Chapter Twelve
The Defiant moved to the outer rim of the nebula and held position for a few seconds. A bleep came over the comm channel from the buoy that the Enterprise had dropped, and Captain Picard's message for the Cumberland was heard over the intercom system on the bridge.
"The USS Cumberland should be heading this way to help with the search for the Washington and Voyager." Riker informed Sisko as the message played in the background.
"Very well, Commander. Take us into the nebula, Chief." Sisko replied. "Nice and easy."
"Aye, sir. Engaging at full impulse." The Defiant entered the nebula and headed for the last known location of the Enterprise.
"Shields up." Sisko said as the ship began to rock and the red alert sounded with the sudden build up of radiation.
"Aye, sir." Riker said from the tactical station.
"We should be within range of the Enterprise in half an hour, sir." Chief O'Brien informed them from the helm position.
"Very well. Just take it nice and slow, Chief. I want a smooth ride."
The bridge crew on the engineering section of the Enterprise consisted of Data, La Forge, Worf, Ensign Gates and Captain Picard in command. Everyone had assumed their positions and were awaiting their orders.
"Computer, initiate saucer separation." Picard said from the command chair on the Battle Bridge of the Enterprise.
"Acknowledged."
"Prepare for umbilical disconnect and shut down all turbolifts from the saucer section to the engineering section. Close all Jeffries tubes off." Picard instructed the computer and it performed each task in turn.
"All orders completed." The computer finally replied.
"Release docking latches."
"Docking latches released." Replied the computer again.
"Open a channel to the saucer section the moment we are clear of her, Lieutenant, and put it on the view screen." Picard said to Worf who was manning the tactical and communications consoles behind the command area.
"Aye, sir." Worf said from the back of the bridge. "Channel open now, sir."
"Picard to Lieutenant Simmons, we're clear of the saucer section now and we'll be proceeding down toward the planet momentarily." The image of the main bridge flickered for a moment with the buildup of excess radiation affecting the communications systems.
"Thank you, Captain. We'll remain in orbit until you return. Good luck."
"Thank you, Lieutenant. Picard out." The view screen flickered off and returned to the now familiar sight of the murky nebula. "Change course and head directly for the planet, Ensign." Picard instructed.
"Changing course now, sir." Ensign Gates said from the helm. The view screen changed almost immediately to show the planet as the engineering section shifted position within the nebula. Picard looked at the planet still intrigued by what he saw. He thought it impossible that he would actually have seen a planet full of life that had remained in a radiation filled area of space for so long without dying. It was certainly worthy of study and when all of this was over he was sure that the Federation would send a research vessel in to look at it more closely.
The ship sped off to seek out new life on the mysterious planet below.
Crusher awoke one morning hearing a loud rap on the door to her home on Delos Four. Where she had moved six months ago to complete an internship with the doctor she had met a few years ago, Dalen Quaice- back when she had been involved with the rescue of two pilots when their shuttle has crashed. Dr. Quaice and she had become quite good friends over the last few years since that incident, and she had requested that she do her last year of medical training under her mentor.
Delos was quite a small planet in a system of seven planets that orbited binary stars. The days were long and the terrain and climate rough but it was habitable by humans, and so Starfleet had decided to colonise it. It contained a small population but it was by no means unproductive. Recently Delos Four had put itself quite literally on the map when archaeologists had discovered various artifacts that linked the world to the mysterious Iconian race. Just recently everyone had been visiting from afar and so the use of a complex medical service was needed more and more everyday- and therefore one accomplished doctor, an intern and four nurses were no longer enough.
For the last week more medical technicians, nurses and four new doctors had been arriving on various ships. It was Beverly's job to get them all settled in, and so she was going to receive two new house guests until more accommodation was built for them, and until Jack and Wesley could join her. Jack was still back on Earth tying up all of the unfinished business and was looking after their now three year old son. They would both be taking a shuttle to Delos Four in a few weeks time to join Beverly. She missed them both and although Jack had been sending her holograms of Wesley every other week, she still wondered how much he had grown and what he was like now.
Beverly leapt out of bed when she heard the insistent rapping for the second time, and dragged a gown over her bed clothes, whilst rushing to the door and trying to tie it at the same time. She got to the door and banged into it as she skidded to a halt, reaching down to rub her knee as she opened it. She looked up and saw a woman standing there with her bags sitting on the floor. Great, my new houseguest is a Vulcan! What fun we're going to have. Beverly thought as the Vulcan woman stood with one raised eyebrow at the sight of Beverly rubbing her knee and dressed ready for bed.
"Greetings. I am Dr. Selar recently assigned to Delos Four from the USS Birmingham to complete my internship. I trust you were expecting me, though by your attire, not so soon?" Selar said in a very stern and somewhat unfriendly manner.
"Right, you are rather early. You're not supposed to arrive until this afternoon. Excuse the way I'm dressed but you woke me up and I was out rather late last night." Beverly stood up and moved away from the door to allow her guest to enter. "Please, come in and make yourself at home." Selar entered, picking up her bags as she did so, Beverly closed the door.
As Selar entered she took a long look around the sitting area. "The house seems to be adequate for my needs. I think we will get along like a 'house on fire', as you humans fraise it." Selar turned to see Beverly grimace as she hobbled over to her. "It appears that you require medical attention, Doctor."
"It's just bruised that's all." Beverly sat down and got out a small medical kit to treat her knee.
"Indeed?" Selar said skeptically. "Well, when you have sorted yourself out perhaps you would like to show me around your abode, and the colony if you have time?"
"Yes, I'll introduce you to the rest of the medical staff and show you around the facilities that we have. There's no much to look at right now but we're expanding every day." Beverly finished what she was doing and rose. "Now, if you'll excuse me I'll go and get ready and we can begin that tour. If you need anything to eat or drink there's a replicator around the corner there." Beverly said pointing in the general direction, "I'll be back in a few minutes." Beverly left to get ready. We're going to get on like a house on fire? Who's she kidding? I'm going to have serious words with Dalen when I see him, you think he could have given me some warning at least!
A few minutes later Beverly returned to find Selar perched on the chair. "I see you've made yourself comfortable." She commented sarcastically, of course the Vulcan didn't see it as sarcasm.
"Very comfortable, thank you Doctor," she replied seriously.
"Please, call me Beverly when we're not on duty." Crusher told her.
"Of course, Beverly."
"And I should call you?" Crusher asked trying to be more acquainted with her.
"Dr. Selar will suffice." The reply was straight forward and to the point.
"Oh?" Beverly said trying to be as polite as she could. "I thought we might at least try to be more friendly when we're not on duty."
"Vulcan's do not have friends." Was the stoic response from Selar. "But since you are in essence my commanding officer, you may call me Selar if you find that more comfortable with your human needs."
It was Beverly's turn to raise her eyebrows, she couldn't understand how a person that was so cold could ever have even been considered to train to be a doctor. "Her patients must get well very quickly so that they can get away from her," Crusher thought to herself. "Well, are you ready to go?" Beverly asked wanting to get it over and done with as soon as possible.
"Of course." Selar replied.
They exited the house and went off to the medical facilities.
A/N: please leave a review. Thank you
The Defiant moved to the outer rim of the nebula and held position for a few seconds. A bleep came over the comm channel from the buoy that the Enterprise had dropped, and Captain Picard's message for the Cumberland was heard over the intercom system on the bridge.
"The USS Cumberland should be heading this way to help with the search for the Washington and Voyager." Riker informed Sisko as the message played in the background.
"Very well, Commander. Take us into the nebula, Chief." Sisko replied. "Nice and easy."
"Aye, sir. Engaging at full impulse." The Defiant entered the nebula and headed for the last known location of the Enterprise.
"Shields up." Sisko said as the ship began to rock and the red alert sounded with the sudden build up of radiation.
"Aye, sir." Riker said from the tactical station.
"We should be within range of the Enterprise in half an hour, sir." Chief O'Brien informed them from the helm position.
"Very well. Just take it nice and slow, Chief. I want a smooth ride."
The bridge crew on the engineering section of the Enterprise consisted of Data, La Forge, Worf, Ensign Gates and Captain Picard in command. Everyone had assumed their positions and were awaiting their orders.
"Computer, initiate saucer separation." Picard said from the command chair on the Battle Bridge of the Enterprise.
"Acknowledged."
"Prepare for umbilical disconnect and shut down all turbolifts from the saucer section to the engineering section. Close all Jeffries tubes off." Picard instructed the computer and it performed each task in turn.
"All orders completed." The computer finally replied.
"Release docking latches."
"Docking latches released." Replied the computer again.
"Open a channel to the saucer section the moment we are clear of her, Lieutenant, and put it on the view screen." Picard said to Worf who was manning the tactical and communications consoles behind the command area.
"Aye, sir." Worf said from the back of the bridge. "Channel open now, sir."
"Picard to Lieutenant Simmons, we're clear of the saucer section now and we'll be proceeding down toward the planet momentarily." The image of the main bridge flickered for a moment with the buildup of excess radiation affecting the communications systems.
"Thank you, Captain. We'll remain in orbit until you return. Good luck."
"Thank you, Lieutenant. Picard out." The view screen flickered off and returned to the now familiar sight of the murky nebula. "Change course and head directly for the planet, Ensign." Picard instructed.
"Changing course now, sir." Ensign Gates said from the helm. The view screen changed almost immediately to show the planet as the engineering section shifted position within the nebula. Picard looked at the planet still intrigued by what he saw. He thought it impossible that he would actually have seen a planet full of life that had remained in a radiation filled area of space for so long without dying. It was certainly worthy of study and when all of this was over he was sure that the Federation would send a research vessel in to look at it more closely.
The ship sped off to seek out new life on the mysterious planet below.
Crusher awoke one morning hearing a loud rap on the door to her home on Delos Four. Where she had moved six months ago to complete an internship with the doctor she had met a few years ago, Dalen Quaice- back when she had been involved with the rescue of two pilots when their shuttle has crashed. Dr. Quaice and she had become quite good friends over the last few years since that incident, and she had requested that she do her last year of medical training under her mentor.
Delos was quite a small planet in a system of seven planets that orbited binary stars. The days were long and the terrain and climate rough but it was habitable by humans, and so Starfleet had decided to colonise it. It contained a small population but it was by no means unproductive. Recently Delos Four had put itself quite literally on the map when archaeologists had discovered various artifacts that linked the world to the mysterious Iconian race. Just recently everyone had been visiting from afar and so the use of a complex medical service was needed more and more everyday- and therefore one accomplished doctor, an intern and four nurses were no longer enough.
For the last week more medical technicians, nurses and four new doctors had been arriving on various ships. It was Beverly's job to get them all settled in, and so she was going to receive two new house guests until more accommodation was built for them, and until Jack and Wesley could join her. Jack was still back on Earth tying up all of the unfinished business and was looking after their now three year old son. They would both be taking a shuttle to Delos Four in a few weeks time to join Beverly. She missed them both and although Jack had been sending her holograms of Wesley every other week, she still wondered how much he had grown and what he was like now.
Beverly leapt out of bed when she heard the insistent rapping for the second time, and dragged a gown over her bed clothes, whilst rushing to the door and trying to tie it at the same time. She got to the door and banged into it as she skidded to a halt, reaching down to rub her knee as she opened it. She looked up and saw a woman standing there with her bags sitting on the floor. Great, my new houseguest is a Vulcan! What fun we're going to have. Beverly thought as the Vulcan woman stood with one raised eyebrow at the sight of Beverly rubbing her knee and dressed ready for bed.
"Greetings. I am Dr. Selar recently assigned to Delos Four from the USS Birmingham to complete my internship. I trust you were expecting me, though by your attire, not so soon?" Selar said in a very stern and somewhat unfriendly manner.
"Right, you are rather early. You're not supposed to arrive until this afternoon. Excuse the way I'm dressed but you woke me up and I was out rather late last night." Beverly stood up and moved away from the door to allow her guest to enter. "Please, come in and make yourself at home." Selar entered, picking up her bags as she did so, Beverly closed the door.
As Selar entered she took a long look around the sitting area. "The house seems to be adequate for my needs. I think we will get along like a 'house on fire', as you humans fraise it." Selar turned to see Beverly grimace as she hobbled over to her. "It appears that you require medical attention, Doctor."
"It's just bruised that's all." Beverly sat down and got out a small medical kit to treat her knee.
"Indeed?" Selar said skeptically. "Well, when you have sorted yourself out perhaps you would like to show me around your abode, and the colony if you have time?"
"Yes, I'll introduce you to the rest of the medical staff and show you around the facilities that we have. There's no much to look at right now but we're expanding every day." Beverly finished what she was doing and rose. "Now, if you'll excuse me I'll go and get ready and we can begin that tour. If you need anything to eat or drink there's a replicator around the corner there." Beverly said pointing in the general direction, "I'll be back in a few minutes." Beverly left to get ready. We're going to get on like a house on fire? Who's she kidding? I'm going to have serious words with Dalen when I see him, you think he could have given me some warning at least!
A few minutes later Beverly returned to find Selar perched on the chair. "I see you've made yourself comfortable." She commented sarcastically, of course the Vulcan didn't see it as sarcasm.
"Very comfortable, thank you Doctor," she replied seriously.
"Please, call me Beverly when we're not on duty." Crusher told her.
"Of course, Beverly."
"And I should call you?" Crusher asked trying to be more acquainted with her.
"Dr. Selar will suffice." The reply was straight forward and to the point.
"Oh?" Beverly said trying to be as polite as she could. "I thought we might at least try to be more friendly when we're not on duty."
"Vulcan's do not have friends." Was the stoic response from Selar. "But since you are in essence my commanding officer, you may call me Selar if you find that more comfortable with your human needs."
It was Beverly's turn to raise her eyebrows, she couldn't understand how a person that was so cold could ever have even been considered to train to be a doctor. "Her patients must get well very quickly so that they can get away from her," Crusher thought to herself. "Well, are you ready to go?" Beverly asked wanting to get it over and done with as soon as possible.
"Of course." Selar replied.
They exited the house and went off to the medical facilities.
A/N: please leave a review. Thank you