Chapter 5:
Captain on the Bridge
As Captain Picard recovered, Kirk and Spock told of the Enterprise B's maiden voyage and how they escaped the energy ribbon. Picard was aware of the Enterprise-C with Captain Rachel Garret and how her ship was lost during that battle with the Romulans.
Picard asks, "How did your Enterprise come out of service?" Kirk answered, "I don't believe in retirement." Kirk joked. "We requested an assignment after our long shore leave after the Praxis moon incident from 60 years ago." Picard understood. "I see," he said. "Well, I'm well rested, I believe it's time to go back to my ship."
Kirk agreed and both captains made their way to the Bridge. As the turbolift doors opened, Sulu announced, "Captain on the Bridge!" "At ease," Kirk ordered. Picard walked toward Hikaru Sulu, "Mr. Sulu, it's an honor to meet you." Sulu bowed his head, "The pleasure is all mine." Scotty came onto the Bridge, "Aye, Captain, it's good to make your acquaintance." Picard smiled, "The honor is mine, Mr. Scott."
Picard was allowed to make a speech, "I'm truly honored to be on the Bridge of the Enterprise. I want to thank this gallant crew for rescuing me from freezing to death. For those of you who don't know me, I'm Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the USS Stargazer. I took command of the Stargazer almost 25 years ago, after a battle with the Cardassians, going through the Nensi phenomenon, and other lower-class missions. I am asking for volunteers from all departments to board the Stargazer and get it running to return it to Federation space. I'll be taking names and ranks in the next hour. Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, if you would augment those postings?"
Kirk replied, "We'll get to work on that right away. Mr. Scott, you and ur team will beam aboard first." Scott acknowledged, "Right away, Captain." Looking to Picard, "Meet you aboard in 20 minutes, Captain." Picard nodded.
Captain on the Bridge II
As Kirk, Spock, and Scotty helped repair the Stargazer, Picard tried to get a message to Starfleet.
"To any Federation starbase, this is Captain Picard of the USS Stargazer. Do you read?" He repeated that message on all frequencies. "Mr. Spock, anything?" The Vulcan turned, "Nothing conclusive, yet. Commander Uhura is monitoring the communications from the Enterprise as well." Picard nodded, "Tell her to keep at it. I'll be in my ready room." An alarm sounded, "Engineering to the Bridge!" "Picard here, go ahead, Mr. Scott." "Captain, we have minimal impulse and minimum warp drive available. I'd suggest to take is slow for about 12 hours until we get to the starbase." "Acknowledged, Mr. Scott. Good work. The Stargazer will take it slow. Picard out." He tapped on his communicator. "Picard to Mr. Sulu, are you tapped in?"
Sulu replied, "Yes, sir. We are tapped into ur maneuverability station and we can engage ur ship remotely." "Acknowledged. Mr. Sulu, set course for the nearest starbase that you can find and engage at warp one." "Warp one, aye!"
Picard looked to Kirk, "Do you have a secondary person for the navigator to assist Mr. Sulu?"
Kirk answered, "We had Mr. Chekov; but he has passed away." Picard, "I'm sorry for ur loss, Captain." "Thank you, Jean-Luc. We'll find someone on Mr. Scott's team to temporarily replace Mr. Chekov's station." Picard thanked him.
Picard was in his ready room for the next 8 hours, getting hourly reports from all teams. A few lights on his Captain's desk lit up. "Incoming coded message from Starfleet for Picard, Jean-Luc."
"Computer, recognize voice pattern Picard, Jean-Luc, captain of the USS Stargazer, Authorization: Picard, Beta-3." "Authorization code verified." "Play message."
It was the face of Norah Satie, Admiral of the Starfleet Command, "Captain Picard, we have received your distress call. If you are able, you are to report to Starbase 6 for further orders. Starfleet out!"
"Picard to Kirk, if Mr. Scott is ready, I'd like to set course for starbase 6 and engage at warp 5."
"Scott here, sir. Captain Kirk is with me. We've made a wee bit of progress is the best I can give ye." Picard nodded and responded. "That is sufficient progress. Thank you, Mr. Scott."
Picard walked to the Bridge, "Mr. MacDuff, set course for starbase 6 and engage at warp 5." Andrew acknowledged the order. "Aye, sir, course plotted, and engaged."