Title: "Gateway" 6/45
Author: Quills
Contact:the_quill_pen@yahoo.com
Series: ENT
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Paramount owns Startrek and I derive no financial
gain from this story.
Codes: A, T/Tu, Ma, S, R, P angst, drama, romance, humor,
action/adventure
Summary: Captain Archer is relieved of command for a secret mission
into the 24th Century . To find and stop the Suliban renegade Silik.
While he is gone, a Vulcan Starfleet Captain from the future is given
temporary command of the Enterprise NX-01 with his own orders to to
investigate the 'Temporal Cold War'.
Chapter 15
The alien fighter passed through the atmosphere of the planet that would one day be codenamed 'Gateway'. Ensign Mayweather maneuvered the ship, setting a course for the object four thousand kilometers off their port bow. Even from this distance, he could see that Enterprise had taken a beating. The normally smooth silhouette of her form looked jagged as several hull plates were badly mangled and twisted. They came out here to explore strange new worlds and this was the result.
Captain Soma leaned over Mayweather's shoulder. The small fighter afforded room for only one person in the cockpit proper. The captain looked out the view port and was greeted by the same site as Mayweather. A twinge of sorrow crept into the Captain's Vulcan heart. To see this great ship so beaten.
"Travis, open a channel." instructed Captain Soma "Let's hope they got communications back online."
"Yes, sir." replied Travis
The Ensign opened the fighter's communication channel. They were immediately greeted by a static hiss. Mayweather tried adjusting the frequency and was greeted by more static.
"I'm sorry sir." said Mayweather "Enterprise's comm system must still be down."
"That's a problem." sighed Soma "I wasn't able to let Enterprise know we'd be returning in an enemy ship."
Travis looked at the Captain realizing their predicament "You don't think they would open fire on us...do you?"
"It's a possibility." said the Captain "We need a way to communicate with them."
Soma looked out the small view port again. They were closing in on Enterprise. If they didn't come up with a solution they would have to turn around and wait till Enterprise's comm system was back up. It was the safest route, but also time consuming...and time was something they had in short supply.
As Soma continued to stare out the view port, Ensign Sato maneuvered herself to the front of the cramped cabin. "Running lights" she said out loud
Soma turned to her "What was that Ensign?"
"Uh..I..Uh...I was thinking out loud, sir" said the Ensign "I was thinking we could try the ship's running light."
Soma stared at her for a moment and then a grin came across his face "Running lights!" he repeated
He moved to the panel opposite his position and checked the external lighting system. Turning back to Sato "Ensign, I want you to configure this ship's running lights to send out a signal Enterprise will recognize."
"Me sir?" replied the Ensign
"It's your idea." he replied with a smile
"Yes, sir." she said smiling back as she moved over to the panel.
"Travis, reduce to one quarter impulse power." said Soma "We want to appear as inoffensive as possible."
Lieutenant Reed, sitting towards the back of the small compartment, kept his phase pistol on the unconscious Andorian pilot as he listened intently to his companions plan. "Captain, I hate to ruin the moment, but what if Enterprise's viewer is also offline. We don't know the extent of the damage. If visual and audio are offline then all she'll have left is sensors. This design fighter has a venomium laced exoskin that mask's it from sensor readings. I tried running a scan when our guest and his friends were trying to their best to shorten our life span. Enterprise won't be able to tell it's us on board."
Soma gave Reed a stare for a moment and then smiled "You know Mr. Reed, it's optimist's like you that cause all the problems."
Reed stared at the Captain for a moment and then returned the smile. "Yes, sir" replied Reed "I try sir." He hated to admit it, but he was starting to like the Vulcan. He certainly wasn't like any he had ever met. not even those 'emotional' ones the Enterprise had encountered.
Soma sighed "Well, let's hope her view screen is working....but Travis...be prepared to move in a hurry."
"Aye sir." replied the Ensign
"Captain, it's all set." said Hoshi "I've configured the running lights to blink in a random binary sequence."
"Why not use old Morse code" said Reed
"Because the chances of someone knowing old Morse is pretty slim." replied Hoshi "A random sequence will look like our running lights have gone crazy. It won't say anything intelligible, but it might make them stop and think twice."
"Good work Hoshi." said Soma
The young Ensign looked up at her new Captain and smiled sheepishly.
The fighter approached the battle damaged Enterprise at one quarter impulse power. Her weapon systems were inactive and her shielding was powered down. If Enterprise opened fire on the small ship...without shields...it was very likely they would be destroyed no matter how fast Ensign Mayweather reacted.
"Sir, we just entered Enterprise's weapons range." said Mayweather
Soma nodded "Proceed."
The fighter continued on it's course. The ship's running lights blinked in a maddening sequence like a Christmas tree that had short circuited. If Enterprise had seen Ensign Sato's light show they had given no indication of it.
"Captain!" said Travis excitedly "Enterprise is opening it's phase cannon ports!"
Soma looked out the view port. He could see the phase cannons swiveling into a ready position.
"Captain, should I take evasive action?" asked Mayweather
"Negative." replied soma "Full stop, Mr. Mayweather. Let's give them a chance to look us over."
Travis Mayweather brought the shuttle to a complete stop. The defenseless ship now sat angled off the port bow of the saucer section. A mere three hundred kilometers. If Enterprise fired, there would be no time to take evasive action.
"Come on." said Soma quietly "I know you can see us. Give us a sign."
The Captain and his team waited silently as Enterprise sat in front of them, weapons trained. Sweat formed on Ensign Mayweather's brow and a bead trickled down his temple as he waited
for Enterprise to fire...or not.
Hoshi leaned closer to the view port "Captain, look!"
He wasn't sure what he was looking for and then he saw it. Enterprise's own running lights started to blink in random sequences. Enterprise had seen their 'message'!
"Captain, a shuttle is leaving Enterprise." said Mayweather
Captain Soma could see a craft speeding towards them from the underbelly of the starship.
"Captain, incoming transmission from the shuttle pod." said Mayweather
"On speakers." said Soma
"...is Lt. Lynch, piloting shuttle pod three." came the voice over the ship's speakers "Identify yourself."
"Open a channel." said Soma
"Channel open, sir' replied Mayweather
"This is Captain Soma, lieutenant." said Soma "The landing party and I...appropriated one of the enemy vessels attack fighters."
"Affirmative, sir." responded Lynch "We'll escort you back to Enterprise. Please stay in formation. Communications in and around the ship is down due to high a sub space distortion being put out by damage to Enterprise's main deflector array.
We are instructed to keep phasers locked on you until your aboard and proper identification can be ascertained. Please do not deviate
from the prescribed course I'm feeding you or we will be forced to open fire."
"Understood." replied Soma as he turned to Reed "One of YOUR security protocols?"
"Can't be to careful." said Reed
"Not with you around, Lieutenant" replied Soma
"Do you have the coordinates Ensign?" asked the Captain
"Aye sir" replied Mayweather
"Then take us in Ensign." said Soma "Carefully."
"Aye Aye sir." replied the Ensign.
The fighter craft moved off at one quarter impulse power following its assigned course with the Enterprise's shuttle in close
formation.
TBC....
Author: Quills
Contact:the_quill_pen@yahoo.com
Series: ENT
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Paramount owns Startrek and I derive no financial
gain from this story.
Codes: A, T/Tu, Ma, S, R, P angst, drama, romance, humor,
action/adventure
Summary: Captain Archer is relieved of command for a secret mission
into the 24th Century . To find and stop the Suliban renegade Silik.
While he is gone, a Vulcan Starfleet Captain from the future is given
temporary command of the Enterprise NX-01 with his own orders to to
investigate the 'Temporal Cold War'.
Chapter 15
The alien fighter passed through the atmosphere of the planet that would one day be codenamed 'Gateway'. Ensign Mayweather maneuvered the ship, setting a course for the object four thousand kilometers off their port bow. Even from this distance, he could see that Enterprise had taken a beating. The normally smooth silhouette of her form looked jagged as several hull plates were badly mangled and twisted. They came out here to explore strange new worlds and this was the result.
Captain Soma leaned over Mayweather's shoulder. The small fighter afforded room for only one person in the cockpit proper. The captain looked out the view port and was greeted by the same site as Mayweather. A twinge of sorrow crept into the Captain's Vulcan heart. To see this great ship so beaten.
"Travis, open a channel." instructed Captain Soma "Let's hope they got communications back online."
"Yes, sir." replied Travis
The Ensign opened the fighter's communication channel. They were immediately greeted by a static hiss. Mayweather tried adjusting the frequency and was greeted by more static.
"I'm sorry sir." said Mayweather "Enterprise's comm system must still be down."
"That's a problem." sighed Soma "I wasn't able to let Enterprise know we'd be returning in an enemy ship."
Travis looked at the Captain realizing their predicament "You don't think they would open fire on us...do you?"
"It's a possibility." said the Captain "We need a way to communicate with them."
Soma looked out the small view port again. They were closing in on Enterprise. If they didn't come up with a solution they would have to turn around and wait till Enterprise's comm system was back up. It was the safest route, but also time consuming...and time was something they had in short supply.
As Soma continued to stare out the view port, Ensign Sato maneuvered herself to the front of the cramped cabin. "Running lights" she said out loud
Soma turned to her "What was that Ensign?"
"Uh..I..Uh...I was thinking out loud, sir" said the Ensign "I was thinking we could try the ship's running light."
Soma stared at her for a moment and then a grin came across his face "Running lights!" he repeated
He moved to the panel opposite his position and checked the external lighting system. Turning back to Sato "Ensign, I want you to configure this ship's running lights to send out a signal Enterprise will recognize."
"Me sir?" replied the Ensign
"It's your idea." he replied with a smile
"Yes, sir." she said smiling back as she moved over to the panel.
"Travis, reduce to one quarter impulse power." said Soma "We want to appear as inoffensive as possible."
Lieutenant Reed, sitting towards the back of the small compartment, kept his phase pistol on the unconscious Andorian pilot as he listened intently to his companions plan. "Captain, I hate to ruin the moment, but what if Enterprise's viewer is also offline. We don't know the extent of the damage. If visual and audio are offline then all she'll have left is sensors. This design fighter has a venomium laced exoskin that mask's it from sensor readings. I tried running a scan when our guest and his friends were trying to their best to shorten our life span. Enterprise won't be able to tell it's us on board."
Soma gave Reed a stare for a moment and then smiled "You know Mr. Reed, it's optimist's like you that cause all the problems."
Reed stared at the Captain for a moment and then returned the smile. "Yes, sir" replied Reed "I try sir." He hated to admit it, but he was starting to like the Vulcan. He certainly wasn't like any he had ever met. not even those 'emotional' ones the Enterprise had encountered.
Soma sighed "Well, let's hope her view screen is working....but Travis...be prepared to move in a hurry."
"Aye sir." replied the Ensign
"Captain, it's all set." said Hoshi "I've configured the running lights to blink in a random binary sequence."
"Why not use old Morse code" said Reed
"Because the chances of someone knowing old Morse is pretty slim." replied Hoshi "A random sequence will look like our running lights have gone crazy. It won't say anything intelligible, but it might make them stop and think twice."
"Good work Hoshi." said Soma
The young Ensign looked up at her new Captain and smiled sheepishly.
The fighter approached the battle damaged Enterprise at one quarter impulse power. Her weapon systems were inactive and her shielding was powered down. If Enterprise opened fire on the small ship...without shields...it was very likely they would be destroyed no matter how fast Ensign Mayweather reacted.
"Sir, we just entered Enterprise's weapons range." said Mayweather
Soma nodded "Proceed."
The fighter continued on it's course. The ship's running lights blinked in a maddening sequence like a Christmas tree that had short circuited. If Enterprise had seen Ensign Sato's light show they had given no indication of it.
"Captain!" said Travis excitedly "Enterprise is opening it's phase cannon ports!"
Soma looked out the view port. He could see the phase cannons swiveling into a ready position.
"Captain, should I take evasive action?" asked Mayweather
"Negative." replied soma "Full stop, Mr. Mayweather. Let's give them a chance to look us over."
Travis Mayweather brought the shuttle to a complete stop. The defenseless ship now sat angled off the port bow of the saucer section. A mere three hundred kilometers. If Enterprise fired, there would be no time to take evasive action.
"Come on." said Soma quietly "I know you can see us. Give us a sign."
The Captain and his team waited silently as Enterprise sat in front of them, weapons trained. Sweat formed on Ensign Mayweather's brow and a bead trickled down his temple as he waited
for Enterprise to fire...or not.
Hoshi leaned closer to the view port "Captain, look!"
He wasn't sure what he was looking for and then he saw it. Enterprise's own running lights started to blink in random sequences. Enterprise had seen their 'message'!
"Captain, a shuttle is leaving Enterprise." said Mayweather
Captain Soma could see a craft speeding towards them from the underbelly of the starship.
"Captain, incoming transmission from the shuttle pod." said Mayweather
"On speakers." said Soma
"...is Lt. Lynch, piloting shuttle pod three." came the voice over the ship's speakers "Identify yourself."
"Open a channel." said Soma
"Channel open, sir' replied Mayweather
"This is Captain Soma, lieutenant." said Soma "The landing party and I...appropriated one of the enemy vessels attack fighters."
"Affirmative, sir." responded Lynch "We'll escort you back to Enterprise. Please stay in formation. Communications in and around the ship is down due to high a sub space distortion being put out by damage to Enterprise's main deflector array.
We are instructed to keep phasers locked on you until your aboard and proper identification can be ascertained. Please do not deviate
from the prescribed course I'm feeding you or we will be forced to open fire."
"Understood." replied Soma as he turned to Reed "One of YOUR security protocols?"
"Can't be to careful." said Reed
"Not with you around, Lieutenant" replied Soma
"Do you have the coordinates Ensign?" asked the Captain
"Aye sir" replied Mayweather
"Then take us in Ensign." said Soma "Carefully."
"Aye Aye sir." replied the Ensign.
The fighter craft moved off at one quarter impulse power following its assigned course with the Enterprise's shuttle in close
formation.
TBC....