P R E P A R A T I O N

What has Come Before…

A mysterious object has appeared in the Alpha Quadrant, heading straight for Earth. The U.S.S. Maximillian has been sent as the Federation's representative to 'escort' the object, and find out it's true motives. After the Destruction of Klingon, Romulan, and Gorn Vessels, the Maximillian is forced to witness the Gorn Homeworld's Destruction.

Unless the brave crew can somehow find a way to disable the object first…

Critch Starblade paced outside the window of the deserted sickbay. CMO Nathan Cobaugh was in another area of the ship, preparing for a possible upcoming battle, leaving the normally full or at least busy rooms empty. At least it was empty until the android heard the door 'shish' open, and he glanced back and saw Admiral Lyon walk in, and sit on one of the beds.

Critch turned back around, and resumed his pacing. Lyon appraised this, and supposed he would have to broach the subject he had been dreading. "Why are the lights off, Commander?"

Critch sighed. "I don't need lights to see, Admiral. And it's more peaceful, I can try to think."

Lyon laughed softly to himself. "We both know that you don't have any problems thinking, Commander. Your brain power is off any charts we've tried to measure. At least, your untapped power is. The power that you choose to use is still significant, however."

"I don't 'choose' to use anything, Admiral. I know my capabilities and abilities, and I do them. Far better than any other Android your…our fleet can come up with, I might add."

"True." Lyon rose. "But you are capable of so much more. We've all looked at your architecture, Critch. There is no scientific reason why so much of your power is not being accessed." He stopped, next to Critch, now looking at the same thing the young-looking Android was looking at: The strange, crystal-like object that had caused so many problems of late. "Or why you can't remember anything about your past, but your name."

Critch was silent for a moment. "Don't you think I've been trying, Rob?" He walked away from the window. "Since the day you reactivated me, since you found me, I've done everything you recommended. Joining your Starfleet, Getting on the Maximillian, Even Operations was originally your idea. But none of this…" He gestured around the room. "None of this has sparked anything close to a memory, not even a familiarity. It's like I'm not even from this galaxy."

"Stay the course, Critch. I've never steered you wrong yet, have I?"

Critch walked back to the window, pacing again. "No…of course not. The almighty Grand Poobah Admiral Rob, never makes mistakes. Never has, never will."

Lyon smiled, a bit sadly, and looked down. "If only that were true, Critch, if only."

Critch pretended not to hear him. "But it's weird. Nothing's familiar…except that. I can look around here and see everything there is and nothing registers…But that ship..that shape…I almost can remember it…do you know how frustrating that is? To be so close to something so monumental?"

Lyon nodded. "I can only imagine. And that's why we need your help, possibly beyond anyone else on the ship."

Critch shook his head. "I don't know, Rob, I'm just Operations. I push the buttons. The real thinking is for the engineers. Go ask Amy, she'll.."

"Lieutenant Thomas is capable, but she's missing the senses you have. All I ask is for you to look, Critch. Look at the thing, see if there's anything you can see."

"Fine."

Robert Lyon rose to leave, and looked back as he walked out of the room. "And look quickly, Commander. We arrive at the homeworld in roughly an hour."

"Captain." Commander Kragnar spoke quickly.

The engineering bay of the Maximillian was busier than usual, as the entire ship was in preparation for the coming battle. To the young Lieutenant Thomas in charge of Engineering, it seemed a quite daunting task, especially since it appeared that the other vessel was invincible, but the Captain's presence there alleviated her fears, just as the Commander's presence did not.

She watched as the Commander and Captain spoke, a somewhat courteous discussion, which was surprising considering they were both Klingons. She tried not to appear obvious as she continued adjusting the warp engine, even as she inched closer to the pair.

"Kragnar, it's not that I don't agree with you, it's that we are forced to abide by another set of rules here."

"I do understand that, S'Quid. I fear my honor speaks ahead of me."

"As it always has, brother. And it always will, I fear."

It was incredible to her how just a few moments before they had been at each others necks, and now here they were, apologizing. Klingons apologizing. She shook her head as she realized she had to make some corrections on another deck. As she left Engineering, handing control over temporarily to a frightened looking Ensign, she supposed that it was the ship that made the bonds of family so strong. Whether blood or not.

"Have you told him anything at all?" Admiral Turok T'Kill asked, exasperated.

Admiral Lyon shook his head, as Admiral Blobbin formed his mercury self into the shape of the lawn chair he was lounging in, transformed colors to a bright green, and began snoring. The three Admirals, all former Captains of Starships Maximillian, though Blobbin's time was very short, were on a beach, somewhere in the Middle East of Earth, in an earlier century. "I know what you're going to say, You don't…"

"Like it. And I don't, Rob. He's going to find out sooner or later what he is, what you've done…"

Blobbin woke enough to blurt out a "Not the Cantaloupe…" And fell back to sleep.

"I haven't done anything, Turok. Gave him a little push, that's all."

"You've decided his entire career for him!"

"He hasn't done anything he hasn't wanted to do, Turok. If he wanted to leave, all he'd had to do is go. I wouldn't have stopped him. Not that I could have."

Turok glared at him, then kicked some sand off into the distance. "Why do we always come here, anyway? We could be at a Steelers Game, or anywhere in history…why always the sand and the hot and the…"

Lyon leaned back into the folded-out lounge chair. "When you're commissioner, you make the rules. As to Commander Starblade….Only he can figure out his destiny. All we can do is help him make the right decision when the time comes…"

Lieutenant Commander Critch Starblade rushed out in the hallway, nearly knocking over Lieutenant Thomas in the process. "Amy, I've got it!"

"Got what?"

"Ro..Admiral Lyon was right! He told me to look and I SAW! I had noticed the ship was just a little fuzzy, and I thought that was normal, until I adjusted my opticals…I know why we can't detect them!"

LT Thomas took a moment. "Ok, why?"

"Different frequencies! They're not from our universe…All we have to do is match ourselves up!"

"Critch, you're a genius!"

He smiled, allowing hope to enter his mind. "I know."