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 19
"Captain's...'log'...Star date 30463.6, This is my first official entry as Captain of this vessel.I have no doubt that Starfleet will classify my logs for security reasons. However, I believe recording them will help me sort out my thoughts. Starfleet believes I'm qualified to assume command of this Enterprise of the future. They sent me technical information on
the ship as well as crew bios on the senior staff. It's helped me in acclimating to this assignment...however...I would be less than truthful if I didn't say I'm feeling out of sorts. This ship has a Captain. Unfortunately, he's on MY ship. I have to wonder if Captain Soma is fairing any better adjusting to my Enterprise....Computer, Pause..."
"Doesn't exactly instill confidence." Archer said to himself "Fortunately, these logs aren't for the crew."
"Computer, Resume...I've ordered Enterprise to head for the Martez Colony, where I hope to find the Mar'tek, the Klingon ship that transported Silik. I believe finding the Mar'tek is our best option for finding Silik."
As Archer continued his recording the door to the Captain's ready room chimed.
Archer signaled the computer to save his log and to discontinue
before responding. "Come in."
The door slid open and Travis Mayweather stepped in. "I'm not disturbing you?"
"No, not at all." said Archer "Have a seat."
The two men sat down in the circular couch area the ship's Captain used for informal conversations with visiting guests and dignitaries. The two men had not been able to sit down and talk since they returned from Gateway.
Now that they had finally afforded a moment of time while Enterprise warped to it's destination...neither man knew quite what to say.
Travis Mayweather broke the silence "So...what do you think of her?"
"She seems capable...strong...can hold her own in a fight." said Archer "She's definitely beautiful."
"I wasn't talking about the Enterprise." Travis said smiling.
Archer smiled back "Neither was I."
Both men laughed. This time Archer spoke. "What the hell are you doing here Travis?"
Travis looked at his former Captain for a moment. "I assume you mean what am I doing in the 24th century."
Archer nodded his head.
"Its a long story, sir." replied the former Ensign
Archer sat back and adjusted himself. "I've got the time."
Travis smiled "Well, after the Enterprise, I went on with the rest of my Starfleet career..various posting to starships.I worked my way up the ranks. Eventually, I made Captain...got my own ship...the Heracles. Now there was a misnamed ship if there ever was one. She was a tiny forty crew science vessel...limited armament...weapons...but she was a tuff little
ship. Other starship crews called her 'The Runt'. "
"Sounds like quite a ship." said Archer
"She wasn't Enterprise." said Travis "but she was mine and she got us out of a lot of scrapes."
Travis paused for a moment and Archer knew what was coming. He had seen it in fellow ship Captains. That look of defeat the one time your ship failed you.
"We were on our last mission." explained Travis "The Heracles was ready for pasture and I was offered an Admiralty."
"Admiral Mayweather?" said Archer with a smile
Travis just shrugged his shoulders "I was ready for retirement." he explained "I had three great kids and a wife I only saw in between assignments or on leave."
Travis adjusted himself in the chair. Archer could see a twinge of pain on his friends face.
"Anyway, we were assigned to transport a delegation of Tellerites to Earth." explained Travis "At the time they were a new species petitioning admittance into the Federation. The mission was rather routine and anti-climactic for a ship that saw a lot of action during its career...or so we thought. On route to Earth we discovered, to late, that the delegates were actually Tellerite separatists who were against their people joining the Federation. Somehow they had taken the real delegate's places. They had killed ten of my crew and taken over engineering before we knew what was happening. I organized a security team and led an attack on the engine room. Several more of the crew were injured or killed but we were able to regain control. The Tellerite
separatists all took some kind of poison they carried with them. We weren't able to question them, so we conducted a search of the engine room."
Mayweather paused. Archer looked at his friend. "Travis, you don't have to..."
"No." said Travis "I do...I haven't talked to anyone about this for a long time."
Archer nodded.
"While we were searching the engine room." said Travis " I came across a 'gift' they left behind in case they were weren't successful in holding engineering. A proximity grenade."
Archer straightened.
"Before I could react I set off the proximity sensor and I was blown to the other side of the engine room." said Travis "I was rushed to sickbay and they stabilized me, but a large fragment had passed through my chest literally
ripping my heart out. Doc Bryson had me on life support, but he didn't think I would make it. He told he had to put me in the ship's suspended animation unit until we got to a Starbase. So...my XO took command and I was put
into the ship's SA unit."
"Looks like it worked." said Archer
"Yeah" said Travis "It worked alright. My crew checked the engine room. There weren't anymore proximity grenades. They must have thought the Tellerites only had time to set the one. It never occurred to them that it was a blind. The whole thing was...trying to take the ship...the fight in engineering...the proximity grenade...they were all used to mask the Tellerite separatist's true plan. They wanted to make a statement. What would be better than striking at the heart of the Federation
with one of it's own ships."
Travis stood up and walked over to the food slot "Do you mind?"
Archer just shook his head as a look of worry came over his face.
"Scotch" said Travis
A glass materialized in the slot and Travis picked it up. He put the glass to his lips. His hand trembled momentarily and he drained the glass.
He turned towards Archer "They had planted a mutagenic bio toxin on board. It was in the air filtration system. That way the entire crew would be effected." said Travis "Ingenious little thing really. Designed by a Malthusian custom bio weapons designer I was later told. It was 'programmed' to adhere to the host's blood system while it laid dormant. Apparently it was supposed to activate after a certain period of time had elapsed allowing the Heracles crew to spread it when we arrived at Earth or a Starbase. The designer miscalculated, the toxin activated before we were
even halfway to Earth. He was supposed to be a genius. I guess he wasn't so smart. He couldn't even get the math right."
Travis sat back down laying his hands in his lap as he looked down at the floor. "I..I didn't see my crew actually die John."
Archer wanted to say something but the words just wouldn't come.
"I mean, I was in the ship's SA unit." said Travis "It protected me from the toxin until they could get me out. They didn't want to tell me...how my crew died. I insisted...so they gave me the report the bio hazard crew
submitted."
Travis closed his eyes " 'Our findings bring us to the conclusion that the crew of the Heracles was subjected toa mutagenic bio toxin which radically altered the crews bio chemistry causing each person's own blood to become a toxic plasma which destroyed the individual from the inside out.'"
"Travis" said Archer "I'm sorry."
"Do you think it hurt, John?" said Travis
Archer looked at his friend.
"They didn't say in the report." said Travis swallowing "If it hurt or not."
Travis took a deep breath. "So...we didn't make it to Earth." said Travis "I guess that was the only good thing. My XO had the ship set a programmed course for a nearby star. I guess he wanted to make sure no one was infected
while he was still able to prevent it. Unfortunately, the programming had an error and the Heracles missed it's target but came close enough to cause extensive damage sending the engines into automatic shutdown. By then, I guess there wasn't anyone left of the crew to bring the engines back online and try again. So the ship eventually lost main power and drifted until it was discovered by the Enterprise -C...ninety years later."
"Ninety years?' exclaimed Archer
"By missing the systems star," said Travis "the Heracles traveled into a part of space that had been charted but not explored. It was shelved for later exploration. Ninety years later...the Enterprise-C found her in a decaying orbit around the fourth planet in the system. Apparently she had drifted into the system and gotten pulled into the planet's gravity. Enterprise boarded her and found my crew. Thank God the bio Toxin had a short life outside the host or the Enterprise's crew would have suffered the same fate."
Travis stood up again "Anyway, they found me in the SA unit, which was operating off an independent power source in case of just such an emergency. I was transported to a Starbase where I was fitted with a
cardio replacement. After three months of physical therapy, I was declared physically healed. The...uh...mental healing took a bit longer."
"Travis..." Archer began
"I know John." said Travis " I know. I lost my crew...my ship...my family...my century. The only thing that kept me from
killing myself was Jonathan."
"Jonathan?" said Archer
"Captain Soma." said Travis "Jonathan is his human name. He was the only part of my old life that I could grab hold of...he stayed with me as long as Starfleet could spare him. Then he talked to me every day by sub space. He reminded me I wasn't alone."
"Sounds like a good friend." said Archer
"He's one of a kind." said Travis "I've known him since...for a long time."
Travis took a deep breath "Eventually, I came to terms. It was about that time I found out I had family. A great great grandson started my Dad's old business back up...hauling cargo between the colonies. I took a shuttle out to see him and came on board to help him run the business. I turned my Starfleet commission in and never looked back. I had a second chance at a family and I wasn't going to let go. "
"I'm glad Travis." said Archer "You deserve it."
"Don't get me wrong Captain." said Travis "I don't hold anything against Starfleet. Not anymore anyway...I came to realize
that what happened was the cause of a tragically misguided group of individuals. I made peace with it and what they did...not
for them, but for me. Now I have a family again...a daughter. She isn't exactly mine. I found her about 2 years after I started
working the family business. She was just a little thing...four...maybe five; Her parents had been killed by Orion pirates.
They just left her for dead. So, when I couldn't find any family members to take her...I adopted her and raised her as my own."
Travis took out a small disc and pressed one the buttons on the corner. An image formed on the small screen.
"Her name is Rory." said Travis
Archer smiled
"She takes after her old man." Travis said smiling "Helps me run the 'Venture'. One of the company ships."
Archer looked at his friend "As much as you've gone through...I'm glad your here Travis."
Travis nodded "I know John." said Travis "Stranger in a Strange land."
Archer nodded "I think Starfleet is out of its mind. I'm not a combat commander. Not like your Captain Soma. I've read his record. He makes me look like a pleasure cruise Captain."
"John, believe it or not, I think Starfleet couldn't have made a better choice with you." said Travis "You may not
have done it yet, but your gong to make history and be the guiding force behind all the starship Captains
that come after you...me...Soma...Kirk...we all looked to you sir."
Archer looked at Mayweather, he wasn't sure if the man was trying to build his confidence or he was actually telling him the truth. Not that the truth didn't send a chill down his spine. Being the model for future starship
captains seemed a bit much to ask when you weren't even sure about yourself.
"Thank you Travis." said archer
"Thank YOU Captain." said Travis "I'm glad I got to see you again. None of the old Enterprise crew is left...except T'Pol."
"T'Pol?" said Archer "She's alive?"
Travis nodded "Yes, She showed up one day when I was recovering at the Star Base. Almost gave me a heart attack to see her. She's semi-retired now. She lives on Vulcan and teaches at the Vulcan Science Academy. We talk every
couple weeks on sub space. I stop by whenever I can and pay her a visit."
"How...How is she?" asked Archer
"She's good sir." said Travis "She had a good life. Got married...had three kids...she even took Ambassador Soval's place as the Vulcan Ambassador to Earth for a while."
"Really?" said Archer incredulously "I guess we'll grow on her."
"Enterprise was like family sir. Even after the mission we all kept in touch." said Travis "We all felt that way...because of you. You always managed to pull us together."
"Please Travis, I hear enough of that from this Enterprise crew." said Archer with a smile
"It's the truth sir." said Travis
"Well, I trust YOU will remember I haven't done all these great things yet, so I'd appreciate all the help I can get." said Archer
"That's why Captain Soma asked me along." said Travis
"Speaking of the Captain." said Archer "Why don't you tell me what the story is between you two. I have a feeling there is more to that Vulcan than meets the eye."
Travis couldn't help smiling...he would never believe him.
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 19
"Captain's...'log'...Star date 30463.6, This is my first official entry as Captain of this vessel.I have no doubt that Starfleet will classify my logs for security reasons. However, I believe recording them will help me sort out my thoughts. Starfleet believes I'm qualified to assume command of this Enterprise of the future. They sent me technical information on
the ship as well as crew bios on the senior staff. It's helped me in acclimating to this assignment...however...I would be less than truthful if I didn't say I'm feeling out of sorts. This ship has a Captain. Unfortunately, he's on MY ship. I have to wonder if Captain Soma is fairing any better adjusting to my Enterprise....Computer, Pause..."
"Doesn't exactly instill confidence." Archer said to himself "Fortunately, these logs aren't for the crew."
"Computer, Resume...I've ordered Enterprise to head for the Martez Colony, where I hope to find the Mar'tek, the Klingon ship that transported Silik. I believe finding the Mar'tek is our best option for finding Silik."
As Archer continued his recording the door to the Captain's ready room chimed.
Archer signaled the computer to save his log and to discontinue
before responding. "Come in."
The door slid open and Travis Mayweather stepped in. "I'm not disturbing you?"
"No, not at all." said Archer "Have a seat."
The two men sat down in the circular couch area the ship's Captain used for informal conversations with visiting guests and dignitaries. The two men had not been able to sit down and talk since they returned from Gateway.
Now that they had finally afforded a moment of time while Enterprise warped to it's destination...neither man knew quite what to say.
Travis Mayweather broke the silence "So...what do you think of her?"
"She seems capable...strong...can hold her own in a fight." said Archer "She's definitely beautiful."
"I wasn't talking about the Enterprise." Travis said smiling.
Archer smiled back "Neither was I."
Both men laughed. This time Archer spoke. "What the hell are you doing here Travis?"
Travis looked at his former Captain for a moment. "I assume you mean what am I doing in the 24th century."
Archer nodded his head.
"Its a long story, sir." replied the former Ensign
Archer sat back and adjusted himself. "I've got the time."
Travis smiled "Well, after the Enterprise, I went on with the rest of my Starfleet career..various posting to starships.I worked my way up the ranks. Eventually, I made Captain...got my own ship...the Heracles. Now there was a misnamed ship if there ever was one. She was a tiny forty crew science vessel...limited armament...weapons...but she was a tuff little
ship. Other starship crews called her 'The Runt'. "
"Sounds like quite a ship." said Archer
"She wasn't Enterprise." said Travis "but she was mine and she got us out of a lot of scrapes."
Travis paused for a moment and Archer knew what was coming. He had seen it in fellow ship Captains. That look of defeat the one time your ship failed you.
"We were on our last mission." explained Travis "The Heracles was ready for pasture and I was offered an Admiralty."
"Admiral Mayweather?" said Archer with a smile
Travis just shrugged his shoulders "I was ready for retirement." he explained "I had three great kids and a wife I only saw in between assignments or on leave."
Travis adjusted himself in the chair. Archer could see a twinge of pain on his friends face.
"Anyway, we were assigned to transport a delegation of Tellerites to Earth." explained Travis "At the time they were a new species petitioning admittance into the Federation. The mission was rather routine and anti-climactic for a ship that saw a lot of action during its career...or so we thought. On route to Earth we discovered, to late, that the delegates were actually Tellerite separatists who were against their people joining the Federation. Somehow they had taken the real delegate's places. They had killed ten of my crew and taken over engineering before we knew what was happening. I organized a security team and led an attack on the engine room. Several more of the crew were injured or killed but we were able to regain control. The Tellerite
separatists all took some kind of poison they carried with them. We weren't able to question them, so we conducted a search of the engine room."
Mayweather paused. Archer looked at his friend. "Travis, you don't have to..."
"No." said Travis "I do...I haven't talked to anyone about this for a long time."
Archer nodded.
"While we were searching the engine room." said Travis " I came across a 'gift' they left behind in case they were weren't successful in holding engineering. A proximity grenade."
Archer straightened.
"Before I could react I set off the proximity sensor and I was blown to the other side of the engine room." said Travis "I was rushed to sickbay and they stabilized me, but a large fragment had passed through my chest literally
ripping my heart out. Doc Bryson had me on life support, but he didn't think I would make it. He told he had to put me in the ship's suspended animation unit until we got to a Starbase. So...my XO took command and I was put
into the ship's SA unit."
"Looks like it worked." said Archer
"Yeah" said Travis "It worked alright. My crew checked the engine room. There weren't anymore proximity grenades. They must have thought the Tellerites only had time to set the one. It never occurred to them that it was a blind. The whole thing was...trying to take the ship...the fight in engineering...the proximity grenade...they were all used to mask the Tellerite separatist's true plan. They wanted to make a statement. What would be better than striking at the heart of the Federation
with one of it's own ships."
Travis stood up and walked over to the food slot "Do you mind?"
Archer just shook his head as a look of worry came over his face.
"Scotch" said Travis
A glass materialized in the slot and Travis picked it up. He put the glass to his lips. His hand trembled momentarily and he drained the glass.
He turned towards Archer "They had planted a mutagenic bio toxin on board. It was in the air filtration system. That way the entire crew would be effected." said Travis "Ingenious little thing really. Designed by a Malthusian custom bio weapons designer I was later told. It was 'programmed' to adhere to the host's blood system while it laid dormant. Apparently it was supposed to activate after a certain period of time had elapsed allowing the Heracles crew to spread it when we arrived at Earth or a Starbase. The designer miscalculated, the toxin activated before we were
even halfway to Earth. He was supposed to be a genius. I guess he wasn't so smart. He couldn't even get the math right."
Travis sat back down laying his hands in his lap as he looked down at the floor. "I..I didn't see my crew actually die John."
Archer wanted to say something but the words just wouldn't come.
"I mean, I was in the ship's SA unit." said Travis "It protected me from the toxin until they could get me out. They didn't want to tell me...how my crew died. I insisted...so they gave me the report the bio hazard crew
submitted."
Travis closed his eyes " 'Our findings bring us to the conclusion that the crew of the Heracles was subjected toa mutagenic bio toxin which radically altered the crews bio chemistry causing each person's own blood to become a toxic plasma which destroyed the individual from the inside out.'"
"Travis" said Archer "I'm sorry."
"Do you think it hurt, John?" said Travis
Archer looked at his friend.
"They didn't say in the report." said Travis swallowing "If it hurt or not."
Travis took a deep breath. "So...we didn't make it to Earth." said Travis "I guess that was the only good thing. My XO had the ship set a programmed course for a nearby star. I guess he wanted to make sure no one was infected
while he was still able to prevent it. Unfortunately, the programming had an error and the Heracles missed it's target but came close enough to cause extensive damage sending the engines into automatic shutdown. By then, I guess there wasn't anyone left of the crew to bring the engines back online and try again. So the ship eventually lost main power and drifted until it was discovered by the Enterprise -C...ninety years later."
"Ninety years?' exclaimed Archer
"By missing the systems star," said Travis "the Heracles traveled into a part of space that had been charted but not explored. It was shelved for later exploration. Ninety years later...the Enterprise-C found her in a decaying orbit around the fourth planet in the system. Apparently she had drifted into the system and gotten pulled into the planet's gravity. Enterprise boarded her and found my crew. Thank God the bio Toxin had a short life outside the host or the Enterprise's crew would have suffered the same fate."
Travis stood up again "Anyway, they found me in the SA unit, which was operating off an independent power source in case of just such an emergency. I was transported to a Starbase where I was fitted with a
cardio replacement. After three months of physical therapy, I was declared physically healed. The...uh...mental healing took a bit longer."
"Travis..." Archer began
"I know John." said Travis " I know. I lost my crew...my ship...my family...my century. The only thing that kept me from
killing myself was Jonathan."
"Jonathan?" said Archer
"Captain Soma." said Travis "Jonathan is his human name. He was the only part of my old life that I could grab hold of...he stayed with me as long as Starfleet could spare him. Then he talked to me every day by sub space. He reminded me I wasn't alone."
"Sounds like a good friend." said Archer
"He's one of a kind." said Travis "I've known him since...for a long time."
Travis took a deep breath "Eventually, I came to terms. It was about that time I found out I had family. A great great grandson started my Dad's old business back up...hauling cargo between the colonies. I took a shuttle out to see him and came on board to help him run the business. I turned my Starfleet commission in and never looked back. I had a second chance at a family and I wasn't going to let go. "
"I'm glad Travis." said Archer "You deserve it."
"Don't get me wrong Captain." said Travis "I don't hold anything against Starfleet. Not anymore anyway...I came to realize
that what happened was the cause of a tragically misguided group of individuals. I made peace with it and what they did...not
for them, but for me. Now I have a family again...a daughter. She isn't exactly mine. I found her about 2 years after I started
working the family business. She was just a little thing...four...maybe five; Her parents had been killed by Orion pirates.
They just left her for dead. So, when I couldn't find any family members to take her...I adopted her and raised her as my own."
Travis took out a small disc and pressed one the buttons on the corner. An image formed on the small screen.
"Her name is Rory." said Travis
Archer smiled
"She takes after her old man." Travis said smiling "Helps me run the 'Venture'. One of the company ships."
Archer looked at his friend "As much as you've gone through...I'm glad your here Travis."
Travis nodded "I know John." said Travis "Stranger in a Strange land."
Archer nodded "I think Starfleet is out of its mind. I'm not a combat commander. Not like your Captain Soma. I've read his record. He makes me look like a pleasure cruise Captain."
"John, believe it or not, I think Starfleet couldn't have made a better choice with you." said Travis "You may not
have done it yet, but your gong to make history and be the guiding force behind all the starship Captains
that come after you...me...Soma...Kirk...we all looked to you sir."
Archer looked at Mayweather, he wasn't sure if the man was trying to build his confidence or he was actually telling him the truth. Not that the truth didn't send a chill down his spine. Being the model for future starship
captains seemed a bit much to ask when you weren't even sure about yourself.
"Thank you Travis." said archer
"Thank YOU Captain." said Travis "I'm glad I got to see you again. None of the old Enterprise crew is left...except T'Pol."
"T'Pol?" said Archer "She's alive?"
Travis nodded "Yes, She showed up one day when I was recovering at the Star Base. Almost gave me a heart attack to see her. She's semi-retired now. She lives on Vulcan and teaches at the Vulcan Science Academy. We talk every
couple weeks on sub space. I stop by whenever I can and pay her a visit."
"How...How is she?" asked Archer
"She's good sir." said Travis "She had a good life. Got married...had three kids...she even took Ambassador Soval's place as the Vulcan Ambassador to Earth for a while."
"Really?" said Archer incredulously "I guess we'll grow on her."
"Enterprise was like family sir. Even after the mission we all kept in touch." said Travis "We all felt that way...because of you. You always managed to pull us together."
"Please Travis, I hear enough of that from this Enterprise crew." said Archer with a smile
"It's the truth sir." said Travis
"Well, I trust YOU will remember I haven't done all these great things yet, so I'd appreciate all the help I can get." said Archer
"That's why Captain Soma asked me along." said Travis
"Speaking of the Captain." said Archer "Why don't you tell me what the story is between you two. I have a feeling there is more to that Vulcan than meets the eye."
Travis couldn't help smiling...he would never believe him.
TBC....