Title: "Gateway" 20/45
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 20
Captain's Log November 22, 2156...Captain Soma reporting...The Enterprise crew is currently conducting repairs on
systems that took damage during the battle over planet Gateway. An alien vessel, which we have discovered was
crewed by Andorians, attacked Enterprise while under the command of first officer T'Pol, who received injuries during
the battle and is recovering in sickbay. It was through the Sub Commander's quick thinking that Enterprise defeated
the attacking vessel and came out of it in one piece...relatively. The surviving members of the Andorian crew have
been transported aboard Enterprise and I have ordered them held in the ship's brig. Unfortunately, the Sub Commander's
plan required the ejection and subsequent detonation of Enterprise's warp core. Without the warp core we're years away
from the nearest outpost and may well be out of range of the nearest sub space communication buoy. Chief Engineer
Tucker and an engineering team have transported over to the Andorian's ship. It is his opinion that their warp core can
be removed and adapted to our own systems. I have made the warp core removal/adaption his top priority. Meanwhile,
I will be interrogating the Andorian crew.
"Open it up Lieutenant." instructed Soma
The Lieutenant hesitated a moment before acknowledging "Yes, sir."
The security officer drew his phase pistol as he pressed the access panel that opened the door to the ship's brig.
It looked like one of ship's bulky cargo doors and in point of fact that's exactly what it was. The door rolled to one
side. Inside sat six Andorians in various degrees of dishelvment. The ship's doctor had already been down to see
them and tended to any of their injuries.
Soma nodded to the security guard who stepped in. Soma followed him into the room. The Andorians immediately straightened when they saw the Vulcan. The Captain did not miss the scowls they gave him.
"What do you want Vulcan?" said one of the Andorians
"I am Captain Soma, commanding officer of this vessel." replied the Captain
"YOU command these pink skins?" spat an Andorian in the far corner
"I command the Earth vessel 'Enterprise'." corrected Soma "The 'pink skins' are called humans."
"Pink skins will do for me." said the Andorian smiling
"But not me." replied Soma
"Why not?" asked the Andorian still smiling
"Because I don't like it." said Soma as he gave the Andorian a hard stare
The Andorian stood up abruptly. The security guard immediately trained his phase pistol on him. Soma waved him off.
The Andorian moved towards the Captain, stopping half a meter away.
Looking over his shoulder to his fellow prisoners, the Andorian smiled "He says he doesn't like it."
The other Andorians started to laugh. "Maybe I should apologize." he told them as he snickered.
"Yeah, why don't you 'apologize' Tresh." said one of the Andorians sitting down.
Soma's eyes darted from one Andorian to the next as he gauged them. The Andorian standing in front of
him, the one called Thresh, turned his attention back to Soma. He gave the Captain a huge Cheshire cat
grin and promptly swung a hard right fist at the Captain's face. Unfortunately for Thresh, the Captain saw
him telegraph his move before he made it. Soma ducked under the Andorian's swing, bringing himself in close
to the Andorian's mid section where he delivered a hard upper cut to Thresh's solar plexus. This knocked the wind out
of the Andorian and made him stagger back.. Soma grabbed the Andorian by his tunic and pulled him in as he
simultaneously threw his fist into the man's face as he released his tunic. This sent the Andorian careening backwards
and over a table.
The other Andorians immediately stood, fists clenched. The security guard raised his phase pistol, alternating to which
Andorian he trained it on.
"Who's next?" said Soma giving the Andorians an icy stare "I trust I've made it clear that I am in no mood for games."
"What do you want Vulcan?" said one of Andorians
"For you to sit down and shut up." answered Soma "I'll ask the questions. If your answers aren't satisfactory,
you'll be joining your friend on the floor."
The Andorians looked at one another for a moment. Then one of them nodded to the rest and they sat down at the tables. Soma took note...he must be the leader.
"You don't act like any Vulcan I've ever met." said the Andorian who had ordered the others to sit
"I'm the kind with a short temper." said Soma "and if I don't get some straight answers I'm gonna put my boot
in yer ass!"
The security officer had to stifle the urge to laugh.
"What do you want to know?" asked the Andorian
"Your name for one." said Soma
The Andorian stared at him for a moment "Commander Shral, second in command of the 'Vindicator'."
"Why did you attack my ship, Commander?" asked Soma
"We were hired to." said Shral
"By whom?" asked Soma pressing for answers
"I don't know." said Shral
Soma moved forward with lightening speed, grabbing Shral by his tunic and slamming him against the wall.
"Try again." said Soma
"I DON'T KNOW!" shouted the Andorian "We were hired by a third party."
Soma scrutinized the Andorian for a moment and then pushed him away.
"Sit down." Soma ordered
The Andorian glared at the Vulcan for amoment and then returned to his seat.
"Who was this third party?" Soma asked impatiently
The Andorian looked at his fellow prisoners and then back at Soma "A Coridan trader. He called himself Selesh."
"Where can I find this...Selesh?" asked Soma
"How should I know." said Shral
Soma leaned over the table and stared at the Andorian, smiling as he did so. The Andorian wasn't sure which unnerved him more...the thought of what this Vulcan would do to extract information from him or the fact that
he was smiling at him. In either case he didn't like the prospects.
"Look, he approached us when we were having repairs done to our ship at the Pentax facility." said the Andorian "He said he needed some freelance troubleshooters...to get rid of some people who were causing problems for his superiors. He said we would be well paid for 'no questions asked'. He told us your ship had minimum armament and wouldn't pose a threat to us. We were told to get rid of your ship and anyone on the planet."
"Your ship was equipped with a cloaking device." said Soma "Where did you get it?"
"Selesh" replied the Andorian "He had it installed. Said it would make the job even easier. That's all we were told. We were paid up front."
Soma smiled at Shral "See how easy that was, Commander."
Just then, Soma's communicator chirped. He pulled the device from his arm pocket flipping it open. "Soma"
"Captain" said Ensign Sato "Commander Tucker reports that he's returned from the Andorian ship sir."
"What are you doing on our ship?" spat Shral
"Stand by Ensign." said Soma as he glared at Shral
"Your ship has been impounded." replied Soma "Lets have an understanding
commander. You and your men are criminals. You attacked my ship and
killed members of my crew. You have no rights aboard this ship beyond
prisoner. Cooperate and you will be turned over to the authorities
to stand trial. Any other behavior from you or your men....an flush
the lot of you out the nearest airlock."
The Andorian commander stared at the Vulcan. He didn't trust Vulcans.
He considered them a duplicious species that hid behind the veil of logic.
This Vulcan was different. He couldn't discern him very well but one thing he was certain about...this Vulcan meant exactly what he said.
Shral nodded in agreement and Soma turned and signaled the security guard
to exit.
Once the door was closed he resumed communications with Sato. "Go ahead Ensign."
"Commander Tucker has brought the Andorian warp core aboard, sir" reported Hoshi "He said he'll start installing it as soon as he's checked it for micro fractures."
"Understood Ensign." said Soma "What's your progress on raising Starfleet?"
"Not good sir." said Hoshi "We're too far out of range of the sub space buoys."
"Understood" said Soma "See if there is anything you can do to boost the range of our signal. If Commander Tucker doesn't get that Andorian warp core online were going to need to get word to Starfleet."
"Yes, sir." replied Hoshi "I'll try sir."
"Good, Soma out."
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 20
Captain's Log November 22, 2156...Captain Soma reporting...The Enterprise crew is currently conducting repairs on
systems that took damage during the battle over planet Gateway. An alien vessel, which we have discovered was
crewed by Andorians, attacked Enterprise while under the command of first officer T'Pol, who received injuries during
the battle and is recovering in sickbay. It was through the Sub Commander's quick thinking that Enterprise defeated
the attacking vessel and came out of it in one piece...relatively. The surviving members of the Andorian crew have
been transported aboard Enterprise and I have ordered them held in the ship's brig. Unfortunately, the Sub Commander's
plan required the ejection and subsequent detonation of Enterprise's warp core. Without the warp core we're years away
from the nearest outpost and may well be out of range of the nearest sub space communication buoy. Chief Engineer
Tucker and an engineering team have transported over to the Andorian's ship. It is his opinion that their warp core can
be removed and adapted to our own systems. I have made the warp core removal/adaption his top priority. Meanwhile,
I will be interrogating the Andorian crew.
"Open it up Lieutenant." instructed Soma
The Lieutenant hesitated a moment before acknowledging "Yes, sir."
The security officer drew his phase pistol as he pressed the access panel that opened the door to the ship's brig.
It looked like one of ship's bulky cargo doors and in point of fact that's exactly what it was. The door rolled to one
side. Inside sat six Andorians in various degrees of dishelvment. The ship's doctor had already been down to see
them and tended to any of their injuries.
Soma nodded to the security guard who stepped in. Soma followed him into the room. The Andorians immediately straightened when they saw the Vulcan. The Captain did not miss the scowls they gave him.
"What do you want Vulcan?" said one of the Andorians
"I am Captain Soma, commanding officer of this vessel." replied the Captain
"YOU command these pink skins?" spat an Andorian in the far corner
"I command the Earth vessel 'Enterprise'." corrected Soma "The 'pink skins' are called humans."
"Pink skins will do for me." said the Andorian smiling
"But not me." replied Soma
"Why not?" asked the Andorian still smiling
"Because I don't like it." said Soma as he gave the Andorian a hard stare
The Andorian stood up abruptly. The security guard immediately trained his phase pistol on him. Soma waved him off.
The Andorian moved towards the Captain, stopping half a meter away.
Looking over his shoulder to his fellow prisoners, the Andorian smiled "He says he doesn't like it."
The other Andorians started to laugh. "Maybe I should apologize." he told them as he snickered.
"Yeah, why don't you 'apologize' Tresh." said one of the Andorians sitting down.
Soma's eyes darted from one Andorian to the next as he gauged them. The Andorian standing in front of
him, the one called Thresh, turned his attention back to Soma. He gave the Captain a huge Cheshire cat
grin and promptly swung a hard right fist at the Captain's face. Unfortunately for Thresh, the Captain saw
him telegraph his move before he made it. Soma ducked under the Andorian's swing, bringing himself in close
to the Andorian's mid section where he delivered a hard upper cut to Thresh's solar plexus. This knocked the wind out
of the Andorian and made him stagger back.. Soma grabbed the Andorian by his tunic and pulled him in as he
simultaneously threw his fist into the man's face as he released his tunic. This sent the Andorian careening backwards
and over a table.
The other Andorians immediately stood, fists clenched. The security guard raised his phase pistol, alternating to which
Andorian he trained it on.
"Who's next?" said Soma giving the Andorians an icy stare "I trust I've made it clear that I am in no mood for games."
"What do you want Vulcan?" said one of Andorians
"For you to sit down and shut up." answered Soma "I'll ask the questions. If your answers aren't satisfactory,
you'll be joining your friend on the floor."
The Andorians looked at one another for a moment. Then one of them nodded to the rest and they sat down at the tables. Soma took note...he must be the leader.
"You don't act like any Vulcan I've ever met." said the Andorian who had ordered the others to sit
"I'm the kind with a short temper." said Soma "and if I don't get some straight answers I'm gonna put my boot
in yer ass!"
The security officer had to stifle the urge to laugh.
"What do you want to know?" asked the Andorian
"Your name for one." said Soma
The Andorian stared at him for a moment "Commander Shral, second in command of the 'Vindicator'."
"Why did you attack my ship, Commander?" asked Soma
"We were hired to." said Shral
"By whom?" asked Soma pressing for answers
"I don't know." said Shral
Soma moved forward with lightening speed, grabbing Shral by his tunic and slamming him against the wall.
"Try again." said Soma
"I DON'T KNOW!" shouted the Andorian "We were hired by a third party."
Soma scrutinized the Andorian for a moment and then pushed him away.
"Sit down." Soma ordered
The Andorian glared at the Vulcan for amoment and then returned to his seat.
"Who was this third party?" Soma asked impatiently
The Andorian looked at his fellow prisoners and then back at Soma "A Coridan trader. He called himself Selesh."
"Where can I find this...Selesh?" asked Soma
"How should I know." said Shral
Soma leaned over the table and stared at the Andorian, smiling as he did so. The Andorian wasn't sure which unnerved him more...the thought of what this Vulcan would do to extract information from him or the fact that
he was smiling at him. In either case he didn't like the prospects.
"Look, he approached us when we were having repairs done to our ship at the Pentax facility." said the Andorian "He said he needed some freelance troubleshooters...to get rid of some people who were causing problems for his superiors. He said we would be well paid for 'no questions asked'. He told us your ship had minimum armament and wouldn't pose a threat to us. We were told to get rid of your ship and anyone on the planet."
"Your ship was equipped with a cloaking device." said Soma "Where did you get it?"
"Selesh" replied the Andorian "He had it installed. Said it would make the job even easier. That's all we were told. We were paid up front."
Soma smiled at Shral "See how easy that was, Commander."
Just then, Soma's communicator chirped. He pulled the device from his arm pocket flipping it open. "Soma"
"Captain" said Ensign Sato "Commander Tucker reports that he's returned from the Andorian ship sir."
"What are you doing on our ship?" spat Shral
"Stand by Ensign." said Soma as he glared at Shral
"Your ship has been impounded." replied Soma "Lets have an understanding
commander. You and your men are criminals. You attacked my ship and
killed members of my crew. You have no rights aboard this ship beyond
prisoner. Cooperate and you will be turned over to the authorities
to stand trial. Any other behavior from you or your men....an flush
the lot of you out the nearest airlock."
The Andorian commander stared at the Vulcan. He didn't trust Vulcans.
He considered them a duplicious species that hid behind the veil of logic.
This Vulcan was different. He couldn't discern him very well but one thing he was certain about...this Vulcan meant exactly what he said.
Shral nodded in agreement and Soma turned and signaled the security guard
to exit.
Once the door was closed he resumed communications with Sato. "Go ahead Ensign."
"Commander Tucker has brought the Andorian warp core aboard, sir" reported Hoshi "He said he'll start installing it as soon as he's checked it for micro fractures."
"Understood Ensign." said Soma "What's your progress on raising Starfleet?"
"Not good sir." said Hoshi "We're too far out of range of the sub space buoys."
"Understood" said Soma "See if there is anything you can do to boost the range of our signal. If Commander Tucker doesn't get that Andorian warp core online were going to need to get word to Starfleet."
"Yes, sir." replied Hoshi "I'll try sir."
"Good, Soma out."
TBC...