Chapter 4:
To the Rescue
Kirk, Spock and McCoy beam down to the planet. They are being enveloped from an ongoing snowstorm. "The phaser fire is coming from that direction, Captain!" Spock projected vocally.
"Let's go!" The trio reached the entrance of the cave and almost fall back when phaser fire zoom over their heads. "Spock, can you disengage the phaser?" "I'll attempt to do so." Kirk pats McCoy, "Let's go, Dr.!"
After catching their breath, "Bones" is scanning for life signs. "This way!" Spock catches up. The signal detector sounds increases rapidity. "My God, Jim!" The lone survivor is found. "He's still alive. His vitals are fading fast. Kirk gets his communicator, "Kirk to Enterprise: Four to beam up!"
The Enterprise
After recovering from the cold, Kirk and Spock look into McCoy and his new patient. "How's your patient, Doctor?" "Alive and a hell of a lot more stable then 2 hours ago." Spock mentioned, "When he was beamed up, I looked into his combadge for identification. He is Starfleet. Based on the pips on his collar, he has the rank of Captain."
"Can you wake him?" Kirk asked. "I don't see why not." Leonard got a hypospray and injected 2 CCs. The captain opened his eyes and looked around. "I'm Captain James T. Kirk. You are on board the starship Enterprise." Spock asked, "What is your name, Captain?"
"Picard. Jean-Luc Picard. Captain, USS Stargazer." Picard looked about the three older men. "Captain Kirk. Captain Spock." Looking at the Doctor, "Doctor McCoy!"
Picard exclaimed, "It is an honor to finally meet you all." He shook hands with his predecessors.
"Welcome aboard the Enterprise, Captain Picard." Spock asked, "May we ask what you were doing in this system?" Jean-Luc answered, "We were ordered to scan spatial anomalies and nearby systems for more Federation colony sites Starfleet wanted to establish. We encountered an unidentified vessel. Per protocol and regulation, we opened hailing frequencies; no answer. Without warning, they open fired on the ship. As captain, I had no choice but to destroy that vessel. The damage to my ship was extensive, we were encountering a warp core breach. I had to abandon ship. I'm not sure if anyone else is alive or made it off before the warp core exploded."
Spock answered: "Your ship seems to be intact. Did you implement any safeguards in the event of a breach?" Jean-Luc: "The safeguards are automatic in the event of an order to abandon ship due to a breach of any kind."
Kirk said, "When you're ready, we can look after your ship. Probably get it functional again." "Sounds like a plan." Kirk looked to Spock, "This is one of the uncharted systems the admiral had us navigate?" "Indeed, Captain." Looking to Picard, "Do you know what system we are in?" "The Beta Maxia system, from the current star charts. When the Stargazer is repaired, I'll send you what my crew got." Kirk agreed with that plan.