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Chapter 2: Introductions and Revelations

Admiral Riker spoke up: Data, sorry Before what is the objects status?

No need for apologies Admiral, we are both here.

The object is slowing rapidly 0.9C, .7, .5, .3, All stop.

Its Shield strength is holding at 1000 Yottawatts.

Before, how it that even possible? That's more power than our sun can put out!

Unknown Admiral scans unable to penetrate shield.

Sir object is scanning us, our computer core has just been copied.

A moment later a middle aged blond woman and a graying man appeared on the bridge.

Security intruder alert, How did they get thru our shields?

Sir Sensors indicate they are holograms.

The Holographic male spoke up: We come in peace take us to you leader, the woman with a scalding look chimed in: I am Sam , he's Jack we are the avatars for the Taur'i database interface for the Alteran City ship Atlantis. I apologize for the intrusion we have scanned your computer and analyzed you technology and believe you may be able to assist us.

Security stand down, Riker quickly ordered, followed by How may we be of assistance?

Sam responded: We lost one of our primary drives due to subspace feedback, the feedback caused a dangerous interference in the other FTL drive stranding us. Additionally the overload damaged life support by rupturing cryogenic stasis system. Freezing the city nearly instantly, one of our scientists managed to get off a distress call and was then too frozen moments later. I initiated a trust vector towards our home star system to await for assistance. A corrupted signal was revived from our home indicating some form of holocaust had occurred of external and internal causes. The signal arrived with a surge which damaged our subspace transceiver array disabling communications. We need help to defrost and revive personnel and also affect repairs. I can synthesize replacement parts but need hands to install them due to some bad experiences we've had with self assembling machines. I know we have no reason to trust usr especially since I've intruded on your database but, I'm out of options, but as a sign of good faith I am willing to allow you access to my database, as from my assessment you can be trusted. We request the android known as Before as life support is still minimal and I must maintain the crew status until revival.

Riker responded we will consider it. Before volunteered: I am willing to go Admiral I think that the risk is acceptable. Riker responded may we have transport Coordinates and can you lower your shields to allow transport?

Sam responded: That is acceptable, however we can not lower the city shield without venting atmosphere, I can reduce power to allow you to communicate. When you are ready I can affect transport.

Before removed a tricorder from one of the rear science stations and replied. I am standing by. This was followed by a flash of light. When everyone's vision returned he was gone.

Riker to Before please report:

Before Here: Alien transport mechanism of a type unknown to us some form of matter-phase shift. Situation report: Tricorder showing about 60 personnel in frozen state, temperature 20°K. Power source from some form of focused singularity that is in resonance with the subquantium structure of subspace, Continuing scan...

Structure appears to be a combination of unknown transuranic elements alloyed with netronium, Quantum signature indicates portions of the structure are over 3 million years old. Detecting 2 ships on docking pads, hulls are Netronium with some form of refractory layer unable to penetrate. There is an illuminated console moving toward it. Commander the terminal bears a strong resemblance to the museum records of an early 21st century lap top.

The hologram of Jack appeared . Ya I know not much to look at and a bit old fashioned considering the toys but, didn't have the anything left in the budget for fancy neural interfaces, We were going to install a touch screen but it wasn't going to be ready in time.

Sam reappeared. The computer gives a binary interface to the crystal network behind me. Data is stored on quantum inclusions within the lattice. Access is generated through and EM resonance field. I have computed your maximum data input rate for optical display and your storage capacity. Ready to proceed.

Before to Admiral Riker we are ready to proceed.

Riker to Before Proceed with caution , keep an open comm-link.

Understood, Commencing, processing, processsing, prooocesssing... down load complete.

Accessing Data. I appear to have only accessed 1% of the database before the down load was cut to prevent overloading my positronic net. Sir according to this data they came from early 21st century earth.

Riker to Before, How is that possible the technology is beyond us, from the records we have of the period we were just coming out of the fission age and using chemical rockets and a few primitive ion propulsion systems nothing that could remotely come close to what you are indicating. Can you verify their claims.

Sir, the isotopic ratios of the interface are an exact match for earth materials of the period, the isotopic ratios in the crew match the samples we have from the time period. The likelihood that they are who they say they are is 99.97%. According to computer records they left earth for a galaxy known as Pegasus on the far side of the local group, approximately 270 million light years from SOL, on December 21 2012, when an anomaly occurred causing system damage, and the events as we were presented.

Jack reappeared and asked: Are you going to help up or are we just going to chit chat about how this is all impossible? This was all part of a classified program the public was deemed not to need to know about. So can we get some help or should I just stick out my thumb for the next passing ship?

Before looking with a bit of a bewildered look was about to respond when Riker answered:

Riker to Sickbay prepare revival teams.

Sick bay to Bridge, we have doctors on standby but are short staffed permission to activate the EMH and copy as needed. But we still can't handle more that 5 at a time

Riker cringed, permission granted. Atlantis we are prepared to receive your personnel you may begin transporting 5 at a time to these coordinates.

Sam reappeared on the Enterprise bridge, Acknowledged and thank you and was gone again.

At that moment with the same blinding flash 5 beds in sickbay were filled and the doctors began the task of revival. Doctor Crusher having been a plank owner was along for the voyage, Although she had been chief of Starfleet medical she had kept up with patient care. Pulling out a tricoder she commented : This is interesting there appears to be residue of some form of nanodispersed cryoprotectant in the tissues, it has almost totally eliminated freezing damage, and according to the scan they should just wake up when they are warm enough. We just need to monitor the oxygen perfusion into the cells and watch the rate of saturation to prevent oxidative damage before the enzymatic function is restored. Although on awaking the 1st group of patients became combative, saying this must be some for of a Goul'd trick at which point they were sedated and transported to a medical wing that had been created on the holodeck. So all of the personnel were treated and revived-sedated until the last group of patients.

Riker entered sickbay and addressed Dr Crusher: What is the status of our patients?

This is the last of the crew, unlike the others who only needed to be warmed, they needed cellular reconstruction as the appear to have realized what was happening and tried to stop it. This one identified in personnel records we accessed as mission commander colonel Rogers, was found in a room next to the main control he appears to have attempted to stuff some of his clothing under the door to prevent the gas from reaching him. This one identified a Dr Rodney McKay was found a a computer terminal with a bag over his head, and these other 2 identified as Ronan Dex and Lieutenant Colonel John Shepard, were found with some form of scarf over their face on the ramp of each of the 2 docked ships. According to the records on board Atlantis they were the leaders. I was about to revive them.

Riker responded Security to sick bay, Go ahead doctor..

Upon administration of a stimulant the patients began to come to. Upon which the Ronan became combative and was sedated, Rodney began to have a panic attack hyperventilating then passing out. The other 2 were calmer. John was the next to regain his senses, with a bit of a groggy stupor and his characteristic style. What what happened, There was an explosion, gas leaking I was racing to my ship and then nothing. Commander Rogers had a similar comment except he indicated he had been trying to reroute controls and isolate lifesupport in the control room when there was a breach in the doors around control. It got fuzzy after that.

Admiral Riker addressed them, Rodney having come to again and Ronan a bit more relaxed was listening. You are on board the Federation star ship Enterprise, it is now the year 2401 by the old calendar. We detected an object moving at high velocity towards the Sol System we were ordered to investigate. When we arrived we found a flying city and were hailed by the computer which explained the situation and requested help. The computer avatar by the name of Sam is directing our personnel in damage control of the city's systems, The one known as Jack is with the rest of your crew on holodeck 1 addressing them as they wake up. We have been able to access limited information limited to crew files and medical records, basic system functions and schematics, a few notes about an interstellar war with a race known as the Goul'd, escalating tensions with a group of pirates known as the Lucian, and a note about space vampires in another galaxy, most interestingly is that it indicated your point of origin was earth in the early 21st century and that you were headed for another galaxy. Most of the other records were not provided by your computer, which I might add is interesting as it seems to be alive.

At that moment SAM appeared in sick bay. I have been monitoring and can address that, additional my subspace transceiver has been repaired. I am linking data from my counterpart at the materials base we were creating, all I am getting from earth is the transceiver beep indicating fail safe standby mode. To answer your question Admiral, I and Jack are the imprint of 2 living minds, Jack was the first person we identified who's subconscious mind was compatible with the database left by the Ancients or Alterans as they were known, I am the imprint of the scientist who was head of project development, the imprinting worked better than expected and gave the access and control we needed on the systems, we just got much more personality than we had intended so yes the computer is alive by your definition in that we can both act as sentient beings but are limited to the safeties that we implemented to prevent any mishaps. Sirs the repair crews have restored the hyperdrive control system, Wormhole drive will take a dry dock to rebuild and is a lost cause at this time. My scans of subspace indicate that while there is remaining interference from the event that terminated our wormhole our shields on Atlantis and Peacekeeper 1&2 are sufficient to make the transition although entry and exit will be bumpy.

Commander Rogers spoke up, I would like to get together with my crew and get back to Atlantis to assess the situation and prepare a formal meeting and introduction.

Dr Crusher responded: I'd advise rest at least for the next 24-48 hours until your bodies recover.

Riker responded: You are free to return, although I would prefer you to stay on board until you feel better and we can fully asses the status.

There was a mixed reaction: Commander Rogers responded I need to get back, Rodney replied I can't let you just go poking at anything you find acting like a monkey with a gun. Ronan wanted to get his crew on his ship launched. Shepard indicated he'd love to stay and get to know these new guys. Sam replied very well, a flash of light Sheppard was alone in sickbay with the Enterprise crew.

A/N

The avatar for the computer was not originally intended to come off as a Andromeda clone.

But seem to have ended up that way.

Andromeda (2000-2005) created by Gene Roddenberry is property of Global, Tribune entertainment, and SyFy (NBC-Univeral), etc