Chapter Three: Incident at Vulcan.
(A few Years later)
"Transporter room, report!" A brown haired, emerald eyed young man ordered, he was wearing a crimson military like uniform with a metallic half star symbol on his shirt.
This was Bartholomew 'Nora' Allen, Son of the late legendary Exobiology expert: Henry Allen. He has some of the best scores in the whole of Starfleet Academy, even breaking some records that were achieved by a Vulcan.
Today was vital… and Barry could not fail, at least, he didn't want to.
"We've only got about sixty of them captain, we're trying our best here!" replied a feminine voice. That of his girlfriend's, Kara Danvers.
"Tactical?" Barry asked, turning to look at a fellow cadet while he filed away the information Kara had told him into his brain.
"Shields are down to forty three percent, and our portside phasers are down. Photon torpedo bays are heavily damaged, repairs will take at least an hour" Reported his classmate.
"Direct power from all non essential systems to the shields and phasers, we need to hold out as long as we can." Barry ordered.
"Captain your idea of extending our shields around the other ship was a good one, but the power drainage is severely hindering our ability to transport the remaining crew aboard." Said his chief engineer, who had just transmitted up to the bridge.
"Cisco, just do what you can. I'm not asking for miracles, but if you have one I'd gladly take it!" Barry replied, silently begging his best friend came through.
"I'm giving you all she's got sir!" 'Cisco' Replied. Worry and tiredness in his voice.
"INCOMING PLASMA TORPEDOES!" Yelled a cadet who was manning the helm.
"BRACE!" Barry exclaimed, shutting his eyes in time for the moment the projectiles struck.
The viewscreen flashed white, and then the words: 'Kobayashi Maru Simulation, Complete.' Appeared.
"Computer, end program." An older, more mature voice said. The structures around them flickered away, revealing the yellow and black lined cube design of a holodeck.
Two tall figures stood by the archway, all wearing similar uniforms.
The difference? One of them was a captain wearing dark red, while the other was an admiral, who wore white.
The admiral was around the same age as the captain, he had a neatly cut beard with greying sideburns. This was Admiral William T Riker, a legend in Starfleet and former captain of the first 'Titan' class starship.
"You did well Cadet Allen, that was some good out of the box thinking on your part. But this test was to see how you reacted to an unbeatable situation, the answer? Pretty damn well. We are impressed son. You cant save everyone, but you sure as hell gave it a try." He complimented.
"Indeed, you are certainly making a name for yourself in the academy. But I want to see a certain skill for myself. Cadet Allen, please remain here. Everybody else may proceed to the shuttle bay where you will be given your assignments." Captain Joseph West said, he was an older, coffee skinned human who had a kind smile and wise eyes.
Barry knew him from his childhood and of course was once friends with his children, Wally and Iris West. Wally had grown up to become a galactic race champion, and had held the title for three years straight.
Iris applied to starfleet and graduated top of her class, she was currently assigned to the USS Farragut on a deep space exploration mission.
Some of the other cadets sighed happily upon leaving the holodeck, thankful that the test was over. They then followed admiral Riker out of the room, leaving Joe and Barry behind.
"Permission to speak freely sir?" Barry asked.
"Granted." Joe replied.
"Do I get to know what the test is?"
"No, but you will need a phaser pistol." Joe smirked, gesturing to the practice weapon lockers at the side of the holodeck.
Barry blinked. This ought to be interesting.
[Other side of San Francisco, Starfleet Engineering Laboratory]
A green eyed brunette finished up her tweaks to a design of a new class of warp nacelle, pleased with how it had turned out.
Not only would this new design make a ship more streamlined in looks, but also increase the range of the vessel it attached to while decreasing the time needed to stay at warp. It was also more efficient than previous models.
"Bethany, your brother is on the comms for you! Sounds like good news." Her co-worker, a young man by the name of Hartley, Told her.
"Thanks Harls, say hi to Vnn'essa for me." She replied, saving the design to her work terminal before turning off all of her other Holo projections.
"Will do, thinking of asking her to move in with me. I really like her.. You know?" He smiled fondly, picturing his partner.
"You really got the hot's for Andorian women huh?" Bethany teased him, making his face turn red.
She laughed at the glare she got in return, she really loved to push her friends buttons. Especially when it was easy to do so.
A few minutes after Hartley had left, Bethany called her brother from her personal comm device. "Hey Bear, Hartley said something about you having good news?"
"Yeah, it comes in three parts though. First off, I graduated from the academy." Barry said.
"That's great! Congratulations, you have got to come over so we can celebrate." Bethany replied with a grin. Henry, their father, loved it when Barry would come visit them. Especially with how busy he had recently been in his studies.
"I'd love to, but I can't because of the second part of my news." Barry winced, seeing the disappointment in her eyes.
"Okay.." Bethany blinked, wondering what he meant by that.
"I've been assigned to a starship already, and the captain needs me to start first thing tomorrow morning." Barry explained, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Oh, I mean wow. Straight from cadet to an officer huh?" His sister teased.
"Yeah… and that leads me to my third and final piece of news, the captain wants me for first officer." Barry revealed.
"…….. I'm honestly not surprised." Bethany shrugged, shocking Barry.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Bear you work hard, each and every day. Not only that but you helped some of your class mates when they were feeling stressed or depressed from all of the studying, you listened and encouraged them. Whether you know it or not, you are a natural born leader. When you take charge, others follow. Why? Because they know you have their best interests in heart and will stop at nothing to keep them safe and complete your mission." His twin told him.
Barry was stunned into silence by his sister's small speech. But after a minute of processing what she had said, tears appeared in his eyes. "Beth, if I could hug you right now I would."
"Ew, no. Get your mushiness out of here." She snorted, causing them both to laugh.
"Kara is on the same ship as you right?" Bethany suddenly asked, making her brother blink.
"Yeah, I checked the crew manifest to be sure. We won't be separated. She's also bridge crew, so we'll be able to see each other a lot." He replied with a smile.
"That's good." Bethany said, only for her to then frown when she heard an electric clicking noise. "That you?"
"Yeah..I got to go, I am being commed by the captain. Talk tomorrow?" Barry winced, hating that he had to cut the call early.
"Sure thing, Love you!" Bethany grinned.
"love you too." Barry chuckled before hanging up.
~ - ~
"Earth Spacedock this is shuttle: 'Typhoon' requesting permission to Dock with USS Central. I have first officer Barry Allen on board as well as other crew members." The shuttle pilot stated.
"Shuttle Typhoon you are clear to Dock, congratulations on graduating you guys."
"Hal, that you?" Barry asked, recognising the voice of his old friend
"Yep, good to hear from you old buddy."
"I thought you transferred to research and development, Testing fighters and shuttlecraft?" Barry replied, shaking his head with a small smirk evident on his face.
"I did, my ride leaves in six hours so I'm just filling in for a friend of mine who drank a bottle of Kanar that had turned bad. Yeah, not pretty. Oh, my supervisor is giving me an annoyed look I gotta go-"
"Well he's in trouble..." Kara snickered.
Barry snorted. "It's Hal, he's always in trouble."
After clearance had been given, the shuttle turned around the Spacedock, heading to the orbiting dry-dock area where their vessel was awaiting them. And what a vessel it was.
"Wow, she's a beauty." Kara smiled.
"Indeed, that's a Cheyenne Class. Amazing looking ship, reminds me of the old stargazers..." Cisco sighed, loving that particular design.
The USS Central Consisted of a saucer section derived from the Galaxy-class starship line, with four warp nacelles attached by branching pylons to the aft of the saucer. It was a light cruiser with modern day deflector shields and a modest array of phaser emplacements and photon torpedo launchers. It was a tough medium sized vessel.
"USS Central this is shuttle Typhoon on approach, requesting permission to Dock." The shuttle pilot said.
"Shuttle Typhoon, clearance authorised in docking Bay 3. Lieutenant Commander Eddie Thawne will greet you once you disembark." The communications officer replied.
"Understood, Typhoon out."
~ - ~
"Welcome aboard, I'm lieutenant Commander Eddie Thawne. Ensign Ramone, you are to report to engineering. Ensign Radley, you are to head to the Med bay. Ensign Danvers, you are to follow me to the bridge. You are to relieve the current Helm officer. Commander Allen, you will also follow Me Sir, the Captain is waiting for you."
[One quick turbolift ride later]
"Ah, Commander. What do you think of the Central so far?" Captain Joe West asked.
"It's an excellent ship sir, I look forwarding to get to know it and the crew on board." Barry replied honestly.
"I'm glad to hear that, now please take your seat, number one."
"Number one, sir?" Barry blinked, not used to the word.
"Hmm? Oh forgive me, it's a habit I got from a former commanding officer of mine. Its a term used for first officers." Joe explained with a small chuckle.
"Ah, I Understand." Barry replied, sitting In the right hand seat next to his superior.
"Helm, full thrusters until we are out of range of both the dry Dock and Spacedock. Then warp four point five to DS9, we are to pick up our new counsellor from there." Joe ordered.
"Full thrusters, aye." Kara confirmed, pushing the various icons on her console to control the ship.
Once they were far enough to enter warp, Kara slid a particular icon down, activating the warp nacelles and thrusting the ship into high speeds.
"Once we have picked up our counsellor, we are to head to STAR Station. I have been invited to observe a particular experiment by an old friend." Joe informed Barry.
"If I may say so sir, I have admired Star's developments towards the fields of science, biology and chemistry. I studied many papers by some of the researchers in my classes at the academy." Barry replied.
"Captain, I was picking up a distress call from a nearby planet. Rigel Seven, But its just cut off. And I don't mean it has gone back to being all clear, I mean all transmissions from the planet are gone." The communications officer reported.
"Captain, I have scanned the system and I am detecting no starfleet vessels in the vicinity. Only civilian traffic." The science officer added.
"Hmm, troubling... What do you say number one? Shall we investigate. We have time." Captain Joe West asked.
"Of course Sir, we are the only federation ship within range. We have a duty and responsibility to check in on ad assist if we can." Barry replied.
"Well put, Helm, set course for Rigel Seven."
(End of chapter 3)
Jesse L Martin as Captain Joe West.
Grant Gustin as Barry Allen.
Kristen Jaymes Stewart as Bethany Allen.
Helen Slater as Eliza Danvers.
Dean Cain as Jeremiah Danvers.
Chyler Leigh as Alex Danvers.
Cooper Timberline as Kal Danvers.
Melissa Benoist as Kara Danvers.
Johnathon Frakes as Admiral Riker.