Part 12
A short time later Captain Kirk convened a senior staff meeting with Spock, Dr. McCoy, Scotty, and Sulu.
"Now that the Cylon-Colonial crisis has ended," Kirk began. "I think it is now time to go back to the Federation. I have the feeling that our job here is done."
"Yes, indeed," McCoy quipped mimicking Spock mildly. "It is time to go home."
"The Warp Drive has been repaired again," Scotty reported. "Only minimal jurry rigging this time,". But, We're looking at a multi year run at Warp seven to get home. Perhaps, We can get home sooner if we can get a Colonial Maron Drive for the Enterprise," Scotty added revealing his plan for shortening their voyage time.
"Agreed," Kirk replied. "I think we have earned it with our recent actions defending the Colonies from the Cylons."
"In exchange," Kirk went on, "I think we should provide the Colonials the basic knowledge for the Warp Drive. This will give them better tactical mobility so they can take their war to the Cylons instead of just reacting to Cylon attacks. From what the Imperious Leader said when we captured it, The Cylons will not cease in their efforts to conquer the local universe."
Spock quickly consulted the breifing room's chronometer. "Captain, the Imperious Leader just deactivated."
"Spock, Scotty, I want a full exammination of its remains which are to turned over to the Colonials as soon as possible," Kirk ordered.
"Aye, Captain," Scotty replied first with a grin at what he would soon learn.
"Yes, Captain," Spock then replied.
I agreee, about the exchange," Sulu commented. "But, the Colonials don't have anti-matter technology."
"Antimatter isn't necessary for the Colonials right away," Scotty began, "Their high powered fusion/Impulse drives on the battlestars can power a minimal warp drive, From the scans of their drive systems when in operation, maybe up to warp three or so, we should give only minimal technical data to the Colonials, i.e. Cochran's notes, so, the warp drive isn't a gift, but a challenge for their scientists and drive will need to be customized for their ships."
"I also agree, Captain," Spock said. "A challenge and not a gift, in exchange for a maron Drive installed on the Enterprise."
"Kirk then callled the bridge to Lt. Uhura. "Contact Commander Adama and have him and his Chief Engineer beam over here for a short meeting."
A short time later, Adama and Shadrack were beamed and piped aboard the Enterprise. Kirk took them to the breifing room, where Scotty was waiting with a stack of translated documents to give to them for the proposed drive swap. Both Adama and Shadrack were estatic at the prospect of receiving the Warp Drive specifications and that it would be compatible with current Colonial Fleet power plants. Adama remembered a comment Kirk made when Adama had first visited the Enterprise. "I think we can sweaten the deal a little, he said."
"How so?" Kirk asked.
"Your shuttle bay is missing a key piece of equipment," Adama said cryptically Scotty just started grinning. "Chief Shadrack, please work with Chief Engineer Scott to have an atmosphere retention force field installed in the Enterprise's Shuttle bay and to install a Maron Drive in the Enterprise's Engine room."
"Yes, Commander," Shadrack replied with enthusiasm.
"I get the impression,"Adama began, "that you are preparing to return to your Federation soon. As the current Council President I think a formal banquet is in order down in Caprica City. The Colonial people need to give you our formal thanks for your help in the recent battle with the Cylons."
"It would be our honor to dine with you this evening, Please know that Mr. Spock is a vegetarian, so please have appropriate foods available for him."
0
That evening Kirk, Spock, McCoy, all wearing their dress uniforms beamed down to the Colonial Council Chambers that had been rearranged for the banquet. There they were greeted by President Adama and the other ten Council members, all Battlestar commanders. Who were all quite impressed with the Enterprise's performance during their defense of the Colonies. Kirk had sent an after action report to Adama once things had settled down after the capture of the Imperious Leader and its baseship. The ten Commanders had a hard time believing in the report, except for commander Agamemnon, of the Pacifica, who personally witnessed, through his ship's scanners how the Enterprise destroyed two base ships in as many Centons.
When the meal was done, to all the guests satisfaction, Adama rose to address the assembly.
"For their recent action in defense of the Colonial Fleet and Colonial State. "The Council has agreed to award the ship and crew of the USS Enterprise the Gold Cluster, the Colonies' highest combat award. Captain Kirk?"
Kirk stood and approached Adama who held out the ornate gold pendant and chain. Then he looped the award around Kirk's neck. Kirk saluted Adama Starfleet fashion. Adama then returned the salute Colonial fashion. The room erupted in applause as the Colonial Council members began to clap loudly.
"Now, I have an announcement to make," Kirk began. "We will soon begin our long voyage home. To expedite our journey. Adama and I have agreed to a technology exchange. In exchange for a Maron Drive, now being installed on the Enterprise, Warp Drive information sufficient for your engineers to design a warp drive compatible with your ship's power systems was given to Commander Adama." Again cheers and applause erupted in the room.
"I too have an announcement,"Adama began," I have a proposal before the Council for new ship construction, smaller escort and cruiser class ships to enhance the ability of our home defenses should the Cylons conduct another direct assault on the Colonies and to accompany and protect our battlestars when we have sufficient fleet strength to take the war to the Cylons instead of just reacting to their actions. The new ship designs will be fully compatible with the newly provided warp drive."
0
A week later, after some test runs with theMaron Drive, which Shadrack and Scotty had installed in the Enterprise's engine room, it had to be tied into the ship deflector shield system, the Enterprise departed Colonial Space. A large retinue of Colonial news agency ships were present when the Enterprise leapt to Warp speed, departing Caprica orbit for the final time. A few days later while on course back to the Federation Spock and DePaul both reported that the Maron drive would cut travel time travel time back to the Federation down by 3/4ths. Not as much as hoped for by Scotty, but it was something, and it was less stressful on the warp drive.
On the fourteenth day of their new journey Bent over his instruments and looking into his scanner hood. Spock reported a contact on his sensors.
"Captain, anamalous contact approaching from our rear, I cannot get a firm lock onto the contact." he announced. "It is approaching at Warp ten, and it is on an intercept course."
"On screen," Kirk ordered. Spock adjusted the view of the bridge's main viewscreen. Only a white dot that seemed to grow as it approached. showed upon the viewscreen. It soon resolved as a ship composed of multiple white glowing cylindrical sections set in a cross like reacting fashion.
"Stand by for evasive action Mr. Sulu," Kirk said.
At that time a loud sound began to heard throughout the Enterprise. Kirk gave Spock a questioning look while holding his hands over his ears. Knowing that Spock would be having a more difficult time with the sound because of his more sensitive hearing.
"I cannot detect the source of the sound. Presently the whole crew of the Starship blacked out.
Kirk, Spock, and McCoy, then found themselves laying on platforms in a room so brightly lit it hurt their eyes to more than open them briefly. After blinking their eyes for a moment, they found they could tolerate the light. They then saw that they were now accompanied by beings wearing white robes and that their own uniforms were now all white.
"Welcome, Captain Kirk, Commander Spock, and Doctor McCoy," they all heard simultaneously in their heads. Only Spock was not surprised at the alien's form of communication. Kirk only thought of their similarity to the Metron he had briefly met after defeating the Gorn Captain.
"You can call my john," one of the white robed aliens said while taking a short step toward the Starfleet trio. "Yes, we know who the Metrons are, but we have little contact with them. it is now time for explanations."
"Please know that a great Cosmic conflict is taking place between those like us who would dominate those like you for control of the universe, and ourselves who are working to preserve the current state and freedom of choice of the younger have not met our opponent, the accuser, the adversary, though you may know of him from your ancient texts. He currently calls himself Count Iblis."
"We are the ones that caused the Enterprise to 'accidentally' arrive in the Colonies after your close encounter with the Singularity. We did so to thwart Iblis' plan for the Cylons to defeat the Colonial Fleet and to destroy the Colonies. It was Iblis who caused the Machine Cylon revolt thousands of years ago, soon sparking the Cylon Colonial conflict."
"Why?" Kirk asked.
In the beginning Iblis was given dominion over the Earth. When the Creator made the first men a Iblis knew that his dominion on Earth would soon end. He was so jealous that he led a third of the Creator's servants into rebellion, which failed. When who you call the Preservers came to Earth and began seeding Man across the cosmos. Iblis did similarly planting humans on Kobol. So he would have total control and devotion from them.
We, Seraphs, worked to correct the situation raising up the first lord of Kobol to whom we gave the Creator's Laws. The first lord of Kobol then spread the Word, and liberty from Iblis, all across Kobol. Iblis in his anger, then caused Kobol's star to transition to a flare star sparking the Colonial Exodus.
The Atlantean tribe did arrive on Earth and settled mainly in Mesopotamia, but We imposed a technology limitation on their settlement. They left all their ships and high technology equipment on Earth's moon in a roofed over crater in Mare Undarum.
Iblis caused both the Burkle Crater impact in an effort to eliminate the Atlanteans, and the impact that destroyed the Atlantean base in Mare Undarum.
We will impose further restrictions on Iblis for his recent actions. The Seraphs then returned Kirk, Spock, and McCoy to the Enterprise. The rest of the crew quickly awoke and resumed their duties.
Depaul then noted an anomaly on his navigation chart.
"Captain," he began. "Something odd just happened. I blinked my eyes and now we are halfway across the galaxy. We're no longer in the Sagittarius Spiral arm, We're now back in the Orion arm, in fact, sir, we're in the Solar System's Oort cloud."
"Captain, We're receiving a signal from Starfleet," Uhura announced.
"Starfleet Control calling Enterprise. Come in, Enterprise."
"Open a channel, Uhura." Kirk ordered.
"Frequency open, sir." she replied.
"Starfleet Control, this is the Enterprise. Captain Kirk speaking."
"Enterprise, this is Starfleet Control. Come in, please."
"Starfleet Control, repeating message. The Enterprise is home. Kirk out."
The End