STAR TREK
"Certain Futures"
The captain was sitting in his captain's chair. He liked the feel of it. He worked very hard for it. In dry dock, the USS Knutson was about to receive its first mission.
"Captain," the helmsman stated, "we are receiving a transmission from Star Fleet Command."
Slowly ready, Captain Sam Willis said, "Put them on the screen."
The Baker Class vessel manifested a Star Fleet captain on the screen. He obviously was a Star Fleet veteran – it was in his presence.
"Captain Willis, are you there?" the captain said. "This is Star Fleet. We have no time to talk. A civilian craft is in danger in uncharted space near the Klingon border. You will investigate."
"No problem," Sam said. "We'll need the ship's location."
"Right," the man on the screen said. "The journey should take you six hours. I hope you're not going into battle, but be prepared."
"Yes, sir," the captain said ending the transmission. "Helmsman, get the crew to their stations and prepare to leave dry dock. I'll get the first officer personally."
"Commander Soyuz usually spends this time of day in the gym," Helmsman Rich Schroeder said. The captain headed that way.
In the gym, Commander Veronica Soyuz, the chief engineer, was working out on a stairmaster. She was approached by her new captain. He folded his hands behind his back and said 'hello' in French.
"Yeah, I can speak French, too," she responded towel in hand. "Can you tell me why I'm the only one in this gym?"
"An emergency has arisen," the captain said.
"Obviously," she stated.
Reminded of his authority, he said, "Have I done something wrong?"
Getting off the equipment, she said, "I've already read your history, Captain. Your Star Fleet service has been mediocre, at best. I don't see how you are the captain of this prototype."
"So why did you choose this duty post, Commander?" the captain had to ask.
"Because, on your Cadet Cruise, you were second to none," she bluntly said making her way out the door with her towel thrown over her shoulder. He was confused.
On the civilian craft, the captain beamed over with his security chief, Tomas Bachman. With phasers drawn, they slowly trekked through the ship.
The lieutenant said, "It looks like the crew is dead."
Phaser in hand, Sam said, "I want to know everything about this ship."
Time passed as they made their way to the cargo hold. Tom said, "It is a Lotus Flower Class freighter. It was carrying dilithium crystals."
"That means it was attacked by Klingons," the captain quickly deduced.
"Yes, sir," he said.
Just then, a noise came from above. The two of them were on alert. Then a Klingon soldier jumped on the lieutenant. They were struggling when he yelled, "Blast it, Captain!"
He did not hesitate. The Klingon was vaporized. Sam Willis, the captain of the Knutson, was thinking of his ship hovering within range, "We have to head to the bridge."
They turned on the main screen. Commander Soyuz was in the captain's chair of the Baker Class vessel, "Yes, Captain?"
"We believe Klingons are in the area. We were attacked by one," the captain explained.
"We'll beam you aboard and—"
A Klingon Bird of Prey decloacked and opened fire on the Knutson.
"No!" the captain cried. He witnessed the Knutson disengaging behind a nearby planet with its prototype impulse engines.
Captain Willis had an idea. He opened a channel to the Klingon scout ship, "This is Star Fleet Captain Samuel Willis. We have your Klingon soldier. I wonder if a deal would be out of the question."
"Futile, Captain," the Klingon captain replied. "That officer was a coward. Kill him. He means nothing to us."
The captain inquired, "Who is this?"
"I am Captain Korn," he smiled. "It seems your ship is of cowards, too, since they can be frightened away so quickly."
There was a pause.
"They are no longer on our sensors!" the Klingon ended with unending laughter.
The fun was over. The Klingon captain, Korn, was going to kill Sam Willis. He ordered photon torpedoes armed. Then, unexpectedly, the Knutson reappeared from the other side of the planet. The captain suspected as much – it could not be sensed because the planet obscured their warp signature. The first officer appeared on the view screen.
"Captain," she started, "they crippled our warp drive, but like I said, this is a prototype."
On the screen, the captain saw the Klingons struggle on the Bird of Prey. It was taking too much damage. It exploded in a flash of fire and debris.
There was silence.
The captain broke it, "Prepare to beam the dead from this ship and tow it back to Jupiter station. There, we will need repairs."
"But, sir," she said, "we only have impulse."
"Then I guess it will be a cruise," he said with a smile.
She understood. His orders were carried out. They had completed the bare bones of the mission. They began a six-month journey home.
The Knutson was on its way, but it was taking too long. The crew was getting impatient. Commander Soyuz, the chief engineer, had a plan. The captain joined her in engineering.
"So what's the plan?" he said.
"Well, like I said before," Veronica stated, "the plan is to jump-start one of the engines by using only its functioning parts."
"Why only one engine?" the captain asked.
She looked at him, "In case the plan doesn't work."
At the main console, she shouted out to her young assistant, "Alright, let's get this show on the road!"
"Yes, sir," he replied in the background. This put a smile on her face as she started the engine.
Something went wrong. The red alert klaxons sounded. The captain flipped open his communicator to contact the bridge, "What is happening up there?"
Velax, the Vulcan science officer, was sitting in the captain's chair. He very calmly said, "We have entered a wormhole, sir."
The chief engineer struggled to another console, "We have to jettison the engine before the ship explodes!"
The captain instinctively jumped to the main engineering console, "Velax!"
Veronica did her duty. She jettisoned the warp engine they were using. It exploded throwing them out of the wormhole, "Got it!"
At the same time, the main engineering station exploded injuring the captain. The first officer ran to give him aid. She picked up his communicator and contacted the doctor, "John Simon, report to engineering, immediately."
The bridge called, "Well, I'd say it was a nice try, but we lost a warp engine and the ship we were tractor beaming."
"Damage report," she said.
"Negligible," Velax said, "but there is something here you must see."
On the view screen, a mirror self of the Vulcan science officer was just as confused as they were. Velax gave up the bridge to the first officer.
Then the Vulcan on the screen said, "This is the ISSKnutson. I am its commander, Velax. We know you come in peace."
Commander Soyuz asked, "Do you? Because, according to our reports, the Mirror Universe is at war with us."
Velax responded, "We are at war with ourselves. I've got to ask just one question."
"What?" the commander asked.
"Could you help us defeat the Terran Empire?"
He paused. Then he tried to explain, "Our civil war, led by Spock, has left the Empire defenseless. We need more ships to fight the Klingons and—"
The commander interrupted, "It is not our place to interfere, but we can send you medical supplies."
"Thank you," the evil Velax replied. "And it is good to know I'm a captain in your universe."
The message ended. Veronica was sickened. She ordered, "Let's get the hell out of here."
Later, in engineering, Commander Soyuz was ready to create another wormhole to get them back to their universe. She could not help but think of the captain in sickbay.
Velax, on the bridge, signaled ready, "We're ready. The red alert klaxons should not go off this time, though."
"Full speed!" she commanded.
"Almost at breaking point, sir!" her assistant shouted ready to jettison the second warp engine.
They looked at each other.
"Now!" the commander said at the last minute.
They were thrown out of the wormhole they themselves created. They went at tremendous speed. After she checked their position, she contacted sickbay, "Doctor Simon, are you there?"
"Yes, and I will have you know, I'm quite sickened by this vessel's performance," the doctor said trying not to sound too much like the self-righteous cynic he was.
"Let me speak to the captain," she demanded.
"Yeah," the doctor complied.
"What's up?" the recovered captain asked.
"You're not going to believe this, but the wormhole propelled us home!" she said triumphantly.
Then the captain said, "Stop doing this to me. You know I can't promote you."
The ship was home. No lives were lost on this mission, and they'd found status on their counterparts in the Mirror Universe.
The captain and the first officer of the Knutson were in the office of Captain Shawn Alexander of Star Fleet Headquarters. They were being chewed out. All they could do was stand at attention and take it.
"Could you tell me why you finished your first mission with only half a ship?" the Star Fleet captain asked.
"It was because of measures beyond our control," the first officer told him.
"I read your report," the captain said. "I just don't like it. It's not like we can just replicate warp engines whenever we need them."
Captain Willis said, "We will make it up to you, sir."
"I know you will," he paused. "The wormhole you created left a rip in the fabric of space. Some Baker Class ships are being refitted with new photon torpedoes. Those torpedoes will destroy the rip."
"Thank you, sir," the first officer said as they left his office.
The Headquarters captain turned to say, "Hey, it's good you didn't lose anyone."
The Baker Class Knutson arrived at the location of the rip in space.
"Where is this…thing we're looking for?" the captain asked the science officer. "We've been out here for almost an hour."
Velax, working hard at his console, replied, "And we've just about…got it, Captain."
The captain commanded, "Rich, let's see what these new photon torpedoes can do."
On the view screen, torpedoes travelled until they hit their target. The invisible rip in space had been destroyed. Captain Willis sat in his captain's chair.
A moment passed. Then the communications officer, Jen Parker, received a message from Star Fleet, "Captain, we are being ordered to the Klingon Neutral Zone."
"Where?" the captain asked.
Jen hesitated, "The planet Obasa. A fleet battle has occurred there. It could mean war."
"Red alert," the captain ordered. "All crew to battle stations. Put all power into the navigational deflector. It will make us go faster."
The klaxons went off. Commander Soyuz gave an objectioning look to the captain. He did not see it.
At the location of the battle, debris from Federation ships were everywhere. The captain put his head in his hands. Then two Klingon Great Birds decloaked at point-blank range.
"Captain," the communications officer started, "we are being hailed by the Klingon commander."
"Put him on screen," the captain ordered.
The image of an Imperial Klingon appeared on the screen, "This is Captain Zakan. We are in a state of war with the Federation."
"But why?" the captain asked.
"One of your Star Fleet ships entered the Neutral Zone and declared war on us," the commander told him.
"That's not possible," the captain replied.
The commander on the screen sat back in his chair and commanded, "You are outgunned many times over. You will surrender your ship in one hour, or be destroyed."
Captain Willis knew what to do. After the message ended, he told his crew, "Prepare to activate the self-destruct system."
The clock was ticking. The crew was sweaty. In less than a minute, the three ships over Obasa were going to be destroyed. The captain began to think, "Commander Soyuz, is it possible Mirror Universe ships could have entered this universe through the rip we destroyed?"
"Yes," she said wiping sweat from her brow, "but try telling that to the Klingons."
Suddenly, something unexpected happened. The USS Excelsior came out of warp, firing phasers.
"Cancel self-destruct!" the captain quickly ordered. It was true the Knutson was no match for two Klingon Great Birds, but they were no match for the Excelsior.
Captain Styles manifested on the screen, "You owe me one, Sam."
Cheers filled the bridge as Captain Willis ordered his helmsman, "Rich Schroeder, take us about."
The two Great Birds didn't last long. When they exploded, the captain of the Knutson had to admit to another screw-up, "Captain Styles, I think we have to talk about a possible new threat to the Federation."
On the USS Excelsior, the two captains, Styles and Willis, were in the main lounge. Willis had to explain something very important to him, and it was intimidating having to do so on a ship so…luxurious.
Captain Styles would intimidate him with his trademark cane. He did this on purpose.
He opened a dialog, "So what could this possible threat be to the Federation?"
"Yesterday," the captain began, "the Knutson left dry dock to destroy a rip in the fabric of space with new torpedoes. It is possible that a Federation starship from the Mirror Universe came through it. We think it entered Klingon space for some reason."
Captain Styles slowly got up to use an intercom, "Bridge, contact Star Fleet Command. I'm taking command of the fleet. Have all available ships meet this destination."
"Yes, sir," the communications officer stated.
He looked at Sam, "Your ship will monitor the Neutral Zone. Not many Klingons will buy our story about a rip in space."
Just then, they could see a Bird of Prey decloaking out the window. Both captains ran to the bridge.
The battle was over in seconds. The Bird of Prey was destroyed. Then Commander Soyuz hailed the Excelsior, "We have discovered something, Captain. The Klingons are monitoring all communications near the entire Neutral Zone. This might be total war."
Captain Styles turned to his communications officer, "Scan the area. I want to know everything about their fleet movements."
At her console, she said, "There is a mass of Klingon ships twenty lightyears ahead."
"How many?" he asked.
"Eleven," she grimly stated. "They're not even bothering to cloak themselves."
The captain's heart sank. The battle they were talking about would be the worst in Star Fleet history.
Captain Sam Willis had an idea. He wanted to speak to his second-in-command, "Captain Styles, open a channel to my ship. I want to speak to my first officer."
"No, Sam," he ordered, "the Klingons are listening."
"She knows French," the captain said. It was an interesting idea, speaking in code. The captain nodded and signaled the okay to open a channel.
"Knutson," he began, "we know the Klingons are listening. So please respond only in French."
Commander Soyuz answered, "We read you and understand, Captain."
"I'm beaming to the planet Obasa. I will take with me the helmsman, the security chief and the communications officer. The colonists will have problems with Klingons," the captain explained.
"What will we do here?" she asked him.
"Mind the border. You will be needed there," he replied. "Those orders come from Captain Styles."
The captain of the Excelsior asked him, "What did you tell your first officer?"
Sam replied, "I simply repeated your orders and asked them to beam a landing party down for me."
"Good luck," Styles said shaking his hand.
The captain and the landing party beamed to the planet. Excelsior stayed awaiting more ships.
Sam Willis entered the office of the head of the Obasa colony. He was recognized from when he was in Colonial Operations Command. He was glad to see an old friend, "Sam, is that you?"
"Zack?" a face of recognition said. "You're in charge down here?"
"Yes," Zack Smith said. "And we have some problems with Klingons. They arrived yesterday, and I think they're going to attack."
"Do you have any weapons?" the captain asked.
He replied, "Just you."
Captain Willis smiled, "Well, you're in luck. The Excelsior is in orbit, and more ships are on the way."
"Is this a war?" he asked.
Sam frowned, "I wish you didn't ask me that. It's not a fair question. We are here to prevent war."
Zack smiled, "Sounds like Star Fleet to me."
The landing party was going to deal with the Klingons but needed rest before doing so.
There was a deep cave with guards. The captain employed, "Schroeder, get your head farther down."
"What's the plan?" the helmsman asked.
The captain simply flipped open his communicator to speak into it, "Excelsior, prepare to beam the Klingon force directly to your brig."
Outside the cave was a portable shield generator that the Klingons brought with them. The captain nodded to Security Chief Tom Bachman. He vaporized the shield generator as Captain Willis promptly yelled, "Now!"
The Klingons were dealt with. They had become prisoners of the Federation. The landing party returned to the colony victorious.
On the USS Excelsior, further scans revealed something important. The communications officer spoke up, "Closer scans coming in, Captain."
"What does it reveal?" Styles promptly asked.
"A Federation starship is at the heart of the Klingon fleet," she said not believing her own words.
Styles moved in closer and said, "It's a Mirror Universe vessel. It looks like the ISS Knutson."
"Yes, sir."
He felt like a fool, "No more time for games. Beam up the landing party as soon as more Federation support arrives."
"Something else, sir," the communications officer added. "The Knutson of our universe is not where it's supposed to be."
"Locate," Captain Styles ordered. This was growing tiresome for him. This war simply had too many questions. He bottled up his anger as he returned to his captain's chair.
On the planet below, the landing party was having a wild celebration with the colonists. The captain usually did not drink. But that did not stop him on this occasion.
"Captain, we have a message from Styles for you," Jen said. "He's on my communicator."
He took the communicator, "Yes?"
"You are not going to believe this," Excelsior explained. This was something Sam had heard before. He knew it wasn't good news. He walked off into the woods.
"Please give me good news," he said fearing the worst.
"I wish it was, Captain," the Excelsior paused but had to say it. "Your ship has been destroyed."
"How?" he replied.
After a momentary silence, Styles continued, "Your first officer went all-noble and tried to explain to them, the Klingons, that the ship that violated their space was a mirror copy of yours."
"So?" the captain had to ask.
"The Mirror Universe Knutson is at the heart of the enemy fleet. And it's only growing," he said. "I'm sorry."
Sam Willis decided to return to the party and not tell his crew what happened until it was over.
It was early morning on Obasa. He spoke to Zack, his old friend. Sam lost his ship and his crew. It was the worst day of his life.
"I quit," the captain said in Zack's office.
Sipping water, Zack told him, "Hey, don't tell me, man. Tell Star Fleet."
"Did you hear what I said?" he insisted. "Two hundred people are dead. How can I look myself in the mirror?"
"Get revenge," Zack told him.
He was hurt. He felt himself changing but didn't know if he could handle it. He then said to the civilian, "That's the most profound thing I've ever heard."
Then he left.
Captain Willis went to the bridge of the Excelsior. He was told by Captain Styles, "I can imagine how you must feel. I want you to command this ship in my stead."
"Sir?" the captain had to ask.
"I would be honored if you found your revenge with this ship," he continued.
"What about you?" Sam Willis asked.
"I have a fleet to run," he responded. "I will be at the command bridge."
He walked off making Captain Sam Willis the most powerful man in the Federation. A fleet of six cruisers and six frigates were behind him. With victory in sight, he ordered, "Prepare to enter the Neutral Zone."
They arrived in Klingon space. The two fleets were staring each other down. Then the commander of the Mirror Universe Baker Class Knutson opened a channel to them, "This is Velax."
It was an image that seemed to only anger the survivors of the USS Knutson that was destroyed.
"We simply wish to take this fleet of Klingon volunteers to the rip in space we entered in. We will leave in peace," the Vulcan said.
"You have to fight me for your demands," the captain replied. He could just have easily told him the truth and said the rip no longer existed, but that would take away the fun of killing him.
"You are no match for my superior intellect, fool," he said with an evil laugh. "But I accept. Choose your weapon."
The captain decided, "Death by shuttlecraft."
"Good," the Vulcan, Velax, said. "If you win, the war is over. And I can guaranty that."
The message ended. This gave Sam the upper hand. The Excelsior had many shuttles to choose from. He left the bridge.
Both fleets witnessed the battle before them. They saw the attacking shuttle, Challenger, and Sam's shuttle, Brink, making their way to each other in open space.
"Why did he choose a shuttle with only one engine?" Rich asked Jen.
"I don't know," she said in response.
It looked like the Challenger was staying put – firing phasers – but was missing.
Tomas said, "He seems to be aiming for the captain's phaser weapon. Either that, or he's a terrible shot."
Then the Brink was hit. Jen Parker cried out, "It's all over!"
Captain Sam Willis, without a phaser, headed on a direct course for the stationary shuttle.
"What's he doing?" Rich asked himself.
Then he found out. Sam jettisoned the one engine for his adversary. It crashed into the Challenger blowing it up. Sam had won.
The Klingons contacted the Excelsior. They were laughing all about the place. Then the Klingon commander cried, "I have ordered the crew of the evil Knutson arrested. You make good sport, human!"
Captain Styles replied, "Does this mean the war is over?"
"Yes," Captain Kaala said. "You bring honor to your people."
Cheers filled the shuttlebay as Captain Willis returned to the Excelsior. Captain Styles gave him a new mission – command the mirror Knutson on the way back to Earth.
It looked like the Knutson. But, when he boarded it, it reminded him of his lost crew. There was only one thing left to do. He had to go home.
Captain Willis looked at Rich Schroeder sitting at the helm, "Set a course for the Neutral Zone while I contact Captain Styles."
Styles answered him, "Yeah, Sam?"
"Thank you," he responded. "Your show of strength helped me in my darkest hour."
"Oh, I've already been thanked," the captain smiled. "Once we get back to Earth, I'm going to be promoted to admiral. They're even letting me keep the Excelsior."
Captain Sam Willis had a look of jealousy on his face no one would believe. He started to think he might be able to keep the ISS Knutson.
Later, the Klingon commander, Kaala, appeared on the screen. The Baker Class Knutson had already began its trek back to Federation space.
Kaala asked the captain, "Do you need an escort back to your Federation?"
"No, thank you," he calmly said.
"Really?" the commander smiled. "It is possible many of our commanders will think the story of a Mirror Universe was a lie."
There was a pause.
"You might be attacked," he said. "Let us be your escort."
The captain nodded. He was hailed by his crew to the main lounge. But, first, he said, "Captain Kaala, why don't you come on board. I think there is something we need to discuss."
The captain, Sam Willis, got applause upon entering the lounge. His crew was throwing him a party. But they did not know he would come with a dozen Klingons. It was a surprise. They waited for his words.
The captain paused, "We've been through a lot together. I'm not one for speeches. So, I will let you now know, I've given the Klingon commanders shore leave rights."
"What a buzzkill," Rich said for all to hear.
Jen turned to Tom and whispered, "Those Klingons are armed."
"Yeah, and I didn't bring my phaser," Tom told her.
You could cut the tension in the lounge with a knife. On the way back to the Neutral Zone, the Star Fleet officers knew to not even look at the Klingons unless they wanted a fight. Sam Willis did not know this.
"I think we're doing something good here," he said smiling across the room at the Klingons hogging the replicator.
One of them felt threatened. He drew a knife and walked over. Then he stabbed it into the table. The captain made eye contact with him, "Can I help you?"
It was a fight. Sam Willis needed to blow off some steam. He stood up. Jen Parker cried out, "What are you doing!"
The two wrestled around for a while. Security was made aware. But, Tomas Bachman, as security chief, had already fallen over drunk.
Then the Klingon went for a death blow seeing that he might lose. It was lights out for the captain.
He woke up at Spacedock.
"The patient is awake, doctor," a nurse said with a pleasant voice.
Rich and Tom did not stick around for long. Only Jen Parker stayed by his side until he recovered, "Hey, how are you feeling?"
"I had the most wonderful dream," he said with a smile.
"Yeah, and a knife wound in your chest," the communications officer told him. "I've got some good news for you. The Knutson from the Mirror Universe is being refitted to replace your old one. You're going to be a captain again."
"So we're on Earth?" the captain asked her.
"Spacedock, yes," she said. "It has the best sickbays in the universe."
He struggled to ask, "I know a fine coffeehouse in Iowa. Would you like to join me there?"
"I need to get to know my crew better and—"
She stopped him, "Drinks are expensive on Earth, and I'm not getting a paycheck."
This confused the captain. She continued, "No."
After he healed, the two held hands as they walked through the corridors of the USS Knutson in dry dock.
He would receive a mission. A voice came over the intercom so that all could hear, "All officers to their stations."
In a turbolift, it only took ten seconds to get to his destination. There was something odd about Jen Parker. Sam Willis took the captain's chair as Star Fleet Headquarters came on the screen.
"Shawn Alexander?" he said to his superior.
It took time, but the screen did function, "Sam, I'm sorry to say your mission is not quite over. It is imperative that you deliver a message to the Romulans."
"It's easy," he continued. "You'll be the acting captain of the brand-new USS Chandley. It is the first of its kind. Jenifer Parker will follow you in the new USS Knutson."
"You going to split us up?" he noticed. "Why can't the Knutson do this alone? Its repairs are almost complete."
"No," the captain finished. "Go to the Chandley. I will brief you there."
In Spacedock, the Chandley Class ship was massive. He arrived in a travel pod to see it just sitting there.
"Okay, Shawn," Sam said, "I'm in my captain's quarters. What do you want?"
"It will be easy," he explained. "You must reassure the Romulans that we are not at war with the Klingons."
"Why me?" the captain asked him. "Because I was there?"
"Yes," Shawn Alexander spoke. "The Romulans must know you stopped the Klingons from having an excuse to fight us."
"Why can't I use my ship for this mission?" he responded. "And please don't tell me it's because of size. Size does not matter."
"But that is the reason," he asserted. "It would be better to use a larger ship in case the Romulans attack while you are in the Neutral Zone."
For the first time, the USS Chandley started its engines. Its acting captain claimed its captain's chair for the first time.
It took one day for the Chandley to reach its destination at warp factor five.
USS Knutson arrived in hours. Sam had to ask, "How did you get here so fast?"
"It wasn't hard. We simply went at maximum safe cruising speed. You know, warp factor seven," Jen told he who made her first officer.
Commander Mark Davis spoke, "So you'll just sit back and wait for us to emerge from our meeting with the Romulans?"
Jen Parker inquired, "Yeah, and you are going to meet up with the Romulans on Nimbus Three."
Sam Willis noted, "And, I've been told, if you think it's paradise, prepare to be disappointed. Mark, you'll be in charge until I get back."
The USS Chandley entered the Neutral Zone to complete its mission as the captain left the bridge for a shuttle. He passed the dedication plaque. It had the ship's motto, "A friend in need is a friend indeed."
"Romulan Star Empire, this is the shuttlecraft Fringe," he said on an open channel. "I am on my way to meet you outside of Paradise City."
He landed there. Then a Bird of Prey of the Romulan type declaoked on approach. Fear kept the captain inside his shuttle.
The Romulan commander, Hula, asked, "Why didn't you just send us a message via subspace?"
"That would have taken weeks," he explained. "This way is much easier."
"I'm done," Commander Hula responded. "You have five minutes to return to Federation space, or we will destroy you."
"Okay!" the captain said in horror.
"Chandley, are you there?"
Mark Davis asked, "Captain, you're finished with the mission already? How is that possible?"
Launching the shuttle into orbit, he replied, "Yes, and I think we have overstayed our welcome. Put everything into the engines. Power up the navigational deflector."
The Chandley returned to the Federation side of the Neutral Zone at maximum speed. They scanned for the USS Knutson. It was not there. But a shuttle from the Knutson – the Maude – was there.
Max Hiller was in the shuttle.
He was beamed to sickbay where he reported, "She stole the ship."
"Who stole the ship?" Sam Willis asked the ensign.
"Jenifer Parker, your first officer," Max cried. "I saw her falsifying an order from Star Fleet Headquarters."
"What order?" he was afraid to ask.
Max told him, "An order from Star Fleet to look for Protomatter. She must have been an officer from the Mirror Universe I'm telling you."
Captain Willis slowly made his way to an intercom, "Red alert. All crew to battle stations. Set a course for the Mutara Sector."
They had to get to Regula One. Max Hiller would advise Star Fleet on the way. It was a true race against time. Mark Davis surrendered the captain's chair.
Unknown to the Chandley, the Knutson rescued its Mirror Universe crew from Klingon space. Those disloyal faced an agonizer booth.
Regula One was adrift in space. Chandley discovered debris from a nearby Samson Class vessel. Its class was unarmed. No one was on the station but evil officers.
"We looked through the entire station," a science officer started. "There is no trace of Protomatter anywhere."
Jenifer Parker knifed the officer.
Another said, "Captain, the Chandley has arrived as planned. Should I open a channel, Commander?"
"He would not dare fire on me," she laughed. "This will be fun. Put him on the screen."
She appeared on the screen, "Stay back. I'll blow up the station, Captain. Don't come any closer."
"If you do, we'll open fire!" the ensign, Max Hiller, said to she who almost ended his life.
Captain Willis thought, "No, wait! I have an idea."
"Yeah," asked the first officer, Mark Davis.
"Let's blow up Regula One."
Commander Davis was confused, "Why? You're starting to sound like them. Destruction will get us nowhere."
"It's a good plan," the captain started. "We have to keep the Protomatter out of her hands."
Firing all phasers, the Chandley destroyed Regula One. This was followed by a long pause. Jen Parker terminated communications. The Knutson opened fire.
The Chandley was suffering damage. Sam Willis did not have the heart to return fire. Commander Davis cried, "Captain, we have to do something! We'll be destroyed if we don't fire back!"
An explosion blew Max Hiller from his station. He was injured. The doctor treated his wounds.
Struggling, he spoke, "No, I will not lose her again!"
"You must!" the first officer ordered. "Forget you! Open fire! Security to the bridge!"
Sam Willis was sent to the brig in chains. His career ended. He waved his right to a fair trial. He surrendered to civilian life to tell his story to all those who'd listen.
The End