Chapter 01

"USS Wisconsin Captain's Log, Stardate 7735.1. The Wisconsin is enroute to system AGN-21, which is also called by the inhabitants as Tangia. We are heading to Tangia because a Starfleet deep space radio observatory lost reception from Tangia. It was monitoring Tangia and other local pre-warp societies' radio emissions for potential future visits. Since the radio observatory just lost contact, and Tangia is forty light years from it, whatever happened took place forty years ago.

"Starfleet tasked us to go investigate why Tangia stopped broadcasting. They uploaded the language for Tangia to our universal translator and are analyzing the transmissions recorded from Tangia to give us a basic idea what happened, so we may better investigate. We expect a preliminary analysis soon.

"In the meantime, all is well on the Wisconsin, crew has settled in nicely to a routine onboard ship. Jacobs out."

ENGINEERING

USS WISCONSIN

Jacobs was standing at a large table with Santini and Tyrol. The planning table was a new design for Starfleet, it was about the size and shape of a dinner table, and was a totally touch-screen table. Multiple people can stand around the table, operate their own programs on the table, move windows around, perform simulations, or even control the ship from here. As much backward thinking the manual control system was on the ship, this was forward-thinking in computer automation, display, and control. Santini was standing at the head of the table, and Tyrol was at the opposite end, with Jacobs in the middle looking on.

The main structure of the ship was on display, along with the relevant Jeffries' tubes that gave access to the very skeleton of the ship. Santini asked Tyrol, "How many samples do we have now Lieutenant?"

Tyrol said, "All except the ones from the nacelle pylons. Mr. Knabe is getting those now?"

Jacobs asked, "How were the inspections so far?"

Santini pointed to the skeleton, "We are showing predicted wear, that is pretty good considering how hard we drove the ship after commissioning. The good news is we have none of the cracking they found on the Enterprise."

Jacobs mentioned, "I bet Scotty is having a conniption-fit about that."

Santini nodded, "He is not happy. He was one of the engineers that said Starfleet should replace the main structural beams of the Enterprise with the new alloys. Starfleet went cheap on the refit and we think the Enterprise is paying for it."

Jacobs asked, "How about us?"

Santini pointed around the ship diagram. "I think we are going to be just fine. Remember that we are a new ship from the keel up. These new alloys were made for the new warp engines and the fields they emit. Mr. Scott was telling the brass that the new engines were going to accelerate the wear on the old ships, and that at a minimum they should replace the main structural beams. The Enterprise is almost forty years old and used the last generation of engines."

Jacobs asked, "How many samples?"

Santini said, "Thirty in all, from key areas. The degradation we are looking for is from the warp field solely. Stress tests have been done. Since the field is not a constant, we placed samples of both our alloys and the same alloy as Enterprise's side-by-side in various areas."

Jacobs looked at the schematic. "In order for the test to be valid, you would need alloy samples from a ship that was constructed when the Enterprise was, 40 years ago."

Santini nodded. "I agree, and we got old alloy from one of the old-style ships."

Jacobs nodded, "How long are we going to have to take these samples along with us?"

Santini answered, "Starfleet's feasibility study ends next year. I have got enough old metal with us for monthly samples between now and then. Just for good measure, I took extra metal that should last five more years of sampling."

Jacobs looked up, "That sounds thorough. Any idea where you got the metal?"

Santini smiled a big toothy smile, "The Wolverine."

Jacobs laughed, "Well, I knew they were going to cut it up, just never thought I would be bringing it along. You got original metal from there?"

Santini nodded, "Yes, original metal was a little tough. Starfleet engineering documents show that the poor little ship got beat up a lot."

Jacobs's laugh changed to a smile, "Yes, it weathered some storms."

Santini pressed a little, "And looking at it, a good portion of it was replaced near the end of its life, while you were the Captain."

Jacobs nodded, "Do not worry Dom, I don't plan on doing the same with the Wisconsin. I like to hide with pride."

Santini chuckled, "If you ever want a hunk of old metal, I got some for you."

Jacobs smiled, "Thanks, I got a hunk hanging on my quarters' wall."

Santini asked, "The painting of the Wolverine?"

Jacobs nodded, "Yep, had a friend of mine paint that hunk of metal. It seemed like a good way to remember it. Dom, what is your gut feeling on how the ship is holding up?"

Santini said, "As I said before, we are doing better than we should, considering how hard we have driven the ship. I think that Starfleet is being a bit alarmist, because remember the Enterprise set some whopper speed records."

Jacobs nodded, "Yes, Warp 14 is to them."

Santini nodded, "And they should have blown up from that one alone, they also did some cruising for several days at warp 11, all of which is so fast we do not even have wear charts for that. I think that these new engines on old frames will be just fine, just that the Enterprise is a ship that has been rode very, very hard."

Jacobs started walking toward the bulkhead door, "That's good enough for me. Keep us together any way you can."

Santini asked, "Have any baling wire?"

Jacobs remarked as he was heading out the bulkhead door, "In my quarters, coat closet, top shelf, right next to the duct tape." Both had a good laugh.

FIRING RANGE

USS WISCONSIN

Jacobs walked in wearing his earplugs and safety glasses. Bauer was just finishing a magazine off with the rifle. Everyone enjoyed shooting the firearms, it was giving an exhilaration you just do not get firing a phaser. The firearms went BANG while the phasers went sssshshhhshhssshsh.

Bauer cleared the rifle, and motioned for Jacobs to walk over. Jacobs asked, "I got your message, what do you have for me?"

Bauer asked, "Captain, remember the fight we had with the Klingons on Excalibur?"

Jacobs nodded, "Yes, clearly. What's up?"

Bauer said, "In our debriefing, the ships were going back and forth being under the stasis weapon. The Badgers mentioned that they felt that it took too long to change from rifle to phaser and back. The idea that was floated was to change the phaser II pistol around a little bit. First, here is a fully functioning redesigned phaser."

Bauer handed the phaser pistol to Jacobs. It was configured significantly different. The normal phasers had the handle placed just a couple of inches behind the emitter with most of the controls and inner workings behind the handle. This phaser had everything ahead of the handle. It had the same balance as the firearm-pistol. Jacobs turned it over and saw that the controls were on the side, rather than the top. Jacobs also noticed that there were a pair of small clamps along the sides on the top of the phaser. "Why reconfigure it?"

Bauer took the phaser back and said, "Watch this." He slid the phaser onto the mounting rails under the rifle. He set the locks, and he placed his left hand on the phaser and the right hand was on the rifle. Basically, the phaser replaced the forward hand grip on the rifle. "The combined unit handles just like our rifles did with the hand grip. But if you need a phaser, you press the phaser trigger with your left hand, if you need the firearm, you press the right-hand trigger. Watch."

Bauer went to the firing line, inserted a fresh magazine, cycled the action, and aimed downrange. He first fired the phaser, then the rifle. He switched back and forth. It really was as simple as pulling the different trigger. Jacobs was very impressed. After Bauer was done, he cleared the firearm, and handed it over to Jacobs.

Jacobs took the combined weapon and looked it over, "Can I try?"

Bauer nodded and handed a fresh magazine over. Jacobs checked the phaser settings on the side. It was a little bit small to read, but operable. He inserted the magazine and worked the action. Bauer offered, "The phaser is mounted parallel to the rifle barrel. Looking through the sight it will hit wherever you have the red dot placed."

Jacobs put his hand on the forward grip and saw the stationary red dot for the rifle. He found it very easy to aim wherever he wanted. Bauer continued, "If an EMP or something else happens, you can simply squeeze the small bulb on the side, it squirts a small amount of Santini's glowing goo into the sight to create the red dot."

Jacobs experimented looking through the sight. It was actually very easy to aim the combined weapon. He announced, "Firing some rounds." Everyone made sure their hearing protection was on. Jacobs started with the phaser, and found it was just as easy to hit what he wanted. Pulling the trigger with his left hand was a little awkward at first, but easy enough to get used to. He switched from phaser to rifle by just pulling the right-hand trigger.

Bauer said, "Very good sir, we found some neat tricks you can do, I'll show you some other time."

Jacobs was smiling when he handed the weapon back to Bauer. "I need to get me one of these."

Bauer chuckled, "Well, since Mr. Gibbs and Dom have that new machining device programmed up, I can have a rifle for you tomorrow. We have converted several phasers already."

Jacobs mentioned, "You know, I like the balance of the pistol. I never liked the way the phaser pistols come back on top of the wrist; they also dangle too much when attached to the belt. Any way we can outfit them for normal use?"

Bauer nodded, "Already have. All you must do is slide the holographic aiming module into the clamps on top and it's a fully-functioning normal phaser. We even have fashioned a holster that attaches on the belt. No dangling, a good, secure attachment. I recommend attaching it just below the hip. It makes for a fast draw and makes it less cumbersome than with a concealed firearm pistol." Bauer showed where his was attached.

Jacobs nodded, "I noticed that and wondered what it was. Are you planning on redoing the whole armory to this?"

Bauer nodded, "That is what I wanted to talk to you about. I think it preserves commonality, and is more practical. Any Starfleet personnel can pick up this phaser and use all its functions fully. If the holographic sight is not attached, they may be surprised, but that of course is part of phaser training, no sight aiming."

Jacobs said, "I like it. How long to get it changed over?"

Bauer said, "Not long, to get every phaser pistol converted will be about two weeks. I will have all the Badgers working on it immediately. We can start training immediately."

The wall com unit whistled and Jareau's voice came through, "Bridge to Captain Jacobs."

Jacobs started walking to the com unit and said to Bauer, "Let's start it immediately. And I would like a rifle after you get the phasers done. However, let's make those phasers a priority." Jacobs pushed the com button, "Jacobs here."

Jareau's voice came through, "Sir, could you come up here. We are picking up a transmission from a nearby system."

Jacobs said, "On my way." Turning to Bauer he said, "Let me know when you have enough to equip a landing party."

Bauer nodded, "Aye aye sir."

BRIDGE

USS WISCONSIN

Jacobs walked on the bridge; Ensign Dietrich was sitting in the Captain's chair. He immediately stood and Jacobs motioned him down, "As you were Mr. Dietrich. You still have the conn."

"Aye aye sir" Dietrich said.

Jacobs stood at the landing of the Bridge, and stood by the communication console. "What do you have JJ?"

Jareau pointed to one of her screens. "I have just started picking up a transmission from PJE-45. It is a star system more or less behind us, less than a light year. The transmission is focused on Tangia."

Jacobs asked, "Can you make out details of the transmission?"

Jareau shook her head, "No sir, not at warp. The warp field is distorting the signal too much."

Jacobs said to Dietrich, "Mr. Dietrich, bring the ship out of warp."

Dietrich acknowledged, "Aye aye sir. Mr. Calvin, all stop."

The ship came out of warp. Lt. Jareau was working her instruments. "The signal is very faint; we are not in the core of the signal."

Jacobs asked, "What can we do to make it work?"

Jareau pointed to the signal gain screen, "First thing is turn to bring the antennae array to bear."

Jacobs nodded and looked at the signal display on one of the communications side screens, "Mr. Dietrich, bring us to heading 042 mark 71."

The ship slowly turned to bring the radio antennae array to be able to pick up the signal fully. Jareau worked the controls and listened to her earpiece. She turned to Jacobs, "The signal is Tangean."

Jacobs blinked, "You're kidding. Instrument error?"

Jareau shook her head, "No doubt now, Definitely Tangean. It just went off the air."

Jacobs said, "Let's get it back, we passed through a signal before, right?"

Jareau said, "Yes sir. They seem to be broadcasting every thirteen hours."

Jacobs nodded, "Mr. Dietrich, move us upstream to that signal, let's catch the next broadcast."

Dietrich nodded, "Mr. Calvin, bring us to heading 035 Mark 60, Warp two."

The ship moved off. Jacobs watched as Jareau worked on the decoding. "I'll get the next transmission easily sir."

Dietrich ordered, "All Stop. Sir, transmission will be picked up in three minutes."

Jacobs said, "Very good, Mr. Dietrich."

All was quiet on the bridge. Jareau was true to her word, she had the transmission cued up with the universal translator. Suddenly, a voice came through.

"TANGIA CONTROL, THIS IS THE PLANTER'S MISSION. WE HAVE REACHED THE PLANET AND STARTED THE COLONY. PLEASE RESPOND. OUR MISSION IS A SUCCESS; HOWEVER, WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET A REPLY MESSAGE FROM YOU. ONCE AGAIN, TANGIA CONTROL, THIS IS THE PLANTER'S MISSION…"

All was silent. Jacobs thought a bit. Another unforeseen occurrence that an unmanned probe cannot handle. Too far to get an immediate response from Starfleet, this is why Starships were manned. "JJ, call a staff meeting in fifteen minutes. I will be in the ready room."

"Aye aye sir."

Jacobs went through the door to his ready room. The room was dimly lit, which was fine. He could see the warp nacelles out the windows and walked back to the couch. Kneeling down, he started to pray, "Dear Lord, thank you so much for this opportunity to be in leadership of a starship, thank you so much for the missions we have had, for pulling this crew together in a sense of family. Please protect this crew, this ship, and please give me the wisdom for this upcoming mission.

"As you know, we have this unexpected signal Lord, please give the staff wisdom to give me good advice. Please give me good advice. And please help me to have the strength to make the correct decisions. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."

Where did that last statement come from? Jacobs had been saved long enough to realize that God directed your prayers as much as you made your requests. Time will reveal that in of itself. Jacobs got up and sat down at his desk. He reviewed his orders, which allowed for deviations for Captain's discretion such as this. He decided to review some of the Starfleet policy manual, namely the Prime Directive. This all could get very interesting, and he better tread carefully.

Jacobs saw that it was time, and got up from his desk and went out. Jareau saw him come out of the ready room, and handed her station over to Lt. Jensen. Jacobs stood close enough to the turbolift door for it to open and held it open for Jareau, "After you."

Jareau stepped in and said, "Thank you sir." Jacobs follow in and the turbolift went off.

BRIEFING ROOM

USS WISCONSIN

Jareau and Jacobs stepped in and sat down at the briefing room table. Jacobs started, "Thank you all for coming at short notice. We have just received this message, JJ?"

Jareau played the message, most of the looks in the room were quizzical. Carter asked, "I don't understand, this came from the Tangean system?"

Jareau shook her head, "No, it came about a half light year behind us. It came from the PJE-45 system."

Leonaidas asked, "What do we know about the system?"

Jacobs looked to Agathon, who typed quickly. "It is a star system surveyed only by subspace observatories. The information on the system is not well known, because the observatories had obscurations to look through. We know there are planets, but no idea how many or what class they are."

Carter asked, "How far apart are the systems?"

Agathon said, "One light year."

Santini asked, "How advanced is the Tangean civilization?"

Jacobs answered, "Pre-warp, presumably. The assumption on Pre-warp is because no subspace signals have been received from them, only radio signals. That stopped about forty years ago."

Santini said, "Then nothing?"

Jareau offered, "Nothing that monitors could pick up. It's also important to note that even as close to the system as we are, there still is nothing coming from the system. If there are radio emissions, it must be very low level, such as local communications, not broadcast power transmissions."

Hotchner asked, "Is there anything we have received about an interstellar mission from Starfleet?"

Jacobs shook his head, "Not yet. Starfleet started us moving toward the system as soon as they lost radio signalss. They have promised to give a preliminary analysis which should be coming soon. Hotch, what is the history of a civilization that stops broadcasting radio?"

Hotchner said evenly, "Generally, it does not indicate favorable circumstances. Even on worlds that are warp capable radios are still used for many short-range items, including broadcasting. If we were the same distance from Earth, our radio array should be able to pick up radio signals."

Santini observed, "But we would also be picking up subspace, of course."

Hotchner nodded, "Yes, which brings me to the point. This is indicative of a society in regression for some reason. Disease, war, natural catastrophe, something else, we have insufficient information now."

Jareau observed, "Whatever happened took the colonists by surprise. They obviously did not know what happened either."

Jacobs stated, "All I know about the Tangeans is that they are pre-warp and were transmitting radio. This is what I am thinking, we have a Tangean signal coming from a neighboring star system. The message received sounds like it was a deliberate mission, so the Tangeans have spaceflight, perhaps even an interstellar capability. We now have two possible destinations. Do we continue to Tangia or go to PJE-45 first?"

Octavian said, "We know there are people on PJE-45, why not go there first?"

Agathon said, "Our orders were to go to Tangia."

Jacobs mentioned, "In a case like this, I could use Captain's prerogative to go to PJE-45."

Dr. Mallard asked, "Should we ask Starfleet first?"

Jacobs shook his head. "No, a reply will take too long to get back. How long JJ?"

Jareau said, "Two weeks."

Jacobs said, "I do not want to wait that long. I think it is worthwhile to investigate PJE-45 first."

Carter asked, "What about contact?"

Jacobs nodded, "We will follow the Prime Directive of course. Let's consider the colonists as a pre-warp society for now and behave accordingly."

BRIDGE

USS WISCONSIN

SIX HOURS LATER

"Captain's log, supplemental. We are entering system PJE-45, which we detected Tangean signals from while enroute to Tangia. We have confirmed that the signals are coming from an M-class planet, and are going to approach carefully. For now, we are treating these colonists as a pre-warp society according to the Prime Directive unless evidence shows otherwise. During our approach to the system, we detected a steady string of spent fuel tanks on a trajectory from Tangia to PJE-45. It is clear that there was a mission from Tangia to PJE-45, we need to assess how they made it here."

Leonaidas was at his station working on something. Jacobs was watching the approach. The system was a typical system with one M-class planet, suitable for life. Jareau turned to Jacobs and said, "I'm picking up radio signals from that planet. It looks like to me there is a satellite network around the planet."

Jacobs asked, "How extensive?"

Jareau said, "Not extensive, seems like there are seven satellites, the broadcast to Tangia is coming from one of them."

Jacobs asked Hotchner, "Can you plot them?"

Hotchner worked the controls. Superimposed on the screen of Tangia were six satellites that were orbiting very high over the equator. The seventh was on a highly inclined orbit, lower altitude but still higher inclined. "That highly inclined satellite is also much larger."

Jacobs asked, "How much larger?"

"Three times our size."

Jacobs ordered, "Alan, move us in near that satellite, swing around from the sunlight side. I do not want to be seen."

The Wisconsin approached the seventh when the satellite was on the daylight side of the planet. They rendezvoused with it and Carter moved the ship to be very close. "Nice job Alan, now if they see us, they will think it is just their satellite. Hotch, what can you tell us about the planet and the satellite?"

Hotchner said, "During the approach, I had an excellent chance to scan the colony. I detect no subspace equipment at all. They are pre-warp. There are life signs of one hundred colonists and they are humanoid. The satellite in question is a different story. I believe it is their colony ship. It is large, but very fragile. I do not believe it would hold up to our tractor beam."

"Is there life support?"

"Not anymore. If you want to visit it, you will need spacesuits."

"You read my mind. Let's go over and pay it a visit."

Hotchner offered, "Sir, if I may, I would like Lt. Maya to go over. I would like to stay here and start working on the analysis from Starfleet when it shows up."

Jacobs stood up, "Very well, Dom grab a couple of engineers, Leo, you have the bridge."