"Go ahead then Mr Scott..." Kirk said, keeping his communicator close to his mouth.
"I'll start off with the good news Captian. We've managed to get the weapons system back completely on line, and on top of that we've made some progress with the engines. I recon we could just about get Warp One out of the old girl for a brief time. Just a quick burst mind you, but she should make it..."
"Good work Scotty..." Kirk replied. "...but that could've waited ?"
"Aye Sir. That it could. That's not why I contacted you. Captain, there's something else. Some bad news... That thing...the thing we passed through..." Scott's voice trailed away.
"What is it Mr Scott ?" Kirk pressed.
" Well, Sulu's been monitoring it, it seems as though the gap we passed through is reappearing regularly from time to time, but for shorter periods each time that it is there. By our calculations, at the present rate, it will close forever in less than an hour. 55 minutes to be exact."
"Ok Mr Scott, keep me informed. Keep working on those repairs. Kirk out"
Kirk put his communicator back on his belt.
Spock looked at McCoy and then Kirk, "Captain, I would surmise that our chief engineer has found our way home - it is logical to assume that like any doorway, the hole we passed through can be traversed in both directions. With some luck we should find ourselves back exactly where we left."
Kirk nodded, "That's good news Spock, but if what Mr Scott has said is right, then that can wait. Right now I want to know what's going on. That man who came running up shouting had an effect on everyone, so something major has to be happening here". He paused as he looked at the two officers in front of him.
Spock checked his tricorder, pointing it in the direction of where everyone had rushed away to.
"Captain, i can see a lot of activity, but it is all focused on the edge of the building. Beyond that I can't read any life signs at all. I find that most strange"
"Thank you Mr Spock. It appears we are still in the dark about much of what is going on here, but there is one fact that we definitely know - Even if this isn't our Earth we find ourselves on, it is still an Earth. These people need help, and it appears we have fifty five minutes to do that, so let's not waste too much more time talking about it."
"What do you want to us to do Jim ?" McCoy asked.
"First things first Doctor. Let's go and see what is happening that's got everyone in a panic."
Kirk pulled his phaser from his belt and he checked the settings on it. Spock and McCoy repeated the same action with their own weapons.
Kirk nodded to them both, a serious expression fixed to his face.
"Gentleman. It's time to get some answers." He solemnly said.
Kirk motioned for McCoy and Spock to follow him as he jogged away in the direction that the rest had ran off in moments before.
