Title: "Gateway" 28/45
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 28
Archer sat in his ready room studying the intelligence reports that Starfleet had gathered on Silik's recent movements. He had been looking at them for hours.He had already had Rachel set course
back for Federation space. He had no idea where he was going once
they were back, but he knew the answer didn't lay in the Martez colony. That was a very clever ruse designed to lead Starfleet
and possibly him away from the true plan Silik was carrying out. Whatever that plan was. just then, the chime rang to his ready room.
"Come in." he called out.
Commander Garrett and Travid Mayweather entered the Captain's
ready room. Garrett was the first to speak."John, we're approaching Federation space. We should be back inside in about twenty
minutes."
"Understood.' replied the Captain as he scrutenized another report.
"Captain, you've been pouring over those reports for nearly three hours." said Garrett "Don't you think you should take a break?"
"She's right Captain." agreed Mayweather
"I appreciate your concern." said Archer "but I think I may have found something."
This immediatly peaked their curiosity and Garrett and Mayweather approached the Captain's desk.
"Take a look at this." said Archer "What do you see?"
He handed a data PADD to Mayweather who only needed to glance
at it. "Silik" he said and handed it to Garrett.
Archer tapped a button on his computer and the uplink to the PADD
entered a new image. "Now what do you see?"
Garrett looked at the new image "Another image of Silik." she said "This one is one of the images of him at Deep Space 2."
She handed the PADD to Mayweather who looked at the image as well. He was about to hand it back to Archer when something caught his eye. He wasn't sure what it was, but something
WAS different.
"Notice something?" asked Archer
"Here, try this." he said as he hit another button on his desk. The image changed again. This timeit was a composite enlargement of the two previous images.
Mayweather scrutenized the two images. What was it about one that was different about the other; besides the location. Then he saw it.
"Wrinkles?" he said
"Wrinkles" repeated Archer
Garrett looked at the two men "Someone want to let me in on what you two are talking about?"
"Wrinkles" said Mayweather as he showed her the subtle lines in Silik's face "He's got wrinkles."
"Ok, so he's got wrinkles." agreed Garrett
Archer stood up and came around his desk "Don't you see."
he said with a tinge of excitement "It's not Silik!"
Garrett stared sketically at Archer for a moment "If it's not Silik then who is he?"
"My mistake" said Archer "It is Silik, but it's not the Silik from my time period."
Garrett looked at the pictures again and slowly looked up at Archer. "But that isn't possible."she countered "Suliban have a life span roughly as long as humans. Silik couldn't have survived
to this century. Not without going into suspended animation and why would he do that. Why pick this century to emerge?"
"I don't think he went into suspended animation." answered
Archer "I think the silik in this picture is from a time period somewhere between mine and yours. I think he traveled
to this time period for a specific purpose and I think he did it on his own."
"What?" said Garrett
"I think he's working alone." said Archer "I don't think this has anything to do with the 'Temporal Cold War'. I think this is about revenge."
"Revenge on who?" asked Garrett
This time Mayweather answered "Captain Archer"
Archer shook his head in agreement. "It all makes sense."
"Well it doesn't make sense to me." replied the first officer
Archer went back to his desk and turned the moniter so it faced the three of them. He punched several buttons bringing up several texts in seperate windows.
"The Intelligence reports from Starfleet stated that the Suliban had not been heard from on the 'Temporal Cold War' front for forty years." said Archer pointing to the highlighted section on the screen "Why are they back now? Starfleet has noted other species playing a more prominant role in the 'Temporal Cold War'."
"That may be." said Garrett "But that doesn't mean Silik is out for revenge or working alone."
"It might." said Mayweather "If he lost favor with his 'masters'."
"You said Silik disapeared after our last fight." said Archer as he looked at Mayweather
"That's right" he responded "We never heard from him again. We still encountered Suliban, but not Silik."
"And Ork said Silik was raving about reclaiming his position." said Archer "It didn't click on the bridge, but it does now. I think that Silik did lose his position with these temporal agents that Daniel's warned us about."explained Archer "I think in his declining years he has been nursing a hate. A hate for Earth, a hate
for Starfleet and most of all a hate for me."
The two officers looked at Archer. They were far from convinced, but saw the possobilities.
"Alright" said Garrett "Just suppose for a moment that this is an older Silik and that he has a rightous hatred for you and Starfleet which leads us to further suppose that he's been abandoned by the 'Temporal Cold War' masters he served. How did he get here?"
"With one of these." said Archer turning and bringing up a new image. It was a small drum shaped object with key pads.
"What is it?" asked Garrett
"A portable time traveling device." said Mayweather "Daniels had one similiar to it. It was how he traveled to our time period."
"Where would Silik get such a device?" asked Garrett "If he was cut
of from the 'masters' so was his access to thier technology."
"I may have misjusged Silik" said Archer "but I do know him. It
would be just like him to gain some upperhand and save it for a 'rainy day'. On at least two occasion, I've seen him with
a similiar device. Each time he was trying to learn how it worked."
"You think he found out." said Mayweather
Archer simply nodded.
"Alright, so let me guess this straight." said Garrett "An older Silik travels from the late 21st century to the early 24th using a stolen portable time travel device to get revenge on you."
"Thats right." said Archer
"Thats crazy" said Garrett "Your not even alive in this century. Why travel here at all."
"Because there's something here that he needs." replied Archer
"What?" asked Garrett
"That part I'm a little gray about." replied Archer
"How gray?" asked Garrett
"Charcoal" said Archer
Garrett smiled at Archer. At least his sense of humour had returned, not it was going to help solve their predicament.
"What is there in this time period that Silik could use in the 21st century?" asked Mayweather
"Take your pick." replied Garrett "Weapons systems have increased
to incredibly destructive levels in a hundred and fifty years. Not to mention failed civilian projects like the Genesis device and the Ritalex plague serum which could wipe out entire planets."
"No, it's got to be something that would allow him to have an active part in my degredation." said Archer "He would want to be there to
see my face."
"A ship?" said Mayweather " A Federation starship from this time period would be more than a match for for anything in the 21st century."
"It would be his style." said Archer "Turning a Starfleet vessel
into the weapon that prevented the Federation."
"Maybe he wants the Enterprise-C." said Mayweather "That would
directly link you and it seems he has been leading us where he wants us to go."
"Impossible" interrupted Garrett "Ever since the Khan affair, Starfleet vessels have taken stringent security measures. If somone even attempted to compromise a Starfleet vessel the nearest Starfleet
ships would be notified by transponder code. All Starfleet vessels have them so we can track them without enemy vessels doing so. "
Archer had been loking at the screen when Garrett said this. He looked up and posed a thought of his own. "What if the Starship he chose didn't have a transponder."
"As I said." replied Garrett "All Starfleet vessels have them."
"I can think of one that doesn't." said Mayweather
Archer looked at Mayweather "The Kirk"
Once Archer said the name, Garrett's eyes widened "Oh My God"
Archer brought up security protocols on the viewscreen. He punched
in his request. "Dammit, it's not letting me in. I'm not cleared to view anything attatched to 'Gateway'"
Rachel moved to his side. "Here, let me." she said as she punched in her clearence authorization codes. Both she and Captain Soma were the only Enterprise personal cleared for 'Gateway' information.
"Try it now." she said
"I'm in." he said looking up at her. "USS Kirk....Okuda Class Dreadnought...30 multiple independent 360 degree mega phaser turrets...6 photon torpedo tubes.....multispacial shields....crew compliment...47."
"She's automated" said Mayweather
Garrett shook her head "But even if a boarding party of superior numbers attacked the Kirk they would never get aboard. She's a floating arsenal. No ship could hope to take her on."
"He doesn't need a ship." said Archer "All he has to do is compromise the science team on Gateway."
"And he could do that by bringing in Suliban troops from the past. Troops still loyal to him. Tropps from your era...from before he lost favor." said Mayweather "Once that was done he could use the transponder that lets the science team remain in contact with the Kirk, to locate it's exact postion and..."
"... and use the Guardian to board her!" finshed Garrett
"And according to this era's Starfleet records." said Archer "The 'formula' for time travel using a starship has been establishhed for nearly fifty years."
Garrett and Mayweather looked at one another.
Archer tapped the comm button on his desk. "Bridge"
"Bridge here Captain." responded a male voice "Lt. Eppstein, sir."
"Lt. lay in a reverse heading back to the planet I boarded Enterprise from." ordered Archer "Warp Nine."
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 28
Archer sat in his ready room studying the intelligence reports that Starfleet had gathered on Silik's recent movements. He had been looking at them for hours.He had already had Rachel set course
back for Federation space. He had no idea where he was going once
they were back, but he knew the answer didn't lay in the Martez colony. That was a very clever ruse designed to lead Starfleet
and possibly him away from the true plan Silik was carrying out. Whatever that plan was. just then, the chime rang to his ready room.
"Come in." he called out.
Commander Garrett and Travid Mayweather entered the Captain's
ready room. Garrett was the first to speak."John, we're approaching Federation space. We should be back inside in about twenty
minutes."
"Understood.' replied the Captain as he scrutenized another report.
"Captain, you've been pouring over those reports for nearly three hours." said Garrett "Don't you think you should take a break?"
"She's right Captain." agreed Mayweather
"I appreciate your concern." said Archer "but I think I may have found something."
This immediatly peaked their curiosity and Garrett and Mayweather approached the Captain's desk.
"Take a look at this." said Archer "What do you see?"
He handed a data PADD to Mayweather who only needed to glance
at it. "Silik" he said and handed it to Garrett.
Archer tapped a button on his computer and the uplink to the PADD
entered a new image. "Now what do you see?"
Garrett looked at the new image "Another image of Silik." she said "This one is one of the images of him at Deep Space 2."
She handed the PADD to Mayweather who looked at the image as well. He was about to hand it back to Archer when something caught his eye. He wasn't sure what it was, but something
WAS different.
"Notice something?" asked Archer
"Here, try this." he said as he hit another button on his desk. The image changed again. This timeit was a composite enlargement of the two previous images.
Mayweather scrutenized the two images. What was it about one that was different about the other; besides the location. Then he saw it.
"Wrinkles?" he said
"Wrinkles" repeated Archer
Garrett looked at the two men "Someone want to let me in on what you two are talking about?"
"Wrinkles" said Mayweather as he showed her the subtle lines in Silik's face "He's got wrinkles."
"Ok, so he's got wrinkles." agreed Garrett
Archer stood up and came around his desk "Don't you see."
he said with a tinge of excitement "It's not Silik!"
Garrett stared sketically at Archer for a moment "If it's not Silik then who is he?"
"My mistake" said Archer "It is Silik, but it's not the Silik from my time period."
Garrett looked at the pictures again and slowly looked up at Archer. "But that isn't possible."she countered "Suliban have a life span roughly as long as humans. Silik couldn't have survived
to this century. Not without going into suspended animation and why would he do that. Why pick this century to emerge?"
"I don't think he went into suspended animation." answered
Archer "I think the silik in this picture is from a time period somewhere between mine and yours. I think he traveled
to this time period for a specific purpose and I think he did it on his own."
"What?" said Garrett
"I think he's working alone." said Archer "I don't think this has anything to do with the 'Temporal Cold War'. I think this is about revenge."
"Revenge on who?" asked Garrett
This time Mayweather answered "Captain Archer"
Archer shook his head in agreement. "It all makes sense."
"Well it doesn't make sense to me." replied the first officer
Archer went back to his desk and turned the moniter so it faced the three of them. He punched several buttons bringing up several texts in seperate windows.
"The Intelligence reports from Starfleet stated that the Suliban had not been heard from on the 'Temporal Cold War' front for forty years." said Archer pointing to the highlighted section on the screen "Why are they back now? Starfleet has noted other species playing a more prominant role in the 'Temporal Cold War'."
"That may be." said Garrett "But that doesn't mean Silik is out for revenge or working alone."
"It might." said Mayweather "If he lost favor with his 'masters'."
"You said Silik disapeared after our last fight." said Archer as he looked at Mayweather
"That's right" he responded "We never heard from him again. We still encountered Suliban, but not Silik."
"And Ork said Silik was raving about reclaiming his position." said Archer "It didn't click on the bridge, but it does now. I think that Silik did lose his position with these temporal agents that Daniel's warned us about."explained Archer "I think in his declining years he has been nursing a hate. A hate for Earth, a hate
for Starfleet and most of all a hate for me."
The two officers looked at Archer. They were far from convinced, but saw the possobilities.
"Alright" said Garrett "Just suppose for a moment that this is an older Silik and that he has a rightous hatred for you and Starfleet which leads us to further suppose that he's been abandoned by the 'Temporal Cold War' masters he served. How did he get here?"
"With one of these." said Archer turning and bringing up a new image. It was a small drum shaped object with key pads.
"What is it?" asked Garrett
"A portable time traveling device." said Mayweather "Daniels had one similiar to it. It was how he traveled to our time period."
"Where would Silik get such a device?" asked Garrett "If he was cut
of from the 'masters' so was his access to thier technology."
"I may have misjusged Silik" said Archer "but I do know him. It
would be just like him to gain some upperhand and save it for a 'rainy day'. On at least two occasion, I've seen him with
a similiar device. Each time he was trying to learn how it worked."
"You think he found out." said Mayweather
Archer simply nodded.
"Alright, so let me guess this straight." said Garrett "An older Silik travels from the late 21st century to the early 24th using a stolen portable time travel device to get revenge on you."
"Thats right." said Archer
"Thats crazy" said Garrett "Your not even alive in this century. Why travel here at all."
"Because there's something here that he needs." replied Archer
"What?" asked Garrett
"That part I'm a little gray about." replied Archer
"How gray?" asked Garrett
"Charcoal" said Archer
Garrett smiled at Archer. At least his sense of humour had returned, not it was going to help solve their predicament.
"What is there in this time period that Silik could use in the 21st century?" asked Mayweather
"Take your pick." replied Garrett "Weapons systems have increased
to incredibly destructive levels in a hundred and fifty years. Not to mention failed civilian projects like the Genesis device and the Ritalex plague serum which could wipe out entire planets."
"No, it's got to be something that would allow him to have an active part in my degredation." said Archer "He would want to be there to
see my face."
"A ship?" said Mayweather " A Federation starship from this time period would be more than a match for for anything in the 21st century."
"It would be his style." said Archer "Turning a Starfleet vessel
into the weapon that prevented the Federation."
"Maybe he wants the Enterprise-C." said Mayweather "That would
directly link you and it seems he has been leading us where he wants us to go."
"Impossible" interrupted Garrett "Ever since the Khan affair, Starfleet vessels have taken stringent security measures. If somone even attempted to compromise a Starfleet vessel the nearest Starfleet
ships would be notified by transponder code. All Starfleet vessels have them so we can track them without enemy vessels doing so. "
Archer had been loking at the screen when Garrett said this. He looked up and posed a thought of his own. "What if the Starship he chose didn't have a transponder."
"As I said." replied Garrett "All Starfleet vessels have them."
"I can think of one that doesn't." said Mayweather
Archer looked at Mayweather "The Kirk"
Once Archer said the name, Garrett's eyes widened "Oh My God"
Archer brought up security protocols on the viewscreen. He punched
in his request. "Dammit, it's not letting me in. I'm not cleared to view anything attatched to 'Gateway'"
Rachel moved to his side. "Here, let me." she said as she punched in her clearence authorization codes. Both she and Captain Soma were the only Enterprise personal cleared for 'Gateway' information.
"Try it now." she said
"I'm in." he said looking up at her. "USS Kirk....Okuda Class Dreadnought...30 multiple independent 360 degree mega phaser turrets...6 photon torpedo tubes.....multispacial shields....crew compliment...47."
"She's automated" said Mayweather
Garrett shook her head "But even if a boarding party of superior numbers attacked the Kirk they would never get aboard. She's a floating arsenal. No ship could hope to take her on."
"He doesn't need a ship." said Archer "All he has to do is compromise the science team on Gateway."
"And he could do that by bringing in Suliban troops from the past. Troops still loyal to him. Tropps from your era...from before he lost favor." said Mayweather "Once that was done he could use the transponder that lets the science team remain in contact with the Kirk, to locate it's exact postion and..."
"... and use the Guardian to board her!" finshed Garrett
"And according to this era's Starfleet records." said Archer "The 'formula' for time travel using a starship has been establishhed for nearly fifty years."
Garrett and Mayweather looked at one another.
Archer tapped the comm button on his desk. "Bridge"
"Bridge here Captain." responded a male voice "Lt. Eppstein, sir."
"Lt. lay in a reverse heading back to the planet I boarded Enterprise from." ordered Archer "Warp Nine."
TBC....