Chapter 2 – Part One – Stranded
Riker walked down the corridors of what was the largest space station ever built, by their standards anyway being almost ten miles across and fourteen high, a new breed that contained dry dock, an external space dock – it had been nicknamed an Immense class Starbase. Within it were the Griffon and the Enterprise, both alongside one another receiving much needed upgrades and overhauls.
He couldn't shake the similarities between the original Excelsior's, at almost six hundred meters long, and the Griffon which despite being slightly bigger most of the original features were still intact. All the most recent design classes were receiving upgrades, just not all at once – being staggered so as not to leave the Star Fleet vulnerable. It had been that way for almost two months. A deep sigh escaped his lips thinking about the destruction on Vulcan, of the nuclear winter that now gripped the planet – even now Starfleet attempted to clear the atmosphere with tractor beams and magnetic manipulation – going so far as installing a weather modification systems in the hopes they could trigger the right storms, and that maybe, just maybe they could allow the sun onto some of the planet and prevent most life, plant or otherwise from dying.
An officer walked down the corridor towards him, his hair and goatee a shade lighter than the dark brown uniform he wore, the only thing signifying he was in command were the four pips on his collar.
"Aaah Riker good to see you again" he said cheerfully, "Glad that the Enterprise is finally in for her upgrades"
"Indeed," he smiled, "notice anything different?"
Captain Valentine stood there looking at Will for a second, "Nope you've got me," watching as Riker subtly rubbed his chin. "You're beard, you shaved it off!"
"Actually my wife did"
"You're married? Who is the lovely lady?"
Unable to resist the jest, "I believe you've met her"
"Troi you actually married her. 'Bout damn time if you ask me!"
Both laughed enjoying the moment.
"So tell me Val, how are things with you?"
Despite his first name being David everyone, including his parents called him Val for some unknown reason. Running his hand through his shoulder length hair, "Did you know we lost our Chief Engineer a week ago – we're trying to recruit another – feel like parting with Geordie?"
His laugh was deep, "Not on your life"
"That's what I thought. I was going to see if anyone left from the Titan would transfer but it appears your Lieutenant Barclay wanted the job"
He pulled a face, "I heard about that. What happened to the Titan?"
He seemed unwilling to talk so they walked down the corridor together in silence until they reached a viewing port from which the Trailbalzer could be seen in orbit around the station. It was an upgraded Galaxy class with a shorter neck but much longer frame, reaching 870 meters in length.
"It was a surprise really. A ship came out of some kind of subspace corridor; unknown pyramidal configuration proceeded to attack relentlessly for no reason"
Riker could clearly see anger within the other Captain's eyes, and sadness at the loss of life. "Sometimes it's like that Val, things happen for no reason", he said soothingly, placing a hold on his friend's shoulder.
"I know Will but after it all how much longer can we last before the Federation fragments or falls apart?"
"We'll hold, we have to….anything else is…." He let his voice trail of.
"Unthinkable? Is it really? If we don't find new allies or some real peace soon everything we hold dear will be gone."
Riker shivered involuntarily.