AUTHORS NOTE:
I suppose I should note for the sake of legality that all elements of this story that are found within the TV shows, movies, or books of Star Trek are not my creation, and I did not have any part in their creation. They are solely the property of Paramount Pictures. There are a handful of other characters that also are the work of my friends and not my own, and they are the property of their respective owners. These characters include Jeffrey McFadden and Kahlan Amnell.
This chapter will be the beginning of certain aspects of the story that also require a disclaimer. Stepping in to the open mindset of the 24th century and out of that of the 20th century, this story will depict gender equality, relations between members of the same gender, and interracial relationships. If you have a problem with these, you should probably be watching another TV show.
As a further note to the two wonderful people who have reviewed my story thus far, there is a female in the senior staff that is a main character in the story: Kahlan Amnell, the OPS officer. There is no particular reason why only one main character is female, that's just the way it turned out. However, expect to see many more prominent female characters throughout these stories.
Now, on with the story...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"...and then she says, that IS my foot," Lieutenant Daniels concluded with a smile.
The Master Chief PO roared with laughter, grabbing his great belly as it shook. The joke was the pride of Daniels' comedic arsenal, and was a favorite of the MCPO. "Ah Christ, that's the best one I've
heard since the one about the Ferengi in the guerilla suit," the old man said.
Ensign Burgess was clueless, his face blank as he struggled to wrap his young mind around the joke. "I don't get it," he said quietly.
The Master Chief was too busy wiping tears from his eyes, and so Daniels took it upon himself to explain."The Vulcan was experiencing pon-farr."
The Ensign seemed to think this over for a few moments, and then his eyes lit up with understanding. "You mean he..."
Daniels and the Master Chief nodded.
The Ensign thought a bit more. "With her foot?"
The Master Chief roared again and slapped the console as Daniels nodded a second time.
"But how did it wrap around the..."
The Ensign's rather vivid question was interupted by a beeping at his console. His fingers flying over the controls, he quickly figured out its cause. "Lieutenant, I'm detecting a Federation
starship ten lightyears away."
The Lieutenant's brows furrowed. In front of them was nothing but a broad expanse of space with the Cardassian border on the far side. Why would any starship be there? "Open hailing frequencies."
"Open."
"This is Lieutenant Shay Daniels of Starfleet listening post AP 703 to unidentified Federation vessel. Please state your business and registry number."
Silence dragged on for several moments.
The Master Chief spoke up. "I've identified the vessel. Its the U.S.S. Event Horizon. Cross-checking with the Starfleet database."
More silence.
The Master Chief whistled. "She was reported MIA with all hands presumed lost ten years ago. No information regarding her disappearance though."
The Lieutenant raised his eyebrows. "U.S.S. Event Horizon, this is Starfleet listening post AP 703. Please respond." Once again, silence. "Chief, scanners."
"Scans are inconclusive."
Daniels sighed. "Alright. Get me the Starbase."
"You're on."
"Starbase, this is Lieutenant Daniels at listening post AP 703. Be advised that we've detected the U.S.S. Event Horizon ten lightyears in to deep space. Scans are inconclusive and she's not responding to hails."
After a pause, a voice responded. "Acknowledged, AP 703. Reporting to Starfleet Command. Please notify us if the situation changes."
"Aye, sir. AP 703 out."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Merchant Captain Jacob Hoffman sat comfortably in his center command
chair. On the view screen, the Starbase became clearer. Having seen
plenty of those though, he turned a concerned expression to his
older brother James, who was standing beside his chair. "What are
you thinking Jamie?"
Lieutenant Commander James Hoffman's icy blue eyes glanced down to his younger
brother, and then back to the view screen. "It looks a lot like
Starbase 98," he said quietly, a slight rasp in his voice.
Jacob winced. There were a lot of memories for both of them at
Starbase 98, but more so for James. "Then I suppose its good that
you won't be here for long," Jacob said with a sigh, not knowing
what else to say. He stood up. "Comm, hail the Starbase."
"On speakers."
"This is the S.S. Cincinnati's Pride requesting permission to dock,"
Jacob said, displaying the confidence of a starship Captain despite
his very young age.
The authoritive voice of a Starfleet officer responded. "Permission
granted, Cincinnati's Pride. Port gates in thirty seconds."
"Awaiting port gates on this mark," Jacob said. Slowly but surely,
the converted Excelsior-class transport slid closer to the Starbase.
Seemingly just in time, the space doors parted, and the ship slid
through in to the internal docking bay. "Helm, watch your trim, and
cut it back to aft thrusters only. Manuever us in to the moorings."
"Aye, Captain," said the Bolian helmsman.
As the Cincinnat's Pride slowly rotated around to fit in to the
moorings, a docked Ambassador class starship came on the viewscreen.
Jacob whistled. "Damn that's a big ship. And she's a beauty."
James felt nothing whatsoever at seeing his new assignment, so
powerful and graceful, on the viewscreen. But these facts didn't
affect him at all. "It's big," was all he said.
"Preparing to attach moorings," the OPS officer said.
Jacob nodded. "Helm, all stop."
"Aye, Captain. Helm answering all stop."
"Moorings secured."
Jacob turned to look at his older brother. "We're here," he said,
putting on a smile for James' sake.
James looked at him again with the usual vacant, cold
expression. "The Exeter will be expecting me to report in. She's
departing in a matter of hours."
Jacob nodded. "I'll see to it that your things are taken over."
There was silence as they regarded each other, and finally Jacob
hugged his brother. James remained stiff, but his hug back was
genuine nonetheless. "Take care of yourself out there."
James nodded. "Keep an eye on Dad," he said, betraying just a hint
of emotion. With that, he headed for the turbolift. "Deck ten."
"The Ice Man? Coming here?" Petty Officer Rodriguez asked, his voice
cracking.
"I just got the orders," Lieutenant Jennifer Akers said with a sigh. "He's being
assigned to Chief of Security and I'm being bumped down to
Assistant." Akers and Rodriguez stepped in to the armory, and began
inspecting the Type III phasers on the wall. "He can't be THAT bad
though," Akers continued, inspecting a phaser battery.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"The Ice Man? Coming here?" Petty Officer Rodriguez asked, his voice
cracking.
"I just got the orders," Lieutenant Jennifer Akers said with a sigh. "He's being
assigned to Chief of Security and I'm being bumped down to
Assistant." Akers and Rodriguez stepped in to the armory, and began
inspecting the Type III phasers on the wall. "He can't be THAT bad
though," Akers continued, inspecting a phaser battery.
"They say he killed seven Clarii in the dark. Have you ever seen a
Clarii?"
Akers laughed. "Yep. And pigs can fly."
"On what planet?" Rodriguez asked, completely serious.
Akers smiled. "Where bacon is a lot more expensive," she responded,
replacing the battery pack.
"Bacon costs money?"
Akers rolled her eyes. Not many people appreciated that joke these
days. "Nevermind. Check those Type IIs over there would ya?"
Both of them jumped as a harsh, almost raspy voice came from behind
them. "And when you are done, finish loading those photon torpedoes."
Akers and Rodriguez turned around to see the source of the voice,
and Rodriguez visibly paled. The man confronting them was tall, with
the lightest, most remarkable blue eyes Akers had ever seen. They
sent chills down her spine, and the hard, uncaring expression on the
man's face only added to the intensity of his demeanor.
Akers gathered herself. "Lieutenant Hoffman? I'm Jennifer Akers, your
assistant." She attempted a smile.
Hoffman didn't say anything, and his expression didn't change. He
just continued to look at them.
Akers swallowed. "I already have two teams assigned to loading the
torpedoes. They should be done well before we depart."
This time, Hoffman's eyes narrowed just enough to be noticed, and he
fixed his them on Akers. "Thank you, Lieutenant. And if you and
this Petty Officer would assist them, I'm sure it will be done even
quicker."
"Of course, sir," Akers said, really just wanting the Lieutenant to
leave them to their work now.
Hoffman nodded slightly, turned on his heel, and left the armory.
Silence hung in the room, and Rodriguez let out a rush of air as if
he'd been holding his breath. "Dios mio," he said, leaning against a
crate.
Akers nodded. "Yeah. That's what I'm saying."