Chapter 2

Greetings ! Is it me you're looking for ?

Data: Lieutenant Commander Data second officer's log, stardate 46632.7; after studying the sensor logs on the vortex, I have reached a greater understanding of these vortexes. I am on my way to inform Captain Picard of my findings.

Captain Picard's ready room

Captain Picard is sitting on his chair, reading from the computer screen. The door chimes.

Picard: Yes.

Data enters the ready room.

Picard: Yes, Mister Data.

Data: Captain, I have thoroughly analysed the sensors' log on the vortex.

Picard: Found anything new?

Data: Yes, Sir. The vortexes are clearly not of natural origin. We discovered that they emit D-band emissions. Furthermore, the sensors have picked up 14 more vortexes. They seem to be aligned in an arc shape. The vortexes have obviously been artificially created.

Picard: How?

Data: Unknown, Sir. The presence of deuterium flamenzide is the only clue. But it appears its function is to fool the sensors and hide the vortexes. The Ornotians must not have the means to detect the flamenzide and if it is the case, we must assume that whoever did this had a fairly good knowledge of Ornotian technology.

Picard: What about Starfleet records on deuterium flamenzide? About its uses and which races use it?

Data: Many races have used Deuterium flamenzide. It is used by the Talarians in their freighters' anti-flux systems, it is present in the Zondars planet atmosphere, the Fringars use it in their rockets combustion fuel, the Gri…

Picard (interrupting): Any indication of its use in a weapon? Can it be used on its own or it has to interact with other substances or gases?

Data: There is no record of it being used for making a weapon. On its own, it has absolutely no dangerous effect.

Picard: How did it confuse our sensors?

Data: The flamenzide prevent the sensors from detecting the vortex by hiding its D-band emissions. But once it is filtered, those emissions are clearly detectable.

Picard: Is there any way to disable or destroy the vortexes?

Data: None for the moment, Captain. It will take more time to find a solution.

Picard: Thank you, Mister Data. We'll take care of the vortexes later, after we establish contact with the Ornotians. Dismissed.

Bridge, later

Ensign Limansky: Commander Riker, we should enter the Ornot system in 10 minutes.

Riker: Thank you, Mister Limansky. (Taps his combadge): Riker to Picard.

Picard (in his ready room): Yes, Number One?

Riker: We will arrive in the Ornot system in 10 minutes, Sir.

Picard: On my way.

Picard enters the bridge and takes his chair.

Picard: Mister Martinez, how many vortexes have the sensors been able to detect?

Ensign Martinez: 26, Sir. The sensors have also located 5 M-class planets in nearby systems.

Picard: Any sign of a welcoming party?

Ensign Martinez: No, Sir. Nothing so far.

Data enters the bridge and replaces Ensign Martinez at Ops.

5 minutes later

Worf: The sensors are picking up 2 ships on the edge of the Ornot system. Comparing to data on Ornotian warships… They have analogous energy signals. Definitely Ornotian war ships, Captain.

Riker: What's their status?

Data: Their shields are not raised and their weapons systems are powered down.

Riker: It seems more Darmok and Jalad than Uzani, Captain. Time to intercept, Mister Limansky?

Ensign Limansky: 2 minutes, Sir.

Riker: As soon as we arrive within communications range, drop to one half impulse.

Picard: Let's do the same as our guests. Worf, stand down yellow alert. But prepare to raise shields in case it's some kind of trap.

Worf: Aye, Sir.

Picard: Well, it begins, Number One point four three six five!

Riker: Sir?

Picard (frowning): It seems the writer wanted to do that for a long time, Will. Don't pay attention to his silly jokes.

1 minute 30 seconds later

Ensign Limansky: We are within communications range, Sir. Dropping to half-impulse.

Picard: Mister Worf, hail them.

Worf: Aye, Sir. One of the ships is responding.

Picard: On screen.

The Ornotian captain appears on the screen.

Picard: This is Captain Picard of the Federation starship Enterprise. We arrive here in response to your distress signal. How can we be of help?

Ornotian Captain: This is First Rumsas Karrab Amabo, Ornotian High Command, starship Komrad. Permission to transport to your ship to discuss the situation in person.

Picard: (nodding to Amabo) Agreed. Full stop, Mister Limansky. Mister Worf, greet our guest in transporter room four and show him to the observation lounge.

Worf: Aye, Sir.

Picard (heading to the observation lounge): Number One, Counsellor, Mister Data. (Taps on his combadge) Doctor Crusher and Mister LaForge, meet us in the observation lounge.

Observation lounge

Picard and his officers are sitting at the conference table. The doors open. Rumsas Amabo followed by Worf enter. Picard gets up. Amabo salutes him by a gesture to his head. Picard puts out his hand. Amabo is puzzled but puts his hand on Picard's.

Picard: Happy to meet you. Please sit down

Picard sits and points to the seat right of his. Amabo takes the seat while Worf takes his.

Amabo: I'm puzzled, Captain, how to manage to reach us? We have been unable to travel for 4 of your earth days now. Our ships encounter terrible turbulences as soon as we go to warp.

Picard: We had the same problem. Mister Data?

Data: We discovered some kind of artificial cloaked vortexes that attract ships travelling at warp speed. We have found a way to prevent our warp field from interacting with the vortexes. However, we have not yet found a way to destroy or disable the vortexes.

Picard: In the meantime, we'll transmit our data to your engineers so as to try to implement our solution on your ships. Our chief engineer, Mister LaForge, will take care of that when we are finished here. Do you have any idea who has planted those vortexes here? And what about your message? We understood you needed help but we weren't able to receive it completely.

Amabo: The message was "all around us, impossible to travel, Twobeans, help". The first two parts were about what you call the vortexes. As for the second, (frowning), the Twobeans are the inhabitants of the Twobea system…

Amabo gets up and indicates a system on the edge of the Ornot system.

Amabo: We were at war with them many centuries ago. There has been peace between us since then but with no contact between us. But approximately 1 week ago, there were attempts to re-establish contact from their part. Their leaders council sent us a message asking for help, mentioning attacks by alien ships. Before we could decide what to do, one of our ships on patrol encountered violent turbulences and was badly damaged. Any other attempt to leave our system resulted with the warships encountering the same difficulties. We were not able to determine the problem and therefore, we could not link it to our engines. Also in the same time, a strange disease appeared on the planet, fortunately, not life threatening, but affected people are weak so they have to stay in bed. We have not been able to determine its source but its timing makes it improbable that it's not related to the vortexes. We still haven't found a remedy.

Picard (addressing Amabo, now back on his seat): All right, until we can modify your ships engines, we will go ourselves to the Twobea system to see what has happened there. Mister LaForge can remain here with an engineering team to help you. Doctor Crusher could also remain with a team and try to help you finding the source and hopefully, a cure for the disease. First Rumas, can you and your government give us the authorization us to go down to the surface to help you ?

Amabo: Yes, we can. Thank you, we would be grateful for your help.

Picard: All right, Geordi and Beverly, assemble your teams and prepare to accompany First Rumsas Amabo.

La Forge and Crusher: Aye, Sir.

Worf: Captain, with all due respect to the Ornotians, but shouldn't we assign a security team to accompany the engineering and medical teams?

Amabo: We are fully capable of taking care of your team security.

Picard: We have no doubt of that, First Rumsas. However, Lieutenant Worf's suggestion is a wise one and I will follow it, with your approval, of course.

Amabo: As you wish, Captain Picard.

Picard: Number One, you will lead the away team. Assemble a security detachment to accompany you. The teams will meet in transporter room one at 1430 hours.

Riker: Aye, Sir.

Amabo: All right, with your permission Captain, I will go back to my ship and await your team there.

Picard (nodding): Mister Worf, accompany First Rumsas Amabo back to the transporter room.

Worf: Aye, Sir. (Nodding to Amabo) If you'll accompany me, Sir.

Amabo (standing up): It has been a pleasure meeting you, Captain Picard. I hope your mission to Twobea will be successful; we will await your return impatiently.

Picard (standing up): I hope so too, First Rumsas.

Worf and Amabo leave the observation lounge. As well as Riker and LaForge.

A few minutes later, Picard, Troi and Data are still in the observation lounge. Worf has taken back his place around the table.

Picard: Data, do we have any information on the Twobeans?

Data: None, Sir. Captain Kirk did not mention them in his logs, and it was the only trip of a federation ship in this region of the galaxy.

Picard: Counsellor, did you sense anything particular regarding First Rumsas Amabo.

Troi (appearing to suffer a lot): Paiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin. I feel paaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin. Terrrrrrrible paaaiiii…

Worf: Deanna, are you all right?

Troi (calming down): I'm fine. It was that writer again! I'm sorry, Captain.

Picard (sighing): Aaaah, it seems we all have to bear this writer. Maybe he'll grow up and stop doing his silly jokes!

Troi: I didn't feel any deception from Amabo, Captain. He was telling the truth.

Picard: Mister Worf, we will go on yellow alert when we approach the Twobea system. But let the battle stations be manned at all time, we don't know what is waiting for us there.

Worf: Aye, Sir.

Picard: Data, how long to arrive to the Twobea system?

Data: At warp 5, it will take 2 hours 30 minutes 25 seconds and thirty-t…

Picard (interrupting): That's accurate enough, Mister Data! Thank you. (Tapping his combadge) Picard to helm.

Ensign Limansky (one the bridge): Ensign Limansky here, Sir.

Picard: Prepare to head to the Twobea system. Mister Data is transmitting the coordinates right now. We will leave in 20 minutes. Picard out.

Bridge, approximately 20 minutes later.

Data: Captain, the away team is ready in transporter room two.

Picard: Thank you, Mister Data. (Tapping his combadge) Number One, I understand you're all set to go.

Riker (in transporter room 2): Aye, Sir. We are ready to beam to the Ornotian ship.

Picard: All right. Good luck to you, Will.

Riker: Likewise, Sir.

A few seconds later.

Data: The away team has beamed to the Ornotian ship, Captain.

Picard: Ensign Limansky, all set?

Ensign Limansky: Helm ready, Sir.

Picard (tapping his combadge): Engineering,

Ensign Lefler: Ensign Lefler here, Sir.

Picard: What's the status of our warp drive, ensign?

Ensign Lefler: Warp drive ready, Sir. However, I do not recommend we exceed Warp 6.

Picard: All right, Ensign. Mister Limansky, warp 6, engage!