stood from his chair and looked at the view screen. There was nothing there. "Magnify." Valtane worked his console again.
Computer enhancement.
On the view screen, there was a barren moon with at least three-fourths of its mass blown away. The fires were apparent even on the view screen. Sulu was stunned. "Praxis?!" he asked, almost not believing the sight before him.
Valtane nodded. "What's left of it, sir."
"Captain," Rand said. "I'm getting a message from Praxis."
"Let's have it."
On the view screen, it was static and then an image of a wild-eyed Klingon yelling in pain. He was engulfed in flames, and another image came on the screen. The Klingon insignia was shown and another officer, who was shown speaking Standard. "This is Brigadier Kerla, speaking for the High Command. There has been an incident on Praxis. However, everything is under control, we have no need for Federation assistance. Obey treaty stipulations, and remain outside the Neutral Zone. This transmission ends now!"
The Klingon insignia reappeared on the view screen as Sulu looked at it, incredulous. "An incident?!?"
"Do we report this, sir?"
"Are you kidding?"
