This writer does not own Star Trek or any of its affiliates. He only owns his own story line and ideas.
Chapter One
The Journey Begins
"The ship is ready to jump sir" came the statement from the mouth of his first officer. Logan looked around and said "Alright, let's get to it. Let the ship know that we are going to jump, and then count it down." Shelley calmly picked up the receiver and pushed the button for ship-wide communication and spoke: "This is the first officer, prepare to jump, in five, four, three, two, one" and that moment Logan said "execute." The helmsman, Petty Officer Riley, turned the key and pushed the jump button and everything went blurry. The stars became long streaks of light, and as the ship seemed to be expanding (because of the G-force) every person could feel the pressure against his or her body. It would only last for a minute, and everyone was pretty used to this feeling now anyway. It had become old hat, or as second nature as breathing so no one really minded. When the jump was complete the stars became dots again and everyone was able to breathe normally.
Logan called down to Schiff and asked for a location. They asked for a few minutes to check the stars against the known star maps that were given to them by Star Fleet, and then they called back up and reported that they had jumped approximately 50 light years. Everyone on the bridge was elated to hear that. Shelley looked at Logan and saw the worried look on his face and asked "What's wrong? We just traveled 50 light years in a few seconds and you're acting like we are no closer to home." Logan responded "I'll feel much better when I find out how much fuel that jump costs us." Logan stood up and turned around saying "Shelley you have the con. I am going to Main Control." Shelley took her place in the captain's chair and proceeded on at flank speed.
Shudder after shudder the Yorktown shook from the beating it was taking from the unknown enemy. Morrill ordered a lock of rear sparrows on one of the ships and to fire, but Petty Officer Lynnix replied "I'm sorry sir the lock isn't working on these ships. I don't know how to lock in on them." Morrill quickly moved to the console and looked at the panel and said "their shields are in constant flux, so you have to watch when they get to their lowest point, then lock them in, like right now" he hit the aim lock key and the aim zeroed in on the ship, and a sparrow left the box behind the superstructure. The ship tried to maneuver out of the way, but the sparrow found it's mark hitting the ship amid-ship causing the ship's shields to drop to 20 %. Then Morrill sent another sparrow which went through the remaining 20% and hit the ship causing fire on several decks of the enemy's ship. When this happened there was a round of cheer's both in CIC and on the Bridge.
A call came down from the Bridge "Good Job guys, now see if you can duplicate that, we have nine more ships out there and our cats still are not working. Captain Cullens out." Morrill patted Lynnix on the shoulder and said "keep your eye on those shield modulations." "Yes sir" she said with a smile, and picked out the second ship to target.
Logan walked down the ladder into Main Control where he was met by the Chief Engineer Cmdr. Mason. "What do you have for me Commander?" Logan asked. "Well" he began "the jump here used up over half our fuel, and if we try five jumps per day, we'll probably run out of fuel before we reach home. I think that the safest thing would be to make two jumps per day, and I know that it will take much longer, but it will ensure that we have the fuel to get there." "Ok, I'll break it to the crew" Logan said. He looked around and asked "Is there anything you need down here?" "Not really" Cmdr. Mason replied, "We've got a full crew so we should be able to stand our watches without causing a hardship." Logan nodded his head and ascended back up the ladder.
When he reached the bridge Shelley stood up relinquishing the Captain's chair to him. He sat down and she gave him an inquisitive look, he looked down, closed his eyes and slowly shook his head. Her reaction, bowing her head, letting out a dreaded sigh, told him that she understood. Logan picked up the receiver to the sound powered phone on the ship's 1MC and pushed the button for "Ship-Wide" and said "This is the Captain. I have spoken to Cmdr. Mason, our Chief Engineer; a he assures me that to make five jumps per day would put us out of fuel before we get back to the Omega Quadrant. The only safe thing to do is to make two jumps per day. It will take longer, but the fuel will go further. So as hard as it is to hear, I have decided to only make two jumps per day. We'll make one in the morning and one in the late afternoon. The rest of the time we will travel at full speed. McDaniel out."
He turned the bridge over to Lt. Foreman and requested Shelley to join him in his cabin. When they got there he called the Brig and ordered Q to be brought to his cabin. Shelley asked: "You aren't going to airlock him are you?" Logan chuckled and said "As tempting as that is, nothing that grandiose. I'm just going to let him know that he will be confined to solitary confinement until we get home whereas at such time he will be transferred to Leavenworth Federal Prison. He can have one hour per day on a secluded space on the hanger. The only human contact he will have is his Marine Guards." Shelley smile and said "If he thought his life was mundane before he is in for a real surprise now."
Twenty minutes later there was a knock at the hatch, Logan said "Enter." Two Marines came in followed by Q in shackles who was followed by two more Marines. The two Marines in front separated allowing Q to be seen by the Captain. Q said "O thank God, Captain I know I messed up…" Logan broke in and said "Don't thank God because I have brought you here to make your life harder. Your little "messed up" here has cost the people on this ship at least 4 years out of their lives…" Q broke in "Captain, I can get you home immediately if you'll just allow me to work on your computer." Logan looked at Q and asked "Do you really expect me to trust you anywhere near this ship's computers? You make decisions with no regard to the lives of others. You only consider your own feelings. You are clearly a narcissistic sociopath, who thinks of no one but himself; who has absolutely no conscience. There is no way that I am going to allow you anywhere near one of our computers. I simply do not trust you. I would rather take 4 or 5 years to get home rather than to take a chance on you getting close to our computers and send us to God knows where. So you will be placed in Solitary Confinement until we get back to Earth where you will be transferred to Leavenworth Federal Prison for the rest of your life. While on board, your meals will be brought to you and you will have one hour per day on a secluded spot on the hanger bay for exercise." Q said "What about my working in the restrooms?" "No longer your job" Logan replied. Then he looked at the guards and said "Take him back." The guards took Q and left the Captain's cabin. Logan sat back in his chair scratching the back of his head looking at Shelley who said "It was the right thing to do you know." "I know, but I feel like we would be safer blowing him out an air lock" Logan replied. Shelley smiled and walked out of the room.
One Week Later:
"Captain's Log: May 16 2408 14:00 Hrs. We completed our morning jump and all went well. The crew still isn't exactly happy about only jumping twice daily, but it is dealing with it. I wish there was a way to get home quicker, but…" his log recording was interrupted with the following "Captain McDaniel, report to the Bridge, Stat. Captain McDaniel, report to the Bridge, Stat." Logan turned off the recorder and pushed the button for the bridge and picked up the receiver and said "Bridge this is the captain, what's wrong?" Shelley came on and said "Sir you need to come to CIC immediately, I think we have made contact with home." Logan stood up and said "All Stop." And with that he headed toward his door where he was met with his detail who escorted him to the bridge